Navigate: | My Mac Online | The Archives | February 1997 | A Few Words |

To start off this month, I would like to welcome a new columnist to the My Mac staff, Ed Tobey. Ed is a great writer, and we're happy to have him aboard! He's a certified Apple/Mac service technician, and his monthly column is called "The Senior Macintosh Center". Ed realizes that there are still plenty of older Macs in use out there, and his column will be focusing on just that. While this column will be written with the older Mac user in mind, we think there'll be something there for newer Mac owners, too.

And for those keeping score, Ed is our second Apple/Mac Certified Tech on board. Jeramey Valley of "Tech Tips" also holds that job title. And, of course, I make my living as a Macintosh Consultant/Business Web Provider. But fear not, My Mac will not go "all tech."

Speaking of My Mac, I would like to welcome all the new readers. If this is your very first issue of My Mac Magazine, you should know that this is a collection of articles from some of the best down to Earth, everyday Mac users just like you.
(Tim)

Spell Catcher Updater
Last month I reported on a problem with Spell Catcher 1.5.6
and some of the 6200 series of Macs and that Casaday & Greene was planning on shortly releasing an updater for those effected. Well, for all those effected, go to Casady & Greene's Web site at http://www.casadyg.com, click on the updater folder and go to the SpellCatcher 1.5.6 to 1.5.7 file. Download, follow the instructions (make sure you have your serial number handy) and update. If anyone still has problems, get in touch with the Tech section and let them know; they seem to be more then willing to answer questions and work with their customers.
(Russ)

Apple and Advertising
At times, I wonder if anyone at Apple's headquarters in California works in the advertising section, or better put, I wonder if Apple has an advertising section. Why does Apple spend a lot of money to advertise their products in Mac-oriented magazines? Hello, Apple, you don't need to tell us any more about your products, we already know! What you need to be doing is hiring someone who 1) understands what advertising is, 2) directs that advertising towards the people it should be targeted for, i.e., non-Mac types and 3) has a better sense of how to sell the product. There is only one word that can describe what Apple does now: BORING! I've seen more interesting public service ads, or even worse, I've seen better ads for public television. If they can produce interesting, quality products that grab your attention, why can't Apple? Apple, you did it in 1984, how about trying again in 1997!
(Russ)

AOL in deep...
If you've yet to read my column in this issue (My Turn) then I will say it is about America Online, and what I have been going through as of late. For those AOL users reading this, I am sure you know JUST what to expect. However, I wrote that piece a few weeks ago, and much has changed. Not much for the better, I'm sorry to say.

First, AOL now reports that they are holding back on actively acquiring new members. Funny, but I still see the TV ads, still see AOL software in every magazine published in the free world, and I still cannot dial in direct without five hours of busy signals. In response to all the complaints, AOL is now "In the process of upgrading our connectivity," meaning they should be adding new phone lines/modems soon. Great, what is the waiting list for my area? No word from AOL, and no one could answer me on the phone. A point of fact: AOL has 200,000 modems, and they have 8,000,000 users. Folks, that is a 1/40 ratio. (One modem per forty users. Not good.)

Today (1/24/97), on the local news, I heard a lawyer in our area is suing AOL for false advertising. Basically, these lawsuits are popping up all over the country, with angry users complaining that AOL advertises "unlimited access," yet they can't get online when they choose, sometimes even for days at a time.

I don't know about you, but I can usually get online via my Internet account. However, every other time I sign on, I get a "Host has failed to respond" message. In the last week, I've counted 23 out of 32 calls to AOL when that message was displayed. I ask that you read "My Turn" this month, and then drop me a note with your AOL horror stories.
(Tim)

America Offline
'nuf said!
(Russ)

We Need Your Input
My Mac needs your input! How are we doing? Is there a column that you particularly enjoy or don't like? Is there something you would like to see a lot more of in each issue? Do you have suggestions for a shareware review or is there a shareware /freeware program or a utility/DA/Control Panel that has made your Mac use easier and more enjoyable? We need you to let us know so that we can check it out and pass it on to your fellow Mac users. We are constantly looking for new writers and reviewers so that we can cover all the things that we need to keep up with as Mac users. Write us and let us know how we're doing!
(Russ)

MSNBC To The Rescue?
I stay away from all things MSNBC, because something about that network seems wrong to me. NBC and Microsoft in bed together is just wrong, IMHO. Seems to contradict everything a "news source" is all about to me. Fair and unbiased reporting should be a staple in a news organization, but I doubt you'll ever see any anti-Windows reporting going on there.

That said, I want to thank Christopher Byron of MSNBC for a great commentary on Apple stock. (http://www.msnbc.com/news/52465.asp) For the first time in recent memory, a reporter or columnist had the guts to write an accurate, unbiased article on Apple. Sure, Mr. Byron was writing about stocks, but in a real sense, he was also writing about Apple as a company in a VERY positive light.

He wrote: "Most investors don't yet seem to realize it, but a historic buying opportunity ala IBM about a year ago could thus be developing. Apple's problems are big, all right, but they're not that big, and they certainly don't warrant the rout that has taken place in the stock."

Folks, truer words were never written. And remember, this is from a columnist from MSNBC. Yes, Microsoft. He also writes: "At their current price of less than $17, Apple's shares are selling for virtually nothing more than the company's balance sheet book value. And Apple's balance sheet boasts real and valuable assets, not just the pretend-assets of "goodwill" and "intangibles" that comprise so much of American corporate finance these days." He continues later with "This is all happening because investors - close to 40 percent of the stock is held by mutual funds and other institutions - have increasingly spooked themselves into thinking that Apple just might not be able to hang on much longer."

Did you notice the key words there? "spooked themselves into thinking..."

Mr. Byron, thank you! Thank you for FINALLY telling it how it is. But wait, dear Mac users, he continues...

"... Apple has almost Terminator-like staying power derived from its incredibly strong balance sheet. This is one company that can make mistake after mistake, year after year, and still not run out of time or options or money to keep trying to get things right. Consider some basic facts. With roughly $1.1 billion of cash on hand, Apple has more folding stuff in the till than 96 percent of all publicly traded companies in America. It's got as much cash on hand as Philip Morris, Delta Airlines and Eli Lilly ... and more than Cisco Systems and plenty of other high-tech high flyers."

But I save the best for last: "But if you think Amelio knows what he's talking about, and that reports of Apple's demise are, to paraphrase Mark Twain, embarrassingly premature, then gulp down some Maalox and take a flyer on this unloved stock. On a risk/reward basis, you've got much to gain and not a whole lot to lose."
(Tim)

Being a Mac Enthusiast means-
that you enjoy the Mac or Mac clone but still understand that there are people out there that regretfully don't share your enthusiasm; that you don't go overboard in your interest or enthusiasm to the point that you can't see any other viewpoint; that enjoying your Mac doesn't become the focal point of everything you do; that you still take the time to read up on something you're unfamiliar with so that you can better understand what is going on and how it applies to you and your Mac; that when someone asks a question about their Mac that "everyone" should know, you still take the time to answer civilly, without demeaning that person, and help them by pointing out sources of information or FAQ sites that they can visit to help them get started; that you enjoy "your" Mac the way that YOU like it, be it system 6.07, 7, 7.1, 7.5, 7.6 with no extensions or as many as YOU want, with the programs that YOU like and use, BECAUSE that is what the Mac is all about: being different. So enjoy yourself and have fun!
(Russ)

Tim Robertson (publisher@mymac.com)
Russ Walkowich (editor@mymac.com)

Top of Page

Find:
| Advanced | Site Map | Sherlock Plugin |

| Current Issue | The Archives | Online Exclusives | About My Mac | Search |