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Hanalei, Hawaii Tuesday, February 09, 2010

Where’s MVC Storefront?

A lot of people have been asking about the Storefront and whether I've abandoned it with all that's gone on with Oxite, etc. The short answer is no - I haven't.

Wednesday, December 31, 2008

A lot of people have been asking about the Storefront and whether I've abandoned it with all that's gone on with Oxite, etc. The short answer is no - I haven't. And believe it or not, Oxite didn't impact anything with respect for the storefront at all. I promise!

The deal is that I'm on vacation right now for 2.5 weeks or so in Portland (LOVE IT here). While on vacation I'm stealing time to work on stuff - mainly our forthcoming book. The rest of the time I'm hanging with my family and trying not to freeze to death. People tell me we're below the Arctic Circle, but I think Portland may actually be somewhere north of Juneau, and they move it around just like in Lost.

The good news is that I have a new one of these things:

I really can't say enough about it. This may sound completely silly, but the thing that sold me was the construction of the case - it's milled from a solid piece of metal. If you notice in the picture - there are no seams. The display is covered completely with a protective glass - this is huge if you have kids that like to poke at Diego and Dora on the screen. It also makes it very easy to clean.

It's literally about twice as fast as my 2 yr. old Mac Book - the main reason being the Core 2 Duo processors and DDR3 RAM (which is a big step up from 2 years ago). The price tag is still pretty spendy - the base Mac Book Pro comes in at $1990, the upgraded version is $2499. The good news, however, is that the upgraded version has a bigger hard drive and fills all the RAM slots so you don't need to buy more RAM - it's already maxxed at 4G.

To be honest I feel completely lame for buying this thing with the economy the way it is. The truth of it, however, is that I will be travelling a lot in the coming year and my wife has sort of taken over my old MBP. We could share - sure - and we probably should have. I feel a bit like I'm fiddling while Rome's aflame. It's my job, however, and there are things that you can categorize as luxury, as equipment, and as both. I happen to be very high maintenance when it comes to equipment :) and buying a computer every 2 years really is not that crazy.

A Word About Rails
Macs come with Rails installed (1.2.6 I believe) as well as Ruby (1.8.6). I usually wipe it completely out and start from scratch (I leave Ruby though) as I never trust factory installs with anything.

It took me about 15 minutes to download and install the latest Rails version (2.2.3) as well as update Gems and install TextMate. I hadn't played with Rails in a while and it was a lot of fun to see what's come of the framework in the last year and a half. The use of SQL Lite is an interesting one - not too sure what I think of it but it made the experience a lot more simple I must say.

The reason I bring this up is simply to say that I'm not losing site of the type of simplicity I love. I've ventured deep into DDD land of late (as well as some other areas) and messed around with the more "ornate" and "baroque" sides of development. Hopefully you won't read an opinion in there - I've learned a WHOLE LOT and I have to say that I'm 100 times the geek I was before I started.

The thing I'm getting at here is that I love simple things. Truly. It's one of the reasons I really dig the MacBook: the design is soooo clean and simple, the buttons are just the right size, and there isn't a lot of "engineering filigree" all over the thing. It's quite Zen.

To bring us back to where I started (with the Storefront) - it's always been my focus to keep it simple yet powerful. There is some work left to do with my refactoring, but I'm taking some time away right now to regenerate mind, body, and spirit and hopefully my journey will benefit you in the end.

Mongo

David Nelson - December 31, 2008 - You shouldn't feel lame, your purchase is boosting the economy! The biggest reason for the drop in the economy is people and companies hoarding money out of fear instead of spending and/or investing it to drive manufacturing and services. You should feel good for doing your part.
Kevin Wright - December 31, 2008 - Enjoy your well deserved holiday. When you are back to work, any chance of the long promised SubSonic 2.1.1? Please...
Lamin Barrow - December 31, 2008 - Try Ununto Linux and you will regret why you bought a mac book pro i promise. You can get a similar mac or windows feeling with the free theme if you like. http://www.ubuntu.com/
Lamin Barrow - December 31, 2008 - honestly the only reason why i will stick with windows for now is because of .net 3.5 and Visual studio. http://www.catswhocode.com/blog/30-gnome-themes-to-enhance-your-ubuntu-experience
robconery - December 31, 2008 - LOL it's hardly about the OS. For what it's worth, I'm writing this comment

on Vista (using Boot Camp). It's the hardware :).

I have 3 machines with Ubuntu - it's a nice OS for sure but as you point

out, I can't do the work I need to with Ubuntu :).
markallanson - December 31, 2008 - Rob, how does Visual Studio work with the 1440 * 900 screen - its the only thing that's currently putting me off getting a 15" MBP at the moment (I've been using 1920*1200 15" screen on my current laptop for a few years).



Does it feel cramped, or is there enough space?
robconery - December 31, 2008 - You get used to it. The thing I don't like is the way Vista works with the

new mouse pad (there is no button - the mouse pad is clickable). It takes

getting used to but I use a BlueTooth mouse anyway.
josh - December 31, 2008 - got one too and don't regret it. removed the factory rails, and use macports to get rails going again, along with some other tools. so far so good.



