Mac User Desktop

What can I say? Mac user know how to enjoy their workstation, the design and nicely placement of everything is the thing for them, in short, beautiful. They’re looking for a comfortable and beautiful workstation.

PC User Desktop

Well, not as much as Mac user do. All they need is just the basic one.

A simple ceiling Minka Aire fans could do well for PC users but not Mac users. The question is this, functionality or beauty?

In a computer, I want functionality or features, not a beautiful machine that doesn’t work what I tell, or has a few problem here and there. MacBook has profoundly disappointed me with their heating problem – A mistake PC manufacturer don’t dare to make at all. As for PC, beside Windows 98 and Windows ME, I think I am more than satisfy with them. Hey, I’m a 2 years Mac user and get frustrated with the problem it has with me, I rather give up than spending more money fixing it

Alright, just kidding. Recently Apple just announced their latest product. The long rumor has the end, a tablet namely Apple iPad.

However, after all the hip with Apple product, from Macbook, to iPhone, then Macbook Air. I think I’ll take a leave for this one too. Even though I have to say I am impressed with the functionality it can provide. Definitely not a bigger iPod Touch.

Unlike life insurance policy, Apple has a very strict terms and policy on their product, which is why I don’t like. They narrowed down the Apple choices. It is like if you’re with Apple, the rest of the accessories needed to be with Apple as well.

GetAMac campaign by Apple has got to be one of the century advertisement campaign. That is why Microsoft cannot delay anymore to release their Windows Vista, which for most people, is not user friendly enough, not to mention the word “bugging”. While Apple still working on their GetAMac campaign and dramatically upgraded all their product line, Microsoft on the other hand is leave behind. That, is when Windows 7 kicked in to make another turnaround move for Microsoft.

I personally think Windows 7 might failed, simply because:

1. Rushing for an upgrade, even consumers has yet to use to Windows Vista
2. Dramatic change of features will piss the consumers instead
3. There will be a lot softwares not compatible with the system

Personally, I’ll be with Windows XP for the moment. I was once a Windows Vista user, however, there are little time that Windows Vista pissed me off. So far, Windows XP is the only Microsoft system that don’t crash on me, saved my anti-wrinkle cream a lot compare to Vista.

Apple hardware and Apple software

Apple product come with such a premium price for a reason. They owe everything including you as well. As long as you buy something from Apple, you will going to get the rest of the product from them, beside of course, the accessories.

One place to get replace

Only authorized Apple reseller has the right and legal document to replace your faulty machine, or just a simple warranty from Apple care. Obviously this limited to big city around the World and not small town in a country. Isn’t it exclusive and expensive? Unlike changing projector headlights where you can get it on most store in town.

You are their asset

As soon as you jumped into Apple product, you are their asset. Because you have only one way to go, what do you think they are you to “switch” instead of “getting used”? By taking it one way only, you will become their royalty customer.

Now if you asking me will Linux works this way? I would probably say yes. For me, basically Linux and Apple are both very alike, the only thing lack in Linux was the publicity, which Ubuntu has been working very hard on I believe. That will be another story

The longer it runs the better it gets

My Macbook need some heat. It doesn’t work well on first hour or more, but after the period of cooling, it will runs as I tell. I did a few print design today with it, files was approximately 15 to 25MB, without a dim problem with it, beside, of course the heat problem.

Too much USB causing a slow down

I can’t tell why yet, as I plugged the third USB device, it slowed down and start to lag, doesn’t matter which application I open, it took ages. The running processes also slow. What I plugged were 1, USB hub with a keyboard and a wireless mouse. 2, 3G USB modem, 3, External HDD. As soon as I plugged in the external HDD, it slow down and lag. Probably too heavy to run a huge (80GB) storage device?

Well, it is still good, I think I’m going to keep it for a moment and see what would I jump into before fixing myself into any operating system yet. I am seriously getting bored of designing this few month. I wanted to work on online traffic building and marketing at the moment. Just before I start off with a small agency, I need to at least know the most important aspect of one website-related office.

Anyway, speaking of cleaning Ubuntu, I think GtkOrphan is enough I tried to login to all system folders to see if there’s any leftover, but none I found, great work Ubuntu! And please make a better and stable version on next release? I’ll be upgrading to Ubuntu 9.04 once I step back home next month, the CDs just arrived home

Mac on the other hand, took me 30GB, due to all those printer and camera drivers which is totally a trash to be installed on the first place. Wonder why Mac “just work” with any printer and camera just plug-and-play? I did try to reduce all those unnecessary driver, it shrink down to 9GB without any other software installed.

Ubuntu, fresh installation with software, took only 4GB, it’s like having weight loss supplements comparing to both Windows and Mac. I totally understand why they said that it can be install on an older machine. 10 years ago, the largest disk size was 8GB, 5 years ago, the largest size was 80GB, 3 years ago, 160GB and now, it is more than one terabyte.

To find out, I checked into the Disk Usage Analyzer that pre-installed in Ubuntu.

The whole interface is easy to understand. I did not find out that I can actually get more specific information on the usage by the pai chart too.

It listed out all the folder and their disk usage. Things are very clear with Disk Usage Analyzer, and it is pre-installed. Don’t need to download anymore.

Although I have a 160GB hard drive waiting me to use, but I felt that it is insecure to place everything on this hard drive. I normally place all my files on my external drive, just in case anything happen, there is no insurance to replace the damage.

