Wednesday, August 12, 2009

I did it... I finally did it

Yes I did. I vowed several months ago that I would never buy another Windows machine, and although I'd done that about ten thousand times before, as I spoke the words I realised that I actually meant it. Not that anyone else in the room at the time found it convincing, but I did it!

So what did I do. Well, I spent a less than satisfying couple of days faffing with making a Windows laptop dual boot to Ubuntu desktop. And while I really like Ubuntu desktop, after a while I decided that all this seemed a bit too high maintenance for what I want, which is to get on with developing and consulting (which makes me money), and not being my own IT manager (which doesn't).

So I bought a MacBook Pro. Not only that, I ditched my Orange phone and got myself an iPhone 3GS. So I've swapped total dependency on a global software giant for total dependency on another, you might say. Well, yes. But the MacBook and the iPhone are sooooo good. They've already saved me loads of time and hassle and I've only just got started. I haven't even had to buy Parallels to run any much missed Windows apps yet - I haven't missed any.

The only things I haven't bought into as yet are iTunes (strongly dislike DRM), and MobileMe - I went to Carbonite for a backup solution and Google is my contact and calendar master source, so I figured I didn't really need it.

I'm currently hoping Spotify makes it to the iPhone App Store soon.

5 comments:

  1. Good stuff. I have done the exact same thing, went from Windows to Ubuntu to Mac. I still enjoy working with Ubuntu, but I couldn't imagine going back to a microsoft environment. Also OSX is so much more polished than Gnome, and stuff works in OSX without spending hours trying to get some hardware component to work properly.

    Good luck, I am sure you will enjoy your mac alot :D

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  2. I dumped Windows and went all Mac 3 years ago. All I can say is productivity is up, stress is down and I now spend almost no time maintaining my laptop and desktop. I also recently gave my Dad a Mac and his support calls (previously twice weekly at least under Windows) have reduced to almost nothing. I have no problem being dependent on Apple because their machines and OS don't keep giving me grief and wasting my time like Microsoft does. I got an iPhone a year ago and loving that too.

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  3. By the way iTunes is not DRM any more, the iTunes store files download in their proprietory non-DRM file format (they used to have a DRM format but they don't use it any more). A couple of clicks in iTunes changes them to MP3 format if that's what you need, and the MP3 files still work with iPhone, iPod etc. but also work with any non apple device. I've been using my iMac to stream MP3s wirelessly from my itunes music collection to my PS3 (which doesn't understand apple music formats) in the living room and it works a treat.

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  4. Cheers, Dan. Top tip. I had been using Amazon for MP3 downloads but since I discovered Spotify I haven't looked back. iTunes now worth another look!

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  5. Congrats...I have not got a MacBook yet...but one day soon....Apple rocks! Enjoy.

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