With that in mind, I figured it was time to find out about blogging software. I did some research, grabbed a bunch of packages I found and reviewed them. During the tests, here’s what I was looking for:

• Ease of use/Design
• Cost
• The ability to write while off-line (then again, this one’s a given)
• The ability to upload pictures
• If my blog’s backend can do it, this should be able to as well.
• The ability to edit uploaded posts.
• Code produced must be clean enough to be easily readable/editable.

While this comparison review won’t focus strictly on these criteria (because most of them satisfy it to some extent), they’ll serve the primary determinant factor in what I end up using. Of course, every one of the software packages I tried had its own distinctive features outside of this, and while I’m not necessarily looking for these extras, I’ll be looking at them for the sake of the review.

This review includes the following applications:

• MarsEdit
• Ecto
• MacJournal (and vicariously, WinJournal)
• ScribeFire for Firefox
• Flock

Of course, if you just want to go ahead and skip to the conclusion, by all means do so.

First up…MarsEdit

For a while now, I’ve been buying shows on DVD. Why? Because I don’t want to have to endure one second of a show I can’t stand. It’s been that way for years, which is why I simply don’t watch much television anymore. Add to that the fact that I hate having to watch TV on a schedule and you see my problem: even if there’s a show I like, I’m pretty likely to miss it.

DVDs solve that.

Thing is, finding a DVD in the box, then putting it in, and selecting the episode… well, that’s just too much work. That’s I want an AppleTV.

Right now, when The Wife and I decide to watch television, it goes something like this:

“So hon, what do you want to watch?” I say.

“Whatever’s on.” She says.

“Alright, let’s just flip through the channels.” I Pick up the controller and start channel surfing. “Nope.” Next. “Nope.” Next. “Nada. Nothing. Zilch. Zip. Zero. Na-ah. No way. Negatory. Nein. Rien. Nyet… Yoooou wanna just watch a movie?”

“Sure, which one?”

“Feel like a comedy?” No. “What about romance?” No. “Action?” Maybe. “Sci-fi?” Sure. “Which one?”

“Pick whatever.”

“Alright, then how ’bout this one?” No. “Or this one?” She shakes her head. “This? Any of these? This? This? This? What about this? Feel like… no? This?” Sigh. “You feel like renting something?”

Times like these are why want my television to act like my RSS reader. Seriously, I just want to be able to download all my favorite shows directly, so I never have to turn the channel. (Sort of like if you have a good RSS reader you rarely have to leave it to view a site.) I’d have my own one-person, love-everything-all-the-time network! Imagine how awesome it would be!

“Hey, Hon,” I’d say, “whatcha feel like watch’n?”

“Whatever you want,” she’d answer.

“SWEET! Let’s just put it on random. I don’t really want to have to think about it, and because I like all these shows, anything’s fine.” I’d put it on random, and a show would come up. “Hey, I love this show! Buuut I hate this episode.” Next. “No, not that, either.” Next. “Not that. No, not that. Not that. Not.. Maybe, but let’s see what’s next. Not that. Why do I even have that? Not that. Not that. I forgot about that, but not now. Not that. Not that. How about.. Not that… Yeah, let’s go back to that other one. No not that one, the other… no, not.. Not that one. Not that one… The one before. The one before. No. No. No–THAT ONE! STOP! RIGHT THERE! No, the one before. The one before…”

So basically it’d be like having cable without all the crappy, useless networks. And it would be awesome.

No one would guess this was a refurb. I got this for $1099, $200 cheaper than normal.

The best part? It just works.

I wish I could say that about every other pre-built, pre-loaded system I’ve ever worked with, but I can’t. All too often, whether in Linux or Windows, I’ve had to go through various steps in order to become truly productive. With this, it took me an hour to run the software updates needed, install the software I wanted (it detected the network automatically, and connecting was a snap) and get to work. Really, it’s a thing of beauty. Only when you realize that you’re working in a sickeningly proprietary environment do you even get a hint of the ugly, but this isn’t something most people run into. Hell, I haven’t really run into it, and don’t anticipate running into it: I’m not screwing around with the interface, I’m not messing around with the internal configuration files, and I’m not planning on recompiling any of the programs, since they all seem to run rather quickly already (the only reason I ever really recompiled anything).

