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AHOY! WHALEFART!

I just discovered the release of OpenOffice.org 3.0 beta, and am about as excited as one should get over productivity software. This software is a great example of how it should be done for all open source software.

This suite has worked so well for me to date, that I’m not even looking forward to any feature improvements. I’m just excited that it will now run natively on my Mac! The X11 version of the app doesn’t really make me very happy with its performance, so I’m hoping this will make it behave on-par with the Windows and Linux varieties.  So far, it looks pretty good.

I have already seen an initial improvement on my PC. I usually deal with some UI problems on my PC when switching windows. It has a tendency to leave “window artifacts” when windows overlap with it, and often gets stuck with blank squares from overlapping windows. This appears to be MUCH smoother with the 3.0 beta. And I like the smoother, nicer looking buttons, and the layout and zoom control they added at the bottom (pictured).

So if you are still using the $500+ variety of office software… what are you waiting for? OOo is getting better with each release!

I admit that I’m still not 100% Apple-fied in my home office. And that’s not entirely a bad thing. I’m actually getting quite proficient now with the key layouts and such, and still quite liking the experience.

But since I use both Mac and PC, I have found it a PITA to switch between them, even with the cool bluetooth mouse/kb that my mac uses. I find myself fumbling between which mouse and keyboard to use.

Not any more!

Synergy to the rescue! I thought it would be tougher than this, but it wasn’t hard at all. And you can use it for ANY OS. So if you have multiple PC’s and monitors around you, this may make your life simpler.

Simply put, you install it on each machine that you want to share perpiherals. Then whichever you consider your “master” system, or, the one you actually want to plug your gear into, you enable as the “server”. The rest subscribe to this server as clients, and can redirect your KB/mouse from the server just by moving your mouse between screens. (it actually is more complex behind the scenes as to how it does this, but you can’t even notice! It acts like the same system!!)

Among the coolest features of Synergy, imho, is the Shared Clipboard. Yes, if you cut on the PC, you can paste on the Mac. Terribly cool, and handy.

So now I have one big virtual Mac/PC computer (sort of) that is entirely effortless to use. I can hardly tell they are two PC’s. And I don’t think the software limits you at all, so theoretically you could add tons of PC’s of different flavors to do the same thing. Cool.

Check out this Youtube video of synergy in action. (Crappy camera, but you get the idea - I’m far too lazy to cap my own in action.)

I thought I’d toss up a quick post about how the transition to Mac OS is going. Well, I still haven’t managed to have this system piss me off yet, so it’s going well so far. The software is great, and has everything I need to be productive. The hardware is simply spectacular, and is constantly endearing itself to me.

The keyboard layout, otoh, is causing me some considerable pain. It has taken quite some number of years to gain the blindfolded fluency that I have attained with the standard PC keyboard layout. To the extent that this fluency is largely retained regardless of keyboard form-factor. Laptops, natural keyboards, ultra compacts… you name it, I can type like the wind on it.

Here is a pic of the keyboard to reference my difficulties. (Shown in it’s nighttime illumination to show off the fact that this happens automatically when it gets dark… not just when I ask it to… its too cool) In particular, I am referring to the layout of the option (alt)/function/command/control/etc. keys. The true key to mastering keyboard fluency is found in the efficient use of these keys. And Apple has a layout that just doesn’t jive well with the PC layout. The most frustrating part of my Macbook experience is performing the otherwise trivial tasks of cut/paste, and the constantly-used editing shortcuts to highlight text, and to hilight words at a time. These tasks, previously served by a combination of shift, alt, ctrl keys, must now be translated to shift, option (alt), ctrl, command keys, which are not mapped exactly the same. And it gets worse. Many apps (such as this fancy blog editor) require specific “pc-like” commands. So, to the point, Mac OS uses as the copy command (command-c), and this app only recognizes (ctrl-c). This really sucks, and I’m constantly hitting and getting unexpected, and often undesired results. And just when I have the whole command-c thing down, an app comes along on which that does not work, and I have to hunt for the control key (as I just did, italicizing that word! - command-i, nope, ctrl-i. #$@&*#!$@!#*&)

Also, the macbook has four keys on the left, and only one on the right of the spacebar. The other key over there, I am convinced, exists solely to piss off former PC owners. It is, an enter key. Right where you think ctrl should be. Try spreadsheeting with that little landmine digit in your way.

I got this cool wireless keyboard (pictured) which I really enjoy, and works flawlessly… but IT has this same size and layout, only with the enter key replaced with the option (alt) key. Not that it does me any harm as I completely avoid this key now due to the several hundred thousand expletives the macbook version of the key has thus far induced.

And, lastly: the key-name thing. With the four buttons in question come six names and two symbols to reconcile. On seeking help to my keymapping dilemmas, I have read several guides, many of which use one or the other of the keys given names. Option is alt, Command is “apple” or the Apple logo, or the squiggly cloverleaf thingy. Not too tough to sort out, but a wee bit annoying to add to the mix.

I shall persist. I will neither hook up a PC keyboard, nor re-map my keys. I will, instead, see this as another language in which I am challenged to become just as fluent. I will not see this as a reason why Mac’s suck, as it is more different than bad. And I’ll wager at least two of you out there are shaking your head chalking up another reason why PC is superior. Indeed, you should chalk up the notion that it’s the transition itself that sucks. In fact, I’m getting better at it, and the four keys on the left match up nicely to the four fingers on my left hand… it may just require a different “style” of keyboarding.

So I must see this as a foreign art to be learned. This old Kendo master has just had his ass beaten by an Aikido expert. Time to learn Aikido.

“Huyyawwwww”

Had this very debate via IM today. There is something to their argument

But I still have the bash prompt.