LinOSX TechnoMash

Well, I got a little daring last night and decided to compile Postgresql and Apache with mod_ssl and mod_perl on the MacBook so that I can get back to working on The Manusya Project. I got as far as compiling and installing Postgres. Once I was done with Postgres, I decided to get the various Perl components necessary for connecting to Postgres installed.

Here is where I royally screwed up. I configure CPAN to use a bunch of FTP sites. Apparently, there’s some problem with FTP sessions on OS X via CPAN. It’s quirky and doesn’t always work. I was able to install the DBI packages in /usr/local/lib bit I couldn’t download DBD::Pg from any of the mirrors. I decided to download libwww-perl manually and installed it into the /System area of OS X. It was about midnight and this is where I really started screwing up. I had installed some modules into the operating system specific location and other modules in /usr/local - no consistency.

At this point I had libwww-perl and DBI installed but I couldn’t install DBD::Pg manually because it couldn’t find DBI. Hmmmmm. Well, for some reason, I decided to upgrade Bundle-CPAN since the version that comes with OS X 10.4.6 was out of date. This is where everything went to hell. Some things were being installed in /System, others were being installed in /usr/local/lib/perl, others in /usr/local/lib/perl5 and others in /usr/local/System. This was getting too crazy, so I said, let’s clean it all out.

I deleted everything in /usr/local/lib/perl, /usr/local/lib/perl5 and /usr/local/System. I then deleted the CPAN Config.pm in /System and tried to start from scratch. Oh boy. Every Perl script I run now complains that Cwd.pm or File/Spec can’t be found. I got PathTools but even PathTools complains about File/Spec.

I spent quite a bit of time last night looking around on Apple’s site for a fresh download of the whole Perl distribution that they package with OS X. Unfortunately, I couldn’t find anything. I will be reinstalling OS X from scratch this evening to fix any potential instability I might have caused. It also gives me a good opportunity to install BootCamp and get Linux installed on my MacBook

technorati tags: macbook, OS X, Perl,

Everyone’s been talking about how hot the MacBook Pro and MacBooks get. I haven’t yet seen anyone post anything about how hot the laptop is when sleeping. Well, I installed the CoreDuo Temp application (sorry, can’t remember where I got it from). Waking the laptop up from sleeping, I noticed that the temperature was 22 degrees celsius. WOW!! That’s pretty hot for sleeping. Within 5 minutes of being woken from sleeping, the laptop climbed to 45 degrees celsius.

technorati tags: macbook, macbook pro,laptop temperature, Apple

I’ve now had my MacBook for over a week now and used it pretty much in just about every real world scenario I have used my ThinkPad (other than while traveling). I’m getting more used to using the TrackPad but I still crave the ThinkPad Trackpoint. The trackpad gets easier to use with some configuration playing but it still isn’t a natural extension.

Copying a Home DVD

I had a home movie that I had to copy to give to a friend. It definitely isn’t easy to get OS X to copy a DVD that has no encryption. I found that I could probably buy some commercial software such as Roxio Popcorn 2 to burn a copy. I also found a few free tools to do this though I wasn’t able to get any of them to work under the time constraints I had. I would prefer to use an open source alternative. On Linux I used dvdbackup but as I don’t have a usable Linux machine with a DVD drive at the moment, I hate to tell my friend that I will mail him the DVD when I figure out how to copy it.

Sound Volume

I’ve found it a bit annoying that I cannot blast the sound on my MacBook as I could on my ThinkPad. I have pushed the volume in the “System Preferences” panel to the maximum and also done the same within iTunes but the volume is only at respectable levels. I am sitting in my kitchen with the door open and no one in sight and want to blast the music. On the ThinkPad, I could do this without external speakers.

