Latest iMac Design Playful and a Joy to Use

From the Houston Chronicle, April 27, 2002

By Dwight Silverman

WHEN Apple Computer's new iMac arrived at my home for review, I first set it up on the dining room table. One of my daughter's friends was the first to see it, and her reaction was telling.

"Wow, look!" she said. "It's the moving computer!"

That's a reference to the infectious TV ad that shows a man stopping in a window to admire the iMac, and the machine mimics his movements. My daughter's friend actually hoped that the iMac would play with her, too.

Indeed, "playful" is the perfect word to describe this computer's design. Apple's ad campaign captures its spirit beautifully. And design is the primary thing the new iMac has going for it.

Other computers do what the iMac does -- functionally, it performs in the same way as other Macintoshes and many Windows-based computers do. What makes this different is the way it physically engages the user.

Apple and its often zealous followers have long maintained that the Macintosh is the friendliest computer to use, and in this case they've been referring to the operating system, the Mac OS. But this is the first time that Apple has designed hardware that does as well in communicating that friendliness.

In that spirit, let's add the word "inviting" to its description.

I later moved the iMac up to our guest room, and my in-laws came to visit and stayed in that room. My wife's 85-year-old mother -- who to my knowledge has never touched a Mac -- sat down at it (ignoring a Dell sitting next to it, by the way) and figured out how to sign on to America Online on her own. When she finished, she asked coyly what it would take to bring it back with her.

For those who haven't see the ads or the machine itself, it looks like no other computer you've ever seen, even though its components are familiar. It has a 15-inch flat-panel screen. The screen is mounted on a shiny, polished chrome neck that's about 8 inches long, allowing the screen to move freely. The neck comes out of the center of a milky white hemisphere that's about the size of half a basketball. The computer's lone drive -- which can burn both CD and DVD discs -- pops out of the front of the hemisphere. Various connections are in a row along the back and bottom of the hemisphere -- Ethernet, FireWire, fax modem, USB. Even the speakers are cool -- they're a pair of clear spheres with impressive sound. They are a vast improvement over the speakers found in the original,
wedge-shaped iMac.

The version I tried came with an 800-megahertz PowerPC chip, 256 megabytes of memory and 60-gigabyte hard drive. About the only thing it lacked was an AirPort card, Apple's version of 802.11b wireless networking.

It also has a full-size keyboard and a cool-looking -- if somewhat limited -- clear optical mouse. I've complained about this before, and here it is again: Apple's stubborn adherence to a one-button mouse is a disservice to users. Fortunately, almost any USB mouse will work with this computer, which will give you two or more buttons for better productivity and convenience.

The price for this particular model -- the flagship in the line -- is $1,899. Less expensive models with slower processors and lacking DVD burners are $1,599 and $1,399.

Early reviews made the point that, given the flat-panel display and DVD burner, the iMac was a good value. Windows-based PCs could not match that price at the time, but that has changed since. For example, it's possible to configure a Dell Dimension 4400 with similar specs and pay $1,866.

The iMac comes with Mac OS X 10.1, which can run both native OS X applications as well as programs designed to run on the "Mac Classic" OS. At this point, though, it's possible to go with a pure OS X setup.

The combination of OS X -- with its attractive, intuitive interface -- and the unique physical design of the iMac are what makes this such a joy to use. I suspect even those who sneer at Macs as toys would be won over after an hour or so of use.

The iMac comes with a suite of multimedia applications aimed at making work with music, movies and photographs easy. Both the MP3 player and cataloguer iTunes and the video editing program iMovie, found on earlier Macs, are included. What's new is iPhoto, a basic image-editing and organizing program. Plug a USB-based digital camera into the iMac, and a simple dialog box lets you import the pictures you've taken. If you like, you can have iPhoto launch automatically to do the import. This makes getting digital photos into your computer a snap.

While the image-editing features of iPhoto are limited, they should be enough for most home photographers.

Besides the use of a single mouse button, I have only one small gripe about the hardware here. In most cases, the flat-panel display is beautiful, and is well-matched with an nVidia GeForce2 MX graphics card. But I found that small text on the screen tended to suffer badly from the "jaggies." Settings in the OS X control panel for font smoothing didn't seem to help.

Other than that, this is a great choice if you are shopping for a computer. If you are a Macintosh user and it's time to upgrade, you should snap up one of these.

