breeno | rand()

So every time I see OS reviews inevitably the focus turns to boot times. Since I use OS X, I only rarely turn off my computers (desktop or laptop) – I just put them to sleep. About the only time I boot them is when there is an software update that requires it.

I come in to work, hook the MBP to an external monitor, hit a key, and off I go within a couple of seconds.

When I’m mobile, I open the laptop and again, off I go.

Shutdown / reboot cycles are just so old school and … irrelevant to me.

Is it just me? Is this really important to folks, or is this just a habit of reviewers from the era when resume / power management was non-existent / primitive?

∞

I need Windows for some minor BlackBerry development I’ve been doing at work.

Ok, fine, let’s go buy Windows 7 and run it under bootcamp.  Well, yeah, but I wanna VM it, since I don’t want to really live in Windows 7, just visit.  I mean, all my stuff is … over there.

So off I go to a dev (BlackBerry, ugh) conference and when I get back I’m tasked with modding some BB code which requires me to fire up Parallels.  Groovy.

Windows7 is whining it needs to be (re)activated.  Yeah, ok, I get that, all this back and forth business has the activation server confused, fine.  I go through the online process only to be denied:  please call our automated line.

Ugh, I hate those things.  Fine, I call.

I put in all these numbers only to be told the automated system can’t help me and it needs to have me chat with a human.  UGH.  So, Ms Natchagonehdumauhchna asks for the numbers off the (failed) activation screen and I dutifully bark them back.

“I’m sorry, we cannot help you, call the retailer you bought your copy of windows from.”

Stunned F-ing Silence.

Are you kidding me?

I’m completely certain the dude at Staples isn’t going to be able to help ACTIVATE YOUR EMPLOYER’S PRODUCT. And I kinda get from the tone that your implying I stole this.  Nooo, I bought the thing with good ole fashion plastic and intend to expense it to my company.

I just don’t have time for all this mess, so I google around to some windows fan site and hack it to reset the stinking Doomsday Timer.  I suppose I deal with this later.  This is a VALID COPY OF WINDOWS.  I’M TRYING TO DO THE RIGHT THING HERE.

Alas, I don’t have time to jack with this nonsense.  And now I’ve wasted more time with my need to dump this rant upon the universe.

∞