Battery Life

The battery life on the MacBook is GREAT! I had the battery on my T40 replaced after about a year since I couldn’t get more than 1 1/2 to 2 hours on a full charge. Even the “new” battery never gave me more than 2 1/2 hours. The MacBook has given me as much as 5 hours and 15 minutes on a full charge and as little as 2 hours and 40 minutes when I’m really taxing the machine, e.g. Running iTunes on full volume, wireless connection, full brightness on the screen, transferring files and periodically using Skype.

Built in Mic

The built in mic is very good at recording sounds. However, when using Skype to call a landline, there is a great amount of feedback. I have tried this in small, furnished, carpeted environments, as well as larger rooms with no carpeting. I am still not able to determine if there is a problem with the mic or where/how I am using it. I have had no problems recording using GarageBand and the mic so perhaps it is Skype that has the problem.

The sharp edge of the MacBook under the trackpad is still annoying but I have adapted my hand positioning to make it less painful.

Here’s a few other reviews on the MacBook and ThinkPads:

• http://www.notebookreview.com/default.asp?newsID=2946
• http://www.blaptops.com/ibm/lenovo-thinkpad-t43-review/
• http://www.zatznotfunny.com/2006-05/macbook-drops-keyboard-irks/

technorati tags: Macbook, Thinkpad, Apple, Lenovo

Unfortunately, Doc Searl’s IT Garage blog had some issues with posting comments so below is my comment on Doc’s Transcending boots post
Doc,
I’ve been a faithful Linux desktop/laptop user for about 7 years with no Windows at all. My most used computer was a ThinkPad T40 running Fedora Core 3, 4 and now 5 with a dual booting into Suse 10.0.

My TP recently had a few too many falls and the system board is damaged. I decided to take a foray into the Mac laptop world after configuring a new ThinkPad that was comparable in spec to the MacBook but almost $750 more. The new and affordable MacBook (Not the PRO) is absolutely amazing, with a few minor issues. I miss my ThinkPad a great deal but what I miss most is Linux.

I am using Q (an OS X port of QEMU) for Fedora Core 5 and am considering Parallels once I up the RAM to 2 GB.

My point is, that you are 100% correct. Apple won’t officially support other platforms but until they make OS X available on a ThinkPad, the MacBooks are great for the price (as long as you’re not a 3D gamer) and now give me the option to run multiple versions of Linux using virtualization or dual booting. Apple is primarily a hardware company and they can definitely sell more hardware if they at least maintain some openness to other operating systems. I just wish they would have added a two button mouse to the MacBook along with a ThinkPad style Trackpoint.

Pankaj

technorati tags: itgarage, macbook, thinkpad, apple, lenovo, Linux, OS X

As sturdy as Thinkpads are, there are a limited number of drops that even an IBM Thinkpad T40 can sustain (I’m sure the new Lenovo Thinkpads maintain the sme level of durability). I dropped my Thinkpad another three times in the last two weeks and apparently, the system board is damaged. I can send the Thinkpad to IBM and have it fully refurbished for $600. I can buy a refurbished T40 for around $800, or I can pick up a new Thinkpad that will run me at least $2,000.

Yesterday, I went to the new Apple Fifth Avenue store to decide whether I wanted to switch from a Linux based Thinkpad T40 to a new MacBook or MacBook Pro. After getting to the store at about 3pm and looking the line go around the corner, I figured it would be about an hour before I even got in the store. I have no idea what kind of madness was going on inside the store. I decided to visit the SoHo store instead. After battling traffic and spending 40 minutes looking for parking, I finally got to the store.

At the SoHo store, it was crazy as it usually is but it wasn’t difficult to get my questions answered by a very helpful Apple consultant. I decided that spending over $2,000 for a MacBook Pro probably wasn’t wise, considering it would be my first foray into using a Mac for all my development, business, and non-business needs. I necided I would get my feet wet with the new MacBook instead. I opted for the midrange, $1,299 model. I figured $200 was worth the extra processing power and the Superdrive. I was still very skeptical about my purchase. I have been a Thinkpad user since 1992 (a total of 6 Thinkpads in 14 years). The Thinkpad keyboard and Trackpoint are undoubtedly the best in the industry. The comfort with the user can switch from the keyboard to using the mouse is invaluable and more importantly, it has always felt incredibly natural and ergonomic.

