After I don't know how long carping about the continuing lack of upgrades for the Mac, today's email announcing version 2009 came as a very welcome surprise. On several counts.

The first is that it has happened at all. I think that the first promise was for Christmas 2006. Most of us, I think, believed that PG had given up entirely on the Mac. How glad I am to be proved wrong.

The second is that the upgrade almost makes it look like a totally new programme. Albeit one that clings to the original Atari look and feel. That shows how long I've been using it.

Next, by a lucky chance I've just upgraded to a new iMac after 9 years and more on the original revolutionary design. If I hadn't I'd be grinding my teeth in impotent fury, just like all those who still have G3s, G4s and G5s, the latter two capable of continuing to give reliable service well into the next decade. A missed selling opportunity there, although I understand why the decision was made.

Hopefully PGMusic will get out there and actively advertise the product to Mac users. If they don't know about it they won't buy it and there are a lot who have only had Intel powered Macs who will never have heard of BiaB. Review copies to all the Mac publications please. I'm only sorry I don't work for any of them so can't blag a freeby.

All in all then this looks, on the surface to be a monumental improvement on what we've been used to in the Mac BiaB society. Now that the bit is well and truly between the teeth, PG shouldn't shy away from commensurate updates. I had been looking seriously at iTunes new features but I will instead upgrade before the end of the offer period but hopefully after the maintenance release mentioned elsewhere.

As I said, it appears to be a totally new programme, has it been a root and branch rewrite? If so why keep the old look and feel?

That aside, you have at last made me very happy.

Best wishes.

The Last of The Barons