October 11, 2002

This FAQ (frequently asked questions) list deals solely with Mac OS-based computers. If you want to buy Wintel, be my guest. But don't be calling me when it goes wrong. Because you know what? Every person I've ever talked to about their Wintel computer has a Windows horror story to share. From IRQ conflicts to BIOS failures to CD-ROM drives not mounting to "plug-and-play" not working to Y2K issues to having to repeatedly reinstall the operating system and on and on and on. If you want to enter that nightmare, you go right ahead. But I'm planning on advocating technology that works, and in my experience that's Macintosh.

If you have a Macintosh-related question you would like answered, please feel to click on the Feedback link at the top of the page and email me.

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 Software

01. What Macintosh Operating System (MacOS) should I use?
For the most part, I recommend using the latest system software that your Macintosh will run. With PowerPC machines especially, each operating system upgrade has increased reliability and performance.

There are some exceptions to this "always upgrade" rule, however. First, users of really old Macs (68000 vintage) need to seriously consider sticking with System 6 instead of upgrading to System 7. Although System 7 has some nifty features, it's also a lot slower than System 6. There is a fair amount of software that requires System 7 to run, so an upgrade may be essential. If not, sticking with System 6 is recommended.

Macs running System 7.5.x should almost universally be upgraded to MacOS 7.6.1. Not only does 7.6.1 incorporate all the bug-fixes of 7.5.x, it's also slightly faster for PowerPC machines.

For those Macs running MacOS 8.0, upgrading to MacOS 8.1 is a no-brainer. It's free and it's extraordinarily stable. MacOS 8.1 also adds some nifty features that got left out in the rush to complete MacOS 8.

MacOS 8.5.1 is a similarly excellent upgrade, though users should be aware that Adobe Type Manager needs to be upgraded for full compatibility. If you do decide to upgrade to MacOS 8.5.1, be aware that there is a memory bug which requires a third-party patch. It's no big deal, but I definitely recommend adding the patch if you're running this version of the OS. (FYI: MacOS 8.5.1 with the memory patch installed and not running any more Microsoft extensions than absolutely necessary is an incredibly stable operating system.)

MacOS 8.6 is another good system, though it requires a Font Patch from Apple to really make it complete. With the exception of Sherlock, the system is perhaps even more stable than the 8.5.1 configuration I mentioned above. You won't see any big performance increase between 8.5 and 8.6, but PowerBook users can gain up to 37 percent more battery life via 8.6's new nanokernal (the underlying program of the operating system). That makes it a great upgrade for portable computer owners. I'd don't have statistics to back it up, but my impression is that the reworked Open Transport software of 8.6 makes for faster Internet connections as well. Worth the upgrade, but be sure to apply the Font Patch. (If you have trouble with Sherlock crashing try these steps one-by-one: increase the memory allocation, uncheck "Load Only When Needed" from the TCP/IP options Control Panel, delete the Sherlock Preferences, zap the PRAM, and rebuild the Desktop. The "Load Only When Needed" thing was what did the trick for me.)

MacOS 9 adds several new features including a more robust Sherlock II. There are several incarnation of MacOS (9, 9.02, etc.), all of which should be upgraded to MacOS 9.04—a free download from Apple. With 9.04, a number of different applications will have to be updated for full compatibility (again including Adobe's ATM), but my over all experience with MacOS 9.04 has been very favorable. I've installed it on iMacs, iBooks, PowerBooks, G4s, older Power Macs, and always with success. That said, it's the first major system upgrade not to add much in the way of speed or reliability, but it does have a lot of neat new features like iTools, Sherlock 2, keychains, voiceprint passwords, AppleScript over TCP/IP, and so on.

MacOS 9.1 and MacOS 9.2.x are what I'd consider a marginal upgrades. Both are free downloads for owners of MacOS 9, but neither offer new features. Nonetheless, if you'll be using Classic mode in Mac OS X, getting to 9.2.2 is important. For machines not capable of running X, MacOS 9.1 is the last upgrade possible. Whether 9.1 is enough of an improvement over 9.04 to warrant that upgrade for these machines, I don't know. MacOS 9.2.x is a bug-fix release designed primarily to improve Classic layer compatibility in MacOS X. (Classic is a part of MacOS X which provides the ability to run older Macintosh software.)

MacOS X is usable in its 10.1.5 incarnation. It's got multithreated processing, protected memory, and incredibly reliable UNIX underpinnings. It's also got a fair number of bugs, so if you're heading to X, I strongly advise MacOS X 10.2.1 (aka Jaguar). With all the advantages of 10.1.5 plus a reported 150 new features, Jaguar is the cat's meow when it comes to operating systems. 10.2.1 is the best OS Apple's ever made in my opinion, and I highly recommend it for machines capable of running it.

02. What computer diagnostic and repair utilities do you recommend?
For Macs running MacOS 7.x through MacOS 9.x, I recommend and use MicroMat's TechTool Pro 3, InformINIT 8.1, Alsoft's DiskWarrior, and Norton Utilities. Although Apple's Disk First Aid is a reasonable first line of defense, everyone should have either TechTool Pro, Norton Utilities, or Disk Warrior, and preferably at least 2 out of 3.

