Date: Sat, 3 Feb 1996 01:47:24 -0500
Subject: What's Behind All The Bad Press?
From: Nathan Tennies Ðbootstrp@vnet.netð
What's behind all the bad press? This is one question that's been eating
at me. While the media certainly has the responsibility to report
negative happenings in the Apple world, the high degree of
misinformation, speculation, rumor, and conclusion by the media that
we've seen in the last few weeks is unprecedented.
It seems to me if we're going to figure out how to correct the damage -
and reduce the likelihood of it happening again - we have to identify
what went wrong this time. I don't want to play the blame game, but if
we can't honestly identify the problems, we can't fix 'em.
Off the top of my head, I can see three of the possible problems:
1) Smaller media outlets don't write (let alone research) national
stories much anymore. At least for our local Charlotte Observer, almost
all of the national business-related news comes from other sources. The
recent killer headline in the Observer's business section - "Apple
Surrenders Consumer Niche" - came from an AP story. Undoubtedly,
hundreds of other media outlets around the country mindlessly copied this
article.
2) The media is misinformed. They don't really understand computers or
the computer industry. I see this problem all the time in their choice
of what to report on, in the factual errors in all kinds of
computer-related stories (especially regarding the Internet). If they
are misinformed, they can't verify the accuracy or relevance of news they
receive from other sources, let alone write their own stories.
3) The media increasingly looks for sensational stories, and plays up
sensational aspects of stories. Simply reporting that Apple had a loss
and is laying off some workers is boring. Reporting that this means
Apple is on its last legs, that its about to be bought, etc. increases
sales or viewers. And I recently read that marketing folks rely on
sensationalization to increase reader/viewer "vulnerability" to
advertising.
However, there are still a lot of unanswered questions. Are some
reporters _really_ biased against Apple or the Macintosh? Do they
actually want to see Apple fail? Or are we just seeing the interaction
of the above three factors? In other words, may a reporter trying to
sensationalize an article intentionally distort or leave out facts simply
to sell papers, with no actual malice toward Apple?
If there are reporters who actually _are_ anti-Mac or anti-Apple, can we
identify who they are? Are they in positions that will allow their
stories to be copied verbatim by other media outlets?
Why isn't the media better informed about Apple and its products? Apple
puts out a lot of press releases, are these not working? Do they even
reach reporters and editors at smaller media outlets around the country?
If they do, are they read?
What else is behind the current tidal wave of bad press?
Any ideas about what we or Apple can do to address these problems?
Nathan Tennies
Bootstrap Enterprises Inc
Date: Sat, 3 Feb 1996 03:15:59 -0500
Subject: SEMPER FI REPOST: Enough Is Enough
From: Nathan Tennies Ðbootstrp@vnet.netð
Michael D Murie wrote the following on Semper Fi, and I've reposted it
here for those Carpe Diem folks not on both lists. It seems to explain
at least part of Apple's current media woes, from the perspective of a
writer.
Nathan Tennies
Bootstrap Enterprises Inc
>I can't help thinking that one of Apple's problems is that they haven't
>been good at working with (i.e.sucking up to) the press. Hasn't anyone at
>Apple read "The Macintosh Way"?
>
>Here's two examples from my own dealings with Apple, which occured three
>years apart:
>
>I co-wrote one of the first QuickTime books. Apple had no interest in
>providing any help. The Product Manager referred us to the person
>responsible for handling "Book Authors". Her primary job seemed to be to
>ignore us. Two months after the product shipped they sent out a 1.0
>CD-ROM. That was the extent of the support/interest.
>
>A couple of months ago I wrote an article on QuickTime VR for Digital
>Video magazine. After phone calls and email with Apple PR I was sent a
>press release, and they suggested I read the MacWorld article on
>QuickTime VR for more information. (For a while I wondered if they were
>going to suggest we just reprint the article!) They wouldn't send a copy of
>the authoring tool because it wasn't for "end-users". Only after I emailed a
>three page list of questions did they arrange to let me talk to an engineer
>(who I must say *was* very helpful.)
>
>As a counter example, at the same time I called Microsoft to find out
>about their press release technology Surround Video. They sent me more
>press releases than I knew what to do with, a white paper on Surround
>Video and offered to arrange an interview with an engineer (I didn't ask,
>they suggested I might like to.) The person at the PR company called back
>frequently to keep me up to date on the arrangements and I have to say I
>feel
>more positive about the experience with Microsoft than with Apple (and I
>don't like Windows!!)
>And, they never actually managed to arrange an interview (my belief is that
>the PR person didn't know there wasn't really anything to talk about until
>she
>tried to find someone!!) But I really felt like the PR person cared about
>my problems and *tried* to help me. (They must have read "The Macintosh
>Way" in Redmond)
>
>So, Apple should take a leaf out of Microsoft's book (just like Microsoft
>took the GUI out of their's) and do the following:
>
>1. Gather up all the influential press they can and bring them over to
>Apple's research labs and show them lots of neat technology, served with
>food, wine and beer. Give everyone an exclusive they can write about (and
>maybe slip in some Mac vs Windows info too, but don't go over board on that.)
>
>2. Pre-announce several amazing things (if it's good enough for
>Microsoft and IBM.)
>
>3. Give them beta's of Coupland, and the number of someone to call if
>they have questions or problems. They'll never bother installing them
>anyway but they'll feel good.
>
>4. Let them talk to important, as well as knowledgeable people.
>
>5. Let me come too because it was my idea.
>
>
>And quit this defensive posture. It just confirms peoples suspicions that
>there are problems.
Date: Sat, 3 Feb 1996 10:37:14 +0000 (GMT)
From: Koryn Grant Ðkdg2@ukc.ac.ukð
Subject: Re: What's Behind All The Bad Press?
On Sat, 3 Feb 1996, Nathan Tennies wrote:
> Why isn't the media better informed about Apple and its products? Apple
> puts out a lot of press releases, are these not working? Do they even
> reach reporters and editors at smaller media outlets around the country?
> If they do, are they read?
How about compiling a list of email addresses for reporters and having
someone who gets Apple's Press Releases *ensure* that they are forwarded to
these people? This will no doubt be a big job but from some of the stuff
that's been printed (e.g. Time's article Feb 5) I'm pretty sure that
many reporters simply aren't aware of the PRs Apple are sending out
electronically. Maybe a Mac-savvy reporter who could write a paragraph to
tack on to the front explaining the PR in simple terms, for
non-computer-geek reporters.
This would probably require asking the reporters first ("Hey, we'd like
to send you the latest news from Apple as it's released. How about
it?") so they don't get hacked off when their email a/c is flooded with
Apple Press Releases.
Is this a Good Idea or a Not So Good Idea?
Koryn Grant A Kiwi in the UK oBo
Ph.D. Student (Applied Mathematics) University of Kent / X
Home page: Ðhttp://stork.ukc.ac.uk/IMS/maths/people/K.D.Grant/ð
Interface: Apple Power Macintosh
Subject: Re: What's Behind All The Bad Press?
Date: Sat, 3 Feb 96 22:19:11 +1000
From: Grant Bayley Ðgbayley@geko.net.auð
>This would probably require asking the reporters first ("Hey, we'd like
>to send you the latest news from Apple as it's released. How about
>it?") so they don't get hacked off when their email a/c is flooded with
>Apple Press Releases.
>
>Is this a Good Idea or a Not So Good Idea?
I figure this helps, and I know it's partially a case of preaching
to the converted, but in the course of setting up my Mac Archive
(http://mac.unsw.edu.au/), I sought out as many Mac-interested and
Mac-savy reporters in the Australian Media, including the "online"
correspondants of MacUser and MacWorld (the Australian ones), as
well as a reporter guy who writes for a couple of major local
newspapers in their computer section, and sent them details about
what my archive did etc etc etc, telling them exactly what I thought
they wanted to hear. In this case, it wasnt so much preaching
Apple's products and innovations, but self promotion.
Needless to say, the self PR worked, my site ended up getting a
mention in Australian MacUser's Feb 1996 edition as a "site
worth visiting" (I locally hand-mirror a whole stack of useful
and not-often-seen-in-Australia stuff on my Uni's FTP site),
as well as having the reporter bloke as a recipient of the
archive's mailing list and a regular letter writer, him being
eager to learn whatever he can about the Mac (yes, there are
pro-mac journos out there)
The thing is that Apple needs to feed the papers exactly what
they want to hear, about fantastic new things in the pipeline
(like pre-announcement one in a while), and _how_ these cool
tools will make things easier or faster or better for everyday users.
Mindshare is the key.
Grant Bayley
BTW, if anybody happens to visit my small-ish site, I did all
the graphics myself... on a Mac
PS: Please save CyberDog. Please dont give us boring CRAP like
Apple Internet Explorer Kit. We'll end up sounding like MS
PPS: I also like the idea raised on semper.fi about each buying
a share or two as part of a collective or organisation of users.
**************************************************************************
Grant Bayley "Indeed, it would not be an exaggeration
UNSW Mac Archive Bloke to describe the history of the computer
Macintosh Evangelist industry for the past decade as a massive
President, Food Science Assoc. effort to keep up with Apple"
gbayley@zonk.geko.net.au -Byte, December 1994
http://mac.unsw.edu.au/
**************************************************************************
Date: Sat, 3 Feb 1996 08:50:59 -0500
From: Danimanz@aol.com
Subject: Re: What's Behind All The Bad Press?
An obvious point that Apple is missing is publicity.
Fery few media (specially the irresponsible ones that publish nonsense) would
attack the hand that feeds them.
So Apple should start a more serious publicitary campaign (meaning not
restricted to Mac magazines), this would not just start to make more people
aware of Mac's wonders but also will shut the press up.
I already mentioned in semper.fi how I think it is a waste of money to
publish a 5 pages ad in a Mac magazine. Why isn't apple advertising in the
NYT, WSJ, or PC magazines?
Regarding the plan on:
>>How about compiling a list of email addresses for reporters and having
someone who gets Apple's Press Releases *ensure* that they are forwarded to
these people? This will no doubt be a big job but from some of the stuff
that's been printed (e.g. Time's article Feb 5) I'm pretty sure that
many reporters simply aren't aware of the PRs Apple are sending out
electronically. Maybe a Mac-savvy reporter who could write a paragraph to
tack on to the front explaining the PR in simple terms, for
non-computer-geek reporters.
A good idea would be to give to each subscriber of this list part of that
list of reporters, so each of us would be in charge of informing, say, 10
reporters. This would make the job real easy. All we would have to do is copy
from carpe.diem the posting (that would be marked with some code in the
subject so we know it is to be forwarded) and forward it to our list of ten
reporters. Does it get any easier?
Daniel Manzano
Date: Sat, 3 Feb 1996 10:14:12 -0500
From: jragosta@dca.net (Joe Ragosta)
Subject: Re: What's Behind All The Bad Press?
>
>2) The media is misinformed. They don't really understand computers or
>the computer industry. I see this problem all the time in their choice
>of what to report on, in the factual errors in all kinds of
>computer-related stories (especially regarding the Internet). If they
>are misinformed, they can't verify the accuracy or relevance of news they
>receive from other sources, let alone write their own stories.
I just talked with a reporter from the San Jose Paper (notoriously
anti-Mac). This reporter had never even heard of PPCP, so had no clue
what I was talking about in the discussion.
>
>However, there are still a lot of unanswered questions. Are some
>reporters _really_ biased against Apple or the Macintosh? Do they
>actually want to see Apple fail? Or are we just seeing the interaction
>of the above three factors? In other words, may a reporter trying to
>sensationalize an article intentionally distort or leave out facts simply
>to sell papers, with no actual malice toward Apple?
Mainly, I believe the reporters are lazy. It's easier for them to follow
the herd (supported by dozens of inaccurate Microsoft press releases). It's
much harder for them to search for the facts. If they don't get a press
release (preferably a _lot_) and see it in UPI or AP, they don't want to
hear it.
I also believe that one or two papers (the Wall Street Journal and San Jose
paper, for example) _are_ biased against the Mac. Since these are often
influential papers who everyone else copies ("a Wall Street Journal report
says...."), it can do a lot of damage.
Regards
Joe Ragosta
Date: Sat, 3 Feb 1996 15:15:30 +0000
From: Keith.Hodges@brunel.ac.uk (Keith P Hodges)
Subject: Re: What's Behind All The Bad Press?
Please how does one get the digest of this list ?
Date: Sat, 3 Feb 1996 10:17:12 -0500
From: jragosta@dca.net (Joe Ragosta)
Subject: Re: SEMPER FI REPOST: Enough Is Enough
[lots of good ideas on informing the press]
>>
>>
>>And quit this defensive posture. It just confirms peoples suspicions that
>>there are problems.
AMEN. I talked with a San Jose reporter yesterday and said that the #1 task
facing Amelio is to provide leadership. Apple needs someone in charge who
believes in the platform and isn't shy about telling the world. I believe
that's why Markkula gave him the Chairman's job as well (according to the
San Jose paper)--he wants one voice, one figurehead, one vision leading
Apple.
We've got a lot going for us. WHY THE DOOM AND GLOOM?
Regards
Joe Ragosta
Date: Sat, 3 Feb 1996 10:18:13 -0500
From: jragosta@dca.net (Joe Ragosta)
Subject: Re: What's Behind All The Bad Press?
>How about compiling a list of email addresses for reporters and having
>someone who gets Apple's Press Releases *ensure* that they are forwarded to
>these people?
How about putting them on the Carpe Diem mailing list or Guy Kawasaki's
EvangeList?
Regards
Joe Ragosta
Date: Sat, 3 Feb 1996 14:05:40 -0500
Subject: Carpe Diem Digest
From: Nathan Tennies Ðbootstrp@vnet.netð
Keith P Hodges wrote:
>Please how does one get the digest of this list ?
Good question Keith. I know Andrew is setting up a Web site with
archives. I'll ask about the possibility of setting up a digest.
Nathan Tennies
Bootstrap Enterprises Inc
Date: 3 Feb 1996 11:23:07 -0800
From: "John David N. Dionisio" Ðdondi@CS.UCLA.EDUð
Subject: Press Release(s) Proposal
Hello AIMED and Carpe Diem,
Some questions seem to have now come up concerning press releases. So far,
two press releases have appeared. The first one was what was originally an
"all-developers" draft that I put up; it has since been rewritten (though not
re-released) as a per-developer statement.
The second press release is one specific to the formation of AIMED. Now,
people are wondering which way to go. I offer a solution:
- release both on February 29, in this manner:
* AIMED releases its own announcement (i.e. the more recent draft)
* INDIVIDUAL DEVELOPERS release their own customized version of
the original press release; the customized version will have content
specific to the developer's Mac successes, and may also include a
blurb such as "we are also joining AIMED..."
This way, we have a true media event, if we can get enough individual
companies to issue a press release.
As a follow-up, these press releases should:
- include WWW information
- include contact information
- be as positive as possible; someone has mentioned taking care not to overly
criticize the media, because they will bite back; instead, just make
statements contradicting what the media has stated *without* saying that the
media was wrong
On my part, I will send out a revised customized developer release within the
week. I also would like to call for signups from the following key Mac
developers; I think this will enhance the overall "weight" of February 29, if
these companies were represented:
- Microsoft (yes, them; think of it --- "well, MS supports the Mac still, so
they must be admitting that there's something there that W95 doesn't have...")
- Lotus/IBM (Lotus *does* make Notes for the Mac...and IBM may be making Mac
clones when PPCP comes out...imagine this: "IBM/Lotus makes public statement
in support of Apple's Macintosh" Wow!)
- Corel (particularly in light of the WordPerfect acquisition)
- Adobe
- Fractal Design
- Macromedia
- Connectix
- Global Village
- LucasArts
- Bungie
- Berkeley Systems
- Insignia Software
- MacPlay
...and many more. I choose these developers not necessarily for quality of
their products, but for their potential media impact if they show support for
the Mac OS. I have no contacts to speak of --- can somebody out there who
does try to solicit people from these companies to affiliate with AIMED or put
out a release on the 29th?
Thanks for your time...and effort!
HFMYBNKJOJMKMLCCHFMYBNKJOJMKMLCCHFMYBNKJOJMKMLCCHFMYBNKJOJMKMLCCHFMYBNKJO
John David N. Dionisio, PhD candidate "Ignorance is curable,
dondi@cs.ucla.edu stupidity is forever."
http://kmed-www.cs.ucla.edu/bios/dondi.html -- Al Vinci
Date: Sat, 3 Feb 1996 15:51:51 -0500
Subject: Re: What's Behind All The Bad Press?
From: Nathan Tennies Ðbootstrp@vnet.netð
Joe Ragosta wrote:
>>2) The media is misinformed. They don't really understand computers or
>>the computer industry. I see this problem all the time in their choice
>>of what to report on, in the factual errors in all kinds of
>>computer-related stories (especially regarding the Internet). If they
>>are misinformed, they can't verify the accuracy or relevance of news they
>>receive from other sources, let alone write their own stories.
>
>I just talked with a reporter from the San Jose Paper (notoriously
>anti-Mac). This reporter had never even heard of PPCP, so had no clue
>what I was talking about in the discussion.
Good example. Does anyone else feel like Apple's PR is just too
esoteric? If I'm a harried reporter or editor, and I get an Apple press
release in my hand, can I read one or two sentences and immediately
understand why this thing is important? Do I sense that this is
interesting or relevant or (better still) maybe a little sensational in
nature?
Seems to me that for Apple's PR to kick butt, a reporter or editor needs
to read the headline of the press release, and think, "Hey, that could
sell papers!". Apple has always been the underdog, the dark horse, and
today that's true more than ever. I think Apple needs to exploit that
underdog image. It is precisely that everyone thinks Intel and Microsoft
are invincible that every chink in their armour makes for a sensational
news story. I think Apple (or evangelists like us) need to figure out a
way to make that work in our favor.
Nathan Tennies
Bootstrap Enterprises Inc
Date: Sat, 3 Feb 1996 15:51:56 -0500
Subject: Does Apple have Any Credibility With The Media?
From: Nathan Tennies Ðbootstrp@vnet.netð
>How about compiling a list of email addresses for reporters and having
>someone who gets Apple's Press Releases *ensure* that they are forwarded to
>these people?
I think that's a good idea. Maybe if we can put together a list of "key"
reporters and editors who have wide impact, either Apple (or evangelists)
can ensure that they are kept informed. However, that raises another
question.
Does Apple have any credibility left with the media?
I don't necessarily think Apple's track record in this area is any worst
than, say, Microsoft's. In fact, I recently saw a mention in Hot News
about a Seattle paper talkinga about Microsoft's poor track record of
having anything materialize from their announcements. However, the
media's perception of Apple's current state is so bad, I have to wonder
whether they would give any credence to any positive PR coming from
Cupertino.
I guess if I were a typical reporter or editor who had been following the
Apple news, and I actually received a release that said "Apple Demos
MacOS on the PowerPC Platform", I'd either think this is irrelevant
(given that I think Apple is "bleeding" red ink) or just desperate spin
control (given that I think Apple is going down the tubes). After all,
how can a company that's not going to last the year benefit from the
PowerPC Platform. And all this asssumes I even know or care what the
implications of the PowerPC Platform are.
I'm not trying to be defeatist. I think Apple does _indeed_ need to
seriously beef up their PR department. In fact, I think the only way
they are going to improve their credibility is to get effective Apple PR
not only into the hands of technology reporters at big media outlets, but
in the hands of business editors and reporters at the small dailies and
local stations as well.
Nathan Tennies
Bootstrap Enterprises Inc
Date: Sat, 3 Feb 1996 15:52:02 -0500
Subject: Re: What's Behind All The Bad Press?
From: Nathan Tennies Ðbootstrp@vnet.netð
Daniel Manzano wrote:
>A good idea would be to give to each subscriber of this list part of that
>list of reporters, so each of us would be in charge of informing, say, 10
>reporters. This would make the job real easy. All we would have to do is copy
>from carpe.diem the posting (that would be marked with some code in the
>subject so we know it is to be forwarded) and forward it to our list of ten
>reporters. Does it get any easier?
That's an interesting idea. I think that we could also have other
evangelists ensure that smaller news outlets - local TV and radio
stations and newspapers - got the message too. If we have info we think
evangelists should distribute, maybe we can get Guy to distribute it on
the Evangelist list, which I understand now has about 18,000 members
(wow). That's an army.
I guess this dovetails with my question about Apple's credibility. Would
reporters and editors in small, local media outlets pay more attention to
information being faxed, emailed, etc. to them by local folks, than if
the same info came from Apple?
Since what comes from us won't be "official" Apple press releases, can we
structure what comes from grassroots evangelists in different ways than
Apple could? Could we make them a little more sensational?
Nathan Tennies
Bootstrap Enterprises Inc
Date: Sat, 3 Feb 1996 16:00:29 -0500
From: TheGapGuy6@aol.com
Subject: Re: What's Behind All The Bad Press?
>How about compiling a list of email addresses for reporters and having
>someone who gets Apple's Press Releases *ensure* that they are forwarded to
>these people?
>How about putting them on the Carpe Diem mailing list or Guy Kawasaki's
>EvangeList?
I'm not sure if this is what Joe Ragosta meant but one of the offending
newspapers is the Knoxville News Sentinel. They can be reached at
Ðkns@knoxnews.comð.
Adam Lynn
e-mail @ TheGapGuy6@aol.com
Date: Sat, 3 Feb 1996 15:52:07 -0500
Subject: Example Of Pretty Bad Marketing
From: Nathan Tennies Ðbootstrp@vnet.netð
Something Joe Ragosta said made me think of this. A few years ago, I
remember reading that Apple was sponsoring a race car (or team or
driver). Anyway, they were trucking this car around the country, making
stops in major cities, and somehow were using these stops as a Macintosh
promotional event.
When I read the press release about this, I couldn't believe it. I
identify this sort of marketing campaign with big, out-of-touch companies
like IBM, Sperry, and DEC who have way too much money and not a clue how
to communicate their products' benefits to their customers. It doesn't
jibe at all with the scrappy, inventive, in-touch, "Macintosh Way"
company that Apple _should_ be (and occasionally is). It scared me that
there were people in Apple's marketing department who thought that the
benefits of Apple's products were so abstract that they had to resort to
attracting people using a race car.
Don't get me wrong. Having a sports idol wear your product - or your
product's logo - can certainly help convince thousands of people to buy
your product. But how many people idolize a racing car? Heck, I live in
Charlotte, NC, where the three R's of entertainment are "racing,
'restling, and religion", and I don't know many folks who'd go out of
their way to see a race car.
Nathan Tennies
Bootstrap Enterprises Inc
Date: Sat, 3 Feb 1996 17:07:43 -0500
Subject: Carpe Diem Is Being Digested
From: Nathan Tennies Ðbootstrp@vnet.netð
I just talked with Andrew Donoho, our list administrator, and he said
that digests of Carpe Diem are already being produced and can be set by
sending an email to Carpe.Diem-Request with the following as the body of
the message:
set Carpe.Diem digest
That's all! Andrew says that archives are already being generated, but
he hasn't put the Web page pointing to them together. Wow, Andrew has
really done a great job of whipping Carpe Diem into shape fast.
Nathan Tennies
Bootstrap Enterprises Inc
Date: Sat, 3 Feb 1996 14:09:14 -0800
Subject: Re: What's Behind All The Bad Press?
From: Glenn Leach Ðgleach@earthlink.netð
>Mindshare is the key.
I agree, MINDSHARE IS THE KEY! I also agree that to increase it we =
need to educate the media. I will find the email addresses of the =
media in the DC area (Washington Post etc) and forward Apple Press =
releases to them. Or is there agreement from the list members to set =
up a separate list to do this?
_________________________________________________________
Glenn Leach | Accounting and Macintosh Consulting
:-) | for the Small Business and Professional
_________________________________________________________
gleach@earthlink.net | Arlington, VA | (703) 920-0481
=80=80=80=80
-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=
=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D=
-=3D-
Join "EvangeList," Guy Kawasaki's (un)official Apple listserver of =
good
news about Apple, Macintosh, and third-party developers. To subscribe =
to
EvangeList, send an email to: listproc@solutions.apple.comð and =
include
in the body of the message the text: Subscribe Macway
-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=
=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D=
-=3D-
Date: Sat, 3 Feb 1996 18:46:36 -0500
Subject: Re: What's Behind All The Bad Press?
From: Nathan Tennies Ðbootstrp@vnet.netð
Glenn Leach wrote:
>I agree, MINDSHARE IS THE KEY! I also agree that to increase it we need to
>educate the media. I will find the email addresses of the media in the DC
>area (Washington Post etc) and forward Apple Press releases to them. Or
>is there agreement from the list members to set up a separate list to do
>this?
I'd say to go ahead and use Carpe Diem to put together a list of email
addresses for media folks. It might be worth also finding fax numbers as
well. I'll start compiling a list as they come in.
Nathan Tennies
Bootstrap Enterprises Inc
Date: Sat, 3 Feb 1996 16:08:15 -0800
From: xenolith@halcyon.com (Kevin Purcell)
Subject: Re: What's Behind All The Bad Press?
The flip side is what the New York Times had to say today in their
meta-article "Apple and Disclosure: How golden is silence?" on the whole
Apple thing. It ran beside their the continuation of their front page
article on the replacement of Spindler (and Markkula) in the Business
section.
The gist of the article is why didn't Apple say anything earlier on Friday
about the replacement of the both the CEO and chairman and why didn't
NASDAQ stop trading in their shares. The NASDAQ rules require "prompt
disclosure" of any events affecting a companies value. Why was it National
Semiconductor was saying early in the moring (around 11am) that Amelio had
resigned his position as CEO. NASDAQ's response was "that there was full
disclosure in the newspapers " i.e. one of those rumors must be correct!
The final sentence is telling a company like Apple may be less risk of
legal action by saying nothing than by saying something incorrect.
It all reminds me of the Al Haig "I'm in charge here" debarcle after the
attempted asassination of Ronald Reagan.
The article next to that is worth reading too: a quick summary of Amelio's
career especially his work at NatSemi. It doesn't make great reading. He
seems to be able to make a company profitable but still in a poor position
compared to its competitors. Although he talks like a "transformation
expert" (taking the long-term view) his actions and results are more like a
"turn around artist" (taking the short term view) in heading rapidly
towards profitibility. An executive commented that he sent new goals and
new metrics and then disappeared into the woodwork. Meanwhile plants
closed, workers were laid off and profits reappeared but without any real
growth and he has moved onto Apple.
The graph of NatSemi's stock price is interesting too. A steady improvement
from $5 to $25 then peaking at $30ish late last year before droping to its
current $17. He took NatSemi out of the commodity chip market. Others have
said he is a conventional "by the book" manager who missed the chance to
transform NatSemi into a new company. Perhaps he see's Appl
Date: Thu, 22 Feb 1996 01:04:30 -0800
From: Schubert@eworld.com
Subject: Re: A tactic to help trounce Windows
Thursday, February 22, 1996
Hello!
Let me tell you about an experience that was an eye-opener for me.
A friend and export manager for a cosmetics company from France came on a
business trip to Taipei/Taiwan, and stayed in a medium-sized business hotel.
He was typing his faxes to be sent back to Paris on his new Texas Instruments
PC laptop. Never mind that he did not have an internal fax modem, but he
needed a hard copy to fax, and for his filing.
He went to the hotel's business center, and, after connecting to their
printer, tried to print out on their Epson. However, he did not have the
driver necessary installed (his Windows gave the message: "Please install the
driver from Windows disk #7",) but who would bring a complete set of Windows
disks on a business trip?
As tempers flared, we finally tried to copy the faxes files on a floppy disk
to transfer it into the business center Taiwan clone PC for print-out. It was
a major operation, and took us about five minutes. We had to switch several
times between DOS and Windows.
No problem, we thought, as he wrote his faxes in MS Works (no, he was not
writing them "in Windows," as the business center manager explained!) and the
center must have a word processor... We found one, but it was a Dutch version
of WordPerfect, and we just could not make it open MS Works documents. Files
were just not compatible, what a nightmare.
So we took a taxi with the documents on the floppy to the Regent Hotel, then
the Hilton, alas, with the same result: their business centers were not able
to print out the files, either!
I went home with the floppy, inserted it into my Mac, double-clicked, and
with my friend looking at me and his file in utter amazement, opened it in
less than 20 seconds. Once the heading gibberish removed, I printed all his
faxes in less than a minute.
A story about Windows compatibility in real life!
Cheers,
Wolfgang Schubert
Support & Solutions
Apple Computing Consultants
P. O. Box 90
Peitou 11299, Taiwan
We'll keep your Apple Computer smiling...
+886 2 896-2866
fax +886 2 894-9894
taiwanmac@eworld.com
anappleaday@pristine.com.tw
See Support & Solutions' smile for yourself, and check out cool Mac links at
home page: Ðhttp://www.pristine.com.tw/AMPERSAND/ð
Date: Thu, 22 Feb 1996 10:07:17 -0500 (EST)
From: "Bruno Bloch +41-1-631 7472, Fax 7886" Ðbruno.bloch@reuters.comð
Subject: Apple please stop blocking the sales of your products
Dear Apple Friends
As US citizens you are not affected by Apple's blocking policy but all other
aliens are.
Since Jan 2nd, 96 I am a converted Apple fan (after 10 years PC/office
frustration). I started to buy all those US Apple magazines like MacUser (my
favorite) and MacWorld.
Being attracted by many software progs and add-ons for the Mac, I called some
stores in Switzerland (where I live) just to find out that they either don't
carry the products wanted or sell it a horrible prices (large premiums over the
US prices).
So I went to call some US mail order stores just to find out that Apple
prevents them of selling their products outside the United States. Many other
companies have the same policy, like Global Village.
Why should they do that? To prevent local dealers in Europe? What's the point
of supporting European dealers selling Apple products at higher prices than I
could get them from the US, including paying UPS shipping and the local sales
tax in Switzerland upon arrival?
APPLE STOP YOUR CHINESE WALL POLICY AND ALLOW MAILSTORES TO SELL CROSS BOARDER
!!! and expand your European market share vs Wintel.
Regards
Bruno Bloch - Switzerland
From: bastion1@netcom.com (Gregory Weston)
Subject: Re: Are Mac Evangelists Arrogant?
Date: Thu, 22 Feb 1996 05:18:36 -0800 (PST)
> One quick example from the Windows 95 release. A lot of Mac users
> (including myself) pointed out that the Mac had features like long file
> names for ten years before Windows did. The popular "Been There. Done
> That" slogon captures that sentiment. But this can come across as a bit
> arrogant. As one my partners - who uses both Macs and PCs - said, "Who
> cares who had it first. All that matters is that Windows users have it
> now." And, in a sense, he's right. I don't know which auto company
> first included air bags or multi-speed windshield wipers; once they are
> common, who cares who had it first.
I've been thinking about this issue myself recently, and had a
counter-argument occur to me: Having something doesn't mean that
you have the ability to utilize it. You can very correctly make
the statement that both platforms offer 'Feature XYZ' now, but
on which platform do the users _and_ the developers have experience
actually using that feature? And how long will it take those on
the other platform to come up to speed?
Greg
Date: Thu, 22 Feb 1996 11:26:16 +0200
From: mpap@hypernet.hyper.gr (Manolis Papastefanou)
Subject: Re: Mouse vs. Keyboard (2 mouses And Keybd)
Greetings !
I get into this thread just to mention a friend of mine that is a graphic
artist. He not only uses his mouse and his keyboard but he has a second
mouse!
The interesting part is that the mouse lies on the floor under the desk and
is used only for clicking by the foot!
Just another aspect of the subject,
Best regards,
Manolis
Manolis Papastefanou (mpap@escape.hyper.gr)
-------------------------------------------------------------
Escape Information Sevices "Yield to temptation,
Thessaloniki it may not pass your
HELLAS way again"
-------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Thu, 22 Feb 1996 08:34:36 -0500
From: pkscout@acpub.duke.edu (Kyle Johnson)
Subject: Where is the admin FAQ for this list
I need to get off this list and I don't remember getting an admin mailing
that included the address and commands to get off the list.
I loathe having to send this kind of request to the list, but I have no
real choice. If the list admin could please respond directly to me I would
appreciate it.
Thanks.
Kyle
---
Kyle Johnson, System Engineer pkscout@acpub.duke.edu
National Technology Group RTP,NC johns128@mc.duke.edu
http://www.duke.edu/~pkscout/ M6588@applelink.apple.com
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Experience is that marvelous thing that enables you recognize a
mistake when you make it again.
-F.P. Jones
___________________
Join "EvangeList," Guy Kawasaki's (un)official Apple listserver of good
news about Apple, Macintosh, and third-party developers. To subscribe to
EvangeList, send an email to: listproc@solutions.apple.comð and include
in the body of the message the text: Subscribe Macway
Date: Thu, 22 Feb 1996 05:33:50 -0600
From: fschoute@isbe.state.il.us (Fred Schouten)
Subject: Re: The Cost of NOT Using MacOS
Gino Larsen-Giacalone wrote:
|... While educators might be
|concerned about training kids in Windows I'm sure school boards will be
|concerned if they are shown the costs of maintaining systems other than
|Macs. They should be made clear that, yes they can go with the more popular
|OS BUT it will cost them more and their children will get less.
I agree! Do you have any citations of where this type of hard data may be
located? I recently talked my School Board president down from his phobia
of the Apple company. He relented in his insistence on Intel-based boxes,
and we will be outfitting all of our high school teachers' desktops with
Motorola-based boxed (a.k.a. "Mac") next year! I would like to be able to
back up my assertions about ongoing maintenance costs with real data.
Thanks,
Fred
============================================================================
| J. Fred Schouten, Ed.D. | http://isbe.state.il.us/~peohs |
| Director of Curriculum and Technology |--------------------------------|
| Peotone Unit District #207U | Phone: 708-258-3236 |
| Peotone, Illinois, USA 60468 | Fax: 708-258-6991 |
============================================================================
Subject: Re: Lenten Humor
Date: Thu, 22 Feb 96 06:30:08 -0500
From: Geno Porfido Ðporfido@chelsea.ios.comð
>For these reasons, I have decided to give up all Microsoft products for
>Lent. Operating systems, applications, and development environments. It is
>my hope that when Easter comes, I will have the strength to live a
>Microsoft-free life.
>
>I ask for your support in my self-improvement efforts.
>
>- Mark Malson
ð markm@xetron.com
Hi Carpe Diem people.....
Great list....I just joined from the Evangelist.
Mark...CD members...
I use utterly absolutely NO M$ garbage at all.......There are much =
better solutions to most of their products available. While Visual =
C++ and a few other offerings are good ....my realization a few years =
ago, as to M$ development treatment ( um, like not releasing key code =
so that, of course, M$ comes out with 'the' solution way ahead of =
everyone......), on top of the simple fact that BG is a liar ( how =
many of his past quotes do you need to read?? )....and a rip-off, has =
been since he made the deal for the 'Quick and Dirty OS'...or DOS, =
and probably long beforethat thanks to daddy's money.....thats plenty =
of reason right there, no deep prayer needed to NEVER purchase M$ =
products again.
I bought Flight Sim for my Dad two years ago......As soon as I did I =
realized M$ strategy of buying small companies; they really create =
NOTHING of their own, ....its either stolen or they buy out a small =
creative compsany and ruin it; once I saw that Flight Simm WASN'T =
EVEN CREATED BY THEM........I understood. Think about it:
DOS...not theirs
NT...... major parts written by the guy who wrote VMS
wimp95...stolen from IBM /OS/2 team under the guise of 'working on =
the ultimate OS...OS/2'..and obviously the MAC
SoftImage......a real shame
windowsx.x..? stolen design from the Mac
Flight Sim....written by a small design co. that M$ just bought.
Excel.....not sure but I thought I read somewhere that this was from =
someone else they snapped up...?
Now..Vermeer........alliances with NBC......MCI
Not to mention, I think their stuff stinks.. :)
They have the $$$$$ to do ANYTHING......they get that $$ from =
US....20-25% of M$ income is FROM US.... Stop giving them the =
resources to RUIN OUR PLATFORM.........
I REFUSE to buy ANYTHING from M$....period. And I honestly believe =
that ANYONE, who calls themselve a Mac person.......MUST do the same. =
M$ is out to ruin Apple...WHY, WHY do Mac people SUPPORT THEM???!
Hey...its up to US.........
GP
Apple Forever
=89 Smilin' Pig Productions =89
=89 Multimedia Music & Sound Co.=89
=89"Never wrestle with a pig. You both get dirty and,=89
=89 besides, the pig likes it."=89
-----------------------------------------------------------------------=
------
Stop the hegemony! Join "EvangeList," Guy Kawasaki's (un)official =
Apple
listserver of good news about Apple, Macintosh, and third-party
developers. To subscribe to EvangeList, send an email to:
listproc@solutions.apple.comð and include in the body of the message =
the
text: Subscribe Macway
Date: Thu, 22 Feb 1996 08:06:21 -0600
From: jcast144@inlink.com (John E. Castasus)
Subject: Re: All The Rubbish That Is Fit To Print
>These, of course, are just a few examples of the sensationalistic
>reporting on Apple that has been happening all over the country. Some
>newspapers and radio stations have issued retractions upon learning that
>what they pulled "off the wire" was highly inaccurate. Others, such as
>our own Observer, apparently didn't wish to look foolish, and were willing
>to let Apple suffer as a consequence.
>
>There's no doubt that some of the negative reporting about Apple stemmed
>from reporters with malicious intent. However, it looks like most of the
>nation's news outlets were content to print or broadcast a
>sensationalistic story pulled from whatever sources were close at hand,
>without taking a minute to verify the story's accuracy. It appears that
>the biggest threat to the Macintosh comes not from Microsoft or Intel, but
>from our daily paper.
The problem is ignorance, and I've seen it in so many areas. During the
Gulf War, much of the reporting was terribly uninformed, and even the
"experts" came off as ignorant. My favorite example occurred during the
first night of the war, when Tom Brokaw identified an F-15 as an F-111.
The only solution is for EvangeListers to respond with the facts whenever a
media outlet broadcasts erroneous information. Carpe Diem could be a great
way to do this. Post the e-mail address of the offending newspaper or
reporter here, and bury them in facts.
---------
Cordially,
John E. Castasus
Stalwart Defender of the Macintosh Empire
and Official Mac Evangelist
Join the EvangeList! E-mail me for details!
Date: Thu, 22 Feb 1996 09:10:00 -0500
From: bruce.e.oneel.1@gsfc.nasa.gov (Bruce O'Neel)
Subject: Re: A tactic to help trounce Windows
Hi,
At 5:12 PM 2/21/96, Drew Ivan wrote:
>>1) How do I find a file on the Macintosh?
>>2) Where is the file manager?
>>3) Where is the program manager?
>>4) Where is the control menu?
>>5) ...
>
>How do I get a command line?
>
You buy MPW (probably cheapest by buying CodeWarrior Bronze). It's really
interesting to have a command line....
bruce
--
oneel@arupa.gsfc.nasa.gov -- Bruce O'Neel HSTX (301) 286-1511 --
Napoleon died in 1821; Wellington was saddened. -- Cyc
Date: Thu, 22 Feb 1996 10:20:17 -0600
From: j5rson@prairie.lakes.com (Jeff Iverson)
Subject: Apple proposes 3D Metafile format for VRML
This just in 2/19 PCWeek:
Apple, last week, pitched a cross-platform QuickDraw three-dimensional
graphics file format, 3D Metafile, for VRML 2.0.
The proposal is available at
http://www.webmaster.com/horizonpr/apple/out_of_this_world.html
Cheers!
J5rson!
Date: Fri, 23 Feb 1996 01:31:35 +0900
From: macross@gol.com (Michael House)
Subject: Re: Mouse vs. Keyboard
At 12:48 96.2.21, Jim Cahill wrote:
> The ultimate, therefore, is to let the user determine the keyboard shortcuts;
> all new development should incorporate this user-defined extensibility.
FWIW, Nisus Writer, the Mac-only document processor which has won
awards for its WorldScript implementation, has always had user-definable
keyboard shortcuts, among lots of other great features. Check out their
webpage for more info: www.nisus-soft.com.
(Disclaimer: My only association with Nisus is as a satisfied customer.)
Be Seeing You...
--Michael House, macross@gol.com, http://www.stellar.co.jp/GAINAX/
GAINAX Co., Ltd. (Opinions expressed are my own unless otherwise specified)
Jibun no ishi o motanu no nara, ikiteitemo shikata arumai
Date: Thu, 22 Feb 1996 10:31:20 -0500
From: FunGrp@aol.com
Subject: Re: Welcome to All Our New Participants
Andrew,
I met with people at Apple last month and earlier this month in an effort to
get them to fund a grassroots effort to repel negative press reports and
provide an information central for Mac Enthusiasts. This carpediem group is
headed in the same direction.
Would you like to receive a copy of my proposal for consideration on how to
expand your efforts?
David Russell
Date: Thu, 22 Feb 1996 10:33:35 -0500
From: FunGrp@aol.com
Subject: Re: A tactic to help trounce Windows
Great idea! Thanks for sharing it. Now if there was just someone who could
make it happen ...
David Russell
Date: 21 Feb 1996 23:27:23 U
From: "Gino Larsen-Giacalone" Ðggiacalone@htland.comð
Subject: "Apple Technology, Inc." (A
"Apple Technology, Inc." (ATI)
Yesterday on NPR I heard a story about a professor who has collected evidence
that the sound of a candidate's last name is highly significant to success in a
presidential bid. I mention this to suggest that, just maybe, our beloved Apple
will just never make it due to the name.
I suggest that part of Apple's success in the education market is the same
phenomena but in a context where it IS acceptable. I've observed adolescent
boys in Costco drooling over "hot" complex looking WinTel boxes that where
playing whizbang multi-media demos (that the machine probably couldn't generate)
and totally ignoring the PowerPC based Preforma beside it. I got the feeling
that the Apple was just so familiar to the kids that it "couldn't" be a real
computer.
I suspect (with admittedly little knowledge) that kids can't really get control
over the Macs in school so they come to associate the machine with minimal
power. On the other hand, the neighbor kid who's father is likely to have a
WinTel box at home probably plays some really cool games. And strangely, the
complexity of the WinTel box suggests power beyond the user's ken.
So I come to my outrageous proposal that Apple change its name to something like
"Apple Technology, Inc." and frequently go by "ATI" or "ApTech". It might have
some deep macho value. Remember the difference in image it made changing from beige
to platinum?
Also, lets call non-Apple MacOS sources something like "Mac Technology Tigers"
rather than "clones". The WinTel world is made up of clones. The MacOS is
driven by Technology Tigers.
G'Nite.
G.S.Larsen-Giacalone
ggiacalone@htland.com
Date: Thu, 22 Feb 1996 11:37:22 -0500
From: MSolutionz@aol.com
Subject: Re: Cable modems and Apple
I doubt if cable-ready internet access will be more than a fad. The
longterm trend is more towards wireless access. Of course who really knows?
Janie
> Sounds wonderful to me. I just wish my local cable company would
>get on the stick and give me the opportunity to get a cablemodem installed.
>I live in Fairfax County, Virginia, where Media General Cable supposedly
>offers one of the best systems in the country...120 channels of stuff. I'd
>give up 99% of them for anything like the sort of speed which has been
>promised.
> It's difficult to believe that Microsoft hasn't got a plan like
>yours on one of its many more or less cold backburners.
>
>bill mcc
>
>>Good Day :)
>>
>>I am writing to prod Apple into some sort of Cable modem strategy. One
could
>>envision Apple working a deal with a major Cable Co. using a Pippin or low
>>cost mac to access the internet via cable modems. The cost of the hardware
>>would be paid off monthly on the customer's cable bill. The entire package
>>would be offered as a toaster like appliance... plug it in, and start
surfing
>>the net.
>>
>>Any comments?
YYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY
Janie Wilson-Cook
President,
MacSolutions!, Inc.
Authorized Apple Value Added Reseller
Authorized Tektronix Dealer
1622 Montague St.
Rockford, IL, 61102
MSolutionz@AOL.com
(815) 962-2622
YYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY
Date: Thu, 22 Feb 1996 10:41:36 -0600
From: j5rson@prairie.lakes.com (Jeff Iverson)
Subject: Far from dead...
While this is a couple of weeks old now, it is no less interesting to me.
From PCWeek 2/5:
...portraying Apple as being on its deathbed is an exaggeration... the
company sells 5 to 6 million computers a year... has more than $1 billion in
cash, superior and leading-edge technology, and a customer following
bordering on fanatacism... remember, not too long ago IBM and Digital
Equipment lost billions of dollars quarter after quarter...
Just points to ponder, and this from PCWeek... not exactly a friend of Apple.
Cheers!
J5rson!
Date: Thu, 22 Feb 1996 17:43:52 +0100
From: R.Niemeijer@NiemConsult.nl (Rudo Niemeijer)
Subject: Macintosh for disabled?
Although this is a question, it very much touches on Apple versus Windows.
What ideas and possibilities does the Mac present for seriously disabled?
Any experience so-far should be well advertised. I, for instance, am
looking into the possibility of getting the right equipment for a 26 year
old photographer/painter/musician who has recently become paralyzed
completely (He can only move his head!! He can speak.)
Music has a high priority: he should be able to compose for MIDI. Just
before his accident he also had taken up working with Illustrator and
Photoshop on the Mac.
At his re-validation center, they only know about Windows/MSDOS etc. Is the
Mac providing better alternatives, also for other purposes such as managing
equipment that enables him to live more independently? Dutch Medicare pays
for almost everything that will allow him to live an independent life.
Rudo Niemeijer
R.Niemeijer@NiemConsult.nl
From: farstrup@max.muhlberg.edu
Subject: Re: The Cost of NOT Using MacOS
Date: Thu, 22 Feb 1996 11:37:07 -0500 (EST)
> While educators might be concerned about training kids in Windows I'm sure
> school boards will be concerned if they are shown the costs of maintaining
> systems other than Macs. They should be made clear that, yes they can go
> with the more popular OS BUT it will cost them more and their children will
> get less.
>
> We have to start talking to people about their pocket books. If fiscal
> conservatism is what people want then they've got to know that they waste their
> money terribly by NOT using a MacOS platform.
>
> G.S.Larsen-Giacalone
> Computer Services and Facilites Manager
> Heartland Group, Inc.
ð ggiacalone@htland.com
>
>
The problem is most of the school boards that are making this decision
are too apt to believe all the reports of Apple's fall in the popular
press. With all the hype surrounding the Internet schools think that's
all their computers will have to do (and word processing). They have the
impression that even with PC's it will be easy to set them up and
connect. I know of one school district who has one computer specialist
for the ENTIRE district and they expect that this person will be able to
maintain PC's in all of the schools. They are moving from a succesful
program using Macintosh's to an untested one using PC's because many of
the parents work for HP. Unfortunately there is no reasoning with the
board as to what the true support cost will be for PC's both in dollars
and manhours.
-Adam Farstrup
Subject: Re: Mac Owners United ot Save Earth!
Date: Thu, 22 Feb 96 10:51:53 -0600
From: "Kenneth M. Uecker" Ðken@onr.comð
Thomas Twigg, ttwigg@alaska.net said
>In related news, Microsoft's Bill Gates is said to have been so moved by
>MOUSE!'s action that he went out and bought himself a couple new
>PowerMacs to start his rewrite of The Road Ahead, to be called
>Confessions of a Tailgater.
>
>Reality should be so fun!
>Tom Twigg
>ttwigg@alaska.net
>
>The king has no clothes, for some reason only 10% can see that.
>
Hate to say this, but Bill Gates already has a bunch of PowerMacs.
He has 6 (six) of them installed at his home. (I think that they are
8500's-he likes the teleconference capabilities.)
--------------------------------------------------
Software to Checkout: SiteMill from Adobe.
Hardware to Checkout: Pipeline 50 from Ascend.
Polymaths are the coolest of Surfers.
WebPage: http://www.onr.com/user/Ken.html (under construction-again)
--------------------------------------------------
Date: Thu, 22 Feb 1996 10:51:21 -0500
From: scstr@alumni.caltech.edu (Suman Chakrabarti)
Subject: Re: Poll Again!
>This is as of Wednesday, Feb 21st, 11:30AM MST.
>
>Do you prefer Macs or PCs?
> 77.4% . . . Macs
> 19.5% . . . PCs
> 02.7% . . . Neither
>
> So far 4294 polls have been submitted.
>
>You have to love Mac fanatics. :)
>Powers Foss.
Say, I know you're just another fanatic, but maybe you have the answer
anyway. When I tried to vote in this current poll, as I did in last
week's, I couldn't. That is, I was able to pull up the questions, but
there was no place I could check off my answers. Do you have any idea what
I'm doing wrong? I'm using this URL:
http://vip.hotwired.com/netizenpoll/index
I emailed the netizen, but have gotten no reply.
STR
Suman Chakrabarti | "If it's Sumanly possible, it'll be done."
scstr@alumni.caltech.edu |--------------------------------------------
[AOL & eWorld] samtrose | Ph.D.2be, Mechanical Engineering
http://alumni.caltech.edu/~scstr/ | Physics Dept., Penn State University
Join "EvangeList," Guy Kawasaki's (un)official Apple listserver of good
news about Apple, Macintosh, and third-party developers. To subscribe to
EvangeList, send an email to: listproc@solutions.apple.comð and include
in the body of the message the text: Subscribe Macway
Date: Thu, 22 Feb 1996 10:20:15 -0600
From: j5rson@prairie.lakes.com (Jeff Iverson)
Subject: IBM posts OpenDoc for AIX beta
This just in 2/19 PCWeek.
The beta code of OpenDoc for AIX is available now on IBM's Club Open Doc
WebSite at: http://www.software.ibm.com/clubopendoc/.
IBM says the final version will be ready in the second quarter of this year.
IBM is also working on getting Lotus to support OpenDoc for OS/2.
Cheers!
J5rson!
Date: Thu, 22 Feb 1996 11:02:14 -0500
From: BUFFALO146@aol.com
Subject: Re: Welcome to All Our New P
Hi, I am new to this list so I do not know if this is a suggestion this has
been discussed and discarded.
I think that it would be good for Apple and the user groups to give with
each new computer a invitation to a meeting and a three month introductory
membership to the local MUG.
Subject: Re: Are Mac Evangelists Arrogant?
