I also remember the early Mac Web Development scene with Frontier & AppleScript which where the glue that built complex web servers using MacHTTP, 4D databases, Photoshop to process images live, etc.
Dave Winer basically invented application scripting on Macintosh when he released Userland Frontier in the late 1980's. This was before Apple's own AppleScript. He also was a key in the creation of XML-RPC and SOAP for creating web API's.
I read this as a HARD requirement for scriptablity across all applications. If all apps are able to respond to and make scripting API requests, any app would be able to be the "programming" language. Python, Sqeak, C, Photoshop, nginx, OpenOffice could all be equals.
I wonder about Dell purchasers who check back a couple hours later after placing an order, only to find they have played the Dell Pricing Roulette Wheel. Maybe the price is lower, maybe higher.
For those of you who don't recognize Chuck Goolsbee's name, he is well know to those of us who administer Macintosh systems. And has long been a leader of the Mac Managers mailing list. One of the best resources for professional Mac admins.
I concur. 43folders.com is an excellent website for GTD. While on the software front 43folders does have a Macintosh bent, there is plenty of good info for everyone. I use the Hipster PDA from 43folders.com far more than I every used any other PDA I have owned. Amazing, how effective a stack of 3x5 cards and a binder clip can be.
The comparisons between the creation content for Wikipedia, and the Open Source software development model are on the right track. However, if we make this comparison then we have to say that the Wikipedia is a very poorly run project.
If Wikipedia is Open Source software, then its public stable release is based on the current bleeding edge version in CVS, and anyone in the world can commit changes to this version. There is no Benevolent Dictator For Life, nor is there a Cabal of leadership who are trusted to review the submissions.
For Wikipedia to succeed, it must eventually apply the models open source software project management. The chaos that McHenry is noting is not appropriate for the public release of Wikipedia. Instead it should be held in the "unstable developement" release.
And yes, Wikipedia will need to modify these leadership methods to meet its specific needs. (As each OSS project has its own culture.)
In the long run I am very hopeful that this is were Wikipedia will evolve.
I use Wikipedia. I like Wikipedia. I have contributed money to Wikipedia. I think that Wikipedia has a long ways to go to become a quality reference source for readers like the Britannica.
I have used a Happy Hacking keyboard with my Mac's since the USB version shipped. (Seems like this has been about two years. Do I miss the numeric keypad? Not really, even though I do data analysis. I like the compactness of the Happy Hacking keyboard, its feel, and the fact that it is very similar to the layout of the PowerBook, including the layout of the inverted T cursor cluster with imbedded paging keys.
Yes, Safari should provide these features. In the mean time you should check out PithHelmet. PithHelmet provides just the kind of image filtering you are looking for, and is seamlessly integrated into Safari.
And be sure to check outSubEthaEdit This is the renamed Hydra. Okay, the new name is kinda funky, wouldn't MagrathaEdit have sounded better? And be sure to read the interview the the Coding Monkeys behind SubEthaEdit at O'Reilly. It is really amazing what a small group of programmers have pulled off. Give these guys another six months and they may be nearly feature competitive with BBEdit.
About a year ago, I did a rough analysis of AppleCare on the value of a PowerBook. I did a search of EBay's closed auctions for PowerBooks with and without AppleCare.
As I recall, systems that came with AppleCare sold on average for $250 more than those without. Since AppleCare if fully transferable with the machine, prospective buys place a premium on systems with AppleCare. For someone like myself who replaces my PowerBook every 2 to 2.5 years, I believe that this boost in resale value nearly pays for the AppleCare.
Plus, I have used AppleCare three times over the years. In each case, Apple overnights a shipping box. I send the system back at my connivence, and have had the repaired system returned in less than 48 hours. Apple has also been very lenient about how they define "owner abuse" and "normal wear". While I am gentle with my PowerBook, the fact is that it is my primary system and I carry it with me everywhere I go.
I see a story at osopinion about Apple's use of the Unix trademark. This has been stewing for a while, but back then it did not look like it would come to a law suit. In fact at the end of the story there is an update that indicated that Apple was getting closer to the Open Group.
Reminds me of a nut case I met at a garage sale some 10 years ago. He was scavenging ZX80 Timex Sinclair in a effort to prove that clustered computing built around very cheap systems was the wave of the future.
