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Wall Street Journal: Mac vs. PC
cpk0 writes "Walt Mossberg is taking a few days to discuss the differences between Mac and PCs, and which is suitable for whom. He begins by saying the tides have definitely turned in regards to Apple's state as a computer which he will recommend. This is the first in a miniature series of articles by Mossberg touching base on the Apple vs. PC situation (but don't worry, it's not at all about bashing one side)."
From Mr. Mossberg's WSJ article:
:)
It's easier today than ever to use a Mac in a Windows world and to share information. This is true partly because the Internet and e-mail don't distinguish between computing platforms.
Oh boy, does Microsoft hate statements like this
Healthcare article at Kuro5hin
As a member of the entertainment industry, I have to throw my weight into the Mac camp. Music apps like Cubase that just aren't available for Intel PCs are essential to the cutting-edge musician.
The new Macintosh Operating System, affectionately referred to as "X," also does a superior job of coupling media programs with the OS itself. I believe this is an effect of the Open Source nature of the OS, as software developers appear to be crafting their wares with greater insight into what happens "beneath the hood."
Sadly, Windows' paltry competition in this area has encouraged stagnation in the Macintosh audio market. Hopefully, Linux will cause things to pick up a bit, or music fans may be forced to listen to the same crap that has been flooding the airwaves for the last decade or so.
Cheers.
"I'm a rocket man / Rocket man burning out his fuse up here alone." - Sir Elton John
Yep!
I have serveral clients with too much money on their hands that have wanted a fileserver for home - Usually I take an older ATX box of theirs, put it in a decent case with a good and quite powersupply (Antec/PC Power And Cooling) and replace the processor fan. Plop in FreeBSD, Samba and hide it in the closet.
Last week, we used an IMac for filserving and as a novelty - the machine sits in the den, where the kids can play DVDs and listen to MP3, and the Samba filserver keeps on ticking. It's the first time that I've felt confortable having little kids play games with on a computer that, at the same time, is serving files. So far, there have been no lockups or crashes.
There are several benefits that I like with this situation - the customer gets a fun toy to play with, the "fileserver" is quiet and can nativly RSync it's precious files back to my servers for an offsite backup, and best of all - I get a reliable computer thats good for my reputation.
Really, the fullfilment of dream for an easy to use Unix has snuck up on us in the form of a Luxo Jr. lamp.
Moneyed corporations, non-working 'poor' and criminal prisoners are turning productive citizens into tax-slaves.
I am not trying to flame you, but did you bother to read the article before you posted? All of those points are covered by the author in more or less detail and it really doesn't seem like you've bothered to read the article before you posted. I am truly sorry if I am wrong in that judgment. I use and support both macs and PC's everyday at work and I found the article to be spot on. Of your objections, the only one that is really valid is the one about gaming. Many of the best selling games *do* come out for PC's first. Some are released for both platforms at the same time but the balance are indeed released for PC's first. Cost is on par, except in the low-low end. Office for OS X is on par with Office XP an as for development environments go, what are you asking for? Windows APIs? Other than that you've got just as powerful tools for software development on the Mac as you do on a PC.
In this case, I firmly believe that the scales are pretty evenly balanced overall and each platform has its pluses and minuses. Now, that is exactly what the author of the article expressed in his piece. If you disagree, you should be pointing out what, in his article, is factually wrong rather than making a blanket statement about "the only rational choice..." That's more rhetoric and rather trollish of you (something you claimed to be avoiding at the outset of your post.)
just my thoughts, -inco
I'm not sure if this is an appropriate forum for this, but I figure the Slashdot Apple community might be able to help me alleviate one concern that is stopping me from buying an iBook:
How easy is it to remap keys in Mac OS X? I know OpenStep 4.2 had a simple keyboard configurator app that allowed me to switch between various keymaps, but in my quick in-store demo of an iBook, it didn't seem that the keyboard control panel had the same functionality. I'm not looking for any huge modifications, but I will not buy a laptop if I cannot have the caps lock button act as control...
