BBEdit vs vi : BBEdit: - is a text editor for the macintosh only. - provides find/replace functionality in a GUI interface (grep-based, requires knowledge of regex) - allows customization with AppleScript plugins - allows customization of interface, style settings via GUI menus - supports common macintosh hotkeys, drag and drop - has built-in clean-up tools (style checker, formatting tools, tab/break converters, etc.) - allows split screen editing (including splitting the same document into two half-screens, independantly scrolling) - proprietary closed-source product - currently being developed (latest version: 7.0 http://www.barebones.com/products/bbedit/index.shtml) - PDF documentation (HTML available soon) vi: - is a text editor that can be run on most platforms - can be run directly on the webserver, directly on the file - built-in find functions in vi, external search/replace functions (multifile) via grep and sed - custom scripting through Perl, bash, or other shell scripting tools and languages - ispell basic spell checker, with custom dictionary - inline help (opens into split screen), searchable and with chart of commands (online in various formats, including HTML) - allows split screen editing of two documents - currently being developed (latest version: 6.2 http://www.vim.org/index.php) - 'charityware', openly developed the mac keyboad and mouse: - the keyboard's half-size keys are unwieldy and placed poorly for regular use (replace keyboard with Sun/Sparc keyboard, which is rumored to work) - all-button mouse is uncomfortable. (replace with trackball?) - need to be moved so keyboard is lower, monitor at a more natural viewing angle the mac desktop: - noticeably slower than my linux desktop. this could be a function of hardware / program load (open tools are much smaller on fatbob). - much prettier. great resolution for graphics work. the linux desktop: - I have a preferred setup of 8 work areas (2 across, 4 down). They are hot keyed to shift-ctrl-(arrows) for cycling, and i never have to touch the mouse to change windows. They focus automatically. This is very efficient.