But what about Windows users? Is this compelling enough to pull market share away from the dominant personal computing platform? I'd say that, for the first time in a long time, it may be. The trick is to convince Windows users to give up their investment in the software they've accumulated. While the iMac comes with just about everything you'd need to do most jobs, longtime computer users have programs they don't easily abandon.

However, this computer is so friendly, stable, easy to use and fun, I think anyone who is in the market -- regardless of what she or he has now -- should take a serious look at it. I know I will the next time I buy a computer. Send e-mail to dwight.silverman@chron.com. His Web site is at www.dwightsilverman.com.

Copyright 2002 Houston Chronicle

The iPod is More Than an MP3 Player!

The transformation of Apple from a computer manufacturer to electronic device manufacturer has begun. Mark it down as the iPod.

The iPod is one nifty MP3 player/recorder, but I believe Apple may have an underlying strategy with the device. Has everyone noted there been no Apple-branded PDA device announced? Could iPod possibly be the handheld device that will deliver this technology to Mac (and possibly Windows) users? Think about it.

Now I am not familiar with the underlying technology in iPod. However, what I do know is that it can serve as a hard drive for Firewire-equipped Macs and has its own operating system used to select and play songs. If you take this one step further it would be noted that programs theoretically could be installed and run on the device. Now , you tell me, how hard would it be for Apple to write PDA software to run on iPod? They already know how to do it (Newton) and they would have had to been blind not to see the tremendous potential out there (Palm, Microsoft CE devices).

You may say, well Newton was a bomb, so why would they want to go after this market again? Well, the answer is simple: iPod wouldn't just be an MP3 player/recorder, PDA or whatever. Depending on software installed, it's a cool and extremely portable extension of your computer desktop. Steve Jobs said it himself during the introduction of iPod: it will go places only PowerBooks dream of.

Well, there's my theory. Hey, I may be wrong, but it's interesting speculation nevertheless, huh?

No matter what happens with iPod, it appears Apple will be introducing more non-computer based gadgets in the future and attempting to migrate to more of a computer electronics company.

Click here for an example from Mac Directory that shows the iPod can be more than an MP3 player!

Different May Not That Bad After All!

A funny thing is happening on the way to world PC domination. Many journalists covering the computing industry are writing that fewer PC manufacturers may be a good thing and that Apple has a real chance of becoming a relevant computing platform once again (as if Mac users had to be told that). I've noted some significant news stories covering the computer industry the past several weeks.

It all started when Hewlett-Packard bought Compaq a few weeks ago and someone forgot to tell HP that a merger of the two PC box manufacturers wasn't necessarily a good thing. Stocks dropped and the PC press jumped in with both feet. What I liked most about the whole debacle is what they said about Apple:

"Dell sells online and through catalogues, its primary customers are companies and businessmen," writes Charles Haddad in his Byte of the Apple column. "Although Apple's online sales are growing smartly, the company still sells largely through retail outlets. Its customers are home users, students and artists. And that pits Apple directly against HP and Compaq, which dominate the consumer market for PCs ... If HP and Compaq wed, odds are good that one of these well-known consumer brands in PC retailing will disappear. That thinning of the marketing clutter should help elevate Apple's already lustrous brand name among consumers."

Charles Haddad of Business Week writes how brilliant he thinks Apple's strategy is to open retail outlets across the country.

"Call me crazy, but I agree with the handful of analysts who believe Apple-branded stores are a stroke of genius," said Haddad. "A place like CompUSA is basically a fast-food joint, except the boxes hold microprocessors rather than hamburgers. Sure, the labeling varies from box to box -- Sony, Compaq , whatever -- but what's inside is pretty much same. Not so with a Mac. It has a unique architecture that not only melds the machine to the operating system but enables users to do just about anything -- from playing graphic-intensive games to editing video -- without adding new parts. It never ceases to amaze me the hassles PC users learned to accept. Games that won't work without special cards. Printers that work with one PC and not another."

No truer words have ever been spoken about a computing platform.

