Ever since I first used a very basic Macintosh computer back in the dark days of 1993 they have managed to retain a very divisive brand value. A bit like Marmite, you either love them or hate them and often your strongly held personally viewpoint can be based on very little experience of using one.

Before you click away, convinced this post is going to be yet another polarised rant on how good/bad Macs are, fear not. I’m one of those few fence sitters when it comes to the work of Steve Jobs and co.

Before getting an iPhone I was uninspired by Mac computers – overpriced and overdesigned boxes I thought. I’ll leave those to the nerds who covet shiny bleeding edge possessions. And that was despite spending a year or two editing video with FinalCutPro. Since getting an iPhone I can’t help but think the company has a real sense of what the technology consumer needs and desires – a simple way to accomplish tasks in a nicely packaged device.

Sure I can’t partition the hard disk on the iPhone and trial Android on there but that’s not on my phone functions shopping list, even for a nicely converged 3G capable model.

I’m not going to rush out and trade-in my trusty HP Vista-powered laptop either, even if the iPad opens up possible new avenues to create enormous personal wealth.

It seems though that there is a growing band of highly organised Mac thieves out there who find the company’s products so desirable they’ve taken to following happy shoppers home from the trendy Apple Stores to wait for the right time to burgle them.

Police may not think there are burglars targeting Apple buyers yet in NZ but it doesn’t hurt to be cautious.

If you’ve just bought a new Mac, iPod or iPhone (or are thinking or shelling out your hard earned cash) have a read of Mark Webster’s column in the Heraldand take note of the reader comments on tracking your stolen devices and caution when it comes to putting out big branded boxes in your rubbish or displaying your shiny possessions in your home or car.

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