Mac Book Author David Pogue Interviewed

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Mac Book Author David Pogue Interviewed

Posted by pudge on Monday February 25, 2002 @03:15AM from the the-missing-interview dept.

MacSlash writes "There's an interview over at MacSlash with David Pogue, the New York Times Tech columnist and author of lots of stuff, including the best-selling Mac OS X: The Missing Manual and his brand new Piloting Palm, The Inside Story of Palm, Handspring and the Birth of the Billion Dollar Handheld Industry. The interview deals with subjects like the future of Mac OS X, how Unix programmers are providing some of the best new stuff, and even why Pogue uses Windows to write his books."

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Introducing David Pogue... by ubiquitin · 2002-02-25 05:05 · Score: 5, Informative

For interested non-Mac Slashdot readers, David Pogue was an early champion of Hotline (Mac warez tool of choice) and MP3 before it hit the bigtime. He wrote humorous and interesting stuff for the inside back cover of MacWorld before Andy Inahtko did and some time after John Dvorak. Now he has Pogue press (affiliated with O'Reily Books) and writes for the NYTimes. check www.pogueman.com for his web site.

Am I the only one to notice that the Mac postings on Slashdot are getting hardly any comments? Well, here's my contribution to the cause of getting the apple.slashdot.org site off the ground. Good luck with it.

--
http://tinyurl.com/4ny52
1. Re:Introducing David Pogue... by Gropo · 2002-02-25 05:42 · Score: 0
  
  Am I the only one to notice that the Mac postings on Slashdot are getting hardly any comments?
  I think most /. citizens see the apple/. section as a "karma black hole"..
  "must.... post... flamebait!!!"
  
  "NO... must...turn back... before my karma... reaches the...event..horizon"
  
  --
  I hate Grammar Nazi's
2. Re:Introducing David Pogue... by Teese · 2002-02-25 11:46 · Score: 1
  
  Am I the only one to notice that the Mac postings on Slashdot are getting hardly any comments?
  This is probably just because most of the Apple stories aren't posted to the main slashdot page. Since the apple page started, only about 3 of the total stories here have made it to the front page. You can tell 'cause the comment count is much greater!
  btw, does anybody know of a link on apple.slashdot.org to get to the main site quickly? it't probably pretty obvious, but I can't find it, and I'd rather goto the apple page first, and then flit over to the main page.
  
  --
  "I'm a Genius!"*
  
  *Not an actual Genius
3. Re:Introducing David Pogue... by Anonymous Coward · 2002-02-25 18:35 · Score: 0
  
  /. is updated daily hence, the 3 apple post that were posted today.
  
  try clicking on the main logo.
4. Re:Introducing David Pogue... by bags2000 · 2002-02-28 12:43 · Score: 1
  
  >btw, does anybody know of a link on
  >apple.slashdot.org to get to the main site
  >quickly?
  
  Click on the Slashdot logo in the header. :)
  
  I'm smart!
  
  --
  Got Purple?
Re:Apple Laptop Keyboards Unusable For Unix Users by Matthias+Wiesmann · 2002-02-25 06:10 · Score: 4, Informative
ADB = Apple Desktop Bus
Apple ditched the ADB protocol a long time ago. The first G3 was the last machine to use this interconnection bus. I don't know what internal protocol is used in current PowerBooks, but I don't think it is ADB(my guess would be USB).
Note that ADB is a Bus protocol, like USB (on many counts, ADB is the ancestor of USB) it defines nothing about the positions of the keys, or what events the device should generate, it simply specifies how devices on the bus communicate.

You are mixing up many things:
- The protocol used to connect the keyboard to the computer (ADB).
- The physical layout of the keyboard (position of control key).
- The event model used by the keyboard.
I don't know what signal a generated by the keyboards on key presses and releases, are you talking physical signals, or GUI events?

As for the position of control on the keyboard, it is not broken by design, but good design for Macintosh users. You have to understand that the control key is not used a lot in Mac OS, all keyboards shortcuts are done with the clover/apple (and contextual menus) key, and special characters accessed with the alt key, so it makes sense to move this key out of the way.

If I contrast this with my Sun keyboard, where half of the key don't work (Props, Find, Help, PrintScreen, Scroll-Lock. the volume and contrast keys) I find it difficult to blame Apple.

