Re: Leopard rant - hard shutdowns all the time

T i m wrote:
On Sun, 22 Jun 2008 11:44:22 +0100, Rob <patchoulian@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:

Our Mini though (10.4) is not so predictable. It seems ok at getting
on the interweb (wirelessly) most of the time but will disconnect or
won't connect in the first place and for no apparent reason (similar
to the eeePC when running Linux ... that was also 100% when running
XP).

Well, anecdote rules :-)

Well indeed. ;-)
I just started a PC/Vista to do some DVD copying, and the wireless network drops, and to its credit restarts automatically, every couple of minutes with all the attendant infuriating bubble notifications.

That's why I added Vista to my 'can't see the point' list Rob. And
FWIW, can't you turn off those notifications?


I bought it 'because I could' (and use it 'because I can') when I bought a new HD, and it is pretty pointless, although possibly pointless and prettier. Actually drilling down to find out how to rejig the defaults is nothing like intuitive - but yes, I've no doubt they could be switched off.

I would add that I haven't used the PC in about a month, and it took the best part of 20 minutes to faff about with restarts and updates.

You need a faster PC (or get rid of Vista and stick XP on there). No
one has touched the Mini in a few months now and I guess we can expect
a few G of updates when we do. ;-)

It's an Athlon dual core/2GB/500GB with a mid-end gaming video card. The HD seems to be on the go always, but otherwise (say, for DVD copying) it seems OK. And indeed, Macs have their updating moments to be sure.

Never dropped in the month or so of using Virgin cable BB on either of the Macs running Leopard.

Meh, anecdotes ... ;-)


Finest kind! The problem with hard data remains on both systems.

The point is it seems (mainly from what I read here) that Apple might
not be doing such a good job re robustness of late. Part of what made
the early Apple machines (Pre OSX I guess as I have little actual
usage experience of said) so attractive to some is that they did 'just
work'. Maybe some of this instability is down to the fact that they
are trying to make it all do too much .. to many steps at one time
etc?


I am of the reasonably firm belief that if you stick with Apple stuff (hard/software) it will for the most part just work, and such machines are more robust than built-around-windows devices. Just last week, I had three techs looking at my work PC following all USB ports disappearing. They spent hours on it. In the end it was because of cd writing software (Nero) conflicting with a windows update.

Also, it's been a very long time since *I* (anecdote time again, as I
can't speak for everyone of course (but I thought that was a given
with the use of *I* <shrug>)) have experienced anything breaking when
doing an update. I have built / re-installed a few boxes of late and
I've gone from SP1 > SP2 > SP3 + and it all just seemed to go ok.


Indeed, although these incremental installs seems to be more a windows thing. But I have had some real distress with windows in the past.

I think there are also times when people just don't like summat just
because and therefore nothing is right with it. Like our daughter has
been leant a year old, 2000 mile Wuyang 125 motorbike, a Honda CG125
clone that is made in China (like many of it's type but this one is at
least done with some co-operation with Honda). I feel she should be
happy that someone would be willing to lend her such (and I think she
is) but she just doesn't like it? I have ridden it and to me it just
feels like a 125? I'm not sure if she would like it more if it just
said Honda or Yamaha on the tank?

Same with me and Linux. I keep giving it a go to see how close it's
got to actually being useable (by me) and it just hasn't got there
yet. If I can't use all the kit I can with XP (like printers etc) then
it's no good. :-(


I like Apple stuff for a number of reasons - the hardware is quiet, well designed, energy efficient*, looks good, has low wire-entanglement and is easy to use and set up. The software/interface works reasonably well, but is, as Charlie Brooker might have it, all rather Fisher Price for adults. The main point for me, though, is that when I use it as a work tool the computer bit doesn't seem to get in the way. I feel more productive, and that's a bottom line for me.

Rob

*to the point that it almost certainly offsets the higher initial cost.
.

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