Ok. So my delimma.

I really like working in ubuntu. Linux really, but ubuntu is my favorite at this point. I like it because I love the workflow. All of my Mac friends say they like OSX because things just seem right to them, and things feel like they are right where they should be. I never really understood what they meant before using modern linux. In windows, I know where everything I need is, because I know windows inside and out. In linux though, I didn’t have to learn alot, I just figured it out for the most part because its that easy. Of course there is a learning curve still, but thats to be expected.

Part of it, as much as I hate to admit it, and as much as I don’t think ideology should play the dominant role in any software choice, is the idea and community behind the open-source movement.

I also like the ‘extras’. Some of the old hats will say that all of the new beryl/compiz stuff is distracting or counter productive. I agree that some of the stuff is or can be a distraction. I also think that alot of it has helped linux in its easy of use. I never really seen the point of or even liked multiple desktops before the ‘cube’. The cube though, turned an abstract concept and put it in spacial terms. I understand that “x program is to my right” or “y program is on the opposite side.” It’s easier for me that way, and it helps me make use of that particular feature. Some of the newer flashier “toys” are also helpful to me. The ability to set animations for all of the different window actions (minimize, maximaize, shade, etc…) is helpful because it makes more sense (to me) to give a visual cue as to what just happened. It’s those details that make me love it.

So the hard part, and the hard question for me, is should I switch at work. I got a reluctant ‘ok, if you can do it without affecting your productivity’ answer from the boss. The truth is, and the reason why I haven’t jumped on that opportunity, is that I’m not entirely sure that it won’t affect my productivity. I know Photoshop will work in wine, but I’ve had some issues in the past with photoshop cs2 through wine…slowness and bugginess. Now, I don’t actually design in photoshop, but I am expected to tear down and build sites from PSD comps…and the gimp, for as hard as it tries, seems to destroy even mildy complicated psds. Photoshop is my last big hangup. I can dream that one day adobe will realize the usefullness of photoshop on linux…but I don’t think thats going to happen soon. Dual booting is, of course, and option, but not a viable one…that really hurts productivity when in the middle of something, wham…reboot. So that’s not going to be my final answer either. I know that if I do switch, it will be ubuntu. I have such an understanding of the OS that I feel comfortable enough with it to work with it day in and day out.

I may even end up buying a HD on my own dime to throw in my box to completely eliminate (except for the bootloader) and cross-contamination as it were…the chance for my linux side to hose my windows side. That’s the least of my concerns though…

I think, in the end, I will be on linux. The question is when, and more importantly, how well will the software situation work out.

Posted in General, GROW, Linux |