(no subject)
Yes, I know, posts have been rare lately. Sometimes you just don't feel like typing at the internet, you know?
So, I don't think I have mentioned on here that I bought a mac laptop a couple months ago. I wanted to get a good feel for it before I said anything about it. I am enjoying using my new computer immensely. I pimped out my RAM to 4 GB after purchasing the computer for only $100 and it is pretty much top of the line. I bought a bluetooth mouse and I have a 802.11n wireless router with a network attached hard drive for backups. All in all the system is pretty darn cool.
The first couple of weeks were spent figuring out key commands on the mac. I really hate having to go to the mouse too often. I've figured out about 80% of the key commands I used to use in windows by now and my fingers have begun to acquire the muscle memory necessary to use them without thinking. Additionally, I have learned some new key commands that I didn't have in windows. I have also been on an application install frenzy as I get all of the little things together that I am used to using.
International support is definitely better in Mac OS. I switch between English and Japanese. The text and font support is better and characters look better on screen. Why the heck do fonts look better in Mac OS? I can't figure out why, but they do.
Spotlight is miles, miles better than search on windows. It also acts as an application launcher. This is good because I don't want to go to my mouse to get to the application folder to find an app... etc... I am experimenting with Quicksilver and Launchbar (and haven't decided yet which system I want to go with ultimately), but the fact that I can use them to, for instance, insert items into my calendar without openign iCal and going to the mouse is nice. Verdict is not yet out, here.
There are some really neat-o pieces of software that I got that I didn't have on Windows. One is called Radioshift and it allows me to record radio programs over internet streams even when I am not at the computer. I can then download the programs to my iPod. This is great because I can listen to it on my commute to work and I am not beholden to what is playing at that time and to commercials. Another program that is awesome is Scrivener, which allows you to write in snippets and then compile the whole piece together into a complete project. It is just a different way to go about writing and I have found it releases me creatively. Print to PDF anywhere rules, means I don't have to go out to paper as often. And, the very minimal risk of viruses and spy-ware is awesome.
On the negative side, the way a mac handles the mouse is kind of crappy. The cursor is too slow and doesn't feel as accurate as Windows. I have tried multiple mouses to no avail. Also, my keypad on the laptop does not allow me to type as quickly as on a regular keyboard because I have to hit each key definitively before moving on to the next key. There was a keyboard update about a week ago, though, and the situation seems to have approved. And, for software, there are a couple programs that are windows only that I wish mac had. One, foobar2000 is the ultimate music database / player -- alas, nothing even close to as cool as this prog on the mac. I really don't like iTunes. Two, I have Quicken for PC and I'm not keen on buying the mac version now (which I hear is not as good, either). Three, Mac Office sucks, but it's not too big of a deal for me. Four, I have not yet figured out a good DVD backup system for mac. I know that there is a good, easy way to do this but DVD Shrink has been so very good to me. We shall see.
In other news, well, don't really care to talk about stuff too much right now. I am working on building some speakers from a kit I bought at parts express, an online audio shop. My stereo amp has been on the fritz and so I bought a new, Onkyo stereo amp. Their stereo amps (as opposed to the 5.1 and 7.1 offerings) are supposed to be top of the line. My 1980's era cheap garage sale Fisher speakers sound as good as possible, but I can't wait to try out my new speakers. My friends has the same speakers and they sound great, especially clear in the high and mid regions. The fishers have a muddy tone and not too much high end. But, they were only $10 so I can't complain.
Books-wise I've finished a couple books this last week -- The Blue Knight by Joseph Wambaugh, which had two or three harrowing scenes that truly made me think about my job, and Food Not Lawns, a counter culture pro gardening book that I started a while back. The first half of the book is awesome, all about creating a mixed garden in an urban lot. The second half is less awesome, all about activism and toe-the-line "environmentalist" thinking. I don't know what I am going to read next, possibly another Dashiell Hammet novel.
So, I don't think I have mentioned on here that I bought a mac laptop a couple months ago. I wanted to get a good feel for it before I said anything about it. I am enjoying using my new computer immensely. I pimped out my RAM to 4 GB after purchasing the computer for only $100 and it is pretty much top of the line. I bought a bluetooth mouse and I have a 802.11n wireless router with a network attached hard drive for backups. All in all the system is pretty darn cool.
The first couple of weeks were spent figuring out key commands on the mac. I really hate having to go to the mouse too often. I've figured out about 80% of the key commands I used to use in windows by now and my fingers have begun to acquire the muscle memory necessary to use them without thinking. Additionally, I have learned some new key commands that I didn't have in windows. I have also been on an application install frenzy as I get all of the little things together that I am used to using.
International support is definitely better in Mac OS. I switch between English and Japanese. The text and font support is better and characters look better on screen. Why the heck do fonts look better in Mac OS? I can't figure out why, but they do.
Spotlight is miles, miles better than search on windows. It also acts as an application launcher. This is good because I don't want to go to my mouse to get to the application folder to find an app... etc... I am experimenting with Quicksilver and Launchbar (and haven't decided yet which system I want to go with ultimately), but the fact that I can use them to, for instance, insert items into my calendar without openign iCal and going to the mouse is nice. Verdict is not yet out, here.
There are some really neat-o pieces of software that I got that I didn't have on Windows. One is called Radioshift and it allows me to record radio programs over internet streams even when I am not at the computer. I can then download the programs to my iPod. This is great because I can listen to it on my commute to work and I am not beholden to what is playing at that time and to commercials. Another program that is awesome is Scrivener, which allows you to write in snippets and then compile the whole piece together into a complete project. It is just a different way to go about writing and I have found it releases me creatively. Print to PDF anywhere rules, means I don't have to go out to paper as often. And, the very minimal risk of viruses and spy-ware is awesome.
On the negative side, the way a mac handles the mouse is kind of crappy. The cursor is too slow and doesn't feel as accurate as Windows. I have tried multiple mouses to no avail. Also, my keypad on the laptop does not allow me to type as quickly as on a regular keyboard because I have to hit each key definitively before moving on to the next key. There was a keyboard update about a week ago, though, and the situation seems to have approved. And, for software, there are a couple programs that are windows only that I wish mac had. One, foobar2000 is the ultimate music database / player -- alas, nothing even close to as cool as this prog on the mac. I really don't like iTunes. Two, I have Quicken for PC and I'm not keen on buying the mac version now (which I hear is not as good, either). Three, Mac Office sucks, but it's not too big of a deal for me. Four, I have not yet figured out a good DVD backup system for mac. I know that there is a good, easy way to do this but DVD Shrink has been so very good to me. We shall see.
In other news, well, don't really care to talk about stuff too much right now. I am working on building some speakers from a kit I bought at parts express, an online audio shop. My stereo amp has been on the fritz and so I bought a new, Onkyo stereo amp. Their stereo amps (as opposed to the 5.1 and 7.1 offerings) are supposed to be top of the line. My 1980's era cheap garage sale Fisher speakers sound as good as possible, but I can't wait to try out my new speakers. My friends has the same speakers and they sound great, especially clear in the high and mid regions. The fishers have a muddy tone and not too much high end. But, they were only $10 so I can't complain.
Books-wise I've finished a couple books this last week -- The Blue Knight by Joseph Wambaugh, which had two or three harrowing scenes that truly made me think about my job, and Food Not Lawns, a counter culture pro gardening book that I started a while back. The first half of the book is awesome, all about creating a mixed garden in an urban lot. The second half is less awesome, all about activism and toe-the-line "environmentalist" thinking. I don't know what I am going to read next, possibly another Dashiell Hammet novel.