The other issues I have I'll have to take up with Apple personally (I don't want to buy an iBook if a new OS is going to come out in a couple months unless I'll get a free upgrade, and I don't want to pay $249 simply for a 3 year hardware warranty).
I had a friend recently who switched from Apple to PC. This guy was always a gung-ho apple user. Always telling me how much better his G4 was than my PC. I was quite surprised to see him make the switch. I suppose if a true believer like him can be converted Apple is really screwing up.
The Generation
I'd say something witty here, but I'm not that bright.
It should alo be pointed out that with Mac OS X you get the development tools for free, which is a terrific thing for the younger, more cash-strapped generation of developers just coming into the market.
I could very easily have been the LAN admin in Apple's brilliant marketing campaign. I'm still considering writing in, if nothing else to thank them.
:G:
I just love plugging in a piece of hardware and having it work the first time. Bring home some new hardware, connect it all up, pop in software, and everything works the first time. I have equal horror stories from the PC support that I did for many years of having to wrestle with hardware and drivers that just didn't work or weren't compatible with other pieces of hardware. Oh, The Pain, The Pain!!
Apple has embraced unix which, last time I checked, leaves M$ Windows as the only non-unix home computer OS. To me, that makes me even more skittish of learning anything Windows related. I can't help but think that it would be a skill that won't transfer nicely to other computer platforms. In fact, I'm even starting for forget some PC-specific skills.
The old M$/Mac war has never been an issue for me. I won't argue with people for more than 5 minutes. I just grin and say "I'm an IT person. I have several computers at home and at work. I prefer Mac over Windows." They're usual the ones who press the issue. At which point I just smile and ask them why they're being so defensive?
Why do I never get a fortune in my fortune cookies?
As I mentioned on MacSlash.
While the WSJ author made a point of criticizing Mac interaction with corporate VPNs, he failed to mention that Macs are quite often easier to integrate into Windows networks than PCs running Windows are.
If for network interface card configuration issues alone, the Mac shines in this area, and it deserves praise for this.
I need something that will let me run a quality office suite, a standard development environment and all the latest games but not cost me an arm and a leg. The only rational choice for any of those things is a PC running Windows XP.
Don't you mean something providing an office suite with arguably good quality and a proprietary development environment but does cost you an arm and a leg?
Healthcare article at Kuro5hin
I've always liked Mossberg's even keel when it came
to Mac/'doze comparisons. If it works, he'll say so,
if it doesn't he's not gonna sugarcoat it. Back before
the return of Jobs, he faily accurately sized up the
trouble with Apple and called them on it. He's shown
the same attitude toward Microsoft.
No ass kissing, just what he thinks works. A refreshing
change from yesterday's Dvorak drivel.
Mod me down and I will become more powerful than you can possibly imagine...
...as for development environments go, what are you asking for? Windows APIs? Other than that you've got just as powerful tools for software development on the Mac as you do on a PC.
Just wanted to point out that Mac's development suite and compiler are FREE (as in beer). Visual Studio is most decidedly not free.
It doesn't make sense for businesses to "switch to Mac" as long as there is a hardware monopoly: just one company with machines running the Mac OS.
These companies are in for a rude shock if they convert to Apple and get screwed with the higher prices, limited availability, and other problems you get when just one company makes the hardware.
Cons: "Slower processor speed"
Is this debate still going on?
" a proprietary development environment but does cost you an arm and a leg?"
I can run Office XP on dozens of hardware platforms. Hardly "proprietary" compared to being forced to run any MacOS software on just one single platform where there is NO competition.
In the PC world, if it is good, it ends up on the machines, if it is bad, it leaves. Unlike the Mac hardware platform in which one company sets the rules, regardless of whether or not the feature (pinhole for ejection as opposed to button, for example) is any good.
PC versions of Cubase are now ahead of MacOS versions.
Not this old hokum again. Computers are a tool, people. They exist to solve problems and help us with our jobs. Comparing Macs to PCs is pointless and trollish. What you need to do is ask what task you need solved.
