site_archiver@lists.apple.com Delivered-To: installer-dev@lists.apple.com Thread-index: AcX6j9pRGOOfG2aDEdqadgAKlaBZUA== Thread-topic: Universal Binary and Mac OS X 10.2.8 User-agent: Microsoft-Entourage/11.2.1.051004
I have complained about the short lifetimes of the OS numerous times, but nobody at Apple cares. For Apple it's a $$ thing because they could have easily kept 10.3 until 10.3.whatever and added Spotlight and such but they didn't because making 10.4 meant that users would have to pay $$. How many years has OS X been around? And we've had 10.0, 10.1, 10.2, 10.3, 10.4, and next year 10.5? This is simply insanity that `10.3 will be end of life next year. It's one reason why I will always pick Windows over a Mac for an Enterprise level application. Hardware lasts 3 years on our depreciation cycle. Should I have to upgrade the server OS even once in that span?
These are pros and cons with creating progressive software (and you've described the cons). Every software company ultimately must decide where they fall in the this tradeoff spectrum, and Apple chooses to be progressive end rather than the conservative end. MS chooses the other end of the spectrum (and faces the appropriate tradeoffs). Personally, as both a end-user and a mac os developer, I'd rather deal with the consequences of aggressive additions to the OS every two years and enjoy the end-user features rather than wait 4+ years for a release that only contains conservative changes/improvements (and I would wager most Mac OS users would agree with me). So, sadly, I agree that it's time to retire 10.2 to rest, alongside the other stuff Apple pushed back in the day: Mac OS 10.1, Mac OS Classic, ADB equipment, ADC equipment, OpenDoc, YellowBox, MacTV, and so on. To Apple's credit, look at the early progressive moves that stuck on and really made the world a better place: no floppy drives, USB, a POSIX-based OS that a novice can use and maintain, (relatively) uncompromising HIG, the iPod, ITMS, and the list goes on. Perhaps I'm just saying to take a step back and look at the big picture. Andy _______________________________________________ Do not post admin requests to the list. They will be ignored. Installer-dev mailing list (Installer-dev@lists.apple.com) Help/Unsubscribe/Update your Subscription: http://lists.apple.com/mailman/options/installer-dev/site_archiver%40lists.a... This email sent to site_archiver@lists.apple.com