For Mac OS X, I recommend only Alsoft's DiskWarrior.  

03. Do I need a Mac virus detection utility?
For older Mac systems running up through MacOS 9.x, probably not. I don't use a virus checker regularly and I download stuff from the net all the time. If you're looking to buy one, Norton Anti-Virus is probably the best of the lot, though TechTool Pro 3 now has virus checking capability as well. In a pinch, the now-retired Disinfectant is a freeware anti-virus program which will provide a basic level of protection. It's older, but it still does a reasonably good job (particularly against any of the older viruses). There's also Virex, which I've heard is pretty good.

In 12 years of messing with Macs, I've acquired only 2 viruses, both of which were harmless self-replicating little things that only impacted floppy disks. This stands in marked contrast to the Wintel PC world where you have to be a stoned cold idiot not to use anti-virus software because viruses are everywhere (and most of which are at least indirectly the fault of Microsoft for failing to provide hardly anything in the way of computer security).

As far as Mac OS X virus problems go, there have been no widespread outbreaks as of yet. I am not familar enough with Unix and Unix viruses to say that all is safe. I'm not particularly worried about an infection, but I do have a virus checker that I run about once a week just to make sure things are kosher.

04. What software utilities do you use to make your Macintosh computing experience more fun and/or complete?
James Thomson's DragThing 4 is a neat shareware Launcher-like utility of which I'm fond. Desktop Resetter is superb if you're using a multiscan monitor and resolution changes occasionally mess up the location of your icons. Aladdin Systems' StuffIt Deluxe is highly recommend if you intend to send many files across the Internet or if you're limited on storage space. It's a great compression tool.

05. What's your favorite game?
For single player action, I'm partial to Tomb Raider II and Baldur's Gate. For multi-player fun, I've yet to find anything more enjoyable than QuakeWorld (a free add-on to Quake), though Quake III:Arena might be close. If you're looking for more a strategy game, check out WarCraft II (which is fun in both single- and multi-player modes). If you don't mind blood, gore, and swearing, Carmageddon is an excellent LAN-based multiplayer game (little buggy though). If you have a PowerPC machine, be sure to check out MacMAME, the arcade game emulator.

06. What software do you use on a regular basis?
A lot! Software receiving the most use is: James Thomson's DragThing 4.5, Apple's Mail.app, Internet Explorer 5.2.2, Fetch 3.03, Adobe GoLive 6.01, Adobe ImageReady 2, Intuit's Quicken 2003, Connectix Virtual PC 4, AppleWorks 6.2.4, Palm Desktop 4, ExaChess Lite 2.1, GameRanger, QuakeWorld 2.3, iCab 2.8 (beta), TechTool Pro 3.03, MT-Newswatcher, Leicester Productions Reunion 6, MacMAME .60a, Aladdin Systems StuffIt Deluxe 6, Adobe Acrobat Reader 5, Fire, iChat, PGP Tools 8 (beta), TextEdit, iTunes, iPhoto, Virux, and Apple QuickTime 6.

Other software which I use at least semi-regularly: Adobe Photoshop 5.5, Adobe InDesign 1.52, Adobe Premiere 4.2, Adobe AfterEffects 3.1, Terran Software's Media Cleaner Pro 5.0, WhatRoute 1.4.3, Online Bible, Microsoft Word 98, Desktop Resetter, CD Coyote 2.11, Norton Utilities 5.03, Norton Antivirus 6.0, Apple's ResEdit 2.1.3, FileMaker Pro 4, and Mortgage Maker 2.0.

I'm always trying out new stuff, and if you have recommendations on software you'd think I'd enjoy, please let me know.

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 Hardware

01. What Macintosh should I buy?
The simple answer is the one which allows you to do what you want to do at the lowest cost. If all you want to do is email and word processing, why spend $1599 on a new G4 (or even $999 on a new iMac) when you can get a Mac IIci which will do just a good a job for under $50?

In fact, the only way to really "win" the computer upgrade price war is to lag technology by several years. The Mac IIci that I bought a couple years ago for $412 originally sold for $8,800. It's not any less of a machine; it's just no longer state-of-the-art. Always lag technology to the greatest extent possible given your intended usage if you want to save money.

That said, the price/performance ratio on many of Apple's machines remain absolutely terrific. The iMacs, iBooks, and low-end G4 Towers are all bargains by historical standards—particularly if you are eligible for an educational discount.

02. Should I buy a portable or a desktop machine?
This depends strictly on your need for portability. If having an "office on the go" is important to you, there's nothing that beats a PowerBook. I bought a PowerBook G3 (FireWire) 500-MHz and it offers so much in the way of convenience that I would be hard-pressed to consider buying another desktop machine if my work didn't require PCI slots. Indeed, since all Apple's portable machines can drive larger external monitors, you have to really need the additional components (PCI slots, bigger hard drives, etc.) and faster speeds of a desktop machine before I'd advice buying anything other than a PowerBook or an iBook.

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