As it’s my first Mac, I need to learn a new OS, but that can only be a good thing. Previously, testing websites on anything other than Windows platforms wasn’t an option for me. While the differences have been fairly minimal up until now, they were differences all the same, and it’s good to at least be aware of them. Having an OS X machine to hand makes that possible.

So, what new process(es)?

Well, with my old Dell laptop, despite its supposed power, I really struggled to get work done on it. I treated it like a proper computer and added many of the applications and software I would on my main PC. It couldn’t handle that and became slow and unresponsive. It overheated and would shut itself down on occasions (it did this from the very start) and approximately 1 in 10 times that I started it up, it wouldn’t make it to the login screen, which meant it needed a forced shutdown and would then do a full blown crash recovery and restore, losing lots of my settings. Pain in the arse.

The MacBook Air is unbelievably quick. We’re talking around a 10 second startup and a 3 second shutdown. It makes you want to pull it out whenever you get a spare few minutes to work. This time I’ve loaded only the apps and software I really need. I want to keep it lightweight and flexible.

Slightly smaller than a pad of A4 paper

It simply isn’t possible to replicate my home setup on a laptop. So why strive for that? It’s a mobile device. As long as it can do the bare bones of my work in as simple, quick and effective way as possible, it’s fulfilling its purpose.

So this is my setup so far (I can’t promise it won’t change/grow though):

• Photoshop – for image work. It’s a necessity. I looked at Pixelmator briefly, but it’s missing some critical features and I’ve always used Photoshop. No reason to change if the laptop can handle it.
• Coda – for web dev work. I’m still considering swapping for Dreamweaver, but I feel I should take the opportunity to get to know more software. I’ve yet to really get into it but it looks nice and simple to use.
• Dropbox – helps with the portability ideal, allowing me to sync files across my laptop and main working computer. The plan is to move everything to the cloud over time, allowing me complete freedom in where and when I choose to work.
• Firefox – I hear and read lots of talk of designers and developers switching to Chrome for various reasons. I can’t do it. Firefox is too flexible. It’s too customiseable. And we’ve been going together for years.

So while the majority of the software I’ve installed is the same as I used on my old laptop, the MacBook just makes it feel easier to use. It’s way more responsive and it has completely removed all frustrations I had previously with working away from my main desktop. Mobility and economy are absolutely key to getting work done when you’re out and about and the MacBook Air has it all tied down.

Incredibly thin

The positives of switching to this machine continue to mount up. Here are some off the top of my head:

Positives

• It forces me to learn another OS. This is good for the CV but it’s also useful in general to have a wider knowledge of what’s available to you
• It allows me the ultimate setup for cross-browser and cross-OS testing on websites. Windows on one maching, OS X on the other
• It opens up a world of new apps that are only available to OS X users
• It’s incredibly quick. Startups and shutdowns are almost enjoyable now!
• It’s incredibly beautiful. It’s just nice to look at
• Despite the ageing Intel Core 2 Duo processor, it handles multiple applications with ease – no lag and no freezing so far
• It’s super light and super slim
• The battery life is very good (around 5 hours) and easy to manage using the preferences system
• The trackpad is excellent. The multi-touch feature forces it to be a relevant point here. Scrolling has never been so easy or natural.

Negatives

• It’s bloody expensive.

Conclusion

Overall, so far, it’s been refreshing and rewarding to use not just a new, quicker laptop, but to also experience OS X for the first time. It’ll take some getting used to and learning the shortcuts will definitely require some serious cognitive priming – there are four fairly similar (from what I can gather) operator buttons in a line in the bottom left corner of the keyboard, all used in conjunction with the rest of the keys to perform innumerate tasks.

Bit thicker than a pencil

But this thing is genuinely satisfying to use. Which does matter. If I didn’t already enjoy my work, this little Air should breathe new life into it.

It’s a good sign that 15 pages in I was already considering exactly how I was going to get across the level of respect I have for this book. Turns out I’m not a good enough writer to fit in all the superlatives and similes without turning this into a sponsored review. It’s that good.

Jason Fried and the David Heinemeier Hansson are the guys behind 37 Signals – an online suite of customer relationship and project management tools aimed primarily at web designers and developers. Their company consists of just 16 people, spread across 9 cities and 2 continents, yet it turns over millions of pounds in revenue every year. They don’t aim to please everybody in what they do. They please themselves by building products they believe to be truly useful. And in so doing, they please many, many more. Something they are evidently proud of.

Rework is the second book from 37 Signals, though this one is more of a manual than anything else. In its first week of launch it became a New York Times best-seller. And understandably so. Its chapters are littered with nuggets of useful, every day best practices and suggestions for running a sleek and successful business – whatever field you’re in. They actually make sense. Books like this run the risk of coming off as cheesy and unrealistic. But this one is nothing if not realistic. Keeping well clear of the ‘self-help’ and ‘motivational speaker’ genres, it carefully positions itself somewhere between ground-breaking white paper and, well…rant.