Anyway, but enough with the heady stuff. What’s it like actually using this?

To be perfectly transparent, at first it sort of felt like I was working with two left hands. Not quite uncomfortable, but not quite comfortable, either. Some of the things I took for granted on PCs — like right-clicking, or quitting applications by closing the windows, or actually having both Delete and Backspace keys — I started to quickly miss. However, that feeling soon faded, and I started to appreciate Mac OS X for the way it does things. “Just another way of thinking,” as I tell people when they first start using Linux. Just another way of thinking. Not complicated. Very simple, in fact. Retardedly so.

Having used the Gnome desktop environment in Linux for the past… however many years, it wasn’t particularly difficult for me to switch gears. I tell you, those Gnome guys (especially the folks in the Ubuntu team) really know how to but not quite almost copy and then surpass. And if I had a choice, and I may in the near future, I’d probably switch back to the Gnome interface. Then again, I may not be saying that in a week, since it may simply be the case that I just need some time to get adjusted.

The computer itself is a thing of beauty: all white, with smooth corners, silent as a ninja’s church fart… and then there’s the keyboard. Wow. I find it interesting that I should so have fallen in love with the keyboard, since it was the thing which almost convinced me not to buy a MacBook. The keys are flat and feel weak to the touch. At first. Once some time is spent with them, the realization dawns that typing is easier, requiring less effort; their design even seems to increase typing speed, idiotic spelling mistakes notwithstanding. (I don’t know whether that’s the case or not, but it certainly feels that way.) Finally, for those of us who spend a fair amount of time typing (those of us who push the average time spent typing up) the keyboard is a blessing due to its low-impact design. Not pressing as hard means less chance of developing any type of repetitive stress disorder.

An interesting note on the MacBook’s keyboard — and I can only presume this is also the case with the MacBooks Air and Pro — is the use of the Function keys (all those F# keys along the top of the keyboard). By default, these keys are used as application launchers and system controls, instead of keeping their quasi-esoteric, not-truly-defined purpose from the PC world. Great design move. And, of course, that’s what Apple excels at: great design.

Speaking of which, I came to a realization just recently, as to the biggest difference between Linux and Max OS X, licensing aside. It’s all about how things are constructed. Engineers are fond of saying that things should work before they’re made pretty. (“Make it work, then make it pretty,” my programming teacher used to say.) Open Source software — and yes, I’m using Linux and Open Source interchangeably here, but once you see where I’m going at, I’m sure you’ll agree it was the right call — lives and dies by this: first make it work. Make it work so well that not even your overtly critical mother-in-law could find fault with it. Then, if there’s time, and if there’s interest, make it pretty. In the Apple world, things are completely different. There the rule of thumb is “Make it work, but as you do so make sure it’s pretty. It’s OK if it doesn’t have all that many features, so long as the ones that are there are purposeful and beautiful.” Here defined then is the big difference: on one side you have engineers and hackers, on the other you have designers and artists. If Linux companies would embrace this — and Ubuntu is well on its way — neither Microsoft nor Apple could stop its even more rapid ascendancy. As it is, they barely can.

Anyway, back to the Mac. As I sit here writing this, I’m ripping a DVD so I can view it on my iPod using Handbrake (also available for Linux). I’m also accessing my site using Safari (I haven’t yet decided whether I want to switch back to FireFox, or even Opera, though I’ll likely end up downloading both soon enough), editing some work using NeoOffice, putting together a storyboard using Scrivener, and downloading my podcasts via iTunes. I’ve yet to touch a configuration file, or worry about whether a plugin will work right. Everything “just works”, and that’s exactly what I wanted.