For "old hokum" it seems that the article is making EXACTLY the same point as you are.
For instance, my mom needed a computer that she could use to check her email and maybe do a little web browsing. The iMac is perfect for her.
Sounds just like one of the conclusions of the author.
I need something that will let me run a quality office suite, a standard development environment and all the latest games but not cost me an arm and a leg. The only rational choice for any of those things is a PC running Windows XP.
Hmm, The ONLY rational choice for ANY of these things? Microsoft Office isn't the quality office suite you are looking for? ProjectBuilder & Interface Builder that come with the package aren't exactly standard I guess, you could always get CodeWarrior. And the BSD environment, GCC 3, Java 2 etc. etc. etc. seem pretty standard.
As for "an arm and a leg" I'll grant that Macs tend to sell at a premium but when you are considering the actual specs in detail they are not that much higher, and in some cases are actually lower than comperable PeeCee's.
There are many games available but for the hardcore gamer a PeeCee is still the way to go.
A computer is a tool and this particular tool may not meet your particular needs but of the four needs you mentioned you seem to be mistaken about the Macs ability to meet three of them. It is common misconceptions like yours which prompted the author to write this "old hokum".
"PeeCee"? Odd spelling.
Anyway, once you compare specs, Macs cost a lot more. Especially when you consider such things as standard ports and floppy drives which come on almost all PC's, but require extra expense on Macintoshes.
My point? An Apple user buying a PC is not necesarily an abrogation of the Mac. It just means that today he needed something that only PCs provide.
Besides, email attachments are not a practical way to share any but the most trivial documents. Not to mention the virus risks!
Why on earth does Slashdot keep trumpeting Mossberg's pronouncements as if they meant jack? His sole qualification to have any sort of technical opinion is (according to him) technical illiteracy!
Many, many people get their computers via mail order and never have a chance to try them in person until they've already paid. Macs in particular can be VERY difficult to return for a refund once you've opened the box. Because of this, many people won't have the opportunity to use OS X prior to purchase.
OS X, even on the G4 iMac, still lags. People should know prior to making a purchase decision.
If your anology was completely apt, we would be living in a world where switching from a VW Beetle to a Ford Focus would require a new garage, different gasoline, and a new kind of steering wheel
New Garage? I have my G3 and PC sitting on the same desk ...
Different Gas? I plug my G3 and my PC into the same power strip ...
New Steering Wheel? Well, the PC does have a two button mouse ...
If you get a different car, everything else works pretty much the same.
Until you need replacement parts ...
Steve M
"Floppies are so 1980s man, get with the go."
If there wasn't an actual lingering need for them, the PC companies would have left them off a long time ago. As it is, you get them on PC's and you end up paying less for the privilege.
"Macs come with USB. What's not standard about that?"
PC's come with USB ports, as well as parallel and serial ports which run the vast majority of printers (instead of just the most recent ones). You get both old an new, and you pay less for the privilege.... again.
It is a design goof on Apple's part. Again, if there were no need for them, you wouldn't have the PC manufacturers lining up to keep them for the most part. A "standard" bucked by Apple, almost alone.
This is more true than ever in the enterprise environment, where you really have a need for standard ports. Here is where someone does a brisk sale in converters; necessary on the Mac, but not in the PC where the old printers will plug right in.
"If you want a computer, you can choose between several hardware platforms (Wintel, Macintosh, Sparcs...). "
Remember, a large percentage of PCs run AMD, not Wintel. Used PCs but not Wintels for years myself. Also, well known to the slashdot community of course, a certain number of PC's avoid having anything to do with Windows thanks to the diligence of there owners who happen to be Linux fans.
I whole-heartedly agree with you on this one. Although difficult, it is possible to remap keys under OS X. The keyboard files are in /System/Library/Keyboards. By the way, all apple computers come w/ 3 free sub-major version OS upgrades, and all minor version upgrades are free via Software Update.
