ok, I switched to Mac

mbpark · 10-23-2003, 10:25 PM

Heya,

A few months ago, I needed a UNIX box for doing networking work and security testing.

I got a Powerbook 12" 867 with 384MB RAM back in late August.

This machine is sweet. So far, these are my favorite tools on it:

1. OpenSSH (yeah, I know it ships with it)
2. Chicken of the VNC (works with Windows VNC servers)
3. Fugu (graphical SCP and SFTP)
4. Fink
5. Nessus 2.0.7
6. dsniff
7. ettercap
8. Safari
9. iChat
10. MS Terminal Services Client
11. my Microsoft USB mouse.
12. xChat
13. Mail
14. Ethereal
15. SAINT

As you can tell, OS X does what I need without the pain of Linux. And, I'm not your average Mac user. This laptop, with a 1GB SODIMM, will have Oracle 10g on it when it's released as a database client.

Right now, I'm balancing using this and the ThinkPad at work, since I need both. However, for my SQL Server and Oracle work, I can VNC or Terminal Services into a Windows server to get my work done.

The only thing I miss on here is Microsoft Access, because I do a lot of work converting old Access databases to SQL Server or Oracle. Everything else, I have. WinSCP does have better directory support than Fugu, however.

The machine does about 75% of what I need now, plus it does not run Windows. I still need to keep a Windows machine around for Office documents, because OpenOffice doesn't like the corporate documents our customers put out. I also need to do the aforementioned Access work, and work with some platforms that need browser plug-ins, like InfraActive Help Desk (which I do development for), Netilla (which I admit not fully testing), and some other apps I use.

Otherwise, I like the machine. It's small, attractive, and fast. This and my new ThinkPad are smaller combined than my big TP 770X is.

I've been through three ThinkPads, an NEC mininotebook, a Toshiba I tested, and a Compaq. This is the most well put together of the bunch. OS X also does all that Linux did for me and then some, and Fink is awesome.

Dave, do they let you do work on this at SAIC?

M

10-24-2003, 12:24 AM

Yeah dude. They even gave me a copy of Office X for Mac OS X.

(I just got Panther installed a few hours ago. It is suh-weeeeeet.)

jaguar · 10-24-2003, 01:32 AM

Damn you living in america - I won't get Panther till 25th. Fugu is a neat little tool but it needs work yet. What FTP client do you guys use? Transmit is nice but it's time-limited shareware and i'm not forking out that much for an ftp client. Using something called rBrowser Lite at the moment, it's tollerable but....

10-24-2003, 02:41 AM

I bought Fetch, and I like it pretty well. I honestly use command line FTP a fair bit though.

mbpark · 10-24-2003, 05:40 AM

It's got command line FTP. It works

.

Our company has banned FTP's use and uses exclusively SFTP and SCP now. It's easier to firewall.

M

BrianR · 10-24-2003, 08:40 AM

Damn you, you traitor!

And just when I made the switch to Linux, too. Humpf! Don't expect me to follow you over THIS particular cliff!

And now I'm seriously thinking of taking UT up on his offer to build a box, since my dedicated Linux box bit the dust during the move.
I'm working off my older dual-boot WinXP machine until I get a new motherboard and RAM. Might as well replace the whole thing and have done with it, ya know?

Brian

Undertoad · 10-24-2003, 08:55 AM

Whatever happened to your idea of having a used PC depot of some sort?

mbpark · 10-24-2003, 07:32 PM

I have a used PC depot currently. Unfortunately, it's my other 3 laptops (380D, 770X, Portege 3490CT). I got rid of 3 machines, and gave away a few others.

We donated 10 machines so far. I still have another 5 sitting collecting dust at our office.

Panther tomorrow

.

M

BrianR · 10-26-2003, 10:37 AM

Did somebody say DONATE?

I can always use a (functional) laptop. My old 486 Thinkpad isn't cutting it anymore.

Brian

mbpark · 10-26-2003, 12:49 PM

Brian,

I donated our last functional PII Thinkpad to the Golden Slipper Camp this summer.

All I have left are desktops. When I get enough RAM for them all, they go too.

