Esoteric Drifter

So there are these things called browsers, and if your reading this, you should know what they are. Ive used a few in my time, but every once in a while I like to look at what else is out there.

Recently I was swayed to google’s ‘Chrome’ Browser. The hype and upcoming chrome OS put me on it for a moment. But I have had this lingering thought in the back of my head;

“what if Google goes evil?”

Of course, for the most part, the paranoia about Google taking over the world, by enslaving us to a world of forced linear browsing just doesn’t make cents. Still Google Chrome does fit the profile of ‘spyware’ meaning, that depending on your settings, its sending all of your internet behavior and input back to Google.

Here’s a good breakdown of Chrome’s dark side.

So Google Chrome is a good Browser, and its fast… sorta. Its geared for a high speed connection. My Connection is not bad, at 12Mbps download, but my DSL upload speed is a paltry 60Kbps, that means all that info being sent to Google is really killing my upload times. It does have a very slim line User Interface (UI) that doesn’t get in the way, it really maximizes the screen when it comes to browsing. Of course its still near impossible to find Mac/Chrome addons. Dont hold your breath if you a Lynux user.

So if I do decide to switch Browsers, what are my options?

Internet Explorer.
If you use a Windows OS your just not going to be able to get away from IE. It is the most prolific Browser on the planet, but, the reason for its continued success is also a major part of its downfall. IE is not only a Web browser, but also the file management interface for Windows. I wonder if that has anything to do with its legendary insecurity.

I would rather walk across a prison yard with a mop on my head. Luckly IE is not available for download for OSX.

FireFox
The jewel of open source! Firefox is in need of a major facelift. Firefox, to me, looks bulky. Its heavy reliance on add-ons means you have to sift through ten different developers for each menial task you want added to your browser. It has a separate search bar, as opposed to just typing your search into the addressbar (a la chrome) Im sure there is an extension, but I’m an end user, I want it all out of the box.

Opera
This is the first time Ive looked at Opera as a choice for browsers. In short I am impressed. For “out of the box” this browser has it all! It also incorporates ‘widgets’ that, If I wasn’t using OSX would be very use full (it’s just redundant, and cluttered compared to dashboard) A very interesting feature is the ‘Unite’ server, which allows me to share my files directly from my computer across the internet, with very little setup. Huge downside: opera doesn’t work well with google apps, a lot of the shortcut keys bring up any one of the random features of the browser.

Safai
I rarely use safari, although as a native OSX app it still remains a must. Of course, being a native OSX app also means it is closed, it works, very well, but if it doesn’t have a feature you want… you can always send an email to Apple and ask them to include it in the next distribution.

Camino
Camino, based on Firefox, takes the best from its mother browser and throws it out the window. It looks good, very stream lined, but has no room to grow or expand. All those motzilla addons will just go to waste with this browser. I really don’t see the point.

Sea Monkey
Another product from Motzilla. Sea Monkey 2 is not only a browser but also incorporates email, RSS reader, and even an html editor and publisher. They call it an internet suite, and it has everything rolled into one. Yet none of the capabilities (browser, email, addressbook) are as good as their standalone. Still, after using this for a few days, it is easy to see how useful it can be. Its opensource nature also means you can tote its features across different platforms. Ultimately it is a great app for my netbook, but probably not as good as Firefox + Thunderbird for OSX. The dock makes it easyer to swith between two apps than within Seamonkey.

The Finalie

I was testing these different browsers, with the idea of keeping one as my primary. After the trial, I have decided I will use separate browsers for different use. I will be using Seamonkey as my main browser (its open and sleek) and keep Firefox, and Safari for other specific reasons. I will also be keeping Thunderbird, as well as SeaMonkey, and Mail. (right now use 5 email address’ and counting…)
So, Ive decided not to use Chrome (to shady), or Camino (to simple) and obviously not IE (not even available) and sadly not Opera (although it was much more fun and fast than the others)

As a student I am often caught between the crossfire of multiple platforms. At home I use OSX and have Lynux (eeebuntu) netbook. Most of the schools computers run windows, but there are a couple of labs that have Apple machines.

In this hostile environment most word processing or spreadsheet documents are worthless. Trying to move files from one computer lab to home, or the next lab is inconvenient at best.

