On 1/19/01 10:50 AM, "Adam Boettiger" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
wrote:
> Paul wrote:
>> Then they'll have something to look forward to when they do move. What's the
>> hurry for people who are a bit cautious?
>
> Here, in a nutshell, is the point that I am trying to communicate, perhaps
> poorly in previous messages:
>
> On a Windows OS, be it 98, ME or 2000, I can use Outlook 2000. I do not
> have to upgrade an operating system from 98 to be able to use the very
> latest upgrade or version of Outlook 2000. It is multi-OS version compliant
> (if there exists such a term).
>
> Why is it, however, that in order to use an upgraded, improved or future
> version of Entourage beyond the first release, that we will have to upgrade
> the Mac OS each time? Is this a double-standard from the way such programs
> are being developed for Windows, and if so, why?
OK, first of all, you do not have to move to OS X. But this is a major,
major change a completely different OS for Macintosh hardware, the first
such since 1984 (or is it 83?). It is not something that's going to happen
again 2 years later, nor probably even 10 years later. If it's as good as it
sounds, it will be a fantastic improvement. Windows users should be so
lucky. But there was some doubt as to whether it might flop if the big
applications didn't devote the effort and man-hours to make OS X-compliant
software. Microsoft, to their great credit, have decided to support Apple -
and all of us - by doing so, and M are the biggest. This will create a
bandwagon that will make OS X the success it should be. If they were more
cautious, the Mac world might have been torn two ways, and we would all
suffer if Apple went down. Apple has taken a big risk, and MS has supported
them. The byproduct is that they will devote all their resources to this OS
X version, with the "carrot" of a .5 (or better) version ready sooner than
the OS 8.5/9 version. And if that induces more Mac users to move to OSX
sooner, good. That also is supporting Apple. The more Mac users move to X,
the more applications will make OS X versions of their software.
Normally, MS Office operates on a 3-year upgrade cycle. OE operated on an
18-month upgrade cycle. This way, people on Os X will get an upgrade after
12 months, and everyone else probably after 24 months or so (or maybe 18
months, who knows?). So you're not missing out an ANYTHING you would have
had if not for OS X and Microsoft's supporting push. You wouldn't have gotr
a new version in 12 months - it would have been 18 for Entourage, most
likely. This way, after 18 months (April 2002) even if the OS9 upgrade
version isn't released (and it probably will be), you'll probably be ready
to move to OS X - a full year after first OS X release. By that time, a few
bug fix releases of both OS X AND Office 2001-X will have been done, and it
will be secure enough for more conservative users. I think the timing is
perfect, and I applaud Microsoft for supporting Apple in this way.
--
Paul Berkowitz
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