For the past few weeks, I've been using an Apple MacBook to do software development until it died on me a few days ago. In Apple's defense, the hard disk that past away wasn't part of the standard package. Anyway, I had a very favourable experience with it.
At first, I had problems adapting to its user interface. It felt weird to me because I've been so used to the user interface of Microsoft Windows XP and GNU/Linux on GNOME. But after a while, it all seemed very natural and it seemed like second nature. I like how almost all the programs I used have a very standard interface, user model and keyboard shortcuts. Overall, it has given me a very positive user experience. I also like how they've designed the machine: the magnetized power adapter, magnetized latch and scrolling trackpad. I love how quickly the sleep function works after I close the hatch, it almost seemed effortless.
So after the MacBook failed me, I was loaned a Lenovo (IBM) ThinkPad T6. I've always liked the ThinkPad T-series. I am not sure why, I think its because its a powerful machine with a pretty slim body. It also has a very sturdy feel to it. The problem with T60 is that it is running Microsoft Windows XP. Although I am more familiar with the operating system, there is no comparison to the Mac OS X.
Why? Because every single program in Windows has its own system of doing things and it feels like 'rojak', as we say it in Malaysia. I guess that is partly due to the creativity of the people who develop software in Windows. Every program is a different beast, waiting to hound on you. Anyway, going back to T60, although I might have called it cool last time, I think there are just too many buttons and extension ports that are not going to be used on the laptop. I guess that is how PCs (or more specically IBM-compatibles) are designed. They are meant to be flexible and tries to cover as much ground as possible. But which also means most users are given more chance to screw up.
"Whoops, am I supposed to press that!".
I am writing this entry on the T60 and I really like the feel of the keyboard, its light but yet responsive. But I have no idea why they have to put the Esc key on top of the F1. That totally screwed up my text-editing in Vim. So much for making things a habit. Oh yeah, it also doesn't help because the keyboard layout is in Estonian/Norwegian. Luckily I can change the keyboard layout, but which means some keys won't behave as what is drawn on the keys. Its not that bad though, since I realised how much of a touch typist I was, which reminds me of the blank keyboard.
OK enough ranting for now. But wait, I also mentioned Dell in my title. Hmmm. I bought a laptop from Dell more than a year and a half ago and it still works fine, no issues so far although starting to feel a bit slow. There is nothing fancy about it. It is very plain and normal and in a way its nice, because there are no bad surprises. Everything is what you expect of a plain jane PC laptop.
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