I for one respect anyone who knows when its time to recharge, and then charge on in again.
Cohen - December 31, 2008 - "this is huge if you have kids that like to poke at Diego and Dora on the screen" ... made me laugh, while I am reading through the smears my son left on my screen :)
Todd Smith - December 31, 2008 - It takes getting used to.....by not using it.



lol
Andreas - January 1, 2009 - Funny, I also bought one yesterday, but actually there is a button. Just "press" on the bottom of the touchpad, the button is there, it's just not visible.



Cheers,

Andreas
Steve - January 1, 2009 - Any chance you could do a post on how Vista and Visual studio perform on this and if it is a viable option for a development system ? albeit a mobile only one. I use my laptop daily with VMs running XP but after numerious friends and family have shifted to Mac recently have been tempted to also take a look. I am lead to believe that boot camp runs vista at native speed so would enjoy your opinion.
Kuli - January 1, 2009 - Hey Rob, which one did you get? The 2.4Ghz or the 2.53Ghz version? Is there a real noticeable speed difference when using Vista over your old MacBook? I bought the 2.53Ghz one, which is sitting there unopened whilst I try to justify my purchase to my brain - my old MBP is in for repair at the moment, so I figured I needed a replacement for 10 days :)

Filip Ekberg - January 1, 2009 - So Rob, Admit it, you got it just because it has glowing keys?! ;)



I want one too, even though i am a PC / Windows fanatic. When it comes to usability microsoft knows best.



Have a good new year!







corydeppen - January 1, 2009 - I would also be interested in hearing your thoughts on using a MacBook to run Vista/Win7 and Visual Studio.
Paul Juenger - January 1, 2009 - Glad to see the MVC Storefront still lives.



I too just bought a unibody Macbook a few weeks back (my first Mac).



I run Visual Studio 2008 Team Systems on a Vista Ultimate boot camp partition. It runs great.
Dana - January 2, 2009 - I bought one of these in December as well. Best purchase I've ever made. I had a client deadline and my brand new Dell running Vista took a dump during an install and Dell doesn't provide restore disks. I couldn't wait a week to get my machine back so I drove to the Apple store and bought a top of the line Macbook Pro.



People are correct about the hardware, it's like driving a top of the line Lexus. But for nearly $3000, I would certainly expect it to be. But you get what you pay for, and this thing is a dream. It's solid as a rock, no creaks or squeaks when you handle it, and no plastic anywhere on the case with the exception of a small strip covering the screen hinge. It reminds me of a medical instrument it so precisely machined.



I personally run my dev environment in Parallels. I have Vista, Visio, SQL Server (Dev version) and VS2008 installed, THATS IT. I honestly find that Vista runs 10 times better in a virtual machine probably for two reasons: 1) reliable (virtual) hardware with tested drivers, and 2) fewer programs loaded means a happy Vista (or XP).



Great machine.

JM - January 2, 2009 - I'm happy to hear you're enjoying Portland! Hopefully you brought you're board - 14' (yep feet) of new snow on Mt. Hood over last few days. Have a bite, partake in a few local beers and, by all means, drop some coin while you're here!



Enjoy

JM
Yazid - January 2, 2009 - Where Can I get CommerceDB database



TIA

YAZ
Eric Bartels - January 4, 2009 - What happened to the source code on codeplex? It has been removed from TFS ... :(



Have fun with your Mac Book :-D
jongalloway - January 6, 2009 - I'm waiting for the wheel. http://www.theonion.com/content/video/apple_introduces_revolutionary
mike - January 8, 2009 - I am considering the same setup (except maybe using VMWare). Doesn't the vm run slow? How much RAM do you have? If you do ASP.NET, do you preview in the vm as well (in IE, or Firefox)?



Do you switch to OS X if you need to download stuff, or read stuff on the internet?



Just wondering about the workflow.



Thanks!
Lloyd Phillips - January 11, 2009 - I've got a mac book pro and run xp on vmware fusion. It runs like a dream! Everyone should by a mac, the hardware is superb! I actually find it more reliable to work on than my desktop PC.
Javier Lozano - January 11, 2009 - I played with the new 15" MBP, but for some reason I still like my old MBP (3 yrs refurb). It's pretty snappy and gets the job done.
David Nelson - December 31, 2008 - You shouldn't feel lame, your purchase is boosting the economy! The biggest reason for the drop in the economy is people and companies hoarding money out of fear instead of spending and/or investing it to drive manufacturing and services. You should feel good for doing your part.
Kevin Wright - December 31, 2008 - Enjoy your well deserved holiday. When you are back to work, any chance of the long promised SubSonic 2.1.1? Please...
Lamin Barrow - December 31, 2008 - Try Ununto Linux and you will regret why you bought a mac book pro i promise. You can get a similar mac or windows feeling with the free theme if you like. http://www.ubuntu.com/
robconery - December 31, 2008 - LOL it's hardly about the OS. For what it's worth, I'm writing this comment
on Vista (using Boot Camp). It's the hardware :).
I have 3 machines with Ubuntu - it's a nice OS for sure but as you point
out, I can't do the work I need to with Ubuntu :).
Lamin Barrow - December 31, 2008 - honestly the only reason why i will stick with windows for now is because of .net 3.5 and Visual studio. http://www.catswhocode.com/blog/30-gnome-themes...
markallanson - December 31, 2008 - Rob, how does Visual Studio work with the 1440 * 900 screen - its the only thing that's currently putting me off getting a 15" MBP at the moment (I've been using 1920*1200 15" screen on my current laptop for a few years).

