I've always thought of the Apple Mac as a niche machine great for
applications such as Quark, PageMaker and (our own use) FrameMaker,
but not really as a machine of more general interest in the Open
Source environment.

With the coming of the new OS X operating system, my better half
has persuaded me to have a look at the Mac in wider general use and,
I have to admit it, I'm something of a convert.

OS X is a "nix" operating System - in the Unix and Linux family,
but that's overlayed with the Mac look and feel and applications
that make the Mac great for the non-geek.  As both the operating
system and the computer hardware are supplied by the same company,
it does all work together and there's none of the searching for
device drivers and building a Kernel to do.

We've added a somewhat high end Apple G4 Powerbook laptop to our
fleet of training systems; initially for experimentation so that
we can practice what we preach.  There's something of a danger that
this machine is going to take over as our daily use machine and
course server.

Let me go through the topics we teach:
       Perl    Supplied with OS X
       Java    Supplied with OS X
       Tcl/Tk  Downloads and installs easily
       PHP     Supplied with OS X. Easily configured
       Ruby    Downloads and installs easily
       MySQL   Downloads and installs fairly easily

What else do we need that's not "Classic Mac"?  Web Server - we're
using Apache (and I've modified the machine's sleep timing as I don't
want my server's cpu snoozing if it's likely to get web requests)

And what do we need that's not very easy under some "nix" systems?
When travelling, we dial in through AOL.  AOL software is now available
for OSX.  The CD writer and DVD ROM, sound streaming and all the rest
work and seem to be working well.   We've installed an Apple Airport
card and we're running both Wireless and CAT 5 networking.

Still to be done?   I still have to move a Framemaker license across
(and that may have to run under OS 9 for the moment).   I need to
sort out naming services, as the system doesn't default to using the
/etc files (plenty of evidence that it can be done - I just need time
to learn and experiment and I AM already talking to DNS).  I should
also check into Expect, but that's a very specialist requirement.

Early days, but I have to say it - technically and practically it's
exceptionally promising; I do wish Apple well with OS X; I hear rumours
of a port to Intel and that would be a very interesting move.

I could not agree more with you.

Having come to programming from a printing background where Macs were used heavily I found the whole 'Windows' experience something of a nightmare in comparison.
(still do now come to think of it)

Now with the power of Unix (I think its based on BSD) on the Mac I hope people will see it in a new light.
All you favourite *nix editors and apps with the beauty and ease of the MacOS.

What a combination.
Well done Apple.

I've bit my tongue in not responding to this sooner. I did not want to appear as though I was saying "I told you so."

It is with a great deal of pride that I see Graham write his brave words. As a Mac user since the mid '80s, I have been the recipient of many fights picked by PC users. It hasn't been worth me getting involved with the arguments. People use what they are comfortable with. I had my use for a Mac, so I used it. But I couldn't for the life of me think why others would be so adament against them.

Graham, you burst my chest with pride. That you not only didn't knock me for loving my Mac, but that you tried one for yourself. The fact that you've found its merits only illustrates that you're walking with your own drummer beat...and this is why you continue to take great strides in all your accomplishments.

Sorry everyone for making this gushy. I have great admiration for Graham, am in awe of his skills, enjoy working with him and am always buoyed by his enthusiasm for the subject. And now he likes Macs.  

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