Interface is Everything
by John H. Farr

I'm not sure how the developers of Transit from Panic Software ("Panic: Macintosh Software That Rocks") feel about my putting the emphasis on their FTP application's interface right from the start, but the way this program looks has a lot to do with the way it works -- so I don't think they'll mind. Transit is extremely good at what it does and a visual treat besides, and for the time being it's the only FTP application in use on all my Internet-capable Macs. (Your mileage may vary: be sure to see "Counterpoint" below!)

"FTP application"? Don't know what we're talking about? Well, with all the new users coming online these days, that wouldn't be surprising. File Transfer Protocol has been around for quite a while, as the downloadable PDF-format Transit manual explains. In simple terms, it has to do with the way computers send files back and forth. When I post the daily Apple Computer News to the Applelinks.com website, for example, I use FTP to electronically send the HTML-formatted documents from my home computer to another computer (server) somewhere in the United States -- I don't even know where! -- and that's what readers like you are connecting to when you hit the news link.

To do this I need an "FTP client," and for the last few years this I've used Fetch, a popular Macintosh-based FTP application that's been around for a long time. (Another such program is Anarchie, which yours truly has never tried -- bear that in mind as you read this review!). Well, move over, Fetch, because Transit is just a whole lot more fun to use and works great. And Transit even gives you the option of watching the running dog ("Fetch Cursor Compatibility Mode")!

The first thing I noticed about Transit was its OS 8-friendly appearance. The default window configuration presents you with two boxes, "your stuff" and "their stuff." Uploading and downloading files is only a matter of drop-and-drag from one window to another. This application is Drag-and-Drop City, if you know what I mean. Every action is intuitive and simple: you can drag desktop files to "their stuff" and execute an upload, for example, or reverse the order and download files -- which can be dragged directly from "their stuff" to the folder of your choice. If you're familiar with Fetch, you should know that doing all this with Transit takes fewer steps. The best part is, it looks cool while it's working: you get the barberpole-striped progress bar while Transit is making a connection, then a Mac OS 8-style bar that matches your system settings. Very nice, familiar, and a pleasure to watch. The preferences menu gives you the option of having Transit beep at you when uploads or downloads are completed, too.

You can choose a window configuration that shows more information, such as what kind of operating system (Mac OS, Unix, etc.) is running on the server you're connecting to ('host type") -- not something most people have to worry about, but good to know. When you first connect to a remote server, you're asked to enter the usual information (address, user name, password, directory), which can then be saved as a "Favorite" in the adjacent pull-down menu. Similar to the familiar Fetch bookmarks, the Favorites menu also saves your password, saving you the trouble of typing it in each time you connect. (aahhhhh. . .) The menu can be set to connect instantly to your choice of Favorites if you like, rather than waiting for you to click the Connect button. The "your stuff" window displays either your desktop icons or opens automatically each time to display the contents of any folder you designate as a default -- in my case the "Applelinks FTP" folder I usually need. A handy "Parent" button takes you one level up in the directory if you want quick access to other folders and files.

The Transit interface allows you to do all kinds of things you're used to doing on your Mac without ever leaving the program or having to mouse your way up to find a menu selection at the top of your screen. Want to rename a file on a remote server ? Just click on the filename and rename it like you would any other Macintosh file. Everything about the program seems to work like this: they've taken all the things you need to do with FTP and made them work just like your Finder, which makes Transit extremely easy to learn and use. Listing all the features that work this way isn't even necessary: if you need to perform a certain task, just know that you can, because you already know how!

Everything seems so easy and fun, it's easy to forget that Transit is actually a very powerful program with advanced features for website management, like mirroring, for example. I highly recommend visiting the Panic website to download the documentation on everything Transit can do. As for Panic itself, I'd like to mention some impressive points: for one thing, they've released Transit in fully functional form. Aside from the "nag windows" that appear after you've used it for a while, the downloadable trial program is identical to the registered version, which will only set you back $24.95 in any case. For another, the same guiding graphics sensibility is evident in the software and the company's web site, lending a visual impression of quality to the whole enterprise. And finally, these guys are tough! This is the first review I've written for Applelinks where the developers seem to be guarding their serial numbers like the proverbial crown jewels. Their plan is to make Transit so good we'll all have to pull out our credit cards, and it seems to be working: I like Transit so much, I'm reviewing it from a copy I may actually have to (gasp) buy!

Panic wants everyone to know that Transit v1.l is almost finished and will be even better. For my part, I promise to update this review if the improvements warrant (it wouldn't be smart to underestimate this gang, after all).

PROS:	Looks good, works great, takes fewer steps than Fetch and feels faster besides. Integration with Mac OS look-and-feel means you can use it right away and not waste time learning the ropes. PDF manual covers all the bases and then some.
CONS:	Just that the documentation is a little too "chatty" for my tastes. . .(Rats -- there goes my press copy!)
CONCLUSION:	Transit is an exceptional program produced by Macintosh experts who know what they're doing and care about the products they make. This is quality software at a bargain price ($24.95), and I personally wouldn't use anything else for FTP transfers. A very well-deserved "5" rating!

[Counterpoint: apparently we barely scooped MacSoldiers' review, in which Jon Bonner takes us to task for being too quick to praise and suggests a more reasonable "3" rating. According to Jon, if your FTP server is prone to break the connection while you're proofreading what you've just uploaded, there may be a problem getting reconnected. He reports that Panic is hard at work correcting this and if it is addressed in version 1.1, we will certainly let you know. I personally have not encountered this difficulty in a whole month of using Transit, but Jon may be doing more heavy FTP lifting! In the meantime we'll stick with the "5" you see flashing just above and wait for v.1.1. UPDATE, October 19, 1998: since publishing the preceding remarks, we have received several replies from other FTP power users disputing our top rating for this application. Since many of you may have experience in this area exceeding our own, we have posted a Reader Feedback page with relevant comments from those of you who have emailed us to complain about our "5" rating. -- JHF]

John H. Farr edits the Apple Computer News for Applelinks.com and writes a weekly column. He satisfies his more creative urges by working on the ZOO ZONE, his own experimental cyber-sideshow.

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March 17, 2010