[Nancy]

Hi, I've been running OS 9.2 for the last few months. I know I should switch to OS X, but I just need some advice. I mostly use Quark Xpress 4.1, Photoshop 6, Illustrator 8 and Acrobat. I'm just not sure about running quark on OS X, I know I have to run it in Classic Mode but I really don't know too much else about that kind of stuff, any help you could give me would be much appriciated. How do I switch everything over to OS X and run Quark Successfully?

Thanks

 

[MacDoc]

Why do you think you "should switch to X"??

Unless you are finding specific problems with 9 that you think X may help you may find X slow in comparison and very slow running Quark in Classic.

What machine are you using??

Professional work??

 

[MacGenius]

It doesn't make sense to switch to OS X unless you upgrade all your apps along with it. You will not gain any benefit but running your apps in Classsic other than rebooting Classic when it hoses itself regularly.

When you DO move to OS X however with native apps you will really like the stability but the interface does take some getting used to for users coming from the "old world".

As for Quark we have a number of clients running it in Classic with all the other apps native and it does run but the screen refreshing problem of versions 3 and 4 are annoying not to mention the printing issues in some cases. It is do able however those who have moved to InDesign really like the new workflow and integration. I've had a chance to try out Quark 6 in OS X and it nothing to write home about. The only benefit is that it runs in OS X so you can finally ditch Classic.

I prefer the feature set and integration of InDesign and more and more of our clients are finding this as well.

 

[coyote]

If you want to use OS X, you'll need to upgrade your other applications too; Illustrator, Photoshop and Acrobat. You current version will only run in Classic. Don't forget about font management software and be prepared for some headaches involving font conflicts under X.

 

[dthompson101]

Quark 6 Beta 1 SUCKS SUCKS SUCKS!!

Quark should take their crapassy app and fold up and sell the remainder of their technology to a company like stone and be done with it.

Even with beta 6 they still cant get you to save properly from a RAID system.....uhm quark, are you people there really theat pathetic that you can't get your app to open save and run off of RAIDs....they suck!

Indesign 3 should prove to be the total quark killer in the next couple of months once it's released!!!

Oh, and OSX rocks. Once you have the proper apps for it, there is nothing that is not stupendous about it! BSD4.4, native apps in UNIX. All smiles from here

 

[MacGenius]

David, since you mentioned it here first I'll add my dislike for Quark.

Being a consultant myself I'm usually a bit more political about opinions.

I agree that Quark 6 is total crud. They wasted their time on version 5 and it seems they aren't in any hurry to improve their code-base for version 6.

InDesign is so modern and has so much to offer I can't understand why so many "designers" don't take the time to have a good look at it. Quark feels so "1990". Too many times I've heard "I've heard it sucks" and "my print provider won't take the files". PURE HOGWASH. I have a customer to who publishes a monnthly maganize you can by on a newstand and he switched to OS X and recently wen't cold turkey with InDesign for the March issue and it turned out beautiful.

He's a happy camper. I'm looking forward to version 3. Quark 6 is going to be a nightware and I beleive the reviews will show this.

 

[MACSPECTRUM]

InDesign 1.x was a disaster and probably the main reason many "shops" are hesitant to look are newer revs of ID

2.0 was better

2.5 getting better at making PostScript files

OS X and ID 3.0 will be a nice combo if:
- more support is added for expensive hardware,- scanners, printers, RIPs for OS X
- shops can do the ROI and work out that the more horsepower for OS X is worth the investment
- OS X gets the performance tune-up it needs (not everyone can just go out an buy a fleet of dual 1.25 Ghz Macs)

there are some success stories with ID and OS X for design shops, but pre-press and print shops are still somewhat hesitant, IMHO