Honestly now, OS 9 vs. X

ebbyebby
Posted:
in General Discussion edited January 2014
Ok, I'll be straight-up with all of you. I use OS 9, I can fix OS 9, and I trust OS 9, and never used OS X. But I have 2 PC to Mac switchers who will be learning an entirely new OS and for their sake, I would like them to learn OS X. The thing is, if they get a iBook and run OS9 I can help them if they run into an problems, but in OS X I am clueless. Also, I?ve been hearing a bunch of problems like Kernel Panic?s & the sorts, but the most recommended solution (if anything should go wrong) is to re-install the entire system. I can?t do that; they live in LA and I live in the Bay Area so I am limited to basic phone support.



My question is: Is OS 9 a better choice because I can help, or are OS X problems so rare that my friends will probably never get one?

(Basically, I need a maintenance-free OS. Which one?)



Thanks all. :cool:



[ 01-29-2003: Message edited by: Ebby ]</p>
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Comments

  • Reply 1 of 29
    murbotmurbot Posts: 5,262member
    OSX.



    Give them the URLs for AppleInsider, MacNN Forums, and the Mac Achaia at Ars Technica.



    You won't have to do phone support.



    I wouldn't teach a switcher OS9 as their sole OS, but that's just me.



    [ 01-29-2003: Message edited by: murbot ]</p>
  • Reply 1 of 29
    ghost_user_nameghost_user_name Posts: 22,667member
    I know how to fix a varietry of possible problems in OSX, but they never arise under normal operation. Unless your friends are going to be installing some stupid hacks or screwing around in the Terminal, OSX will be a far better choice for overall stability and maintenance (or lack thereof, actually).
  • Reply 3 of 29
    ebbyebby Posts: 3,110member
    Mabe I forgot one important detail. They won't fix the computers themselves. (70+ Years old)



    EDIT: Misspelled "the" again <img src="graemlins/oyvey.gif" border="0" alt="[oyvey]" />



    Well, OS X it is. They will probably be using MS Office and a wireless print server first. Mabe get into more "advanced" functions later.



    Thanks



    [ 01-29-2003: Message edited by: Ebby ]</p>
  • Reply 4 of 29
    ghost_user_nameghost_user_name Posts: 22,667member
    Yeah, like I was saying, OSX really needs no regular maintenance on the user's part if the user just does stuff like Office work. One think I'd recommend, though, is enabling journaling on the hard drive when you set it up initially. That will make it so they will practically *never* have to deal with the disk repair tools (barring actual physical damage from some freak accident).



    With MS Office, OSX will be especially important. On OS9, the Office apps *regulary* threw up errors that would end up requiring a reboot on my systems. Sure, MS Office can still crash on X, but at least it will do it "cleanly" and never bring down other apps or the system itself like it would on OS9.



    No more conflicting extension, no more memory allocations, no more fragmenting memory necessitating a reboot. Bliss!



    [ 01-29-2003: Message edited by: Brad ]</p>
  • Reply 5 of 29
    jaskejaske Posts: 73member
    [quote]Originally posted by Brad:

    <strong> One think I'd recommend, though, is enabling journaling on the hard drive when you set it up initially. T[ 01-29-2003: Message edited by: Brad ]</strong><hr></blockquote>



    I have to disagree, journaling can slow down an iBook a considerable amount. That aside, Brad is correct . . . OS X is the way to go. I purchased an iMac for my folks, and after Jaguar was released, I switched them to OS X. They have had no problems with crashes, etc . . . and I imagine that their usage will be similar to the folks you're helping (i.e, Internet, basic word processing, etc.).



    My father has absolutely no clue when it comes to computers, and he at least, has found OS X much easier to use. And I know, statistically invalid, father stories . . . but still . . .



    OS X is absolutley better for a beginner in my opinion. And as far as advice/problem solving, 1) they will not need it; 2) maybe this will force you to learn more about Apple's future ; and 3) assuming these older folks keep living, they should learn about the Mac's future as well.



    [ 01-29-2003: Message edited by: jaske ]</p>
  • Reply 6 of 29
    emaneman Posts: 7,204member
    [quote]Originally posted by jaske:

    <strong>



    I have to disagree, journaling can slow down an iBook a considerable amount.</strong><hr></blockquote>

    It hasn't slowed down my iBook at all.
  • Reply 7 of 29
    ast3r3xast3r3x Posts: 5,012member
    [quote]Originally posted by EmAn:

    <strong>

    It hasn't slowed down my iBook at all.</strong><hr></blockquote>



    pardon my stupidity but what exactly does this do, it think i know but i'm not sure and would like to be.



    also if it is what it think it is, i'm goign to be installing a Pioneer a05 into my G4, and think journaling would be good since i heard this may cause kernal panics, so how do u turn it on and then use it?



    [ 01-29-2003: Message edited by: ast3r3x ]</p>
  • Reply 8 of 29
    stunnedstunned Posts: 1,096member
    OS X is more user friendly. Its easier to navigate around OS X than OS 9. And its interface looks so much better!
  • Reply 9 of 29
    jaskejaske Posts: 73member
    [quote]Originally posted by EmAn:

    <strong>

    It hasn't slowed down my iBook at all.</strong><hr></blockquote>



    Fair enough. I found that journaling slowed down my iBook 700, and to be fair a) I never ran a "benchmark"; and b) I have not run it on my iBook 800 . . . maybe the slow down I perceived was a figment of my imagination, or is no longer a problem.



