I am relatively new to the platform myself. I moved over to OS9 at the end of November last year, and December 25, Christmas, got OSX. And I absolutely love it. It really took me a long time to get used to what the Mac OS does and the finder and all coming from Windows. But moving to X was not bad at all. I always was looking for things to be harder and kept finding myself saying "but thats SO much simpler than windows" etc etc. My personal problem lies more with the hardware. The prices, IMO, are acceptable, but what you are getting for what you pay, is not. I recently did some major work on PC's that were 1.7+ghz, and even with identical graphics cards, they kick the Mac. And for a much much more reasonible price. No doubt I will pay a much higher price for the Mac, but only if it performs well when put against the PC. The user experience is second to none, but when it is slowing down my work, it is unacceptable. This summer, if at Macworld, Apple does not announce some very hefty speed increases, I can see myself moving back to PC world just until Apple gets its act together....
I have one thought. Why can't much of the system, esp. the stuff that non-root user's can't touch, be put into a package/folder?
like a .app folder? all the files are hidden from the user, but it's still a folder. Make a .sys folder at the root directory, and have everything important in it, and then have links to each user's home dir. This could even be an optional setup, like the "simple finder" in OS 9 (though better, I would hope, simple finder was the worst case of moronic I've ever seen. I would have to argue MS Bob was comparable).
With the above implimentation, anyone not ready for directories they can't touch wouldn't have to even see them, everyone else could either "show package contents" or turn this optional setup off.
I'd say about 85% of the world's computer users (90% in the US), should never see more than one folder labeled "System" on their computer. in general,any more tends to share them, in my experience. What's this do? Can I move this? I even feel that way sometimes in OSX. And I deal with UNIX every day. The current hierarchy is a great setup IMO. but it's not user friendly for beginners. the UI is very newbie friendly. but the heirarchy should not be showing my mother the full contents of the system.
All she needs is appz and documents. yes, you make set that up with aliases, but I doubt every mother/grandmother/father/gfather/general newbie has a mac geek at hand to help them with the setup.
OSX is SHWEEET!! But it needs more work before I would even think of suggesting it to my mom. That's my yardstick on ease of use. OSX isn't there yet.
1) You simply have the mentality that OS X is not good. Nothing Apple or anyone else can do will change that. You need to consciencly drop your 'OS 9 is superior' attitute and truly adopt OS X for what is it, and what it represents. Embrace it 110% like the rest of us. Then you'll wander how you ever make it this long in OS 9.
2) You're flat out stupid for mistaking OS X for OS 9. Once again, I repeat verbatim:OS X is NOT OS 9. Don't pretend it is. Period. I sympathize with you. Quite frankly, I don't want you using OS X. OS X is not your OS. Please do us all a favor and stick with OS 9 for at least another 5 years, minimum.
3) (Provided that you know how to read)Get a few good books on OS X and learn how to use it properly. It will teach you all about KEXT's, *NIX, and other relevant topics you appear so ignorant about.
4) OS X is way easier than OS 9. Sit any newbie in front of a computer:
Dock vs. Application menu? Dock
Print Center vs. Chooser? Print Center.
Aqua vs. Platinum? Aqua.
Stability vs. System Bombs? No competition.
Trouble free vs. Extension Conflicts? No competition.
It goes on and on and on...
BTW, OS 9 has many of hidden files just like X, you obviously aren't an OS 9 expert either.
Trouble free vs. Extension Conflicts? No competition.
SNIP
BTW, OS 9 has many of hidden files just like X, you obviously aren't an OS 9 expert either.<hr></blockquote>
At least printing through the Chooser usually works. The Print Center sucks, doesn't follow UI guidelines.
Trouble free? A bad .kext is just as bad as a bad system extension, except that I can delete a bad system extension without having to go CLI and sudoing root. Bad .kext you say, then you haven't installed Norton AV or Systemworks. POS.
A full OS9 install weighs in at 230+megs, a small OSX install a 900+ megs, and you're going to tell me with a straight face that OS9 has MORE hidden files. LOL.
OSX is an improvement over OS9, but lets be a little more realistic in appraising both OSs.
1) You simply have the mentality that OS X is not good. Nothing Apple or anyone else can do will change that. You need to consciencly drop your 'OS 9 is superior' attitute and truly adopt OS X for what is it, and what it represents. Embrace it 110% like the rest of us. Then you'll wander how you ever make it this long in OS 9.
2) You're flat out stupid for mistaking OS X for OS 9. Once again, I repeat verbatim:OS X is NOT OS X. Don't pretend it is. Period. I sympathize with you. Quite frankly, I don't want you using OS X. OS X is not your OS. Please do us all a favor and stick with OS 9 for at least another 5 years, minimum.
3) (Provided that you know how to read)Get a few good books on OS X and learn how to use it properly. It will teach you all about KEXT's, *NIX, and other relevant topics you appear so ignorant about.
4) OS X is way easier than OS 9. Sit any newbie in front of a computer:
Dock vs. Application menu? Dock
Print Center vs. Chooser? Print Center.
Aqua vs. Platinum? Aqua.
Stability vs. System Bombs? No competition.
Trouble free vs. Extension Conflicts? No competition.
It goes on and on and on...
BTW, OS 9 has many of hidden files just like X, you obviously aren't an OS 9 expert either.
Dude, Mac OS X is an apple OS for apple Power Macintosh Computers. I didn't realise that it was really designed for Unix geeks who would smugly berate anyone who felt that arcane computer techno babble was unacceptable in a Macintosh <img src="graemlins/oyvey.gif" border="0" alt="[No]" />
Amorph, I'm with you - my earlier post was trying to summarise the posts about X: someone says it has problems, and all they get back is how great it is and blah... until finally someone has the guts to say "yeah, well it does have some problems".
I'm also 100% with Spooky - MacOS is the OS for the rest of us, whether it's classic or X.
At least printing through the Chooser usually works. The Print Center sucks, doesn't follow UI guidelines.
Trouble free? A bad .kext is just as bad as a bad system extension, except that I can delete a bad system extension without having to go CLI and sudoing root. Bad .kext you say, then you haven't installed Norton AV or Systemworks. POS.
A full OS9 install weighs in at 230+megs, a small OSX install a 900+ megs, and you're going to tell me with a straight face that OS9 has MORE hidden files. LOL.
OSX is an improvement over OS9, but lets be a little more realistic in appraising both OSs.</strong><hr></blockquote>
It's not fair to blame Apple or anyone else besides your printers' manufacturer for the lack of drivers. Also, can you point out exactly what's wrong with Print Center's UI that's so bad that other OS X apps don't have? The UI is in line with the rest of Carbon applications.
