Vintage Macs are a Good Buy

Since the beginning of my "Mac" experience in 1987, I've never been one to pay retail. If you have been a Macintosh user for long, you will remember a time when the computer made "for the rest of us" really was an expensive proposition.

I avoided that mostly by always buying closeout Macs that were last year's model. My first Mac, a Plus, was purchased at a Little Rock, Arkansas, downtown computer store for $1,299. For that price, all I got was the basic system. I purchased a tote bag (remember those?) and an external floppy drive.

I lived with the Plus for a number of years before purchasing a PowerBook 145B in Tupelo, Mississippi, which was being offered at an enormous discount at a Sam's Wholesale Club. At the time it was quite an upgrade from the Plus, which I had upgraded from one meg of internal RAM to four and 52 meg external hard drive. As I recall, the PowerBook came with four megs of RAM and an 80 meg hard drive.

Later, I purchased a secondhand Color Classic in Memphis, Tennessee. I now enjoyed a colorful Mac experience and was able to use all the applications I had grown to depend on.

Following the Color Classic, came a new 6116 Performa PowerMac, which was being sold on closeout at Office Depot in Columbia, Missouri. I was thrilled at the price and performance for the dollar. Literally up until a few months ago the 6100 was the fastest Mac I had ever owned.

I also acquired a used Mac Classic with four megs of memory and a 40 meg hard drive along the way, which was the computer my mother used up until last month.

You might say, "Well, what's the point?" The point is the 400 mhz G3 iMac that I'm typing this column on is an amazing piece of computer technology and engineering at an incredible price ($1,299). While you can certainly buy cheaper computers, you would be hard pressed to find a better value in top-of-the-line, cutting edge computing today.

The drawback for those upgrading to an iMac from older Macs is that Apple has created a legacy-free machine with the iMac. Gone are the outdated SCSI and serial port connections and in are Firewire and USB connections. The flip side is that everything you'll want to do with your new Mac will literally fly! The processor and hard drive is a screamer. Firewire smokes and USB does just about everything else.

Legacy-free can be good. It takes a company like Apple, however, to take the hit and make it happen.

This is really a great time to be a Mac user. While Apple is turning out great products, there is a huge market out there in older Mac equipment. Contrary to the PC market, old Macs are still very usable computers today. Let's face it, even the oldest Macs, such as the Mac Plus, can surf the web today. Try doing that on the competitor to the Mac at the time the Mac was introduced, such as a 286 IBM compatible.

This past weekend I picked up a used Mac LC III with monitor and printer for little to nothing. Despite the limitations of hard drive space and RAM, which I've already upgraded, this is a sweet machine. It runs System 7.1 and older software at good speeds and could be used for an Internet surfer if so desired.

There are many other examples of great deals on older Mac equipment on the web. While these machines may not fit the bill for everyday web surfing or intensive number crunching, they can still perform 90 percent of the tasks people purchase computers for.

And still yet, over the past several months I've purchased "closeout" software for a song as well. I've bought some nice older software, which by the way still runs on my iMac, for .99 cents and for $2.99 at several local stores.

I've known for some time that "old" isn't necessarily bad. That goes for age of a person and certainly the age of vintage Macs.

$699 iMacs at Sams!

Who said Macs are expensive? If you don't believe me, check out your local Sam's Wholesale. But you better do it quick, because the low-cost Macs I saw were flying off the shelves!

I'm talking about the $699 iMacs at Sam's. They're not the latest and greatest, but last year's 333 mhz, no-DVD version. They only have 32 megs of ram, but hey, they're Macs. A Sam's I visited over Christmas had a ton of these Macs on display for $849 (Grape and Tangerine only). That wasn't bad, but still not all that good, considering Apple had just introduced the $999 iMacs running at 350 mhz. I image some folks who have been curious about Apple and its products over the years bought one. But at $849, it probably wasn't many.

With a "6" in front that number (around Christmas) I would venture to say the boxes wouldn't have lasted long at all. In some ways, it could have been a real marketing coupe had Apple sold the machines to Sam's at a loss to get the iMac prices down and into homes and businesses. That way a lot of folks who are not exposed to the quality and reliability of Apple products would have purchased one. After all, the only competition in the $600-price range are some PC boxes with a name no one has ever heard of!

