Jewish World Review Sept. 20, 2002 / 14 Tishrei, 5763
By Mark Kellner
http://www.NewsAndOpinion.com |
Apple Computer's new operating system upgrade, the $129 Mac OS X v 10.2,
code-named "Jaguar," is a solid refinement of Mac OS X, launched about a
year ago. It boasts some 150 different improvements and changes. Among the
most useful, a super-fast file search (found under the "Finder's" file menu)
that located obscure documents on my hard disk drive in seconds. The
"Sherlock" application does a very good job of web searching if you need to
find a custom framing store, a Mongolian-style BBQ restaurant, or a pharmacy
near you, as well as the driving directions for it. Want a picture of
"CSI:Miami" actress Kim Delaney? Two clicks on Sherlock and you're there,
even if the photos are mostly from Ms. Delaney's former role on "NYPD Blue."
Jaguar also includes two communications features likely to attract fans.
One, iChat (stet), is an instant messaging "client" that works with America
Online's "IM" service, one of the few non-AOL pieces of software to do so,
and perhaps the only one to have AOL's blessing at this time. If you have
specified a picture of yourself, it can be used in iChat sessions every time
you type in a line, making it look as if you're "speaking" on screen. Yes,
it's hokey, but it's a nice touch nonetheless.
Apple's "Mail" software, now in version 1.2, offers substantial improvements
in an e-mail program. The biggest improvement is in the program's ability to
detect and segregate "junk" e-mail, or "spam," and its accuracy, in my first
hour of use - let alone my first week - is uncanny. I was able to import
e-mails from Microsoft's Entourage with ease (though not from CE Software's
QuickMail Pro, which may be the Alcatrazof e-mail clients, from which data
dare not escape) and the indexing and search features of Apple's Mail 1.2
are impressive.
I also like the "rules" structure of Mail: unlike Entourage, ALL of the
e-mail filing instructions created for the Apple program work, and work
well. My e-mail is sorted and filed properly. (Memo to self: upgrade e-mails
from the boss to a "code red" display.)
My biggest gripe with Mail is that users cannot specify a "read" or delivery
receipt. Apple says this feature isn't sought-after by Mac users; I say it's
something people in business often rely upon.
A somewhat larger issue - at least for some of us - is that Mail links,
solely, to Apple's Address Book application, which will import so-called
"vCard" files, electronic business cards, but balks at importing text-base
address files such as those exported by Now Contact. That's left me with
about 1800 e-mail addresses I'll either have to look up in the Now Contact
application, or re-enter by hand into the Address Book program. Apple says
they'll look into fixing the import hassle.
One interim solution, and rather elegantly handled by Mail, is to click on
an e-mail message and have the program transfer the sender's name and e-mail
to the Address Book. It's not a bad way to build a mailing list.
Ultimately, the Address Book is supposed to be a hub of communications for
the Mac user, linking to Mail and synchronization programs as well. For now,
it's an OK tool that I have to use if I wish to send messages.
Overall, Jaguar is a good upgrade for Mac users, who may soon find they
can't live without the new Finder, Sherlock or Mail features. Information is
online at www.apple.com.
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JWR contributor Mark Kellner has reported on technology for industry newspapers and magazines since 1983, and has been the computer columnist for The Washington Times since 1991.Comment by clicking here.
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