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Mac Musings
CAN YOU PLUG
ALL TYPES OF PEOPLE
INTO ONE TYPE
OF COMPUTER?
Dan Knight - 15 July 1997
That's what Microsoft asks in its current print ads. Their answer: No.
"After all, people are different. Jobs are different, Companies are different. And people need different type of computers to get their jobs done. Some need powerful PCs and workstations. Some need light and powerful laptops. Some need hand-held devices. Some need simple terminals running off a network. And some need a combination of machines.
"Computers must be different to meet the different demands people have in their jobs.
"And the reason computers can be different is because Microsoft® Windows® is the same."
Later in the ad copy:
"Windows is, above all, flexible.
"So, let's rephrase the question. Can you plug all types of people into one operating system?
"Yes."
Huh?
Last I heard, there were five flavors of Microsoft® Windows® in use.
- Windows 3.1, which runs on older computers and which many users
refuse to abandon.
Variant: Windows 3.1.1 with network support. - Windows 95, the one with the two-year-old name that only runs on more modern hardware (sorry, '386 owners, but most of you don't have the speed, RAM, or hard drive space) - and there are two flavors of Win 95 which don't interoperate well.
- Windows NT 4.0, the supposedly robust one designed for servers
and several computers that don't have Intel inside™.
(Did you know you it's very, very difficult to upgrade a Win 95
computer to Windows NT? Go figure!)
Variant: of course, some users are still on NT 3.51. - Windows CE, an operating system for personal digital assistants.
- And now a new version of Windows designed for network computers
But there is a better way, the solution for the rest of us.
Mac OS: One Operating System
The Macintosh operating system (Mac OS) is a single operating system. Although Apple has dropped support for its oldest models, you can run last year's System 7.5.5 on a 1986 Mac Plus. You can run the current System 7.6.1 on a 1989 Mac IIci. And if you want to run System 8.0 when it ships in late July 1997, the 1991 Quadra 700 and 900 can do the job.
Even though the operating system has evolved, almost every program that ran one one computer will run on all future models and OS revisions. And many of today's apps will run on a lot of the older hardware, RAM, hard drive, and patience permitting. The core OS has remained the same, even with big jumps to System 7 and Power Macintosh.
Macs need no 16-bit emulation that keeps their CPUs from running flat out - a problem with Pentiums under Win95. Apple's Power Macintosh emulates the older 680X0 family of processors and runs their software even faster than the old hardware could!
Interesting aside: to get the best performance from an Intel computer, you have to run a more efficient operating system than Windows 95, such as a Unix variant or Windows NT. The RSA Secret Key Hack reports the following results (client software has been honed for maximum performance on each platform):
- PowerPC 604e, 200 MHz, Mac OS 8 - 501,000 keys/sec.
- Pentium Pro, 200 MHz, Linux - 483,624 keys/sec.
- Pentium Pro, 200 MHz, Windows NT - 465,000 keys/sec.
- Pentium Pro, 200 MHz, Windows 95 - 296,800 keys/sec.
Although the Pentium Pro on an unleashed operating system (Linux, Win NT) is nearly as fast as a PowerPC 604e running Mac OS, the same Pentium Pro is 36-38% slower under Windows 95.
Not only has the Mac OS remained consistent across 13 years, but it also runs on the fastest PCs on earth.
- the Power Macintosh 6500/300 has a 300 MHz RISC processor that outperforms anything in the Pentium family
- the PowerBook 3400/240 runs the same CPU at 240 MHz, making it the world's fastest notebook computer and leaving 166 MHz Pentium notebooks in its dust
Mac OS: Several Operating Systems
Maybe one operating system isn't enough for you. Macintosh doesn't limit your options.
For Unix lovers, Linux, MachTen, and other Unix-derived operating systems are available. The forthcoming Rhapsody OS from Apple is based on the same Mach kernel. And the just released BeOS is in many ways similar to Unix.
For Wintel lovers, you have the choice between a PC-on-a-card solution or full Wintel emulation in software. Orange Micro and Reply make DOS cards for Macs that let them run 486 and beyond at flat-out speeds comparable to "real" DOS boxes. Best of all, they tend to have less teething problems and run more programs without trouble than computers designed specifically for Windows 95.
