Tony! Hulette
Forum Replies Created
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Hi Jeff,
On March 31st Apple is planning on releasing the Universal versions of their Pro Apps. However, at NAB in late April, they should be announcing and/or shipping new versions of many/most/all of the pro app’s (especially Final Cut Pro). As far as other companies converting, we should see a flood of them in the coming months. However, there maybe some delays with the more difficult to port applications like Adobe’s Creative Suite and Microsoft Office (both company’s have pledged support for the new Intel Mac’s). While the software developers all knew it was coming, Apple surprised most by releasing the new Intel Mac’s months ahead of schedule. On the bright side, Quark, did have a beta running on an Intel Mac at MacWorld.
All developers will be adding a “Universal” logo to their software that will run on both Intel and current PowerPC Mac’s. Here’s one list of currently released “Universal” software (expect it to grow quickly): https://www.versiontracker.com/macintel/updates/ they will be updating it regularly.
Interestingly, there is a good chance that Microsoft’s new OS Longhorn may run on Apple (intel) Mac’s when its released. Apple has said they’d do nothing to prevent Window’s from running on their hardware. The current aging versions of Window’s most likely will not run on the new Intel Mac’s simply because it doesn’t support some of the newer technology that Apple and Intel are using. However, expect a new version of Virtual PC to be released in the coming months that will solve (bandage) that problem. I think Apple feels that Window’s is no match for OS X when users actually get their hands on both side by side, but at the same time they realize many people have to use it for work. So if they are required ore want to use Window’s from time to time, they might as well use it on Apple’s hardware. That way they can still enjoy the whole Mac (OS X, iApp’s, Pro App’s) experience the rest of the time. I believe a lot of people/company’s will see the logic in this.
Tony!
P.S. Oh, for you gamers. Blizzard is first out of the gates with with their very popular MMORPG game World of Warcraft running on an Intel iMac at MacWorld this month. The game was running amazingly fast and looked awesome.
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No, they won’t ever work on a standard PC running Windows (ever might be too strong, but don’t count it). The “universal” app’s will only run under OS X (Intel version & Power PC versions). OS X will not run on any PC other than an Apple Mac. I doubt that will change anytime soon, but anything is possible.
Tony!
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I’ve had zero problems with 10.4.4 and 10.4.3 on any of my G5’s (no experience with Tiger on older Mac’s). As long as you repair startup drive and the permissions, using Disk Utility and/or an application like Disk Warrior (recommended), before and after the upgrade you should be fine. Double check with any critical 3rd party hardware or software developers to be sure their products are compatible. I always backup/clone my current startup drive to another drive using an application like these:
https://www.versiontracker.com/dyn/moreinfo/macosx/13260 (Cabon Copy Cloner)
https://www.versiontracker.com/dyn/moreinfo/macosx/22126 (SuperDuper!)That way, I can always go back to the working system if there’s a big problem. In general, I’d say go for it. Every update, by just about every company, has a complaints from users about problems. What you don’t see is the very large majority of users are having almost no problems with the updates. By doing the things I recommend above, you chance of having any serious issues is reduced even further.
Tony!
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Also, the Flip4Mac player has been reduced in price to – Free. https://www.flip4mac.com/wmv.htm or you can get one of their more robust and fairly reasonably priced solutions if you need to export/convert, etc. https://www.flip4mac.com/wmv_upgrades.htm
Tony!
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The Pro applications like Final Cut should be released/updated to run on the new Intel Mac’s at the end of March. Expect new Pro app versions (FCP 6, etc) to likely be released/announced by NAB in late April.
Tony!
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[Maria Luisa Gambale] “What are other people doing?”
Mostly nothing, I would guess. No viruses on OS X at all. However, there are some solutions that may, or may not, help when that one virus eventually does arrive on some of our Mac’s.
Checkout these:
https://www.sophos.com/products/es/endpoint-server/sav-mac.html
or
https://www.intego.com/products/home.asp#mac
or
https://www.symantec.com/region/can/eng/product/nav/nav_mac/One word of warning. Virus software is notorious for causing problems with other software, especially video editing and high-end applications/hardware.
Tony!
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Np Valerie,
You can discuss hardware here, or on one of our other Cow forums, depending on what hardware you’re talking about. We have forums setup for many manufacturers products including Medea, G-Tech, AJA, BlackMagic, Sony, Panasonic, and others. Apple hardware can be talked about here, or on any of the other Apple forums that relate to what you’re doing (Like Final Cut Pro or DVD Studio Pro forums). Also, you can check Apple’s own discussion forums for more info specifically on Apple products: https://discussions.apple.com/index.jspa?ft=y
Tony!
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It really depends a lot on what level you are at and what type of knowledge you are looking to gain (general OS X guru advice/tips, pro networking or server info, creative applications like Final Cut and Motion, trouble-shooting for software or for hardware, Unix on the Mac, etc).
