Is it worth trying A3?

Kris Puckett
Kris Puckett Member Posts: 5 ✭✭
edited November 20 in English Forum

I really dislike the UI of the original Logos for Mac. 

Is it worth trying the A3 even with the bugs? 

Thanks 

Comments

  • TCBlack
    TCBlack Member Posts: 10,978 ✭✭✭

    Even though I don't use MAC I'll hazard an answer on this one...

    No.

    Logos for MAC may have missing things and you say a poor interface, but it works.

    L4 Alpha has no promise that it will work.  I suggest if you're on a system critical machine that you stick with what works, at least until beta1.  Even then, I would only encourage you to jump on a beta if you really know how to fix a system.

    Logos will never break anything on your computer on purpose, but alpha's aren't even ready for beta yet, and beta's are unpredictable.

    Hmm Sarcasm is my love language. Obviously I love you. 

  • Donovan R. Palmer
    Donovan R. Palmer Member Posts: 2,661 ✭✭✭

    I really dislike the UI of the original Logos for Mac. 

    Is it worth trying the A3 even with the bugs? 

    I have Alpha 3 on my computer. Presently, it opens and crashes. Before that, it would crash randomly without warning. It is pretty much useless, though I used Alpha 2 last week to read a bit of a book that I am using in my studies.

    All this to say, you can't depend on this programme!!! I am using Fusion and running the Windows version at the moment to do any kind of work.

  • David Buckham
    David Buckham Member Posts: 549 ✭✭

    Is it worth trying the A3 even with the bugs? 

    Kris,

    Trying? No.  It's not fully functional.

    Testing? Yes.  It's amazing to see how the product builds.  I have the L4 engine running on PC and it looks great.  Can't wait to get my Mac there.

    all about Christ,
    David Buckham

    all about Christ,

    David Buckham

     

  • Colin Thornby
    Colin Thornby Member Posts: 72 ✭✭

    I really dislike the UI of the original Logos for Mac. 

    Is it worth trying the A3 even with the bugs? 

    Thanks 

    I'm with Thomas: I think not. The nature of the beast with Alpha software is that they're unstable, buggy and full of problems. Unless you just want to see what it might look like in a while and do a bit of experimenting, I'd wait until at least the first of the Beta series.

    My own view, for what it is worth (very little!) is that releasing Alpha software to the wild wide world is asking for trouble, as I expect that few users who download the thing will understand what they're getting (and not getting). I can sort of understand Logos' desire to have a wide Alpha test, but from my reading on this forum I reckon it is generating much more heat than light for both users and Logos.

  • TCBlack
    TCBlack Member Posts: 10,978 ✭✭✭

    Colin,

    This is shear guesswork but I suspect Alpha-Mac was released to demonstrate in a very tangible way that there really is a Mac version being supported.  After the multiple setbacks on the first mac attempt, I think Logos had to walk a line on this one.  Alpha is a risky thing to release, but I think with said history in place, releasing an alpha was the best they could do in order to demonstrate good faith, short of releasing a full version.

    Hmm Sarcasm is my love language. Obviously I love you. 

  • J.R. Miller
    J.R. Miller Member Posts: 3,566 ✭✭✭
  • Colin Thornby
    Colin Thornby Member Posts: 72 ✭✭

    Colin,

    This is shear guesswork but I suspect Alpha-Mac was released to demonstrate in a very tangible way that there really is a Mac version being supported.  After the multiple setbacks on the first mac attempt, I think Logos had to walk a line on this one.  Alpha is a risky thing to release, but I think with said history in place, releasing an alpha was the best they could do in order to demonstrate good faith, short of releasing a full version.

    I absolutely agree with your reading, Thomas, and I appreciate Logos' desire to demonstrate goodwill. I didn't want to write that, in case my comment was perceived negatively. I've been flamed by users for less!

    It is a case of 'damned if you do and damned if you don't', I suspect. I appreciate the gesture - I reckon lots of others will misunderstand the term 'Alpha' and won't appreciate it. Personally, I'd have waited till the Beta and worn the heat of saying 'we're almost there' instead of the heat of 'this is a product that doesn't do anything much at best, and doesn't even load at worst'. But that would be my call. I don't need to run a software company and balance the need to market a product with the need to develop a functional product, and maintain a balance sheet!

  • Kris Puckett
    Kris Puckett Member Posts: 5 ✭✭

    Thank you to everyone who commented. After much thought, I purchased the upgrade and installed it on Parallels. The UI is beautiful, and I am much happier with the product now, even though I am using a VM. 

