Cool Mac Gear• iPod Video • iPod nano • iPod 1G-2G • iPod 3G • iPod 4G • iPod Mini • PowerBook-iBook • Garageband |
Many folks are expressing disgruntlement that OS X 10.2 Jaguar will not be offered as a discounted upgrade to existing OS X 10.1.x registered users. Everyone will be obliged to cough up another $129.00 for the new version. IMHO, it's a foregone conclusion that virtually all OS X enthusiasts WILL pay the tariff for Jaguar, rather than sticking it out with version 10.1.5. However, I am skeptical that a vast horde of non-enthusiast users who got 10.1.x on their new Macs purchased before yesterday will be inclined to pay up for the new version. For example, a friend of mine just bought a new iBook, and is using OS X 10.1.4 mainly because that's the default OS the laptop boots into. When she called me with a minor support issue a couple of weeks ago, she wasn't sure what OS version she was using. There are a lot of folks like that. An operative question for the rest of us is whether the cost of upgrading to Jaguar can be justified rationally. According to Apple, version 10.2 has more than 150 new features & applications, but how much of that is hype? Let's see: • A new Mail application designed to eliminate junk mail Sounds cool, but I don't use the Mail app. because I have to retain OS 9 backward compatibility for the foreseeable future. I use email applications that support the same mailboxes for OS X and OS 9 via aliases. • iChat AIM-compatible instant messenger Yawn. I use ICQ for what little chatting I do. • A system-wide Address Book that allows users to enter information just once and access it from other applications, a brand new interface with a quick way to search through contact information, smart editing, support for vCards, Bluetooth and advanced syncing with Apple"s new iSync Useful, I suppose, if one is organized enough to set it up. • Inkwell" handwriting recognition advanced handwriting recognition technology that is fully integrated into the text system so that all applications can take full advantage of it with an input tablet This one intrigues me. • QuickTime 6 with MPEG-4 Free download already supported by existing OS • Improved Universal Access with the ability to magnify the screen to see it larger, have highlighted text read aloud and use special keyboard commands such as mouse keys, sticky keys and slow keys Useful for those who need it, but most of this was already supported in the Classic Mac OS, and should have been there in X all along.
• An enhanced Finder
• Sherlock 3 with Internet Services that displays a personalized view of the information users access the most such as stock quotes, maps and restaurants; I'm from Missouri on this one. I tend to use Google with a browser anyway • Rendezvous, Apple's new home networking technology that enables users to quickly and easily link computers and devices instantly without any configuration via Ethernet, AirPort, FireWire, USB, or Bluetooth; Perhaps an exciting innovation for some. I'm quite happy with my existing little Ethernet network, but I do very little printing. • Quartz Extreme, which accelerates graphics performance by using the power of the Mac"s built-in graphics engine to make the desktop more responsive and deliver seamlessly blended 2D, 3D and QuickTime content directly onto the desktop Yeah, but Quartz Extreme requires a NVIDIA GeForce2 MX, GeForce3, GeForce4 Titanium or GeForce4 MX card or a ATI AGP RADEON video card with at least 16 MB of video RAM, and my fastest Mac, the 500 MHz Pismo, has only 8 MB of non-upgradable video RAM -- half what is required for minimum Quartz Extreme support. • Increased compatibility with Windows networks with SMB browsing and sharing as well as built-in PPTP VPN security, making it easier to share files, work with Windows documents and connect to a Windows network A complete non-issue for me. In summary, I'm finding it hard to see $129 worth of objective value in OS X 10.2. I'll no doubt get it anyway for professional reasons, but grudgingly. Combined with the $100 .mac clanger Jobs dropped yesterday (more commentary on that in Moore's Views & Reviews tomorrow), Apple had better be prepared for a substantial degree of sticker shock and consumer backlash. Spring loaded pop! Tex-Edit services problem under OS X Running SUN SW on OS X? From Kim Peacock Charles, Just thought I would send you my comments on Steve Jobs' MacWorld Keynote. Perhaps it will elicit comments from other users--I'd be very interested. First of all, I watched it on QuickTime 6 and I was very impressed. Great picture (full screen) and sound. I thought the iPod announcements were interesting, especially as pertains to availability for Windows users. But the new model? Does anybody really want/need access to 4000 songs when they jog? However, I am getting nudged further towards getting the low-end version. Now I know what to ask for for Christmas! The new 17" iMac is definitely worth looking at. A great product. However, I do not see how dropping the price slightly on the 15 inchers will make people make the jump. It is also gratifying to see all the new apps that are available, over 3,500. OSX has definitely made the Mac platform more appealing. And the Apple Store initiative seems to be turning out a winner. They are superb and the NYC store is amazing! I downloaded iTunes 3 and must admit that the new features looked good in the keynote but less impressive in reality. But then again, I have not delved into all the features yet. But the crux of this missive is Jaguar. I must say that I was looking forward to getting my copy...but at $129.00 US, I was VERY surprised. I believe that many others will be as well. All the rumours sites were talking $20.00 for the upgrade.... And what do you get? Applications available