buying a iMac?

I like the concept of the new iMac. What I'm a not sure about is the Mac OS X. As I had to switch between system not only over time but also between work and home, I started using programs that run on all platforms.

At this time all platforms for me is Linux, Windows and sometimes OS/2 and IBM 370/MVS. Adding an other OS to this, needs some good reason and all the tools I use 99% of the time. As OS X is based on BSD it should not be a big problem.

First quick draft of the programs I use:

• zsh


• emacs - moving more and more to eclipse


• perl


• Java


• mutt


• ImageMagick


• ssh


• mpd/mpc

To add programs as I use them, I will look up the home page and add the tag useprg and osx if it runs on OS X on del.icio.us.

And now some hardware I should be able to use:

• external USB drive with ext2


• Palm Tungsten


• SD card or SD card reader (USB)


• mobile phone


• ISDN phone


• scanner


• ham radio

Not everything will be usable from OS X directly. Most of this should run in VMware or parallels. Problematic will be the RS232 and IEEE-488 equipment.