In order to survive the greed of these corporations, I have turned to two opensource (sorta) resources. The first is Google Docs, I cannot stress how useful Gdocs has been, I take all my leture notes directly to google docs on my netbook. I share and collaborate with other students and my professors. Do I trust Google? to an extent, yes, but especially with recent security problems, I limit the access of my most precious intellectual material to my own Disk space.

Ive solved the problem of dealing with incompatible office suites (I could just buy them all… If I weren’t a student and had money.) by putting a copy of each platforms OpenOffice.org application on a thumbdrive. And save all my files on that drive. Don’t Forget backups!

Today Apple officially unveiled their Tablet PC, the iPad. I was disapointed.

First off, Im not Steve Jobs, I don’t sit around in my underwear all morning and read online articles. I need something productive, something useful.

I currently use three main info devices,

• My Mac-Mini
• iPhone
• A lynux based netbook

I was hoping the iPad would replace my netbook, Its portability is far better than a laptop, and it is perfect for typing class notes into Google Docs. I can type much faster than I write, so even if the iPad has some incredible writing capabilities it’s still not what I need.

So why did Apple choose a tablet over a Netbook?

Here are my thoughts:

Competition:
SJ is no fool, everyone already has a netbook.
If Apple made one it’s price range would probably be around $600.
Netbook’s have been around for a while, and most people who buy one are expecting a laptop, and are disapointed. Apple works very hard to make it’s customers happy, they don’t want to disapoint.

The Alliance:
Google’s Chrome OS is expected to surface later this year, a stripped down OS made specifically for netbooks. With the success of Android and G’s new found talent at making hardware… Who wants to compete?

There have been many rumors about Apple and Google’s joint ventures but I suspect SJ is getting a little annoyed with those kids, especially after the Nexus.

The Audience,
Ive spent alot of time at an Apple store, and despite Apple’s ‘hip image’ I can assure you their main clientele are middle age +

I am VERY impressed with how they cater to my parents ‘technically challeged’ generation. It is Very difficult to get an appointment at their ‘Genus Bar’ and for the most part I see many older people taking advantage of their free one-on-one tutorials.

The Conclusion
It’s obvious that poor college students who need a cheep portable machine to take their class notes will have to wait for google to make an awesome machine.

At least I know what to get my grandparents for Christmas; a trip to the apple store so they can buy themselves an iPad.

Added:
Apple apparently has a peripheral for the iPad, that changes things a bit, I might look into it.

Miro is a very handy video player. It handles most codex (avi, Mp4, ext) can play your music, and even functions as a Podcast RSS reader.

So what, you say, iTunes does all that.

Well, Miro does have a bigger codex library, and like iTunes, is also free. What really makes Miro stand out is the imbedded torrent downloader which works effortlessly.

When you download a .Torrent file from your browser, Miro automatically picks up the file and adds it to its imbedded downloader. This, of course has only worked twice for me, both files were movies. (I have not seen this function work for music torrents)

So whats the downside?

As a torrent client, Miro lacks. I cant see my upload speeds while initially downloading a torrent, there is a bandwidth speedlimit setting buy it is not easily turned on or off (I really like the turtle button on Transmission)

Miro does not play .wmf (for those you’ll need VLC)

With Miro there may be to many chefs in this soup, and none of its capabilities are GREAT, but they are all on one app.

Overview:
The biggest push for this app is its torrent downloading capability, this is also its downfall, You can have a much better downloader, and a player with more codex, and customization. Still, If your an avid torrent, movie watcher, music lover, and Podcast subscriber, You may love this three in one app.

I recently had a problem with my Mac Mini. The problem most likely came from the Bootcamp partition I made, I wanted to install Windows 7 but the copy I had purchased was an upgrade, not the full OS. So I left the partition blank.

When I restarted my Mac, It went into a blank screen and asked for a boot drive followed by a keystroke.
So my machine would not boot the OS from startup and did not recognize my keyboard.

I called apple care and quickly found out I knew as much, if not more, than them. I thought I reserved a time at the ‘local’ Apple store (60miles away) and headed over as soon as possible.

When I arrived at the store, with a neatly packed Mac Mini and a case # I was told by an associate that they would not be able to help until tomorrow at the earliest. I was miffed.

I knew what needed to be done, so I asked for a monitor & keyboard, and announced that I would fix the computer myself.

I was very surprised my demands were met, immediately. The associate brought out a monitor and mac keyboard and I was able to load the OSX install disk and delete the delinquent partition within 15min.

Im not perfectly happy with my experience, but like any story, its the happy ending that matters.