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2 August 2002 (Friday): on a more technical note
Sometimes Macintosh just blows.
This is not entirely Apple's fault; it's the age-old application support problem. Things that claim to open MS Word documents don't. An email program that works like a dandy on Windows doesn't do diddly-squat on a Mac, and erases half the contents of my folders besides (yay for the presence of mind to back up first). Yahoo IM has no auto-archive option. Suck.
I also have some grievances with the OS itself, namely the strictness of its file typing ("Whaddaya mean I can't open that in SimpleText? It's short, and it's got text in it, dammit!") and the lack of a system tray and the general lack of multi-threaded processing. And it could use a Task Manager (or ps/kill) equivalent. All this is with OS 9.x of course, and I've been told that I should get off my lazy heinie and upgrade to X. That life is better on the other side, and I even get to drool over Aqua in the bargain. So that'll probably be this weekend's project. I need to get my computer's act together before I can trust it with the day-to-day operations of job #2.
This post will likely invite a flurry of kind but condescending comments, gently informing me of how clueless I am (and sound). To this prospect I say: bring it on! Free tech support, baby, free tech support.
posted by enjelani @ 10:52 PM PST
Replies: 7 comments
i'll only mention that you should make sure, if you get X this weekend, that you can upgrade to the next version (10.2, "Jaguar") for free when it comes out on the 24th.
posted by z @ 03 08 2002 02:08 AM PST
it may not work well, but it shore is purty.
posted by echeng @ 03 08 2002 07:54 AM PST
OS X rocks! All the things you mentioned are available in X:
Dock = System Tray
IM Logging = Fire, Proteus, or Adium
Multi-threading = system-wide
Try it, you'll never go back to OS 9!
posted by Adam @ 03 08 2002 10:52 AM PST
don't forget that it's really pretty! oh, and really slow (the UI, I mean).
har har har
posted by echeng @ 03 08 2002 02:07 PM PST
I have computers with various Winblows flavors on them, one running OS X and a few *nix boxes... While I like OS X far better than Winblows, mostly but not only because it is BSD with a very pretty face, I have to admit that I don't use any graphic interface for anything more than a vehicle for terminal windows and the occasional browser...tho Lynx does just fine... Text is my friend.
posted by Moonpuddle @ 03 08 2002 05:27 PM PST
all I know is that on my Mac, everything works the way it should and nothing ever surprises me. I don't ask for anything more.
I think it's probably an adjustment thing. there's reasons people are freakishly loyal one way or the other.
believe me, when you get around to doing intensive work on your Mac for job #2, you'll be glad you have what you have.
posted by soren @ 04 08 2002 12:57 AM PST
Loosely paraphrased from the CS61a (UC Berkeley Intro CS course) FAQ:
Q: Will I need a PC or Mac to do the coursework at home?
A: Either will do if you log on remotely to any of the lab machines. You can also download PC or Mac Scheme or pick up a disk from the course office in Soda.
Brian: Any version of X runs better than either. I actually have both, but I dislike Macs more than PCs. IBM designed the PC to be rinkydink because they didn't know any better. Apple designed the Mac to be rinkydink on purpose.
Mike: I like Macs.
posted by m. mellow @ 04 08 2002 08:38 AM PST