I am a Mac user. I also participate in discussions regarding them, and I don't really see a ton of the blind zealotry that you speak of. It's much like Linux or FreeBSd in that there are users who are fans because they enjoy the convenience of the running system. There is a degree of zealotry surrounding almost any technology, especially computer oriented shit. It's generally pretty easy to spot and filter.
When you look at almost any feature of any of the macs themselves, software or hardware, in the Apple discussion boards, here, or on macslash, you see that Mac users can admit the system is not perfect. Problems are discussed freely and when Apple screws up Apple fans and foes alike flame and rant like crazy!
Really, though, I doubt many people are even aware that Apple oriented discussion boards exist, and most of those that DO know don't care.
As for the original column that Dickerson received, it deserved to be flamed. He basically complains that:
1. You have to buy software for the Mac.
2. You have to configure them.
3. You have to teach people how to use them.
4. VPC runs too slowly (what's he running, DOOM3?) and XP complains that he hasn't installed any virus protection.
Any of these problems would be true in a Windows environment. Migration from the Windows to the Mac's 'MS Word' environment is very easy, probably no more bothersome than training users to use Word 2003 when they are used to Word 2000.
I haven't seen ads in a very long time. The ad blocking in my browser, and the ad-busting hosts file from everythingisnt.com combine forces to destroy ads. The message here is that users don't like banner ads, not that we're scared of them.
The article mentions no known exploits or viruses. The just mention that because it's a growing platform that it MAY be at risk. You knew that already, though, anonymous troll.
There has yet to be a remote exploit for OS X that hasn't also been in Linux and FreeBSD.
I hope he has an impact sensor tied into a bluetooth cell phone programmed to call 911, because he'll need it.
Imagine trying to explain that one to your insurance company - "Well, I was playing the newest Popcap game, and suddenly I heard this noise! Next thing I know I'm spinning through the air. Boy am I glad that that busload of kids was there to block my car from going over the guardrail and into the Pacific Ocean!"
I have an old Titanium G4 867 and it is snappy as all hell. It feels much faster than the P4 2.4 Media Center PC that I have, and unlike the PC, which will run much slower with each new version of Windows I install (of course), the Mac got substantially faster when I put 10.2 on it, and faster still when I put 10.3 on it. I fully expect it to run even faster when 10.4 is released.
Macs aren't PCs - you don't need to upgrade them every time there's a new OS X. My machine competes well with current generation Powerbooks (because they lack an L3 cache, and mine has it).
Bungie lost most of their hard core fans years ago when they abandoned what could have been a revolutionary FPS for the Macintosh, only to bring it out 4 years later for the Xbox. By that time people had tasted Tribes (which Halo can't compete with on any level). I doubt Halo 2 or Halo 3 will even come out for the Mac, as hardly anybody was interested in buying it when it finally did come out for the Mac, many years too late.
That's OK, though, because Halo lacks the depth and plot that the earlier Bungie titles had. It's just a cheap 3D shooter, somewhere between UT and Tribes (the first one).
The court is a joke, and is obviously incapable of hiring technologically savvy people or even reading about the case. It's probably an 'old boy's club' thing.
Actually, OS X is basically a collection of standards with a few other proprietary APIs and technologies. Seeing as how there are now more OS X machines deployed than all other kinds of UNIX workstation combined (possibly excepting Linux / *BSD as it's impossible to get an accurate estimate of the amount of their users) let's not jump the gun whall we!
One doesn't slowly switch to a Mac (or Linux). One wipes their home PC, and either turns it into a Linux box or a storage server. Then one goes to the store and buys the Mac.
It's like saying one is slowly switching to Buddhism, or slowly switching from gas to diesel.
I think you make some good points. I would like to amend your last, and say that an off the shelf graphic designer just won't do. You need an actual, bona-fide UI expert. Graphic design work is rampant like plague throughout many applications - and it isn't helping anybody. Clean, simple design that is backed by the science of human-computer interaction is something that we should be shooting for. Apple's UI guidelines (available on their site) are excellent and worthy of study by both programmers and graphics designers who want to understand a bit more about HCI.
Either you're joking, or you really have no fucking clue. Graphical RAD tools were invented with Xerox Smalltalk, and popularized with Nextstep. To this day, ProjectBuilder and InterfaceBuilder remain the best tools for this task. Building a GUI app that does something (like play a sound when a button is clicked) can be made in 10 seconds with GNUstep / OS X.
Your ignorance of this doesn't make it any less true. Besides, ObjectiveC scales, and we all know how great Java / C++ / VB are when it comes to managing complexity in large deployments.
Prolonged dullness and fading away of the Mac line?
What kind of crack do you smoke? Besides having the hottest machine under $20,000 (the G5) Apple has been constantly redefining the PC form factor, with their PC based 'competitors' scrambling to make something similar. Look at laptops - half of them look like bad clones of the TiBook, WHICH THEY ARE!
The success of the iPod has in no way diminished the Macintosh line. In fact, many PC users are likely to get an iPod and then supplement it with a Mac!
Slashdot Mirror
The last update to 10.2 made it far slower and buggier, and in my somewhat paranoid mind they 'broke' 10.2 so one would be more motivated to buy 10.3.
Does this update break 10.3 so I will be encouraged to get 10.4?
I am a Mac user. I also participate in discussions regarding them, and I don't really see a ton of the blind zealotry that you speak of. It's much like Linux or FreeBSd in that there are users who are fans because they enjoy the convenience of the running system. There is a degree of zealotry surrounding almost any technology, especially computer oriented shit. It's generally pretty easy to spot and filter.
