[WinMac] Re: Support Issues

Dan Schwartz(expresso[at]snip.net)
Sun, 10 Jan 1999 23:46:23 -0500

        Welcome aboard, Eric!

        Actually, I've been a big Mac fan and user since my first Mac 512kE in
1988... And I used "Switcher" in System 4... And I was a subscriber to
AppleLink... And I still regard System 6.0.8 as the most stable MacOS ever
built!

        My present array of Macs at home include a Quadra 650, a Quadra 610 with a
Sonnet QuadDoubler; and a Quadra 840AV with an FWB JackHammer, a pair of
Barracuda fast & wide drives with RAID Level zero, and a Radius Video
Vision Telecast. The 840AV has about 8 or 9 different startup sets in
Conflict Catcher, so I've been down the Extension conflict road many, many,
MANY times.

 -------

        Also, I was as anti-PC as they came... You should have read my posts when
I was a Mac and DTP columnist on PRODIGY several years ago!

        Things started to change with my opinions about 2 1/2 years ago, when I
bought my first DEC Alpha and loaded up NT/Server 3.51/SP4; and I was more
than impressed with its speed and stability. This was after the fiasco of
System 7.5.2, PCI Macs, and Open Transport 1.0.x, foisted upon the Mac
community when the hardware was released long before the software was
ready. I know: This was when I was the Support Engineer for an Apple VAR
that specialized in digital photography and color printing/proofing.

        As time progressed, I got some VERY good advice on the care and feeding of
NT **when running on a DEC Alpha machine** with the AlphaNT "gang"
<http://www.alphant.com>; and then I worked "down" the proverbial food
chain to NT/Server on x86 boxes (Compaq ProLiant and Prosignia), then down
to NT/Workstation on x86. [In fact, I rarely use NT/Workstation, since I
prefer to load the Services for Macintosh (SFM) for better connectivity
across the board; then hack the Registry to increase the priority of
foreground apps...]

 -------

        Notice I skipped the DOS/windoze/95 "toilet:" I don't have time to f***
around with software and hardware "hacks." I'll have to admit that I
experimented with various "screwdriver job" pee-cees; but after banging my
head against the wall a few too many times I decided to pay attention to
the NT Hardware Compatibility List <http://www.microsoft.com/hwtest/hcl/>,
at the advice of Steve Gaudet at DCG Computers <http://www.dcginc.com>,
someone who has submitted entire Alpha clone systems to Microsoft's
Hardware Qualification Labs.

        Take a few minutes to peruse the HCL at the URL above: It is quite
enlightening to see what is, and more importantly what is not, on the HCL
"list."

        Cheers!
        Dan

At 01:44 PM 1/11/99 +1030, Eric Erickson wrote:
>Dan Schwartz wrote:
>>
>> Two or three years ago, I would agree with you. However, with the mess
>> that Apple created with MacOS 8, even professionals have a problem keeping
>> up with all the Extensions and Control Panels needed to keep it running...
>> And the trouble all these Extensions and Control Panels from conflicting
>> with each other.
>>
>> That is why I drop-kicked the MacOS...
>>
>> And "Steveified" support is why I drop-kicked Apple.
>>
>
>OK, this is as good a time as any for my "Maiden Speech" on this list -
>there won't be another as long winded as this in the future (I promise :-).
>
>Huh? I don't know who Dan has been talking but nothing could be further
>from the truth - anyone who has persistent problems in this area needs
>to take a course or read a book and it sounds like good old PC people
>trying to run Macs and keep up with new technology (but failing) to me.
>MacOS8.5.1 is THE most stable MacOS ever (each has been getting more and
>more stable every new version). Yes, you can install control panels
>and extensions (if you choose to) which conflict... but de-installing
>software on a Mac is accomplished simply by deleting it and rarely does
>this kill the entire operation of the machine! Delete corrupted
>preferences files and the programs simply create new ones - while
>re-installing the OS in dire circumstances takes but a couple of clicks
>and a few minutes and all is well again. These actions aren't needed
>unless you are fiddling with things that maybe you shouldn't be - but
>when you need them they are simple to do!
>
>As with "beauty being in the eye of the beholder", often "stability is
>in the hands of the user" (good tradesmen don't blame their tools!!!!!).
>
>New extensions and control panels are not needed to "keep it running"
>but are simple ways of extending its functionality - easily!

        [Balance cut]

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