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Analyst: Apple Likely to Sell 5 Million Copies of Snow Leopard This Quarter
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The difference being that Unix Shared Libraries have forever had versioning. This was and is still the major problem of DLLs. With no versioning system in place and a good way to distribute and install specific versions in the system without overwriting other versions installed, you got DLL Hell, where every vendor would just ship their own version of the library and place them in their application folder, thereby completely destroying any of the strengths that dynamic linking offered over static linking.
Haha, robust. Yeah right. Even on Windows 2003 Server we still get problems where Hives get stuck and users can't log on, requiring manual unloading... and sometimes reboots. At least, they merged Regedt32.exe and regedit.exe now and you can use the same registry editor to unload the hives. I had to teach the Windows admin about this "feature" too... Intuitive when a full blown Windows server admin with 10 years experience doesn't know about hives and how to manipulate them. Not to mention all the Hives are scattered across the filesystem (Each user having his own under Document and Settings... oh sorry, they renamed that in Vista...)
Also, nevermind the fact that most settings in the Registry aren't documented or poorly documented, are named things like DWORD and usually made to be cryptic (I'm not talking about 3rd party settings here, Microsoft's own registry settings are a mess to comprehend).
Vs proper system level configuration files placed in a single directory, $PREFIX/etc, and containing in-line documentation in the form of comments, with human readable and editable settings...
The fact is, text configuration files work. They are easy to maintain, easy to version, easy to deploy, easy to backup, easy to restore. I loathe the move to XML like most commercial offerings on Unix are doing, forcing to either scan through cryptic nested tags or use a Web based admin interface to make changes.
I don't doubt that this problem has happened, but it's certainly not the norm (even if it was a problem that hit people using 10.4.11, or whichever version it was).
The point is, Apple has a pretty flawless record in this area, whereas I remember that stupid chime on Windows 9x for "missing DLL file."
It isn't 1998 friend. We're post NT 5.0 now.
I do prefer Apple's approach and what you can do with OS X on the administration side but you're still stuck buying Macs to do it.
The demons of 9x and Mac OS Classic still get dragged along today.
1. The Quarter Ends on Sept. 30. That is only 4 and 1/2 weeks after the launch date. ( It is not 3 months of sales).
2. The Mac installed base is likely in the 50 million range. 5M over 4 weeks is 10% of that buying the upgrade. 7M is about 14% and 10M is about 20%.
Plus need to factor in how many of those folks are still on 10.2, 10.3, 10.4 who can't upgrade to 10.6. There are many millions of folks who have PPC machines who aren't going to buy.
[ The installed Windows bases is in the 100's of millions range. ]
Even if 10, 15, or 20% of the install base buys it in the first 4 weeks. Who is going to buy in the next 100 days??? They may turn the rushing herd into a bigger rushing herd ... (the price is targeted for this effect though. )
3. Throw in that the default kernel you get in SL for the vast majority of machines is a 32-bit kernel. same as Leopard and lots of folks are going to yawn at this one once the details become more clear. A 64-bit finder and system apps and the GUI looks mostly the same. Most folks buy their Mac primarily to run applications others than those.
Plus let there is the let the early adopters finish testing it syndrome. You know there is going to be some FUBAR bugs. There always are. Won't kill folks to wait 5-6 weeks for the dust to settle and a 10.6.1 or 10.6.2 to come out. Lots of folks use their Mac to run critical business systems. You don't want to fiddle with something that hasn't gotten an earned stable reputation.
Once "must have" 10.6 apps come that will be a more sustainable driver than the "gotta have Apple's latest anything" crowd.
It isn't 1998 friend. We're post NT 5.0 now.
I do prefer Apple's approach and what you can do with OS X on the administration side but you're still stuck buying Macs to do it.
The demons of 9x and Mac OS Classic still get dragged along today.
I agree and I'm not trying to start a Windows-bashing session. But.... in 2009... and this past Friday.............. I got a DLL error on Vista. Just has a nicer alert sound.
An error in an application key in the registry is equivalent to an error in a preferences file.
A random bad registry entry doesn't disable the system any more than a random bad text line in a preferences file disables the system.
"Ugh - registry bad" is a knee-jerk reaction, although I admit that I so often see "trash the preferences" being offered as the solution to an Apple OS problem. Perhaps Microsoft needs to add a macro facility "delete all registry keys for application X" to give the same functionality that Apple users get with the "rm" command".