And how many bad KEXT's have you run into? All of 1 or 2? Compare that to any amount of junk you easily put in OS 9's Extension folder and easily bring the entire system down. Besides, now in OS X you can install KEXT's in /Library/Extensions. This way you can *easily* keep track of what KEXT's you have installed. Install a problematic KEXT? Reboot to 9 and delete it from /Library/Extensions. Simple as that.
OS X simply has allot more files and applications that OS 9 has in a default install. This is a mutt point anyway. All new Mac's have at least 15GB (iBook). OS 9 does have many hidden files. And yes, OS X does have more hidden files than OS 9. Your point being?
I am being realistic. Ask any new user: OS X definately is easier than OS 9 and passes the 'mom-test'. However, to fine-tunned OS 9 users, the upgrade will be more difficult breaking old habits.
[quote]Besides, now in OS X you can install KEXT's in /Library/Extensions.<hr></blockquote>
I don't put .kext anywhere. The developer/installer does, and its usually in /System/Library/Extensions, root/wheel permissions. bad .kexts: Apple Serial driver, Norton AV, Norton FileSaver. Nasty stuff.
Print Center quits when you close the window. Its supposed to stay open. You can't set a default paper size or change any printer parameters unless you delete the printer and start over. Not a matter of drivers, I got mine, just that printing in OSX is not the world's most advanced printing--in fact its less useable than printing in OS9. Don't even get me started on printing speed.
Fine tunned OS9 users my ass--you can't reduce everything to its different than OS9. Some OSX stuff is broken or poorly implemented, and should be noted as such.
well, haven't had the time since i started my new job to follow this thread until today, so i'll try and post a few replies to some of the questions/comments directed my way.
right off the bat
iAppleWeek, this thread has been relativly productive compared to most. if you want to have an decent conversation on a subject, please keep your posts inline with the topic of conversation.
comments like "can you read" and "you're flat out stupid" will rarely give rise to intelligent discourse. i'll answer what i think are the questions you asked between insults, but grow up a little please.
1st, i am aware that OSX is not OS 9. however, to the best of my knowledge there was 0 documentation that came with the new iMacs that covered the differences between OS9 and OSX. perhaps a shiny page or two, that's it. if you expect long time mac users to go from one OS to the next without treating the new one like the old, you're sadly mistaken.
the easiest and most effecient way for a computer user to understand a new OS is in reference to their old OS. OS 6 users used that as a base for understanding OS 7. OS 7 users used that as a base for OS 8 users. OS 8 users used that as a base for OS 9. it makes sense that OS 9 useres would use that as a base for OS X.
that being said, i think there is a severe lack of documentation on the differences between the two OS'es. not everyone has the time to beta test an OS for a year. some people have jobs where they work, and can't fart around with a new OS all day. those people have to be able to walk into work one day and say "hey, this week i'm switching over to OSX, and i'll still get my work done!"
and i'm also a firm believer in the grandma/mother test, which OSX fails utterly.
as for reading up on kext's and the like. i have yet to read up on the inner workings of my PC's .dll files, and yet it runs very nicely. to suggest that one needs to have a good grasp of how *nix works to use their home OS is just plain stupid. if that's the point you're at, turn around and go home. that is exactly why Linux is light years away from being a desktop OS at this point. if that's what you think OSX should be, it would die a slow, painful death.
however, i don't think that's where OSX is going, i think it's trying to move away from that position as much as possible. the mindset is still there though, and you can see it in how the file system works, error messages, sharing etc. this will probably fade with time, but at this point it's a problem.
as for print center vs. chooser, please feel free to read the earlier posting on the subject. if you can't understand why i think there's a problem with the way the print center sets up a printer, ask nicely and i'll be happy to explain it. it has a horrid UI, and needs a massive overhaul.
my UI yardstick is this. if it's much easier on a PC, then there's something seriously wrong with the Mac side. setting up printers is 10x easier on a PC running anything past winME in comparison to OSX. new OS should make things easier, not more complicated.
which brings me to this
[quote]And how many bad KEXT's have you run into? All of 1 or 2? Compare that to any amount of junk you easily put in OS 9's Extension folder and easily bring the entire system down. Besides, now in OS X you can install KEXT's in /Library/Extensions. This way you can *easily* keep track of what KEXT's you have installed. Install a problematic KEXT? Reboot to 9 and delete it from /Library/Extensions. Simple as that.<hr></blockquote>
now, the fact that you have to boot into OS 9 to fix OS X isn't at all ironic to you? you know, OS 9, that one we should all just forget about?
i've also noticed a trend here of people complaining that OS 9 was horribly unstable, they could only have approx. 5 apps open at a time etc.
the only time i ever came across this was when OS 9 was short on RAM. i'll be the first to say that OS 9 had issues with memory, but if you threw enough at it, they basically went away. i'd go weeks without a crash of any kind, and months with no system bombs. maybe i'm unique in this, but OS 9 was actually very stable for me.
RAM was an issue back when it cost an arm and a leg. now the average user can toss 512 megs in their machine for under $200. that bascially solves 90% of the problems in OS 9.'
next i'll post another short rant on file systems.
edit: iAppleWeek, i know you're not some new user here, why not at least have the decency to use your real name.
besides, there's only one person who constatnly misspells "whiner" the way you do.
i'll save the other rant for another night. cs 1.4 is out.
well, haven't had the time since i started my new job to follow this thread until today, so i'll try and post a few replies to some of the questions/comments directed my way.
right off the bat
iAppleWeek, this thread has been relativly productive compared to most. if you want to have an decent conversation on a subject, please keep your posts inline with the topic of conversation.
comments like "can you read" and "you're flat out stupid" will rarely give rise to intelligent discourse. i'll answer what i think are the questions you asked between insults, but grow up a little please.
Wow. And this comming from the person who named this thread "WTF happened to our OS?". Yes...mature indeed. How about "OS X is a pain in the ass. and it took me this long to notice." How about thinking and investigating before making igorant posts about OS X. And, as others have said, Photoshop was never a drag-n-drop install. Yeah...you really know your stuff.
1st, i am aware that OSX is not OS 9. however, to the best of my knowledge there was 0 documentation that came with the new iMacs that covered the differences between OS9 and OSX. perhaps a shiny page or two, that's it. if you expect long time mac users to go from one OS to the next without treating the new one like the old, you're sadly mistaken.
the easiest and most effecient way for a computer user to understand a new OS is in reference to their old OS. OS 6 users used that as a base for understanding OS 7. OS 7 users used that as a base for OS 8 users. OS 8 users used that as a base for OS 9. it makes sense that OS 9 useres would use that as a base for OS X.
that being said, i think there is a severe lack of documentation on the differences between the two OS'es. not everyone has the time to beta test an OS for a year. some people have jobs where they work, and can't fart around with a new OS all day. those people have to be able to walk into work one day and say "hey, this week i'm switching over to OSX, and i'll still get my work done!"