Date: Thu, 22 Feb 96 09:20:35 -0000
From: Ðzmarc@designwrite.comð
Nathan Tennies wrote (in part):
>However, I do take this charge of "arrogance" seriously, because I think
>that it can wind up hurting the Macintosh more than helping it. Most
>computer shoppers I've met are frustrated by the difficult choice they
>have to make, and are worried to death that they will make the wrong
>choice. Having Macintosh "zealots" (as some like to refer to us) tell
>users that they made a dumb choice is only going to make people mad and
>defensive. Likewise, attacking Windows 95 as lame is only going to
>antagonize those who use Windows 95 because they don't have any choice or
>didn't know any better.
>
>One quick example from the Windows 95 release. A lot of Mac users
>(including myself) pointed out that the Mac had features like long file
>names for ten years before Windows did. The popular "Been There. Done
>That" slogon captures that sentiment. But this can come across as a bit
>arrogant. As one my partners - who uses both Macs and PCs - said, "Who
>cares who had it first. All that matters is that Windows users have it
>now." And, in a sense, he's right. I don't know which auto company
>first included air bags or multi-speed windshield wipers; once they are
>common, who cares who had it first.
I must agree. I recommend Macs to PC people several times a week at
least. Just this past week I had a naive Windows user who told me that my
Mac looked "just like" Windows. I didn't panic or get defensive, but
instead smiled and carefully pointed out some of the most obvious
differences. I showed her that Macs only had one menu bar at the top of
the screen, and I showed her the application menu which listed all my
loaded apps (about 10 at the time!), and I switched to the Finder and
showed her some folder and files and stuff. As she started to pay
attention I could see she was impressed. (Ever just compare the Finder's
icons to Windows? Big difference.) Anyway, we just sort of talked--I
didn't pressure her at all but pointed out that most graphics were done
on the Mac and emphasized that this was because the Mac had been doing
that for ten years and PCs were only just now started to catch up. She
was impressed. Before she left she said kinda wistfully, "I wish I could
have a Mac a work." And here she'd never even really seen one until just
a few minutes earlier!
On another note--by step-brother, who's a Linux guru--was patently
offended by the "Win95 = Mac84" stuff. He thought it came across as
arrogant, and--even worse--he interpreted it to mean that "Mac96=Mac84"!
In other words, that Win95 was current and the Mac hadn't changed since
1984! We argued about this--it took me a while to understand his
perspective--but this is what he legitimately took it to mean the first
time he saw it. He thought it was a Pro-Win95 bumper sticker! When I
explained it to him he didn't like it. (Of course, this comes from a guy
who thinks a command-line interface is the holy grail of computing!)
--Marc
______________________________________________________________________
Marc Zeedar + DesignWrite Web Page: www.svprint.com/dw/marc.html
Graphic Design + Macintosh Training and Consulting + Technical Writing
Stop the hegemony! Send email to Ðmacway-request@solutions.apple.comð.
______________________________________________________________________
Date: Thu, 22 Feb 1996 10:03:52 -0700
From: bonadio@well.com (Allan Bonadio)
Subject: The Good War
> Moreover, even the Mac is still
>frighteningly dependant on MS apps like Word, Excel, etc.
I think it would be a good thing for Mac people to wean themselves off of
MS products. As we can all see, they are all getting worse. This is how
MS is making the Mac look worse than Windows.
Instead, it must end up showing how MS products look terrible compared to
their competitors on the Mac. But, surprise, the noose has become tight in
the last few years, hasn't it? If MS has a monopoly, there AREN'T any
other products that compete against it. Very true for spreadsheets; close
to true for other categories. For instance, I have MS Word 5a myself, but
not Nisus, nor ClarisWorks. I do have old versions of MacWrite Pro, Write
Now and WordPerfect.
I hope all the other word processor and spreadsheet (?) companies out there
see the development opportunities:
1) Make your WP read/write MS Word files. Don't argue with me that the
file format isn't documented; get Resourcer and figure it out. Type in
"a", analyze the file. Now type in "b" and analyze the file. Now type in
"ab" and analyze the file. Keep going. It will be worth your while to
hire programmer(s) to work on this full time. This is a mega $$$ market
for you - MS Word refugees. Mega.
2) Same goes for PowerPoint and all the other MS apps that have dominated
the Mac marketplace. Get on the stick.
3) There's GOT to be a spreadsheet out there besides Excel. Now's the
time. Same goes here. Time to make some money.
4) Don't delude yourselves about how much better your file format is than
microsoft's. It is. Nobody cares. Your customers have PC people they have
to exchange with. Who are all razzing these people about how they have to
get rid of their macs because they're incompatible with PCs. So unless you
have a PC in house and can exchange files fluidly, you might as well call
up the bankrupcy attorney and get it over with.
5) Don't delude yourselves about how much better your user interface is
than microsoft's. It is. Nobody cares. Your customers have office
personnell who are all experienced at using MS Word (etc), after having
taken MS Word classes. (Here's where Word Perfect et al have a distinct
advantage.) Who are all convinced that getting these people to use a Mac
with really different everything, would be too much work. Maybe there's UI
copyright issues; find a way around it. Make your UI programmable, and
spin off a tiny company to make the pref files to make it MS Word. If you
can't take one-dimensional temp people who are used to PCs, sit them down
in front of a Mac, and have them work fluidly, you might as well call up
the bankrupcy attorney.
6) Apple should get people inside apple to stop using Word and distributing
files to us in Word format. Not using heavy handed techniques, you
shouldn't have to. The software obviously sucks. Maybe hire cult
reprogrammers from the 80's.
7) Don't delude yourselves about how much time you have. Don't delude
yourselves about how "nobody" has upgraded to Word 6 - last I saw, it was
on the bestseller's list.
8) Don't delude yourselves about the market share you'll gain. You have to
WRITE this file format too. WordPerfect has to write files that Nisus can
read, and these have to go back to the PC and be read by Word.
9) Pity the developers who go head to head with Microsoft on their own
turf. For them, it's not a question of whether they'll lose, but when.
The same is not true for you; Apple will not change the OS to render your
application useless.
- Allan Bonadio
Warning: dates on the calendar are closer than they appear.
Date: Thu, 22 Feb 1996 12:26:18 -0600
From: awd@DDG.com (Andrew W. Donoho)
Subject: Mac Crumples Under Load..Everyone moved to Digest
Folks,
Well, the 60 MB mail spool took AIMS down for the count. Everyone
has been moved to digest mode until I get a mail relay relationship
established with an ever so friendly unix host. This should happen in the
next several days. Until then I will be generating multiple digests per
day.
All the missing posts should be in the upcoming digest. If your
pithy words somehow got lost, please feel free to repost.
Best Regards
Andrew
P.S. We now have 737 subscribers.
-----
Andrew W. Donoho
awd@DDG.com - Donoho Design Group, Inc.
awd@gslis.utexas.edu - UT Grad. School of Library and Information Science
Subject: Re: Apple please stop blocking the sales of your products
Date: Thu, 22 Feb 96 10:05:06 -0800
From: Nic Olinsky Ðolinskyn@sunnyside.wednet.eduð
I don't know if this will be on any service, but it is a Mac product
catalog that is generated from outside the US.
http://www.apple.com.au/MPG/
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ http://www.sunnyside.wednet.edu ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Nicholas M. Olinsky Computer Specialist //////////////////////////
Sunnyside School District #201 / This is as real as your/
1110 South Sixth St., Sunnyside, WA, 98944 \ so-called life gets - Q\
Voice: (509) 837-5851 Fax: (509) 837-0450 \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Sent Via Claris E-Mailer ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Date: Thu, 22 Feb 1996 14:09:09 -0500
From: dsc@raleigh.ibm.com (Dan Caugherty)
Subject: Mr. Enderle raises his ugly head.. again!
1&all --
I couldn't help but notice the name of Mr. Enderle. Would this be the
same guy who:
-- overestimated sales of Win95 during his tenure at Dataquest
-- was let go by Dataquest (presumably for the 1st point of order)
-- has a history of allowing his biases to alter his forecasts?
There are a few IBM'ers (who I do not speak for!) that gnash their teeth
at this guy for bashing OS/2 as well. It seems Mr. E's pro-MS bias has
gotten him into trouble at Big Blue as well as with folks in Cupertino.
I'm surprised that no one raised an objection to the words from this
horse's mouth earlier.
Cheers,
-- Dan Caugherty, IBM RTP NC
Speaking *from* but not *for* IBM.
Date: Thu, 22 Feb 1996 14:02:50 -0500
From: mnorman@princeton.com (Michael Norman)
Subject: Re: Hmmmm....
>I saw something in the news recently and I thought... why doesn't apple put
>a web server in every mac? Personal web sharing. PR coup. Anyone?
For $10 you can get peter lewis' Net Presenz (FTP and HTTP services).
I'd love for Apple to license this and integrate it into the OS.
It's sure a lot cooler than WindowShade.
- Michael
(Peter deserves to get rich off of a licensing agreement.)
Date: Thu, 22 Feb 1996 11:45:29 -0800
From: shandrew@leland.stanford.edu (andrew shieh)
Subject: Re: Carpe.Diem digest 22 Feb 1996
At 12:56 AM 2/23/96, postmaster@ddg.com wrote:
>Say, I know you're just another fanatic, but maybe you have the answer
>anyway. When I tried to vote in this current poll, as I did in last
>week's, I couldn't. That is, I was able to pull up the questions, but
>there was no place I could check off my answers. Do you have any idea what
>I'm doing wrong? I'm using this URL:
>
>http://vip.hotwired.com/netizenpoll/index
I had similar troubles with it; i found that using Netscape fixed the
problems. I strongly dislike netscape-only forms...
Date: 22 Feb 1996 09:48:29 U
From: "Gino Larsen-Giacalone" Ðggiacalone@htland.comð
Subject: Re: All The Rubbish That Is
Reply to: RE>All The Rubbish That Is Fit To Pr
- The Wall Street Journal ran a story in the past few weeks that included some
graphs. In the text the author asserted plummeting market share while in the graph
accompanying the story showed a gain in market share over the prvious five
years.
- Nathan's article came through to me a bit mangled. Is there a collective
action proposal suggested?
G.S.Larsen-Giacalone
ggiacalone@htland.com
--------------------------------------
Date: 2/22/96 7:02 AM
To: Gino Larsen-Giacalone
From: Carpe Diem
The following is an article I wrote about the media feeding frenzy =
for the February 1996 issue of InsideApple, the newsletter for the =
Charlotte Apple Computer Club. I thought some on this list might =
find it interesting.
Nathan Tennies
Bootstrap Enterprises Inc
-----------------------------------------------------------------------=
---------
All The Rubbish That Is Fit To Print
Nathan Tennies
Date: 22 Feb 1996 10:21:32 U
From: "Gino Larsen-Giacalone" Ðggiacalone@htland.comð
Subject: PS>Improvement on Apple's "
PS>Improvement on Apple's "Macho" Factor
(This is an addendum to my previous message where I considered that the name
"Apple" has a fundamental cultural disadvantage in the U.S.)
% I understand that an apple is often a highly regarded gift in Japan. Does
anyone have any experience with the perception of Apple Computers in Japan?
% SUGGESTIONS TO RAISE THE MACHO FACTOR IN HOME MARKET:
= Preformas should ship with Apple designed joy sticks that are better than
any commonly available.
= License the voices and "look and feel" of media characters such as Darth
Vader, the Star Wars robots and the Star Trek elements for use on special
edition voice/recognition interface in Preformas. Then, only with a Mac could
someone have a live bit of those powerful culteral fantasies.
= Make a commercial with the Scotty charater form the old Star Trek to explain
why when they made the first Star Trek movie they featured a Mac because it was
the most advanced pc available.
= Have a multi-angle ad campaign so that people see Mac ads that look very
different from each other - maybe up to six messages - during the same period.
One set should show famous personalities who really do use Macs. Another should
claim thehigh ground as "The Original pc innovator and historic leader in bringing
power to people".
= Sponsor a TV series set inside Myst's 3D world. The actual creations could
be used as sets.
G.S.Larsen-Giacalone
ggiacalone@htland.com
Date: Thu, 22 Feb 1996 09:49:50 -0700 (MST)
From: Powers Foss Ðfoss@ucsub.Colorado.EDUð
Subject: PowerPC News
Hey everyone, I used to visit this site regularly becuase of it's cool
PowerPC content...but recently the editor Chris Rose
(chrisr@power.globalnews.com) has been sluggish with the cool PPC content
in favor of the standard industry mac news. Please visit his site to
see it:
http://apt.usa.globalnews.com/powerpc/articles/current.htm
But also let him know that that many people visit his site and to
get back to the PPC news that has always been very cool...check
out past archives for info on 300-600MHz PPC604s available from
Exponential (www.exp.com) by '97.
Thanks,
Powers Foss.
Date: Thu, 22 Feb 1996 09:01:22 -0700 (MST)
From: Powers Foss Ðfoss@ucsub.Colorado.EDUð
Subject: Re: My last word: Mouse vs. Keyboard
I think it is blatantly obvious that using a combination of hot-keys,
mouse, keyboard equivalents, any mixture is much faster than either
one or the other by itself.
Powers Foss.
Date: Thu, 22 Feb 1996 09:20:23 -0700 (MST)
From: Powers Foss Ðfoss@ucsub.Colorado.EDUð
Subject: Mac/PC Poll
If you missed your chance to vote at the polls....
http://www.hotwired.com/netizenpoll/96/08/index3b.html
However, the last time I tried to vote it looked like the poll may
be finished. Let me know the latest results!
Powers Foss.
Date: Thu, 22 Feb 1996 14:41:58 -0600
From: hshere@WaterValley.Net (Howard Shere)
Subject: Re: Carpe.Diem digest 22 Feb 1996
Ummmm.....help.......Please stop this digest from coming to me!!!!! I don't
know how to make it stop. I didn't used to get it as a digest, I used to
get it as mail.
____________________________________________________________________________
Howard Shere || President
1-601-473-4225 x12 || Green Dragon Creations, Inc.
hshere@greendragon.com || 211 N. Main St.
http://www.watervalley.net/ || Water Valley, MS 38965
Date: Thu, 22 Feb 1996 15:42:35 -0400
From: aa4lr@radio.org (Bill Coleman AA4LR)
Subject: Re: Mouse vs. Keyboard
>I came late to the discussion, but my thought is this:
>
>The keyboard shortcuts that exist in program are generally hard-wired, so they
>are only as useful as they can be adapted to by the user...
I think you mean "adopted"
>The ultimate, therefore, is to let the user determine the keyboard shortcuts;
>all new development should incorporate this user-defined extensibility.
You need to read "Tog on Interface." I believe he covers this issue.
Basically, to make keyboard shortcuts useful, you have to have a lot of
repetitions to learn them. If your shortcuts are different from application
to application, you'll never learn them. Hence, it is actually BETTER to
have hard-wired, standard shortcuts for everything (at least everything
commonplace).
There are cases where programmability makes sense, but these are more rare.
Which leads me to an introspective moment. Why is it that after 3 years of
using an Extended keyboard do I find myself using little more than the page
up / page down keys? (I use the arrows and the keypad, but these were on
the ancient "standard" keyboard) I don't EVER use the nice F1-F15 keys at
all. Hmm.
(Aside from F1-F4 (defined as undo, cut, copy, paste) Apple doesn't give me
anyway to program F5-F12)
Bill Coleman, AA4LR Mail: aa4lr@radio.org
Quote: "Not in a thousand years will man ever fly!"
-- Wilbur Wright, 1901
Date: Thu, 22 Feb 1996 15:43:28 -0500
From: YourMac@aol.com
Subject: Re: Try before you buy...
In reply to alexgollner@project.com (Alex Gollner) who wrote:
> How about some neat Copland demos on CD...
>
> Most have been created using Macromedia Director. How about cover-mounting
> every September PC magazine with a Copland simulator CD-ROM.
Ideally, it should be runnable from Windows 3.11 & Windows 95, and bundled
with non-Mac magazines (Byte, Windows, etc.).
After all, why preach to the choir?
Date: Thu, 22 Feb 1996 13:09:59 PST
From: "Jim Cahill" Ðjac@xis.xerox.comð
Subject: TextBridge Pro for Macintosh from Xerox
I don't know if this is the correct forum for product announcements, but I'm
going to take a chance.
Today, Xerox Corporation begins shipping TextBridge Pro, the premier optical
character recognition software for the Macintosh.
Following up our very successful TextBridge Classic product, TextBridge Pro
offers advanced features such as output with full document recomposition to Word
and WordPerfect, Instant Access OCR so you can import recognized documents
directly into any text application, the ability to save zone templates and
training sets for re-use, support of most desktop scanners, and much more.
For more information, post email at textbridge@xis.xerox.com, or call Xerox
sales at 1-800-248-6550, ext. 3
Jim Cahill
Xerox
jac@xis.xerox.com
Subject: Re: All The Rubbish That Is Fit To Print
Date: Thu, 22 Feb 96 16:37:23 -0500
From: Geno Porfido Ðporfido@chelsea.ios.comð
>There=B9s no doubt that some of the negative reporting about Apple =
stemmed
>from reporters with malicious intent. However, it looks like most of the
>nation=B9s news outlets were content to print or broadcast a
>sensationalistic story pulled from whatever sources were close at hand,
>without taking a minute to verify the story=B9s accuracy. It appears =
that
>the biggest threat to the Macintosh comes not from Microsoft or Intel, =
but
>from our daily paper.
>
>Nathan Tennies
Great article Nathan....why can't something as truthful as this be =
printed and picked up across the wire??
I got this from 'Daily Spectrum' mailist...written by Dave =
Duberman..who constantly bashes Apple with little quips and snide =
remarks, like ranting when GOD FORBID!! a CDROM plays ONLY ON a =
MAC....and not a PC!@! ( he really got upset and bashed CD+/enhanced =
CD as an Apple piece of crap...bad interface.......)....that really =
pisses me off. At the same time every day contains at least 2 M$ =
grandeur lies, and sensationalistic ' reports' like the one I =
included below.... I think that 75% of all the M$ stuff you read is =
'planted', either thru M$ itself, or obviously its users. It's time =
that Apple's users, that are involved in the Press and journalism, do =
the same.....mention something great about Apple every damn =
DAY....every chance you get...I'm tired of the lies.....its time we =
ALL did something great....
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D
The Princes of Lies.........
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D
MRG Announces Report on Microsoft Multimedia And Internet Strategies
According to a new report released Tuesday by the Sunnyvale, =
Calif.-based
Multimedia Research Group (MRG), Microsoft's multimedia and Internet
strategies, after significant revisions during the past six months,
re-position the software giant to provide products and services that =
could
dominate the industry.
The 125-page report, entitled Microsoft: Multimedia Strategies -- =
1996 -
2000, contains profiles of Microsoft's key players, teams, divisions,
products, services and strategic alliances. It predicts when =
Microsoft will
become a major player in Internet services and assesses its position
vis-a-vis perceived competitors such as Netscape, Sun and SGI.
"We were surprised at how quickly Microsoft could revamp its =
proprietary MSN
(Microsoft Network) strategy to embrace the Internet," stated Gary =
Schultz,
MRG principal analyst and president. "In fact, Microsoft has been so
effective in learning to transfer its unique software development and
marketing skills to multimedia content development that it has become =
one of
the top multimedia publishers."
MRG's analysis outlines Microsoft's key strategic goals for =
multimedia,
which include: aggressive expansion of content into the home; =
facilitation
of easy-to-use Internet authoring tools in concert with (subsidiary)
SoftImage software programs; and exploitation of available bandwidth =
via
strategic partnerships.
Written for executives in the telecommunications, computer hardware =
and
software and online industries, the report tracks multimedia trends =
and
strategies for 1996 - 2000. It is priced at $1,500 and available in =
both
English and Japanese. Contact MRG's Gary C. Schultz, at 408/524-9767; =
email
ggs@mrgco.com.
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D
I mean...who paid for this ..obviously M$!! WHY DOESNT APPLE do this =
stuff?? Its an obvious setup.....especially in light that the Mac is =
#1 in MM, #1 in Net development...#2 in servers...etc etc.WHY WHY WHY =
doesn't Apple think of this kind of marketing?? All some bozo =
developer has to do now is read this, and say " well....M$ is the way =
to go........." What a load of crap.....it makes me puke. A day =
before, I read an article by some OTHER study, one that you barely =
saw or heard of, that said M$ is on a major decline.......slipping, =
on the way out..BUT you had to get lucky and land on it..
What do we do?? other than continue our Mac evangelising and =
loyalty?? Its such a pile of SH*T.....I mean...who is this company?? =
Why is it always these pc toting "ANAL-YSTS" and "ADVISORS" that come =
up with this stuff, like DataQuest ( a Microsoft subsidiary??? :) =
with their " 30 million wimp95 sold by 96".....forecast, now cut to =
10 million I think (reality sold...under 7 million...:)........when, =
the real folks, out here in the fields.......KNOW whats being used??? =
It stinks of deception......no? Just like all other M$ things..
Oh, how I dislike that company's ethics, product and =
people........truly, the Evil Empire.
GP
...Rantin' and Raving and Pissed and not gonna take it no more!!
Apple Forever
=89 Smilin' Pig Productions =89
=89 Multimedia Music & Sound Co.=89
=89"Never wrestle with a pig. You both get dirty and,=89
=89 besides, the pig likes it."=89
-----------------------------------------------------------------------=
------
Stop the hegemony! Join "EvangeList," Guy Kawasaki's (un)official =
Apple
listserver of good news about Apple, Macintosh, and third-party
developers. To subscribe to EvangeList, send an email to:
listproc@solutions.apple.comð and include in the body of the message =
the
text: Subscribe Macway
Date: Thu, 22 Feb 1996 13:26:49 -0800
From: quadra_quack@sierra.campus.mci.net (Isaac Church)
Subject: Re: Microsoft competitor (was The Good War)
> I think it would be a good thing for Mac people to wean themselves off of
> MS products. As we can all see, they are all getting worse. This is how
> MS is making the Mac look worse than Windows.
>
> Instead, it must end up showing how MS products look terrible compared to
> their competitors on the Mac. But, surprise, the noose has become tight i=
n
> the last few years, hasn't it? If MS has a monopoly, there AREN'T any
> other products that compete against it. Very true for spreadsheets; close
> to true for other categories. For instance, I have MS Word 5a myself, but
> not Nisus, nor ClarisWorks. I do have old versions of MacWrite Pro, Write
> Now and WordPerfect.
I'm a little afraid to say this, but I do have plans to create a company of
my own that will create these kinds of products. Right now I've just turned
18 and I'm in the process of learning about programming and all things
releated to computing. One of the things that I've noticed, is that
although everyone hates Microsoft (even the majority of Wintel users!) no
one can compete with them because they control these products.
My plan for beating them is simple. I want to create programs (with help of
other programmers eventually) that can take the place of Word, Excel,
Powerpoint, etc. I plan on releasing them for the Mac first, and then for
Windows. Depending on the industry at the time, they may be OpenDoc parts,
or Apps, but either way the goal will be to win against Microsoft with both
price, and feature set.
You see Microsoft products are not all the good (obvious to Mac users, but
not so obvious to Wintel people who have never used anything else) and they
could easily be made better for both platforms (take a look at ClarisWorks
for an example). I plan on calling my company Masterpiece Software=81 (that'=
s
trademarked so don't steal it :-). After all the definition of Masterpiece
is a 'brilliantly executed work'. Although I may not be brilliant I plan on
making programs that are in their execution, and useability.
I also plan on making them available both commercially and as shareware
(you read correctly). In a similiar way to Alladin's Stuffit, except all
versions will be basically identical. I also plan on selling them dirt
cheap. I've never been one all that interested in riches. As long as I
could afford a home and a family I'm satisfied. What would really make me
happy is to make computer users lives everywhere a little easier, and help
promote the Mac a bit. With a strategy like that Microsoft couldn't really
compete because it can't make a good product to save it's life, and profit
is all that matters to a company like that.
I'm only spilling my plan in that hopes that I could get some encouragment,
perhaps some suggestions for the products, and basically just some ideas
that might contribute to a great future for computing. In-other-words, I
just wanted to share my idea and get some feedback.
So what do you think? Am I crazy? What do I need to reach my goal? Do you
like the idea?
-Isaac Church
"Life is a series of mistakes, and success depends on how well we learn
from them."
Date: Thu, 22 Feb 1996 18:58:32 -0500
From: cardsfan@aksi.net
Subject: Re: Mouse vs. Keyboard
>Date: Fri, 23 Feb 1996 01:31:35 +0900
ðFrom: macross@gol.com (Michael House)
>Subject: Re: Mouse vs. Keyboard
>
>At 12:48 96.2.21, Jim Cahill wrote:
>> The ultimate, therefore, is to let the user determine the keyboard shortcuts;
>> all new development should incorporate this user-defined extensibility.
>
>FWIW, Nisus Writer, the Mac-only document processor which has won
>awards for its WorldScript implementation, has always had user-definable
>keyboard shortcuts, among lots of other great features. Check out their
>webpage for more info: www.nisus-soft.com.
>
>(Disclaimer: My only association with Nisus is as a satisfied customer.)
There's an idea for an approvement on the MacOS... Put a box (similar to a
window's close box, but slightly bigger) on all the menus, to the right of
each command (where it currently lists the keyboard shortcuts). Inside of
the box, put the keyboard shortcut if one is assigned, or leave it blank if
one isn't. Now, in order to change a keyboard shortcut (or assign a new
one), go to the menu, and drag the mouse over the box next to the command
who's shortcut you want to edit. When the mouse is over the box, it sort
of "pops up," so you know the mouse is over it (the new Copland
interface[s] is 3D, so this would make sense...). If you let go of the
mouse over the box, it brings up a dialog box letting you edit the keyboard
shortcut for that command. And of course, if you should tell it to use one
that is already in use, it informs you that that shortcut is in use, and
asks if you want to cancel or replace the other shortcut. What do you
think?
-Matt Nichols
--
-CardsFan
cardsfan@aksi.net
------------------------------------------------------------------
Join "EvangeList," Guy Kawasaki's (un)official Apple listserver of good
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~~~~~~
"When all is said, we cannot, in a world that is ruled
by purpose and links an effect with every cause, escape
the concept of reward. Action by which nothing is gained
is futile."
-E.F. Scott
Date: Thu, 22 Feb 96 18:26:55 EST
From: bjorkman@voicenet.com (Marc R. Bjorkman)
Subject: Re: Mouse vs. Keyboard
>For example, I noticed in 7.5, that the open/save dialogs of all programs
>default to the last folder in which a document was opened/saved (this
>wasn't the
>case in 7.1.2). This is a very handy feature.
In System 7.5, the General Control panel allows the choice of three options
for the folder default:
1) Folder which contains the application
2) Last folder used in the application, and
3) Documents folder
-----------------------------------------------
Marc R. Bjorkman
Yardley, PA
bjorkman@omni.voicenet.com, http://www.voicenet.com/~bjorkman
Date: Thu, 22 Feb 1996 18:04:40 -0600
From: gdough@tripos.com (Greg Dougherty)
Subject: Re: Apple Blocking int'l sales
>So I went to call some US mail order stores just to find out that Apple
>prevents them of selling their products outside the United States. Many other
>companies have the same policy, like Global Village.
>
>Why should they do that? To prevent local dealers in Europe? What's the point
>of supporting European dealers selling Apple products at higher prices than I
>could get them from the US, including paying UPS shipping and the local sales
>tax in Switzerland upon arrival?
The point is that Apple and those other companies know that they will have
no (or at least fewer) local dealers if they don't do that blocking, and
they think this will lead to fewer sales.
The first Mac product I worked on had two versions, a US version that did
everything in English measurements, and an "international" version that did
English or metric numbers, depending upon the settings in the intl
resources. We had non-US dealers who only agreed to sell our product if we
agreed to only sell the international version to non-US dealers (i.e.
MacWarehouse could only have the US version). We wanted the extra sales
they would bring in, so we agreed to their terms.
Let's face it, the US is about as close to a "consumers' paradise" as you
will find. By and large our laws don't protect inefficient companies from
efficient and ruthless competitors. Thus the prices are lower here than
they are elsewhere. You want the lower prices, talk with your own
politicians, not with Apple.
---Greg
These opinions are mine. I'm too self-interested to speak for anyone else.
From: louis_lavoie@car.qc.ca
Subject: Re: Re: A tactic to help trounce Windows
Date: 22 Feb 1996 09:53:01 GMT
>1) How do I find a file on the Macintosh?
>2) Where is the file manager?
>3) Where is the program manager?
>4) Where is the control menu?
>5) ...
# I think Chris Habig may be on to something. Whenever I receive a Windows
# user into a Mac environment I am always struck by a common theme:
# disbelief and mistrust.
It's such a bright idea, I wonder how it is nobody from Apple came with it
along all those years. It could make the "porting" of Windows users to the
Mac so much easier... Chris gets my vote on this one.
Louis
Date: 22 Feb 1996 17:06:10 U
From: "Gino Larsen-Giacalone" Ðggiacalone@htland.comð
Subject: DIGESTED COMMENTS
DIGESTED COMMENTS
RE>EGGHEAD & YOU
The reality is that I stopped buying from Egghead in '88 or so. Looks like
only the uninformed would. Egghead IS an icon and a place widely trusted as
representing personal computing BUT they've been on the rocks for years. We
could complain, but if they DID increase their shelf space will be buy from
them? It'd only be fair if we did.
It is true that many end users I encounter resist using mail order until I've convinved
them to try it once.
Also, the Hotwired stunt was fun but mainly served to disable an information
gathering effort. It didn't fool anyone or reveal any truth other than that the
Mac user base is "near fanactical".
RE> MICROSOFT PRODUCTS
It is one thing for an individual to choose to use outstanding products such as
Nissus but it is next to impossible to get even a relatively small number of
users to change. They don't see why they are being forced to change and don't
care about the esthetics or politics. To them its about doing their work NOT
the systems they use.
Our firm hadn't upgraded from Word 3 and Excel 2. I tried to NOT do the upgrade
but was forced to by an uprising of users. I blame Novell and Claris for not
making it easy to change. When M$ stumbled were the competitors right there to
provide a solution -NO! They were asleep. What was needed was A) a utility
that would run through a hard drive and convert all Word files to, say Word
Perfect, B) an easy to use users guide aimed at Word users and C) a competitive
upgrade to a first class word processor that used the OS rather than imposing
OLE.
On the spreadsheet front we tried to standardize on WINGZ. It was a FABULOUSLY
innovative program in its day (most of the innovations have been adopted by
Excel by now) and STILL runs faster on a PowerMac than does "native" Excel v5.
Informix wasted themselves marketing false starts and then never came out with a
version 2 and doesn't even sell it as a spreadsheet anymore nor do they support
the MacOS.
I think a key issue was that they came out with a great pre-visual basic
scripting language (HyperScript) but lost the opportunity to pick up on the base
of HyperTalk experience out there. We once offered to pay an Excel Macro Language
consultant to learn HyperScript to do a project for us but he wouldn't. If
HyperScript had been an extension of HyperTalk I could have choosen from among a
bunch of guys trying to make a living on HyperCard.
Again Claris blew it. When they licensed Wingz and released it under a
different name we thought they would do the obvious and tweak HyperScript to
bring it into conformity with HyperTalk and tweak the first generation user
interface of some carelessly dumb details. But "noooo". They let it languish
until it died of neglect.
Could it be that since the availability of standard software is such a critical
issue for a popular OS, Apple's number one fear is that M$ will stop supporting
the platform? Did Apple let HyperCard die and failed to make it cross platform
because M$ complained - knowing that it might have pre-empted VB?
RE> "CRUMPLED" CD LISTSERVER HARDWARE
At the risk of arrogance where engineering realities should prevail, it would be
embarrising if you can't run a mere 800 users off some kind of Mac. Andrew,
have you consulted with the Chuq Ðchuq@mail2.solutions.apple.comð, the mail mom
for EVANGALIST? They've got 20K+ at this point. Does anyone know what they
run on?
G'Nite
G.S.Larsen-Giacalone
ggiacalone@htland.com
Date: Thu, 22 Feb 96 23:37:19 EST
From: Gene Ouye Ðgeneo@Rational.COMð
Subject: RE: A tactic to help trounce Windows
I sent this yesterday, but it seems to have disappeared into
the ether...
---------------Included Message---------------
Date: Wed, 21 Feb 96 22:37:05 EST
From: Gene Ouye Ðgeneo@rational.comð
Subject: RE: A tactic to help trounce Windows
To: Carpe.Diem@ddg.com
On Wed, 21 Feb 1996 16:25:42 -0500 Chris Habig wrote:
[...]
>How would we ever figure out all of the questions that the Guide should address?
>One way I thought of would be for Apple to start a Usenet group for Windows
>users who have or are converting from Windows to Macs...find out what
>problems they had in the beginning.
Another place to get questions is from people like myself who have been
Mac fans, users, and evangelists for years, but who are forced to use
Windoze at work. After a while, you get used to certain Windoze paradigms
and you realize that there are some ideas there that aren't actually bad
for you. I haven't seen the start of the mouse vs. keyboard thread (I'm
one of the 400 who joined the list yesterday), but there is a real advan-
tage to being able to do some of the things from the keyboard that Windoze
allows (even though the only reason it originally had keyboard equivalents
to all mouse commands because you couldn't assume that an Intel box would
have a mouse. If you've ever had your cat eat through your mouse cable,
you appreciate keyboard input! :-)
Anyway, if you look at the Wordperfect -> MS-Word transition, it included
not just help, but a Wordperfect mode with pseudo-Wordperfect menus and
key mappings. To really be successful in the Windoze market, something
similar will have to be provided to ease the transition for them. If
you've spent a lot of time on a Windoze box, you've also probably learned
a distrust and dislike of the mouse. In order to get Windoze users to
make the transition, a way will have to be provided to gradually get them
to feel more comfortable with a mouse that actually works in an OS that
actually knows what it is. One thing that is a MAJOR complaint from
stupid Windoze users (there actually are some that aren't stupid, so
don't laugh), is that they can never find where any keyboard equivalents
to the mouse commands are, because when the push the mouse button on the
menu, it immediately goes away. If you think about it, a new user will
spend a lot of time browsing menus just to figure out what can be done,
and where things are. Unfortunately, the only way to do that is to
click on the menu title and DON'T LET GO!!! Trust me, that gets old
quickly when you're used to one click and the menu stays down. In order
to ease the transition for Windoze users, that behavior needs to be
the default when you run in Windoze transition mode.
Gene Ouye Ðgeneo@rational.comð
Date: Thu, 22 Feb 1996 21:53:59 -0600
From: j5rson@prairie.lakes.com (Jeff Iverson)
Subject: OpenDoc on ROM
InfoWorld 2/12:
Article states that Apple and IBM are exploring embedding OpenDoc onto a ROM
chip.
ROM version will increase speed and reduce memory requirements for applets.
Users could create documents using OpenDoc in conjunction with Java applets
without worrying about performance or memory limitations.
Companies benefit by the ability to track and create documents over
traditional LANs or the Internet much more quickly.
OpenDoc in ROM, which currently requires an additional 2MB of memory on top
of the OS requirements, would make it usable in much smaller devices, such
as hand-helds.
Cheers!
J5rson!
Subject: Re: Carpe.Diem digest 22 Feb 1996
Date: Thu, 22 Feb 96 20:10:09 -0800
From: Dan Mitchell Ðdan@mitchell.fhda.eduð
That is one of the most seriously cool ideas I've heard lately.
I used MacHTTP back when it first came out and, though I understand why
it happened, I was saddened in a way when it evolved into a pricey
"professional" product as WebStar. (However, I do own a copy of this fine
program... :-)
What was so revolutionary about MacHTTP was that it put the power to be a
web publisher in the hands of virtually any Mac owner who could wrangly a
connection to the Internet. THIS was revolutionary!
NetPresenz makes this potential a reality. $10 and you have a web server
(which, by the way, works quite well) and an ftp and gopher server as
well. And it is quite easy to set up. I don't know what it's limits might
or might not be, but I do know that most individuals setting up a small
to medium traffic site could easily do it with this program.
Why NOT make it a standard part of the system software? (And suitably
reward NetGod Peter N. Lewis in the process!)
Dan
>
>>I saw something in the news recently and I thought... why doesn't apple put
>>a web server in every mac? Personal web sharing. PR coup. Anyone?
>
>For $10 you can get peter lewis' Net Presenz (FTP and HTTP services).
>
>I'd love for Apple to license this and integrate it into the OS.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dan Mitchell | De Anza College | Cupertino, CA | http://mitchell.fhda.edu/
dan@mitchell.fhda.edu | danmitch@eworld.com | danmitch@aol.com
Join Apple's EvangeList: Email to Ðmacway-request@solutions.apple.comð
Date: Fri, 23 Feb 1996 09:49:26 +0200 (EET)
From: Jacob Matthan Ðfindians@netppl.fið
Subject: Can somebody reply this misconception
Hi,
I belong to a list on computer-to-plate prepress work. I saw a
post from the General manager of a large US publishing houses in
which he said that they prepared all their work on a Mac and then used
the PC to transmit the data coast-to-coast. I therefore asked him a
direct question as to why he did this transmission on a PC.
Given below is his reply - which is obviously a misconception, but I am
not an expert in that field - so would one of you either constructively
reply the individual or if you can give me the data, I would be pleased
to reply him. I think it would be diplomatic to have a single sound reply
to such a person rather than several people trying to send messages to
him. So maybe the reply can be put up here and the best and most
authoritative one sent to Rich?
Regards
Jacob Matthan
Oulu, Finland
Do visit my Home page
http://www.netppl.fi/~findians/briefings.html
(next issue is due out Sunday - 25th February 1996)
---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Thu, 22 Feb 1996 14:16:49 -0500
From: Rich Rivera ÐRRIVERA@cahners.comð
To: findians@netppl.fi
Cc: computer-to-plate-pressroom@cybercom.net
Subject: Re: Introduction -Reply -Reply
Hi Jacob,
The bundling can be done from either platform. Currently it is being on a
Mac but I hope to move it to a PC soon. We do transmit our files from a
PC. We do this because our wide area network does not support appletalk.
I UNDERSTAND THE MAC IS VERY INEFFICIENT FROM A WIDE AREA NETWORK STANDPOINT.
(Jacob: Emphasis is mine and not Rich's.)
From a PC however I am able to see the entire network, which literally
goes from coast to coast (Los Angeles, CA to Boston, MA). Using the
novell "ncopy" function I can copy a Mac file anywhere on the wide area
network and keep intact the resource fork.
So what I'm saying is I have a file server in Chicago and all of the offices
can transfer files to it. The prep house in turn, in the Chicago area, can
access the server to copy files over. This lets me have one major
supplier for most of the company, making it much easier to control costs
and support. Since I'm not trying to interface with many different
suppliers who all do things a little differently, I can keep things somewhat
consistant from a procedure standpoint.
Rich Rivera
Cahners Publishing
----------------------------------------------------------------
Date: 22 Feb 1996 22:07:49 -0600
From: "Geoff Coffey" Ðgeoff_coffey@aoce.austin.apple.comð
Subject: Re: Carpe.Diem digest 22 Feb 1996
>You can set that to be your Documents folder, the Last folder used inthe
>application, or the Folder which contains the application. All this in the
>handy General Controls Control Panel.
Additionally, you can disable the general controls Control Panel if you like
the way 7.1 worked better!
Geoff Coffey
Date: 22 Feb 1996 22:19:10 -0600
From: "Geoff Coffey" Ðgeoff_coffey@aoce.austin.apple.comð
Subject: Re: Carpe.Diem digest 22 Feb 1996
>A story about Windows compatibility in real life!
hee hee hee!
I have a similar story:
I was helping a couple with their computers. They have a Performa 575 and a
DEC laptop. They were given some PC disks from their son with some speeches
saved on it. After trying for 10 to pry these files open with Works for
Windows, we gave up and I suggested they just open the files in ClarisWorks on
their Mac and print them from their. They looked at me puzzled, but 30 seconds
later they were proofreading the speeches!
I couldn't agree more,
Geoff Coffey
Date: Fri, 23 Feb 1996 11:10:33 +0000
From: james@frutiger.staffs.ac.uk (James Berriman)
Subject: Peter Lewis and NetPresenz
>For $10 you can get peter lewis' Net Presenz (FTP and HTTP services).
>
>I'd love for Apple to license this and integrate it into the OS.
>
>
>(Peter deserves to get rich off of a licensing agreement.)
He surely does :-)
Why stop there? Anarchie is the natural partner to NetPresenz. Apple should
licence both.
With a serious financial injection, Peter could afford to hire a couple of
programmers and speed up development.
Date: Fri, 23 Feb 1996 05:26:19 -0700 (MST)
Subject: Re: Carpe.Diem digest 22 Feb 1996
From: briareos Ðbriareos@primenet.comð
>There's an idea for an approvement on the MacOS... Put a box (similar to a
>window's close box, but slightly bigger) on all the menus, to the right of
>each command (where it currently lists the keyboard shortcuts). Inside of
>the box, put the keyboard shortcut if one is assigned, or leave it blank if
>one isn't. Now, in order to change a keyboard shortcut (or assign a new
>one), go to the menu, and drag the mouse over the box next to the command
>who's shortcut you want to edit. When the mouse is over the box, it sort
>of "pops up," so you know the mouse is over it (the new Copland
>interface[s] is 3D, so this would make sense...). If you let go of the
>mouse over the box, it brings up a dialog box letting you edit the keyboard
>shortcut for that command. And of course, if you should tell it to use one
>that is already in use, it informs you that that shortcut is in use, and
>asks if you want to cancel or replace the other shortcut. What do you
>think?
too complicated. i believe strata studio pro does this rather well. you
choose "configure shortcut..." from the edit menu. then you select which
menu item gets the shortcut. then type what keyboard combo you want. much
easier IMHO.
Take care, Chad.
----------------------------------------------------------------
| "A little rain
briareos@primenet.com | makes the ground harder"
http://www.primenet.com/~briareos/ | == Akemi san ==
Date: Fri, 23 Feb 1996 08:11:45 -0500
From: jragosta@dca.net (Joe Ragosta)
Subject: Re: Carpe.Diem digest 22 Feb 1996
>
>Date: Thu, 22 Feb 1996 15:43:28 -0500
ðFrom: YourMac@aol.com
>Subject: Re: Try before you buy...
>
ðIn reply to alexgollner@project.com (Alex Gollner) who wrote:
>
>> How about some neat Copland demos on CD...
>>
>> Most have been created using Macromedia Director. How about cover-mounting
>> every September PC magazine with a Copland simulator CD-ROM.
>
>Ideally, it should be runnable from Windows 3.11 & Windows 95, and bundled
>with non-Mac magazines (Byte, Windows, etc.).
>
>After all, why preach to the choir?
While I agree with you that Apple needs to preach to the unconverted and
your idea is a good one.
However, they _must_ not give up preaching to the choir. In today's
environment, there really _are_ people leaving the Mac world because they
listen to all the FUD being spread by the media (sad, but true). Apple
needs to keep them.
On the positive side, I just read on Apple's site that about half of the
Macs sold last year went to people who hadn't used a Mac before. So, their
gains are ahead of their losses. Still--think how well they'd do if they
_never_ lost a customer and still gained 2 million new users a year!
Regards,
Joe Ragosta
jragosta@dca.net
Date: Fri, 23 Feb 1996 09:45:13 -0700 (MST)
From: Powers Foss Ðfoss@ucsub.Colorado.EDUð
Subject: Re: Carpe.Diem digest 22 Feb 1996
I hate DIGEST forms!! Stop it!
Powers Foss.
Date: Fri, 23 Feb 1996 09:05:16 -0800
From: KEVIN CARNEY ÐKCZZ490@wadnr.govð
Subject: RE: Can Somebody reply to this misconception
>> So maybe the reply can be put up here and the best and most
authoritative one sent to Rich?
Regards
Jacob Matthan <<
I saw in Rich's quote the term "novell", so building on that premise,
it must be a Novell WAN. Until Novell's very recent release of the
new NetWare Client for Mac OS 5.1 , what he said had a ring of truth.
Novell is all custom programmed, and it comes originally from a group
of DOS heads, so last year, I was floored to hear they were writing a
MAC client and a MAC Administration module. Last November they
killed the MAC Server and the the Admin module because they feel
noone will buy them. They'll buy $20,000 Compaq tower servers, but
not $15,000 mac servers, I guess. Anyway, Novell said they planned
to support OpenDoc (again they have given hints they may backpedal on
this too) and to this end developing a product for a 1 to 2 year
lifespan made no sense. They DID however write a new Mac client. I
am currently evaluating it on our WAN here at WADNR. I does allow
you to see the whole network like the PC version, and unless you want
to support mac's long file names, you don't have to load the Novell
Mac NLM's to use it (The Novell servers see it as another PC,
really.). I have had problems with printing, though, I can't seem to
get it to work, but I am sure its just my over extensioned Mac system.
The best part is the client is FREE! Its on Novell's web page.
As far as inefficiencies go, with the new client the Mac does not
send those "extra" network noises that only the old Novell NLM
understood, so there are none. (Non-Novell network macs are easier
to set up because of that "noise" its the dynamic addressing going on
- and because of that you can network any mac to any mac without added
hubs!)
-Kevin Carney
kczz490@wadnr.gov
Wash. State Dept. Of Natural Resources
"Mac Tech supporter in a sea of ignorant Novell'd PC's"
Rest of quoted message follows >>
....
---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Thu, 22 Feb 1996 14:16:49 -0500
From: Rich Rivera ÐRRIVERA@cahners.comð
To: findians@netppl.fi
Cc: computer-to-plate-pressroom@cybercom.net
Subject: Re: Introduction -Reply -Reply
Hi Jacob,
The bundling can be done from either platform. Currently it is being
on a
Mac but I hope to move it to a PC soon. We do transmit our files from
a
PC. We do this because our wide area network does not support
appletalk.
I UNDERSTAND THE MAC IS VERY INEFFICIENT FROM A WIDE AREA NETWORK
STANDPOINT.
(Jacob: Emphasis is mine and not Rich's.)
From a PC however I am able to see the entire network, which
literally goes from coast to coast (Los Angeles, CA to Boston, MA).
Using the novell "ncopy" function I can copy a Mac file anywhere on
the wide area network and keep intact the resource fork.
So what I'm saying is I have a file server in Chicago and all of the
offices can transfer files to it. The prep house in turn, in the
Chicago area, can access the server to copy files over. This lets me
have one major supplier for most of the company, making it much
easier to control costs and support. Since I'm not trying to
interface with many different suppliers who all do things a little
differently, I can keep things somewhat consistant from a procedure
standpoint.
Rich Rivera
Cahners Publishing
----------------------------------------------------------------<<
Date: Fri, 23 Feb 1996 12:14:19 -0500
Subject: REPOST: All The Rubbish That's Fit To Print
From: Nathan Tennies Ðbootstrp@vnet.netð
[ By popular demand, I'm reposting this article with curly quotes and =
m-hyphens changed to standard ASCII equivalents. Sorry 'bout that =
folks.]
The following is an article I wrote about the media feeding frenzy =
for the February 1996 issue of InsideApple, the newsletter for the =
Charlotte Apple Computer Club. I thought some on this list might =
find it interesting.
Nathan Tennies
Bootstrap Enterprises Inc
-----------------------------------------------------------------------=
---------
All The Rubbish That Is Fit To Print
About a year ago, I spent a few weeks trying to infuse the heated =
political discussions on America Online with tidbits of factual =
information that I had collected from government documents. It was =
fun, and I felt like I was moderately successful in raising the level =
of the discussions. However, there was one common claim - that of =
liberal bias in the media - which couldn't be supported or refuted by =
information I had collected myself.
Don't get me wrong - I am very aware that our media provides a =
distorted image of the world. But I grew up in the era following the =
media expos=E9 of Watergate. My teen years saw the Observer's =
investigation of PTL intensify, and many of the writers I respect the =
most are journalists. I believe that the media has an important, =
positive role to play in society. And I believe that simply =
reporting negative information is not the same thing as biasing a =
report. That's why I made The Challenge.
The Challenge involved getting these AOL folks, both liberal & =
conservative, to record a specific evening news show for a week, and =
then document all the perceived instances of bias that were seen. I =
didn't think we would prove anything conclusively, but it would at =
least let everyone argue using the same data. After several days of =
intense debate about the rules of The Challenge, I said 'Go!'. =
Despite the hundreds of people participating in these discussions, =
only one person other than myself took The Challenge, and he never =
reported his results.
Actually, I never reported mine either. The Challenge was hard. =
Listening to the evening news is bad enough, but trying to document =
the instances of bias was pretty frustrating. There are so many =
things that can constitute bias. A reporter might incorrectly report =
facts or intentionally omit facts. A reporter might interview =
unreliable experts or always focus on the negative. A reporter might =
rely too heavily on rumor or groundless predictions.
In the end, I came away believing more than ever that there is no =
widespread, intentional attempt to bias the news in favor of liberals =
or conservatives. I do think that newspeople often succumb to =
sensationalism and laziness when writing an article, but this sword =
tends to cut in both directions. However, my experience also taught =
me that, in order to detect all the subtle forms of bias, you've got =
to be something of an expert in the subject being covered.
Well, there is one area I'm something of an expert in - personal =
computers, and the Macintosh in particular. It's on that basis that =
I'm going to say something that will allow the world to label me a =
kook. I'm going to say, I think the media is biased against Apple. =
Let's take a look at a few recent examples.
Inaccurate Information
On January 18th, our own Charlotte Observer headlined "Apple =
surrenders consumer niche". This article, by AP reporter Catalina =
Ortiz, was based primarily on Apple's press release from the previous =
day. In that release, Apple said that they planned to "focus =
primarily on innovative, differentiated and best-of-class products in =
our key market segments in education, business and the home." In =
other words, Apple wants to make room for Macintosh clone makers to =
compete aggressively in these markets, bringing down Macintosh =
prices, but specifically stated that they are going to continue =
selling computers for the home market.
Omitted Information
In the same Observer article, the AP reporter said that Apple would =
concentrate on its key markets, "including desktop publishing and =
education", which makes the Macintosh sound like a niche computer. =
Yet Apple's press release identifies their key markets as "education, =
business, and the home". Apparently Ms. Ortiz thinks she knows =
better than Apple what its key markets are.