Another Internet writer made the following observation recently (sorry, I didn't get the name or attribution):

"Ironically, Apple now appears to be the most stable company in the business (even though Dell is formidable). HP/Compaq's and IBM's ongoing presence in the desktop market is far from certain. Sony has so many other businesses that it's involvement with PC's need not be permanent. I'd think with the Xbox coming out that Sony (maker of PlayStation) would try to prevent people from using Windows since consoles and PC's are starting to converge. Gateway is in trouble, eMachines has been delisted from the NASDAQ, Micron, Acer, Tandy, NEC and Packard Bell are all gone. The dog-eat-dog world of Wintel is getting down to very few uneaten dogs, and the survivors may have pieces missing. Apple is starting to look awfully smart for marching to the beat of a different drummer."

Do you feel the tide may be turning in Apple's favor? You bet! What's more, Apple has a major change in OS strategy coming that will rattle a few cages. It's OS X and its UNIX based, which makes sense (finally) to all those computer geeks out there who could never embrace what they feel was Apple's proprietary operating system/hardware integration (like Microsoft isn't proprietary the way they "integrate" their technology)! For good or for bad, OS X will be embraced by a wider range of computer users simply because of its UNIX underpinnings.

While OS X will move a lot of folks initially to the Mac platform because of the UNIX attraction, in the end it may be cool and superior hardware that seals the deal. Some say there is no way Apple can build enough computers annually to keep up with say, a 10 percent increase in market share. Make no mistake, Apple has learned the hard way how to outsource product and would be able to keep up with nearly any demand the market has to throw at it.

I haven't said a think about the rumored 1.6 GHz G5 chip from Motorola, mainly because there are conflicting stories on the subject. Actually, I think it's believable because of the way it states Motorola got there – by altering the G5's pipeline structure from its initial seven stages to a total of 10. Thus, Motorola is using a type of microchip slight of hand to get the GHz to comparable Intel levels. The current 867 MHz Motorola G4 is roughly equivalent to Intel's 2 GHz P4 chip. That means a G5 running at the same 867 MHz could be at least twice as fast as the current P4, except for the added pipeline structure which could slow it down somewhat.

For more about the rumored G5 chip, see http://www.osopinion.com/perl/story/13626.html.

As you can see, it has been a busy couple of weeks in the Mac world. Hang on, it's only going to get better.

Yellow Bug Computers: Great Mac Source

I don't normally use this space to tout particular local businesses, and come to think of it, don't think I ever have. However, one local entrepreneur has come to my attention who definitely is worthy of mention – if for no other reason – his worthy cause.

His name is Bob Avery-Babel, owner of Yellow Bug Computers located in Columbia, Missouri. If you live in Jefferson City, you may have read his advertisements in the classified section of the newspaper touting low-cost Macintosh and PC systems.

Well, I've met Bob and actually been to his place of business, which at the moment just happens to be his small apartment. The day I was he had one room filled with lots of Macs, Mac parts and Mac accessories, as well as some PC equipment. Being a sucker for any Mac ever made, I bought several items, include a 17-inch AppleVision monitor and some other stuff.

Bob is a unique individual. He spends his days working at a PC-based communications company, but moonlights working on his first love, Macs, through Yellow Bug Computers. And his mission is noble: he buys and refurbishes Macs, then makes them available at low cost to first-time computer users and others who want to take a dip into computer technology. Pretty cool idea.

The flip of all this is that while Bob scourers through piles of Macs and PCs at various auctions looking for parts to rebuild computers, he comes up with lots of good stuff that Mac users can use. I'm talking about used monitors, keyboards, memory, drives and other parts that can cost much through mail order. If you have PC friends that need stuff, you can have them give Bob an email or call.

Bob has been to monthly appleJAC user's group meeting and said he would like to get to know our group better. I've encouraged him to do so and to visit us often.

So the next time you need some Mac stuff, give Bob a call. He may not have what you want at the moment, but he'll sure be on the lookout for you – which will benefit your pocketbook if you can wait. Yellow Bug Computers is located at www.yellowbugcomputers.com.

I'll Miss New York and MacWorld

This column is being written prior to July's MacWorld in New York, so I won't be commenting on what happened, however, I must admit I'm missing not being at The Big Show in the Big Apple.

Last year saw the introduction of the Cube, new displays, new keyboard and a mouse. Who knows what this year's offerings will be, but if you believe the various Mac news sites, not much is expected.

But that's not what I want to point out about MacWorld. Whether it's San Francisco in January or New York in July, if you ever get the chance to go to The Big Show, do it! There's the obvious attraction of a major Mac expo, but what's more the overall atmosphere you'll experience being around thousands of people who love and support arguably the best computing platform ever.

