There’s no going back

28 November 2007

Its been two weeks since I moved to the dark side and upgraded my Toshiba laptop to a Macbook and I wish I’d done it sooner! In two weeks I’ve gone from complete Mac novice to Mac evangelist … here’s my highlights for all of you wondering if you can live without windows:

  • I’ve used XP for 5 years and the switch from XP to Leopard was much easier than the switch from XP to Vista.
  • Windows apps run seamlessly in Leopard (using Parallels running XP) and Visual Studio runs faster and compiles faster than on my desktop. You can launch windows apps from the dockbar, or have the windows taskbar visible.
  • The best feature is the instant on / instant off just by opening/shutting the lid. No waiting for 5 mins while it hibernates and wakes up.
  • I have a whole new appreciation for software. I’ve always preferred installed software over web apps, but after using Apple & other Mac software – I’m even more sold on installed software. Web apps won’t be as powerful/graceful/fast/loaded with features yet easy to learn and use for years (if ever).
  • Time machine is amazing. No more waiting for backups and no more pain of restoring.
  • Omni focus is great – I can finally throw away paper to-do lists (www.omnigroup.com).
  • When building windows software, you typically follow Microsoft’s lead and copy the latest version of Outlook. Mac software vendors copy Apple software and therefore everyone’s building beautiful software for the Mac. Even the mac version of Skype is nicer!
  • One of the coolest features is that the headphone jack is also an optical audio output, allowing me to play digital audio (& video via DVI) to my AV receiver.
  • What’s you favorite Mac feature that I need to try?

There’s definitely no going back. You need a Macbook.

2 Comments | Mac, Software | Permalink
Posted by Andrew

Success

9 November 2007

I like Seth Godin’s three things you need to be successful in a small business:

  1. the ability to abandon a plan when it doesn’t work,
  2. the confidence to do the right thing even when it costs you money in the short run, and
  3. enough belief in other people that you don’t try to do everything yourself.

To have the visibility to see a bad plan for what it is, the foresight to do the right thing when it hurts and the ability to gather and motivate good people requires a real leader with a real vision. Success is then what you’re left with when you’ve achieved your goals.

Leave a Comment » | Business, Vision | Permalink
Posted by Andrew

Thought of the week

4 November 2007

Goals are just dreams with deadlines.

On that note – congrats to Craig Walker (young achiever of the year), Rod Drury (entrepreneur of the year) and Kate McLaughlin (PR/Marketing Campaign of the year) for achieving their goals last night at the PWC Hi-Tech awards.

Leave a Comment » | Business | Permalink
Posted by Andrew