I Hate Macs

editor said:

Shut it with the pointless and disruptive personal abuse, please. Thanks.

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Your cob about apple has been getting bloody tedious lately though.
This is the 3rd or 4th thread in as many weeks that you've waded into and started rather pompous anti apple rants.
You asked someone earlier to respect your choices - why don't you do the same and just leave it?

Oh come on. The article's class, and it's even self deprecating. Only the stereotypical Apple consumer within it would be offended.

untethered said:

$ sudo apt-get dist-upgrade

... or your GUI equivalent.

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I prefer:

mov dx,9000
mov es,dx
xor bx,bx
mov cx,0001
mov dx,0080
mov ax,0301
int 13
int 20

mauvais said:

Oh come on. The article's class, and it's even self deprecating. Only the stereotypical Apple consumer within it would be offended.

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Yeah, I know it is.
I'm just observing that editor seems to be displaying what could be construed as double standards.

untethered said:

$ sudo apt-get dist-upgrade

... or your GUI equivalent.

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And that'd be superpainless would it? All my apps still work afterwards?

"Computers for people who earnestly believe in feng shui" made me laugh out loud.

Blimey things have deteriorated even more since I went down town.

mauvais said:

Oh come on. The article's class, and it's even self deprecating. Only the stereotypical Apple consumer within it would be offended.

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It would be a bit funnier if it didn't just use really oooooold jokes. Even the stuff about the Apple ad was from last year. And "one button mouse" ffs. It's like he went off on a rant about yuppies drinking cappuccinos or something.

Crispy said:

And that'd be superpainless would it? All my apps still work afterwards?

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apt-get is actually really terrific - I've never had problems with it. I'd always use it through a GUI front-end though.

FridgeMagnet said:

It would be a bit funnier if it didn't just use really oooooold jokes. Even the stuff about the Apple ad was from last year. And "one button mouse" ffs. It's like he went off on a rant about yuppies drinking cappuccinos or something.

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I can right click on my apple mouse. I just did.

I'm sure that point has been made - Actually, some times I actually want to turn the right click ability off because I click the wrong thing.

FridgeMagnet said:

It would be a bit funnier if it didn't just use really oooooold jokes. Even the stuff about the Apple ad was from last year.

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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Get_a_Mac

On January 29, 2007, Apple released a new version of the Get a Mac campaign with British actors David Mitchell and Robert Webb from Channel 4's Peep Show as PC and Mac respectively. There are currently six advertisements, some remakes of the US versions (Restarting, Virus, Trust Mac, Pie Chart) and two brand new for the UK:

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Crispy said:

And that'd be superpainless would it? All my apps still work afterwards?

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In theory, yes. In practice, all things are potentially imperfect.

I've never had a problem with it.

I know they were put on UK TV just now, but the US ones have been all over the net for ages, basically identical, and zillions of people have made exactly the same comments. If you're going to make computer jokes it might be a good idea to look at computer jokes that other people have made to see whether it's all been done before.

FridgeMagnet said:

apt-get is actually really terrific - I've never had problems with it. I'd always use it through a GUI front-end though.

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Despite my assertion on another thread that Linux isn't really ready for the totally non-tech user, I must say that both Windows and Mac users are missing out in not having systems where all the software (operating system and applications) are mangaged and upgradeable through the same utility.

My updates are automatic - so all my applications are upgraded as soon as new versions become available without any intervention at all.

Try doing that on a Mac/Windows.

apt is the nuts.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advanced_Packaging_Tool

Impressive

Still plenty of software that ties me to Windows, but Linux is probably ready for me in all other regards these days.

untethered said:

Despite my assertion on another thread that Linux isn't really ready for the totally non-tech user, I must say that both Windows and Mac users are missing out in not having systems where all the software (operating system and applications) are mangaged and upgradeable through the same utility.

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Well... I've always found OS X updates via Apple's Software Update thingy really easy... Its a pity that 3rd party apps on Mac don't use it.