You'll see people like David Pouge walking the show floor, hundreds of product demonstrations designed to showcase the advantages of the Mac OS, and if you're lucky, Steve Jobs at the keynote or on the show floor.

While I could not make it this year, I'm already making plans to vacation either in San Fran or The Big Apple in 2002 – during MacWorld, of course. If you love the Mac, I'd suggest that you do the same.

"I want to be like Steve!" - Michael Dell

I've watched in amusement the past couple of years Michael Dell's comments about Apple. I'm amused for a couple of reasons.

First, if Apple is such a "niche" player in the overall computer market, why does Dell bother by berating the company every chance he gets? Secondly, why would Dell, who heads up a company that essentially repackages technology, want to poke at one of the most innovative computer companies of all time?

Well, you don't have to look far to see the source of Michael's frustration.

While Dell has certainly done well over the years repackaging technology, the real excitement around Silicon Valley surrounds those who push the technology envelope. And Apple -- love it or hate it -- does just that.

Additionally, Michael would have to have been blind not to notice that Apple has done very well, thank you, the past couple of years. This seems to bother Michael. You see, despite all the reasons Wintel manufacturers should care that Apple stays viable and healthy, they really want Apple to die. Apple introduces products on its platform that people want on the cheap Wintel platform. If Apple were to die on the vine, Dell and others would have less reason to produce compelling products.

While Dell doesn't necessarily produce "exciting" products; whether Dell wants to admit it or not, it is influenced by companies like Apple.

For example, do you remember the all-in-one computer Dell produced for a while? I don't see it in their advertisements anymore, so I assume it has been discontinued. Also, have you noticed the special "panels" Dell places on its laptop computers? Michael Dell knows that no matter what kind of colorful panels he sticks on his computers they won't come near to "cool factor" of the computers Apple produces. Why? It's simple. Apple had to invest millions to developing the special plastics and housings for its computers. Dell repackages PC components. Any R&D it does definitely would not focus on the look of its computers. There are exceptions like Sony, but for the most part PC manufacturers aren't concerned with aesthetics -- either with the boxes they build or the interface their machines run. Dell is a classic example of a "non-innovator," as it has made billions throwing parts from different suppliers together to build its computers; then uses Microsoft's operating system to run it.

So we return to our original question: "Why is Michael Dell so concerned about Apple?" After all, according to Michael the company is going out of business, has lost the education market and is essentially not a relevant computing platform.

My answer? Perhaps Michael is smarter than we think. After all, the last time he lambasted Apple, Steve Jobs came out with the phenomenally-successful iMac that pushed the Wintel forward.

Go ahead, Michael, make Steve's day!

Mac: The Original 'Windows Experience'

Recently, while digging through some old Macintosh promotional pieces I've managed to hang on all these years, I began to think about the machine, it's makers and the literal revolution in computing the Mac created.

Those of us "old hats" who have been around have a different perspective on the Mac experience than more newer converts to the platform. I'm am constantly amazed by the number of people who marvel at Windows and proclaim what Windows is the "greatest thing since buttered bread." If any connection with the Macintosh is suggested, these same people quickly discredit the original GUI (Graphical User Interface) platform that made it all possible.

When Macintosh hit the market in 1984, it was unlike anything most of us had seen. Yes, some computer junkies knew of the existence of GUI-interfaces; but most of us were still computing happily along with a command line. Steve Jobs and the Macintosh development team changed all that. Many said it couldn't happen, but it did.

Despite the fact that the Mac was somewhat under powered at launch, Jobs and his team made it happen and clearly put Apple ahead of GUI development for the next six years. What made the Mac interface so great in the early days: simplicity of design, drop down windows, a mouse, etc., has been replicated over and over again in millions of Macintosh and Windows computers sold throughout the world. The Mac did bring computing to "the rest of us."

While Apple clearly won the battle to get GUI to a mass market, it also clearly has lost the war. As Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak said a few years ago at a college commencement service, "We won. Every computer is a essentially a Mac." This is true to an extent, however, Apple lost mind share and all-important market share through the years. I think Apple and Steve Jobs are happy now being a niche player in the world of computers. As I looked through clippings, brochures and other items from the dawning of the Mac era, I couldn't help but thing how things could have been different if there were more Macs in the world than Windows-based machines.There are some thoughts:

Personality. For one thing, more people would consider their computers more an extension of their personality than just a work tool they must tolerate. That's what has kept me loyal to Macintosh all these years. It's just a better computing platform. There are few headaches using a Mac than Windows. It's that simple.

