I like the Apple line of products, first it's designed in Cupertino California in the good ole USA, even though it's manufactured just about everywhere else in the world but here, and no matter how much a fan you may be of Microsoft Windows the Mac user interface has never been surpassed by any other operating system. Also, once you have your Macbook or iMac set up with all the peripherals you need and the software you use is installed, it's about as stable a product as you will find anywhere. The reason is the Mac operating system is UNIX based (means very robust) and will hardly ever crash or stop working. However, if after a couple of years you decide to add a new software package or external device to your Mac then this is where your troubles could begin.
So basically any software that "needs" to be updated, like tax programs, financial software or programs that are still under development may cause you major problems. I think that part of the reason is that Apple computers are still in the minority and also Apple does make fairly frequent updates to it's operating system so software companies that write software for Apple computers not only will not see as large a return on these Mac versions but they quickly find they have problems when Apple decides to update their operating system.
I was recently reminded of the problems with a fiasco that panned out at one of my recent clients. My customer, had been given an iMac by his daughter a couple of years ago. At that time the operating system was version 10.3.9 and the CPU or the "brain" of the computer was a Motorola Power PC chip. Now this customer, new to the computer, wanted to write his biography but not being a typist asked if there was any other way to enter the text. So having installed many "Dragon Naturally Speaking" software packages on regular PC's I went to their web site where I found a Mac version that stated it ran on Mac Operating system version 10.3. Great, so I obtained a copy for the customer. Now you have to understand that these older dictation software packages took hours of personal commitment to "train" the computer into recognizing your particular voice and speaking style and this customer I know put hours into this exercise. However when he clicked the button to analyze his hours of speaking the software promptly crashed.
Upon calling the company they sadly told me that the Mac version only worked on Mac Operating systems up to version 10.3.6. Now that stinks! But wait it is not over yet... Okay so during this "learning" exercise I discussed with the same client applications that can be used to put his book together, applications that can format and flow text and graphics that eventually can be sent to a printer. In the publishing industry the two main players are Quark and Adobe. After some research we opted for "InDesign C3" by Adobe only to find that the minimum Mac Operating System required is version 10.4. So the bottom line was that his iMac was too new for one piece of software and too old for another.
Finally there is another company that has released an acclaimed dictation software for the later version Macs and using the same core technology as "Dragon Naturally Speaking". However, go to their web site and they will quickly tell you that their software only works on Macs with Intel Multi-Core processors.. you will recall my client's Mac is a Power PC. He ended up buying a new iMac for about $1500. So the next time someone raves about the Mac and Apple products remember nothing in this world is perfect and when it is we won't need computers anyway.
By the way I run a Mac mini, and I love it, but there again I love all computers.
So if you need help with your PC or a Mac just give me a call.
Until then Ctrl - Alt - Delete
Steve Holder
Office: (201) 652-7108
Mobile: (201) 294-8355
P.O. Box 462
Paramus, NJ 07653-0462
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
If you ever felt stupid read this...
This has to be one of the funniest things in a long time. I think this guy should have been promoted, not fired. This is a true story from the WordPerfect Helpline, which was transcribed from a recording monitoring the customer care department. Needless to say the Help Desk employee was fired; however, he/she is currently suing the WordPerfect organization for 'Termination without Cause.'
Actual dialogue of a former WordPerfect Customer Support employee.
(Now I know why they record these conversations!):
Operator: 'Ridge Hall, computer assistance; may I help you?'
Caller: 'Yes, well, I'm having trouble with WordPerfect.'
Operator: 'What sort of trouble??'
Caller: 'Well, I was just typing along, and all of a sudden the words went away.'
Operator: 'Went away?'
Caller: 'They disappeared'
Operator: 'Hmm. So what does your screen look like now?'
Caller: 'Nothing.'
Operator: 'Nothing??'
Caller: 'It's blank; it won't accept anything when I type.'
Operator: 'Are you still in WordPerfect, or did you get out?'
Caller: 'How do I tell?'
Operator: 'Can you see the 'C: prompt' on the screen?'
Caller: 'What's a sea-prompt?'
Operator: 'Never mind, can you move your cursor around the screen?'
Caller: 'There isn't any cursor; I told you, it won't accept anything I type.'
Operator: 'Does your monitor have a power indicator??'
Caller: 'What's a monitor?'
Operator: 'It's the thing with the screen on it that looks like a TV. Does it have a little light that
tells you when it's on?'
Caller: 'I don't know.'
Operator: 'Well, then look on the back of the monitor and find where the power cord goes into it. Can you see that??'
