Last week I had the pleasure of attending the Raleigh area Ruby users Meetup. It was very interesting and very informative. I did feel a bit out of place when we noticed that of the 11-12 people there, I was the only one with a PC laptop. The rest were shiny macs. Ah well, I need to replace this thing soon, and now that BootCamp is out, I really have no more excuses. This way I can test against most of the major browser/OS combos on the same machine! Still, I wonder what it is about Rails and Macs. _Kevin -- Posted with http://DevLists.com. Sign up and save your mailbox.
I got a Powerbook recently and thought it was awesome at first - everything''s already built in, everything just works, great hardware, lots of great software, no crapware (like all the AOL et al stuff Dell installs). But I think I''m in a bit of that adjusting-phase funk: Getting used to fewer keys (no backspace, page up/down home/end keys); getting used to more keys (fn, ctrl, alt/option, apple/clover thingy, eject); mouse that''s too slow (had to install MS Intellipoint); feeling more isolated because of less available software, or lagging/kludgy software (Open Office). But I hear this phase passes :). Joe -- Posted via http://www.ruby-forum.com/.
Joe, I think you should look at your Powerbook a little closer, as the delete key works just like backspace and page up and down are on the arrow keys, as well as the home/end keys. Also, why use OpenOffice when you can buy MS Office for Mac? I have felt no lose moving from a PC to a Mac, you just have to figure out the name conversions of a few things. John On 4/16/06, Joe <joe@yahoo.com> wrote:> > I got a Powerbook recently and thought it was awesome at first - > everything''s already built in, everything just works, great hardware, > lots of great software, no crapware (like all the AOL et al stuff Dell > installs). But I think I''m in a bit of that adjusting-phase funk: > Getting used to fewer keys (no backspace, page up/down home/end keys); > getting used to more keys (fn, ctrl, alt/option, apple/clover thingy, > eject); mouse that''s too slow (had to install MS Intellipoint); feeling > more isolated because of less available software, or lagging/kludgy > software (Open Office). But I hear this phase passes :). > > Joe > > -- > Posted via http://www.ruby-forum.com/. > _______________________________________________ > Rails mailing list > Rails@lists.rubyonrails.org > http://lists.rubyonrails.org/mailman/listinfo/rails >-- John Hornbeck -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://wrath.rubyonrails.org/pipermail/rails/attachments/20060417/37febca8/attachment.html
Not interested in buying MS Office - I don''t use office stuff much (just spreadsheets), have OO files, and don''t wanna give any more money to MS. Neo Office seems to do what I need (OO version 1.x). OO 2 apparently works on Mac, but installing X looks like more trouble than it''s worth. Yeah, fn+arrow keys does paging, I found out. Ah, just figured out fn+delete=backspace. Cool. Seems like the Mac''s ctrl and apple keys could be combined. Still haven''t figured out why there are two enter keys. Joe -- Posted via http://www.ruby-forum.com/.
