OS X and forum incompatability
 

I'm starting to make the transition from OS 9 to OS X for the Mac. Internet Explorer does not load this forum correctly (names of threads are omitted and I can't enter to read the posts). The same thing is happening to my friend Fran (Hi Fran). I have to go to OS 9 in order to participate here on the forum.

Is anyone else experiencing this problem? Is anyone using OS X and not having this problem and if so, what browser(s) are you using?.

BTW, how many out there are also dedicated Mac users?

Hi Marvin
 

I've been using OSX since it came out, and Safari (for Macs) as my search engine as soon as it became available. Also have IE and a slew of others. No problems, it loads so fast it's there before I can see it! I'm not the computer whiz though. My husband does all the research and playing around. We are MacNuts here. Have PC's in the house too, but the Apple rules.

He's already gone to bed but I'm sure he will help if he can tomorrow. I'll talk to him later.

Jean

More stuff
 

I also use IPhoto for all my pictures and have downloaded a new program for OSX called Pixelenhance for color management. I'm learning how to use it and its really nice.
(It's also free!) So far I'm having really good luck with all unless I photograph at night.

Jean

I've been running OS X for several weeks now, and it in fact eliminated many problems I'd had with Forum access and participation. (For example, I was suddenly able to post images. Retrieving images from the net, however, became slightly more difficult -- and, annoyingly, sometimes impossible.)

There have been in the past week or so on the Forum a few anomalies -- missing icons, molasses-slow keystroke speed, missing images. Refreshing the page, or else shifting to another area and then returning, has usually taken care of it.

I've found that keeping a side-by-side presence of OS 9 (either via Classic or by electing OS 9 as start-up) and OS X has been a nuisance without redemption, so I bit the bullet and either upgraded everything else to OS X compatibility or invested (the only correct word) in new, compatible square-one software. (I'm loading the stuff onto three different Macs, so it's cost-effective [and they're all mine, so it's legal. My Attorney Bernie, "to whom I owe it all", says so.]) This was definitely the way to go, but was harder in some areas than others. For instance, the company that made the imaging software for my scanner was purchased and scuttled by a competitor, and there simply will never be an OS X compatible version produced. (The good news is, I get a new scanner! The bad news will come later, on the VISA statement.) And it can take a lot of time to sleuth out new OS X compatible, downloadable drivers (for, say, printers and other peripherals), even if available. It's worth the effort. My version of OS X is already on its way to obsolescence. I test-run beta versions for AOL and there's no way I can keep up, even when they relentlessly send me the stuff for free.

At the very least, you obviously have to get your ISP software upgraded for OS X compatibility (which you'll have likely been forced to do just to be signed on right now, but with computers, it often pays to state even the "obvious".) That's a big enough headache. AOL for OS X is still in a series of beta builds. (To the browser question, if I'm not mistaken, I believe AOL defaults to Netscape -- even if you try to force an IE start-up, but I have been able to get to the Forum through another ISP with IE, without trouble.) I'm a little suspicious of the latest beta build as being the source of some of the recent bugs in Forum navigation.

(Here's something I'll bet you're NOT experiencing. Sometimes I'll sign on and suddenly see the most lovely and readable font in the text of the Forum posts, and then as suddenly encounter a hive of Chinese characters. When I refresh the page, the Chinese is gone, but so is the nice font. I'm on a Taiwan-based Ethernet (or DSL, depending on computer), so I suppose that that factor, rather than OS X, is accountable [though OS X installation does load (nontraditional) Chinese characters onto your computer, whether you asked for it or not.])

I also suspect that for now, patience will be rewarded. The changeover to OS X and the new Unix format has challenged (but excited) almost everyone. The myriad vendors are either working hard to catch up, or scratching their heads wondering whether to. It's an age-old Mac dilemma. We've been watching minimal-quality VHS instead of Beta video for years, for the same reasons.