Mitch

10-23-2003, 10:25 PM	#1
mbpark Lecturer Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Carmel, Indiana Posts: 761	ok, I switched to Mac Heya, A few months ago, I needed a UNIX box for doing networking work and security testing. I got a Powerbook 12" 867 with 384MB RAM back in late August. This machine is sweet. So far, these are my favorite tools on it: 1. OpenSSH (yeah, I know it ships with it) 2. Chicken of the VNC (works with Windows VNC servers) 3. Fugu (graphical SCP and SFTP) 4. Fink 5. Nessus 2.0.7 6. dsniff 7. ettercap 8. Safari 9. iChat 10. MS Terminal Services Client 11. my Microsoft USB mouse. 12. xChat 13. Mail 14. Ethereal 15. SAINT As you can tell, OS X does what I need without the pain of Linux. And, I'm not your average Mac user. This laptop, with a 1GB SODIMM, will have Oracle 10g on it when it's released as a database client. Right now, I'm balancing using this and the ThinkPad at work, since I need both. However, for my SQL Server and Oracle work, I can VNC or Terminal Services into a Windows server to get my work done. The only thing I miss on here is Microsoft Access, because I do a lot of work converting old Access databases to SQL Server or Oracle. Everything else, I have. WinSCP does have better directory support than Fugu, however. The machine does about 75% of what I need now, plus it does not run Windows. I still need to keep a Windows machine around for Office documents, because OpenOffice doesn't like the corporate documents our customers put out. I also need to do the aforementioned Access work, and work with some platforms that need browser plug-ins, like InfraActive Help Desk (which I do development for), Netilla (which I admit not fully testing), and some other apps I use. Otherwise, I like the machine. It's small, attractive, and fast. This and my new ThinkPad are smaller combined than my big TP 770X is. I've been through three ThinkPads, an NEC mininotebook, a Toshiba I tested, and a Compaq. This is the most well put together of the bunch. OS X also does all that Linux did for me and then some, and Fink is awesome. Dave, do they let you do work on this at SAIC? M

10-24-2003, 01:32 AM	#3
jaguar whig Join Date: Apr 2001 Posts: 5,075	Damn you living in america - I won't get Panther till 25th. Fugu is a neat little tool but it needs work yet. What FTP client do you guys use? Transmit is nice but it's time-limited shareware and i'm not forking out that much for an ftp client. Using something called rBrowser Lite at the moment, it's tollerable but.... __________________ Good friends, good books and a sleepy conscience: this is the ideal life. - Twain

10-24-2003, 05:40 AM	#5
mbpark Lecturer Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Carmel, Indiana Posts: 761	FTP? It's got command line FTP. It works . Our company has banned FTP's use and uses exclusively SFTP and SCP now. It's easier to firewall. M

10-24-2003, 08:40 AM	#6
BrianR Cleverly disguised as a responsible adult Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 3,338	Damn you, you traitor! And just when I made the switch to Linux, too. Humpf! Don't expect me to follow you over THIS particular cliff! And now I'm seriously thinking of taking UT up on his offer to build a box, since my dedicated Linux box bit the dust during the move. I'm working off my older dual-boot WinXP machine until I get a new motherboard and RAM. Might as well replace the whole thing and have done with it, ya know? Brian __________________ Never be afraid to tell the world who you are. -- Anonymous

10-24-2003, 07:32 PM	#8
mbpark Lecturer Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Carmel, Indiana Posts: 761	I had one...it was no fun I have a used PC depot currently. Unfortunately, it's my other 3 laptops (380D, 770X, Portege 3490CT). I got rid of 3 machines, and gave away a few others. We donated 10 machines so far. I still have another 5 sitting collecting dust at our office. Panther tomorrow . M

10-24-2003, 12:24 AM	#2
dave Guest Posts: n/a	Yeah dude. They even gave me a copy of Office X for Mac OS X. (I just got Panther installed a few hours ago. It is suh-weeeeeet.)

10-24-2003, 02:41 AM	#4
dave Guest Posts: n/a	I bought Fetch, and I like it pretty well. I honestly use command line FTP a fair bit though.

10-24-2003, 08:55 AM	#7
Undertoad Radical Centrist Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Cottage of Prussia Posts: 31,423	Whatever happened to your idea of having a used PC depot of some sort?

10-26-2003, 10:37 AM	#9
BrianR Cleverly disguised as a responsible adult Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 3,338	PERK Did somebody say DONATE? I can always use a (functional) laptop. My old 486 Thinkpad isn't cutting it anymore. Brian __________________ Never be afraid to tell the world who you are. -- Anonymous

10-26-2003, 12:49 PM	#10
mbpark Lecturer Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Carmel, Indiana Posts: 761	The laptops are mostly gone... Brian, I donated our last functional PII Thinkpad to the Golden Slipper Camp this summer. All I have left are desktops. When I get enough RAM for them all, they go too. Mitch

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)