In another example, a recent PBS news show quoted an "expert" as =
saying that there are far fewer Mac software products available, as =
evidenced by the fact that his local software stores had nine times =
more Windows shelf space than for the Macintosh The report neglected =
to mention the well known fact that Mac users have always used =
mail-order predominantly to purchase software. And besides, at our =
local CompUSA the ratio of Windows to Mac shelf space is only 3 to 1.
Groundless Predictions
On August 24th, the day Windows 95 was released, the Observer =
presented a graph showing market research firm Dataquest's =
predictions of Macintosh and Windows 95 sales through the year 1999. =
In the graph, Windows 95 sales increased exponentially to 130 million =
in 1999, whereas Macintosh sales remained relatively flat, and even =
took a dip in 1998. The problem is that Dataquest is widely known =
for a lack of accuracy in its predictions. At various times, =
Dataquest has predicted great sales for OS/2 and the IBM =
Micro-channel architecture, neither of which have made a significant =
dent in the marketplace. Dataquest recently halved their initial =
predictions of Windows 95 sales for 1995.
The real issue here is that no one can accurately predict five years =
ahead in an industry as young and dynamic as computers, and this =
should be obvious. As I asked the Observer's business editors, would =
they have been as quick to print this graph if it instead predicted =
Wachovia's revenues skyrocketing over five years while NationsBank's =
revenues remained flat? Somehow, I don't think so.
Relying On Rumors
The rumors that Apple was planning to lay off "3000 to 4500" =
employees kept appearing in print long after Apple announced it was =
only laying off 1300. Likewise, rumors of Apple's impending takeover =
by Sun kept appearing long after Apple's CEO Michael Spindler =
declared the company wasn't for sale, and even after some =
publications reported that a deal between Sun and Apple wasn't likely.
That rumors make good news is no surprise. However, rumors can hurt =
a company financially, and the media's penchant for printing rumors =
that make Apple look weak or failing clearly takes its toll.
Dubious Experts
My favorite example of this comes from a San Francisco newspaper. =
According to a recent article "'The installed base of Macintosh users =
is upgrading to Intel boxes. They're selling most new systems to =
people buying their first PC, and that won't work,'said Rob Enderle, =
an analyst with Giga Information Group in San Jose, California." =
What the paper didn't mention, or didn't bother to find out, is that =
Enderle is well-known Mac-hater. The paper never bothered to provide =
any evidence to support Enderle's claim, and seems to take it at face =
value. Of course, there is no evidence that users are abandoning the =
Macintosh, because it isn't happening. In addition, Enderle doesn't =
even seem to realize that selling computers to first-time buyers is =
what every computer company hopes to do.
These, of course, are just a few examples of the sensationalistic =
reporting on Apple that has been happening all over the country. =
Some newspapers and radio stations have issued retractions upon =
learning that what they pulled "off the wire" was highly inaccurate. =
Others, such as our own Observer, apparently didn't wish to look =
foolish, and were willing to let Apple suffer as a consequence.
There's no doubt that some of the negative reporting about Apple =
stemmed from reporters with malicious intent. However, it looks like =
most of the nation's news outlets were content to print or broadcast =
a sensationalistic story pulled from whatever sources were close at =
hand, without taking a minute to verify the story's accuracy. It =
appears that the biggest threat to the Macintosh comes not from =
Microsoft or Intel, but from our daily paper.
Nathan Tennies
Date: Fri, 23 Feb 1996 12:44:19 -0500 (EST)
From: "D. Claiborne Hughes" Ðtsunami7@acs.bu.eduð
Subject: Webpages that can read
http://web.bu.edu/CHAPEL is now "speech enabled"
Date: Fri, 23 Feb 1996 13:24:28 -0500
Subject: Trial User Group Memberships
From: Nathan Tennies Ðbootstrp@vnet.netð
BUFFALO146@aol.com wrote:
>Hi, I am new to this list so I do not know if this is a suggestion this has
>been discussed and discarded.
> I think that it would be good for Apple and the user groups to give with
>each new computer a invitation to a meeting and a three month introductory
>membership to the local MUG.
It's a great idea. One thing our user group is pursuing is the creation
of a special "promo issue" of our newsletter that contains Macintosh
resources, and information about our user group. We're going to try to
get the local stores to give away one with each Mac they sell. Including
a form for a free three month membership would kick butt. We should
suggest other user groups do the same, since this mechanism is easier
than having Apple be involved directly.
Nathan Tennies
Bootstrap Enterprises Inc
Date: Fri, 23 Feb 1996 13:24:32 -0500
Subject: Show Them The Numbers
From: Nathan Tennies Ðbootstrp@vnet.netð
Here's a suggestion for evangelists trying to change the perception of
the Macintosh in local computer stores or in the local media. Tell these
folks know how many new Macintosh users there are in your area each year.
The formula is simple; roughly 1 new Macintosh for every 100 people in
your area (you can do the math yourself - something like 280 million
Americans divided by 2.5 million Macs sold in the U.S. last year). While
obviously some of these Macs are sold to existing Mac owners, a lot are
sold into multi-user environments (homes, schools), so the number of "new
users" could actually be a bit higher.
This means that here in Charlotte, with a metropolitan area of over 1.25
million people, I can tromp into ComputerCity or CompUSA and tell them
that there will be over 12,000 new Macintosh users in our area in 1996.
Most computer dealers struggle pretty hard as it is, and bringing
Macintosh sales figures to the local level will be enough to convince
some managers to put a little more effort behind their Macintosh hardware
& software sales. Also, remind them how "zealous" we Mac users are and
how much good word o' mouth advertising they will get if they become
known as the "Mac-friendly" store in your area.
Likewise, working with the installed base yields about 1 Macintosh for
every 20 Americans. Knowing that there are something like 60,000 Macs
here in in the Charlotte area, probably representing over 120,000 users,
should be enough to give pause to the editors of any local news outlet.
Nathan Tennies
Bootstrap Enterprises Inc
Date: Fri, 23 Feb 1996 13:46:30 +0000
From: "Hopper, Nathan" Ðnh@ideasign.comð
Subject: Re: DIGESTED COMMENTS
> RE> "CRUMPLED" CD LISTSERVER HARDWARE
>
> At the risk of arrogance where engineering realities should prevail, it would be
> embarrising if you can't run a mere 800 users off some kind of Mac. Andrew,
ð have you consulted with the Chuq Ðchuq@mail2.solutions.apple.comð, the mail mom
> for EVANGALIST? They've got 20K+ at this point. Does anyone know what they
> run on?
What it is isn't exactly a Mac......in reading MacWeek and hearing rumours,
it's a educated guess it's running AIX. Not MacOS.
Before, I believe it was AU/X.
AIX does a nice job considering there are something like 140,000 to 160,000 (my
numbers) messages going out every day.
Nate
--
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
|Nathan Hopper | Use no hooks|
|nh@ideasign.com |Visit the North Country, a |
|nathan.hopper@yebb.com |great Dylan site: |
|Home is where the page is---ð |http://www.ideasign.com/~nh/ |
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
ÂÂ Opinions expressed are not necessarily those of Nathan Hopper ÈÈ
Date: Fri, 23 Feb 1996 13:46:48 +0000
From: "Hopper, Nathan" Ðnh@ideasign.comð
Subject: Re: Listserv problems-what's Macway use?
> RE> "CRUMPLED" CD LISTSERVER HARDWARE
>
> At the risk of arrogance where engineering realities should prevail, it would be
> embarrising if you can't run a mere 800 users off some kind of Mac. Andrew,
ð have you consulted with the Chuq Ðchuq@mail2.solutions.apple.comð, the mail mom
> for EVANGALIST? They've got 20K+ at this point. Does anyone know what they
> run on?
What it is isn't exactly a Mac......in reading MacWeek and hearing rumours,
it's a educated guess it's running AIX. Not MacOS.
Before, I believe it was AU/X.
AIX does a nice job considering there are something like 140,000 to 160,000 (my
numbers) messages going out every day.
Nate
--
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
|Nathan Hopper | Use no hooks|
|nh@ideasign.com |Visit the North Country, a |
|nathan.hopper@yebb.com |great Dylan site: |
|Home is where the page is---ð |http://www.ideasign.com/~nh/ |
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
ÂÂ Opinions expressed are not necessarily those of Nathan Hopper ÈÈ
Date: Fri, 23 Feb 1996 14:55:22 -0500
Subject: Re: Apple please stop blocking the sales of your products
From: Nathan Tennies Ðbootstrp@vnet.netð
Bruno Bloch wrote:
>Being attracted by many software progs and add-ons for the Mac, I called some
>stores in Switzerland (where I live) just to find out that they either don't
>carry the products wanted or sell it a horrible prices (large premiums
>over the
>US prices).
>
>So I went to call some US mail order stores just to find out that Apple
>prevents them of selling their products outside the United States. Many other
>companies have the same policy, like Global Village.
>
>Why should they do that? To prevent local dealers in Europe? What's the point
>of supporting European dealers selling Apple products at higher prices than I
>could get them from the US, including paying UPS shipping and the local sales
>tax in Switzerland upon arrival?
>
>APPLE STOP YOUR CHINESE WALL POLICY AND ALLOW MAILSTORES TO SELL CROSS
>BOARDER
>!!! and expand your European market share vs Wintel.
Bruno, I agree, it's a disgusting policy, but not unique to Apple. It
has been traditional for software companies to sell products in Europe
for substantially more, and forbid the export of products bought here in
the U.S. Lots of software packages in stores here in the U.S. have "Not
for export" stickers on them. I'm sure these companies argue that the
cost of doing business overseas is higher, that piracy in Europe is
higher, etc. But I think it is increasingly hard to justify.
If it makes you feel any better, there are software products only
available from European companies that are hard to get in the U.S.
Nathan Tennies
Bootstrap Enterprises Inc
Date: Fri, 23 Feb 1996 13:47:11 -0700 (MST)
From: Powers Foss Ðfoss@ucsub.Colorado.EDUð
Subject: The Latest Netizen Poll Results!
> Do you think Windows 95 is:
> 03.5% . . . The best thing since bottled
> beer
> 83.3% . . . A rip-off of Macintosh
> 11.4% . . . Don't know or don't care
The poll is still at: http://www.hotwired.com/netizenpoll/
Keep up the good work!o
Powers Foss.
Date: Fri, 23 Feb 1996 12:57:12 -0800
From: quadra_quack@sierra.campus.mci.net (Isaac Church)
Subject: Ideas for Anarchie 1.7!
I sent this to Peter N. Lewis as a suggestion for a future version of
Anarchie. I think that it would make using FTP to retrieve files as easy
(actually easier) as the Online Services. I haven't gotten a response yet,
but I thought I would share this with the group and see if you liked my
idea. If more people support it, the more likely it will be added.
>Date: Wed, 21 Feb 1996 15:56:24 -0800
ðTo:support@stairways.com.au
ðFrom:quadra_quack@sierra.campus.mci.net (Isaac Church)
>Subject:Ideas for Anarchie 1.7!
>
>I recently discovered your program Anarchie 1.6 and was highly impressed.
>After using it for a while, I came up with an idea that I think deserves
>consideration for the next version.
>
>Having been an AOL user before getting a real internet connection, I
>became accustomed to the "Download Later" feature that their software
>offers. I found it a useful way to collect a large amount of files for
>later downloading, and then download them late at night when traffic is
>low and you can get them all at once. After switching the majority of my
>downloading time from AOL to the internet, - and thereby your program,
>which by the way runs circles around Fetch :-) - I began to miss this
>feature. However after further use I thought up a way in which this
>feature could be added to future versions in a practical manner. (The
>internet is certainly more complex than AOL)
>
>So here's my idea. Just as you can copy and paste a files location into
>the "Get" dialog box, and then retrieve the file, so could you save that
>location. I'll set up an example to give you a better idea of what I'm
>proposing.
>
>Say for example that I check Info-Mac's most recent files every other day
>after reading the Info-Mac Digest, and I click on the files that I want
>(using the standard shift click, or command click for more than one file)
>and then with this new feature I select "Download Later". Anarchie then
>saves the URL for all the selected files in a file of it's own. (could be
>the preferences, or a bookmark type file; doesn't really matter) At a
>preset time (say for example midnight every Saturday) or on a manual
>command ("Download saved files", or some such thing) the program would
>begin downloading the files one after another, just like it does if I
>select a bunch of files and then double click them to start downloading
>(or drag them to a location, or press return).
>
>For power-users there would also be a few other options. For example the
>files in the Recent folder on Info-Mac can be moved to their permanent
>location after a few weeks. If Anarchie got a message telling it that the
>file doesn't exist it should skip that file going on to all the others.
>However when they are done it should come back to that file and do a query
>of the server to find it (using of course the very last part of the URL
>which is always the file name). If it finds an exact match for the file
>name in a different directory it could then download it. Now of course you
>could run into a few problems with this, but that's why it should be a
>feature that the user can turn on or off.
>
>The last part of this is that the files should be able to be sorted based
>on several criteria. Besides the obvious name, file size, and date, there
>should also be an option to sort them by server, so that Anarchie can
>download all files from one server while it is still connected, and then
>go on to the next machine and the files there. Since occasionally a
>machine will refuse access, this would eliminate some of those problems.
>
>And while were at it the program might as well be smart enough to retry
>several times on failed connections. (Of course how many times and how
>long in-between each time would be user configurable)
>
>For example I have a list of files to be downloaded from U-Mich and
>Info-Mac. First I would sort them by date (older ones first, for obvious
>reasons) and then by machine. This would give me a list of all the files
>on Info-Mac from the oldest to the newest, and then U-Mich from the oldest
>to the newest. Then in this example, I tell Anarchie to start downloading
>them. Let's say that the first file fails to be downloaded, because of
>refused anonymous access. Anarchie would go on to the next one (just like
>it does now) and try again. Let's say that this time it succeeds and all
>the files from this point on all download successfully. After it's done
>with the rest it should come back to that first file and keep trying based
>on the amount of times the user has specified in the preferences. If you
>want the program to be REALLY smart it should come back to that file(s)
>before it moves on the the next machine since it's already got a
>connection and will be able to complete the download successfully.
>
>I've seen Apple Scripts that will allow you to do some of the things I
>talked about here, however I've found most of them to be very clumsy and
>restrictive. And really there is no way that they can compete with a
>feature that is built into a program. After all not everyone has Apple
>Script or knows how to use it.
>
>I'm sorry if I've taken up a lot of your precious time, I'm sure that
>you're a very busy man, and your probably annoyed with the length of this
>message by now. However I just wanted to let you understand my idea fully,
>so that you hopefully would consider adding it to the next version of
>Anarchie. I hope that you like my idea and if there is anything that you
>think would not work, E-mail me since I might have an answer for you (as
>you can probably tell I've thought about this A LOT :-). Thank you for
>creating such a wonderful program for the Macintosh community.
>
-Isaac Church
"Life is a series of mistakes, and success depends on how well we learn
from them."
Date: Fri, 23 Feb 1996 16:30:48 -0500
From: mnorman@princeton.com (Michael Norman)
Subject: future of software sales
Forget the comment cards. Just boycott them.
We need to move the macintosh software-buying community into
catalog/mail-order/web shopping.
The only inconvenience is the inability to impulse-buy.
The advantages include a wider selection of software, lower prices (tax
savings are in some cases lower than next-day shipping), and bolstering the
sales and visibility of mac-only retailers.
We need to retrain joe-mac-user to think in terms of catalog sales and to
stop thinking he has to go to Egghead. Walking into these stores makes you
question your choice of computer.
(The catalogs that are sold with every MacWorld in the newsstands is a good
start.)
- Michael (hoping someone at Apple is considering this)
From: mpayson@halcyon.com (Mike Payson)
>Tired of never finding any Mac software at your local Egghead? I was in the
>other day for the first time in months, and the Mac section had gotten even
>smaller! Being a good Evangelister I knew that I should complain. The
>salesperson wholeheartedly agreed & said "here... have a comment card... In
>fact have a few..."
Subject: ROM Baloney
Date: Fri, 23 Feb 96 15:44:39 -0600
From: Stephen Espy Ðespy@beale.comð
>Article states that Apple and IBM are exploring embedding OpenDoc onto a ROM
>chip.
Apple Engineers on the OpenDoc development team have been bashing this
completely fictitious report on the semper fi mailing list. Its 100%
wrong. With Copeland, there will be no more ROM dependence, much less any
ADDITION to the ROM. The goal is to get everything off of hardware, a
necissary step for CHRP/PPcP platform.
____________________________________________________________
Stephen Espy, President The Beale Street Group, Inc.
(901) 751-9333 Voice Software Publishing and Development
(901) 278-2003 Fax 1890 Lyndale Avenue, Memphis, TN 38107
Email... to:espy@beale.com
Web... http://www.beale.com
____________________________________________________________
Subject: Re: Carpe.Diem digest 23 Feb 1996
Date: Fri, 23 Feb 96 16:53:56 -0500
From: Rick Zeman Ðrzeman@his.comð
>What it is isn't exactly a Mac......in reading MacWeek and hearing rumours,
>it's a educated guess it's running AIX. Not MacOS.
It's not an educated guess if you look at the header information from
Chuq's posts. AIX it is.
________________________________________________________________________
Rick Zeman Romance is dead. It was acquired in a hostile
mailto:rzeman@his.com takeover by Hallmark and Disney, homogenized,
Will Rogers never met Bill Clinton and sold off piece by piece....
Date: Fri, 23 Feb 1996 14:19:17 -0800
From: Ammad@eworld.com
Subject: Starting a Mac only company
>>
I'm a little afraid to say this, but I do have plans to create a company
of
my own that will create these kinds of products.
...
So what do you think? Am I crazy? What do I need to reach my goal? Do you
like the idea?
>>
Never stop dreaming.
Good Luck, let us know how we can help you get started.
We need to develop a community of programmers. There is a bonding
between Mac people that does not exist on the PC side.
Netscape was not able to add Java support because they couldn't find good
Macintosh programmers.
Date: Fri, 23 Feb 1996 14:31:58 -0800
From: KEVIN CARNEY ÐKCZZ490@wadnr.govð
Subject: Export laws
I noticed in the last digest a note about mailorder houses not
shipping overseas. This is more than a plan for software companies
to make big overseas bucks.....its the law.
The export laws of the US require that software going overseas
(except Canada and Mexico have special exceptions, but some for them
as well) meet rigorous guidlines. Including not having the ability
to encrypt electronic messages greater than a 24bit key or some low
limit (like system 7.5 which allows 128bit keys), certain translation
limits, and other hard to follow rules. In fact, encryption software
is still viewed as a munition by the government, even if PGP's author
is not going to be prosecuted for letting it go over the Internet.
In fact, even sending a DES encrypted FILE in a software package is
considered illegal. Few such restrictions apply to imports, if any,
so that's just gouging.
Don't like it? Join the EFF, ACLU and others in their battle against
encryption limits. There are other applicable laws to other parts of
the software, too.
Compatability is another issue, too, with versions of system 7 in 6
languages.
-Kevin
Subject: Re: All The Rubbish That's Fit To Print
Date: Sat, 24 Feb 96 08:36:19 -0000
From: Andrew Nielsen Ðanielsen@randomwa.com.auð
Nathan wrote:
>There's no doubt that some of the negative reporting about Apple =3D
>stemmed from reporters with malicious intent. However, it looks like =3D
>most of the nation's news outlets were content to print or broadcast =3D
>a sensationalistic story pulled from whatever sources were close at =3D
>hand, without taking a minute to verify the story's accuracy. It =3D
>appears that the biggest threat to the Macintosh comes not from =3D
>Microsoft or Intel, but from our daily paper.
I couldn't agree more. Three weeks ago I was given the opportunity =
to address this here (Western Australia) by being asked to write a =
weekly "Apple Corner" column for the state's Sunday newspaper, along =
the lines of "editorial" material.
As I see it, it's an excellent chance to provide some positive press =
for Apple. I may be breaching newspaper copyright here, but I wanted =
to provide you with the text of my first article to show that the =
media isn't printing all bad things, at least not if we're the ones =
writing the material!
As an aside, I am using Guy Kawasaki's Evangelism list for some =
source material, but am looking hard to find more material for the =
next several issues - any suggestions you or other members on this =
list have would be more than appreciated!
***
In the last couple of weeks, Apple Computer has been very much in the =
news. After announcing an operating loss last quarter, there were =
more than the usual number of rumours about potential mergers, =
despite denials by Apple. Then after a heated shareholder=B9s =
meeting, Apple=B9s board of directors announced that Michael Spindler =
would stand down as CEO to make way for Gilbert Amelio, the man =
credited with bringing National Semiconductor and Rockwell back from =
the brink.
The doomsayers continue to predict the downfall of Apple =AD often =
these are the same people who=B9ve been predicting this for the last =
12 years. It seems there are some people who would like nothing =
better than to have Apple out of their way.
In the midst of the frenzy, some important things have been =
overlooked. Like the fact that Apple is one of the largest computer =
manufacturers in the world, turning over $US 1 billion in the last =
year. Or the fact that shipments of Macintosh computers grew by 12% =
last quarter and there are now more than 22 million Macintosh owners.
When someone tells you that Apple=B9s market share is too small to be =
viable, explain to them that last year the COMBINED market share of =
Chrysler, Mitsubishi, Cadillac, Lincoln, Acura, BMW, Volvo, Lexus, =
Mercedes, Infinity, Saab, Land Rover, Jaguar, Audi and Porsche was =
less than Apple=B9s share of the personal computer market, and ask =
them if they would choose not to buy one of those cars simply because =
they have a smaller market share than Ford or General Motors?
Like Apple itself, Apple=B9s customers can be proud to be pioneers =
and innovators, leaders not followers. And as Amelio said on taking =
office, =B3I fully expect that our customers=B9 grandchildren will be =
buying Apple products.=B2
Andrew Nielsen is a systems engineer with Random Access and has been =
working with Apple technologies for more than ten years. Andrew can =
be contacted at applecorner@sundaytimes.com.au.
_______________________________________________________________________=
__
Andrew D. Nielsen Internet : =
anielsen@randomwa.com.au
Systems Engineer AppleLink : AUST0278
Random Access (WA) Pty Ltd eWorld : anielsen
69 Adelaide Tce Tel: =
+61-9-2781009
PERTH WA 6000 AUSTRALIA FAX: =
+61-9-2781001
Join "EvangeList," Guy Kawasaki's (un)official Apple listserver of =
good
news about Apple, Macintosh, and third-party developers. To subscribe =
to
EvangeList, send an email to: listproc@solutions.apple.comð and =
include
in the body of the message the text: Subscribe Macway
Date: Fri, 23 Feb 1996 19:53:51 -0500
From: abbyd@inch.com (Abby Dumoff)
Subject: bias in media
Regarding bias in media, too bad this doesn't exist for the Mac:
FAIR, Fairness and accuracy in reporting Ðhttp://www.igc.org/fair/ð
is a media watch group. PLEASE check them out, and support their work.
Date: Fri, 23 Feb 1996 17:18:00 -0800
Subject: new servey
From: Paul MacDougall Ðpmacd@ix.netcom.comð
Do you think Windows 95 is:
03.9% . . . The best thing since bottled beer
82.6% . . . A rip-off of Macintosh
12.1% . . . Don't know or don't care
A new Hot Poll Question (By the way does anyone think the last Poll was a
Bug of Hack? ANYONE???)
-Paul MacDougall Ðpmacd@ix.netcom.comð
"Jobe lives in a Mac"
Date: Fri, 23 Feb 1996 17:57:22 -0800
From: mpayson@halcyon.com (Mike Payson)
Subject: Re: Carpe.Diem digest 23 Feb 1996
>Date: 22 Feb 1996 17:06:10 U
ðFrom: "Gino Larsen-Giacalone" Ðggiacalone@htland.comð
>Subject: DIGESTED COMMENTS
>
>DIGESTED COMMENTS
>
>RE>EGGHEAD & YOU
>
>The reality is that I stopped buying from Egghead in '88 or so. Looks like
>only the uninformed would. Egghead IS an icon and a place widely trusted as
>representing personal computing BUT they've been on the rocks for years. We
>could complain, but if they DID increase their shelf space will be buy from
>them? It'd only be fair if we did.
>
>It is true that many end users I encounter resist using mail order until
>I've convinved
>them to try it once.
>
>Also, the Hotwired stunt was fun but mainly served to disable an information
>gathering effort. It didn't fool anyone or reveal any truth other than
>that the
>Mac user base is "near fanactical".
>
I agree, actually. All I ever buy at Egghead is the occasional game & such.
But, one of the most commonly sited reasons for not buying a Macintosh is
lack of software. It doesn't matter How much software is actually
available, if the new buyer doesn't know about it, it doesn't count. I
worked in sales at the MacZone/MacBargains for nearly four years, so I am
all for buying mail order. I also know, however, that most people who are
considering their first computer purchase don't have a MacZone catalog
available. Places like Egghead & Computer City are the first place the
AVERAGE consumer will look when they are considering a purchase.
As far as the Hot Wired Poll being a stunt, I don't entirely agree. While
both you and I know that statistics lie, the vast majority of people will
believe anything they read without question. Newspapers that have been
predicting the death of Apple may cite the results of the HW poll, without
knowing anything about the Evangelist. Dishonest? Maybe. But then again,
most marketing is.
Besides, I bet if you really got the truth 80% of computer users DO prefer
Macs, whether they own one or not.
_____________________________________________________________________________
** "The burning of an author's books, imprisonment for opinion's sake, has **
always been the tribute that an ignorant age pays to the genius of it's time"
**** ~Joseph Lewis ****
**** Visit the Moorish Observatory:
www.mediastream.com/mediastream/mfja/****
Date: Fri, 23 Feb 1996 21:13:12 -0500
From: jstamer@usa.nai.net (JStamer)
Subject: Project Phoenix
I have attempted to communicate this to the powers to be in the past, but
no one was listening. Perseverence pays, so I'll try here. The document
is not complete yet (I haven't put all the components to keyboard as yet),
but I welcome suggestions for improvements! I just hope someone listens
this time.
Apple Strategic Marketing Plan
The following is part of a comprehensive, cohesive strategy to put Apple on
the road to profitability and back on top.
Manufacturing
Attributes of a computer system should be isolated as a component and
designed to be interchangeable. Such a design would increase
manufacturing's ability to respond to demand while increasing the ability
to satisfy customer's needs and, most importantly, decrease unsold stock.
Futhermore, customer's would be presented with viable alternatives should
their 'specific' configuration not be available.
Currently, Apple redesigns the cases as often as new machines are named.
Instead, four standard cases should be available: slimline (6100), desktop
(7500), mini-tower (8500), and full tower (9500). Cases would be
differentiated by size of the power supply and space available for internal
expansion devices.
Within each case, two types of motherboards would be available: one with
and one without built-in video capabilities. The built-in video should
have upgradeable video-RAM to permit up to 1280x1152 pixels at 16bit depth.
Stereo audio should be standard. The motherboard should have no expansion
slots but a port for connecting expansion boards. The standard IO
features: serial, ethernet, SCSI, ADB, and an option for A/V expansion
should also be included.
As mentioned, expansion would be provided through expansion boards
available in one, three, and six slot boards; PCI or Nubus. These boards
should have pass-through capabilities so that one board could be added
after another. The amount and size of the expansion boards would be
limited by the size of the case.
The CPU should be available on an upgradeable daughtercard. Multiple CPU
cards should also be supported. Cache should be included on the card and
be upgradeable.
ROM should be available as a removable simm.
As always, hard drives should be available as options but removable media
should also be available.
Distribution
Once the computer has been designed as interchangeable components, Apple
should cease assembling the computers and ship them to dealers as parts.
The dealers would then be able to assemble the computers to meet the
customers specific needs and financial situation. Additionally, the dealer
would charge for the assembly--providing an additional source of revenue
and additional incentive for the dealer to sell Macintosh computers.
More importantly, shipping components to dealers unassembled would shift
much of the forecasting responsibility to the dealer and provide Apple's
manufacturing division with time to respond to shifting demand. The
dealers would also have to deal with competitive pressures on the cost of
assembly.
As mentioned before, when a customer's specific needs cannot be met, the
dealer can redirect the customer to the closest available substitute with a
reasonable upgrade when the desired components are available. Furthermore,
consumers would be encouraged to upgrade when their financial position
allowed instead of once every two to four years (increasing cash flow). A
strict exchange policy would force customers to deal with Apple authorized
dealers and provide the dealers with yet another source of revenue.
This policy would eliminate much, if not all, of the used Mac market--but
would provide millions of additonal income for Apple. It would also serve
to greatly improve Apple's relationship with the dealers (it always helps
when the dealers WANT to sell your product).
Ultimately, Apple should work with dealers to improve EVERYONE's profit margin.
Operating System
The operating system should be made available on CD ROM for a reasonable
fee ($50-$75) for the current version and free from online services.
However, new releases of the system (each year) would require CURRENT ROMs
which would be upgraded every year and made available for $50, upgraded by
the dealer. Give the dealer $10, allow the user to upgrade themselves
(exchange mandatory), and gross $40 million per million Macs sold every
year. ROM simms are much harder to pirate than a floppy or CD. Swapped
ROMs could also be re-programmed and re-issued (depending on size) reducing
COGS. These ROM simms would also be required for use in clones.
Education
Apple first gained entrance into the mass market through educational
channels, a market segment that has recently been under-utilized. Once
Apple has cornered the used computer market by enforcing a strict exchange
policy on upgrades, Apple will have a steady supply of older equipment to
ship to the educational market for tax credits and/or reduced prices.
A small programming staff should be set aside to ensure that the systems
can run existing and new educational software. The value of the
educational market is obvious: todays students are tomorows leaders. It
would also be nice to see that someone supports functional hardware and
software throughout time without requiring the $99/year upgrade and
progessive hardware upgrades of the Wintel Platform.
Developer Relations
To remove the threat of software giants like Microsoft, Apple must
accelerate the development of Open Doc. While I am not an expert on Open
Doc, I understand it to be a meta document format that would enable
developers to create smaller, special use, applications to edit document
components. A standard 'meta' format for documents would eliminate the
need for monstrous software suites like Microsoft Office and eliminate the
power of the conglomerate.
Additonally, Apple should fund the development of improved developer's
tools. To be truly effective, the tools should allow three pass
compilation for 68k, PPC, and x86. With high quality cross-platform tools,
developers will be encouraged to move to the Mac and will increase the
availability of Mac Software, particularly games (the tools should be
specially developed to facilitate game development and include features
like Quicktime and Quicktime VR). When the 'old' DOS and early 'Windoze'
programs are the only programs only available for Intel machines, users
will turn more to look and feel for platform decisions.
Lastly, require CD ROMs standard on all machines so that more software can
be CD ROM based. Too much revenue is lost to computer piracy and decreases
the attractiveness of the Mac Market. Aiding developers to beat the threat
of piracy will go a long way to regain their trust and loyalty.
Marketing
Apple has a reputation as being an innovative company. Capitalizing on
this reputation, and debunking the myth that Windows has any original
features, is what the public needs to hear. "Apple, we brought you to
where you are today and we will take you where you want to be tomorrow."
The Mac is also the only true 'plug-and-play' computer system and there is
almost always a Mac fan there to rub PC snobs noses in it. I just wish I
had a dollar for evertime I attended a presentation in which the presenter
had trouble with the computer display system and someone in the audience
cat-calls, "Get a Mac!" This is the type of advertising that hits business
users.
Amazing, I didn't think anyone would bother suffering through this, it is
appreciated.
Date: Fri, 23 Feb 1996 20:44:34 -0800
From: Joseph McLean Ðjoseph@coc.powell-river.bc.cað
Subject: Re: WARNING- TI PowerPro/12 Pri
Come come, where's a customer feedback email address?? If we are to learn
anything from our rabid hero Guy Kawaski, it's the simple motto:
"If the going gets tough, kick butt"
-JMcL
Date: Fri, 23 Feb 1996 20:44:40 -0800
From: Joseph McLean Ðjoseph@coc.powell-river.bc.cað
Subject: Re: Mac Owners United ot Save Earth!
>This assumes that the general trend in Apple stock is UP. I've done nothing
>but LOSE money on my Apple share purchases... :-(
Ah, but fiscal worth doesn't matter here. It's not a simple investment of
cash, it's an one of faith. You only LOSE if you sell.
Now If only 15 Million Macintosh Users would believe me...
-JMcL
Date: Sat, 24 Feb 1996 06:43:57 +0000
From: Steve Rogers Ðlistbox@thebeast.demon.co.ukð
Subject: Some musings on the Mac interface
I loved the idea of integrating Anarchie & NetPresenz with system software!
Go for it!
Geoff Coffey wrote:
>Additionally, you can disable the general controls Control Panel if you like
>the way 7.1 worked better!
Note that if you keep General Controls out of the Control Panels folder you
can set it to Hide Desktop in Background and it won't still be hiding it on
next startup - i.e. it's self-resetting. Suits me.
Speaking of moving cdevs around, I have a "System Controls" folder in my
Apple Menu, in which I keep all cdevs that either don't have INITs, or that
I don't want to load their INIT code. This keeps the Control Panels folder
manageably smaller too!
I also have all the AppleTalk cdevs in a "Network Controls" subfolder of
the Apple Menu. Happily, all of them work there. I find the distinction
between the 3 types of cdev makes it easier to find things than having them
all in one folder alphabetically sorted.
Going back to the business of Open/Save options - this is a System 8
suggestion - how about finding some way of getting the standard Open/Save
dialog to recognise which Finder windows are open, and which order they're
stacked in? After all, they were opened by the user, so this should be
recognised by Open/Save rather than being forgotten.
More ideas:
Make the contents of the Apple Extras folder easier to understand, install,
integrate. Most first-time buyers are confused by it, and at a vulnerable
time in their careers too!
Create a new Extensions Manager (based on the non-exclusive-extension-sets
model of the freeware version 2.0), in which applications or system
software which install more than one extension also install an extension
*set*. This will facilitate the user in recognising which extensions
belong to which applications, and therefore in knowing which to turn on and
off.
And Claris, please make ClarisWorks import spreadsheet data in comma
separated format properly! This is a HUGE stumbling-block to compatibility
- I have a client who's thinking of getting a PC just to avoid the hassle
of that one process.
Finally, how about a "Performa version" of Netscape which includes a TCP
stack and PPP facility within the body of the application? Thus making
Netscape as easy to set up as eWorld... (Yes, I do realise that would make
it even bigger!)
Hope these thoughts are helpful in the battle against the second-raters.
Date: Sat, 24 Feb 1996 01:59:16 -0600
From: chansen@innovsoftd.com (Craig Hansen)
Subject: Word Perfect 3.5 Rules!
Apple just did something right, marketing-wise.
I work at CompUSA and Apple just sent us a load of free copies of
WordPerfect 3.5 (the full CD version) to be given away with any Performa or
Power Mac we sell. (The envelope says "with selected models.")
This offers customers a great value. Combining recent price cuts, the
Power Payback promotion, and a free copy ($189 retail value--I think) of
WordPerfect 3.5, buying a Mac now gives you more bang for the buck than any
PC-clone in existance!
Plus, by offering WordPerfect 3.5, customers get a gander at a DANDY word
processor that takes full advantage of the MacOS 7.5.x! Most customers I
deal with want Microsoft Word when they buy their Mac, due the Bill
Gates-brainwashing techniques.
Now, customers familiar with Word and it's drawbacks on their OLD Macs can
see how much SLICKER a true MacOS-optimized application can be!
I was hoping Apple would buy WordPerfect from Novell and bring over the
rest of the PerfectOffice Suite into the MacOS. It would be a great
full-featured compliment to the ClarisWorks value suite.
But now that Corel owns WordPerfect, I'm very worried about continued MacOS
support. Corel has never brought their graphics suite to the MacOS (afraid
of going head-to-head with Adobe, I guess) and I fear they may drop MacOS
support in their WordPerfect applications, too.
If they do, it'll be tragic, because finally with WordPerfect 3.5, we've
found a word processor capable of taking on MSWord 6.0, head-to-head...and
possibly even winning, once System 8.0 is introduced and WordPerfect 4.0
comes out to support it.
Has anyone heard of Corel's plans for WordPerfect and continued MacOS support?
Craig!
=====================================================================
++ Craig Hansen, 41 W. Arlington Ave. #201, Saint Paul, MN 55117 ++
++ E-mail: chansen@innovsoftd.com ++
++ WWW: http://www.isd.net/chansen/ ++
++ Organization: Rose Creek Web Services ++
++ ++
++ "In the future, future events such as these could affect you ++
++ in the future." ++
++ -Criswell, PLAN 9 FROM OUTER SPACE, via ED WOOD. ++
=====================================================================
Date: Sat, 24 Feb 1996 00:08:51 -0800
From: Joseph McLean Ðjoseph@coc.powell-river.bc.cað
Subject: Re: The Good War
>3) There's GOT to be a spreadsheet out there besides Excel. Now's the
>time. Same goes here. Time to make some money.
There is. Check this: http://www.casadyg.com -- and here's a shortened
version of the PR released Janurary (if you want the whole thing, just ask)
January 5, 1996
Contact: Judith Frey, Director of Public Relations
e-mail: judythecootie@casadyg.com
C&G announces first innovation in spreadsheets in 10 years!
Salinas, CA (January 5, 1996)QCasady & Greene, Inc. announced today that
C&G Solutions!* will be introduced and demonstrated at MacWorld Expo, San
Francisco 1996 at C&G's booth #1051. C&G Solutions! is a novel
alternative to spreadsheet activities that uses a simple drag-and-drop
interface....
C&G Solutions! improves upon the traditional electronic spreadsheet in a
number of ways, thus becoming the only Macintosh application that enables
users to solve both simple and complex numeric problems using simple
drag-and-drop operations, without having to type any formulas. Unlike
today's spreadsheets, C&G Solutions printouts clearly show formulas as
well as the answers, greatly reducing the chance of errors and providing
the user with a unique opportunity to retrace his/her steps instantly. It
also provides in-place editing so users can type directly into cells.
Havn't tried it, looks dandy. Anything to trash excel...
Date: Sat, 24 Feb 1996 02:16:58 -0600
From: chansen@innovsoftd.com (Craig Hansen)
Subject: Draft SANDRA BULLOCK and RUSH LIMBAUGH!
I hear Sandra Bullock, America's sweetheart from movies like THE NET, WHILE
YOU WERE SLEEPING, and SPEED, is a Mac user herself. Her movie the Net
featured the PowerMac. Get her to do a commercial pumping the Mac as the
coolest computer on the market!
It might cost a buck or two, but Apple needs to get CURRENT celebrities
with Generation X-appeal. Yeah, everyone respects some of the OLDER
celebrities they're currently using, but it reaches an older audience that
is already probably married to Win95 machines. Go for the youth market!
Here's another idea: Rush Limbaugh is an outspoken PowerMac advocate on
his show. He once approached Apple to promote their computers, and the
dopes in charge (John Scully, especially) told him to get lost because Rush
is conservative and Scully's a Clinton crony.
It's time Apple put politics aside and focused on selling computers; Rush
moves product. Just look at what his advocacy did for SNAPPLE!
Rush is another example of a celebrity with GenX appeal. If Apple feels
compelled to balance Rush politically, get some liberal celeb like former
Texas Governor Ann Richards to plug 'em, too! (Maybe they could even do
the spot together---imagine the slogan: MACINTOSH, bringing the world
together!)
The underlying message being, if two opposites like Richards and Rush can
agree that Mac rules, it MUST be cool!
Another idea: get some sports celebs like Howie Long, Grant Hill, Big
George Foreman, Charles Barkley, and Kevin Garnett to push the Mac!
Or maybe some rock celebs!
ONE FINAL IDEA TO APPLE:
When you launch System 8, spend some money and get DAVID LETTERMAN as your
kick-off spokesperson, as kind of an in-your-face to the evil Microsoft/Jay
Leno alliance.
I'm just a fount of marketing ideas!
Craig!
=====================================================================
++ Craig Hansen, 41 W. Arlington Ave. #201, Saint Paul, MN 55117 ++
++ E-mail: chansen@innovsoftd.com ++
++ WWW: http://www.isd.net/chansen/ ++
++ Organization: Rose Creek Web Services ++
++ ++
++ "In the future, future events such as these could affect you ++
++ in the future." ++
++ -Criswell, PLAN 9 FROM OUTER SPACE, via ED WOOD. ++
=====================================================================
Subject: Apple PCI DOS Cards?
Date: Sat, 24 Feb 96 09:20:15 +0100
From: Paolo Cecchetti Ðcecchett@server.tdnet.itð
Does anybody know anything about a release date for the new Apple PCI Dos
cards (code named Grand Illusion) ?
I've a lot of customers planning to buy a dos card and they'd like to
know if they have to get the Orange card or if Apple will release its
card soon.
Paolo Cecchetti
________________________________________________________________
Paolo Cecchetti Pisa (Italy)
Ðmailto: "Paolo Cecchetti" Pablo@dataport.itð
\\|// Ðmailto: "Paolo Cecchetti" cecchett@server.tdnet.itð
(o o) Ðhttp://www.dataport.it/dev/pabloð
m===U===m
"...like tears in rain" -- Blade Runner
Date: Sat, 24 Feb 1996 08:44:07 +0000
From: A5283643668@attpls.net (Gilbert R. Green Jr.)
Subject: core technologies
Dear Apple Computer,
As a former Sales rep, back in the day when shopping @ an Authorized
Apple Dealer meant something. And writing as a former Product Manager
for Macintosh Customer support @ same dealership and most recently as
High Education Campus Apple Dealer, you all need to tighten up on the
core technologies that made my customers want to buy Macs. i.e.
GeoPort, with the roll out of the Power Macs, the Telcom adapter
"Pod's", claim to fame was the fact it's speed was software defined.
And that one would not have to buy a dedicated modem for quite some
time to come. O.K. you delivered software to get us up to 14.4 speed.
But as any Net surfer out there can confirm, if you are dialing into
the net and you want to see graphics from the web sights, you really
need 28.8 v34 speed. Apple is happy when folks claim Mac's are the best
solution for Web serving and surfing, but don't drop the ball. Where
is the software to add 28.8 speed?
By the way, what happened to the Telcom adapter for digital phone
systems(Pbx) ?
GeoPort is only one example of core technologies that Apple needs to
follow through on. Not to say all of Apple's technologies need to be
saved, does any one eles remember AppleIII ?
Gilbert GreenJr@attpls.net
Subject: Re: Carpe.Diem digest 23 Feb 1996
I've started to receive the Carpe.Diem posts in Digest format. I
didn't request it this way. It just started to occur.
Is this the way it's going to be? Or can we choose to have individual
posts?
Please respond directly as I don't read the digest mode posts.
S.M. King President, Vancouver Mac UG
King InfoMedia Bawdy.Net Moderator
Computer Consultants sking@direct.ca
Date: Sat, 24 Feb 1996 00:37:50 -0600
From: Martin Weil Ðmweil777@interaccess.comð
Subject: Re: Show Them The Numbers
Nathan, I work at Computer City (Deerfield,IL) and am _constantly_
in a remote fight with our Mac buyers over Mac hardware and software.
Our store has a phenominal 35-40% of gross sales being Macintosh,
but even then we are constantly running out of product. I am always
writing lists of software and hardware that we need, but, at times,
it seems to be a futile effort. Computer City's buyers are based at
our corporate office in Texas (We are a division of Tandy) and do
_not_ respond well to my requests.
Side note: Please send me lists of useful software, with manufacturer
name and phone number, and I will see if I can get Computer City to
carry these products.
Email me at mweil777@interaccess.com
Yours in Mac Evangelism,
Marty
--
Stop the hegemony. Join "EvangeList," Guy Kawasaki's (un)official
Apple listserver of good news about Apple, Macintosh, and third-party
developers. To subscribe to EvangeList, send an email to:
listproc@solutions.apple.comð and include in the body of the
message the text: Subscribe Macway
Date: Sat, 24 Feb 1996 01:39:37 -0800
From: mpayson@halcyon.com (Mike Payson)
Subject: Re: Project Phoenix
>
>Currently, Apple redesigns the cases as often as new machines are named.
>Instead, four standard cases should be available: slimline (6100), desktop
>(7500), mini-tower (8500), and full tower (9500). Cases would be
>differentiated by size of the power supply and space available for internal
>expansion devices.
Internally, the cases should not change, but they must change externally.
Design accounts for too much sales not to. If you don't change the outside
every year or so, people will assume that the inside hasn't changed either.
Also, use the 630 for teh low end case, the 6100 is ugly! ;-)
>
>The CPU should be available on an upgradeable daughtercard. Multiple CPU
>cards should also be supported. Cache should be included on the card and
>be upgradeable.
This is already the case on the high end machines (7500+), but your right
that it should be standard.
>
>Operating System
>The operating system should be made available on CD ROM for a reasonable
>fee ($50-$75) for the current version and free from online services.
>However, new releases of the system (each year) would require CURRENT ROMs
>which would be upgraded every year and made available for $50, upgraded by
>the dealer. Give the dealer $10, allow the user to upgrade themselves
>(exchange mandatory), and gross $40 million per million Macs sold every
>year. ROM simms are much harder to pirate than a floppy or CD. Swapped
>ROMs could also be re-programmed and re-issued (depending on size) reducing
>COGS. These ROM simms would also be required for use in clones.
>
I think the idea of requiring a ROM upgrade is not very sound. It would
introduce a huge number of potential problems such as: End users trying to
install it themselves & frying something, more chance for incompatibilities
& probably lots more. With most dealers charging around $40 an hour with a
2 hr minimum, I think that relying on a dealer to install something like
this every year would be ridiculous.
On the other hand, It would be nice if the OS was available in ROM. The
computer would start up, check the version in ROM, look at the System
folder & use whichever was newer. You would still use the System Folder for
upgrades as now, but all required software, extensions, fonts, etc. would
be on ROM, including Disk First Aid. In the event that the computer can't
locate a HD on start up (due to a crash), the ROM would show up as the
startup disk & allow you to troubleshoot. Ideally, the system would have a
means of saving at least a portion of it's RAM between uses, so you could
even use it as a diskless workstation by saving necessary apps in a RAM
disk.
>Additonally, Apple should fund the development of improved developer's
>tools. To be truly effective, the tools should allow three pass
>compilation for 68k, PPC, and x86. With high quality cross-platform tools,
>developers will be encouraged to move to the Mac and will increase the
>availability of Mac Software,
This sounds strangely like Metrowerks Code Warrior. It already compiles to
68k, PPC, x86, Be, Magic Cap, Java (soon), & probably others. I am just
trying to learn C, but from what I understand it is widely considered the
best Development environment on ANY platform.
>
>Lastly, require CD ROMs standard on all machines so that more software can
>be CD ROM based. Too much revenue is lost to computer piracy and decreases
>the attractiveness of the Mac Market. Aiding developers to beat the threat
>of piracy will go a long way to regain their trust and loyalty.
CD ROMs should be standard, but the Vendor shouldn't tell me what I need.
What if all I need is a word processor? Admittedly it's not too smart to
NOT get a CD Rom, but if I don't want one I shouldn't be forced to get one.
Software piracy is not as much of a problem as the SPA wants you to think
it is. Yes, (hypothetically) 80% of mac users have Photoshop, & only 20%
have paid for it. But that's not really much lost revenue for Adobe, as 95%
of the Pirates would never have bought it even if they didn't get it
illegaly. In fact in many cases it results in more sales, since once
someone tries it, they want to get the docs & tech support. (And, yes, I do
legally own Photoshop!)
Overall, I like your ideas, but I would like to see less reliance on
dealers. While I agree that they need to be supported, they are just to
unscrupulous (in many cases) to be trusted. (A friend was just carged $145
dollars to replace a failed simm & add an additional new simm to her 6
month old 7100. There was a mysterious $45 "shipping charge" on the simm
that was replaced under warranty. Considering that it probably took them 15
minutes or less, I find the charge a bit outrageous. she has since
compained about the charges, but I haven't heard of a resolution)
_____________________________________________________________________________
** "The burning of an author's books, imprisonment for opinion's sake, has **
always been the tribute that an ignorant age pays to the genius of it's time"
**** ~Joseph Lewis ****
**** Visit the Moorish Observatory:
www.mediastream.com/mediastream/mfja/****
Subject: Re: Carpe.Diem digest 23 Feb 1996
Date: Sat, 24 Feb 96 21:55:32 +1000
From: Grant Bayley Ðgbayley@geko.net.auð
Just a little test for anybody that is into this sort of stuff..
The UNSW Mac Archive Website is now JavaScript-savvy.
It has a scrolling text window (not at the bottom of the window, but right
in the middle of the page), a time thingo and the links show exactly
what I want them to say, not just the link info.
The address of the site is:
http://mac.unsw.edu.au/
You'll need Netscape 2.0b4 or above (this includes Netscape 2.0 final) to
see
the Scripted bits. If you're in Australia, you can get Netscape 2.0 from
the site
as well...
ftp://ftp.unsw.edu.au/pub/mac/comm/Netscape-2.0-stuff/netscape-20.hqx
Grant Bayley
**************************************************************************
Grant Bayley "Indeed, it would not be an exaggeration
UNSW Mac Archive Bloke to describe the history of the computer
Macintosh Evangelist industry for the past decade as a massive
President, Food Science Assoc. effort to keep up with Apple"
gbayley@zonk.geko.net.au -Byte, December 1994
http://mac.unsw.edu.au/
**************************************************************************
Date: Sat, 24 Feb 1996 08:50:53 -0500
From: Sappy@aol.com
Subject: Re: Carpe.Diem digest 23 Feb 1996
Several comments on a potpourri of subjects:
1) << RE: Put a box (similar to a window's close box, but slightly bigger)
on all the menus, to the right of each command (where it currently lists the
keyboard shortcuts>>
The average Joe does not need a cluttered M$ inpired screen, such as these
changes suggested regarding our pull-down menus. A windoze feature I urge
Apple to borrow from M$ is the drop-down effect for beginners who are not
comfortable with a mouse. But as far as configuring your own keyboard
shortcuts, that's really an "expert" level task. Just go ahead and buy
QuickKeys, a superior Mac product, and stop whining.
2) I only stop by at Egghead for an occasional chuckle. The next generation
of Mac/PC stores is best evidenced by Best Buy: big, generally clean
replacement for Fretter/Highland/Silo/etc. The PC side is of course chock
full of stuff, but their Mac selection can almost compare to CompUSA --
although I will admit they are a bit weaker with stocking network products.