I also complained about how he had been an EE for IBM who was not appreciated for his genius. He was very worried that once he released his ZX80 FrankenCluster, IBM would steal it from him due to his old employment contract.
I think a whole bunch of issues went into determining Apple's price points. From a marketing stand point, I think Apple wanted to start with a very simple easy to communicate message: $.99 per track and $9.95 per CD.
Even at $.99 per track the credit card costs on a transaction are going to be high. So Apple can't really reduce the prices much.
In the future, I suspect that Apple will provide addtional payment options. Maybe they will let you prepay a certain amount on your credit card (say $25) and then provide you will access to much lower track and CD prices. Doing so will vastly reduce Apple's credit card costs. But doing this at the start would make the system sound much more complex.
So Apple starts shipping new systems in January 2003 that only boot from OS X. Previously introduced systems that Apple continues to sell will still boot OS 9. At a minimum it will take six months to a year before Apple no longer sells a system that boots OS 9.
I would not be surprised if Apple keeps an older model that can boot OS 9 in the line up until 2004.
Given titanium's heavy usage in applications like airframes where there are a wide variety of radio systems, I question that the PowerBook G4's poor reception is due this element. I suspect that Apple antenna design was poor.
Any body who is knowledgeable about Ti and antennas care to comment?
Most applications on Mac's do not require an installer. Usually, you just uncompress the archive, and drag the program to where you want it on your drive. The same is true of many commercial apps on CD. Mount the CD, and drag the program files to your hard drive. Only the Big applications and system utilities that add system extensions typically require installers. Even Microsoft's Mac programs are Drag-and-Drop to install.
(Although MS programs like Office require system extensions, the main application program such as Word will automatically check to see if these extensions are in place and if not it will install them on the fly. Even if the user deletes critical Office components, the application will repair itself.)
Basically, what everyone else has stated is true. Here are a few more suggestions:
* Most things will work out of the box, but special features may not work. (Such a most mouse wheels)
* Just like Linux, drivers not hardware are often the down problem. Sometimes you can buy third-party drivers such as USBoverdrive (for mice, joysticks, etc) or FWB Hard Disk Tool Kit (amoung other HD formaters) to access hardware that Apple does not provide native support.
* All current Mac's ship with an SVGA connector. Mac savy monitors will tell tell the system what resolutions are supported, otherwise you may need to manually force the monitor.
* All older Mac's could work with an SVGA monitor with the addition of an inexpensive Mac to VGA adaptor.
* As others have mentioned, Apple monitors are worth the price if image quality and color accuracy is important. (It maybe for your girl friends work.) Underling all of this is the MacOS's color control technologies, which are one of the big reasons that most Photoshop pro's have stuck to their Mac's.
* While the current generation of Mac's have abandoned SCSI in favor of Firewire, SCSI is extremely well supported by Mac's. We have installed Adaptec SCSI cards in all of our new G4 systems so that they can access old drives and scanners.
* When checking for Mac drivers, be sure to check the websites in addition to the info on the box. Firms often do not even print on the box that Mac drivers exist, or they try to get you to buy the more expensive box with the drivers added when you could have downloaded the drivers..
* Most Mac users buy their stuff from mail order outfits and not retailers: Connection, Warehouse, Zones, Club, Outpost, Smalldog, etc. Check out their online catalogs for an idea of what is advailable. (I recommend that you get on the Connection and Warehouse catalog mailing lists.)
* While you are waiting for MacOS X, remember there is LinuxPPC and YellowDog.
Now if you want to make your girl friend happy, dump the keyboard and the mouse. Instead get a deccent aftermarket Mac USB keyboard and mouse. Okay, a few people like the round mouse. But IMHO the round mouse is only good for kids with small hands. Oh, and multi-button mice do work with drivers. Microsoft reccently started using a version of USBoverdrive and Kensington has their own excellent mouse drivers. If your girl friend as any old ADB bus keyboards or mice that she likes, you can buy an ADB to USB adaptor.
And if you want your girl friend to be really, really happy. Buy a second cheap video card (with Mac drivers) and a cheap small monitor. The second screen is great for toolbars and secondary windows. This feature is exteremely well supported by MacOS. (Plus she will forget that you bought the cheesy non-Apple primary monitor)
Slashdot Mirror
I also remember the early Mac Web Development scene with Frontier & AppleScript which where the glue that built complex web servers using MacHTTP, 4D databases, Photoshop to process images live, etc.