Many Mac watchers have dreamed of a sub-$500 Macintosh for years. While $699 is still a far cry from that, it sure is getting close and if you would have told me just two years ago that Macs would be selling below $700, I would have said you were crazy.

I would love to see sales figures of the iMacs once the price was reduced at Sam's. After all, Sam's shoppers are supposed to be bargain shoppers. People who know value when they see it. Once the price dropped, I bet the iMacs flew off the shelves, both into the hands of long-time Mac users and newbies as well.

While PC users will argue with Mac users about a lot of things, rarely does the argument ever focus on the shoddy quality of Apple products. That's because Apple is known in the industry as the leader in manufacturing good quality computers.

That's something the Sam's shopper who picked up a bargain-basement iMac will discover and who knows, perhaps one day, they'll buy Mac No. 2.

Need Relief from Stress? Buy a Mac!

For the past several weeks I've been leading a study at church on stress. We're using the videotape series Margin: Prescription for the Pain of Overloaded Lives by Dr. Richard A. Swenson. In one of the sessions, Dr. Swenson talks about how we should schedule for "margin" in our lives and allow time for things to go wrong. After all, he says: "Things that can go wrong will go wrong."

In addition, he talks about doing the things that tend to simplify, rather than complicate our lives. For instance, Dr. Swenson says he only owns two colors of trousers and one sports coat. By owning only two pairs of trousers he never has to make a fashion decision, he says.

You might be thinking what does a series on stress has to do with a column on the Mac? Well, I think a lot.

The use of computers in our personal and work lives can be both a blessing and a curse. As I have mentioned before in this column, some people are better suited to using PCs running Windows and others are more suited to using Macintosh computers. Windows tends to appeal somewhat more to business users and technophiles, whereas the Macintosh has tends to appeal more to graphic arts and publishing professionals.

With all that said, there are aspects to owning a PC running Windows that some embrace, whereas users of the Macintosh tend to really detest. One is the shear number of software titles and hardware options available for the average PC.

In this month's edition of MacAddict magazine, editor Robert Capps writes about his first trip to Comdex, which is considered to be the ultimate trade show by many PC users. As he arrives at the Las Vegas Convention Center where the show is being held, he sees an immediate contrast between PC and Mac users: many people in attendance are wearing suits.

To make a long story shorter, Capps is generally amazed at the number of competing software titles available for PCs. He had thought that he would be jealous of all that is PC and not Mac, but concludes otherwise: "I realized that if I worked for a PC magazine, I'd have to wade through all manner of ridiculous software. I'd be the guy that would have to test 50 different business management apps in order to find out what features would work for which people. Sure, these programs are functional, even necessary ­ but they're no fun and there are 10,000 of them."

And finally: "The longer I strolled the convention floor, the happier I was that I worked for MacAddict. We get to cover just cool stuff.The Mac pond may be way smaller, but thanks to its simplicity and its appeal to creative people, by comparison our pond is filled with champagne."

As I mentioned earlier, there is something to be learned here. Some people purchase a computer that they can constantly tinker with, while others buy a computer to get work done on and have fun on occasionally. That's where I believe the Mac excels and why so many people have found the iMac so appealing.

So the next time you're somewhere where there is an overwhelming number of PC titles over Mac titles, remember Robert Capps' visit to Comdex and go home and enjoy the stress relief of owning a Mac!

A Look Back at Past Novembers

Since this is the fourth November I will have written a column for appleJAC Digest, I thought it would be fun to look back to see what the topics of past November columns have been.

In November 1996 the column focused on clones and Windows 95: "What remains to be seen is if the Mac operating system can stand up to the challenge of multiple vendors building boxes to run it. The PC-compatible market has gone through years of upheaval due to incompatibility issues and the lack of plug-and-play features.

"As hard as it is to admit, Microsoft has forged ahead on a number of fronts with Windows 95 ... particularly in the most important arena, public opinion. Getting a modern operating system to market is perhaps Apple's greatest challenge as it competes today's personal computer market.This situation is ironic as Apple has finally licensed its hardware business. With that out of the way, Apple must keep its technology ahead of the competition. By not delivering on a new (and revolutionary) OS soon, it could seriously hurt the clone market which it so hesitantly started in the first place."