I don't recall any documentaion in the box for my OS 7.6.1 > 8.0. Or 8.0 > 8.5. Or 8.5 > 9.0 -- all of which I bought in box. If you're complaining that Aple didn't include a nice little picture guide for using the Dock, maybe you shouldn't be using computers at all. And yes, their *IS* a little phamlet inside the OS X box that details installation and basic usage as compared to OS 9. Or just pick up the special MacWorld OS X issue like I did.
and i'm also a firm believer in the grandma/mother test, which OSX fails utterly.
You have to enlighten me on how OS X fails this mom-test. Countless reviews have said OS X is the easiest-to-use OS ever. I completely agree. A new user is not going to play with NetInfo, need root, use Terminal, etc. Tell me how you explain to them how to troubleshoot using the Extension Manager. How to easily see what's running or not. What a system bomb is. Why it happens. Where that little hard reset button on their iMac is. Yeah... OS 9 sounds like a real blast for grandma.
as for reading up on kext's and the like. i have yet to read up on the inner workings of my PC's .dll files, and yet it runs very nicely. to suggest that one needs to have a good grasp of how *nix works to use their home OS is just plain stupid. if that's the point you're at, turn around and go home. that is exactly why Linux is light years away from being a desktop OS at this point. if that's what you think OSX should be, it would die a slow, painful death.
Consider yourself lucky you've avoided DLL Hell thus-far. Many, many of my associates install new software only to find themself in DLL Hell.
however, i don't think that's where OSX is going, i think it's trying to move away from that position as much as possible. the mindset is still there though, and you can see it in how the file system works, error messages, sharing etc. this will probably fade with time, but at this point it's a problem.
as for print center vs. chooser, please feel free to read the earlier posting on the subject. if you can't understand why i think there's a problem with the way the print center sets up a printer, ask nicely and i'll be happy to explain it. it has a horrid UI, and needs a massive overhaul.
Be my guest. What so horrid about Print Center's UI that is Print Center-specific?
my UI yardstick is this. if it's much easier on a PC, then there's something seriously wrong with the Mac side. setting up printers is 10x easier on a PC running anything past winME in comparison to OSX. new OS should make things easier, not more complicated.
How much easier could it get than 1) plugging in an OS X-support USB printer, 2) Print Center pops open, and 3) Add printer.
which brings me to this
now, the fact that you have to boot into OS 9 to fix OS X isn't at all ironic to you? you know, OS 9, that one we should all just forget about?
My mistake here. This isn't specifically what I meant and need to clearify it. If you install a prolematic KEXT, just remove it while in OS X. Heck, use kextunload and do it in real-time w/o rebooting! Try that in OS 9. If it's a severe problem and X won't boot, then you can start up from a CD or 9 and remove the KEXT.
i've also noticed a trend here of people complaining that OS 9 was horribly unstable, they could only have approx. 5 apps open at a time etc.
Get a clue dude. That's no trend. OS 9 was horribly unstable.
the only time i ever came across this was when OS 9 was short on RAM. i'll be the first to say that OS 9 had issues with memory, but if you threw enough at it, they basically went away. i'd go weeks without a crash of any kind, and months with no system bombs. maybe i'm unique in this, but OS 9 was actually very stable for me.
Consider yourself extremely luckly if OS 9 has been so stable for you. Ask most anyone, that's usually not the norm.
RAM was an issue back when it cost an arm and a leg. now the average user can toss 512 megs in their machine for under $200. that bascially solves 90% of the problems in OS 9.'
next i'll post another short rant on file systems.
edit: iAppleWeek, i know you're not some new user here, why not at least have the decency to use your real name.
Actually, I am new posting here on AI. I post @ MacNN Forums though.
besides, there's only one person who constatnly misspells "whiner" the way you do.
Give up...its not me.
i'll save the other rant for another night. cs 1.4 is out.
Face it alcimedes, your just flat-out reluctant to accept OS X because you have the illusionary notion that OS X will never be 'good enough'. Your the kind of person that will complain forever and always find faults in something. OS X will probably never apease you, with the attitude of your first post. What are you running on anyway? A Quadra? Centris? Or perhaps a MacPlus...
[quote]I don't recall any documentaion in the box for my OS 7.6.1 > 8.0. Or 8.0 > 8.5. Or 8.5 > 9.0 -- all of which I bought in box. If you're complaining that Aple didn't include a nice little picture guide for using the Dock, maybe you shouldn't be using computers at all. And yes, their *IS* a little phamlet inside the OS X box that details installation and basic usage as compared to OS 9. Or just pick up the special MacWorld OS X issue like I did.<hr></blockquote>
that's the point. you didn't need documentation. if you knew the OS before, you knew the new version of the OS. what i'm saying is that it is a bad idea to have such a drastic change in the way an OS works, and not include documentation regarding that fact when you first start shipping it as the default OS. iMac = consumer/home machine. home users would likely be used to OS 9 or earlier. they will be lost in OS X.
[quote]...how does it fail the mom test...<hr></blockquote>
please tell me how you would set up a network printer in OSX, and i'll show you where the problem lies. this will also answer your question as to what my problem is with OS X and the print center. have you read what has been written about the print center? do you agree or disagree. saying "it's easy, you're a moron" isn't really much of an answer. (i know that's paraphrased, but accurate enough)
the print center has issues, i've stated what they are. if you disagree, please tell me which parts you disagree with and why.
please read the entire thread before you post your replies, otherwise they don't make much sense. if you miss something the first time, you are allowed to go back and read again you know.
please tell me how you would set up a network printer in OSX, and i'll show you where the problem lies. this will also answer your question as to what my problem is with OS X and the print center. have you read what has been written about the print center? do you agree or disagree. saying "it's easy, you're a moron" isn't really much of an answer. (i know that's paraphrased, but accurate enough)
the print center has issues, i've stated what they are. if you disagree, please tell me which parts you disagree with and why.
please read the entire thread before you post your replies, otherwise they don't make much sense. if you miss something the first time, you are allowed to go back and read again you know.
-alcimedes</strong><hr></blockquote>
Wow...
Now *please* tell me why ma and pa who just pulled their iMac out of the box 30 minutes is interested in setting up a network printer?!? Yeah....right.
Again, this "users are accustom to OS 9" is totally bogus. If it's a new user, the point is completely mutt anways! First time computer users don't even know what OS 9 is. All their know is that their iMac or iBook came with this really awesome and easy OS called Mac OS X -- nothing else matters.
Furthermore, who doesn't know about Mac OS X before their buy their Mac!? Just about every Mac user knows what Mac OS X is by now. It's all over apple.com and other Mac web sites. Jobs announced it to millions of people at MacWorld countless times. He accounced it is now the default OS. If you're buying a freak'in Mac, trust me, you know what Mac OS X is.