I only get those when running some really off application to dump my game modules so I can modify them. I had to go hunt down the DLLs needed and install them. It works under Vista but not under 7. The program hasn't been updated since 2008 either.I agree and I'm not trying to start a Windows-bashing session. But.... in 2009... and this past Friday.............. I got a DLL error on Vista. Just has a nicer alert sound.
Was your DLL message at least as helpful as mine was?
I could contact the developer or hunt their forums but I've been busy.
I've seen quite a few corrupted USER.DAT files that required the recreation of a user's profile. Users are never happy when they lose all their settings. Sure, they're not system wide to the point that the system is unbootable, but it's still a good head ache.
I'd rather just delete .application and just redo 1 application's settings. Not to mention I don't need any special plugins to backup and restore flat text files.
I only get those when running some really off application to dump my game modules so I can modify them. I had to go hunt down the DLLs needed and install them. It works under Vista but not under 7. The program hasn't been updated since 2008 either.
Was your DLL message at least as helpful as mine was?
I could contact the developer or hunt their forums but I've been busy.
Probably, since I don't remember the exact message.
You know, I try to give all OSs a chance, even Linux. I admit, I'm pretty Linux-illiterate, but I like to mess with it.
As soon as I see a BIG update to MBPs (Core i5/7, cheaper and bigger SSD, etc.), I plan on getting a machine to house numerous OSs. My 160gb just isn't cutting it for that kind of use.
I'm sure we can drag up all our horror stories about "insert operating system here". Does that really get us anywhere though?
I've been trying to set aside a "Week with Linux" at home for some time. Someday...Probably, since I don't remember the exact message.
You know, I try to give all OSs a chance, even Linux. I admit, I'm pretty Linux-illiterate, but I like to mess with it.
As soon as I see a BIG update to MBPs (Core i5/7, cheaper and bigger SSD, etc.), I plan on getting a machine to house numerous OSs. My 160gb just isn't cutting it for that kind of use.
I haven't.
Anyway, no point in starting a p#ssing match about registry vs. text preference files. Most of the time for most users both work well.
My original point was that using "antiquated" for the registry is absurd - the registry is much newer than text preferences.
are you kidding?
just to mention a few (has any of this been corrected in win7?):
1. no native ssh support, need to install cygwin or use other third party solutions
2. no native Posix compliant OS (yes, I know about MS Posix subsystem and SFU and other tools, they all suck to the point of making you bang your head against the wall, useless to the brim),
3. no native Posix compliant build tools,
4. no support for GNU tools,
5. no virtual desktops (unless you download the extra toys or tokens)
7. proprietary every thing, far from open and free (as in open source and free to use any software in the OS)
8. no native cross compatibility of just about any thing (this is very antiquated)
...etc...
notice, windows with no native virtual desktops is very antiquated. I have been using virtual desktops in Iris OS, Sun since 1992, and in Linux since a bit later, in Mac OS, etc... Windows? Nope, how is this for antiquated OS?
Disclaimer: I dislike MS greatly, and make very little effort to do any work in there (none, actually). Have never touch windows vista nor win7.
Sorry, but the fact that you can run a decade old software in windows does not say much one way or the other. Have you heard of UNIX? They have this little command: ls
Has been around for 40 years and still works.
However, UNIX is not antiquated, windows is.
Not convinced.
Those are Apple apps for the most part. What I'm hoping for is a quick adoption of the underlying OS features by third party developers. Given the right effort we should see a whole new generation of apps that perform smartly.
This I agree with totally. They question is where will Apple focus it's attention. Will it be minor tweaks to quartz or something new perhaps in the way of AI. Some may laugh at the mention of AI but very soon we will have an amazing amount of computational resources available that could lead to bleeding edge AI. In any event I'm most curious about where Apple will take us. In many ways Mac OS/X is very complete when judged against contemporary OS's so apple will need to break new ground.
Dave
Personally those under the hood changes are exactly why I'm excited and will be installing Snow Leopard soon. A faster more stable Safari is a big deal, the same goes for many of the other apps supplied with the OS. Do I expect major interface changes - nope but some of the leaked features are compelling. Frankly Finder needs all the improving Apple can throw at it.