But hey, the prices are cheap. You can't expect knowledgeable help from most
Apple dealers, or Egghead/BestBuy/CompUSA so why not save a couple of bucks
and buy stuff from the highly competitive retail market? Mostly, though, for
software purchases I call MacWarehouse / MacZone / MacConnection (MacMall is
probably the least knowledgeable of the bunch).
3) Personal WebServer -- An idea before its time and out of our league!
Great idea, if TCP/IP connections were plentiful, cheap, and user-friendly.
Instead, Apple would have to set up a national ISP that everyone could
connect to easily and cheaply, or else you're not tied in to anyone else on
the web. And even more importantly, why does everyone need a web address
anyway? There's plenty of pointless information online (John's CD collection,
John's movie collection, John's cat pictures, John's quicktime home movies,
etc.) -- which just makes it all the more difficult to find important
information (like MacBench vs. WinBench scores). I have a hard time seeing
Joe Mac User managing his own web site.
4) Apple & influential evangelists' most troubling oversight:
Most people buy computers to accomplish a specific task, and don't really
care about anything else regarding their system. Much of the smaller details
which we are apt to find important are quite pointless to the average Joe for
whom computers are not a Hobby or Amusement (like myself). Sure, we all get
excited to see cool new stuff like 3D Video offered on the Mac that's not on
the PC -- but how come we seem to overlook features that would be useful for
everyone: like a built-in backup/recovery utility to help Mac users find
deleted files quickly and cheaply, without having to add or configure
anything from a 3rd-party company. DAT? Give me a break -- it's not real
time, and is expensive and frustrating, even with PowerPC Retrospect 3. And
software solutions like Central Point's TrashBack are buggy; while Norton &
MacTools often lose filenames, making recovery of 30+ files not worth the
effort in many cases. PowerComputing's bundled internal Zip is a bright idea
which is _much_ more important to home users than a multimedia encyclopedia
or cookbook (really, who has a computer in the kitchen?). The zip is one of
the easiest and most long-awaited improvements in computing (the concept and
price range at least). If backup and recovery were one of our main goals from
the onset, that would TRULY improve the computing experience for millions of
people. You can't tell me you've NEVER emptied the Trash accidently.
I hope none are offended by this long-winded tirade. I just wanted people to
think a little deeper.
Date: Sat, 24 Feb 1996 08:20:07 -0700 (MST)
From: Powers Foss Ðfoss@ucsub.Colorado.EDUð
Subject: Press....Again!
InfoWorld had this to say about Apple and Copland:
"Lambasted when Copland's introduction date fell behind
that of Windows 95, Apple Computer Inc. is looking to turn that
misfortune into a stroke of good luck by leveraging the Internet."
While the article has, ultimatley, has good things to report, it might be
fun to let them have a piece of your mind at: electric@infoworld.com
Powers Foss.
ps - Has anyone else heard that Apple was going to release a 4 processor
(120MHz 604) Apple system? That is what infoworld also says in this
article. Why not just start out at 2 processor versions?
Date: Sat, 24 Feb 1996 08:27:54 -0700 (MST)
From: Powers Foss Ðfoss@ucsub.Colorado.EDUð
Subject: Humorous Micro$oft News
InfoWorld (http://www.infoworld.com) is pretty cool, I guess:
>MSN staff to leave Microsoft, form Internet company
>In the wake of the announcement last week that Microsoft Corp.
>is scaling back Microsoft Network (MSN) and folding it into
>two new divisions, MSN's senior development
>staff is quietly exiting the online service to form a
>new company.
Hehe.
Powers Foss.
Date: Sat, 24 Feb 1996 08:36:09 -0700 (MST)
From: Powers Foss Ðfoss@ucsub.Colorado.EDUð
Subject: ! Vote
InfoWorld is holding a "Best Products" contest. However, it looks like
you have to be a subscriber to InfoWorld for your vote to count.
Here's the URL: http://www.iwelectric.com/ballot.htm
Pick your favorite Mac software/hardware!
Powers Foss.
Date: Sat, 24 Feb 1996 09:10:15 -0700 (MST)
From: Powers Foss Ðfoss@ucsub.Colorado.EDUð
Subject: Favorite Browser Poll
Vote for your Favorite Browser!
Although few of us use it now, let's send them our vote for CyberDog,
and give it some exposure!
Send your vote to: browser@request.com
Powers Foss.
ps - www.supermall.com is holding the poll
Date: Sat, 24 Feb 1996 09:17:43 -0700 (MST)
From: Powers Foss Ðfoss@ucsub.Colorado.EDUð
Subject: Desktop Publishing Research Poll
A professor at the Rochester Institute of Technology is doing a research
poll to provide some info on what kind of desektop publishing COURSES
TO OFFER. So if you want the Macintosh to shine even brighter in this poll,
vote at:
http://htc.rit.edu/eppt/poll.html
Mac users unite!
Powers Foss.
Date: Sat, 24 Feb 1996 09:37:04 -0700 (MST)
From: Powers Foss Ðfoss@ucsub.Colorado.EDUð
Subject: Surveys
> Multimedia World
> On-line Survey for NEC
> January 4, 1995
> Win a $100 gift certificate to CompUSA!
>Your input is very important to us. Multimedia World is conducting a
>survey to understand how you currently use a notebook PC and if you have
>any plans to purchase a notebook PC for yourself or others.
We'll see a positive reaction from CompUSA when they see the
TREMENDOUS Macintosh support out there! Vote for the Mac! ;)
http://www.mmworld.com/register/
Powers Foss.
Subject: RE: A tactic to help trounce Windows
Date: Sat, 24 Feb 96 11:49:35 -0500
From: Chris Greeley Ðsnazzy@cybernex.netð
>Anyway, if you look at the Wordperfect -> MS-Word transition, it included
>not just help, but a Wordperfect mode with pseudo-Wordperfect menus and
>key mappings.
Microsoft has a habit of doing that. Has anyone tried out their web
browser? I did just for some luaghs. Before it crashed my machine
(twice!), I looked through the preferences, and there are options
everywhere for "Netscape emulation mode". What I have to say about
Microsoft is that they can recognize competition and make every effort to
convert users. Maybe that's not such a bad idea....
-Chris
DISCLAMIER: No, I am not sticking up for Microsoft or Billy G.......
=)
Date: Sat, 24 Feb 1996 10:10:46 -0700 (MST)
From: Powers Foss Ðfoss@ucsub.Colorado.EDUð
Subject: The Quest to Dominate All Surveys!
Vote for your favorite web authoring platform!
http://www.webart.com/survey/index.htm
Mac users unite!
Powers Foss.
Date: Sat, 24 Feb 96 13:03:04 EST
From: bjorkman@voicenet.com (Marc R. Bjorkman)
Subject: Inform C-NET of reality, Please.....
I got a form letter after sending the following message to C-NET at Guy's
suggestion:
>Your computer-buying advisory service area at
ðÐhttp://www.cnet.com/Content/Reviews/Compare/Pc100/index.htmlð doesnt show
>ANY Macintoshes!!! What a MISTAKE!!!!! You lost me as a visitor... so
>dont count my "hits" when you go to your advertisers.
>
>A Mac User .. and loving it
>
>Marc R. Bjorkman
>bjorkman@voicenet.com
The form letter follows. Are these guys pedeling in place, or what? I
would hope everyone would send along a comment or two to them.
ðFrom: suggestions@CNET.Com (suggestions)
>Subject: Re: computer-buying advisory service
>
>Hi,
>
>Please excuse this form letter, but it was written by our Senior Editor
>John Clyman. It also appears in our posting area.
>
>http://www.cnet.com/cgi-bin/posting/display_post?PostTag=130.1.5&Outline=1
>
>
>When we first starting laying out the specs for this project, we very
>seriously considered covering Macs as well as Windows PCs. We're not
>ignorant of the fact that Macs have a significant market share or that many
>of our readers use Macs. (For whatever it's worth, many of us use Macs too.)
>And we certainly recognize that there is a valid and interesting comparison
>to be made between Windows PCs and the Mac (and its various clones).
>
>So why didn't we include Macs then? There are a few reasons. Adding Macs to
>the mix would have complicated our database structure and decision logic...
>and of course, no Mac browser currently supports Java, which means that the
>impact of the Interactive PC Scoreboard--one of the real differentiating
>features of this story--would be missed. Also, we would need to develop a
>second set of performance benchmarks in addition to the set we developed for
>the Windows machines. (Incidentally, this story is one of the first places
>you will find a wide-ranging roundup of PCs compared using 32-bit
>application-based benchmarks for Win95.) Even tougher than simply building
>that second set of performance tests would be ensuring that they correlate
>properly with results on PCs. We've dealt with cross-platform testing many
>times in the past and I know firsthand how difficult (some would argue
>impossible) it is to generate any meaningful results!
>
>None of these hurdles is insurmountable, but they would have added a
>nontrivial amount of time and complexity to a project that already pushes
>the limits of Web-publishing technology. So in this first incarnation of the
>story, no, there aren't any Macs. There weren't any Pentium Pro systems
>running Windows NT, either. But that doesn't mean that either or both of
>those won't appear in the future. What you see now is only the beginning: in
>coming months you can expect us to refresh, expand, and deepen our PC
>coverage in more ways than I can go into here. Getting Macs rolled in is
>definitely on our list of prospects for future enhancements. (In fact, we
>welcome your suggestions for other ways we could improve the story--in terms
>of content, technology, navigation, presentation, or whatever-- as we move
>forward.)
>
>And we hope you'll keep in mind that this PCs story is a special case. As a
>rule, our reviews of software and of peripheral hardware are performed with
>both PCs and Macs in mind. Just check out our reviews of Web browsers,
>personal-finance packages, or low-cost removable storage solutions. You can
>be assured that we always consider both platforms when we're kicking off
>research and planning for an upcoming review.
>
>Thanks for taking the time to comment! Your feedback helps us build a
>stronger product, and we take it seriously.
Date: Sat, 24 Feb 1996 11:19:06 -0700 (MST)
Subject: Re: Draft SANDRA BULLOCK and RUSH LIMBAUGH!
From: Chad Ðbriareos@primenet.comð
>It might cost a buck or two, but Apple needs to get CURRENT celebrities
>with Generation X-appeal.
i'd also like to see apple change thier commercials. have you seen the
new Saturn car commercials? the one with the bikers riding along,
commenting on how Saturn owners are so proud. Apple needs to not only
show how good thier computers are, but also show how good thier computers
make people.
Take care, Chad.
----------------------------------------------------------------
| "A little rain
briareos@primenet.com | makes the ground harder"
http://www.primenet.com/~briareos/ | == Akemi san ==
Date: Sat, 24 Feb 1996 11:19:11 -0700 (MST)
Subject: Re: Carpe.Diem digest 24 Feb 1996
From: Chad Ðbriareos@primenet.comð
>Nathan, I work at Computer City (Deerfield,IL) and am _constantly_
>in a remote fight with our Mac buyers over Mac hardware and software.
>Our store has a phenominal 35-40% of gross sales being Macintosh,
>but even then we are constantly running out of product. I am always
>writing lists of software and hardware that we need, but, at times,
>it seems to be a futile effort. Computer City's buyers are based at
>our corporate office in Texas (We are a division of Tandy) and do
>_not_ respond well to my requests.
hehe, i used to work for Computer City (although we always changed the
'C' in City to 'Sh' ;) and now i work at CompUSA. my advice is to never
work for a retail company based out of Texas. both chains a VERY bad
about Mac product. the store i work at on average does 25% - 35% Mac
sales. even with all the bad press, we're still gonna make that mark.
unfortunatly, our Mac software section is in shambles. it always has been.
Take care, Chad.
----------------------------------------------------------------
| "A little rain
briareos@primenet.com | makes the ground harder"
http://www.primenet.com/~briareos/ | == Akemi san ==
Date: Sat, 24 Feb 1996 11:19:16 -0700 (MST)
Subject: Re: Project Pheonix
From: Chad Ðbriareos@primenet.comð
>Also, use the 630 for teh low end case, the 6100 is ugly! ;-)
now way! i work in retail. one of the first things to happen is the
volume up button gets stuck. then it gets all scratched up as customers
use keys, pens, or any other sharp object to "unstick" it. either destroy
the 630 box or fix the problem with the volume up button.
Take care, Chad.
----------------------------------------------------------------
| "A little rain
briareos@primenet.com | makes the ground harder"
http://www.primenet.com/~briareos/ | == Akemi san ==
Date: Sat, 24 Feb 1996 14:59:29 -0500
From: nstn3090@fox.nstn.ca (Brian Murphy)
Subject: Re: A tactic to help trounce Windows
>>1) How do I find a file on the Macintosh?
>>2) Where is the file manager?
>>3) Where is the program manager?
>>4) Where is the control menu?
>>5) ...
>
>I think Chris Habig may be on to something. Whenever I receive a Windows
>user into a Mac environment I am always struck by a common theme:
>disbelief and mistrust.
>
>When you show someone how to move a file, or even rename it they simply
>do not believe it. It's too easy and therefor impossible. It's awfully
>gosh darn threatening at first. And who wants to admit they have been
>wasting time just going through the motions?
>
>The guide could be called the twelve step guide to recovering from Windows.
>
>Bill Ahrens
Something this guide will definetly need is an explaination of the
menu bar. Most users new to Macs have trouble with the one menu bar. A
lot of people think that the program has quit when you close the window
your working in and there are no windows open but only a menu bar. I've
seen people try to continusly open the same application and not notice that
the menu bar has changed. They don't realize that the program is already
open and they have to open a new window to work in. I don't know how
people can't figure this out but I've seen it a lot of times.
sorry for the bad spelling, I was in a hurry.
Nick Murphy
nstn3090@fox.nstn.ca
Subject: Re: www server as part of the system
Date: Sat, 24 Feb 96 11:10:44 -0800
From: Dan Mitchell Ðdan@mitchell.fhda.eduð
I think that a bit more vision is in order here.
First off, many Mac buyers are in education, and many of us DO have (and
many others will soon have) the necessary IP connections. Not only that,
but we have a very specific use for the web in that we can use it to
provide very critical information to our students. For example, my site
provides information to a small group of users, but for these users the
information is critical.
Try not to measure the value of a site in terms of the number of people
it serves, but instead in terms of how well it serves its particular
audience, no matter what its size.
And it would have been just plain impossible for me to provide this
information without my Mac and the availability of cheap, functional,
easy to use Mac-based servers.
Regarding the idea being "ahead of its time," you didn't mean that as a
criticism did you? The Mac is SUPPOSED to be ahead of its time.
Speaking of Apple's need to "set u a national ISP," what ARE the plans
for eWorld, anyway?
:-)
DAn
>3) Personal WebServer -- An idea before its time and out of our league!
>Great idea, if TCP/IP connections were plentiful, cheap, and user-friendly.
> Instead, Apple would have to set up a national ISP that everyone could
>connect to easily and cheaply, or else you're not tied in to anyone else on
>the web. And even more importantly, why does everyone need a web address
>anyway? There's plenty of pointless information online (John's CD collection,
>John's movie collection, John's cat pictures, John's quicktime home movies,
>etc.) -- which just makes it all the more difficult to find important
>information (like MacBench vs. WinBench scores). I have a hard time seeing
>Joe Mac User managing his own web site.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dan Mitchell | De Anza College | Cupertino, CA | http://mitchell.fhda.edu/
dan@mitchell.fhda.edu | danmitch@eworld.com | danmitch@aol.com
Join Apple's EvangeList: Email to Ðmacway-request@solutions.apple.comð
Subject: Fwd: Emergency Request
Date: Sat, 24 Feb 96 12:59:46 -0800
From: Nic Olinsky Ðolinskyn@sunnyside.wednet.eduð
I'm sure this list can help her out!
Subject: Emergency Request
Sent: 2/24/96 12:12 PM
Received: 2/24/96 12:53 PM
From: Michelle Rogge, mrogge@SUNFLOWR.USD.EDU
Reply-To: IO-MUG Mailing List, IO-MUG@UTARLVM1.UTA.EDU
To: IO-MUG Mailing List, IO-MUG@UTARLVM1.UTA.EDU
Hello, I am an instructor in the English Dept. at the University of South
Dakota in Vermillion. I love Macs--I have one at home and I teach
Advanced Composition at the University in a Macintosh lab.
Here's my concern: a fellow instructor, who teaches graphics courses in
another Macintosh lab on campus, in the Mass Communications Building,
told me that she has to write a proposal for new equipment for that lab
to submit to her superiors by next Wednesday. She also prefers Macs, but
she told me
that she is getting pressure from higher-ups to submit a proposal for
non-Macs--IBMs or possibly Gateways (USD is located only 35 miles away
from the main Gateway operations). Can you provide her with
some persuasive
arguments or specific examples as to why USD should purchase Macs rather
than non-Macs for that lab? You can e-mail me in response
(mrogge@sunflowr.usd.edu) or e-mail her (jgibson@sundance.usd.edu).
Thanks very much. . . .
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ http://www.sunnyside.wednet.edu ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Nicholas M. Olinsky Computer Specialist //////////////////////////
Sunnyside School District #201 / This is as real as your/
1110 South Sixth St., Sunnyside, WA, 98944 \ so-called life gets - Q\
Voice: (509) 837-5851 Fax: (509) 837-0450 \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Sent Via Claris E-Mailer ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Date: Sat, 24 Feb 1996 16:15:31 -0500
From: jordanj@ViaNet.on.ca (Jamie Jordan)
Subject: Re: Carpe.Diem digest 23 Feb 1996
>Bruno Bloch wrote:
>
(SNIP)
>>
>>APPLE STOP YOUR CHINESE WALL POLICY AND ALLOW MAILSTORES TO SELL CROSS
>>BOARDER
>>!!! and expand your European market share vs Wintel.
>
>Bruno, I agree, it's a disgusting policy, but not unique to Apple. It
>has been traditional for software companies to sell products in Europe
>for substantially more, and forbid the export of products bought here in
>the U.S. Lots of software packages in stores here in the U.S. have "Not
>for export" stickers on them. I'm sure these companies argue that the
>cost of doing business overseas is higher, that piracy in Europe is
>higher, etc. But I think it is increasingly hard to justify.
>
>If it makes you feel any better, there are software products only
>available from European companies that are hard to get in the U.S.
>
>Nathan Tennies
>Bootstrap Enterprises Inc
>
Prices were much higher in Canada before the Free Trade agreement. It may
not be totally Apple's fault. Are there tariffs or duties on Computer
products brought into European countries. As I say the prices on hardware
came down substantially as the Canadian duties on electronic equipment were
taken off over the last few years due to the Free Trade agreement.
Jamie Jordan TEL: (705) 789-6600
macs@work
Date: Sat, 24 Feb 1996 16:16:44 -0500
Subject: Re: Word Perfect 3.5 Rules!
From: Nathan Tennies Ðbootstrp@vnet.netð
Craig Hansen wrote:
>But now that Corel owns WordPerfect, I'm very worried about continued MacOS
>support. Corel has never brought their graphics suite to the MacOS (afraid
>of going head-to-head with Adobe, I guess) and I fear they may drop MacOS
>support in their WordPerfect applications, too.
Craig, Corel has - in the last week or so - said that no only are they
going to continue the MacOS version of WordPerfect apps, but they are
going to port some of their apps to the MacOS as well. MacWeek's WWW
page has a tidbit right now on Corel's plans to ship their suite of
graphics apps for the MacOS this spring.
Nathan Tennies
Bootstrap Enterprises Inc
Date: Sat, 24 Feb 96 15:42:31 CST
From: bayou@rouge.phys.lsu.edu (James Gregurich)
Subject: Re: Are Mac Evangelists Arrogant?
>One quick example from the Windows 95 release. A lot of Mac users
>(including myself) pointed out that the Mac had features like long file
>names for ten years before Windows did. The popular "Been There. Done
>That" slogon captures that sentiment. But this can come across as a bit
>arrogant. As one my partners - who uses both Macs and PCs - said, "Who
>cares who had it first. All that matters is that Windows users have it
>now." And, in a sense, he's right. I don't know which auto company
>first included air bags or multi-speed windshield wipers; once they are
>common, who cares who had it first.
Well. While MS was implementing long file names, Apple was implementing
QuickTime VR, QuickDraw 3D, ColorSync 2.0, and OpenDoc.
The point is that Apple has moved on to bigger and better things while MS
tries to reinvent the wheel.
later,
James Gregurich
(LSU physics)
Date: Sat, 24 Feb 1996 15:50:22 -0600
From: jcast144@inlink.com (John E. Castasus)
Subject: Re: Carpe.Diem digest 24 Feb 1996
>Has anyone heard of Corel's plans for WordPerfect and continued MacOS support?
Corel will bring CorelDraw over to the Mac, and will continue to support
WordPerfect. However, Corel faces some serious competition with Macromedia
and Adobe.
================================================
>
>Date: Sat, 24 Feb 1996 02:16:58 -0600
ðFrom: chansen@innovsoftd.com (Craig Hansen)
>Subject: Draft SANDRA BULLOCK and RUSH LIMBAUGH!
>
>I hear Sandra Bullock, America's sweetheart from movies like THE NET, WHILE
>YOU WERE SLEEPING, and SPEED, is a Mac user herself. Her movie the Net
>featured the PowerMac. Get her to do a commercial pumping the Mac as the
>coolest computer on the market!
>
>It might cost a buck or two, but Apple needs to get CURRENT celebrities
>with Generation X-appeal. Yeah, everyone respects some of the OLDER
>celebrities they're currently using, but it reaches an older audience that
>is already probably married to Win95 machines. Go for the youth market!
>
>Here's another idea: Rush Limbaugh is an outspoken PowerMac advocate on
>his show. He once approached Apple to promote their computers, and the
>dopes in charge (John Scully, especially) told him to get lost because Rush
>is conservative and Scully's a Clinton crony.
>
>It's time Apple put politics aside and focused on selling computers; Rush
>moves product. Just look at what his advocacy did for SNAPPLE!
>
>Rush is another example of a celebrity with GenX appeal. If Apple feels
>compelled to balance Rush politically, get some liberal celeb like former
>Texas Governor Ann Richards to plug 'em, too! (Maybe they could even do
>the spot together---imagine the slogan: MACINTOSH, bringing the world
>together!)
>
>The underlying message being, if two opposites like Richards and Rush can
>agree that Mac rules, it MUST be cool!
>
>Another idea: get some sports celebs like Howie Long, Grant Hill, Big
>George Foreman, Charles Barkley, and Kevin Garnett to push the Mac!
>
>Or maybe some rock celebs!
>
>ONE FINAL IDEA TO APPLE:
>
>When you launch System 8, spend some money and get DAVID LETTERMAN as your
>kick-off spokesperson, as kind of an in-your-face to the evil Microsoft/Jay
>Leno alliance.
===========================================================
If Apple does use Rush in a commercial, it will please half of the nation,
and piss off the other half. I can see people buying Wintel boxes in
protest... "Wintel... certified Dittohead-free"
However, if you do want someone to balance the political scales, put Bono
(U2's frontman - he uses a Powerbook to jot down lyrics) and Limbaugh in an
ad. They're day and night.
Some time ago, the EvangeList sent out a list of famous Mac users. Check
out the archive site and see who's on it.
---------
Cordially,
John E. Castasus
Stalwart Defender of the Macintosh Empire
and Official Mac Evangelist
Join the EvangeList! E-mail me for details!
Date: Sat, 24 Feb 1996 14:57:23 -0800
From: quadra_quack@sierra.campus.mci.net (Isaac Church)
Subject: Re: Word Perfect 3.5 Rules!
> Has anyone heard of Corel's plans for WordPerfect and continued MacOS support?
Yea I have, and believe it or not it may actually turn out to be a good
thing for the Mac! Corel IS bringing Corel Draw to the Mac (should be out
this spring/summer) and it will incorperate some of the features of the
upcoming 7.0 version on the PC even before the PC version is released. It
seems that because Corel now has a serious Mac application on it's hands,
and has received a flood of E-mail (keep it coming! =) about Mac support
that they have decided to quadrouple their Mac staff, and to work hard on
continuing Mac support. Although this might be just another empty promise I
think that Corel is serious this time, since this is the chance that it's
been waiting for. Corel has an excellent reputation, and I think that if
Mac users support this move to the Mac, and encourage Corel both with
E-mail and sales, that Corel could become a serious mac software company.
Kick Butt!
-Isaac Church
"Life is a series of mistakes, and success depends on how well we learn
from them."
Date: Sat, 24 Feb 1996 14:57:27 -0800
From: quadra_quack@sierra.campus.mci.net (Isaac Church)
Subject: Re: Carpe.Diem digest 24 Feb 1996
> Date: Sat, 24 Feb 1996 02:16:58 -0600
ð From: chansen@innovsoftd.com (Craig Hansen)
> Subject: Draft SANDRA BULLOCK and RUSH LIMBAUGH!
>
> I hear Sandra Bullock, America's sweetheart from movies like THE NET, WHILE
> YOU WERE SLEEPING, and SPEED, is a Mac user herself. Her movie the Net
> featured the PowerMac. Get her to do a commercial pumping the Mac as the
> coolest computer on the market!
>
> It might cost a buck or two, but Apple needs to get CURRENT celebrities
> with Generation X-appeal. Yeah, everyone respects some of the OLDER
> celebrities they're currently using, but it reaches an older audience that
> is already probably married to Win95 machines. Go for the youth market!
>
> Here's another idea: Rush Limbaugh is an outspoken PowerMac advocate on
> his show. He once approached Apple to promote their computers, and the
> dopes in charge (John Scully, especially) told him to get lost because Rush
> is conservative and Scully's a Clinton crony.
>
> It's time Apple put politics aside and focused on selling computers; Rush
> moves product. Just look at what his advocacy did for SNAPPLE!
>
> Rush is another example of a celebrity with GenX appeal. If Apple feels
> compelled to balance Rush politically, get some liberal celeb like former
> Texas Governor Ann Richards to plug 'em, too! (Maybe they could even do
> the spot together---imagine the slogan: MACINTOSH, bringing the world
> together!)
>
> The underlying message being, if two opposites like Richards and Rush can
> agree that Mac rules, it MUST be cool!
>
> Another idea: get some sports celebs like Howie Long, Grant Hill, Big
> George Foreman, Charles Barkley, and Kevin Garnett to push the Mac!
>
> Or maybe some rock celebs!
>
> ONE FINAL IDEA TO APPLE:
>
> When you launch System 8, spend some money and get DAVID LETTERMAN as your
> kick-off spokesperson, as kind of an in-your-face to the evil Microsoft/Jay
> Leno alliance.
>
>
>
> I'm just a fount of marketing ideas!
>
>
> Craig!
Great idea! Does anyone know how to send this information to Apple! (I'm
not kidding, I've been looking for some way to communicate these great
ideas to them directly and I've found nothing. There has to be SOME way of
communicating it to them! Help!)
-Isaac Church
"Life is a series of mistakes, and success depends on how well we learn
from them."
Date: Sat, 24 Feb 1996 15:18:58 -0800
From: MBuechi@eworld.com
Subject: Neat Macintosh Bundle
Hi Carpe Diems,
Apple should bundle every Macintosh with one Apple share, one cool Mac
T-shirt, one Apple pin and tons of their colorful stickers.
May the Force be with you...
Marcel Buechi
Subject: Re: Project Phoenix
Date: Sat, 24 Feb 96 14:29:28 -0900
From: Thomas Twigg Ðttwigg@alaska.netð
The suggestion was made...
>Lastly, require CD ROMs standard on all machines so that more software can
>be CD ROM based. Too much revenue is lost to computer piracy and decreases
>the attractiveness of the Mac Market. Aiding developers to beat the threat
>of piracy will go a long way to regain their trust and loyalty.
Coupling this issue with piracy suggests that what you are proposing is
that software be run from the CD-ROM, which is impractically slow (way
too slow). If that is not what was intended and you can install an
application from CD to hard drive, it can be installed to removable media
(or just copied from the hard drive after installation). And what about
PowerBook owners, how would they get software? Even though coming PB's
will be available with CD-ROM drives, it is not a feature that will be
desired by all portable users.
This also suggests that piracy is a bigger problem in the Mac market than
on the Wintel side; I have no figures on this but I find it very unlikely
that one side is significantly worse than the other.
T. Twigg
ttwigg@alaska.net
Down with Dogma* (*Excepting, of course, where operating systems are
concerned.)
Date: Sat, 24 Feb 1996 19:33:51 -0500
From: jragosta@dca.net (Joe Ragosta)
Subject: Re: Carpe.Diem digest 23 Feb 1996
Why doesn't Apple just include a MacConnection, MacZone, and MacWarehouse
catalog in every Mac box? I'm sure the catalog companies will provide the
catalogs at no charge, along with a post-paid card to sign up for a
subscription.
Does anyone from Apple marketing read this group?
>
>Date: Fri, 23 Feb 1996 16:30:48 -0500
ðFrom: mnorman@princeton.com (Michael Norman)
>Subject: future of software sales
>
>Forget the comment cards. Just boycott them.
>
>We need to move the macintosh software-buying community into
>catalog/mail-order/web shopping.
>
>The only inconvenience is the inability to impulse-buy.
>
>The advantages include a wider selection of software, lower prices (tax
>savings are in some cases lower than next-day shipping), and bolstering the
>sales and visibility of mac-only retailers.
>
>We need to retrain joe-mac-user to think in terms of catalog sales and to
>stop thinking he has to go to Egghead. Walking into these stores makes you
>question your choice of computer.
>
>(The catalogs that are sold with every MacWorld in the newsstands is a good
>start.)
>
> - Michael (hoping someone at Apple is considering this)
>
Regards
Joe Ragosta
Subject: Re: Corel's Macintosh Plans
Date: Sat, 24 Feb 96 19:38:52 -0500
From: "Gino J. Piazza" Ðgpiazza@cloud9.netð
> If they do, it'll be tragic, because finally with WordPerfect 3.5, we've
> found a word processor capable of taking on MSWord 6.0, head-to-head...and
> possibly even winning, once System 8.0 is introduced and WordPerfect 4.0
> comes out to support it.
> Has anyone heard of Corel's plans for WordPerfect and continued MacOS
support?
Craig and others,
You may have missed the following from MacWay Digest 125:
-------------------------------------------------------------
A Message About WordPerfect/Corel Macintosh Development
There has been some recent speculation about the direction of development
for WordPerfect on the Macintosh platform. Corel's acquisition of the
WordPerfect family of software may have some of you wondering what our
plans are for WordPerfect for Macintosh, and for Mac development in
general.
WordPerfect 3.5 for Macintosh has received several major best-of-breed
awards and continues to garner industry honours. WordPerfect 3.5 for Mac
has become an extremely popular package, gaining great user loyalty. This
program did substantial business for Novell last year.
Corel is keenly aware of the importance of Macintosh development and is
in the process of ramping up its Mac program even further with this
acquisition. As many of you may already know, we will be releasing
CorelDraw for Macintosh in June. This version of our flagship product
will have all the functionality of our latest Windows 95 version, but we
will have the chance to incorporate some new features from our upcoming
Draw 7 release.
In addition, we're planning to bring our Print House graphics package to
the Mac platform, and we're developing a Macintosh client for our new
CorelVIDEO product. We have Mac versions of CD Creator and Corel Drivers
for Enhanced CD. A number of Corel's CD Home multimedia titles are hybrid
disks (Mac/PC), including Corel All-Movie Guide, Wild Cards, Wild Board
Games, Bernard Of Hollywood's MARILYN, Nikolai's Trains, NN'n N
Toymakers, Interactive Alphabet, Blue Tortoise, Green Bear, Red Rhino,
Yellow Hippo, The Complete HERMAN Collection, and the Medical Series
Epilepsy release. Corel is expanding its Mac development team, nearly
quadrupling it.
So, Corel's work on the Macintosh platform is off to a great start. We
thought we'd let you know that we're committed to the Mac and that more
good things are on the way.
Corel Corporation
\\|//
(o o)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~w~~~U~~~w~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~ \_\_\_\_ \_\_\_\_ \ Gino J. Piazza ~
~ \_ \_ \_ \ ------------------------- ~
~ \_ \_\_\_ \_ \_ \_ \ gpiazza@cloud9.net ~
~ \_ \_ \_ \ ------------------------- ~
~ \_\_\_\_ \_ \ GinoPiazza@aol.com ~
~ ......................................................... ~
~ Saying Windows 95 is equal to Macintosh is like finding a ~
~ potato that looks like Jesus and believing you've ~
~ witnessed the second coming. ~
~ Guy Kawasaki ~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Date: Sat, 24 Feb 1996 19:43:19 -0500
From: jragosta@dca.net (Joe Ragosta)
Subject: Re: Carpe.Diem digest 24 Feb 1996
>Our store has a phenominal 35-40% of gross sales being Macintosh,
>but even then we are constantly running out of product. I am always
>writing lists of software and hardware that we need, but, at times,
>it seems to be a futile effort. Computer City's buyers are based at
>our corporate office in Texas (We are a division of Tandy) and do
>_not_ respond well to my requests.
I just had to respond to this post. I'm convinced that a part of Apple's
bad press and inability to obtain the market share we all know it should
have ;-) is the fact that the majority of sales people at Computer City,
Best Buy, etc know absolutely nothing about the Mac and would prefer to
just follow the Windows herd.
In this case, an obvious Mac-oriented sales person works at a Computer City
and 35-40% of sales are Mac. How do we educate people at other retail
chains? Ideas?
Regards
Joe Ragosta
Subject: Show your colors - make your own!
Date: Sat, 24 Feb 96 15:41:42 -0900
From: Thomas Twigg Ðttwigg@alaska.netð
I sent this a few days ago but it never showed up, so I send again in
hopes it gets through this time.
There has been recent discussion on the EvangeList and Carpe.Diem List
about how to get Apple t-shirts, hats, stickers, etc. I suggest you add
yourself to the list of possible sources by using your creative talents
and your Mac together with Canon's T-shirt Transfer Kit (part no.TR-101).
Although the kit claims to be only for Canon's bubble jet series of
printers, I have found it to work extremely well with my Color
StyleWriter 2400. Create your proud to be Macintosh design in your
favorite graphics application and then print to the transfer media using
BACKPRINT as the Paper Type in the Print dialog box. The product can be
transfered to any light colored cotton or cotton/poly blend material with
an iron or transfer press (I have had mine applied to t-shirts at Kmart's
photo department - when I bring the shirt and the transfer they only
charge me 50 cents to apply it). You get your Mac garb and have some fun
too. Canon's kit costs about $20 for 10 sheets of 8.5 X 11" transfer
material, I found it at Computer City but imagine it must be available at
similar outlets. Now if we could just figure out how to wear a QuickTime
movie....
Tom Twigg
ttwigg@alaska.net
Down with Dogma* (*Excepting of course, where operating systems are
involved.)
Date: Sat, 24 Feb 1996 18:07:17 -0800
From: mpayson@halcyon.com (Mike Payson)
Subject: Anarchie
>>For $10 you can get peter lewis' Net Presenz (FTP and HTTP services).
>>
>>I'd love for Apple to license this and integrate it into the OS.
>>
>>
>>(Peter deserves to get rich off of a licensing agreement.)
>
>He surely does :-)
>
>Why stop there? Anarchie is the natural partner to NetPresenz. Apple should
>licence both.
>
>With a serious financial injection, Peter could afford to hire a couple of
>programmers and speed up development.
>
>
What I would like to see is the ability to access URL's from the standard
open & save dialog boxes. Imagine the convenience of being able to access a
Read Me file without it cluttering up your hard drive? Or creating a web
page in BBEdit & saving it directly on a Unix server at a remote location?
I have heard a rumor that you can already do this in Win95, so this may be
on of the (few) areas that apple is playing catch-up.
As far as Peter Lewis, why not give him a fellowship (seriously!)? Apple
wants the Mac to be the leading platform on the Internet. The only way that
will happen is if it has the best software. Peter has the experience, so he
is the natural person to be leading Apple's charge in that direction. Give
him a budget to hire a few programmers, & the freedom to work on the
projects that he finds most important. And, make sure that the software
remains freeware. Note that the vast majority of Web Servers are still
running on NCSA, CERN, Apache, or one of the other free Unix servers.
_____________________________________________________________________________
** "The burning of an author's books, imprisonment for opinion's sake, has **
always been the tribute that an ignorant age pays to the genius of it's time"
**** ~Joseph Lewis ****
**** Visit the Moorish Observatory:
www.mediastream.com/mediastream/mfja/****
Date: Sun, 25 Feb 1996 00:26:58 -0500
From: jstamer@usa.nai.net (JStamer)
Subject: RE Project Phoenix: mpayson@halcyon.com (Mike Payson)
Thank you for your feedback! I hope that we can continue to improve this
(and someone actually pays attention).
Standard Case Design
Keeping the inside the same while changing the outside is an excellent
suggestion. I had only been considering the manufacturing implications
(and the costs of designing new cases so often) and had ignored some of the
marketing aspects. Nevertheless, a revamped naming convention might serve
the same purpose... maybe not. Provided the costs were manageable,
creating better looking cases is an excellent idea. I think a flat grey or
black computer would be REALLY cool... like a Next.
CPU Daughtercard
The real point I had been trying to make is that if a processor could be
upgraded as an exchange for $200 to $300, users would upgrade far more
often, improving cashflow. I might be able to save $300, but it'll be a
LONG time before I can scrape up $2000 to buy a new machine. (sob).
ROM upgrade
Most users I know are capable of upgrading a SIMM, but your concers are
valid. The purpose in relying on Dealers is to create a profit motive for
Dealers to sell Macs. Currently, dealers rape make users because the
dictated profit margins are slim. Although, I have to admit that I am
relying on competitive forces to keep the price down for upgrade costs and
that could be flawed.
Nevertheless, only a hardware upgrade would guarantee a steady stream of
revenue for Apple while making life easier for both software developers AND
Apple operating system developers. It would also make the newest
technological breakthroughs available to existing users without buying new
machines... Conversely, dealing with flawed ROM releases would be a
NIGHTMARE.
ROM OS
I hadn't thought of extending the ROM concept to an OS. Putting the system
in ROM would also free up conventional memory for applications. It would
be necessary for the system to search the HD for extensions and such, but
the concept is excellent!
CD ROMs
You are right, no one should be forced to buy something they don't want.
Perhaps I have succumbed to the piracy histeria, but I do think CDs are
currently under-utilized by developers and should become a standard for
commercial software (not just games).
Developer Relations
I was referring to Code Warrior. It is an incredible product. I use
Symantec because I like the Visual Architect component--code warrior needs
something similar. Throw money at the problem and make it soo easy to
develop software, EVERYONE will! Tell me, what would old billy-boy say if
someone developed a knock-off of Excel? Accuse them of stealing the look
and feel? I think not.
Again, thank you for your feedback... I look forward to future exchanges.
With the combined brain power of Carpe Diem, we should have all of Apple's
problems solved in no time atall.
Date: Sun, 25 Feb 1996 00:37:21 -0500
From: JSWilliams@aol.com
Subject: Re: future of software sales
>>"We need to move the macintosh software-buying community into
catalog/mail-order/web shopping.
The only inconvenience is the inability to impulse-buy.<<
Hummmm....
Seems to me that 'impulse buying' is even more convenient via mail-order; see
mention (here for example, or on a BB somewhere) of a piece of software at
11PM, and have it at your home/office tomorrow, with a three minute (max)
phone call - no gas to buy, no clothes to don or change, no martini to put
down . And at a price, including shipping (from M'Whse) of $3.00, for as
many things you want to order. This being considerably less than Egghead will
charge. (Not to knock Egghead - they have a major overhead problem compared
to M'Warehouse, and are buying in far smaller volume.)
>>>"stop thinking he has to go to Egghead. Walking into these stores makes
you question your choice of computer."<<<
Hummmm......
Or... does the fact that there are that many people who own a certain type of
computer who aren't aware of the amount of money which they can save by
buying mail order make you glad you MADE the choice you did?
"Let us therefore mention the fact, for it seems to us worthy of notice."
-Ezra Pound
Regards - Johnny
Date: Sat, 24 Feb 1996 21:40:01 -0800
From: Joseph McLean Ðjoseph@coc.powell-river.bc.cað
Subject: Re: A tactic to help trounce Windows
>Microsoft has a habit of doing that. Has anyone tried out their web
>browser? I did just for some luaghs. Before it crashed my machine
>(twice!), I looked through the preferences, and there are options
>everywhere for "Netscape emulation mode". What I have to say about
>Microsoft is that they can recognize competition and make every effort to
>convert users. Maybe that's not such a bad idea....
And maybe beauty is skin deep? I think not. :P
JMcL
Date: Sun, 25 Feb 1996 09:12:45 -0800 (PST)
From: Eric Mockensturm Ðeric@mote.ME.Berkeley.EDUð
Subject: Re: Rush Ad
Here's an idea, have Rush along with some big-name liberal in a kind of
Meet-the-Press debate. They're sitting their seriously debating politics
and the moderator says, "Ok, we have to go to a commercial, stay tuned
for more of our debate." Instead of actually going to a commercial, the
camera stays on Rush and Ms. Liberal. They both pull out PowerBooks to
check their notes and say, "Hey, at least we agree on one thing."
This might be too subtle but it's seems like something to work from.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
If Apple does use Rush in a commercial, it will please half of the nation,
and piss off the other half. I can see people buying Wintel boxes in
protest... "Wintel... certified Dittohead-free"
However, if you do want someone to balance the political scales, put Bono
(U2's frontman - he uses a Powerbook to jot down lyrics) and Limbaugh in an
ad. They're day and night.
Some time ago, the EvangeList sent out a list of famous Mac users. Check
out the archive site and see who's on it.
---------
Cordially,
John E. Castasus
Stalwart Defender of the Macintosh Empire
and Official Mac Evangelist
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Eric Mockensturm
MY NEW EMAIL ADDRESS: eric@mote.me.berkeley.edu
Dynamic Stability Lab
1113 Etcheverry Hall
University of California - Berkeley
(510) 642-6371
http://mote.berkeley.edu/~eric/eric.html
Date: Sun, 25 Feb 96 11:27:36 -0600
From: lbotez@cs.wisc.edu (Lynda Botez)
Subject: Steve Jobs 1985 Playboy Interview
Hey. I just finished reading that Steve Jobs Playboy interview at:
Ðhttp://www.playboy.com/feb85/stevenjobs1.htmlð
Anyway, you've just got to read it. It's eerily prophetic. Steve talks
about the "internet"; agents, networking computers, all kinds of stuff. He
scored pretty high in predicting the future (the article was dated 1985).
Microsoft Strategy: (Insert Microsoft for IBM, and Mac for Apple II)
JOBS: Frito-Lay doesn't have to innovate very much. They just watch all the
little chip companies come out with something new, study it for a year, and
a year or two years later they come out with their own, service and support
it to
death, and they've got 80 percent of the market share of the new product a
year later.
IBM is playing exactly the same game. If you look at the mainframe market
place, there's been virtually zero innovation since IBM got dominant control
of that market place 15 years ago. They are going to do the same thing in
every other sector of the computer market place if they can get away with
it. The IBM PC fundamentally brought no new technology to the industry at
all. It was just repackaging and slight extension of Apple II technology,
and they want it all. They absolutely want it all.
Dark Ages of Computing
"All these things show that it really is coming down to just Apple and IBM.
If, for some reason, we make some giant mistakes and IBM wins, my personal
feeling is that we are going to enter sort of a computer Dark Ages for about
20 years. Once IBM gains control of a market sector, they almost always stop
innovation. They prevent innovation from happening."
In another recent interview,was it the Wired interview?-- he mentioned the
computer Dark Ages.
Here he talks about a Newton-like device:
"PLAYBOY: What about some of the smaller portables?
JOBS: They are OK if you're a reporter and trying to take notes on the run.
But for the average person, they're really not that useful, and there's not
all that software for them, either. By the time you get your software done,
a new one comes out with a slightly bigger display and your software is
obsolete. So nobody is writing any software for them. Wait till we do it --
the power of a Macintosh in something the size of a book!"
The Internet:
JOBS: The most compelling reason for most people to buy a computer for the
home will be to link it into a nationwide communications network. We're just
in the beginning stages of what will be a truly remarkable breakthrough for
most people -- as remarkable as the telephone.
PLAYBOY: Specifically, what kind of breakthrough are you talking about?
JOBS: I can only begin to speculate. We see that a lot in our industry: You
don't know exactly what's going to result, but you know it's something very
big and very good.
10 Billion Dollar Company
"JOBS: Anyway, one of our biggest challenges, and the one I think John
Sculley and I should be judged on in five to ten years, is making Apple an
incredibly
great ten- or 20-billion-dollar company. Will it still have the spirit it
does today? We're charting new territory. There are no models that we can
look to for our high growth, for some of the new management concepts we
have. So we're having to find our own way.
PLAYBOY: If Apple is really that kind of company, then why the projected
twenty-fold growth? Why not stay relatively small?
JOBS: The way it's going to work out is that in our business, in order to
continue to be one of the major contributors, we're going to have to be a
ten-billion-dollar company. That growth is required for us to keep up with
the competition."
It's a great article. Read the rest of it.
Subject: Re: Project Phoenix
Date: Sun, 25 Feb 96 18:42:45 +0100
From: Tilman Haerdle Ðhaerdle@thetagroup.ilk.deð
Regarding the plan to let the dealers assemble the hardware:
At least in Europe we have a regulation called "CE" which severly
restricts dealers from assembling hardware. This is due to some electric
durability tests such assembled hardware has to pass. so for every
variation of hardware you assemble you must get a certification that it
passes the CE-criteria. A certificate costs about $2000.
The other point is that there are lots of especially smaller dealers who
aren't able to assemble the hardware. Your plan would force them to buy
assembled hardware from other, larger dealers which would in turn rise
the prices again.
theta group Phone: +49 721 91324-0
Viktoriastr. 17 Fax: +49 721 91324-44
76133 Karlsruhe
Germany Internet: haerdle@thetagroup.ilk.de
Acting ist better than reacting!
Date: Sun, 25 Feb 1996 12:20:27 -0600
From: apple_rep@uni.edu (Tim Perdue, PC Purchase Consultant)
Subject: RE: Mac Owners United ot Save Earth!
I sent this a few days ago, but it never got through, so here goes again.
>>During a dicsussion with a friend about Apple's recent problems I
>>remarked that it was too bad that Apple shareholders weren't required to
>>be Macintosh users (as opposed to people who simply wished to make money
>>without doing any work themselves);
This is what shareholding is all about. It's called capitalism.
>This assumes that the general trend in Apple stock is UP. I've done nothing
>but LOSE money on my Apple share purchases... :-(
This also assumes its the users', not Apple's, responsibility to save
Apple. As big of a fan of the Mac as I am, I don't see why a loyal base of
users should continuously try to cover Apple's missteps...? Anyone who
makes fun of Microsoft clearly needs to wake up. Only a brilliant
strategist and marketeer could take a product like Win 3.1 and turn it into
the industry standard in just 3-4 years (the mac has had 12 years and only
has a fraction of that market).
Still, I'll continue to buy a Mac when it's upgrade time, but I'll buy the
Mac that has the most value for the $, whether it's from Apple or not.
--Tim
_________________________________________________________________________
Any questions, give me a call, but don't expect an answer the same day:
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Date: Sun, 25 Feb 1996 18:38:52 +0000 (GMT)
From: Koryn Grant Ðkdg2@ukc.ac.ukð
Subject: Re: Carpe.Diem digest 25 Feb 1996
> Date: Sun, 25 Feb 1996 00:26:58 -0500
ð From: jstamer@usa.nai.net (JStamer)
ð Subject: RE Project Phoenix: mpayson@halcyon.com (Mike Payson)
>
> Standard Case Design
> Keeping the inside the same while changing the outside is an excellent
> suggestion. I had only been considering the manufacturing implications
> (and the costs of designing new cases so often) and had ignored some of the
> marketing aspects. Nevertheless, a revamped naming convention might serve
> the same purpose... maybe not. Provided the costs were manageable,
> creating better looking cases is an excellent idea. I think a flat grey or
> black computer would be REALLY cool... like a Next.
Forget the grayscale stuff, I want to be able to buy a Mac with a purple
or pastel bluegreen case like our department's SGI Indys and Indy^2s. I
still haven't worked out why Apple haven't done this before now.
Koryn Grant A Kiwi in the UK oBo
Ph.D. Student (Applied Mathematics) University of Kent / X
Home page: Ðhttp://stork.ukc.ac.uk/IMS/maths/people/K.D.Grant/ð
Interface: Apple Power Macintosh
Date: Sun, 25 Feb 1996 11:39:21 -0700 (MST)
From: Powers Foss Ðfoss@ucsub.Colorado.EDUð
Subject: Bundling Catalogs!
Thanks to someone's excellent idea (I would know who, if it weren't
for this silly DIGEST format) ... bundle a MacWherehouse/MacZone/
MacConnection catalog with EVERY Macintosh sold! It is such a
simple idea! Why hasn't it been done before! Everyone knows that
the VAST majority of mac software is available only through a catalog.
People get home, open their brand new Macintosh and IMMEDIATELY
start ordering software! Screw Egghead!
Guy, could you tell someone at Apple about this one for me. ;)
Mac users unite!
Powers Foss.
Date: Sun, 25 Feb 1996 11:45:18 -0700 (MST)
From: Powers Foss Ðfoss@ucsub.Colorado.EDUð
Subject: Corel Registry
Corel has instituted a registry page on their web site. It has
a section where you specify what Operating System you use. When Corel
execs get a look at the number of Mac users they have in their
registry, they will be VERY HAPPY TO BOOST WORD PERFECT development
to GOD status. Also, include in the comments area something to
this effect: "Thanks for providing us an alternative to Micro$oft!"
http://www.corel.com/register.htm
Mac users unite!
Powers Foss.
Date: Sun, 25 Feb 1996 13:50:42 -0500
From: jstamer@usa.nai.net (JStamer)
Subject: Re: Carpe.Diem digest 25 Feb 1996
>Subject: Re: Project Phoenix
>Date: Sat, 24 Feb 96 14:29:28 -0900
ðFrom: Thomas Twigg Ðttwigg@alaska.netð
>
>The suggestion was made...
>
>>Lastly, require CD ROMs standard on all machines so that more software can
>>be CD ROM based. Too much revenue is lost to computer piracy and decreases
>>the attractiveness of the Mac Market. Aiding developers to beat the threat
>>of piracy will go a long way to regain their trust and loyalty.
