From: Alan Gutierrez <alan-ruby-talk@...>
Date: 2005-10-05T05:21:56+09:00
Subject: Re: OFF Topics :: PC-laptop or Powerbook

* Bob Aman <vacindak@gmail.com> [2005-10-04 15:26]:
> On 10/4/05, Squeak Smalltalk <wallenberg@gmail.com> wrote:
> > Hi,
> >
> > I will change job soon and I have to decide which type of laptop
> > I want.  I have always had pc-laptops.

> > But I see that a lot of ruby programers use powerbooks.

> > If you use a powerbook give me some advice ?

> I adore my 12" Powerbook, but if I had it to do over again, I would
> probably look for a photobag that fit the 15" Powerbook instead of
> looking for a Powerbook that fit the 13" sleeve in my photobag.

    Half the fun of a powerbook is chosing a sweet bag to go with
    it...

    http://www.chromebags.com/citizen.php - Chome (Mine!)
    http://www.crumplerbags.com/cartIndex.php?catId=7 - Crumpler
    http://www.timbuk2.com/ - Timbuk3

> If you *must* get a Windows laptop, IBM is the only manufacturer I'd
> even consider looking at.  The IBM laptop I have is the only laptop
> I've ever owned that simply has never required any service at all. 

    Indeed. IBM is a good option for PC laptops. I don't like choice
    in commoditites, and would simply get a Thinkpad.

    Few PC laptop manf. understand that laptops sit on furniture.
    A good laptop has soft, fuzzy feet. If it doesn't, don't trust
    them to get the insides right.

> And finally, are you sure you want a laptop?  My brother got a laptop
> before going off to college, and I believe he's moved it from its desk
> maybe twice.  Desktops are always cheaper, and much faster.  They're
> just not as fashionable.

    I'm sure the OP wants a laptop, but, sort of in the same vein..

    If you are going to get a low end Dell or Gateway, just get a
    desktop. A 5kg laptop is bad your back. The low end laptops are
    fitted with desktop processors, thristy processors. The extra
    battery you'll carry will mean your rig is going to weigh 10kg
    or something crazy. 

    If the core unit is not light, like 2.5kg (guessing at the
    metric, btw) you won't want to move your laptop, it will sit on
    your desk, so don't pile on features in to a cheap PC laptop.

> But yes, Powerbooks in general are highly recommended.  It's hard to
> describe beyond, "They just feel right."  And they certainly play
> nicely with Ruby.

    The reality is that on OS X, I have more applications available
    to me. In Windows, I was constantly struggling to get some open
    source jewel to build correctly.
    
    It's like having two computers in one.
    
    I can run Ruby, Apache, vi, mutt, slrn, Perl, and shell
    programs. Everything from open source land now builds on it with
    a ./configure && make or similiar.

    Then I have iTunes, iPhoto, an excellent DVD player,
    NetNewsWire, OmniGraffle, Safari and Firefox. 

    The DVD player, it makes me think of the many hours spent
    reinstalling the DVD player on my old PC laptop. It would forget
    that it was licensed in the middle of film, just, suddenly, it
    would go, hey, did you license me? You really should go visit my
    web site and register me. I'll wait.

    If you choose to go OS X, you can stop shopping and choose your
    Powerbook right now. It will have great apps, long battery life,
    it will be light, it will be well manufactured. You don't have
    to shop for what should be given.

    If you buy a Powerbook, you are literally buying time.

    Cheers.

--
Alan Gutierrez - alan@engrm.com - http://engrm.com/blogometer/