So far I've managed to upgrade my Ubuntu distrubution via apt-get since 2005 and this includes four different version of Ubuntu...

sleaterkinney said:

Why would he want to shell out for an expensive Mac and an emulator so he can run pc software?.

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He could run his pc software and not have to worry about viruses or malware ever again. But then I suppose the Editor will tell us he's never had a problem with either of them. Ever.

Crispy said:

Impressive

Still plenty of software that ties me to Windows, but Linux is probably ready for me in all other regards these days.

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Indeed. In fact, I'd stick my neck out to say that Linux is the best operating system out there. The only problem is that many of the desktop applications are lousy, or at least, not as good as on other OSes.

Still, if it does all you need then go for it. No one system is going to suit everyone and many people (note: not the Ed!) are prepared to run multiple systems to get the mix they want.

Pie 1 said:

Yeah, I know it is.
I'm just observing that editor seems to be displaying what could be construed as double standards.

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Well... All the Editor is saying is that Xp works for him and he doesn't see anything wrong with it. Which is nice, but (a) he is isn't the only person out there and (b) thinking about alternatives is always good.

Will Adobe ever port Photoshop/CS3 to Linux?

Dask said:

Will Adobe ever port Photoshop/CS3 to Linux?

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If it was ever likely to be commercially viable in its own right or otherwise serve their strategic interests, yes. If not, no.

It's good to see Xara on Linux now. On its way for OS X, too.

Xara was one of my "hold out" apps on Windows.

http://www.xaraxtreme.org/

I have to say I've never had an XP PC actually die - i.e. require a reinstall - that wasn't either my own stupid fault, or the result of a hardware failure. Now that I think about it, I think the same can be said of reboots, at least in a long time.

I simply don't get spyware or malware.

untethered said:

Xara was one of my "hold out" apps on Windows.

http://www.xaraxtreme.org/

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Xara's a great program and criminally underrated. I've just got Xara Xtreme Pro.

Pie 1 said:

Your cob about apple has been getting bloody tedious lately though.
This is the 3rd or 4th thread in as many weeks that you've waded into and started rather pompous anti apple rants.
You asked someone earlier to respect your choices - why don't you do the same and just leave it?

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And it's an unprovoked personal attack from Pie1 wading in with a strop on! How nice!

Could you show me a single "anti Apple" sentiment that I've expressed in this thread, please?

My first post included a quote that PCs have to be sometimes slapped "to make them work properly" and a comment that I find Apple's current advertising campaign annoying. I've made no adverse comments about their machines - in fact, I've praised them.

Hardly a "pompous anti apple rant," then.

Looking forward to you backing up your comments. Or an apology.

jæd said:

He could run his pc software and not have to worry about viruses or malware ever again. But then I suppose the Editor will tell us he's never had a problem with either of them. Ever.

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Oh look! Another dig!

Truth is that I can't recall having any problems with viruses or malware for several years. That's not to say that my machines have all worked perfectly because because they haven't - but then I've never come across a perfect machine that's never crashed or fucked up in some way or another (and that includes Macs, Palms, Pocket PCs and Amiga).

Pie 1 said:

Yeah, I know it is.
I'm just observing that editor seems to be displaying what could be construed as double standards.

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And it's another unprovoked personal attack!

What are these "double standards" please?

jæd said:

Well... All the Editor is saying is that Xp works for him and he doesn't see anything wrong with it.

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Err... that's not exactly true as there's lots of things I don't like about XP, but just in case anyone's getting the wrong end of the stick allow me to repeat: Macs are great machines and some of the designs are fantastic, but they're not the best machines for what I want to do right now.

And I've certainly made no claims as to Windows being a 'superior' platform either.

If things change in the future, I'd have no qualms about changing to a different operating system: I just want to get my work done as efficiently and as pleasantly as possible on the best tools available, and I couldn't really care who makes it just so long as it works.

