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Every so often I get tempted to “switch.” Well, not really.. I wouldn’t be abandoning anything. Maybe just “switching” my primary non-work computer. Obviously I’m referring to buying a Mac.

If I were to get a Mac, I’d probably get the 12-inch IBook. Maybe the 12-inch PowerBook. But I’m cheap, I want good wireless reception and good battery life.. all strikes against the PowerBook. The IBook would be loaded with RAM, have wireless, and I’d throw in Bluetooth too (and then it could take with my… err… other laptop).

What is the appeal about “switching?”

1. It’s different. I’m a contrarion and this would be anti-establishment or something.
2. It’s UNIX. I find myself spending the majority of my time at a shell prompt. I use Cygwin and VIM under Windows and I run Linux on all my other machines besides my laptop. My machine at work runs Linux.
3. It’s a UNIX laptop with working power management. I could just install Linux on my current laptop but last time I checked there was still some luck and voodoo involved with power management. I’ll pass.
4. It’s pretty.

Why I don’t switch:

1. Microsoft Money. That’s also another reason I don’t install Linux on all my machines. I suppose I could run it under VirtualPC/WINE/VMWare or something. Or maybe try something like MoneyDance.
2. PalmSource’s Simulator. I use the GCC development tools for my PalmOS development, but for actual “simulation” of the device I’m dependent on the Windows-only Simulator.
3. My money. That whole cheap thing.
4. I really don’t need it (another computer, another laptop, a Mac, whatever).

And I’m not sure if I’d enjoy going from my 1680×1050 screen to a 1024×768 screen. I think I’ve talked myself out of it. Hrmmm. Darn.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, July 21st, 2004 at 12:01 am and is filed under Computers. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.