If you have any recommendations for software I should try, extras I should pick out, or if you have any pointers to give me, I’m all eyes. I’ve already stared asking around, and gotten some phenomenal responses, but I’m still looking for more.

By the way, if you’re wondering, I’ll be adding pictures later, when I upload them from my camera. I took a few shots of the unpacking, so if you’re considering getting a refurb, you’ll know what to expect. Here’s a hint: it’s not what I expected. Seriously.

For years — almost a decade now — I’ve been using Linux almost exclusively at home. I’ve downloaded and installed countless distributions, and have lived with nothing but open sourced and free software, which has served my needs as well as any (Well, I will admit to the guilty pleasure that is the Opera browser. Not open sourced, but man, is it sleek!) And unlike most folks who download and install Linux, I’ve actually paid for open sourced software, paid for the operating systems, paid for support, and donated to the incredible work being done by people bringing all manner of modern functionality to GNU/Linux (including the marketing geniuses who figured out that “Linux” looks and sounds better than “GNU/Linux”) and the free software and open source movements.

The fact of the matter is that free and open sourced software has served me well for 95% of what I normally do. For most people, this would easily be 100%, since 95% of my work is made up of things like browsing the web, getting email, syncing with my MP3 players, viewing DVDs, streaming and recording music, using word processors and spreadsheets, and even doing a little programming. In fact, my productivity on Linux is higher than on Windows because I can tweak the system to work exactly as I want it, and to react to me when I want it to do so. Most people wouldn’t do two-thirds of what I do. They wouldn’t need to, nor would they have the patience to.

But it’s that other 5% that has truly become a hindrance.

See, much of the work I do is design oriented. I’m not talking about graphic design: I’m sure you can see by the look of this site that graphics aren’t exactly my forte. I’m talking about document design, since my documents are more often than not more complex than simply writing a bunch of text on a page, pasting a bunch of pictures, and printing it out. You can’t do that if the tools most people use aren’t available to you, and if they refuse to use your tools.

Another issue has been whether things “just work.” The fact is that on Linux, most stuff does. It really, really does! But that depends on whether you’re willing to give up something for it. Here’s what I mean:

If I’m using Windows, 9 times out of 10 things will “just work” because I wasn’t the one to touch the installation. I wasn’t the one to put the hardware together, to wrestle with the hardware drivers, to spend hours updating all the security patches, or to install all the extras. That last time out of 10, when I’m the one doing the work, installing Windows is pretty much a nightmare. (I may be wrong when it comes to Vista.) In other words, Windows doesn’t “just work”, despite what hardcore Microsoft fans will say. (Note that this does not include the Microsoft development tools, which are another matter entirely. If everything MS did was that effective, it would be dominant without needing to resort to monopolistic practices.) However, when things don’t “just work”, there is usually an easy enough installation route. For example, if I run into a page which requires Flash and I don’t have it installed, a little pop-up will ask me if I want to install it, regardless of whether I’m using Firefox or Explorer (or Opera, or Safari, et al). Click, install, restart the browser and I’m done.

If I’m using Linux, 9 times out of 10 things will “just work”. I mean truly “just work”: printers, scanners, cameras, USB thumb drives… the list goes on. Even with video and sound cards, things will usually “just work”, unless you want to get the high-end stuff going, then you’ll need to do some work. Sometimes this is relatively painless, as is the case with most nVidia video cards. Other times it’s like pulling teeth, like in the case of most ATI cards, or like some browser plugins. With web browsers, however, it’s not always that easy. Because of the diversity inherent in the Linux world — a world where you can pick up an operating system tailored for a brand new user, and where at the same time a more advanced user doesn’t have to acquiesce to it — installation of some software isn’t always guaranteed, nor is it simple. That, of course, depends on whether you can even find the software you need for your platform. Don’t get me wrong, equivalence is great, and if using, say, PDF creation software which does not require complex document security requirements doesn’t get in your way, then by all means, use it. But what happens when you need a certain software, or two, or three? You could, of course, start with virtualization services, such as Parallels or VMWare, which would run the OS you need in order to run the software you need. Or what about something like CodeWeavers Crossover, which will allow you to run some software natively on Linux? Again, for most scenarios this is fine, but then there’s that last 5% where virtualization isn’t really an option. In short, in the Linux world, when you have complicated, specific needs, things can get down-right complicated. You can always get it to do what you need, however, if you’re willing to get your hands a bit dirty.