Besides, the interface is OS X is very close to that of OS 9. Same single menu bar, desktop metaphor, etc, etc. You're making a big deal out of nothing. It takes all of one week to get accustom to the Dock and realize what value it provides.
You're asking Apple to include "documentation" for OS X to rightly justify the big difference. Did I not suggest you go pick up a cheap book on OS X/UNIX if you're interested? Most users don't want to know all the technical details like you. Did System 7.0 or 6.0 or 5.0 include huge amounts of documentation? No. You had to learn it yourself the first time. Its no difference with OS X.
And yes, the Print Center has issues. But what I'm asking you to do is point out indivual unique UI problems with Print Center. Do not confuse this witht lack-of-functionality or features however.
OSX has some useability problems but they could be easily fixed. I shouldn't have to open system preferences to get to software update. Windowshade is better than using the dock for some things, OSX is slow (hopefully 10.2 will fix that). The main fix would be to make the apple menu more customiazable. Put favorites in the Apple Menu and let us add more things to it. This is especially important forr those of us who don't like the dock. hiding it is not a great solution either(ever try to put something in the trash while its hidden? Doesn't work very well). OSX on the internet is awfully slow. I'll wait till 10.2 to see what Apple has in store for us. OSX really needs to be improved and I would think they know it................................................ ...
<strong>OSX has some useability problems but they could be easily fixed. I shouldn't have to open system preferences to get to software update. Windowshade is better than using the dock for some things [...] The main fix would be to make the apple menu more customiazable.</strong><hr></blockquote>
I'm not sure that it makes sense for Apple to add a disparate set of features just for people who don't like the default interface. They should provide a set of widgets that work together in a sensible manner, and leave it at that. Such things are more properly the province of shareware, just like they were in OS 9. Particularly, an OS 9 like Apple menu makes no sense in the OS X workspace. (Not that it made much sense in OS 9 - it was a random catch-all at best.)
[quote]<strong>OSX on the internet is awfully slow. I'll wait till 10.2 to see what Apple has in store for us. OSX really needs to be improved and I would think they know it.</strong><hr></blockquote>
AOL uses its own networking stack, and its own networking protocol. That might be slow. With a few exceptions related to AppleTalk, OS X networking is wonderful. Small wonder: We're now on the platform that TCP/IP was invented on.
OK i've had enough. First let me state that I've been a hard core Apple user my whole life. I was master of OS9, but I was defiantly excited by OSX. I've been through every version from Public Beta to 10.1.4. I'm not bragging, just saying I feel for every side on this forum. There are a few things that aren't getting anywhere:
1) Printing in OSX, yes it stinks. PB had support for Apple Printers, which ironically were discontinued in 1996 i believe. When he says "UI Stinks" he's referring to the workflow. Ideally Print Center detects your printer, then simply lets you click add and you're all set. OC it doesn't work as well. 10.2 will feature better printer detection and even (WOW on this one) support for unsupported printers (? but OK). As for legacy printers, sorry you're probably screwed, I suggest an Epson 7-series for around $99. You'll really like the quality.
2) Speed. Speed is a tricky subject, BASICALLY keep in mind what OSX is doing. Look at FCP or iTunes in OS9. Look how they handle dragging and scaling. Now look at OSX. WOW, so since it's more complex, you can't run as fast. Also the fact that Apple made Quartz use CPU was probably just a temp solution bc they have crappy GPU support for legacy macs and some older G3s (inc iMac A/B). According to MOSR apple will pull some unheard of stunt and make your GPU a co-processor AND reimpliment 2D Acceleration which is sorely needed.
3) Partitions- i use them, you should not. If you can argue that you can use more than 1. Or if you have 2 HDs like me. As for a media HD that's a good plan if you like that stuff, it's about as hard as making a CD-R or Zip if you dot want a partition.
Trust me, Apple knows what they're doing. OK, i'm not about to argue here that macs are gaming monsters like OC'ed dual 1.7Ghz AMD XP+ systems with 266Mzh DDR or whatever they have now. Mac make amazing use of the mhz, which is the typical limiting factor today, not GPUs. What you didn't see was the curve of performance on a mac, sinec it's CPU limited (sigh) you can get the SAME FPS at 640x480 and 1600x1200. So run at 1600x1200 where your PC friends (who 99% haev GF2s) can't compete if you need that ego-boost like i do.
5) Why no one has mentioned networking i have no idea. The finder has a lot of flaws, starting with the fact that I don't like carbon. But I have faith that soon the finder will run completly in Cocoa, LaunchCMF will die and we'll all be happy.
6) Daemons are evil. Why can't anyone program a good one. If you find OSX seems to have jumpy performance check Process Viewer, if you have everything quit, search for LaunchCFM apps, they are typically useless.If you run a PDA and like OpenGL, I would suggest taking out Palm Background from the launch apps list, then launching it before you HotSync, it's a real system-downer. If you have Norton installed for OSX (as of the beta) it's Daemon is evil beyond reason. Don't run norton, remove it as best you can, use Sherlock. You may need to use root access, but it's Norton's fault, not Apple's.
7) OS9 is not as fast as you remember. From OSX 10.x to 9.x yes, from 10.1.x to 9.2.x no. The ability to multitask really helps out OSX a lot. Try in OS9 loading a page, then doing something else, by the time it's switched out of IE the page is done. As for OSX having slow web speed, that's really mostly CPU limited, i like Netscape at the moment, but i switch a lot. Expect HUGE speed increases on draw intensive apps like OmniWeb after 10.2 comes out (passes on tasks to GPU, making your little iMac 600Mhz a raw power dual system, well to a clever degree).
8) People complain about the dock, esp genie/lack of window shades. Look for WindowShadesX. It's 3rd party, but competent if you like that kinda thing. Same with Xounds.
9) Driver support. Only scanning seems REALLY bad, with OSX 10.2 the printer and networking issues should be fixed. Hopefully software base station too, i had being bound, and i don't have $300, even for Airport.
10) Stability, OS9 seems to start stable, then decline. Neither OSX nor OS9 has a defrag tool which is a shame because Norton is evil as mentioned before. In terms of system tools apple has catching up to do to M$. Other things are so much better in X, for the power users out there, try running the iTunes window through 2 screens in OSX, then in OS9. BIG speed boost in OSX esp 10.1.x. And if you have a dual-display card (Radeon8500/GF2 Multi/etc) you will see hardware acceleration throughout, which is really nice.
Well that wraps it up, bring on the flames... i can't stop you. One more thing though: If apple took away the terminal app, who besides developers would know it was UNIX? And if you need proof apple has the kernal DOWN try booting with cmd-opt-r-s down, it'll boot you into hardcore UNIX mode. If you don;t know any commands just memorize "top" and "restart". have fun kiddies.
