Shareware
Observant readers of this month's issue of My Mac will notice a few more shareware and freeware reviews. The reason is simple: there are some really great programs now available to Macintosh users that virtually no one has heard about. For some odd reason, these clever and innovative applications have gone largely unnoticed by the Macintosh media, the result of which has been a disservice to our community of users.
Sure, a press release on MacInTouch is nice, but what does that tell you? Does the program work, is it buggy, or is it a program you really need but never knew about? More often than not, most Mac websites only tell you when a new version has been released, which means nothing if you don't know what the original version was supposed to do. Stan Flack, speaking on the Mac Radio Show with Shawn King, responded to one of my questions by saying MacCentral would "soon" be covering more shareware reviews or articles. Well, since it has yet to happen, I've decided to take matters into my own hands and try to focus a little more on shareware programs here in My Mac.
Here's where you all can really help me with this: perhaps you now use or have heard about a great piece of shareware or freeware that you're sure others would be interested in. If so, write me and tell me about those programs. Together, we can let others know about a great resource that can benefit any Mac user.
QuickBooks
In last months letter page, reader Daniel M. Dreifus asked if we knew about Y2K compliance in QuickBooks 4.0. Someone over at Intuit must have been paying attention because they posted a Y2K fix! Check out http://www.intuit.com/corporate/year2000/quickbooks/quickbooks4_mac.html for more information!
Did the "Pirates of Silicon Valley" score?
Well, the "long awaited" made-for-television movie about Steve Jobs and Bill Gates has finally aired. What did you all think... was it right, was it wrong, was it worth all the hoopla? Let us know.
The more things change...
Has Apple already forgotten their bitter lessons of supply and demand? We'd heard that serious problems exist in the supply channels of the newest PowerBooks, that they were largely unavailable in retail stores at the same time when orders processed through Apple's own online store were being handled and shipped. Then Apple promised to correct the problem... but apparently sent too many PowerBooks to retailers, which now means that people who ordered through Apple's online site can't get their machines. C'mon guys... can you please get it together?
Niche?
Why is it that computer journalists always refer to Apple's market share as a niche? Rather than admit that Apple is again a powerhouse in the computer industry, these hard-headed journalists keep trying to downplay their embarrassing predictions of Apple's demise. Not all, certainly, but many of them write that "Apple holds a 7% niche in the computer market which they seem unable to pass."
The problem I have with this is that they won't do this to the "other computer" manufacturers. Taking numbers from the IDC website: Compaq held 16.10% of the market share. Dell was 14.80%. Gateway 9.30%. Hewlett Packard 8.60%. IBM 8.0%. Are these niche markets? Apple is at 7%, and that was only with six months' worth of iMac sales. This year, add in the new Blue and White towers, the new slim G3 PowerBooks, and (perhaps) the consumer portable, and then let's look at the numbers.
I tell you, I'm sick of the "niche" tag when referring to Apple and their market share of the computer industry. And I invite you to email those Mac-unfriendly writers who continue to spin the facts to suit their petty or peculiar motives. Let them know, nicely, of course, that they have readers who don't buy into their line of nonsense, and who demand fairness and equal treatment. Who knows, perhaps it will do some good. Yeah, I doubt it too, but at least it's worth a shot.
Some cool sites!
Like you, I am always checking out the latest and greatest Macintosh web site online. Here are a few of the ones I have been visiting as of late:
The Mac Show. Got Real Audio? Own a Mac? You MUST check out http://www.macshowlive.com
The Mac Tonight Site. Great for links to some of the best Macintosh related writings online. Chris Welch, the sites creator, also writes some fantastic stuff himself. Check it out at http://www2.crosswinds.net/~macpro17
AppleLinks. Wants great commentary on the news? Want to read some of the most clever writers in the Mac press? Want links to everything Macintosh? Then this is the site for you! http://www.applelinks.com.
Tim Robertson
publisher@mymac.com
Russ Walkowich
editor@mymac.com
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