Anyway, of all the usage, I think Windows did a bad job. It might due to the Aero effect, or the system itself. But taking a large usage of disk for a shell of a computer is not the way an operating system should be, at least in my opinion. Mac isn’t do good too, because installing all the driver and market it as a “just work” machine is like lying to me. If it is not because I need to do some print related job, I would have place my Macbook in a store room already.

I am no pro in Ubuntu, not even a beginner yet. But I’ll try to share as much as I could to support open source and people’s mind about Linux Macbook is now a part time machine for me. An entertainment machine that play music and movie while I’m working with Ubuntu. It is a design tool for me.

Windows function

I find they are the same as Windows. The familiar windows, windows sidebar and etc. Funny thing is, there are still people thought that Linux use only Terminal command. This is so yesterday! Especially Ubuntu, *.deb is the installer like *.exe.

Flexibility

Ubuntu combined both Windows and Macintosh into one. Well, not exactly Macintosh, Mac can’t customise at all with fresh install machine, unless installing some application. Windows has a few option though, especially Vista, basic, Aero and classic. Basic theme will look like Windows Classic, but taskbar and the menu is way customisable compare to Windows.

What I am lacking is the multimedia and design tools Ubuntu can support. I’m not saying GIMP is not good, but it is somewhat not on the same like as Adobe Photoshop. From the key shortcut, interface and features. I am too used to Adobe applications to be honest, if it aren’t for Adobe applications, I wouldn’t need the Macbook as well.

Now that I have 2 laptops at home and a big LCD monitor, I seriously need some discount lighting as well as a bigger table

Slow

Opening windows and application is way slow comparing with Vista and Ubuntu. Though the system is faster, but I still believe a vendor who created the operating system and hardware should have a better performance.

Mouse

I need to stress this again. Without laser mouse or 1000dpi mouse, Mac OSX Tiger just don’t run that smooth. I am using a 800dpi mouse, in Vista and Ubuntu it runs well. Not in Mac OSX Tiger. That’s a down turn. I just cannot afford a mighty mouse. I am giving chance to Apple by buying their product, but they did not give me a chance to use/buy their product in long term.

Fragile

Macbook white 1.83GHz, bought 3 years ago. As fragile as it gets. Let’s see, I get battery defeated, DVD-ROM down, screen flickering… Almost everything that can be taken down has been broken. I don’t know how long it can stand anymore.

Anyway, just a few side note here:

1. Going to be busy due to some big personal event.
2. Friend went to Singapore to get an opportunity but ended up the medical check out that he need Mesothelioma treatment so he has been bounce back home again.
3. Parent is coming on August. Spent some money for their ticket already.

Obviously I wouldn’t be able to update too much on all my blog. But of course I will try my best for update my experience with the OS I have with me

Ubuntu and Mac has almost the same operating surface, I can easily get used to Ubuntu all thanks to Mac. They even have some similar folder in under the root account. Anyway, being a reverse-Mac-user to PC again, I have to stress this again… They are the same: Computer. Though Vista SP2 proudly announce that they would be the most secure operating system (I know, I know, everybody doubt that), but my experience tells me that they indeed are. So far, I don’t get virus from Internet at all, I set an auto scan for my PC every morning at 6.00am and my PC is as clean as a baby, period.

Really, the war between Mac and PC on the Internet is way polite than the real life. Get 2 of the users together and you’ll see something. That happen very often in my class previously. It’s really tiring

1, Taco HTML edit = HTML-Kit

I love how simple Taco HTML is. I was so into it and it replaced even the MS Notepad I used before I get my Mac. Way before using Notepad, I was using Microsoft Frontpage, edit them one by one. It’s just a few years only I changed to Notepad and quickly to Taco HTML. On PC, I have to admit, PC developer love to develop a fully function wtih lots of useless junk function on their software. HTML-Kit also, but the layout that impress me and how simple it COULD be used.

2, Safari = Google Chrome

Really, Safari doesn’t work that fast in PC at all, not FireFox as well, it’s Google Chrome, though they’re still on the beta stage but it’s really good so far. Well, sometimes it doesn’t display radio button or arrow on the scroller, but that’s all fine.

3, MAMP = EasyPHP
They are just the same. Work perfecting after transfer from Mac to PC. I test a lot of script on my localhost, so this software is sort of compulsory for me.

4, iTunes = Window Media Player

As I mentioned on my previous entry. So, everything is clear eh?

Now I wonder will playstation 3 replace Xbox Done my listing. These are mostly I used on my laptop though. The rest are Adobe products which are the same.

2, It’s about design now. Though some (If not most) people still using PC. It depend though, some people buy a Mac machine because it is the Mac design, people will know he/she is using a Mac. Ok, it’s the ego Or sometimes, it’s about ethic.

3, Software. There’re actually 3 type of operating systems in the market. The revolution of using Intel on a Mac makes the possible of all operating systems to be install in all kind of computer. We’re all living in a great world isn’t it

Last thing I know, Apple better legalize and sell Mac OSX operating system only.

Anyway, this is actually called CrossOver Chromium by CrossOver. They stated that it’s just for fun, so there are risks on running it for long term. However, this is the demonstration of what Wine can do. Seriously gotta love these developers!

Chromium is an open-source browser project that aims to build a safer, faster, and more stable way for all Internet users to experience the web. The Chromium codebase is the basis for Google’s Chrome browser.

However, as my experience tells me, it’s just not so nice to use accelerator in any computer. I’m with it for a while and done with it. By the way, it require some sort of stuff from Apple X11. Since my CD ROM busted out last month, I can’t try it It’s gonna be another long time to wait for Google to actually develop the Mac and Linux version of Google Chrome. Sound like acne treatment is needed.