Extemely serious issues affecting Macs

I am not a Mac user, and after reading this article I wouldn't use one if someone gave me one.

Apple Core Rot

I posted this article purely because I think anyone using a Mac needs to be aware of these issues. FYI I use Win XP, because after 12(?) years of patches and bug fixes, I believe it is the most stable version of windows. I generally use Linux Mint for web browsing because I don't believe any version of windows is safe when connected to the internet.

For those who can't be bothered reading the article this is a summary of the most serious (but not all) the issues.

As of early 2013.

• iTunes — a nightmarish kitchen sink design cluttered with dozens of tabs and modes and animations and clutter, all mixing highly variant purposes Fortunately, Walter Mossberg likes it (but it’s time for him to hang up his jockstrap).
• iCloud — a organization-destroying bug-ridden unreliable disaster.
• OS X Finder — damages the system, can’t copy files reliably, can’t do useful things it ought to do at all, hides key files, rife with bugs.
• iPhoto — arbitrary removal of keyboard shortcuts and similar made a slightly useful program into a useless toy.
• Aperture — so full of display bugs on dual-display systems as to be unusable.
• Time Machine — auto-excludes critical data from backup, silently.
• Disk Utility — under some conditions, destroys arbitrary numbers of volumes, no real upgrade for years, took two minor releases to fix RAID support.
• File system — continued use of HFS Plus instead of robust ZFS.
• That’s just for starters, OS X Lion had its share of hairballs , many of which still exist.

I don't have any particular dislike of Macs and am not trolling. Apologies if this has already been posted, as I searched and did not find it. Unable to preview post, so hope links work.

Well don't then.    You don't have to use anything you don't want to.

I've heard that Windows computers will explode if they're left on for more then 24 hours.

I read it on the internet so it must be true.

See. I can play too.

In short, there are real issues with OS X, same as there are real issues with all systems. Funnily enough, random anecdotes on the internet by anonymous bloggers - not the best source of information.

Many people attack others who voice opinions contrary to their view of reality. The Fuji marketing woman may have been promoted as affirmative action, much like Colin Powell as Secty. of State. Not to get too political, but many corporate executives do not have the passion or native intelligence to run marketing operations. Big corporations are no more smarter than the local car dealership. Fuji, Apple, Nikon, they all have weak managers.

I probably am guilty of sensationalism and a touch of Schadenfreude in my initial post, and some of these issues are more of a nuisance than anything, but there are a few issues that can result in data loss and in my experience I think anything that has that result is pretty serious. It seems the main issues are;

• Time Machine Silently Excludes Critical Data
  

• Finder Copy Destroys File System on Boot Drive

• Finder Silently Fails to Copy Files
  

• Disk Utility Offers to Destroy 13 volumes on 4 Drives

These issues are more likely to affect novices but anyone can have a bad day.

This is the most ridiculous posting by someone I've ever seen on ANY of DPreview's forums in the 6 or so years I've been reading them. WOW! This deserves some kind of recognition or prize!
I only use macs now and I have problems with them sometimes, but don't go there with the Windows thing. I was born at night, not last night!
Again, WOW!

What would you know about this as you don't use Macs?

--
Mikael

Okay, I have to add my two cents, or one cent based on my knowledge of computers. I read what this guy had to say, (the guy in the link provided) and if his credentials are correct, then what he is doing is akin to my (I'm a professional musician, been playing for over 40 years and make my living at it) taking an instrument and with my experience and feel, tearing it apart and putting on paper every little problem (to me) and every little bug or thing that I would adjust or fix. I could literally find 100's of problems or tweaks to be made. But that is coming from someone who has held instruments in his hands for over 40 years and makes his living using the instrument. And I could make the instrument look like a piece of crap, when in all reality it is a very good instrument.

If this guy is a software engineer, of course he knows what should be working perfectly, and can properly evaluate the performance of each bit of software construction, but to the average user, we can't see all of that. For all intents and purposes the product works for the average Joe.