Hi Joe, I just switched a couple of weeks ago as well. Other than my left hand cooking while the machine''s plugged in, I''m pretty happy with it. I know I can take it in for a replacement but I''m waiting for them to sort out all the issues before I do that. One thing I''ve been playing with is Parallels which allows your to run windows in a ... window. So far I''ve only tried Explorer which worked great. At $50 it''s a no-brainer. I also installed Debian on Parallels. At one point, I had all three OSes running on the same machine at the same time! The Mac is definitely THE developer machine these days. On 4/16/06, Joe <joe@yahoo.com> wrote:> I got a Powerbook recently and thought it was awesome at first - > everything''s already built in, everything just works, great hardware, > lots of great software, no crapware (like all the AOL et al stuff Dell > installs). But I think I''m in a bit of that adjusting-phase funk: > Getting used to fewer keys (no backspace, page up/down home/end keys); > getting used to more keys (fn, ctrl, alt/option, apple/clover thingy, > eject); mouse that''s too slow (had to install MS Intellipoint); feeling > more isolated because of less available software, or lagging/kludgy > software (Open Office). But I hear this phase passes :). > > Joe > > -- > Posted via http://www.ruby-forum.com/. > _______________________________________________ > Rails mailing list > Rails@lists.rubyonrails.org > http://lists.rubyonrails.org/mailman/listinfo/rails >
On Mon, 17 Apr 2006, Joe wrote:> Still haven''t figured out why there are two enter keys.There aren''t -- there''s a return key and an enter key, and the return key generates an enter when chorded with fn. But what''s the difference? What''s supposed to happen is that the Enter key is used to commit or end a modal interface, while return is to let you type in more than one line. For example, if you had a program that had a textarea -- let''s say, order comments -- and a button to Save the order, the return key should let you type multiline comments. But enter is bound to the Save key, so you can be in anywhere in the form and hit enter and the form is dismissed with the default action. The reality is this distinction is rarely if ever followed (eg, Apple Remote Desktop 2 doesn''t do it). --Jim
Sounds like you got a MacBook Pro ;). The ones I checked out at the Apple store were REALLY hot to the touch when playing video. I debated getting one, but figured I''d avoid the first generation issues (heat, whining sound, screen flicker at low light, etc.), save money, have more slots (modem, pc card, s-video, etc.) and have more vertical screen resolution (60 pixels more). Joe -- Posted via http://www.ruby-forum.com/.
Jim Zajkowski wrote:> On Mon, 17 Apr 2006, Joe wrote: > >> Still haven''t figured out why there are two enter keys. > > There aren''t -- there''s a return key and an enter key, and the return > key generates an enter when chorded with fn. > > But what''s the difference? > > What''s supposed to happen is that the Enter key is used to commit or end > a > modal interface, while return is to let you type in more than one line. > > For example, if you had a program that had a textarea -- let''s say, > order > comments -- and a button to Save the order, the return key should let > you > type multiline comments. But enter is bound to the Save key, so you can > be in anywhere in the form and hit enter and the form is dismissed with > the default action. > > The reality is this distinction is rarely if ever followed (eg, Apple > Remote Desktop 2 doesn''t do it). > > --JimAh, thanks for explaining that. I Googled a bit and didn''t find anything. Joe -- Posted via http://www.ruby-forum.com/.
One other thing ;) - I hate the PowerBook''s half-sized arrow and function keys. Joe -- Posted via http://www.ruby-forum.com/.
> Still, I wonder what it is about Rails and Macs.my theory is it''s the combination of Unix power with commercial GUI zero-install convenience. it may also be that Apple computers are simply more beautiful and less hassle. Rails is a framework which prioritizes aesthetics in its code and strives to eliminate inconveniences and irritating wastes of time. if you''re looking to eliminate inconveniences and irritating wastes of time, purging Windows from your life makes a great deal of sense. also, Apple''s historically always been favored in the graphic design world, and that''s the world Rails comes from and optimizes for. I had a Mac back when I did production art for graphic design firms. then I switched to PC because all the corporate types I had to deal with kept complaining about my Mac. this was a while ago, and lately I''m beginning to wonder -- maybe the fact that the Mac alienated corporate types in those days was actually a feature rather than a bug. anyway, today I have a Linux server and a Windows desktop, so an Apple latop is the next logical step, and I am looking forward to it, but I might as well take this opportunity to make the standard disclaimer against platform prejudice: the more tools you can use, the better off you are. every platform has its strengths. be considerate to people who use different computers, code in different languages, or wear unusual clothes. look both ways before crossing the street. clean your room. brush your teeth. return your library books. ok, I feel better now. -- Giles Bowkett http://www.gilesgoatboy.org
On Apr 17, 2006, at 8:35 AM, Giles Bowkett wrote:> the more tools you can use, the better off > you are. every platform has its strengths.Interesting. I wonder if Andr? Watts, or Picasso feel hindered and limited by their use of a Piano and Paintbrush, respectively. :-) -- -- Tom Mornini
Hindered? Probably not. Poor? Quite probably. On Monday, April 17, 2006, at 11:08 AM, Tom Mornini wrote:>On Apr 17, 2006, at 8:35 AM, Giles Bowkett wrote: > >> the more tools you can use, the better off >> you are. every platform has its strengths. > >Interesting. I wonder if Andr? Watts, or Picasso feel hindered and >limited by their use of a Piano and Paintbrush, respectively. :-) > >-- >-- Tom Mornini > >_______________________________________________ >Rails mailing list >Rails@lists.rubyonrails.org >http://lists.rubyonrails.org/mailman/listinfo/rails_Kevin -- Posted with http://DevLists.com. Sign up and save your mailbox.