Here are some required glamor shots of the new MacBook.

The Box

The other side of the box

And the lovely packaging

Here’s a shot of the MacBook booting up for the first time.It is easy to see why Mac users have always laughed when they heard about all the problems in the PC world. The MacBook is a beautiful piece of artwork. The Thinkpad on the other hand, has nothing art-like about it. It’s a no nonsense, “Get the job done” machine. The MacBook booted up without any problems. It prompted me to register and run through my initial settings. It then gave me the option to migrate my user information, documents, and Applications from my Mac Mini. WOW!! It took about an hour using a standard Firewire cable (Firewire is the only way to do this, your other computer is basically mounted as a Firewire disk). An hour or so later, my new laptop had all my user info, bookmarks, files, moviews, photos, music, and applications setup and ready to go. I removed some applications as they weren’t appropriate for the MacBook (e.g. Microsoft Keyboard and Mice drivers).

I have been using the MacBook for a little less than five hours total and I have found the keyboard to be pretty good compared to the T40. I still prefer the T40 keyboard but that could just be a matter of bein used to it. I HATE, with a passion, the Trackpad and wish that Apple and Lenovo would do some licensing deal to get the Thinkpad Trackpoint onto the MacBook. The Trackpad feels odd, uncomfortable, and unnatural as compared to the Trackpoint. The other problem I have so far with my typing experience on the MacBook is that the edge of the MacBook, right below the Trackpad is a bit of a sharp edge. As I type and use the Trackpad, the edge is irritating my wrists and palm. I almost feel like I need to sand it down to be smooth and comfortable.

The display on the MacBook is excellent. It is a glossy finish, unlike the matte finish the Thinkpads have. It is far better than the T40 that I have and the T42p my Dad has. However, the drivers for the shared memory Intel graphics card are terrible. I have regular bleeding of edges ocurring.
Emacs causes bleeding and recovering from sleep as well. I hope there are updated drivers for this problem ASAP.

From a software perspective, OS X has been very stable on Intel. No crash so far, though, I have had iPhoto crash on me a few times. I have submitted the crash report to Apple. The MacBooks also have the same problem as the MacBook Pro with heat. I could cook a meal for 35 people on this laptop.

I feel like the MacBook is less sturdy than the Thinkpad but I’m not sure. It’s not a theory I want to test. This is all the observations I have after using the MacBook for a few hours. I think the features packed into the MacBook make it a worthwhile purchase, e.g. iSight, built in mic, Superdrive and Frontrow. Getting a new Thinkpad T60 with a DVD burner, better video card than the MacBook, and other all comparative specs pushed the Thinkpad well over $2,000. Lenovo has also been having some very serious supply problems. A friend bought a Thinkpad Z60 back in February, and received it early May. Any of the T60s that I was looking at, had a 1 to 3 week lag time before shipment.

For the price, the MacBook is a pretty good piece of hardware but I do miss my Thinkpad. OS X is the icing on the cake. My ideal laptop would be a Thinkpad T60p with Bluetooth, DVD Burner, WiFi, built in mic and cam, 2GB RAM, 256MB RAM on an ATI video card, 15 inch screen with 1600×1200 resolution, 120GB 7200 RPM drive, running OS X. I’d pay $3,000 plus tax for that laptop in a heartbeat. Unfortunately, I still have to buy a Thinkpad with Windows on it - a little ransom to Microsoft, then format the machine and put my flavor of Linux on it. Lenovo - you’re not IBM anymore …. think about it!

technorati tags: Apple, IBM, MacBook, Thinkpad, Lenovo, OS X, Linux, Windows, Intel