Best OS?

OS X is good if you're just a regular user that uses your computer enough to learn the hotkeys and all the little thing that make OS X a lot more efficient for getting work done and if you can justify spending the money
I'm sticking with XP for at least a year juste becasue it's pretty stable; I have vscan + antispyware module, adaware, spyware blaster, defrag, delete stuff, run updates, and have enough ram. My computer in the last year has not once crashed, frozen up, or anything so that's good enough for me.
 
@AO:
they can't figure out how to install things in OS X? it seems to make it pretty easy, unless they don't have permissions in a computer lab which sounds like some of the users you deal with. so... i'm guessing you're an administrator for some sort of computer lab that has Apple computers? Anyways, I'd say in general it's way easier to install common programs on OS X than linux, since i'd be surprised if the average user could get things to compile correctly, or would even try.
i was vague when I said average user, i assumed this person isn't proficiencey-wise more a window's or a mac user and I had to decide which one they should get used to. Most people use their computer just enough that they could learn all the things in OS X they needed to do their work, and most wouldn't go far enough to learn unix, so they wouldn't be able to mess with things more than they should be, which should keep their computer running better. plus there's less spyware/viruses/adware for OS X, but that's not really an inherent trait of it. If more people had been OS X, they wouldn't be as confused or be able to do things that eventually mess with their computer which they do on windows.

there's already rumors and a patent by apple for it, plus this companies modded apple computers to a tablet. http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/ModBook . It'll probably still be a good while, but I don't think it'll be unbearably long
 
An OSX user is usually limited by what the OS has already built in. They cannot just go down to the store and install a program off the shelf. In my case I deplore the picture viewer in OSX. I want Linux & Windows 'types' of files which can be seen as a thumbnail. So when I open a folder the pictures should be able to be seen. But you can't do that in OSX. If I want to install a HOSTS file on my OSX10.2.8, it is nearly impossible. I miss multiple desktops, like Linux has. I do not like Safari. I like Firefox and Opera. The included IE 5.0? Pure garbage. I don't like any window theme which is 'metal' based ("brushed stainless steel"). How does one go about changing the whole window theme? They can't. (At least Xp gives you a choice between three, even if they are very similar.)

But the average user has to rely more on 'what' features are already built into OSX. If the .dmg is written right, it should be easy to install the app. But if it written right, there should be no need for user intervention. (Take for example Acrobat Reader for OSX, ~7.0. It basically installs automatically. But when the sys sees an Internet file, it defaults to 'Acrobat Reader 5.0' in the open/save dialogue box.)

And no, I don't care for the dock. I find that I have to minimise most windows to get back to the desktop. I much prefer the Windows and Linux 'desktop' button. (For me the desktop icon has to be in the launch pad. It just has to.)

So yes, as an OSX user I see both positives and negatives. As someone who has to support other users, though, it is just as frustrating as supporting XP and Linux. ("What do you mean that there's no icon?..." No don't tell me what you don't see, tell me what you do see.)
 
yeah it's no fun doing it lol. a good thing with xp is you can fuck with stuff more, which can be useful. the bad thing is you can fuck with stuff more lol. i feel like it gives good users an appropriate amount of control over stuff, but if you told me to pick an OS for a person without knowing a thing about them, i'd say give them OS X since i'd assume this person was the average user.

anyways i was trying to say that XP doesn't fuck up hardcore everyday if you know what you're doing, usually.
 
Actualy if you know how to use OSX, you can easily gain control over just about every aspect of the operating system, just as you would any other unix based OS. It's also a great developers platform, most of the dev guys I know use Macs.
XP's greatest advantage at this point, is that it's been established and has had the the time to work out all the bugs. I see no reason to switch at this point. Vista is good for the average user, given they have no incompatability problems, but it's a nightmare for those who work in the AV industry, and I wouldn't trust it in a production enviroment yet.
 
i guess if you include using its unix functionality, but i assumed that's a little out there for most users, including me, so there doesn't seem to be much middle ground, but that's probably how it actually should be if you want most of users to have their computers working haha. i see what you're saying though.
cliffs: point taken
also
if apple made a tablet... computer i guess, i'd love to see that because i'd like a tablet pc but I feel like apple would make a better one since their hardware just always seems to work better and is smaller. thoughts? it's a while b4 i buy a new computer but i'm
 
You really don't know a damn thing about OSX. First off, .dmg files are auto installing disk image files. The only "user interaction" involved is entering your password to allow the application to install. Thats a security feature you absolutely want. Also OSX can be reskinned, you can set it to display a thumbnail image, along with file information, IE is not included, but you can easily download IE, Firefox, Opera, Camino, Netscape, and several lightweight browsers for FREE. You have hotkeys, shortcuts, and Expose` that make it easier to navigate the GUI, as well as full access to the command line, just as you would with Linux. Finaly you CAN go down to the store and buy applications such as MS Office, PS, and Adobe if you want, but it's much easier to simply download them. Sorry but EVERY one of your gripes about OSX is the result of your ignorance about the operating system.
 
You are quite wrong. Have you seen what free apps are available for 10.2? Many free apps will only work for the latest version. If you look at Adobe Acrobat Reader there will be many versions, with the latest usually only supported by the latest OS. Here's Aperture, http://www.apple.com/aperture/download/ , which is only for 10.4. Since I am running 10.2.8, I am out of luck. Here's JetPhoto, http://www.apple.com/downloads/macosx/imaging_3d/jetphoto.html , it needs 10.3. Last time I tried 'the GIMP' I had problems with X11. Have you tried installing the multiple desktop applet under OSX? I couldn't get it to work. Windows XP has the same functionality (Power Toys), but it tends to bomb when different backgrounds are used. I finally just removed it. Linux? Flawless. (Although GNOME can only use 1 background while KDE allows different wallpapers.)

