Train 'Em Up Early

Today I went down to Connecticut with friend Maggie. Our destination was the Apple Store Westfarms, where Maggie's MacBook was going to be spending the night. I'm a PC person, so Appleland was new territory for me.

The Apple Store is futuristic and white. Large Apple logos glow on either side of the entrance. At the far end, the words "Genius Bar" over the representation of an atom mark the tech support area. Streamlined laptops and desktops, iPods and peripherals are displayed on freeform pedestals and tables. Young and zealous uniformed recruits are stationed throughout the space. To a PC person like me with little exposure to mainstream media, the place appears cultish and a bit disquieting.

Creepiest of all was the kids' area. It's red, white, and black (the all-time favorite children's color combination, as I learned in my years spent as a decorator), with a low table and seats like big marbles. Keyboards and monitors are placed all around. It must draw kids like a magnet.

An area of this sort allows parents to shop in peace, and keeps kids happy and busy. It's very clean, and I suppose you could say it's educational. So why am I getting bizarre sci-fi visions of brainwashed robo-children?