And now video tape is obsolete, and the books on tape I used to listen to on commute can be downloaded straight to an iPod! Are these great times, or what?

P.S. Mac OS X Bible [or if you

I've been running Jaguar since it first came out (was that in August?) and I don't really have many problems. I've updated to OS 10.2.4 now and things seem to be fine. I use Netscaoe 7 and Chimera a lot.

I admit, the transition from OS 9.x to OS X is a bit strange at first, so give yourself some time to adjust. As for myself, I can't imagine ever going back...

The new OS X books are definitely helpful. I love the "Missing Manual" book by David Pogue. It really helped me get up to speed.

OS X
 

I'm Jeans' sleeping husband, suddenly awake!

I agree with everything Steven said (btw - we're running only X also - 10.2.4).

One other thought - when you go from 9 to 10 your IE preferences can get lost. I think you have to find the IE preferences folder in 9 and copy its' contents to the comparable folder in 10 (which I think is in the Library folder).

I love OSX Jaguar but I too have encountered some wierd erratic behavior. It usually self corrects but it would be nice to know whatls going on.

Marvin,

Hi my name is Beth, and I am a Mac addict.

I have had OS X for about a year now and really only used it for .Mac, which I really don't use anymore, so...

I haven't tried this site, but have not had problems with IE. Netscape is a problem no matter what I use.

I have 5 different Macs on a network all running different things. I have had the same problems as Steven describes with extras, but since I am an old dog who doesn't want to keep concentrating on graphics, I haven't invested in the upgrades for my major software. So I stay 90% of the time in OS 9 and Classic.

Has anyone tried Quark in OS X?

All that being said, I'm aware that there are right now a number of folks having unusual or frustrating experiences in using the site.

Don't toss those laptops out the window yet. I suspect a dodgy server out there somewhere.

I don't know that many non-Mac users would wander into this thread, but if you're out there and have noticed "problems" (computer, not interpersonal) on the site lately, it would be most helpful if you would let us know, in the quest to eliminate variables.

To restate an earlier request, it would also be helpful to continue to hear from folks who are using OS X on Macs and who are NOT having any notable difficulties on this site. This may assist in determining whether the conflicts are within, say, individual user's preferences or other settings, or are indicative of some incompatibility recently introduced, perhaps in an update build or in the site software itself. (Cynthia, are you aware of any rewrites lately in the site software?)

Also, OS X users, please indicate what version you're running. For example, I'm still on 10.1.5. I don't know that it matters, but it may be of interest technically.

If you're having trouble on this site but not on other websites, please mention that.

Lastly, indicate if you would what ISP you're connecting through, and (if you know) what browser you're using.

Curiously, those who are having difficulties all seem to be reporting different types of problems. This won't make it any easier. I can post images but Jean can't. Some are having trouble accessing text. A few hours ago I had an icon that refused to load properly, but on this sign-on, it's okay, which suggests that we're looking at a bug rather than a fundamental incompatibility.

I am a non fruit computer user. My ISP is A freeking OL on a dial up line. My browser and I split up years ago and she won't be coming back. That's all I know technically.

I have never had any problems accessing this site.

Proof that breaking up is hard to do, but sometimes it's the right thing. Sigh.

Still having problems
 

I still can't post images so guess I'm on my own for a while. I'll e-mail Cynthia the image later. Beautiful day today so we're going for a long ride in the country.

Jean

Steven,

Here are my test results.

Hardware: Macintosh
Processor: 2x Power Pc G4
memory: 640 mb

system software: 10.1.3
The forum works great with Internet Explorer vs. 5.1

I then tried Netscape 7.0, which brought up "classic environment" and it worked fine.

Next Opera 6.0, it worked fine in this too. But I am assuming it was still running classic enviornment.

The AOL browser I use to check my site wouldn't load (the software), since I am not registered, I didn't push it.

So I am not detecting any incompatibilities with the forum.