But what if it isn’t that your needs are complicated? What if it’s just a matter of you trying to punch a nail in with a screwdriver? What if you’re using the wrong tool for the job? Isn’t getting your hands dirty then simply a waste of time?

Enter the Mac. I’ve wanted one for as long as I can remember, but have never been able to justify paying for what I believed was overpriced hardware. Now, I’m in a position to buy pretty much whatever system I want, within reason. Imagine my surprise when I spec’d out a Dell system (running Ubuntu) similar to a MacBook and found out that they cost about the same. I guess they’re not as overpriced as I’d once thought.

I need a system that won’t get in my way, which will allow me to work with the software I need, and that is aimed towards my particular field. Linux does this about 95% of the time. But I need this 100% of the time, and a Mac, I believe, will do that. (I’m not at all interested in using Windows: I use it every day at work and I have not intention of using it at home.) I need a system with a strong community, something both Linux and Mac have in common, so in case I do have questions I have somewhere to go for answers (and because I enjoy being a part of a community, I’d also help others out whenever I could). I also need a system which will allow me to split my time between the command line and the GUI, since I work fastest when I have access to and can control the system with both. Again, something both Linux and Mac have in common. And I need a system which will allow me to run the software I need, natively. Linux and Mac, in this case, don’t have this in common.

As you can probably tell from the tone of this piece, I’m not really dissatisfied with Linux. It has served me extremely well, and I will heartily recommend it to just about everyone. But for me, I need something more, which is why I’ve bought a Mac.

Now, will this be my long term solution? Maybe. Maybe not. Who knows, I may wipe out Mac OS X from this thing in a year and use nothing but Ubuntu again. After all, Mac OS is beautiful and useful, but it doesn’t even come close to the Beryl/Emerald combo available for the GNOME interface. (Spaces is a piece of crap compared to Beryl/Emerald.) But I’m more interested in working than I am in playing, and if a Mac will let me do that, then that’s what I’ll chose.

I expect to get my Mac this Monday. I picked up a refurb MacBook from Apple.com for $1164.00 (including tax, with free shipping), so hopefully it’ll get here with at least almost all the parts. I’ll blog about my experiences with it.

As for Linux… well, that’s an interesting question. I’ve bought the MacBook to be a complete desktop/laptop replacement, so I now have two computers leaving my house. The first is my desktop, a small form factor PC I put together about 3 years ago. It’s currently running Fedora 8, but I’ll probably end up installing Freespire on it, since it’s going to my in-laws, who are in their late 60′s and early 70′s. The second is a Dell Inspiron 8000 I’ve had since 2001. It still runs well, though it is definitely showing its age. I’ve installed PuppyLinux on it, though I may install Antix instead. That one’s going to my own mother.

After all is said and done, this will be the first time in a decade I haven’t run Linux at home as my primary computing platform. Weird. Mind you, I’ll still be keeping up with the Linux world, just not as much. I expect, however, to still be using more than my fair share of open source software, and donating my fair share to these groups. But I what I expect to happen and what will happen may end up being two totally different things.

So let me ask, has anyone reading this used Linux and switched to Mac? What where your experiences? What did you like or hate? Did you switch back?

I’ve already started doing research on Macs, some of which you can read on 9Rules Notes (Should I Get a Mac?, and Recommended Mac Software). Wish me luck.