July 08, 2004
The work environment

It's a bit funny (to me anyway) just how specific my work environment needs are. This topic, of course, came up in a conversation today.. and made me think about just how particular I am.

When I code, I like a big monitor.. so I rarely actually do any coding on my powerbook (unless it's something small and scripty) and will use my desktop with the big monitor for that purpose when working at home. I had a sun box as my desktop machine in my first programming job and having that big, sun monitor forever warped my expectations of a programming desktop. Big monitor, tiny font, lots and lots of xterms. That's one of the reasons I really did not enjoy windows programming during my short Delphi experience.. there is just no easy or logical way to arrange this on a windows box.. not with having to click to focus!

Amusingly enough.. when I do sys-admin type work (which I tend to in the evenings) I can work just fine using my powerbook on my lap.. on the couch.. but yet I cannot seem to program comfortably that way.

Not surprisingly.. we're all creatures of habit. Some of them more odd than others.

Posted July 08, 2004 09:03 PM in Geek Stuff
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Comments
On July 8, 2004 10:35 PM david added:

How big is the monitor at home? Must be a lot larger than the 15" PowerBook..

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On July 8, 2004 11:01 PM kasia added:

21".. but it's a crt, so really more like 19.

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On July 9, 2004 01:27 AM fluffy added:

I'm the same way, for similar reasons. Was your GUI-based teeth-cutting environment on a Sun3/50 too?

5x7 font is your friend. I should try to find an OSX version of that classic and set XCode to use it.

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On July 9, 2004 10:23 AM Pete added:

It's worse if you ever get "used to" using multiple monitors on a single machine. I had 2 19" flats (1600x1200) on a machine 2-3 years ago, and nearly cried when my latest job wouldn't provide the same. I would devote one screen (always the right one) to the always on applications (task manager, outlook, IM x 3, xterm for top, and now RSS reader) while the other one (left) would be for getting things done (visual studio...)

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On July 9, 2004 10:35 AM Mike Kruckenberg added:

I agree . . . I have a hard time bringing myself to do any coding when not at my desk where I do dual display between the PB 12" and a 19" flat. Doing administrative work or quick hacks on the 12" at home is fine, but if I have to code something I feel like I'm working at 50% productivity. Not sure if that is psychological or because it actually is harder to navigate around the code.

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On July 9, 2004 02:43 PM Matt added:

You could always buy a big magnifying lens for your monitor (like the ones in Brazil)...

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On July 11, 2004 09:03 AM Gregory Blake added:

I used to love having a large screen. When I was in school all the workstations had nice big screens and I'd fill them up with xterms. Now I just wish the mac had focus follows mouse (without autoraise) because I still find that to be the best way to switch windows.
Now I've mostly adjusted to my 15" powerbook. But I still wish I had a nice big cinema display to use when at my desk.

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