Y2K, Windows and the Mac

Recently, I sat quietly during a long discussion about Y2K problems with the computers at my workplace. We reviewed page after page of computers that were determined must be replaced because they were not equipped to handle the coming of a new century.

Then the group turned the page to a list of Macintosh computers that we use for publishing and design work. The experts agreed that, by all accounts, the Macs should not need to be replaced because the operating system and most software, is Y2K compatible and has been so for many years.

Having recommended the move from Windows PCs to Macintosh in our graphic services area two years earlier, I smiled to myself as the page was flipped to another listing of PCs and Y2K incompatibility problems.

In the end, it was determined that nearly 90 percent the PCs we owned would need to be replaced at a whopping dollar figures.

There's a saying that's been circulating around the web for several months trumpeting the superiority of the Mac OS. It's says something like, "Macintosh. It may not be perfect, but at least we knew there would be a year 2000!"

I guess it's that kind of engineering that has always attracted me to the Mac platform. I bought my first Mac when I was writing my master's thesis because it was simple and did not get in the way of my writing. I've read that many famous writers use the Mac for the same reason. Designers will tell you the same thing. The simplicity of Mac OS design and the machines that run it doesn't "get in the way" of one's work.

While Apple Computer may have "gotten it" in the engineering department, Microsoft and "got it" in the marketing department ... thus, the world runs Windows, not the superior Mac OS.

But as I have mentioned earlier, that may be changing. By all accounts, Steve Jobs seems to have learned a lot since being ousted by the company in the 1980s. Check out Apple's earning record over the past year ... wow! I say it's 'bout time!

But back to Y2K. Think about the billions the world will spend to fix a problem with Windows that has its roots in MS-DOS. What a shame the world has standardized on Windows! Think of the resources those billions could provide business and individuals if they were not faced with upgrading a computer in the next year and a half!

Macintosh user, regard yourself as a very smart computer user. YOU knew there would be the year 2000 too!

The Second Coming of the Macintosh

Love it or just like it, the iMac is doing something very important for the Macintosh community. It's bringing the shine back to the Apple logo.

It's been a long time in coming. Mac users haven't had a machine like this to crow about since the days of the original Mac. The iMac is innovative, it's cool and it's the computer to want and to own. Apple is going to sell lots of these things, believe me. There is some indication Apple has managed to get some Windows users to switch, as well as attract "newbies" who have never owned a computer of any kind.

PC users thought it was all over as recently as a year ago and that Apple Computer was all but out of business. I have to admit that I wondered a times myself, really for the first time since buying my first Mac in 1987. How wrong we were!

Not only is Apple back, but in a big, big way. Apple is taking chances again and working hard to become the innovator that made the company a legend. From what I'm reading in the Mac press, we haven't seen anything yet! Look at what's coming to an Apple retailer near you ...

The iBook Cometh ...

Soon to come from Apple is a new consumer portable, which some are dubbing the iBook. Speculation is running amuck on this new machine, but one thing is certain, it will be different if the iMac is any indication of Apple's new direction. Let's just hope that it runs the complete Mac OS and not some "Lite" version!

PowerPC is Getting More Powerful ...

While Intel and the Windows world is nearing the end of the road with its CISC (Complex Instruction Set Computing) microchips, the PowerPC RISC (Reduced Instruction Set Computing) is just now hitting its stride. While Mac computing has gotten faster the past couple of years, wait until System X takes full advantage of PowerPC and IBM's copper chip technology. Talking about screaming!

Apple, the Mac and Microsoft ...

Microsoft has problems with the government and many of its customers who must live with "The Microsoft Solution." Microsoft's attempt at total world dominance hasn't worked out the way Bill Gates planned. Microsoft isn't cool any more (Mac users know it never was!). Apple and the Mac is regaining its status as the cool computing platform for those who desire to stay Microsoft-free. Look for this trend only to continue.

Some Problems (or should I say Opportunities) Still Exist ...