Caller: 'Yes, I think so.'
Operator: 'Great. Follow the cord to the plug, and tell me if it's plugged into the wall.
Caller: 'Yes, it is.'
Operator: 'When you were behind the monitor, did you notice that there were two cables plugged into the back of it, not just one? '
Caller: 'No.'
Operator: 'Well, there are. I need you to look back there again and find the other cable.'
Caller: 'Okay, here it is.'
Operator: 'Follow it for me, and tell me if it's plugged securely into the back of your computer.'
Caller: 'I can't reach.'
Operator: 'OK. Well, can you see if it is?'
Caller: 'No.'
Operator: 'Even if you maybe put your knee on something and lean way over?'
Caller: 'Well, it's not because I don't have the right angle -- it's because it's dark.'
Operator: 'Dark?'
Caller: 'Yes - the office light is off, and the only light I have is coming in from the window.'
Operator: 'Well, turn on the office light then.'
Caller: 'I can't.'
Operator: 'No? Why not?'
Caller: 'Because there's a power failure.'
Operator: 'A power .... A power failure? Aha. Okay, we've got it licked now. Do you still have the boxes and manuals and packing stuff that your computer came in?'
Caller: 'Well, yes, I keep them in the closet.'
Operator: 'Good. Go get them, and unplug your system and pack it up just like it was when you got it. Then take it back to the store you bought it from.'
Caller: 'Really? Is it that bad?'
Operator: 'Yes, I'm afraid it is.'
Caller: 'Well, all right then, I suppose. What do I tell them?'
Operator: 'Tell them you're too damned stupid to own a computer!'
Actual dialogue of a former WordPerfect Customer Support employee.
(Now I know why they record these conversations!):
Operator: 'Ridge Hall, computer assistance; may I help you?'
Caller: 'Yes, well, I'm having trouble with WordPerfect.'
Operator: 'What sort of trouble??'
Caller: 'Well, I was just typing along, and all of a sudden the words went away.'
Operator: 'Went away?'
Caller: 'They disappeared'
Operator: 'Hmm. So what does your screen look like now?'
Caller: 'Nothing.'
Operator: 'Nothing??'
Caller: 'It's blank; it won't accept anything when I type.'
Operator: 'Are you still in WordPerfect, or did you get out?'
Caller: 'How do I tell?'
Operator: 'Can you see the 'C: prompt' on the screen?'
Caller: 'What's a sea-prompt?'
Operator: 'Never mind, can you move your cursor around the screen?'
Caller: 'There isn't any cursor; I told you, it won't accept anything I type.'
Operator: 'Does your monitor have a power indicator??'
Caller: 'What's a monitor?'
Operator: 'It's the thing with the screen on it that looks like a TV. Does it have a little light that
tells you when it's on?'
Caller: 'I don't know.'
Operator: 'Well, then look on the back of the monitor and find where the power cord goes into it. Can you see that??'
Caller: 'Yes, I think so.'
Operator: 'Great. Follow the cord to the plug, and tell me if it's plugged into the wall.
Caller: 'Yes, it is.'
Operator: 'When you were behind the monitor, did you notice that there were two cables plugged into the back of it, not just one? '
Caller: 'No.'
Operator: 'Well, there are. I need you to look back there again and find the other cable.'
Caller: 'Okay, here it is.'
Operator: 'Follow it for me, and tell me if it's plugged securely into the back of your computer.'
Caller: 'I can't reach.'
Operator: 'OK. Well, can you see if it is?'
Caller: 'No.'
Operator: 'Even if you maybe put your knee on something and lean way over?'
Caller: 'Well, it's not because I don't have the right angle -- it's because it's dark.'
Operator: 'Dark?'
Caller: 'Yes - the office light is off, and the only light I have is coming in from the window.'
Operator: 'Well, turn on the office light then.'
Caller: 'I can't.'
Operator: 'No? Why not?'
Caller: 'Because there's a power failure.'
Operator: 'A power .... A power failure? Aha. Okay, we've got it licked now. Do you still have the boxes and manuals and packing stuff that your computer came in?'
Caller: 'Well, yes, I keep them in the closet.'
Operator: 'Good. Go get them, and unplug your system and pack it up just like it was when you got it. Then take it back to the store you bought it from.'
Caller: 'Really? Is it that bad?'
Operator: 'Yes, I'm afraid it is.'
Caller: 'Well, all right then, I suppose. What do I tell them?'
Operator: 'Tell them you're too damned stupid to own a computer!'
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