I grew up with PCs. My first PC was an actual, original IBM PC model 5150 (which still lives, dormant for decades now, in my garage). Along the way, I worked on Commodores (VIC-20 and C-64), an Osborne, a Sinclair ZX-80, and there must have been an Apple ][ in there somewhere. But the PC [...]

I grew up with PCs. My first PC was an actual, original IBM PC model 5150 (which still lives, dormant for decades now, in my garage). Along the way, I worked on Commodores (VIC-20 and C-64), an Osborne, a Sinclair ZX-80, and there must have been an Apple ][ in there somewhere. But the PC standard won out and by the late 80s that was all I used. I went through a series of ever-more-powerful PCs, mostly home-built but some mass-market branded, for a number of years. I got to the point where I knew Windows, up through XP, like the back of the proverbial hand.

Meanwhile, Apple was evolving the Mac OS and finally released OS X, a true Unix-class OS with no legacy baggage. I watched from afar but as the OS and machines got better and better, I thought that I might be interested in making a switch–especially when Apple moved to Intel processors and it became possible to easily run Windows on Macs. Finally, I decided that when my then-current PC (a Dell Inspiron laptop) died, I'd buy a Mac notebook to replace it. Perversely, the Dell hung on for a year or two past its expected lifetime, but finally gave up the ghost when I (accidentally, I swear!) spilled most of a bowl of soup into it while working at home one day.

So I bought a MacBook Pro. I acclimated myself to OS X very quickly and was able to keep my Windows applications and workflows mostly intact with VMWare, running Windows side-by-side on OS X. But then a strange thing happened: I found I really didn't need Windows on my Mac after all. I tried keeping VMWare turned off for a week, then for a month, and then I just didn't turn it back on again and finally uninstalled it. There isn't anything that I could do on my Dell on Windows XP Pro that I can't do on my Mac, but (in my experience, as always) OS X beats Windows in the usability and stability department by a mile. And it's trite and over-used, but the Mac does indeed "just work". Things I want to do are right where I subconsciously expect them to be and work the way I instinctively want them to. There's tons of power under the hood, since OS X is a true Unix, but I don't need to deal with it unless I have to, or want to.

So yes, after years and years of being a PC, I'm a Mac.

Music. Fashion. Movies. Irresponsible teenage fun. No thanks, I'll listen to talk radio and read in a corner. I missed out on the 1980s, the whole decade, and if I could have a do-over it would be "go back and live it right".

Music. Fashion. Movies. Irresponsible teenage fun. No thanks, I'll listen to talk radio and read in a corner.

I missed out on the 1980s, the whole decade, and if I could have a do-over it would be "go back and live it right".

23:10 And now, finally, as we reach the blessed end of an insanely busy yet rather amazingly productive day, the second in a row, all I can say is # 10:11 CT Supreme Court overturns gay marriage ban: www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27117467/ # 11:44 At Strike, Cupertino, for an office lunch/party/thing. I don’t bowl. # 11:48 But it’s [...]

23:10 And now, finally, as we reach the blessed end of an insanely busy yet rather amazingly productive day, the second in a row, all I can say is #

10:11 CT Supreme Court overturns gay marriage ban: www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27117467/ #

11:44 At Strike, Cupertino, for an office lunch/party/thing. I don’t bowl. #

11:48 But it’s a few hours away from work and nobody will be going back afterwards so it could be worse. #

11:52 Some other company- I think it’s NEC- has rented half the building but is using the overall PA system for their business presentation. D … #

11:52 them? #

13:08 Very little is more boring than watching other people bowl. Can’t believe this makes successful TV. #

13:23 Random bowling music: Bonnie Tyler ~ Holding Out For A Hero #

13:24 Trivia: what short-lived early 80s TV series used that as its theme song? #

14:30 Introducing #1 and #3 to #4. #4 is being rude; #s 1 & 3 don’t care. #

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CoinOpVideoGames.com has a rather large archive of 80s arcade game sounds, downloadable in MP3 format. These are ambient arcade recordings made at various arcades throughout the 80s, and include such classics as Berzerk, GORF, and my all-time favorite Major Havoc. Thanks to SiliconValley.com for the link.

CoinOpVideoGames.com has a rather large archive of 80s arcade game sounds, downloadable in MP3 format. These are ambient arcade recordings made at various arcades throughout the 80s, and include such classics as Berzerk, GORF, and my all-time favorite Major Havoc.

Thanks to SiliconValley.com for the link.

The other day I was deep in thought about and suddenly had one of those “A-HA!” moments. It’s not that I came up with a solution to my problem, but rather I decided to forget my troubles and go watch an ’80s Norwegian music video instead. (Kim Moser, via ruminate.com)

The other day I was deep in thought about and suddenly had one of those “A-HA!” moments. It’s not that I came up with a solution to my problem, but rather I decided to forget my troubles and go watch an ’80s Norwegian music video instead.

(Kim Moser, via ruminate.com)