Arguments for and against installing MacOS LionI had trouble identifying any compelling reason to install the latest version of the Apple Mac OS version nicknamed “Lion” so resorted to reading all the reviews and listing the points. It may come down to going to a store and trying it out.
Pro
Stuff that is likely to work and I would actually use.
- The usual security and currency stuff.
- Creation of instant folders for selected content.
- Filevault2 encryption.
- Mission Control (Exposé + Spaces).
- Accented character picker.
- Resize windows from any corner.
- Enhancements to Preview application.
- Signatures to PDFs (if it works with third party cameras).
- It is cheap.
Neutral
Either things I am not interested in or don’t have the hardware to support.
- Full-screen applications now integrated and standard. With large monitors full-screen is often a waste of space.
- Icons are now monochrome. Probably harder to see but no big deal.
- Launchpad—I put the Applications folder on the Dock.
- Autosave and version control (some applications). I am not sure about this one, I don’t think I use any applications that support it.
- Added 9 Sept: Autosave and version control only work to HFS+ formatted drives, not NAS.
- Resume (some) applications where you left off.
- Multi-touch gestures (I have no touch pad—should I get one?).
- AirDrop (Mac Pro has no built in wi-fi so it won’t work).
- Reversal of scrolling. I’ll get used to it.
- Facetime (reported no support for third party cameras).
- Some gestures not supported on magic mouse.
- (Reported) side swipes are inconsistent.
- Loss of Rosetta. I never used it.
- Mail and Calendar enhancements (I don’t use them).
- Added 9 Sept: Loss of Front Row (thanks Dozer).
Con
Stuff that will hinder me.
- Loss of grid arrangement of spaces (now desktops). I race around spaces at speed using Ctrl-Arrows.
- Desktops don’t wrap around end to start as you cycle through them.
- Desktops are not identifiable except by content.
- Going full screen creates a new desktop in the list.
- Inconsistencies with dual monitor support such as full screen.
- (Reported) difficulty using copy/paste between desktops.
- Auto-termination of applications which are not being used.
- Wake on mouse “wiggle” disabled (not sure if this is just for system sleep or monitor sleep as well).
- Added 9 Sept: Loss of connection to some NAS devices (thanks Dozer). I am informed by Netgear that my ReadyNAS duo should be ok. Not sure about my LinkSys NSLU2.
At the moment the big blocker is a critical application has not yet been ported but that should be ready in a few weeks finding the time. Then…is it worth it?
Webmaster
I have upgraded our 3 machines. Ann’s iMac (12 months old) seems fine. My MacBook Pro (couple of years is OK). My iMac (5 years old) is suffering. Prolonged switching on period for a start. Safari is definitely odd.
I have a trackpad, mainly because the MacBook has one of course. I thoroughly recommend it. You are right about the new swipe gestures though, they don’t always work, especially if you are trying to enlarge the text.
Due to the upgrade I have switched from Quicken (after 16 years) to iBank, which I don’t regard as an improvement and have paid to upgrade Parallels to v6, which seems OK.
Altogether the upgrade seems a bit of a curate’s egg.
Hi Michael, hope you are keeping well.
With the loss of Quicken you had even more reason not to upgrade. The fact that you have and are managing gives me a lot of confidence. Thanks.
I’m fine – just enjoying a traditional Cornish summer day – its raining! I suppose I could have bought Windows Quicken. As I have 3 machines, I downloaded a copy onto a disc first. Seemed to work OK, even installed it on a visiting granddaughter’s MacBook. Non-tech grandfather amazes teenage girl…..
I definitely recommend the trackpad though.
Did you enjoy the riots a couple of months ago?
I’ve upgraded to Lion – boots and shuts down faster, also seems a little more responsive.
Major pain is the loss of connection to my NAS drive and Time Machine. I’ve re-connected to the files on my Iomega NAS with the Apple fix, but no Time Machine.
Another big problem is the loss of Front Row, which is where I access all my music from the comfort of my sofa using the remote. Front Row is discontinued in Lion. There are instructions online telling you how to reinstall it, but Apple have broken this with the latest iTunes upgrade. Front Row doesn’t read the iTunes library.
There was no reason for Apple to do this other than controlling how you use your own system. I’ve now had to install Plex which is good, but I liked the simple menu on Front Row.
BTW you can stop the reversed scrolling in system settings.
After a few weeks my overall impression is of no improvement but all 3 machines are “erratic”. Latest thing is my wife’s machine having a couple of panic attacks forcing a restart. I find the swipes annoying, as they don’t always work. I have also lost my connection to the Time Capsule. I use Safari on my primary screen and run Firefox on the other screen. Safari has developed some odd attributes! Altogether, I would suggest Rick, that you wait!
Thanks Michael – will do. I am not sure I have the time at the moment anyway.
Well, I’ve done it now. Painless. The method was 1. Verify the boot disk. 2. Turn off Time Machine 3. SuperDuper the boot disk onto a backup. 4. Do the upgrade (took about 40 minutes). 5. Switch Time Machine back on. 6. Re-establish Spaces (as it seems to forget them all).
What went wrong or don’t I like. iTunes and Safari had been downgraded to an older version so had to be updated again. Java was missing (needed for CyberDuck). The finder is a bit odd – and is not showing a bottom bar with space left (fixed using preferences) nor does it seem to show the running time of MP3 files.
A big one people should be wary of – as soon as you start up Time Machine again it wipes out 120GB of your old backups to fit all the changed stuff on.
I hate the new Mission Control – spaces was much better; I think in more than one dimension and also it is slow to update. I like that the mouse traverses the screen faster. Identified which space is which using numbered wallpaper – why can’t it tell you in the menu bar?
An Apple ID that is an email address is required to use iCloud!
Un-hid the Library using a terminal command.
Can’t get rid of the boot noise.
More as I learn more.