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Tech Support Friday:
Mac OS X 10.1
Fast Forward's Rob Pegoraro
Friday, Sept. 28, 2001; 2 p.m. EDT
Apple shipped Mac OS X this spring, but it hasn't made much of a big deal
about it --until now. Mac OS X 10.1, due online and in stores starting
Saturday morning, is the version that most Mac users say they've been
waiting for. It adds long-delayed features such as DVD playback, addresses
many complaints about Max OS X's interface, and runs a good deal faster.
But the biggest factor that will affect when and if Mac owners upgrade--the
availability and quality of third-party applications that run natively in
OS X--is something that's not as easy for Apple to fix.
This week, Post columnist Rob Pegoraro talked about his review of Mac OS X 10.1 on Friday, Sept. 28, at 2 p.m. EDT.
Problems with your hard drive? Take your question to the Fast Forward instead! It's a repeat engagement of "Tech Support Friday," in which Rob Pegoraro takes your queries, scrambles madly to get answers to them from the collective Fast Forward brain trust and replies within mere minutes.
Below is the transcript.
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Rob Pegoraro: Welcome back, all. After looking at Windows XP in last Friday's column, I turned my attention to the Mac world in today's review of Mac OS X 10.1. So we can talk about that, or Win XP, or Palm shopping, or whatever other tech topic your heart desires.
Let's go...
Arlington, Va.:
Rob -- How does one pronouce "Mac OS X 10.1?" Is the "X" silent?
Rob Pegoraro: "Oh Ess ten point one."
I.e., yes, the "X" is a silent "ten." Maybe it would have been less confusing if Apple called Mac OS X.I.
U Street, Washington, D.C.:
When the Apple Store opened in Tysons, lines to get in started forming before dawn. Do you expect a similar turnout for the free 10.1 update? The online store is quoting a 4-6 week delivery, and none of the other local Apple authorized dealers I've called (Circuit City, Micro Warehouse) have the update CDs in stock.
Rob Pegoraro: I'm seen reports like that at some of the Mac news sites--well, not Apple Store-opening lines, but lines nevertheless.
You might want to try CompUSA, plus local Mac-only shops.
New York, N.Y.:
OK. I read that to get 10.1 for free, you go to a store and pick it up, and it costs $19.95 if you order it from Apple. But I went to my local CompUSA today and they said the opposite - they're charging $20 and it's free from Apple. Who's right?
Rob Pegoraro: Oops, should've read this question before posting my last answer. I'd say it means that somebody at CompUSA might be reading off a different script. Apple PR told me that Apple retailers--meaning, shops licensed to sell Mac software and hardware, not just Apple's own stores--will be giving the CD away.
Alexandria, Va.:
I have a Cube -- bought maybe a week before Steve Jobs deleted the item from the line -- and it is running both OS 9 and OS 10. This arrangement is satisfactory for now, while new software is written for OS 10, but I have one persistent bug I was hoping you couls help with. When I launch IE, the first time nothing happens; I get a message along the bottom of the screen that indicates that it is locating the page but it never does. If I close IE and then re-launch, it immediately loads the opening page. I am using the internal modem and dial-up service thru Erols, although I can't imagine that is the problem. Any ideas?
Rob Pegoraro: Is this under OS 10 or 9? I haven't seen that kind of behavior myself under either operating system. Has anybody else here witnessed this thing?
Alexandria, Va. :
Mac OS X is based on UNIX. Can it run UNIX shell scripts?
Rob Pegoraro: I think so, but I haven't tried. No need to--which is a very, very, very good thing.
Bethesda, Md.:
I find the 10.1 release to really solid, very configurable. I think this blows Microsoft XP out of the water. What is the BSD equavalient (IE liteBSD, openbsd, netbsd)?
Rob Pegoraro: Mac OS X is based on a version of BSD (Berkeley Software Distribution) Unix, but I forget which version. There is no real equivalent of it, though, because no other company has put this kind of interface on top of BSD.
