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I’ve never actually owned a mac..

I guess right up until now.

It was a gift.  I didn’t buy one.  Had no memory or hard-drives but hell, those are cheap right?

Had no operating system….  Not as cheap but still easily doable.  (*WAY* cheaper than Windows – Score 1 for Apple)

I’m installing to an older PowerMac G5.  Single CPU, 4G of ram.   Not fancy but I’m also not spending $1,500 on this little experiment.  I also bought an actual Apple keyboard and mouse, simply becuase I figure if I’m going to experience it, I’m going to experience it right.  They’re cute, but Apple must be pretty proud of them, because I’ve never paid $50 for a wired mouse in my life.  (The “Magic Mouse” was $69 and I briefly considered it before realizing that this “free” mac has already cost me about $500 in parts)

Oh – The reason it was a giveaway?  Bad power supply.  Ebay fetched me a *NEW* one for $125 and while it, at first, seemed bigger than the place it was supposed to fit, once it was in it was pretty slick.

I’ve been called inflexibile in the past.  Someone who doesn’t bend from what he thinks he knows.  I’ve argued against Macs as being “Toys” and “Not ready for Business” and saying that I’m “Not ready to contribute to the Steve Jobs Buy-Me-A-New-Organ” fund.

Ok the last part is still true.  I don’t care for Steve Jobs, I think he’s way too much ego for one (allegedly) human being.

I’ve been a Windows person for a long time, MCSE certified (lapsed & I haven’t put it on my resume in years because it’s not the work I want)  though I will *ALWAYS* prefer some kind of Linux/Unix under the covers.  There is just so much more you can do with a Linux desktop without dropping a dime.  (My Dell runs Ubuntu 10.10)

So fate presented me with a gift of a Macintosh, I decided that I would spend 30 days using it as my primary computer, wherever possible, and see how I like it.  I’ll document it here, this being the place to document things like this.  If I still hate it at the end of 30 days, at least I’ll be able to sound like I know what I’m talking about when I blast people for the ‘toys’ they use.

(Next think you know I’ll be saying I support using tape as primary storage…) 

(No, that won’t be happening)

So far so good.  The thing is whisper quiet, which is a HUGE plus for me.  (It’s hard to have conference calls with a jet-engine sitting on your desk.  The Precision 690 I replaced my last desktop with is better, but still not perfect. (and throws a *LOT* of heat.)

It’s taken about an hour and a half to install the OS.  I’m attributing that to the single CPU and older system.  I’m sure the newer ones run faster.  If Apple wants to send me a free one I’ll be sure to comment on how fast it is.

I’m replacing my desktop with this for one main reason.  My goal is to force myself to use it wherever possible.  I have my Dell running Linux and an HP running Win7 should it significantly impede my ability to work.

Gotta run, the install just finsihed.