Sleeping With The Enemy

~ Twindaddy

WARNING: This post reeks of geekery. Read at your own risk.

Ask any geek what operating system they use and you’ll get one three answers: Windows, MacOS, or Linux-based. I’ve used Windows for over 20 years. Before that I used DOS. I’ve used Microsoft operating systems my entire life with the exception of a couple of classes in grade school. I’ve used Windows 2.9, 3.1, 98, XP, Vista, 7, and 8. I even had a Windows phone for a couple of years. Microsoft damn near had a monopoly on operating systems for a while. It may not be the best OS available, but it’s the one I know and I can fix it when it breaks.

Since the launch of the iPod, Apple has made a huge impact on our lives. The iPhone, iPad, OSX, Macbooks, and more have made Apple the richest company on the planet.

Good for them, right?

Except…I don’t like Apple. It has nothing to do with their products, but everything to do with their fanboys. There is a hardcore group of diehard Apple fanboys who will tell you without end how fantastic Apple products are while decrying every competitor’s product as sub-par, inept, and/or downright shitty. They openly mock people who aren’t one of them.

Because of tools like that I refused to ever own a Mac product, which I guess makes me as bad as them, in a way. Oh, well. I use Windows for my PC gaming. I recently began learning Linux systems for professional purposes and to satiate my geeky curiosities. My smart phones and tablets run Android. I never once considered buying an Apple product because I didn’t want to be seen as one of those arrogant MacBoys whom I despise.

Recently, I started a new job. Specifically, that job is to provide IT support for a small school district in southeast Indiana. One of the reasons I took this job is to learn new technologies. The school district uses iPads in their elementary and middle schools, which means I’m going to have to learn how to use an iPad.

And so it is that I’m writing this post on an iPad provided by the school so I can learn how to use it.

Sigh. I feel so dirty.

To be honest, I’m not going to say that this is an awful product. I’d be surprised if it were. Apple didn’t become the richest company on the planet by selling shitty devices. Maybe it’s because I’m used to them, but I still prefer my Android devices as of this moment. One of the biggest differences, to me at any rate, is navigating through the operating system. iPads (and iPhones for that matter) only have one button. That button takes you back to the home screen from wherever you are. That, as far as I can tell, is all that button does. On Android devices, there is always a window management, home, and back button available whether it’s a physical button on the device or buttons on the touchscreen. Those buttons making navigating Android so much easier. The back button especially.

I’ll continue stumbling my way through this device and learn it thoroughly, as it’s now my job to do. Who knows? Maybe I’ll come to like it. Then the next thing I’ll be bitching about is wanting an iPad but not being able to afford one. Why are those things so damned expensive?

PS. The WordPress app on iPad is even worse than the Android one. WTF? I had to finish this post in Safari…

audience_participation_time
What operating system do you prefer on your computers? Do you have mobile devices? Are they Apple or Android?

Published by Twindaddy

Sometimes funny. Sometimes serious. Always genuine.

59 thoughts on “Sleeping With The Enemy”

  1. I used a Mac years (decades) ago, and liked it. But I’ve made my living maintaining Windows.
    Apple is a little too…arrogant(?) for me, and I do the bare minimum to restore functionality to one of their products when I need to.
    On office laptops, we have them install a Windows vm on their airbooks, since our entire user environment is Windows. I do have Linux running on a laptop for my own amusement.

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        1. I’m running Fedora on a laptop and Mint on a desktop. I think I prefer Mint (or any of the other Ubuntu based distros) because there just seems to be more repos and software for them. Do you have a preference?

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          1. Not really. I’m not doing anything unusual with them – scripting mostly, to get a feel for the syntax.
            Though I like the Ubuntu desktop more.

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  2. So. I am a total Apple girl. I will never* buy a non-Apple computer. When I was in 3rd grade, my dad bought the very first Apple (I think it was a IIe) and I took programming classes with him and was HOOKED. Over the years, I’ve used PCs at work with Windows on them and well. I’m just a Steve Jobs girl. I think that Bill stole the idea for Windows from Steve and I don’t have facts to back that up. Also I think that the way Windows buries files in folder after folder is annoying as hell and that Apple is easier. I have a 10-year old Apple Cinema Display while my husband is on his 3rd Dell/ whatever. I am typing now from my MacBook Air. I got the first iPhone the second day it was out and have three iPads in this house. We have Apple TV.
    Also funny story – back oh I dunno when – before the iPod was invented, everybody said that Apple was going to go out of business. Steve had left and it was looking grim for them. I told my dad I wanted to buy Apple stock. He asked me why and I said that I believed in the company and wanted to show my support. He told me that was a stupid and emotional reason to buy stock and I didn’t. Today, I tell him that he owes me about $900,000 because back then Apple stock was worth NOTHING. Am I annoying you yet? Anyway, I LOVE Apple. Like, love. I find it so much more intuitive. Also at one job I had in the 90’s, I had an Apple and PC both on my desk because back then the files weren’t as compatible as they are now. I used to run tests using Photoshop (I also love Adobe) to see what was faster. Apple always won. Now I realize that maybe it wasn’t apples to apples (hehe) as I’m not sure that both were the state-of-the-art at the time. Anyway. Oops sorry my own geek is showing and I think it’s time to run to the um

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    1. Haha! Wow.

      A couple of guys at work have Macbooks and I’ve been looking over their shoulders. To be honest, OSX looks a LOT like the Linux operating systems I’ve been tinkering around with lately, which makes sense since they are both based on Unix.

