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The
Mac OS X Hall of Shame - Part 3
(2-20-04) In this third and final column
on shameful aspects of the Mac OS X
computing environment, Pierre highlights
issues with file extensions, file permissions,
the software installation process, and
other Mac OS X maintenance tasks.
The
Mac OS X Hall of Shame - Part 2
(2-6-04) Pierre continues his series
of articles highlighting shameful aspects
of Apple's Mac OS X system and applications.
Today: more on the Dock, buggy updates,
and interface inconsistency.
The
Mac OS X Hall of Shame - Part 1
(1-26-04) There are lots of truly great
things about Mac OS X, and
I'll be the first one to admit that
it's made a tremendous difference in
my computing life and overall productivity.
But this doesn't mean that all is rosy
in Mac OS X Land. Mac OS X suffers from
blatant flaws that are constant reminders
of how far we still are from the "ideal"
computer system. This series of articles
will highlight some of the most glaring
flaws and the shameful facts of their
prolonged existence in the world's best
operating system.
Improvements
in Panther's Mail (Part 3 of 3)
(1-9-04) In this third and last installment
in his series on Panther's Mail application,
Pierre covers a number of outstanding
issues, including HTML e-mail, performance,
and other issues that Apple has failed
to address.
Improvements
in Panther's Mail (Part 2 of 3)
(12-12-03) In his second of a three-part
series on Panther's Mail applications,
Pierre reviews issues regarding mailbox
browsing, keyboard navigation, moving
messages around, message searching and
sorting, message history, and attachment
and signature handling.
Improvements
in Panther's Mail (Part 1 of 3)
(11-14-03) When I first started using
Mac OS X’s Mail as my
email client of choice, back in the
summer of 2002, I wrote a series of
articles for Applelust.com on the many
problems that I was experiencing with
the program. Now that the new Mail (version
1.3) included with Panther is here and
that I have been using it for a couple
of weeks, I think that it is time to
provide an update on the program and
the issues that I had encountered with
the previous version of the product
(1.2) in Jaguar
Mac OS X
Essentials: Default Folder X
(10-17-03) Pierre reviews one of his
favorite Mac OS X applications, a system
enhancement for Open/Save dialog boxes
that is simply indispensable and will
remain so for many years to come.
Memory
Protection for Documents
(9-19-03) In Mac OS X, we now have memory
protection for applications. But what
about individual documents within an
application? Until we have protection
for them as well, our computing environment
will not feel safe, and data will still
be lost.
Creating
PDF Files from Microsoft Word X in Mac OS X
(9-5-03) This column is about an issue
with Microsoft Word and creating PDF
files on the Macintosh that has, unfortunately,
been with us for a long time. It’s
about how Microsoft gets away not only
with not fixing the many glaring bugs
in its products, but even with blaming
others (directly or indirectly) for
the problems that these bugs create.
The
Missing Link: The iServe
(7-11-03) Pierre fantasizes about an
Apple-branded device that could act
as the missing link between our computer
and our home entertainment unit and
draw from all the latest technological
advances to enhance our listening and
viewing experience.
The
Problem with Anticipatory Software Design
(6-20-03) Fundamentally, anticipatory
software design is the tendency to design
software for which the optimal running
environment is a computer that does
not exist yet. Is Apple guilty of excessive
indulgence?
Power
Mac G4 MDD – The Noise Issue and Apple’s Solution
(5-02-03) Having finally received and
installed his replacement kit from Apple
for his first-generation Power Mac G4
MDD, Pierre recapitulates his experience
and shares some final thoughts on the
whole G4 noise ordeal.
Mac
Blogging with Radio UserLand - Interim
Report (4-18-03) After
a couple of months of using Radio UserLand
on a daily basis, Pierre takes stock
and reports on various issues with the
blogging software tool.
Mac
OS X and The Promise of Stable Computing
(4-4-03) With the classic Mac OS gradually
falling off the radar, it's time to
take stock. Did Mac OS X really deliver
on the promise of stable, reliable computing
for everyone?
