Anyone who runs audio apps knows all too well the current lack of software support for OS X, as well as OS X's severe audio shortcomings (look under the "Audio" section of the OS X forum at the Apple site and read all 200 posts of "List your OS X audio problems here"). Jaguar is promised to fix this, and indeed I hope it does, but I'll believe it when I hear it. I remember Apple tech support promising me that 10.1.5 would magically solve all audio problems and present us with so many dazzling new features. That, of course, never transpired. For now, the fact remains that, thus far, OS X has been absolutely useless for audio - it cannot even playback a simple file without producing unacceptable distortions in the signal path.
Believe me, absolutely no one who is producing serious audio work is using OS X - the software just doesn't exist and the OS itself is not up to snuff. Although Jaguar will be released this month, Emagic (Apple) has not given any timetable for the release of Logic for X, Steinberg has not said when they will release an X version of Cubase, etc., etc. EVERYONE using Macs around the world for audio is using OS 9 (some still prefer 8, though) - they have no choice. BTW, Logic, Cubase and Prosoniq software will not run in classic at all.
I think Apple has made some very questionable decisions in their software releases lately. I guess it is the rush to get them out as fast as possible, but I really wish they would wait until they have gotten them to work properly before releasing them. For example, QT 6 is not compatible with FCP 3 - and Apple has given no indication when a fix for either (does it require an FCP update or a QT update? Who Knows?) will be available, and iTunes 3 does not really support AAC audio. These inconsistencies only serve to confuse and anger consumers, and are clear indications that Apple is now most concerned with getting products out as quickly as possible, never mind the bugs - "we'll fix it later, when we get around to it."
That is quite disappointing, I think, as this is precisely the sloppy, cynical tactic most associated with Microsoft, and one of the big reasons why most of us here are using Macs instead, correct? I can't think of a time when Apple was operating in this manner, and it's sad to see their famous quality control and software/hardware integration fall by the wayside in order to make room for the ubiquitous bottom line. I would much prefer to wait some extra months, for properly functioning and integrated software than getting half-finished, half-baked goods, which seems to be Apple's new business practice.
I will not be buying Jaguar when it is released. Since the introduction of OS X, Apple has proved time and again that each release is flawed in some major ways, requiring one to wait patiently for updates. I am sure that 10.2 will be an improvement over 10.1.5, but experience has taught me that it is perhaps best to wait for 10.2.3 or thereabouts - and that is what I will do. Besides, I am in no hurry. If the pro audio apps I need are still not available, what good does it do me to install Jaguar?
Meanwhile, I'm still forced to boot into OS 9 for audio work.