Archive for April, 2008

I want a tiny car.

Published at April.26.08 in Cars. 0 Comments

I don’t know what it is about the VW Space Up! that makes me want it so bad, but dammit, I do. I really hope that VW builds it and sells it in the U.S.

volkswagen-space-up-blue-front.jpg

I know I am supposed to like fast, sporty cars (which I do), but there’s something appealing about this little people mover that I really like. Maybe it’s the tiny windows in the roof that harken back to the 21-window VW buses of the late-60s:

bus3.jpg

Whatever the case, I want it. Of course, I would keep my GTI around for those times when I feel the need to reach speeds over 70mph, but for daily commuting, the Space Up! is just awesome.

For some reason, I have a soft spot for little boxy cars. I sort-of like the Honda Element, when correctly outfitted, and I will even admit that I kind of like the Scion xB, though I definitely prefer the older, boxier version. Of course, I would never drive either one because I don’t like Japanese cars, but that’s just me. Now that Volkswagen has its own little toaster on wheels in the works, I can have my tiny little cake and drive it, too.*

*I am aware that I may be using too many food metaphors here.

Unlimited free time? Sign me up! … Wait.

Published at April.22.08 in Home. 4 Comments

Yes friends, the rumors are true: On Friday, I was laid off from my day job.

Honestly, it didn’t come as a big surprise, as I had very little “actual” work over the past three months, so I can’t say I didn’t see it coming. All in all, I know it’s going to be a good change for me, because as it was, I was already making preparations to leave the job anyway. So, the outcome was the same, it was just a little sooner than I had expected.

Fear not, though, because it’s going to take a lot more than that to set me back. In all honesty, leaving that job is a huge weight off my shoulders. No more spending the night at my desk on my birthday. No more trips to a certain local farmstead to deal with clients who have no idea what they really want, except that it’s not what they’re seeing. No more fussing with poorly-written software that doesn’t live up to its claims, etc. (Sorry, just had to vent for a moment there.)

As I walked out the front door Friday evening, carrying a box of personal effects, I felt surprisingly refreshed and free. I don’t want to badmouth the company, especially since I still have friends there (and I will probably need a good reference in the very near future). The past year wasn’t bad, but the experience was interesting. With a wide range of personalities, beliefs, backgrounds and talents, I leave there a different person than I was a short time ago. I learned new skills, discovered new talents and made some great friends. Specifically, Robbie & Catie, Nathan, and Ryan. It’s because of you guys that I have grown, and I thank you for it.

Overall, I’m optimistic. This is a change that needed to happen, and I’ll be better off because of it. I still have the part-time job, and now that I have all this free time, my lawn is looking nice, my laundry is all done, and my cats aren’t lonely all day.

Now, having said what I needed to say, please check out my updated resumé and peruse my portfolio. If you like what you see, feel free to contact me.

A Ferrari engine in a Honda.

Published at April.15.08 in Mac. 1 Comment

So you’ve probably heard by now about Psystar’s plans to sell OpenMac, a custom-built computer that runs OS X. I could spend all day talking about how stupid this is, but instead I’m going to focus on one quote by Robert, a Psystar employee, about why the company plans to fight Apple’s end-user license agreement, which restricts people from using Mac OS on anything other than Apple hardware:

“What if Honda said that, after you buy their car, you could only drive it on the roads they said you could?”

This analogy is simply terrible. If it were translated into computer terms, it would be “Once you buy a Mac, you can only visit websites that Apple approves.” That’s implying that the road is an explicit part of the car-buying experience, which it is not. However, the car-driving experience is. While the internet is part of using a computer, it’s not limited to Macs or PCs, just like roads aren’t limited to Hondas. The operating system experience, however, is limited to its respective hardware, and in Apple’s case, there is good reason for that.

A more correct analogy would be: “It would be like buying a Honda, then having a Ferrari engine installed into it.” A Ferrari engine in a Honda is going to be a bad experience for the owner, since neither car or engine were designed to be used that way. And though it is mechanically possible to put a Ferrari engine in a Honda, that doesn’t necessarily mean it should be done.

One reason that Macs work well is that Apple controls the hardware and the software. Microsoft, on the other hand, licenses its Windows operating system to anyone who wants it. This strategy has worked to give Microsoft a huge market share advantage over Apple, but it also means that a $200 computer from Wal Mart is not going to work as well as one that costs $1000 or more, though an uneducated buyer may not know that at the time of purchase. Sure, there are different versions of Windows that you can buy to fit the hardware, but only a powerful system will be able to take advantage of all of Windows’ features.

By controlling both the hardware and the operating system, Apple can ensure that its products work the way they were designed to, and the end-user is going to be able to do what they want to do with their computer, and it will work as it was advertised. The least-expensive Mac, the $599 Mac mini, runs OS X Leopard and all its features just like a top-of-the-line iMac or MacBook Pro. Yes, the former will be a slightly slower than a higher-end model, but there are no “disabled features” in the OS that a Mac mini owner will be missing out on.

While I would love to see Apple produce a mid-range, user-expandable computer without a monitor, Psystar’s approach of selling a “Hackintosh” is the wrong way to go about it. Sure, it is possible to build your own Hackintosh, it requires more computer knowledge than a basic user. From Psystar’s own OpenMac FAQ:

Can I run updates on my Open Computer?

The answer is yes and no. No because there are some updates that are decidedly non-safe. Yes because most updates are not non-safe. It’s best to check on InsanelyMac for this information but when in doubt don’t update it. You may have to reinstall your OS X if it is a non-safe update.

That should be enough of a clue to basic users that this is not going to be a standard Mac OS experience. There is no such thing as a “non-safe update” for people using Mac hardware, and calling an Apple update “non-safe” is almost tantamount to libel by implying that the updates are the cause of problems, rather than the truth: running OS X on unsupported hardware is not going to be an easy, stable experience day after day.

Just like the other companies that claimed to be able to sell unauthorized Mac clones, I’m sure Psystar, too, will come and go in a matter of days or weeks. When companies cry foul about “monopolies,” I can’t help but think it’s the last resort in a desperate attempt to make money. Apple has nothing even remotely resembling a monopoly. There are plenty of operating systems out there to choose from, and going by market share alone, it’s easy to see who is closer to a monopoly.

It’s the little things.

Published at April.14.08 in Asides. 2 Comments

You may have noticed the new header at the top of this page. I’ve also updated the look (but not the content) of my portfolio site, seancorcoran.net, to match. I’ve also added an embedded version of my demo reel. I’m planning to put together a new reel soon that incorporates recent work from Premier.