Ease of Use. More people would be organized. While no computer has ever truly been "easy to use" with no prior instruction, the Macintosh is the best thing we've been able to come up with. I like the way everything on a Mac is consistent in implementation. Everything works the same. All programs work the same. It brings peace to my life.

Innovation. There would more innovation. Apple Computer, with the research and development resources of Microsoft, would be something to behold. Most of the major innovations in personal computing have come from the laboratories of Apple. It's a fact. I could name them, but I will not. If you're the curious sort, check out the following The Most Hugest Page of Mac Facts at http://www.13idol.com/mac/macfacts.html. As you read, you'll smile … a lot!

Obviously, these are just a few of the many things I could mention. I count it a joy to still be a Mac user and free from what I call the "Windows Form Factor." The next time you boot your Mac, count it as a joy as well.

It's Time for Apple to Innovate Again

Well, here we are in the year 2001 and it isn't quite the "Space Odyssey" everyone expected. There is one constant however: Apple Computer is once again going out of business.

In fact, a C/NET columnist went as far in recent weeks to predict that 2004 will be the final year for Apple, the company that invented the personal computer in the 1970s and refined the personal computer experience with the Mac in the 1980s.

Now, I'm not one to make predictions, particularly when it's related to such a volatile business as computers. Concerning Apple, however, this prediction really doesn't make much sense. While Windows -- in all its current incarnations -- dominates computing, there is a growing public out there who doesn't want to follow the status quo. Face it, Windows is seen as corporate America. Apple, on the other hand, is still seen as counterculture and cool. In some ways it's Apple's cool factor and zealous users that make it the target of the corporate Wintel establishment -- whether it be by an information services manager or the technology press.

There was a time I thought that bad press could kill Apple Computer. I am now convinced that the only thing that can kill Apple is Apple itself. As we enter the year 2001, Apple is in a unique position of being the only computer manufacturer which can control the entire computing experience -- the hardware and the software -- for the end user. This is something that even Bill Gates cannot claim.

Today, in a time when people are looking for easy access to technology, Apple can lead out with devices that provide this accessibility to the masses. By doing so it can accomplish something in computers that companies like Sony have been able to do with electronics such as the Walkman. While this opportunity certainly is within reach of Apple, I am not convinced it is ready to take on this role. While Apple is without a doubt one of the most innovative computers companies ever, Apple is not the risk taker it once was. I recognized that Apple has had to become more like other PC companies in order to survive.

As I have mentioned in this column before, the guts of today's Mac are much like the guts of the average Wintel PC. While there are major differences such as the CPU, hard drives that work in PCs work in Macs, as do most other components. The difference in the Mac has always been the user experience. What started out to be a very simple interface has evolved into a complicated conglomeration of interface enhancements and add ons.

While the current Mac OS 9 is one of the most stable Mac operating systems ever, it is still essentially based on the original technology that created the Macintosh in 1984. Will OS X be the savior -- and liberator -- of the Macintosh operating system? From what I've seen so far, it is an impressive multi-threaded operating system that is extremely stable. While Apple has done a great job of hiding the UNIX underpinning of the new OS with its Aqua interface, it's still there and for the first time the Mac will have a command line available to the average user. Apple needs OS X, but IÕm not sure the average consumer does. There is little doubt it is a great entry into the server market, but I just don't see OS X in its current form winning over multitudes of Wintel users.

The company that gets the next evolution of the computer interface right may very well revolutionize the way humans interacts with silicone. I'm convinced, however, the next interface innovation will make computers as easy to use as a Palm Pilot or any home appliance. I believe that Apple -- with its unorthodox and innovative corporate culture -- is the computer company with the best ability to color outside the lines to create the next great innovation in computing.

Apple has for many years led the way in the industrial design of its hardware. Now it is time for Apple to lead the way with a device that revolutionizes the computing experience.

So You Like Running Water?

Raise your hand if you like running water. How about a warm shower? As Americans, we tend to take these modern conveniences for granted. However, if you do much traveling overseas, you know how these simple, every day pleasures can quickly become a commodity in some developing countries.

Admit it. We all like conveniences and -- whether we admit it or not -- aesthetics. Some Macintosh users have a hard time telling you why they love the Mac OS user interface so much. Many say that "it just works" or that it's easier to use.

