Posted on - November 21, 2010 [at] 4:01 pm by Brad
Tagged in - mac, osx, switch, windows
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Happy 25th birthday, Windows. I just had a birthday too, I’m 34 now. DOS & Windows have been a huge part of my life for as long as I can remember. We’ve had a good run, but I’m moving on. I just sprung for a quad core 27″ iMac and I’m as excited about getting it as can be.
When I was younger I really loved getting my hands dirty, building my own systems, getting under the hood of the OS, tweaking it, customizing it, learning its quirks and weaknesses and how to make it run smoothly. The flexibility of Windows and the control it allowed me was a huge part of its draw. Along with it being the most popular platform – where the action was happening.
But things have changed. The most popular platform is the web and the OS matters less now. And I’ve personally changed. My number one issue in my life these days is that I don’t have enough time to do the things I want. And every time Windows wastes my time, or is unhelpful or counter-intuitive, I resent it and that resentment has finally boiled over. While I have issues with their lack of openness, my iPad and iPhone nearly always feel like they’re on my side – they want to help me do what I want.
Here are some things I’m looking forward to:
- Being on Unix. Basically every other machine I interact with on a regular basis is running some flavor of Unix. Going back to DOS and not having all the usual tools available has become intolerable. Write a batch file? Ugh, go die.
- Worrying less about security. As on the ball and cautious as I generally am, even with better browser and OS security and multiple scanning apps, it’s still impossible to avoid getting spyware. That of course sucks for performance and security issues but it’s also just a huge waste of time.
- Easier backups. I’m excited about Time Machine. My backup situation right now works but is crazy and scattered.
- Higher quality applications. In my research looking around to see if there was any software I’d truly miss from Windows, nearly everything appeared to have a superior OSX counterpart.
- All my iStuff working better. iTunes on Windows is a slow piece of shit. MediaMonkey is nice (but ugly) and syncing breaks regularly. My iPad and iPhone would rather deal with OSX, I’m sure.
We’ll see though – after so long with DOS and Windows the transition will certainly be weird, but I’m looking forward to it.
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7 Comments on this post
Doug Tammany on So long, Windows
November 21, 2010 at 9:42 pm
Time Machine is awesome, but don’t rely solely on it. Buy an additional external harddrive and use CarbonCopyCloner to make additional daily backups. Time Machine will occasionally and unnoticeably corrupt your backup – rare, but it happens. That said, I do rely on TM on a day-to-day basis.
Chris Hartzog on So long, Windows
November 23, 2010 at 12:08 pm
Awesome! Welcome to the Mac world. Having started with PC’s & DOS in 1985 and then later Windows I went through those love-hate feelings with PC’s and then when I made the decision to switch to the Mac I wondered if I would regret it or find things that I could no longer do. But I went ahead and made the switch and I’m glad I did. I started with a Mac Mini being the budget conscious guy that I am, but that cheddar cheese block sized Mac out performed my PC tower that it sits atop. (I haven’t gotten rid of the tower because it makes a nice foot rest when I play my guitar.) Later I decided to upgrade to a MacBook Pro so I can take it on the road and never have to be far from my Mac. I hope you like your just as much.
Do you remember the Mac ad: PC Easy as 1 – 23?
PC. Easy as 1-23
1. Remove unneeded bloatware
2. Configure security settings
3. Download and install OS security patches
4. Restart
5. Download / install extra security programs
6. Restart
7. Download / install drivers for peripherals
8. Restart
9. Remove optional Windows components
10. Update new virus list
11. Run full system virus scan
12. Update new malware list
13. Run full system malware scan
14. Download / install application updates
15. Restart
16. Clean out system registry
17. Repair corrupt system registry
18. Defragment hard drive
19. Free up disk space
20. Scan disk for errors
21. Run system file checker
22. Read online instruction manual
23. Cross fingers
Mountain guide ski touring guy on So long, Windows
November 26, 2010 at 3:05 am
Hey, happy for your move. But… how ’bout Ubuntu? Have you tried Ubuntu? I have and partly loved it but couldn’t get NLE video editing going on it so I’m back to XP. You sound like a techie dude so you could probably handle Linux better than me.
Brad on So long, Windows
November 26, 2010 at 7:29 am
I’ve used Ubuntu a bunch and it’s nice but — and this may just be my lack of skill with it — it always seems to require a ton of dicking around to keep it happy.
So far the Mac switch is going well. The first day was frustrating in parts, but I think I’m getting the hang of it now.
darb on So long, Windows
November 26, 2010 at 8:57 am
great but wait till you have your first mac problem(and you will) then you might start rethinking the move like so many people I know.
I personally don’t think any OS is better so I use 3 cos each has its advantages.
1.Ubuntu(desktop and laptop) for the graphics and video editing and safe surfing.
2.Windows for Music production (Desktop and laptop) more software and because when I’m working out of my studio I need to be able to fix any possible problems that arise. With the Mac I have to call the Apple shop-not very practical nor
cheap.
*ubuntu and Windows XP are dual installed on both Desktop and Laptop.
3.Mac book (Intel) for deejay gigs and wowing the ladies (the glowing logo effect) Mind you I still take CDs and LPs for backup during the hiccups. Rare but they do happen. Broken LCD? just get a new macbook. On the PC laptop I got 4 spares in storage cos they were on deal:€100 for the lot(sweet)
Goodluck ;)
Nander on So long, Windows
November 29, 2010 at 4:18 pm
I think the OS is unimportant, as long as it’s invisible. All you want to do is run your programs, a good os doesn’t require any attention. Windows fails in that, because you get 20 popups at startup (flash wants update, reader wants update, …. …). Very frustrating. Yet, the user wants to have the feeling that he controls the machine. A bit paradoxal, but.. So that’s the reason I don’t use a mac, I have the feeling that he decides what’s good for me. I want to have the feeling that I can fix it if it screws up. With windows and Ubuntu, I have that feeling. Don’t say: mac doesn’t screw up, because they do. Less frequently, but they do.
I only had one real bad crash on ubuntu. I removed a package, and pressed ‘y’ too early. It removed quite some packages with it, pretty necessary parts. But: it was human error.
If ubuntu doesn’t support your software, you shouldn’t bother to try it, because after all, software is the main thing for a pc. The OS has a supportive task. It’s very nice that I can have my windows on a 3d cube, but.. If I don’t have the right programs, I can’t work. Or I have to learn new software, which costs much time, that could be spent better. For making new, cool songs for example.
So I think, in your case, mac is a very good choice. It doesn’t crash as often, and leaves more of the pc for the software. Not the windows: I take 30% when idle. And Ubuntu doesn’t support enough software for you I think. You could* try wine, but.. Sometimes wine works, sometimes it doesn’t.
MC Jack on So long, Windows
December 4, 2010 at 9:07 pm
I think the only music related app I couldn’t get for Mac that I wanted was FL Studio. Not a big deal. Logic works great.