Re: ping: Mac users

Mr. Ashby wrote:

boots wrote:
John Ashby wrote:
boots wrote:
..
I've been using windows since the early '90s. I'm dead tired of
installing and configuring windows. My laptop keeps telling me that
the hard drive is going to fail. I am not, I think, going to
continue with windows.

The Wonderful World of the Mac awaits ya. Join us.

[NOTE: There is no turning back]

The Macbook is priced more or less within reach. It looks like
Xcode would probably provide a development environment usable for
CGI work, and PHP work requires nothing more than a simple
editor.

Golly, Mr. boots, I'm afraid the best we can offer ya for free is stuff
like:

Apple Developer Tools

Designed to keep you waiting less and coding more, Apple's
ground-breaking approach to developer productivity streamlines all your
most common and time-consuming tasks by fusing familiar user interface
concepts with a unique mix of performance technologies in a complete
Integrated Development Environment.

Whether your goal is to port a UNIX text filter, build a new kind of
spread*** application, develop a full-featured video effects generator
or make something altogether different, you'll find sophisticated tools
and technology to help you work quickly. Best of all, a full suite of
developer tools -- called Xcode -- is included free with Mac OS X Tiger.

Xcode 2: A New Way to Work

Combining powerful UNIX-based tools, an excellent Mac OS X user
experience and a mix of high-performance development technologies, Xcode
gives Mac OS X Tiger developers the fastest way to create Mac OS X
applications, a groundbreaking user interface and the easiest way to
take advantage of new Apple technologies. With a compiler machine model
developed by Apple in partnership with IBM, Xcode uses GCC 4.0 to
optimize code for Apple's PowerPC G5 architecture.

The Power of AppleScript

AppleScript gives you flexible Mac OS X scripting capability, coupled
with integration with UNIX shell tools. You can use AppleScript for a
variety of jobs, including batch processing, file conversion and
manipulation, performing tasks at specified times, transferring
information between databases and other applications and creating
automated workflows by linking the actions of multiple applications to
perform a series of related tasks.

UNIX Foundation

With its Open Source, UNIX-based foundation, Mac OS X Tiger lets you
script with your choice of languages: Perl, PHP, Python, Tcl and more.
You can work with built-in development tools such as GCC, gdb, vi, emacs
and pico and take advantage of UNIX shell tools such as grep, chmod, ps,
crontab, top and tail. If you've written utility software on another
UNIX platform, you can quickly get it running in Mac OS X Tiger.

In addition to leveraging the gamut of UNIX tools, you can easily extend
the power of your software by using QuickTime's complete multimedia
architecture, including support for Flash 4, Cubic VR, RTP/RTSP video
streaming, MPEG and a wide array of graphic file formats.

64-bit Compatibility

Tiger features a redesigned kernel and updated system software math
libraries specifically for the 64-bit PowerPC G5 processor. The updated
kernel delivers the most substantial benefits of 64-bit computing by
breaking through the 4GB physical memory limit. The key functions of the
system math and vector libraries have been tuned to take maximum
advantage of new and faster math functions supported by the 64-bit G5.
Moreover, unmodified applications that use the system math functions
will get an automatic performance boost on the G5. The PowerPC chip was
architected from the beginning to run both 32-bit and 64-bit
applications without the need for emulation or translation software.
This means that 32-bit applications that run on Mac OS X today will run
natively on 64-bit PowerPC G5 Processor-based Macintosh computers,
without the need for recompiling or additional optimizations.

Java Built-in

Java has never looked this good. Built in to Mac OS X Tiger is the
latest, certified release of the Java 2 Platform. With improved Code
Sense indexing and Ant project templates, Java users can continue to use
their standard Java packages and build tools coupled with Xcode's key
productivity features.

New in Tiger

AppleScript Studio Enhancements
Dynamically create toolbars, improved data views, and more with
AppleScript Studio.
GCC 4.0
Take advantage of the latest version of the GCC compiler, featuring
support for 64-bit code generation.
Quartz Composer
Build stunning visualizations that leverage all of Mac OS X's
graphics technologies.
Xcode 2
Experience the second major release of Apple's groundbreaking
developer tools, which bring together ease of use, UNIX power and
high-performance development technologies.

Extend Tiger

Develop your own add-ons to Mac OS X Tiger.

* Spotlight plug-ins
* Dashboard widgets
* Automator flows
* Image Units
* Audio Units
* 64-bit apps
* Tiger Developer Overview

Power and Flexibility

Use XCode to develop next-generation 64-bit applications. Use a Power
Mac G5 to compile 64-bit applications faster. XCode features GCC 4.0,
and distributed builds over Bonjour.
Flexible Options

Mac OS X Tiger developers enjoy a wide variety of programming interface
and language options, ranging from the myriad proven UNIX tools and
utilities to object-oriented Cocoa and the ultra-fast Xcode IDE.

http://www.apple.com/macosx/developertools/
--------------------------------------------------

There's more to read... if ya think that may be helpful. Or, you could
just use the bundled basic text editor.

They are bound to have a decent browser and email program, right?

Mac users speak highly of MT-Newswatcher as a news client,
alternatively the combination of FireFox and Thunderbird will cover a
lot of bases.

I also recommend Newswatcher, and EVERYONE oughta use Forefox. Never got
around to trying Thunderbird 'cause I'm happy with Mac's own mail
program called... well, "Mail".

<...>
Sure they offer Microsoft Office but I don't want anything from
Microsoft.

Apple works has been around for years. Inexpensive (was free up to and
including OS 10.3.9--we're at 10.4.sumpthin' now):

"AppleWorks combines word processing, page layout, image manipulation,
spreadsheets, databases and presentations in a single application. To
help users easily and effectively express their ideas, AppleWorks
provides users with direct access to a dynamic library of Internet-based
templates that assist in the creation of professional looking documents,
such as newsletters, business cards, mailing labels and party
invitations. In addition, AppleWorks features enhanced formatting tools
that enable one-click integration of text, spread***, images and
movies into a single document."

http://www.versiontracker.com/dyn/moreinfo/macosx/11281

Am I preparing to shoot myself in the foot here?

Are ya aimin' at yer foot? Ya shouldn't aim at anyone that ya don't plan
to shoot, doncha know.

<...>
If I seriously expected to be stuck using vi for more than 15 seconds
I'd need to choose between windoze and suicide.

<gak!>

Do people still use vi?

<...>
You mentioned playing DVDs. We do watch videos on this laptop. I'd
be very surprised if the Mac couldn't do that without any add-on
software.
<...>

Sorry, I wasn't sufficiently clear - it's Linux that has a problem
because (AIUI) the decoding software isn't available for free. Macs are
good at playing DVDs,
<...>
<nodding>

Helpful, 'cause yer Mac System Software will arrive in DVD format.

I used to consider myself more or less stuck with windows because I
was using Microsoft Developer's Studio,
<...>

That's just what THEY want ya to believe! JOIN US, and be free!


--
Sylvia ( <---- Keeps her computer MS-Free)
.

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