As far as window themes go, http://interfacelift.com/themes-mac/ , doesn't really address the issue of running FireFox under OSX and having its menu bar with lines through it. Unless you are running the latest Firefox build under 10.2 you won't have any idea of what I am talking about.

Yes, I have my folders set for thumb view. Now start up Preview... Hit the "Next" button, bunkie. Compare that with Windows or Linux. There's no comparison, is there? So you gotta go get a better viewer. Which will cost you money... So you're stuck with it. (As I said, many users are stuck with what comes with the OS.) Am I willing to spend $29.95 for a better viewer? Not when it comes free with Windows or Linux.

Your statement concerning .dmg is all wrong. I shan't bother addressing the droll.
 
F11
just because you don't know the way to do something doesn't mean that it can't be done. OSX is easily the best OS. As more and more users realize this mac software will become more readily available.
.
 
please tell me this isn't a major reason that you're against OSX...

here's what you can do:

when you want to look at all the pics in a folder,

-open the folder
-cmd+a
-double click one of the pics
-click next all you want
 
you "shan't" because you don't know what the hell you are talking about. I have no problem configuring OSX to do what I want, and in fact there are a fuck ton of free applications that easily work on most version of OSX. However if you have such a "problem" with the 10.2 build, why don't you just suck it up, and pull down a 10.4 image. You know, updates are there for a reason. 10.2 isn't even supported anymore. I can rattle off a ton of shit that isn't supported in old versions of Solaris, or RH.

and btw, the .dmg file, is exactly as I said it was. It's a disk image file. If you don't believe me, read this. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.dmg I'm sorry if clicking it, entering your password, and then dragging the application to the folder you want is too hard for you. It's probably the easiest and safest instal package out there, and about the only thing you'll find that compares is in FreeBSD. I sure as hell kicks the crap out of rpm.

and for the record, you can instal adobe products and make it your default viewer if you want, in fact there is a nice lighweight viewer that came with CS2. However I find nothing wrong with Preview. Maybe you just don't know where to look?
 
Who says that I am against OSX? I love OSX. Just as I love XP and Linux. 99% of the time that I am net surfing I am either using OSX or Linux.


I know what a .dmg file is. :lol: My point was concerning an X11 .dmg. Do you really think that X11 can be so easily installed on OSX? (And your response will probably be, "Yes, it's very easy...")


Which I see as a failing of OSX, the need to pay money for updates. When 10.5.0 comes out, I shall buy it. I then expect the updates to be free for either 90 days or until 10.5.1 comes out.


And I bet you that the applets which replaced them were a lot better.
 
Funny, I had no trouble with it at all. I simply mounted the disk image, dragged it to the folder, and was done.





All updates within the current major revision (ie 10.2x 10.3x, 10.4x, ect) are not only free, but can be done automaticly. Not only that, but the time frame between each major edition has been far longer than 90 days. In fact 10.4 (aka Tiger) has been out since April of 2005! Not one version has seen a replacement in any time less than 1 year, with the average being in the 15-18 month range. Thats perfectly acceptable.
However if you are so upset with "paying" just go download 10.4 from a torrent site for free. Is it violating the EULA, and anti piracy laws, well technicaly yes. Will Apple go after you for it? Absolutely not. Unlike MS, Apple really doesn't care if you have a pirate copy of OSX, and they don't bother you to register it like they do with XP or Vista. SO your argument is illinformed, and moot.



No shit, you think? No point in releasing an update, if it's not updating anything.
 
F11 doesn't work for me. The best way for me is to hit the Finder in the dock, then navigate to the desktop folder to get access to files that are on the desktop.
 
Now try installing the GIMP, http://www.gimp.org/macintosh/

Like all such type answers, your not having the problem does not mean that the problem does not exist for others. Our architectures could be different, our kernels could be different, etc.



That is not for me. I'll wait for 10.5 to come out. I am amazed at your cavalier attitude. I'm "illinformed" (sic)? Upon what basis do you make such a declaration? I am not upset at paying. But the features which I have wanted (when compared to Linux and Windows) have not been in 10.4. Yes, I have been patiently awaiting the 10.5 release and am disappointed that it won't be released until October.


I think you missed the point. As it relates to this matter, does your Preview work like my Preview? (Does your Preview work like the latest MS picture viewer (XP), like the latest Linux (Ubuntu, SUSE) picture viewer?)

No point in releasing an update? You mean that everyone should be locked into IE4, 5, or 6 (W98, W2K, WXP), Firefox, Opera, Qtime, Realplayer, Flashplayer, Nero burning software, Windows Media Player, etc.? Funny, I have gone through at least 3 different Windows Media Players on XP - WMP 9, 10 , 11. The same is true for the picture viewer; once ACDsee made their app., MS saw fit to emulate it.

But to answer your question - no, OSX is not the perfect OS. Not until they have multiple desktop functionality like Linux has had for the past, oh, dozen years? (My opinion, my need.) Is it the best? Not if you're a gamer. XP is. CAD/CAM, Photoshop and video editing? - Mac, of course. The next Mac OS? A copy of the current available Linux OSes that use AIGLX, just as OSX was a copy of E17, which came out for Linux years before. And yes, my GNOME desktop looks a LOT like OSX. Yes, I like OSX. Are there things which I think it can do better? Yes. Do I think that OSX is a great integrated package? Most certaintly. Will I be getting iPhone? No way. Do I use iTunes? No. iMovie? No.

And yes, I would like to know where you got XFree86 for OSX. http://www.osxgnu.org/ ?
 
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