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I don't know how anybody can look at the bugs and fixes that continually plague .0 versions of Apple's OS software across their devices and jump at the chance t

I don't know how anybody can look at the bugs and fixes that continually plague .0 versions of Apple's OS software across their devices and jump at the chance to try it out. It now feels like you need to wait a minimum of 3 months before even considering installing a .0 (or .1 or .2) version of their software. It's a shame, too. I'm old enough to remember when Apple's OS was mostly rock-solid.

sandyarmstrong 11y ago
> I'm old enough to remember when Apple's OS was mostly rock-solid. What OS are you talking about? OS X has always had buggy .0 releases. If anything it's gotten better over time, though I still agree with waiting for a .1 or .2. If you mean Mac OS or earlier, then I wouldn't know. I was young and we always just kept whatever came on the computer.
- spacehome 11y ago
  10.4 was pretty good. My point about the .1 and .2 releases were that they're buggy, too. I look into my crystal ball and predict that 10.11.1 and 10.11.2 will both have serious issues (though not as much as 10.11.0. You really have to wait for the waves of bugfix releases after a point release to end before it's safe for human consumption.
  - DavidAdams 11y ago
    7.6.1 was pretty good. And get off my lawn!
  - coldtea 11y ago
    Here is a list of bugs and workarounds for 10.4 (Tiger) from Cnet: Spotlight: Invisible files limitation; Processor usage and performance problems DHCP Problems: AirPort networking dropouts, D-Link router problems, more AirPort: No auto-reconnect after sleep; Connections dropping when switching from one base station to another Freezes during shutdown or startup, fixes Widgets: Possible security exploit; Excessive memory usage; more Check for bad login/startup items CD/DVD burning problems: Errors, blank discs not recognized, more Classic: Problems starting, more Printer problems: Deleting, then re-adding Font issues: "Fuzzy" type, more SCSI Issues: Fix for Adaptec cards; Drives causing startup/shut down problems, more Problems caused by QuickTime codecs "Beeping" or "Chirping" noise back for some G5s Bonjour issue and fix Removable media devices not mounting, fixes SMB connection problems, solutions Wake-from-sleep issues Speakable Items fails; workaround Keychain import issue and fix Safari 2.0: Problematic plug-ins, more iPhoto 5.0.x: Unwanted image changes; Freezes on launch, fix iSync 2.0: Deleted data; Problems synchronizing phones, iPods Mail.app 2.0: Plug-in problems, removing bad bundles; Import problems; more iChat AV 3.0: Performance issues iTunes: Play does not continue during fast user switching, more (...) http://www.cnet.com/news/special-report-troubleshooting-mac-os-x-10-4-tiger/ http://www.cnet.com/news/special-report-troubleshooting-mac-...
coldtea 11y ago
>I don't know how anybody can look at the bugs and fixes that continually plague .0 versions of Apple's OS software across their devices and jump at the chance to try it out. Quite simply because I've never once been bitten by them -- with the exception of some haxies not working. >I'm old enough to remember when Apple's OS was mostly rock-solid. When was that? Because I remember Mac OS (pre X) beeing anything but rock-solid. I also remember the first X release being a disaster, and people moaning about issues I've never encountered in my (heavy) Mac use for every new release. (I also remember the hardware problems, from the overheating cube and the G3 logic boards that died by the ton to the G5 tower leaking cooling goo).
- rndn 11y ago
  Then lets steelman this point of critique: Why doesn't Apple keep their OSes in beta for a couple of months more to release something that is really stable? Is the sample size of beta testers really too small? I doubt 6 months or so later would be a big disadvantage to the competition, quite the contrary, I think releasing more stable 1.0s could be a considerable advantage.
  - coldtea 11y ago
    >Why doesn't Apple keep their OSes in beta for a couple of months more to release something that is really stable? First, because a lot of those bugs you only find in real-life bizarro setups, and beta testers are not enough. Besides not all beta testers actually help with bug reports -- some programmers just test their own software, others just want to play with the latest OS, etc. Second, because not all of those bugs will be fixed even if a beta tester finds them. There will be a cost-benefit (opportunity cost) analysis, and some might need extensive changes to some subsystems, and only get fixed with the X.2 or even X.4 or X.5 release, half a year or more later. Third, because there will always be bugs, and at some point you need to release. Fourth, because OS releases usually also enable or leverage several new hardware features in Macs and iOS devices. Delaying the OS would mean delaying those hardware units, or putting them out with the old OS and no way to use some new advanced hardware stuff they are advertised with (stuff like Bluetooth 4 back in the day, Retina support, or something similar).