If you want to run Windows® apps now and then or speed isn't a big concern, you can buy emulators from Insignia (SoftWindows) or Connectix (Virtual PC) that will let your run DOS, Windows® (3.1, 95, NT), or even a form of Unix or NextStep as an application within the Macintosh environment.
So, let's rephrase the question.
Can you plug all types of people into one operating system?
Yes, as long as it comes from Apple.
This site best viewed with Verdana, a free TrueType font from Microsoft.
To answer several questions sent in response to the above line:
- I am not anti-Microsoft or anti-Windows. I am anti-hype.
- Although I don't use Windows, no longer use Excel or Microsoft Works, and have given up on Internet Explorer, I do use Microsoft Word (version 5.1a) when I need a more control than ClarisWorks provides.
- Apple helped pioneer TrueType fonts.
- By using fonts that come with Windows or Internet Explorer, I make this site more visually attractive to the Wintel world.
- Free is a very nice price.
- Frankly, I like Verdana. It is a better sans serif font than the Geneva and Helvetica Mac users have had for years. But if you don't want to use it, this page will display nicely using Helvetica or Geneva.
Dan Knight has been using Macs since 1986, sold Macs for several years, supported them for many more years, and has been publishing Low End Mac since April 1997. If you find Dan's articles helpful, please consider making a donation to his tip jar.
Recent Mac Musings
- No High Definition iTunes Video for You, 11.19. The October 2008 MacBooks are preventing users from viewing some high-def iTunes content from being viewed on their external displays. Poor form!
- Anticipating Macworld: Nehalem, Snow Leopard, and Updated Desktops, 11.18. Intel's Core i7 CPU has to make it way into the next Mac Pro, nVidia GeForce graphics will drive the iMac and Mac mini, and 'Snow Tiger' will unleash the animal within.
- One Used Mac Can Make a Difference, 11.12. Instead of scrapping out old Macs for raw materials, what if the Mac community worked to restore them and give them away to those with no computers?
- A Brief History of Portable Computing: From Dynabook to Netbooks, 11.06. 40 years ago Alan Kay dreamt of a two pound handheld computer. Portables have made a lot of changes since 1981, but haven't yet matched the Dynabook.
- More in the Mac Musings index.
Links for the Day
- Mac of the Day: 14" iBook G3/600 MHz, Jan. 2002 - The first 14" iBook ran at a comfortable 600 MHz.
- Group of the Day: Mac OS 9 List covers Mac OS 9 as both a freestanding OS and as Classic mode in OS X.
- December 1 in LEM history: 99: Monitor dot pitch - 00: Macs for new users - Everybody wants to use iMacs - Career options - 03: Pfinder: Panther-like Finder for legacy Macs - 04: Why I use an eMac, iBook, and Power Mac - ThinkFree Office - MacLink Plus 15 - 05: PowerBook 190 still a great laptop - Eudora, the Mac's most powerful email client - 06: Core 2 'Books cooler and faster
Recent Content on Low End Mac
- The Very Best Macs: Sometimes Apple Just Nails It, Andrew J Fishkin, Best Tools for the Job, 12.01. Apple has produced lots of good Macs, a few dogs, and some 'best of breed' models that stand apart from the pack.
- Apple Could Buy Dell, and Linux Is No Threat to Mac OS X, Charles W. Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 12.01. Apple has the cash to buy Dell outright, and the idea has some merit. Also, why Linux still isn't ready to displace the Mac OS.
- Will Snow Leopard Support Some PowerPC Macs?, Simon Royal, Mac Spectrum, 11.26. It just doesn't make sense that Apple would ship a new OS that won't support Macs sold less than three years ago.
- From Ubuntu to OS X, Picking the Right Mac, an Aluminum Mouse Pad, and More, Mac News Review, 11.26. Also changes in Apple culture, OWC rebates on Hitachi drives, Clone X clones OS X, and LaCie SilverKeeper updated for OS X 10.5.5.
