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Is it? As a software engineer, I leverage those $60/month into $8000+/month. I think that's more than worth it. Why the hell haven't I bought a backup machine

by Swizec 11y ago

Is it? As a software engineer, I leverage those $60/month into $8000+/month. I think that's more than worth it. Why the hell haven't I bought a backup machine yet just in case this one breaks?

toomuchtodo 11y ago
> I think that's more than worth it. Why the hell haven't I bought a backup machine yet just in case this one breaks? Because you're leveraging credit in the event of a failure! No need to let equipment languish when you can simply pop into the store!
- Swizec 11y ago
  Hehe, that's why I don't have a replacement machine yet. Also because it has so far only died about once every two years. Every time due to human error (spilled things). I can afford a two day outage every two years :)
marincounty 11y ago
I would try to save some of that 8k+/month. I hope things stay good.
- Swizec 11y ago
  It's unlikely that you'd have to buy a new laptop every month though. Then again, it's cheaper than a month of rent for a 1-bedroom in this damn city (San Francisco).
voltagex_ 11y ago
Christ, you earn 3x / month what I do. What have I done wrong?
- Swizec 11y ago
  Don't worry, I spend half of it on rent. And mind you that just two years ago, I had the same kind of reaction to that sort of comment. It's not that hard to step up a few pay grades as an engineer these days.
- nostrademons 11y ago
  Specialize in something (pick 2/3) new, hot, or rare. Be willing to move. Apply to lots of jobs. Ask for quadruple whatever you think you're worth. Chances are, something will pan out.
collyw 11y ago
And you couldn't possibly do that on a Linux / Windows laptop?
- Swizec 11y ago
  It's irrelevant. A top of the line laptop that's reliable costs about $3k regardless of manufacturer. At least last time I checked. And no, not on Windows because in my experience it's the most terrible system for developers. Might've improved in the last 15 years. And no, not on linux. In my experience it requires constant tinkering with the system. According to my friends still on linux, this hasn't changed in the last 3 years. So yeah, I guess only mac is left. Which often still requires too much tinkering, but feels like less than linux. And I honestly haven't used windows in earnest in 15 years so hard to say.
  - collyw 11y ago
    Rubbish. It make take a little more tweaking to get set up, but once its done it Linux distros don't require constant tinkering these days.

by Swizec 11y ago

Is it? As a software engineer, I leverage those $60/month into $8000+/month. I think that's more than worth it. Why the hell haven't I bought a backup machine yet just in case this one breaks?

toomuchtodo 11y ago

> I think that's more than worth it. Why the hell haven't I bought a backup machine yet just in case this one breaks? Because you're leveraging credit in the event of a failure! No need to let equipment languish when you can simply pop into the store!

Swizec 11y ago
Hehe, that's why I don't have a replacement machine yet. Also because it has so far only died about once every two years. Every time due to human error (spilled things). I can afford a two day outage every two years :)

marincounty 11y ago

I would try to save some of that 8k+/month. I hope things stay good.

Swizec 11y ago
It's unlikely that you'd have to buy a new laptop every month though. Then again, it's cheaper than a month of rent for a 1-bedroom in this damn city (San Francisco).

voltagex_ 11y ago

Christ, you earn 3x / month what I do. What have I done wrong?

Swizec 11y ago
Don't worry, I spend half of it on rent. And mind you that just two years ago, I had the same kind of reaction to that sort of comment. It's not that hard to step up a few pay grades as an engineer these days.
nostrademons 11y ago
Specialize in something (pick 2/3) new, hot, or rare. Be willing to move. Apply to lots of jobs. Ask for quadruple whatever you think you're worth. Chances are, something will pan out.

collyw 11y ago

And you couldn't possibly do that on a Linux / Windows laptop?

Swizec 11y ago
It's irrelevant. A top of the line laptop that's reliable costs about $3k regardless of manufacturer. At least last time I checked. And no, not on Windows because in my experience it's the most terrible system for developers. Might've improved in the last 15 years. And no, not on linux. In my experience it requires constant tinkering with the system. According to my friends still on linux, this hasn't changed in the last 3 years. So yeah, I guess only mac is left. Which often still requires too much tinkering, but feels like less than linux. And I honestly haven't used windows in earnest in 15 years so hard to say.
- collyw 11y ago
  Rubbish. It make take a little more tweaking to get set up, but once its done it Linux distros don't require constant tinkering these days.