tech: How Many Mudcatters using MACs?

Subject: RE: tech: How Many Mudcatters using MACs?
From: Amos
Date: 12 Nov 07 - 03:28 PM

The alternative to Parallels is VMware Fusion. It is very similar, and some folks prefer it and some prefer Parallels. BBW says she likes Fusion more, likes the interface better, and believes it uses less system resources.

It can be found at Version Tracker, a site you should have bookmarked which keeps you up on versions and capabilities for hundreds of different software packages.

A

Subject: RE: tech: How Many Mudcatters using MACs?
From: Bonnie Shaljean
Date: 12 Nov 07 - 03:01 PM

Don't be put off - they're simply names for assorted programmes. Safari's the web browser; Tiger (older) and Leopard (newer) are consecutive versions of the operating system; you're only going to need BootCamp (as in boot-up) and Parallels - which do slightly different things - if you want to run Windows and Mac on the same physical machine. (Don't know what 'proprietary altered Java' is though, having not come across it.)

They're no harder to use than any other applications doing the same jobs -

BTW, the email programme has the staggeringly outrageous name of "Mail"!

Subject: RE: tech: How Many Mudcatters using MACs?
From: number 6
Date: 12 Nov 07 - 02:22 PM

Bootcamp ????

I think I'd stay away from any software with that name regardless if it's a PC, Mac, iSeries or whatever platform one chooses to use.

biLL

Subject: RE: tech: How Many Mudcatters using MACs?
From: number 6
Date: 12 Nov 07 - 02:15 PM

Tiger, Parallels, Bootcamp, Leopard, "proprietary altered Java", safari ..... whew!

I thought Macs where supposed to be user friendly, much simpler to use ?!?!?!

biLL :)

Subject: RE: tech: How Many Mudcatters using MACs?
From: GUEST,JTT
Date: 12 Nov 07 - 01:01 PM

Amos, have to disagree - when i have website problems I switch from Firefox (my normal browser) to Safari and then Internet Explorer, but nope, the problems persist.

By the way, I wouldn't bother with a .mac account. I had one, which I used for all my work email - then I discovered that I was losing freelance jobs because I wasn't getting mail, randomly.

I contacted the .mac support crew and they said this was a known issue, and asked me to tell them when I didn't get a mail.

Doh!

I told them that I wasn't, unfortunately, telepathic (and if I were, I wouldn't need email anyway), and therefore couldn't tell them if I *hadn't* got a mail, only if I had!

They didn't appear able to help, so since the account had cost me something like 130 euro for a year, I let it go. Don't know if they've fixed the problem, but I wouldn't trust .mac mail again.

Subject: RE: tech: How Many Mudcatters using MACs?
From: Amos
Date: 12 Nov 07 - 12:35 PM

Bonnie:

I think you can decline the updates from MS, and you can even turn off the automatic check for updates, doing it manually when you feel like it instead.

JTT:

The issue with almost ALL websites that are Windows-biased is not the Mac, but the browser. Firefox tends to do better in this regard than Safari. For extreme measures I keep a copy of Internet Explorer available, just in case, but hardly ever have to call on it. I believe this traces to the market-grab M$oft built using their proprietary altered Java set instead of the universal Java standard from Sun, but I could be wrong there. But as more and more people discover the delights of the Mac this happens less and less often.
And web designed can easily work around this problem and more and more of them take the trouble to do so.

A

Subject: RE: tech: How Many Mudcatters using MACs?
From: Janie
Date: 12 Nov 07 - 11:59 AM

They know who you are, and they saw what you did. MMWHahahahahha....

For the time being, think I will stick with running two computers. Better to change brain partitions for this technologically challenged ditz.

Subject: RE: tech: How Many Mudcatters using MACs?
From: Bonnie Shaljean
Date: 12 Nov 07 - 11:38 AM

Yeaaaaggghhhhh!! Just as I posted this - using Apple's Safari - Microsoft burst onto my screen and installed an update to my Office programme (which I have a Mac version of). They're after me... they know I'm here... there's no place to hide...