Remember all the talk about the BeOS? Well, Apple didn't buy the upstart operating system, rather, it opted for Steve Jobs NeXT and, well, the rest is history as they say.

In November 1997 Apple was experiencing some of its darkest days, and the column reflected what everyone was talking about: Could Jobs save Apple?

"Apple is a long way from throwing in the towel, and it very well looks as if Steve Jobs is the right man at the right time. Yes, Jobs makes crazy decisions that no one understands. But isn't that kind of direction what has made the Mac great? Why, he's even considering staying on permanently. Indeed, we'll be in for a wild ride for sure. Name another computer company that creates that kind of excitement. Dell? Gateway 2000? Compaq? You've got to be kidding! Personally, I'm buckled in and bracing for more. What I see coming from all of this is perhaps some of the most insanely great products in the history of computer dome ... can lightning strike the same place twice? Contrary to popular believe ... scientists now say "yes".

A much rosier picture followed in November 1998 with a discussion of 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.

"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!"

In November 1999, the Mac has perhaps never been healthier. Apple Computer seems to have learned from its mistakes of the past and, I believe, is slowly re-positioning itself as a consumer electronics company.

Can Apple become the "Sony" of the computer world? With the phenomenal success of the consumer-oriented iMac and upcoming success of its mobile cousin, the iBook, I think it's well on its way.

Mac Classified as Weapon!

It finally happened. Most Macintosh users knew it all along. The U.S. Government has officially labeled the Macintosh as a "weapon" which could be dangerous if it fell into the wrong hands!

I'm talking, of course, of the new Power Mac G4 introduced recently by iCEO Steve Jobs at the Seybold publishing conference.

While you might say it's more marketing hype by a company re-discovering its advertising roots, the G4 has power that's definitely in a league all by itself. The Apple web site says it best: "The Pentagon regards supercomputers as 'strategic technology'-in effect, making the Power Mac G4 a weapon that shouldn't fall into the wrong hands."

It's ironic, you might say, that a computer used to save in the world in Independence Day now has the potential to destroy the world!

And not only is Apple building wonderful computers, they're telling the world about them. A new "tank" TV commercial produced by the TBWA/Chiat/Day ad agency has been airing regularly since the introduction of the new machine. For air times and to download a copy of the commercial check out http://www.apple.com/powermac/tanks.html.

The introduction of the G4 is significant in a number of ways. Since August 1998 we've watched as Apple has aggressively shored up its consumer products space in the marketplace. It wasn't long ago the computers Apple offered to consumers were a confusing mess of too many models that just weren't up to snuff with the PC competition. Remember the Performa 6100 models?

That all changed with the iMac. With the iMac, Apple not only brought to market an eye-appealing personal computer that set new standards for industrial design, but a computer with a powerful processor that actually could take on demanding tasks.

It appears now with the introduction of the G4 that Apple will be aggressively attacking graphics and business professionals on the high end. And let's face it, PCs running Windows 98 may be the standard, but now they're neither cool nor faster ... and by a long shot!

That's a sobering wake-up call for the PC industry that still enjoys a huge lead in market share over Apple products, and will for the foreseeable future. However, in some ways, Apple has never been in a better position to capitalize on its niche markets than today.

I suspect that creative professionals that switched to Windows NT during Apple's darker days are regretting that move big time. It was bad enough when Apple introduced the G3, but the G4 will make these guys (and gals) envious beyond belief ... that's saying nothing about the fact their computers just aren't cool looking!

Apple's definitely on a roll. I'm writing this column on Sept. 15, the day the new iBook was to be available at retail outlets and through mail order across the U.S. By the time the iBook became available, Apple already had more than 160,000 pre-orders for it. Let's see ... that's $1,599 apiece ... not a bad initial sell for Apple.

I announced a few columns ago that I was falling way behind in computer technology with Apple's latest hardware and software revolution. With the introduction of the new G4s and iBook, I've fallen even farther behind.

