Why

Many people have asked, “Why?”
“Why build a web site?”
“Why host it yourself?”

Well, it’s finally time for an explanation. If your expecting some big secret to why I have a website, you best look else where. When it comes down to it, there is one basic reasons I have a web site:
Because I can.

I have been involved with computer since I was for years old. That was 13 years ago (at the time of this printing). Back then, I was toying around with an IBM 286. That would be 10Mhz. By comparison, my web server runs at 200Mhz, or 2000% faster. You could also compare that to my current computer, running at 1.8Ghz, or 18000% faster than my first computer, and 900% faster than my server. I was introduced to the Internet in 1994, and shortly after that, I began crafting webpages.

I’ve always been obsessed with unusual. I pride myself knowing intricate details about RFID’s, Warp

Field Theory (Alcubierre)/, Barcode Scanners, and the like. Who else do you know that has a home theater in their basement? Complete with a 16:9 rear-projection screen, theater chairs, complete Dolby 5.1 Surround Sound/DTS/ProLogic

II.

So I began the tedious job of mastering the Internet. Perhaps mastering is not quite the word to use. Indulging myself may be a better suited word. In fact, it really doesn’t have that much to do with the Internet. At this point in time, you’re probably asking, “What? How can a web site not have that much to do with the Internet?!?!?”

Well, it’s really simple. The Internet is really an extension of the computer. The Internet simply links computer together. So I tend to think of the Internet as the next evolution in computing. Which is what I gear my work towards. “What is this work you speak of?” you ask.

Ok, so by work, I mean what my current project and goals are. So far, I have risen up through HTML, SSI, Flash, PHP, and mySQL. I am currently working on using Apache, Linux, C, PHP, and mySQL. Future plans include ASP, msSQL, XML, C#, and IIS.

And now a quick note about IBM-based PC’s vs. Mac’s:
I hear many people comment on the fact that the think one type of computer is better then the other. While I use all PC type systems, it’s not because I I don’t like Mac’s. I was given the opportunity to demo an iBook for a few weeks. After using it, I almost considered buying one. But…It was too stable.

Now before you all jump down my throat, let me explain what I mean: It’s incredible hard to modify the Macintosh Operating System. And since I do quite a bit of development, I demand the flexibility that Windows gives me. The key word in that last sentence was “development.”

That is who I am. I develop crap. If you are a picture editor, you edit pictures and should be using a Mac. If you write newspapers: use a Mac. If you edit films…well, you should be using an Avid workstation, but if you aren’t: use a Mac! If you develop code, for computers, the Internet, or whatnot: use a PC! If you demand flexibility in what you do: use a PC.

NB: This was originally published as a page (andrewferguson.net/colophon/why)‎. It was archived to a post on 16-Sept-2016.

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