Dec 01
MoggyApple, Computer, Mac, Random, Windows
Something I have noticed over the past few days is how people respond to a “Mac or PC” conversation. Has anyone else noticed this:
A Mac user will always comment on a PC by saying “Mac’s are so much simpler to use and do things on” AND THEN comment of specific details – not bashing on PC’s at all.
A PC user will always comment on a Mac by saying one of two things – firstly “Mac’s suck” or secondly, for horribly technical people, a ramble on about how a PC is cheaper, might work better and all that stuff – bashing Mac’s at any possible opportunity.
So, why is it that Mac users are just so much more accepting of their computer and nicer in conversations like the above?
Feb 18
MoggyComputer, Microsoft, Software, Windows
I have recently started running VMware on my Mac with Windows XP Professional, and today I thought I’d download the free trail of Office 2007 Professional to see what it’s like, and after the install, I am not happy at all. Here is a list of today’s events:
Morning
- Go to MS badly designed website
- Click on Download link
- Dead link, go back, try again, try elsewhere.
- Get asked for my email for an activation key… (why do I even need to do this?!)
- Download a tiny 700kb file… wondering wtf this is…
- Installs/Opens a download manager, starts downloading Office 2007; something I would have expected to do in point 2.
- The file is over 800MB. Woah. This takes a while….
Lunch
- Download manager crashes about 300MB (or about 1hr in), have to start download again.
Late Afternoon
- Finally downloads the whole thing, a long while later.
- Starts extracting the download
- Crashes
- Bluescreen, restarts XP.
- Lanches extraction again, 2 minutes later, crashes…
- Bluescreen, restarts XP.
Evening
- Finishes extraction. Now opens setup.
- On the first step of setup I get an error! I need a new version of Windows Installer, apparently.
- Download this.
- Crashes, Closes.
- Reopen Setup.
- Now installs some rubbish “Live Accounting” or something….!?
- Finishes.
- Now I manually open the actual Office setup.
- Wants my product key/serial. I copied the code from Safari, but wouldn’t accept the paste into the box. Had to type it in, letter by letter.
- Finally lets me accept the terms
- Install begins.
- Finally finishes. The install is ironically the smoothest part of the complete day.
I’m no expert at the technology behind installing applications, but NEVER have I gone through so much trouble trying to install and download this one. When I downloaded iWork ‘09 for a free trial it was far simpler, and just worked – no crashes, no serials, no bugs, no nothing.
But anyway, there you have it. If you’re thinking of downloading Office 2007 Professional, be prepared.
Dec 10
MoggyComputer, Media, Software
As you may be aware, I proudly own Final Cut Express and have no intentions of ever switching from it because it is a truly fantastic video editing application.
However, I have recently downloaded the free trial version of Adobe’s Premiere Pro CS4 and tried it out, and here are, after a few days of use, are some good and bad things about Premiere compared to Apple’s Final Cut Express – from the point of view of a moderate (but getting professional) video editor.
Final Cut Express:
Adobe Premiere Pro CS4:
Awesome Stuff about Premiere Pro CS4:
- You don’t have to render video you import just to play (correct me if I’m wrong, but in FCE you HAVE to render every time you make an edit just to play back)
- There’s a built in browser that allows you to drag and drop files from the browser into the timeline easily.
- When you set up a new project, a wizard setup allows you to set all your settings – very easily.
- Got a nicer user interface (in many ways, in others not so much)
- Audio tracks for left and right stereo mix are compressed into just one track, not two – saves space.
Not so good about CS4, stuff that I can do in FCE:
- In my experience FCE has run a lot smoother on my MacBook Pro, but maybe thats just me.
- [Although I know you can easily download more…] There are more filters and effects loaded into Final Cut Express
- Simple layout in FCE – 4 windows clearly visible. CS4 is a bit confusing to the new user.
- More motion controls for each clip in FCE
And there’s bound to be more reasons as to which is better/worse/etc. This is just me noticing some quick things a few days into use.
So, my general opinion: If you’ve got a PC, Adobe Premiere has got to be the way to go – really great and powerful video editor. For Mac users, where Final Cut is an option, I’d say go for Final Cut Express – it is cheaper, which is handy, but is also a very good way to get learning in video editing. That said, Adobe Premiere is also very nice, and you can get a
free trail to try it out and compare (like I have).
Moggy
Oct 11
MoggyApple, Computer, Keynote Event, Life, Mac, Me
With 3 days to go until Apple’s Notebook Media event on Tuesday in San Francisco – we are all so hyped up about getting these new laptops, but has nobody thought about their current MacBook’s?
By Wednesday, everybody who asks “Where can I get your laptop from”, you have to reply, “At an Apple Store, friend, though bear in mind that there is a NEW version out, mine is old.”
What a horrible thing to say. Especially when I’ve only had my MacBook Pro since July.
RIP. My MacBook Pro. Loved while you where around.
Oct 05
MoggyApple, Computer, Keynote Event, Mac, Poll, Technology
I hope so…. Take part in the poll below to see what you think:
Aug 14
MoggyApple, Computer, Mac, Technology
A new set of ‘bash’ videos on YouTube have sprung up the last few days relating the topic of whether releasing the operating system, Mac OS X, to the PC world’s hardware and whether this is a good idea or not for Apple.
What do you think – Good idea…? Bad idea…?
Advantages – Imagine the market share Apple could gain over Microsoft if people started using OS X on a cheaper option of basic hardware provided by PC companies… Apple would be even further out into the world of computing – there are people who would like OS X any day – but simply can’t afford to buy a whole new Mac computer – a more affordable option would to upgrade to the better looking Vista – but then if OS X was ’set free’ people could upgrade to OS X fast, easily, and cheaply. Apple could gain lots of market share and lots of money in the first few weeks of releasing OS X – trust me, people would wait for that. Plus, this way, people would be no longer restricted to the strict desktop options of Mac Mini… iMac.. OR Mac Pro. Thats 3 choices for the Mac desktop market. There’s millions for Windows that OS X could compete with.
Disadvantages – Some say (and is almost proven ‘fact’) that the reason OS X works so well with far less issues, viruses, security faults is because of the hardware OS X runs alongside with. People running OS X on PC’s would experience large problems and would blame Apple for the faults, creating a bad image – possibly damaging other sales such as iPod’s or iPhone’s. Plus, if you wanted a cheap Mac, you wouldn’t go for the Mac mini, you’d get something bigger and better made by a company such as Dell or HP and find OS X running on it – for much better value. Hardware sales at Apple would go down the drain and completely FAIL.
My thoughts – Well, I could bet any money this would never happen – but there’s always that chance. I would prefer the OS X to stay with Apple hardware so I can continue to get great performance from side-by-side software and hardware intergration as my only choice.
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