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Apple Seeds First Developer Build of Mac OS X 10.6.5
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This from the Why Mac section of Apple's website: "So no matter which Mac you choose, you get superior performance for just about everything you do: managing your photos, editing video, even playing graphics-intensive 3D games".
http://www.apple.com/why-mac/better-hardware/#technology
They're selling the Mac's superiority on performance, not just stability and usability. So they do have a responsibility to get this right.
http://www.apple.com/why-mac/better-hardware/#technology
They're selling the Mac's superiority on performance, not just stability and usability. So they do have a responsibility to get this right.
Apple's stance has been and always will be that tight control of its products ensures a better end user experience. By regulating the software that runs their product lines, Apple is able to produce a much more structured ecosystem. The cost may be the inability for some users who need extreme usage for such tasks as high end gaming frame rate or extreme 3D rendering. For such instances Windows OS may be a better fit.
If Apple were to allow a free for all on its systems, then I would expect OS X to be renamed Windows OS. If you don't like it, don't use it. Simple. However I suspect with Apple's recent recognition of graphics advancements in OS X, the company is addressing the issue, but slowly and systematically to ensure a close to perfect as possible end user experience.
In the meantime, boot up Windows, play those hard core, tear 'em up, games, as I'm sure "old Steve Jobs" doesn't want to "croak" any time soon.
All of the drivers are kernel extensions (aka kexts).
The general fact that they are kexts should motivate apple to fix any driver issues.
It certainly irks me.
Apple really isn't tapping into the gpu with their drivers, and as a result, macs as a whole have less performance than their respective windows counterparts, which doesn't make sense from a marketing perspective, given that they cite one of the performance features of a Mac is their ability to game.
Apple's citing games from 2004 as having very good performance on current-gen hardware. Updating the graphics drivers would let them show newer games.
It would really be better if nVidia and ATI were to release graphics drivers that actually take advantage of all the hardware features that they made in the GPU, relative to apple's taking advantage of basic features.
Anarchy only takes place in graphics drivers when there are a bazillion different drivers for a variety of hardware (and such is the way with Windows).
Even then, it's not that bad.
Which I assume would make it all the more important that apple optimize them.
Yes they do, which makes it all the more bothersome that anything graphics intensive (that taps into the GPU) on a Mac takes a performance hit relative to their Windows counterparts, and a noticeable one at that.
Superior compared to what? Apple sells their systems on many different marketing "monikers" as any company (it's business). The current line of graphics cards are generally superior when compared to the average consumer market system, however there are some exceptions. In those exceptions, most users who need such power generally need a powerful system, the "Mac Pro". While there is debate regarding the ATI versus nVidia graphics cards for 3D rendering in OS X, most would agree that the graphics cards supplied by Apple are more than adequate for the general consumer (and before any one picks out extreme examples to prove how much Apple "sucks", don't). I upgraded my 8 core 2008 Mac Pro with an ATI Radeon HD 4870 and it handles "Final Cut Pro", "Premiere Pro", etc all extremely well.
I'm curious as to the programs that some claim OS X graphics are incapable of running well (if at all)?
That being stated, I completely agree with you, as I would prefer Apple focus more energy into their desktop line. However, this is nothing new for the company. IDevices and iOS4 seem to be the main focus on Apple, Inc., and as well it should as the company has succeeded beyond expectations in the last decade.
However, if you don't like it, buy a Windows based system. Any Intel based Mac can run Windows legally and very well.
Basically... yeah, some anarchy would ensue (and no, I don't really care about gaming, I use my Mac for design work and HD video editing, etc.). Audio and video are two very different things in OS X. Audio is built into the logic board and is run by Realtek kexts (drivers in Windows OS). Graphics cards (aside from the laptop line) are extensions to the logic board and vary from model to model. Aside from building many Hackint0shes, I have yet to experience regular "kernal panics" (BSODs for OS X) from Apple supplied kexts/updates/etc. for their hardware. There is a strong possibility that if Apple opened up their OS to regularly update their kexts without going through Apple first for testing on ALL their possible desktop systems, kext issues may abound. As it stands, Apple prefers to handle the kexts for their devices to ensure that there are little to no issues (yes, there are some examples when issues surface, but those are few and far between).
What if a third party manufacturer released an update that OS X users installed that crippled their graphics? Perhaps for the advanced user it would not be such an issue, but think of it compared to the average consumer, or a business that uses their Mac's for work. Apple's focus is on quality, and with great quality comes control, one of the few viable methods. This is not new for Apple, so I'm surprised that there are a growing number of people who complain about this fact. I suppose as market-share grows, so do complaints. You can't satisfy every one, but wait it out, something tells me Apple is working on pushing the limits for the rare user who demands extreme, hard core graphics.
