BlinkPad
I was issued a new laptop at work today. It is a Lenovo ThinkPad, which has immediately been nicknamed the BlinkPad. Like the handlebar tape earlier this week, it will clearly need some getting used to.
The keyboard is different than the old WorkTop, but that's typical of laptops in general. You get used to one layout, and it's hard when there is something new. It sounds different...louder. As I typed this, coworkers asked if I was angry.
The ports are in an odd place. The cables aren't quite long enough. It fits on my desk funny.
Don't get me wrong. The old WorkTop needed something--at the very least, a fresh OS load. My theory is that for truly personal systems, such as laptops (especially those running Windows), a fresh load every year or two is a must. So much junk gets added and removed, things get shut down improperly, etc, that a clean start is required.
The catch is that as of a few months ago, I would wind up getting Windows Vista.
The BlinkPad has Vista.
It is every bit as bad as they say. Every time I do something, such as install something, create a folder, or join a network, it asks me if I'm sure. If it was a quick dialog on critical things (like on OS X), it'd be OK. However, it is quite frequent (creating a folder?!?), and invasive. Instead of a quick dialog, the whole screen flashes like it is changing resolution, then, it greys out everything except a dialog. I click "OK" (yes, I want to create this folder), and the process reverses. Annoying.
The look is too cute, and you can't turn it off. OS X is cute, but subtly so. This is like "see, we can be fun too."
In any case, I'm stuck with this beast for a few years or I find a new job. So, let's welcome the BlinkPad.
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