I
am unable to work without two computers. I mean, I can get stuff done,
and I can complete my daily tasks one a single laptop, and often have.
But if I really want to crank out work and research, I need two. Maybe
three. One machine for writing and email, one for Web browsing and
research, and still a third for a constant stream of AIM, IRC, forums
and music.
Sure, all of these could be done on the same machine, but
it's just easier to look over at the screen next to me and immediately
see if anyone has responded to my questions in IRC, or to see how a
name is spelled on a company Website.
Switching between programs is
always a pain, and on space-constrained laptops, it's not an option to
spread things out to a viewable distance.
And yet, with all these
computers on my desk, there is still one major problem I have yet to
solve reliably: passing around URLs and quotes. Right now, I use AIM
for this. I past the URL into one of my AIM screennames on the desktop
machine, and message the info to another screenname on the laptop. That
simple URL then travels thousands of miles to Virginia, where it is
parsed and directed by AOL's servers, and sent back here to Oakland.
These
computers are so close, they could touch. And yet, here I am, using the
Internet as a router for my simple textual information. If I wasn't
using one of each type of operating system (Mac, Windows, Ubuntu) there
might be an easier solution. But until there is a cross-platform
messaging standard that doesn't require a central hosted service, I
will continue to use millions of dollars worth of infrastructure to
accomplish tasks I could just as easily apply a sticky note and a pen
to.