Charted Application Usage

I’ve been thinking abut the way I use the computer a lot over the past seven days. A majority of thinking has gone into the process so far and as the week has past, I’ve noticed developing trends regarding which applications I’m using most frequently.

While a switch to a MacBook Air may or may not be on the cards for various reasons, the decision turners for making the change (or not) will fall into its own post later in the week.

The increased use of Safari is also down to moving away from three desktop based applications (Mail, NetNewsWire, TextEdit), moving to three similar browser based Google applications - Gmail, Google Reader, and Google Docs.

Picture 3.png

After keeping a close eye on which applications I used over a seven day period, I came up with the above chart. Overall, it doesn’t really surprise me considering I spend most of my time on the computer writing, while listening to music, keeping an eye on email and RSS, while occasionally popping open iMovie to export video to YouTube and editing images in Aperture.

The only thing holding me back from the MacBook Air at this current point in time? The 15% area on the chart dedicated to Aperture & iMovie.

Late Addition: I’m going to stick with the MacBook Pro - install a new internal HDD, and see what Apple has in store with the next revision of the MacBook Air. I’ll keep riding this laptop until I see a need to change, adding a 2nd rev MacBook Air at a later stage looks likely - however.

Comments

  1. #1

    Jonathan → www.jonathandavies.org.uk

    Some interesting results here Glenn. I think I would have some pretty similar results, though lately the amount of video production I am dong is increasing and I’t wouldn’t be viable, for my current “roadmap” ahead to switch from my MacBook Pro to a MacBook Air

    That said, for me the perfect combination for be would be a MacBook Air and Mac Pro. The power of the Mac Pro and the portability of the MacBook Air would, for me make a winning combination. This is something I would consider in the future for my setup.

    You mentioned iMovie - could this 5% be going towards some new Glenn Wolsey show videos? I hope so! :)

  2. #2

    Christopher → www.khalek.net

    I just recently upgraded myself to a MacBook Pro (from a Windows notebook) and had considered the MacBook Air. Similar to your graphs, doing movie editing / picture editing was something that kept me back from purchasing the MacBook Air.

  3. #3

    rmaspero → www.rmaspero.com

    I am sure my results would look very similar, but I download all my Gmail over POP

  4. #4

    Arthus Erea → myfla.ws

    I’m sure my graph would look very similar, but I’m wondering what you used to make yours? I assume you had some program which logs your time in each app.

  5. #5

    Daniel Hollister

    Glenn, the Air will run things like iMovie just fine. Not as fast as what you’re used to, but let me put it this way — I’ve edited 1080p HD content for large studios using my consumer-grade MacBook. The Air may not be the speediest thing in the world for these tasks, but it will get the job done just fine.

    After all, professional film work was being done on Macs far before the Intel switch. I recall editing feature films on a 933MHz G4 tower.

  6. #6

    Aidan Girard

    Very interesting. I have a feeling aperture and imovie would not be so bad if you did not have any other applications open on the macbook, and having a desktop and a macbook would kind of defeat the purpose of laying around the house instead of at a desk. But is it really necessary? Is the thinness and weight necessary? You are a strong man! MAN UP GLENN!

  7. #7

    Glenn Wolsey → www.glennwolsey.com

    Arthus: Chart was created in Keynote.

  8. #8

    Hector A. Henry Sjogreen → www.blinkyit.com

    I would say you should not change, the great advantage of the pro against the Air its that the pro if you need to ad ram or change the hard drive in the Pro you like mac user you could do it but in the Air you would have to carry it to technical support.

    And juts how Daniel Hollister say might be by mean that you are custom to a faster computer you might notice a great slow motion on your works, comparing it whit you pro.

    Bye peace.

  9. #9

    Aidan Girard

    Also, would you be able to handle going from one of 2 pro machines to a portable machine?

  10. #10

    SamC

    just admit it, you really really want a MBA.

  11. #11

    adrian → www.navitronic.co.uk

    I have no idea why you blog, twitter etc about not wanting a macbook air, but then as soon as it looks like they’re gonna be popular, you blog about wanting one?

    You seem confused. How about actually getting and forgetting the machine. Getting to the point where you’re actually working on the machine so that its a tool, not a status symbol or a point of conversation.

    My first gen base spec macbook is still my everyday machine for work and will be until its warranty is up.

  12. #12

    Loren → r3fresh.com

    My graph would be 40% safari, 20% flock, 20% iTunes, 10% Illustrator, and %10 adium

  13. #13

    Glenn Wolsey

    Adrian. That’s the idea. For me to use the best tool for the job, and after writing this post and tossing things up, the MacBook Pro is the right tool for the current job, and will stay in my possession.

