Me & My Mac
A reader’s set-up
Working offshore on an oil rig can be an isolating line of work, yet for Bryan McGill, that’s no reason to leave his trusty Apple kit behind at home. Though he lives in Scotland, work often takes him as far afield as Australia – but not without his iPhone, iPad and MacBook by his side, of course!
“When I’m away I use my MacBook for watching films and TV shows when I’m off shift,” he says, “and my iPhone for the news and Facebook. I also use my iPad for FaceTime to keep in touch with my fiancée and kids.” When you’re surrounded by miles of ocean in every direction, keeping connected with loved ones is clearly important.
When he’s not working on the rig, Bryan enjoys getting out and about with his camera – something that ensures his iMac gets plenty of use when it comes to editing and sorting photos. One reason it’s so useful, he says, is the Mac software that’s available to photography enthusiasts; with Pixelmator and Aperture among his favourites, organising his pictures is an absolute breeze.
Apple wasn’t always such a stalwart presence in Bryan’s life, though. “My first Apple product was the iPhone 3G. I was reluctant to get one at first as everyone had it, but I eventually gave in and I’ve never looked back.”
He’s now graduated to the iPhone 6 and has been hooked on the larger screen ever since, which means he’s using his beloved iPad Air less and less these days.
And what does he think the future holds for history’s most profitable company? “I like the idea of Apple Pay and hope it takes off properly in the UK soon,” says Bryan.
“I’ve already done away with my Starbucks and Costa cards and use the apps instead, so it would be handy to be able to do the same with my bank cards as well” And with Tim Cook calling 2015 “the year of Apple Pay”, there shouldn’t be long to wait.
But despite Bryan’s impressive Apple collection, there’s something else he’s keeping his eye on. “This year I’m quite eager to get some other tech in the house,” he explains. “I like the Nest Thermostat and the Philips Hue light bulbs. I’d like to be able to control everything in the house from my iPhone!”
“I was reluctant to get an iPhone, but I eventually gave in and I’ve never looked back”