I've been a user of Apple computers most of my life. I've been a user of Apple computers most of my life. Over the course of the past 2 decades I have attempted to become a Linix user many, many times, but it just never was quite ready for me, or perhaps I wasn't ready for Linux. I've built kernels, tried several different 'distros', but the experience never came close to anything I witnessed on a Mac. This week I am giving it another try, and so far it looks like it might stick. I use 4 main machines in my computer life; -A MacBook Air for day to day writing and managing my 'stuff' -A MacBook Pro, which doubles as my 'road machine' for my podcast . It has very specific software installed that has taken me years to collect and configure. -A Mac-Mini that runs my studio, it has a lot of the same traits as the MBP. -A Mac Mini for my home server. It runs my Mail server, DNS and a few other typical server functions that I no longer trust 'the cloud' to provide me with. The road to moving entirely to Linux is a path to be travelled cautiously. And I'm starting with my MBA, the machine I use most on a day to day basis for my 'life stuff'. Why? Because its time. Not only did Apple's true business model really start to become visible for me with AddressBookGate , but the proposed changes to the Mac 'Experience' are no longer on par with what attracted me to the Mac in the first place. Outside of the hardware, which I still love and cherish as a work of art. The MBA is beautiful and nice to operate. I've installed Ubuntu 11.10 on the MBA and am delighted with the speed and experience. The apps I need are perfectly suitable versions or alternatives, and since my main app: The OPML Editor now runs smoothly and stable in wine-1.3 , I'm good to go. Murphy willing. So while Apple moves towards a more iOS experience with Mountain Lion, I'm moving in another direction. I'm calling my system Mountain Goat I'm documenting everything as I go, and once I'm fully satisfied with my MBA, I'll probably look at the server next, since Linux is very appropriate to run in that environment. Explaining what I mean by 'experience' is not only difficult, but very individualistic. I like keyboard commands, using the mouse as little as possible. I like speed. I like a high level of customization and organization. I want the operting system to get out of the way of what I'm doing, but being able to lift up the hood when I need to and dismantle the chassis if I feel like it. I like choice. I'm also not afraid to try things out and break stuff in the process, certainly if that will ultimately give me the results and 'experience' I desire.





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