;-}

Subject: RE: tech: How Many Mudcatters using MACs?
From: Bonnie Shaljean
Date: 12 Nov 07 - 11:23 AM

No - BootCamp (at least in Tiger: don't know what the story in Leopard is) is the facility that allows the disc partitioning. AND it was only ever beta software in that version - you should read some of the horror stories in the blogs! When it went wrong, it went wrong bigtime.

In any case, Apple have now withdrawn the BootCamp download for Tiger (I assume it's attained Alpha status in Leopard). Theoretically the Tiger user can partition the hard drive him/herself (that's what they told me in the shop) but in reality there are no firm instructions and it's not clear at all, and being such a newbie I was worried about screwing something up; and - get this - even the HELPLINE couldn't do it! I finally took the puter back to the shop and got them to partition the HD for me and install the Windows OS. (It means wiping everything on the drive, but at that stage I didn't have anything on there to wipe.)

It now works fine, but I find I need faster & more direct switchover, which is what Parallels is supposed to be about - though the paranoid in me is a little worried that access to Windows is also access to their security problems. I only use the internet in Apple (via both Safari and Firefox, who get along beautifully) so am hoping that cyber baddies won't sneak in my Windows somehow. (Like with those macros that can lurk in Word documents - ??)

But for Leopard users, I think BootCamp may well be just the thing -

Subject: RE: tech: How Many Mudcatters using MACs?
From: Janie
Date: 12 Nov 07 - 11:03 AM

Is it Bootcamp? The alternative to Parallels?

Subject: RE: tech: How Many Mudcatters using MACs?
From: Bonnie Shaljean
Date: 12 Nov 07 - 10:24 AM

Marc, what music programme are you using?

Subject: RE: tech: How Many Mudcatters using MACs?
From: Amos
Date: 12 Nov 07 - 10:07 AM

Parallels works very well. There is also an alternative, which BBW uses, but I have forgotten its name. Will advise later.


A

Subject: RE: tech: How Many Mudcatters using MACs?
From: Marc Bernier
Date: 12 Nov 07 - 09:23 AM

I'v been a Mac user for 15 or so years. My wife, a professional librarian and sworn PC user. I don't understand these things first of all, I'm a folk musician anything I plug in worries me. I use the computer to check email read mudcat and write music. Thats right, I write music with dots and lines and everything.

I'v been happy with the mac all along but not my wife. We recently needed to by a new computer to replace my 10 or 11 year old blue IMAC, and she convinced me that if we bought a PC she cold help me do bussiness things on it as she understood Windows better than Appleworks.

We now own a Dell with Windows Vista for an OS and my music writing program runs like shit. Having called tech support I'm told windows Vista is here and it's so new no ones figured out how to make anything run on it.

I'm presently making room in my office to set up my old IMAC so I can write with that. And now I have this not so cheap PC to check email and read mudcat.

Macs are better. Though I don't know why.

Subject: RE: tech: How Many Mudcatters using MACs?
From: Bonnie Shaljean
Date: 12 Nov 07 - 07:45 AM

Amos thanks so much for all that helpful info - I have just downloaded trial versions of iKey and Keyboard Maestro (haven't tried them yet) but even if they don't solve the forward-delete problem, more keyboard shortcuts are always of interest to me because I'm used to them and have grown rather dependent on them (especially in editing music software where you have to operate a music keyboard at the same time as the QWERTY, and having to stop and mouse things is a real hassle). I tend to have no idea what extras are available for Macs, what's good and what's not, so thanks for the heads-up. It must be great to have your own resident Genius Bar! (Wish they had those here... *sigh*)

Does anyone have any experience or feedback about Parallels (sometimes called Parallel Desktop)? It's an independent programme that allows you to switch back and forth between Mac and XP with ease. The way I have to do it now is via reboot, which works fine but is still a time-consuming interruption. I gather that the new OS Leopard has some built-in form of this facility, but Tiger (which I use) doesn't. And I'm finding I really need it: as JTT says, the printer drivers leave a LOT to be desired!

This means I have to be able to toggle back & forth between the two OS's because I'm obliged to print in Windows - the Mac side won't do many of the things I need, and it seems to be a driver thing, not a programme thing. (Been to the HP site and downloaded the latest relevant driver, which they still support - but now I don't know what to DO with the damn thing! Have tried dragging it to all the usual haunts, but to no avail, unless there's some basic installation step that I'm missing -?)

