Adam Engst of TidBits got upset that an update to Apple Pages that impacted Engst’s workflow for creating EPUBs. \u00a0In short, Pages changed several behaviors that Engst relied on for creating EPUBs. \u00a0Engst, even though he knows that Apple’s release notes are not reliable indicators of what changes have gone into a product, accepted the new update to an essential application without testing it. \u00a0And when things broke, he found himself in a very difficult position that required a lot of time and effort to fix. \u00a0He says this about the experience:<\/p>\n
That shows a profound lack of respect for customers on Apple\u2019s part, and is particularly offensive when it comes to tools used by professionals. It\u2019s bad enough when Apple causes normal users significant headaches, such as with the massive changes in iTunes 11, which cannot be downgraded to iTunes 10.7 (see \u201ciTunes 11: The Features Apple Removed, and Alternatives,\u201d 4 December 2012). But when Apple\u2019s decision to conceal changes threatens one\u2019s livelihood, it\u2019s time to start looking at tools from companies who care about their customers.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
The problem is, Engst missed many issues. \u00a0Any professional knows that you don’t update software that is essential to your business without testing it first. \u00a0You make sure that it works first, and you run it through several tests before updating everyone. \u00a0Engst also had unrealistic expectations about Apple updates: it’s already well-known by everyone who’s been using Macs for years (as Engst has) that Apple’s release notes are quite thin and rarely give information about all of the updates that are included in this.<\/p>\n
But most importantly, “software used by professionals” is not the same as “professional software”. \u00a0Professional software does have higher expectations associated with it: higher expectations about how it’s tested, how it’s documented, how it’s supported. \u00a0In general, this means that professional software has a higher price tag associated with it. \u00a0Software that just happens to be used by professionals doesn’t have those expectations. \u00a0Apple has never claimed that Pages is professional software. \u00a0Basing your professional workflow around an application that is not professional software, and then not testing updates when you know that you cannot trust the release notes for this application, is not professional behavior.<\/p>\n
This isn’t to say that I don’t think that Apple’s release notes should be so short. \u00a0Writing useful release notes isn’t difficult, and Apple should step up and do it. \u00a0That said, I think that expecting software used by professionals to be up to the bar set by professional software is unrealistic. \u00a0Use professional tools, get professional results. \u00a0Use tools that aren’t intended for professional results, and you might get lucky and get professional results, but you can’t rely on it. \u00a0Pages is $20. \u00a0You get what you pay for, and you did not pay for a professional application.<\/p>\n
(Edited on January 28th, because I can’t type and got the price of Pages wrong. \u00a0It’s $20.)<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Adam Engst of TidBits got upset that an update to Apple Pages that impacted Engst’s workflow for creating EPUBs. \u00a0In short, Pages changed several behaviors that Engst relied on for creating EPUBs. \u00a0Engst, even though he knows that Apple’s release notes are not reliable indicators of what changes have gone into a product, accepted the … Continue reading professional software != software used by professionals<\/span>