Looks like it's time to upgrade!

Can the Mac Survive?

The debate continues to rage about the availability of Macintosh software. In all actuality, there is really little debate. There are simply more titles available on the Wintel platform than the Mac platform. The debate really should be centered on not how many titles are available, rather how useful the additional titles are for Wintel computers and whether this is enough reason to use a Wintel box over a Mac.

The business market for the Macintosh is dead and has been for many years. Few corporate information services managers would be wise to advocate the use of Macintosh computers to do the "day to day" chores of the office. Macintosh just isn't the standard, PCs running Microsoft Windows 3.1, 95 or 98 is. So increasingly the question is asked by corporations:

Why do we need any Macs at all?

For information services managers who oversee a corporate environment that uses the Microsoft Office suite, Lotus Notes, etc., there really is not compelling reason to use Macs. However, when it comes to publishing, Macs are still the darling of printers and publishers; despite some serious inroads being made by the PC industry. Additionally, there are still some applications which are said to be the choice of creative professionals that result in the use of Macs. They include some music composition programs and digital video editing programs.

However, I must ask the question, how long can the Mac hold with all the Windows-related interests circling ready to pounce on its historical strongholds in publishing and other creative industries? Apple certainly has hit upon a cord with the iMac; it's the company's best-selling model ever, but most of these sales are going to the home market. Is the home market and schools all Apple has left, or will it ultimately be overcome by corporations standardizing on Intel-based computers running Windows?

I really believe only Apple Computer can answer that question. After all, it is Apple that has positioned itself over the years as non-standard, mainly for marketing reasons based on its once-superior operating system. I say "once-superior" because while the ease of use of the Mac interface is still better than Windows, an operating system consists of many components and Microsoft has been building up the underlying strength of Windows for years. Yes, Windows is still a bit more complicated for the non-tech crowd, but the Mac OS has grown more complicated with the passing of the years as well.

Will Mac OS X be able to compete? I would have to say yes and no. I am convinced until Apple truly embraces open standards the new X will have no more impact than its predecessor. If Mac OS X could run on any chip out there, thus being able to be installed alongside Windows, Linux or traditional Unix, and run Windows programs to boot, I think there is a good chance Apple could make some headway. But until then, Apple will have to settle being a niche player in the larger computer world.

***

Well, it happened. Wintel computer manufacturers are beginning to copy the style of the iMac casing and keyboard. Apple already has filed a lawsuit against Future Power and I suspect will have filed an additional lawsuit against eMachines by the time you read this. Additionally, Packard Bell's NEC Z1 copy of the style of the 4-year-old 20th Anniversary Mac is interesting as well. My question is simply: Doesn't the PC industry have any new ideas of its own?

***

I was privileged to be on hand for Steve Jobs' recent keynote address at MacWorld in New York City. I must admit, a MacWorld event is something like traveling to Mecca for Mac fans. I know most of you have read the accounts already, but I must say that Apple really delivered with numerous new technologies. The iBook, of course, has the potential of impacting the laptop computer market much like the iMac has done. Already, PC columnist John Dorvak has been raked over the coals by Mac devotees and (believe it or not) PC users as well, over his comments concerning the iBook's look. Apparently, not only Mac users are ready for new looks in computers. John's comment about the iBook being a sissy computer that real men would not be caught dead with, really shook some cages on the Internet. We'll see who's right, John. I bet Apple sells a few of these babies ... uh, only to women of course!

Palm Computing to the Rescue

Well, I have finally caved in. With this installment, The Mac Observer officially is being renamed The Macintosh User. About a year ago the folks at Webintosh renamed their offerings to The Mac Observer. When it happened, I quickly shot off an e-mail informing them that they had stepped on the toes of my column which had had the same name for three years.

They were nice about it, but informed me they had done an extensive Internet search before naming the column and hadn't come across my column. I couldn't believe it, you mean their searches hadn't brought them to www.sockets.net/members/~tyarbrough? Unbelievable. Well, after pondering an expense dollar lawsuit that could have the potential of taking headlines away from Microsoft (the current court darling), I decided to cease and desist and rename The Mac Observer to The Macintosh User. I figured I couldn't go wrong with The Macintosh User because the magazine is now gone, plus, it's so obvious no one would want it. Sheeesh!