And right now, XP is working for me.

editor said:

Could you show me a single "anti Apple" sentiment that I've expressed in this thread, please?

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Here's one from me.

I used to have a Powerbook G4 running Panther. It was junk.

The OS wasn't all that fantastic. Then, coming from Linux it was essentially the same under the hood. I found the lack of options on the front end dismal and missed all the wonderful free software and neat software packaging/distribution a major negative.

The wifi software had some major bugs in it and there was no way to know when they'd ever get fixed. I assumed that it wasn't going to happen until the next (paid) upgrade of the OS. Thanks, Apple.

Then there was the hardware. Looked good. Worked awfully.

The wifi speed was lousy. This was even after they'd fixed the previous problems with wifi reception being downgraded due to the machine's metal shell.

I assume the new Intel Macs are a lot faster, but the G4 was painfully slow.

The hinges on the screen broke after three months. It took two weeks for one of Apple's approved service centres to fix it under warranty. Coincidentally, that was about the time that they were pestering me to pay out about 25% of the price of the machine to extend the warranty by a further two years.

It went in the drawer after that and on eBay a few months later. Good riddance.

Summary:

- You're stuck with Apple's hardware. That's not a good thing.

- Apple's regularly frequent paid OS upgrades mean they have little incentive to make intermediate improvements, including bug fixes.

Never, ever again.

If I really wanted to run a proprietary OS, I'd choose Windows. I'd be stuck with the evils of Microsoft for the software but at least I could specify my own hardware.

The general-purpose computer as appliance is pretty much an unattainable dream, I'd say. They're so versatile and they have so many uses they need to be infinitely customisable for each user. That means hardware and software.

untethered said:

I used to have a Powerbook G4 running Panther. It was junk.

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Weird... Guess what I'm typing this on... Its far from "junk".

untethered said:

I found the lack of options on the front end dismal and missed all the wonderful free software and neat software packaging/distribution a major negative.

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Strange... There's a whole univers of stuff thats been recompiled for OS X now... And if you ap-get'ness try fink. Its been around for a while so I'm not sure why you missed it.

untethered said:

The wifi software had some major bugs in it and there was no way to know when they'd ever get fixed. I assumed that it wasn't going to happen until the next (paid) upgrade of the OS. Thanks, Apple.

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Never experienced this... I've used Panther and now using Tiger.

untethered said:

Then there was the hardware. Looked good. Worked awfully.

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So you got a lemon. Does this mean all Powerbooks are lemons...

untethered said:

Coincidentally, that was about the time that they were pestering me to pay out about 25% of the price of the machine to extend the warranty by a further two years.

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Bought this Powerbook from the Apple Store... They haven't even once called me to ask me to buy an extended warrenty. And any email's tehy've sent have all been opt in.

untethered said:

You're stuck with Apple's hardware. That's not a good thing.

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Who's hardware did you think you were buying...?

untethered said:

Apple's regularly frequent paid OS upgrades mean they have little incentive to make intermediate improvements, including bug fixes.

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Um... You manged not to notice the frequent system updates...? Where bugs and security holes are *fixed*...?

Or are you another troll with blatent FUD...?

jæd said:

Um... You manged not to notice the frequent system updates...? Where bugs and security holes are *fixed*...?

Or are you another troll with blatent FUD...?

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Oddly enough, no. The story is as I said it was. What do you want me to do, post a scan of the receipt?

The two points were:

1. This apparently perfect Mac universe where everything "just works" and you have the rock-solid support of the great smiling chaps at Apple is just a marketing myth. They're just another computer company and in my experience not a particularly good one at that.

2. When I buy from anyone, I expect to get decent backup. I'd be equally critical of anyone else that gave the same level of customer service. If it works for you, fine. But the test of an operation is how well they sort things out when things go wrong. There were various problems I had with the Mac which I won't bore you with further, but generally Apple's attitude was that they weren't particularly bothered.

Just the other side of the story from an ex-customer, that's all.