sandyarmstrong 11y ago

> I'm old enough to remember when Apple's OS was mostly rock-solid. What OS are you talking about? OS X has always had buggy .0 releases. If anything it's gotten better over time, though I still agree with waiting for a .1 or .2. If you mean Mac OS or earlier, then I wouldn't know. I was young and we always just kept whatever came on the computer.

spacehome 11y ago
10.4 was pretty good. My point about the .1 and .2 releases were that they're buggy, too. I look into my crystal ball and predict that 10.11.1 and 10.11.2 will both have serious issues (though not as much as 10.11.0. You really have to wait for the waves of bugfix releases after a point release to end before it's safe for human consumption.
- DavidAdams 11y ago
  7.6.1 was pretty good. And get off my lawn!
- coldtea 11y ago
  Here is a list of bugs and workarounds for 10.4 (Tiger) from Cnet: Spotlight: Invisible files limitation; Processor usage and performance problems DHCP Problems: AirPort networking dropouts, D-Link router problems, more AirPort: No auto-reconnect after sleep; Connections dropping when switching from one base station to another Freezes during shutdown or startup, fixes Widgets: Possible security exploit; Excessive memory usage; more Check for bad login/startup items CD/DVD burning problems: Errors, blank discs not recognized, more Classic: Problems starting, more Printer problems: Deleting, then re-adding Font issues: "Fuzzy" type, more SCSI Issues: Fix for Adaptec cards; Drives causing startup/shut down problems, more Problems caused by QuickTime codecs "Beeping" or "Chirping" noise back for some G5s Bonjour issue and fix Removable media devices not mounting, fixes SMB connection problems, solutions Wake-from-sleep issues Speakable Items fails; workaround Keychain import issue and fix Safari 2.0: Problematic plug-ins, more iPhoto 5.0.x: Unwanted image changes; Freezes on launch, fix iSync 2.0: Deleted data; Problems synchronizing phones, iPods Mail.app 2.0: Plug-in problems, removing bad bundles; Import problems; more iChat AV 3.0: Performance issues iTunes: Play does not continue during fast user switching, more (...) http://www.cnet.com/news/special-report-troubleshooting-mac-os-x-10-4-tiger/ http://www.cnet.com/news/special-report-troubleshooting-mac-...

coldtea 11y ago

>I don't know how anybody can look at the bugs and fixes that continually plague .0 versions of Apple's OS software across their devices and jump at the chance to try it out. Quite simply because I've never once been bitten by them -- with the exception of some haxies not working. >I'm old enough to remember when Apple's OS was mostly rock-solid. When was that? Because I remember Mac OS (pre X) beeing anything but rock-solid. I also remember the first X release being a disaster, and people moaning about issues I've never encountered in my (heavy) Mac use for every new release. (I also remember the hardware problems, from the overheating cube and the G3 logic boards that died by the ton to the G5 tower leaking cooling goo).

rndn 11y ago
Then lets steelman this point of critique: Why doesn't Apple keep their OSes in beta for a couple of months more to release something that is really stable? Is the sample size of beta testers really too small? I doubt 6 months or so later would be a big disadvantage to the competition, quite the contrary, I think releasing more stable 1.0s could be a considerable advantage.
- coldtea 11y ago
  >Why doesn't Apple keep their OSes in beta for a couple of months more to release something that is really stable? First, because a lot of those bugs you only find in real-life bizarro setups, and beta testers are not enough. Besides not all beta testers actually help with bug reports -- some programmers just test their own software, others just want to play with the latest OS, etc. Second, because not all of those bugs will be fixed even if a beta tester finds them. There will be a cost-benefit (opportunity cost) analysis, and some might need extensive changes to some subsystems, and only get fixed with the X.2 or even X.4 or X.5 release, half a year or more later. Third, because there will always be bugs, and at some point you need to release. Fourth, because OS releases usually also enable or leverage several new hardware features in Macs and iOS devices. Delaying the OS would mean delaying those hardware units, or putting them out with the old OS and no way to use some new advanced hardware stuff they are advertised with (stuff like Bluetooth 4 back in the day, Retina support, or something similar).