TweetFollow Us on Twitter

May 97 Dialog Box

Volume Number: 13 (1997)
Issue Number: 5
Column Tag: Dialog Box

Dialog Box

by MacTech Editorial Staff

I've been a THINK / Symantec user for a number of years, but due to their recent actions I've switched to CW (as many have over the last year or two). Symantec seems to have all but abandoned their Mac C/C++ development tools. No mention of these products are to be found at their web site any more, and their online help area in AOL vanished in recent weeks after years of service. I personally have also had difficulty getting anything out of Symantec customer service in recent months. Hence, I jumped ship & use CW now. I couldn't be happier!

As your article mentioned, the two IDEs are fairly similar in the areas covered, but there are a number of areas not mentioned where CW blows Symantec out of the water, like the various cross-platform compilers (x86/32-bit, MagicCap, MIPS, etc...), scheduled updates (as you mentioned Symantec has no firm dates for future releases), Pascal support, and an all-around better feel. CW is a much more polished product in my opinion.

The numerous crashes, internal errors & various bugs of SC++8.5 are history now that I've been using CW 10 for the last several weeks. I personally would not recommend SC++ to anybody now that I've "seen the light." Mac programming hasn't been this much fun since I started (THINK C 5 back then).

Stefan S.

Apple Should Fix OS Memory Problems Now

Dear Editor,

While I agree with many of the comments in Iverson's "Viewpoint" (MacTech, Oct. ‘96), I question the statement that serious development on the Mac is impossible without protected memory. Annoying, yes, but there are many "serious" development efforts done using the Mac and PowerMac. While I support the new policy of selective upgrades, Apple appears to be using this new release plan to push the release of the new "cosmetic" features of OS 8 while dragging its feet on fixing the important memory problems, such as protected memory and fine grain preemptive threads. Iverson's tale of his grandmother's experiences serve to emphasize that it is not just the hackers and programming geeks that are affected by the OS instabilities.

I do have to take issue with the statement "If all I was interested in was protected memory and preemptive multitasking, I'd buy Windows NT ..." It sounds here like Iverson is willing to "excuse" Apple's foot dragging on OS memory management fixes on the basis of overall ease of use. Let's not convey to Apple or anyone else that there is any excuse for not fixing the memory problems in the OS. In the final analysis the most frustrating user interface is one that belongs to a computer that keeps crashing because applications can and do get into OS memory areas.

Dick Peskin

 

Community Search:
MacTech Search:

Software Updates via MacUpdate

Latest Forum Discussions

See All

Combo Quest (Games)
Combo Quest 1.0 Device: iOS Universal Category: Games Price: $.99, Version: 1.0 (iTunes) Description: Combo Quest is an epic, time tap role-playing adventure. In this unique masterpiece, you are a knight on a heroic quest to retrieve... | Read more »
Hero Emblems (Games)
Hero Emblems 1.0 Device: iOS Universal Category: Games Price: $2.99, Version: 1.0 (iTunes) Description: ** 25% OFF for a limited time to celebrate the release ** ** Note for iPhone 6 user: If it doesn't run fullscreen on your device... | Read more »
Puzzle Blitz (Games)
Puzzle Blitz 1.0 Device: iOS Universal Category: Games Price: $1.99, Version: 1.0 (iTunes) Description: Puzzle Blitz is a frantic puzzle solving race against the clock! Solve as many puzzles as you can, before time runs out! You have... | Read more »
Sky Patrol (Games)
Sky Patrol 1.0.1 Device: iOS Universal Category: Games Price: $1.99, Version: 1.0.1 (iTunes) Description: 'Strategic Twist On The Classic Shooter Genre' - Indie Game Mag... | Read more »
The Princess Bride - The Official Game...
The Princess Bride - The Official Game 1.1 Device: iOS Universal Category: Games Price: $3.99, Version: 1.1 (iTunes) Description: An epic game based on the beloved classic movie? Inconceivable! Play the world of The Princess Bride... | Read more »
Frozen Synapse (Games)
Frozen Synapse 1.0 Device: iOS iPhone Category: Games Price: $2.99, Version: 1.0 (iTunes) Description: Frozen Synapse is a multi-award-winning tactical game. (Full cross-play with desktop and tablet versions) 9/10 Edge 9/10 Eurogamer... | Read more »
Space Marshals (Games)
Space Marshals 1.0.1 Device: iOS Universal Category: Games Price: $4.99, Version: 1.0.1 (iTunes) Description: ### IMPORTANT ### Please note that iPhone 4 is not supported. Space Marshals is a Sci-fi Wild West adventure taking place... | Read more »
Battle Slimes (Games)
Battle Slimes 1.0 Device: iOS Universal Category: Games Price: $1.99, Version: 1.0 (iTunes) Description: BATTLE SLIMES is a fun local multiplayer game. Control speedy & bouncy slime blobs as you compete with friends and family.... | Read more »
Spectrum - 3D Avenue (Games)
Spectrum - 3D Avenue 1.0 Device: iOS Universal Category: Games Price: $2.99, Version: 1.0 (iTunes) Description: "Spectrum is a pretty cool take on twitchy/reaction-based gameplay with enough complexity and style to stand out from the... | Read more »
Drop Wizard (Games)
Drop Wizard 1.0 Device: iOS Universal Category: Games Price: $1.99, Version: 1.0 (iTunes) Description: Bring back the joy of arcade games! Drop Wizard is an action arcade game where you play as Teo, a wizard on a quest to save his... | Read more »

Price Scanner via MacPrices.net

Apple’s M4 Mac minis on sale for record-low p...
B&H Photo has M4 and M4 Pro Mac minis in stock and on sale right now for up to $150 off Apple’s MSRP, each including free 1-2 day shipping to most US addresses. Prices start at only $469: – M4... Read more
Deal Alert! Mac Studio with M4 Max CPU on sal...
B&H Photo has the standard-configuration Mac Studio model with Apple’s M4 Max CPU in stock today and on sale for $300 off MSRP, now $1699 (10-Core CPU and 32GB RAM/512GB SSD). B&H also... Read more

Jobs Board

All contents are Copyright 1984-2011 by Xplain Corporation. All rights reserved. Theme designed by Icreon.