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Software reviewed in this column isn't for Windows.
 technofile
Al Fasoldt's reviews and commentaries, continuously available online since 1983

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All OS X, all the time: What this column is about


July 6, 2005


By Al Fasoldt
Copyright © 2005, Al Fasoldt
Copyright © 2005, The Post-Standard

   I love the way readers of "Road Less Traveled" keep me from straying too far off track.
   A reader who works for a company that designs OS X software asks me to change one small thing when I write about OS X software.
   In my enthusiasm, I often neglect to mention whether the software I'm reviewing is available for more than just OS X. You probably already know that many applications for OS X have companion apps for Windows. Microsoft Office is the best example, but there are others such as iTunes.
   But most OS X programs are OS X programs and that's that. iPhoto, for example, is a tried-and-true Macintosh OS X application, without any version for Windows or Linux. So is Audio Hijack Pro, the amazing sound-recording program I reviewed recently.
   The problem with identifying OS X software as being solely for OS X isn't as simple as you might expect. If you read this column each Wednesday in the newspaper, you already know that I write "Road Less Traveled" for users of the main alternative to Windows, Apple's Macintosh OS X. A little tag with the headline tells you that.
   But readers who come across this column from a link on the Web sometimes have no idea that it's about OS X. I'll make their life easier from here on out.
   Chris Martin adds some thoughts about Windows viruses and whether OS X users should do anything about them.
   "I totally agree that Mac users shouldn't have to pay for Microsoft's inability to write a secure operating system. I have no virus or security software for my Mac (just OS X's built-in firewall, which took under a minute to set up). I am disappointed in companies like Symantec, which spread fear, uncertainty and doubt regarding OS X".
   "There are hundreds of really cool things a Mac can do besides what you've mentioned in your articles. For one, try pressing Cmd-Option-Ctrl-8. Also, begin to type a word in almost any app and press Option-Esc. OS X's dictionary will present you with a pop-up list of words that match what you've started to type. Even better, try holding Shift while activating eEposˇ. Great for showing off OS X to all your windows-using friends. For more neat tricks, try this thread: http://forums.applenova.com/showthread.php?t=6397&page=1&pp=30. -- Chris Martin.