[Leica] OT New Apple software

[lrzeitlin at aol.com]

	I have been a Mac user since 1984 and have a closet full of obsolete computers and drawers full of outdated software. The computers all work. Even the first 1984 model. Apple makes superb hardware, but Apple's policy on software seems to be to support the old stuff for one or two generations then to simply write it off. As a former consultant to Apple, I was informed by by my neighbor's son, the Microsoft VP in charge of Windows, that this freed Apple from catering to the needs of legacy users. It was a good marketing strategy for the company, essentially saying that if you wanted all the bells and whistles of the new OS you had to buy a new computer.
	In my opinion the last fully featured Apple OS was 10.6.8, i.e. Snow Leopard. It reminds me of the old fully mechanical automobiles before you needed an electrical engineering degree to tweak the innards. Or the mechanical Leicas for those photographically obsessed. It could be made to run much of the legacy software, including the old Photoshop, and had the decent iPhoto '09. Unfortunately most new apps require OS 10.7 to 10.9 (Mavericks) or higher. OS 10.10.3 is Yosemite and is currently available for free at the Apple App Store. No need to wait until fall. It is here now. The new software that will be released in September is El Capitan. It is an update of Yosemite.
	Yosemite received mixed reviews amongst Apple aficionados. Photo, the replacement for iPhoto, is, by all accounts inferior to its predecessor. The software requires a different mind set to use. It makes running a Mac laptop similar to using an oversized tablet. Bear in mind that all Apple computers made in the last 4 years will run any of the new software. I have an iMac, a Mac Pro laptop, and an 11" Macbook Air, all of which will run the new stuff. If there is enough memory you can load several of the various operating systems on the same computer. My iMac contains Yosemite, (OS 10.10.3), Mavericks (OS 10.9.5), Snow Leopard (OS 10.6.8), and Mac OS 10.5. An old 12" Aluminum Powerbook has OS 10.4. Unfortunately my 65000 picture iPhoto file must be updated for each computer and will not run at all on Yosemite Photo.
	Remember, Yosemite is available now for free at the App Store. El Capitan will be available for downloading in the fall. The more apps and features you have on a computer, the slower it runs. Yosemite is a nice program but it is no speed demon. El Capitan should speed it up a bit. Still my personal preference for a Mac OS is Snow Leopard. It is reliable, fast, and I know how to use it. Too bad not much new stuff is made for it any more.


Larry Z