Hi all. Now I remember why I love working on Macs. They’re easy! Yes, that’s it, they’re so easy. Well, they used to be.
I had a customer come in with an SE/30 this week. Problem described: Floppy disk on screen with a flashing “?”. Okay, I put my vast knowledge base into full operation and took a look at what’s going on. Sure enough, there it was in vivid Black &White, my arch enemy, the flashing “?”. I reached for my utility belt (in this case, my tool bag) and from within its vast cavernous regions (man, I haven’t cleaned this thing out in months), I was able to find my superpower tools of technical marvel. Yes, there was my kryptonite-resistant, external hard drive. Aha, there was the laser-enhanced data recovery software (SUM II, remember that? Great stuff!)! Now, on to the challenge! Awayyyyyyyy!
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Purchasing computer equipment for schools used to be a relatively simple task. When programs like PageMaker, Illustrator, FileMaker, PowerPoint, and the WIMPS version of Word were only available on the Macintosh, the system pretty much chose itself. The Mac interface transformed business software into educational tools, offering accessible power to every level of schooling beyond the primary grades. At the time, the PC world was enthralled with MS DOS, Windows 3.0, and the latest version of Word Perfect – sporting inane ALT CTRL Function Key combinations to accomplish simple document formatting. Choosing the Macintosh was a no-brainer.
My, how times have changed! Today, every major business application available on the Macintosh is also available for Windows 95 or Windows NT. Intel-based systems now sport an operating system that delivers speed along with pre-emptive multi-tasking, and PC vendors are aggressively competing for the school technology market. Any school, from Kindergarten through University, involved in a purchasing decision must seriously consider Windows-based computers. With Apple’s continuing problems and apparently uncertain future, Windows might seem like the only reasonable choice for many.
Such a superficial analysis, however, does no service to the schools. The one major application absolutely crucial to the effective use of a computer in a school setting is the operating system. The Macintosh OS remains immeasurably easier to maintain and use than Windows 95 or NT. Installing a new piece of software on the Mac is as simple as clicking an install button, while similar installations under Windows 95 or NT can wreak havoc. The Windows 95 users I know have been required to ‘restore’ or ‘reinstall’ their system software to the point where they hesitate to try new software.
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By Mick O’Neil
When Apple introduced the successful Apple II series, the company also went a long way toward defining what we mean by a workable personal computer. For example, the CPU came in a box along with an expansion bus; it was accessible so that a user could make up for hardware deficiencies by modifying the mother board; cards containing new technology could be added to ‘upgrade’ the system; users could save data to a floppy drive; and peripherals could be attached to expansion cards via punch out tabs in the rear of the computer. In addition, some software was included in ROM (Read Only Memory) to allow the computer to ‘boot’ and read information from a floppy disk. When IBM released the PC a few years later, the hardware was a bit more sophisticated, but the model was pretty much the same.
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Real PC 1.0
Company:Insignia Solutions
Estimated Price: $79.00
http://www.insignia.com
The PowerPC is truly a magnificent chip. With the power of the PPC, Macs have the ability to run multiple platforms, emulate multiple video and sound settings, and even run Windows 95, the mother of all bloatware. But unless you’re the owner of a DOS compatible Macinsoh that uses a hardware approach to cross-platform compatibility, you have to use some form of emulation software. Behold, the world of emulation software has just grown with the introduction of Real PC.
Real PC is Insignia’s answer to the emulation problem. It’s an amazingly affordable package aimed at the common Mac user who just wants to explore the PC gaming world. Real PC’s biggest user crowd is that of the gamers. It comes with DOS 6.22 already installed, so you can get going right out of the box. Since much software and many games are still DOS compatible, this is an easy solution. If you want the Windows 95 world to invade your Mac, you’ll have to install your own copy of the operating system.
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Will Apple Be Sold?
During the month of February, many My Mac readers wrote in asking what I thought of the mess Apple was in. “Do you think Apple will be bought out?” was a very common question. My answer? Maybe. But truth be known, I don’t care. Why? Read on…
Ask yourself this: did you buy your computer because it was a Mac, or because it was made by Apple?
