yellowpigs.net

My Computers

I'm geeky enough to have a webpage about my computers. I have had a number of computers running a number of operating systems.

Linux Debian GNU/Linux Macintosh Ubuntu OpenBSD Be

Debian GNU/Linux: I first installed Debian in January 1998 and have been using it heavily (sometimes exclusively) ever since. I've run Debian on a number of my computers, including Debian PPC on four different Mac models. I admined Debian servers professionally from 1999-2005. I taught a Linux course based on Debian in 2001. When I have time, I read a handful of Debian mailing lists.

Ubuntu: Over the years, I've been favorably impressed with several Debian-based distributions for desktop systems. In February 2005, I installed Ubuntu, and I've been using it ever since. For a year or two I could frequently be found answering questions on the Ubuntu Forums.

Mac OS: Before I discovered Linux, I was a real Mac geek. I started using Macs in the mid-80s, and I used Apples before that. I used AppleScript and ResEdit and HyperCard; I went to MacWorld; I watched Apple ads for fun and drooled over Mac hardware; I've even dressed up as imacgirl (and no, you can't see the pictures); I was thrilled when Apple switched to a Unix-like OS and ran Darwin previews and OS X Server Beta. I'm less of a Macs geek now, and am rather unhappy with how locked-down recent Apple products (like the iPhone and iPad) are. My personal computers are Macs -- just Macs running Linux.

OpenBSD: I'm also a big fan of OpenBSD, which I ran on and off for years. OpenBSD is somewhat minimalist, very secure, has mature routing/firewalling capabilities, has excellent documentation, and a cool-looking blowfish and goofy songs.

BeOS: BeOS is a thing of the past, but I was briefly a happy BeOS user. It was a great OS; I miss it some days. I still remember all the Be songs and have a (dual processor!) BeBox that I can't part with. Sad, but true.

OSes I've run: I've run a lot of operating systems over the years. I've admined Debian, Ubuntu, and RedHat servers extensively. On personal computers, I've run Debian, Ubuntu, Knoppix, Libranet, Corel/Xandros, Stormix, and Progeny; RedHat, Fedora, and Mandrake; SuSE/SUSE, Gentoo, Slackware, TurboLinux, and Caldera; OpenBSD, FreeBSD, and Minix; Mac OS X and MacOS/System 6-9; BeOS, OS/2, and DOS. I've also admined or supported SunOS/Solaris, AIX, HP-UX, Irix, NetBSD, NeXTStep, VMS, and Windows NT/2000/2003.

Active Personal Hardware:

These days I have three personal computers. All are Macs, one running Debian, one Ubuntu, and the third OS X. And I have an Android (Nexus) phone, which I guess counts as a computer, since it has more computing power than many computers I've had over the years.

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