Modem
Woes in Mac OS X: Adding Insult to Injury
(3-21-03) Apple needs to recognize that
many Mac OS X users are and
will continue to be using a modem connection
for Internet access for a long while,
due to geographical or financial reasons.
And Apple needs to ensure that they
can continue to enjoy the excitement
of its latest software offerings, without
being unfairly "punished"
for their lack of broadband Internet
access.
HP
Phone Home (3-7-03) Pierre
gets a "new" HP fax machine,
and finds that newer is not always better...
Should Apple come to the rescue?
They
Blog, You Blog, iBlog (2-21-03)
Pierre takes the plunge and starts his
own blog. If you are a Mac-using writer
itching to do the same, you might want
to hear more about his experience with
various tools.
How
do you spell relief? Spell Catcher for
OS X (2-7-03) Pierre
describes in full detail the recently
released writing tool, which is much
more than a spell-checker and provides
system-wide functionality that can easily
become indispensable to those who use
the Mac OS X environment for any significant
amount of writing.
Apple
Hardware: Living with Flaws
(1-09-03) On the occasion of the new
Macworld Expo hardware announcements,
Pierre takes a look at hardware flaws
that have plagued recent Macintosh models,
including the Titanium PowerBook G4
and the Power Macintosh G4 MDD.
The
Geek and the End User: An Impossible
Marriage? (12-06-02) In which
Pierre explains how recent Apple products
can be seen as an unlikely, yet potentially
exciting, combination of simplicity
and complexity.
Major
Improvements Needed for Mac OS X's Mail
Application - Pt. 3 (11-22-02)
In this last in a three-part series
on Mac OS X's Mail, Pierre comments
on Mail and HTML-formatted email, performance
issues, and a variety of smaller- but
still important - improvements needed
in Mac OS X's flagship email application.
Major
Improvements Needed for Mac OS X's Mail
Application - Pt. 2 (11-15-02)
In this second in a three-part series
on Mac OS X's Mail, Pierre focuses on
other aspects of Mail application that
also need improvement, including: keyboard
navigation and searches; attachment
handling; signature handling; message
history; and more.
Carbon
vs. Cocoa Revisited (10-25-02)
After the unusual amount of feedback
his last column generated, Pierre provides
an number of clarifications and further
discussion on the relative benefits
of the Cocoa and Carbon frameworks.
Going
Native: The Attraction of the Cocoa
Interface (10-14-02) Pierre
Igot. Technically, Cocoa is not an interface.
However, Cocoa applications have a distinctive
look -- and Pierre finds lots to like
about them. [Article updated
on 10-16-02.]
On
.Mac User Friendliness (9-27-02)
Pierre Igot. In which Pierre takes the
plunge, purchases a .Mac subscription,
and try to test the service. Much frustration
ensues.
The
Ups and Downs of Upgrading to Jaguar
(9-13-02) Pierre describes the benefits
of a complete system reinstall, and
explains why modem users could use more
respect from Apple.
From
Eudora to Mailsmith to Mail in a Week:
An Email Odyssey (8-30-02) Switching
to a different email program, as Pierre
found out last week, is no small feat.
Hop along for a ride with him as he
makes his way through a week of "email
turmoil" and ends up choosing Jaguar's
Mail as his preferred email application.
Jaguar
Special Edition - The New Finder
(8-24-02)Pierre examines the many changes
in the new Finder, as well as issues
regarding overall stability and performance.
Macworld
Deluxe: The Expo You Didn't Get To See
(8-2-02) While most sites were busy
confirming Macworld Expo rumors and
recovering from the shock of '.Mac'
prices, Pierre found it appropriate
to indulge in a little bit of reverie
about the Expo that could have been.
The
MS Word Blame Game (7-16-02)
It has recently transpired that the
MacBU is slightly irritated by the fact
that they haven't sold half as many
copies of Office v. X as they had expected.
But who is to blame?
Unicode
- Sick of This Push and Pull
(6-21-02) It's bad enough that we have
to endure HTML-formatted email. Now,
as Pierre finds out, we have yet another
form of badly encoded email to cope
with: Unicode-encoded email.
