Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!bonnie.concordia.ca!uunet!wuarchive!udel!princeton!dry!bskendig
From: bskendig@dry.Princeton.EDU (Brian Kendig)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.system
Subject: Re: system 7.0
Message-ID: <6602@idunno.Princeton.EDU>
Date: 25 Feb 91 00:51:27 GMT
References: <6574@idunno.Princeton.EDU> <88794@tut.cis.ohio-state.edu> <18336@imag.imag.fr>
Sender: news@idunno.Princeton.EDU
Organization: Starfleet Academy: Princeton University
Lines: 55

In article <18336@imag.imag.fr> gourdol@imag.fr (Gourdol Arnaud) writes:
>Another Urban Legend.
>Always use latest system software.

Another Urban Legend Debunked: Don't always use the latest system
software just because it's the `latest'.

>New versions are issued when they are absolutely necessary,
> that it when machines whit new capabilities are commercialized or 
>when common bugs are corrected.
>But they also often correct minor bugs.
>So always use latest system software.

Sometimes the bugs that are fixed are ones that you would never come
up against in a million years (such as the deadly Appletalk bug in
6.0.6 -- if you never use Appletalk, then 6.0.6 is as good as 6.0.7),
while at the same time, new and more serious bugs are introduced.
Look at System 6.0.7: it includes a new Sound Manager and a better way
of reporting system errors, but many people claim that it crashes far
more often than 6.0.5.  Would you rather have a shiny new Sound
Manager, or one that works with the programs you use?

I've worked with several companies that decide not to update their
Macintosh system software simply because there's no need to, and
things work fine as it is.  They run System 6.0.2 and LaserWriter 5.2,
and they're peachy.  To go through and find and upgrade every
Macintosh in the facility would be too time-comsuming, and is bound to
introduce problems here and there because every machine is configured
differently.

So, in short, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it."

I notice that your article isn't a followup to anything.  Why did you
post this?  Am I missing your point?  Saying `always upgrade to the
latest system software' sounds kinda like saying `always remember to
look both ways before crossing the street.'

>BTW, I think that HC2.0 works under 6.0.5 but may have
>problem with sounds. So that's why using HC2.0 with 6.0.7 is better.

HyperCard 2.0 uses the System Seven Sound Manager, which is also
present in System 6.0.7.  If you run HyperCard 2.0 on anything prior
to 6.0.7, and it tries to make any sound at all, it will most likely
crash, because it's calling routines which just aren't there.  Either
turn your sound off, or just use 6.0.7 with HyperCard 2.0 and up, or
get used to having your Macintosh make cute little buzzing sounds and
scribbling all sorts of really interesting random patterns on the
screen.

     << Brian >>

| Brian S. Kendig      \ Macintosh |   Engineering,   | bskendig             |
| Computer Engineering |\ Thought  |  USS Enterprise  | @phoenix.Princeton.EDU
| Princeton University |_\ Police  | -= NCC-1701-D =- | @PUCC.BITNET         |
"It's not that I don't have the work to *do* -- I don't do the work I *have*."