Something I particularly like about Rework is that everything discussed can be applied to any situation, work or otherwise. It’s written by web designers by trade, but spoken from the mouth’s of those who have been there, done it, disagreed, reworked it and written about it.

The chapters are short and punchy. There’s no lag, no filler and nothing unnecessary. Every paragraph makes sense and is about as succinct as you would want it to be. This makes it incredibly easy to read, whether you’re sitting down with it for a good session, or just dipping in and out on the train to work, like I did. I still finished it in 2 goes.

One of the biggest things I’ve taken from this book is that is that it doesn’t matter what’s gone before. It doesn’t matter that others have tried and failed. Their misplaced conceptions or ill-conceived ideas are what commit their ventures to failure. You create your own luck and in spite of others. You succeed because of you.

“Evolution doesn’t linger on past failures. It’s always building on what worked. So should you.”

Despite Seth Godin’s (American entrepreneur, author and public speaker) warning that some of it may make uncomfortable reading, I actually find it quite soothing to be told that there is more than one way to skin a cat. That just because we already have these processes and policies in place, we don’t necessarily have to abide by them if we believe there is a better way to achieve the same outcome or better.

Without wanting to give too much away, there are a couple more quotes that I have to share. On startups, new businesses and those that have always thought about it but never quite got round to it:

“When you want something bad enough, you make the time – regardless of your other obligations. The truth is most people just don’t want it bad enough. Then they protect their ego with the excuse of time.

Don’t let yourself off the hook with excuses. It’s entirely your responsibility to make your dreams come true.”

Ok, so talk of dreams coming true might’ve caused a few pairs of eyes to roll skywards and some of you will brush it off as more clichéd rubbish for the people not living in the ‘real world’ to chase. This is probably a clear indication that either you have everything you need….or you’re missing something pretty major in your life to strive for. You be the judge on that one.

On the subject of building a rockstar environment (one where all employees are highly skilled, highly devoted and near-miracle-working geniuses):

“Rockstar environments develop out of trust, autonomy, and responsibility. They’re a result of giving people the privacy, workspace and tools they deserve. Great environments show respect for the people who do the work and how they do it.”

Nuff said.

Conclusion

I felt genuinely inspired and invigorated from page three. Page one was blank and page two had the chapter title :). I only really need one word to describe it: loaded.

It’s loaded with bullshit-meets-reality scenarios. Loaded with paragraph after paragraph of pure and unadulterated truth. It scythes down all antiquated and inflexible structures that we have grown to be comfortable or accepting of and replaces it with workable, sensible solutions. Drop it on the boardroom table and it will go off in the face of those who persist in unnecessary formalities and needless protocol. It questions everything and offers more, to the point where I want to get wrist bands made up with ‘WWJFD?’ embossed on them, standing for ‘What Would Jason Fried Do?’.

I have found my bible. But I won’t be lending it to you.

Buy it yourself if you seek genuine enlightenment.

I’ve been lucky enough to acquire one unexpectedly through work :) and have been playing with it for about 3 weeks now. It’s the 16GB, WiFi (no 3G) version. And I still don’t like putting it down. What follows is a brief(ish) rundown of what I like and what I don’t like about it.

What I like

1. Screen clarity

   The very first thing you notice when you fire it up is the quality and resolution of the screen. It boasts a “138 PPI high quality screen” which quite frankly, is nothing short of sensational. You can zoom…and zoom…and zoom some more into just about anything and it will still look pinpoint crisp. Try it with any text that has a dropshadow and you’ll be amazed at the clarity. Viewing photos and videos on it is especially satisfying.

2. Startup speed

   For me this is one of the the key selling points of the iPad. Picture this: you’ve just stepped into the office of an important potential client and he/she asks to see some websites that you think might be similar to what they need. What follows is an excruciating 10/11/12/more minutes of impatience while you both wait for your laptop to startup, find your profile, load all of its proprietary applications, load your antivirus software, load any custom applications you use such as Gtalk or iPlayer, find your Mobile wireless device and connect to a network, before finally allowing you to open up your browser. Of course, since it was last closed with 25 tabs of websites your potential client might like open, you have to wait a further 5/6/7/more minutes for it to load. Ouch.

   Break out the iPad and in less than 10 seconds, assuming you have wifi access, you’re ready to roll. No exaggeration. The iPad loads websites ‘on click’, basically when you go to the tab. It doesn’t bulk load them all together as soon as you open up the browser. Ok so it’s not quite as powerful as a laptop or standard computer, but it’s a mobile device. It’s not meant to be. Everything is geared towards speed and agility. This is a smart move.

3. Portability

   This thing is surprisingly light and comfortable to hold. In fact quite pleasing to hold. I find myself picking it up more often than I need to and just flicking it on for a casual browse. It’s just nice to use. My consumption of online media has increased since I’ve had it as well. Mostly in bed. I’ve lost the desire to allow my laptop time to load (and heat) up so I can flick through some RSS feeds. The iPad is perfect for this. Pick it up, have a read, put it down. Over and over again. It’s the perfect device for consuming media. Fast, comfortable and easy. Big pluses.

