racoma.com.phJ. Angelo Racoma on technology, economics, writing, problogging, and getting things done

It’s the post-PC era, as the late Steve Jobs has called it. tablets and smartphones have far overtaken desktops and notebooks in terms of growth. And given the varied price points at which consumers can acquire mobile phones and tablet PCs (what with the cheap China-made Android tablets), computers are becoming cheaper and cheaper. But Microsoft is focusing on a post-post-PC era. Microsoft has already hinted that its upcoming Windows 8 operating system will run on both mobile and desktop platforms.

Will Microsoft merge its mobile and desktop operating systems with Windows 8? Microsoft has reassigned its chief of the Windows Mobile 7 division to a secret project under CEO Steve Ballmer. But whether this means they’re surrendering in the smartphone market, or they’re planning a resurgence through a unified OS, we will know by 2012, when Windows 8 launches.

I’m a MacHead once again. Just got a pre-owned Mac Mini G4 (1.25GHz, the first generation!) a few weeks back, which I upgraded to 1GB RAM. Plus there’s the new Samsung SyncMaster 940BW which I recently acquired for a relatively low price (ask me where!).

I’m using it as my main work machine these days. It gets a bit claustrophobic on the Asus Eee when you get used to working on large widescreens again.

The in-laws recently bought a spiffy new desktop computer, and courtesy of the shop discounts, they also got me a desktop computer table. I’m not much of a desktop user (as I prefer to work on laptops), but my wife and kids use the desktop for documents, web and games. So I thought of reorganizing my home office to minimize the clutter and to help with the workflow.

Previously, all the computers were on one table, and that included the 17-inch CRT the desktop used. It was really cramped. And I tend to clutter my desk with documents, computer peripherals, wires and even used mugs and plates from snacks.

Here’s my new setup after assembling and installing the desktop computer table. It took me a couple of hours to assemble the thing (no easy task because of the cryptic instructions!).

That’s my desk, sans the clutter. In a few hours the clutter will be back.

I know the elliptical table doesn’t exactly serve as a good office desk, but I had to make do with what I have. I know I have to buy a real desk pretty soon. At any rate, this used to be our dining table, and I folded the other half down, so I can set it up adjacent to the wall (but not directly against the wall, since the wall tends to get hot during daytime). I used to face the window, and I could easily glance sideward towards the TV. Now the TV is behind me (which will hopefully lessen the possibility of getting distracted when the kids are here watching).

Now that some space is freed up, and now that the desktop computer can be used without the table being so cramped, and now that I cannot glance toward the direction of the TV, I’m looking into boosting my productivity.

There was a time in my life when my laptop was underpowered and I just had to get some things done with much processing horsepower. Heck, there was a time in my life I didn’t have my own laptop, and I just borrowed from the office. The home desktop was my staple for home computing. I kind of moved away from desktop computers when I got hooked on laptops (and got my own). But when my laptop needed repair, I salvaged some parts just lying around the house and re-built my old Pentium-IV based computer. And it was good.

Ever since I started to use laptops to work with (two, namely the Powerbook Pismo for serious writing stuff, when I don’t want to get distracted, and the newer, zippier Compaq Presario for graphics work, watching videos, burning discs and the occasional writing work), the desktop had once again been turned into a glorified paperweight. The monitor had been used on occasion as second screen for either laptop. But the rest was just in a state of rest.

But just this evening I had to look for a file that I know I saved on the desktop’s hard drive about a year back. So I plugged in all peripherals, flicked the power supply switch, and pushed the power button.

Silence … Fans whirring … That familiar POST beep.

Ah, sheer desktop computing bliss. I never know the day would come when I would be elated watching a Windows startup screen unfold.

Having worked on laptops for so long, I’ve grown used to touchpads (or trackpads, as MacHeads call ‘em), small screens and keyboards with integrated function and directional keys. I never realized I missed the large screen real estate, full size keyboard, separate pointing device and zip of a desktop computer. And of course there’s the expandability. With laptops, there’s only so much you can do to upgrade–memory, hard drive, and perhaps even a spare battery. But with a desktop, the possibilities are only limited by your budget, compatibility and the power supply’s capacity.

Sure it’s a bit dated, but it can still carry its weight. I do miss my desktop computer. I think it’s time to play around and tinker.