  14. #14

    Charlie

    Hey just incase you didn’t know, gmail can be setup to deliver email to mail’s inbox with IMAP (used to only be POP). It keeps the Emails on the google server, so you can access them there (in safari) and unlike the POP, it will delete emails and update sent boxes ect so they will always be synced both ways. Probably a bad description, but it works perfectly!
    Use it everyday.

  15. #15

    waluigi

    Charlie, yeap, but I think Glenn wanted to reduce number of opened applications, so that’s not the best way :).

  16. #16

    Henning → www.firstofall.net

    You’ll get over this in no time, Glenn, the MacBook Pro is a fantastic machine. Borrow someone’s MacBook and run Aperture on it. You will realize quite fast that you need the screen real estate.

  17. #17

    Travis Reynolds → Travisreynolds.com

    After I saw your video on igoogle, it made me want to try it.

    I love it! I deleted my rss application and twitterific. Now I can do all this wherever I am at.

  18. #18

    Hector Henry → www.blinkyit.com

    Hey Glen Buena desicion.

    Hey good decision to stay whit the pro.

    cool

  19. #19

    Caitlyn I.

    Honestly Glenn, I think that MacBook Air would be a great computer for you. You’re always out and about.

  20. #20

    Jack

    Honestly, if I were you and had the money to cover it, I’d go back to a Mac Pro and then save for a second gen Macbook Air to supplement it.

  21. #21

    Glenn Wolsey → www.glennwolsey.com

    I’m going to stick with this MacBook Pro - install a new internal HDD, and see what Apple has in store with the next revision of the MacBook Air. I’ll keep riding this laptop until I see a need to change, adding a 2nd rev MacBook Air at a later stage looks likely - however.

  22. #22

    Henning → www.firstofall.net

    That’s what I’m talking about.

  23. #23

    Jay Robinson → www.nopeanutbutter.com

    I think what people were wondering is how you got accurate analysis of how much time you spent on each App, rather than how the chart was made.

    I would never be able to work if I had to time track what Application was frontmost. I would much rather have an automatic tracking system. Is this, in fact, the case?

  24. #24

    Austin Heller → austinheller.com

    The idea of downgrading from an MBP to an MBA is naïve, even if the next revision doesn’t come out until next year. Most people can make their laptops last *at least* two years, and some have no qualms holding out three or four.

  25. #25

    Calvin Chu → www.calvinchu.net

    Good choice Glenn, glad you stuck with the Pro. I’m sure the next rev. of the MBA will be one to look forward to.

  26. #26

    waluigi

    Hi Glenn!

    I really like your minimalistic setup, and in fact, I was going to get a 24″ iMac, but now, I think that maybe I’ll better need some portability…

    But I have got two questions :)
    Do you use your wireless keyboard ? Is it comfort, to use it with MBP on the same level?

    And the second one, do you feel any neck pain or something, because I think iMac screen is higher than MBP (I know about Griffin’s elevators, but It look really bad for me…)

    Thanks and take care :)

  27. #27

    Steve

    If you made this change you would have converted all the way from the most powerfull mac money can buy (mac pro) to the least powerfull. This makes me wonder wether you really needed all that horsepower that the mac pro provided you with. I see you have decided to stick with the MBP, wise choice, if I was you I would wait until the macbook pro is updated and get that, then you can have the most powerfull mac notebook, but with a sexy new re-design.

  28. #28

    Agent 001 → greatestreviews.blogspot.com

    Well that was good.I am first time visiting your blog and it is impressive.I saw your blog on list of top 30 bloggers under 21 by Michael from retire@21 .Well congratulation for that.I wish I was in that list.I am 19.

  29. #29

    Jsmyth

    You use similar applications to me, it’s cool to see what other people use. Question about aperture-

    I’m thinking of purchasing it, do you think it is a worthwhile step up from iPhoto? I’m a keen photographer (not brilliant but still learning) and want a step up from iPhoto, would I be better off with photoshop?

    I just want to know your first hand experience.

    Thanks, Josh

  30. #30

    Dennis

    I am just wondering why the hell you need a macbook pro for these standard applications.. a nice ibook would be perfect for you ;)

  31. #31

    Adrian → www.navitronic.co.uk

    You consider iTunes an application that you use?

    what exactly do you use it for?

    I tend to leave it running in the background playing music, I didn’t know there was a secret productivity mode???

    :P

  32. #32

    Glenn Wolsey → www.glennwolsey.com

    Watching videos, etc Adrian.

  33. #33

    adrian → www.navitronic.co.uk

    ha just teasing.

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