Oh Whata Differencea .1 Makes
Mac OS X may have debuted in March, but it arrived last Tuesday. That’s when Apple shipped OS X version 10.1, the first major update of the Mac’s new operating system software.
It’s a huge improvement. Although many key commercial programs are still not available in native OS X form, the operating system itself has reached its stride.
Let’s start with the stopwatch. Version 10.1 boots up and starts programs significantly faster than did version 10. In my tests, a 733-megahertz G4 started up in 45 seconds, versus a minute for version 10. Microsoft’s Internet Explorer Web browser started in three seconds instead of six. Apple’s iTunes program was ready to make music in 2.5 seconds instead of 4.5.
The Finder file-management software also is faster in version 10.1. Windows are snappier and files copy more quickly. The Classic environment, which lets most older Mac programs run under OS X, also is faster.
In Mac OS 9, watching a DVD was a fragile proposition. Even clicking the mouse could cause stuttering and other problems. In OS 10.1, DVD playback is rock-solid. I was able to surf the Web and use other programs while a DVD played. When I dragged the DVD window around on the screen, my Mac didn’t skip a beat.
Mac OS X now supports DVD burning too--sort of. If you have a SuperDrive-equipped Mac, you can burn files to a DVD by simply dragging them to its icon. It’s great for backing up: A blank DVD can hold nearly 5 gigabytes. This drag-and-burn routine also works with any third-party DVD burner containing the same Pioneer-built mechanism that Apple uses.
Alas, Mac OS 10.1 doesn’t yet enable you to create DVD videodiscs. Apple had announced that its iDVD 2 software would ship along with 10.1, but the schedules didn’t jibe. Apple says iDVD 2 will be available next month.
You’d expect OS 10.1 to perform well on a speedy G4 system, but what about an older Mac? Version 10.1 was indeed slower on my 500-MHz PowerBook G3 but was still acceptable. When I upgraded the PowerBook from its stock 128 megabytes of memory to 384 MB, performance improved significantly. And DVD playback on the PowerBook G3 was just as smooth as on my G4. Speaking of PowerBooks, they awaken from sleep mode almost instantly when running Mac OS 10.1
Several OS 10.1 features streamline operation for PowerBooks and desktop Macs alike. You can customize numerous aspects of the user interface, and the right edge of the menu bar now displays icons for common system adjustments, such as speaker volume and display settings. When you’re using AirPort wireless networking, an icon displays your signal strength. On a PowerBook, a battery icon indicates remaining power. These icons mimic their counterparts in Mac OS 9’s control strip but their location in the menu bar is less obtrusive.
And the native-software scene? There’s slow-but-sure progress to report. Some popular programs, such as Quicken, Apple’s FileMaker Pro and AppleWorks, Corel’s Painter and Macromedia’s FreeHand, are available now. Microsoft will ship the OS X version of Office in November, and you can download a pre-release version of Microsoft Word for OS X from https://www.microsoft.com/mac. I used it to write this column and was impressed with how well Microsoft has exploited OS X’s new interface.
Adobe Systems last week announced OS X versions of its Illustrator drawing package and InDesign publishing programs. Illustrator ships later this year; InDesign, early next year.
Mac OS 10.1 has made me all the more eager for these and other key programs. I still spend much of my time in Mac OS 9, but I’m now using OS 10.1 for Web browsing, writing, and CD and DVD burning. With version 10.1, Apple has delivered on the OS X promise. Now it’s up to software developers to deliver their programs.
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Jim Heid is a contributing editor of Macworld magazine. He can be reached at jim@jimheid.com.