Dave Winer basically invented application scripting on Macintosh when he released Userland Frontier in the late 1980's. This was before Apple's own AppleScript. He also was a key in the creation of XML-RPC and SOAP for creating web API's.
I read this as a HARD requirement for scriptablity across all applications. If all apps are able to respond to and make scripting API requests, any app would be able to be the "programming" language. Python, Sqeak, C, Photoshop, nginx, OpenOffice could all be equals.
I wonder about Dell purchasers who check back a couple hours later after placing an order, only to find they have played the Dell Pricing Roulette Wheel. Maybe the price is lower, maybe higher.
At least, I bet Apple won't raise their prices.
For those of you who don't recognize Chuck Goolsbee's name, he is well know to those of us who administer Macintosh systems. And has long been a leader of the Mac Managers mailing list. One of the best resources for professional Mac admins.
Lee Joramo
I concur. 43folders.com is an excellent website for GTD. While on the software front 43folders does have a Macintosh bent, there is plenty of good info for everyone. I use the Hipster PDA from 43folders.com far more than I every used any other PDA I have owned. Amazing, how effective a stack of 3x5 cards and a binder clip can be.
The comparisons between the creation content for Wikipedia, and the Open Source software development model are on the right track. However, if we make this comparison then we have to say that the Wikipedia is a very poorly run project.
If Wikipedia is Open Source software, then its public stable release is based on the current bleeding edge version in CVS, and anyone in the world can commit changes to this version. There is no Benevolent Dictator For Life, nor is there a Cabal of leadership who are trusted to review the submissions.
For Wikipedia to succeed, it must eventually apply the models open source software project management. The chaos that McHenry is noting is not appropriate for the public release of Wikipedia. Instead it should be held in the "unstable developement" release.
And yes, Wikipedia will need to modify these leadership methods to meet its specific needs. (As each OSS project has its own culture.)
In the long run I am very hopeful that this is were Wikipedia will evolve.
I use Wikipedia. I like Wikipedia. I have contributed money to Wikipedia. I think that Wikipedia has a long ways to go to become a quality reference source for readers like the Britannica.
I have used a Happy Hacking keyboard with my Mac's since the USB version shipped. (Seems like this has been about two years. Do I miss the numeric keypad? Not really, even though I do data analysis. I like the compactness of the Happy Hacking keyboard, its feel, and the fact that it is very similar to the layout of the PowerBook, including the layout of the inverted T cursor cluster with imbedded paging keys.
Yes, Safari should provide these features. In the mean time you should check out PithHelmet. PithHelmet provides just the kind of image filtering you are looking for, and is seamlessly integrated into Safari.
Lee Joramo
And be sure to check outSubEthaEdit This is the renamed Hydra. Okay, the new name is kinda funky, wouldn't MagrathaEdit have sounded better? And be sure to read the interview the the Coding Monkeys behind SubEthaEdit at O'Reilly. It is really amazing what a small group of programmers have pulled off. Give these guys another six months and they may be nearly feature competitive with BBEdit.
Lee Joramo
About a year ago, I did a rough analysis of AppleCare on the value of a PowerBook. I did a search of EBay's closed auctions for PowerBooks with and without AppleCare.
As I recall, systems that came with AppleCare sold on average for $250 more than those without. Since AppleCare if fully transferable with the machine, prospective buys place a premium on systems with AppleCare. For someone like myself who replaces my PowerBook every 2 to 2.5 years, I believe that this boost in resale value nearly pays for the AppleCare.
Plus, I have used AppleCare three times over the years. In each case, Apple overnights a shipping box. I send the system back at my connivence, and have had the repaired system returned in less than 48 hours. Apple has also been very lenient about how they define "owner abuse" and "normal wear". While I am gentle with my PowerBook, the fact is that it is my primary system and I carry it with me everywhere I go.
Lee
I see a story at osopinion about Apple's use of the Unix trademark. This has been stewing for a while, but back then it did not look like it would come to a law suit. In fact at the end of the story there is an update that indicated that Apple was getting closer to the Open Group.
Lee Joramo
Reminds me of a nut case I met at a garage sale some 10 years ago. He was scavenging ZX80 Timex Sinclair in a effort to prove that clustered computing built around very cheap systems was the wave of the future.