Anyway, any feedback about Parallels - or whatever else is around - would be of great interest to me. I'm probably always going to need some Microsoft capability: I tend to think of Apple as my new friend and Windows as my old friend (albeit a sometimes dysfunctional relationship, but a relationship none the less).

As a user, I actually find XP perfectly easy, clear and friendly. The things I hate about M$ are the same things everyone hates - the juicy come-&-get-it opportunities for every type of hacker, the intrusiveness into your private space, the manipulative market-domination tactics (such as your old applications ceasing to work on their latest OS so you have to upgrade or buy new ones). I paid out good money for Front Page not that long ago, only to find They won't support it anymore - yes, it'll still work, but who wants to invest time & effort in built-in obsolescence? This sort of thing is what makes me distrust them, but for ease and clarity of use their XP is fine.

I'm very glad to have bitten into the Apple, but for me it does need to work in harmony with my PC self. Hence my interest in Parallels -

Once again, thanks so much!

Bonnie

Subject: RE: tech: How Many Mudcatters using MACs?
From: number 6
Date: 11 Nov 07 - 11:02 PM

Well Amos ... that's why I wasn't impressed with their idea of a substitute over Picassa2 ... as I mentioned, I use Picassa2 as an editor (more so than PhotoShop these days). I like Picassa2 as an editor. I especially like what it delivers in my photo editing. Picassa 2 is not compatible with the Mac. I don't use Picassa2 as a 'photobook'.

biLL

Subject: RE: tech: How Many Mudcatters using MACs?
From: Amos
Date: 11 Nov 07 - 10:54 PM

iPhto is not a Phto editor, mate. Use Phtoshop or any number of others for tweaking them. iPhoto is for managing, making slide shows, or photobooks out of.


A

Subject: RE: tech: How Many Mudcatters using MACs?
From: number 6
Date: 11 Nov 07 - 10:26 PM

I should add ... about 2 years ago Picassa2 was (enthusiastically) recommended as a photo editor at the local photo equipment/imaging shop I frequent ... the same place that 2 years later they were trying sell me (and almost did) the Mac.

biLL

Subject: RE: tech: How Many Mudcatters using MACs?
From: number 6
Date: 11 Nov 07 - 10:16 PM

when I was looking into the Mac ... I was told Picassa2 wasn't compatible with the Mac ...... that iPhoto was pretty good ... well, I wasn't impressed with what I saw in the demo of iPhoto ... actually was rather shocked since I assumed the Mac would deliver a much superior product when it came to 'photo software'. BTW, I use Picassa2 almost exclusively as my photo editor .... more so than PhotoShop. It's a matter of personal preference.

I agree Janie ... flickr is pretty good.

biLL

Subject: RE: tech: How Many Mudcatters using MACs?
From: GUEST,Bob Ryszkiewicz
Date: 11 Nov 07 - 10:01 PM

Janie: I suggest you use this: http://www.apple.com/startpage/ when you first open your computer. It will keep you informed as to all things Mac...You can try out .mac from there...

bob

Subject: RE: tech: How Many Mudcatters using MACs?
From: Janie
Date: 11 Nov 07 - 09:44 PM

A .mac account might be nice to have, but it would have been good to know up front that iPhoto will not let you upload to anything but .mac. I paid the $24 bucks for another year of the Flickr pro, which had expired since the last time I had uploaded anything, downloaded the Flickr uploader onto this new computer, and then spent an hour and a half trying to figure out why I couldn't get the pics from iPhoto into the uploader.   I thought I was doing something wrong that I couldn't get the pictures to transfer from iPhoto to the Flickr uploader, and was wondering why I couldn't locate anything in the tutorials to help me out. Finally went on-line to research and that is when I read, on a non-apple site, that I was going to have to spend another $24 bucks for the plug-in (not an Apple product). Now I'm wondering if other of the MAC programs also limit their functionality outside of an Apple business unless I buy another piece of software or subscribe to .mac.

Had I known upfront it was going to cost me $48 bucks to upload 18 pictures, maybe I would have subscribed to .mac to begin with. But I didn't, and iPhoto sure didn't let me know. This kind of thing is simply something that, as a PC user, I was unaware of. I haven't checkout .mac yet - don't know what it does or what it costs. I just know I have been happy with Flickr.