- Apple Retail Will Break Records This Christmas, Tim Nash, Taking Back the Market, 11.26. "Despite all the economic problems, Apple Retail can look forward to another successful quarter with sales maybe breaking through $2 billion...."
- iPhone 2.2 Software Update Released and Jailbroken, Advent Calendars for Your iPhone, and More, iNews Review, 11.26. Also making Street View work on the iPod touch, BlackBerry Storm questions answered, Microsoft's forthcoming phone, eco-friendly cases, and more.
- MacBook Slowdown without Battery, DisplayLink and DRM, 256 GB SSD, MagSafe Solutions, and More, The 'Book Review, 11.26. Also Mac netbook prospects, laptop cooling table with 2 fans, solar notebook bag, hard shell cases for unibody 'Books, bargain 'Books from $500 to $2,299, and more.
- Old Macs in the New Economy, John Hatchett, Recycled Computing, 11.25. "We are the kings of making our computers last, last, and last some more."
- Virtualization Shootout: VirtualBox 2 vs. VMWare Fusion 2, Kev Kitchens, Kitchens Sync, 11.25. VirtualBox is aimed at a different audience than Fusion and Parallels. While it works well, the typical desktop user will probably prefer Fusion.
- Software to Keep Your MacBook Cool, Phil Herlihy, The Usefulness Equation, 11.25. Heat is the enemy of long hardware life. Two programs to keep your MacBook running cooler.
- Another Way to Run WeatherBug, Aspire One Runs OS X, 17" MacBook Pro Hi-res Display, and More, Charles W. Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 11.25. Also finding that 'just right' notebook computer, car, or truck.
- More links in our archive.
Recent Deals
- Best iPod nano Deals, 12.01. Refurb 3G/4 GB, $79; new, $105; refurb 8 GB, $99; new, $115; 3G/8 GB, $134; 16 GB, $174. Prices include ground shipping.
- Best 12" PowerBook G4 Deals, 12.01. Used 1.5 GHz SuperDrive, $481/C$599 plus shipping.
- Best Mac Pro Deals, 12.01. Used 3.0 GHz 4-core, $2,102; new 2.66 GHz 4-core, $1,949 after rebate; 2.8 4-core, $2,099 a/r; 8-core, $2,515 a/r; 3.0 $3,320 a/r; 3.2, $4,099 a/r.
- Best MacBook Deals, 11.26. Used 1.83 GHz, $595; 2.0 SD, $660; refurb 2.1 GHz, $949; 2.4, $999; black, $1,099; new 2.1, $869 after rebate; 2.4, $1,150 a/r; black, $1,194 a/r; more.
- Best iPod touch Deals, 11.26. Used 1G/8 GB, $160; refurb, $179; new, $198; used 16, $200; refurb, $219; refurb 32, $319; new, $340; 2G/8 GB, $219; 16, $289; 32, $379.
- Best Power Mac G5 Deals, 11.26. Used 1.6 GHz single, $450; 1.8, $499; dual, $600, 2.0, $800; 2.3, $816; dual-core, $1,000; 2.5 dual, $1,000; 2.7, $1,050; 2.5 Quad, $1,400.
- Best MacBook Deals, 11.26. Used 1.83 GHz, $595; 2.0 SD, $660; refurb 2.1 GHz, $949; 2.4, $999; black, $1,099; new 2.1, $869 after rebate; 2.4, $1,150 a/r; black, $1,194 a/r; more.
- Best Mac mini Deals, 11.25. Used 1.42 GHz G4 Combo, $429; 1.66 GHz Core Duo, $449; 1.83, SuperDrive $629; new 1.83 Core 2 Combo, $570 shipped; 2.0 SD, $760 shipped.
- Best 15" PowerBook G4 Deals, 11.25. Used 1.67 GHz SuperDrive, $539; hi-res, $800. Shipping additional.
- Best Time Capsule and AirPort Deals, 11.25. Refurb 500 GB Time Capsule, $249; new, $281; refurb 1 TB, $419; new, $462; AirPort Extreme Base Station, $159; Express, $60.
- More deals in our archive.
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