    Thanks again, 

    Kris 

  • Bob Pritchett
    Bob Pritchett Member, Logos Employee Posts: 2,280

    Our fear was that if we released 4 for Windows and nothing new for the Mac, Mac users wouldn't believe we were really working on feature parity.

    We also, without having done enough testing, believed the Mac product was more stable than it was. We've since learned that the platform we're building it on wasn't as stable as we thought.

    Our team is actively improving the Mac product, and working hard to eradicate the crashing bugs. (For the most part these don't reflect "a buggy app", but rather problems we're exposing in the "cross-platform-platform." The good news is that most are of the "fix one bug in the code, fix a hundred different ways it can crash. It's getting much more stable very quickly.)

     

  • Colin Thornby
    Colin Thornby Member Posts: 72 ✭✭

    Our fear was that if we released 4 for Windows and nothing new for the Mac, Mac users wouldn't believe we were really working on feature parity.

    We also, without having done enough testing, believed the Mac product was more stable than it was. We've since learned that the platform we're building it on wasn't as stable as we thought.

    Our team is actively improving the Mac product, and working hard to eradicate the crashing bugs. (For the most part these don't reflect "a buggy app", but rather problems we're exposing in the "cross-platform-platform." The good news is that most are of the "fix one bug in the code, fix a hundred different ways it can crash. It's getting much more stable very quickly.)

     

    That's cool, Bob, and thanks for the clarification, which is always appreciated.

    I guess this, as in many things, is about managing expectations (you managing Mac users' expectations and so on). And that is what my post above attempted to do, in a way - point out that the expectation of an Alpha build shouldn't be any more than what the build is intended to be and do.

  • J.R. Miller
    J.R. Miller Member Posts: 3,566 ✭✭✭

    Bob, thanks for the info.  

    Since you are here can you please tell me something about the upgrade deals.  Will these deals be available again when L4mac is released, or is this upgrade only good for the Windows release of 4?

    I ask because I would love to upgrade from Scholars, but in my current situation that just can't happen (ironically, I could get Scholars Platinum cheaper now than I could get Scholars Gold 2 months ago).  

    At any rate, any info you could reveal is most appreciated brother.

    Joe

    My Books in Logos & FREE Training

  • Donovan R. Palmer
    Donovan R. Palmer Member Posts: 2,661 ✭✭✭

    Our fear was that if we released 4 for Windows and nothing new for the Mac, Mac users wouldn't believe we were really working on feature parity.

    I think releasing it as Alpha has a few bonuses:

    • It gives users a rare view into what software looks like at the Alpha stage.
    • It gives us the opportunity to test, crash and post our results. Hopefully this will speed up the development process.
    • If you guys are open to it, it also gives us the opportunity to begin even at this stage in giving input into what the final product will be like.

    I think the open strategy of Logos is a lot of fun and is similar to being involved in an open source effort.  Well done!

  • Jack Caviness
    Jack Caviness MVP Posts: 13,514

    Bob

    I appreciate the opportunity to help make L4 Mac a better product. thanks for the info.

  • TCBlack
    TCBlack Member Posts: 10,978 ✭✭✭

    I absolutely agree with your reading, Thomas, and I appreciate Logos' desire to demonstrate goodwill. I didn't want to write that, in case my comment was perceived negatively. I've been flamed by users for less!

    I understand Colin.  Since Bob has settled the issue above, I'll just state my strategy: <joke type="barely funny">Overhwelm the critics with too many posts to criticize! </joke>And always wear your flameproof underwear. [;)] 

    Hmm Sarcasm is my love language. Obviously I love you. 

  • J.R. Miller
    J.R. Miller Member Posts: 3,566 ✭✭✭

    Our fear was that if we released 4 for Windows and nothing new for the Mac, Mac users wouldn't believe we were really working on feature parity.

    I think releasing it as Alpha has a few bonuses:

    • It gives users a rare view into what software looks like at the Alpha stage.
    • It gives us the opportunity to test, crash and post our results. Hopefully this will speed up the development process.
    • If you guys are open to it, it also gives us the opportunity to begin even at this stage in giving input into what the final product will be like.

    I think the open strategy of Logos is a lot of fun and is similar to being involved in an open source effort.  Well done!

    I am with you 100% Donovan.  Thanks Bob for giving us this opportunity.

     

    My Books in Logos & FREE Training