The instrument I use is worth in the area of about $5000. I can tell you all kinds of things that I would change and make adaptations to, but the end result is that it is a very fine instrument. Nothing is perfect. There is no such thing as perfect.

Every OS and every App has features missing or removed to maintain ease of use and stability.

At work I used IBM's OS/400 on AS/400 mini-mainframes and PCs with various flavours of Windows, whereas at home I only ever purchased Macs. My own children and various nephews and nieces just could not understand why they had to be different from all the other kids in school who used Win-PCs.

All these "kids" have now reached adulthood, each has the ability to purchase their own computers and despite having to use Win-PCs at university/work, they have all opted to buy Macs and iDevices. As an extended family, we have so many Apple products, we could probably open up our very own Apple Store. Not one these kids will use a PC for personal stuff even if you paid them.

Their current choices have nothing to do with the fact they grew up using Macs -- after numerous problems with Win-PCs at varsity/work they decided they wanted technology that just worked. One nephew is so reliant on stable OS, he sold his Windows laptop and now gets a new MBAir every year. Another went with tablets from Samsung and RIMM, sold them both and bought a top-of-the-range iPad4.

Your own post and the linked article are just click-bait and trolling.

Huh? Okay, first off, who cares about iTunes, although it does work. You don't have to use it, and it is free.

iCloud, once again, you don't have to use it, and I don't like any cloud based services. You can use any cloud service you like, you don't have to use iCloud. It isn't part of the computer or OS.

OSX finder damages files? Seriously? I have never seen that happen on my system and I routinely copy files, large files. A lot of RAW HD video and photography. As far as hiding key files, all OSes do that, but they can be unhidden. You can go to a command prompt if you want and unhide easily.

Why use Aperture and what does that have to do with a Mac computer? They are independent, one is a piece of software you can install on the computer, and one is the computer. You can use Lightroom, Photoshop, Photoshop Elements, Paintshop Pro if you want to run Windows on your machine, or any other photo editor you want.

Time Machine excludes data? Hmmm, I've backed up using it regularly, and have had no issues, even when restoring the entire system when upgrading the hard drive. Of course, once again, it is free, included with the system, and you are free to buy and use any other backup software you wish. You aren't required to use it, although for me, I do use it. I like it better than any backup software I have used on my Windows machines. I have Retrospect for my Windows machine and have always liked it, but Time Machine is nicer overall.

iPhoto? I never used it. I have no need. If you are really doing photography, you will use something else, but then again, it is free, and it does work for so many of my friends who use it.

Disk Utility? Well, it has always worked fine, but given the nature of the file system, HFS, I have rarely needed to use it. Which takes me to your comment on HFS, I don't agree. Sorry, after having run Windows for years, and continuing to do so, I prefer the Mac file system, it has been much more reliable.

Use Windows if you want. Use Mac if you want. In the end it doesn't matter as long as what you have works for you. I still run XP on my Mac using Parallels. It runs great on my system. I still hav a PC but rarely use it. I switched when I needed a new laptop. My old editing program, Media Studio Pro was bought by Corel and they stopped developing it. They weren't going to support Vista or Windows 7. I knew I would have to buy a new editing package so I switched to Mac since it came with iMovie which I could use until I bought a new editing package. I also needed to produce good audio for the music I use in my show. I had an external sound card but it used an old slot that wasn't available on newer laptops. There was enough available for the Mac without adding new hardware to fit my needs. I wanted bluetooth. When I added the cost of all I needed, the Mac was less expensive than what others offered in PC. You can get a great PC for less than you will pay for a Mac, but if you want bluetooth and the other things I needed, you will pay about the same. The great thing about PCs is you have so many choices and do not need to pay for things you don't want or need. I am currently looking for a low priced PC for use outside doing astro-imaging. I will install XP for my uses since the system I use isn't supported in any other Windows OS after XP.