Apple needs to figure out how it can allow other computer manufacturers to build its machines without giving away the store. I don't necessarily mean the reinstatement of clones, but perhaps "agreements" that will allow other manufacturers to build iMacs and other Mac machinery. There is just no way Apple Computer, absent other manufacturers, can build enough boxes to significantly impact market share. Of course, this is all predicated on Apple continuing to produce innovative products like the iMac that create enormous demand.

"The Road Ahead," to use the title of Bill Gates' book on total world dominance (who read it anyway?), looks bright for Apple and the Mac.

Seize the Moment!

I recently discovered a wonderful little book that has helped me put my entire life in perspective. It's Don't Sweat the Small Stuff ... and it's all small stuff by Richard Carlson.

The book is a wonderful collection of "tips and tricks" so to speak, on how to not allow life's little annoyances to get the better of us. Here's some of the chapter titles: "Make Peace with Imperfection," "Be Aware of the Snowball Effect of Your Thinking," "Learn to Live in the Present Moment" and "Surrender to the Fact that Life Isn't Fair."

After having read the book, I've been working harder at becoming a better listener and taking time to enjoy the simple things of life. The concepts and premises of the book really have had an effect on my daily life.

You might say, what in the world does this have to do with Apple or the Macintosh? Well, if you think about it, quite a lot.

Macintosh users and believers in "The Mac Way" are the proud few of the computing world. When I think of making peace with imperfection, I think of the Windows operating system and Bill Gates. Yes, I must use it every day at work. I must deal with the inconsistencies of the system, the different ways to do the same tasks in different programs and so on. Rather than get frustrated, I slow down and quietly acknowledge that there is a better way and it's sitting at my desk at home. Thus, inner peace.

We Mac users may not dominate market share, but we can effect others by what we know. You can have a positive effect on your workplace by interjecting (at the proper time, of course), what you know to be true about the Macintosh advantage. There comes a time in every IS department that the Windows just doesn't cut the mustard, such as in professional design and publishing. This is when you need to be aware of the possible snowball effect of your thinking. Don't flaunt it, but be aware of the Macintosh advantage and be able (and ready) to demonstrate it to the unenlightened.

Learning to live in the present moment has deep and lasting ramifications for all of us. Take time for yourself. Take time for your family. Take time for your physical well being (exercise). Take time for your spiritual well being (set aside a quiet time to reflect on your day and your life).

Living in the present moment also means enjoying what you have right here and now. Your health. Your life. Your family. Your friends. A superior computing platform. Rather than worry about what tomorrow might bring, enjoy today. They'll never be another one. Rather than worry if Apple Computer will be in business or not tomorrow, enjoy what is today and Apple's resurgence and wonderful products.

I gave up the notion a long time ago that life is fair and that if I tried hard enough that it could be fair. It is not and never will be. We live in an imperfect world, so you better get used to it.

Windows represents that imperfection and because the world doesn't know the difference, it's the world standard. Get used to it and the fact that the Macintosh will never be the world's choice. That's not to say that Apple won't capture additional market share and continue to grow and flourish, but the likelihood of dominance has passed. So live with it. Windows is "good enough" for the rest of the world and that's that!

Think about it. It's the little things of life that make life worth living. A note of encouragement to a co-worker. The hug of a child. The warm glow of a computer monitor that smiles back at you and gleefully "chimes" the start of your day.

Enjoy and seize the moment. It will never come again.

A Brave New World for Apple

Most of us have heard (and know well) the arguments. The Mac is easier to use. The Mac is cheaper to use. The Mac is for creative professionals ... and so forth and so on.

As Mac fans, we all know the truth...and the truth will set you free, right? Well, in the computing world, this just has not been the case.

My concern for the Mac faithful is that so much of the technology out there is tailored to the Windows world, and it's just not about software availability any more. It's hardware. It's Internet access. It's being part of the main stream.

In 1998, Mac OS users face no less than three versions of the Windows onslaught...Windows 3.1, Windows95 and Windows NT.