      Macs may be great products, but it’s hard for me to see spending SO MUCH on a Mac (or iPhone or iPad) when I can get something that’s just as good and can do the same things for much less.

      I’m still feeling my way around the iPad, but right now I still like Android better. It’s just easier to navigate for me.

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      1. Ok well to my point that my same Cinema Display still works lovely after 10 years (I only got the laptop because lifestyle made me want to be able to write and cruise fb and read TD from the sofa that’s a level up from my office) when my husband has bought top of the line non-Apples and has been through THREE while mine still works… maybe that means that Apple is less expensive in the long run? 😉 Also said with love and hugs and not douchbaggery.

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        1. Haha. I know you’re not being a douchebag.

          I was browsing prices the other day, and it’s just astounding how much more Apple products are than their counterparts. I just can’t imagine paying $1500 for a laptop.

          Oh, well. To each their own, right?

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  5. Scott. I am convinced that you and my husband are long lost relatives. First, you kinda look alike, bald head and all (no offense, man). Second, he could have written this post verbatim, right up to the part where my Android-loving husband is now the iPad guy for an elementary/middle school. It’s kinda fa-reak-eeeeeee. I enjoyed the post and I enjoyed reading it to the geek across the table, who nodded and smiled and “yupped” all the way through.

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  7. I am a Windows/Android girl myself. Probably because when you as a Windows user how they like it, they say, “Yeah, it’s good.” But when you ask a Mac user, they go, “Oh my god, it’s so superior, You HAVE to get one.” And mostly, I just don’t like being told what to do. 🙂

    And that’s about as geeky as my computer talk gets. I didn’t even know anything called Linux existed.

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  8. I’ve never used Apple. Wow, 1,500$ for a laptop? I spent that waaay back when laptops were new. It was HP with Windows OS and topish of the line, with only 512 mb of something or other and dial up. Young and dumb.

    It’s awesome that you are able to learn new OS and PL. It will only enhance your geekiness! 😀

    PS. If WP is difficult to use on the I pad or phone, fugeddaboudit. Droid is difficult enough.

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  9. I feel you. I don’t have apple. honestly it is just too expensive. My little Blackberry phone keeps crashing on me and is not so fab for blogging. I have thus decided that I need to invest in a bigger phone (bigger as in more Space, quicker internet usage etc) .

    A i phone will cost me N$12’000 and that is a shit load of money. Money quite frankly I don’t have. Next problem we don’t get all the nicest smartphones here. So I ask my sis to check if what a Blackberry passport will cost over there. Cause, I’ve kind of fallen in love with the device. I like Blackberry. Had blackberry for the last few years, and have never been unhappy. Only ever once has there been an app that I was not able to get on BB and they have now solved that problem by offering android apps via amazon.

    My sis is an apple fan. “so why don’t you get an i phone? we can call each-other for free then!” Oh very tempting, but still I think I would rather go for N$5’000 (still a shitload of money) rather than N$12’000. Plus I love BB.

    My hubby is an android fan. He tried using apple and after a few days tossed it. Apple is crazy with its prices….. and well, I’m not all too impressed.
    🙂

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    1. Blackberries are okay. I have used them in the past and even had to manage them at a job I had a few years ago. They are dependable, but I would definitely not pick it over an Android or iPhone.

      Is there not a version of Skype for Blackberry you can use to call your sister for free?

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      1. Skype uses data. Data is expensive, for mobile usage. I’ve got unlimited data at home but yea, it is slow. 🙂 And I’m not always at home.

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  12. I would be one of those people who has no idea about anything in this post. I just turn on my computer or laptop and expect it to work. I’ve never used anything that gets labeled as a “device” before…

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  15. Once I went Mac I never went back. My husband is more like you in his refusal to dive into the Apple world. He hates the iPhone, my Mac and dare I say… the iPad. He just got himself a Lenovo tablet, and I must say (without hime hearing me) that it is better than the iPad.
    It’s good to learn something new, especially on someone else’s dime. So enjoy your learning experience.

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    1. Like I said, I don’t think its a horrible product, I just find Android easier to navigate.

      As for Mac, I could probably find my way around a Mac fairly easily after seeing how similar Macs and Linux systems are. I do like learning something new, even if it is Apple. 😉

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  16. Eventually, we all must sleep with the enemy at some point in our lives. I guess this is your time. We won’t judge you, don’t worry. I agree with you about the back button. That is one thing I miss after switching from Android to iPhone. Once does get used to it after a while but still. Make sure you take a good shower every day when you get home. 🙂

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  17. It does depend on what you’re used to, doesn’t it? On my old laptop, I had a dual boot of Ubuntu and XP. I’ve not tried to put Ubuntu on the new laptop yet, but it’s Windows 7 and is quite happy.

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  18. I don’t think I’ve ever felt so lost in a thread. Who is Linux?

    Kidding. I really don’t know what it is but I do know it’s not a who. I’m an Android. Used to be an Apple and my kids still are but I love my Android. I don’t use a tablet at all and I use my phone for blogging…um….never. I don’t even like to read blog posts or comment from it. I don’t really even have a good reason why.

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    1. I prefer to use a computer for those things but if I’m out or C is playing a game on the computer I’ll use my phone or tablet to do those things.

      And, yes, android FTW!

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Deposit 2 cents here