California, Md.:
Really enjoyed your today's column. Got an iBook last July w/both OS X & 9.1. Have only looked at & "played" w/OS X. Everything I had on old iMac works so smoothly w/9.1. Tried moving old applications;e.g., Quicken & ran into trouble (probably my errors). Thought I'd wait until glitches are fixed. Are they? Note I'm 1000yrs old & change is tough! Thanks, Jerry
Rob Pegoraro: A lot of folks are in your shoes, California. The important principle here--as with any big upgrade--is that you should only buy new software if you actually need to.
Case in point: I'm heading up to Jersey this afternoon for a family get-together. Should I put OS X on my mom's iMac, which she only uses for Web browsing, e-mail and AppleWorks? I'm not sure it's necessary yet.
San Juan, Puerto Rico:
How do you think this bad boy will run on a PowerMac G3 233 (beige) with 160 MB RAM and a 20 gig hard drive?? Will it work with AppleTalk serial devices (i.e. my Personal LaserWriter 320)? And can I play TGVoice Tetris on it?
Rob Pegoraro: The processor speed is going to hurt you some. OS X is very fast under the hood, but the Aqua interface eats a lot of clock cycles. I'd look at prices for processor upgrade cards... provided OS X can live with them.
The LaserWriter should work, but check with Apple first. I can tell you that OS X had no problem finding and using a LaserWriter on the Post's AppleTalk network.
I don't know about your copy of Tetris. Is this anyting like "Tetris 4.0"? I loved that game--it not only tries to make you lose by selective erasing blocks, it actually insults you ("Nice move! Hope your friends are watching").
Washington, D.C.:
With the reasonable expectation that Apple will now continue to survive and with a new modern OS actually running and functional and also with continued support from Microsoft with IE and Office X. Can we now put to rest the argument that Macs cannot survive in a Windows dominated business IS world? I run IS for the US Institute of Peace in Washington D.C. and we are almost all Macintosh and we seldom have genuine problems with Mac to Windows interaction. Almost all of the problems we encounter have to do with user training and knowlege.
Rob Pegoraro: That argument could have been put to rest a long time ago. Microsoft Office for the Mac is so compatible with Office for Windows that it can even be infected by many of the same viruses. For a lot of everyday office uses--word processing, database work, spreadsheets--there is no God-given need to standardize on Windows. (For that matter, a properly configured Linux system could also replace a Windows PC in some cases.)
OS X makes it a stronger argument, I guess. But IS departments seem to go their own way, even in the face of evidence to the contrary.
Alexandria, Va. 22305:
We bought a G4 early this year with OS9. How much would it cost to upgrade to X, and is it worth it?
Rob Pegoraro: If the G4 only had OS 9 installed, you'd have to pay the full $129 price. That is, or will be, worth it--when it becomes "worth it" depends on the applications you use most often. If you do a lot of work in Photoshop, your upgrade schedule will be tied to some extent to Adobe's.
Sacramento Calif.:
When will OSX 10.1 be pre installed on new Macs ?
Rob Pegoraro: Good question. I'd expect it to show up soon. But if you were already planning to get a Mac, I wouldn't hold off because of that--the 10 to 10.1 upgrade is just about as simple as they get. Took maybe half an hour, with only one restart needed.
Washington, D.C.:
Rob - What have you heard in terms of Apple's plans for their next product line? I heard that they want to release the imac with an LCD.
Rob Pegoraro: People were expecting to see the LCD iMac debut in July at Macworld Expo, and were quite upset when that didn't happen. My hunch is that it may be some time in coming--LCDs still cost more than CRTs, and in a consumer machine that's not a factor you can ignore. We might see an iMac with an LCD at the high end, but the entry level will continue with CRTs.
But that's just my opinion; I could be wrong.
Ft. Belvoir, Va.:
I called three different CompUSAs. One's charging $20; one doesn't have it in stock; the third will give it to you for free, but I'd have to bring a proof-of-purchase. I tried to explain that that didn't make any sense, because the 10.1 update is useless without the original full OSX install CDs. There was a long pause and then he tried to sell me Windows XP.
This has got to be the most poorly orchestrated update in software history.
Rob Pegoraro: I think your experience says much more about CompUSA than it does about Apple.