In the past few months we've see Apple Computer successfully reverse potentially disastrous decisions by Intuit (publishers of Quicken) and others. At MacWorld recently the faithful were told that more than 100 developers have lined up to provide software for the second coming of the Macintosh, the iMac.

While this certainly good news, one has to wonder how long it can last. The number of boxes sold to run the Mac OS means market share and market share is what many developers look at before committing to invest time and valuable resources.

At least for now, the major players should follow Microsoft's lead and continue development efforts on the Mac. What continues to concern me is how many smaller Mom and Pop operations can do the same. It's a brave (and cruel) new world. What a developer "wants" to do may not be enough to keep him in business.

I don't want to be labeled as another Apple pessimist at a time the company is on a upswing. While three consecutive profitable quarters, successful product introductions, and the coming of the amazing iMac consumer computer all point to Apple getting back to the basics, the company desperately must do something to again revolutionize the personal computing experience if it is to really make a difference.

While the iMac is one heck of a re-entry into the consumer market, the operating system it runs is historic Mac OS. There's not a lot new here. However, this could be changing now that Apple has FINALLY determined what its software strategy will be (let's hope it stays with this one). And while we're at it, let's hope Mac X can bring some really, really great innovation to the platform.

We are witnessing the emergence of a Brave New Apple. Steve Jobs is having a ball calling the shots at the company he co-founded...and don't let anyone tell you anything different. Jobs loves his role as savior of Apple and will do any and everything to bring Apple back to past glories.

There is hope on the horizon. The iMac deserves our attention and the attention of the computing world not only for what it is, but for what it isn't. The iMac isn't just a repackaged box of old technology, it represents a departure to something new and different the computer industry hasn't seen in some time. The iMac represents a rebirth of the legendary Apple Computer.

However, it's time for Apple to take us beyond the hardware and do something again that will really change the world.

It's a Good Time to be Alive...and Mac User!

Indeed. Despite all the upheaval that has been experienced by Apple Computer the past few years, in many ways there's never been a more exciting time to be a Macintosh user. Below is my list of reasons:

Software availability. Since the Mac was introduced onto the computer scene in 1984, there's never been a wider array of software and hardware configurations than today.

The PC-loving press would like you to think otherwise, but think about it. What software title, major or otherwise, do you need to run on a Macintosh that doesn't? For those who must run specialized types of PC-only software for business or other purposes, I unashamedly tell them to buy a PC. However, if you want to buy your software at Wal-Mart, buy a PC for goodness sake!

Mac are fast and getting faster. The Macintosh I having sitting on my desk in my home office is the fastest Mac I have ever owned...and it's a Power Mac 6100! I know there are lots of faster machines out there, but the old 6100 is super fast if considered from a historical Mac perspective.

That doesn't mean that I wouldn't enjoy a faster Mac. In fact, I'm looking at the new G3 upgrade cards that are hitting the market as I write.

And don't forget the machines that Cupertino is pumping out now are nothing short of awesome...nearly twice as fast as anything Wintel has available!

Macs have never been more compatible. Macs are undoubtedly the most compatible personal computers on the planet. Try running Macintosh applications on a PC. DOS and Windows emulators have been out for the platform for years, while Mac emulators are only now appearing for the Wintel platform.

Macs are fun. Mac users have a more enjoyable computing experience, hands down. It's the fun factor that originally attracted me to the Mac platform in the first place. Pretty pictures. Understandable. Straight forward. Every program behaves the same way. The list goes on and on.

Macs work. When I go to turn on my Mac, I experience very few surprises. When a surprise pops up, I can usually fix it myself. You still cannot say this about the Wintel machines.

Macs use innovative technology. Time after time, the powers that be at Apple Computer have bet the store by going with unproved or non-standard technologies -- for better or worse. Successes include QuickTime. Failures are too many to mention. The computer industry needs companies like Apple that take chances and go against the odds.

