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> 1) you think you are different than a consumer how? For me the distinction is this. If a feature is being taken from a consumer (e.g., me as a consumer), I s

> 1) you think you are different than a consumer how? For me the distinction is this. If a feature is being taken from a consumer (e.g., me as a consumer), I say bummer and find a new hobby. No Apple remote and Front Row anymore? Oh well, it was fun while it lasted. If I use a feature in a professional workflow and it disappears, then I want at the very least a big fat warning before upgrading, but it'd be better if nothing disappeared altogether; or alternatively, if I could stay on the older version. The current trend with Apple is to radically drop features that are only used by <n% of users and to always require the latest OS for everything. You cannot sync contacts off a 32-bit Mac anymore because MobileMe is running out and Lion/iCloud is 64-bit only. And on my 64-bit machine, I only found out that iSync was gone after I upgraded and held a (replacement) dumbphone in my hand. Or look at OS X server, which I am happy I didn't buy. The reviews on the MAS are devastating and I was wondering if it would ever rise from beta software quality. If you relied on OS X server, well joke's on you. That said, I think 10.8 in particular is only 10.7 with lipstick to directly compete against Windows 8. (Notice even the version numbers?) But 10.7 did cause lots of damage.

billpatrianakos 15y ago
I'm not happy with the way things are headed either and you make some good points but I think you were out of line with the version number comment. Apple isn't trying to compete with Windows, at least not in the way you're implying. They're a whole different animal and they're setting the pace for everyone else, not the other way around. In any case, as far as version numbers go, OS X jumps one full decimal with each major release. Mountain Lion being 10.8 is not marketing (if it is it has nothing to do with windows) its pure coincidence. If anything Windows is using version numbers for marketing purposes. Win7 came out when OS X 10.7 was out and if I'm not mistaken, Windows is actually at version 6.2 if I remember right. If you don't believe me then open up a DOS prompt and ask it yourself.
jsz0 15y ago
The current trend with Apple is to radically drop features Such as?
- gurkendoktor 15y ago
  So you think OS X server and iSync that I just mentioned were peanuts? Keychain syncing? Xcode is a mess too, Xcode3 is barely supported on 10.7 and breaks when you upgrade your device, and Xcode4 is not backwards compatible with anything.
  - jsz0 15y ago
    I kind of do, yes. OSX Server gained a simple user interface mode but otherwise is basically the same thing and now it's only $50. Just install the Server Admin package. It's exactly the same as 10.6 You can do HTTPD, VPN, POP/IMAP mail server, net boot, software update server, DNS, DHCP, etc. From what I can tell all the same functionality is there. Maybe there are some small things missing? iSync is a relic of a bygone era that hasn't seen any updates in many years. There are better tools available like The Missing Sync. This company focuses on making a really good tool for the small number of people who need it. Apple can't cater to every niche. If they can't do it right they shouldn't do it at all IMO. Keychain syncing is one thing I would agree on. I found it very useful. I suspect it will be coming back in the future. Apple may not have been totally comfortable with managing the keychains of 100 million people quite yet. I don't think these changes have anything to do with iOS-ification or whatever. They were going to happen either way.
  - acdha 15y ago
    OS X server was definitely peanuts: they never took it seriously as a product and it's an expensive area to be in. The “support“ process was basically gated by you telling your Apple rep how many Macs you couldn't buy until a bug was fixed. Put another way, in 2009 at MacWorld there was unanimous consent among my fellow IT track speakers that anyone with non-trivial needs should be using Linux servers for Mac clients, due entirely to the obvious low priority of the server product. Making it a $50 app store add-on is the first step in simply acknowledging that Apple is really a consumer product company and unwilling to devote the significant resources needed to stay competitive in the traditional IT market.

billpatrianakos 15y ago

I'm not happy with the way things are headed either and you make some good points but I think you were out of line with the version number comment. Apple isn't trying to compete with Windows, at least not in the way you're implying. They're a whole different animal and they're setting the pace for everyone else, not the other way around. In any case, as far as version numbers go, OS X jumps one full decimal with each major release. Mountain Lion being 10.8 is not marketing (if it is it has nothing to do with windows) its pure coincidence. If anything Windows is using version numbers for marketing purposes. Win7 came out when OS X 10.7 was out and if I'm not mistaken, Windows is actually at version 6.2 if I remember right. If you don't believe me then open up a DOS prompt and ask it yourself.

jsz0 15y ago

The current trend with Apple is to radically drop features Such as?

gurkendoktor 15y ago
So you think OS X server and iSync that I just mentioned were peanuts? Keychain syncing? Xcode is a mess too, Xcode3 is barely supported on 10.7 and breaks when you upgrade your device, and Xcode4 is not backwards compatible with anything.
- jsz0 15y ago
  I kind of do, yes. OSX Server gained a simple user interface mode but otherwise is basically the same thing and now it's only $50. Just install the Server Admin package. It's exactly the same as 10.6 You can do HTTPD, VPN, POP/IMAP mail server, net boot, software update server, DNS, DHCP, etc. From what I can tell all the same functionality is there. Maybe there are some small things missing? iSync is a relic of a bygone era that hasn't seen any updates in many years. There are better tools available like The Missing Sync. This company focuses on making a really good tool for the small number of people who need it. Apple can't cater to every niche. If they can't do it right they shouldn't do it at all IMO. Keychain syncing is one thing I would agree on. I found it very useful. I suspect it will be coming back in the future. Apple may not have been totally comfortable with managing the keychains of 100 million people quite yet. I don't think these changes have anything to do with iOS-ification or whatever. They were going to happen either way.
- acdha 15y ago
  OS X server was definitely peanuts: they never took it seriously as a product and it's an expensive area to be in. The “support“ process was basically gated by you telling your Apple rep how many Macs you couldn't buy until a bug was fixed. Put another way, in 2009 at MacWorld there was unanimous consent among my fellow IT track speakers that anyone with non-trivial needs should be using Linux servers for Mac clients, due entirely to the obvious low priority of the server product. Making it a $50 app store add-on is the first step in simply acknowledging that Apple is really a consumer product company and unwilling to devote the significant resources needed to stay competitive in the traditional IT market.