Brenda Ann wrote:
"D Peter Maus" wrote in message
...
Brenda Ann wrote:
"Kurt" wrote in message
...
I want getting phone service like when I buy a Mac.
You only want them to work in a few dozen exchanges, and use a codec that
only other phones of that brand use, so you can't talk to anyone else but
other customers of that company (sort of like Sprint's "Friends and
Family" plan). ?





There was a time that was true. Not so much since about OS X.2.

Truth is that I had a Mac on line at work since '89, and from home since
'84, and with the exception of those who bothered to read the headers in
e-mail, no one ever knew it. I've had my Macs and my PC's talking to each
other the entire time.

As long as the output files are the same format, there's no more
compatibility issue between Mac and Windows than between HP and Dell
printers. And with Solaris and Linux making a showing in the marketplace,
compatibility in general has become largely a non issue.

That's why the ****ing match between the Microsoft and the keepers of
standards is such a concern. Because if MS has their way, their
proprietary formats, will continue to play havoc with compatibility
between platforms that currently play well together using standards
compliant output.

On my Macs, I use only open source software with the exception of one or
two Apple branded programs for document and presentation creation. With
the exception of nicer, more eye catching documents, and presentations
with full animation and stereo sound, none of my colleagues can tell that
I've used a Mac.

On my PC's the only MS software is the OS. Everything else... browser,
IM client, office suite...everything, is open source.

The ONLY time I've ever had a compatibility issue is using MS software.
And that's been true for more than a decade, now.


My biggest problem with Mac (I like the machines, always have) is the
relative lack of software available for them. For instance, I have several
video editing applications, and several internet webcasting applications,
and they cannot be duplicated in Mac. (or at least they could not). I'll
concede that their machines, and to an extent their OS, are very reliable.





The applications...very likely are not duplicated under Mac, no.
Their functionality will be found in other apps, however. Especially in
video and audio editing. Most of them in open source, or at least
standards compliant apps. The challenge is finding them.

There are websites that are dedicated to nothing but video and audio
apps for Macintosh. The names escape me at the moments, but if you do a
websearch you can find thousands of audio, video and webcasting apps for
Mac. Some of which are produced by Apple.