    Regardless, I also do not see it as necessary for the end users in this situation . . . I think OS X is solid enough that most folks do not have to worry about data being trashed on a restart.



    Of course, if you're not worried about the ROI, then maybe the perceived performance hit is worth it. By the way, anyone have some benchmarks?
  • Reply 10 of 29
    leonisleonis Posts: 3,427member
    X is more user friendly for beginner than 9 is
  • Reply 11 of 29
    cubedudecubedude Posts: 1,556member
    [quote]Originally posted by Ebby:

    <strong>Mabe I forgot one important detail. They won't fix the computers themselves. (70+ Years old)



    EDIT: Misspelled "the" again <img src="graemlins/oyvey.gif" border="0" alt="[oyvey]" />



    Well, OS X it is. They will probably be using MS Office and a wireless print server first. Mabe get into more "advanced" functions later.



    Thanks



    [ 01-29-2003: Message edited by: Ebby ]</strong><hr></blockquote>



    You also misplelled maybe.



    edit: And I misplelled "missplelled."

    edit: And I forgot to correct it.

    [ 01-29-2003: Message edited by: CubeDude ]



    [ 01-29-2003: Message edited by: CubeDude ]</p>
  • Reply 12 of 29
    nebagakidnebagakid Posts: 2,692member
    Unless you **** around with the system, you are never going to get call from them, seriouslly.



    Teach them how to use the built-in help, and you are good...



    No hacks, system enchancements, betas, or anything of that sort.... you will have a fine system, and that is a promise... Once you add something new that is not certified, that is when you can get problems (Sans Keynote for some strange bug reason!) <img src="graemlins/cancer.gif" border="0" alt="[cancer]" /> <img src="graemlins/oyvey.gif" border="0" alt="[oyvey]" /> <img src="graemlins/surprised.gif" border="0" alt="[surprised]" /> <img src="graemlins/cancer.gif" border="0" alt="[cancer]" /> <img src="graemlins/cancer.gif" border="0" alt="[cancer]" />
  • Reply 13 of 29
    thegeldingthegelding Posts: 3,230member
    X





    g



    (i'm turning into EbOy)
  • Reply 14 of 29
    emaneman Posts: 7,204member
    [quote]Originally posted by thegelding:

    <strong>X





    g



    (i'm turning into EbOy)</strong><hr></blockquote>

    You wish you could be like me





    e





  • Reply 15 of 29
    thegeldingthegelding Posts: 3,230member
    nahhh, then i would really feel werid about sexing up EmAn's Mom....instead of just slightly werid like i do now....plus i can't be like you EbOy...i is too old to yank it 3 times a day... <img src="graemlins/surprised.gif" border="0" alt="[surprised]" /> g
  • Reply 16 of 29
    sebseb Posts: 676member
    Easy answer.



    They live in LA right? I think there are about 3 or 4 Apple Stores in that area if I'm not mistaken.



    Tell them to go in and ask around and try out the machines, talk to people, see how they work, etc. before doing anything.



    Tell them to get AppleCare - if they have a problem they can call phone support that has training instead of bothering you.



    If they're going to get iBooks (like you mentioned) have them just get an AirPort Extreme base station with the USB printer sharing port, and a cheap USB printer and boom they're set. They don't need a dedicated wireless print server (AppleCare would support this as well).



    Seriously, have them go to an Apple Store and talk to the genius' so they know they have somewhere to get help if they need it.



    Oh, to the point - have them stick with X. All new software/support will be for X. Why confuse them by making them learn 9 when they'll just have to (relearn how to) use X eventually? That is, if they want to use the new iLife, iCal, Mail (which AppleCare would support) etc. etc.
  • Reply 17 of 29
    eman's momeman's mom Posts: 18member
    [quote]Originally posted by thegelding:

    <strong>nahhh, then i would really feel werid about sexing up EmAn's Mom.</strong><hr></blockquote>
  • Reply 18 of 29
    ebbyebby Posts: 3,110member
    [quote]Originally posted by CubeDude:

    <strong>



    You also misplelled maybe.



    edit: And I misplelled "missplelled."

    edit: And I forgot to correct it.

    [ 01-29-2003: Message edited by: CubeDude ]



    [ 01-29-2003: Message edited by: CubeDude ]</strong><hr></blockquote>



    CubeDude, I give up! English Sux! I have started a special "Ebby-ese" dictionary in which I select my words. <img src="graemlins/cancer.gif" border="0" alt="[cancer]" />
  • Reply 19 of 29
    ebbyebby Posts: 3,110member
    [quote]Originally posted by seb:

    <strong>They live in LA right? I think there are about 3 or 4 Apple Stores in that area if I'm not mistaken.



    Tell them to go in and ask around and try out the machines, talk to people, see how they work, etc. before doing anything.</strong><hr></blockquote>



    Exactly! I am flying down next week to help them out. As with upgrades, these machines will probably never be upgraded. Too many steps, and such.



    (I remembered to spell cheque!)
  • Reply 20 of 29
    agent69agent69 Posts: 88member
    [quote]Originally posted by Ebby:

    <strong>Also, I’ve been hearing a bunch of problems like Kernel Panic’s & the sorts, but the most recommended solution (if anything should go wrong) is to re-install the entire system</strong><hr></blockquote>



    I think that you should also realize that on boards like this and MacNN, you are more likely to see a post by someone needing help then you are to see a bunch of posts saying "things are running just great". Just make sure that they know how to shut down properly and you should be good to go.
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