Reader response to last week's report on the
results of the Mac Challenge has been overwhelming. Next week's column
will be devoted to printing some of your responses and experiences.
I have also received a great number of requests for more information
on the Challenge, specifically an approximation of the use each
application received on each platform. I hope this additional
information will be beneficial in evaluation of the results.
Software
Microsoft Office: Word and Excel were used daily on both platforms.
PowerPoint got a brief workout on the Mac and was used several times on
the PC.
Web Browsers: Internet Explorer was the primary browser on both
computers and was used daily. Netscape 6 was installed primarily to
test the browser in each environment. Netscape was used very sparingly,
not being launched more than twice on either computer.
Outlook (PC) and Entourage (Mac) were used heavily on a daily
basis.
iTunes (Mac) and WinAmp (PC) were open and playing music in the
background virtually all the time the computers were in use.
The following programs, while not being used daily, were used on a
frequent basis (3-5 times/week) on both platforms:
- Adobe Acrobat
- LimeWire
- Fetch (Mac)
- SmartFTP (PC)
These programs were used a little less frequently (1-2 times/week)
on both computers:
- Civilization III
- Roxio Toast Titanium (Mac)
- Adaptec EZ CD Creator (PC)
Photoshop, Claris Home Page, and Macromedia Dreamweaver were used
four times on the Mac.
Photoshop, FrontPage Express, and Macromedia Dreamweaver were used
once on the PC.
Other Clarifications
The PC was off for a single 8-day period and the Mac for a two-day
stretch. Otherwise, they were running 24/7.
What do you think of the results now? Click on my name above and
email me your thoughts. We will print selected excerpts next week!
Another Indispensable OS X Ware
A while back, we wrote a column dedicated to a review some "must-have" OS X shareware.
Alert reader Kyle McKay pointed out one we missed, SharePoints.
In Mac OS X, by default you are limited to sharing only what is in
your public folder in your home directory. SharePoints makes it easy to
add or delete share points, as in the Classic OS Finder. We are in
favor of anything that eases the transition to OS X.
