by UnEstranAvecVueSurMer
Thu Sep 20th, 2007 at 10:40:57 AM EST
... MacOs X
That's it. I erased MacOs X. I erased my operating system.
Then, you ask, how am I writing this diary? Well. Until two days ago I didn't know it was possible. But it is: My computer is running a portable version of Ubuntu.
Ubuntu. Yes. To tell you the truth, I have no idea what it really is, but here is what I think. I think that's how they call a bunch of software put together to make an operating system based on linux. Unbuntu, of course, isn't the only "bunch". It loads pretty quickly. It runs perfectly so far, and pages load well. Flash isn't installed by default, so I can't see no advertising. Ok, this last one isn't really new. I had disabled flash in Camino... well, anyway.
Why?
Because a couple of days ago, Itunes asked me, rather nicely, whether I wished to download and install the last update, 7.0.4 or something. I said no a couple of time, as I had other stuff to do with my bandwidth... but then I succumbed to the Siren's call. After all, maybe the update was about loading libraries faster? making the software faster?
So off I download. And I listen to music after that. Well, before, I had to accept a new license agreement, which makes me loose a LOT of time.
Ok, the 'accept' button is just a click away, so it's not really a lot of time, you think. Well, see, I used my computer as an alarm clock, setting it to boot at 9 (i'm a student hehe) and to automatically launch a couple of mp3's in iTunes. So this time, it does launch the mp3s, but iTunes freezes on the license screen... So i missed class.
The following day, for some reason, at some point I am done listening to music. So, naturally I quit iTunes. Oh, but wait, it won't quite just like that. Hum, I frown at this unusual popup. 'iTunes is downloading album artwork. Are you sure you wish to interupt?"
What?
Did I read this correctly? Is iTunes sending content of my music library to an unknown third party with the vile and pernicious intention of polluting my hard drive with useless jpgs... so I can browse my library like on the ads? Is this a joke?
And now, I can't find the option to disable this downloading.
And so that's it. Then I saw the video of the Kid being tazed for being a little deranged. And I decided I should regain some control over what I have around me. The things I use daily, that live their own lives, like iTunes. I decided to regain control over my computer, what it does. It's my belief that we're all, collectively, going to spend more and more time using software and electronic devices in general, and that therefore knowing how to retain some, just a bit of control over what goes on behind you TFT screen, is important, politically sound and responsible.
I can't bear the thought of my computer sending a partial list of my HD's content to a company I don't know. I can't stop thinking that I need a proxy, so that advertising companies can't know from where i'm loading webpages. And it goes on.
So, right now, Ubuntu is being installed on my computer. MacOSX is no more. And it's for the better.
Sure, it's going to crash a bunch of times. Yes, I'm going to spend hours learning basic programming, so I can configure my computer a little bit, use Fluxbox which looks maaaaaad cool... It's going to take time and energy, patience too. But in the end, I will have eradicated proprietary software from my computer.
Oh, Ubuntu too does unexpected popup, like itunes. But check this one:
Installation is complete. You need to restart the computer in order to use the new installation.
Buttons: Continue using the live CD -- Restart Now