>
>Coupling this issue with piracy suggests that what you are proposing is
>that software be run from the CD-ROM, which is impractically slow (way
>too slow). If that is not what was intended and you can install an
>application from CD to hard drive, it can be installed to removable media
>(or just copied from the hard drive after installation). And what about
>PowerBook owners, how would they get software? Even though coming PB's
>will be available with CD-ROM drives, it is not a feature that will be
>desired by all portable users.
>
>This also suggests that piracy is a bigger problem in the Mac market than
>on the Wintel side; I have no figures on this but I find it very unlikely
>that one side is significantly worse than the other.
>
>T. Twigg
>ttwigg@alaska.net
I would not suggest running the entire application from CD (apps run much
better if loaded entirely into memory) but I am suggesting that CDs are
under utilized. CDs have proved very effective for games and seem to sell
more than disk based counter-parts.
The problem with Mac Piracy isn't that it is more of a problem than Wintel,
it is that Developers complain that 40% of a billion dollar market is much
bigger than 40% of a hundred million dollar market. Incorrect as this may
be.
Recent statistics have shown that there is relatively little difference (in
$) between the NON-MICROSOFT share of the PC software market and Mac market
software market. Providing a 'hedge' against piracy would give hesitant
developers more reason to look to the Mac market.
I am just recognizing that something is needed and would appreciate better
alternatives: How can Apple make life better for developers? Apple
marketing should be asking themselves this question everyday (and somedays
I don't think that they ever have).
Subject: Re: Carpe.Diem digest 25 Feb 1996
Date: Sun, 25 Feb 96 11:15:45 -0800
From: Chad Ðbriareos@primenet.comð
>Why doesn't Apple just include a MacConnection, MacZone, and MacWarehouse
>catalog in every Mac box? I'm sure the catalog companies will provide the
>catalogs at no charge, along with a post-paid card to sign up for a
>subscription.
because the retail chains (CompUSA, Computer City, MicroCenter, Best Buy,
et al.) would have a fit. Apple would be taking customers from the store
they went to in the first place, and moving them to the competition.
Chad.
----------------------------------------------------------------
| "A little rain
briareos@primenet.com | makes the ground harder"
http://www.primenet.com/~briareos/ | == Akemi san ==
Subject: Re: Carpe.Diem digest 25 Feb 1996
Date: Sun, 25 Feb 96 11:15:53 -0800
From: Chad Ðbriareos@primenet.comð
>Standard Case Design
[snip]
>I think a flat grey or
>black computer would be REALLY cool... like a Next.
or how about purple like the Indigo ^2 or even red (apple's color). let's
stay away from what has already been done. i remember a past Macworld
that showed off some conceptual Macs. Apple should at least make this an
option. it'd be cool to be able to get a custom Mac that would tailor
made to it's enviroment. a Deco Mac or a Mac with an Oak case would be
something to admire for it's functionality as well as it's looks.
Chad.
----------------------------------------------------------------
| "A little rain
briareos@primenet.com | makes the ground harder"
http://www.primenet.com/~briareos/ | == Akemi san ==
Date: Sun, 25 Feb 1996 13:19:52 -0600
From: Martin Weil Ðmweil777@interaccess.comð
Subject: Re: Show your colors - make your own!
Hi! For those of you who have not been informed of this, the Apple
StyleWriter printers are actually licensed technology from Canon.
In other words, the various StyleWriters are repackaged Canon
BubbleJet printers.
This has two benefits for users:
1) They can use both Apple and Canon ink cartridges
2) They can use the same media, including the T-shirt paper.
My main question is whether the T-shirt transfer paper will work on
other non-Canon/non-Apple ink jet printers?
Apple Printer Canon Printer
--------------------------------------------------
StyleWriter II BJ-200
StyleWriter 1200 BJ-200ex
StyleWriter 2400 BJC-4000
StyleWriter Pro BJC-600
Portable StyleWriter BJ-10sx
StyleWriter 2200 BJC-70
no translation yet BJ-30
no translation yet BJC-210
no translation yet BJC-4100
no translation yet BJC-610
StyleWriter 1200 cartridge BC-02 cartridge
2400 HC Black cartridge BC-20 cartridge
2400 Color cartridge BC-21 cartridge
2400 ink tank BCI-21 ink tank
Pro ink tank BJC-600 ink tank
2200 HC Black cartridge BC-10 cartridge
2200 Color cartridge BC-11 cartridge
2200 ink tank BCI-11 ink tank
Hope this cross-reference guide helps.
Marty
--
Stop the hegemony. Join "EvangeList," Guy Kawasaki's (un)official
Apple listserver of good news about Apple, Macintosh, and third-party
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From: Bob Savage Ðsavage@teleport.comð
Subject: Peter Lewis
Date: Sun, 25 Feb 1996 12:27:59 -0800 (PST)
Mike Payson wrote: ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
As far as Peter Lewis, why not give him a fellowship (seriously!)? Apple
wants the Mac to be the leading platform on the Internet. The only way that
will happen is if it has the best software. Peter has the experience, so he
is the natural person to be leading Apple's charge in that direction. Give
him a budget to hire a few programmers, & the freedom to work on the
projects that he finds most important. And, make sure that the software
remains freeware. Note that the vast majority of Web Servers are still
running on NCSA, CERN, Apache, or one of the other free Unix servers.
'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
There were other comments about licensing some of P. Lewis' programs
(which are all excellent) for the MAC OS.
I suggest we all take a minute to e*mail to: AppleForever@apple.com
which is the new address for customer feedback. Let 'em know how strongly
we feel about support for Mr. Lewis' products and development acumen.
one love (MAC OS)
Bob
Date: Sun, 25 Feb 1996 15:15:06 -0600
From: glenn.cooley@mail.utexas.edu (Glenn Cooley)
Subject: A little fun with the TCA of 1996
I just had to pass this along.
Cheers.
To whoever may read this,
OK, guys, there are several slight errors in the bill of rights, but
they can be easily amended (I just don't have the time right now).
**PLEASE** forward this to everyone you know.
This is not a typical chain letter, in that by passing it on to as
many people as you can, you are taking part in what may yet become the
world's biggest practical joke. The U.S. Government has recently passed an
act which enforces censorship on the internet. A group of internet users
has now come together to kick back at this oppression, and have a bit of
fun at the same time.
The aim of this exercise is to re-establish the United States as "The land
of the Free", not a fascist state where freedom of speech and thought are
curtailed. On receiving this letter, please pass it on to as many
friends or E-mail lists as you can. We predict that if everybody copies the
letter to 5 other addresses, by February 29th 1996, this letter should have
reached in excess of 2 million people. That's when the fun begins........
On February 29th, please send the message below to the white house!!!!
Enclose the pre-typed copy of the Bill of rights. By sending the letter on
the date above, you will contribute to one huge petition for freedom (which
may lead to an unintended crash of the whitehouse server!!!!)...
Send all letters to: President@Whitehouse.gov
Remember that solidarity is the key to success!!!!!!
-------------------------------------
Dear Mr. President,
Do you remember this:
Amendment I
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or
prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech,
or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to
petition the government for a redress of grievances.
Amendment II
A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free bear
arms, shall not be infringed.
Amendment III
No soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without
the consent of the owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be
prescribed by law.
Amendment IV
The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers,
and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not
violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported
by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be
searched, and the persons or things to be seized.
Amendment V
No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise crime,
unless on a presentment or indictment of a grand jury, in cases arising in
the land or naval forces, or in the militia when in actual service in time
of war or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same
offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled
in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of
life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private
property be taken for public use, without just compensation.
Amendment VI
In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a
speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the state and district
wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been
previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause
of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have
compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the
assistance of counsel for his defense.
Amendment VII
In suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed
twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact
tried by a jury, shall be otherwise reexamined in any court of the United
States, than according to the rules of the common law.
Amendment VIII
Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor
cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.
Amendment IX
The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be
construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.
Amendment X
The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor
prohibited to it by the states are reserved to the states respectively, or
to the people.
-------------------------------------
Date: Sun, 25 Feb 1996 15:42:13 -0700
From: dbrinega@netzone.com (Dan BRINEGAR)
Subject: JAVA [Was:RE: Inform C-NET of reality, Please.....]
We have the JDK for Mac, and I love it (the Mac Javac compiler seems to be
able to handle most bytecodes from other platforms with only minor
tweaking)... It came out the *day* after I finally got Laura LeMay's "Teach
Yourself JAVA.." ...and since Saturday we have a beta Netscape for Mac
that runs JAVA....
Mark R. Bjorkman wrote:
>Date: Sat, 24 Feb 96 13:03:04 EST
ðFrom: bjorkman@voicenet.com (Marc R. Bjorkman)
>Subject: Inform C-NET of reality, Please.....
>
>I got a form letter after sending the following message to C-NET at Guy's
>suggestion:
>
>>Your computer-buying advisory service area at
ððÐhttp://www.cnet.com/Content/Reviews/Compare/Pc100/index.htmlð doesnt show
>>ANY Macintoshes!!! What a MISTAKE!!!!! You lost me as a visitor... so
>>dont count my "hits" when you go to your advertisers.
>>
>>A Mac User .. and loving it
>>
>>Marc R. Bjorkman
>>bjorkman@voicenet.com
>
>The form letter follows. Are these guys pedeling in place, or what? I
>would hope everyone would send along a comment or two to them.
>
ððFrom: suggestions@CNET.Com (suggestions)
>>Subject: Re: computer-buying advisory service
>>
>>Hi,
>>
>>Please excuse this form letter, but it was written by our Senior Editor
>>John Clyman. It also appears in our posting area.
>>
>>http://www.cnet.com/cgi-bin/posting/display_post?PostTag=3D130.1.5&Outline=
=3D1
>>
>>
>>When we first starting laying out the specs for this project, we very
>>seriously considered covering Macs as well as Windows PCs.
[snip]
>>So why didn't we include Macs then? There are a few reasons. Adding Macs t=
o
>>the mix would have complicated our database structure and decision logic..=
.
>>and of course, no Mac browser currently supports Java, which means that th=
e
>>impact of the Interactive PC Scoreboard--one of the real differentiating
>>features of this story--would be missed.
[snip]
>>None of these hurdles is insurmountable, but they would have added a
>>nontrivial amount of time and complexity to a project that already pushes
>>the limits of Web-publishing technology. So in this first incarnation of t=
he
>>story, no, there aren't any Macs.
Well... uhh... "wah!"
>>
>>Thanks for taking the time to comment! Your feedback helps us build a
>>stronger product, and we take it seriously.
>
To let everyone know.... (this is from jrjones, a web guru of my aquaintance=
)
>Date: Sat, 24 Feb 1996 11:39:49 -0700 (MST)
>
>Hello, all!
>
>Last night at Midnight a wonderful thing happened:
>
>The boys (and girls) in Mountain View (Netscape, not Sun or HP) decided
>to let us eat cake. That's right, Java for the masses!
>
> Netscape released a beta of Navigator for Mac
> that includes preliminary Java support.
>
> It is available on ftp6.netscape.com and is
> REALLY buggy at this point. Have fun, and be
> prepared to crash and burn often.
>
> ---Joseph R. Jones
ð jrjones@indirect.com
------------------------------------------------------------
Dan BRINEGAR Acting Head Deputy Developer, =7F Macintosh Dept.
ex-PFC http://www.netzone.com/~dbrinega
15th U.S. Cavalry (602) 991-4638 ext. 128
Bravo Trick Chief, NetZone Internet Services Technical Support
------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Sun, 25 Feb 1996 23:51:21 +0100
From: R.Niemeijer@NiemConsult.nl (Rudo Niemeijer)
Subject: Re: Carpe.Diem digest 25 Feb 1996
>>Bruno Bloch wrote:
>>
>(SNIP)
>>>
>>>APPLE STOP YOUR CHINESE WALL POLICY AND ALLOW MAILSTORES TO SELL CROSS
>>>BOARDER
>>>!!! and expand your European market share vs Wintel.
>>
>>Bruno, I agree, it's a disgusting policy, but not unique to Apple. It
>>has been traditional for software companies to sell products in Europe
>>for substantially more, and forbid the export of products bought here in
>>the U.S. Lots of software packages in stores here in the U.S. have "Not
>>for export" stickers on them. I'm sure these companies argue that the
>>cost of doing business overseas is higher, that piracy in Europe is
>>higher, etc. But I think it is increasingly hard to justify.
>>
>>If it makes you feel any better, there are software products only
>>available from European companies that are hard to get in the U.S.
>>
>>Nathan Tennies
>>Bootstrap Enterprises Inc
>>
>
>Prices were much higher in Canada before the Free Trade agreement. It may
>not be totally Apple's fault. Are there tariffs or duties on Computer
>products brought into European countries. As I say the prices on hardware
>came down substantially as the Canadian duties on electronic equipment were
>taken off over the last few years due to the Free Trade agreement.
>
>Jamie Jordan TEL: (705) 789-6600
>macs@work
Tariffs or duties of computer products brought into EEC countries are not
important. You always pay them whether importing directly or through dealer
channels. And they are not high at all (although there is a Value Added tax
which is substantial). Far more basic is the attitude of companies that try
to base their sales policy on controlled marketing, instead on actual cost
differentials. Of course piracy in Europe is more widespread, but basically
the companies themselves are to blame: it has been customary that users
of registered products are never informed about upgrades, that upgrades
appear in the EEC market long after the same upgrade has been widely
available in the US, and that dealers were allowed to operate with
unrealistically high margins. In trying to protect markets with high
margins users of course sought refuge in grey imports. In fact, it was
often cheaper to buy another copy of a program through mail order from the
US and import it yourself than to buy an upgrade from your local dealer. In
some countries this has been more of a problem than in others. In my case
for instance I own about three licenses of some programs that appear on my
machines only once (and that I certainly do not run more than once our
network). Each upgrade I bought a new copy!
Currently the situation is much better, although there are still strange
price differences and long delays.
In, my own case, I am working both in the US and in other parts of the
world. I need US versions for most of my work, which are often difficult to
get. One more reason to stop this type of distinction.
Rudo Niemeijer
Niemeijer Consult
tel: 31 - 3560 - 18870 e-mail: R.Niemeijer@NiemConsult.nl
fax: 31 - 3560 - 28120
Date: Sun, 25 Feb 1996 15:23:23 -0800
From: Hans Fischmann Ðhf03@gte.comð
Subject: Evangelize whenever possible
Whenever I go into a computer store (super or otherwise) I spend five
minutes cleaning up the demo machines. Here are some of the housekeeping
chores I'll perform on each demo machine:
1) Re-boot any crashed machines
2) Restore any drive or file names that have been changed
3) Reattach any unplugged peripherals (usually the keyboard)
4) Trash empty untitled folders
5) Raise the volume in the Sound Control Panel so the Mac can be heard
above the din of the Wintel Machines. If there are external speakers
available, even better.
6) Clear the desktop of clutter and clean up the drive window.
7) Re-Launch the self-running demos on the machine. If there are any
demos for cool software like ElectricImage, even better. Anything
that will attract attention is good.
Of course, depending on your level of interpersonal communication, you
may try to help some other shoppers. If they're looking at a piece of
software or hardware you're familiar with, spread your observations.
However, I must caution you to not slam Wintel - as hard as that may
be;) As a former Sales and Marketing Exec, hurt your enemy with
revenues and marketshare, not words. Slamming Wintel doesn't make the
Mac look any better, and leaves a linger of doubt in the consumer's
mind.
We don't need to defend the Mac, it is the better platform. We just need
to help let the truth shine through.
--
Hans Fischmann
********************************************
"It must be remembered that there is nothing more difficult
to plan, more doubtful of success, nor more dangerous to
manage than the creation of a new system. For the initiator
has the enmity of all who would profit by the preservation
of the old institutions and merely lukewarm defenders in
those who would gain by the new ones"
--- Machiavelli - The Prince - 1513 a.d.
Date: Sun, 25 Feb 1996 18:31:50 -0500 (EST)
Subject: Apple's advantage (was Are Mac Evangelists Arrogant?)
From: Drew Ivan Ðivan@en.comð
>Well. While MS was implementing long file names, Apple was implementing
>QuickTime VR, QuickDraw 3D, ColorSync 2.0, and OpenDoc.
>
>The point is that Apple has moved on to bigger and better things while MS
>tries to reinvent the wheel.
This points out a powerful advantage that Apple holds over Microsoft.
It's an advantage that I rarely see touted by Apple's ads.
Microsoft started (largely) as a Macintosh applications developer.
What has MS done since its birth of any significance? They've built
DOS up into a (pretty lame) clone of the Mac OS through several gen-
erations of Windows products. They've ported their Mac applications
to this new OS. And they've bloated those applications beyond belief.
MS has a very short list of original achievements. You might want
to count OLE, Wizards, and let's not forget BOB.
In the same period of time, Apple has introduced many visionary
chagnes to Macintosh and come up with many outstanding technologies.
In addition to those listed above, I would like to add the Newton
technology, QuickTake cameras, RISC processing (with very little
backward-incompatability), cross-platform performance (starting
way back when with the SuperDrive), and so forth.
[BTW, I am aware that Apple did not invent most of these tech-
nologies, but they were the first home computer company to make
them widely available.]
Next time someone praises Windows '95 for having built-in support
for long filenames and a trash can you can take things back out
of, instead of saying "been there, done that", perhaps Mac Evan-
gelists should say "That's nice. _My_ OS has built-in support for
video, VR, and 3D rendering."
--- Drew Ivan
--- ivan@en.com
--- http://www.en.com/users/ivan
Date: Sun, 25 Feb 1996 15:33:40 -0800
From: Hans Fischmann Ðhf03@gte.comð
Subject: Re: Cable modems and Apple
I am currently employed in a position where I have gained extensive
experience with cable modems and similar technologies.
Don't expect much in the next few years. There are inherantly too many
problems with U.S. cable plants to enable this technology.
Despite the claims, Cable modems will not reliably work with an
infrastructure of anything less than Fiber-to-the-Curb (FTTC) or Hybrid
Fiber-Coax (HFC). Read the WIRED article on George Gilder.
As much as we all want (need?) the speed, there isn't much Apple can do
about the National Information Infrastructure (NII). Perhaps the
Telecomm Act will help change the situation.
--
********************************************
Hans Fischmann
********************************************
"It must be remembered that there is nothing more difficult
to plan, more doubtful of success, nor more dangerous to
manage than the creation of a new system. For the initiator
has the enmity of all who would profit by the preservation
of the old institutions and merely lukewarm defenders in
those who would gain by the new ones"
--- Machiavelli - The Prince - 1513 a.d.
Date: Sun, 25 Feb 1996 18:38:05 -0700 (MST)
From: Powers Foss Ðfoss@ucsub.Colorado.EDUð
Subject: Star Trek: The Next Generation
Hey...guess what I just found out:
>all the plastic-looking control panels that you see in current star trek
>series are designed on macs.
>
>don't ask how i know that.
>
>- emrys
Mac users unite!
Powers Foss.
Date: Sun, 25 Feb 1996 18:15:03 -0800
From: MBuechi@eworld.com
Subject: Radio Talk Show On Computers
Lately, I discovered in the free Computer Currents magazine an ad for
America's No. 1 High-tech radio talk show called On Computers with Gina
Smith. She's on the air ever Sunday from 10 am to 1 pm PST but the questions
are pretty much Windows dominated. Tune into KPIX at 95.7 FM or 1550 AM and
let's change it to a more Mac-only event.
Marcel Buechi
Date: Sun, 25 Feb 1996 19:59:36 -0700
From: stevew1@AZStarNet.com (Steve W)
Subject: Re: Re: Microsoft competitor (was The Good War)
Isaac Church wrote:
>My plan for beating them is simple. I want to create programs (with help of
>other programmers eventually) that can take the place of Word, Excel,
>Powerpoint, etc. I plan on releasing them for the Mac first...
Isaac, I wish you luck but you've got a hard fight ahead of you.
1) You'll be fighting the same fight we have now. A lot of people
use MS products because they interact with others that generate
data/documents with them. Don't forget about that once superior
format know as Beta (vs VHS). If you want to compete you *must*
be able to translate to/from MS products robustly.
2) The average user wants a tool he/she can depend on along with the
knowledge that there is someplace to go for support. Although
you may very well create a good product, you must be able to
support it also.
3) The personal computing environment is an extremely dynamic and
fiercely competitive market. A business will never use your
products unless *your* business appears sound and well managed.
Just look at the trouble Apple is having even though they are in
fact an industry leader and in very sound financial shape.
What are my suggestions?
Make a good product. Do some market research and find out what people
want. Make it perform the most needed features in an intuitive, robust,
and flexible way. Don't worry about bells and whistles until you've
established some credability. Don't worry about pleasing everyone - you
can't. Some people will feel incredibly insulted that you propose to
do something differently that they would. Remember - market research.
Once you have a good stable product find someone who knows marketing
and listen to them. People won't use your product if they don't know
about it or don't trust it.
Good luck,
Steve Wagner
mailto:stevew1@azstarnet.com
Date: Mon, 26 Feb 1996 17:41:49 +1300
From: I.Orchard@irl.cri.nz (Ian Orchard)
Subject: Re: Carpe.Diem digest 22 Feb 1996
Quoting John E. Castasus Stalwart Defender of the Macintosh Empire
and Official Mac Evangelist
>
>The only solution is for EvangeListers to respond with the facts whenever a
>media outlet broadcasts erroneous information. Carpe Diem could be a great
>way to do this. Post the e-mail address of the offending newspaper or
>reporter here, and bury them in facts.
And where-ever possible direct the complaints to the offenders Editor,
politely of course, pointing out that such errors are bad for the
publication's credibility.
Keep in touch.....Ian O
"Never ask a man what computer he uses. If it's a Mac he'll tell you.
If not, there's no point in embarrasing him."
Date: Mon, 26 Feb 1996 03:58:20 +0000
From: Steve Rogers Ðlistbox@thebeast.demon.co.ukð
Subject: Corel
>Has anyone heard of Corel's plans for WordPerfect and continued MacOS support?
>
>Craig!
Well, CorelDraw's being Mac ported...
Date: Mon, 26 Feb 1996 01:14:06 -0500
From: YourMac@aol.com
Subject: Open Apps with no open windows
To: Carpe.Diem@ddg.com
Recently, nstn3090@fox.nstn.ca (Brian Murphy) posted:
> Something this guide will definetly need is an explaination of the
> menu bar. Most users new to Macs have trouble with the one menu bar. A
> lot of people think that the program has quit when you close the window
> your working in and there are no windows open but only a menu bar. I've
> seen people try to continusly open the same application and not notice that
> the menu bar has changed. They don't realize that the program is already
> open and they have to open a new window to work in. I don't know how
> people can't figure this out but I've seen it a lot of times.
It's always been obvious to me, but then, I already understand how Macs work.
I see new and even experienced users make this mistake all the time.
(It usually takes the form of, "How can I be out of memory? I don't have
ANYTHING open!")
In reading your post, I was reminded how important it is to see things from
the users' perspective. If so many people are having trouble with this
concept, then the interface needs fixing. Some developers think that if
people have trouble using their software, then the solution is to rewrite the
manuals or add some tutorial to teach the user how it works. In other words,
don't fix the software, fix the user.
That sort of thinking has no place in the Macintosh world. If user testing
shows that people are confused, CHANGE THE INTERFACE!
Perhaps the Finder needs a floating window showing all the open applications.
(It would only float when the Finder is the active application.) Maybe apps
with no open documents should show a dialog box offerering buttons to open a
file, create a new file, or quit. The dialog box used by ClarisWorks when it
is first launched is the sort of thing I have in mind.
--
Steve Klein phone: 810 YOUR-MAC or 810 968-7622
Your Mac Expert fax: 810 968-2769
Macintosh Consulting e-mail: YourMac@aol.com
Date: Sun, 25 Feb 1996 22:11:24 -0800
From: MartonC@eworld.com
Subject: Display loyalty on GIF banners!
Hi fellow Macolytes,
Being that MacOS is one the platforms of choice for web (HTML) authoring, I
have no doubt that many of us Mac Loyalists already have our own home page
... or are thinking of creating one soon.
I urge all Mac EvangeLists who have not already done so: PLEASE display your
loyalty to The One Great OS on your own home page! By this, I don't mean
just scribbling one subliminal line of text hidden in all the information of
your home page which reads "Oh, yeah, by the way, I prefer Macs."
Display your loyalty to the MacOS by creating what I call "GIF banners". This
is basically a rectangular strip which resembles the advertising banners you
see on Yahoo. But instead of advertising commercial products, use these "GIF
banners" to display witty text or sleek and modest graphics that proclaim the
Macintosh advantage. For example, at the bottom of my home page, there is a
508x48 pixel GIF banner that reads "Steadfast Follower of The Macintosh
Way!". There are no heavy-duty graphics on my banner, although the last 3
words are emblazoned in beautiful hi-res text in the colors of the Apple
rainbow.
In a way, GIF banners do 3 things:
1) They help to promote, advertise and evangelize the Macintosh line of
products on the Internet, without looking like actual advertisements.
2) They show solidarity with Apple Computer, especially at a time when the
entire media is (unfairly) harrassing Apple.
3) They enable you to display how you feel about the Mac, and will display
that sentiment to a potential audience of millions of Internet websurfers, 24
hours a day.
Peace.
Marton Carungay
Warrior-Priest of The Macintosh Way
martonc@eworld.com
http://home.earthlink.net/~martonc/
Date: Tue, 27 Feb 1996 01:45:17 +1030
From: htp@dove.mtx.net.au (Henry Penninkilampi)
Subject: MacOS enchancements aimed at new users
Nick Murphy:
> Something this guide will definetly need is an explaination of the
>menu bar. Most users new to Macs have trouble with the one menu bar. A
>lot of people think that the program has quit when you close the window
>your working in and there are no windows open but only a menu bar. I've
>seen people try to continusly open the same application and not notice that
>the menu bar has changed. They don't realize that the program is already
>open and they have to open a new window to work in. I don't know how
>people can't figure this out but I've seen it a lot of times.
How about a single option in the "General Controls" Control Panel:
*Quit applications with no open windows
If it defaults to "ON" then new users will get the launch sequence every
time, and more experienced users can simply turn it off.
The whole thing could work by interrogating applications with Apple Events
and quitting those that have no active documents (a trivial thing to do
with Apple Script and savvy applications). A dialog box could then pop up
informing the user that "The application has automatically quit
because it had no open windows. You may disable this feature by using the
General Controls Control Panel."
Another benefit of the above would be to prevent the occurrence of the
"Could not eject because it contains items that are in use" error
message. How many times have you opened a README (with SimpleText) on a
disk or a CD that you were checking out only to be caught out when you
tried to eject the disk? New users get stumped by this, big-time, because
they have closed all documents but have not *quit* from all applications.
If the MacOS quit all non-active applications then both of the above
problems simply go away. This makes the transition even more painless.
+------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Henry Penninkilampi (htp@dove.mtx.net.au) |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------+
|Join "EvangeList", Guy Kawasaki's (un)official Apple list-server of good|
|news about Apple, Macintosh, and third-party developers. To subscribe to|
|EvangeList, send an e-mail to: listproc@solutions.apple.com, and include|
|in the body of the message the text: Subscribe Macway |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------+
Date: Mon, 26 Feb 1996 08:19:49 -0700 (MST)
From: Powers Foss Ðfoss@ucsub.Colorado.EDUð
Subject: Symantec's Espresso
Hey all, guess what? Symantec released a product called Espresso which
is a Java/C/C++ development environment. However it is only available
for Windows95 and NT. I saw no reference to a Mac version coming soon
even! I say we prompt development of their Mac version by giving them
a piece of your mind at: javainfo@symantec.com
Mac users unite!
Powers Foss.
Date: Mon, 26 Feb 1996 09:00:53 -0500
From: Sappy@aol.com
Subject: RE: WordPerfect
Although I think it's great that WordPerfect is usually the first one out the
gate with Mac-only innovations, I think their interface is difficult for
beginners to grasp. For instance, take a look at your toolbar: look at all
the pre-set tabs. Isn't this a bit confusing? MS Word does not do this. Their
interface is more attractive and easier to read, especially for recent Mac
initiates.
Claris suffers from the opposite problem: rather than being cluttered, their
interfaces conform so rigidly to Apple's interface guidelines that all their
products look great and simple -- on black and white systems -- but not with
that little touch of class of the grayscale/bevelled (sp?) edges effect MS
uses. Since Apple no longer manufactures grayscale monitors, these interfaces
should be updated to make better use of the video capabilities of current
Macs. A fresh interface may not actually "DO" anything, but it should be
impressive to naysayers and new macophiles at first glance. How else could
anyone explain the popularity of Greg's Buttons, Aaron, and other like
extensions to the Mac OS?
Finally, as far as recommending WordPerfect as a product for my clients to
use, that would be a little difficult considering the aftermath of both
Novell's and Corel's attempts to run the WP Mac group. With the number of
members from the development team which have left, I would not feel
comfortable weaning people away from the strongest company with some of the
most reliable technical support in order to have them flounder with the fate
of WordPerfect.
Date: Mon, 26 Feb 1996 08:43:51 -0700 (MST)
From: Powers Foss Ðfoss@ucsub.Colorado.EDUð
Subject: Humorous Definitions
MAC'S GLOSSARY OF COMPUTER TERMINOLOGY
DISK-SPACE: in the back of your computer is a small plastic pouch that fills
with air whenever you turn your machine on. Anything you type on the screen is
pumped into the plastic envelope. If you type too much, the envelope bursts
open and oxygenates your hard drive.
HARD-DRIVE: there is a large piece of metal lodged somewhere behind the screen.
Whenever you type something, a message is sent to the nearest post office,
which transmits a secret Morse code. This code triggers the hard-drive, which
then begins to vibrate. The energy from these vibrations produces cumulative
stress on your disk-space, which expands memory capacity.
MEMORY: two small antennae are wedged somewhere inside your keyboard. These
antennae constantly sift obscure bandwidths until they establish a connection
with a laundromat (a different laundromat is designated each day by the
Internet to ensure security). There are two kinds of memory: virtual memory
and magnetic memory. Virtual memory refers to numbers in your hard-drive that
aren't really there at all. Magnetic memory refers to the spools of chromium-
oxide tape that store phone numbers.
SOFTWARE: a registered trademark of the Hanes Corporation.
RAM: an acronym for "Regulated Automatic Mediator." This is a device, shaped
somewhat like a tuning fork, that helps allign a computer's internal gyroscopes.
DISK-DRIVE: This is a small capsule inside the CPU that emits ultrasound. The
resultant harmomics within the hard-drive help create a tolerable atmosphere
for the alphanumerics floating inside the memory.
CPU: An acronym for "Compact Prioritized Undulator." The CPU, contrary to its
name, is a large device. Although it assists the computer's higher functions,
it is a relatively simple mechanism. They are often manufactured by Third-
World countries out of car dashboards.
MODEM: a modem is a gelatin-based protein derivitive that fuels the hard-drive.
It can be purchased via Home Shopping Network and injected directly into the
machine through its air vents.
INTERNET: an AM radio station that computers tune into every Thursday morning
at 9:00 AM, Eastern Time, to re-establish the harmonic flexibility of their
CPUs. Humans can, of course, listen to the Internet as well, but all that can
be heard is a shrill, whining noise.
E-MAIL: a piece of mail that becomes saturated by modem fluid. The United
States Postal Service, refusing to handle such contaminated packages, insists
that they be exposed to electric current and left to their own devices. The
presence of an ambient electrical field causes pieces of e-mail to levitate.
They sometimes uplink with the Internet and drift north. For this reason, it
is believed that the Internet broadcast tower is located somewhere in Canada or
Greenland.
DOWNLOAD: the act of deleting a large number of active files by exposing them
to concentrated Internet rays. This process can only be carried out with
official authorization, and presents severe hazards to household electrical
systems.
TELNET: large conceptual sculpture contructed in Europe and since incorporated
into a traveling exhibit. The Telnet emits a low-frequency electromagnetic
field that polarizes all CPUs in its vicinity, resulting in intense binary
activity.
GOPHERSPACE: disease-ridden software underworld in Toronto.
SEARCH-ENGINE: a gasoline-powered hard drive that seperates numbers through the
application of centrifugal force. These can be purchased through black-market
dealers stationed in Gopherspace.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mac users unite!
Powers Foss.
Date: Mon, 26 Feb 1996 11:03:39 -0400
From: aa4lr@radio.org (Bill Coleman AA4LR)
Subject: Re: Corel and WordPerfect
I hate digest format.
>But now that Corel owns WordPerfect, I'm very worried about continued MacOS
>support. Corel has never brought their graphics suite to the MacOS (afraid
>of going head-to-head with Adobe, I guess) and I fear they may drop MacOS
>support in their WordPerfect applications, too.
>
>Has anyone heard of Corel's plans for WordPerfect and continued MacOS support?
I believe that Corel recently announced plans to fully staff Macintosh
development. Part of their reason for buying WordPerfect was to obtain
better market presence in the Macintosh market.
Bill Coleman, AA4LR Mail: aa4lr@radio.org
Quote: "Not in a thousand years will man ever fly!"
-- Wilbur Wright, 1901
Date: Mon, 26 Feb 1996 11:32:40 -0400
From: bubbadv@exis.net (Dave Pooser)
Subject: Re: future of software sales
>>"We need to move the macintosh software-buying community into
catalog/mail-order/web shopping.
The only inconvenience is the inability to impulse-buy.<<
Speaking as a CompUSA Mac guy, that's the BEST way to help Macs become a
totally vanished breed. Why? If we don't support retail stores, retail
stores won't support us. My retail manager resists going after Mac software
or accessories because "Mac users buy mail-order anyway." Then when I'm
selling hardware, and some new users are looking for a computer, I show
them a Performa. "Nope! No way. Look around--you don't carry any software
for Macs. They're a failed experiment."
Yeah, folks like us could do okay with "MacAtalog", 'cause we're
experienced users who know what we're doing. But Joe and Jane Novice-- you
know, the folks we need to grab BEFORE they step into the Wintel
quicksand-- need salespeople who can spend time with them-- often 1/2 hour
to an hour. They need to see how the Apple Menu works, and they need to see
how easy it is to customize. They need to try the mouse out, and look at
the graphics, and play with ClarisWorks a little. They need a real store.
Now, if all the experienced Mac users would rather go mail-order,
we (CompUSA) are not going to carry much hardware or software. We're
certainly not going to put a lot of effort into hiring Mac-savvy sales
personnel in either hardware or software (currently about a quarter of our
hardware folks are Mac users). No demand for Mac support-- why bother? "Mac
users buy mail-order anyway."
The guys on the sales floor are the front-line evangelists for
Macs. Put us out of the business, and watch Mac market share drop. All of
you guys planning on going into full-time Apple repping to make up for us?
Have fun.
Sorry if I'm a little cranky, but I've been dealing all weekend with the
folks who come to CompUSA to play with the hardware they're going to buy
mail order. Have fun, folks. Save $50 on a $3k system. Gloat about the
great deal. Then wonder why some of our sales guys won't waste their time
on the Mac side of the floor, why the Mac software section has shrunk since
the last time you came in, why your friends and co-workers are buying
Wintel machines 'cause that's what the salesmen said were good 'cause all
our Mac guys have been replaced. Wonder why the market share keeps
shrinking.
Bitterly,
Bubba Dave Pooser
bubbadv@exis.net
Subject: Mac-Basher in the Press
Date: Mon, 26 Feb 96 13:27:00 -0500
From: Geno Porfido Ðporfido@chelsea.ios.comð
Hi list associates....
This is a ong one, but I think you'll want to know about it.
To the point:
Morph's Outpost, and the increasingly popular Daily Spectrum, is =
written by 'Dave Duberman', a pc biased reporter, who mocks Apple =
and anything associated with it by inserting what he must consider =
sly and 'cute' little quips and blurbs. Well, I've really had enough =
of this Apple-basher. It started a few weeks ago....with his overall =
put down of Apple's Enhanced CD...because, get this;...It doesn't =
play on a PC CD-ROM!! Oh my LORD!! With 10,000 programs out there =
that are exclusively PC........ it has really upset 'PC Duberman' =
that someone ( blame Apple ) has the AUDACITY to release a CD that =
won't play on his widdle pc....awwwwwww! Not to mention his CONSTANT =
addition of even the minutest'Micro$oft' news daily, and his proud =
announcement of any 'Win95 exclusive' programs.
I'd be extremely pleased if the members of this list, would stop at =
any of the URL's and check the Daily Spectrumn out for a couple of =
days.....and be aware of the Mac references....when there ARE any; =
the treatment of any Apple name or associated product; and the =
constant degrading tone considering Mac stuff......and obvious glee =
when concerning M$ and any PC only product.
If you agree with me, please let's do our best to keep Mr.PC informed =
of our dislike of his biased reporting; do our best to spread the =
word of Mr Dubermans antics, and promote boycotting his Daily =
Spectrum ( by visiting the sites where it is made available, and =
leaving feedback saying how much we dislike the ezine...); and by =
requesting Mac sites that carry it to examine its content and =
understand that Mr Duberman is a Mac basher, and should not be =
represented on a Mac site.
Below are a few choice pieces from Dave's Spectrum...remember, Dave =
practices the art of subtlety, obviously knowing that if he comes =
right out and blatantly bashes......he will lose subscriptions. =
Unfortunately. Davey.....we see right through that thin PC veil of =
bigotry.
Seize the Dave!!
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D
First Article that caught my attention:
----------------------------------------------------
The latest wrinkle in plastic media is the Enhanced CD, a combination =
of
audio CD and multimedia CD-ROM. Daily Spectrum recently received a =
list of
about 100 titles (http://www.quicktime.apple.com), most of which are
currently available. The list was compiled by Apple (408-996-1010,
http//www.apple.com), which is promoting its QuickTime Music Toolkit, =
used
to develop content for Enhanced CDs. We also received a couple of =
titles. Of
the first, Head Tripp, designed by Head Cheese, the less said the =
better.
The audio portion is a compilation of reasonably cool ditties from =
various
new and old groups including Love Battery and the Velvet =
Underground-we
particularly enjoyed Fig Dish's Seeds-but the multimedia content, =
which only
plays on Macintosh, consists of small QuickTime music video segments, =
with a
poorly designed interface which makes it impossible to select a =
particular
video, plus a bit of adolescent animation. Particularly annoying was =
the
inability to play even just the audio portion with a PC CD-ROM =
player. If
you're still interested, check out the Web site at
http://www.polydor-atlas.com/polydor.
Far more enjoyable, and not suffering from the aforementioned =
limitation, is
Primus' hybrid-format Tales from the Punchbowl (SRP $17.98).
----------------------------------------------------
Nice, huh?? Professional, yes??
Next!!
-----------------------------------------
All we wanna know is, where's the Windows version? Carpinteria, =
Calif.-based
MetaTools, Inc. today unveiled ......................
---------------------------------------
Obvious.
These last few are just tiny quips that once again bring the tide of =
pc bigotry, bubbling ever closer to the surface.....oooh, here it =
comes!!
------------------------------------
It's very PC, with your goal being to being to......
Due out shortly for PC
CD-ROM, it features a new combat engine with blazing gun battles and
hand-to-hand combat, plus logic puzzles and enemy randomization for =
enhanced repeat playability. ( Gee Dave...not upset it won't play on =
a Mac???)
The Astound Web Player plays back any project created with Gold Disk's
multimedia tools: Astound for Windows and Studio M for Windows.
( Gee.....not a WORD about the Mac version, which is what most =
multimedia PROFESSIONALS use for presentations....?
You'll LOVE this next one!!
Gateway Invents PC/TV
Put a big screen, TV tuner and a remote control on a PC, and whaddya =
get?
The couch potato/nerd's dream machine! Computer mail-order house =
Gateway
2000 yesterday announced it is developing a new category of =
computer-..............Gateway claims the system will combine all the =
benefits of a multimedia PC with the impact of a big-screen
television, suited for watching television, surfing the Internet, =
playing games and running multimedia applications.
-------------------------
Gee......we had a Mac/TV; what, two years ago?? ( so it wasn't 31 =
inches.......it was a TV ) Ahead of its time as usual. Glad to know =
Gateway 'invented it'............like Compaq invented speech on a =
computer.........sheesh......
Well, friends...thats a small sampling of the honest press we enjoy =
from Dave Duberman
You decide; I have
Mac Basher......PC bigot
Oh....while its unfortunately up at a Mac site or two..its =
prominently available on M$N....whadda you know about that?? :)
GP
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D
Send your interactive multimedia business, product, people, event, or
technology news to: duberman@morph.com; 75166.2224@compuserve.com. We =
prefer
to receive news by email but if you must, telephone breaking news to
510-549-2894. Send review product and press kits by mail to David =
Duberman,
PO Box 578, Orinda, CA 94563-0553.
If you contact companies or organizations mentioned here, please tell =
them
you saw the news in Daily Spectrum. Thanks.
Please feel free to share the Daily Spectrum with any interested =
individual.
We'd appreciate credit if you refer to us in your own reports. This =
does not
constitute permission to re-publish Daily Spectrum in any commercial =
online
service, Internet site, BBS, database, print or electronic =
publication, or
other outlet; that requires written permission from the publisher.
ATTENTION: INFOGROOVE CRUISERS
The Daily Spectrum appears in HTML format on these sites:
Apple Multimedia Program, http://www.amp.apple.com;
Live DV, http://www.livedv.com;
Media Mall, http://www.mediamall.com/mediamall/now/DS.html;
The Spring, http://www.spring.com/~ds;
Time Warner's Pathfinder site,
http://www.pathfinder.com/pathfinder/pulse/news/spectrum/daily/latest.h=
tml;
Mecklermedia's IWorld site at
http://www.iworld.com/netday/morph/daily.html;
Macromedia's site, =
http://www.macromedia.com/Brain/daily.spectrum.html;
3D Site, =
http://www.3dsite.com/3dsite/cgi/publications/daily-spectrum/;
Tenax Software Engineering Page at =
http://www.halcyon.com/chigh/daily.html;
it's also on the Microsoft Network, in the Multimedia & CD-ROM Forum =
(Go to
Morph in MSN). All of these online hosts provide tons of resources for
interactive
media/online creators in addition to Daily Spectrum.
=89 Smilin' Pig Productions =89
=89 Multimedia Music & Sound Co =89
=89 Never wrestle with a pig. You both get dirty and =89
=89 besides, the pig likes it =89
Date: 26 Feb 1996 09:35:32 U
From: "Gino Larsen-Giacalone" Ðggiacalone@htland.comð
Subject: Mac Software Sales Channels
REGARDING Mac Software Sales Channels
Apple should give away 1 year subscriptions to eWorld with the purchsase of a
Mac (in defference to other providers maybe a limited subscription) FOR THE PURPOSE
OF CREATING A SALES CHANNEL.
Create "sites" on eWorld for Mac software vendors. Kickstart "Internet
commerce" in this restricted domain. Charge a small percentage on the
transactions to pay for operating costs. The important things would be:
A: Improved Mac software distribution
B: Put a significant market into internet commerce.
C: Make Mac users as a group "internet commerce ready", thereby making the
platform much more attractive for some people.
Feedback?
G.S.Larsen-Giacalone
ggiacalone@htland.com
Date: Mon, 26 Feb 1996 14:33:55 -0600
From: j5rson@prairie.lakes.com (Jeff Iverson)
Subject: BeBox
What's the general impression of the BeBox (the new computer by Jean Louis
Gasee's company) and how will it affect the Mac market (if at all).
Specifically, is it worth developing for?
Get more info at: http://www.be.com/
Cheers!
J5rson! http://prairie.lakes.com/~j5rson/
Subject: Re: Apple graphics on web sites
Date: Mon, 26 Feb 96 12:47:45 -0800
From: Dan Mitchell Ðdan@mitchell.fhda.eduð
May I add that they can do a fourth very important thing as well. You can
hot link them to an Apple URL of your choice (www.info.apple.com?) that
will take them to "the Source" for more information.
If you run your server on a Mac, say so and add a link to the site where
the server software is available.
Somebody wrote:
In a way, GIF banners do 3 things:
1) They help to promote, advertise and evangelize the Macintosh line of
products on the Internet, without looking like actual advertisements.
2) They show solidarity with Apple Computer, especially at a time when the
entire media is (unfairly) harrassing Apple.
3) They enable you to display how you feel about the Mac, and will display
that sentiment to a potential audience of millions of Internet
websurfers, 24
hours a day.
==========================================================================
Dan Mitchell | De Anza College | Cupertino, CA | http://mitchell.fhda.edu/
dan@mitchell.fhda.edu | danmitch@eworld.com | danmitch@aol.com
Join Apple's EvangeList: Email to Ðmacway-request@solutions.apple.comð
Date: Mon, 26 Feb 1996 14:25:52 -0700 (MST)
From: Powers Foss Ðfoss@ucsub.Colorado.EDUð
Subject: Peter Lewis?
Is Peter Lewis on this mailing list?
Powers Foss.
Date: Mon, 26 Feb 1996 15:43:11 +0000
From: Nathan Hopper Ðnh@ideasign.comð
Subject: Re: Why not purple Mac cases?
> Forget the grayscale stuff, I want to be able to buy a Mac with a purple
> or pastel bluegreen case like our department's SGI Indys and Indy^2s. I
> still haven't worked out why Apple haven't done this before now.
>
Hopefully because they [engineers] took one look at the Acer cases.
Green, purple? Eehh!
After I saw those, I thought, "Maybe a computer that matches my stove
and fridge isn't so bad after all..."
Cheers,
Nate
--
____________________________________________________________
Looking for a great Bob Dylan web site? Perhaps something
original, high on content. Well, visit The North Country,
purveyor of goodness. http://www.ideasign.com/~nh/
Questions, comments, smart-remarks-mailto:nh@ideasign.com
____________________________________________________________
Date: 26 Feb 1996 13:31:43 U
From: "Gino Larsen-Giacalone" Ðggiacalone@htland.comð
Subject: Re: Re- future of software s
RE>Re: future of software sales (Bubba)
Concerning Bubba Dave Pooser's point that for a lot of the home computer buying
public the computer store salesman is the point of contact.
Well, Apple could
1- open a registry of computer salespeople.
2- ask people to register the name of their registered salesperson when they
register their computers (this would also be an incentive for the salesperson to
make sure registration cards are filled out)
3- Starting with Claris, software firms could give a "backend" commission to
salepeople (say for one year) on all software the customer purchases.
I find that even the all Mac hardware dealers I buy from never have any software
I want either.
BTW - I find Carpe Diem interesting infomrative and fun. But is it any more
than a "heatsink" for my enthusiasm? While I can understand if they wouldn't
want to be identified, does anyone from Apple or any other Mac industry people
peruse our goings on? I wouldn't be surprised if M$ did. Despite our ire you
can't say they are arrogant about their competition. They may have power to
crush the competition but the ARE very aware that their own fortune was a quirk.
They work very hard to prevent making IBM's mistake.
I recall following some M$ guys around (it was a coincidence) through sessions
at MacWorld. One guy had a Walkman type cassette recorder with earphones on.
The thing was the "earphones" was a microphone and they were recording
everything.
g.s.larsen-giacalone
ggiacalone@htland.com
Subject: RE: Mac Owners United ot Save Earth!
Date: Mon, 26 Feb 96 13:13:26 -0900
From: Thomas Twigg Ðttwigg@alaska.netð
>>During a dicsussion with a friend about Apple's recent problems I
>>remarked that it was too bad that Apple shareholders weren't required to
>>be Macintosh users (as opposed to people who simply wished to make money
>>without doing any work themselves);
>This is what shareholding is all about. It's called capitalism.
Yes, and unfortunately that is all capitalism is about. It is only
coincidence when a profit making venture produces something that is also
of high quality and the company conducts itself in ethical ways. That is
why it is sometimes necessary for people who care about quality and
ethics to step in and help out (or fight against, if that is more
appropriate). Capitalism would judge Bill Gates and Microsoft to be the
best - do you want to use Windows?
Investing to protect your interests or to support something that you
believe in is just as valid as investing for financial gain.
>This assumes that the general trend in Apple stock is UP. I've done nothing
>but LOSE money on my Apple share purchases... :-(
>This also assumes its the users', not Apple's, responsibility to save
>Apple. As big of a fan of the Mac as I am, I don't see why a loyal base of
>users should continuously try to cover Apple's missteps...? Anyone who
>makes fun of Microsoft clearly needs to wake up.
On the flip side, all of us Mac owners are invested in Apple (as in Mac
platform) already - take a monent to count how much money you have into
your Mac, peripherals, and Mac specific software. What do you think you
could get for it on the secondary market if Apple went under? When we do
anything on Apple's behalf, we are doing as much to protect our own
investment (and preferences) as we are to "save Apple". It is really
impossible to separate Apple's interests from our own; help Apple, help
yourself, it is that simple.
And I reserve the right to make fun of any Emperor who wears no clothes.
Tom Twigg
ttwigg@alaska.net
Date: Mon, 26 Feb 1996 22:02:10 +0000
From: Paul Durrant Ðpdurrant@durrant.demon.co.ukð
Subject: Open Apps with no open windows
>That sort of thinking has no place in the Macintosh world. If user testing
>shows that people are confused, CHANGE THE INTERFACE!
That's precisely what Apple *are* doing with OpenDoc. AFAIUI, with OpenDoc
if you don't have a document open, the part editors quit automatically. You
open documents, not applications.
Paul Durrant
Date: 26 Feb 96 16:33:35 -0600
Subject: Re:Evangelize whenever possible
From: "Craig Doran" ÐSigma907@cnsnet.netð
Date: Sun, 25 Feb 1996 15:23:23 -0800
From: Hans Fischmann Ðhf03@gte.comð
>7) Re-Launch the self-running demos on the machine. If there are any
> demos for cool software like ElectricImage, even better. Anything
> that will attract attention is good.
>
Last week I went into a Circuit City to check out the condition of their
Macs. There were three Performas next to each other. One was locked up,
another had a trashed-up Desktop, and the last was running the Performa
Demo. A great trick is to start Power Pete running on one of the machines
to show off that the Mac can be an awesome gaming machine. I hung around a
little while after I fixed-up the Performas, and my plan worked. A few
minutes later, two little girls heard the Power Pete theme music and came
running over and started trying to play Power Pete. Their mother wandered
over to follow them. One of the girls told their mother, "We use these at
schools." Then while they were playing the game their mother started
watching the Performa Demo on the neighboring Mac. Last I saw, she was
asking the salesman a few questions.
