Many of you are aware that I have been a Macintosh user since birth (my bio at http://nathantremmel.com shows the progression of my Mac life).  However, I am not sure how much longer this will last.

Apple’s next big cat, Lion (the next release of Mac OS X) is incorporating many of the features of the iOS platform (iPhone, iPod touch, iPad).  I think these iOS devices are solid devices, but I don’t want a 15″ version of them.  The motto on Apple’s site for Lion is “The power of Mac OS X. The magic of iPad.”  I feel as if it’s more like, “Let’s dumb down OS X to become a large iOS machine.  Lion includes a layout that shows all of your applications in little boxes exactly like the iOS devices.  You can make an application full screen as if it were the only thing running.  They have already implemented a Mac store to purchase applications from one single program.

I have always used Mac OS because I was born using it and have found it to be fairly simple to use.  However, it is getting too simple and that is taking away it’s appeal to me.  I own an iPhone, I know how simple it is to use.  But, it’s also locked down in too many ways.  I can see the reasoning behind this, but Apple is becoming a company that is far too locked down for it’s own good.  I’m all for ease of use, but ease of use via restrictions on what can be on the machine is too far.

What will keep me on the Mac?  The apps.  People who develop apps in Mac OS X strive to make them look good and function beautifully.  I don’t think I could move to an operating system that doesn’t have Skitch,  TextExpander, TextMate, 1Password (though already on Windows), Adium, and even Apple Mail.  There are competitors for all these applications on Windows and Linux, but they are just not the same.  It really is a case of form over function: the alternatives work, but they don’t work the same or as well as the applications listed above.

So that’s my dilemma.  Windows 7 is not as bad as many of the previous versions of Windows.  I’ve been using Boot Camp and another computer with Windows 7 and do not really have any complaints other than not having the applications listed above.  I have always been a Linux fan too, but I am not sure I could make a full transition because it is not as intuitive and can be too problematic to diagnose and resolve issues.

And what am I gonna do with all my handles that say macaddict in them?

Geez, it seems like it’s been one thing after another on this server. I don’t wanna talk about it, I just wanna move to dreamhost.

What I really wanted to mention was the fact that the 8/9 edition of All Songs Considered used Skype to talk to one of their correspondents. Clearly, NPR gets mad props for using this ip telephony/voip/peer to peer technology. Of course, the broadcast had a small glitch, which they left in the podcast (I don’t know about the radio) which was amusing. It was funny cause I had realized that skype stopped working because I heard the tell-tale noises that all skype users know and love.

What I realized was that Skype is, indeed, a viable option for television and radio. Look, it has it’s issues, but so do satellite phones, and satellite video. Why are the major broadcasters still using satellite video feeds when foreign correspondents could take a laptop and a DV camera and have improved quality. I’m always surprised at the clarity of Skype when it’s configured correctly. It sounds better than a regular phone line already, and goes pretty much head to head with an ISDN line. For less money than an ISDN line.

I’m not saying that the big people should switch, but it could be used when an ISDN line isn’t possible, or if the broadcasters can’t afford ISDN, etc.

Beware kids, major broadcasting companies are starting to use off the shelf products. What’s next, everyone will realize that Mac is a much better operating system for home users?

     Well, looks like I’ve got a few things to say. Some nerdy things, some otherwise.

     Well the first thing is: i’m done with high school foreva!

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