We have details on FileMaker Pro 5.5, a new version of FileMaker, Inc.'s flagship database application that was introduced today.
Comments
It looks like the previously quashed rumor of "this summer" (at least for the client version) was incorrect.
Now we talking ! All the general Mac 'GUI' folks will be happy ! (I'm an SQL freak) although that new SQL feature might make me consider it seriously.
10 out of 10 for the effort ! Well done for the FM development team ! Adobe - watch and learn.
Make that the third major productivity app
Why am I going to have to pay $150 bucks for an OS X version? This is rediculous. I know i would have to pay a fortune to convert to OS X.
Of course I won't forget BBEdit - what do you think I'm going to use to code my CDML files in to use with FM 5.5?
Hmmm... if Bare Bones added a CDML module, that'd be sweet!
Listen fool, do you really believe you are getting NOTHING but OS X compatibility?
What version of Filemaker do you run? 5.0? That means that this is BETTER than your version, on top of being OS X compatible. Think about it, you would STILL have to pay $150 if you wanted to run 5.5 on OS 9! Just because you have OS 9 do you think they'd give 5.5 to you free? Of course not! Sure they put a LOT of work to make this OS X compatible, but on top of that they added some major enhancements to make it worthwhile for ANYONE to purchase.
Oh, and if you think that "5.0 has all the features I need, why can't I run it under OS X"...let me ask you this: do all the LinuxPPC users b**** and moan because their binary applications will not run under OS X if they decide to upgrade to it? Would users of Windows b**** if they had to buy new software to switch over to OS X? Of course not, because it is OBVIOUS that you would have to do so with a new OS (which this is btw). The fact that your 5.0 will still run under OS X Classic environment means that Apple WAS THINKING OF YOU and didn't just abandon your investment. If you need FileMaker to run faster than Classic allows, boot into OS 9.1 directly and run it. PEOPLE PAY FOR CONVENIENCE AND PERFORMANCE. OS X is a more powerful operating system, much the way a BMW is more powerful than a similar Honda, and as such you MUST PAY for the benefits it provides and if you are unwilling to pay then at least you still have the option of continuing with your less powerful version.
Computers are not like VCRs, they evolve, their abilities not only improve but change. With change comes new requirements and new benefits. If you can't handle the requirements then DONT CHANGE. Make sense? It *IS* that simple and *NO* Apple does not have to give away carbonized versions of all your favorite new or old programs so you can convert painlessly.
Another example:
When I converted from Windows 98 to Windows 2000 my Dxr3 MPEG2 decoder board stopped functioning. I am still awaiting new drivers from Creative Labs, but in the meantime I can either suffer without DVD movies on my computer or boot into Windows 98. The option IS there but if I don't wish to take it then I am free to wait until a compatible version is released. The fact that YOU not only have the option of booting in to OS 9.1 but ALSO have the option of paying for the a new version NOW (barely 1.5 months after OS X was released, whereas I've been waiting since August of last year). Oh, and in this comparison lets not forget that the complexity of converting classic code into carbon code (client) and cocoa code (server) and Win32 code (Win2000) and other code APIs (Citrix and Linux) *BY FAR* outweighs the complexity of converting one hardware driver 1/10 the size of the FileMaker Pro software from partial 16bit code into 32bit code.
In other words dude, shut up and deal with it.
Pros:
- record level password security - Woo! Hoo! I am currently trying to fudge this with my own password file - it works but is ugly - now I may be able to do away with that.
- Multithreading for Unlimited!
- Web layouts can contain portals! According to their site anyway - I wonder how they do that?
Cons:
- Developer version won't be out until sometime in the Fall. I am torn on whether to upgrade now and then in the Fall, or just wait.
- no ODBC support in OS X version - I'm guessing that's not entirely FileMaker's fault though. It'd be nice to be able to import from MySQL.
Good job FileMaker!
is 4D better
...other words dude, shut up and deal with it.
- Jeff
Was all of 6 characters short! *sigh* Why can't MacNN add a java-based character counter to this thing so we know when we go over 3000? Or put a 3000 character limit on the text field like they have a 26 character limit on the titles.
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Let the floodgates open
And now with FileMaker weighing in with an OS X version of their database software (the 2nd really major productivity app to be Carbonized, Freehand was the first), I'm guessing everyone else will start to follow suit. Good stuff!