Date: Tue, 8 Sep 1998 10:48:21 +0200
Reply-To: Aiso Vos <Aiso.Vos@NET.HCC.NL>
Sender: "SPSSX(r) Discussion" <SPSSX-L@UGA.CC.UGA.EDU>
From: Aiso Vos <Aiso.Vos@NET.HCC.NL>
Subject: Re: Macintosh Statistical Programs
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
I have been following this continuing "Mac-discussions" for a long time
now, and I would like to express my thoughts on this subject.
How is it possible that whenever some kind of software doesn't run
smoothly on a Windows-machine, everyone points their arrows at
Microsoft, while on the other hand when SPSS does not run on a Mac no
one seems to blame Apple?
I am a Windows-user myself, and have no intention to fight any kind of
religious Windows-Mac war, but find it strange that with the continuous
updates of MacOS Apple does not seem to be interested in software
written for older versions.
It is ofcourse obvious that SPSS should release newer versions than 6.1.
Kind regards,
Aiso
Back to my story.
>
> I quickly discovered that this version of SPSS for the Power Macintosh does
> not run well with the Mac System 7.5.3 (7.5 Update of 2.0). Technical
> support guided me through several bugs that were causing my system to
> repeatedly crash but I was never able to get past all of the bugs. There
> weren't many but there was one procedure that I had to follow in order to
> run SPSS on 7.5.3 that was very annoying. Basically, I had to start up my
> system with extensions off, remove a certain SPSS extension from my
> Extensions Folder to disable it, and then restart my system with Extensions
> on. After my system was booted up, I could then replace the conflict
> extension in the Extensions Folder. This solved the problem of operating
> the SPSS software and performing all of the tasks I needed to do but I
> could never close the application without it causing my system to bomb.
> This is how I was able to solve the problem.
>
> Acting on the advice of one of the SPSS technicians, I set up a separate
> Zip disk (100 mb) as an independent hard disk with Mac System software
> version 7.5 (no updates). That is, a Zip disk with System 7.5 and the
> complete SPSS 6.1.1 version that I referred to above. Now when I need to
> work with SPSS, I simply boot my computer from this disk. In the four
> months that I have been running the software in this manner, I have never
> experienced a bug or conflict with my Mac System software and all is well.
>
> What does this mean for the Power Macintosh user who wishes to use SPSS on
> his/her system? You will not be able to run your software on any system
> higher than 7.5 (no updates), and that includes especially Mac OS 8 and
> beyond. SPSS has decided not to commit the funding resources that would be
> required to develop new versions that are compatible with these later Mac
> Operating Systems but if you follow the simple remedy that I prescribe
> here, all will be well.
>
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