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Messages 11-10 deleted by topic administrator between 07-23-2006 02:03 AM and 07-22-2006 09:27 AM |
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Rose Simone
12-10-2003
02:03 PM ET (US)
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Can someone give a newbie Mac OS X user a bit of advice?
I really, really, love being able to use Outlook Express, but I find it quite irritating to have to boot up the Classic OS 9 on my new Mac with OS X just to get to Outlook Express.
I am trying the mail device that comes bundled with my new Mac and have also downloaded Eudora as an alternative, but neither of them are as easy to use as the Outlook Express. I hate the floating menu bars, the lack of clarity and a lot of other things about these alternative e-mail devices I have tried so far.
So, what I am wanting is something that looks as feels as close to the old Outlook Express as possible, but that runs on OS X.
Any suggestions?
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Thad Hoffman
06-19-2003
10:21 AM ET (US)
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David, that is true, but despite not having any MS tools for it, Linux is making a strong showing in IT depts. The same departments that bias the Mac.
For many companies, mine included, the IT departments dictate what is viable. Open their minds, open the doors...??? :-)
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David
06-19-2003
03:35 AM ET (US)
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The idea that MS has dropped IE for Windows is bogus. They haven't dropped it, they've decided to integrate it so completely into Windows that it becomes a "feature" rather than an application. The courts consider the original blending of OS and browser illegal, but that's not going to slow down Microsoft. Heck they're an illegal monopoly, but they aren't being punished for it so why should they care what the courts think.
Thad, unfortunately the "perception" is there that Apple needs Microsoft. Hopefully that'll change in the future. The perception of Linux is that it's a great server OS, but nobody except hackers use it on their desktop. That's why lack of Office isn't hurting the platform.
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Thad Hoffman
06-18-2003
01:48 PM ET (US)
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Thanks to Mac OS X, the Mac is once again becoming a strong contender in web development. Linux servers, OS X Servers, Solaris, Windows servers, whatever, I can connect, share files, develop on. I don't need MS for that, my Mac does it for me. Thanks to MS, for the remote desktop utility, I can even control windows. Though most companies I come in contact with use VNC, which also runs on my Mac.
But I never use Office, have no need to. It is sad that some are tied to Windows solely for office, though I'm tied to Mac solely for BBEdit. :-)
As long as Apple doesn't drop the ball and force developers to drastically change again, or to cause developers to flee, the Mac will thrive, MS or no MS. The perception of MS not running on a platform being the kiss of death needs to change. If that were really true, Linux would be dead by now. Look at the Lindows/Windows fighing, look at how MS is trying to contain Linux, they fear it. Why, because the "perception" is not there for Linux. People see a solid, safe, free OS.
The ball is in Apple's court really. They need apps and developers not MS. To get apps they need to generate a desire to program for their OS. I think they are finally getting it and getting there.
Plus with the next versions of Office supposedly being based on XML, compatibility should improve, or hacking compat should. :-)
On a tangient, the MS app I love is Outlook Express. I use it on my OS 9 stuck laptop daily. It is a great peice of freeware. Wish it were ported to OS X. It beats Outlook Express and Outlook on PC hands down. Yeah it lacks the calendar, but it's been solid for me for years. I miss it on X more than I do/will any other MS app.
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William
06-18-2003
01:21 PM ET (US)
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A couple of comments. The ^only^ way I was able to convince my boss to let me purchase a Mac was by assuring him that the OS X version of Office is 100% compatible with the PC version (which is not entirely true, but true enough). Of course, we mostly do spreadsheets, documents, and presentations around here, and they're collaborative efforts with versions passing back and forth over e-mail. So compatibility is important when 95% of my co-workers are using PCs.
On the other hand, I do not have a copy of Office on my Mac at home. This hasn't stopped me from bringing work home and doing it using Open Office and other programs.
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Rob McNair-Huff  06-18-2003
12:58 PM ET (US)
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Rob M, The sad reality is that outside of the publishing business and some other creative businesses, most bosses would laugh in the face of anyone considering a Mac in the workplace these days. In fact, it seems the biggest possibility that Apple has for making inroads into the business market is with its server software and hardware, which offers a more accessible way to run Web sites among other things.
I wouldn't argue that Apple would be fine without Office if Microsoft pulled the plug today, but even if Office stopped running on a Mac there would still be a market for Macs. Video editing and publishing are two markets that could still be there. I just don't think that crying wolf and arguing that MS dropping IE is the first domino in the destruction of the Mac market is a prudent thing to do right now.
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Rob McNair-Huff 06-18-2003
12:52 PM ET (US)
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Euan, I do think you're right. But this is what pains me the most about the idea of people running out to buy Office. At $400 or more per copy, it is ridiculous for most people to buy a suite like Office just so they can open files. This is why I have AppleWorks and OpenOffice.org - they can open what I throw at them and they can work with those proprietary formats and save me the $400 in the process. It just makes sense...
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Rob M 06-18-2003
12:51 PM ET (US)
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Wow, if people don't think that if MS Office was not available for the Mac that Apple would have only a measly 1% or so of the market instead of %3-5 then rethink it. Apple is a hardware company that needs software to run on their computers to survive. Last time I checked even those departments using Macs in the business world were not using Open Office and Apple Works. Not that it can't be turned around, but MS Office has become the de facto office tool for the worker bees out there. Sure some lab mice don't need it and college professors could probably get by with a pen and pad, but most office workers have to use Office or they can't work in their companies. Ask your typical boss to go out and buy Macs and he/she will probably say you need a vacation. And if he knew that they would not run office he probably would tell you not to return. After saying all the above I try my best not to use MS products and it can be done, but it takes a lot of time and lost production in some cases to reseach other options and actually implement the switch. The reason why Linux and Unix have survived is because they are used mostly in server needs. Now, that more are starting to use Linux on the desktop, MS went after them. We just bought SuSE for our church and it so far has been a no go on our old machines, but if average joe sees Linux as a solution then MS is going to lose a little market share bit by bit. And BTW, I hardly use Word anymore. Mellel has been a good alternative to Word for the past 5 months. It will not convert .doc files, but if your needs are basic then it is a super light weight processor. If it did the .doc conversion I think almost everyone could find a use for it. As is, it works in my small business office. I don't have the broadband to download Open Office. A friend gave me a copy way back and at that point it was very beta. I think I will try it again because if I can get away from Excel I will not need MS Office and would be able to take it off my machine. My next computer will hopefully be completely MS products free. Edited 06-19-2003 07:57 AM
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Euan
06-18-2003
12:31 PM ET (US)
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More and more these days Office is just a very expensive standard converter for me. I only really use it to open documents created by other people and even then there are other ways of doing that. Most of the stuff I write is in TextEdit or OmniOutliner and even that gets moved to the body text of an e-mail when I send it on to someone else. If,as I do, you agree with David Weinberger's The Death Of Docs then there is nothing to worry about! The Obvious?Edited 06-18-2003 12:32 PM
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