Update bash on OS X using homebrew

Default bash on MAC OS X sucks, that's why we have to get a better one. The easiest way is using homebrew.

First step is to install homebrew

ruby -e "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/master/install)"

then install bash

brew install bash

after that, you can go to see if new bash is install correctly

ls -al /usr/local/bin | grep bash

The result should show the symlink (->) like this

lrwxr-xr-x   (some useless info here)  bash -> ../Cellar/bash/4.3.18/bin/bash

The version might not be exactly 4.3.18, but everything above that is okay.


Now it's time to update your bash by create symlink to /usr/bin/bash.
But, before we can create symlink, just in case something go wrong, we have to backup the existing bash first.

sudo mv -r /usr/bin/bash /usr/bin/bash_old

then crete symlink from /usr/local/bin/bash to /usr/bin/bash

sudo ln -s /usr/local/bin/bash /usr/bin/bash 

After you restart terminal, everything should be ready

If you're still not convince, you can try

bash --version 

iPhone 6 - what have Apple done wrong

I'm not owning the iPhone 6 nor 6 plus. This is just my thought on Apple's latest product after read and watched dozens of articles and review on the inter-web.

• Big bezel: Nexus 5 fits 5-inch screen into the same dimension. Symmetry is good but Apple could have work more, for less.
• Camera bump and plastic lines: In the front, the handset looks beautiful, no objection there but when switch to the back thing starts to get dreary. They could go for a thicker shell but put 50% more battery instead. Thinness war should be ended 2 years ago. The radio reception plastic line on the flush aluminum surface also looks hideous in the overall fabulously curvy metal.
• 16GB storage: For me, 16GB is not an option but for other half of the buyers who would get the base model would be disappoint. Thing is getting much worse when you consider that the iOS8 update required 5.6GB of free disk space.
• 8 mega pixels camera: 41, 20, 16, 13. Look at the numbers in those other top-end camera phones. 8MP one in iPhone 6 would not cause a stir. I'm not denying that Apple brings good improvements to their "much loved" 8MP camera over the years but this is 2014 now, it's definitely the time to move on.
• iOS8 feels unfinished: Lots and lots of bugs, 3rd-party keyboards are useless more often than not. And most importantly, for all of the features that work, it's 2 years late.

Microsoft Surface Pro

I just bought a first-gen Surface Pro yesterday to replace my mom's 5 years old broken Vaio which I torn off its HDD cable after a failed attempt to replace Vaio's quirky wireless card.

Since it's a last year model and at 18900 baht ( ~ 600USD ) with touch cover, an unbelievably cheap, I didn't expect much on it. However, my experience on it was so good that I have to type it down on this blog.



The upside.

First, the Surface Pro is the first Windows machine that both the hardware and software are build to fit each other and it really feel like so. Very close to the feeling of using the Mac. In many ways Windows 8.1 performs better than its Apple's counterpart. And things get even better when I realise that it's a first-party Microsoft product, so I could expect many year of support and software update.



Second, Pen and touch cover, both are really great add-ons. Although I got confuse at first because there are so many ways I can interact with the device. I can use touch screen or type on touch cover or use a pen.  Versatility of input is really very useful. And the back tip of the pen is can use as an eraser, pretty nippy gimmick.

Third, the Full-HD screen is one of the best screen I've seen on tablet. It may not have the highest PPI or the biggest but overall, the color reproduction, viewing angle, brightness, are just 'WOW!'.

Forth, the price. Well, at 19000 baht what would you expect from a computer. At this price, at least in Thailand, you could get a laptop which has around the same specs as the Surface Pro but in a much uglier and heavier form and without the OS (one of the reason why pirate software is so popular here). To get this kind of machine, tablet, pen input, well-designed slim keyboard you have to pay around 40000 baht. This Surface Pro is worth a lot more than 19k. Very satisfied.



Last, premium look and feel. Again, compare to the price, this, magnesium, VaporMg case is not what you would normally get.

The machine is not without downside though. I'll list all thing I think it could definitely be improved.

- Weight, a bit heavy for tablet use. At 920g, I feel uncomfortable after holding it in a hand for 15-20 mins. 2-300g lighter would be a great welcome.

- Heat, worse situation than the weight. The back of it gets warm very quickly. Although it's not impossible to touch or hold it in my palm, it's definitely annoying.

- Performance, storage and battery life. It's not the slow machine but not so fast either. 85GB of storage to use is barely okay and 4 and a half hour of battery life is not good enough for tablet. But, good news! Microsoft already addressed all of those problems with the Surface Pro 2. Nothing more to say.

- Ports and connection, 1 USB and 1 miniDisplayPort might be enough for my mom, but for more professional use - one or two more of USB or ThunderBolt is a must.



Summary: It's good and cheap, you cannot find its full-fledge features in any other laptop or tablet at this price. I want to buy another one just for myself.

Images credit: AnandTech