Comments
"What Amorph says."
He does a better job saying what I'm thinking.
like a .app folder? all the files are hidden from the user, but it's still a folder. Make a .sys folder at the root directory, and have everything important in it, and then have links to each user's home dir. This could even be an optional setup, like the "simple finder" in OS 9 (though better, I would hope, simple finder was the worst case of moronic I've ever seen. I would have to argue MS Bob was comparable).
With the above implimentation, anyone not ready for directories they can't touch wouldn't have to even see them, everyone else could either "show package contents" or turn this optional setup off.
I'd say about 85% of the world's computer users (90% in the US), should never see more than one folder labeled "System" on their computer. in general,any more tends to share them, in my experience. What's this do? Can I move this? I even feel that way sometimes in OSX. And I deal with UNIX every day. The current hierarchy is a great setup IMO. but it's not user friendly for beginners. the UI is very newbie friendly. but the heirarchy should not be showing my mother the full contents of the system.
All she needs is appz and documents. yes, you make set that up with aliases, but I doubt every mother/grandmother/father/gfather/general newbie has a mac geek at hand to help them with the setup.
OSX is SHWEEET!! But it needs more work before I would even think of suggesting it to my mom. That's my yardstick on ease of use. OSX isn't there yet.
1) You simply have the mentality that OS X is not good. Nothing Apple or anyone else can do will change that. You need to consciencly drop your 'OS 9 is superior' attitute and truly adopt OS X for what is it, and what it represents. Embrace it 110% like the rest of us. Then you'll wander how you ever make it this long in OS 9.
2) You're flat out stupid for mistaking OS X for OS 9. Once again, I repeat verbatim:OS X is NOT OS 9. Don't pretend it is. Period. I sympathize with you. Quite frankly, I don't want you using OS X. OS X is not your OS. Please do us all a favor and stick with OS 9 for at least another 5 years, minimum.
3) (Provided that you know how to read)Get a few good books on OS X and learn how to use it properly. It will teach you all about KEXT's, *NIX, and other relevant topics you appear so ignorant about.
4) OS X is way easier than OS 9. Sit any newbie in front of a computer:
Dock vs. Application menu? Dock
Print Center vs. Chooser? Print Center.
Aqua vs. Platinum? Aqua.
Stability vs. System Bombs? No competition.
Trouble free vs. Extension Conflicts? No competition.
It goes on and on and on...
BTW, OS 9 has many of hidden files just like X, you obviously aren't an OS 9 expert either.
Courtesy:
B¡tchyX: Tell it like it is.
[ 04-24-2002: Message edited by: iAppleWeek ]</p>
<strong>...OS X is NOT OS X. Don't pretend it is...</strong><hr></blockquote>
Whow, that's way too philosophical for me, dude. I'd ask what you mean by that but I'm already in over my head.
*Oooh, it's spinning*
Print Center vs. Chooser? Print Center.
Aqua vs. Platinum? Aqua.
Stability vs. System Bombs? No competition.
Trouble free vs. Extension Conflicts? No competition.
SNIP
BTW, OS 9 has many of hidden files just like X, you obviously aren't an OS 9 expert either.<hr></blockquote>
At least printing through the Chooser usually works. The Print Center sucks, doesn't follow UI guidelines.
Trouble free? A bad .kext is just as bad as a bad system extension, except that I can delete a bad system extension without having to go CLI and sudoing root. Bad .kext you say, then you haven't installed Norton AV or Systemworks. POS.
A full OS9 install weighs in at 230+megs, a small OSX install a 900+ megs, and you're going to tell me with a straight face that OS9 has MORE hidden files. LOL.
OSX is an improvement over OS9, but lets be a little more realistic in appraising both OSs.
<strong>alcimedes(& Company):
1) You simply have the mentality that OS X is not good. Nothing Apple or anyone else can do will change that. You need to consciencly drop your 'OS 9 is superior' attitute and truly adopt OS X for what is it, and what it represents. Embrace it 110% like the rest of us. Then you'll wander how you ever make it this long in OS 9.
2) You're flat out stupid for mistaking OS X for OS 9. Once again, I repeat verbatim:OS X is NOT OS X. Don't pretend it is. Period. I sympathize with you. Quite frankly, I don't want you using OS X. OS X is not your OS. Please do us all a favor and stick with OS 9 for at least another 5 years, minimum.
3) (Provided that you know how to read)Get a few good books on OS X and learn how to use it properly. It will teach you all about KEXT's, *NIX, and other relevant topics you appear so ignorant about.
4) OS X is way easier than OS 9. Sit any newbie in front of a computer:
Dock vs. Application menu? Dock
Print Center vs. Chooser? Print Center.
Aqua vs. Platinum? Aqua.
Stability vs. System Bombs? No competition.
Trouble free vs. Extension Conflicts? No competition.
It goes on and on and on...
BTW, OS 9 has many of hidden files just like X, you obviously aren't an OS 9 expert either.
Courtesy:
B¡tchyX: Tell it like it is.
[ 04-24-2002: Message edited by: iAppleWeek ]</strong><hr></blockquote>
Dude, Mac OS X is an apple OS for apple Power Macintosh Computers. I didn't realise that it was really designed for Unix geeks who would smugly berate anyone who felt that arcane computer techno babble was unacceptable in a Macintosh <img src="graemlins/oyvey.gif" border="0" alt="[No]" />
I'm also 100% with Spooky - MacOS is the OS for the rest of us, whether it's classic or X.
Dock vs. Application menu? Dock
Print Center vs. Chooser? Print Center.
Aqua vs. Platinum? Aqua.
Stability vs. System Bombs? No competition.
Trouble free vs. Extension Conflicts? No competition."
yeah.
What he said.
Lemon Bon Bon
<strong>
At least printing through the Chooser usually works. The Print Center sucks, doesn't follow UI guidelines.
Trouble free? A bad .kext is just as bad as a bad system extension, except that I can delete a bad system extension without having to go CLI and sudoing root. Bad .kext you say, then you haven't installed Norton AV or Systemworks. POS.
A full OS9 install weighs in at 230+megs, a small OSX install a 900+ megs, and you're going to tell me with a straight face that OS9 has MORE hidden files. LOL.
OSX is an improvement over OS9, but lets be a little more realistic in appraising both OSs.</strong><hr></blockquote>
It's not fair to blame Apple or anyone else besides your printers' manufacturer for the lack of drivers. Also, can you point out exactly what's wrong with Print Center's UI that's so bad that other OS X apps don't have? The UI is in line with the rest of Carbon applications.