"Many, many people get their computers via mail order and never have a chance to try them in person until they've already paid. Macs in particular can be VERY difficult to return for a refund once you've opened the box. "
Yes, the company has a monopoly in this arena. Don't like Apple's policies? You are screwed. Not a problem at all with the PC environment, where there is a very large number of vendors that do compete with each other.
I know this from experience. In my area, if I want an Apple, I have to go to an "authorized apple dealer" which closes hours before many of the PC sellers close. Guess they don't to sell computers. They even open much later too. This is part of an actual intentional policy to limit dealers and make Macintosh machines harder to obtain.
to go with the steaming fistful of bullshit served up in print, again..
"Slower processor speed.."
--
as relative to what?? to a shit peecee??
peecees need the extra freq to deal with shitty memory management.. and all the shitty india-borne crap win-coding from some dirt hovel in bangladesh.. "100,000 more lines of code before you get your bowl of rice, Patel.."
--
"All come with Mac OS X, the new Apple operating system, which rarely crashes and is on a par with Windows XP.."
--
ON PAR?? yet more bile from the bowels of an inferior sub-human windows cretin..
using xp is like a really bad case of the beer-shits..
--
"It's easier today than ever to use a Mac in a Windows world and to share information. This is true partly because the Internet and e-mail don't distinguish between computing platforms. As users spend more time online and less time running boxed software, compatibility with software becomes less of an issue.."
--
this actually has to be explained to the win-cretin set.. the center of the universe does not revolve around redmond, washington..
yet, this is another arguement FOR middleware and that passive-aggressive shit branded ".net"..
so, i this is not positive press for the Mac or Apple..
this is a case of "they are still 5% trying to fit in OUR windows world, but as MSFT tells us, we are number one.. they are shit with pretty boxes that still don't work."..
so FUCK him, FUCK the WSJ and FUCK MICROSOFT..
and if your a x86 peecee user..
FUCK YOU, YOU COMPLETE IDIOT RAT-BASTARD.. DIG YOUR HEAD OUT OF YOUR RECTUM, WIPE THE SHIT FROM YOUR EYES AND FINALLY REALIZE THAT YOU'VE BEEN DUPED..
and you passive Mac users make me sick.. sip your high-priced lattes and passively accept this shit from your win-cretin "friends" and the popular press.. but, feel good about it all..
FUCK YOU. I USE A MAC.
WWW.APPLE.COM/FUCKYOU
That should be the new ad campaign..
i hate microsoft.
"Dozens of hardware platforms? Oh, you mean Pentium, Pentium MMX...."
No, I was referring to the companies that made them. Dell, Compaq, GW2K. But if you want to count each processer separately, I guess that makes even more platforms.
Office XP is extremely proprietary; name one component of it that isn't developed and controlled by Microsoft.
But at least the hardware is much less proprietary; much more "open" if you avoid getting a Mac. Also, on the PC there is a much greater variety of word processor/spreadsheet/etc office software than on a Mac. More choice all the way around.
"Correction: In the PC world, if Microsoft deems it good, Microsoft buys it, if Microsoft deems it bad, Microsoft crushes it."
Correction to you: I was referring to hardware as well as software. MS does not own Gateway. Also in software, what you claim is not true. Go to download.com sometime. Look at all the PC software made by companies that are still in business, and are not owned by Microsoft.
And don't list Netscape as an example of something crushed by Microsoft. Netscape gave away browsers so much worse with each version until they were unusable. Self-crushing.
Only one company for Mac...
, Pentium Pro, Pentium II, Pentium III, Pentium III Coppermine, Pentium III Xeon, Pentium IV, etc.
" "Slower processor speed.."
as relative to what?? to a shit peecee??"
If a machine costs a lot more and has a slower processer, it might look more like Mr Hankey than the cheaper one that is faster.
"ON PAR?? yet more bile from the bowels of an inferior sub-human windows cretin."
They are not really on par. Compared to Windows XP, the Mac-OS runs hardly any software.