Janie

Subject: RE: tech: How Many Mudcatters using MACs?
From: GUEST,Frank Lee
Date: 11 Nov 07 - 08:55 PM

I just up-graded to one of the new 'Bang & Olufsen' iMacs and find it wonderful. I know so little about them that I'm not really qualified to find it wonderful, but I do! It's a sad sign of the public's reluctance to adopt Macs that I could find very few outlets here in the far North of England, apart from the usual PC World. When I did locate a small unit on an industrial estate at Consett, the 'Man' was out; he was installing extra memory on an iMac for an 87 year-old in Morpeth, who apparently claims he can't understand how he ever managed without it.
My ignorance being profound, and lacking a teenage family to keep resuscitating my PC, the only reason it still exists is that laziness overrides my exasperation, so as yet I've not made the impetuous trip to my workshop for a lump hammer!
On second thoughts it'll get a more dignified funeral - a teacher I knew once dropped a cathode ray tube (computer monitor) - his nickname was 'Crater Face'!!!!!
Frank

Subject: RE: tech: How Many Mudcatters using MACs?
From: GUEST,JTT
Date: 11 Nov 07 - 08:28 PM

I use a Mac and much prefer it, but it does have disadvantages.

One is the lack of standard keyboard shortcuts for menu items across apps - on a PC, you can always hold down Alt-F and drop down the File menu, Alt-E for the Edit menu, and so on, and then go on from there to use the functions within that menu.

Another is that websites - mainly civil service websites or company websites for things like getting paid for work - often won't work well with Macs, and the people in charge of those functions are usually ordinary people using bought-in programs, and so can't change the programs, even if they should be expected to, which is another question.

And printer drivers for Macs are almost universally crap. Unless you buy Apple printers (too expensive), you're stuck with somethng like a HP. On a PC, it will have options like "Print selection"; on a Mac, you can usually only print the whole document or specific pages by number - which, on websites, is a matter of guesswork.

Also, printers often won't work with specific programs. I can't print from Adobe Acrobat, for instance; to print a PDF I have to open it in Preview and hope for the best - again, with the very limited driver not helping.

Subject: RE: tech: How Many Mudcatters using MACs?
From: Folknacious
Date: 11 Nov 07 - 07:11 PM

I was at a festival this summer and staying at the same hotel as many of the performers. They had the lobby rigged up as a wireless zone, so every morning it was full of musicians doing their emails, Skype calls etc. Every single one had a Mac laptop, not a PC to be seen. Seems to be the machine of choice among creatives.

It's funny reading the early part of this thread from 1999 when everybody was predicting the imminent death of Apple. Now it's just about the most successful and fastest growing individual computer manufacturer out there, according to a newspaper report I read this week. And through computer sales, not simply because of iPods and iPhones.

I just bought my mum, aged 85, an entry-level iMac. Some dealers still have stocks of the previous model white 17" ones that were superceded only a couple of months ago, they're a real bargain right now. She's thrilled to bits with it after years of struggling with a PC, Windows, viruses etc. She can't believe how much easier it is to use and how much more reliable it is.

Subject: RE: tech: How Many Mudcatters using MACs?
From: Rowan
Date: 11 Nov 07 - 05:48 PM

The place where I work has a reasonable firewall and provides site-licensed McAfee Viruscan for Mac to Mac users. I haven't heard of any invasions.

Cheers, Rowan

Subject: RE: tech: How Many Mudcatters using MACs?
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 11 Nov 07 - 05:30 PM

How can you tell so accurately, Richard?

:D

Subject: RE: tech: How Many Mudcatters using MACs?
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 11 Nov 07 - 05:28 PM

100

Subject: RE: tech: How Many Mudcatters using MACs?
From: Amos
Date: 11 Nov 07 - 05:23 PM

Janie:

See this post on the Getaway thread.

Snogs,


A

Subject: RE: tech: How Many Mudcatters using MACs?
From: Crowdercref
Date: 11 Nov 07 - 05:15 PM

As far as I'm aware apart from 'technology demonstrations' of how Macs might be infected, it just hasn't happened - yet! Still, INTEGO VirusBarrier or Norton Antivirus would be prudent.