Honnestly a Unix user can use a Mac keyboard (I'm doing it), it simply requires a little time to get used to. Try switching all the time from the Swiss-French Keyboard to the US keyboard - and the Mac mapping for accents characters and the Sun mapping, that's a real challenge!
For All Pogue Fans by Ford+Fulkerson · 2002-02-25 06:37 · Score: 1

Don't miss the David Pouge icon courtesy of Nitrozac and Snaggy of geekculture.com.

--

Somewhere in the heavens... they are waiting.
Re:Apple Laptop Keyboards Unusable For Unix Users by Anonymous Coward · 2002-02-25 07:55 · Score: 0

"he first G3 was the last machine to use this interconnection bus."

Except for the ADB port on the Blue&White G3s, introduced 14 months or so later.
Interesting interview by crumbz · 2002-02-25 09:17 · Score: 3, Insightful

It is refreshing to read an interview with someone about the Macintosh and not have it deteriorate into a Win-tel bad/Mac good dialectic. Useful, critical insights into the diferent realms of personal computing are rare given the tremendous amounts of PR-spin in this industry. I can think of another example: John Dvorak is the only one left at Ziff-Davis with any kind of integrity.
1. Re:Interesting interview by Anonymous Coward · 2002-02-25 09:32 · Score: 1, Insightful
  
  This is a joke, right? Dvorak was the guy who trashed the original iBook just because it had a handle (which is a good idea for laptops, actually).
2. Re:Interesting interview by Anonymous Coward · 2002-02-25 11:54 · Score: 0
  
  yes, dvorak is nothing but a troll. he writes inflammatory articles simply to get more webhits if you ask me.
3. Re:Interesting interview by LeapingGnomeArs · 2002-02-25 14:10 · Score: 1
  
  While I agree Dvorak writes sometimes just to get more hits/attention, sometimes he has a decent point About the iBook handle, I actually saw him on some TechTV talkshow shortly after it came out and he was praising the unique design and he liked the handle for personal use. However, he said the look and style were a detriment to serious office use, something I think we can all agree on. :)
That guy seems cool by LeapingGnomeArs · 2002-02-25 09:53 · Score: 1

The guy seems pretty cool, I might have to check out his OSX Missing Manual next time I'm at B&N. Can anyone comment on if the book is any good?
1. Re:That guy seems cool by Harv · 2002-02-25 10:44 · Score: 3, Informative
  
  I borrowed a copy for a secretary in the office who was making the switch to OSX (with my help.) She did pretty well without any manual, but I didn't have the time to spend as much time with her as she needed. I asked her to test-drive Pogue's OSX Missing Manual for me, to see if it helped with the newbie stuff she was asking me about, and asked whether she thought others in the office would find it useful. She liked it, and said it was easy to find answers when she got stuck. In fact, she bought her own copy.
  I've used it a couple of times, too, as I'm not all that good with cli stuff yet. He's got some simple directions in there for that, too.
  
  Overall, I'd recommend it; it's both well-written and it covers most of the basic bases. It's worth the $25, especially if you have relative newcomers who are trying to get up to speed.
2. Re:That guy seems cool by ellem · 2002-02-25 12:07 · Score: 2
  
  He is pretty cool. His Palm Pilot books rock as well. I found the OS X book to be good but definitely geared towards: A -- Old mac users B -- n00biez This does not make it a bad book. In fact, it is quite a bit of fun to read. If you are a *nix literate though it may seem a little tedious. Since you won't be doing a lot of what the book talks about.
  
  --
  This .sig is fake but accurate.
3. Re:That guy seems cool by pipeb0mb · 2002-02-25 12:42 · Score: 1
  
  if you have a microcenter near you (www.microcenter.com), they have it on sale for $14.95 this week...of course that's 2 weeks after I buy mine online for $25.
  :-p
4. Re:That guy seems cool by SlamMan · 2002-02-25 13:24 · Score: 2
  
  Well, he's the guy O'reilly uses to write thier books on macs, if that any indication. So, yes, yes he is any good.
  
  --
  Mod point free since 2001
Re:Apple Laptop Keyboards Unusable For Unix Users by Paul+Burney · 2002-02-25 10:09 · Score: 1

> I don't know what internal protocol is used in current PowerBooks, but I don't think it is ADB(my guess would be USB).