Software, Not Hardware
The Mac, when you get right down to it, is not the computer itself, but the way that computer works. How it does all the neat, easy, helpful things you use it for. Lets say you were going out to buy a new monitor, and your choices were between a 15″ Apple for $600 or a 17″ Radius for $450, and both work with your Mac. Which would you buy? No question, the Radius.
Read Me
So, did you read the “read me” file sent to you with this issue? If not, I will also take this opportunity to fill you in.
My Mac will be released in two formats each month. First, you can continue to receive the DOCMaker only format that you are reading now. Or you can subscribe to “My Mac Deluxe”, which will be the same as My Mac “regular”, but will be sent to you each month with all the shareware/freeware programs we review each month. (Unless forbidden by the author.) This will be very helpful to all our Internet only readers, as many of the software reviewed here in My Mac can only be found on America Online. (And visa versa) In addition to the reviewed software, you will also receive some fun system 7 double-clickable sounds (to do with as you like), some Startup Screens not found anywhere else, some Icons for My Mac readers only, and anything else we can find to stuff in there!
So how much for all this? $12.00 per year (12 issues). Simply open the “Order Form”, print it, and send to the listed address. (Hand written forms are o.k. if you do not own a printer) You will still receive My Mac via email, or for an extra $10.00, to your home postal address.
So save yourself some time hunting for all the software you read about every month, and subscribe to “My Mac Deluxe” today! And, hey, you never know what may turn up in that folder each month:-)
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Windows 95 patch
Shareware: $2.00
The look and feel of your Mac is one of the most endearing aspects of owning a Macintosh, and with all the custom icons and software that lets you customize your Mac’s looks, it should be no surprise that someone, sometime, would make it easy to get a Windows 95 look. Last issue My Mac reviewed a ~Aaron patch that would give your Mac a very Windows 3.1 look. The creator of that patch, Bobby Kolling, has also released the Windows 95 patch.
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With the development of Windows 95, what will happen to the Macintosh? We, as Macintosh users, will be the first to say the Mac OS is just better than the rest. True or not, the Macintosh seems to be lagging behind in some aspects. Furthermore, the release of CHRP will let us, as Macintosh users, operate with all versions of Windows and every other operating system available on one computer. For many people, that is a godsend. Most companies base their systems around IBM. Many of these companies will be upgrading to Windows 95 when they can and could easily force employees to use it. With CHRP, we can use both systems and not have to buy a different computer, just a new OS.
Windows 95
Windows 95 is going to be, if not already, a success. And why shouldn’t it be? If you were a Windows user, you too would be flaunting Windows 95 as if there were no tomorrow. Most of the more noticeable changes are right on the desktop. In past versions, the desktop was hidden by the Program Manager, which should have been called the desktop. The Recycle Bin is the equivalent to what we call the Trash. It enables you to take things out of it after you have put them in there. The Start Button should be a very useful tool, but the Macintosh does the same thing more elegantly. Using the Start Button, the user has a hierarchical menu for recently used documents and applications. It sounds great, but the user has to put them in the menu. That is easier said than done. The rest of us will not see these as revolutionary innovations in technology simply because we have had them since 1984.
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The start of another brand new year. Time to sit down and make a list of resolutions that always seem to lose their importance as soon as February approaches. I thought that maybe I would prepare a few, just to save everyone some time and effort, and get everyone in the proper frame of mind to start off the new year. OK, here we go –
Resolution #1 – I will no longer call myself or anyone else a MAC Fan (short for fanatic)
Being classed as a “Mac Fanatic” to the rest of the world has taken on strange connotations, like – “Poor man, he can’t understand that DOS/WINDOWS 95 is the only way to go.” or “Doesn’t she understand that the MAC is dead?!” Besides, there are enough fanatics in the world to begin with. However, being a Macintosh Enthusist, I will continue to sing the praises of the MAC Operating System to those poor lost souls from the lands of DOS and WINDOWS every chance I get.
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