Yosemite anyone?

[Nick Armstrong]

kernal panics

Yikes... Haven't heard that phrase before. I wonder if that's the issue I had a while back (freezing, not booting up etc?)... It was apparently a known issue at the time with a particular part (logic board? graphics card? can't remember) in that model of MBP - although it was out of warranty, a couple of years back, Apple replaced the relevant bit free of charge, and it's worked sweetly every since, inc with Mavericks... Touching wood as I type that (hands resting on wooden desk under keyboard...)

[Dave2002]

A key reason I am, like you, happy with the 'older' models is that both are 17 inch screens - now discontinued. So Apple have deprived themselves of further revenue from my by changing their range. The ability now to 'rejuvenate' them with the new operating systems - free - is a situation I'm currently very content with.

That's interesting. That indeed would be a consideration for a lot of people. OTOH, I am encouraging most people I know to go for larger screens - though obviously this depends on how much space they have in a domestic environment. There are good and bad things about larger screens though. The last (pre Retina) 27 inch iMac uses significantly more power than some of the smaller ones, and it's also a little bit noisier. I don't know about the power consumption of the latest Retina iMac. The ability to have more documents open and visible on the display is very useful, though I still feel that the Apple OS doesn't do enough to make that easy. Neither Windows nor Mac OS really help as far as I can see.

The 21.5 inch "wide-screen" iMacs are also quite good - I'd say significantly better than 17 inch monitors - but if space is a limitation ....

Doesn't look as though Retina displays have been introduced for the 21.5 inch range yet - probably will come eventually - http://store.apple.com/uk/buy-mac/imac

Re Vodka's comment about being happy with older versions - again I agree. I have one machine with 10.6.8 with Appleworks which I still use. I don't intend to allow that one to "upgrade". However, many people will probably not have so many machines, due to space and/or financial factors, so they might have to compromise and make decisions about which versions of an OS to use in order to keep compatibility with older programs, and also to keep costs down by avoiding otherwise unnecessary application "upgrades". However, re Word - won't the 2004 version work with Mavericks and/or Yosemite? I'm guessing that Entourage has been and gone, though - don't use that myself.

Oh - one last comment re Word (MS Office) - the iOS version is now effectively free for anyone with a newish iPad or some iPhones apparently. Could be useful for some - check it out.

[MrGongGong]

Oh - one last comment re Word (MS Office) - the iOS version is now effectively free for anyone with a newish iPad or some iPhones apparently. Could be useful for some - check it out.

Open Office
Is Free
Always will be
and works on everything

[Dave2002]

kernal panics

A bygone era I'm afraid - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KERNAL

I was eventually instructed to take my PET to the tip, along with a couple of Apple IIs.

[Dave2002]

Open Office
Is Free
Always will be
and works on everything

Not sure that I can predict the future, nor that I can check the veracity of "works on everything" - though trivially false, as it doesn't work on my lawnmower . I use Open Office and Libre Office, but some people do need compatibility with Word and other MS Office stuff. Even though Excel has faults - some significant ones - it is still a lot better than most of its competitors. I really don't like the way MS is trying to get users on to a subscription model, as indeed are other software firms, such as Adobe.

[MrGongGong]

Not sure that I can predict the future, nor that I can check the veracity of "works on everything" - though trivially false, as it doesn't work on my lawnmower . I use Open Office and Libre Office, but some people do need compatibility with Word and other MS Office stuff. Even though Excel has faults - some significant ones - it is still a lot better than most of its competitors. I really don't like the way MS is trying to get users on to a subscription model, as indeed are other software firms, such as Adobe.

SO what does "compatibility with Word and other MS Office stuff" really mean ?
If I open a document made in Word in Open Office
edit it
save in a compatible format and send it on
it works ?

I sometimes work on shared things, which also seems to work fine
I actually have both (the benefits of doing gigs in countries where there are folks who can "give" you stuff ) apart from the fancy graphics and maybe a bit smoother interface what's the benefit of buying over using Open Source ?

[Dave2002]

SO what does "compatibility with Word and other MS Office stuff" really mean ?
If I open a document made in Word in Open Office
edit it
save in a compatible format and send it on
it works ?

I sometimes work on shared things, which also seems to work fine
I actually have both (the benefits of doing gigs in countries where there are folks who can "give" you stuff ) apart from the fancy graphics and maybe a bit smoother interface what's the benefit of buying over using Open Source ?

I can assure you that there are situations where MS Office is the only thing which will work, and there are circumstances under which one might have to obtain an up to date copy very quickly in order to get a job done - and on time.

You are right that often it's not that critical, but there really are situations where only MS Office will do.

[MrGongGong]

I can assure you that there are situations where MS Office is the only thing which will work, and there are circumstances under which one might have to obtain an up to date copy very quickly in order to get a job done - and on time.

You are right that often it's not that critical, but there really are situations where only MS Office will do.

Ok
That makes sense

[VodkaDilc]

A bygone era I'm afraid - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KERNAL

I was eventually instructed to take my PET to the tip, along with a couple of Apple IIs.

I'm not quite sure what this refers to. The problem I have is this:

http://support.apple.com/en-us/HT200553

I had a new motherboard just before the warranty expired, which was supposed to clear the problem. Now it's much less frequent, but is apparently "one of those things" with mid 2010 MacBook Pros.

(just realised my spelling of kernel was wrong - problem caused the confusion.)

[Dave2002]

I'm not quite sure what this refers to.

...

(just realised my spelling of kernel was wrong - problem caused the confusion.)

Ah - you got it "kernal" vs "kernel". My link was to a KERNAL system due to Commodore - anyone remember them?

[MrGongGong]

Aaaaah good old Kernel panics
I got lots of those when using some very cheap USB recording devices (the microphone ones that many schools like to buy!)
very disconcerting but easily fixed with the disc utilities

[P. G. Tipps]

Ok
That makes sense

Does it ... ?

I use Libre Office which is basically a newer open-source alternative to Open Office.

I've never had a problem with compatibility and as long as this continues there is no way I'll be forking out hundreds of pounds to Microsoft. Furthermore there are clear compatibility issues with Word itself regarding other office systems!

The following link is useful. The writer's conclusions appear balanced and therefore highly credible.

http://lifehacker.com/battle-of-the-office-suites-microsoft-office-and-libre-1147940828

[MrGongGong]

Does it ... ?

Maybe you can't imagine things outside your understanding of the world ?

[P. G. Tipps]

Maybe you can't imagine things outside your understanding of the world ?

That's true, I've often enough trouble coming to terms with the reality of the world without spending too much time 'imagining' a completely different one ...

[MrGongGong]

That's true, I've often enough trouble coming to terms with the reality of the world without spending too much time 'imagining' a completely different one ...

It's all in your head Scottyless

Maybe if you put on a jacket and tie you would be able to ?