OS X and forum incompatability

[Marvin Mattelson]

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?

[Jean Kelly]

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

[Jean Kelly]

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

[Steven Sweeney]

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

[Jacqueline Dunster]

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.

[Jean Kelly]

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.

[Elizabeth Schott]

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?

[Steven Sweeney]

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.

[Steven Sweeney]

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.

[Mike McCarty]

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.