Marvin, when you loaded your OS X it should have put an icon for IE on the pop up bar along the bottom. I would think that would be compatible. I didn't try my old vs. of IE to see how it worked. Maybe they have a "bug" fix.

I would still love to hear if anyone is running Quark, or if they even have their OS X version out.

Beth,

According to a February 18 2003 press release (search for OS X at www.quark.com), Quark has not yet announced pricing or an anticipated ship date for the OS X compatible QuarkXPress 6.

Update update
 

Beth and Steve-

I have a G4 400. I have just upgraded to !0.2.2 the latest. I have also upgraded to IE 5.2.2 (the very latest, I'm not positive about the number) since I'm on OS 9 at the moment due to my problem. I also have updated Netscape 7 and installed Safari, the latest browser from Apple. I get the same results with all of them, no topic names down one level from the topic area. For example if I click on "Computer Hardware and Software" I come to a screen that has "Portrait Artist Forum> Computer Hardware and Software " at the top of the page. Under topic the list is bare, although the names of the topic starters are there.

I'm assuming that since I get the same result from each, the problem lies with my provider. I will be calling them tomorrow to see if they have any software fixes. Maybe it's my cable modem?

Just to let you know, I have a G4 that I changed from OS 9 to OS X 2.3 a couple of months ago when the hard disk died and had to be replaced, and all reinstalled.

I've never had any problems of any sort with SOG.

I use for my connection ATT Broadband digital cable.

Good Luck,

Linda

P.S. Mac rocks.

Marvin,

This might not help. But the first thing I would do is check your memory allocation for the browsers.

With all the images here, it can get really consuming and you might really need to bump up those minimums.

Are you having any problems with other sites like this one?

I have had the day from computer ****, and am just now getting to my work for a board meeting in the morning. So my brain is fried.

Let us know what the providers say!

Jean,

Can you give us some insights as to what sort of tweaking you folks did? You may be on to something.

I now have "only" two glitches remaining, both having just recently arrived. Attached images will occasionally not appear the first time the page opens, but will do so upon refreshing the page. Beth, I'm going to look into that "browser memory" suggestion you had. Thanks.

I've apparently also "lost" the ability to retrieve an image from the site (say, to Photoshop it). Jean -- are you able to do this? Do you retrieve an image that is already properly formatted, or do you have to edit the name of the file to add a .jpg or other tag?

Marvin, you've got some apparently unique symptoms. I'd begin by trying out the memory reallocation suggested by Beth. Others seem to be running the 10.2 versions with no (or now fixed) trouble. Sorry, at this information stage I don't have any further suggestions. Again, though, it doesn't seem to be systemic, but a matter of tweaking individual set-ups.

Keep those cards and letters coming in, ESPECIALLY if you discover a "fix" for a problem you were having. A lot more of this computer jazz is trial and error than they want you to know.

I changed my procedure in capturing images, with success.

Had until recently been hold-clicking on the image and choosing "Save Image As . . ." from the menu. Then if it didn't come through in an acceptable format, I'd just rename the file to, say, add a .jpg suffix. For some reason that quit working a couple of weeks ago.

Now choosing "View Image" from that same menu will bring up the image as posted (and as formatted) by the Forum member, and then I select "Save As" from my File Menu in the AOL Tool Bar and save to the desktop in .jpg format.

One down. Still obsessing . . .

Computer illiterate here
 

Hi, I don't know what Tom did. He's in bed already (I'm the insomniac). He tore everything down today cause we got a scanner (Epson 2400) so he unplugged, cleaned, rearranged, ran diagnostics and repair and bingo, I can post images. I'll have him post what he did tomorrow, so stop obsessing and work on your painting. I don't think I've ever retrieved an image from the site, since I don't know what that is. :bewildere Told you, computer illiterate. Since starting from nada 5 months ago, I can take my own photographs, play with them, resize for posting, and send to hard drive. I can also retrieve them myself, and post myself until something goes wrong, then Tom steps in. He's a good man.

