Re: comments on ... Re: What's Missing in Mac OS
Re: comments on ... Re: What's Missing in Mac OS
- Subject: Re: comments on ... Re: What's Missing in Mac OS
- From: Karan Misra <email@hidden>
- Date: Thu, 27 Feb 2003 20:31:45 +0530
I would agree with everything except the "Mac Messengers" part-reply.
They can be set to auto-open on login (System Prefs). But then, like
MSN Messenger will simply try to sign in and since I am a dialup user
and I won't have the internet on, it'll give an error. Now, perhaps,
it's OK for Broadband users but the majority of the population in "the
rest of the world" (meaning- excl. USA) uses Dial-up Internet Access.
These messengers do not provide ANY facility with which they can launch
upon *detecting* an active Internet connection. There is no debate
here. Only on Windows, does this happen.
Plus, launching the full application on login slows down the login
process. And for people like me who may be using AOL, MSN and Yahoo!
will have to set three of these items to open up (even with broadband).
I know that there are integrated solutions for accessing multiple IMs
like Proteus and Fire but I like to stick with the programs made by the
original people (i.e., MSN's Messenger and AOL's Messenger).
And if Apple are not concentrating on the gaming aspect of Macs,
well....., its just *bad*. You can't expect to sell to consumers (many
of whom are under 18) who want to play games. Actually, games have
become super-popular on computers and have led to the development of
the game consoles.
[Just clearing things up]
Karan Misra
Mac OS X Mac User Group (MXMUG)
AIM/iChat: kkcorporation
Homepage: www.karanmisra.com
On Thursday, February 27, 2003, at 01:58 PM, Matt Johnston wrote:
On Thursday, February 27, 2003, at 05:02 am, Karan Misra wrote:
Somehow Mac Game-Porting companies like to see the sales of the game
before porting them and hence, they come up very late.
As has been said elsewhere, Apple doesn't give a fig about games.
Mac Messengers
In Windows, the Messenger software senses
automatically (using a background app) when the Internet gets
connected
and they log you in, in the background. Plus, the taskbar shows the
status of all your messengers, offline or online.
IIRC, these applications have their Dock icons to work with. Also,
they can be set to auto-open and not have any visible windows.
Plus, both Yahoo! and MSN Messengers for Mac OS don't allow services
like Voice Conversations and Video Conversations.
Yahoo allows video.
Microsoft Office
Actually, there should be a full suite of
software including Microsoft Publisher and FrontPage but then I
wouldn't be realistic as Microsoft definitely doesn't have the
resources to built (or port) so many products to the Mac.
They certainly have the resources, they do NOT have the willingness.
They won't port access because they "say" that Filemaker owns that
niche. Utter tripe. It's so Macs can't displace Windows as Access
clients. Access is a completely closed shop. Frontpage is another area
that MS has strategically decided not to continue development for the
Mac. Project is a complete travesty in this respect and it's entirely
strategic and nothing to do with resources.
Internet Explorer
Yes, I think improvement here is needed in terms of both:
a) speed
b) speed
c) speed
Hasn't been updated in two years so it's pretty unlikely we'll see
anything soon. MSN for Mac is coming first.
Peripherals on the Mac
For a Windows PC, you can buy any CD-RW drive or DVD-R drive and fit
it
into your PC and it'll work but finding a drive for a Mac is not such
an easy thing. Same goes with PCI Cards, etc.
I've had zero problems with CD/DVD drives (getting third party DVD-R
drives to work with iDVD is another thng entirely). I agree on the PCI
cards but then it's the same argument as the applications - do we need
access to 100 aftermarket PCI cards?
Apple should also consider getting USB 2 into our
Macs because with Intel's backing, USB 2 is gaining prominence and it
doesn't help to ignore it.
Intel is the only company "backing" USB2.0 because they are the chief
developer and IP holder. I agree that Apple should support it but I
can also guarantee that you won't see it on the MAc til FireWire 800
is standardised across all Macs.
Menu Extras
Well, I think many menu extras have got stranded in OS 9. The
Microsoft
Office Manager used to be great, but it's gone. Apple is acting like
an
adamant fool here. I would like to see menu extras for IM software
(mentioned above).
If we try to avoid revisionism for a second, Apple never advocated the
use of menu extras in Mac OS 9 either. It's the same situation. As
Apple are STILL developing many aspects of Mac OS X, I feel it is
acceptable for them to claim areas are off limits - developers cry
foul when these limits are imposed but also cry foul when Apple
changes the APIs for areas like this. In this sort of situation, Apple
can't win.
M
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