Twev1701.net 2002-2012

Right now it looks pretty likely that I’ll be switching from using a PC full time to using a Mac. it fascinated me why I am making he switch when I have always been a staunch supported of the PC platform. Hell, in high school I used to get into regular debates with my journalism teacher Mr. Sanders about the whole PC vs. Mac thing. To be honest, if it wasn’t for the Mac-inspired dreams that started a few weeks ago, I would still be pro-PC.

This got me to wondering what the real reason for the switch was. Was it my disappointment in Vista? Was it the fact that I was sick and tired of having to upgrade my system every few months to run the latest applications or games? Or was I just finally fed up with what a pain in the ass it is to maintain a PC? (updates, viruses, spyware, conflicting drivers, etc.)

Then I read an article by Chris Pirillo. Towards the end, I think he sums up his affection for Apple very nicely.

The power of the PC is that it can support a billion different configurations, but some of us are at the point in our lives where we only need one config to work. I’ve come to this realization, and I don’t find it sad at all – I find it uplifting.

That’s exactly where I am at right now. With the closing if i/o Computers, I don’t want to be bothered with all the carp that goes into a PC nowadays. Want a new video card for the latest game? STOP! Do you need PCI, AGP, or PCIE? Ok, you need PCIE. STOP! x8, x12, x16, etc…

See what I am getting at?

With a Mac you don’t run into that.

I remember back in the day when I was playing EverQuest and they came out the the ‘Shadows of Luclin’ expansion pack. To play this expansion, you literally needed to double the RAM in your machine. Rumor was for quite a while that review copies of the game actually came with RAM! And don’t even get me started on Crysis. Why they would make a game that literally only .01% of all PCs on this planet can play at full resolution is beyond me.

Games aside, I cannot tell you how many time I am in the middle of doing something, when all of the sudden my PC grinds to a halt. Why? My anti-virus program just decided it needed to can every single file on my system without even asking me if it was a good time. Now keep in mind, I have the program set to use the least amount of computer resources it can, and it still brings the system to it freakin’ knees. ARGH!

This is why I am seriously on the verge of walking away from the PC. I still keep mine around as a good gaming rig for all the games I have. But as for an everyday machine, I think Apple just got one more loyal customer.

Well, the stomach bug that has been plaguing my store has finally set its sights on me.

I was supposed to start work this morning at 6am. I woke up with my alarm at 4:30am, and felt like shit. I had such bad nausea that I couldn’t move. On top of that, I had a soar throat and couldn’t get warm. I laid there in bed until about 6:30am, debating if I should call off or not. There were quite a few things I needed to get done today, and I wasn’t too sure if I had any sick time left. So, I finally pushed myself out, into the shower, and then out the door to work.

The drive to work wasn’t too bad, but as soon as I got out of the car and walked across the parking lot, I knew I had made a mistake. I was walking like an old man. Just the motion from walking normally was enough to make me want to hurl. I finally made it into the building, and got done what I needed to. I checked my supply of sick time and saw that I had 6 hours built up. I waited until I was there for 2 hours, and then left to go home and back to bed. I feel less guilty going home early when I know I’m not going to loose a single dime over it.

Now, when I left the store at 9am, things had changed. We had gone form a light drizzle in the morning, to a steady freezing rain. It actually wasn’t that bad of a ride until I hit Ashley Road. For those of you unfamiliar with my area, let’s just say it is a very steep hill. Coming home, I come up on the backside of it. So, I take the road as usual, and just as I make the crest and start my decent, my eyes widened with horror. There was 2 school buses and 4 cars that were strewn about the road, all about. Some were half on the road and half off, some were stopped sideways in the lane, other just sitting there. The entire hill was covered in black ice. So, I gently start pumping my brakes and that’s when all hell broke loose. The brakes had nothing to catch on, and to make matters worse, steering on ice is like walking drunk. You may want to go left, but you tend to veer to the right. So here I am, coming down this will littered with cars and school buses, with no brakes and useless steering.

Yeah.

Somehow, I managed to slow myself down to about 15mph and steer my way through the mess. It was light piloting a flight sim, where you had to anticipate you next turn and make it well in advance hoping the vehicle would respond. Let’s just say that was a nice adrenaline rush that my upset stomach did not appreciate. But, I made it home safe and sound and that’s all that matters.

After getting home, I hoped on the computer for about an hour, and then it was to the couch for me. Jess was nice enough to go get me some fried rice for lunch (the only thing that really settles my stomach) and after that I fell asleep for a few hours while watching ‘Arrested Development’.

So, I’m of tomorrow, an still not feeling the best. I suppose that’s a good thing since it’s supposed to be a nasty day tomorrow. Tomorrow’s high is going to be 38 degrees with snow showers, rain showers, and steady 25-35mph winds. A most lovely day to stay inside and get better.

On the news of the Mac, I have to say that I am very happy with my purchase. I am starting to the understand the platform more and more, and in turn, I am liking it more and more. Although, finally owning a Mac has not helped curb my Mac dreams. I had one last night and one while I was sleeping this afternoon on the couch. I think it maybe some kind of mental sickness. This morning when the alarm went off, I looked at the time. The display on our alarm clock is round, and I swear to you as I am sitting here, al I saw was the round circle controls on the Apple Remote. Then for my dream on the couch, there was a box in my dream, and all of the sudden the corners on it rounded, it turned all white and gray, and was suddenly a big Mac mini.

I wonder what Freud would say about all of this?

The funny thing is that owning a Mac still seems very surreal to me. I feel like it’s jusy a loaner and that I have to give it back soon. But I don’t It’s mine forever!!

That just doesn’t seem possible to me.