Buyer's Guide: Software

[jimjiminyjim]

If MacRumors had a Buyer's Guide to Apple software, would you use it?

Patterns of upgrades and new lines are not nearly as stable, but the visual bars that show how long it took for each update could be helpful. For example, I'm looking for a copy of Panther. I'm also wondering if I should wait for the next version of the Mac OS later this year. I'd like to see a buyer's guide to software - based on timelines and rumors - just like the hardware buyer's guide section.

[mkrishnan]

If MacRumors had a Buyer's Guide to Apple software, would you use it?

Patterns of upgrades and new lines are not nearly as stable, but the visual bars that show how long it took for each update could be helpful. For example, I'm looking for a copy of Panther. I'm also wondering if I should wait for the next version of the Mac OS later this year. I'd like to see a buyer's guide to software - based on timelines and rumors - just like the hardware buyer's guide section.

I think it might be useful. When I got my Mac in December, I bought Office.X not expecting an update to be announced two weeks later. :( Of course, I don't know if the kind of copy I bought (student site license) would've come with a free upgrade or not, but if I knew before I wouldn't feel ripped off. :)

It'd be nice if it could be like an e-Pinions kinda thing where there were static review threads of the software, or does this run with Panther/Jaguar/etc type notes, but I'm not sure how this could be implemented in a clean way, considering the tendency of threads to rack up posts here.

And maybe while the powers-that-be are at it, they can create a forum dedicated to discussion of G5 powerbooks, gen 4 iPods, how much ram one needs, and the merits and de-merits of the iBook. ;)

[iBook]

I think a guide like this would be very helpful, particularly for the odd bit of software updates that are released for certain incompatibilities. I remember a release of Quark that would crash on my G4 until it finally dawned on me to call Quark and ask what was up. They directed me to Web site where I found the necessary patch.

Would be nice to see this kind of info consolidated in one place. Don't know if I'm unique in this respect, but sometimes I forget to ask for help when I'm having trouble or don't want to plow through umpteen pages at the company's "Support" web pages.

[jimjiminyjim]

There are sites out there specifically to track all apple related software. (for example, versiontracker.com). For Macrumors to undertake the task of tracking it all would be too much.

I meant specifically Apple-branded software:
iLife
Final Cut
OS X
iCal
Safari
Motion
Shake
X11
iTunes
iDVD
etc.

This could be a manageable task, and give people information they want, from the company they're excited about.

[michaelrjohnson]

almost any mac user who hangs around these forums for a year will come to recognize (through experience, or observation) when apple's product cycle updates are typically.

january
mid march
late june
mid/late july
late august/early september
possibly november

[JOD8FY]

I wouldn't mind a software buyers guide. Actually, I was just thinking of that the other day. Something to think about arn?

JOD8FY