As a user of the Mac OS and Windows OS for many years now, I can say with confidence that "it's the aesthetics of Macintosh" that really grabs me. From the ground up, the Mac OS has been engineered with the end user in mind. While Windows certainly has gotten much better over the years, it really lacks in operating system aesthetics and usability.

Ask any long-time Mac user who must use Windows at work or who is forced to switch for some reason. The first thing they'll tell you is that "all the programs don't work the same." Perhaps a more accurate statement is that the user "does not access every program the same way." This, in itself, is an important distinguishing characteristic of the top two operating systems in the world.

From the beginning, the Mac OS "toolbox" forced programmers -- like it or not -- to call on certain parts of the operating system the same way. That why for years all one needed to know to shut down a Macintosh application was CRTL Q or to choose Quit from the File menu.

Windows users may read my previous statement and say, "Hey, Windows works the same way, you're not being fair." Well, in recent incarnations Windows programmers have began to standardized on standard menus. However, if you'll notice, this is mainly in more mainstream programs of high professional or consumer distribution. If you don't believe me, download a shareware Windows program sometime and take a close look at it. More times than not the programmer will come up with all sorts of ways to access the program, all to the confusion of the user. In all fairness, this happens sometimes to youthful Mac programmers as well. But I have experienced it to be much more common among the Windows programming crowd.

Now that we've all grown accustom to the Mac OS, Apple is changing everything with OS X. What's promised is a higher level of usability and functionality. With the public beta out on the streets, we'll know soon how well the boys (and girls) in Cupertino have delivered on this one. If OS X lives up to its billing, Apple may set the standard for consumer operating systems once again.

What will be interesting is how Apple ultimately delivers OS X to the masses through its scalability and uses in a various of consumer and professional devices. With core underpinnings from UNIX, I believe Mac OS X is in a good position to capture some of Microsoft's historical market share. Will OS X be a part of your future? The answer is "yes and definitely." Will it be a part of the future of Windows users? The answer is a "yes, but they'll come kicking and screaming."

If Apple is successful with the implementation and marketing of Mac OS X, the company may once again position itself favorably in the physique of corporate America.

Time - and more than a beta release -- will tell.

Why I Recommend Mac

I enjoy travel. Whether it be for business or for pleasure, traveling seems to give me a needed rest from the common every day. Recently, while traveling with my wife who was attending a teacher’s convention, I read an interesting article in USA Today. Since I receive a local and state newspaper at home, I relegate the reading of USA Today only to times when I travel.

The cover story on this day discussed how Macromedia’s Shockwave is exploding in use on the Internet. Shockwave allows common, everyday people to create their own multimedia programming at little or no cost.

What was amazing is that not only common folk are getting involved in Internet multimedia authoriing, but filmmakers and other creative professionals who previously had to work through large corporations to deliver their art form.

Among the names mentioned were film directors David Lynch and Tim Burton. Apparently, it takes a minimum amount of computer equipment needed to produce and deliver Shockwave content to web audiences. The article pointed out that practically any well-equipped new computer is capable of running the multimedia software.

Lynch, who is by no means an unknown director, uses an iMac. Here was a major motion picture director who has had literally hundreds work with him on movies in the past, sitting quietly in front of an iMac authoring his own productions.

It’s not that Shockwave authoring cannot be done on a Windows PC, of course it can. The difference pointed out in the article is the sheer simplicity the iMac provided to facilitate the process. Lynch drew pictures on the iMac, animated them, provided voices and background music -- all without any assistance.

Without meaning to the USA Today article said that neat stuff is just easier to do on an iMac. It’s not that it cannot be done on a Windows PC, it’s just easier on an iMac.

I’ve never really considered myself a "Mac advocate," rather I’m an advocate of easy-to-use computer systems. I have found the Mac is the only computer platform that meets that criteria over and over again.

Some PC users -- many of which have never used a Mac -- are quick to criticize the Mac. I tell them I speak from experience when I recommend Mac because I use both daily at home and at work. While PCs have become the darling of corporations for whatever reason (we won’t get into that here), it’s really hard not to recommend Mac to home users and creative professionals because of its many end-user strengths.

One of messages I hear repeated from missionaries and pastors who use Macs in the United States and overseas is the easy of use, set-up and stability of the Macintosh. Here again, when asked what type of computer I recommend, I usually respond Mac because of the attributes the platform possesses.

