Becoming a full time Mac user
This last weekend I finally removed Fedora Linux from my work computer. I have reached the point I spent very little time not booted into OS X. I have also realized that switching between the Mac and PC keybord shortcuts is annoying. I has only taken me eight months to get to this point. I previously mentioned som pieces of software oj the mac I am rather fond of. I can actually say that for the most part OS X can now be included in that list. Finally no matter how much “better” it might be, I’m not a fan of the system Apple decided to replace /etc/rc.conf with. OS X isn’t without it’s flaws. Java performance is abysmal. Which wouldn’t be so bad if I wasn’t an Open Office user. Next OS X 10.5.7 isn’t exactly the fastest operating system in the world. Applications I use regularly take noticeably longer to start than the same software on Linux using the same hardware. And I’m not going to stop complaining about the fact a touch typist from any other operating system has to re-train his/her fingers to type on a Mac. Things I do like. Suspend / Restore works flawlessly, close the lid it goes to sleep. Open the lid, and in seconds you’re working again. The battery life is fantastic considering the hardware. The User Interface isn’t bad. Especially after a few minor changes. Things like getting rid of the bouncing dock icons, and making apps that are hidden go transparent on the dock. iTerm is actually a pretty solid application, and an improvement over the default Apple terminal, which also isn’t awful. Mac Ports, while not identical to the Ports system on FreeBSD is similar enough to keep me happy. I recently made a decision in my life. I am done buying “Technically superior, less supported hardware.” Examples from my past would be, for instance, a Creative Labs Zen Vision:M media player. I evaluated that, the iPod Video 30gb, and the first generation Microsoft Zune. Of the three the Zen was the superior device. Unfortunately like many Superior devices, Betamax anyone? It is the less popular, and therefore less supported. I also own a Sprint Mogul phone. It’s a pretty solid PDA. What it’s not is a good phone. It’s also not a terribly good anything else. I don’t know that I’d say I’m excited about becoming an Apple convert. But I am excited about a hopefully improved computing experience going forward. Thanks to: Midnightglory for the image
