15 Dec 2023 Tech

Setup Switching Habit And Hobby

As a tech geek, I suffer from chronic setup switching. Bouncing from one system of devices or apps to another is an ongoing habit and hobby. Either bored with stale or tempted by shine, I like to try new tech tools or revert to the familiar.

My latest switch-a-roo happened so fast that it was too short-lived to bother mentioning. Well, except for now since I’ve flip-flopped back again.

In Apple’s walled-garden, I’d been frowning at the walls and finding ways over them. So I traded out some tried-and-true Apple apps for third-party alternatives. But suddenly I’m back, ALL-IN with Apple. Instead of the walls weighing on me, the garden has my gaze.

The software

Here’s the whiplash boomerang moves I recently made:

  • Notes > Obsidian > Notes
  • Reminders > Obsidian+Calendar > Reminders
  • Safari > Firefox+Pocket > Safari
  • Passwords > Bitwarden > Passwords
  • Apple Maps > Google Maps > Apple Maps
  • Photos > Photomator > Photos
  • Podcasts > Pocketcasts > Podcasts
  • iCloud Drive > Local Storage+AirDrop > iCloud Drive

Basically, this latest workflow disruption/optimization was fueled by two things: idealism and a need for improved html coding. Obsidian and the Local-First paradigm were my kryptonite.

Local-first computing is great if you have enough internal local storage; I don't. Here's my breakdown:

  • iPhone - 64GB
  • iPad - 64GB
  • MacBook - 256GB

Those three Apple devices don't even add up to 512GB. On the other hand, I have 2TB in iCloud storage! So instead of local-first, I'm cloud-first/mobile-first. And the thing about this modern computing setup: it works super well. I'm careful, though, to make local and external backup copies of my data in case the cloud goes, "Poof!"

The hardware

The app-switching was partly catalyzed by device switching too. Back in September when I swapped my MacBook Air for an iPad Air, I was cautious to be iPad-mostly, not iPad-only. It turned out to be 99% iPad and 1% MacBook.

But after three months, I realized that my teenage sons were not using the MacBook for school like I thought they would. And despite having iPhones, they also did not use the MacBook for any of their Apple apps or iCloud integration. The M1 MacBook Air was basically another Chromebook for them, using Google Chrome for web apps.

So I reclaimed my M1 MacBook Air. It’s great!

With my iPhone, iPad, and MacBook, going all-in with iCloud and the default Apple app ecosystem makes much sense. And it's not just practical, it's super nice.

My MacBook mainly stays at home and connects to external peripherals for traditional desktop computing. That's where I prefer to do html coding, with full-browsers and web dev tools like Brackets. My iPad with Logitech Folio Touch and Apple Pencil is my mobile laptop replacement and digital sketchbook. When I go to the coffee shop, my iPad fits in my EDC bag!

Summary

Regardless of what software or hardware you prefer, we are blessed to have many great options. Go all-in with Microsoft, Apple, or Google, for example. Mix things up instead. Your choice.

For me, I obviously tend to prefer Apple for personal stuff (my professional work is always on company-supplied Windows machines). One of my aims has been to stick with what I've got; don't disrupt my workflow. Sometimes I miss the target, but I can at least gladly say I haven't switched my email or calendar service in over three years!

I guess if such switching, though, is my worst habit, I'm not doing too badly. It's like a geek hobby.

Comments? Email or mention me.