Eating apples and drinking beer with penguins
When I hear the phrase, “I work better when stressed,” I always cringed and got this unexplainable urge to slap the person who said it. Same people who exclaimed they thrive when they are under pressure. Kind of like when smoker has this smug grin on his face, as if he is thinking: “Look at me, I’m inhaling and exhaling smoke and still standing here. I’m invincible!” These shallow people tend to be addicted to attention. They can’t get enough of it. Jerking of in front of the mirror before they go to sleep. Not aware they will most likely die when they hit 50.
Even if I drink alcohol— working on my second beer now —and smoked a bit of dope when I lived in The Netherlands, I still try to treat my body as my own precious temple. Kind of like Yin and Yang. Being a bit hedonistic, but trying to equal it out by being a purist from time to time.
Although, after I became a student again I’ve realised that I unfortunately work better when under pressure. Not in a way that when I hit 50 my heart will be in the same shape if I were 120, but more in the direction it gives me that swift kick in the arse to focus on that one important task; to finish the bloody assignment before it’s due.
Again I got a bit distracted this weekend. Fortunately not by a terrorist attack, but by finally getting a Mac. The missus got a new MacBook Air and I gladly swapped my Eee PC for a MacBook. As a writer it does exactly what I need, but so much better and faster than my old Eee PC. This means I’ve turned my back on Linux. Yes, yes; I didn’t think this day would come, but all I want and need is a computer that will be rock solid, yet very, very easy to fix if something goes pear-shaped.
Linux is great as in, it’s free in libre and gratis. Unfortunately it can be a very sharp pain in the arse if something goes wrong. You basically have two choices. Either you use a rock solid distribution that will less likely crash on you, but the cost is that you might be using somewhat outdated software. The other choice is to use one of the bleeding edge distributions, but the risk there is the next update or upgrade might not be so great.
Before you Linux zealots start vomiting bile all over this blog. I’m not a Linux guru, but I have been using Linux since 1998 and I’m very comfortable with using CLI.
The latest three years I’ve been using Linux exclusively and been very satisfied with it. But I always felt it was lacking that final polished feeling. When you feel this is how it should be and it probably cost this company a lot of money to make it. I’m sorry to say, but Linux might never be ready for the desktop. Sure you can install Ubuntu on your moms PC, but that’s not the point is it? Your mom should be able to go to the store, pick out a computer, take it home and use it on her own. On top of that, she should be able to order the latest version of the OS and install that on her own.
It is also obvious a lot of the software are made by software engineers and not designers. Some of the UI layout is just horrible. It makes no sense and it just makes certain software look really, really ugly.
After +24h with a Mac I a, very pleased. Finally a computer that just works. installation of software couldn’t be more easy. Either install it from the App Store or drag and drop ONE file to the Application folder. No dependency nightmares. I’m not tweaking or tinkering to make things work. Instead I’m actually getting things done!
However, don’t worry though, I will not join the Cult. I just enjoy the Apple products. Being at the Apple Store freaks me out a bit. These sale assistants which are overly excited— as if they are high on cocaine —run around like crazy and act as if they are some distant family member. Clapping and cheering for customers who buy their first Mac. I agree, Macs are awesome, but they are still just very nifty computers. I get it, it does create a much more welcoming environment for customers.
Now that I have a Mac that will most likely last a few more years, all I need to save up for now is an iPad. Can’t wait for that day. I’ll probably end up with an iPhone too.
We are Apple. You will be assimilated. Your biological and technological distinctiveness will be added to our own. Resistance is futile.
Exactly my problem with Linux / Mac. Every time I’d reboot back to OS X for something simple I’d be ‘Ohh pretty UI!’. And I agree with Linux not being ready for the desktop, unless someone finds a consistent UI design and one big happy family of applications that work together without feeling ‘cheap’.
Welcome to the dark side ;)
I turned on my Eee PC today, to have a look and get a few things cleaned out on it. I realised something scary. I have no use for it anymore. It feels very obsolete.
On my Mac I have everything I need. I get things done more efficient and better. I can finally install games and software without worrying about dependencies. Not to mention when I decide to uninstall it.
I know I sounds like a Mac zealot already, but honestly, after using OS X Snow Leopard for a week now, it is as if I’ve taken a trip to the future. Almost like I’ve never used Linux.
Linux is great, in its own way, but when you look at how OSX, which is based on UNIX, you start to understand how certain things needs to be centralised and standardised to work better and more efficient.
I gave Linux a second chance. I had a good run for a few years, but I just need a computer that works without having to be tweaked to be fixed if something goes wrong.