On the flip side, I have found it is sometimes unwise to recommend a Mac to users whose friends primarily use. Why? Because not matter what type of computer a person uses, there will be support issues from time to time. I’ve found it best for Mac users to have Mac friends to help and vise versa with PC owners.

However, I must admit that it has become easier to recommend Mac following the revitalization of Apple Computer and the growing acceptance of the platform once again among consumers. As more people use Mac technology, them purchase of a Mac makes more sense even when many more friends and families may use a PC.

Apple in the Windy City

Recently, after many years of just passing through the Chicago airport, I actually stayed in the Windy City. It was a delightful experience, as I got the opportunity to enjoy Chicago hot dogs, its famous pizza and many other of its special culinary delights.

On the Apple Computer front, advertising was visible on several downtown outdoor displays. I also visited the CompUSA store right off of Michigan Avenue.

Apple had a good presence in the store: iMacs were stacked high as customers walked through the front entrance. Additionally, there was a well-stocked "Store within a Store" that featured every Mac configuration currently available. What's more, there were a lot of people visiting the area, most of which were a younger 20s or so set. All in all the store had lots for the Mac enthusiast.

The next day I visited the world famous Sears Tower, which is one of the tallest buildings in the world. On the day I was there, they were getting ready to dedicate a new observatory on the 103 floor. It was a sight to behold. In addition to the beautiful view, there were displays detailing Chicago history. It was also designed as a high-tech exhibit, as computers were located at each observatory deck. The computers were designed to provide visitors with information on landmarks visible from the tower.

I say "designed" because several of the devices, which were Gateway all-in-one computers running what appeared to be Windows 98, were locked up due to some type of error message.

I chuckled when I saw this, wondering how many thousands of dollars had been spend on the new exhibit, only to have it marred by defective technology. I will give those responsible for the exhibit some slack, as it is still being finished.

I guess the same could be said for Windows 98.

Apple has 92% among my acquaintances!

By Lukas Hauser

In the heels of news that Macs have only gained 1/2 a percentage point in marketshare in recent years, MacCommunist has conducted an equally scientific survey. Apple has a commanding marketshare lead over its nearest rival, Dell Computer, among people I know.My girlfriend has an iBook. (Okay, I forced her to. She's a previous Dell user, the capitalist. But there's only one party allowed in this country, baby!) Her friend in corporate law school is planning on getting an iBook next semester. (See? The system works!)

My ex-girlfriend has a Mac, too -- probably the same Power Computing piece of junk I helped her choose so many years ago. Perhaps had we stayed true to MacCommunist ideals - COMPETITION WITH APPLE IS ALWAYS WRONG - the relationship would have worked out. No matter.

My current girlfriend's roommate, Sarah, has an original iMac but she's thinking of switching to PCs since her iMac is busted. (An acceptable loss: the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the one.) My girlfriend's ex-roommate, Wendy, is considerably happier with her iMac. My girlfriend's other roommate, Karen, is an "information architect" at a major New York internet agency, and uses Macs on the job. The fourth roommate, Jessica, doesn't have a computer but apparently had owned Macs throughout her college career.

A friend, Jason, has a tangerine iMac 266 in his Manhattan Upper West Side apartment. He'd previously had an original iMac at his job -- financial writer for a Hearst magazine -- and had recently upgraded his work computer to an iMac DV Special Edition. (The entire magazine's staff uses iMacs -- as, I imagine, most Hearst magazines do.) But he's recently quit his job to write freelance, and will be using his orange home iMac full-time.

His roommate, a veteran freelance writer and editor, has had a plethora of Macs since 1985, and just recently upgraded to a $999 entry-level iMac. His other roommate, Dan, a computer-science graduate from an Ivy League college, is computer-less, but will be buying a Mac PowerBook for his summer job in Los Alamos. Dan just helped his mother, a painter, get an iMac, too.

The woman who hooked me up with a writing/editing myself for a New York-based design-centric magazine gig is a proud owner of an iMac at home, as is her fashion-writer roommate; the influential web magazine she also writes for is exclusively Mac-based, too. The aforementioned design magazine uses Macs, of course, as I imagine all its writers and designers do at home.

