What outdated software do you still swear by?

[familychoice]

And so we get into the age old Mac v PC debate 

You started it

I can genuinely say, hand on my heart that both of my Mac's stand head & shoulders above any PC I've ever used.

That's your experience, and a good one, but it's not definitive proof that Macs are any better than a PC, which could be made by anyone from Time to...erm...Apple.

I've been using Macs for nearly 20 years, on and off. The Classic was great if you like peering into a tiny B/W screen, then I used a few Quadras. Performas came along and they weren't so great. I then had a Powermac that was OK but hopelessly unpowerful compared to a similarly priced PC. Build quality can be anything from superb to ropey, depending on the model or country it's built in.

If you buy a PC from a decent company that uses high quality components then you're going to be just as well off than if you'd bought a well specced Mac.

I do miss the glowing Apple logo on my Macbook Pro though, feckless tart that I am.

[suedenem]

Now, the really big question is what impact GoogleOS/cloud computing has on the market in the next few years... arguably, all an OS has to do now is boot up with a browser, and let the WWW do everything else...

I'd say very little. We've already had several cases of lost pictures/data/whatever in the media. Google making everything a beta until you're invested in it then anouncing the pricing. Increasing file sizes for video and pictures which are becoming increasing useful for users.
I can see it being a useful niche for giving to Granny but I can't see most people going for it.

FWIW I agree completely about the downsides.  I much prefer local applications and data saved where I want it.

But with Google pushing Chromebook/Docs, Microsoft pushing Office Live, Steam-powered cloud-based gaming and punters & businesses becoming accustomed to other cloud-based services such as Dropbox and Basecamp, there's a danger that it will carry on this way.

[slaughteredlamb]

Now, the really big question is what impact GoogleOS/cloud computing has on the market in the next few years... arguably, all an OS has to do now is boot up with a browser, and let the WWW do everything else...

I'd say very little. We've already had several cases of lost pictures/data/whatever in the media. Google making everything a beta until you're invested in it then anouncing the pricing. Increasing file sizes for video and pictures which are becoming increasing useful for users.
I can see it being a useful niche for giving to Granny but I can't see most people going for it.

FWIW I agree completely about the downsides.  I much prefer local applications and data saved where I want it.

But with Google pushing Chromebook/Docs, Microsoft pushing Office Live, Steam-powered cloud-based gaming and punters & businesses becoming accustomed to other cloud-based services such as Dropbox and Basecamp, there's a danger that it will carry on this way.

I think it's inevitable that it will end up going that way but it won't until mobile broadband speeds as well as home broadband get both faster and with far greater coverage. Until then it will be one of those things that's a nice idea but just not that practical and will only get used for smaller files. Ultimately I can see, not for some time admittedly, that we all have computers and mobile devices that have the same programs and the same data on them wherever you go. In other words you'll have your home computer with your big screen etc and all your applications and documents but these will all reside in the cloud and so when you are away from home you'll have your smart phone or laptop that will be able to access all those same applications and documents etc. Which is why I think that makers of operating systems need to seriously look at the smart phone/tablet PC market in a big way because it is this market which will drive the industry and it's developments more than any other sector over the next decade. Incidentally an area where Microsoft are lagging 

[familychoice]

Now, the really big question is what impact GoogleOS/cloud computing has on the market in the next few years... arguably, all an OS has to do now is boot up with a browser, and let the WWW do everything else...

The nightmare scenario, at least until telecomms and online storage/software providers can guarantee 100% internet connection uptime, fast speeds for all, and decent security (never then).

I lost a months worth of earnings this summer while my broadband connection was down thanks to bumbling BT and the half-mad TalkTalk. I still managed to do some work, but either offline or at a slow dial-up pace. The time when I have to rely on one company for online software, another for data hosting, and yet another to connect me to them in the first place is the day I pack up and do a gardening job instead. It's bad enough relying on one company to provide a regular service, let alone a combination of incompetent buffoons.

What an awful thought.

[charlie]

Notepad and HTML kit for me .. oh and very occasionally GIF animator lol

[dougans]

I still use XP, and it's not useless My PHP Editor (Zend Studio) doesn't run directly on Windows 7, even tried it using the various compatibility mode options. Their later version is about 6 times the price and extremely bloated for what I want. Plenty of people complaining about that online.

There is a way to run it by editing the Java set up on win 7, I just need to test it out on our spare laptop when I get half an hour (so when Thomas leaves home...) and then I can upgrade. That is the only reason I haven't, but I spend 90% of my time using it so it's quite important.

Also use mailwasher pro 6.3, my license doesn't allow me to use the newer version and to be honest it's bloated. Have Office 2007, my SmartFTP is a couple of versions out of date, again the license works for that but won't let me upgrade without renewing.

So nothing majorly old like PSP, although I may still have Windows 3.1, Works 2, Word Perfect for DOS and other 90's software on floppy disks at my parents.

Plus eSheep

i used Zend 5.5 till about 4 months ago when i discovered PHP Storm. Which was amazing. Better than Zend 5.5 and miles better than Zend 6, 7, 8. Then I upgraded to newest OSX and it started getting buggy. So I switched to Aptana Studio. And not looked back since. Zends software is bloated, over priced and resource heavy. Aptana is very much like 5.5 but newer.

[sarahA]

Thanks dougans, I'll take a look at that Although to be fair, I did actually download the manual for the newer Zend, found a how to converting from 5.5 to the later version (ie. where everything was) and it seemed fairly straightforward. Just not had the time or a spare laptop to try it But I'll take a look at Aptana too.

Cheers