And how many bad KEXT's have you run into? All of 1 or 2? Compare that to any amount of junk you easily put in OS 9's Extension folder and easily bring the entire system down. Besides, now in OS X you can install KEXT's in /Library/Extensions. This way you can *easily* keep track of what KEXT's you have installed. Install a problematic KEXT? Reboot to 9 and delete it from /Library/Extensions. Simple as that.
OS X simply has allot more files and applications that OS 9 has in a default install. This is a mutt point anyway. All new Mac's have at least 15GB (iBook). OS 9 does have many hidden files. And yes, OS X does have more hidden files than OS 9. Your point being?
I am being realistic. Ask any new user: OS X definately is easier than OS 9 and passes the 'mom-test'. However, to fine-tunned OS 9 users, the upgrade will be more difficult breaking old habits.
[ 04-24-2002: Message edited by: iAppleWeek ]</p>
I don't put .kext anywhere. The developer/installer does, and its usually in /System/Library/Extensions, root/wheel permissions. bad .kexts: Apple Serial driver, Norton AV, Norton FileSaver. Nasty stuff.
Print Center quits when you close the window. Its supposed to stay open. You can't set a default paper size or change any printer parameters unless you delete the printer and start over. Not a matter of drivers, I got mine, just that printing in OSX is not the world's most advanced printing--in fact its less useable than printing in OS9. Don't even get me started on printing speed.
Fine tunned OS9 users my ass--you can't reduce everything to its different than OS9. Some OSX stuff is broken or poorly implemented, and should be noted as such.
right off the bat
iAppleWeek, this thread has been relativly productive compared to most. if you want to have an decent conversation on a subject, please keep your posts inline with the topic of conversation.
comments like "can you read" and "you're flat out stupid" will rarely give rise to intelligent discourse. i'll answer what i think are the questions you asked between insults, but grow up a little please.
1st, i am aware that OSX is not OS 9. however, to the best of my knowledge there was 0 documentation that came with the new iMacs that covered the differences between OS9 and OSX. perhaps a shiny page or two, that's it. if you expect long time mac users to go from one OS to the next without treating the new one like the old, you're sadly mistaken.
the easiest and most effecient way for a computer user to understand a new OS is in reference to their old OS. OS 6 users used that as a base for understanding OS 7. OS 7 users used that as a base for OS 8 users. OS 8 users used that as a base for OS 9. it makes sense that OS 9 useres would use that as a base for OS X.
that being said, i think there is a severe lack of documentation on the differences between the two OS'es. not everyone has the time to beta test an OS for a year. some people have jobs where they work, and can't fart around with a new OS all day. those people have to be able to walk into work one day and say "hey, this week i'm switching over to OSX, and i'll still get my work done!"
and i'm also a firm believer in the grandma/mother test, which OSX fails utterly.
as for reading up on kext's and the like. i have yet to read up on the inner workings of my PC's .dll files, and yet it runs very nicely. to suggest that one needs to have a good grasp of how *nix works to use their home OS is just plain stupid. if that's the point you're at, turn around and go home. that is exactly why Linux is light years away from being a desktop OS at this point. if that's what you think OSX should be, it would die a slow, painful death.
however, i don't think that's where OSX is going, i think it's trying to move away from that position as much as possible. the mindset is still there though, and you can see it in how the file system works, error messages, sharing etc. this will probably fade with time, but at this point it's a problem.
as for print center vs. chooser, please feel free to read the earlier posting on the subject. if you can't understand why i think there's a problem with the way the print center sets up a printer, ask nicely and i'll be happy to explain it. it has a horrid UI, and needs a massive overhaul.
my UI yardstick is this. if it's much easier on a PC, then there's something seriously wrong with the Mac side. setting up printers is 10x easier on a PC running anything past winME in comparison to OSX. new OS should make things easier, not more complicated.
which brings me to this
[quote]And how many bad KEXT's have you run into? All of 1 or 2? Compare that to any amount of junk you easily put in OS 9's Extension folder and easily bring the entire system down. Besides, now in OS X you can install KEXT's in /Library/Extensions. This way you can *easily* keep track of what KEXT's you have installed. Install a problematic KEXT? Reboot to 9 and delete it from /Library/Extensions. Simple as that.<hr></blockquote>
now, the fact that you have to boot into OS 9 to fix OS X isn't at all ironic to you? you know, OS 9, that one we should all just forget about?
i've also noticed a trend here of people complaining that OS 9 was horribly unstable, they could only have approx. 5 apps open at a time etc.
the only time i ever came across this was when OS 9 was short on RAM. i'll be the first to say that OS 9 had issues with memory, but if you threw enough at it, they basically went away. i'd go weeks without a crash of any kind, and months with no system bombs. maybe i'm unique in this, but OS 9 was actually very stable for me.
RAM was an issue back when it cost an arm and a leg. now the average user can toss 512 megs in their machine for under $200. that bascially solves 90% of the problems in OS 9.'
next i'll post another short rant on file systems.
edit: iAppleWeek, i know you're not some new user here, why not at least have the decency to use your real name.
besides, there's only one person who constatnly misspells "whiner" the way you do.
i'll save the other rant for another night. cs 1.4 is out.
[ 04-25-2002: Message edited by: alcimedes ]</p>
well, haven't had the time since i started my new job to follow this thread until today, so i'll try and post a few replies to some of the questions/comments directed my way.
right off the bat
iAppleWeek, this thread has been relativly productive compared to most. if you want to have an decent conversation on a subject, please keep your posts inline with the topic of conversation.
comments like "can you read" and "you're flat out stupid" will rarely give rise to intelligent discourse. i'll answer what i think are the questions you asked between insults, but grow up a little please.
Wow. And this comming from the person who named this thread "WTF happened to our OS?". Yes...mature indeed. How about "OS X is a pain in the ass. and it took me this long to notice." How about thinking and investigating before making igorant posts about OS X. And, as others have said, Photoshop was never a drag-n-drop install. Yeah...you really know your stuff.
1st, i am aware that OSX is not OS 9. however, to the best of my knowledge there was 0 documentation that came with the new iMacs that covered the differences between OS9 and OSX. perhaps a shiny page or two, that's it. if you expect long time mac users to go from one OS to the next without treating the new one like the old, you're sadly mistaken.
the easiest and most effecient way for a computer user to understand a new OS is in reference to their old OS. OS 6 users used that as a base for understanding OS 7. OS 7 users used that as a base for OS 8 users. OS 8 users used that as a base for OS 9. it makes sense that OS 9 useres would use that as a base for OS X.
that being said, i think there is a severe lack of documentation on the differences between the two OS'es. not everyone has the time to beta test an OS for a year. some people have jobs where they work, and can't fart around with a new OS all day. those people have to be able to walk into work one day and say "hey, this week i'm switching over to OSX, and i'll still get my work done!"
