My OS Agnostic Life

Don't misread the headline. I'm not writing about religion here, just the fact that I've come to use a bunch of different operating systems. I know that I have addressed aspects of this topic before, but here it is again, from what I hope is a slightly different angle.

I have owned personal computers for well over 30 years, and have been using them for almost 40. The first computer I bought was a Mac Classic in 1991. The next year, I encountered Windows at a job where I was working, and have been using both ever since, usually Windows at work and a Mac at home. If you asked me, I'd tell you I was a Mac person, forced to use a PC at work. To date, I have only had one job where I was allowed the option of working on a Mac instead of a Windows PC. I've also owned two Windows PC's in my time, both were eventually re-imaged to run Linux.

Speaking of Linux, that's when things began to change for me, about 15 years ago. I've casually experimented with various Linux distros over the years, including OpenSUSE, Ubuntu, Xubuntu (Ubuntu running the xfce desktop), Fedora, and Linux Mint, but eventually decided they weren't really ready for prime time--until about six months ago, when I acquired a late model laptop with Linux Mint, and fell in love with Linux all over again. 

So,these days I have a bit of a 'crazy quilt' of operating systems that I use on a regular basis, but they somehow all fit together into a unique matrix, where I am able to get things done, but seldom think about which operating system I am using at a given time. To understand how this works, let's look at each operating system I use an how it fits into the whole:

Mac OS--I have to start here, because I've been using it the longest. Traditionally, I've said my preference for Macintosh computers came down to an intuitive interface, coupled with solid dependability and hardware longevity. My present MacBook Pro, is 14 years old, and still fully functional, although it is no longer receiving software updates. I was using it on a daily basis, up until last October, when I got my present Linux laptop. That said, there are still a few tasks for which it is better suited than Linux, and thus I keep it in the active category. I may eventually get another Mac to replace it, but it's an expensive proposition, and even a second-hand one, nearing the end of its useful lifespan, is an expensive proposition. For now, I'm getting along okay without that expense.

Windows--I have been using Windows computers for almost as long as I have been using Macs, but they have, for the most part, belonged to others, either employers, friends, or family members. I used to say that I felt like I had a choice between fixing things on a Windows PC or getting things done on a Mac, and for the most part, that still holds true for me. I still use Windows daily at work--my employer drinks deeply of the Windows Kool-Aid--and even though I bring my work laptop home with me most nights, since commute between two campuses, I never work on it at home, even for work-related tasks. Admittedly, Windows has gotten more stable over the years, but my affinity for it has not grown. As I have already stated, I have owned two Windows laptops, both of which today run Linux Mint. I guess I'm just not really Windows compatible. 

Linux Mint--This is where things changed for me. After five or six years of casually dabbling with Linux, I had drifted away from it, until I semi-impulsively bought a Linux laptop last fall to replace a Chromebook, with which I was growing increasingly frustrated. Having a relatively high-spec computer running the latest Linux Mint, has been a revelation, and surprisingly, that machine has become my daily driver. The Linux experience can vary greatly, depending on which distro you're using, but I find Linux Mint to meet my needs nicely. The system is rock-solid stable, and in many ways, it is as intuitive as Mac OS, and in some ways, even more so; for instance, I didn't even have to configure my two networked printers. The computer detected and configured them automatically. Previously, I had felt like Linux wasn't ready for prime time, but I'm now realizing a big part of the issue may well have been the quality of the hardware on which I was running it. My Linux laptop is now firmly in the daily driver seat, and I'm loving it.

ChromeOS--Life's journeys often include some dead ends, and ChromeOS for me is definitely one of them. I bought a Chromebook about three years ago, when the MacBook Pro I was using, died. I needed something quick and cheap to keep me productive until I found what I really wanted. Shortly after receiving it, I discovered it was possible to install and run Debian Linux applications on it under the Linux Developer Environment, also known as Crostini. While I was indeed able to the LibreOffice productivity suite, Firefox Web browser and Thunderbird email client on my Chromebook, they took an inordinate amount of the machine's resources and slowed it to a crawl. The problem is that Chromebooks have very minimal hardware specifications, because they don't need much to run the Chrome Web browser, and maybe a couple of Android apps. I was trying to force the machine to be something it wasn't, and I finally had to admit it was never going to be what I wanted it to be. When I acquired the aforementioned Linux laptop, it was the proverbial breath of fresh air. This is what I was what I was wanting from my Chromebook all along, but was never going to get. Letting go of that disappointment was surprisingly easy. Today, the Chromebook is relegated to use at hybrid Zoom and in-person meetings, where I've volunteered to serve as the Zoom host. 

Other devices--When it comes to my phone and tablet I'm equally as eclectic. My iPhone is the one place where I am firmly, solidly, and stubbornly in the Apple camp. Before I got my first iPhone, I had three Android phones, none of which were particularly satisfactory. Once I got my hands on my first iPhone, I realized what I was missing and somewhat regretted not getting one sooner. I am now on my second iPhone, which will likely need replacing within the next year, and there is no question that a third iPhone is in my not-too-distant future. 

