exxos's Atari, Amiga & retro forum

PaulJ wrote: 10 Apr 2021 15:35 @rubber_jonnie, in years past the acid test for software was it function as spec'd. That was hard enough when dealing IO. Back then root was all powerful, you could do anything as root. Now days modern computers have been infected with security code to attempt to stop the bad guy from gaining a foothold in the machine and execute their own code. If you want to do anything system or io related it's harder to get through the security layers than getting the functionality operational. I really don't write any code for a modern OS because most of the effort is getting through the security protection. Although MacOS is a fine operating system I'm not writing any IO related code for it. The M1 and successors is going to be worse since the M1 had a lot more security built into the hardware. It's one of the reasons iPad apps will run on it while Intel based machines need additional efforts which developers see no value in.

The funny part of all the security is a large part of all OS's are built on legacy code that were built in the days of "if it runs without issue" it's ok. So we see all the time of huge security issues being uncovered in old libraries. So I will use MacOS kinda like a hammer. It's got great features but too big a pain in the ass to write code for beyond any self contained app that don't need access to much. Have a stable of old Linux machines, the Atari stuff, and good ole SWTPC machines if I actually want to do something.

Still pondering the M1... want one now but really don't need it.. just got the trashcan which was brand new (NOS) from OWC which meets all my needs. Rumor has it there will be a Mac Pro with Apple silicon so I'm most likely going to wait awhile to see what develops. The M1 is a monster.. the swap is so efficient you really don't even notice its in swap without a benchmark program. I suspect Big Sur will be the last Apple OS that will be largely reliable for the Intel machines. You know Apple is going to put all their efforts toward get the OS to run flawlessly on their silicon. Also change made to improve Mx will have detrimental effects on the Intel based machine and in house testing of Intel machines will fade the further we get down the road.

Last but not least Jon, you get what you pay for. IBM did an investigation on the relative costs for businesses that use Apple vs MS. They found it was significantly cheaper to use Apple. So you may pay a little more up front but it's well worth the price.

https://9to5mac.com/2019/11/12/ibm-mac- ... roductive/
https://www.computerworld.com/article/3 ... ought.html

rubber_jonnie wrote: 10 Apr 2021 19:31 Security is definitely high on the priority list for most OSes these days, but it does raise the question of when does security stop you doing what you want to do with your OS?

sporniket wrote: 11 Apr 2021 09:11
Nowadays, I would advise working in a virtual machine (virtualbox, vmware, whatever), provided it can do what you aim for. And in this virtual machine, disable any shackles that hinder your working. (for me it also allow me to work on Linux on a windows at work, but writing backend software for application server in Java makes it quite OS agnostics and happily works in a sandboxed environment).

Apple hardware is very stylish, but the keyboard layout -especially the layout of the 'fn' and 'control' key on the bottom left- is incompatible with commons pc layout, making it impracticable for me, because I type without looking at the keyboard, and wants uniform layout (bepo) at work as well as at home. (This very same problem makes the Thinkpads unfit for me).

All in all, for the time being I will prefer an Ubuntu/Linux above any other OS, for its licence as well as it is what I am used to.

sporniket wrote: 11 Apr 2021 09:11 Apple hardware is very stylish, but the keyboard layout -especially the layout of the 'fn' and 'control' key on the bottom left- is incompatible with commons pc layout

rubber_jonnie wrote: 11 Apr 2021 09:52 it has caused me some consternation, initially the main problem being the single button mouse, leaving wondering how I do a right click?

derkom wrote: 11 Apr 2021 14:43

sporniket wrote: 11 Apr 2021 09:11 Apple hardware is very stylish, but the keyboard layout -especially the layout of the 'fn' and 'control' key on the bottom left- is incompatible with commons pc layout

This is part of why I use a Das Keyboard 4 Professional with my MacBook when I'm at home. Apple have been pretty lacking in the keyboard department in recent years, but there's nothing stopping you from using a good quality USB keyboard of your choosing with a Mac.

JezC wrote: 13 Apr 2021 15:34 Nice to see the Beeb added to your collection!
:D
I've still got mine (from 1984 IIRC) plus a donated one...was sorting through the boxes in the garage at the weekend and grouping them together.

Found the 6502 second processor, Music 500 plus a couple of Z80 second processors as well.

Now I just need the time to fix the few (7) STs, two Amigas and then get round to those old timers.