I don't recall any documentaion in the box for my OS 7.6.1 > 8.0. Or 8.0 > 8.5. Or 8.5 > 9.0 -- all of which I bought in box. If you're complaining that Aple didn't include a nice little picture guide for using the Dock, maybe you shouldn't be using computers at all. And yes, their *IS* a little phamlet inside the OS X box that details installation and basic usage as compared to OS 9. Or just pick up the special MacWorld OS X issue like I did.
and i'm also a firm believer in the grandma/mother test, which OSX fails utterly.
You have to enlighten me on how OS X fails this mom-test. Countless reviews have said OS X is the easiest-to-use OS ever. I completely agree. A new user is not going to play with NetInfo, need root, use Terminal, etc. Tell me how you explain to them how to troubleshoot using the Extension Manager. How to easily see what's running or not. What a system bomb is. Why it happens. Where that little hard reset button on their iMac is. Yeah... OS 9 sounds like a real blast for grandma.
as for reading up on kext's and the like. i have yet to read up on the inner workings of my PC's .dll files, and yet it runs very nicely. to suggest that one needs to have a good grasp of how *nix works to use their home OS is just plain stupid. if that's the point you're at, turn around and go home. that is exactly why Linux is light years away from being a desktop OS at this point. if that's what you think OSX should be, it would die a slow, painful death.
Consider yourself lucky you've avoided DLL Hell thus-far. Many, many of my associates install new software only to find themself in DLL Hell.
however, i don't think that's where OSX is going, i think it's trying to move away from that position as much as possible. the mindset is still there though, and you can see it in how the file system works, error messages, sharing etc. this will probably fade with time, but at this point it's a problem.
as for print center vs. chooser, please feel free to read the earlier posting on the subject. if you can't understand why i think there's a problem with the way the print center sets up a printer, ask nicely and i'll be happy to explain it. it has a horrid UI, and needs a massive overhaul.
Be my guest. What so horrid about Print Center's UI that is Print Center-specific?
my UI yardstick is this. if it's much easier on a PC, then there's something seriously wrong with the Mac side. setting up printers is 10x easier on a PC running anything past winME in comparison to OSX. new OS should make things easier, not more complicated.
How much easier could it get than 1) plugging in an OS X-support USB printer, 2) Print Center pops open, and 3) Add printer.
which brings me to this
now, the fact that you have to boot into OS 9 to fix OS X isn't at all ironic to you? you know, OS 9, that one we should all just forget about?
My mistake here. This isn't specifically what I meant and need to clearify it. If you install a prolematic KEXT, just remove it while in OS X. Heck, use kextunload and do it in real-time w/o rebooting! Try that in OS 9. If it's a severe problem and X won't boot, then you can start up from a CD or 9 and remove the KEXT.
i've also noticed a trend here of people complaining that OS 9 was horribly unstable, they could only have approx. 5 apps open at a time etc.
Get a clue dude. That's no trend. OS 9 was horribly unstable.
the only time i ever came across this was when OS 9 was short on RAM. i'll be the first to say that OS 9 had issues with memory, but if you threw enough at it, they basically went away. i'd go weeks without a crash of any kind, and months with no system bombs. maybe i'm unique in this, but OS 9 was actually very stable for me.
Consider yourself extremely luckly if OS 9 has been so stable for you. Ask most anyone, that's usually not the norm.
RAM was an issue back when it cost an arm and a leg. now the average user can toss 512 megs in their machine for under $200. that bascially solves 90% of the problems in OS 9.'
next i'll post another short rant on file systems.
edit: iAppleWeek, i know you're not some new user here, why not at least have the decency to use your real name.
Actually, I am new posting here on AI. I post @ MacNN Forums though.
besides, there's only one person who constatnly misspells "whiner" the way you do.
Give up...its not me.
i'll save the other rant for another night. cs 1.4 is out.
Face it alcimedes, your just flat-out reluctant to accept OS X because you have the illusionary notion that OS X will never be 'good enough'. Your the kind of person that will complain forever and always find faults in something. OS X will probably never apease you, with the attitude of your first post. What are you running on anyway? A Quadra? Centris? Or perhaps a MacPlus...
Courtesy
--
B¡tcheyX: Tell it like t'is.
[ 04-25-2002: Message edited by: iAppleWeek ]</p>
that's the point. you didn't need documentation. if you knew the OS before, you knew the new version of the OS. what i'm saying is that it is a bad idea to have such a drastic change in the way an OS works, and not include documentation regarding that fact when you first start shipping it as the default OS. iMac = consumer/home machine. home users would likely be used to OS 9 or earlier. they will be lost in OS X.
[quote]...how does it fail the mom test...<hr></blockquote>
please tell me how you would set up a network printer in OSX, and i'll show you where the problem lies. this will also answer your question as to what my problem is with OS X and the print center. have you read what has been written about the print center? do you agree or disagree. saying "it's easy, you're a moron" isn't really much of an answer. (i know that's paraphrased, but accurate enough)
the print center has issues, i've stated what they are. if you disagree, please tell me which parts you disagree with and why.
please read the entire thread before you post your replies, otherwise they don't make much sense. if you miss something the first time, you are allowed to go back and read again you know.
-alcimedes
<strong>
please tell me how you would set up a network printer in OSX, and i'll show you where the problem lies. this will also answer your question as to what my problem is with OS X and the print center. have you read what has been written about the print center? do you agree or disagree. saying "it's easy, you're a moron" isn't really much of an answer. (i know that's paraphrased, but accurate enough)
the print center has issues, i've stated what they are. if you disagree, please tell me which parts you disagree with and why.
please read the entire thread before you post your replies, otherwise they don't make much sense. if you miss something the first time, you are allowed to go back and read again you know.
-alcimedes</strong><hr></blockquote>
Wow...
Now *please* tell me why ma and pa who just pulled their iMac out of the box 30 minutes is interested in setting up a network printer?!? Yeah....right.
Again, this "users are accustom to OS 9" is totally bogus. If it's a new user, the point is completely mutt anways! First time computer users don't even know what OS 9 is. All their know is that their iMac or iBook came with this really awesome and easy OS called Mac OS X -- nothing else matters.
Furthermore, who doesn't know about Mac OS X before their buy their Mac!? Just about every Mac user knows what Mac OS X is by now. It's all over apple.com and other Mac web sites. Jobs announced it to millions of people at MacWorld countless times. He accounced it is now the default OS. If you're buying a freak'in Mac, trust me, you know what Mac OS X is.
Besides, the interface is OS X is very close to that of OS 9. Same single menu bar, desktop metaphor, etc, etc. You're making a big deal out of nothing. It takes all of one week to get accustom to the Dock and realize what value it provides.
You're asking Apple to include "documentation" for OS X to rightly justify the big difference. Did I not suggest you go pick up a cheap book on OS X/UNIX if you're interested? Most users don't want to know all the technical details like you. Did System 7.0 or 6.0 or 5.0 include huge amounts of documentation? No. You had to learn it yourself the first time. Its no difference with OS X.
