It's been a while since I've posted on my blog </classic> but I'm heading to a software engineering conference in Montreal called CUSEC 2012 and I figured I'd blog about it.

But I haven't left for CUSEC yet, so I figured I'd give a little update into my feats (and defeats) as a software engineering student, web developer, hobbyest photographer and amateur graphic artist.

My Dilemma with Operating Systems

Windows is Required

In May of 2010, I had to purchase a new laptop for web development freelancing. I was contracted by eCenter Research to work on their proprietary web software, so I required a larger screen and faster hardware. I chose the ASUS K72Jr for its price and performance, knowing I could dual-boot Ubuntu along side the factory install of Windows 7.

By this time, my entire family and my friends knew me as "The Ubuntu Guy" and were mildly shocked when I kept Windows 7 on my machine. I had been using Ubuntu since Warty Warthog 4.10 and as my main operating system since Dapper Drake 6.06. I figured it was time to stop hating other operating systems, especially since no one operating system is perfect and can suit everyone's needs.

With the new laptop, I used Windows from time to time to play some games with my friends, but found gaming on my laptop awkward and expensive to upkeep -- buying new hardware and games every couple months is too expensive. So in October 2011, after a long hiatus of gaming, I purchased a PS3.

At eCenter Research, I was required to use GoToMeeting, which forced me to use Windows. I would reboot into Ubuntu soon after those morning meetings.

When it came to freelancing, I found myself going in to Windows every so often to use Photoshop. I had Photoshop CS2 running through Wine, but due to the glitchiness of the window handling, including the fact that designers were sending me CS4 or CS5 PSD files, meant I had to use Windows to use Photoshop CS5.

I tried splicing the PSD, exporting the PNGs and JPGs I required and rebooting into Ubuntu to use my favourite text editor, gEdit. However, while working at Whatever Media, I found myself using Windows more and more for work related purposes. Yes, this means I now had to use Windows for Photoshop CS5 and Office 2010. What's a working man to do?

 Apple Makes an Entrance

In the summer of 2011, I purchased an Android phone. Knowing a lot about the underpinnings of Android and watch the Android market boom, I figured it was finally time to jump in. So I purchased an inexpensive LG P500h.

Unfortunately, it was the most frustrating experience of my mobile-phone-owning life and I knew immediately I made the wrong choice. Not that Android is a bad mobile operating system at all, but the hardware LG chose to use made the phone lag even when I was unlocking it. Yikes!

Well in October, my girlfriend, who owned an iPhone 4 for over a year, wanted an iPad for homework and entertainment purposes. Knowing I would use it every so often, we split the cost. 5 months later, we are still using it every day.

Seeing this software in action, from its ease-of-use, to slick display, to new and exciting software, I knew Apple was doing something right. By this time, they were the most valued company in the world, so maybe I was coming to that realization a little late. Truthfully though, I've always loved Macs. I used them as a kid in school, I used them in high school for video editing and even for graphic design when I co-oped for BrandHealth.

Getting sick of my cheap LG phone, I bought an iPhone 4S. No lag, slick animations, never crashes, long battery life, incredible apps, slick camera and records video in 1080p HD. I couldn't believe this fit in my pocket.

Being an amateur photographer and using Adobe Lightroom, I need to have a monitor that displays incredible colour parity to how a photo will print and how it will look to others as a digital medium. I've been using a standard resolution (1280 x 1024) 19" Dell 1905FP since 2005 and it has handled my workload very well, but it has some issues with greys and I found I was often crushing my blacks. Having a need of incredible colour correctness on my screen, getting a Mac was a no brainer. Whatever Media values me as an important employee to their organization, so as of January 2012, I now use a 15" MacBook Pro.

Ubuntu Has Not Been Lost

I still use Ubuntu as a server where ever and when ever I can. I am running an Ubuntu virtual machine on my Mac, just for LAMP. I run an Ubuntu server in my basement for backups and hosting files. I've set up Ubuntu servers at other companies and still support it on my friends' and family's laptops. I haven't lost faith in Ubuntu, but for digital work, it just does not compare with the software available to Mac and Windows.

I know, of course, that this isn't Ubuntu's fault. I hope Ubuntu and Linux in general doesn't stay allergic to proprietary software and come up with a solution, like the Ubuntu Software Manager, for Adobe and others to deploy their software. Users that are all about FOSS can ignore the availability, while people such as myself can use an open-source and secure operating system while using the programs I require for work.

What do you think?