Mired's editor has a PowerBook G3 at home. Mired's contributing editors -- a humanities graduate student and a sports-magazine fact-checker -- own a

PowerBook G3 and a Dell notebook, respectively. However, the Dell-notebook-using fact-checker uses a graphite iMac DV at his fact-checking job, and is apparently considering making the switch at home, too.

A good college friend of mine, an artist, is a big fan of her G4, which she uses to make her art. Her father, a respected photographer, recently switched from a 5-year-old Windows PC to a G4 with Apple Cinema Display. His wife, a lawyer, loves her PowerBook G3, recommended by a computer-consultant family friend who owns dozens of Macs. A lot of the family's artist friends are Mac users themselves.

One business acquaintance of mine is a fashion photogapher, who has 5-10 Power Mac G4s in his Chelsea studio; another is multimedia performance artist who also has 5-10 Macs in her Tribeca studio; another runs a small SoHo art gallery with 3-5 Power Mac G3s; another works for an outdoor advertising agency which has 3-4 G3s in its design space.

Five web-design colleagues at a global media conglomerate for which I work all use either G3s or G4s, and all have older Macs at home. (One, a

Yaddo-affiliated painter, helped her significant other get an iMac recently.) Our division has probably a hundred Macs in use, exclusively. Also in my building are a major newsweekly magazine's offices (all Mac-based).

One financial writer I know there, peripherally, is married to a graphic designer, who recently bought a Power Macintosh G3. An HTML programmer I know in another division uses a PC at work, but bought a purple iMac for his home use in Queens. Another, who runs a punk-rock web-zine, is in the same situation, but will be replacing his work PC with a G4 in the coming weeks.

My own roommate doesn't have a computer at home, but has his sights set on a graphite iBook. The entertainment magazine he writes for is also exclusive Mac-based. An inventory of some of his friends: a fellow writer and iBook owner; a musician and G3 owner; another musician and G4 owner; a freelance fashion writer and iMac owner. My roommate's cousins also use Macs, as does his father, a doctor.

My mother has an iMac. My father, retired, has a tangerine iMac DV. My half-sister and her husband have a Mac. Some good friends of the family in California have several Macs. Some friends of the family in Western New York recently bought a PowerBook G3.

My uncle has a PC. How it hurts!

My old high-school buddy living in San Francisco has a G3 at home and G4 at work. (His mother has an older Mac at home.) A college buddy, also in San Francisco, has a Mac at home and is otherwise unemployed. Another high school friend is in the Peace Corps, but his family back in Western New York has a variety of older Macs.

Some good friends of mine, jazz musicians, bought an original iMac a few years ago. As they've become more successful in recent months, signed by a major label, they've bought themselves an iBook and iMac DV Special Edition.

"These numbers are staggering," I said in response to the report. "Apple seems to be doing better than expected in this particular but far-reaching market segment."

The lesson? Capitalist pigs: prepare to be dragged out onto the street and shot.

Thanks to our man Gary Flint for his solidarity!

The Big Apple in the Big Apple!

If you lived out in the boonies like I do, you would sometimes forget there's a whole another world out there. Let's face it. Life in a community of 40,000 or so people is much different from say, Chicago, New York City or San Francisco.


On a recent trip to New York City, the fact that I live in a small and isolated Midwest town really hit me between the eyes! As I rode in a taxi from a New York Airport I watched as we passed billboard after billboard. But one billboard caught my eye. It was a huge photograph of an iMac DV Special Edition. In addition to the "Think Different" slogan in the lower right of the billboard, the only words on the ad were "Super Model." There it was: The Big Apple in the Big Apple!


While I did not get a chance to do much sightseeing, the offices where I visited used lots of PCs, but Macs as well. During a field trip along numerous Manhattan streets, I strained to peer into office building windows. Yes, they were there. Macs were everywhere.


The night before I was scheduled to leave the city, I got the opportunity to walk to Rockefeller Center from the Hilton Towers where I was staying. As I strolled past downtown storefronts, something caught the corner of my eye. There they were, four colorful iMacs in the window of The Computer Experience. Having my trusty digital camera in hand, I managed to snap a quick picture (at left).


To top it off, on the return flight I picked up a copy of Business Week. There he was, Steve Jobs, recognized as one of the top CEOs of 1999 (see photo above).

All in all, it was a good to see Apple and Macs (and Steve Jobs for that matter) are making a big impact in big places -- not just Mid-Missouri!

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.