Given my affinity for iPhones, one would think I would be equally as enthusiastic for iPads. While I've had a couple second-hand units and enjoyed them, they're too expensive for how I use a tablet--reading e-books, checking email, and surfing the occasional Web site. For me a Kindle Fire tablet is a more than acceptable alternative. The Android-based interface is not the best, but it does what I need, and unlike a Chromebook, it's a no-frills alternative that actually works for my needs. The biggest issue I've had with a Fire tablet is limited storage capacity, which is easily remedied with the addition of a micro SD card. It's not the greatest tablet ever, but for well under $100 on sale, it was a good value, and worth the tradeoffs. I've just never really needed much from a tablet.

While there's no single solution that's right for everyone, I've found there's no single solution--or digital ecosystem--that fits all my needs. , but what I've patched together seems to work for me.

How are Your Tires?

 I have an old convertible that I drive mainly in mild, sunny weather. While those days can occur at almost any time of the year around here, there are still times when the car sits idle for weeks, or even months, at at time. Recently, when I hadn't driven it in a little while, I went to take it out for a little exercise and found the front tires were in visibly in need of air. When I re-inflated them, I found an even bigger problem—they were badly dry-rotted. The tread was great, but the sidewalls had significant cracks, where the rubber had dried out necessitating an unexpected expense to replace them.

With this incident in mind, and seeing plenty of cars out there rolling on seriously scary looking tires, I humbly offer the following guide to assessing the condition of your tires, centering on three basic factors: inflation, tread wear, and dry rot, in the hope that your road miles may be safer.

Inflation--The basic question here is whether you have enough air in your tires. Too little air and your tread will wear out prematurely and deliver poor fuel economy. Too much air, and you will have a harsh ride, poor handling, and risk a blowout. So, that begs the question of where the proverbial 'Goldilocks zone' is. Generally speaking, it's around 30-32 psi. You can verify that on a sticker inside the driver's door, on most vehicles, but also check the sidewalls of your tires to see what the maximum inflation is. Usually, it's around 35 psi. If your car does not have a built-in tire pressure monitoring (TPM) system, you need to invest in a good quality pressure gauge (don't worry, they're not expensive) and check your tires at least a couple of times a month. If you find yourself frequently putting air in your tires, you may want to get them checked for road hazards (nails, screws, etc.), damaged or defective valve stems, or rusted rims.

Tread Wear--Too little tread can result in  too little traction, which is very dangerous, especially on wet pavement. To determine proper tread depth, you can do one of two things—check the wear bars or measure with a penny. Every tire has wear bars in the grooves. They run perpendicular to the tread grooves, and the tread should be higher than the wear bar. If it isn't, then it's time to start shopping for tires. An alternative method of measuring is to stick a penny in the tread groove, so that Abe Lincoln's head appears to be going in head first. You don't want to see the top of Abe's head. If you do, your tread is too thin. Be aware that you can't necessarily notice uneven tire wear if you are standing next to your vehicle. To check the front tires, you will need to turn the steering wheel so that the entire tread is facing out of the fender well. Turn it all the way to the left, check it, and then turn it all the way to the right to check the passenger side. You will probably need to get down on the ground behind the car to check wear on the rear tires. 

Another thing you need to observe about tread wear is whether it is wearing evenly across the face of the tire. You can check it visually, but you can also use the penny method, described above. If, say, the outer tread is more heavily worn than the inner tread, or vice versa, this is a good indicator that your alignment is off. Do not put off getting your alignment adjusted. Left unaddressed, your tires will wear out very quickly. 

Dry Rot--Addressed in the introduction, dry rot is a silent killer of tires, especially on cars that aren't driven much. The tread may look great, and even pass a state safety inspection, but the rubber itself will dry out over the course of several years, and cracks will begin to show. If you begin noticing these cracks, keep a close eye on your tires, as they will probably need replacing sooner, rather than later. An increase in the size and number of the cracks, especially if they run the entire circumference of the sidewall, as happened with the tires on my convertible, it's time to replace them, regardless of tread depth. 

The hardening of the rubber also causes tires to lose traction, especially on wet pavement. This can happen before you see significant cracks in the sidewalls. For this reason, you should be aware of the age of your tires. All modern tires, manufactured since the year 2000, have a date code stamped on the sidewall. Look for the letters DOT (Department of Transportation), followed by a string of numbers. The last four numerals indicate the date of manufacture; for instance, a date code of 3317 would indicate the tire was manufactured the thirty-third week of 2017. If your tires are more than say, seven years old, keep a close eye on them for indications of dry rot, as it can set in and spread quickly on older tires. 

A note on tire sealants. Many newer cars come from the factory with an air compressor and a built-in bottle of tire sealant, instead of a spare tire and a jack. My daily driver was one of these, and I immediately bought a spare and a jack, which I, thankfully, have never had to use. Whether you have a compressor with a tire sealant bottle, or you carry an aerosol can of sealant in your trunk, be aware that the compound, while great for an immediate repair, can soften the rubber of your tire, thus shortening its life. I have had more than one mechanic tell me not to use the stuff, and my personal experience bears this out. Also, my car's owner's manual stresses that it is, at best, a temporary solution, and suggests replacing the affected tire at the earliest opportunity.

If you follow the tips above, you will be safer on the road, while likely prolonging the life of your tires, which will save you money in the long run. That's a win all the way around.

Be safe out there!