elsewhere for free, in many cases. Let me expand on this point. Spring-loaded Folders...I can get by with copying and pasting to move things (which I prefer anyway). I wish that it would be Cut-and -paste to move things around..why leave a copy behind? Why doesn't Apple just have a "Move" feature? Rendezvous...what's the big deal on configuring a network printer? You do it only once.But the wireless aspect is attractive "Search in Finder" ...why not use some good utilities that are free or next to it (File Freak, EasyFind, LaunchBar)? Sherlock 3 is impressive. Its only competitor is Watson going for 30 bucks. Inkwell got very short exposure which I thought was very surprising. Just to keep us hanging on for the next "killer app". perhaps? I still believe that Apple will come out with a Powerbook with an integrated tablet. Address book...there are quite a few free or nearly free offerings out there. What about Palm desktop for your address book and calendar (and it's free)? Bluetooth is something that will be very important in the medium-to-long term. I do not need it on August 24th iChat...I do not chat but many do so it may be attractive. But ICQ is free. In total, Jaguar is somewhat impressive especially as an integrated package. But I do emphasize "somewhat". Really, what I want for my Powerbook G3 500 Pismo is speed. I go into 9.2 every once in a while and crave for its zippiness in X. But I cannot get any advantage out of Quartz Extreme with my G3 and Steve did not discuss anything about performance. So I will wait until I see how others, such as yourself, review Jag-Wire's performance on older machines. May I close by saying that I am an early adopter but I do not work in an office nor do I have a cell phone (nothing to iSync)--I hate them!. I got my copy of OSX (10.0.0) a couple of days before the initial release and I upgrade immediately to everything that comes along. I have Airport and a small network at home.So I am not a casual user...not am I a Power User. But Jaguar at $129.00 (more than the original release, if I am not mistaken) for some interesting but not "gotta have" features.. I believe that Apple may find that they will not sell as many as the thought they would (I do not refer to bundled versions in new machines). I hope I am wrong.
Now I know what to ask for Christmas...a 5 GB iPod and (maybe, just maybe) Jaguar.
From daddaadda Big crowd response for spring loaded folders and improved speed in Finder, two things we already had in OS9, but lost in OSX. Now we get to pay to have them back! Crowd goes wild! Tex-Edit services problem under OS X From Guy Teague Hi Charles: First, I'm in awe of MD's writing which is awesome and awe inspiring while mine is just plain awful. But enough of that before I get relegated to the tailend of this thread! <g> I'm as much of a fan of Tex-Edit as you are, having used it for years. But my Services menu doesn't work on the the latest two builds (4.30b2 and b3) both of which advertise as supporting this menu. I've emailed Tom Bender of course and he is as puzzled as I am as he is using basically the same system as I am: G4/733 running OSX 10.1.5 (5566). My first thought was a conflict with my existing services:
under /Library/Services:
under /System/Library/Services:
I tried moving SearchGoogle & WordService to ~/Library/Services and the OmniWeb Service menu stopped working, TextEdit still saw all services just fine, but Tex-Edit still didn't see them. Does this perhaps mean that different apps look in different directories for the services? I also tried moving out all services except AppleSpell and logging out and in, but this didn't work either. And, of course, I tried trashing Tex-Edit's prefs. I know you are not fully up to speed yet on OSX, but I was hoping maybe one of your readers had an idea of something I could try. Or at least which directory the services are supposed to be in. BTW, I am getting the same result (or lack of, I should say) on my Powerbook, but as it is an exact clone of my desktop, I should expect the same result. Also, anyone know what the BookService, HomePageService and SummaryService items are? I undoubtedly installed them but don't remember it.
Thanks,
Hi Guy;
Services work fine in the latest builds of Tex Edit Plus on my rig.
Your "not fully up to speed " inference is correct. ;-) I haven't a clue what the issue is with your machine, but perhaps some of our readers will.
BookService, HomePageService and SummaryService must be third party add-ons. They don't ring a bell.
Charles From Yoram Gerchman Dear Charles Is it possible to run Sun software on OSX? Ideally without recompiling? If so how?
Thanks
Hi Yoram;
I don't know. They're both species of Unix, but my guess is that the Sun apps. would have to be recompiled using the Carbon or Cocoa APIs in order to run in OS X. I am abysmally ignorant of both Unix and programming in general, so I'm really out of my depth even saying that much.
Charles The OS X Odyssey archives may be accessed here: Note: Letters to Moore's Mailbag may or may not be published at the editor's discretion. Correspondents' email addresses will NOT be published unless the correspondent specifically requests publication. Letters may be edited for length and/or context. Opinions expressed in postings to Moore's MailBag are those of the respective correspondents and not necessarily shared or endorsed by the Editor and/or Applelinks management. If you would prefer that your message not appear in Moore's Mailbag, we would still like to hear from you. Just clearly mark your message "NOT FOR PUBLICATION," and it will not be published. CM
Page: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5
|
Cool Mac Gear• iPod 1G-2G • iPod 3G • iPod 4G • iPod Mini • PowerBook-iBook • Keyboard Skins • Garageband
| ||||||
|
| ||||||||