The PC's sat idly by displaying their awesome flying windows screensaver.
Craig
ÐSigma907@cnsnet.netð
Date: Mon, 26 Feb 1996 15:21:05 -0800
From: mpayson@halcyon.com (Mike Payson)
Subject: Retail vs. Mail Order
>>>"We need to move the macintosh software-buying community into
>>catalog/mail-order/web shopping.
>
>>The only inconvenience is the inability to impulse-buy.<<
>
>Speaking as a CompUSA Mac guy, that's the BEST way to help Macs become a
>totally vanished breed. Why? If we don't support retail stores, retail
>stores won't support us.
Finally, someone got my point!
We **CANNOT** alienate the retail market. Almost all consumers will go to a
computer store before buying a computer. If they don't see Mac software, do
you really expect them to seek out a MacZone Catalog? Apple's going out of
business remember? It must be, the newspaper told me so! And since there's
no Mac software on the shelf, that certainly confirms it! (Not to mention
most superstore salespeople (present company excepted!))
As I said, I worked at the MacZone/MacBargains for nearly four years as a
salesperson. Obviously, I believe in Mail Order. But too many people make
their decision based exclusively on word of mouth. Many don't even buy a
single magazine until after they have made their purchase, and if they do,
odds are that it will be a PC magazine.
The simple act of telling the stores that we want them to carry more Mac
software WILL help. Even if noone on this list EVER buys a piece of
software at Egghead etc. the fact that they have the software on their
shelves will mean that they will sell more.
_____________________________________________________________________________
** "The burning of an author's books, imprisonment for opinion's sake, has **
always been the tribute that an ignorant age pays to the genius of it's time"
**** ~Joseph Lewis ****
*** Visit the Moorish Observatory: www.mediastream.com/mediastream/mfja/***
Date: Mon, 26 Feb 1996 15:28:50 -0800
From: mpayson@halcyon.com (Mike Payson)
Subject: Apple's worst enemy
The following is a letter that I sent to MacWeek back in September. It was
never published, but it appears that someone may have been listening after
all. Point three especially seems prophetic...
>>>>>
Apples Worst Enemy
After reading the article "Apple rejects Gateway due to parts shortage" and
several similar articles over the last several years I am convinced that
Apple's worst enemy is not Microsoft, but Apple themselves.
Microsoft's release of the flawed Windows 95 gives Apple an outstanding
opportunity to reap the benefits of it's superior operating system.
Unfortunately, Apple keeps fumbling with delays and shortages.
In order to gain market share, Apple must take several steps:
1) Realize that while surpluses are bad, shortages are worse. On paper, a
surplus seems to hurt profits terribly, but the lost sales due to product
shortages hurts much worse. Not only do shortages cause lost sales but they
cause extreme customer disatisfaction and a loss of loyalty. With
licensing, Apple is in their best situation ever: If they have to much of
an out-of-date machine, they sell the motherboard & components to a company
such as Cutting Edge who remarkets them. Sure, they take a loss, but only a
relatively small one.
2) Ship Copland. While Win95 is still inferior, it is getting harder to see
the differences on the surface. It doesn't matter how technically superior
the system is, if the President of the company or the Non-technical parents
can't see the difference, they will probably buy Windows. Copland should
solve some of this problem, but not if it doesn't ship soon. Apple should
do whatever is necessary to get it out as soon as possible.
3) Realize that sometimes to make a profit you must take a loss. They
should become extremely aggressive for time. Take a loss if necessary.
After all they have not faced this serious of a competitor since the
original IBM PC.
These suggestions may cause short term losses, but if Apple follows
through, they will be much stronger and have a larger share of the market.
_____________________________________________________________________________
** "The burning of an author's books, imprisonment for opinion's sake, has **
always been the tribute that an ignorant age pays to the genius of it's time"
**** ~Joseph Lewis ****
*** Visit the Moorish Observatory: www.mediastream.com/mediastream/mfja/***
From: Michael_Bill/nsih1_RICHARDSON/alcatel/US/Telemail/alcanet@audopen.aud.alcatel.com
Date: Mon, 26 Feb 96 17:29:19 -0600
Subject: Re: CompUSA and Computer City
Well, I don't think the problem with CompUSA and Computer City is the fact they
are based in Texas... although I have to admit MicroCenter does much better on
the Mac (aren't they from Boston?).
I think the problem is size. They want to shove x people/hour through the store,
filling carts with hardware and software. _ANYTHING_ that slows people down
(like seeing a Mac and maybe having to make a _decision_ for gosh sakes) hurts
sales. Plus, they have treated the Mac so bad for so long, most of us won't go
there anymore, which means they don't sell Mac products, which means they treat
the Mac worse...
I work every other weekend at a small chain, also based here in Texas (Teach &
Play Smart if anybody cares - www.teachnplay.com) that sells software for home
edutainment and school use. No hardware. We run real close to 50/50 Mac/Other.
(I say 'other' because that is the total of DOS, WIN3.1, and WIN95.) I believe
this is true at all the other stores in the chain, and I'm only there 8 hrs/wk,
so I don't think it's my Mac bias doing it.
My guess is that it's because we have about 40% Mac stuff on the shelves, Macs
are strongest in the home/educational market, and Mac users buy more software
than their Windows counterparts, who are still trying to install the last
program they bought...
While I buy all my 'business' stuff mail-order, before you give up totally and
go that route for everything, check out the 'little guys' around you. Some
really do treat the Mac right, and believe it or not, may be cheaper than
MacWarehouse/Zone/Place!
Bill
Date: Mon, 26 Feb 1996 17:01:27 -0700 (MST)
From: Powers Foss Ðfoss@ucsub.Colorado.EDUð
Subject: News Break!
* LEGATO SYSTEMS INC said that APPLE COMPUTER would bundle its Data
Backup Utility for UNIX (AIX version) with each unit of Apple's
network server. The Legato product is a single system version of the
company's flagship NetWorker storage management software product.
Customers will be able to back up one Apple network server to one
attached tape drive, a statement said.
Mac users unite!
Powers Foss.
Date: Mon, 26 Feb 1996 17:03:12 -0700 (MST)
From: Powers Foss Ðfoss@ucsub.Colorado.EDUð
Subject: News Break 2!
* ADOBE SYSTEMS, APPLE COMPUTER and NETSCAPE said they will work
together to define and deliver new font technology for the Internet.
Said they expected to provide an open, cross-platform technology
solution for using Type 1 and TrueType fonts in HTML and PDF
documents. They said the new web font technology will enhance the
visual appeal of Internet information.
Mac users unite!
Powers Foss.
Date: Mon, 26 Feb 1996 17:09:03 -0700 (MST)
From: Powers Foss Ðfoss@ucsub.Colorado.EDUð
Subject: DIGEST This!
Do the people that run this group need somebody to donate some PowerMacs
so we don't have to read an hour's worth of ONE digest? People, let's
send some money to the Carpe Diem foundation and return this group to SANITY!
Thanks,
Powers Foss.
ps - Hate to sound evil, but my connection through my ISP is really slow
and just DOES NOT WORK with Digests.
Date: Mon, 26 Feb 1996 18:54:25 -0600
From: chansen@innovsoftd.com (Craig Hansen)
Subject: Thanks for Corel/Limbaugh feedback!
First, a couple asides:
Thanks for the update on Corel's support plans for WordPerfect (Mac). As I
was afraid, several people went ballistic on my suggestion to use Rush
Limbaugh as a spokesperson. They missed the point: politics aside, Rush
equals INCREASED sales. That is the bottom line. And using a liberal
counterpart in the SAME commercial would stave off any indications of BIAS.
I think a Rush/Richards ad would be wonderful! The humor element would
play well. (Maybe it could even be Rush & Mario Cuomo!)
And lest anyone think *liberal* politics doesn't hurt sales, let me tell
you this: I have sold, in the past six months, at least one Macintosh per
month due ONLY to politics? How? Easy....
About six months ago, famous liberal iconoclast MICHAEL KINSLEY of CNN's
CROSSFIRE left CNN to join Microsoft and edit an online magazine. At LEAST
once a month, I've had someone come in the store to return a WinTel '95
machine because they don't like Michael Kinsley. When I tell them Rush is
a PowerMac user, that usually cements their conversion.....
Now, I'm NOT suggesting Apple should be pro-Rush any more than Apple should
be anti-Rush. I'm just saying when a personality with this much marketing
clout offers to help you move product, you should find a way to take
advantage of it! (He offered his advocacy for free on a 90-day trial
basis, BTW, and would only have been paid if they'd continued the campaign
beyond that point.)
Also, don't focus on Rush: I also suggested MANY other celebrity
endorements, any on which have got to be MORE interesting to GenXers than
Marlee Matlin.
SIDE NOTE: To the person who disputed Rush's appeal to GenXers---hey, I am
a GenXer, and I'm not alone. There is a large conservative faction of
Generation X. Check out the following Web site for more info:
http://www.cgx.com/
Finally, my point on Rush is that passing up his offer is just another
example of missing huge marketing opportunities, which Apple has done
SEVERAL times. They are too timid, too slow to act and react.
Besides the Rush debacle, did you know:
1) DOOM was originally developed for the MAC, and Apple chased the
developers away by insisting on LESS violence. Now, Apple is begging and
pleading to acquire a shabby port of all the DOOM stuff, as well as the
spinoffs, HEXEN and HERETIC.
2) Mosaic, the FIRST Web browser, was originally available for MACS-ONLY!
This window of opportunity was there for six months, and Apple did nothing
to brag up this exclusive ability of the Mac. By the time Apple caught on
to the power of the Web, Netscape was released for Windows, and was way
cooler, thus muting the marketing advantage.
These three mistakes have each cost Apple huge opportunities. Apple needs
the second coming of Steve Jobs. Let's hope Gil Amelio is it....
Best,
Craig
=====================================================================
++ Craig Hansen, 41 W. Arlington Ave. #201, Saint Paul, MN 55117 ++
++ E-mail: chansen@innovsoftd.com ++
++ WWW: http://www.isd.net/chansen/ ++
++ Organization: Rose Creek Web Services ++
++ ++
++ "In the future, future events such as these could affect you ++
++ in the future." ++
++ -Criswell, PLAN 9 FROM OUTER SPACE, via ED WOOD. ++
=====================================================================
Date: Mon, 26 Feb 1996 19:55:14 -0500
From: NIBURU@aol.com
Subject: ultimate commercial
I say we all band together and make donation to buy a four page ad in a
crossplatform MAG like Byte and make the point that apple won't.
I'd like to license the Apple and MAC LOGO from apple and use them I'd
like suggestions and information from graphic artist and anyone else with an
idea I'll soon have a web page and as Ideas stream in I'll put it on my page
you can all see it and give advice.
As we all know centerfold commercial are not cheap I need money for this
If any one Is willing to make donations I'll have an adress to which you can
send them on the page as well.
NIBURU/Wayman Luy
!!!MAC OS FOREVER!!!
()
__ __
/---\/--\
/ --------/
|---------\
\--------/
\_/ \_/
Date: Mon, 26 Feb 1996 19:55:33 -0500
From: NIBURU@aol.com
Subject: Software etc.
I live down here in for lauderdale FL and recently visited a software etc.
store at fashion mall(next to broward mall). I was surprised to see that
there entire macintosh section had become a bunch of macintosh
books(macworld secrets etc.). Dimayed I asked what had happened to all there
Mac stuff and they replied that there bossed told them to get rid of it and
out it went. I considered this an insulted slammed them and I'm currently
boycotting this store.
I know that one person who visits this store every month or so to buy a few
magazines isn't much ,but if anyone lives around here in broward stop by ask
them about there MAc software slam them and tell them your boycotting.
If there are any stores in your area that refuse to sell AMc software
boycott them and form picket lines I'm on my way to tell my local Mac users
gruopp about htis maybe do a sit in.
NIBURUR@aol.com
Wayman Luy
"Power to the insame
Date: 26 Feb 96 19:14:11 -0600
Subject: New Media News
From: "Craig Doran" ÐSigma907@cnsnet.netð
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
New Media News is a prime-time daily television program that covers com=
puter news. Strangely, the channel that it airs on seems to go by seve=
ral names; MEU, JCN, PCTV.
About two months ago, the program only occasionally covered Macintosh n=
ews, and most of their coverage seemed geared toward Wintel news. Then=
one week when they had a few more pieces on Macintoshes then usual, I =
tracked down their e-mail message. I sent them a message telling them =
how good I thought New Media News was, and especially appreciated their=
Macintosh coverage. The next day I received a message saying that the=
y were really glad to receive my comments. I also had two or three oth=
er people send them messages.
I can really tell that our messages have had an impact. Just tonight t=
heir top story was Apple's lower prices and making Power PC's more affo=
rdable. And then later in the show they did a count down of the 5 top-=
selling Mac games and prefaced it with saying "The most exciting games =
these past few months have been for Macs." They always go into detail =
on new Apple technology and demonstrate Apple hardware. And whenever t=
hey have people come on the show to demonstrate software, if it can run=
on a Mac that's what they always seem to use.
I am really hoping that by constantly hearing of Apple's inovations, i=
ncreased awareness of sofware available for the Macintosh, continually =
seeing the Apple logo in screenshots, and hearing positive news about A=
pple on an unbiased computer show will make those that tune in be bulli=
sh about Macintoshes. I really think that it is one of the best forms =
of indirect advertising.
If you get New Media News, watch it a little bit. If you like what you=
see, then check out their Web page at http://www.kron.com/nmn/
and mail this guy
Chris LaMorte
On-Line Editor
Jones Education Networks
clamorte@meu.edu
Give them a Nielsen's boost. I'd hate to see their ratings take a dive=
right as they start covering Macintoshes extensively.
Craig
mailto:Sigma907@cnsnet.net
Date: Mon, 26 Feb 1996 22:02:24 +0000
From: Paul Durrant Ðpdurrant@durrant.demon.co.ukð
Subject: Problems for New Users
>Another benefit of the above would be to prevent the occurrence of the
>"Could not eject because it contains items that are in use" error
>message. How many times have you opened a README (with SimpleText) on a
>disk or a CD that you were checking out only to be caught out when you
>tried to eject the disk? New users get stumped by this, big-time, because
>they have closed all documents but have not *quit* from all applications.
This is caused by bad programming - applications using working directories.
No application written since HFS arrived should be using working
directories, which are a nasty hack to make pre-HFS applications
compatible. One major (well, widely used) application that still uses them
is (of course) MS Word. Well, at least 5.1a does. I never upgraded to 6.0
to find out.
Paul Durrant
Date: Mon, 26 Feb 1996 21:15:53 -0500
From: jstamer@usa.nai.net (JStamer)
Subject: Re: Microsoft competitor (was The Good War)
Isaac,
I too, wish you luck. I would suggest the Netscape model, write the
program then give it away for free. After you have built a user base, sell
a major upgrade and offer site licenses. Steve was right on about the
importance being able to import MS documents (and the evil MS will
constantly CHANGE the format on you); I would suggest using modular
translators that can be upgraded.
Just make sure you support OpenDoc. And, if it means anything, I would
consider ANY alternative to MS Excel. Make it look and feel just like it
(without the bugs)... what are they gonna do? sue?
Date: Mon, 26 Feb 1996 21:15:57 -0500
From: jstamer@usa.nai.net (JStamer)
Subject: RE: Open Apps with no open windows
> In reading your post, I was reminded how important it is to see things from
> the users' perspective. If so many people are having trouble with this
> concept, then the interface needs fixing. Some developers think that if
> people have trouble using their software, then the solution is to rewrite the
> manuals or add some tutorial to teach the user how it works. In other words,
> don't fix the software, fix the user.
> That sort of thinking has no place in the Macintosh world. If user testing
> shows that people are confused, CHANGE THE INTERFACE!
Well said, but temper redesign with reason. I constantly watch windows
users try to double-click on the close box... and changing the interface to
conform to the embarrassment with which most people are familiar would
undermine everything we are working for. Fix the problems, not the
solutions.
Your suggestion about a floating window that shows which applications are
still running is an excellent idea, provided it can be deactivated (like
training wheels).
Date: Mon, 26 Feb 1996 20:46:52 -0600
From: jcast144@inlink.com (John E. Castasus)
Subject: A Target For Carpe Diem/EvangeList
First, aim your Web Browser to
Ðhttp://www.win95mag.com/96.2/mac96.htmlð
Then, direct your comments to
Ðjm66626@pegasus.cc.ucf.edu.ð
---------
Cordially,
John E. Castasus
Stalwart Defender/Evangelist of the Macintosh Empire
Do you believe in Macintosh? Learn how to help the Macintosh cause by
subscribing to EvangeList, a listserver for Macintosh fans. To receive
instructions, send an email to Ðevangelist@macway.comð.
Date: Mon, 26 Feb 1996 22:08:07 -0500
From: DNBeaver@aol.com
Subject: Re: future of software sales
ðFrom: bubbadv@exis.net (Dave Pooser)
>Subject: Re: future of software sales
>
>>>"We need to move the macintosh software-buying community into
>catalog/mail-order/web shopping.
>
>The only inconvenience is the inability to impulse-buy.<<
>
>Speaking as a CompUSA Mac guy, that's the BEST way to help Macs become a
>totally vanished breed. Why? If we don't support retail stores, retail
>stores won't support us. My retail manager resists going after Mac software
>or accessories because "Mac users buy mail-order anyway." Then when I'm
>selling hardware, and some new users are looking for a computer, I show
>them a Performa. "Nope! No way. Look around--you don't carry any software
>for Macs. They're a failed experiment." .............
Speaking as a fairly recent purchaser of my first computer, a Performa
6115CD, Amen!
Even last spring when I was shopping, buying a Mac in the face of the
looming juggernaut of Windows 95 required a bigtime act of faith. With
all the negative publicity, today it's probably worse. Millions of new
users are making the decision as to which platform to buy and they're
mostly shopping at retail, where they can look, touch, and hopefully get
their hand held.
I wanted to buy a Mac, but I shopped both platforms to be certain I was
making the right choice and getting a good value. The misinformation out
there is unbelievable, like when a salesman at Best Buy told me a Mac
couldn't send or receive e-mail to/from a PC! I asked 3 or 4 people in
other stores about this, and not one of them was sure; most agreed with
it. It's laughable now, but I was concerned at the time.
The all-too-easy argument that there's more software for the PC is
repeated over and over. I'm sure it's a deal-clincher in many cases, and
the thin stock of Mac software a few aisles away confirms the myth.
Buying software by mail order may be an unfortunate fact of life for the
experienced users, especially those needing specialized programs, but we
need expanded availability of titles at retail to reassure the first
timers. (And peripherals, books, etc.)
Cast my vote for pressuring the Eggheads, Best Buys, CompUSAs, Computer
Citys, and all the rest to expand their Mac stock. It sure wouldn't break
my heart to have more choices.
Cheers,
Nick Beaver
DNBeaver@aol.com
Date: Mon, 26 Feb 1996 21:15:43 -0500
From: jstamer@usa.nai.net (JStamer)
Subject: RE: Project Phoenix
Thank you for your feedback. I was not aware of the restrictions on
manufactured electronics in the UK. Another suggestion I received may
solve the problem.
It was suggested that Apple should continue the Performa line with a few
specific pre-assembled configurations for the home user. Such
configurations could be available for resale through channels that cannot
accomodate building custom configurations.
However, I disagree with your assessment that it would drive costs up.
Shifting the responsibility for assembly to dealers also shifts the
competitive pressures on assembly costs to the dealers while reducing the
strain on Apple's forecasters and their manufacturing division. Overall,
costs should be significantly reduced and should improve Apple's
competitive position. It is too expensive for Apple to maintain such an
extensive configuration offering--and limits their ability to respond to
consumers needs.
To all, Please CC: future comments and suggestions directly to me, I can't
stand this digest format. Also: copies of the original document are
available upon request--and I am working on a revision that includes all of
the suggestions I have received. I intend to use a format that includes
all suggestions for each 'problem' so that the alternatives can be properly
evaluated.
Date: Mon, 26 Feb 1996 23:05:12 -0500
From: Bradleywit@aol.com
Subject: Re:Radio Talk Show On Computers
>Lately, I discovered in the free Computer Currents magazine an ad for
>America's No. 1 High-tech radio talk show called On Computers with Gina
>Smith. She's on the air ever Sunday from 10 am to 1 pm PST but the questions
>are pretty much Windows dominated. Tune into KPIX at 95.7 FM or 1550 AM and
>let's change it to a more Mac-only event.
>
>Marcel Buechi
Um first of all what city? That's not the frequency everywere. It may be
syndicated however. Secondly, the questions are probubly problem
questions and we don't need that kind of BAD publicity. Nice try though.
=)_ <--That's drool.
Bradley Whitla
>------------------
Stop the hegemony. Join EvangeList! Send an email to
Ðmacway-request@solutions.apple.comð for an automatic reply. (Any message
will work.) Archives are at: Ðhttp://wais.sensei.com.au/searchform.htmlð.
And please check out this Web site: Ðhttp://www2.apple.com/whymac/ð.
>------------------
:)_ <-- That's drool. I'm drooling for a new PowerMac!!
Date: Tue, 27 Feb 1996 00:44:09 -0500
From: ltd@netaccess.on.ca (LTD)
Subject: Technostones
Keith Green here,
MacAholic. Bought may first 128K in 84 it still works. Wanted to let people
know that I am perserving the environment by the following : I am roaming
the country side looking for old thrown out computer circuit boards and
recycling them into art that you can hang on your walls. Anything from PLC
's to apple mother boards (when I can get them) to 286 mother boards. I
mold them into my vision of what they will look like a thousand years from
now with old form core and flectone paint.
I have writtin an abstract: it is as follows, the circuit board itself
is a mircosom of man kinds ablility to control himself through electronics.
We seem to have evoled through time a design in our patterns of living that
has a direct link to the flow of electrons in our science that we created
called electronics. I find it fasinating that in just a few years through
trial and error we have created circuit boards that not only work and
function like our century old cities but also look like them.
Like our lives they work and flow with unequal precision day after day and
die the same way. When we attach what we term electricity to our creation,
they become almost a living enitity and we are very much co- dependant on
them.
I am, through a medium called ( post modern expressionism) capturing our
history like a photographer captures moments of time. I create them like an
artist creates a painting or sculpture totally spontanous, without a plan
or pattern.Each one is an original work of art.
I am also concerned with the issue of disposal in our landfill sites. A PC
board contains some very toxic elements and I am trying to perserve these
things for a little while longer. I hope I didn't come on to heavy , but
there is always an underlaying reason behind everything we do.
You will soon be able to see them on my webb page at
http://netaccess.on.ca/~ltd/index.html
The picture is a little blurred but we are working on that.
Date: Tue, 27 Feb 1996 00:19:05 -0600
From: chansen@innovsoftd.com (Craig Hansen)
Subject: Mac Should Divorce Canon!
I love Macs, but Apple has the WORST printer OEM partner in the world!
Canon's are about as unreliable and buggy as any printers with smaller
reputations. The Stylewriter 1200 has had NUMEROUS returns due to faulty
paper feed construction. The 2400 is not much better. And Canon doesn't
even give Apple it's most current technology in a timely fashion. Where
are the Stylewriter 1220's and 2440's to match the Canon 210's and 610's on
the PC side? Those have been out since Thanksgiving!
Speaking as a sales guy in a major retail environment (your computer
superstore...PC Modem...hint, hint) I've seen too many Stylewriters and
their Canon counterparts returned by irate customers to reccommend Apple's
ink-jet printers to any customer who asks my what I think. Not in good
conscience.
When asked what I reccommend, and use, I always point customers to the
Hewlett-Packard DeskWriter series. They are more reliable and easier to
find cartriges for. My top reccommended printer to anyone who asks is the
HP DeskJet 855C.
I hate reccommending non-Apple printers to Mac buyers, but the Canon
product just completely bites. Apple has the worst OEM printer partner
they could ever have.
If Apple could ever DIVORCE themselves from Canon and sign HP (or the
IBM-owned Lexmark clone of the HP tenchology) to an OEM partnership
agreement, I just know that:
1) Apple would be selling printers FAR SUPERIOR to their current crop.
2) Apple-brand printer sales would go through the roof.
If anyone has had better experience with Apple's Canon-OEM printers, feel
free to make a case for them. I've seen customers have nothing but
headaches.
Craig
=====================================================================
++ Craig Hansen, 41 W. Arlington Ave. #201, Saint Paul, MN 55117 ++
++ E-mail: chansen@innovsoftd.com ++
++ WWW: http://www.isd.net/chansen/ ++
++ Organization: Rose Creek Web Services ++
++ ++
++ "In the future, future events such as these could affect you ++
++ in the future." ++
++ -Criswell, PLAN 9 FROM OUTER SPACE, via ED WOOD. ++
=====================================================================
Date: Mon, 26 Feb 1996 22:27:09 -0800
From: quadra_quack@sierra.campus.mci.net (Isaac Church)
Subject: Re: Microsoft competitor (was The Good War)
> Isaac, I wish you luck but you've got a hard fight ahead of you.
>
> 1) You'll be fighting the same fight we have now. A lot of people
> use MS products because they interact with others that generate
> data/documents with them. Don't forget about that once superior
> format know as Beta (vs VHS). If you want to compete you *must*
> be able to translate to/from MS products robustly.
Although not stated previously this was always part of the plan. I plan on
creating translators that will seemlessly allow the user to import and
export all their Microsoft data. The idea being that the program simply
handles that data faster and smarter than any Microsoft product, on either
platform.
And as far as money is concerned, I plan on starting out slow building
momentum. I'll probably work for some company while I'm working on my solo
projects since it's pretty hard to make money on your own stuff from the
start.
-Isaac Church
"Life is a series of mistakes, and success depends on how well we learn
from them."
Date: Tue, 27 Feb 1996 00:40:52 -0600
From: chansen@innovsoftd.com (Craig Hansen)
Subject: Idea on QuickTime licensing!
Apple spends 2.5 times as much as any other computer company on R&D. Apple
is an innovation and technology leader! So why are they giving away their
technology with no strings?
Let me explain what I mean.
85% of all Windows 95 games are developed on a Macintosh and ported over.
Countless games on the PC-side of the market use Apple's QuickTime
technology in their Windows titles. Some are even starting to use
QuickTime 3D and QuickTime VR. And even though these Apple technologies
show up in Windows-based games and apps, only about a quarter of game
developers using these technologies EVER put out a Mac version of their
games and apps.
This is bordering on criminal. But Apple is pratically handing their
wallets over before anyone can even pull out a gun and say "this is a
stick-up."
What Apple needs to start doing is signing more CONDITIONAL LICENSES. They
need contracts with game developers that say, "Sure, use all our QuickTime
technology tools to build your app. But in exchange, you MUST release a
Mac version of the game. If you don't want to release a Mac version, keep
your damn hands off our technology!"
Apple could learn a few things about leveraging the game market from the
Sony Playstation.
Sony offers game developers a lot of technological tools are shortcuts than
make game development for Sony Playstation a snap, compared to what's
involved in doing the same game for a Sega Saturn.
Sony realizes these tools are WORTH something to developers. So they sign
agreements like the one they have with EA Sports, where they say, sure, go
ahead and develop your games using our Playstation technology. You can
even port it over to other 32-bit systems, like 3DO and Sega. BUT, if
you're going to use our technology, you must release the PLAYSTATION
version FIRST, and give us a TWO-MONTH EXCLUSIVE on the title before
releasing it on competing platforms.
In terms of securing HOT TITLES for the Sony Playstation, this scheme
worked WONDERS for Sony. They are the early, defacto winner in the 32-bit
game console wars. And it's because they treated their technology like it
was WORTH something.
Apple should take a similar (if initially somewhat less-aggressive
approach) to game development for computers. If a game developer wants to
use QuickTime VR, the contract they sign should obligate them to releasing
a Mac version of the title either SIMULTANEOUSLY with the Win95 version, or
within TWO MONTHS of Windows release.
Right now, the number one hesitation customers give me about buying a Mac
is, there's not enough games available for the Mac. Considering the number
of Win95 games develops on Quadra AV's using QuickTime technology, there's
NO REASON that Apple's selection of game software should be so anemic,
except that they're afraid to set some conditions on the licensing of their
technology.
Now that Guy is back with Apple, maybe he'll bring this kind of common
sense back to Apple.
Craig
=====================================================================
++ Craig Hansen, 41 W. Arlington Ave. #201, Saint Paul, MN 55117 ++
++ E-mail: chansen@innovsoftd.com ++
++ WWW: http://www.isd.net/chansen/ ++
++ Organization: Rose Creek Web Services ++
++ ++
++ "In the future, future events such as these could affect you ++
++ in the future." ++
++ -Criswell, PLAN 9 FROM OUTER SPACE, via ED WOOD. ++
=====================================================================
Subject: RE: Project Phoenix
Date: Tue, 27 Feb 96 08:54:17 +0100
From: Tilman Haerdle Ðhaerdle@thetagroup.ilk.deð
>However, I disagree with your assessment that it would drive costs up.
>Shifting the responsibility for assembly to dealers also shifts the
>competitive pressures on assembly costs to the dealers while reducing the
>strain on Apple's forecasters and their manufacturing division. Overall,
>costs should be significantly reduced and should improve Apple's
>competitive position. It is too expensive for Apple to maintain such an
>extensive configuration offering--and limits their ability to respond to
>consumers needs.
Nope. Every dealers has to have a certain infrastructure for assembling
and testing machines. Thus, you multiply installations that a
well-organized assembly-line in a factory has. And it's cheaper to let
professional workers do the job. I guess that assembly of a Mac costs
less than $30. Let a dealer assemble such a thing. I Germany they want to
have $100 per hour working and I don't believe the normal dealers would
be able to build a Mac in an hour.
Here in Germany we have a large retail chain, Vobis, that promises to
deliver any out of a million combinations for a certain PC in 2 days. The
customer simply ticks the features he wants in a list and two days later
he has his very personal, well, PC.
Would you expect your car dealer to assemble your car locally? (OK,
that's beyond a Mac, but anyway...)
I could imagine Apple building Macs with a standardized interior where
you can add any additional hardware with just plugging it in. At the
moment, at least here you can't add an internal CD-ROM to the 7200/75 -
there's only a small 3.5" bay for an additional hard disk. But there we
should go and make the interior more generic - which would in turn reduce
costs as already someone else discovered.
Cheers,
Tilman Haerdle
Date: Tue, 27 Feb 1996 06:38:58 -0500
From: GASIII@aol.com
Subject: Lack of NT solutions
I have two Macs at home, with a LaserWriter Select 360. Ethernet hub in the
basement. I have two Macs at work, one desktop and one PowerBook.
I am a Mac guy, but I also have a Windows95 laptop.
I am a partner in the Systems Consulting Group of a midwestern firm. 1,000
employees, 8 offices. That makes me a Windows guy as well, since we do
client server development and we are Microsoft -- and Lotus -- business
partners. We run Netware on the LAN internally (moving to NT) and for the
WAN, we have Frame Relay in place between our offices. Routing every
prototcol known to man right now, but working to get it down to just TCP/IP.
In addition to the desktop and laptop PCs, we have several minis -- Dec Vaxes
and Alphas, HP-9000s, and IBM AS/400s and RS-6000s.
We have not bought any new Macs for some time now (it is not our standard --
more on that later) but there is a fanatical bunch of Mac holdouts led by me.
Which means that lately, DayStar gets more $$ than Apple. It is OK to
expense the upgrades, but we cannot capitalize the purchase of new boxes. We
are down to 10 Macs, compared to 400+ PCs.
Simple Question -- What is Apple's business strategy?
It cannot be Mac only - we are kidding ourselves if we think our collective
Evangilism will get a bunch of Windows only or mixed shops to convert.
If it is not Mac only, it must be to be to first maintain share (do not get
kicked out) then build share in a mixed environment. That is also the basis
of my strategy for hanging on at the office.
Show me something that I cannot do on the Mac and mabye I will think about
switching. We also make sure that things like the Gartner support costs
study get routed around. So far, no one has been able to get me to switch,
even under the 'threat' of losing internal help line support. Big deal.
They are no help anyway.
Anyway, all the comparisons of Windows95 and 7.5 call networking a draw. 95
ships with Dial Up Networking, but the Mac has ARA.
For most people internally, their needs are not too complicated -- Microsoft
Office and Lotus Notes. So it is not hard to keep up, especially since we
have TCP/IP built into 7.5.
This is not about MS Office. We run NT and RAS (Remote Access Services) on
the servers. Windows95 has the RAS client (Dial Up Networking) built in.
That is my problem.
From a Windows95 machine, I can call one number and do three things -- Lotus
Notes, file and print sharing, and access to the various internal
minicomputers. Once I connect with RAS, I can do anything just as if I was
connected locally in the office. And the mini I connect to does not have to
be in the same office that I dial in to.
See my problem?
To do the same thing on the Mac, I have to call one number to get to the
Notes server, and another number to get to the ARA server for file and print
sharing. And there is no one to call for the dial up access to the minis. I
would have to put a modem on each one. With RAS, I just need to call the NT
box, regardless of where I want to go.
So now there is something that I cannnot do on a Mac. I have asked a bunch
of people about this, inside and ouside of Apple. No one seems to have an
answer.
Second problem -- IP addressing.
Our NT servers use DHCP to hand out addresses dynamically. This is real
handy when I am from Office A, but I am on the road, and I want to connect
from Office B. Works great -- but not from a Mac. I have to assign Mac
TCP/IP addresses manually.
We have kept the Macs going by being an even better client than WIndows in
our client/server environment. All the client has to do is deal with
whatever the server dishes up. If we can do that, it does not matter what
the client is. The internet has taught us that.
Will there ever be a RAS client for the Mac?
How do we compete with Windows' Dial Up Networking?
How do I support dynamic addressing?
NT has won the OS wars. Take a look at any long range network plan in almost
any distributed environment. Netware is too hard to manage via remote
control. NT has strong remote management, so it appeals to multi-site
operations.
Mac NT support is pretty limited -- just file and print sharing. Who at
Apple can even tell us whether or not we will get the missing pieces?
Thanks
George
GASIII@aol.com (home)
GSpohrer@CroweChizek.com (office)
Date: 27 Feb 1996 14:35:23 -0600
From: "Geoff Coffey" Ðgeoff_coffey@aoce.austin.apple.comð
Subject: Don't change the interface!
>That sort of thinking has no place in the Macintosh world. If user testing
>shows that people are confused, CHANGE THE INTERFACE!
That's what the "Hide Desktop When in Background" Feature is for, which is the
default on all Performas. When they close the last window in an application,
they are left with a blank screen. Either they learn to quit or learn to use
the application menu, and if you can understand the application menu, then you
can understand that you need to quit. Apple already *has* changed the
interface.
Geoff Coffey
Subject: Why don't they leave us alone?
Date: Tue, 27 Feb 96 09:53:11 -0500
From: "Kevin S. Kenyon" Ðkskenyon@syr.eduð
The following article appeared in this week's Syracuse Sunday paper. Dr.
Gizmo used to be a big Mac supporter but he has strayed. He has written
several other articles telling his readers not to buy a Mac. This piece
is inspirational when it comes to furthering the cause. Why does the
press think the world will be better without Apple and/or MacOS? T.W.
gave it his or her best shot. The doc must think he is doing his readers
a favor by sending them to Wintel. They'll be sorry....
____________________________________________________________
DR. GIZMO
MACS NO LONGER WHAT THEY USED TO BE
Q. I recently received via snail-mail a copy of your article "Think Twice
Before Buying a Mac over a PC," sent by a relative in New York.
I'm sure you've been inundated by Mac people calling you every name in
the book.
I will refrain from name-calling, although your article does bring about
a certain emotional response.
Rather, I'm sending you some informaton about Apple that is verifiable
via the list of sources found at the end of the piece.
Truthfully, I found your article to be short-sighted and uninformed.
I would ask if you ever used a Macintosh or did you simply repeat the old
cliches that others in the media have written?
Without prior use of a Mac, vis a vis, ease of use, software abundance,
performance curves, etc., you may end up sounding like a blind man
describing the color blue. (By using a Mac, I mean for longer than
typing a letter or playing a game once.)
Please read over the details below, and perhaps then, you'll be able to
undo the injustice to potential new computer users who may believe
everything in your article.
T.W. via e-mail
A. The doctor could publish e-mail responses from Apple owners from now
until the end of the century and still not get all of them in, so we'll
try to close off the debate on a calm note.
T.W.'s note (we're leaving out the attached article) is typical of the
comments and complaints from Mac fans.
They say two things: First, that Macs are special, and why doesn't the
press understand that? And second, that Macs are superior in a number of
ways.
Macs aren't special any more. They used to be. If there is one point
Mac owners need to understand, it's this: Macs are wonderful, but they
are not the be-all and end-all computers they once were. Other computers
have closed the gap.
Nor are Macs clearly superior, when you add up everything a computer is
supposed to do.
There's no question that Macs are easier to use overall, and that's a
very important point.
But for many users, especially those who are willing to learn a few
sophisticated ways of working with a computer, Macs are not easier to use
than Windows 95 PC's.
They simply cannot do some of the things modern users expect from a
computer, especially in regard to multitasking.
That makes them much harder to use when you need to do complicated
operations, to give just one example.
Yes, the doctor has used Macintoshes, from the first Mac more than a
decade ago to the latest crop of PowerMacs. What others in the press say
is of no importance, as anyone who has followed the perambulations of the
doctor and his sidekick will attest.
The doctor knows what blue looks like. And he knows what bad marketing
and stagnant design look like, too.
(Dr. Gizmo formats Al Fasoldt's floppy disks every year. Al Fasoldt is
systems editor of The Syracuse Newspapers. You can reach him at this
email address: afasoldt@dreamscape.com)
February 25, 1996
____________________________________________________________
Kevin S. Kenyon
Syracuse
Date: Tue, 27 Feb 1996 09:20:02 -0700 (MST)
From: Powers Foss Ðfoss@ucsub.Colorado.EDUð
Subject: MacWeek!
Everyone knows by now that MacWeek talked about Care Diem in this week's
online edition. The editor (david_morgenstern@macweek.com) fails to
mention how to subscribe however! Please let him have it! I emailed him
already and urge you to do the same.
Powers Foss.
Date: Tue, 27 Feb 1996 11:56:08 -0400
From: aa4lr@radio.org (Bill Coleman AA4LR)
Subject: Re: Rush and Mac
>First, a couple asides:
>
>Thanks for the update on Corel's support plans for WordPerfect (Mac). As I
>was afraid, several people went ballistic on my suggestion to use Rush
>Limbaugh as a spokesperson. They missed the point: politics aside, Rush
>equals INCREASED sales. That is the bottom line. And using a liberal
>counterpart in the SAME commercial would stave off any indications of BIAS.
Anyone who protests this idea hasn't listened enough to know. Rush is a
hardened Mac advocate. I remember this fall hearing him talk with some
callers about the merits of the Mac versus Windows 95. He was very
convincing.
(OK, at least half of you don't agree with Rush's political bent. Fine. I
don't necessarily agree with him either. The point is, he is a prominent,
visible Mac user -- and it isn't just some sort of dogmatic thing either,
he has solid reasons for his choice of computing platform.)
>Now, I'm NOT suggesting Apple should be pro-Rush any more than Apple should
>be anti-Rush. I'm just saying when a personality with this much marketing
>clout offers to help you move product, you should find a way to take
>advantage of it!
Pizza Hut used him for a while in a promotion. I think they canned this in
part due to some protest. Marketing is a funny thing. Sometimes it works,
sometimes it don't.
Bill Coleman, AA4LR Mail: aa4lr@radio.org
Quote: "Not in a thousand years will man ever fly!"
-- Wilbur Wright, 1901
Subject: Re: Mac Should Divorce Canon!
Date: Tue, 27 Feb 96 11:56:59 -0500
From: Ðbobbyroe@fast.netð
Recently, chansen@innovsoftd.com (Craig Hansen) said...
>I love Macs, but Apple has the WORST printer OEM partner in the world!
>Canon's are about as unreliable and buggy as any printers with smaller
>reputations. The Stylewriter 1200 has had NUMEROUS returns due to faulty
>paper feed construction. The 2400 is not much better. And Canon doesn't
>even give Apple it's most current technology in a timely fashion. Where
>are the Stylewriter 1220's and 2440's to match the Canon 210's and 610's on
>the PC side? Those have been out since Thanksgiving!
I certainly accept that my personal experience may be the exception, but
I've had no problems at all with my Color StyleWriter 2400, and regularly
recommend it to my associates. None of them (maybe a dozen or so actual
purchases) have had any problems either.
Even Macworld Magazine just gave it a 4-star rating in the April 1996
edition (see pages 133-135).
I used to work for an Apple-ONLY retail dealer (Double Click Computer
Store in Bethlehem, PA), and we sold hundreds of the Apple printers. The
return rate was incredibly small; virtually zero in fact.
Thus concludes my $.02. As always, your mileage may vary. ;-)
All the best,
Bobby Roe
InfoDepot Evangelist / Chena Software, Inc.
WWW: Ðhttp://www.chena.comð / eWorld: shortcut = chena
800.245.4577 (sales) / 610.770.1210 (support) / 610.770.9266 (fax)
PS: Visit our web site for a FREE copy of InfoDepot Outliner!
Date: Tue, 27 Feb 1996 12:00:09 -0400
From: aa4lr@radio.org (Bill Coleman AA4LR)
Subject: Re: Carpe.Diem digest 27 Feb 1996
>This is caused by bad programming - applications using working directories.
>No application written since HFS arrived should be using working
>directories, which are a nasty hack to make pre-HFS applications
>compatible.
The old standard file uses working directories. Although HFS was introduced
with System 3.2, the standard file dialog mechanism wasn't replaced until
System 7.
> One major (well, widely used) application that still uses them
>is (of course) MS Word. Well, at least 5.1a does. I never upgraded to 6.0
>to find out.
I believe I've run into this problem with SimpleText as well. Shouldn't
Apple clean their own house first?
Bill Coleman, AA4LR Mail: aa4lr@radio.org
Quote: "Not in a thousand years will man ever fly!"
-- Wilbur Wright, 1901
Date: 27 Feb 1996 08:48:42 U
From: "Gino Larsen-Giacalone" Ðggiacalone@htland.comð
Subject: (joke) How Many M$ Develope
Subject: Time: 8:40 AM
OFFICE MEMO (joke) How Many M$ Developers...? Date: 2.27.96
How many Microsoft developers does it take to screw in a light bulb?
??????????=
None, they just make darkness the industry standard.
Date: Tue, 27 Feb 1996 13:12:35 -0500
From: dsc@raleigh.ibm.com (Dan Caugherty)
Subject: Forget Limbaugh, try someone way less inflammatory
Just following the various discussions, so here's my assorted $.02:
-- Getting Limbaugh, Kinsley, et al. to endorse anything is a
lame idea, simply because whatever market share you create,
you lose roughly an equal amount shortly thereafter. In
short, getting politicos to endorse will *always* be seen
as an endorsement by the seller of the spokesperson, not
by the spokesperson for the seller (which is what was desired
in the 1st place).
Granted, if you have a product that costs very little and sells
in incredible amounts (e.g. Doritos), no problem. But, even
a Pizza Hut pizza is hard to sell with this kind of endorsement.
(Hey, I know folks who wouldn't order from Pizza Hut due to
the ads containing a certain someone.)
-- What would be the right kind of endorsement? How about a
touring rock band, especially one that wouldn't mind having a
concert being webcast (and one that regularly uses Macs in
the studio to get work done -- oh, what a TV spot that would
make!). I'd say this is an improvement over getting Bill (?)
Graham's organization to promote isolated (tho' webcast)
events. I may have absolutely no interest in seeing whatever
Mr. Graham is promoting, much less feel an urge to visit a
Web site (with crummy or tardy multimedia thanks to my modem).
But if I'm already going to see a particular group in concert,
and the ads are there via sponsorship...
-- The problems with Mac networking seem to center around Dynamic
IP addressing (I'm referring to the Mac-vs-NT debate here).
Does Open Transport have dynamic IP capabilities or not? And
if not, why not?
Just my $.02, as usual,
-- Dan Caugherty
Speaking *from* but not *for* IBM. Please keep it that way.
Date: Tue, 27 Feb 1996 11:44:41 -0800
From: Craig Doran ÐSigma907@cnsnet.netð
Subject: Re:New Media News-Apology
I just received the last digest that had my message about New Media News.
I apologize for its length and screw ups. I used the new Cyberdog
document to post it. I guess it still has some fleas left in it. It
seemed to send fine. I will refrain from using Cyberdog in the future.
Sorry,
Craig
Date: 27 Feb 1996 10:21:42 U
From: "Gino Larsen-Giacalone" Ðggiacalone@htland.comð
Subject: Mac Ads (Rush?)
Mac Ads (Rush?)
I suggest that Apple needs to run a variety of TV ads at the same time. The
series of different mesages that are presented differently will be heard like
multiple voices as opposed to a campaign with one style or voice. The single
voice campaign is good for building name recognition. Apple already has name
recognition. The multi-voice campaign can build perception of presence and
legitamacy ( it is said that when people hear the same thing from 3 to 6
different sources they perceive it as true).
I think Mr. Limbaugh COULD be used without tainting Apple with politics.
(...oops... here I almost made a mistake and expressed an opinion about RL -
please honor my will power and similarly resist temptation ) He could be one of
a series of "portaits" - that is silent shots of personalities smiling while
holding or sitting with a Mac - of well known Mac user.
Alternatively, he RL could appear with Clinton's brother, who is a Mac user.
They could be shown sitting somewhere -either in front of a white backgroud or
maybe on an airline - with a localtalk connection between two Powerbooks. The
headline could be something like "With Macs everyone can communicate" or
"Macintosh makes communication easy".
We all know that there is a huge set of personlities. Since there is , I know
its hard for us to believe, certainly other personalities who DON'T use MacOS
teh choices will have to be balanced from many areas. The risk is starting a
"battle of the notables".
It is critical, I think, that a MacOS ad campaing also present other angles at
the same time. An important one would be to claim (rightfully) the high ground
as the historical "ORIGINAL AND INNOVATOR" of PCs ==> afterall what are both DOS
and Windows but "clones" of Apple innovations.
"Why settle for a immitation when you can own the real thing?"
Comments?
G.S.Larsen-Giacalone
ggiacalone@htland.com
Date: Tue, 27 Feb 1996 10:40:05 -0800
From: Erik Ramberg Ðerik.ramberg@cellnet.comð
Subject:
Regarding Craig's points (which seem to have as much truth as Rush! ;-)
>Besides the Rush debacle, did you know:
>
>1) DOOM was originally developed for the MAC, and Apple chased the
>developers away by insisting on LESS violence. Now, Apple is begging and
>pleading to acquire a shabby port of all the DOOM stuff, as well as the
>spinoffs, HEXEN and HERETIC.
It's true that Apple shunned games in the past, but Id made DOOM for DOS and
had no plans to put it on the Mac. It was only later that enough prodding
by Mac users and Apple's Games Evangelist egged Id into licensing the port
out to Lion Software.
>
>2) Mosaic, the FIRST Web browser, was originally available for MACS-ONLY!
>This window of opportunity was there for six months, and Apple did nothing
>to brag up this exclusive ability of the Mac. By the time Apple caught on
>to the power of the Web, Netscape was released for Windows, and was way
>cooler, thus muting the marketing advantage.
Oops, some misinformation as well. The first Web browser was released on
the Next machine...though I don't remember what CERN called it.
I'm not sure whether Mosaic was first released on the Mac...but the Windoze
version was no different than the Mac version until Netscape was released
(and since that time the Windoze version has always predated the Mac version.)
>
>These three mistakes have each cost Apple huge opportunities. Apple needs
>the second coming of Steve Jobs. Let's hope Gil Amelio is it....
>
>Best,
>Craig
Date: Tue, 27 Feb 1996 12:59:26 -0600
From: adobe1@intellinet.com (Scott Hawkins)
Subject: Inside Computer City
I work at a Computer City and am the "Mac Guy" Heck, I'm the evangelist for
the whole state where I am. The only reason I work there is:
a) To provide a resource for all of the Mac customers. I carry a 3-ring
binder crammed full of all the latest info and CDs to show customers and
answer their Mac questions
and
b) to turn as many people away from PCs as possible. Many of our customers
are 1st time computer shoppers.
I would like to say that most of you are right. Computer City and the other
chains couldn't give a damn about Apple and their customers. I try to get
software on the shelves from our buyers.....NOPE! I try to get more shelf
space for Macs....NOPE! (I have to cram all the Performas in one aisle...)
I can't even get mgmt. to let me open more ink carts for the Stylewriters,
so I can show their print quality (I bring my own samples!)
Does all this mean the Mac community should boycott retail..NO. If you have
a BIG CHAIN near you, go in and find out who the Macintosh expert is. Meet
them and say HI! Tell your buddies who that person is. I can't tell you how
many people I have met from actively introducing myself to anyone who is in
our store buying something for their Mac. If you get to know your local
guru, he'll be there for you later. I make myself available to all my
customers by giving them my home #. If you don't find anyone to
help....get an underemployed Mac buddy to work there! Every retail chain
needs at least ONE Mac person. It's up to all of us to make sure that
happens on a local level.
(Also, if you work in retail and are the local Mac evangelist, send me a
note. Iam starting a mailing list for Mac salespeople.)
Thanx
Scott Hawkins
Have a nice day....Mac4ever....Bring me the Head of Bill Gates
Date: Tue, 27 Feb 1996 13:41:48 -0600
From: Fritz Anderson Ðfritza@tezcat.comð
Subject: Last year's Windows
Saw your article in that site devoted to last year's OS.
Ðhttp://www.win95mag.com/96.2/mac96.htmlð
> The next accusation is that Multimedia CD-ROM's install easier under Mac
> than Windows 95. But what's easier that inserting a CD and watching an
> install program pop up?
Answer: Having the install program succeed. I realize that, in the MSworld, this
qualifies as "overengineering," or some other euphemism for "too hard for a hobby system."
> What they are so proud of is 13% market share. That
> means that of the two competing PC operating systems, MacOS was bought once for
> every eight PC's sold. ... But when you're the only distributor and there are 8
> times more of the only competing product being sold, that spells BAD to me.
