This is a rant. Sorry.
I recently developed a need to have Windows at home. I need to run Solidworks on my laptop. I knew running Windows on a Mac was something you could do, but it's not something that has ever interested me. I got rid of my last PC three years ago. I've never once missed it, and i've never had a need to go back before now. So I figured, I'll just get Windows Whatever and make a partition for it, no big deal. Unfortunately, that sentiment didn't last long.
Getting used to OSX and Ubuntu then going back to Windows is like building a happy, supportive relationship then finding an abusive ex sitting next to you on a long airplane ride. From the first moment, Windows is a hassle. I can go to ubuntu.com and download fifty different versions of their OS or I can go to the Apple App Store and download OSX. A few minutes later I've flashed it onto a USB drive and I'm ready to install. For Windows, I have to go to a third-party store and order a CD. Do you know how long it has been since I've bought physical media? It's 2014 and waiting for digital content to arrive via post makes me feel stupid. On top of that, I had to borrow a plug-in CD drive. I don't even own one of those anymore.
Installation and setup were equally fun. The all-day process brought back a flood of unwanted memories. It occurred to me that OSX and Ubuntu have never required me to restart my computer half a dozen times to install a program or update (even when compiling and installing a customized Linux kernel). They both include generic drivers for most hardware (crazy, uncommon things like mice and USB drives that Windows 7 "does not recognize"). And I've never had to spend hours digging through something like RegEdit to get an off-the-shelf program working with a clean OSX or Ubuntu installation.
For better or worse, I now have three OSs installed on my Macbook Air. I use OSX for everyday tasks, Ubuntu for anything related to programming and software development, and Windows for Solidworks only. I can say that, after several weeks, I have not yet gotten a Blue Screen of Death. That's definitely an improvement over the Windows 95 - Vista that I remember, but certainly not enough to make me want Windows back. OSX, Ubuntu, I love you guys.
I recently developed a need to have Windows at home. I need to run Solidworks on my laptop. I knew running Windows on a Mac was something you could do, but it's not something that has ever interested me. I got rid of my last PC three years ago. I've never once missed it, and i've never had a need to go back before now. So I figured, I'll just get Windows Whatever and make a partition for it, no big deal. Unfortunately, that sentiment didn't last long.
Getting used to OSX and Ubuntu then going back to Windows is like building a happy, supportive relationship then finding an abusive ex sitting next to you on a long airplane ride. From the first moment, Windows is a hassle. I can go to ubuntu.com and download fifty different versions of their OS or I can go to the Apple App Store and download OSX. A few minutes later I've flashed it onto a USB drive and I'm ready to install. For Windows, I have to go to a third-party store and order a CD. Do you know how long it has been since I've bought physical media? It's 2014 and waiting for digital content to arrive via post makes me feel stupid. On top of that, I had to borrow a plug-in CD drive. I don't even own one of those anymore.
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| I apologize to my Macbook Air every time I do this |
Installation and setup were equally fun. The all-day process brought back a flood of unwanted memories. It occurred to me that OSX and Ubuntu have never required me to restart my computer half a dozen times to install a program or update (even when compiling and installing a customized Linux kernel). They both include generic drivers for most hardware (crazy, uncommon things like mice and USB drives that Windows 7 "does not recognize"). And I've never had to spend hours digging through something like RegEdit to get an off-the-shelf program working with a clean OSX or Ubuntu installation.
For better or worse, I now have three OSs installed on my Macbook Air. I use OSX for everyday tasks, Ubuntu for anything related to programming and software development, and Windows for Solidworks only. I can say that, after several weeks, I have not yet gotten a Blue Screen of Death. That's definitely an improvement over the Windows 95 - Vista that I remember, but certainly not enough to make me want Windows back. OSX, Ubuntu, I love you guys.