Jean

I'm reminded of an only tangentially relevant poem by John Updike, in which he notes that the infant who is the subject of the poem "jargons, jargons, all day long."

Retrieving or capturing an image comes up in the critiques, when I want to take an image that a member has posted, download it onto my own desktop and then open it in Photoshop so that I can "test" my suggestions about drawing, value, color and the like. The process is very different from that in OS 9. It's probably all there in black and white somewhere, but there are just too many 3" thick manuals to wade through.

My Computer Doctor Certificate came from WalMart. We seem to be making some progress, though, and until an expert appears, I'm doing all I can with these credentials. I'm not even supposed to be here. I'm a painter. If I had this kind of contact with painters without computers, I'd be gone. Just the way it is, no offense to anyone.

Computer doctorates on sale here
 

Walmart just ran a sale here, but after buying the scanner we're broke, so I'll just have to make sure I keep Tom happy and well fed. Can't afford to be without him now, he has to teach me how to use a scanner, poor soul.

He's going to come on tonight and recommend some software (says he'll e-mail it to you) so read you later.

Jean

OS X repairs
 

This is Tom, Jeans' lazy husband.

Steven, what I did in OS X is run the periodic repair routines. These are: empty caches, update prebindings and repair permissions. These are Unix maintenance routines that OS X runs automatically if your computer is on at 3am. That's all I know - I have no idea why these routines are required, what they do, or why they run automatically at 3am!

What I do know is that every so often - regardless of whether the computer has been on all night or not - I run these routines from a freeware program called "Cocktail", which also performs a number of other maintenance tasks. You can download "Cocktail" from http://www.dicom.se (it's a German site).

There are other useful maintenance programs that can be found at VersionTracker (http://www.versiontracker.com/index.shtml) under 'utilities'.

Thanks, Tom. Looks like Cocktail (as available from the VersionTracker site, very highly rated there) requires OS X Version 10.2 or higher, so for now that leaves me out, which is probably right where I should be.

At the moment, I'm not having any problems with navigating the site. (Well, I am, but today it's AOL's fault. Fortunately I can connect without using AOL, but it's not as convenient and it means that today's not the right day to start downloading and installing things.) I'm a little leery of upgrading (or, sometimes, even updating), for fear of introducing new bug variables.

Haven't yet tried everything here that I intend to, so will report back. It's frustrating not to be able to offer a "fix" for everything raised here, but at the very least, we've answered the initial question. There is no systemic OSX/SOG incompatibility.

For the benefit of all here, make friends with MacFixit Forums.

Following this thread with great interest since I'm making the switch to Jaguar on Friday. I'm on a G4, 400 mghz, to which I'm adding an 80GB hard drive and two 512 RAM chips. Recently, since Cynthia revamped the forum, I've occasionally had glitches loading the graphics for her heading, and this while still on good old 9.1. So some of the loading problems may be unrelated to OS X.

I also picked up Pogue's The Missing Manual at the advice of some Mac-savvy artists on a painters' list I belonged to, but I'm having a Mac tech person do the installation and any troubleshooting for me because I haven't the stomach for the hours and aggravation which would be entailed if I did it myself. I've been on Macs since the LC and used to be the one at work and among friends who did the diagnostics and fixes when they had problems, but it's gradually lost its charm.

I've been using Corel's Print Office 2000 for my cards and brochures. The price was right and it got great reviews when it came out. Any suggestions for OSX compatible alternatives that don't cost $200+?

Marvin, I just thought of something else relating to the blank screen under the site headings.

Last week my site was having problems pointed out by some fella in the Netherlands (of all places). I had Michele check, and she reported the same thing. My enlarged images were not loading after they clicked the thumbnail.

After my hosting site checked, they could not find a problem, so they thought the download was "timing" out before their browsers recognized them. So again, I think it leads back to a memory glitch somewhere.

