iMac/500/OSX10.2 ISO similar

This is going to be a little bit different than my normal column.

It's not going to discuss the performance of the latest version of OS X, or talk about the latest OS X-on-Intel rumors. But it is still decidedly Mac-related.

It's about me.

Over the last two years, I have edged my way into the wonderful, worldwide community of Mac users -- a group that is very proud, close and sometimes elitist. It started when I first got my old PowerMac 7100 and figured out what I could do creatively and intuitively with it: make music, build Web pages and graphics and even program, something I'm learning how to do now.

But most outside of our little community don't quite understand us. They use PCs. To them, computers are just really big calculators that also have the capability of displaying pictures and movies. I understand. I used to be one of those people. But now I enjoy spending much of my "free" time learning to use my Mac in new ways to make my life better.

So when I meet new people, most of them don't quite "get" me. And while I have had no trouble getting dates over the last couple of years (indeed I probably could have had a steady girlfriend by now if I had settled), I don't seem to have anything in common with them. Sometimes they look at me like I have three heads. My favorite things to talk about -- Macs, or even just technology in general -- can never really be a part of our conversations.

I've joined our local Mac users group. They're a wonderful bunch of people and it is great to know them and share our interests. But it's not exactly a single's club, if you know what I mean.

So here it is: I figured that since I had this Web site, and most of the visitors just happen to also be part of the Mac community, maybe I could use the free advertising.

I'm 5'11'' and about 180 pounds. I have brown hair, blue eyes, a well-trimmed beard, and a compulsion (some would probably say unhealthy?) for all things Mac and technology-related.

Don't worry, I do have other interests. I've played guitar and written songs since I was about 13 (I used to play in bands until that "real job" thing got in the way). I have an active social life with my friends and family, and I even have a dog, a pug/lab mix named Bud.

But I have not, over two years of searching and countless first dates, been able to find the one thing I long for: someone who gets just as excited as I do when the latest MacWorld keynote gets streamed over QuickTime and played live on TechTV at the same time.

I'm honest, caring, impossibly optimistic, open to trying new things, and often a hopeless romantic. I live in Delaware, but I'm willing to get to know anyone in the whole wide world, basically.

If you've been reading this and you think you're that one I'm looking for, e-mail me at ssobek@stevesobek.net. Maybe we can get married at a future Expo.

And now back to our regularly scheduled Macintosh programming...