EDIT: As another commentator stated, Microsoft has been controlling the drivers with increasing fervor, which has helped Windows 7 tremendously in terms of it's horrid background with conflicting device drivers, etc. This model for control has always worked well for Apple quality, I suppose Microsoft is beginning to watch and learn.
It's actually true.
Maximum PC (I think it was) made a rig that had some older hardware in it, and went on to state that it was faster than 87% of all consumer pcs (I'm pretty sure it was a Geforce 9800 GTX and a Core 2 Quad 2.66 GHZ w/ 6 GB of DDR3 1066 RAM).
So the hardware apple ships is actually pretty good.
I disagree, I think it helps the end user. It guarantees that you have the most stable and proven drivers for your hardware. Most of the crashes on Windows systems are because of crap hardware drivers. A good bit of the stability of OSX comes from the fact that Apple is only pushing out proven drivers that are stable (in most cases, yes they do make mistakes from time to time).
Windows is headed that direction as well. Microsoft has been making great strides with Windows 7 to push out drivers via Windows Update and WSUS. They don't push out the latest drivers, they push out the proven stable builds.
Thanks, celticpride768.
Upon looking into some of the updates in this release versus earlier updates, I think it'll take a little bit longer to get out to the public than others.
The wait will be worth it, assuming there's a noticeable performance increase on drivers alone.
Let's get some perspective. Apple spent a few years creating OpenCL and gave it to the world. Now that they are making a huge dent into the PC space, suddenly Nvidia and AMD are coming back wanting to work intimately with Apple on OpenGL.
Apple has no shortage of OpenGL/OpenGL ES/WebGL and obviously OpenCL talent.
Nvidia should be the leader in Graphics research. That's all they do. And yet they've been screwing up royally over the past several years.
AMD bought ATi and fixed it's screw ups.
When Apple gets their OpenGL 3.3/4.1 stacks in solid shape you know it is because system-wide every application leverages it via Quartz/Quartz-Extreme. Getting OpenCL 1.1 and current OpenGL stacks for the entire operating system is a helluva lot different than just Games.
By doing it all correctly, not only will we get massive jumps in Game development, but in Engineering and Physics application spaces.
I think NVIDIA And ATI both have testing labs for that and maybe even few guys from Apple to help. This whole "Apple is worried or would be worried" thing doesn't make that much sense, because Apple had their share of craptastic drivers in the past.
I think he means something else.
In any event the problem hasn't been that bad and i really like the new track pad behaviour.
Dave
At least what i'm seeing on my early 2008 MBP with the latest track pad update suggest that there is a problem. What I'm seeing is that I have a hard time getting the mouse pointer to release after moving a window around. I'm not sure what the cause is but after clearing the issue it doesn't crop again for awhile. Plus there seems to be an issue with two finger scrolling.
In any event the problem hasn't been that bad and i really like the new track pad behaviour.
Dave
IT might be a long wait.
I say that because Snow Leopard gave Apple the base from which to build some interesting technologies. Since some of these possibilities require refactoring a lot of software the next major update could take awhile.
For example take resolution independence that would require rewriting a good portion of key OS/X code. Code that has to be tested extensively, work fast and reliably. Then there are all the support libraries that need to be overhauled, OS utilities and the like.
Now if they have more than resolution independence under the knife then it is pretty easy to see where the next update could be years away. I do have to ask what is the rush anyways? I mean really a lot of software isn't even built for Snow Leopard yet, nor is it 64 bit (where useful). Honestly the new features Apple delivers in apps like Safari, iWork, and others are for more interesting and useful.
It is just that I don't understand these spasms over new versions of OS/X. I'd rather have two to three years between major updates so that the OS is stable and reliable. That doesn't mean stop security updates and fixes to things like OpenGL, just that the feature set be kept stable and reliable. Apps are where the action is, the OS is just a delivery van.
Dave
I say that because Snow Leopard gave Apple the base from which to build some interesting technologies. Since some of these possibilities require refactoring a lot of software the next major update could take awhile.
For example take resolution independence that would require rewriting a good portion of key OS/X code. Code that has to be tested extensively, work fast and reliably. Then there are all the support libraries that need to be overhauled, OS utilities and the like.
Now if they have more than resolution independence under the knife then it is pretty easy to see where the next update could be years away. I do have to ask what is the rush anyways? I mean really a lot of software isn't even built for Snow Leopard yet, nor is it 64 bit (where useful). Honestly the new features Apple delivers in apps like Safari, iWork, and others are for more interesting and useful.
It is just that I don't understand these spasms over new versions of OS/X. I'd rather have two to three years between major updates so that the OS is stable and reliable. That doesn't mean stop security updates and fixes to things like OpenGL, just that the feature set be kept stable and reliable. Apps are where the action is, the OS is just a delivery van.