I also complained about how he had been an EE for IBM who was not appreciated for his genius. He was very worried that once he released his ZX80 FrankenCluster, IBM would steal it from him due to his old employment contract.
Lee Joramo
I think a whole bunch of issues went into determining Apple's price points. From a marketing stand point, I think Apple wanted to start with a very simple easy to communicate message: $.99 per track and $9.95 per CD.
Even at $.99 per track the credit card costs on a transaction are going to be high. So Apple can't really reduce the prices much.
In the future, I suspect that Apple will provide addtional payment options. Maybe they will let you prepay a certain amount on your credit card (say $25) and then provide you will access to much lower track and CD prices. Doing so will vastly reduce Apple's credit card costs. But doing this at the start would make the system sound much more complex.
Lee Joramo
So Apple starts shipping new systems in January 2003 that only boot from OS X. Previously introduced systems that Apple continues to sell will still boot OS 9. At a minimum it will take six months to a year before Apple no longer sells a system that boots OS 9.
I would not be surprised if Apple keeps an older model that can boot OS 9 in the line up until 2004.
Lee Joramo
Any body who is knowledgeable about Ti and antennas care to comment?
Lee Joramo
Lee Joramo
More specifically, Chicago was designed for use on 1bit (black & white) screens. Exactly the type of screen that is on the iPod.
Lee Joramo
Most applications on Mac's do not require an installer. Usually, you just uncompress the archive, and drag the program to where you want it on your drive. The same is true of many commercial apps on CD. Mount the CD, and drag the program files to your hard drive. Only the Big applications and system utilities that add system extensions typically require installers. Even Microsoft's Mac programs are Drag-and-Drop to install.
(Although MS programs like Office require system extensions, the main application program such as Word will automatically check to see if these extensions are in place and if not it will install them on the fly. Even if the user deletes critical Office components, the application will repair itself.)
Lee Joramo
Basically, what everyone else has stated is true. Here are a few more suggestions:
* Most things will work out of the box, but special features may not work. (Such a most mouse wheels)
* Just like Linux, drivers not hardware are often the down problem. Sometimes you can buy third-party drivers such as USBoverdrive (for mice, joysticks, etc) or FWB Hard Disk Tool Kit (amoung other HD formaters) to access hardware that Apple does not provide native support.
* All current Mac's ship with an SVGA connector. Mac savy monitors will tell tell the system what resolutions are supported, otherwise you may need to manually force the monitor.
* All older Mac's could work with an SVGA monitor with the addition of an inexpensive Mac to VGA adaptor.
* As others have mentioned, Apple monitors are worth the price if image quality and color accuracy is important. (It maybe for your girl friends work.) Underling all of this is the MacOS's color control technologies, which are one of the big reasons that most Photoshop pro's have stuck to their Mac's.
* While the current generation of Mac's have abandoned SCSI in favor of Firewire, SCSI is extremely well supported by Mac's. We have installed Adaptec SCSI cards in all of our new G4 systems so that they can access old drives and scanners.
* When checking for Mac drivers, be sure to check the websites in addition to the info on the box. Firms often do not even print on the box that Mac drivers exist, or they try to get you to buy the more expensive box with the drivers added when you could have downloaded the drivers..
* Most Mac users buy their stuff from mail order outfits and not retailers: Connection, Warehouse, Zones, Club, Outpost, Smalldog, etc. Check out their online catalogs for an idea of what is advailable. (I recommend that you get on the Connection and Warehouse catalog mailing lists.)
* While you are waiting for MacOS X, remember there is LinuxPPC and YellowDog.
Now if you want to make your girl friend happy, dump the keyboard and the mouse. Instead get a deccent aftermarket Mac USB keyboard and mouse. Okay, a few people like the round mouse. But IMHO the round mouse is only good for kids with small hands. Oh, and multi-button mice do work with drivers. Microsoft reccently started using a version of USBoverdrive and Kensington has their own excellent mouse drivers. If your girl friend as any old ADB bus keyboards or mice that she likes, you can buy an ADB to USB adaptor.
And if you want your girl friend to be really, really happy. Buy a second cheap video card (with Mac drivers) and a cheap small monitor. The second screen is great for toolbars and secondary windows. This feature is exteremely well supported by MacOS. (Plus she will forget that you bought the cheesy non-Apple primary monitor)