Does it feel cramped, or is there enough space?
robconery - December 31, 2008 - You get used to it. The thing I don't like is the way Vista works with the
new mouse pad (there is no button - the mouse pad is clickable). It takes
getting used to but I use a BlueTooth mouse anyway.
Todd Smith - December 31, 2008 - It takes getting used to.....by not using it.

lol
Andreas - January 1, 2009 - Funny, I also bought one yesterday, but actually there is a button. Just "press" on the bottom of the touchpad, the button is there, it's just not visible.

Cheers,
Andreas
josh - December 31, 2008 - got one too and don't regret it. removed the factory rails, and use macports to get rails going again, along with some other tools. so far so good.

I for one respect anyone who knows when its time to recharge, and then charge on in again.
Cohen - December 31, 2008 - "this is huge if you have kids that like to poke at Diego and Dora on the screen" ... made me laugh, while I am reading through the smears my son left on my screen :)
Steve - January 1, 2009 - Any chance you could do a post on how Vista and Visual studio perform on this and if it is a viable option for a development system ? albeit a mobile only one. I use my laptop daily with VMs running XP but after numerious friends and family have shifted to Mac recently have been tempted to also take a look. I am lead to believe that boot camp runs vista at native speed so would enjoy your opinion.
corydeppen - January 1, 2009 - I would also be interested in hearing your thoughts on using a MacBook to run Vista/Win7 and Visual Studio.
Lloyd Phillips - January 11, 2009 - I've got a mac book pro and run xp on vmware fusion. It runs like a dream! Everyone should by a mac, the hardware is superb! I actually find it more reliable to work on than my desktop PC.
Kuli - January 1, 2009 - Hey Rob, which one did you get? The 2.4Ghz or the 2.53Ghz version? Is there a real noticeable speed difference when using Vista over your old MacBook? I bought the 2.53Ghz one, which is sitting there unopened whilst I try to justify my purchase to my brain - my old MBP is in for repair at the moment, so I figured I needed a replacement for 10 days :)
Filip Ekberg - January 1, 2009 - So Rob, Admit it, you got it just because it has glowing keys?! ;)

I want one too, even though i am a PC / Windows fanatic. When it comes to usability microsoft knows best.

Have a good new year!
Paul Juenger - January 2, 2009 - Glad to see the MVC Storefront still lives.

I too just bought a unibody Macbook a few weeks back (my first Mac).

I run Visual Studio 2008 Team Systems on a Vista Ultimate boot camp partition. It runs great.
Dana - January 2, 2009 - I bought one of these in December as well. Best purchase I've ever made. I had a client deadline and my brand new Dell running Vista took a dump during an install and Dell doesn't provide restore disks. I couldn't wait a week to get my machine back so I drove to the Apple store and bought a top of the line Macbook Pro.

People are correct about the hardware, it's like driving a top of the line Lexus. But for nearly $3000, I would certainly expect it to be. But you get what you pay for, and this thing is a dream. It's solid as a rock, no creaks or squeaks when you handle it, and no plastic anywhere on the case with the exception of a small strip covering the screen hinge. It reminds me of a medical instrument it so precisely machined.

I personally run my dev environment in Parallels. I have Vista, Visio, SQL Server (Dev version) and VS2008 installed, THATS IT. I honestly find that Vista runs 10 times better in a virtual machine probably for two reasons: 1) reliable (virtual) hardware with tested drivers, and 2) fewer programs loaded means a happy Vista (or XP).

Great machine.
mike - January 8, 2009 - I am considering the same setup (except maybe using VMWare). Doesn't the vm run slow? How much RAM do you have? If you do ASP.NET, do you preview in the vm as well (in IE, or Firefox)?

Do you switch to OS X if you need to download stuff, or read stuff on the internet?

Just wondering about the workflow.

Thanks!
JM - January 2, 2009 - I'm happy to hear you're enjoying Portland! Hopefully you brought you're board - 14' (yep feet) of new snow on Mt. Hood over last few days. Have a bite, partake in a few local beers and, by all means, drop some coin while you're here!

Enjoy
JM
Yazid - January 2, 2009 - Where Can I get CommerceDB database

TIA
YAZ
Eric Bartels - January 5, 2009 - What happened to the source code on codeplex? It has been removed from TFS ... :(

Have fun with your Mac Book :-D
jongalloway - January 6, 2009 - I'm waiting for the wheel. http://www.theonion.com/content/video/apple_int...
Javier Lozano - January 12, 2009 - I played with the new 15" MBP, but for some reason I still like my old MBP (3 yrs refurb). It's pretty snappy and gets the job done.
Gecko