Features
Transfer list
Its debut was greeted by mixed reviews, but now that Mac OS X 10.2, or Jaguar, has arrived, the critics have returned their latest verdict: OS X is a stunning operating system.
If you've been avoiding an upgrade, your excuses are probably sounding a little hollow by now. Availability of applications is no longer an issue. Quite the reverse, in fact, with the arrival of free OS X-only applications such as iPhoto, iCal and iSync. And Apple's decision to release new machines early next year that won't be able to boot up into Mac OS 9 is further evidence - if any were needed - that Classic's days are numbered.
But there are some remaining worries that recalcitrant upgraders still voice: availability of native drivers for peripherals and a sense of disorientation under OS X. Which is where this troubleshooting guide comes in. It aims to identify any remaining issues and point out ways of solving them - all to help make the transition to OS X that much easier.
At first glance, OS X looks pretty much like its predecessor. But subtle changes to the menu system mean that many users may very quickly find themselves disoriented. Familiar Mac OS landmarks such as the Chooser and Application switcher have disappeared, with much of their functionality offered elsewhere. OS 9's Control Panels have been grouped together in the System Preferences pane, applications are now launched from the Dock, network connectivity options have moved to the Finder's Go menu and print functions have shifted
|
|
|
ADVERTISEMENT |
|
The Apple menu, meanwhile, has been emasculated. While it retains some of its OS 9 heritage, such as the Recent Documents submenu, and has even added functionality - sleep, restart and shut down options are now available here - it has lost flexibility. Under Classic, users could add any files or folders to it to provide hierarchical file navigation. All is not lost, however. Near-identical functionality is now offered if you drag the volume's icon to the right-hand side of the Dock.
For most users, it is simply a matter of getting used to the way OS X does things. But for those who don't want to change, third-party add-ons, such as Unsanity Software's Fruit Menu, allow you to tweak the Apple menu as in OS 9, while the Classic Application Switcher has been resurrected by freeware OS X utility ASM.
Desktop matters
On the Desktop, things have changed too. By default, Finder windows have their own toolbars and open in the same window, but this behaviour can be tailored to work as it did under OS 9. If you click the Lozenge button in the top right of an open Finder window, the toolbar disappears. To retain traditional Mac navigation, select Always Open Folders in a new window from the Finder's Preferences menu, or simply command-click the folder for a more ad hoc solution.
If hard disks, removable media or connected servers are not appearing on your desktop, don't panic. Make sure options to display them are selected in the Finder's Preferences dialog.
Because OS X is a multi-user system and each user has their own desktop folder, you can't share the same desktop between OS X and OS 9. Handily, OS X places a link to your OS 9 Desktop Folder on its desktop, but if you boot back into OS 9, this behaviour isn't reciprocated. You can do this manually by creating an alias (the Desktop folder is inside the relevant Users folder on the OS X volume) and placing it on your OS 9 desktop.
