OS X Lion

[Trailbreaker]

I'll be making the upgrade once I move and get fast internet.

Anybody else upgrading? Nelson? R-Type? Ed? Scarecrow? Lbrosfilm?

[one-winged-angel]

I will be as soon as i can find the money to do it.

[Trailbreaker]

I will be as soon as i can find the money to do it.

How much is the upgrade in New Zealand?

[Ed Fuego]

I upgraded the day it came out. So far it's pretty cool. Lots of little odds and ends are better and it seems a little faster (although my macbook is 3 years old; I'm praying someone drops a new Macbook Air on my doorstep).

Here are the major things that I like:

Mail: the new mail app design uses the available space much better; being able to hide my mailboxes is a big plus; just show me the message list and message; the message area now stretches almost the full height of the screen.

Full-screen apps: It's funny because I remember in the mid 90's battling with my PC friends that full screen apps sucked because you can't see anything else; my have times changed. Right now I have Mail, iTunes, iCal, and Safari running full screen, and I'm assuming that once many of my other apps get the ability I'll do the same. The difference from the 90's till now that makes it better is the fact that you can smoothly switch from one app to another with just a three finger swipe left or right; it's effortless.

Gestures: Speaking of which, Lion is made for gestures; my Macbook is hooked up to a extra display and I have a separate keyboard and mouse, but this was made for a trackpad. I'm eagerly awaiting (like it's out for delivery) the arrival of a magic trackpad and I'll be set. There is so much you can do with gestures; given I have an iphone and ipad being able to use finger gestures much more prominently on my mac is second nature.

Launchpad and Mission Control: I'm not sure how much I'll use these, although being able to get access to infrequently used apps with just a simple gesture using Launchpad is pretty nice.

I also think that once my major apps start getting updated, things like Resume, Autosave, and Versions will be very nice.

It did suck that my old ass Office 2004 won't work (Lion won't run PowerPC apps), so I had to buy Office 2011, but that program actually seems pretty nice, so I guess it was worth it.

All in all, a pretty nice upgrade for $30.


Ed Fuego

[Trailbreaker]

I upgraded the day it came out. So far it's pretty cool. Lots of little odds and ends are better and it seems a little faster (although my macbook is 3 years old; I'm praying someone drops a new Macbook Air on my doorstep).

Here are the major things that I like:

Mail: the new mail app design uses the available space much better; being able to hide my mailboxes is a big plus; just show me the message list and message; the message area now stretches almost the full height of the screen.

Full-screen apps: It's funny because I remember in the mid 90's battling with my PC friends that full screen apps sucked because you can't see anything else; my have times changed. Right now I have Mail, iTunes, iCal, and Safari running full screen, and I'm assuming that once many of my other apps get the ability I'll do the same. The difference from the 90's till now that makes it better is the fact that you can smoothly switch from one app to another with just a three finger swipe left or right; it's effortless.

Gestures: Speaking of which, Lion is made for gestures; my Macbook is hooked up to a extra display and I have a separate keyboard and mouse, but this was made for a trackpad. I'm eagerly awaiting (like it's out for delivery) the arrival of a magic trackpad and I'll be set. There is so much you can do with gestures; given I have an iphone and ipad being able to use finger gestures much more prominently on my mac is second nature.

Launchpad and Mission Control: I'm not sure how much I'll use these, although being able to get access to infrequently used apps with just a simple gesture using Launchpad is pretty nice.

I also think that once my major apps start getting updated, things like Resume, Autosave, and Versions will be very nice.

It did suck that my old ass Office 2004 won't work (Lion won't run PowerPC apps), so I had to buy Office 2011, but that program actually seems pretty nice, so I guess it was worth it.

All in all, a pretty nice upgrade for $30.


Ed Fuego

I think $30 is a steal for an upgrade like that. Weren't new versions of OS X like $129 for a boxed DVD in the past? (Correct me if I'm wrong on this.)

Once I upgrade, I'm not sure how much I will use Launchpad, Mission Control, versions, and resume myself either but I guess they'll be great for those who want those features. Launchpad exists to help those who are new to the Mac but have had experience on iPhone and iPad, like a "hey! I know how to use this!" kinda thing.

