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January 27, 2006
Geek Group Think
I've always been amazed by the open source community, more specifically by the Linux hackers out there. Their tenacity for putting Linux into places it's never before been seen is really quite impressive. It's also always left me with the big question, "who cares?"... I mean really, do I need a full Linux OS to run on my iPod? For those moments when I might, umm, need to run my webserver or ssh into a non-networked device.
It's with this same skeptical look that I read articles (such as this) about the possibilities of dual-booting the new Apple Intel machines. Who cares? Let's look at it another way...
Dual booting Linux - I've never been a huge fan of Linux, much prefering to use OpenBSD or FreeBSD instead. I just find the BSD way of doing things cleaner, elegent, and simplistic. Regardless, the advantage Linux brings to an Apple Intel box is that it runs a UNIX variant. Hrm. On older Windows machines and pre OSX this made a lot of sense, but Mac OS X is already based upon a UNIX variant. You can even get a terminal. In fact, most of the tools/utilities/applications from the Linux world are easily re-compiled for OS X thanks to things like Fink and DarwinPorts. So what's the big advantage here? Cost of upgrades is all that I can think of. If you're buying an Apple machine, the cost of a possibly $150 yearly upgrade isn't going to convince you the simple ease of use and the "it just works" factor aren't worth it.
Windows - Unfortunately, most Mac users have to actually use Windows in their daily jobs (I'm one of them). In quite a few cases, an application will only exist in Windows binary form, making the dream of dual booting become a possible life saver. Now let's look at this from another angle. Macintosh users are a crafty bunch. We squirm, wiggle, fight, and push our way through the daily grind to come back to reasonably sane and useful OS. Face it, it's a right of passage to attend the Macca event at least once in your Macintosh ownership days. When we encounter an application that does not exist on our platform of choice, we find a way around this. We'll find other applications that will create formats readable by our intended application. We will essentially circumvent the problem so that we may continue to work. If you work with Windows daily and have a Mac at home, you've probably already done 90% of this without thinking twice. The only real advantage I can see in this dual booting realm comes from entertainment, and possibly things like Vegas Video. Actually strike that, the last big advantage comes from VPN software, for which there seems to be an abundent amount on Windows. I've found that even this can be circumvented most of the time with just a few google searches.
Posted by Dan at 11:51 AM | Comments (0)
January 26, 2006
Help Chlisa
I received an odd email today form Lisa, the former wonder blogger on finding random naked men stories online (I miss those Lisa, come back!). Anyhow it seems that Chris and Lisa are having some difficulty preparing for their wedding, mainly they lack the money to do it. Hence this lovely email this morning:
Hi everyone,Chris has entered a contest online wherein he had to write a 500-word
essay on why he and I are a "21st Century Couple." You can help us
win a trip to Hawaii by going to http://www.theweddingcontest.com/ and
voting for his essay. The top vote-getters are reviewed by a panel
and a winner is chosen.Once you've pulled up the page, click on "Click Here to Vote." Then
search for Chris' last name -- Puzak. You can read his essay if you
want, or you can just vote. :)Thanks in advance for your votes! We'll send you all postcards from Hawaii.
:)
Chris has a direct link to the essay in question. I say if you've got nothing better to do, why not vote for them and help them along? Just beware the spam sign up option...
Posted by Dan at 03:49 PM | Comments (0)
January 24, 2006
Email Humor via SPAM
In a moment of weakness today, I found that a piece of spam passed both my own and the OpenBSD Tech and even got me to read it. The humor in this bit is the first line:
If your e-mail software does not support html, please click here.
Where here hasn't a link, nor would it mean anything if your email client didn't support HTML. Okay it's a moment of geek snobbery but it's still funny.
Go check the openbsd-tech archives at MARC for the posting. Authored by a "Arda Ozdemir". Sorry I refuse to directly link the URL.
Posted by Dan at 03:40 PM | Comments (0)
January 10, 2006
Announcements
Good to see things I've been working upon actually announced. Congrats Apple on some amazing products.
Not sure I like the name MacBook yet, but with all change there is a required re-adjustment.
Posted by Dan at 02:07 PM | Comments (0)
January 08, 2006
Cars
It seems my luck with cars has ended. I had purchased a Subaru Forester a few years back when it became apparent I'd need it. It was rather high in milage, but seemed to run just fine. About a week ago something went "bang" while riding home, but none of us could figure out what it was. Engine temperature was fine, wheels checked, and the engine sounded like it was running normally. We attributed it to something hitting the car just right, or a passing car. This past week the "CHECK ENGINE" light came on the show me the damage. Head gasket, dead. Engine, warped. Total repair bills, about 3,000$ for a car worth about 4,000$ according to Kelly. It'd be cheaper to just buy a new engine (at about $2,000) only the cost of labor would make it not very useful for me.
Trading in a car of yours is like saying good bye to your best friend. You feel kind of like you're betraying them. As I emptied out the car of my possessions, it just felt weird. Lots of memories to go with it.
Posted by Dan at 05:53 PM | Comments (0)