Lights, Camera, Action: (OSX.3) Panther Ready for Prime-Time

eCommerce Times ^ | DEcember 4, 2003 | Robyn WeismanRobyn WeismanRobyn WeismanRobyn WeismanRobyn WeismanRobyn Weisman

[Swordmaker]

Since its October 24th release, Apple's latest iteration of its BSD-based OS X software, version 10.3 or "Panther," has received more plaudits than pans throughout the high-tech community

Indeed, aside from a couple of initial glitches, including a hard drive-damaging flaw that has since been fixed, the launch has been seen as a highly positive development. BusinessWeek technology columnist Stephen Wildstrom called Panther "the best operating system available to consumers." And on the eve of Panther's release, The Wall Street Journal tech columnist Walter Mossberg wrote that Panther "can network easily with Windows computers and is packed with lots of other cool features, some of which Windows can't match." That compatibility could help the new OS play well in the enterprise. Chris Bourdon, Apple's (Nasdaq: AAPL) senior product line manager for Mac OS X, seems extremely pleased by the response to Panther desktop.

"It's great to see people recognizing our OS and our hardware," he told the E-Commerce Times. "Our goal is to make the best desktop computers and operating system we can make."

[Swordmaker]

"the best operating system available to consumers."

ABSOLUTELY!

[Bush2000]

If a tree falls in the forest and nobody hears it...

[Yossarian]

Well, an inexpensive cluster of PowerMac G5s over at Virginia Tech just came in #3 on the worldwide (unclassified) supercomputer performance list.

So I guess that you'd say a big 'ol tree fell down in the Intel forest, and a whole lot of people just heard about it!

(Disclaimer: PowerPC helps me pay my bills....)

[mhx]

I am using it right now! It is the best desktop operating system I have ever used, and I've used most of them. The rough spots have really been ironed out since previous OS X releases. And Apple's not even paying me to say this.

[nerdwithamachinegun]

Ditto. I fix Winblows boxes on cheap hardware all day long. For the most part things work ok, not great but ok. I go home to a 15" Powerbook that just works.

Don't anybody hand me that "there's not enough applications" horsepucky. You don't use that many anyway and you can do anything you want with the available apps.
Games? That's another story. If you want to game, get a game system. That's about all Winblows is good for beyond keeping IT guys like me employed.

Cost? Buy a PC made out of hardware that is as good as an Apple box and you're right back to square one on cost.

OS X (that's 10, not 'ex') is a great OS. I come from a UNIX background and it's nice to have all the comforts of home in an OS that still has a fast GUI and plenty of apps.
I was driven to OS X by Linux and many of the flaky underfeatured, unfinished apps for it.

You get what you pay for. If you want an overpriced OS on the cheapest possible hardware, stick with Winblows. When I was much poorer, that was all I could afford. To paraphrase (or misquote) Ferris Beuller, "If you have the means, I highly recommend one."


Regards from Baghdad

[Swordmaker]

Ditto. I fix Winblows boxes on cheap hardware all day long. For the most part things work ok, not great but ok. I go home to a 15" Powerbook that just works.

I do the same... and every day I get more and more ticked off at the poor design and failures of Windows in its various incarnations. It does pay a lot of the bills though... mine, that is. It is strange (not really) that my clients who use Macintoshes in their businesses have a let less need for my services than do those using Windows.

I have one little advantage over you... I get to come home to a G5 that just works... very fast!

[Swordmaker]

So I guess that you'd say a big 'ol tree fell down in the Intel forest, and a whole lot of people just heard about it!

Don't bother Buss2000 with facts... his mind is closed.

[Hank Rearden]

Looks fabulous! Might just boost the Macmoonies from 3.0% marketshare to 3.02%

Whoop-dee-doo.

[Hank Rearden]

Don't anybody hand me that "there's not enough applications" horsepucky. You don't use that many anyway and you can do anything you want with the available apps.

Nonsense. My stock-tracking software isn't available for the Mac (nor is there an equivalent), and my business runs on proprietary POS software that is light-years beyond any of the truly crappy elementary-school Mac stuff out there.

[Bush2000]

*Yawn*

[basil]

As many on this list know, I've never had anything but Macs. I'm not a wizzard with any computer, just barely able to learn how to use the things I need to learn, and never using 1/10 of the capability of any computer I have ever owned.

Can you answer a couple of basic questions for me?

Since I am presently using a new iMac, OS 10.2.6, do I need to upgrade to 10.3 (assuming I can do that)

Does this OS 10.3 correct whatever was being talked about on a thread the other day that somehow my computer could be destroyed by something or other? (I already said I'm no wizzard--LOL!)

Because I have to interact with mainly people who are on PC's in my work with Second Amendment Sisters, I like the fact that the new OS system interacts with PC's better, and it is my thinking that this alone would make it worthwhile for me to upgrade. Correct me if I'm wrong here.

And last, but not least, would you move next door to me so I will have somebody to call when I get my Mac screwed up?--LOL!

[Swordmaker]

Nonsense. My stock-tracking software isn't available for the Mac (nor is there an equivalent), and my business runs on proprietary POS software that is light-years beyond any of the truly crappy elementary-school Mac stuff out there.

I am sure you have taken the time to compare and contrast programs on a system you do not have with the programs on the system you do have. I can tell you have REALLY researched the available software on Macintosh so you can speak as an expert on the issue.

There ARE quite sophisticated stock-tracking software packages for Macintosh OS-X... just as their are complete Point-of-Sale and Inventory tracking programs for the Macintosh OS-X. Do you think that Apple Stores are using PCs to do their point of sale operations?

Just because YOUR specific Windows software is unavailable does not mean there are none of equal or possibly even greater sophistication available for the Macintosh. If you really want your software to run on a Mac, use VirtualPC running Windows XP, 2000, ME, 98, 95 or all of them at the same time. You can also use Linux or Unix POS software.