July 4, 2025
In recent interview on macstories Craig Federighi said things that are quite far from regular marketing distilled message:
"For me, I have, like you, an emotional attachment to my iPad and I’m not sure I can intellectualize it. I don’t know if it’s because it is something that, by the nature of the fact that it’s in your hand, it is the source of connection. It is the source of learning. It is this source of capability; it becomes an extension of your own ability to think and solve problems
It is the device that can manage to go with us into almost every nook and cranny of our existence, from kicking back and enjoying ourselves to getting something done, creatively or productively. That range makes it an extension of self for some of us in a way that I think fosters an emotional connection."
This was the conclusion of a long, semi-philosophical discussion about the iPad and its role in his life, but I was surprised to realize that I could say exactly the same about my MacBook Air. I’ve always tried to get the lightest laptop I could, so I could carry it with me wherever I go. It’s a portal to another world — my personal space where I can code, edit photos, write, create, learn, play, unwind, and store memories of my life. A screen and 78 keys offer endless possibilities.
I bought an MSI Wind U100 in 2008, when netbooks were on the rise. The ability to fit it into almost any bag — even some winter coat pockets — meant a lot to me. It was like a home office in reverse: not bringing work into your cozy home, but bringing your homespace everywhere. The performance was terrible, the screen resolution was 600p, and the battery lasted a couple of hours at best. But I completed university projects on it, started learning C++, and eventually landed a developer job. I even played Diablo II and Counter-Strike 1.6 using that tiny touchpad, barely larger than a postcard.
Over the years, I’ve switched through several laptops, and they’ve always felt like an extension of myself. I’m not sure what that says about me or my desire to fit into the human world, but if I ever lost or broke my laptop, I’d feel the same as if my house had burned down. In the end, it’s just a material thing — something that can be bought and replaced — but it also forms an emotional connection.
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