"[and if you are a PC user]
FUCK YOU, YOU COMPLETE IDIOT RAT-BASTARD.. DIG YOUR HEAD OUT OF YOUR RECTUM, WIPE THE SHIT FROM YOUR EYES AND FINALLY REALIZE THAT YOU'VE BEEN DUPED.."
Duped? By paying a lot less for a machine that is faster, can do a lot more, and has more options than an Apple product?
"and you passive Mac users make me sick..."
Save the evangelish for the church.
"FUCK YOU. I USE A MAC."
I think you are doing it to yourself.
"I hate microsoft"
Without Microsoft, there would be no Apple. A few years ago, when Apple was about to die due to its ongoing "customer be damned" mode, M$ bailed it out. Apple is little more than Microsoft's beard to shield it from monopoly charges. How do you like it that Apple right now is little more than a part of M$ business strategy.
A Macintosh is a type of microcomputer. However, it has always bucked the standard of the PC ("personal computer") which was invented around 1982 by IBM and Microsoft. Apple does not build PCs, even though it has contributed occasionally to the PC standard.
"For instance, my mom needed a computer that she could use to check her email and maybe do a little web browsing. The iMac is perfect for her."
Only if the main thing she wanted to do is have the machine look "cute". Otherwise, she could buy a PC that will do these things for half the price... part of it being that PCs are generally a lot cheaper, and the other part being that the iMac is overkill for this: flat screen, high speed movie making support are not needed for checking e-mail and browsing.
""I think that the anti-Microsoft sentiment is simply due to their having been so successful selling a lot of crap." -Woz "
Yes. there is an anti-Microsoft groundswell out there. Thanks to this, Apple has captured 65% of the computer market.
[Back to Earth: is Woz really this out of touch? Did he ever realize that he gave a revolution and no one came. Must be shell-shocked since he built a lot of NeXT crap and was not successful selling it. These guys will have to realize that regardless of whether or not Microsoft stinks, its products are very popular]
"You get what you pay for. Macs can do everything a PC can and usually easier"
No, Macs can do only a fraction of the things a PC can do, and only sometimes easier. Usually harder. Things do improve a whole lot if you run a PC emulator on the Macintosh.
Otherwise, the Mac excels only in certain niche applications (desktop video). For most everything else, a PC is better, much cheaper, and much easier.
It's not yet easy to manually remap keys in OSX, (many do with XDarwin) but you can do it by text-editing the appropriate xmodmap file you're using (Warning: the DMCA may seriously repercussions if you live in the US and try to do this... check out the scary disclaimer on this how-to for remapping keys with XDarwin!!) This really should be something user-changeable in the System Prefs itself, under "Keyboard" and hopefully will be in Jaguar or not too long after.
/System/Library/Keyboards/ directory (pick yours, though I think there are even more now with 10.1.5):
/System/Library/Keyboards
/System/Library/Keyboards/ACE.keyboard
/System/Library/Keyboards/ACE_102.keyboard
/System/Library/Keyboards/Apple.keyboard
/System/Library/Keyboards/AppleAdjJIS.keyboard
/System/Library/Keyboards/AppleExt.keyboard
/System/Library/Keyboards/AppleII.keyboard
/System/Library/Keyboards/AppleISO.keyboard
/System/Library/Keyboards/AppleISOExt.keyboard
/System/Library/Keyboards/AppleJIS.keyboard
/System/Library/Keyboards/Belge.keymapping
/System/Library/Keyboards/Canadian-CSA.keymapping
