Context

[ehowton]

I've been able to limit my ire to two items these past couple of weeks, and both of them stem from linux. I'm not kidding when I say I want to move off of XP. I'm not a gamer - I don't need windows. But no matter how you slice it, there are Window-centric things. For example, a web-interface to ITMS would be nice, as there is no linux client, and no other way to access it. Non-free java sometimes works. Sometimes. I can't have that. As much as I despise java, I require it. But the two big ones for me - the reason I still run XP, is:

1. Notes & Photoshop.


2. Spanned desktop across two monitors.

I have to have Notes. Its my livelihood. Inevitably, some idjit will suggest I use the Notes Web Client (which doesn't work well enough to actually be useful) and I refuse to give up Photoshop. Again, some OSS fanboy will invariably suggest the GIMP, but as dentin once put it, there's a reason why Adobe Photoshop has a bigger market share than the Gimp: because the Gimp is fucking stupid.

IBM did release a linux version of Notes, which eventually worked. Until the operating system updated. And Slashdot has carried IBM press releases about which specific version of Notes will work with which specific version of Ubuntu at some point in an unclear future. Color me bored. I've even found some fantastic HOWTO's on the Ubutnu forums. And I shouldn't have to subjugate myself to virtualization or dual-booting on my laptop! So with a heavy heart, and knowing that this next and final course is equally as perverted as the ones laid before it, I turn to wine.

For the uninitiated, wine is a recursive acronym for Wine Is Not (an) Emulator (though yes, this frustration is driving me to drink) and all the same rules apply. Specific versions of wine, specific versions of Notes, specific kernels, etc. Its going to be a nightmare. But if it works... (and if I get Photoshop working as well) "By Grapthar's Hammer" I will live to tell the tale.

Context is an underrated, and often ignored art. I enjoy context. I start my stories way back, on a seemingly unconnected note, and work my way up. I take my time. Those who have known me years adore it. Those who just meet me get frustrated by it. I tell a story to entertain myself just as much as my audience. To do otherwise does us both a disservice. Of course the joy of context is also its immediate association. If one were in a hurry, they can announce context immediately and go from there. Context is absolutely invaluable in multi-threaded conversations!

I have two friends. Both think context is retarded for different reasons. One thinks that if we're discussing several ideas in a dizzying array of conversations, I should be smart enough to pick out which he's referring to even if his statement could apply to multiple active scenarios. The other friend simply fails to comprehend context's importance even when outlined to him and thus refuses to participate in anything he does not understand.

So be it.

These past two weeks have been weighing heavily on my mind, and I can't focus on one, or the other, because even if I could get everything to work under wine, unless I can utilize my 19" LCD monitor by extending my desktop onto it - ITS NOT WORTH IT FOR ME TO USE! Apparently, linux hasn't migrated this far yet. I have an IBM T60 with a non-nvidia (i810 compliant) framebuffer. Grrrrr! When I get tired of working on that, I go back to wine and the cycle continues. So I'm wandering aimlessly around Fry's Electronics book section today, and what to my delight to I see? Wine for Dummies! Could this be my saving grace? Could I glean something, anything from this bound paper book? It was between Virtualization for Dummies and XP for Dummies.

Its worth a try. I pick it up and open it. There's a metaphor about a corkscrew I don't understand. The corkscrew we don't want to use. Yes - I'm familiar with the 'Dummies' series of books and their similes and stories and tips and asides. Which tool is the corkscrew supposed to represent? I want to ensure I'm not using it! The next page shows another corkscrew. This is the one we should use! Fantastic! This one doesn't leave bits of cork in the bottle. WHAT REPRESENTS THE BITS OF CORK? WHICH TOOL SHOULD I USE TO PROPERLY UTILIZE WINE? The next picture is of...another corkscrew? WTF?

...I close the book to read the cover:



Wine for Dummies.

No shit.

Context is everything.

Comments

[hiro-antagonist.livejournal.com]

I might recommend OS X. It runs photoshop and running on a BSD core, you can get most *nix stuff to run on them (some things have to be recompiled, but that's no biggie I feel). And of course, it handles spanning multiple desktops like a pro.

And yes, anyone who says that the GIMP can replace photoshop has never had to do anything serious with photoshop. It's one of the few pieces of software that I've ever encountered that is worth the insane price that it's sold at.

[ehowton.livejournal.com]

Oh I'm a HUGE fan of OSX and run both those apps on it at home. I really wish they'd release a version I could load on my ThinkPad - because I would do so without hesitation!

^{I'm not going to run that hacked x86 code on it though.}

[schpydurx.livejournal.com]

Conversley, if you already have things working on OS X at home, why not purchase/have work purchase you a Mac Book? Would this not solve your problem?

[ehowton.livejournal.com]

The corporate standard is XP running Internet Explorer. I'll get right on that request.

[hiro-antagonist.livejournal.com]

Well, an official apple release will never run on 'non-Apple' hardware. There are 'fixed' versions that run on any x86 hardware, but... Eh, given my experience with it (booting it a few times on a triple boot system), you might as well just shell out for the native hardware for it.

[schpydurx.livejournal.com]

You beat me to the punch.

[ehowton.livejournal.com]

You know I have a T60. What punch exactly did he beat you to?

[time3.livejournal.com]

Consider that Gimp was created by volunteers, freely available, and has only been around since about 1995ish. I think Gimp is pretty fantastic from that point of view.

[hiro-antagonist.livejournal.com]

Sure, but it's hardly a substitute for photoshop, and I've heard plenty of linux fanboys rave that it is.

[schpydurx.livejournal.com]

Wine for Dummies. ConTEXT is everthing. No shit.

[ehowton.livejournal.com]

Yes, that's what I said?

[schpydurx.livejournal.com]

I was mocking you.

[schpydurx.livejournal.com]

May I say sir that you have some of the most awesome friends?

[ehowton.livejournal.com]

I count you among them.

[schpydurx.livejournal.com]

Thank you Sir. I am honored.

[schpydurx.livejournal.com]

I have two friends. Both think context is retarded for different reasons. One thinks that if we're discussing several ideas in a dizzying array of conversations, I should be smart enough to pick out which he's referring to even if his statement could apply to multiple active scenarios. The other friend simply fails to comprehend context's importance even when outlined to him and thus refuses to participate in anything he does not understand.
I think you're talking about me twice. Do I have MPD?

[ehowton.livejournal.com]

Only one of them is you, since you mentioned it.

[schpydurx.livejournal.com]

And here I thought you were going to break out professortom.

[photogoot.livejournal.com]

As I have known for quite some time now... If one takes the time to go the distance with you when telling a story the payoff is always worth it.

Great story my friend!

Context is fundamental.

[ehowton.livejournal.com]

Context is fundamental! Thank you! Let's spread the word you and I, traveling the globe spreading the good news.

Glad you enjoyed the story.

[hiro-antagonist.livejournal.com]

Oh, and:



http://www.flickr.com/photos/odibusmacsimus/2326278012/

[ehowton.livejournal.com]

Oh my! That would make an outstanding avatar. Very nice, sir!

[mr-dowg.livejournal.com]

I wish that I had something to add to this but sadly I really have no clue what you all are talking about so I will just sit here scratching my head and re-reading everything 10 times and then I still won't understand it!

[galinda822.livejournal.com]

Nice to know I'm not the only one. I'm clueless!

[ehowton.livejournal.com]

I accidentally picked up a book on that stuff Jesus turned from water, thinking it was a technical manual. I'm an idiot, and idiots are funny.