"Must-Have" Programs

Read your article (#5 only thus far); saw you recommended SpellCatcher. I tried SpellCatcher once; didn't care for it. Instead, I use Spell Tools. Get it here: http://www.newertech.com/software/spelltools/spelltools.hqx

The good news: this program is free!

Now, for the bad news. If you're running Mac OS 9, this program won't run. You'll need the updater. Get it from here: http://www.marciniak.com/spelltools/spelltools.html

The updater isn't free; it's $10 (which I *must* take care of Soonest).

Go ahead and download one (or both, if you're running OS 9). Play with it for a few days. I don't think you'll be disappointed. Feel free to pass this bit on to your readers.

Glen Warner gdwarner@ricochet.net

iMac DVD Worth buying?

Just wanted to let you know that I really like your magazine, I just ran across it while looking for Mac sites. I plan on buying an iMac sometime this week and have been looking for information trying to decide if the DVD is worth the extra $300.00 to me or not. Anyways keep up the good work and know your work is appreciated.

Jim holle 1usa@netscape.net

Hi Jim,
Thanks for your kind comments. It is words like these that keep us going every month. In my opinion, yes, the DVD is well worth it. You also get 2 FireWire ports and 400MHz. I would get the DV model if I were you, budget permitting.

Upgrading a PowerMac 8100

Do you recall our online discussion about the difficulties involved with trying to accelerate the Mac 8100 series? I just received received an email from a member of the powermac newsletter list; he assures me the 8100/ accelerates with ease!

This computer scene is really a techhead world of absolute dizzying madness. The contradictory info and variations on a theme are two phenomena that must surely constitute a new area of phobia-neurosis in the offices of clinical psychologists.

Yikes. Why don't you guys write some entertaining articles on the topic of new learning challenges and ensuing madness associated with the computer skills evolution? Huh ?

Jim Brunswick jimages@interlog.com

Jim,
Actually, half our articles deal with just that paradigm of the technology world, though in a roundabout way. I feel, though, that the most important aspect of the new techno-world is to not forget that we are all still people, and that the online world is no substitute for the real world. In other words, it's a nice place to visit, but...

As for the upgrading on an 8100, I recently upgraded an 8100/110 with a G3 card from Sonnett. Good card, but it was a pain in the you-know-what to install. I've upgraded a few older Macs now (an understatement) to G3 power, but the 8100 was more difficult than most others. Your decision will depend upon evaluating your current needs and how many older scanners/printers/CD-burners you may have, but I would venture that it might be better and more cost-effective for you to just upgrade to an iMac.

Fly! Review

Based on your review of Fly!, I just had to rush out and buy the program. I'm so glad I did. It's everything you said and more. I was knocked out by the attention to detail Terminal Reality has put into the sim. The open architecture has allowed for some wonderful third party additions.

Thanks for a great review. Gotta go! There's a United Airlines 747 sitting at the end of Vancouver's runway 26 waiting for me to hop into the pilot's seat and spool her up for take-off.

Leigh leighmackay@home.com

Babes in Boyland

Beth -
Just finished reading my first article of yours. I just had to email and tell you The adventures of MacWoman made my week!! Life has been very boring and mundane... but no more! I look forward to reading more of your humor in the future!!!

A new reader!
gail nk@visi.com

Online Postings

Roger,
I liked your article regarding the Mac vs the absence of it. I wanted to point out that the reason a PC is called a PC, is for the LACK-OF of better name. They are called a generic term, because they are generic, thus NON-MAC in nature. The MAC is both a system of hardware AND a superior OS. The PC industry is suffering a DUAL deficiency -- PC computer companies DON'T make consumer applications. Software/Windows developers DON'T make computers. This leaves the MAC as the ONLY company/product of its kind... So thus there is only the MAC or the absence of it.

This is stating the obvious, but I just wanted to give a thumbs-up to the article.

Thanks,
Shawn Stokes sstokes@azspp.edu