Pentium math. One-for-seven, not one-for-eight. And, not every small Intel system is a
PC. A personal computer sits on a desk and a person uses it as a computer. A headless
server locked in the back room, a 3270 emulator on a bank clerk's desk, and a
keyboard/screen/cash drawer are not personal computers even if they have Compaq labels on
them; they simply the cheapest available boxes. The purchase of those machines substitute
for purpose-built minicomputers, terminals, and cash registers, not for Macintoshes. If
you're making an honest comparison of the PC market, subtract at least a third of Intel
sales.
You seem to recognize this, as you say "MacOS [a personal computing system] was bought
once... for every [seven] PC's [boxes for all uses] sold."
Also: there are more than two competing Intel operating systems, and therefore not just
one competing product. Offhand, I can think of six OSes available for new Intel
platforms, four of them from Microsoft.
> Apple ... complains that Win95 doesn't autodetect floppies. Oh well. I really miss
> that one. Especially having 30 dimmed disks on my desktop when I use
> (Apple)-E to eject them, just to have to re-insert them to shut down.
I await your public affidavit swearing that you never lost data because MS OSes can only
guess about what's in the floppy drive. Also that you have actually done work on a
Macintosh that resulted in mounting and ejecting 30 disks without unmounting. If your
response is that you are properly trained on MS operating systems to flush and mount by
hand whenever you change floppies, then you have to concede that a Mac user can be trained
to unmount (as well as ejecting) floppies. I suppose it doesn't matter that if the Mac
user's training fails, he is inconvenienced, whereas if yours fails, you lose data?
> Win95's Wizards holds your hand through processes, asking you clear questions and
> giving precise results. There is nothing similar to that on the Mac.
Untrue. Apple Guide can solicit input and drive the subject program.
> I've been on Internet for a year and a half and have
> NEVER been asked my type of PC.
Get a Macintosh, and drag Netscape onto it. Or spill a little chicken blood over your
Windows machine, install a forms-compatible browser, and pray the
installation/deinstallation doesn't do too much damage. You will find literally hundreds
of sites have surveys in them, all of which want to know what OS you are running so they
can sell you things. There's a whole new world out there if you can install a program
without fear of toppling your house of .INI cards.
> Software emulation? I ran Wolfenstein on a
> PowerMac 80mHz with SoftWindows and watched the spectacular 5 frames per second.
> Next. But wait, DOS has an emulator called Executor which runs Mac software faster
> on a P90 than on a Quadra.
Neat. How did Mac Wolfenstein run on that emulator?
> They say that the change to PowerPC was great because of the emulation.
> Of course, what they don't say is that most of their System 7 for PowerPC
> code RELIES on the emulation! Oops!
And the Win95 solution for RISC is...? [buy another OS] And the Win95 solution for OS
code that is not yet 32-bit ready is...? [e-m-u-l-a-t-i-o-n]
> OpenDoc? Too bad its [sic] not out yet, just like OpenGL, so this is moot.
Out for Mac since January, out for OS|2 (and, I think AIX) since February. Out for
Windows 2Q96. OpenGL will be sharing code and data across networks on four platforms...
when?
> CD quality sound in and out? Try and find a new PC without it.
Ah. So you are willing to compare Mac/Win features, compatibility, and installed base
based ONLY on machines with built-in audio?
> The next most striking improvement the Win95 has over the Mac is the taskbar. It makes
> drag and drop between documents truly possible.
[Selects graphic in Netscape. Drags it into Photoshop. Drags it into WordPerfect. Drags
it into web-authoring tool.] You're right. That was impossible.
> The next most striking improvement the Win95 has over the Mac is the taskbar. It makes
> drag and drop between documents truly possible. While dragging something and hovering
> over a taskbar button, it opens the Window. It lets you see everything you're doing
> all the time. It also has every installed program, your settings, help, and shutting
> down. And you also have the notification area, which allows small status icons that
> can bring up menus or status windows.
This is what comes of letting computer hobbyists design software. In the real world,
seeing everything _the computer_ is doing is not the same as seeing everything _you_ are
doing. Look at that little tiny white square in the center of that screen you describe.
The one in the middle of all those bars and windows and panels you have to watch
constantly because the OS has no idea where to find anything, and has to be prevented from
doing damage.
See that little thing? That tiny tiny afterthought? It's the actual work you bought your
computer for. Not interesting to the hobbyist who writes programs for lawyers -- the
disaster-prevention and feature-brag displays are much more important. But it's only
thing interesting to the lawyers -- until Windows teaches them that preventing disaster is
job one.
> What could be more intuitive than clicking on an
> object to see what you can do with it?
Answer: Seeing what you can do with an object in a way that is actually implemented.
Click on a Mac object. Examine menus. The dimmed commands aren't available. Works all
the time. (I know this sounds cumbersome if you are used to Windows. Mac mouse tracking
and the pin-to-edge menu bar are designed so the OS doesn't need an extra hardware button
to work around the menu system. [This is charitable, as it assumes the button was added
to meet a need -- Wintel equipment is never designed with a use in mind. Instead,
software has to be designed, and then reconfigured, to accommodate whatever hobbyist-spec
equipment is being pushed this week.])
I await your affidavit swearing that (1) the right button works the way you describe in
every program you own; and (2) you never press the wrong button.
> Win95 may still have extensions, but it hides them by default. Unfortunately, Mac
> hides something too, its extensions! You see, all Mac files have a four letter extension
> associated with them as well, it is just independent of the filename.
No: Something that does not extend a file name is not an extension. What you are saying
is that what MacOS tracks in the file system, can be emulated with a naming convention in
Win95.
Why stop there? You can tell the world that Win95 has a _versioning_ file system -- all
you have to do is type your version number into the file name! Just like VMS, only VMS
keeps the version independent of the file name!
> This leaves
> programs having to use extensions like $DW$ so as to not conflict.
You mean that when you have a label to distinguish between things, you have to make sure
different things have different labels, or they aren't distinguished? Next you'll be
insisting on having a phone number that just rings on your line!
What do you expect to happen when you use the same label to mean contradictory things?
[Answer: Windows.]
> Win95 extensions
> can be as long as a program wants.
Provided the _real_ extension is truncated and managed so as not to conflict with
file-typing and naming conventions in Win95 or Microsoft's other OSes.
> And lastly, as for the long/short filename conflicts,
> these are only with Win 3.1 machines. At least our file systems are backward
Yes.
> compatible!
Oh. But you were just saying that Win95 extensions didn't have to be backward-compatible?
> Try sticking a System 7 disk into a System 6 machine. The only useful
> thing you can do to it is initialize (format) it.
[Sticks System 7 disk into System 6 machine. Opens files. Runs applications.]
[Sticks System 7 disk into MS machine. Machine hasn't a clue. Hits machine with baseball
bat to tell it something fundamental just changed in its hardware state. Hits control-C
-- oops, that's for _another_ MS OS, with which Win95 is Exactly Compatible. Presses
idiot button. Wipes dribble from machine's chin. Machine still hasn't a clue.]
[Sticks MS disk into Mac. Opens files. Double-clicks .c file; program editor opens.
Double-clicks WP file; WordPerfect opens the file. Formats MS disk anyway (declining
offer of DOS format). A matter of mercy, not necessity.]
Date: 27 Feb 1996 20:39:04 -0600
From: "Geoff Coffey" Ðgeoff_coffey@aoce.austin.apple.comð
Subject: Re: Carpe.Diem digest 27 Feb 1996
------ From: Carpe.Diem@ddg.com, Tue, Feb 27, 1996 ------
>I believe I've run into this problem with SimpleText as well. Shouldn't
>Apple clean their own house first?
Somehow something got miscommunicated. The "problem" with CD's is that the
SimpleText application resides on the CD, and if the application is running,
the volume cannot be unmounted. It has nothing to do with poor programming.
Geoff Coffey
Date: Tue, 27 Feb 1996 12:46:29 -0800
From: quadra_quack@sierra.campus.mci.net (Isaac Church)
Subject: Re: Anarchie ideas
ðX-Sender: peter@proxy.peter.com.au
>Mime-Version: 1.0
>Date: Wed, 28 Feb 1996 00:11:26 +0800
ðTo: quadra_quack@sierra.campus.mci.net
ðFrom: Peter N Lewis Ðpeter@stairways.com.auð
>Subject: Re: Anarchie ideas
>
>>>>I agree wholeheartedly. It seems that if the author of Anarchie got
>>>>together with the Info-Mac guys, they could develop a new standard for
>>>>attaching file descriptions to files. This would probabably cover 60% of
>>>>Mac internet file transfer needs/capabilities. If UMich were included,
>>>>that would probably bump it up to 80%. Of course this wouldn't help the
>>>>Wintel side of the world, but, ehhhh, who cares.
>
>Yes, this is a good idea. However, any plan that involves "getting
>together with the Info-Mac & UMich guys" is very problematic. I and they
>both have a zillion things to do already, and it's very hard to work
>anything in to either of our schedules. And getting the UMich and Info-Mac
>people to agree on anything is nigh on impossible (I've tried before :).
>
>It's sad to say it, but I suspect the web is a better way of solving this
>problem. A web interface to the UMich and/or Info-Mac archives would be
>relatively easy, and with a decent web client, you could then just
>cmd-click the FTP URL to have Anarchie download the file.
> Peter.
>
>--
ðWeb: Ðhttp://www.share.com/stairways/ð
ðFTP: Ðftp://mirrors.aol.com/pub/peterlewis/ð
ðEmail: Ðmailto:peter@stairways.com.auð
>
In case you couldn't tell this is the response that I got for an idea that
another Carpe.Diem member and I had. Thought the group might be interested.
-Isaac Church
"Life is a series of mistakes, and success depends on how well we learn
from them."
Date: 27 Feb 96 14:02:26 +0000
From: Doug Lobdell Ðdoug@cos.srs.comð
Subject: Digest Yes!
To: Carpe Diem ÐCarpe.Diem@ddg.comð
Message-ID: Ð960227.140226@cos.srs.comð
X-Mailer: InterCall 1.2
Thanx for changing Carpe Diem to digest format! Now I can read the whole thing in one sitting rather than being interupted 40 times a day to read individual messages.
Subject: Rush's Campaign
Date: Tue, 27 Feb 96 16:00:05 -0600
From: Jeff Click Ðclix@ionet.netð
As for my two one-hundredths of a 1.0...
The Rush idea doesn't HAVE to be a full-fledged marketing campaign. He
can still make a significant impact on sales without a national marketing
plan. Just ask Florida Orange Juice. They simply had a $1 million
contract with him to advertise them ONLY on his show and if I remember
correctly, just two weeks after the campaign started OJ sales more than
quadrupled! Who cares if Liberals don't listen to him? It's not a
political issue, the bottom line is sales, and Apple needs it!
He does have the #1 most-listened to radio show, which means he has a
huge audience, and his influence speaks for itself.
As for the liberal campaign, call Howard.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
CLIXSOUNDS
Unique Digital Audio Creations
http://www.edmondsun.com/clix/
Internet: clix@ionet.net
America Online: CLIXSOUNDS
eWorld: CLIXSOUNDS
CLIXSOUNDS
7301 Skylark Lane
OKC, OK 73162
Date: Tue, 27 Feb 1996 15:04:46 -0700 (MST)
From: Powers Foss Ðfoss@ucsub.Colorado.EDUð
Subject: MacAttack (fwd)
I don't know where this came from...it just appeared in my mail box...but
it is rather funny.
Powers Foss.
___________________________________________________________________
DOS Beer
Requires you to use your own can opener, and requires you to read
the directions carefully before opening the can. Originally only came in
an 8-ounce can, but now comes in a 16-ounce can. However, the can is
divided into eight compartments of two ounces each, which have to be
accessed separately. Soon to be discontinued, although a lot of people
are going to keep drinking it after it's no longer available.
Mac Beer
At first, came only in a 16-ounce can, but now comes in a
32-ounce can. Considered by many to be a "light" beer. All the cans
look identical. When you take one from the fridge, it opens itself. The
ingredients list is not on the can. If you call to ask about the
ingredients, you are told that "you don't need to know." A notice on the
side reminds you to drag your empties to the trash can.
Windows 95 Beer
A lot of people have taste-tested it and claim it's wonderful.
The can looks a lot like Mac Beer's can, but tastes more like Windows 3.1
Beer. It comes in 32-ounce cans, but when you look inside, the cans have
only 16 ounces of beer in them. Most people will probably keep drinking
Window 3.1 Beer until their friends try Windows 95 Beer and say they like
it. The ingredients list, when you look at the small print, has some of
the same ingredients that come in DOS beer, even though the manufacturer
claims that this is an entirely new brew.
UNIX Beer
Comes in several different brands, in cans ranging from 8 ounces
to 64 ounces. Drinkers of UNIX Beer display fierce brand loyalty, even
though they claim that all the different brands taste identical.
Sometimes the pop-tops break off when you try to open them, so you have
to have your own can opener around for those occasions, in which case you
either need a complete set of instructions, or a friends who has been
drinking UNIX Beer for several years.
These are the words you can not use on the internet: Fuck Shit Cunt tit
Abortion Asshole Cock Penis Twat Bitch (anal rape tag) midget tossing
plutonium 232 (alt.binaries.hamster.ducttape.watersports) assassinate rebellion
fertilizer explosives anarchy babyoil fornicate POE weather underground
subgenius Bill Clinton kidnap Socks Suicide machine marijuana LSD
____________________________________________________________________
Once again, I didn't write this.
Date: Tue, 27 Feb 1996 16:26:05 -0700
From: heninger@yvax.byu.edu (M. Wade Heninger)
Subject: Re: Carpe.Diem digest 27 Feb 1996
>I just received the last digest that had my message about New Media News.
>I apologize for its length and screw ups. I used the new Cyberdog
>document to post it. I guess it still has some fleas left in it. It
>seemed to send fine. I will refrain from using Cyberdog in the future.
Let me know if I am wrong on this, but isnt it that Cyberdog speaks a more
complex language that traditional clients cant understand? In other words,
these readers are based on the lowest common denominator in understanding
internet communictions (ASCII or something like that), so they dont pick up
on Cyberdogs ability to style text, add color and graphics. If this is the
case, then it isnt Cyberdog's problem, but rather a stagnation of internet
protocol.
With regards,
______________________________________________________
Wade Heninger * heninger@yvax.byu.edu
*
http://acs1.byu.edu/~heninger/wade.html
______________________________________________________
Today's computer user wants a tool, not another hobby.
Date: Tue, 27 Feb 96 17:21:35 -0600
From: lbotez@cs.wisc.edu (Lynda Botez)
Subject: Re: Why not purple Mac cases?
>> Forget the grayscale stuff, I want to be able to buy a Mac with a purple
>> or pastel bluegreen case like our department's SGI Indys and Indy^2s. I
>> still haven't worked out why Apple haven't done this before now.
>>
>
>Hopefully because they [engineers] took one look at the Acer cases.
>Green, purple? Eehh!
>
>After I saw those, I thought, "Maybe a computer that matches my stove
>and fridge isn't so bad after all..."
Those Acer computers are UGLY. Not only do they look like swiss cheese, but
they look cheap and tacky looking. I can't imagine having one of those in
my house.
However, I did really like the NeXT computer. It was black, but had mega
doses of style. I wouldn't mind a black mac...
I remember at one time Apple let you buy MacSE's in colors. I guess it wasn't
all that successful (or they would have continued it).
Date: Tue, 27 Feb 1996 18:22:53 -0500
Subject: Is Apple Listening?
From: Nathan Tennies Ðbootstrp@vnet.netð
Gino Larsen-Giacalone wrote:
>BTW - I find Carpe Diem interesting infomrative and fun. But is it any more
>than a "heatsink" for my enthusiasm? While I can understand if they wouldn't
>want to be identified, does anyone from Apple or any other Mac industry
>people peruse our goings on?
Sure they are. The first hundred members or so of Carpe Diem (myself and
Andrew Donoho included) were mostly developers that came from Semper Fi.
I've asked Guy to encourage an Apple presence on Carpe Diem, and I'm sure
some of the 500 people that joined from Evangelist a week ago were from
Apple. That doesn't mean that we'll necessary hear a lot from Apple
folks - we don't even on Semper Fi - but I guarantee we have Apple
employees listening in. I can't say specifically whether people like Guy
are members, but I do know that Guy thinks Carpe Diem is cool and
supports it as a forum.
Will anything come of your enthusiasm? If you are expecting that Apple
will hear your ideas, say thanks, and start implementing them, I don't
know of any way to make that happen (if I did, I'd have done it a long
time ago). If you are expecting that the ideas and discussions from
Carpe Diem will slowly filter into Apple and affect their decisions, I'm
sure that will happen to some degree. If you are expecting that your
ideas will be heard by fellow evangelists, and that as an unorganized
forum we can make a difference in Apple's direction and in the world's
perception of the Macintosh, I know that this is already happening though
Carpe Diem.
>I wouldn't be surprised if M$ did. Despite our ire you
>can't say they are arrogant about their competition. They may have power to
>crush the competition but the ARE very aware that their own fortune was a
>quirk. They work very hard to prevent making IBM's mistake.
I wouldn't be surprised if Microsoft listened in - they do on Semper Fi
and Evangelist - but it wouldn't surprise me if they didn't either.
Microsoft can be very aware of their competition, but they can also be
extremely arrogant when they think they have "won".
Nathan Tennies
Bootstrap Enterprises Inc
Subject: Duped by Duberman again
Date: Tue, 27 Feb 96 19:02:49 -0500
From: Geno Porfido Ðporfido@chelsea.ios.comð
Hi Carpe Diem....
A little follow up on the Dave Duberman report ( Daily Spectrum =
author/Mac Basher...)
Todays big announcement is carried in all the papers. For some =
reason, there's one name missing from the members of the CIEC.....one =
that's been on the top of all the other lists mainly due to =
alphabetical order.
Do you see Apple Computer mentioned anywhere??
Gee....maybe Dave just, um 'forgot'??
I notice all of the 'pc' type companies are in =
there...Prodigy......M$......Compuserve....interesting?
This guy really needs a wake up, MacWarriors.....
Daily Spectrum: Interactive Media & Online Developer News
27 February 1996
Reported, written and edited by David Duberman
email duberman@morph.com
Broad Coalition Challenges Internet Censorship Bill in Court
Yesterday-Monday, February 26, 1996-a coalition representing a broad
spectrum of Internet users, publishers, content providers and access
providers filed a lawsuit in a Federal Court in Philadelphia, Penn. =
seeking
to overturn the recently enacted Communications Decency Act. The =
challenge
will argue that the Internet is a unique communications technology =
which
deserves First Amendment protections at least as broad as those =
enjoyed as
by the print medium.
The group, known as the Citizens Internet Empowerment Coalition (CIEC =
-
pronounced "seek") is coordinated by the Center for Democracy and =
Technology
(CDT), America Online, and the American Library Association, and =
others,
including People for the American Way. Its 35 members include =
libraries,
book publishers, newspaper publishers, editors, advertisers, =
commercial
online service providers, ISPs, non-profit groups, and civil liberties
advocates.
In addition to CIEC, named plaintiffs in the challenge include the =
American
Library Association, America Online, Compuserve, Prodigy, Microsoft, =
NETCOM,
The Commercial Internet eXchange,the National Newspaper Association, =
the
American Booksellers Association, HotWired and Wired Magazine, and =
others.
Find a complete list of plaintiffs and CIEC members, and how to get
involved, at CDT's Web site at http://www.cdt.org/ciec/.
-----------------------------------------
Every day lads. Anything to make Apple look.....missing??
=89 Smilin' Pig Productions =89
=89 Multimedia Music & Sound Co =89
=89 Never wrestle with a pig. You both get dirty and =89
=89 besides, the pig likes it =89
Subject: Re: Carpe.Diem digest 27 Feb 1996
Date: Tue, 27 Feb 96 19:03:24 -0500
From: Geno Porfido Ðporfido@chelsea.ios.comð
>
>Date: Tue, 27 Feb 1996 13:41:48 -0600
ðFrom: Fritz Anderson Ðfritza@tezcat.comð
>Subject: Last year's Windows
>
>Saw your article in that site devoted to last year's OS.
ðÐhttp://www.win95mag.com/96.2/mac96.htmlð
>
>> The next accusation is that Multimedia CD-ROM's install easier under Mac
>> than Windows 95. But what's easier that inserting a CD and watching an
>> install program pop up?
EXCELLENT FRITZ......
Need I ask whether you sent a copy to Jackof------ I mean, uh, Jack =
the writer :)
Thank you for responding to this moron's article. I'd wish the world =
to see this. Now I can openly berate and belittle this chump, safe in =
the knowledge that at least one of us responded intelligently...;)
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D
**
Here's a take on the Limbaugh/Clinton commercial:
Rush and Roger...sitting across a fine oak table, perhaps in one of =
those 'Men's Clubs'...you know, big back leather chairs....Hobbs, the =
butler..sipping cognac....
Anyway, here they are, Appltalk cable stretched from PowerBook to =
PowerBook....staring in each others face, silent, straight and =
tight-lipped. Meanwhile, as they are typing comments across =
AppleTalk...Text to Speech is babbling away as if they were actually =
talking to each other....Cool, yes?? :)
( I'd rather put Howard Stern in there with Rush ......but Stern's an =
O/S2 'er....( much better than wimpdoze.. but not a Mac)
GP
=89 Smilin' Pig Productions =89
=89 Multimedia Music & Sound Co =89
=89 Never wrestle with a pig. You both get dirty and =89
=89 besides, the pig likes it =89
Date: Tue, 27 Feb 1996 15:45:22 -0800
From: mpayson@halcyon.com (Mike Payson)
Subject: Re: Carpe.Diem digest 27 Feb 1996
>Date: Tue, 27 Feb 1996 00:19:05 -0600
ðFrom: chansen@innovsoftd.com (Craig Hansen)
>Subject: Mac Should Divorce Canon!
>
>I love Macs, but Apple has the WORST printer OEM partner in the world!
>Canon's are about as unreliable and buggy as any printers with smaller
>reputations. The Stylewriter 1200 has had NUMEROUS returns due to faulty
>paper feed construction. The 2400 is not much better. And Canon doesn't
>even give Apple it's most current technology in a timely fashion. Where
>are the Stylewriter 1220's and 2440's to match the Canon 210's and 610's on
>the PC side? Those have been out since Thanksgiving!
>
>When asked what I reccommend, and use, I always point customers to the
>Hewlett-Packard DeskWriter series. They are more reliable and easier to
>find cartriges for. My top reccommended printer to anyone who asks is the
>HP DeskJet 855C.
>
I personally always had good luck with Appls Printers. I don't own one, but
when selling them, I had very few complaints with Apple. All manufacturers
will occasionally release a bad product. Case in point is a recent fix that
HP sent to virtually all Deskjet owners (I wish I knew more about this, it
had something to do with not cleaning the print head right, as I recall).
HP, to their credit did handle the problem very well.
As far as why no 1220, etc... Well, Apple just can't win. First everyone
bitches when they release products too soon (IIvx/Centris 650 for example).
Now they are being derided for not releasing them fast enough. Canon can
get away with it due to competition, but apple doesn't have it as easy.
Canon's printers always beat out HP's on Image quality, usually on speed,
and often overall. They are smaller & nicer looking. I know several people
who still use their original Stylewriter without problems. I'm not putting
down HP, they do make a solid printer & have an excellent reputation for
support, but I would rather have a Canon based printer any day.
_____________________________________________________________________________
** "The burning of an author's books, imprisonment for opinion's sake, has **
always been the tribute that an ignorant age pays to the genius of it's time"
**** ~Joseph Lewis ****
*** Visit the Moorish Observatory: www.mediastream.com/mediastream/mfja/***
Subject: an ill wind that blows no one some good
Date: Tue, 27 Feb 96 19:33:02 -0500
From: T.L.Miller Ðtelem@Packet.Netð
Okay, Apple ended the Xmas quarter with a very high inventory of
unsold machines (I'm not sure what DID sell), but now they're dumping
and I'd think these lower prices would be boosting mkt share. There
must be a lot of people swayed by the low prices.
Tom Miller
------------------------------------------------------------------------
If you like tropical plants like hibiscus, please see:
http://website.fishnet.net/gardengatepress/Hibiscus.html
-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -
Why are Mac owners so enthusiastic? There must be a reason!!
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subject: Pros and cons of political affiliation
Date: Tue, 27 Feb 96 15:38:13 -0900
From: Thomas Twigg Ðttwigg@alaska.netð
Craig shared...
>About six months ago, famous liberal iconoclast MICHAEL KINSLEY of CNN's
>CROSSFIRE left CNN to join Microsoft and edit an online magazine. At LEAST
>once a month, I've had someone come in the store to return a WinTel '95
>machine because they don't like Michael Kinsley. When I tell them Rush is
>a PowerMac user, that usually cements their conversion.....
If people would bail on their OS because they didn't like its affiliation
with "famous liberal iconoclast MICHAEL KINSLEY", imagine what people
might do if their OS was affiliated with "more famous" and more notorious
bastion of concervative thinking Rush Limbaugh! Was't the Mac born out of
anti-establishment somewhat liberal ideology (remember the famous
SuperBowl commercial)?.
My point is that it would be best if official spokespeople were well
liked but more neutral personalities, not likely to make anyone want to
return their Mac due to political differences. If Rush loves his Macs,
great, let him mention it every once in a while; he doesn't need Apple's
blessing any more than we do and needs their money even less. Somebody
suggested balancing two opposites against each other like Rush and Bono -
now that is an idea that could work because it shows the great range of
people that the Mac can appeal to and would let any viewer identify with
one side or the other (if they needed to). The question would be does
someone like Bono like his Mac enough to share the same stage or page
with his moral doppelganger?
Tom Twigg
ttwigg@alaska.net
Date: Tue, 27 Feb 1996 16:40:11 -0800
From: KEVIN CARNEY ÐKCZZ490@wadnr.govð
Subject: Apple ads
Since Apple is the "real thing" it ought to team with Coca-cola on
some "real" ads.
I think one point we are clearly hearing from everyone is Apple needs
to advertise everywhere with clever ads.
I have seen their ads and love them like the one with the kid going
to the neighbors to play Dinosaurs cause they have a mac, and the
xmas eve couple, but they are on wierd times, and wierd shows. When
was the last time Apple sponsored a hockey game, football, or
baseball? Just a simple Apple logo in the outfield would lend the
idea it is normal to buy Apple.
We can help! Put the Apple stickers on your car and your businesses
front windows. Write any magazine with a PC in its title and remind
them macs are "Personal Computers" and deserve coverage like other
computers.
Apple Everywhere - Forever!
-Kevin
Date: 27 Feb 96 20:00:25 -0500
Subject: Re: Apple Printers from Cannon
From: "Tim Pfeiff" Ðtpfeiff@mindspring.comð
>If anyone has had better experience with Apple's Canon-OEM printers, feel
>free to make a case for them. I've seen customers have nothing but
>headaches.
Craig,
I work on a support desk for the FedEx sales force, around 1,000 users.
Almost all of our users have Apple StyleWriter 1200 printers. A few have HP
Deskwriter 540 printers. While we do have an occasional printer come in for
repair, the rate is miniscule. Most of those that have come back were new
out of the box, and the user swore that the printer did not work, only to
test it and find it was fine. My experience is that the StyleWriter 1200 is
a very durable, easy to use printer that I would recommend to anyone. Users
have to try READING the manual when things go wrong and they can't figure
them out.
Tim
Date: Wed, 28 Feb 1996 02:40:25 +0100
From: dvision@pi.se (d Vision)
Subject: the twelve step guide to recovering from Windows (Was : A tactic to help trounce
It's Happening...
I have reserved a place at the AppleGuide Kitchen in London 4-6 of march.
My intention is to *make* the
"windows user guide to finder"
with the alternate name
"the twelve step guide to recovering from Windows",
but I can not do it, without Your help / support and input!,
let's make a two(2) faceGuide, one face is actually the helping one,
the other face of the Guide can be a much more humoristic one:)
so far what we have is :
[...] from the originator of the idea :
habigc@radix.net (Chris Habig)
1) How do I find a file on the Macintosh?
2) Where is the file manager?
3) Where is the program manager?
4) Where is the control menu?
5) ...
[...] from : Drew Ivan Ðivan@en.comð
How do I get a command line?
[...] from :Gene Ouye Ðgeneo@rational.comð
If you think about it, a new user will
spend a lot of time browsing menus just to figure out what can be done,
and where things are. Unfortunately, the only way to do that is to
click on the menu title and DON'T LET GO!!!
[...] from : Bill Ahrens Ðahrens@netfarm.comð
The guide could be called the twelve step guide to recovering from Windows.
[...]
More content, is what we need for the first rough cut of the AppleGuide,
You can all help by submitting :
more one-liner examples, with appropriate answers...
art?...
cartons?...
QT screen movies with voice over?...
copy for Text-to-Speech?...
Deadline for one-liners (the first version) is Friday 1 march 1800h CET
(Central European Time). I will put the Guide for You to alpha at web_ftp by
the end of march, by then we will also have more info on how to submitt any
media-rich content.
/pf
Date: Tue, 27 Feb 1996 18:04:39 -0800
From: mpayson@halcyon.com (Mike Payson)
Subject: Ideas on licensing
>Apple spends 2.5 times as much as any other computer company on R&D. Apple
>is an innovation and technology leader! So why are they giving away their
>technology with no strings?
>
>Let me explain what I mean.
>
>85% of all Windows 95 games are developed on a Macintosh and ported over.
What? Where did you get that stat? I know that most MULTIMEDIA titles are
developed on the Mac, but multimedia is a subset of , not another word for
game.
>Countless games on the PC-side of the market use Apple's QuickTime
>technology in their Windows titles. Some are even starting to use
>QuickTime 3D and QuickTime VR. And even though these Apple technologies
>show up in Windows-based games and apps, only about a quarter of game
>developers using these technologies EVER put out a Mac version of their
>games and apps.
True. But, these same titles would never come out on the Mac if the used
Video For Windows. To ecourage the adoption of technology, that technology
must be readily available on all platforms. One of the biggest advantages
that OpenDoc has over OLE is that the Mac & Windows Implementations are not
the same. Thats why there are no OLE clients on the Mac to speak of. Even
MS Apps only support a subset of the standard.
Another example is the oft cited VHS vs. Beta. Sony had a superior
technology with Beta, but failed to grant licenses readily. Matsushita came
along with VHS, virtually gave the licenses away & Beta was dead,
effectively overnight.
>And even though these Apple technologies
>show up in Windows-based games and apps, only about a quarter of game
>developers using these technologies EVER put out a Mac version of their
>games and apps.
Once again, I question your numbers. It makes very little sense for a
company to develop software for the Mac & not release it. Developing on the
Mac & porting to windows would cost more then just developing on Windows to
begin with unless you are using special tools that are superior on the Mac
(ie. Multimedia tools). Very few companies dislike the Mac so much that
they would throw away a market of 12-20 million users simply due to a
personal bias, even if they don't believe in the long-term viability of
Apple. Remember, in the entertainment market, Short-term viability is all
that counts (How often is a game released that has a shelf life of more
then a year? I can think of a few off the top of my head: Myst & the Maxis
Sim games).
_____________________________________________________________________________
** "The burning of an author's books, imprisonment for opinion's sake, has **
always been the tribute that an ignorant age pays to the genius of it's time"
**** ~Joseph Lewis ****
*** Visit the Moorish Observatory: www.mediastream.com/mediastream/mfja/***
Date: Wed, 28 Feb 1996 12:39:37 +1030
From: htp@dove.mtx.net.au (Henry Penninkilampi)
Subject: Re: Mac Should Divorce Canon!
Craig Hansen:
...
>When asked what I reccommend, and use, I always point customers to the
>Hewlett-Packard DeskWriter series. They are more reliable and easier to
>find cartriges for. My top reccommended printer to anyone who asks is the
>HP DeskJet 855C.
...
>If Apple could ever DIVORCE themselves from Canon and sign HP (or the
>IBM-owned Lexmark clone of the HP tenchology) to an OEM partnership
>agreement, I just know that:
>
> 1) Apple would be selling printers FAR SUPERIOR to their current crop.
> 2) Apple-brand printer sales would go through the roof.
Amen! When I think of Hewlett Packard I think of robust workhorses. Sure
they may have a larger footprint than others, but you don't have to worry
that giving them a nudge will hurt them, you don't have to bribe them to
make them work, and you can always use one as a weapon if a burglar invades
your home!
Apple produce some of the most reliable computers in the world - it only
makes sense that their printer-partner should be the one that produces the
most reliable printers.
+------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Henry Penninkilampi (htp@dove.mtx.net.au) |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------+
|Join "EvangeList", Guy Kawasaki's (un)official Apple list-server of good|
|news about Apple, Macintosh, and third-party developers. To subscribe to|
|EvangeList, send an e-mail to: listproc@solutions.apple.com, and include|
|in the body of the message the text: Subscribe Macway |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------+
Date: Tue, 27 Feb 1996 18:19:02 -0800
From: mpayson@halcyon.com (Mike Payson)
Subject: Rush
>>Now, I'm NOT suggesting Apple should be pro-Rush any more than Apple should
>>be anti-Rush. I'm just saying when a personality with this much marketing
>>clout offers to help you move product, you should find a way to take
>>advantage of it!
>
>Pizza Hut used him for a while in a promotion. I think they canned this in
>part due to some protest. Marketing is a funny thing. Sometimes it works,
>sometimes it don't.
Pizza Hut also had many people boycott them after they used him, including
myself. I still will not drink Snapple. You vote with your dollars. If you
have any political convictions, you cannot support a company that supports
your opponents.
Would I boycott Apple if they used Rush in a commercial? Probably not, but
there are a lot of people who would. And I would certainly be more likely
to buy Power Computing for my next CPU.
_____________________________________________________________________________
** "The burning of an author's books, imprisonment for opinion's sake, has **
always been the tribute that an ignorant age pays to the genius of it's time"
**** ~Joseph Lewis ****
*** Visit the Moorish Observatory: www.mediastream.com/mediastream/mfja/***
Date: Wed, 28 Feb 1996 12:39:22 +1030
From: htp@dove.mtx.net.au (Henry Penninkilampi)
Subject: Winning Battles <> Winning Wars
There has been some discussion as to which method of software distribution
is better, Retail or Mail-Order, with what I feel to be valid arguments on
both sides. Since most experienced Macintosh users either buy via
Mail-Order or have industry contacts that can supply them, they are pretty
much self-sustaining - thus I feel that we should direct our efforts
primarily towards converting the unsatisfied PC users, and the undecided
future users.
Where I see opportunities for us to make a difference is by addressing the
former - by converting the unsatisfied PC user. The "50 Macintosh
Advantages" document created by Apple
Ðhttp://product.info.apple.com/productinfo/macadvantage/50advantages/default
.html> is a handy tool to have to present to a rational individual that is
basically looking for a *reason* to change platforms. Much of the
discussion on this list addresses other tactics that we can employ to lure
back those lost to the dark side of the force, so I won't dwell on them
here - this letter primarily deals with latter, more strategic issue of
converting the undecided future user.
Apple is addressing this to some extent by its aggressive marketing in the
educational area (resulting in a 63% installation base in US K-12
institutions). Users will (all other things being equal) opt to purchase a
system that they are familiar with and can afford. By exposing students to
Macintosh and then following up with an affordable line of systems (like
the LC and the Performa), Apple makes this conversion possible (as
witnessed by 29% of undergrads in four-year college degrees opting for
Macs).
But with massive success in penetrating the educational market, you'd
expect Apple's market share to be rising, not falling - so where's the
problem? Four words is all it takes: Kids and pirated computer games.
I'm pretty sure the statistics would back me up on this: Young kids
(especially boys) get exposed and addicted to Sega-Nintendo and pressure
their parents into purchasing a computer system once the parents start
complaining about the cost of maintaining a continual supply of games.
They convince their parents into investing in a platform for which there is
massive supply of pirated games available (from their friends) under the
pretense of using it for schoolwork. The parents, more affected by the
pressure generated by their kids and the 80% market share of the WinDOS
option than by any real or significant reason, cave in and buy a PC to put
beside their VHS video cassette recorder.
Can it really be that simple? Can the foundations of the PC platform be
predominantly based on software piracy? I think so.
Above I said that "Users will (all other things being equal) opt to
purchase a system that they are familiar with and can afford." Herein lies
the problem - all other things are *not* equal. The Macintosh community
does *not* have a vast supply of quality piratable games available to
entice the younger generation into the fold. Yes, there are a lot
available, but most of them are just plain bad. I've been very, very
pleased to see games such as Marathon, Doom, Dark Forces, Descent and
others of their ilk, developed for the Macintosh, as I think this is the
*only* way to stem the flow of young (new) users to the dark side.
For the kids, "challenge" is what it's all about - not ease-of-use, not
reliability, and certainly not technological superiority (at least, not
directly). Teenagers simply don't *think* like adults. They do not make
"rational" decisions. They don't *mind* things breaking down - it gives
them a chance to tear it apart and see how it works! Their competetive
nature drives them to test themselves, their skills, against other
opponents, regardless of whether they be people or machines.
It's still true: "We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the
other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard.
Because that goal will serve to organise and measure the best of our
energies and skills. Because that challenge is one that we are willing to
accept, one we are unwilling to postpone, and one we intend to win." -
JFK/19620912
Apple's marketing strategy seems to be entirely targeted at adults who make
rational decisions, when the fate of the personal computer industry is in
the hands of teenagers who make irrational decisions! Or is it?
Those of you that have kept your ears close to the ground may have heard of
the Pippin. There is an excellent article in the April 1996 Edition of
MacUser, written by Jon Zilber, which addresses the Pippin - what it is,
what it does, its strengths and its weaknesses. You can either buy the
magazine, or access it via the web at
Ðhttp://www.zdnet.com/macuser/mu_0496/features/feature.htmlð and take a
squiz - it's well worth reading as it proves (to me at least) that at least
*someone* at Apple is very, very much in sync with the evolutionary market.
The feature is called "Prime-Time Player" and here's what I consider to be
a key extract:
[Theoretically, the Pippin could wind up with a far more diverse array of
software choices than any of the dedicated gaming platforms. If Mac
developers can live within the memory constraints of the Pippin platform
and adhere to some fairly simple restrictions (such as avoiding hard-disk
caching, adjusting color palettes for output to a TV instead of a monitor,
and modifying user interfaces to operate without the usual Mac menu bar),
they can make their Mac software Pippin-ready without extensive
reprogramming. Conversely, software created for the Pippin platform can run
on a Mac. So developers of Pippin software will have the incentive of an
instant installed base of potential customers far larger than that for any
other high-end game platform, even before the first Pippin hardware ships.]
Pippin has the potential to grab the attention of the kids with
heart-thumping, totally-absorbing action and adventure games, while at the
same time fulfilling the parent's wishes for an educational component, and
then provide a natural transition into the world of Macintosh as we know it
today. All the while capitalising on the superior technology that Apple is
reknown for developing. Provided Apple don't put on blinkers and restrict
themselves to seeing Pippin as just another avenue for generating income
via royalties, the benefits should be enormous.
Craig Hansen:
>Right now, the number one hesitation customers give me about buying a Mac
>is, there's not enough games available for the Mac. Considering the number
>of Win95 games develops on Quadra AV's using QuickTime technology, there's
>NO REASON that Apple's selection of game software should be so anemic,
>except that they're afraid to set some conditions on the licensing of their
>technology.
Craig Doran:
>A great trick is to start Power Pete running on one of the machines
>to show off that the Mac can be an awesome gaming machine. I hung around a
>little while after I fixed-up the Performas, and my plan worked. A few
>minutes later, two little girls heard the Power Pete theme music and came
>running over and started trying to play Power Pete. Their mother wandered
>over to follow them. One of the girls told their mother, "We use these at
>schools." Then while they were playing the game their mother started
>watching the Performa Demo on the neighboring Mac. Last I saw, she was
>asking the salesman a few questions.
The battle for market share is not played in corporate boardrooms and it is
not won by lawyers and accountants; it is played in the minds of children
and won by capturing their hearts.
Apple should (if they haven't already) forge strategic alliances with
companies like Ambrosia, MacPlay, Lucas Arts, Bandai and, let's cut to the
chase, *Disney*. Apple should work hand-in-hand with game developers to
ensure that Macintosh games are based on the best technology available
(QuickDraw 3D and QuickTime 3D particularly) and can get into the market
*well* before the PC clones. From an evangelist's point of view, there is
nothing better than to be able to say "Sorry, it's only available for the
PowerMacintosh - I've heard that they expect to port it to DOS in a few
months, maybe, with a little luck."
Collaborating on developing specific, cutting-edge technologies for, and
delivering them to, game developers - that's what I think Apple's prime
directive should be.
A column in Upside by John M. Williams titled "What Wall Street Doesn't
Understand About Apple" is right on track - here's an extract:
[What should Apple do? First, Apple management needs to ignore the
distracting noises from the outside - financial analysts, the press, and
even its own shareholders, who I think have lost sight of Apple's strategic
advantage. Geoffrey Moore, who may understand the dynamics of marketing
high technology better than anyone, might call these audiences "early and
late majority adopters" in their thinking. They, and the Fortune NNN,
appreciate mainstream ideas, safe investments, standards-oriented
solutions.
Apple, by contrast, has a history of creating products that appeal to the
"innovator and early adopter" markets. Markets that, although smaller, have
a sense of where the industry is going, not where it has been.
...
Predicting where those markets will be going has helped Apple flourish
(fifth largest computer maker, remember) while once powerful mainstream
companies like Data General, NCR (nee AT&T GIS, nee nee NCR), Prime,
Tandem, Unisys (Burroughs, Sperry/Univac - remember them!?) and Wang have
shrunk, faded or disappeared altogether.
Most of Apples ills can be solved by returning, undistracted to what it
does best: design product. The shareholders (and their friends, the
mainstream financial analysts) need to leave Apple management alone to
accomplish this. From my view as a customer, shareholders have a fiduciary
responsibility to let Apple management maximize its resources to this end.
...
Maybe Apple Should Go Private If that means a lot of shareholders bail out,
maybe it would drive Apple's share price down to the point where Apple
could buy itself back and get free of the power block that understands it
the least, and get back to the business of creating great products for its
customers. Without all the distractions.]
How can the distractions be removed? Try this:
On 19960127 The Apple Takeover Board issued a call to arms encouraging the
Macintosh community to protect Apple from hostile takeovers and, basically,
being controlled by people who didn't think "The Macintosh Way". Their
proposal for the "Virtual Takeover" is simple - everyone who owns a Mac
buys shares in Apple until 51% or more is owned and thus the future of the
company is secure in the hands of the faithful. Shareholder benefits would
be commesurate to the amount of APPL stock owned:
[10 shares: Free membership in e-world
20 shares: 10% rebate on all Mac products, and e-world
30 shares: Free perpetual Mac OS upgrade via the Web
10% rebate, and e-world
40 shares or more: Buying privilege via the Web of
discontinued products at cost, perpetual
upgrade, 10% rebate, and e-world
Most importantly, for each share of stock, you would have a vote at the new
Web based, virtual annual stockholders meeting, which would include a
voting survey determining the direction and strategies of our company.]
Here's a synopsis (for those that have managed to make it this far, and may
be forgetting the point of this whole letter):
If the Macintosh community could band together and obtain a controlling
share of APPL stock, we would remove the needless pressure that Apple is
experiencing from myopic individuals, groups and organisations. Apple
would then be free to focus on what it does best - developing technologies
and designing products. If these products are targetted at the demographic
that *really* makes the purchasing decisions, the kids, then the principle
supporting foundation for WinDOS dominance can be undermined and the future
of Macintosh secured.
We may not need to perform a virtual takeover, Apple may already be
focussing on the right things, and Gil Amelio may have already made the
link between children and corporate success. But which way did the apple
roll after it fell from the tree and hit Newton on the head? And what was
at the bottom of the hill?
+------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Henry Penninkilampi (htp@dove.mtx.net.au) |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------+
|Join "EvangeList", Guy Kawasaki's (un)official Apple list-server of good|
|news about Apple, Macintosh, and third-party developers. To subscribe to|
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+------------------------------------------------------------------------+
Date: Tue, 27 Feb 1996 22:12:47 -0500
From: jstamer@usa.nai.net (JStamer)
Subject: RE: Project Phoenix
At 2:54 AM 2/27/96, Tilman Haerdle wrote:
>Nope. Every dealers has to have a certain infrastructure for assembling
>and testing machines. Thus, you multiply installations that a
>well-organized assembly-line in a factory has. And it's cheaper to let
>professional workers do the job. I guess that assembly of a Mac costs
>less than $30. Let a dealer assemble such a thing. I Germany they want to
>have $100 per hour working and I don't believe the normal dealers would
>be able to build a Mac in an hour.
Before assembly could be deferred to dealers, the Mac would have to be
redesigned. The original proposal called for a snap-together design that
anyone with less than four thumbs could assemble. The idea is to create
components that can be assembled in under 30 mins. by inexpensive High
School age techies. Any dealer capable of handling computer repairs or
upgrades would be capable of assembling the proposed modular computers.
Stores in the US like CompUSA and MicroCenter could easily handle
assembling computers on demand (its not like dealers sell THAT many Macs
per day). Additionally, most US grey market mailorder companies already
'rebuild' the systems they offer by changing the hard drive and memory.
Through a revision to the original proposal, smaller storefronts would
still be able to carry the Apple Performa line of preassembled systems.
VAR's would be able to offer extremely specialized systems for their
respective niches.
While there are efficiencies in massive assembly lines, they are not always
the best solution to the problem. Assembly lines have expensive setup
costs for each 'batch,' and each configuration offering increases FME
(fixed manufacturing expense). To compound the problem, I would bet that
much of the final assebly of the Mac is done by hand.
Ultimately, the current manufacturing model has many problems. I believe
that my original assessment is correct, this proposal would benefit Apple,
the Dealer, and the consumer. It would significantly reduce Apples's costs
allowing greater profitability at a lower net cost to the consumer and
would improve cashflow by creating a thriving upgrade business. It would
also improve Apple's manufacturing division's ability to meet the changing
needs of the consumer. Dealers would benefit from improved profits and
would have a greater fiscal motivation for 'selling' Macs. Consumers would
benefit from lower costs and a viable (affordable) upgrade path.
I apologize for the winded reply.
Please cc: replies directly to me (I hate digest format). Copies of the
original proposal are available on request, and, I am working on a revision
that includes suggestions, keep 'em coming.
Date: Tue, 27 Feb 1996 23:50:05 -0500
From: erbenson@neptune.com (Ethan Benson)
Subject: Mac maintence
I tried to fix up a neglected DOS compatible Performa at my local computer
store only to have a salesperson tell me to leave it trashed! Part of what
I found wrong was that the DOS compatibility control panel was disabled!
preventing anyone from seeing such a great Mac feature! most of the other
Mac features/extensions were disabled! And of course the only have one
Performa and two PowerBooks the PBs did not work they would not turn on.
When I asked the clerk why the PBs were not kept in working order he said
he does not bother with those "worthless Macs" and of course they had over
a dozen Wintel machines all in perfect working order (as well as perfect is
for Windoze) They also have next to no Mac software just shelves of
Micro$oft windoze 95.
What can be done with these bigots?
I hate DIGEST format !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ethan Benson
erbenson@neptune.com
Stop the hegemony. Join "EvangeList," Guy Kawasaki's (un)official Apple
listserver of good news about Apple, Macintosh, and third-party
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text: Subscribe Macway
Date: Wed, 28 Feb 1996 00:11:16 -0600
From: chansen@innovsoftd.com (Craig Hansen)
Subject: Re: Erik's reply to my comments
Erik said:
>>1) DOOM was originally developed for the MAC, and Apple chased the
>>developers away by insisting on LESS violence. Now, Apple is begging and
>>pleading to acquire a shabby port of all the DOOM stuff, as well as the
>>spinoffs, HEXEN and HERETIC.
>
>It's true that Apple shunned games in the past, but Id made DOOM for DOS and
>had no plans to put it on the Mac. It was only later that enough prodding
>by Mac users and Apple's Games Evangelist egged Id into licensing the port
>out to Lion Software.
Erik, I work at CompUSA. I meet with software reps regularly, and our
hardware manager knows the people at Id. It is our hardware manager, who
knows these people, who told me that Mac had first shot at DOOM.
DOOM was developed on a Mac Quadra and ported over to DOS when Id's folks
couldn't reach agreement with Apple.
Just because a game was programmed to the DOS platform DOES NOT mean it had
its origin there.
Check your facts before criticizing mine.
==============
>>2) Mosaic, the FIRST Web browser, was originally available for MACS-ONLY!
>>This window of opportunity was there for six months, and Apple did nothing
>>to brag up this exclusive ability of the Mac. By the time Apple caught on
>>to the power of the Web, Netscape was released for Windows, and was way
>>cooler, thus muting the marketing advantage.
>
>Oops, some misinformation as well. The first Web browser was released on
>the Next machine...though I don't remember what CERN called it.
>
>I'm not sure whether Mosaic was first released on the Mac...but the Windoze
>version was no different than the Mac version until Netscape was released
>(and since that time the Windoze version has always predated the Mac version.)
Now you're just proving your own ignorance.
The people who created Mosaic were a small group of grad students at the
Univeristy of Illinois--Urbana. The program, Mosaic, was the first
graphical Web browser and they were under scholarship to create the program
for NCSA. They developed Mosaic initially as a Macintosh application.
After a working Mac version of Mosaic was developed and released,
development started on a Windows version, which took about six additional
months of programming and debugging.
This is the window of opportunity I was talking about. Even then, the Web
was garnering big press...though it got even bigger later on...
However, by that time, some of the original MOSAIC grad students had
finished their degrees, and went off to form Netscape Communications
(originally MOZILLA). Their first offering of the Netscape Navigator
browser contained new additions to HTML 2.0, known commonly as Netscape
Extensions, which provided the push toward HTML 3.0.
As captialists (as opposed to students), the Netscape people put Windows
development first, Mac development second. It's a market-share thing. And
with it's extensions for background jpeg's, forms, etc.,--all of which was
unsupported on the comparatively bland HTML 2.0-only MOSAIC--Netscape
offered more glitz than did Mosaic.