Here’s some general recommendations:
The Missing Manual – Tiger Edition (a must have for all OS X users): https://safari.peachpit.com/JVXSL.asp?x=1&mode=section&sortKey=rank&sortOrder=desc&view=section&xmlid=0596009410&k=20&g=&srchText=missing+manual+os+x&code=&h=0&m=&l=1&j=list&catid=&s=1&b=1&f=1&t=1&c=1&u=1&r=&o=1&n=1&d=1&p=1&a=0&page=0
Any of the Apple Training Series books (Most of them are great. Choose the subject that interests you most): https://safari.peachpit.com/JVXSL.asp?x=1&mode=list&sortKey=rank&sortOrder=desc&view=section&xmlid=&k=20&g=&srchText=apple+training+series&code=&h=0&m=&l=1&j=list&catid=&s=1&b=1&f=1&t=1&c=1&u=1&r=&o=1&n=1&d=1&p=1&a=0&searchview=books
If you’re a UNIX geek (or want to be), checkout titles from O’Riely like “Mac OS X Tiger for Unix Geeks”: https://safari.peachpit.com/JVXSL.asp?x=1&mode=section&sortKey=rank&sortOrder=desc&view=section&xmlid=0596009127&k=20&g=&srchText=unix+mac&code=&h=0&m=&l=1&j=list&catid=&s=1&b=1&f=1&t=1&c=1&u=1&r=&o=1&n=1&d=1&p=1&a=0&page=0
That should get you started. If you want recommendations for more specific subjects or applications post again.
Tony!
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Gunleik, is correct. Apple has vowed to switch their entire line to Intel this year. Many/most of us believe the pro towers will be the last ones to make the change as there is no reason to change them before there is more pro software converted to run on them (Apple’s own pro apps won’t switch until March, with Adobe and others probably a good bit behind). Also, the Quads are not very old and need to run their course.
Most of the software being converted to Intel will be done in a universal code that will allow them to run on both the older (non-Intel) Mac’s and the new ones. No Intel only software will ever run on the older/current towers without using an emulation software like Vitual PC (not a great solution for many applications and probably a short lived and limited solution).
Bottom-line, if you need a new Mac for work, then get the best one you can now and plan on updating/replacing it again next year or so, probably waiting for the second generation of the Intel Mac towers. This is not a bad way to go and possibly the wisest plan. But, if you want to be on the cutting edge and be able to run all the latest software as soon as possible, then you may want to hold off buying anything and wait for the Intel models. Keep in mind it might not be until the end of this year before we see those new towers. It looks like most of us pro’s, that have G5’s already, are going to wait for at least 1st generation Intel Mac’s before buying anything new (skipping the Quads all together). However, even when we do get our new Intel Mac’s, we’ll likely keep a couple older/current models around just incase the first generation have issues. If I didn’t have a G5 right now, then it would be a tough choice. If you’re not buying it for work, but mostly personal use, then I’d probably buy a used G5 2.7 to hold me over until I feel its safe to switch to the Intel Mac’s (wait until the early adopters have had time to find the bugs). It really depends on your budget and how often you can afford to upgrade to a new model. The goal is to get an Intel Mac within the first two generations, at least for us that live, work and breath Apple 🙂
Tony!
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I’m not a fan of partitioning at all. In my opinion the best way to set up you new Mac is to install a second SATA drive as you intended. Make it at least as big and fast as the current startup drive. Then you an application like Carbon Copy Cloner, SuperDuper!, or Retrospect to clone your entire startup drive to your new second internal SATA drive. Update the clone on a regular basis and always update it before doing any major OS or application installers/updates. This way you can always go back to the previous working version of your system by starting up off the second (cloned) drive or cloning it back to your normal startup drive. It’s fast, it’s easy, it’s safe.
If you need more organization, just look to the many great tools in OS X. Smart Folders are awesome. Spotlight and AutoMator can make life a lot easier. If that doesn’t do it for you, then buy cheap Firewire/USB/SATA drives for data/files you want to keep completely separate. What I do, is work off my RAID, but backup to a Firewire drive every night the current projects files. That way I always have everything in two places.
For your RAID. I don’t recommend getting a Firewire RAID. Apple invented this great technology, but its becoming clear (at least very likely) that Apple is moving away from Firewire with their future machines. Firewire 400 will have to stick around for some time as too many camera and other devices use it, but Firewire 800 has not been included in Apple’s new Intel Mac’s (at least the ones we’ve seen so far). Also, Firewire 800 has no where near the speed and reliability of SATA. Get a SATA RAID (unless you have the budget for a high-end RAID like an Xserve RAID with a Fibre connection). You will need to add a good SATA card to your Mac as well, but this is not a big cost and well worth it. Make sure you get the proper one for your Mac. The newest Mac’s are PCIe, but other recent models came with PCI-X or PCI slots. The vendors at the links I provided below should be able to help you get the right one. Or, read/search some of the Final Cut or Manufacture forums (like G- Tech or ProMax) for more info.
Here’s some links to some of the items I’m talking about:
https://www.versiontracker.com/dyn/moreinfo/macosx/13260 (Cabon Copy Cloner)
https://www.versiontracker.com/dyn/moreinfo/macosx/22126 (SuperDuper!)
https://www.apple.com/macosx/features/spotlight/ (Spotlight)
https://www.apple.com/macosx/features/automator/ (Automator)
https://www.apple.com/macosx/features/finder/ (Smartfolders and more Spotlight)Some possible inexpensive SATA RAID solutions that I like (there are better, but much more expensive solutions):
https://www.g-technology.com/Products/G-SATA.cfm (G-Tech)
https://www.macgurus.com/productpages/sata/satakits.php (Burly Box)
https://www.promax.com/Products/SubCat/Storage/External%20SATA (ProMax)
https://www.lacie.com/products/product.htm?pid=10490 (LaCie – they had many, many reliability complaints with their Big Disks, but hopefully, this new SATA II RAID won’t have the same issues).There are many other possibilities, but I believe my suggestions will give you a much more reliable, faster, better system than what you suggested above. Read the various forums here to get more info about RAID’s and workflow’s that may help.
I hope that helps and welcome to Mac side of the world,
Tony!