I reduced the size and optimized the images and it seems to have fixed the problem. Of course I got carried away and added more.

Check into your "Apple system profiler" and try and open the forum after you boot with your extensions off, maybe there is a conflict. I am not sure if you just hold down the shift key with OS X.

Let us know if anything is working. Then please come straighten out all my Microsoft software! :(

Not Yet
 

I've been too busy to address my OSX problems. However OSX has no extensions. That is why it is so problem free.

Big "d'uh" from me on the extensions -- shows how much I use it.

I downloaded the new 7.0 Netscape and it has caused major problems with my mail. I am not sure who your provider is. Mine is called Zoomtown (DSL). They just told me they are not supporting Netscape 7, so when you get time see if your provider supports OS X.

Nix the memory reallocation idea, as well. That's an old OS 9 trick. Jean and I had each briefly seen "low memory" warning dialogues, which made me wonder if there was still some residual reallocation that could be done manually. But OS X is pretty well locked up. It's written to perform optimally as is, and brilliantly so, and they don't want people going in and changing things.

Anyway, virtual memory is always on in OS X, and reallocation takes place automatically as called for by applications as needed. I don't believe that it's possible for non-geeks to manually reallocate memory in OS X, even if we wanted to.

And we don't -- as long as it's "performing optimally". There's the rub.

I'm out of ideas here. Sorry. We did what we could, but this is, after all, a painting Forum. I'm sure that it's just a matter of tweaking individual computer set-ups, but it's impossible for us to know what those set-ups are (that is, what hardware you have, what software, and how it all works together) and offer advices. Even the computer pro sites are all over the place with solutions, or trials.

Good luck.

iPhoto question
 

For the past year I have been an avid student on The Forum but have not posted any paintings nor photographs. At this time, however, I would like to be able to do so directly from iPhoto. I also use Photoshop Elements 2.0 and am on a learning curve here, too. How can I get started with this procedure and is there a compassionate soul out there who can teach me how to go about this via iMac, Jaguar and Safari mode? Any and all help will be greatly appreciated.

Carol your post brought me back to this thread, I am not sure what your question was to be, but I can't help with iPhoto.

I have been running Panther for months now, at first if I logged on using Safari, the site would look like code, now it's fine.

Marvin you mentioned above:

My 10.3.3 has the same old extensions as classic. You will see them listed in the "more info" in the "about this mac" pull-down, go to the software section.

Beth since I upgraded to Panther I've had no problems getting on and posting. Yesterday I discovered the extensions and low and behold you post this today. I guess I was misinformed.

Carol I don't use photoshop elements or iphoto but you should be able to save your image as a jpg in elements the same as you would in Photoshop. Just look under " file" on the menu bar at the top of the screen and click on "save for web" which should give you a choice of jpg (jpeg) or GIF. Choose jpg.

Thank you Beth and Marvin for the time you took to answer my question . My question is much more basic than it appeared. Very simply, I don't know how to post either a picture of myself beside my name nor an image of a painting for discussion. I have an iMac that came with iPhoto. It runs Jaguar X.2.3. I also bought the program called PhotoShop Elements 2 per recommendation of the Mac store as its cost was about $150 as opposed to the Photo Shop of 7 or 8 hundred $. Does EVERYONE use that big, fat, lovely expensive program??? I have read Cynthia's info re: how to post and frankly I don't know how to apply that to my computer. I also down load all my photos from my digital camera into iPhoto and store nothing in the camera. The answer to my queston of "How do I post an image?" is probably as simple and illusive as it was when all I wanted to do was to learn how to word process on a computer and couldn't...and just as frustrating. If there is anyone out there who can direct me just like a kid in her first word processing class, I just know I'll get it. Thanks in advance to anyone who can explain the process that everyone else in the universe gets but me. Arghhh! :exclamati

Carol.....I'll try. I'm a Mac Dude as well...and What I just did to post this pictures is as follows:

Starting with "Post Reply" here on the forum page.

