Rodney O. Lain - 2000.01.15
This article was originally published on The
iMac.com, a site which no longer exists. It is copyright 2000 by
RAC Enterprises, which also seems to no longer exist. It is thus
reprinted here without permission (which we would gladly obtain if
possible). Links have been retained when possible, but many go to
the Internet Wayback
Machine.
Ever the consummate showman, His iNess Steve Jobs unwrapped Mac
OS X with his usual flair and aplomb, to a level of fanfare that is
downright boring for us Mac snobs who've grown accustomed to
Apple's success:
"Yes, Apple has released another insanely great product.
>yawn<."
As soon as the first screen shot was revealed, I, about 13 rows
away from The Man, began reaching for my wallet to see if I had
enough money to purchase two copies. When I found out it wasn't
shipping until this spring, I was let down.
I think that pretty much sums up the reactions that more than a
few of us Mac faithful had that day.
Look at this screen shot [broken link] and tell me that you
don't want a copy of this running on your Mac?
Many people have been bitching and moaning about what Apple
should or shouldn't have done with the GUI. I don't care about
them. I love it.
I love eye candy (or is it iCandy?), and OS X has plenty of it.
I think Apple took a cue from Hollywood. Think back to all of the
movies and TV shows - especially those of the sci-fi stripe - and
remember how many of them had "toy-like" GUIs for the cast to toy
with. This isn't something that began with OS X. It seems like many
have dreamed a world with bell-and-whistle user interfaces. They've
been ahead of the curve.
In this regard, Apple is Johnny Come Lately.
Another thing that may not have been discussed much - lost in
the din created by opinion writers over the looks of the OS - is
the suggested retail price of OS X. So far, $99 seems to be the
standard cost of admission into the Mac OS experience. I don't rule
out Apple charging $200 a pop (I'd still buy a copy).
Furthermore, as one Mac Opinion's Kai Cherry opined in San
Francisco, hell, people (including PC users) may even buy brand new
Macs just to get their mitts on OS X. I know I would'
So before you load both barrels and weigh in on Mac OS X,
consider this: Take some time and look through the info at Apple's
web site-cum-portal' again if you must. And think about how little
the Mac OS has changed over the years. Isn't it long overdue for a
revamp? While you're at it, thank God that Apple didn't evolve he
OS as much as the nay sayers had predicted (remember the hue and
cry over the possibility of Mac OS X shipping sans the Finder we
all know and love?).
Then look at the info on and pix of OS X again. It'll grow on
you a little bit more if you take it into that perspective....
While we all wait with bated breath for Apple to birth this
product, keep this bit of advice in mind: when you hear people
trash talking Mac OS X, remember that the same people who are
poo-pooing the OS X interface are probably the same ones who said
the iMac and the iBook would be twin flops.
'Nuff said?
Fini.
- Rodney O'Neal Lain
Rodney O. Lain is The iMac's Associate Editor. A
former professor, he lives in St. Paul, MN, where he is a freelance
writer and a supervisor at a major US corporation. He enjoys comic
books and pencil drawing. He adores Mike Royko, Zora Hurston, Lewis
Grizzard, Maya Angelou, John Byrne, bell hooks, Frank Miller and
Henry Louis Gates. He also writes for Low End Mac, Applelinks and
My Mac Magazine. When no one's looking, he rants and raves on his
home page
Free Your Mind & Your Behind Will Follow.
