When it comes to technology, I used to also be very independent, favoring the underdogs and pretenders to the thrones of the latest technology wars. In high school and college I favored the Amiga over the Apple and early IBM computers of the day. Then when I was forced to move to a PC world, I selected OS/2 over the dominant Windows 3.1. I embraced various Unix flavors, eventually including Linux and NetBSD and anything open source. Yes I configured and recompiled my own kernel. I also wrote plenty of software as a Unix programmer and administrator, even releasing one project as open source which was well received by a niche audience. But mostly, I tweaked and customized and reconfigured things my way and defiantly shook my fist against the "establishment" of mainstream technology. I spent more time configuring and modifying than I did actually using the technology.
Technologists are mostly big kids, and we love our digital toys. But life does have other demands. I had a wife and kids now. I had schedules to meet. I also had other interests. Sure I could recompile my kernel, massively customize my desktop UI and menus, keep up with the latest bleeding edge software, and heat my basement with the output generated from my collection of odd computers. But what was I trying to prove? Who was I trying to impress with my highly customized setup? It may have been a work of art in my mind, but the audience was just me. Even my geek colleagues were focused on their own customizations. We'd nod and grin politely when someone showed us their tweaks, but we really only looked at or cared about our own setup. It's like hearing a cell phone go off in a public place. The only person who really appreciates their own "super cool", custom ring tone is the person who owns that phone. The rest of us either don't care or are somewhat annoyed by it.
These days, I'm a complete conformist when it comes to technology. In a shock to my colleagues I've largely abandoned Linux and have become a Microsoft Certified IT Professional. It is a lot easier than swimming upstream trying to find the odd Linux admin/programmer job. I no longer have to fight with management over what technology choices to implement. I run Windows 7 on all our home computers instead of Unbuntu. I have an iPhone instead of an Android. I don't have to constantly customize and tweak. Instead of letting the technology be my life, I let it enable my life with simple, straightforward access to the things I need to do my job and to manage my personal life.
But what about individuality and creativity? Hey, if I want to get creative, I'll design and write a useful program. I'll draw a picture. I'll work on some music. I'll do something creative and fun with my kids. Maybe I'll finally get around to working on that great American novel I started in college. If you want to unlock, root and ROM your Android so you can customize your icons and colors, have fun with that. If you want to totally tweak your desktop on that obscure Linux distro, more power to you. As for me, been there, done that. My plain, unmodified default calendar says I've got a sunset to paint!
Cheers, Ye Olde Bard