No, it's still ADB. :-)

Gets interesting in a PPC Linux version trying to make sure the ADB keyboard/trackpad drivers and the USB keyboard/mouse drivers play nice.

--
<?php while ($self != "asleep") { $sheep_count++; } ?>
Re:Apple Laptop Keyboards Unusable For Unix Users by plastik55 · 2002-02-25 10:11 · Score: 3, Informative

The Mac laptops still use ADB for their internal keyboard and touchpad:

luser@puter:~$ dmesg | grep -i adb -- adb: starting probe task... adb devices: [2]: 2 c3 [3]: 3 1 [7]: 7 1f ADB keyboard at 2, handler 1 ADB mouse at 3, handler set to 4 (trackpad) adb: finished probe task...

This in a recent iBook.

The Caps-lock key on the keyboard physically sends only one event per keypress. I.E. the toggle action is built in to the keyboard rather than being handled in the protocol or drivers. Furthermore the event gets sent on the downstroke the first time, but on the upstroke when Caps-lock is released -- so there's not even a reasonable way to emulate Control-key behavior. This issue gets rehashed on debian-powerpc-user about every month.

This "flaw" really only makes a difference if you're an Emacs person. I prefer Vim personally. *ducks*

--
I have a positive modifier on Troll. When I mod someone Troll their karma should go UP!
./ed by theNeophile · 2002-02-25 12:59 · Score: 1

Ironically enough, I think Macslash is Slashdotted
1. Re:./ed by discstickers · 2002-02-25 13:23 · Score: 1
  
  They've been having trouble with their server lately.
  
  --
  I have a shitty sig!
2. Re:./ed by coolgeek · 2002-02-25 20:46 · Score: 1
  
  And one of the editors over there posted something to the effect of he wasn't worried about what apple.slashdot.org meant for macslash. Never underestimate the /. effect.
  
  --
  
  cat /dev/null >sig
Thanks guys by LeapingGnomeArs · 2002-02-25 14:05 · Score: 1

Thanks guys for the replies! I think I'll pick up a copy, unfortunately (or maybe fortunately :p), there is no Microcenter near me. I need some help on the CLI/Unix side of OSX, so this sounds like a good starting pointing.
Re:Apple Laptop Keyboards Unusable For Unix Users by InfernoBlade · 2002-02-25 17:04 · Score: 1

I beg to differ. The last Powerbook to have ADB on board was the Powerbook G3 Wallstreet, which was in '98, right when Apple went to the iMac and the Blue G3's. Everything since then has had USB on it, the Lombards, Pismos, and the TiBooks. And thats about 3 years of computers.

Apple threw ADB away, they dont still use it. And as for Linux, LinuxPPC works great on my old Wallstreet, not a problem with it, and my 2 button Macally ADB mouse is perfectly supported (as well as my USB Cardbus card to plug in my real mouse, the Macally one is a piece)
Re:Apple Laptop Keyboards Unusable For Unix Users by InfernoBlade · 2002-02-25 17:08 · Score: 1

Yeah bad policy, self moderation, kill me please. I forgot about interals for the Laptops, where ADB is indeed still used.

Anyone have a wager on how long it takes Apple to ditch ADB there?
Don't use emacs by chipotle_pickle · 2002-02-26 10:49 · Score: 1

I decided to stop waiting for Sun to make a keyboard that has a functioning forward delete key, and stopped using emacs. The problem here is with emacs making you use the cntrl key all the time. Just don't use it. I suggest nedit as it has language modes and other features that emacs users love. At the same time, it does not require so much hitting the ctrl key. Just for openers emacs nedit cntrl-d delete-key cntrl-e end-key
Remapping keys by jameshowison · 2002-02-26 13:08 · Score: 1

This GPL code remaps on OS X for Emacs style control key.

It may be useful for those using Linux on PPC - haven't looked and wouldn't know.

But they have overcome the difficulties of the toggle adb caps-lock key issue.

http://homepage.mac.com/patricklee/CommandAndCon tr ol.html

Also google for uControl

James
Re:Apple Laptop Keyboards Unusable For Unix Users by bags2000 · 2002-02-28 12:55 · Score: 1

You count sheep while you're awake?

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