When you look at almost any feature of any of the macs themselves, software or hardware, in the Apple discussion boards, here, or on macslash, you see that Mac users can admit the system is not perfect. Problems are discussed freely and when Apple screws up Apple fans and foes alike flame and rant like crazy!
Really, though, I doubt many people are even aware that Apple oriented discussion boards exist, and most of those that DO know don't care.
As for the original column that Dickerson received, it deserved to be flamed. He basically complains that:
1. You have to buy software for the Mac.
2. You have to configure them.
3. You have to teach people how to use them.
4. VPC runs too slowly (what's he running, DOOM3?) and XP complains that he hasn't installed any virus protection.
Any of these problems would be true in a Windows environment. Migration from the Windows to the Mac's 'MS Word' environment is very easy, probably no more bothersome than training users to use Word 2003 when they are used to Word 2000.
cat /dev/random > /dev/null
and then
renice -20 (or 0 on linux) [cat process id]
I haven't seen ads in a very long time. The ad blocking in my browser, and the ad-busting hosts file from everythingisnt.com combine forces to destroy ads. The message here is that users don't like banner ads, not that we're scared of them.
Chances are most businesses already do use software that phones home.
The article mentions no known exploits or viruses. The just mention that because it's a growing platform that it MAY be at risk. You knew that already, though, anonymous troll.
There has yet to be a remote exploit for OS X that hasn't also been in Linux and FreeBSD.
Ever see the shuttle blast off?
These make that seem cool.
I hope he has an impact sensor tied into a bluetooth cell phone programmed to call 911, because he'll need it.
Imagine trying to explain that one to your insurance company - "Well, I was playing the newest Popcap game, and suddenly I heard this noise! Next thing I know I'm spinning through the air. Boy am I glad that that busload of kids was there to block my car from going over the guardrail and into the Pacific Ocean!"
Yes, because everybody in the world knows you need the full source code to Photoshop to write a plugin.
It's not MS that does the testing, it's the users. You aren't seriously suggesting that MS tests each patch comprehensively, are you?
I have an old Titanium G4 867 and it is snappy as all hell. It feels much faster than the P4 2.4 Media Center PC that I have, and unlike the PC, which will run much slower with each new version of Windows I install (of course), the Mac got substantially faster when I put 10.2 on it, and faster still when I put 10.3 on it. I fully expect it to run even faster when 10.4 is released.
Macs aren't PCs - you don't need to upgrade them every time there's a new OS X. My machine competes well with current generation Powerbooks (because they lack an L3 cache, and mine has it).
You can't rip off something that is being given away voluntarily. You can't rape the willing!
Bungie lost most of their hard core fans years ago when they abandoned what could have been a revolutionary FPS for the Macintosh, only to bring it out 4 years later for the Xbox. By that time people had tasted Tribes (which Halo can't compete with on any level). I doubt Halo 2 or Halo 3 will even come out for the Mac, as hardly anybody was interested in buying it when it finally did come out for the Mac, many years too late.
That's OK, though, because Halo lacks the depth and plot that the earlier Bungie titles had. It's just a cheap 3D shooter, somewhere between UT and Tribes (the first one).
The court is a joke, and is obviously incapable of hiring technologically savvy people or even reading about the case. It's probably an 'old boy's club' thing.
Pogs are retarded. Nobody wants his freakin clout points.
I don't think turning off Javascript bothers anyone except web monkeys.
Actually, OS X is basically a collection of standards with a few other proprietary APIs and technologies. Seeing as how there are now more OS X machines deployed than all other kinds of UNIX workstation combined (possibly excepting Linux / *BSD as it's impossible to get an accurate estimate of the amount of their users) let's not jump the gun whall we!
One doesn't slowly switch to a Mac (or Linux). One wipes their home PC, and either turns it into a Linux box or a storage server. Then one goes to the store and buys the Mac.
It's like saying one is slowly switching to Buddhism, or slowly switching from gas to diesel.
Yay, PayPal! Can I pay by donating bone marrow as well? It's not as risky as PayPal.
Notice that MS is spending (or borrowing) 300% more than it takes in, and Apple reserves a healthy 1/2 billion dollars.
Which one has more free cash on hand?
I think you make some good points. I would like to amend your last, and say that an off the shelf graphic designer just won't do. You need an actual, bona-fide UI expert. Graphic design work is rampant like plague throughout many applications - and it isn't helping anybody. Clean, simple design that is backed by the science of human-computer interaction is something that we should be shooting for. Apple's UI guidelines (available on their site) are excellent and worthy of study by both programmers and graphics designers who want to understand a bit more about HCI.
Either you're joking, or you really have no fucking clue. Graphical RAD tools were invented with Xerox Smalltalk, and popularized with Nextstep. To this day, ProjectBuilder and InterfaceBuilder remain the best tools for this task. Building a GUI app that does something (like play a sound when a button is clicked) can be made in 10 seconds with GNUstep / OS X.
Your ignorance of this doesn't make it any less true. Besides, ObjectiveC scales, and we all know how great Java / C++ / VB are when it comes to managing complexity in large deployments.
Goban by Sen:Te runs on GNUstep and OS X. It's the nicest Go program on either platform by far.
Enjoy your Gran Turismo 4: Cube port when it comes out...
NEVER!
Prolonged dullness and fading away of the Mac line?
What kind of crack do you smoke? Besides having the hottest machine under $20,000 (the G5) Apple has been constantly redefining the PC form factor, with their PC based 'competitors' scrambling to make something similar. Look at laptops - half of them look like bad clones of the TiBook, WHICH THEY ARE!
The success of the iPod has in no way diminished the Macintosh line. In fact, many PC users are likely to get an iPod and then supplement it with a Mac!