/System/Library/Keyboards/Canadian-ISO.keymapping
/System/Library/Keyboards/Canadien.keymapping
/System/Library/Keyboards/Dansk.keymapping
/System/Library/Keyboards/Deutsch.keymapping
/System/Library/Keyboards/Espanol.keymapping
/System/Library/Keyboards/Francais.keymapping
/System/Library/Keyboards/HIL.keyboard
/System/Library/Keyboards/HIL_ITF_JAPANESE.keyboa rd
/System/Library/Keyboards/HIL_JIS.keyboard
/System/Library/Keyboards/HP_MiniDIN_JIS.keyboard
/System/Library/Keyboards/Italiano.keymapping
/System/Library/Keyboards/Japanese.keymapping
/System/Library/Keyboards/LatinoAmericano.keymapp ing
/System/Library/Keyboards/MSN.keyboard
/System/Library/Keyboards/Netherlands.keymapping
/System/Library/Keyboards/NeXT.keyboard
/System/Library/Keyboards/Norsk.keymapping
/System/Library/Keyboards/OADG_A01.keyboard
/System/Library/Keyboards/OADG_AX.keyboard
/System/Library/Keyboards/OADG_J3100.keyboard
/System/Library/Keyboards/Portugues.keymapping
/System/Library/Keyboards/Schweizer.keymapping
/System/Library/Keyboards/Suisse.keymapping
/System/Library/Keyboards/Svenska.keymapping
/System/Library/Keyboards/TYPE5.keyboard
/System/Library/Keyboards/TYPE5_Compact.keyboard
/System/Library/Keyboards/TYPE5_Compact_JAPANESE. keyboard
/System/Library/Keyboards/TYPE5_Compact_UNIX.keyb oard
/System/Library/Keyboards/TYPE5_JAPANESE.keyboard
/System/Library/Keyboards/TYPE5_PC.keyboard
/System/Library/Keyboards/TYPE5_TUV_EUROPEAN.keyb oard
/System/Library/Keyboards/UK.keymapping
/System/Library/Keyboards/USA.keymapping
/Volumes/Mac/System/Library/Keyboards
/Volumes/Mac/System/Library/Keyboards/ACE.keyboar d
/Volumes/Mac/System/Library/Keyboards/ACE_102.key board
/Volumes/Mac/System/Library/Keyboards/Apple.keybo ard
/Volumes/Mac/System/Library/Keyboards/AppleAdjJIS . eyboard
/Volumes/Mac/System/Library/Keyboards/AppleExt.ke yboard
/Volumes/Mac/System/Library/Keyboards/AppleII.key board
/Volumes/Mac/System/Library/Keyboards/AppleISO.ke yboard
/Volumes/Mac/System/Library/Keyboards/AppleISOExt . eyboard
/Volumes/Mac/System/Library/Keyboards/AppleJIS.ke yboard
/Volumes/Mac/System/Library/Keyboards/Belge.keyma pping
/Volumes/Mac/System/Library/Keyboards/Canadian-CS A.keymapping
/Volumes/Mac/System/Library/Keyboards/Canadian-IS O.keymapping
/Volumes/Mac/System/Library/Keyboards/Canadien.ke ymapping
/Volumes/Mac/System/Library/Keyboards/Dansk.keyma pping
/Volumes/Mac/System/Library/Keyboards/Deutsch.key mapping
/Volumes/Mac/System/Library/Keyboards/Espanol.key mapping
/Volumes/Mac/System/Library/Keyboards/Francais.ke ymapping
/Volumes/Mac/System/Library/Keyboards/HIL.keyboar d
/Volumes/Mac/System/Library/Keyboards/HIL_ITF_JAP ANESE.keyboard
/Volumes/Mac/System/Library/Keyboards/HIL_JIS.key board
/Volumes/Mac/System/Library/Keyboards/HP_MiniDIN_ JIS.keyboard
/Volumes/Mac/System/Library/Keyboards/Italiano.ke ymapping
/Volumes/Mac/System/Library/Keyboards/Japanese.ke ymapping
/Volumes/Mac/System/Library/Keyboards/LatinoAmeri cano.keymapping
/Volumes/Mac/System/Library/Keyboards/MSN.keyboar d
/Volumes/Mac/System/Library/Keyboards/Netherlands . eymapping
/Volumes/Mac/System/Library/Keyboards/NeXT.keyboa rd
/Volumes/Mac/System/Library/Keyboards/Norsk.keyma pping
/Volumes/Mac/System/Library/Keyboards/OADG_A01.ke yboard
/Volumes/Mac/System/Library/Keyboards/OADG_AX.key board
/Volumes/Mac/System/Library/Keyboards/OADG_J3100. keyboard
/Volumes/Mac/System/Library/Keyboards/Portugues.k eymapping
/Volumes/Mac/System/Library/Keyboards/Schweizer.k eymapping
/Volumes/Mac/System/Library/Keyboards/Suisse.keym apping
/Volumes/Mac/System/Library/Keyboards/Svenska.key mapping
/Volumes/Mac/System/Library/Keyboards/TYPE5.keybo ard
