Monthly Archive for January, 2003

Who needs x86?

Published on January 21, 2003 in Hardware and Personal. Closed

Seriously…who really needs x86?

The more time I spend working on Macintosh and SPARCStation hardware, the more I realize that they are just more fun than the x86 platform. Most geeks know that the whole “megahertz myth” idea is true. For most applications, the speed increases in the cpu just don’t bare much fruit. This is not solely due to Windows and its inability to provide a compelling environment rather than an engine to drive upgrades in hardware and software, but also due to the fact that most applications function quite well without the additional processing power. Games, 3D,video/sound editing all can of course benefit from increases in cpu, but the word processing, web browsing, e-mail, etc. that most people do is just fine with a much weaker system.
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On the Safari …

Published on January 11, 2003 in Software. Closed

So I was a little off the other day :) I got fairly close on my MWSF predictions.

I am posting this using the new Apple Safari web browser. This thing is really quite fast and it has some very well designed UI features. It is very obvious that Apple put a lot of work into KHTML as Konqueror seemed to have some large CSS gaps. Now that Apple is committing their changes back, there is a great chance for both browsers to develop at an accelerated rate.

Safari obviously needs improvement and it is just a beta, but I think it is amazingly stable and featureful for a beta. (Hey, I liked Apple’s first browser, Cyberdog :) There is one area in the UI I see that could use an added feature, tabbed browsing. I have a 12″ iBook 600 so my screen real-estate is definitely not infinite and the addition of tabber browsing would seriously improve usability for me.

However, there is always a wrinkle. I couldn’t fathom that anyone would want to deny me the ability to use tabs should Apple feel like providing them, but low and behold, there is such a group. They are claiming that tabs are basically Windows MDI, that they violate Apple Usability Guidelines, and that every second an Apple engineer spends working on tabs is taking their time away from something more valuable and worthwhile.

Hmmm…How to address this? My first response, albeit a tad excessive, would be “$%#@ off”. Oh well, I will try to be more diplomatic. I can understand that someone might feel tabs are ineffective or undesirable even if I do not agree, but to exclaim that they should be tossed out of consideration when the functionality would likely not be forced on anyone is simply inconsiderate and foolish. Let’s address the points one by one:

1. Basically like Windows MDI

I personally do not care for the MDI interface in Windows and can understand why some detest it, but tabs are far from MDI as the devil is really in the details. There are key differences between MDI and full window (not independently movable/resizable) screens.

2. Violates Apple Usability Guidelines

Mac OS X rewrote a large portion of the guidelines. Elements such as the drawer are foreign to the original guidelines from the days of ‘Classic’. Guidelines are good, but they should not get in the way of progress or true usability enhancement. In addition, DO NOT tell me that tabs are ineffective or not useful. Just because someone else does not find them to be, does not mean that they are not to me.

3. Waste of Apple Programmer’s Time

Uhmmm, how about we let Apple decide is a waste of their time? It is obvious that they have developed something quite nice. They are getting feedback from users and I am sure they will consider it when deciding on where Safari will go. After all, it is their time and their choice and not ours. Make you thoughts known without impuning others’ and Apple will decide how their product develops.

Let me just say that some on Apple’s Discussion site are simply voicing their opinion of tabs and not trying to ignore the validity of opinions on the other side of the discussion. I have no problem if you don’t care for tabs, just don’t suggest my feelings towards them have no merit…

MWSF: What Will It Bring?

Published on January 6, 2003 in Miscellanea. Closed Tags: , .

So, the biggest Apple-related show of the year gets in full swing with Steve…

The content of Steve’s keynote is always a closely guarded secret, but I thought I would throw out my own guestimates as to what the future holds:

1. Update of iTunes, iPhoto, iMovie
2. Apple will not change their policy regarding fees for iApps. In other words, iMovie & iDVD upgrades will continue to cost as they have in the past, but the other apps will continue to be free.
3. No major upgrades of any hardware (Addition of bluetooth, price changes may show up)
4. Either a new DLD (Digital Lifestyle Device) or a new Apple-branded web browser based on Mozilla/Chimera.

Now remember, I have no sources, no inside information, no clue :) but I thought I would just try to make a guess based on what I have read and my own thoughts on where Apple may go…

Everything that scientist have written in science books is going to change

Published on January 5, 2003 in Movies. Closed Tags: .

The more films I see by M. Night Shyamalan, the more I am convinced that he is a truly great filmmaker in the same vein as Alfred Hitchcock. I still can remember the chills I felt after watching “The Sixth Sense” and “Unbreakable” struck a chord with me as I felt very comfortable with the idea of comic books as the modern mythology. Well, I finally got to see “Signs”. I tend to enjoy Mel Gibson’s and Joaquin Phoenix’s performances, but this film was just so much fun. Shyamalan has a tendency to build up a moment while drawing your attention to a seemingly unimportant element within the scene. My heartbeat starts building as I know something is about to happen, but the moment gets drawn out more than it would in your typical scary movie.

I definitely rate the film highly. Please don’t go into this film expecting ray guns or big explosions and for the love of God don’t believe IMDB when it says:

“If you like this title, we also recommend… Independence Day”

AARRGGHH!!

“Independence Day” was not a bad popcorn film, in fact I quite enjoyed it, but it is nothing more than a popcorn film. This title is much more and I hope there is an Oscar nomination for Mr. Shyamalan…

Happy New Years

Published on January 1, 2003 in Personal. Closed

Happy 2003 to everyone. Not as if 2003 will be much different than 2002, but I hope everyone finds happiness in this new year. However, I am trying to not be cynical and welcome all changes that may find their way into my life considering 2002 did not start well, but I was quite happy as of December 31st.

We spent the time ringing in the new year with friends and had a very enjoyable night. How did you welcome 2003 and what do you think we can expect in the next 364 days?