4. Email client

   In landscape mode, a thing of beauty. Works perfectly and as hoped for. Allows multi-touch so you can move up and down in your inbox (left hand sidebar) and main content area (right section) at the same time. However, when switching to portrait, things feel a little cluttered and thrown together. You can only access the inbox by tapping a link to bring up a modal box. This just doesn’t feel right. You need a permanent list of your emails somewhere on screen to make it easier to jump about. That extra action of having to open up the inbox gets a little tiresome. I can’t realistically complain about this though. Easy solution – stick to landscape mode. Overall, nice to use.

5. Instapaper

   I can’t leave this out. It’s too well put together not to include it. Those of you that own an iPad or even an iPhone will most likely have your favourite apps that you can’t live without. Instapaper is a firm favourite of mine. On the iPad’s 9.7 inch screen it gives you the perfect platform to read through your favourite blog posts online or offline (!). Plenty of the content fits on the screen in portrait mode, which is extremely aesthetically pleasing, and in landscape you have all the options you could possibly need to get to from the sidebar. If that wasn’t enough, from within any article you can edit the visual settings – font type, font size, background colour, line spacing etc until the content is as readable as you like. The iPad was made for apps like this. It’s worth paying the $5 for the pro version, believe me.

What I don’t like

1. Connectivity

   Without WiFI – it does become a bit of a brick. Once you leave the comfort of your house/office and its familiar, steady connection, you’re at the mercy of your surroundings. The majority of good apps for the iPad require some form or other of internet connection, so if like me, you don’t have 3G, it can be frustrating. However, there is a small device that is making its merry way into the market as you read this – Mifi. With it, you’ll be able to connect your iPad, laptop and up to 3 other devices simultaneously to the interwebs. Very helpful.

2. Typing

   The fundamental problem I have with the email client in particular, but really any apps that require textual input – is that you need to lay the iPad down in order to type with both hands. With a mobile phone people have come to accept that the only way to type quickly is with both thumbs. This is a bit more of an issue with the wider iPad. So unless you want to lay it flat somewhere, your only option to type comfortably is to do it one handed while holding it up…suspended in mid-air. That’s fine if you’re tweeting. But knocking up long emails or writing blog posts? It just doesn’t feel natural like a keyboard. The iPad isn’t heavy, but after a while it’ll get uncomfortable and slightly frustrating that you can’t use both hands. Small price to pay, however.

3. Tab/page handling

   I like the way tabs are displayed with the iPad. There are 3 columns and 3 rows showing a maximum of 9 tabs. That however, is a slight issue. If I was sitting at my computer or laptop, on any given day I’ll have somewhere between 10 and 40 tabs open. The iPad only allows 9 at most and after that it starts to overwrite your other pages with whatever you open next. Ideally, the thumbnail screen would either be paginated or they would shrink to fit more in. While I’ll admit, most people probably won’t need that many tabs open, there are some that do, namely designers and developers. Arguably those more likely to purchase an iPad.

What else?

The iPad is bullying its way into the market. It’s not quite powerful enough to replace a laptop and it’s not quite small enough to replace a mobile device. But it is so intuitive to use, so aesthetically pleasing to hold and so beautiful to look at that somehow you keep going back to it. After a couple of plays with it, you’ll find yourself wanting one even though you may not actually need one. So in that sense, the iPad has filled a niche that didn’t previously exist.

Like the iPhone, the iPad has the app store. And like the iPhone, this means the functionality of your device will exponentially increase. If there’s something you find it doesn’t do by default, there’s a good chance somebody has thought of it and built an app for it, so your device will get better with time. There really is an app for everything.

For those of you that are worried about the rendering capabilities of the built in browser…don’t. Initially, I was intrigued as to how it would display websites. With the option to view websites in both portrait and landscape modes, I had visions of having to re-design my sites to make them fluid width in order to compensate for the extra screen real estate that landscape mode offers. But having visited a truckload of sites, there appears to be no/very little difference in the how sites are displayed on the iPad compared with a regular computer. After all, it is essentially Safari – a webkit browser. It was always going to do a good job.

Conclusion

If you buy an iPad expecting it to revolutionise the way you work and play, you’ll end up disappointed. It never promised to oust the laptop. It never promised to cover every aspect of your daily computing needs. But given time and the introduction of the right apps, I think the iPad will become strong enough to all but eradicate the average netbook. It has a lot going for it with its ease of use, speed, instant access and portability. It’s agile, it’s flexible and with the app store, it’s getting better.

It is what it is: a luxurious, web and email browser with fantastic portability, charming good looks and the sexiest interface known to man. I keep going back to it. Whether I need to or not is another question. But for now, it’s a question I’m not too bothered about answering.