/Volumes/Mac/System/Library/Keyboards/TYPE5_Compa ct.keyboard
/Volumes/Mac/System/Library/Keyboards/TYPE5_Compa ct_JAPANESE.keyboard
/Volumes/Mac/System/Library/Keyboards/TYPE5_Compa ct_UNIX.keyboard
/Volumes/Mac/System/Library/Keyboards/TYPE5_JAPAN ESE.keyboard
/Volumes/Mac/System/Library/Keyboards/TYPE5_PC.ke yboard
/Volumes/Mac/System/Library/Keyboards/TYPE5_TUV_E UROPEAN.keyboard
/Volumes/Mac/System/Library/Keyboards/UK.keymappi ng
/Volumes/Mac/System/Library/Keyboards/USA.keymapp ing
In OSX, you could manually re-map the modmap file for the appropriate keymap you want to change out of the list of keymaps in the
But of course, there's will soon be an easier way if you don't want to muck about. Michael Baltak's GPL'd DoubleCommand Deluxe, under development and hopefully to be released soon should offer a good amount of flexibility in custom keymapping for free. Or, to kill the bug with a sledgehammer you could get a macro utility like Quickeys from CE Software and map the Caps Lock key to trigger a one-key "shortcut" of your choosing (ie: map it to another key)
I wouldn't worry too much about paying to upgrade the OS to Jaguar, Apple so far has been fairly good about this sort of stuff. You could also wait a few months until Jaguar comes out and you might not need a keymapping utility at all, if you can bear to wait.
I have exactly the same issue: I need the key to the left of the 'A' to be a Ctrl key. This is not just a want; it is a genuine need based upon ergonomic reasons.
All Apple desktop keyboards are USB, and they are OK. They can be reprogrammed to have the desired and needed functionality. However, all Apple laptops still have built-in ADB keyboards, and the ADB keyboards are absolutely unacceptable.
When Apple redesigns their laptop motherboards to use built-in USB keyboards, instead of built-in ADB keyboards, they will have fixed the problem. They have not yet done so.
Note: is is now possible to use the built-in ADB keyboard with Debian GNU/Linux, but as of yet, Apple has not made it possible for unix old-timers to use with OSX. Nor is it possible (as far as I know) to use with FreeBSD, NetBSD, or OpenBSD.
For full details on how the ADB keyboard was mis-designed, check out my previous slashdot posts.
Please note that my intention is not to troll. My intention is to warn other long-time unix users that Apple's laptop keyboards are not yet acceptable, and also to try to communicate this fact to people inside Apple. I want to effect change. I want Apple to fix this last problem, so that I can enthusiastically support them. If I didn't care, and if I didn't want to see this positive change, I wouldn't have bothered spending the time to make these posts.
Unfortunately, I have almost no hope. Apple has demonstrated for more than 10 years that they will not address the concerns of unix users. I sincerely hope that they change their ways. The fact that they now have a very-high quality unix OS gives me hope that they might start to care about unix users.
You said:
"Furthermore, MS hired the Mach MicroKernel developers to create WinNT way back in the day. These guys are excellent and experienced OS developers and they still work at Microsoft."
To which, I say Ha!
Sorry, I've worked for MS and in fact, worked on Cairo (Back when Cairo was going to be a next gen OS to replace NT, it has since been used to describe all kinds of things that weren't really Cairo, after Cairo was cancelled.)
Let me just say, without violating NDAs, that NT will never effectively compete with OS X for certain, and will probably have a tough time going against Linux.
