Forgot your password?
Close
typodupeerror

Comment Re:Drama, even for something this mundane.... Sad. (Score 1) 67

I'm sure that the average Mac user who just wants to do pointy-pointy-clicky-clicky is going to go to the command line and start typing stuff to install a program that he expects to just show up on his screen.

The mere fact that it doesn't just show up that way tends to delegitimize it in his eyes, plus the fact that even the command "brew" (as in "homebrew" or "witches brew, perhaps?) would add a dash of skepticism.

So yes, it's likely possible to install a program on your Mac without going through the Apple ecosystem. You say it is, I'll take your word for it.

But it's a hurdle that many users won't cross, due to a lack of knowledge or a lack of confidence, neither of which is exactly their fault since Macs are sold and advertised as a kind of an appliance rather than a general purpose computer.

What are you bloviating about?

What you are describing is Building an Application originally targeted at, typically Linux, using a Package Manager/Build System such as brew. It is just as true that most Mac Users never have to deal with that as it is true that most Windows Users will never know what VSC or Docker is about. So what?

Other than Mac-Specific Builds of FOSS Projects (which typically are Built using Apple’s Free IDE, XCode), Precompiled Native Mac Apps outside of the Mac App Store have been historically, and continue to be, generally Distributed as Mac-Specific Installer Packages called DMGs (Disk Image) Files. Download, Doubleclick to Launch, and depending on the Developer and your “Gatekeeper” (Install Permissions Manager) Settings, the Application will either begin the Confirmation and Install Process; or will Raise a Security Alert.

  In all cases, Admin Users can Force-Install Applications (assuming they are Compatible with the CPU/SoC Architecture and macOS version), even if the App isn’t Notarized, and even if the Developer is “Unregistered” (so much for “Closed Ecosystem”). Most of the time, the DMG Install amounts to just Dragging the Application into the Applications Folder. From then onward, the new Application can be Double-Click Launched Directly.

BTW, there are actually a few other Notepad++ Derivatives for Mac. All are available as DMGs. Here’s a couple examples:

NotepadNext: You can Download the Installer, or build from Source with brew.

https://github.com/dail8859/No...

And Pineapple Notepad:

Free; but Closed Source (for now),

https://github.com/BLumia/pine...

Comment Re: Drama, even for something this mundane.... Sad (Score 0) 67

You donâ(TM)t need to pay Apple anything after youâ(TM)ve acquired the hardware. You donâ(TM)t need to use the Mac Store if you donâ(TM)t want to; apps can be distributed as a download, like before the Mac Store existed.

He’s just a Gutless Hater Troll AC; pay him no mind. . .

Comment Re:Notepad++ is very useful on Windows (Score 1) 45

by NoMoreACs (#66115550) Attached to: Notepad++ Finally Lands On macOS as a Native App

I don't see the appeal for macOS users, though. BBEdit is pretty incredible, and can be used for free (although I have been a paid user for many years).

Man, that was the ONLY Application I coveted from my Windows-Dev. Days! I just never liked BBEdit. . .

Glad to see it is finally coming to a Worthwhile Platform; hope it’s not Nerfed. . ..

Comment Re:Neo is basically for educational ecosystem (Score 1) 68

by NoMoreACs (#66115502) Attached to: Apple CEO Tim Cook Is Stepping Down

It’s a new Product, in a new niche (for Apple).

It is not a new niche for Apple. K-12 is one of Apple historically most important segments. Something they did very well in for decades. Something that paid the bills while the business and home markets weren't pulling their own weight.

I was speaking of the “Budget Laptop” niche. Sorry for not being clear.

No problem. It certainly is also in that niche. Which is why Apple has nerf'd it to a degree to minimize cannibalization with the MacBook Air. My argument is that K-12 is the primary focus here, what motivated the Neo project. The "budget" markets are something that historically Apple avoids. They don't want to fight over a commoditized market. They have always wanted to stay in higher end tiers. K-12 a special case. Chromebook was displacing iPad, and K-12 not entirely happy with Chromebook.

Yeah; it would have been nice to have at least two USB-C 3.1 gen 2 (10 Gb/s) Ports, though. I don’t think that would have cannibalized the Air. I frankly think that was an A18 SoC limitation they simply didn’t want to take time to dick with. . .