Creative professionals use Macs. Quoting from a recent edition of Mac Today magazine: "Creative professionals use Macintosh." Period.

Anyone can own a PC. It takes guts to own a Mac. The Macintosh isn't a platform for weenies. If you're the kind of person who needs someone to constantly affirm your choice of computer, stay away from the Mac! You fool! Remember the saying, "No one ever lost their job buying IBM (in the 90s, insert Windows/Intel)."

Schools use Macs. Every day my 7-year-old son sits in a classroom with a Mac sitting in the corner and a Mac lab located down the hall. I want him to have the same quality experience at home.

Bill Gates does not use a Mac - as far as we know. Now, I'm sure Bill is a great guy, but I don't think anyone -- particularly a guy who writes software -- ought to be out for total world domination. I have talk to people every week who know only "The Microsoft Solution." I would like to think they're are other creative folk out there writing creative software...and not just Microsoft. Also, Intel isn't the only chip manufacturer in the world, either. I say, "As far as we know," because would you build a multi-million dollar house and depend solely on Wintel technology?

Enough said.

CompuUSA Apple Offerings Unimpressive

On recent trips to St. Louis and Kansas, I made a point to visit Apple Computer's newest (and exclusive) retail sales emphasis - CompUSA.

Most of us who have been around since the start of the personal computer revolution are familiar with CompUSA. CompUSA was one of first computer chains to establish a nationwide presence.

During Apple Computer's wailing to stay alive over the past year or so, it decided to pull back from an "all things to all people" approach to its retail channel and focus its efforts on one single computer chain.

CompUSA is very successful, to say the least. Apple's "pull back" strategy is already paying off for the company. Sales of Apple products at CompUSA have increased steadily, up at last count around 15 to 20 percent.

After reading the Internet grapevine about the happenings involving CompUSA, I was interested to see how things are going for myself.

My first stop was St. Louis, where in recent years I have been attracted to Computer City which is located more along my business route. The CompUSA store in St. Louis isn't one of their newest. However, the store seemed to be well maintained on the PC side. The "Apple Store Within a Store" was another matter. Located in a far corner of the store next to the children's section, the Apple area seemed cluttered and not maintained all that well. It did contain new G3 machines in boxes and a G3 PowerBook on display.

There was an aisle of Mac-only software with a large rolling ladder parked at one end. I did not see an Apple/Macintosh specialist in the 30 minutes I was in the store, but that's not to say there wasn't one. At one point I stopped a store employee who was walking along the edge of the display to ask if the store carried the NewTech G3 upgrades for older Power Macs. He replied, "Oh, yeah. Well, we won't be getting those for a couple of months. Check back then."

Overall, my experience at CompUSA in St. Louis was less than impressive.

A few weeks later I happened by the CompUSA store in Overland Park, Kansas. This store was newer and better maintained. Again, I visited the Apple section to look over the wares. Once again, I was less than impressed. The store did have an eMate on display, which is the first I have seen other than in a magazine (Way cool! Too bad it has been discontinued).

If you have been reading comments on the web about Apple's presence at CompUSA, most seem to have their problems. In fact, some say there is a conspiracy concerning the location of the store's rolling ladder in Apple's store (similar to what I experienced in St. Louis).

The result of my unscientific survey of the two stores closest to appleJAC members reveals a less than impressive showing. That's not to say the stores won't improve. Let's hope.

As I travel, I plan to visit other CompUSA stores. If you visit a store in another part of the country, please send your thoughts to tyarbrough@sockets.net and I'll share them in this column.

The Arrogant Ones

We all know them. They disrupt the flow. They are the arrogant ones.

Recently, the billionaire heiress of one of America's most successful retail chains exhibited "the trait" after being stopped on suspicion of drunken driving. She said to a state patrolman, "Do you know my last name?" Apparently the officer did not care what her last name as as he wrote her a ticket.

Many years ago in a land far away, the creators of the world's first mass-marketed graphical computer exhibited the same trait. They didn't cooperate. They created and pushed proprietary technologies when industry-standard technologies would have worked just fine. They were brash...they were the arrogant ones.

