Calling all Mac Users

[gunfyter]

I didn't say knowledgeable Geeks don't use MACs....

Just that people who don't know jack about computers are able to use them.


Sort of like the way the military trained pilots. You practically had to be able to disassemble and reassemble the engines and other systems BLINDFOLDED... before they let you fly the plane.

Compared to the ATP mills where they gouge you for the tests and the checkride. Now pilots out there who don't know jack about how the fuel contol works on a turbine engine ... etc..

If we made it HARDER to get your pilot certificates like they do in Europe ... there would be fewer pilots available and our paychecks would be HIGHER!

Now people work in IT departments don't know what HEX code is... never mind be able to write software with it or good old zero's and ones.

 

[learflyer]

Now pilots out there who don't know jack about how the fuel contol works on a turbine engine ... etc..

Ahh, I know you now. you're the guy in class arguing with the instructor about acceleration schedule, deceleration schedules, evacuation bellows, p3 limiters, etc. 1 minute before lunch time!:beer:

 

[gunfyter]

Yeah.... that was me.

Congratulations on your new MAC.

The real reason I never got one is they were more expensive than PCs. Also software and peripheral prices were higher compared to PC products due to the open architecture.

Looks like most of the pricing gap no longer exists.

 

[flitnabudih]

I think i've flown with you CA1900. We had PC v. MAC discusions. PC finally fell out of favor with me. Bought the MAC and never looked back.

 

[Catbert]

I didn't say knowledgeable Geeks don't use MACs....

Just that people who don't know jack about computers are able to use them.

Aahhh, I get ya. Good point. I'd have to agree with you there.

 

[Catbert]

Oh, and back on topic...

If I had to pick one thing for you to put on your Mac: get Quicksilver. It's kinda like an FMS in that it will be mildly confusing for a couple of days. Then it will change the way you use your computer.

In its simplest form, I use it to launch programs instead of browsing for them. But it will do oh so much more if you get curious.

 

[Catbert]

Now people work in IT departments don't know what HEX code is... never mind be able to write software with it or good old zero's and ones.

Hey man! I still bring my HP 42S on flights. I never get an excuse to convert BIN to HEX anymore though. It makes me kinda sad.

 

[CA1900]

Oh, and back on topic...

If I had to pick one thing for you to put on your Mac: get Quicksilver. It's kinda like an FMS in that it will be mildly confusing for a couple of days. Then it will change the way you use your computer.

Cool, I'll check it out! I've been using DragThing for years as a launcher, but I'm always up for trying something new. Thanks for the tip; downloading it now.

 

[ozpilot]

Thanks from me too. I downloaded Quicksilver this morning. Looks promising!

 

[ozpilot]

One other note about the mac. Since is Unix based, its possible to download free linux programs (called "packages"). That opens up a whole world of possibilities.

I have a mac notebook for the road and a PC at home. I converted the home PC over to Ubuntu several months ago and have not looked back since.

 

[CA1900]

One other note about the mac. Since is Unix based, its possible to download free linux programs (called "packages"). That opens up a whole world of possibilities.

Yep, it sure does. Do note that the Mac is UNIX-based, not linux-based. Linux was designed to look and feel in many ways like Linux, but it's not the same codebase underneath, and that means differences in software. You can often compile source code, but the actual programs need to be written for FreeBSD, not linux.

The Fink project is also a great place to start, since they've done a lot of the porting already:

http://finkproject.org/

 

[gunfyter]

One other note about the mac. Since is Unix based, its possible to download free linux programs (called "packages"). That opens up a whole world of possibilities.

I have a mac notebook for the road and a PC at home. I converted the home PC over to Ubuntu several months ago and have not looked back since.

Which do you prefer. The Ubuntu or the Mac system?

 

[ozpilot]

Which do you prefer. The Ubuntu or the Mac system?

A good question. I like Ubuntu because it runs on PC's and theres a wealth of free software that you can use.

I also like the fact that the OS integrates with any applications you download. For example to install graphic design software you start the Ubuntu package manager and search for "graphics design". Ubuntu will provide a list of programs you can choose from. Select what you want and it is downloaded and installed automatically. If at a later date, the program is updated, Ububtu notifies you and offers to download and install the update. Neat.

On the other hand, Ubuntu is not as user friendly as Mac OS X or Windows. You will need to get down to th command level at times to make applications work. The good news is that as long as you know how to google, you can find answers to most problems.

So, Mac for the mac and ubuntu for the PC.

 

[gunfyter]

How well do your Windows programs run on ubuntu?

 

[wolfpackpilot]

I know this. I'm sitting on the end of the ramp at San Jose, serving the net, eating a sandwich while my Itunes is blasting out blue oyster cult.....

and my partners Dell cant even get a signal... Oh yeah and I saved his bacon with a blue tooth pickup on a printer so we could print out a maint form created in Word.... which I have for Mac!

I have seen the light people, and it aint Bill Gates with a windows flash light.

Go to macmall.com and get ya one of these things.