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|| SportsShooter.com: Member Message Board
Is Panther anything more than just some bells and whistles?
James Schaffer, Photographer
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West Barnstable | MA | USA | Posted: 1:01 PM on 10.08.03 |
->> In a little over 2 years apple has release four versions of OS X. 10, 10.1, 10.2, and now 10.3 is due late this month.
10.1 and 10.2 were nothing more than patches for the shortcomings of their previous version.
With that said does anyone know if there is anything meaningful in this upgrade to warrant the $150. *not sure on price, please correct me if I am wrong* |
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Sean Gallagher, Student/Intern, Photographer
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Columbia | MO | USA | Posted: 1:15 PM on 10.08.03 |
->> $129
http://www.apple.com/macosx/
http://www.apple.com/macosx/newfeatures/
my favorite new features: fast-user switching like Windows XP, and Exchange support for mail, since Microsoft is too inept to implement one of their own technologies well in their own product (Entourage).
Exposé seems like it'll be handy too. |
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James Schaffer, Photographer
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West Barnstable | MA | USA | Posted: 1:23 PM on 10.08.03 |
->> I am just very skeptical of Mac because they have shown an incredible ability to market a product that has trivial use and make it seem like an essential for any user.
example - iCal
please if people out there use it then I am wrong, but of all mac people I have met none use programs like iCal, iSync, Address book, etc.... |
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Sean Connelley, Photographer
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Oakland | CA | USA | Posted: 3:05 PM on 10.08.03 |
| ->> I actually use ical and address book for keeping track of ummmmmm..you know events and people and then use isync to import them to an ipod. Ical is pretty decent i can download sports schedules, keep track of appointments, set alarms, basically everything i could do with my PDA except data entry. My only complaint is I would like if they were all in one application like Palm desktop. |
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Howard Curtis Smith, Photographer
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Rockville Centre | NY | USA | Posted: 4:58 PM on 10.08.03 |
->> I use all three programs you mention almost daily.
I would wait until after the 24th, when Panther ships, and read the reviews of the shipping product. That should give you an idea of the usefulness of new features, and how much they have been able to optimize the code of existing features.
I personally did not make the switch from OS 9 at the release of OS 10. The original release was too buggy, and there was very little software available for what I needed to do. I made the switch at OS 10.1, and have done every upgrade since.
I still find it better than living in a Windows world, with their upgrades, service packs, bug fixes, multiple current versions, and living in fear of the next virus to come down the pike. |
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Thomas E. Witte, Photographer
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Cincinnati | OH | USA | Posted: 5:37 PM on 10.08.03 |
| ->> Hmmm. I use them all the time too. I love iCal. |
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Travis Mathews, Photographer, Student/Intern
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Columbia | MO | USA | Posted: 6:50 PM on 10.08.03 |
->> The genius behind a lot of Apple's products is that they are extremely powerful and have features that professionals can use, but come in a package that is attractive for consumers as well.
I ordered my copy of Panther this morning when I saw it was released. Most of the improvements are minor, but there are so many of them that it makes the upgrade worth it for me. Some of the things I'm looking forward to: fast user switching, file vault, full version of iChat AV, integrated fax, different Finder, and an improved Mail.
Oh, and for you students out there, the upgrade with the educational discount is only $69. |
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Vasha Hunt, Photographer
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Opelika | AL | USA | Posted: 7:48 PM on 10.08.03 |
->> Beta testers are saying Panther is very fast, a massive jump in speed on any system, even older Macs like Blue and White G3s and Pismo Powerbooks.
Expose looks like a dream come true for laptop users bouncing between multiple pictures and multiple programs. If you are at a game and working with two or three Photo Mechanic windows, 8-10 pictures in photoshop and Fetch, with a bunch of finder windows open to get at files for fetch, you can, at the touch of a function key:
1-have every window resize to instantly fit each on the screen, allowing you to then click on what you want to activate, allowing you to quickly jump between programs and open files,
2-have all windows instantly resize to fit all the open windows of one application on a screen, allowing you to focus on a single app, like photoshop, with everything else droping into the background,
3-clear all windows off screen to access your desktop, then pull everything back in again.
This alone would be worth the purchase price to me. It should really boost workflow!
There are other refinements to things like finder windows (much better navigation), iDisk, Mail, Safari (should be much faster and more stable), the underlying UNIX, and IchatAV is included. Data transfer speeds over ethernet are much faster in Panther compared to Jag, and Jag is way better than early OS X and OS 9. Also Preview, which is already faster than Acrobat Reader now, is faster still in Panther.
I have seen a beta of Panther in person, and can tell you I'll be buying it opening night.
As to the price, in the past I have found that you can often get $30 off the retail right from the start, so it is quite possible that you'll be able to find Panther for $99 instead of the $129 that Apple is quoting, even opening night. |
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Vincent Laforet, Photographer
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New York | NY | USA | Posted: 11:34 AM on 10.09.03 |
->> One thing you all failed to mention: the "genius" of Apple is to (from now on) release programs and updates that will ONLY run with Panther... so you end up being forced to upgrade to keep up...
My goal is to hand on a few weeks/months before switching - let everyone do the de-bugging first... cause there always are many many bugs on third-party software etc...
W/ the exception of increased speed - this version doesn't seem like a quantumn leap to me... |
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Cap Hugho, Photographer
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Ridgecrest | CA | USA | Posted: 11:54 AM on 10.09.03 |
->> I'll have to agree with Vince. So many times, we, as consumers get caught up in the "gotta have the latest" syndrome. And, I'm first in line on that one.
Since the switch to OSX, though...I've been more cautious about upgrading at the "drop" of a hat.
Printer drivers have been my biggest concern.
Isn't it always the case, when you have your setup working flawlessly..you decide to upgrade and "POW", right in the kisser.
FWIW.... :-)) |
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