BTW the last MAC 'virus scare' was about an infection that could (theoreticaly ) be spread whilst doing file transfers as part of iChat video conferencing. Not something that happens every day.

Off topic - iChat is still my software of choice for videoconferencing.

oll an gwella,

Crowdercref

(PPC 7600 - sound recording, iMac G4 - publishing, iMac Intel - domestic, MacBook Intel -    research/library)

Subject: RE: tech: How Many Mudcatters using MACs?
From: number 6
Date: 11 Nov 07 - 03:29 PM

Hmmmmmmmm.




Interesting. :)


biLL

Subject: RE: tech: How Many Mudcatters using MACs?
From: Janie
Date: 11 Nov 07 - 02:44 PM

Hmmm...had to buy and download a plug-in to do it.

Subject: RE: tech: How Many Mudcatters using MACs?
From: Janie
Date: 11 Nov 07 - 11:50 AM

I'm finding the learning curve a bit steeper than I had anticipated. Right now, I'm trying to figure out how to upload my Getaway pictures from iPhoto to the Flickr uploader and am pretty darn frustrated.

Back to the tutorial *sigh*

Subject: RE: tech: How Many Mudcatters using MACs?
From: GUEST,frank lee
Date: 11 Nov 07 - 11:22 AM

Reply to Tim - off topic!

Well, I make rapper swords, and I squeeze what's arguably music from a box, but 'Great'????? -- first I've heard of it, but thanks for the encouragement!!!

Frank.

Subject: RE: tech: How Many Mudcatters using MACs?
From: Amos
Date: 11 Nov 07 - 10:55 AM

Bonnie:

She says:

"1) No, in 14 years I have never known anyone on an Mac to catch a
virus, except an extremely rare (like once ever ten years) Word Macro
virus, easily conquered.

2) ClamAV doesn't get updated often enough or cover enough of the
territory to matter. Ignore it.

3) if you really want anti-virus software for the Mac, try Virus
Barrier from Intego, though I've never heard of anyone every having
caught a virus using it (but no one NOT using it has caught a virus
either). This is not just me. This is me, as an active member of
lists populated by literally thousands of Mac users over more than a
decade.

4) As for forward delete, I gather that it doesn't work one-key on a
PowerBook, but on my full-size keyboard it has a one-key
forward-delete.

On my old iBook I have to use Function-Delete. There are a number of
keyboard-mapping third-party programs such as iKey and
KeyboardMaestro that might solve this for her. But I don't know for
sure.

That's all."

Subject: RE: tech: How Many Mudcatters using MACs?
From: Bonnie Shaljean
Date: 11 Nov 07 - 05:39 AM

Well, I love the new iMac desktop I have at school, and the laptops are also gorgeous (apart from my niggle about the forward-delete key, not a problem on the desktop models).

One thing to consider: They have just changed operating systems from "Tiger" to "Leopard" (still part of the OS X platform) and - as always with anything new - there are still some bugs to be squished out of it. The local puter shop advised me to stay with Tiger and wait until Leopard's teething problems have been sorted, a decision I don't regret. Anyway, you can always upgrade your OS later (something that seems to be hassley/impossible on PC's from what I hear - never tried it).

So, my tuppence-worth is: iMac if you want a desktop, MacBook if you want a laptop, and stay with Tiger for the moment. (Nothing like the enthusiasm of a new convert, is there...)

Subject: RE: tech: How Many Mudcatters using MACs?
From: sharyn
Date: 11 Nov 07 - 12:07 AM

I'm using an old iMac Sapphire -- perfect until Earthlink changed their outgoing servers and rendered my browsers (all of them) obsolete -- now I can only receive email -- can't answer it. I am wondering what to buy next -- I know it will be a Mac of some kind (I can't abide PCs with all of their commands and codes -- Macs are more language driven, I think, so people who like English grammar and syntax like them -- you don't have to remember that F10 does this and F 13 does that so you have more brain cells for lyrics and tunes!) Thread creep warning: if y'all know what Mac I should buy next, PM me please.

Sharyn

Subject: RE: tech: How Many Mudcatters using MACs?
From: Amos
Date: 10 Nov 07 - 07:26 PM

Bonnie:

LEt me consult with the local Mac Goddess -- to whom I have the pleasure of a marital connection -- and see what the scoop may be on your question.


