From: peirce@outpost.SF-Bay.org (Michael Peirce)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.misc
Subject: Re: Macs any good?
Date: 28 Aug 92 17:47:27 GMT
Reply-To: peirce@outpost.SF-Bay.org (Michael Peirce)
Organization: Peirce Software
X-Mailer: uAccess - Macintosh Release: 1.5v4


In article <1992Aug28.070932.16137@nntp.nta.no> (comp.sys.mac.misc), jons@tellus.unik.no (Jon von Tetzchner Stephenson ) writes:
> I am considering switching computers. I have had a Amiga 500 computer
> for some time and as it is getting a bit dated (for my use) I am 
> considering buying a new computer. One of my options is a Mac.
> 
> I had a look at a friends LC. I guess I wasn't too impressed. The 68020
> based computer seemed slower than my 68000 based Amiga. Slow menus and
> in general a slow user interface. I also missed function keys on the
> keyboard and a better mouse with more buttons. Do the more expensive 
> machines (LC II, II, etc.) have better keyboards or mice? How much faster 
> than the LC is the LC II?

I use what's called the extended keyboard.  It's got a row of function
keys across the top, a seperate keypad area and two small groupings
for arrow keys (inverted T) and help/page up/down/etc.  I almost never
use the function keys, but with a utility like QuickKeys they can
be quite handy.  The extended keyboard works with any Mac that has
an Apple Desktop Bus (any Mac newer than a Mac Plus).  The more expensive
machine usually don't come with keyboard included, you pick which
keyboard you want, even third party keyboards.

The LC is based on the 68020 CPU, the LC II uses a 68030 CPU.  The primary
advantage is that the 68030 lets the LC II support virtual memory
if you ever want to use it.  The LC II is a little faster than the
old LC.

Keep in mine that the LC II, along with the Classic II, are currently
the bottom of the line Macs that Apple sells.

> I will also be needing some software. Do you know if the titles below are
> available and how much they cost?
> 
> 	o FrameMaker (3.0)
> 	o Tex/Latex
> 	o Good C (C++) compiler environment

FrameMaker for the Mac is nice, I use it.

Someone does make a Tex, but I haven't used it so I'm not sure
how good it is.  (MacTEX?)

There are basically two C compilers out there worth mentioning.  Apple's
Macintosh Programmer's Workbench (MPW) has a pretty good C compiler and
they also support C++.

Symantec makes THINK C.  It doesn't support C++, but does contain
many of the C++ features.  It's an object oriented C, just not full
C++.

Two other C compilers also exist, but are barely worth mentioning.
Zortec (now part of Symantec) has a C++, but it was released buggy.
Some people indicate that later releases cleaned things up a bit.
There is also GNU C.  Both these compilers work with MPW.

> Is there much good PD software available?

Tons.  Look in the SUMEX archives on the internet.  CompuServe and
America Online have huge collections of Public Domain and Shreware
programs.

> How much is a MIDI interface? (Is there 1 common standard?).

Apple makes a MIDI interface.  It's not too expensive (though I can't
remember the price).  There is actually quite a bit of very nice MIDI
software for the Mac.

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