lately I have this "grass is greener" feeling. that I'm missing something by not dividing my time between the platforms more. and I'm getting this even though I spend time in Linux (server not desktop), Windows XP, and 7 throughout my week.

I'm mostly happy with my work flow but from time to time I look at other tools to do work. I feel that it's important to stay current. and if current means leaving one platform for another I'm all for it. for example Final Cut and Sound Track are tools that I use in my day to day. but FCP really bugs me lately because it feels like an app from a decade ago. and Sound Track seems nice until you have to wait for Wave Forms to draw again for the 3rd time. that means I'm looking at Adobe, Avid or Sony as a place to do my media work. it also means potentially disgustingly cheap hardware. although I will spend the money to re-fan the thing so it's quiet. I'm not in a hurry to make a jump because NAB is around the corner. this almost always brings a new version(s) of everything to the table.

unlike the router software which has no impact for it's use OS or tool switching has the devil you know factor to contend with. it's pretty hard to undo years long learned habits and twitches. thinking at the speed of think is pretty important. it's no fun to have to stop a thought to look up how to make it happen. but some things are the same no matter where you do that work. editing, writing, photo retouching, uploading are all those things. although the Control placement on the keyboard makes some things feel awkward (no problem you say, just make CAPS lock into CTRL - done!) and this kind of thing that makes it even possible for me to consider something else.

I'm not going to ditch to another place entirely but I'm wondering if anyone has and why.

as I'm project based I often build the cost of something into the job. for example I wouldn't just buy a particle generation system just because. I'd have to need it to justify the expense. and before buying it I would sell the concept to the client. that way everyone is committed. part of the reason I even get to look around at other video editors is I need to upgrade everything and I'd really like to have two this time because when one is busy I can use the other. if the Mac is going to cost $4K what else could I get for the same money?

also, I'm not getting rid of what I already have. it can still do the job it's doing today. it's just not fast at doing that job compared to the new shiny.

you bring up is a interesting point of view. thanks for pointing that out. I have to remember I'm not in anyway close to being a normal user.

funny. usually people switch from Nikon.

there are lots reasons to switch cameras but the most compelling is access to a specific lens. one of my friends dumped his Nikons for Canons because the 500 or was it the 1000mm lens made by Nikon has a didn't have selectable auto focus ranges. it took them a few years to make fix it too. the Canon lens could be dialed into 3 focus zones making it much faster to use. the really weird thing about that Canon lens was they made a version for Nikon. this was how he got exposed to the lens in the first place. and I'm pretty sure this the only time I've seen that lens re-mounting done.

me neither.

that's one of every lens. and that's just bragging rights. it's just like being a guitar player with a collection of every BOSS pedal ever made. in both cases 96% of that stuff will never get used.

I've been that guy that wanted one of every. but I had a teacher that set me straight about my this. his point, and well taken by me was, "are you really going to carry around all of them? because if you don't you going to have I wish I had disease." his thought wasn't a lesson toward minimalism but one of practicality. as artists we are pushed into creative situations because of limitations. when I taught artists I found that if you said, "your assignment is to do anything you want to do. you have 5 weeks." at the end of 5 weeks nothing would have been created because the request was infinite. but if I said, "make a 2 minute movie about your favorite color" all would be well. boundaries are good things.

I really enjoy my cameras for what they are. the two year old SD750 might be beat up but it still works just fine. my old OM1 with the 17mm is always a fun afternoon. yeah, it's a film camera but so what. snapfish makes it kinda sorta work like digital. I still dig my Lomo and Holga. maybe one last roll of Kodachrome is in order.

sure I wish I had something like a G10/11 or an LX3 or even a DSLR or all the above. funny thing is I'd use them just like I use what I have. lens set to as wide as possible exposure set to capture light like it looks with the flash to off permanently.

johnfoster:there are lots reasons to switch cameras but the most compelling is access to a specific lens. one of my friends dumped his Nikons for Canons because the 500 or was it the 1000mm lens made by Nikon has a didn't have selectable auto focus ranges. it took them a few years to make fix it too. the Canon lens could be dialed into 3 focus zones making it much faster to use. the really weird thing about that Canon lens was they made a version for Nikon. this was how he got exposed to the lens in the first place. and I'm pretty sure this the only time I've seen that lens re-mounting done.

John do you type this stuff out on the iPhone. Because I thought someone might point it out to you that lately a lot of your posts read like you are drunk or high when you are typing them. "there are lots reasons", "it took them a few years to make fix it too" normally wouldn't point out typos and errors but it's seems like it's been bad with you lately and thought you might want to know that people who are not familiar with you might be getting a false impression.