A

Subject: RE: tech: How Many Mudcatters using MACs?
From: GUEST,William Pint
Date: 10 Nov 07 - 07:10 PM

Mac all the way! A MacBook Pro and an iBook G4 -- they're wonderful

And if you're a Windows person being envious of a Mac -- just be patient - wait a few years and Windows will come up with another 'fabulous new innovation' that will make it... a lot more like a Mac.

Subject: RE: tech: How Many Mudcatters using MACs?
From: Bonnie Shaljean
Date: 10 Nov 07 - 08:48 AM

I've just bought a Macbook and partitioned the disc so I have Mac's OSX (Tiger 10.4.10) on one side and Windows XP on the other. I like both of them for different reasons, but would NOT want to totally abandon my PC capabilities: I have about 12 years' worth of work invested in Micro$oftware and though my programmes are compatible there are some differences in the way you use them, and I don't want to change my methods or re-organise everything. I also burn back-up CD-RWs a lot, filling them up bit by bit until they're full, and I find doing it in Windows MUCH easier. There are a few other issues like this, so I wouldn't ever make a total switch.

The obvious big advantage is internet security, but I have a question about malware. I realise that viruses for the Mac do exist, but haven't heard much real feedback about protecting yourself from them. I know you can buy anti-virus software but I don't feel like going down that road anymore, and the excellent AVG freeware doesn't run on Macs. (Mailwasher spamzapper doesn't either, alas, even if you want to pay for a pro version - they're not going to support their existing one anymore.) So after a trawl around the net I came up with a free Mac AV download (plus a couple of other useful-sounding sites, clickies below) and my question is simply: Does anyone have any experience of this freeware? How well does it work, and does it cause any annoying glitches. (Having just got away from all that...)

Also, does any Mac user here know of anyone who has actually contracted a virus/trojan/worm/whatever? From what I can see of its architecture, it seems fairly difficult to just "catch" - you pretty much have to inject yourself with it. Or am I wrong about this?

As a newbie Apple-immigrant, any feedback from anyone will be most gratefully read. Clickies are as follows:

(FREE DOWNLOAD) http://www.pure-mac.com/virus.html

http://www.macvirus.org

http://www.smallblue-greenworld.co.uk/pages/macintosh.html

Many thanks, Bonnie

PS: One thing I HATE (because I edit music score-writing files a lot) is that the Macbook, in every other respect a gorgeous compact laptop, doesn't have a key for forward-deleting. You have to hold down the Function key (lower left on keyboard) while you press the Backward-delete key (upper right on keyboard) which means using two hands, AAARRRGGGGHH. Even if you have Sticky Keys enabled, it's still a cross-keyboard journey. They could at least couple the Function key with the Tab key or something nearer so you could press both at once. Or else make the manual disc-eject operate by some other means - it uses up a whole full-sized key when it needn't. Grrrrrr...   (But, otherwise, purrrrrr...)

Subject: RE: tech: How Many Mudcatters using MACs?
From: Folkiedave
Date: 09 Nov 07 - 02:21 AM

I worked in a college that had both including about 500 Macintoshes. I asked the technicians - there was only one possible answer they said - so my latest computer is a MAC notebook. It's magic.

Remember the (probably apocryphal) story of the Microsoft executive who said "Windows 95 is equal to MAC 88".

Subject: RE: tech: How Many Mudcatters using MACs?
From: elfcape
Date: 09 Nov 07 - 12:36 AM

Mac user since 1994. Used DOS before that. I use keyboard commands by preference and there is very little software for the Mac that doesn't support them fully. Even Word, which is pretty grim as software goes, supports customized keyboard commands.

In addition, I have no use for mice and had a 4 button trackball for even my first Mac, in 1994.

Although I have installed RAM and hard drives in my Macs at one or another time, I can't imagine actively wanting to do those types of things instead of processing images or creating art work. Even getting to my end-of-year P&L is as simple on the Mac as it was way back when Intuit ported Quicken to the PC. And I listen to music all day long on my Mac - listening to Travelling Folk right now, in fact.

