I remember when Mac versions came out before Windows versions, and then one year it switched and it was obvious that MakeFinaleWorse (or whatever they call themselves these days) had made Windows the dominant factor in Finale development.
But I am all for them getting the Mac version to be at least as usable as the Windows version is before continuing to make the Windows version more bug-free.
That MakeFinaleUsersSuffer (or whatever they call themselves these days) have seen fit to put their development dollars into SmartMusic instead of Finale affects users on both platforms in a deplorable way which is inexcusable for a product that portrays itself as being an industry standard (good thing Sibelius programmers can't do any better, or Finale would be just an asterisk in the computer-notation history books).
I don't fault the developpers themselves, though. I picture the Finale Developpers' corner at MakeSmartMusicMoreImportant (or whatever they call themselves today) to be a single small desk with one Mac and on PC side-by-side with a couple of programmers, their arms intertwined so they can reach their respective keyboards, with their notebooks of code and development tool manuals and library documentation books balanced on their knees, coffe cup perched on top.
This inability to resolve very important Mac issues, along with the scheduling issues leaves me less than confident about the future of our beloved notation product. But with nothing to go to (the things Sibelius can't do that Finale can do easily are legion -- just visit the Sibelius yahoo group and read what they are asking to be able to do and it's all I can do not to reply to each one "get Finale and learn how to use it.")
Let's just hope that the old Coda spirit that kept up such an incredibly long line of wonderful improvements can be rekindled.
David H. Bailey
Aaron Sherber wrote:
As a WinFin2004 user, what bothers me the most about these Mac problems (which are rather serious) is that Coda will probably decide to work on them before they get around to fixing all of the bugs that were introduced in the Windows version! I have a terrible feeling, looking at the calendar, that many of the things we've all been complaining about won't be fixed before Fin2005 -- which, of course, we'll have to pay for again.
This situation brings to mind the Borland development tool Delphi. The first 3 versions were powerful tools and very well received, but v4, which introduced lots of "pretty" features and was somewhat rushed to marked in order to meet a shipping schedule, was very poorly received by the Delphi faithful on account of the numerous bugs and shortcomings which persisted even after a couple of maintenance releases. In response, Borland issued what amounted to a public apology, admitting the problems with v4 and re-committing themselves to releasing a solid, quality product. We did still have to pay for v5, but it was a rock solid product that also delivered new functionality.
I wouldn't mind seeing Coda take a similarly forthcoming position about the problems with Finale.
Aaron.
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-- David H. Bailey [EMAIL PROTECTED]
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