Let's change the subject ... I getting depressing just thinking about it! This month I am writing The Macintosh User on a new Palm Pilot. I must admit, it is an amazing little device for what it is ... it's not a Newton, but after all, Newtons aren't made anymore. There are some good things happening with the Pilot. Luckily for Macintosh users, there's revised software out from 3Com that makes the Pilot a desirable handheld device to own fall in love with.

Now let me clarify. I'm not using the latest and greatest offering from 3Com, rather a ''poor man's'' version, the Professional. Yes, it would be nice to have one of Palm's new ''V'' or ''VII'' (its hot new wireless), but that's more power than Pamm (yes, that's the way she spells it) needs. Finding myself in the poor man category, I bought the Pilot for Pamm, who needs a simple way keep up with her calendar and addresses. She's delighted with it and so am I (with envy).

Pamm really likes the gadget too. A few years ago I bought her a PowerBook for her school work (she's a parent educator with Jeff City Schools). She has used it, she just doesn't like to tote around a full blown computer all the time (unlike us computer geeks!). So, the Pilot really fits her work style. While out making home visits, she can whip the Pilot out and make an appointment, then sync it with our desktop computer at home.

The purchase of the Pilot hasn't all been hugs and kisses, however. I first tried to hook the thing up to the PowerBook and never got it work right. You know how PowerBooks share the printer/modem port? Well, it really freaked the Pilot out, so much so that it never got the sync right. After several hours trouble shooting, I installed it on our desktop machine and it worked beautifully. However, after a night of surfing the Internet and making some configuration changes, it also wouldn't sync and required the software to be reinstalled. If someone out there has had similar difficulties with the port thing, I would love to talk with you.

All it in, the Pilot is a neat product. It's a shame that Mac users still don't have their software shipping in the original box and have to purchase it and a special serial connector separately, but I guess that's a small price to pay to what is becoming the portable handheld to have ... and will until Microsoft gets Windows CE perfected and seeks to shut 3Com down. We've seen that all before, now haven't we?

Is a $500 Mac in Your Future?

Apple Computer is back and back in a big way. It seems that it took a near-death experience to make the company that invented the personal computer to reinvent itself.

While Apple is now experiencing profitable quarter after profitable quarter, computer pundits point to Apple's downsizing as the only possible way it could have regained its financial health so quickly.

While this may be true, we all know how bloated Apple had become. You name it, Apple once engineered and manufactured it: digital cameras, printers, handheld devices (the Newton), and on and on. While many companies gain success by diversifying, Apple chose products that had many competitors with much more focus. Over the years Apple slowly lost its focus as an innovator of computer software and hardware by shifting resources and energies to unprofitable products.

That's all changed now, as Apple's co-founder and self-appointed Macintosh "bad boy" Steve Jobs has refined the company's business plan. Jobs' plan is working and he seems to be having the time of his life; riding high at Apple and at Pixar.

However, tough questions remain for Apple. While the iMac finally gave Apple a viable (and popular) consumer product that people really want, is there any way it can continue its stellar success in a Windows dominated world?

Perhaps. One thing is certain about Steve Jobs, he pushes people to excel and to attempt the impossible. As I write, I can't help but think that Jobs' has Apple engineers working on the "next great thing" in personal computing. There have been some rumors that Apple will be revealing soon a revoluntary handheld communications device, along with its consumer portable computer. Are they one in the same? If Jobs is smart (which he is), he will quietly move Apple away from the operating system paradigm. Operating systems from Apple, Microsoft and others will one day soon be so outdated and impractical that they will be useless to consumers for their computing needs.

While Apple has made great strides to reduce the price of owning an entry-level Macintosh (the iMac), PCs still own basement computer pricing. Recently, I saw an eMachine, a PC that can be had for $499 with a 14-inch monitor! What does a consumer get for such an outrageously low price: a 333-megahertz chip, Windows 98, 32 megs of RAM, CD-ROM, 2.1-meg hard drive, 56K modem and floppy disk drive. For many computer users, this set-up is all they need.

