From the Editor
Andrew Pavey
We don't get a new OS every day, so here's our big panther issue! Panther (Mac OS X 10.3) has been unleashed and in this issue we have news, a few tips and workarounds and comprehensive coverage on Panther itself.
As is usually the case with a major upgrade like 10.2 to 10.3, there will be bugs and problems, and many software houses will rush to fix the glaring problems. If you don't need to upgrade right now, it may be a good idea to wait a while and see if the problems get fixed first. Apple has released 10.3.1 to fix a couple of the significant problems, but if you don't need to use Panther right now, I'd exercise caution. http://www.apple.com/downloads/macosx/apple/macosxupdate_10_3_1.html
Adam Engst and the folks at TibBITS, who we often feature here, have introduced a new venture, selling e-books - mini documents not the size of a real book but useful nonetheless, and priced at only US $5. These first two titles coincide with Panther's release, and appear to be well received. The first "Take Control of Upgrading to Panther" provides helpful advice on installation, the second, "Take Control of Customizing Panther" helps you to get the best from Panther.
Additionally in this issue we have a review of "The Mac OS X Conversion Kit " a book which is targeted at people switching from OS 9 to OS X who just want to get up and running in the new operating system without bending their minds around a lot of theory and detail.
The iBook and the eMac were the last current model machines to support Mac OS 9 booting, and with the latest releases neither one of those lists Mac OS 9 bootability as being a feature.
When this was written, Apple was still listing last year's Power Mac G4 and iBook G3, which are OS 9 bootable, on the front page of the Apple Store online, but they probably won't be around much longer.
For the first time Club Mac will be having an outing. The meeting this month is at Epson's HQ (November 19th, 6:30 pm at 3 Talavera Rd, North Ryde) - they've promised some hospitality and an early look at their new range being launched this month. Details of public transport and a map are on the club web site http://www.clubmac.org.au/epson_map.html. In December we return to our regular meeting room and it's the deferred AGM, Special General Meeting and Pizza Night!
Note the Special General Meeting will be held BEFORE the A.G.M. to consider a change to the Constitution, viz. -
"Motion -That the following words "Thirty(30) members present' be deleted from Clause 5.17 -"Thirty(30) members present (being members entitled under these rules to vote at a general meeting) constitute a quorum for the transaction of the business of a general meeting", and the following inserted "Five Percent of the financial members".
The constitutional change is necessary as two out of the last three years we haven't had a quorum at the AGM. The original quorum of 30 members was set in the days when the club had more than a 1000 members and we have less than 300 now.