On Apr 17, 2006, at 12:11 PM, Kevin Olbrich wrote:> Hindered? Probably not. > Poor? Quite probably.I have absolutely no idea what you mean by this. I''m quite certain that Picasso did, and Andr? Watts does, quite well financially. Did I misunderstand? -- -- Tom Mornini> On Monday, April 17, 2006, at 11:08 AM, Tom Mornini wrote: >> On Apr 17, 2006, at 8:35 AM, Giles Bowkett wrote: >> >>> the more tools you can use, the better off >>> you are. every platform has its strengths. >> >> Interesting. I wonder if Andr? Watts, or Picasso feel hindered and >> limited by their use of a Piano and Paintbrush, respectively. :-)
Kevin Olbrich wrote:> Still, I wonder what it is about Rails and Macs.Doing Rails development on Windows isn''t nearly as nice as doing it on a un*x system. Plus there''s a lot to be said for developing on an OS that is similar to your production environment, and most people developing with Rails would be shooting for some flavor of un*x in production. That said, if you want a laptop that runs un*x, Mac is the best option. I find it interesting that the stats for my blog (which is mostly Rails stuff) show more Mac browsers than Windows, and about half as many Linux browsers as Windows. Oh yeah, Firefox also spanks every other browser in the stats. Internet Exploder doesn''t even make the short list! -- Josh Susser http://blog.hasmanythrough.com -- Posted via http://www.ruby-forum.com/.
Hey, Picasso was also a successful sculptor, and before he developed his Cubist style, he mastered realistic drawing. I don''t actually know who Andre Watts is, but all of the best musicians I''ve met have played multiple instruments, including high school friends who today sing opera professionally. But whatever, it''s a tangent, use what you want! :-) Giles On 4/17/06, Tom Mornini <tmornini@infomania.com> wrote:> On Apr 17, 2006, at 8:35 AM, Giles Bowkett wrote: > > > the more tools you can use, the better off > > you are. every platform has its strengths. > > Interesting. I wonder if Andr? Watts, or Picasso feel hindered and > limited by their use of a Piano and Paintbrush, respectively. :-) > > -- > -- Tom Mornini > > _______________________________________________ > Rails mailing list > Rails@lists.rubyonrails.org > http://lists.rubyonrails.org/mailman/listinfo/rails >-- Giles Bowkett http://www.gilesgoatboy.org
Actually, I find that developing on Windows and deploying on un*x disciplines me to avoid putting OS- and machine-dependent things in my code. There is only one line in my entire first deployed app that is in any way, shape or form specific to any OS or machine environment: a single file path pointing to where I have file_column store images on the production server. As a result, I''m confident that I can deploy my apps on any OS in any type of environment (shared hosting, VPS or dedicated) with no modifications at all. That''s sort of neat. Josh Susser wrote:> Kevin Olbrich wrote: > >> Still, I wonder what it is about Rails and Macs. > > Doing Rails development on Windows isn''t nearly as nice as doing it on a > un*x system. Plus there''s a lot to be said for developing on an OS that > is similar to your production environment, and most people developing > with Rails would be shooting for some flavor of un*x in production. That > said, if you want a laptop that runs un*x, Mac is the best option. > > I find it interesting that the stats for my blog (which is mostly Rails > stuff) show more Mac browsers than Windows, and about half as many Linux > browsers as Windows. Oh yeah, Firefox also spanks every other browser in > the stats. Internet Exploder doesn''t even make the short list! > > -- > Josh Susser > http://blog.hasmanythrough.com-- Posted via http://www.ruby-forum.com/.
