"Better" is a subjective measure. Performance is not. I'd wager that the majority of modern software is actually LESS tuned than older software.
Modern software requires modern hardware for a reason - those extra features (whether they are features in your or my opinion is another argument) often require extra horsepower. Consider Quartz graphics. Try that on a 68k...
As for OS X versions, it is widely recognized that 10.3 is the most optimized OS X and that "pound for pound" 10.4 is slower. Of course, 10.4 has to spend it's time doing a lot of things that 10.3 doesn't such as maintaining the Dashboard, etc. Up to 10.3, Apple definitely did make speed improvements in the core OS, however, and 10.3 is probably the fastest OS X we'll ever see. From here on out, it will be less about optimizing code and more about adding "features."
I'm not trying to argue with you, and I don't deny that there are some modern applications that are really nice. For instance, I like RSS and RSS readers. However, that doesn't mean my 6500 is less useful because it can't run Safari 2, it just makes it less relevant. I can still do everything I could do two years ago, so the capability hasn't gone away...
Peace,
Drew
Modern software requires modern hardware for a reason - those extra features (whether they are features in your or my opinion is another argument) often require extra horsepower. Consider Quartz graphics. Try that on a 68k...
As for OS X versions, it is widely recognized that 10.3 is the most optimized OS X and that "pound for pound" 10.4 is slower. Of course, 10.4 has to spend it's time doing a lot of things that 10.3 doesn't such as maintaining the Dashboard, etc. Up to 10.3, Apple definitely did make speed improvements in the core OS, however, and 10.3 is probably the fastest OS X we'll ever see. From here on out, it will be less about optimizing code and more about adding "features."
I'm not trying to argue with you, and I don't deny that there are some modern applications that are really nice. For instance, I like RSS and RSS readers. However, that doesn't mean my 6500 is less useful because it can't run Safari 2, it just makes it less relevant. I can still do everything I could do two years ago, so the capability hasn't gone away...
Peace,
Drew