Hitting
a Wall with Microsoft (6-7-02)
Pierre relates his experience with Microsoft's
on-line tech support, and finds it a
confirmation that we are at a dead end
when it comes to the usability and reliability
of Microsoft software.
Troubleshooting
in Mac OS X - The Good and the (Very)
Bad (5-24-02) What is the currrent
state of Mac troubleshooting in Mac
OS X? Fifteen months after the launch
of Mac OS X and after two very recent,
very contrasted experiences, Pierre
Igot takes stock.
Jaguar
- Getting Ready to Roar? (5-10-02)
Pierre takes a closer look at Apple's
recent "confidential" announcements
regarding the next version of Mac OS
X.
Mac
OS X at Work: A Failing Grade for Apple
(4-12-02) I have just spent two days
using my Power Mac G4/450 AGP running
Mac OS X and Microsoft Office
v. X intensively to work on translating
a fairly large document from English
into French. And it has been an immensely
frustrating experience.
Mac
OS X 10.1.3: What Apple Isn't Telling
Us (3-01-02) After a few days
of daily usage, Pierre writes about
his experiences with yet another 'minor'
system update coming from Apple -- and
the lack of communication surrounding
such releases.
Flaws
in Mac OS X and Office v. X: Are Apple
and Microsoft Listening? (2-15-01)
Pierre provides a recap of several outstanding
issues with both Mac OS X and Microsoft
Office v. X that, in his opinion, severely
hinder the usability of Apple's system
software and Microsoft's dominant word
processor. But are Apple and Microsoft
really paying any attention?
Digital
Photography: Diary of a Beginner Prosumer
(01-31-02) Pierre Igot. As part of our
2-week "Digital Photography" special
edition, Pierre shares with us details
of his first few weeks as the owner
of a new "prosumer" digital camera.
Techno
Rage: Coming Soon to a Macintosh Near
You (12-13-01) Pierre Igot.
In which Pierre explores his rather
unpleasant experience as a home-working
Mac user in the PC dominated world of
internet service providers (a.k.a. ISPs).
WARNING:
Yor Data is Aging - Fast! (11-16-01)
Pierre Igot. In this more reflective
column, Pierre shares with us a couple
of experiences he had recently which
made him think about the long-term accessibility
of electronic data.
QuickTime Pro:
From Player to Creator - Part 2
(11-01-01) Pierre Igot. In this second
part of his series of articles on Apple's
QuickTime Pro software, Pierre takes
a detailed look at the various features
provided through QuickTime Pro's "Edit"
menu. (Includes numerous snap shots.)
First
Week with Mac OS X 10.1: A Mixed Bag
(10-11-01) Pierre Igot. Pierre's first
week of using Mac OS X 10.1 has been
a disconcerting mix of excitement and
(at times) intense frustration. This
article includes a number of observations
that might be of use to current or prospective
Mac OS X 10.1 users.
QuickTime Pro:
From Player to Creator - Part 1
(09-24-01) Pierre Igot. Ever wondered
what it is exactly that QuickTime Pro
offers and that the basic, free-of-charge
QuickTime Player does not? In a new
series of articles, Pierre Igot provides
you with an overview of QuickTime Pro's
versatile functionality. This first
part in the series covers QuickTime
Pro's open/save and import/export features.
Mac
OS X at Work - Part 5: The Journey So
Far (08-10-01) Pierre Igot.
With September 2001 and the Mac OS X
10.1 update fast approaching, it might
be a good idea to try to take stock
of what the experience of using OS X
has been so far, in the few months since
its initial release. Pierre provides
us with a few pointers.
Mac OS X
at Work - Part 4: The Need for a Decent
“Recent” Feature
(07-26-01) Pierre Igot. In this fourth
installment of his "Mac OS X at
Work" series, Pierre takes a closer
look at an issue touched upon in Mac
OS X at Work - Part 3, i.e. Mac
OS X's current "Recent" features
— or lack thereof. The column also
includes a postscript on AirPort range
issues with the PowerBook G4, based
on reader feedback.
Power
Blues (05-10-01) Pierre Igot.