Those are Apple apps for the most part. What I'm hoping for is a quick adoption of the underlying OS features by third party developers. Given the right effort we should see a whole new generation of apps that perform smartly.
This I agree with totally. They question is where will Apple focus it's attention. Will it be minor tweaks to quartz or something new perhaps in the way of AI. Some may laugh at the mention of AI but very soon we will have an amazing amount of computational resources available that could lead to bleeding edge AI. In any event I'm most curious about where Apple will take us. In many ways Mac OS/X is very complete when judged against contemporary OS's so apple will need to break new ground.
Dave
How about a failed technology?
Antiquated might not be perfect but it gets you close. If you look at it from the standpoint of tools required to manipulate your settings the registry is obviously antiquated or poorly supported. Human & computer readable files can be manipulated by all sorts of tools from Vim to XML processing tools. Many of those tools are very modern indeed.
Now I do have sense of life on every side of the fence as I support Windows machines at work, and have more than passing knowledge of Linux. The Mac fares fairly well against these systems. However I'm not so blind as to not see issues with the Mac. Still I see the Mac as being more modern than the other systems.
So is the registry antiquated? It is debatable but I prefer to call it boneheaded. Let's face it the registry isn't one of MS greatest operating system developments. This from a guy that has written production software that uses the registry.
Dave
Both work well? That sounds like someone starting a pissing match.
Antiquated might not be perfect but it gets you close. If you look at it from the standpoint of tools required to manipulate your settings the registry is obviously antiquated or poorly supported. Human & computer readable files can be manipulated by all sorts of tools from Vim to XML processing tools. Many of those tools are very modern indeed.
Now I do have sense of life on every side of the fence as I support Windows machines at work, and have more than passing knowledge of Linux. The Mac fares fairly well against these systems. However I'm not so blind as to not see issues with the Mac. Still I see the Mac as being more modern than the other systems.
So is the registry antiquated? It is debatable but I prefer to call it boneheaded. Let's face it the registry isn't one of MS greatest operating system developments. This from a guy that has written production software that uses the registry.
Dave
Apple's quarter ends on September 30. His statement was that Apple would sell 5 million copies of SL during the remainder of this quarter. That's about one month.
I think it will be huge
In these tough economic times, I think the market is clearly divided into the budget hunters that PC's are targeting and the upscale Apple market to whom a $30 upgrade is nothing. The ego stroke of having the most current OS for their luxury brand computers will be irresistible for the majority of mac owners I would expect. This upgrade will set records for number of sales I bet.
In these tough economic times, I think the market is clearly divided into the budget hunters that PC's are targeting and the upscale Apple market to whom a $30 upgrade is nothing. The ego stroke of having the most current OS for their luxury brand computers will be irresistible for the majority of mac owners I would expect. This upgrade will set records for number of sales I bet.
Oh come on Apple can hardly be considered a luxury brand.
Consider what MS wil charge for the next version of windows. While Apple hardware isn't always state of the art performance wise there are many other ways to measure value. One good example is the low power nature of Apples desktops.
That is my feeling also. It might start off slow but as people realize it's better qualities uptake should remain robust.
Dave
this is BS!
Consider what MS wil charge for the next version of windows. While Apple hardware isn't always state of the art performance wise there are many other ways to measure value. One good example is the low power nature of Apples desktops.
The joy is no different than my Linux new installs. It has nothing to do with the platforms status. If you could only see my Linux machines you would realize there is no luxury there. The good feeling is the same no matter what the platform. Heck some app releases can do it for me.
That is my feeling also. It might start off slow but as people realize it's better qualities uptake should remain robust.
Dave
Perhaps? They should have had it in 1994 before they introduced the Registry to general public. I cannot believe there isn't one, people have been fighting with the registry for 15 years now.
I myself prefer the preference file system. Windows had it pre-95 and it worked well. Actually, it worked so well that people actually changed prefs themselves by editing the files, so MS thought that the files should be hidden to make it more difficult (for stupid people to make stupid mistakes). Stupid assumption, stupid solution.
But surely the prefs need to be stored somewhere. Centralized or distributed storage, that's the question.
If the analysts are predicting 5 million this quarter I will predict 5.5 million this weekend. Followed by a lot of analysts revising their predictions!