I've had my hands on the code in question. It doesn't matter how many bright people MS hires (nevermind the fact that there will always be more brighter people who don't work for them, who are more likely to work on Linux) but the process and priorities MS uses in developing its code.
Quality isn't even in the top 5 priorities. They say otherwise, but everyone who works there knows its just talk, and how the process is broken.
Yeah, and you guys panned the ipod too: http://apple.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=01/10/23
I read this the other day, and read comments on MacCentral and elsewhere. Unless I want to be really nitpicky and anal, I don't have any real complaints about the article. I agree that EverQuest addicts and Megahertz junkies aren't going to be happy on a Mac(and we Mac users don't want them anyway), so they should stick with whatever version of Windows they're using. Same goes for those who like to pirate all their software; there's fewer people to steal software from in the Mac world. Plus, most hardcore Mac gamers are anti-piracy, because we know the Mac gaming programmers and publishers by name; we'd know exactly who we're stealing from.
"Common Sense Ain't" -Unknown
from work ... hey PC users - raise your hand if you have an illegal copy of any of the following: ...)
..get it....!
Win XP Professional
MS Office (or Word or Excel or
Visual Basic
or any other MS software you have leached from work or from a freind. Dont give me that "its only one person using it at a time BS.."
Illegal copying of Windoze software is the ONLY reason why Windoze even exists..if MS locked down the license (verified with a credit card ror something) - you will see these same PC Weenies (R) ditch Windoze and Office and VB like rats from a sticking, sinking ship.
Bye
AM
or
AutoCAD
or
Pro/E
or
Frontpage (full version)
or
Access
or
And stop sending me your resume's in Word!
PC stands for personal computer. A Mac fits that definition. The platform is NOT PC.
...get a life
I've seen dv tests comparing top-of-line Power Macintosh and PC. The PC was much faster.
hahaha, you really ARE a stupid bastard, aren't you??
i was using CP/M way before you knew what DOS was..
ahhh, weez talkin ta MassaDOSfOO, 'yo dope DoS SkIlLz4367, eh..
and i'm sure your still using EDLIN, or Debug, right??
typical shit-for-brains win-cretin.. take your 6.22/win3.x smack somewhere else, little buddy..
and as for being a Mac Commie..
I'm Big Daddy Stalin to you, dipshit..
Better Red than a win-cretin..
i hate microsoft.
I agree. Mossberg is always good. His observations are useful. Other reporters just parrot the industry buzz. Mossberg tells you whether he things the stuff works.
Mossberg is what Jerry Pournelle SHOULD have been....
And, I agree, he seems to be the only person in the industry who can compare Macs and PCs dispassionately and accurately.
"How to Do Nothing," kids activities, back in print!
It's true that Cubase, which I have been using since 1.0 for Mac is crossplatform. While not quite on your level, I have used it on both platforms, and while the app itself is pretty much transparent, the PC version suffers indirectly from the usual Windows problems. Including the "wipe drive and reinstall to get the %^&* PC to going again thank God we backed up cause it crashed in the middle of a writing session' syndrome". There is no big anti Mac conspiracy at Steinberg- it's just that they want SX for Mac to be "right" and, with Apple's series of improvements of 10.1, plus the introduction of QT6 with MP4 (have you tried it- wow! Great fidelity and compression- far better than MP3) they are palying last minute catch up. It is worth the wait. Better timing, better fidelity (new audio engine) higher track and subgroup count, and better handling of video and audio) But a note of concern to those who use OMS with Cubase Mac: OMS patch names and studio set up is not currently supported on OSX. Big Boo. We'll probably have to convert to Steinberg's version of this- tedious at best.
small.dog@cox.net
At least his computer isn't a little kids toy like yours. BTW, did you find the hidden "Playskool" logo on your Mac yet?
And you think a cash-strapped developer is going to buy a $4000+ Mac that can't be upgraded?
Show me a $4k Mac that can't be upgraded.
"Oh no, 3 horny women and only 2 condoms...Thank god I read slashdot"