I’ve switched from an old iBook G4 to a shiny new (currently finger print covered) black Macbook. It’s beautiful. I’ve got tons of plans for it. I can finally download all the podcasts I want (i.e. Rachel Maddow, Selected Shorts, Tavis Smiley, etc.), mirco-manage my life in iCal, and possibly make videos. It’s wonderful.
So how to switch from an older mac to a new one? Especially when you weren’t smart enough to have an external hard drive the first time around?
Here’s what I’ve learned from the last time: Buy the Apple Care insurance. Just save yourself the grief in the long run. These things aren’t built forever, but no one needs expensive premature death. For transferring my Firefox bookmarks, I used a program called Foxmarks. For transferring my iTunes files from my iPod, I used a program called Senuti. Do not buy iPod Liberator; Senuti does the same thing for free. I downloaded Leopard Cache Cleaner so that useless cache files don’t build up. I’m using a proper Incase case. Never skimp on the case, or just throw it in a backpack without a case. It’ll be OK for a while, until large parts of your screen go black.
Here’s one ongoing debate: I can’t figure out whether to turn it on/off, or leave it on in perpetuum but let is sleep. I know constant re-booting can damage it, but I don’t want to drain the power. Lately it sleeps in the day, but is off at night. This is until I know what the best option is.
I want this thing to last for at least 5 years. Any suggestions?
My life is brilliant.
My love is pure.
I saw an angel.
Of that I’m sure.
She smiled at me on the subway.
She was with another man.
But I won’t lose no sleep on that,
‘Cause I’ve got a plan.
You’re beautiful. You’re beautiful.
You’re beautiful, it’s true.
I saw your face in a crowded place,
And I don’t know what to do,
‘Cause I’ll never be with you.
Haha, no it isn’t. But, since you asked, one of these will do:
They’re quite beautiful. They’re not my ultimate objects of headphone lust, though, which are these:
But these are decadently pricey. It’s so scary. Actually, there’s a chance I might have gotten the Technics by December. Hopefully. Just get me a small, drooling pug to fuss over.
I’ve been here, in Amherst, the first half of the blog’s namesake. I’ve been drowning in work lately. I’m sure I’ll miss this place after May, but sometimes it just makes me want to die inside.
I’ve been studying for random tests, churning out essays, none of which I’m fully satisfied with, and getting sick. Surrounded by the same, damn 1,600 people. I love (some of) you guys, but this is not Brooklyn…or Breukelen…or Amsterdam. This really isn’t Amsterdam. This isn’t biking past the Westerkerk at 1 AM, this isn’t running to Albert Heijn before it closes, this isn’t the Van Gogh museum, this isn’t the pancake bakery.
Instead, it is a wilderness based debt factory. Why do I nap all the time? I feel like I’m not doing anything constructive but I have no time anyway.
PS Fedde Le Grand: also Dutch. For a country with only 16 million people, it seems that every other person from here is a superstar DJ. Kind of like the way that they produced all of those Golden Age painters…but catchier?
Dutch Word of the Day
twijfels: doubts
Ik heb twijfels aan dit.
I have doubts about this.
Sorry for the break yesterday. Anyway, as you know, I’m something of an iPod junkie. I am unapologetic about this. Yes, my headphones are huge. Yes I do listen to the damn thing all the time. Well, maybe I just prefer my own soundtrack to hear the cacophonous, unedited rotating buzz of the same 1,600 people around me. Ever thought of that? I like having all my music in a tiny box, I’m very spoiled that way. I don’t care much for the video features, just give me that audio.
That said, I am not thrilled about this iPod touch crap. Yeah,the New York Times looks cute on it, but it appears to be a scratch fest waiting to happen, much like the iPhone. Hopefully, Apple beefed up the screen glass or their cases. But you know what they can’t beef up? Lithium batteries. Battery technology is terrible. The life diminishes with every keystroke. It will also go down hill even faster when you’re, oh, I don’t know, using your iPod to go on the weak wifi internet or watching a music video. They keep throwing in all these features (”It slices! It dices! It empties the litter box!”) without having proper means of support. It’s like making a flying car without inventing proper fuel.
I think the best pretentious Steve Job conference would be if he just announced a new battery. Nothing sleek, nothing flashy, just, “Hey, guess what? This won’t die so fast. We’re putting it in everything.” That would be remarkable. I don’t know if they’ll get around to that soon. I wish they would.
But the 160 GB on the iPod classic? That’s just sexy. Well done. I’ve got a little under 3000 songs on a 30 GB, so I’m at half capacity. But I don’t know how long that’ll last. I’m very happy with the iPod I have now. We’ve been through some rough times. But when it goes, I’m glad to know that something with more capacity (and probably cheaper) is waiting for me.
Dutch Word of the Day
vrolijk:happy, also slang for gay
Vrolijk Maandag!
Happy Monday!
I had a case of the jury duty today. I’ve mentioned this previously, but jury duty doesn’t exist in the Netherlands. Just saying.
Anyway: my mooi vrouw for today is Rachel Maddow. Sure, I’m mad at her because her eponymous Air America show is no longer a free podcast. But that’s OK because she’s just so darn smart! I’m serious. She’s got a mind like a trap. Watch her on The Situation with Tucker Carlson or when she randomly shows up on Paula Zahn Now. She’s got a great approach to arguing without putting other people down, yet still coming out on top.
She’s very left leaning, but also not afraid to criticize and point out when the left goes wrong. (see above video) Maybe I might pay for that podcast after all…
Dutch Word of the Day kassa: check out Dat kassa lijn was het langste ik gezien. That checkout line was the longest I’ve seen.
I specifically threw myself into the Fifth Avenue iPhone madness to get a picture for this blog. Feel special.
I haven’t been up to the Fifth Avenue Apple Temple of Glass since I walked into the front door in December. Total Windex nightmare, damn near broke my face.
After going through 5 Apple products in total, (taking advantage of the one year replacement warranty), I’ve become something of an iPod Whisperer. I know exactly what cases will scratch them, how not to charge them, how many times to push the next button before they crack. You can ask me about it if you want. If I were to get one of these, I’d wait a while. Why people are leaving Verizon and waiting in line for a first generation Apple product is beyond me; that things gonna be falling apart much sooner than later versions. But the line wrapped around the block.
Remember when the Razr was $500 in 2003? Verizon practically paid me to take this one last fall. Give it a couple years: it’ll be working great and $49.95. Not fun, I know, but trust me.
I wonder if this will be the new Manhattan perpetual line, like Trader Joes near NYU is. Stay tuned!
I’ve switched from an old iBook G4 to a shiny new (currently finger print covered) black Macbook. It’s beautiful. I’ve got tons of plans for it. I can finally download all the podcasts I want (i.e. Rachel Maddow, Selected Shorts, Tavis Smiley, etc.), mirco-manage my life in iCal, and possibly make videos. It’s wonderful.
I’ve been here, in Amherst, the first half of the blog’s namesake. I’ve been drowning in work lately. I’m sure I’ll miss this place after May, but sometimes it just makes me want to die inside. 
