Mac OS 10.5: First Impressions

Posted by Zach, 02 March 2009 · 174 views

I am a long time Windows user who just set up a new computer on Saturday, a Mac Mini running on OS X Leopard. I didn't get the Mac to replace my PC, and I plan to use both for a long time to come. In fact, they share the same keyboard, monitor, and mouse. I haven't even used it for 12 hours yet, so here are my first impressions.

Pros:
Overall easy to navigate operating system.
Calculator with programmer mode.

Graphing calculator!
Built-in dictionary.

What took so long?
Weather panel. :love:

Cons:
No built-in simple paint program equivalent to mspaint. Um, didn't Apple pioneer this kind of application? I spent a while looking over free Linux programs before I found Paintbrush.
Having to use a different key for keyboard shortcuts. :woozy:

Hopefully there's a way to change this without going too deep in the code.
Font in Safari is harder to read than Firefox on my PC. I'm using the same monitor, but I'm getting headaches more easily on the Mac. I'm sure there's a way to change the fonts, but it was nice when Firefox looked good from the start.
Safari doesn't display URL's of links before you click them? Maybe I'll install Firefox on the Apple as well.

Again, I haven't been using it that long, and these are just first impressions. I haven't even tried iTunes and some of the other software yet.

batari
Mar 3 2009 12:00 AM

Thanks for the link to Paintbrush - it's just what I need for the limited sort of graphical hacking I do. I actually installed Gimp on my Mac to try and fill that need, which is overkill in so many ways, so I often found myself on the PC just to use MS Paint.

Report

Nathan Strum
Mar 3 2009 12:13 AM

Welcome to Macintosh!

Quote

Safari doesn't display URL's of links before you click them? Maybe I'll install Firefox on the Apple as well.

Go to the View menu, and select "Show Status Bar". It'll appear at the bottom of the window.

Report

SpiceWare
Mar 3 2009 10:09 AM

Quote

new computer on Saturday

Ouch - just missed the new mini. Same thing happened to me when I got my first iPod. It might be worth returning the one you just got and getting a new one - the graphic chipset in the new mini is significantly better.

Quote

Having to use a different key for keyboard shortcuts.

Hopefully there's a way to change this without going too deep in the code.

Not going to change - Apple's use of the Command Key predates the Macintosh

Quote

The first model on which it appeared was the 1980 Apple III ... they mapped to the two different fire buttons of an attached joystick. This allowed for flexible combinations of a modifier key and base key (such as Open-Apple with C for Copy) with just a few extra wires and no ROM changes, since the Apple II could only register one key press at a time

When Microsoft borrowed the idea they didn't have a dedicated key to use for shortcuts, so they repurposed the control key. Once they got enough power to push through a Windows Key, the usage of Control was too ingrained.

That said, I work on a Windows system and use a Mac for my personal use. After a bit you'll be able to switch between the two systems without a second thought.

The weather panel is nice, I have 5 of them on my dashboard so I have instant access to the weather were my family lives. Another nice one to add is Radar In Motion.

Report

Nathan Strum
Mar 3 2009 1:42 PM

SpiceWare, on Tue Mar 3, 2009 8:09 AM, said:

Quote

new computer on Saturday

Ouch - just missed the new mini.

Zach e-mailed me that he'd bought one, and I wrote back something like, "Of course, within days now you just know they'll release a new model with better specs."

I usually keep an eye out on sites like MacRumors and AppleInsider. They aren't always accurate, but they give a pretty good indication when new stuff is coming up.

Report

vdub_bobby
Mar 3 2009 4:49 PM

SpiceWare, on Tue Mar 3, 2009 8:09 AM, said:

Quote

Having to use a different key for keyboard shortcuts.

Hopefully there's a way to change this without going too deep in the code.

Not going to change - Apple's use of the Command Key predates the Macintosh

Quote

That wikipedia article is unintentionally hilarious:

Quote

One advantage of this scheme, as contrasted with the Microsoft Windows mixed use of the Control and Alt keys, is that the Control key is reserved entirely for its original purpose: entering control characters in terminal applications.

Yeah, because terminal applications are used so often by so many users that we want to make sure that there is a single, dedicated key for that purpose.

Quote

The Macintosh keyboard's other unusual modifier key, the Option key, serves as a modifier both for entering keyboard shortcuts and for typing text—it is used to enter foreign characters, typographical symbols, and other nonstandard characters.

Unusual? Ummm. Ever heard of the ALT key? Is it unusual if 99% of PCs sold have an extra modifier key for both entering keyboard shortcuts and for typing nonstandard characters?

I don't mean to bang too hard on you Apple fanatics - I kid because I care.

Anyway, speaking of keyboard shortcuts, regardless of what modifier key is held down, is the other key pretty standard between platforms?
I.e., <modifier>+
C for copy
X for cut
V for paste
B for bold
I for italics
U for underline
Z for undo
Y for redo
etc.

I'd think that would be the harder adjustment, if those didn't match up.

Report

batari
Mar 3 2009 6:35 PM

vdub_bobby, on Tue Mar 3, 2009 5:49 PM, said:

Pretty much, though CMD-Shift-Z is usually redo.

There are exceptions, such as when you are using a X11 application ported to OS X, some may still use CTRL for the above (and CTRL-Y for redo.)

Report

Zach
Mar 3 2009 9:55 PM

Nathan Strum, on Tue Mar 3, 2009 3:42 PM, said:

SpiceWare, on Tue Mar 3, 2009 8:09 AM, said:

Quote

new computer on Saturday

Ouch - just missed the new mini.

Zach e-mailed me that he'd bought one, and I wrote back something like, "Of course, within days now you just know they'll release a new model with better specs."

Ouch indeed. First thing I thought was, Nathan wasn't kidding. I bought the Mac a couple weeks ago, so it's not as if I just missed the new model by a day.

Report

SpiceWare
Mar 4 2009 9:58 AM

vdub_bobby, on Tue Mar 3, 2009 4:49 PM, said:

Yeah, because terminal applications are used so often by so many users that we want to make sure that there is a single, dedicated key for that purpose.

While it's no longer relevant, terminal applications where a big deal at the time. Amiga did the same thing as Apple with Closed Amiga, Open Amiga, Alt and Control keys.
Posted Image

Report

Zach
Mar 7 2009 7:09 PM

SpiceWare, on Tue Mar 3, 2009 11:09 AM, said:

That said, I work on a Windows system and use a Mac for my personal use. After a bit you'll be able to switch between the two systems without a second thought.

Thanks for the tip, Darrell. I am getting used to switching between the control and command keys, even though I use the same keyboard for both systems.

I'm still thinking about whether to install Firefox, even though Safari is pretty good. If I stick with Safari, I'll need to change the home page. It's no fun being taken to Apple's web site, where they advertise the new Mac Mini.