I know that Apple studiously (no pun) avoids a Race To The Bottom; but, as you said, they need to rebuild/maintain Mindshare in the K-12 Edu. Market, and Edu IT is frustrated with both iPads and Chromebooks; and so. . . et voila!

Bottom line: I think it is a well thought-out, well-executed Product; with absolutely nothing to apologize for. It is quite heartening to see Apple pull this off without sacrificing Apple’s Best-In-Class build quality, and delivering a solid performer, with a Real OS.

Comment Re:Neo is basically for educational ecosystem (Score 1) 68

by NoMoreACs (#66113168) Attached to: Apple CEO Tim Cook Is Stepping Down

It’s a new Product, in a new niche (for Apple).

It is not a new niche for Apple. K-12 is one of Apple historically most important segments. Something they did very well in for decades. Something that paid the bills while the business and home markets weren't pulling their own weight.

I was speaking of the “Budget Laptop” niche. Sorry for not being clear.

Comment Re:Who's "we"? (Score 1) 73

by NoMoreACs (#66109366) Attached to: Fructose Isn't Just Sugar. It Acts More Like a Hormone

large amounts of antioxidants have been shown to make cancer *worse*. it can't be said for certain that megadosing with them didn't hasten her demise

Frankly, I don’t know. She was always somewhat quiet about herself.

And I haven’t closely followed much Life Extension Research for a couple of decades.

Fortunately or Unfortunately, the Pearsons practiced what they preached; at some point the “well I wish I hadn’t.dones” may begin to outweigh the “hey, that really worked”s!

Not nutters; their CVs and resumes prove that; but unfortunately, they kinda exemplify why I say “A Mind is a Terrible Thing”. . .

Comment Re:Neo is basically for educational ecosystem (Score 1) 68

by NoMoreACs (#66109354) Attached to: Apple CEO Tim Cook Is Stepping Down

The Neo will make money, but that will be largely due to growth in the educational ecosystem. Maybe some other Chromebook niches.

Are you kidding?!? The Neos are basically Sold Out! Apple is whipping on their Suppliers to refill the Pipeline!

Could be because they are being called “The Best Budget Laptop Ever”

As I said, "other Chromebook niches". Apple underestimated the initial interest. Perhaps intentionally, look at the free PR selling out gave them. Something that will make those K-12 buyers more comfortable in deciding to return to Mac.

We'll see what happens in the long term.

It’s a new Product, in a new niche (for Apple). I think the Initial Production Run was “Prudent”. Hopefully, TSMC will be able to churn-out enough additional A18 SoCs in a timely manner to refill the Pipeline. . .

Comment Re:Who's "we"? (Score 1) 73

by NoMoreACs (#66106204) Attached to: Fructose Isn't Just Sugar. It Acts More Like a Hormone

huh, the 2 "life extension" and antioxidant megadose nutters who died at 81 & 78?
so no better than US median age of mortality.
we're better off living like Churchill who died at 90

Not nutters; just unfortunate.

Sandy had several systemic health problems on and off for decades; but nothing caused by Life Extension regimens.

Durk died of a simple foot (IIRC) Infection that, due to his remote location, eventually turned into Septic Shock; again, nothing to do with his Life Extension efforts.

Comment Re:There was also the LS120 (Score 1) 180

by NoMoreACs (#66106172) Attached to: Remembering Zip Drives - the Trendy Storage Technology of the 1990s

Yeah I "bet" on LS-120 kinda.

Though the bet at the time was on a Mac (I recommended it to someone over a Zip drive). I thought they would take off more. I don't think the drive ever got used for anything other than floppies, but floppies stuck around for way past their time anyway so it wasn't a complete waste!

It wasn't a genius move when the first iMacs shipped without floppy drives. They didn't have CD-RW drives, and USB memory keys didn't exist. There was basically no way to exchange data or back up anything with an iMac in its out of the box configuration.

The original 300 MHz G3 iMac had built in Ethernet, USB 1.1, 56k MODEM, IrDA and (maybe) WiFi (the 300 MHz iBooks definitely had WiFi). Some Models had FireWire, too. One or two years later, those CRT iMacs were available with built-in CD-R (IIRC) and DVD-R Drives (SuperDrives). And there were USB External Floppies and FireWire Drives.

https://everymac.com/systems/a...

Data will find a way. . .

Slashdot Top Deals

Reality must take precedence over public relations, for Mother Nature cannot be fooled. -- R.P. Feynman

Close