The sometimes sad reality of early adoption...
and less-than-perfect customer service.
The
Joy of X (04-26-01) Pierre Igot.
Pierre has been using OS X. It got him
to thinking about potentiality. Yes,
someone saying something good about
OS X!
Word
Processing & Web Publishing - Part
III: Character Styles (04-21-01)
Pierre Igot. In this third part in his
on-going "Word Processing &
Web Publishing" series, Pierre
takes a look at character styles, what
they are, how to use them, what they
enable you to do, and what benefits
they bring to those working both in
traditional desktop publishing and in
on-line publishing.
Reality
Distortion Field — But Not by You-Know-Who
(03-22-01) Pierre Igot. "Reality
distortion" is not just something best
experienced during a MacWorld Expo keynote
address. It can creep up on you in a
very real way in your daily Mac life.
Mouse
Love Pierre looks at mouses
(yes, mouses), and falls in love with
one. Which one? You'll just have to
read him and find out.
On
Innovation and Denial (03-01-01)
Pierre Igot. Is the software industry
in complete denial? What happened to
innovation? Read more about how, in
many respects, the software industry
seems to have become a user-hostile
disgrace.
Microsoft
Backlook Express (01-18-01)
Pierre discusses the problems of Microsoft's
Outlook Express. It makes him feel,
well, unsafe.
Word
Processing and Web Publishing - Part
I: Introduction (01-04-01) Pierre
Igot. Pierre begins his new column,
"Apple Peel," with us at Applelust.com.
This is the first in a series of articles
dealing with the issues faced by Mac-using
writers who have to deal with both traditional
word processing and on-line publishing
of their texts.
Personal computing still
is, and will always remain, about personal
learning. There will probably be simpler
devices for simpler tasks, but, as is
the case in all areas of life, some things
just cannot be achieved without going
through a learning process. With each
new piece of powerful software or significant
system update, we are reminded of the
need to learn from the machine, or more
exactly from the people behind the machine.
When we feel that the machine (i.e. the
people behind it) forces us to learn things
we don’t really find useful, we
get frustrated. The fact, however, that
the machine requires us to learn is not
necessarily a bad thing. After all, we
use our computers to achieve some very
complex goals — the complexity of
the software is therefore not always unjustified.
When the learning is about harnessing
the very power of the software — rather
than finding out how to tell it to behave
—, then the learning can become
quite gratifying and indeed, in some cases,
exhilarating. As Mac users, we know that
one of Apple’s great achievements
is to have made this exhilaration accessible
to many people — regardless of their
background — who don’t mind
learning, but simply are not “nerdy”
enough to enjoy wasting their time working
around bugs and adapting to meaningless
and ever-changing idiosyncrasies.
The Apple Peel column
is, first and foremost, an attempt to
“scratch the surface” and
dig a little deeper into this good,
useful complexity from a Mac perspective.
Mainstream media outlets have too many
time and space constraints to be able
to provide the avid learner with significant,
in-depth knowledge. The Internet enables
us to “specialize” further
and attempt to meet this need. Our dearest
hope is that Apple Peel succeeds
at least in part in achieving such a goal.
Pierre Igot is an English/French
translator based in eastern Canada. He
was born, raised and educated in France.
He emigrated to Canada in the mid-90’s
after marrying a Canadian national. His
training includes degrees in mathematics,
literature and linguistics and he has
some teaching experience at the high school
and post-secondary levels. He has been
using various computers since he was 12 years
old, but fell in love with the Macintosh
when he gathered all his meagre savings
to purchase a Mac Plus with an astounding
1 MB of RAM and a second, external
diskette drive for the purpose of writing
his Master’s Degree dissertation
back in 1987. He now also provides technical
support and Web design services in his
community, and regularly contributes to
on-line forums such as the MacFixIt
Office 2001 forum.
He maintains his own Web
site of French and English prose, poetry
and visuals at http://www.latext.com.
He is particularly fond of works such
as those of Marcel Proust and Antonin
Artaud, but also of funk music, French
cuisine, his two cats and his wife Christine.