Washington, D.C.:
Should we expect any changes within the cellular phone industry in light of the Sept. 11 attacks? Will there be a rush to perfect 911 services on cell phones?
Rob Pegoraro: A non-Mac question!
The wireless companies were supposed to roll out "E911" services that would allow emergency services to locate a cell phone more precisely than they can now, but they've all asked for postponements. I don't think they'll drag their feet any longer on this, though.
We might see a few more low-cost, occasional-use-only plans offered.
Bethesda, Md.:
Just a comment: if you want the developer CD, you've got to go the $19.95-send-the-form-to-Apple route for the update. Also, Apple is not requiring proof-of-purchase to get the update, so this might simplify things.
Rob Pegoraro: Thanks... from everything I've heard, the go-to-the-store option is the better choice to get 10.1.
Reston, Va. 20191:
Hi Rob - Since OS X is BSD, is it likely that "vanilla" unix programs will run on it? (Or is "vanilla Unix" a nonsense concept)?
Rob Pegoraro: Many Unix programs will run on OS X with just relatively minor work--a lot have already been ported over. But these applications don't have any interface in X, only running on the command line. To make a Unix app Aqua-compliant takes a little more work.
(The X Windows interface that many Unix programs use can be run on OS X, but it takes some tweaking that I haven't had the time to even think about trying yet.)
Alexandria, Va.:
Rob: Regarding the ease of upgrading to X.I ... how difficult will it be to upgrade my G3 w/ 128 MB from OS 8.6 to X.I?
Rob Pegoraro: You'll have to upgrade to at least 9.1 first, then install 10.1. (All the upgrade options include a 9.2.1 CD with the 10.1 CD.)
Non-Profit Utopia, D.C.:
One can love OS X just for its beauty and charm, but it is true that there were some bugs to be worked out. So, what (a) are the important fixes we ought to know about in X.I, and (b) what are we getting in X.I that we didn't know we needed so badly?
Rob Pegoraro: a) Most of the bugs that I remember from 10 were in the Finder itself--you'd see weird problems trying to select files in some views. Some users also reported sysem crashes when plugging or unplugging some peripherals, although I never had any such problem.
b) I'd say the overall capability of this system when it comes to graphics. Even the screensaver here is a piece of art to behold.
Germantown, Md:
Rob,
What's wrong with people! Why are only 5% of the people out there using macs! I'm a UNIX freak and I'm now all over X, baby. I love the Power PC chip, why don't you tell people about RISC versus the lame Intel CISC chip.
Thanks, keep it real homeboy!
Rob Pegoraro: PowerPC versus Intel is a whole 'nothing argument... those production folks at Motorola and IBM need to start producing chips that run a little faster.
Of course the clock speeds of a Pentium 4 and a G4 aren't directly comparable. I'm just concerned that it's taking Mot/IBM so long to speed up this chip.
Indian Head, Md.:
Currently on all the Macs I've installed OS9 and OSX , I have them on different partitions. With this new release, do they want to be on different partitions, or the same one?
Rob Pegoraro: I've done all my test installs on the same partition. One, I'm too lazy to repartition the drive beforehand. Two, OS X neither requires or even advises that--it's perfectly happy to run on the same disk as OS 9.
Downtown, D.C.:
Okay, here's a basic question: I bought my iBook in July, or something like that. I got a coupon for a free upgrade to X, which I haven't used yet, partly on the recommendation of the Mac guy at the computer store. So can I now use it for X.1, which sound a lot better?
Rob Pegoraro: I dunno. Does the coupon have an expiration date? I don't see why Apple wouldn't want to honor the coupon, but you never know with these things...
Fairfax, Va.:
Rob:
Who wins in a battle bot competition? Palm Pilot - Handspring Visor - Casiopia - Sony Clie?
Rob Pegoraro: Keep your eyes open for a column or two on this in mid-October.
wiredog:
You've done WinXP and OS X so when will we see your review of a Linux distribution? You know, you don't have to use the command line with it anymore, really. There's nothing to be afraid of.
Rob Pegoraro: When I see one that's priced and configured for a home user--and that will run the kinds of applications most people use at home.