When Apple will attack the sub-$1,000 market? In some ways Apple has with $700 and $800 close-outs of Revision B iMacs. While Apple contends it doesn't want to get into selling us "last year's technology," for many consumers last year's technology" is all they need or want to pay for.Is a $500 Mac in your future? If Apple intends to aggressively attack the consumer marketplace, it's just a matter of time.

You're a Mac User? Consider Yourself Lucky!

Remember high school? Remember the peer pressure and the efforts we all made to fit in? How about college? The experience for most was somewhat the same, whether a chemistry or journalism major, we all ran with a crowd and tried to be one of the boys (or girls).

How about your office environment? Do you fit in or stick out like a sore thumb? Are you among the dominant species of PC users or of the endangered Mac lot? Who are your friends at work? Are they Mac or PC users, or both? Most of us have developed social skills to the extent that we have developed friends both at work and in other aspects of our lives.

The corporate battle for computer dominance was settled long ago. Though it was for the most part won by Microsoft and Intel by 1995, the introduction of Windows 95 pretty much added the last nails in the corporate coffin for Apple Computer. Unless, of course, you are a graphic designer, newspaper publisher, video specialist or other creative professional that Apple has managed to maintain a dominance in the marketplace.

As Apple worked to pull out of a nose dive during the past few years, it discovered something. While it has been for the most part shunned in mainstream corporate America, it is admired and revered by creative professionals. They never left and are helping Apple fuel an explosive comeback.

Our staff graphic designer recently received delivery of a new blue 400 Megahertz G3 Mac, what I like to call Apple's "Blue Meanie." One thing is certain, Apple Computer is making certain with its new Macs and iMacs are noticed. The 21-inch Multi-sync monitor on this baby is huge and crystal clear. Coupled with the G3 tower, the system is something for the eye to behold. In addition to turning heads, the amazing machine also delivers with smoking performance.

Apple may have been kicked out of the corporate boardroom, but there is evidence that it is winning the hearts of a large, and relatively untapped, home audience. Statistics show that more than 40 percent of people buying a new iMac are either new to computing all together, or are switching from Wintel. These are significant numbers, considering two years ago Apple Computer was left for dead prompting PC heads like Michael Dell to encourage the company to sell off and return money to shareholders.

The new blue G3s and iMacs illustrate vividly how a company like Apple can tap into a new market of consumers in an industry that was previously described as lacking significant growth potential. In some ways, Apple has created an entirely new market of computer buyers. They are people less concerned with the operating system more concerned with the overall "look and feel" of the computer experience.

As I've said before, now is the time for Apple to recreate the user experience, but until it does that, thank goodness it has at least found a way to bring the Mac back into significance. If you're a Mac outcast at your workplace, consider yourself lucky.

Pentium III Web Sites: It's a Dangerous World!

The death of eight tourists, including two U.S. citizens, in a remote Africian forest reminds how dangerous the world can be. Americans, while accepting violence inside their own borders, often forget this while traveling overseas. Many times Americans are attacked simply because they are American and for no other reason.

In comparison, it seems Macintosh users tend the think the computing world is a world of cooperation and mutual respect for innovative technologies that have the potential to make all of our lives better and more productive. But like the over confident American tourist, Macintosh users get broadsided from time to time and wonder why they are targeted.

Some information services managers in corporations and colleges seem to have taken it upon themselves to single-handedly "stomp out" the use of Macintosh computers in their midst. Many times they wave the flag of "standardization" and making it easier to administer one computer platform rather than two.

We see this action in major corporations as well. Microsoft seems to have made the stomping out of competing technologies -- either by buying or stealing it -- a science. Now I read that Intel, which is running scared that its Pentium chips are being cloned by other manufacturers, as well as the competition it faces from the PowerPC chip, will be encouraging Pentium III-only web sites.

I still remember in the early days of on-line computing MS-DOS-only connections, Commodore-only connections, Apple Computer-only connections, and so on. At the time this approach was fueled more by technology rather than some company wanting to shut out certain users.

The entire premise of the Internet is based on the sharing of information among the masses of all computer races. When Intel, Microsoft or Apple for that matter try to cut off certain users either through the microchip inside the consumer's computer or the browser their using, it shows extreme shortsightedness on the company's part and, I believe, ultimately will fail.