As far as Windows goes, I got tired of the Registry system and the haphazard way programs place files everywhere. It is a badly thought out system. Mac is nicer in that regard. I also hated the fact if you had to reinstall the OS, you also had to reinstall the programs. the Mac OS will migrate your installed apps. Thankfully it seems Windows has fixed that finally. It took them a while, OS2 could do it back in the 90s when I used it.

Use what you want. Both systems have strengths and weaknesses, but the bottom line is, if you can find what you want for the system, and it fits your needs, then the system is good for you.

I've never seen the Atlantic ocean but I'm pretty sure its there.

--
Doug

A non emotional cogent response, are you sure you use a Mac?

--
Doug

Maybe you know what an analogy is...this wasn't one of them.

--
Mikael

Then don't use a Mac...........

Millions are happy,

--

Ima' nice kinda guy!

You lost me at XP.

Guess my previous post was too much for you, sorry you had to think and it must have given you a head ache. I'll be more direct to keep the hurt to a minimum, you don't have to use a mac to know it is not perfect and there are things that just plain don't work well.

--
Doug

Over the years, I have had at least 5 Windows based laptops, and most of them were good.  I have no complaints, other than Toshiba's overheating issues.

My son, about 3 years ago, told me to try a MacBook Pro.  I was hesitant at first to learn a new operating system and to give up my larger laptops.  I always had 17" laptops.

Anyway, I have now been using my MacBook Pro for over 3 years, and frankly I can not envision going back to Windows.  Doesn't mean I won't at some point, but I just can't see it right now.

I have had no problems with stability, reliability, or with operations of the MacBook.  In fact, it was a very easy transformation to learn this operating system.  About the toughest thing to get use to for me was the backspacing, instead of front spacing issue with the delete key. 

I have never seen, or had to remove any viruses on my MacBook.  I can not say the same for my Windows computers.

Finally, to each their own.  I have used both, and personally now like Apple products betters, but I am smart enough to know that others will never use Apple products, and that is their choice of course.

--
Slider44

The issue he has with Finder is real. If you copy large files over the network, thing can go haywire resulting in failed transfers with locked and/or corrupted files. I have encountered this multiple times myself and I actually transfer large files to my mac server using sFTP which is both faster and more reliable.

The summary does not cover what the guy is actually saying in the full blog post. Most of the things he talks about though, I couldn't care less about. Like you, I barely use iPhoto, don't use iCloud etc.

This guy is real, he's not posting anonymous and he knows what he's talking about. He's also nitpicking about things that are undoubtedly important to him, but potentially don't make an ounce of difference to other people because they either don't use it, or don't use it heavily enough to get into trouble.

--
Gijs from The Netherlands
Nikon D800

Faint of heart, ain't ye?

Even if you don't have any experience with Macs/OS X, and don't know if the article is reliable.

Kewl.

"OS X is degrading into a base for an entertainment platform. As it stands, the trend is entirely downhill for serious work (albeit a mild grade so far, but steadily downhill nonetheless).

• The trend to a new breed of “shallow” features: those useful only for beginners and entertainment, coupled with serious bugs or workflow impairments for everyone else. Makeup over pimples.
• The general dumbing-down of features in every Apple OS X program. Arbitrary removal of functionality such as keyboard shortcuts, or simply removal of features entirely.

• The OS X donkey cart is getting loaded with ribbons and flyers and decorations and marching band, but getting real work done is getting harder due to having to work around “improvements”.
• So-called OS X “upgrades” now consist largely of ill-conceived dilettante eye-candy features that reduce usability, clutter the user interface and introduce scads of new bugs. No true upgrades have occurred for at least two major releases."

The above from Lloyds blog has heightened my fears on Apples commercial success.

Very pleased with snow leopard and soon to be an owner of a new imac with latest OS though ..

Steve Jobs has gone and it shows.

--
Rudi - freelancer
'Never mind the quality, feel the width'