Apple is not going out of business at this point. Its stock is in excellent condition, its primary product (the iPod) has no competition and a good profit margin, Jobs got into the hand-held multipurpose computing device with extreme finesse well ahead of the rest of the market, and with the transition to the Intel chip, more and more people are figuring out that they don't have to be stuck with a PC and all its malware 100% of their computer using life. Macs are competitive in price to PCs and their value holds for many years, they don't require continual anti-malware maintenance yet which makes them considerably safer for the ever-widening group of users who will always only use computers by rote.

Currently I'm using a Titanium Powerbook (G4) which is 8 years old, still runs the most current version of the Mac OS, has built-in wireless and microphone and drives an external keyboard, external monitor, external hard drive and burns DVDs. It was an off-the-shelf product when it was first manufactured, did not require any upgrading except of RAM, and has a resale value of $600 at present.

I have never had my browser hijacked by a porn site, receive very little spam and spend no time dealing with computer diseases. I do not have to hunt around in My Computer for my camera's flash cards when I insert them into my card reader, and can control what my computer does with other media when I insert them.

And, if it were my style I could run UNIX on my Mac from its command line interface.

Subject: RE: tech: How Many Mudcatters using MACs?
From: Amos
Date: 08 Nov 07 - 11:02 PM

The old battle cry for Mac users was "would you rather be working on your computer, or using your computer to do work?"

I think that is less true now -- the Windows environment has caught up with the basics of the Mac circa 1994. But I am still strongly inclined toward OS X.


A

Subject: RE: tech: How Many Mudcatters using MACs?
From: number 6
Date: 08 Nov 07 - 11:01 PM

"I am interested in them only as tools."

You hit it right on there in that statement janie .... the bottom line is what tool you find more comfortable in delivering the result you are looking for.

I do find these comments interesting and informative.

biLL

Subject: RE: tech: How Many Mudcatters using MACs?
From: Janie
Date: 08 Nov 07 - 10:50 PM

The youngin', obviously, has been using a PC at home and the Macs at school. He generally prefers the Mac, but not strongly.

Regarding advertising, I haven't had a TV hooked up to anything but a VCR or DVD for more than 30 years, and the radio dial stays on NPR. I'm not exposed to much advertising. (Some thread drift - about the only time I see television is when I go see my parents, three or four times a year. At their house, it is ALL TELEVISION, ALL THE TIME.    I often find myself agape at both the products and contents of the ads. They strike me as really quite bizarre. I am also stunned that one can have 50 channels and most of the time, find nothing worth watching.) My interest in the Mac stemmed from a combination of word of mouth and my son's liking them.

As far as computers and technology go, I have no interest or understanding at all about how they work or why they work. I am interested in them only as tools.

Janie

Subject: RE: tech: How Many Mudcatters using MACs?
From: number 6
Date: 08 Nov 07 - 10:43 PM

I haven't had any viruses on on our 2 home pc's for 3 years. The firewall and virus programs I use are both freeware. We use Mozilla firefox exclusively and have no issues regarding 'freeze up's" or whatever. In fact no issues regarding any of the software we use.

Granted, my line of work is IT related and that helps somewhat, as I do maintain and tweek regularly to ensure everything is fine tuned and working smoothly .. you do have a valid point there Amos ... the Mac is more beneficial for the average non-IT user.

As for speed .... how fast do we want to go ??

biLL

Subject: RE: tech: How Many Mudcatters using MACs?
From: Rowan
Date: 08 Nov 07 - 10:39 PM

Use the "Shut down" from the Apple menu (top left corner of the screen) or hold the "On" button down for 3+ seconds, Janie. And, if you want to use Windoze (installed alongside OSX in Bootcamp mode), when you start up, hold down the Option key (called the Alt key by Windoze users) as soon as you hear the Mac chord; you then are given the choice of operating systems.

Cheers, Rowan

Subject: RE: tech: How Many Mudcatters using MACs?
From: Janie
Date: 08 Nov 07 - 10:07 PM

The Mac is an added member of the 'family.' The Dell E600 I have been using is in the shop because the graphics card went bad. While it is there, the guy is going to 'tune' it up, clean up the registry, etc., and then I'll put it back into service. Time will tell which one I end up using the most.   I am hoping it proves more durable than my Dell's have been, and that i don't spend as much time 'errorreporting" to Apple as it seems I have to do to microsoft. I was about ready to make the "error Reporting" box my home page. We have been needing an additional computer, so I decided to give Mac a whirl.