Embrace Wintel Users

Rather than express displeasure with Wintel users, I think it's time for Mac diehards to embrace them. Why? Think about it. We all know Windows is a knock off of the Macintosh operating system, right? Well, Windows users are therefore exhibiting the greatest form of flattery by using Windows.

Today more than ever, Mac and Windows users can live in relative harmony. Where I work, most of our computers are Wintel boxes, but when it comes to publishing, we turn to Macintosh to bring home the bacon. This is a strategy that makes a lot of sense for several reasons. While Macintosh is by far the easiest and most user friendly operating system, information services employees -- for the most part -- are unfamiliar with the Mac. This is for good reason, too, because most data processing/information services departments cut their teeth on IBM/DOS technology. Apple Computer lost the enterprise/corporate market a long time ago.

While Wintel machines may be adequate for many business tasks, it is still important for companies to turn to alternative technologies when appropriate. Publishing on the Macintosh is an area that's a no-brainer. Macintosh still dominates the publishing industry and it doesn't look as if that will change any time soon. Other areas where Macintosh holds significant market share includes video production and music composition. There also are certain scientific applications based almost exclusively on the Mac.

Since the mid 1990s and especially after the introduction of Windows 95, Wintel machines have represented the computer for the masses. There is good reason for this. Once Microsoft began to get more things right with Windows, there was really little reason for people for consider using a Macintosh instead. When the Mac was introduced in 1984, Apple had a good six year head start and the market cornered on the GUI interface. Apple really botched its advantage by not selling its advantage and by not opening the Macintosh up to other manufacturers. Bill Gates knew that in order for the Macintosh to become a "standard" that Apple would need to open it up.

Gates, in a now famous letter to Apple executives proposed to help Apple do just that. What did Apple do? Laugh. They had it. Gates didn't. The rest, as they say, is history.

So rather than flaunt your Mac superiority to fellow computer users who just happen to embrace Wintel, try to remember they represent what the Macintosh originally tried to accomplish all by itself ... a computer for the rest of us.

Apple's Super Bowl Message is Ironic

It's amazing to see the excitement Macintosh users are experiencing in anticipation of Apple Computer's return to advertising on the Super Bowl. It's easy to understand, after all, it was Apple's "1984" commercial in during the Super Bowl that set the standard for "event advertising" in the big game.

A lot has changed in the 15 years since Apple first advertised in the Super Bowl. While the Macintosh set the standard for an easy-to-use what-you-see-is-what-you-get computer, most folks don't use a Macintosh to get their work done today. If you're not a graphic designer, composer or work in the public school system, the Mac has not become the computer for you. It's Microsoft Windows.

So as Mac users look to this Super Bowl with anticipation, what is the message from Apple they and millions of others will hear? It will about the Year 2000 (Y2K) computer problem. Isn't it ironic that the computer invented "for the rest of us" and for the most part is immune from the Y2K, bug hasn't become the computer for the masses.

For more read www.mercurycenter.com/premium/front/docs/superads27.htm

When Mac Faithful Lose Faith, What's Next?

I must admit I was disturbed recently by Ric Ford's year end column concerning the platform we all know and love. The reason I'm disturbed is that Ford is no "casual" Mac observer. Ford is a vintage Mac enthusiast and has followed Apple since the company's inception.

Ford made a statement at the end of his MacWeek/eMediaweekly column that is sobering for Mac users, if it pans out to be true. Commenting about Apple's problems with its customer service system, Ford said: "Following all the successes of the past year, this remains a big problem that Mr. Jobs needs to fix to keep his platform alive for a while longer." Read the full article at www.emediaweekly.com/1998/12/20/macintouch.html.

It was sobering for me when I read it, considering all the good Apple news of late. My habit every morning once was reading the morning newspaper, but these days, I turn to online news on the Internet. I read about world news, sports, the weather, and about the Mac right from my home computer.