And yes, the Print Center has issues. But what I'm asking you to do is point out indivual unique UI problems with Print Center. Do not confuse this witht lack-of-functionality or features however.
these arguments are nothing more then funny.
i'll just wait for Amorph to respond to this the right way. (my english is a desaster)
for me macos x is the most advanced os (and i seen a lot of them) ever.
just don't try to complicate things.
do it the easy (apple) way. - it works!
if you are used to do thing complex - then yes you will have a hard time to get used to x.
<strong>OSX has some useability problems but they could be easily fixed. I shouldn't have to open system preferences to get to software update. Windowshade is better than using the dock for some things [...] The main fix would be to make the apple menu more customiazable.</strong><hr></blockquote>
I'm not sure that it makes sense for Apple to add a disparate set of features just for people who don't like the default interface. They should provide a set of widgets that work together in a sensible manner, and leave it at that. Such things are more properly the province of shareware, just like they were in OS 9. Particularly, an OS 9 like Apple menu makes no sense in the OS X workspace. (Not that it made much sense in OS 9 - it was a random catch-all at best.)
[quote]<strong>OSX on the internet is awfully slow. I'll wait till 10.2 to see what Apple has in store for us. OSX really needs to be improved and I would think they know it.</strong><hr></blockquote>
AOL uses its own networking stack, and its own networking protocol. That might be slow. With a few exceptions related to AppleTalk, OS X networking is wonderful. Small wonder: We're now on the platform that TCP/IP was invented on.
1) Printing in OSX, yes it stinks. PB had support for Apple Printers, which ironically were discontinued in 1996 i believe. When he says "UI Stinks" he's referring to the workflow. Ideally Print Center detects your printer, then simply lets you click add and you're all set. OC it doesn't work as well. 10.2 will feature better printer detection and even (WOW on this one) support for unsupported printers (? but OK). As for legacy printers, sorry you're probably screwed, I suggest an Epson 7-series for around $99. You'll really like the quality.
2) Speed. Speed is a tricky subject, BASICALLY keep in mind what OSX is doing. Look at FCP or iTunes in OS9. Look how they handle dragging and scaling. Now look at OSX. WOW, so since it's more complex, you can't run as fast. Also the fact that Apple made Quartz use CPU was probably just a temp solution bc they have crappy GPU support for legacy macs and some older G3s (inc iMac A/B). According to MOSR apple will pull some unheard of stunt and make your GPU a co-processor AND reimpliment 2D Acceleration which is sorely needed.
3) Partitions- i use them, you should not. If you can argue that you can use more than 1. Or if you have 2 HDs like me. As for a media HD that's a good plan if you like that stuff, it's about as hard as making a CD-R or Zip if you dot want a partition.
4) Macs need to catch up in performance. I don't remember who asked but look at <a href="http://www.apple.com/games/demos/quake3arena/"; target="_blank">http://www.apple.com/games/demos/quake3arena/</a>;
<a href="http://a772.g.akamai.net/7/772/51/4e3818448242e2/www.apple.com/powermac/images/dvd_chart01222002.gif"; target="_blank">http://a772.g.akamai.net/7/772/51/4e3818448242e2/www.apple.com/powermac/images/dvd_chart01222002.gif</a>;
<a href="http://a772.g.akamai.net/7/772/51/c59183078188bf/www.apple.com/powermac/images/specs_graph01222002.gif"; target="_blank">http://a772.g.akamai.net/7/772/51/c59183078188bf/www.apple.com/powermac/images/specs_graph01222002.gif</a>;
and
<a href="http://www.apple.com/powermac/architecture.html"; target="_blank">http://www.apple.com/powermac/architecture.html</a>;
Trust me, Apple knows what they're doing. OK, i'm not about to argue here that macs are gaming monsters like OC'ed dual 1.7Ghz AMD XP+ systems with 266Mzh DDR or whatever they have now. Mac make amazing use of the mhz, which is the typical limiting factor today, not GPUs. What you didn't see was the curve of performance on a mac, sinec it's CPU limited (sigh) you can get the SAME FPS at 640x480 and 1600x1200. So run at 1600x1200 where your PC friends (who 99% haev GF2s) can't compete if you need that ego-boost like i do.
5) Why no one has mentioned networking i have no idea. The finder has a lot of flaws, starting with the fact that I don't like carbon. But I have faith that soon the finder will run completly in Cocoa, LaunchCMF will die and we'll all be happy.
6) Daemons are evil. Why can't anyone program a good one. If you find OSX seems to have jumpy performance check Process Viewer, if you have everything quit, search for LaunchCFM apps, they are typically useless.If you run a PDA and like OpenGL, I would suggest taking out Palm Background from the launch apps list, then launching it before you HotSync, it's a real system-downer. If you have Norton installed for OSX (as of the beta) it's Daemon is evil beyond reason. Don't run norton, remove it as best you can, use Sherlock. You may need to use root access, but it's Norton's fault, not Apple's.
7) OS9 is not as fast as you remember. From OSX 10.x to 9.x yes, from 10.1.x to 9.2.x no. The ability to multitask really helps out OSX a lot. Try in OS9 loading a page, then doing something else, by the time it's switched out of IE the page is done. As for OSX having slow web speed, that's really mostly CPU limited, i like Netscape at the moment, but i switch a lot. Expect HUGE speed increases on draw intensive apps like OmniWeb after 10.2 comes out (passes on tasks to GPU, making your little iMac 600Mhz a raw power dual system, well to a clever degree).
8) People complain about the dock, esp genie/lack of window shades. Look for WindowShadesX. It's 3rd party, but competent if you like that kinda thing. Same with Xounds.
9) Driver support. Only scanning seems REALLY bad, with OSX 10.2 the printer and networking issues should be fixed. Hopefully software base station too, i had being bound, and i don't have $300, even for Airport.
10) Stability, OS9 seems to start stable, then decline. Neither OSX nor OS9 has a defrag tool which is a shame because Norton is evil as mentioned before. In terms of system tools apple has catching up to do to M$. Other things are so much better in X, for the power users out there, try running the iTunes window through 2 screens in OSX, then in OS9. BIG speed boost in OSX esp 10.1.x. And if you have a dual-display card (Radeon8500/GF2 Multi/etc) you will see hardware acceleration throughout, which is really nice.
Well that wraps it up, bring on the flames... i can't stop you. One more thing though: If apple took away the terminal app, who besides developers would know it was UNIX? And if you need proof apple has the kernal DOWN try booting with cmd-opt-r-s down, it'll boot you into hardcore UNIX mode. If you don;t know any commands just memorize "top" and "restart". have fun kiddies.