It was in iPhoto. I selected it. Went to the bottom and chose "email". Choose the "small (240x320)" in the mail photo pop up.

It will open your image in an email page.

Click on the image and drag it to your desktop.

Go to bottom of this page under "additional Options" and hit Manage Attachments.

Click one of the four "Choose File"

Go to your desktop. Choose the picture.

Hit "Upload"

Hit "Submit Reply"

Ta Dah!

(I hope)

Let us know how it goes. "Avatar" (the little picture beside your name) Class......later. ;)

-Geary

Hi Carol, I also am a Mac dudette. I use iphoto and Jaguar. My method is a little more complicated, but if Geary's doesn't work for you I'll talk you thru it step by step. Without my husband I wouldn't be posting at all!

Jean

Geary, how do you handle the 100000 kb limit? I export the image after adjusting for width and length to the desktop, then open it from my desktop in Preview and make the adjustment there (under options) before I can upload to the forum. I don't e-mail the image.

Hi Jean! You MacDudette you! (actually... the women I grew up with in California prefer the term Dudess....:) )

Although the email trick I just explained works fast & fine....I work in the program 'Canvas'....where I can open the "image" menu and change the pixel size and/or the resolution.

Ok...this is my normal procedure. I scan the piece (or bring it in from the digi-cam) at a high rez....at least 300dpi.....then I go to 'image mode' , choose 'area' ...then change the resolution to 100 and the pixel size to within the limit of what's required of us here (400x600)...and do a "save as" jpg. That's it.

Of course, this does not guarantee that it will always be at our precendent 100kb ....but, 90% of the time it does it for me.

-Gear

I open up images in iPhoto after downloading them from my digital camera, and then choose the one I like the best. I've been having problems with moir

Carol, are you confused yet? My husband had to walk me though every single click of the mouse (after showing me how the "mouse" worked). I understand your question.

Geary, I don't think I qualify for dudess status yet, maybe that title only applies in California. :sunnysmil

Jean

Carol, et al,

This is just like drawing or painting. The more you work with something, the better you get at it. Try practicing everyday by sending emails with different files you've saved in your different graphic programs. You can see how big they are by right clicking on them and doing a "get info" (or in Windows..."properties") and viewing the kb size. If you get them all at 100 kb or less you can post in the threads. If you get one of yourself at 15 kb....you can use it as an avatar. :)

Jean: Since my nick is geeDub ....and you used a sunny smiley....I now DUB thee.......DUDESS! :sunnysmil :thumbside

Geary....aka geeDub

Carol here is the Photoshop Elements process (which is a great program by-the-way, it just doesn't have the technical things Graphic Artist use for PrePress).

1. Go to "File" pull down the menu to open.
2. Find the picture you want and click open
3. Go to "image" pull down to "resize" arrow should point you to "image resize"
4. First change the resolution to 72 pixels/inch, make sure you do this first. You should have the "constrain proportions and re sample image" boxes clicked.
5. Now go to the top where it says "Pixel Dimensions" for the requirements here your image may not exceed 400 x 600, so type in 400 in the width box, double check that the height is under 600. If the height is larger, type in 600 in the height and the width box will "come with" since you have "constrained the proportions". Remember before you click OK, that you have changed the resolution to 72. If you forgot to do this you will see that the height and width will change when you do, so put the 400 x 600 in again before you close the window.
6. Now you are ready to save your image.
7. Go to the "file" menu and pull down to "save as". change the name of your file to a new one
8. Pull down the "format" bar and save it as a JPEG, this should add the correct ending ie; .jpg.
9. You will get a pop up window that says "Quality" that has a numerical box a pull down and a slider bar. Since Cynthia has reduced the size I usually use the highest MEDIUM which is a 7 to upload. Type in a 7 and click OK.

10. You are ready to upload, I think it has been explained above.

I hope this helps.

Beth