That's all changed now. With the operating system war seemingly lost forever to Microsoft, these arrogant ones almost lost their shirts. They almost had to close shop. They had to make changes. And they did.

Everything I read tells me that the words "not invented here" have for the most part disappeared from the hallowed halls of Apple Computer in Cupertino, California. Steve Jobs, co-founder and self-appointed "savior" of the company, has brought the likes of Microsoft into the fold, and has proclaimed that Apple will not longer snub its nose at technologies birthed outside Apple.

What is ironic is that Jobs, father of the Macintosh, pushed a closed system that had few upgrade avenues in the 1980s. Today, Jobs' mentality lives on in the iMac, an impressive, but at first glance limited of computer technology. However, let's remember that it's not you and me -- devoted Macintosh users -- that Jobs wants. He wants the first-time buyer and computer user. He wants a positive and exciting user experience. He wants to sell them the Volkswagen Beetle they have read about but never owned.

What a brilliant move! After all, isn't everyone is into "retro" these days? The iMac certainly fits the bill for something completely different and exciting. What's more exciting is that Apple's new "innovation" streak won't stop with the iMac. The iMac is only the tip of the iceberg of what we'll see from Cupertino in the years to come. With the OS wars over, Apple needs to continue to focus on its core strength Big Time -- which is innovation, innovation and more innovation!

Get ready Mac users and Mac users to be. Get ready to hang on for the ride. Steve and the Mac are back and they're ready to rumble!

How Do You Sleep at Night?

As I watched the sex scandal debacle surrounding President Clinton in late January, I couldn't help but let my thoughts drift toward Apple Computer.

While the feeding frenzy of the press pursuing a U.S. president is certainly much more serious than the fortunes of a computer company, nonetheless, certain comparisons can be made.

Like Mr. Clinton's frequent missteps, so have the frequent missteps of Apple Computer. Some openly wonder how Mr. Clinton, a man at the pinnacle of world power, could risk it all by a sexual indiscretion.

At the same time, it seems handlers of Apple Computer over the years have flown in the face of common business sense and have flirted with disaster...that of the demise of one of the most innovative computer companies ever to exist.

The story of Apple Computer is an amazing one. Those faithful who love and revere the legendary ease of use of the Mac OS winced many times as the losses mounted in 1996 and 1997. While Steve Jobs apparently has secured a bandage over Apple's gaping wound, it is still unclear just how Apple will recover financially from its woes.

Concerning the Macintosh, market share figures don't always give an accurate account. It is widely known that PCs running Microsoft Windows are replaced at a greater frequency than Macintosh computers. This in itself spells doom for the Macintosh as it relates to market share.

We all know that millions of older Macintosh computers are still in everyday use in our nation's public schools. For that matter, there are still millions of Apple IIs in use in many of those same schools. What Apple Computer cannot afford to happen is to lose these schools to the PC world when they upgrade. Unfortunately, there is some evidence this is happening. Face it, with all the bad press Apple has received the past two years, what school district wouldn't weigh its options on another platform without such baggage?

It's like the press saying over and over that the president is guilty of lying and sexual indiscretion. Despite whether the accusations are true or not, after awhile it begins to sink in and there are those who "convict" before all the evidence is in.

Much like a president under siege, I feel that's what's happened to Apple over the past two years. In many ways, Apple already has been tried and convicted by the popular press, convincing the public that the Macintosh has lost its "relevance" in the marketplace.

The sad commentary is that if Windows is the only operating system that has relevance today according to the press, then what will happen if Microsoft captures the lion's share all other relevant technologies and applications? It is entirely possible that Bill Gates could control all desktop computers by 2005, that is, if companies like Apple go under.

"Where do you want to go today?" If a scenario such as this is played out, no matter where you go, Mr. Bill will be right there with you.

I don't know about you, but that scenario doesn't make me sleep better at night.