Forums | MacLife

it's time to let go...

Sheeeeesh,
I was probly one of the last people around here to finally dump OS. I only did that 2 years ago. At some point you have to let it go man.
OS9 is 5+ years old now.
If you are so attached to your old games (and it's always freaking games in these rants) you can pick up an older G3 or G4 for practically nothing. Get one and make it your classic gaming rig.

MacBoy4139 wrote:

Microsoft maintains compatibility at the cost of stability.

I've been considering buying a Mac, my first, but after reading these and other forums I'm not so sure. My 5 year old Cpmpaq has been through 2 Microsoft OS upgrades and all their security downloads (which I do religiously) - and I've never had to reload the OS, never had a crash, and other then some old games, all my old programs work just fine. Yep - no crashes, pure stability. No viruses, trojans, spyware, etc. But then, I don't experiment with program downloads, and haven't seen a need to change hardware. My needs are simple.

But all I get from the Mac forums is problem after problem after problem, with each new OS upgrade, with installers, with older programs not functioning.

I may still get a Mac, but if I do I'll keep my WinTel machine, just in case.

Don't be scared MilDoc. You're misunderstanding.

OS X is to OS 9 as Win XP is to Win 98 (very generally speaking). A new Mac won't boot OS 9 just as a new peecee won't boot older versions of winblows. New Mac apps require OS X just as new winblows apps require XP.

Regardless of what you might think from this thread, most OS 9 apps we still work as well as they ever did running in the Classic environment. These apps just seem funny because they're so antiquated. Also, if you think we're all installing OS X over and over because of frequent problems based solely on what you're reading at these forums you're also misunderstanding. The problems you read on these boards are exceptions to the normal Mac experience just as your lack of winblows problems is an exception to the normal peecee experience. It wouldn't be much fun if this forum were full of people talking about how much they love their Macs.

If you want something that works better than what you've got give a Mac a whirl. If you're perfectly happy with what you've got, don't bother switching. Different strokes!

pottymouth wrote:

ReallyReallyLong LongName wrote:

If you guys need classic so much, why not just get a machine that actually boots into OS 9?
You will have less problems than using classic.

Ayuh. We've got a bunch of MDD G4s in house just in case we ever see another Quark job. Hasn't happened in well over a year.

That's not bad, You can run OS X and OS 9 very nicely on those machines.

But honestly, I think Indesign is much better than Quark. It's got an interface that is familiar like Photoshop and Illustrator, and its much more compatable with OS X than Quark. Some people are just so stubborn to change. Its been how long since Apple has changed to OS X? ...They still can't get it right. Hopefully this new version of Quark will be ok... Man I hate Quark.. lol

The people that want to play their old games and use their unsupported software, should just get a real mac that can boot into 9, and then netowrk the computers..

Like pottymouth said, you can't expect the apps to run perfectly on an OS that it was not intended for.

I am so glad OS 9 is so gone.

MacBoy4139 wrote:

I always download the combo updater (which people fight me on to this day) and I have never - EVER had a single issue with any update.

I used to have faith that Apple designed Software Update to be reliable enough not to have to do that, but now I also install the Combo updaters exclusively. Why leave yourself open to a small margin of erorr that will kill your OS?

MilDoc wrote:

But all I get from the Mac forums is problem after problem after problem, with each new OS upgrade, with installers, with older programs not functioning.

There's a good reason for that.  People who have no problems never come looking for help.

This never happens:

AMD wrote:

MacMan wrote:

Pariah wrote:

Help!  My mac is working fine!

Hey, mine too! 

Me too, never a problem!  What should I do!?!

If that's the kind of thing going on over at PC forums...  I'm glad I don't visit them.  I'd self-destruct in a minute or two of browsing.

This place is a great resource for anyone who encounters a problem, big or small, on their computers, big or small.   Also news, rumors, and just talking about nothing to do with computers.  Hell, we've even got a "Windows for Addicts" section where people who need help with their Windows boxes can come for assistance.

In other words: don't judge ANY computer system based solely on the complaints of people who have problems with them and are looking for solutions.  All you'll get is the negative side of the story.

MilDoc wrote:

knobtwirler wrote:

MacBoy4139 wrote:

I always download the combo updater (which people fight me on to this day) and I have never - EVER had a single issue with any update.

I used to have faith that Apple designed Software Update to be reliable enough not to have to do that, but now I also install the Combo updaters exclusively. Why leave yourself open to a small margin of erorr that will kill your OS?

Yeah, that's one issue. Why does Apple have problems with software updater? I've read that A LOT! Windows downloads on my PC are automatic. No intervention. Download. Install. No Problems. KILL YOUR OS? Not with WinXP on my machine.

Not on yours, but on plenty others.  There is a reason why most corporations don't apply security updates very quickly - it can break a bunch of things quickly.

Working for an insurance company, what would happen if we downloaded a security update for Windows Media Player and it broke the claims system?  Sounds weird?  Sure, and it happens.

So, if I buy a Mac:

1. Where do I get Combo updaters? Are they (it?) available for all OS AND Apple program updates?

www.apple.com/support/

2. Is Software Update automatic (like on Win if you so choose)? If so, do I need to TURN IT OFF?

Automatic is when it pops up and tells you that there are new updates.  NOTHING is installed without your knowledge (unlike Win XP, which doesn't work half the time).

You can set it to manual if you want.  What I do is when the window pops up, I ignore it, and go to apple.com and download the combo update.

This is only for OS updates.  Any other updates (Security updates, iLife updates, Pro app updates) I use Software Update for.

LOL.. It really is the other way around. I havn't heard anything bad about the mac since OS 9.

The only thing bad I've heard, and will always hear, "Macs are expensive." which is also true.

Even my die-hard PC friends don't say anything bad about macs anymore. They say its cool but, still don't like using a mac because Windows is what they do.

Yeah, but man, Quark 4.1 was kickass, wasn't it?

knobtwirler wrote:

My friend just got a G5 dual 2 GHz, his first Mac after being a Windows user. I installed everything for him (he bought lots of expensive audio/video apps) and tidied his drives and explained how it all works. He was amazed at how simple it all was and mostly surprised that Norton will not be involved, spyware and adware will be gone, and is looking forward to trouble-free operation. Classic and OS 9 were nowhere near as elegant as OS X is on its own.