Look, I think Linux makes an enormous amount of sense in offices--particularly government ones, which really should be trying to save the taxpayer's buck whenever possible. (Think Fairfax County is having second thoughts about standardizing on Windows now?)
But at home, it's a different ball of wax. People are not going to switch to a completely different OS and applications just because Microsoft is politically crummy and charges too much for Windows--most people get Windows "free" with the new computer.
Tysons Corner, Va.:
Any word on when Adobe software will go OS X native? Have been waiting for a good reason to upgrade.
Rob Pegoraro: Some of Adobe's apps are native already (Illustrator, InDesign, Acrobat Reader), others may take a while. Photoshop is the one everybody's waiting on, but the company has yet to spell out a release date. I'm sure the company is trying to get this done as quick as it can--selling a few thousand upgrades can't hurt its botttom line at all.
Not Miami Beach, Fla.:
Rob
Why does your section insist on allocating so much space to Apple products?
I find it hard to believe that much of your audience has macs, except for the graphic artists for whose tasks it is immenently suited.
On a less ephemeral note: Now that there is an improved OS do you see any chance of a liscensing arrangement like they had wirth Power PC a few years ago? Or maybe a handheld?
Rob Pegoraro: I think all tech journalists ask themselves this question. The answer to me is that Apple is enormously influential on the rest of the industry, both in software and hardware. Who do you think popularized USB? Not Intel, which invented it, but Apple, which put it on every iMac.
Question two: No, I don't see Apple licensing the Mac OS to other manufacturers anytime soon. I doubt anybody would take them up on the deal after the way Apple shafted its licensees before.
Pasadena, Calif.:
So did you have to give back your copy of 10.1 after you were done reviewing it? And what is on the home PC? MAC or XP?
Rob Pegoraro: The home computer, as I've written about once before, is an antique Power Computing Mac clone that's had most of its innards replaced once--twice, in the case of the processor. I wouldn't even want to try installing OS X on that.
Reston, Va. 20191:
Hi Rob - BTW can't move around the www.washingtonpost.com website in Opera 5. Too bad because it is my favorite browser
Rob Pegoraro: I'll post that without comment for the benefit of the washingtonpost.com folks... maybe it's a JavaScript glitch?
Rob Pegoraro: BTW, I'd like to note that I've been conducting this entire chat in OS X 10.1--I've got an iBook "connected" to my DSL via AirPort. (This lounge chair I'm sitting in is much more comfortable than the chair at my desk :)
Washington, D.C.:
Which do you think is better Windows XP or Apple X.1? (In terms of reliablity, ease of use and compatibility, etc.)
Rob Pegoraro: I left this question for almost last. I can tell you how I like each operating system by itself, but that's not a very useful answer unless you never plan to install third-party software.
Windows XP is a far better choice as far as game-playing goes. It also runs far more programs, and its backward-compatibility mode is also much more transparent than OS X's.
OS X is the better choice for graphics work and for a lot of day-to-day productivity stuff (not high-end databases, but word processing and organizing your calendar). I would also place its digital-media tools above XP's. And, given Microsoft's track record, I would expect an OS X system to be more secure on the Internet than XP.
Bayville, N.J.:
Will any of the PPC Macs with a G3 upgrade card run OSX?
Rob Pegoraro: Apple says no, but the manufacturers of upgrade cards say yes--and have already released the software to make that possible. Haven't tried it myself, though.
Washington, D.C.:
So, does it seem like it'd be better to wait to upgrade until there is more OS X compatible software out there? I fear that upgrading the OS will mean upgrading all my programs too! But the interface DOES seem so cool.
Rob Pegoraro: The interface is cool. There is no comparing Windows XP to this at all.
For people who can upgrade for free, I would say upgrade now--or at least get the free CD while the offer lasts (through Oct. 31). Install it and play around with it a bit, then decide if you want to move in.
If you'd have to pay $129 to upgrade, then you should check to see when/if your favorite programs will be made OS X-native.
Rob Pegoraro: My time here is up for today... thanks for stopping in. If you do switch to OS X, let me know how it goes (rob@twp.com).
Talk to you soon...
- R
washingtonpost.com:
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