Dave
No they don't, TRIM is a bad idea.
It is far better to buy properly engineered drives.
Dave
It is far better to buy properly engineered drives.
Dave
Apple don't write the graphics drivers. Nvidia and ATI write the code and send to Apple. Make no mistake. So ATI/Nvidia releasing their own drivers in their own timetable will not magically increase GPU speed. Only more mac gaming will increase that. The reason win drivers are better is not only because of DirectX but also because both ATI and Nvidia spend tons more resources to driver development on that platform, and that's because they sell thousand times more GPU's on that platform. Do the math.
I'm wondering if everybody here is content with printing on Snow Leopard? Since I'm on SL I've never managed to get accurate colors again. Not with my Canon Pixma IP4200, nor with the Epson Stylus Pro 3800 of my collegue at work. There seems to be a serious issue with profile handling in colorsync. I have the bad feeling, that this will never be fixed.
I agree, it might be a long shot for Apple. After all they have been lagging behind as far as graphic performance is concerned.
No, they are errors that occur for some people because of specific hardware and software configurations - hence some people have these issues, most do not. Don't assume that everyone experiences the same issues because there are a handful of people with your same issue - if it was universal or significant it would be addressed as a matter of urgency, but you can't expect any software developer to release a piece of software that is tested in every hardware and software configuration available - that simply is not possible.
So the "will it fix the <insert issue here> bug?" brigade need to be aware that unless you submit your specific problem to Apple, they don't know it's a problem, so let them know. If only one person submits a specific issue, then you can imagine that it's hardly a priority for the main OS development team at Apple, take it to an Apple store and get it looked at.
Again, zero issues here. Late 2009 27" iMac (10 of them) all set up in the studio, all with 10.6.4, Design Premium CS5, Aperture 3, Office 2008, Quark XPress, Safari, Firefox, Chrome, Camino, Opera, WebKit nightly build (all running flash and silverlight), spotify (!), Transmit, SQL Pro, Coda, VLC and Navicat with VMWare fusion running default installations windows XP, Vista and Seven (have to say that 7 really isn't a bad OS) and not a single issue except for occasional instability in CS5, but that's an issue for Adobe, not Apple. All using apple mini wireless keyboard, magic mouse, wacom intuous 3 tablets and now a handful of magic trackpads knocking around - no issues with any Apple hardware and software - and I guess that that's typical for most mac users or people wouldn't keep buying this stuff...
I haven't tinkered with the system, installed extensions to Safari, Flash runs OK but sometimes a little sluggish and can hit page load times with occasional beachballs while the browser comes to turn with the badly developed Flash causing the issue.
Incidentally none of our iPhone 4's suffer the touch of death issue either, or proximity sensor "issue". I sometimes wonder if we're lucky or just (once again) every minority issue is turned into a major headline by an hysterical press and "fan" base. If any of our phones had shown these issues, they would have been returned immediately for a replacement/full refund.
I also have my original first gen iPod (as a sentimental thing rather than anything else) and the battery is still fine and holding charge. Guess all the crap about iPod batteries having an 18 month shelf life was as much crap as those who complained that the iPod would fail as no one would want to carry around that much music (and people like CDs too much..?!) or those who said that the iMac would fail (because it didn't have a floppy drive and who had any USB peripherals?!) and that the iPad was doomed because it was limited and had no market. Having been an Apple customer since 1987 I've spotted the pattern. They must be doing something right - take a look at the size of the user base and the share price.
As far as system tinkerers go - those who play around and then shout at Apple when things "don't just work" - here's a simple guide to upgrading. 1. Back Up. 2. Use software update. (If the update doesn't show, wait until it does, then install the update recommended by apple.) 3. Restart your machine if prompted. I've never 'repaired permissions' or been to the apple downloads page to download an update other than that suggested in Software Update. Just do it Apple's way and it should work. If it doesn't, you have your back-up - turn the clock back. Simples. And if there's an issue, talk to Apple, give customer support a call. That should be your first port of call.
Can't wait to see what 10.7 brings.
Žalgiris;10839969 said:
And if they conflict with other drivers and cause a mess, what then?
Or would you rather have your OS supplier thoroughly check the entire set up for conflicts and performance and deliver what they know to be a stable working OS without conflicts for 99.9% of users?
I can't believe people are still criticising macs for not being great game machines - if you wanna play game, go buy an X-Box, it's cheaper, better and plugs into your 60" HD screens. That's gaming. If you want a machine for playing high end games, don't buy a Mac - no one is forcing you to pay over the odds for what many of you seem to view as a "crippled" machine. My 27" iMac is scarily fast, I'm blown away by it's performance, but then I haven't spent 2 and half thousand pounds to play games, it's a machine to create an income. I could buy every game console on the market and a decent large screen for that amount of money!