My desktop is a dinosaur... custom built computer from 2005 or so. Single core CPU!!!! Yeah, I'm old school like that. Maybe one year my parents will let me upgrade to a new computer

I also have an HP laptop and a Toshiba netbook.

My humanoid meat-based housemate has a computer running Win7. I really like it, I just wish it didn't look so much like the last gen or three of MacOS.

The funny thing is, I was a HUGE Mac fan, cos that was the computer for artists and musicians for so long, until their price started to needlessly exceed their power and abilities. Now it's a pseudo-artiste bourgeousie hipster status symbol to own and operate a Mac as one's primary computer. I can easily build a high-quality PC with the same or greater potential than the best Macs on the market, and for about half the price. The status of being a "Mac user" just isn't worth it to me, any-more.



I'm really looking for a good, albeit inexpensive laptop so that I can write while travelling. A netbook would probably do me OK, since I don't need it to do anything more than run MSWord and FireFox. I know what I need it to do, I just need to know one thing:

Is an actual laptop bag necessary, or in your experience (or anybody's experience, honestly) can most lappies stand up to the average messenger bag, assuming it can fit well?

All depends what else you are cramming into your bag.
If there are other hard objects (PSU with plug etc) then it's likely that the outer casing will get scratched.
A neoprene laptop sleeve may be a useful investment.

I tend to put my netbook in a sleeve because the sleeve is pretty, lol. But, if you have a bag that fits it and you don't plan on throwing the bag around, you don't need a laptop bag or anything. I technically have one for the laptop, but when I take it to campus, I either carry it in a hand or have it in my backpack under all the books. It's really your preference what you wish to do, but the carrying bag isn't necessary.

EDIT: And gothicpreston also brings up a good point that if you keep the power cable in the same compartment as the laptop, the case can get scratched up. Mine is a little scratched, but due to a different reason (I had it sitting on my backpack under a chair in class and the chair scratched it when I moved ).

Meat based I've never used any Mac OS so I can't say I like it or hate it. I have used Linux and I really love it, except for the fact that I'm a big gamer and I don't trust Wine for that.

He works for the LiquidWeb server hosting company (they're based here in Lansing, Michigan, and just last year opened up a centre in Phoenix, Arizona). He doesn't have work business cards, but he has them for home phone number and his mobile, mainly to pass out at company parties to people he might want to game with at later dates. His calling card says "Autonomous Meat Robot" under his name.

As much as to a "PC" user it may seem that its about the "Status" of being a Mac user. I've never seen it that way. Although it was in 'design school' that I started using Mac, I've never switched back. For me now it's all about the software. You're right, on the hardware level you can purchase the same equipment for a pretty good price, however the difference is usually in the things you don't include or choose to leave out. Every 6-8 months or so I price out an iMac with equal quality parts and components on the PC side, and the price almost always comes out higher. The difference is that a lot of PC users don't put things in like BlueTooth, Firewire, wireless on a desktop or they choose a standard LCD instead of LED-LCD, cheaper mouse and keyboard, etc, etc. Because it's not a "Package" you can leave out the things you are less likely to use and therefore drop the price.

That being said I do have 5 computers in my house running OSX, but only our laptops are actually Apple Brand. The rest are simply "Black Box" PC's with an opensource boot loader that fires up OSX... The reason for this, as I said before is simply about the software. The integration between all the products; phones, desktops, laptops, tablets, TV's, Projectors, Stereo's, etc. works so smoothly and so beautify. The interface and apps are so intuitive and straight forward. I love the system.

/beginrant
Although I would not consider myself a "Mac Elitist" in any way, I do loath the "coffee shop culture" that sits there drinking their $9 decaf-coffee in front of their MacBook trying to looking creative while surfing Facebook or twitter... (sigh) I've been doing this for 15 years! I have a degree and a JOB! This is not a bandwagon, it's a tool and I don't have anyone to impress! I hate the fact that I almost feel embarrassed to pull my laptop out in a coffee shop now, because I am likely to get grouped in with "them"... damn hipster kids. I share my experience and encourage the world to try it out the "Mac Eco System" and tell me that integration from a single provider doesn't work more smoothly.
/endrant

sigh (again): I use an OSx86 Mac, a MacBook, an iPhone and an iPad each for their own purpose and place. They all have their uses and each does their own thing more efficiently then a single device on it's own can do. They connect to our TV's, Stereos, Cars, and each other. Our Documents, Calendars, Contacts, Photos, Movies, and Music are all available everywhere on any device we want to push it to. The "Digital Lifestyle" that my wife and I have syncs and integrates at a level unparalleled in the "Windows World". I think it's pretty awesome... *hipster cloths not required...* (what's with the brown sweaters anyways..?!?)

hehehe Nice.

-- Mon Feb 13, 2012 7:36 pm --


This post looks long and serious. No time to read or reply

Er... If it's about software to you, why are you talking about hardware? Keyboards, mice, monitors -- that's hardware. PhotoShop is software. An Internet browser is software. An OS is software.



And I don't need that. I need my phone to dial out and also to receive incoming calls --I don't need it to play the latest Peter Murphy single. I can't afford a tablet computer and probably wouldn't own one if I could, cos a laptop is far more practical for my needs. Frankly, I really do like the feel of old carousel slide projectors, so I'm not going to have any use for OS projection. My art is very retro-futurist --'twas why I was so elated to discover Dieselpunk Deco, cos I've been doing the retrofuture / Art Deco / Expressionist / flappers-and-sheiks thing since I was, like, eight-- and I take the modern world as I need it. Yeah, maybe it's easier to do some things one way, but I don't need it, so what's the point in doing it that way just for the novelty? I don't have anything more than the most basic mp3 player, not only cos it's in my budget, but cos honestly? That's all I need. I use it a few times a year. I use my cell phone less. What's the point in integrating products into my own little Borg system when I'm hardly ever using them?

You've found something that works for you and you care fup all for the hipster cred --good for you, but you're trying to sell a catsup popsicle to a woman in white gloves here: I neither need nor want it, no matter how good you think it tastes, so what's the logic in getting it? I'm sure you think I'm sounding like some relic born too late for his time, and honestly, I don't mind if you do. Personally? I think on some level, the majority of people are neither emotionally nor spiritually ready for the level of digital connectedness that we even have now; some are, but clearly not everybody.

I was referring to the parts that are irrelevant to my experience with the computer.



Not so much on the relic part, I believe I'm a year or so older then yourself (if I remember your previous posts correctly) @32. But our generation is one often caught between two worlds. I have a couple friends that don't own a cell phone or 'smile and nod' at my latest piece of IT. I certainly get that it's not for everyone. For myself, I love the idea of the future and the possibilities it could hold, if the world could be responsible about it.



Further to "Responsibility with Tech", I'd agree that there are more who are not, then those who are. I am often saddened by the lack of progress we experience because of our human motivations. If it's not for war or if it's not for next quarters profit it's often left on the side. There are very few companies and people who are actually striving to move the world forward for the purpose of moving. I often feel like history will look back at this generation as one who had so much potential, but really did nothing significant with it...

iPad, though I know not really a computer, I have a Ubuntu (Linux) computer that I use as backup since not everything can be done on iPad. (won't mention the winxp partition for iTunes to carry the iPad it's embarrassing )