I haven't had a lot of time to play with this Mac, but so far I like it. It does seem a bit more intuitive, and I really like that it takes up so little space. It is, however going to take some getting used to. Fortunately, my son's school uses Macs, and so he has been able to show me how to do some stuff.....like how to turn the damned thing off, for instance.

Janie

Subject: RE: tech: How Many Mudcatters using MACs?
From: Amos
Date: 08 Nov 07 - 09:38 PM

IT's not just the advertising. You get the better, more integrated arvchitecture of a ground-up UNIX-based OS design. You get speed and a fun user interface that makes your work easy.

I use a Windows machine at work and I have no beefs with it, but that's largely because we have a five-man full-time IT staff ensuring all the links and connections are maintained.

Giok's point is superficial. There are fewer Mac viruses out there AND they are harder to implement. One reason being that most hack-heads grew up tweaking Wintel registries.

I haven't had a virus appear once in 20 years of using Macs.

But on my Windoes exposures I have several times.

Go figger.


A

Subject: RE: tech: How Many Mudcatters using MACs?
From: number 6
Date: 08 Nov 07 - 08:08 PM

Hmmmmm.

Well, anyway for me I still think the HP notebook PC was the best purchase ... for me anyway. BTW, I think it could match the Mac in the quality department (components, chassis and shell). Both platforms have been manufactured at various sites across the orient. But the Mac (as mentioned) certainly beats it in looks.

As for processing ... all I use it for is mainly photo work (quite a lot of foto work) and some recording. Niether are for business means ... which means speed is not of the essential. As I previously stated, I feel the quality of output from my PC is equal to the Mac. Tools I use are Photoshop, Picassa2 for photowork and Record Producer for recording.

As I also mentioned, the PC has come a long way in the last year or two in the way of sound processing, graphics and video. Up until recently the Mac would have been the route to go in regards to those 3 categories. Mac advertising as of late has been impressive. In fact this is what made me almost consider purchasing one. But, underneath it all it is advertising, some validity to it, some not. Take what you want out of it.

As for virus protection ... Giok pretty well explains it it all.

Janie ... your point I can agree with (very good it is) ... if I had to purchase the complete suite of MS works/office I might have reconsidered.

Overall ... I respect and appreciate each ones opinion ... I'm a Red Sox fan, some are Yankee fans.

biLL

Subject: RE: tech: How Many Mudcatters using MACs?
From: RTim
Date: 08 Nov 07 - 08:01 PM

Having been once upon a time an IBM man (for work if that is - all we were allowed to use) - Now being a Mac user, they are wonderful!!! No real hassles.

Tim Radford

ps - Is that Frank Lee the great, great Sword Musician?

Subject: RE: tech: How Many Mudcatters using MACs?
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 08 Nov 07 - 07:52 PM

Macbook... macs are so pretty and practical..why would anyone want to use a pc??

They (at least the PCs I buy) are cheap, reliable, do what I want and offer me a good choice of hardware (including the maker of PC, motherboard, etc.).

While I would quite like an older (pre OS/X) Mac to play with as an item of personal interest/curiosity, etc. from my personal perspective and usage, I fear that with the Mac, I would be making hardware commitments as well as at least potential (not sure how it works with Macs but I know my preferred Linux will run) software commitments I don't want to make.

In a sense, going for a Mac instead of a PC would seem to be going against my sort of "personal bid for computer freedom".

That aside, I can imagine a new Mac being a good choice for others.

----
good news re the Dt, Dick

---
Oh and on Price, Janie, I suppose it's what your into /can/are prepared to work out how to do, etc. but my way suits me. Price wise, I suppose these days I'd spend about £200 on a PC base unit.

Last one (as I wanted an extra one in the living room for mythtv - record and distribute tv to other PCs in the house) was a "barebones" - £129+Vat for a 64bit AMD2 3800 system with 1GB ram. Just had to add hard disk and (existing) DVD drive. (Oh plus I added 2 tv cards, one a dual tuner so I can record 3 programs at the same time on that box - that did bump my costs for that box up a bit). Software costs for entire project £0.