{Cheese and Beans}

Who remembers the couple of years I spent working in central London ? Who remembers the blog posts written on the train, performing character assassination of fellow commuters? They were invariably authored on the white Macbook pictured above. It’s not looking bad for 3 years old, is it.

In reality, little of this Macbook is three years old – during it’s period within warranty, it found itself being repaired more than once, and usually returned with some piece of it’s external casing replaced. Last night, after it had spent several weeks languishing in the bottom of a bag in our study I powered it up, and checked it over. I wouldn’t so much say it was slow, as perhaps volunteer that it was doing a good impersonation of a snail. Given that it had been through two operating system upgrades in it’s life, I made a rather brave decision – to wipe it.

The reasoning went something like this – if I’ve not used it for ages, there can’t be anything on it I need. Re-installing “Snow Leopard” (the Mac operating system) took about an hour last night, and then installing various apps took another hour. I’ve deliberately not installed iLife, and iWork because I’ve realised I don’t use applications much any more; I do everything online if I can.

So what is the Macbook going to get used for? Web development. While hacking away at freelance work at home, I spent far too many hours in the study, locked away from the rest of the house. Particularly in the evening, I end up not seeing my better half for days on end beyond making each other cups of tea. Not fun.

The “little Macbook that could” got another shot in the arm today in the form of a memory upgrade. Since birth it has survived rather admirably on 1 gig of RAM. That just got doubled. I’m not sure it will make a tremendous difference, but it can’t do it any harm. While writing this, it’s sat on the desk next to me, quietly installing software, and reporting 7 hours of battery life remaining. Go suck on that, Windows.

The “big” computer at home – the desktop one with printers and various other doo dads attached – is busy checking for monsters in it’s own closet. It’s been acting up for a little while, and I’m giving Microsoft the benefit of the doubt at least until the monster hunt finishes.

I have been running Windows 7 without any form of virus protection since I installed it several months ago. I never give it much thought – I don’t download email, and I don’t download hacked software from the interwebs.

If it turns out that Windows is free of nasties, I will of course focus my sights on Redmond, and begin venting scorn, spite, bile and any other unwanted fluids in it’s general direction. Exorcist style. This lone (aggravated) voice will not be noticed among the millions, but I’ll feel a whole lot better about it.

Every time I find something else wrong with Windows, I edge a little closer to Ubuntu. Before kids that sentence would have read “OSX”, but the cult of Apple is one we can no longer afford – given the regular fiscal requirements around here for shiny little shoes, jam, hair clips by the thousand, and other such little girl army paraphernalia.

I still use the Macbook. I still use the iPod. I don’t pick the iPhone up any more (even though it now exists on a pay-as-you-go SIM), mainly because it’s broken. I only know one person who’s had an iPhone that didn’t stop working properly in some way or another… I guess that’s the price of the bleeding edge.

p.s. the Blackberry still rocks – for no other reason than it just works.

In mid February, my iPhone contract runs out – I am therefore starting to think about what I will do. Anybody who knows me (in the real world) will know I have not been the biggest fan of the iPhone for quite some time;

While catching up with various online acquaintances earlier this evening I came across a friend’s post on Twitter about the Apple “Magic Mouse“. How do Apple do it? Where do they find the people who think outside the box – who carry on refining the products we thought we were happy with – who make us realise that, no, we are not the sharpest tools in the box.

I saw an interesting interview a while back, with Steve Jobs and Bill Gates (the leaders of Apple and Microsoft, respectively) talking about each other’s strengths and weaknesses. Gates remarked that he wished he had Job’s sense of style. Microsoft might make the best general purpose office software, but Apple have consistently over the last 10 years built hardware (and software with OSX) that has changed the game for everybody else.

Apple has become a brand associated with innovation, quality, and style. Where others follow, Apple lead – they told us we no longer needed the floppy drive with the original iMac – they also told us we didn’t need an optical drive any more with the MacBook Air. Their record and reputation means they can charge a premium for their products, but also means that the best in their field aspire to work there. Such global brands are rare – FA Porsche and Pininfarina spring to mind.

How can I possibly buy one of these mice to accompany my battered and weary Macbook? It would feel like pushing silver cuff links through the scruffy cuffs of a well worn sweater.

Look at that mouse though… it has multi-touch too!

Damn you Apple.

Graze (www.graze.com) and the british postal service combined overnight to deliver snacks to me, so I thought it only right that I should do an “unboxing” post to show you what they sent.

I’m also trying not to sit here and eat it all right now.

The box

It fitted though the letterbox!

Opening the lid

you get several money-off vouchers for friends

Uncovering the goodies

Neatly sealed in recycled plastic trays… looks very bento like.

Roasted seed mix

yum!

Yoghurt coated raisins

These aren’t going to last long with me around…

Apple Strudel

Not quite sure what I’m going to find in here, but it seems wrong to open it before the rest has gone?

Seaweed peanut crackers

I’ve left a few for Wendy (more on this later)

Now I just need to explain to Wendy why I’ve eaten nearly all the peanuts while writing this (she loves seaweed and peanuts, so having the combination will make her do loop the loops).

Of course I’m only sharing this box because Wendy has ordered her own, which will be delivered twice during the week to try and avoid eating so much other rubbish. I might do the same, and take them to work with me.

While people might think this is incredibly extravagant, you try having three kids, a career, and still have time to go and buy/make everything the most efficient way… I am willing to buy solutions to some things.

If you would like to try Graze (www.graze.com) for free, visit the site and use the promo code HR4ZBWGN