OS X can i do what i want to do?

[SpaceSquad]

Isn't OS 9 much more unix-like? I heard it even has a unix command line in it, and that OS X removed that.

[chopin1810]

In this situation, proprietary is good... remember, Apple is known for being the first software company to successfully link the hardware to the software... in other words, they have operating system ABC only written for computer ABC, not the Windows model of "let's write operating system ABC for hardware ASJ, DHS, DJF, HJS, DKL, AJH, FDL, SAK, and JHF and hope it works well on all of it"... like others have said, you'd have more luck buying a middle to high-end mac for great performance, but otherwise I find OS X to be _THE_ perfect combination of UNIX stability and the trademark Apple ease-of-use... unless you can't go a day without Linux I think you'd really like a Macintosh... and I've never found it to be the "pro-idiot" OS some consider it to be. Yes, it is very easy to use and set up, but I don't see why that's a bad thing... besides, the people who use Macs are usually smarter anyway, Apple never really treats you like you're stupid... no Clippy or that stupid animated dog on OS X...

[Cabhan]

Isn't OS 9 much more unix-like? I heard it even has a unix command line in it, and that OS X removed that.

Nope. OS 9 was entirely Apple, while OS X added in the Unix base. OS X has the Unix commandline (a Bash shell) accessible from Applications -> Utilities -> Terminal.

I think you just got your versions mixed up.

[chopin1810]

Isn't OS 9 much more unix-like? I heard it even has a unix command line in it, and that OS X removed that.

Yep, there's definately a command line.

[redbeard]

Funny this should come up in the Coffe Lounge at the same time I was talking with my Dad about the same basic issue. He has a Mac laptop (running OSX or maybe even Panther by now) and we were talking about office suites. I suggested he look into Open Office, but when he talked to his "mac buddies", they said it wasn't ready for prime time. As I looked into this, I think I understand their issue with it. Evidently it won't run on the Mac's native windowing system, so he would have to first install Mac's implementation of X11.

Has anyone here tried this on a Mac? Would NeoOffice be a better solution for him?

[Stefann]

If you get a MacTel machine you can dual-boot OS X and ubuntu soon.

[Cabhan]

@redbeard:

Correct. The Mac OS X version is simply a port of the Unix version, and so requires a Unix Windowing system. I dunno how difficult it is to install X11 for Mac, but that's the possibility.

From what I understand about NeoOffice, it is simply a Java-based version of OpenOffice. The thing to be aware of is that the next release of NeoOffice will be equivalent to 1.1.5 of OpenOffice: 2.x isn't even on the horizon yet. However, the next version of NeoOffice will be able to import OpenDocument documents.


From what I'm reading, it looks like pretty slim pickings for Mac OS X. OpenOffice doesn't integrate beautifully, and doesn't use the usual shortcuts. NeoOffice is REALLY far behind official OpenOffice.

I'd say give OpenOffice a shot, and see how he likes it. If he can't survive with that, you might have to go with Microsoft Office .


This sucks, since I was planning on running OpenOffice on my iBook when I get it, but this doesn't look too good.