Also, what do you think of the reversed "rubber-band" scrolling? I guess it's suppose to simulate pushing the page up (say you're on Safari, for example) like you do on an iOS device. (I also heard you can switch it back to normal scrolling in the System Preferences if you don't like it.)

[Ed Fuego]

I think $30 is a steal for an upgrade like that. Weren't new versions of OS X like $129 for a boxed DVD in the past? (Correct me if I'm wrong on this.)

Once I upgrade, I'm not sure how much I will use Launchpad, Mission Control, versions, and resume myself either but I guess they'll be great for those who want those features. Launchpad exists to help those who are new to the Mac but have had experience on iPhone and iPad, like a "hey! I know how to use this!" kinda thing.

Also, what do you think of the reversed "rubber-band" scrolling? I guess it's suppose to simulate pushing the page up (say you're on Safari, for example) like you do on an iOS device. (I also heard you can switch it back to normal scrolling in the System Preferences if you don't like it.)

Yeah in general the major releases before snow leopard were $129. I think SL was only $29, but it was considered a release to make existing features more streamlined, faster, etc., rather than add massive new features.

The scrolling will definitely take some getting used to; I've definitely found myself pushing the wrong way on occasion. However, I'm positive that after a few days I'll get used to it; I'm already finding that I don't have to explicitly think about it as much. I just try to remind myself to focus on moving the content, just like on a iPad and iPhone. Even that took a little bit of time to adjust to; now it's automatic.

And you can change it back if you want, but I was listening to John Gruber's podcast (don't know if your familiar with him; tech blogger, very pro apple: http://www.daringfireball.com) and he said something that I thought made sense; he said that he prefers to at least try to use an apple device as it was intended by apple because they probably put a great amount of thought into it and that's probably how they see the future.

Ed Fuego

[Trailbreaker]

Yeah in general the major releases before snow leopard were $129. I think SL was only $29, but it was considered a release to make existing features more streamlined, faster, etc., rather than add massive new features.

The scrolling will definitely take some getting used to; I've definitely found myself pushing the wrong way on occasion. However, I'm positive that after a few days I'll get used to it; I'm already finding that I don't have to explicitly think about it as much. I just try to remind myself to focus on moving the content, just like on a iPad and iPhone. Even that took a little bit of time to adjust to; now it's automatic.

And you can change it back if you want, but I was listening to John Gruber's podcast (don't know if your familiar with him; tech blogger, very pro apple: http://www.daringfireball.com) and he said something that I thought made sense; he said that he prefers to at least try to use an apple device as it was intended by apple because they probably put a great amount of thought into it and that's probably how they see the future.

Ed Fuego

Right now I'm using a small app called Scroll Reverser. Basically, somebody made the app specifically to allow Snow Leopard users to practice with the reversed scrolling effect before they upgrade to Lion. When I get fast internet after I move and make the switch, I'll be ready for it!

My mom and brother are probably not gonna like the reversed scrolling, so I'll have to switch it back for them when we upgrade. (My mom still sometimes uses the the little arrow buttons on the windows when she scrolls. She's still stuck in the one-button mouse era. )

[Ed Fuego]

Right now I'm using a small app called Scroll Reverser. Basically, somebody made the app specifically to allow Snow Leopard users to practice with the reversed scrolling effect before they upgrade to Lion. When I get fast internet after I move and make the switch, I'll be ready for it!

My mom and brother are probably not gonna like the reversed scrolling, so I'll have to switch it back for them when we upgrade. (My mom still sometimes uses the the little arrow buttons on the windows when she scrolls. She's still stuck in the one-button mouse era. )

Yeah, my parents are pretty much one button users as well. Although my dad has become pretty proficient with his iPad, which I think is continued evidence that it's the perfect "computer" for people that hate computers. No one in my family, my brother included, really are computer people. I think I got all the computer nerd genes.

Ed Fuego

[Trailbreaker]

Finally installed it. And I LOVE it!!!