I found Ford's column while checking out my favorite Mac sites one morning following Christmas. I had just returned from an trip visiting relatives in Little Rock where I had been pleasantly surprised by activity I witnessed at a CompUSA store. While I was in the store about an hour checking out the Apple wares, I witnessed an iMac being sold, along with lots of other Mac stuff, to other patrons. There was quite a buzz in the Apple section of the store.

As I stood there playing with an iMac on display, I observed that there seemed to be genuine interest in the Mac once again. The shelves of the store were stocked with Mac software and there were Macs and Mac accessories everywhere. Running on the iMac was the new Electronic Arts game Future Cop, which is nothing less than impressive on the machine with its fast graphics acceleration.

Less impressive was my visit to Best Buy across town. There was one sole (and pitiful looking) iMac sitting on an end shelf amid a sea of Wintel boxes. There were few accessories and software located nearby (when I saw it I wondered why would anyone want to sink $1,300 into a computer without a printer or software) for the iMac at the Best Buy store. But overall, I thought, for those seeking the "best buy" on an iMac, it's good that Apple has expanded it's retail horizons to Best Buy.

Anyway, I left the Little Rock area with a good feeling about what Apple is doing. I guess that's why I felt my balloon deflate a bit when I read Ford's column upon my return home.

There's evidence big things are up with Apple, if you believe what you read about its consumer portable and the new desktop machines on the way. It should all become much clearer once the Mac World Expo in San Francisco kicks up steam in early January.

As I've said before, Steve Jobs has learned a lot since being ousted by Apple in the 1980s. Jobs wants Apple to succeed and I wouldn't count him out in pushing the company to once again become the software and hardware innovator in the future. Jobs has an ego the size that can keep him at the helm of Apple and Pixar for many years to come; and don't think that he doesn't want both of this companies to succeed and succeed big time.

After I thought about it, I had to agree with Ford's statement about Mac technology coming to the end of its life cycle. But I'll add that Windows (in its present form) is doomed as well. I'm not a Java fanatic, but I'll say that something bigger than proprietary operating systems is coming to personal computers. Either Apple will create it or someone else will. One only has to look as far as Sun Microsystems, Oracle and others to see that the race is on to move us away from Windows, Mac, Linux, UNIX or whatever.

All of us Mac users can only hope, Ric, that Apple innovation that's coming will help extend the platform (whatever form it takes) well into the future.

Be Thankful

The past several years have been exciting for us "computer junkies" out there.

Just a few short years ago, few of us knew what the Internet was and certainly had not "surfed" it. For me, that all changed around 1995, about the time I moved to Missouri.

Like most computer users at the time, I was logged onto one of the popular (and proprietary) on-line services: CompuServe.

I remember thinking the first time I heard the Internet mentioned and a reference made to its vast resources. I asked, "How could it contain more than what's available on CompuServe?" My, was I in for an awakening!

Some time passed before I actually "logged on" and witnessed the Internet in action. I remember the first time I watched as someone surfed the web. I realized quickly what an amazing concept the Internet is -- that of linking thousands of computers together to form a hug worldwide database -- and I was hooked.

So were thousands of others and we all know how the Internet has grown since 1995!

The Internet is an interesting case study for the use of Macintosh computers. It is estimated that from 20 to 40 percent of all computers used to surf the Internet are Macs

When it comes to design on the web, one survey says 60 percent of all web sites are designed using a Macintosh. This makes sense considering that most "mission critical" publications use Macs for publishing.

All in all, the Mac plays a large role in the on-line community of the Internet, as it does at America Online, which is the last of the proprietary on-line services to survive and flourish amid the growth of the Internet.

I remember a time when local computer club bulletin boards were all the rage and the way club members communicated on line with each other. Then came some early efforts at national on-line services. Remember Quantum Link for Commodore computers?

All in all, computer enthusiasts have a lot to be thankful at this point in computer history: fast machines, better productivity software, exciting games; the list goes on and on.

However, it is at this time of year that we need to push back from the flicker of the screen and spend quality time with what matters most, our families. Because no matter how sophisticated or how good computers get (especially the Mac), they'll never replace the warmth of a human touch and word from a loving mother, father, spouse, son or daughter.

Enjoy your computer this holiday season, but don't forget those who make life worthwhile.

And be thankful.

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.