Kevin Olbrich wrote:> Still, I wonder what it is about Rails and Macs.One word: Textmate On 4/17/06, Steve Koppelman <hatlessnyc@yahoo.com> wrote:> Actually, I find that developing on Windows and deploying on un*x > disciplines me to avoid putting OS- and machine-dependent things in my > code. There is only one line in my entire first deployed app that is in > any way, shape or form specific to any OS or machine environment: a > single file path pointing to where I have file_column store images on > the production server. > > As a result, I''m confident that I can deploy my apps on any OS in any > type of environment (shared hosting, VPS or dedicated) with no > modifications at all. That''s sort of neat. > > Josh Susser wrote: > > Kevin Olbrich wrote: > > > >> Still, I wonder what it is about Rails and Macs. > > > > Doing Rails development on Windows isn''t nearly as nice as doing it on a > > un*x system. Plus there''s a lot to be said for developing on an OS that > > is similar to your production environment, and most people developing > > with Rails would be shooting for some flavor of un*x in production. That > > said, if you want a laptop that runs un*x, Mac is the best option. > > > > I find it interesting that the stats for my blog (which is mostly Rails > > stuff) show more Mac browsers than Windows, and about half as many Linux > > browsers as Windows. Oh yeah, Firefox also spanks every other browser in > > the stats. Internet Exploder doesn''t even make the short list! > > > > -- > > Josh Susser > > http://blog.hasmanythrough.com > > > -- > Posted via http://www.ruby-forum.com/. > _______________________________________________ > Rails mailing list > Rails@lists.rubyonrails.org > http://lists.rubyonrails.org/mailman/listinfo/rails >
Interesting, didn''t know that about Picasso. Andre Watts is a pianist. A very good Pianist. :-) I think I made my point. If I wasn''t clear, the point was this: Use what you need to use to be successful, where success is measured in any way you want it to be. :-) -- -- Tom Mornini On Apr 17, 2006, at 1:15 PM, Giles Bowkett wrote:> Hey, Picasso was also a successful sculptor, and before he developed > his Cubist style, he mastered realistic drawing. I don''t actually know > who Andre Watts is, but all of the best musicians I''ve met have played > multiple instruments, including high school friends who today sing > opera professionally. But whatever, it''s a tangent, use what you want! > :-) > > Giles > > > On 4/17/06, Tom Mornini <tmornini@infomania.com> wrote: >> On Apr 17, 2006, at 8:35 AM, Giles Bowkett wrote: >> >>> the more tools you can use, the better off >>> you are. every platform has its strengths. >> >> Interesting. I wonder if Andr? Watts, or Picasso feel hindered and >> limited by their use of a Piano and Paintbrush, respectively. :-) >> >> -- >> -- Tom Mornini >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Rails mailing list >> Rails@lists.rubyonrails.org >> http://lists.rubyonrails.org/mailman/listinfo/rails >> > > > -- > Giles Bowkett > http://www.gilesgoatboy.org > _______________________________________________ > Rails mailing list > Rails@lists.rubyonrails.org > http://lists.rubyonrails.org/mailman/listinfo/rails
Oops, I was thinking of a different artist, who was unappreciated in his time. On Monday, April 17, 2006, at 12:15 PM, Tom Mornini wrote:>On Apr 17, 2006, at 12:11 PM, Kevin Olbrich wrote: > >> Hindered? Probably not. >> Poor? Quite probably. > >I have absolutely no idea what you mean by this. > >I''m quite certain that Picasso did, and Andr? Watts does, >quite well financially. > >Did I misunderstand? > >-- >-- Tom Mornini > >> On Monday, April 17, 2006, at 11:08 AM, Tom Mornini wrote: >>> On Apr 17, 2006, at 8:35 AM, Giles Bowkett wrote: >>> >>>> the more tools you can use, the better off >>>> you are. every platform has its strengths. >>> >>> Interesting. I wonder if Andr? Watts, or Picasso feel hindered and >>> limited by their use of a Piano and Paintbrush, respectively. :-) > >_______________________________________________ >Rails mailing list >Rails@lists.rubyonrails.org >http://lists.rubyonrails.org/mailman/listinfo/rails_Kevin -- Posted with http://DevLists.com. Sign up and save your mailbox.