The Windows version of Netscape and of Mosaic took away the exclusivity Mac
had for about six months vis-a-viz graphical Web browsers. And no one can
argue that Netscape is a sexier, glitzier browser than Mosaic.
So again, Erik, do your homework before you flame.
Remember, we're all Mac-heads here.
Craig
=====================================================================
++ Craig Hansen, 41 W. Arlington Ave. #201, Saint Paul, MN 55117 ++
++ E-mail: chansen@innovsoftd.com ++
++ WWW: http://www.isd.net/chansen/ ++
++ Organization: Rose Creek Web Services ++
++ ++
++ "In the future, future events such as these could affect you ++
++ in the future." ++
++ -Criswell, PLAN 9 FROM OUTER SPACE, via ED WOOD. ++
=====================================================================
Subject: Apple Flavored Java and Macintosh Evangelist
Date: Wed, 28 Feb 96 01:36:00 -0500
From: Matthew McRae Ðmcrae@eniac.seas.upenn.eduð
I have been working on two websites the last few months that I think
should be of interest to this list.
Apple Flavored Java
http://www.seas.upenn.edu/~mcrae/projects/macjava/
AFJ is dedicated to the Java language on Macintosh computers. It
has resources, tips, source, applets, and a discussion area.
Macintosh Evangelist http://www.seas.upenn.edu/~mcrae/macevan/
ME is a site for people who love Mac's. There are resources, fresh
ideas, links, and current news. I also have an unofficial section
dedicated to Guy's mailing list.
Both sites are updated daily with news and info from the industry. Both
sites also push web design to their limits with Java, and examples of
Shockwave, embedded QD3D, embedded QT, and frames.
Please visit and give me some feedback. I want these sites to grow and
become a haven for Mac fanatics.
Thanks
Matt McRae
mcrae@eniac.seas.upenn.edu
http://www.seas.upenn.edu/~mcrae/
__________________________________________________________________________
Matthew McRae (215) 496-0264
mcrae@eniac.seas.upenn.edu
http://www.seas.upenn.edu/~mcrae/ Home page
http://www.seas.upenn.edu/~mcrae/macevan/ Macintosh Evangelist
http://www.seas.upenn.edu/~mcrae/projects/macjava/ Apple Flavored Java
__________________________________________________________________________
Date: Wed, 28 Feb 1996 00:50:10 -0600
From: chansen@innovsoftd.com (Craig Hansen)
Subject: Let's come up with some ads!
I'm a writer at heart. That's one of the reasons I origianlly chose a Mac.
So instead of just bantering names of celebrities or ad concepts about,
let's take this a step further. Let's post some ACTUAL AD SCRIPTS. If
anyone at Apple sees our work and comes up with similar ads, so much the
better!
Let's lay some ground rules:
1) Try to use standard screenplay format, if you know it.
2) Show wit and ingenuity. If it's a celebrity ad, you that celebrity in a
memorable way. If it's a message ad, make it a FRESH pro-Mac message.
3) Remember that ads run either 30 or 15 seconds, so stay on-message and keep
it concise.
4) Always remember your priority: to promote Macs.
That should be guidelines enough. Now let's really show APPLE how creative
we can be. Maybe it'll be INFECTIOUS!
===============================
SANDRA BULLOCK AD:
FADE IN:
EVENING - EXT. NEW YORK BROWNSTONE APARTMENT BUILDING
OPEN ON SANDRA and a GUY getting out of a car. They have been on
a date and have obviously been enjoying each other's company. Both are
smiling, laughing.
SANDRA
I really had a good time tonight.
GUY
So did I.
CLOSEUP ON SANDRA
SANDRA
Hey, how'd you like to come upstairs?
We could have a cappucino, surf the 'Net...
CLOSEUP ON GUY
GUY
Sounds great. So how did you get your
computer on the Net? I'm having nothing but
headache with my machine at home.
NEW ANGLE - TWO-SHOT, MEDIUM
Sandra moves in close to the guy, puts her arms around his neck, flirting.
SANDRA
Actually, it was no problem at all. What
are you using?
Guy leans in closer -- the chemistry is intense, they are close to kissing.
GUY
Windows 95? What else is there?
CLOSE ON SANDRA
Her face goes blank in dissapointment--she takes a couple steps back, maybe
even feigns disgust.
SANDRA
You know, on second thought, it's getting
kind of late...maybe we should say good night...
She's backing up the steps to her apartment; the moment is obviously ruined.
SHOT OF GUY
from Sandra's POV, shrugging, looking befuddled, and scratching head. He
turns to car as if to leave, then pivots around as he reconsiders.
GUY
Hey Sandra!
WIDE SHOT - ON BOTH
SANDRA
Yeah?
GUY
What did I do wrong?
CLOSE ON SANDRA, SMILING IMPISHLY
SANDRA
Next time....
ON GUY
hanging on her every word, nearly bursting for a clue...
BACK ON SANDRA
SANDRA
...get a Mac!
WIDE ON GUY
getting back into car, shaking his head.
DISSOLVE TO
the familiar Apple logo, which appears over the scene as the guy drives
off. Below the logo is the legend:
MACINTOSH
Don't get caught without your Mac.
======================
Okay, the tag line is a little lame, but you get the idea! Now, let's see
more people join in! I'll contribute every time I get a strong idea. But
I want to see other people's ideas posted, too!
P.S. If you didn't like my idea of using Rush, instead of flaming me,
here's your chance to come up with a campaign idea that you think works
better!
Craig
=====================================================================
++ Craig Hansen, 41 W. Arlington Ave. #201, Saint Paul, MN 55117 ++
++ E-mail: chansen@innovsoftd.com ++
++ WWW: http://www.isd.net/chansen/ ++
++ Organization: Rose Creek Web Services ++
++ ++
++ "In the future, future events such as these could affect you ++
++ in the future." ++
++ -Criswell, PLAN 9 FROM OUTER SPACE, via ED WOOD. ++
=====================================================================
Date: Wed, 28 Feb 1996 09:22:31 -0500 (EST)
From: "Bruno Bloch +41-1-631 7472, Fax 7886" Ðbruno.bloch@reuters.comð
Subject: Stop fighting Mac vs Win
It seams that many people simply forgot what this server is meant for:
Suggestions to Apple how to improve their products and most importantly how
improve the marketing / sale of their products.
A fight over the Mac vs Win system is certainly not the meaning of this server.
I'm getting sick reading all that nonsens getting posted here.
If anyone wants to fight the Mac vs Win in favour of Win please eMail me
directly, because:
- I'm the one who suffers for 10 years having to use Win in the office
- I'm the one who has to help my colleagues to solve their Win probs, because
our IT dept
is unable to do so
- I'm the one who has to reboot his Win PC 5 - 10 times a day (486DX66 16mb
RAM)
just to run the RT, Teamlinks and Winword or Excel
- I'm the one who suffers because our eMail system 'Teamlinks from Dec' crashes
several
times a day
- I'm the one who tried to upgrade to Win95, just to be sent into an endless
reboot cycle
because the IT dept implemented a script to prevent Win95 logging onto the
net, because
they are unable to support Win95
- I'm the one who was unable to get my daughters Dos/Win games back up an
running on the
Win95 machine
- I'm the one who dumped my 486/33 8mb Win95 at virtually 0.-- to get rid of
it.
- I'm the one who bought a Performa 6230CD in Jan, a used Duo210 in Feb and a
used
Newton 110 just now for private and business use
- I'm the only one in our office who will be able to present Reuters' latest
product
f o r t h e M a c (Reuters Business Briefing) on my p e r s o n a l,
privat Mac!
On this server Suggestions for Mac please only.
Regards
Bruno Bloch - Switzerland
Date: Wed, 28 Feb 1996 00:34:50 -0800
From: Joseph McLean Ðjoseph@coc.powell-river.bc.cað
Subject: Re: Mac Should Divorce Canon!
Recently, chansen@innovsoftd.com (Craig Hansen) said...
>Where are the Stylewriter 1220's and 2440's to match the Canon 210's
>and 610's on the PC side? Those have been out since Thanksgiving!
Um, here they are. Better late then never: The Apple StyleWriter 1200 &
2500, low-end and high-end respectively, are well & truly on their way.
They are, of course, exact renditions of Cannon technology. Which, in my
own experiance, has served customers well... I don't recommend HP because
of driver problems, and because of thier cheesy "intel inside/HP
outside/winning pair" advertisement campaign for the HP PC. Ick.
-Joseph
Date: Wed, 28 Feb 1996 00:34:55 -0800
From: Joseph McLean Ðjoseph@coc.powell-river.bc.cað
Subject: Re: Mac Ads (Rush?)
>Alternatively, he RL could appear with Clinton's brother, who is a Mac user.
>They could be shown sitting somewhere -either in front of a white backgroud or
>maybe on an airline - with a localtalk connection between two Powerbooks. The
>headline could be something like "With Macs everyone can communicate" or
>"Macintosh makes communication easy".
>
>We all know that there is a huge set of personlities.
So don't focus on one or two... that's akin to all your eggs in one basket.
I like the portriat idea: Flash a whole bunch of famous people across the
screen, (not using Macs -- just in thier recobnisable roles, poses, movies,
etc). Start slow, one portrait / 5 seconds, speed up gradulay. Announcer:
"What do Bjork, Douglas Adams, Tori Amos, Brian Eno, Laurie Anderson,
Sheryl Crow, Danny DeVito, Peter Gabriel, Brian Eno, New Order, William
Gibson, Tom Hanks, Jodie Foster, Harrison Ford, Bono, John Laroquette,
Spike Lee, Seal, George Lucas, Conan O'Brien, Neil Young, Bob Zemeckis,
Buzz Aldrin and the President of Iceland have in common?"
"They all use Macintosh. Shouldn't you?"
--
Include more names, that's just my superbiased list of favorites.
(This idea stolen from JINX: The World's Weirdest eZine. Send "Jinx me" to
Ðjinx@thecentre.comð for inclusion, subscription, and delight)
FYI, the full and complete list of Mac Stars, updated daily, is available
from Ðsain@eworld.comð, and to this address all additions should go!
-Joseph
Date: Wed, 28 Feb 96 05:50:32 EST
From: Christopher.Young@ISL1.RI.CMU.EDU
Subject: Re: Bundling Catalogs
ðFrom: Powers Foss Ðfoss@ucsub.Colorado.EDUð
>
>Thanks to someone's excellent idea (I would know who, if it weren't
>for this silly DIGEST format) ... bundle a MacWherehouse/MacZone/
>MacConnection catalog with EVERY Macintosh sold! It is such a
Not MacConnection! I quit buying from them afer they kept putting all that
PC junk in them. I hate having to wade through that stuff to find the
Mac stuff. MacConnection indeed! I don't call it Mac anything. When I
order by Catalog, I order through MacZone, MacMall, MacWarehouse or MacDirect.
-- Chris.
Date: Wed, 28 Feb 1996 10:07:47 +0000
From: Paul Durrant Ðpdurrant@durrant.demon.co.ukð
Subject: Working Directories and Simpletext (whoops - off topic :-( )
>The old standard file uses working directories. Although HFS was introduced
>with System 3.2, the standard file dialog mechanism wasn't replaced until
>System 7.
>
>> One major (well, widely used) application that still uses them
>>is (of course) MS Word. Well, at least 5.1a does. I never upgraded to 6.0
>>to find out.
>
>I believe I've run into this problem with SimpleText as well. Shouldn't
>Apple clean their own house first?
>
>
ðBill Coleman, AA4LR Mail: aa4lr@radio.org
I've just checked, SimpleText 1.3 definitely doesn't have this problem. And
while it's true that the old Standard File used working directories, the
WDs allocated by Standard File don't cause this problme, only ones
specifically allocated by the application and not released. Finally, System
7 has been out for about five years now!
But I fear I'm getting wildly off topic, so I'll shut up now.
Paul Durrant
Date: Wed, 28 Feb 1996 10:37:40 +0000
From: A5283643668@attpls.net (Gilbert R. Green Jr.)
Subject: Apple Core Tech!
Look and Feel. RE: Project Phoenix
There has been some talk about Apple making Macs available in more
colors or with fancy snap on face plates ala The Indy. I tend to
remember the day when Apple released the old IIci in "Snow White"
white, some what daring, easy on the eyes, but hard to keep clean. How
about re-releasing "Platinum" silver grey, and a sleek Black ala NeXt
encased Mac? With the three colors "cortland" Cream, Platinum and
Black, professional decorators should have no problem fitting Macintosh
into their decorating vision.
Speaking of vision. Time was Apple was a true innovator. Whit another
design question, Thomas Twigg gets credit for this one, I think?
>CD Rom drives should be standard on every Mac...
So true. Apple even had a campaign in '94 declairing Mac as The
Multimeadia home computer.
Instead of flipping back and forth as to wether or not to include CD
Rom on all future Macs and wether they should be 4x,6x or even 8x
speed. Why not just adopt the New DVD Rom drive? Digital Video Disk
hold more info than current cds, support a higher quality video format
and the drives will be at least 8x speed, Added benefit, current CD
Roms will work in the new drives. The benefit to Mac owners Every
where is a new inovative technology that will have industry wide
support, no betamax vs. VHS wars.
Some great education and game software is just waiting to be created,
thanks to DVD. Speaking of games, this would ensure the "Pipin" player
of truly something good coming from apple as oppose to just
another32bit game console.
Well, I guess there could always be a "Pipin 2e"
---
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Date: Wed, 28 Feb 1996 11:23:31 +0000
From: A5283643668@attpls.net (Gilbert R. Green Jr.)
Dear Carpe Diem & Apple Computer,
The Apple Core Tehology! party is here. This group is comprised of
Macintosh owners that are trying to bring to the attention of any one
who is willing to listen(or in this case read), are you reading Dr.
Gilbert Amelio?
1) reel in some of those enticing core technologies and follow
through, with a delivery system that makes sense. Is GeoPort the serial
port solution for the rest of us? What happened to the speed increase
software and the PBX Digital TelePod? Did'nt Apple have a deal with
Northern Telecom to make the PBX version? Remember you can hardly Web
surf at 14.4, crawl maybe.
2) PowerTalk, can we Talk? How about reaping Apple's investment in
General Magic's OS Magic Cap. Funny a company that Apple invested in,
released the Window's version of Magic Cap first. ( for those of you
not familiar with Magic Cap, check out www.sony.com, look at MagicLink
page. Magic Cap is like a Newton, but People, Places are repesented in
a more graphical way. Using a Magic Cap device or Desktop software
"looks" like a Mac. What is it? Smart messaging, via TeleScript, an
Agent based mail system ruuning on a very big computer at AT&T) Before
you ask , no I don't work for General Magic or Sony. I am sure if you
see it in action, you will agree it makes more sense than PowerTalk.
3) Marketing and getting "Copland" & the Macintosh message out. Lets
face it, the famous "1984: Big Brother, Macintosh" ad was pure
brilliance. But who is your ad agency now? Surely Apple has a few
million dollars to spare to produce some hot TV spots that can compete
with Compaq. The Father trying to install CD rom ad was...ok. But we
never got to see how easy it was to install a CD on a Mac. In fact we
don't even see a Mac in that TV spot. Hmmmm. I hope it makes you think.
The latest tv spots high lighting the InterNet are at least hitting the
mark.
4) Copland encore. While working as a Product Manager@ a Authorized
Apple dealership, I got to see some great videos for internal
promotions to announce new products. Apple needs to show MSoft, how to
"Get excited" ( The Pointer Sisters did a version of their disco tune
"I'm so excited" for a Dealer promotional video). Apple needs to get
COPLAND, ready before Windows97. Release betas, Hold Midnight sales
across the country. Make us think We Need Copland, and that it is the
greatest thing since sliced bread. Final thought from one of our
members; (Craig Hansen)
ONE FINAL IDEA TO APPLE:
When you launch System 8, spend some money and get DAVID LETTERMAN as
your kick-off spokesperson, as kind of an in-your-face to the evil
Microsoft/Jay Leno alliance.
Thank you, for reading. replies welcome via my MagicLink internet
address: Gilbert_GreenJr.@attpls.net
Date: Wed, 28 Feb 96 06:57:24 EST
From: Christopher.Young@ISL1.RI.CMU.EDU
Subject: Re: No on Rush
ðFrom: chansen@innovsoftd.com (Craig Hansen)
>
>As I
>was afraid, several people went ballistic on my suggestion to use Rush
>Limbaugh as a spokesperson. They missed the point: politics aside, Rush
>equals INCREASED sales. That is the bottom line. And using a liberal
>counterpart in the SAME commercial would stave off any indications of BIAS.
Wrong. Rush does not INCREASE sales. He's losing market share faster than Apple
was perceived to be. Pizza Hut had such a bad time because of their Rush
ads they pulled them. Personally, I agree with Al Franken... he's a big fat
idiot. But then, many others would think the same thing of a liberal. If
I wasn't committed to Apple already, and I aw Rush promoting Macs, I'd buy
a PC (assuming I didn't know anything about computers). You want somebody
who is not so controversial, who can bring in people regardless of passion
oriented associations like politics or religion. Producers or directors of
hot movies, for instance. Disney animators. People who can speak a more
universal language. Sure Rush might sell to some ultraconservative folks, but
he would lose liberals and even moderates like myself. Apple needs to sell
*everyone*. There are a lot of famous people who use MAcs and who could
move the product much better than anybody mixed up in politics.
And balancing Rush out with a loberal wouldn't work either; it's more likey
PO both conservatives *and* liberals then.
-- Chris.
Date: Wed, 28 Feb 1996 07:30:31 -0500
From: diane@interaccess.com (Diane K. Tarkowski)
Subject: Computer City & Mac retail
I have noticed alot of complaints about lack of software in the retail
chains. I work at Computer City and was able to change this perception.
At first, I just took all of the Mac/Win hybrids and put them in the Mac
software section. We had to add another aisle for the Mac stuff! Then, when
my bosses said that they wanted the hybrids back with the Windows stuff, I
convinced them to make aisle signs saying Mac/Win. I also trained all of
the software guys to show the Mac people all of the hybrids available.
You can find hybrids in education, reference materials, entertainment,
graphics, and games. For games, I was showing the demo for Marathon and
Power Pete on our Performas. That convinced alot of the kids.
Sometimes you just need to see items you have in a different light.
Diane K. Tarkowski
Subject: Re: Don't change the interface!
Date: Wed, 28 Feb 96 00:35:59 -0800
From: Chad Ðbriareos@primenet.comð
>>That sort of thinking has no place in the Macintosh world. If user testing
>>shows that people are confused, CHANGE THE INTERFACE!
>
>That's what the "Hide Desktop When in Background" Feature is for, which is
>the
>default on all Performas. When they close the last window in an application,
>they are left with a blank screen. Either they learn to quit or learn to use
>the application menu, and if you can understand the application menu, then
>you
>can understand that you need to quit. Apple already *has* changed the
>interface.
true, apple did change the interface, but developers can take it one step
further. when a user has closed ALL the windows to an application,
another should automatically pop up asking if the user wants to quit,
make a new doc, open an existing doc, etc. by doing this and by adding
the software logo to the window, users would automatically know which app
they were in. if the user doensn't want the window to show, they could
either disable it in the apps, prefs, or hide the app using the
application menu.
my $0.02
Chad.
----------------------------------------------------------------
| "A little rain
briareos@primenet.com | makes the ground harder"
http://www.primenet.com/~briareos/ | == Akemi san ==
Date: Wed, 28 Feb 1996 09:11:38 -0500
From: MeowI@aol.com
Subject: Re: Show your colors - make your own!
ðððFrom: Thomas Twigg Ðttwigg@alaska.netð
There has been recent discussion on the EvangeList and Carpe.Diem List
about how to get Apple t-shirts, hats, stickers, etc. I suggest you add
yourself to the list of possible sources by using your creative talents
and your Mac together with Canon's T-shirt Transfer Kit (part no.TR-101).
Although the kit claims to be only for Canon's bubble jet series of
printers, I have found it to work extremely well with my Color
StyleWriter 2400. Create your proud to be Macintosh design<<<
[instructions snipped]
Aww, Thomas, some of us are stuck with a laser printer. How about making your
creative talents available to Carpe Diem subscribers? I wouldn't mind at all
if you made a substantial profit--as long as you promised to buy a new Mac
with your loot--or at least upgrade the one you have. ;-)
I did manage to acquire a "been there, done that" t-shirt, which I wore
almost constantly (well, I did have to wash it from time to time) during my
three weeks of exile in a PC only environment. :'-( It was pure
hell--especially all those PC users repeatedly telling me, "See, it's just
like a Mac." Anyone who believes that is either delusional or has never used
a Mac.
Yours in evangelism,
Toby Moore
Subject: Pros and Cons of political affiliation
Date: Wed, 28 Feb 96 10:22:35 -0500
From: Drew Ivan Ðivan@en.comð
Apple is already affiliated with left-wing politics. Doesn't anyone
remember John Sculley sitting with the Clinton family during the State
of the Union Address a few years ago? True, it wasn't an advertizement,
but there can be little doubt as to the company's political leanings.
"Warning: Dates in the Calendar are closer than they appear."
-Drew
Date: Wed, 28 Feb 96 09:42:06 -0600
From: lbotez@cs.wisc.edu (Lynda Botez)
Subject: Re: Bundling Catalogs
>Not MacConnection! I quit buying from them afer they kept putting all that
>PC junk in them. I hate having to wade through that stuff to find the
>Mac stuff. MacConnection indeed! I don't call it Mac anything. When I
>order by Catalog, I order through MacZone, MacMall, MacWarehouse or MacDirect.
>
> -- Chris.
Enough of this catalog discussion.
Once someone buys a mac, and sends in their warranty card, they get on
enough mailing lists to find out about these catalog companies.
What I would like to see is some kind of data base of the software that
you can buy for the mac included in the Performa bundle package (and the
phone number of the manufacturer). I don't that would be so difficult to
do. That would be more useful then a catalog from some specific mail order
company. And it doesn't weigh anything.
Date: Wed, 28 Feb 1996 10:52:16 -0500
From: jragosta@dca.net (Joe Ragosta)
Subject: Re: Carpe.Diem digest 28 Feb 1996
>
>Date: Wed, 28 Feb 1996 12:39:37 +1030
ðFrom: htp@dove.mtx.net.au (Henry Penninkilampi)
>Subject: Re: Mac Should Divorce Canon!
>
>Craig Hansen:
>...
>>When asked what I reccommend, and use, I always point customers to the
>>Hewlett-Packard DeskWriter series. They are more reliable and easier to
>>find cartriges for. My top reccommended printer to anyone who asks is the
>>HP DeskJet 855C.
>...
>>If Apple could ever DIVORCE themselves from Canon and sign HP (or the
>>IBM-owned Lexmark clone of the HP tenchology) to an OEM partnership
>>agreement, I just know that:
>>
>> 1) Apple would be selling printers FAR SUPERIOR to their current crop.
>> 2) Apple-brand printer sales would go through the roof.
>
>Amen! When I think of Hewlett Packard I think of robust workhorses. Sure
>they may have a larger footprint than others, but you don't have to worry
>that giving them a nudge will hurt them, you don't have to bribe them to
>make them work, and you can always use one as a weapon if a burglar invades
>your home!
>
>Apple produce some of the most reliable computers in the world - it only
>makes sense that their printer-partner should be the one that produces the
>most reliable printers.
I tried to stay out of this, but I can't resist.
HP _does_ make great printers. However, I've never seen an HP inkjet which
worked as well on macs as the Stylewriters. Why? HP still hasn't fixed the
background printing problem where the driver eats up all your available
RAM, then slows to a crawl while it looks for more. How long has this been
a problem? 6 years? I know it's been a problem for at least 3 consecutive
versions of their drivers.
In all fairness, I haven't tried the latest version, so maybe they've fixed
it, but come on--6 years to fix a driver problem?
Regards,
Joe Ragosta
jragosta@dca.net
Date: Wed, 28 Feb 1996 10:55:10 -0500
From: jragosta@dca.net (Joe Ragosta)
Subject: Re: Carpe.Diem digest 28 Feb 1996
>Date: Tue, 27 Feb 1996 22:12:47 -0500
ðFrom: jstamer@usa.nai.net (JStamer)
>Subject: RE: Project Phoenix
>
>Before assembly could be deferred to dealers, the Mac would have to be
>redesigned. The original proposal called for a snap-together design that
>anyone with less than four thumbs could assemble. The idea is to create
>components that can be assembled in under 30 mins. by inexpensive High
>School age techies. Any dealer capable of handling computer repairs or
>upgrades would be capable of assembling the proposed modular computers.
Have you looked at the 7500? I don't think I'd want the dealers to assemble
the computer, but if Apple shipped a 7500 without hard drive or RAM, the
dealer could open it up, add a hard drive, RAM, and Cache in under 5
minutes.
Regards,
Joe Ragosta
jragosta@dca.net
Date: Wed, 28 Feb 1996 10:57:30 -0500
From: jragosta@dca.net (Joe Ragosta)
Subject: Re: Carpe.Diem digest 28 Feb 1996
>
>Date: Tue, 27 Feb 1996 23:50:05 -0500
ðFrom: erbenson@neptune.com (Ethan Benson)
>Subject: Mac maintence
>
>I tried to fix up a neglected DOS compatible Performa at my local computer
>store only to have a salesperson tell me to leave it trashed! Part of what
>I found wrong was that the DOS compatibility control panel was disabled!
>preventing anyone from seeing such a great Mac feature! most of the other
>Mac features/extensions were disabled! And of course the only have one
>Performa and two PowerBooks the PBs did not work they would not turn on.
>When I asked the clerk why the PBs were not kept in working order he said
>he does not bother with those "worthless Macs" and of course they had over
>a dozen Wintel machines all in perfect working order (as well as perfect is
>for Windoze) They also have next to no Mac software just shelves of
>Micro$oft windoze 95.
>
> What can be done with these bigots?
Why not send a letter to Apple regarding them and recommending that their
license be withdrawn.
Or, ask to speak to the manager to find out if the store really wants to
offend people who have bought 20 million computers in the past year. I
suspect that if you told the manager you'd be happy to fix the Macs, he's
be happy.
Regards,
Joe Ragosta
jragosta@dca.net
Subject: Re: Carpe.Diem digest 28 Feb 1996
Date: Wed, 28 Feb 96 11:50:09 -0500
From: Geno Porfido Ðporfido@chelsea.ios.comð
Ethan Wrote:
---------------------
I tried to fix up a neglected DOS compatible Performa at my local =
computer
store only to have a salesperson tell me to leave it trashed! Part =
of what
I found wrong was that the DOS compatibility control panel was =
disabled!
preventing anyone from seeing such a great Mac feature! most of the =
other
Mac features/extensions were disabled! And of course the only have =
one
Performa and two PowerBooks the PBs did not work they would not turn =
on.
When I asked the clerk why the PBs were not kept in working order he =
said
he does not bother with those "worthless Macs" and of course they had =
over
a dozen Wintel machines all in perfect working order (as well as =
perfect is
for Windoze) They also have next to no Mac software just shelves of
Micro$oft windoze 95.
What can be done with these bigots?
-------------------------------------------------
What about getting members of a local user group..or a handful of =
friends, to either stop in weekly and fix the machines by whatever =
means neceesary..or petition the stores to allow your group to =
perform weekly maintenance on these machines. Explain, that although =
they may prefer wintel crap....money is money, yes.....and sales are =
sales. If not, I'd suggest asking them not to carry the products at =
all..Its better NOT to be seen in an obvious non-working =
state...Customers have no idea what is going on. Even if they are =
purposely left in trashed condition, the consunmers reaction is =
'These don't Work!!'...regardless of why.
Just a couple of thoughts
I wish there were a way for Apple to get directly involved with these =
stores and MAKE SURE their product is represented properly. It should =
be an honor, and desirable, to sale a Mac. If you don't like it..why =
sell it except to damage the companies reputation....Stores like this =
have NO RIGHT carrying Apple products, and should be told so BY =
APPLE.,NO?
Good Luck..try again on a different day, with perhaps an intelligent =
sales person......or, ask for the store manager and report the =
moron..If they are all pc bigots......find out who the owner is , and =
try that!!
GP
=89 Smilin' Pig Productions =89
=89 Multimedia Music & Sound Co =89
=89 Never wrestle with a pig. You both get dirty and =89
=89 besides, the pig likes it =89
From: Albert Dul Ðadul@fnbc.comð
Date: Wed, 28 Feb 96 10:38:54 -0600
Subject: Re: Don't change the interface!
/*
when a user has closed ALL the windows to an application, another
should automatically pop up asking if the user wants to quit, make a
new doc, open an existing doc, etc. by doing this and by adding the
software logo to the window, users would automatically know which
app they were in.
*/
NeXTStep does something like this very well. Becuse of
multitasking, any app can throw an alert box or notifier up on the
screen at any time. This could be confusing if you don't know what
app threw it up. Therefore, they display the apps program icon in
the upper left corner of the box. I guess it could go under the stop
sign icon etc... The app name could also be display in 9pt type in
a thin strip on the top or bottom of the box. Heck, the OS could
handle this if it was part of the standard alert box stuff. Anyway,
I thought it was a good idea.
Al Dul
aldul@eworld.com
Date: Wed, 28 Feb 1996 18:29:52 +0100
From: jacob.engstrand@ilu.uu.se (jacob engstrand)
Subject: An ordinary PC...
Hi Gang!
One word says more that a thousand... words!
??? What do I mean ???
This: When talking to people about the Mac vs. Windows,
use phrases like (in a casual tone of voice):
'With an ordinary PC, you have to... ..but with
a Macintosh, you can...'
Macs are Personal Computers, too! Windoze PCs are ORDINARY!
Macs are SPECIAL PCs, right?! Hammer that into the
subconscious of everyone you meet! After all, it's the
truth!
/jacob engstrand, developer @ coda software, sweden.
-----------------------------------------------------
The truth will do, if repeated often and loud enough.
-----------------------------------------------------
Date: Wed, 28 Feb 1996 13:20:47 -0500
From: BobSkaggs@aol.com
Subject: Shorter messages please
Hey people, each new download contains about three or four more messages that
the last. Not so bad that everyone wants a say, but what get tiring is
rereading the text from previous messages.
Can we shorten them significantly? Give it a try. And try to spell correctly.
BobSkaggs
Date: Wed, 28 Feb 1996 13:56:21 -0400
From: aa4lr@radio.org (Bill Coleman AA4LR)
Subject: Re: Carpe.Diem digest 28 Feb 1996
[ I hate digest format! ]
>[Rush] does have the #1 most-listened to radio show, which means he has a
>huge audience, and his influence speaks for itself.
>
>As for the liberal campaign, call Howard.
Howard? Howard Stern? I understand he is an avowed PC user.
Bill Coleman, AA4LR Mail: aa4lr@radio.org
Quote: "Not in a thousand years will man ever fly!"
-- Wilbur Wright, 1901
Date: Wed, 28 Feb 1996 11:42:59 -0800
From: mmcgraw@westmont.edu (Matthew McGraw)
Subject: rush limbaugh and mac!
i just read the post by someone who said that Rush should not be asked to
do apple ads b/c people would boycot if they did. he listed as reasons his
aversion to snapple and pizza hut. big deal! if someone is so shallow as
to let something as non-important as the political pursuasion of the ad
personality influence their decision to use a particular product and not
weigh the strengths and weaknesses of the product itself, that can hardly
be the fault of the manufacturer of said product. fact is that snapple
stock went through the roof and made a lot of folks a lot of money b/c of
the rotund conservative. that stock shot up so fast it split twice in like
6 mo.! that, my fellow apple-ites, is amazing. if I boycotted a product
b/c i didn't agree with the person pushing it...i wouldn't buy very much.
think about it. please respond directly as to not waste time/space/money
on the list. Cheers!
-- M
Peace out there......and a lotta love!
and btw, Windoze '95 is really just Mac '87 =)
***************************************************************
* Matthew C. McGraw Ðmmcgraw@mail.westmont.eduð *
* The peace and love of Jesus Christ to you all. *
***************************************************************
Date: 28 Feb 1996 10:28:19 U
From: "Gino Larsen-Giacalone" Ðggiacalone@htland.comð
Subject: Re: RE>Catalog Buying
RE>RE>Catalog Buying
Christopher.Young@ISL1.RI.CMU.EDU
SAID:
>Not MacConnection! I quit buying from them afer they kept putting all that >PC
junk in them. I hate having to wade through that stuff to find the Mac >stuff.
MacConnection indeed!
I'm afraid I've also moved away from MacConnection.
HOWEVER, given our discussions in Crepe Diem about the importance of MAC
visibility, I wonder if MacConnection shouldn't be given more credit for putting
the platforms on equal footing. Where before WinTel customers would only see a
homogenous set of offerings they now see that Mac offerings are, in many cases
but not all, right there with the WinTel products. ANd, of course, there are
some progams that ARE only on the Mac.
I agree that I hate wading through all the WinTel noise. I used to prefer
MacConnection because I found their catalog easier to use and found their agents
to be more helpful (seemingly more intelligent).
I must add that I have an explicit policy (approved by my management) of
supporting our local Mac VAR with major hardware and network purchases. They
(the VAR) understand that it doesn't make sense for most of their business
customers to buy commodity items from them. In general with my purchases I try
to respect service and people who bring me solutions. I do a substantial amount
of mail order business. I've recently sent a lot of business to one particular
MacMall agent who has distinguished herself with strongly with service (intelligence
and follow through) in a domain where most people seem to become "order drones".
If its a contribution to the cause, maybe we should give them a salute by
sending the next two purchases their way. It might show up on their salews
"radar".
What do people think about the Mac visibility benefit of the MacConnection
approach?
Gino Larsen-Giacalone
ggiacalone@htland.com
Date: Wed, 28 Feb 1996 13:32:06 -0600 (CST)
From: Glen Martin ÐGLENMARK@utxvms.cc.utexas.eduð
Subject: Re: Mac Should Divorce Canon!
>I hate reccommending non-Apple printers to Mac buyers, but the Canon
>product just completely bites. Apple has the worst OEM printer partner
>they could ever have.
Although I have an original StyleWriter, and therefore have no direct knowledge of the
performance and reliability of more recent model, I have to say that I have been
completely pleased with my re-badged Canon.
Your qualms may very well have a solid basis, but it could be worse: at least Apple is
not in bed with Epson. The Stylus Color blows chunks. They break down CONSTANTLY.
Glen Martin (The opinions expressed here are my own, etc.)
University of Texas at Austin
Computation Center OpenVMS/NT Services
Date: Wed, 28 Feb 1996 16:51:35 -0400
From: aa4lr@radio.org (Bill Coleman AA4LR)
Subject: Re: Carpe.Diem digest 28 Feb 1996
[ READ MY LIPS - I HATE DIGEST FORMAT ]
>"What do Bjork, Douglas Adams, Tori Amos, Brian Eno, Laurie Anderson,
>Sheryl Crow, Danny DeVito, Peter Gabriel, Brian Eno, New Order, William
>Gibson, Tom Hanks, Jodie Foster, Harrison Ford, Bono, John Laroquette,
>Spike Lee, Seal, George Lucas, Conan O'Brien, Neil Young, Bob Zemeckis,
>Buzz Aldrin and the President of Iceland have in common?"
>
>
>
>"They all use Macintosh. Shouldn't you?"
Was it just me, or did Brian Eno appear twice?
And did you miss Harry Anderson? Have you noticed he appears in the LLB ads
in MacWeek? (Does he OWN LLB?)
Interesting concept.
Bill Coleman, AA4LR Mail: aa4lr@radio.org
Quote: "Not in a thousand years will man ever fly!"
-- Wilbur Wright, 1901
Subject: Colored Macs? Bad idea for good reason.
Date: Wed, 28 Feb 96 14:13:50 -0900
From: Thomas Twigg Ðttwigg@alaska.netð
Seems to be a lot of people clamoring for colorful Mac cases all of a
sudden. There is a reason why cases are and should be as neutral as
possible (black or grey would be ok), it is the same reason that graphic
artists/designers and DTP/prepress people don't have a lot of colorful
stuff around their workspace; colors in your field of vision affect how
you see colors on your monitor. If the work that you do is at all color
critical, neutral cases are essential. This group of Mac users make up an
important and large part of the Mac market. Perhaps Performas, since they
target a different market and aren't even capable of displaying 24bit
color would be good candidates for flavored cases. (Maybe not the LC's
though, I can see the fights in the school computer labs "No, I want the
purple one!")
If you really want a colorful Mac, there is nothing stopping you (except
maybe your boss) from taking the case off and treating it to a dose of
designer spray paint - they even come in marble and granite effects. Be
careful not to paint over that cute little Apple!
Happy being bland,
Thomas Twigg
ttwigg@alaska.net
Date: Wed, 28 Feb 1996 19:28:48 -0500
From: cardsfan@aksi.net
Subject: Re: Rush
>>>Now, I'm NOT suggesting Apple should be pro-Rush any more than Apple should
>>>be anti-Rush. I'm just saying when a personality with this much marketing
>>>clout offers to help you move product, you should find a way to take
>>>advantage of it!
>>
>>Pizza Hut used him for a while in a promotion. I think they canned this in
>>part due to some protest. Marketing is a funny thing. Sometimes it works,
>>sometimes it don't.
>
>Pizza Hut also had many people boycott them after they used him, including
>myself. I still will not drink Snapple. You vote with your dollars. If you
>have any political convictions, you cannot support a company that supports
>your opponents.
>
>Would I boycott Apple if they used Rush in a commercial? Probably not, but
>there are a lot of people who would. And I would certainly be more likely
>to buy Power Computing for my next CPU.
C'mon... this is stupid! Just because someone is in a commercial for a
product, doesn't mean that the company supports this person. As has
already been said on this list, it is the other way around. The person in
the commercial (be it Rush or whoever), is expressing their support for a
product. Why would you not buy a product because Rush supported it? Do
you think that he's so much of an idiot that _nothing_ he liked could
possibly actually be good?
How about another example: Say I'm a basketball fan. I'm a fan of the
Miami Heat... therefore I don't like the Chicago Bulls, right? So, should
I stop buying Gatorade because they have Michael Jordan in their ads?
That's silly, of course I would still buy their product. Just because
Michael Jordan says "I like Gatorade," doesn't mean Gatorade is saying "We
love Jordan and the team he plays for... All other teams suck!" This
makes sense to you, doesn't it? So why would you think any differently
when it comes to political figures? Same concept, just a different
sport... ;)
But, besides that, in the original suggestion, it was suggested that the
commercial be done with Rush AND a famous liberal figure. Since then, a
few people have suggested that Rush and the liberal figure be arguing over
politics, and then they are shown both using Macs, and the idea that "Macs
bring the world together" (or something similar) is brought in... Now,
what's wrong with this? It is obvious that Apple is not supporting Rush or
the liberal- they're just using them for a very clever commercial. I
really like this idea.
Wasn't this idea already used by Taco Bell with their crunchy/soft taco
ads, though?
-Matt Nichols
--
-CardsFan
cardsfan@aksi.net
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~~~~~~
"When all is said, we cannot, in a world that is ruled
by purpose and links an effect with every cause, escape
the concept of reward. Action by which nothing is gained
is futile."
-E.F. Scott
Date: Wed, 28 Feb 1996 18:24:52 -0500 (EST)
From: dmdwiggi@mailbox.syr.edu (David Dwiggins)
>>This is caused by bad programming - applications using working directories.
>>No application written since HFS arrived should be using working
>>directories, which are a nasty hack to make pre-HFS applications
>>compatible.
>I believe I've run into this problem with SimpleText as well. Shouldn't
>Apple clean their own house first?
The reason this happens with Simpletext has nothing to do with working
directories. Often when a readme file is included on a floppy disk, the
manufacturer also includes a copy of simpletext (just in case the user
deleted theirs, I guess). When the user double clicks the readme file, the
simpletext copy on the floppy disk can be opened. When the user is
finished reading the docuement, s/he clicks on the close box and assumes
that the disk can be ejected. But since simpletext is still running off of
the floppy, it actually cannot be ejected.
This is actually something that could be fixed in the OS, probably.
-David Dwiggins
_________________________________________________
| e-mail - dmdwiggi@syr.edu
|
| WWW - http://web.syr.edu/~dmdwiggi/newhp.html |
\_______________________________________________/
Do you believe in Macintosh? Learn how to help the Macintosh cause by
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_________________________________________________
Date: Wed, 28 Feb 1996 15:29:41 -0800
From: quadra_quack@sierra.campus.mci.net (Isaac Church)
Subject: Re: Computer City & Mac retail
I have to say that I found one Computer City in which I think all would
agree they did it right. The design of this store was unique in that it was
three stories. You walked in on the second story (the middle) and on this
floor you had all the products that were for the most part connections, and
cross platform stuff. you also had your customer service department, and
the checkout lines of course. Then if you went down stairs you could check
out all the PC Wintel stuff software, hardware, and everything in-between.
However UPSTAIRS you had all the Mac stuff. Both sections were about the
same size, however the Mac section was better organized. They had half the
section devoted to software, (lots of it) and the other part was hardware.
You even saw a huge Apple logo right in front of you as you went up the
stairs. This is how it should be done, and in case your wondering where
this store was, it was located in Southern California, Orange County (Costa
Mesa to be specific). I really miss that store since I bought a large
amount of products there and the Computer City in Sacremento sucks in
comparison. I just wanted to let everyone know that it is possible to reach
a balance in retail.
-Isaac Church
"Life is a series of mistakes, and success depends on how well we learn
from them."
Date: Wed, 28 Feb 1996 15:37:12 -0800
From: quadra_quack@sierra.campus.mci.net (Isaac Church)
Subject: Re: Bundling Catalogs
> Enough of this catalog discussion.
>
> Once someone buys a mac, and sends in their warranty card, they get on
> enough mailing lists to find out about these catalog companies.
>
> What I would like to see is some kind of data base of the software that
> you can buy for the mac included in the Performa bundle package (and the
> phone number of the manufacturer). I don't that would be so difficult to
> do. That would be more useful then a catalog from some specific mail order
> company. And it doesn't weigh anything.
Damn straight!
-Isaac Church
"Life is a series of mistakes, and success depends on how well we learn
from them."
Date: Wed, 28 Feb 1996 18:48:52 -0500
From: SanfordD@aol.com
Subject: Re: Carpe.Diem digest 28 Feb 1996
Don't worry about those who have no idea what it means to volunteer one's
time for a good cause...there's always those who will cast stones but will
NEVER lift a finger to support - it's in their genes!
Digest...individual messages...summaries...YOUR SUPPORT OF THIS ENDEAVOR IS
MUCH APPRECIATED!
Sanford White, President
The NorthWest of Us Macintosh Computer User Group
[a VERY active 450+ member group in Chicago, with tons of hard working
volunteers + a few complainers!]
Internet Address: SanfordD@aol.com
Date: Thu, 29 Feb 1996 16:15:30 -0800
From: gzeh5449@deltanet.com (David Ford)
Subject: A call to action... (Partnership for the Future)
Dear Apple,
Is this idea being followed up on? If not, then *WHY*? This proposal (or
some derivative thereof) should be included in the package of *every new
Macintosh sold* as well as mailed out in a classy mailer (as only Apple
could do) to *every* registered Macintosh owner in the form of a
"Partnership for the Future" (or something like that). This should begin
NOW! The particularities as far as the inducements per x number of shares
purchased could *surely* be hammered out with little or no problem, and the
program could be put into full implementation within a matter of *weeks*.
Am I alone in recognizing the *gold mine* of opportunity that is contained
here? Am I also alone in recognizing the virtually *untapped* resource of
(as Guy Kawasaki might put it) *rabid* Macintosh enthusiasts that exist
*conservatively* in the *hundreds of thousands* (times 10-50 shares = !!!)
and would be *waiting in line* to step up to bat for the computer company
that they love so much?! All they need is *guidance*! Don't pass up on
this one, Apple...this one is *big* (REALLY big). If you feel the way that
I do, then *SPEAK UP*! Don't just silently agree and assume that others
will pick up the torch...THEY WON'T! They never *DO*! In a land war, the
*only* way a hill is won (and a land war is nothing but a series of hills)
is when *ONE SOLDIER* jumps up out of his foxhole and *charges* at the
enemy (as if he is *alone*!). He is *not* looking side to side to see if
other soldiers are joining him, b if he does, he is *DEAD*. He is looking
*straight ahead*, taking aim and *FIRING* He continues to fire *over and
over* until he or the enemy is *DEAD*. *That* is the way you fight a land
war (and this *is* a land war that we are engaged in). With that said, I
now turn to *you* and ask you one question: Do you feel the way that I do?
If so, then don't be afraid. Don't feel intimidated. Don't let yourself
think that nobody cares about what you have to say...*they do*. Stand up
with me. Stand up for Apple and the Macintosh Way. Let yourself be known
and others will stand *with* you. Thanks for listening.
Best regards,
David Ford
>On 1/27/96 The Apple Takeover Board issued a call to arms encouraging the
>Macintosh community to protect Apple from hostile takeovers and, basically,
>being controlled by people who didn't think "The Macintosh Way". Their
>proposal for the "Virtual Takeover" was simple - everyone who owns a Mac
>buys shares in Apple until 51% or more is owned and thus the future of the
>company is secure in the hands of the faithful. Shareholder benefits would
>be commesurate to the amount of APPL stock owned:
>
>10 shares: Free membership in e-world
>20 shares: 10% rebate on all Mac products, and e-world
>30 shares: Free perpetual Mac OS upgrade via the Web
> 10% rebate, and e-world
>40 shares: Buying privilege via the Web of
> discontinued products at cost, perpetual
> upgrade, 10% rebate, and e-world
>50+ shares: ???
>
>Most importantly, for each share of stock, you would have a vote at the new
>Web based, virtual annual stockholders meeting, which would include a
>voting survey determining the direction and strategies of our company.
>
>In summary:
>
>If the Macintosh community could band together and obtain a controlling
>share of APPL stock, we would remove the needless pressure that Apple is
>experiencing from myopic individuals, groups and organizations. Apple
>would then be free to focus on what it does best - developing technologies
>and designing products. If these products are targeted at the demographic
>that *really* makes the purchasing decisions, the kids, then the principle
>supporting foundation for WinDOS dominance can be undermined and the future
>of Macintosh secured.
____________
David Ford
gzeh5449@deltanet.com
Subject: Re: Carpe.Diem digest 28 Feb 1996
Date: Wed, 28 Feb 96 16:03:06 -0900
From: Thomas Twigg Ðttwigg@alaska.netð
I had previously suggested that Mac Evnagelists could create their own
"ode to the Mac" t-shirt and Apple garb using a color StyleWriter and
Canon's t-shirt transfer kit, to which Toby replied...
>Aww, Thomas, some of us are stuck with a laser printer. How about making your
>creative talents available to Carpe Diem subscribers? I wouldn't mind at all
>if you made a substantial profit--as long as you promised to buy a new Mac
>with your loot--or at least upgrade the one you have. ;-)
Actually Toby, I have taken the first step in that process by sending
what I thought was my best design to Guy Kawasaki in hopes that Apple
would want to use it, or that Guy could offer it to EvangeListas, or that
Apple would give me permission to use their copyrighted name and logo so
that I could offer it to you folks and others (no reason why an original
idea that promotes the Mac can't benefit from a little free enterprise,
is there?). I did of course let them know that I could be paid in
hardware! I'll keep you posted.
Tom Twigg
ttwigg@alaska.net
Date: Wed, 28 Feb 1996 19:14:19 -0500 (CDT)
From: apple_rep@uni.edu (Tim Perdue, PC Purchase Consultant)
Subject: Re: Carpe.Diem digest 28 Feb 1996
>HP _does_ make great printers. However, I've never seen an HP inkjet which
>worked as well on macs as the Stylewriters. Why? HP still hasn't fixed the
>background printing problem where the driver eats up all your available
>RAM, then slows to a crawl while it looks for more. How long has this been
>a problem? 6 years? I know it's been a problem for at least 3 consecutive
>versions of their drivers.
>
>In all fairness, I haven't tried the latest version, so maybe they've fixed
>it, but come on--6 years to fix a driver problem?
As a campus reseller, I get lots of calls from Faculty about this time of
year (computer grant proposal time). They all want to know what type of
printer they should order along with the upgrades they're making to an
older Mac (or what to buy with a new Mac). More than once, I've heard
complaints that the HP printer they got with their new machine _last year_
isn't good enough to print anything important on. In fact, in just one day
last week, I heard from 3 different faculty people that they take their
work _elsewhere_ to print the final copies of their important work.
Sadly, I cannot recommend the Apple StyleWriters for Faculty Grants,
because they are 'unsupported' by the Department I work for (Information
Systems and Computing Services). Only the HP printers are supported. When I
inquired with my boss why that was the case, he said that the Apple
printers print better and faster, but the Hardware People can't get parts
for them when they break.
Too bad.
--Tim Perdue
---------------------------------------------------------------------
OK, So I'm not going to use a .sig anymore!
Date: Wed, 28 Feb 1996 22:30:56 -0500
From: Bradleywit@aol.com
Subject: More on Apple Ads and some other stuff
First of all here's another idea for an add. I picked up the paper
(Chicago Tribune) and low and behold on the back page I see a picture of
a Mac. Well it didn't REALLY show a Mac, it showed a picture of two
astronomers working on a computer at the University of Chicago. The
computer just happened to be a Mac with two moniters. One 14" and one
17". (I knew it was a Mac because of it's distinct shape and that unique
microphone hanging off the front.) So what is this all about, I wondered?
Well I read the article and found out six schools are working on a
program with one 140" telescope. The telescope is located in New Mexico
but the schools are across the country. How does it work? "The first of
it's kind in the world, the 140-inch telescope can by operated remotely
by computers via the internet from sites hundreds or thousands of miles
away. As a result, Don Lamb and his colleagues have been able to sit in
Chicago while peering via a computer screen through the telescope...in
New Mexico." (Clip from article) The pictures from the telescope are
transmitted via the internet to the Mac in Chicago where astronomers have
just discovered a "bursting pulsar." While I don't understand the
significance of finding such a thing I do realise that Macs are being
used for some really cutting edge stuff.
My ad idea? Apple should go to people like this and interview them about
what they're doing with Macs. Real world applications. I'm sure there are
many other projects like this. And if they can get the prof to say that
this could ONLY be done on a Mac, that would be great.
The beauty of this is they don't have to pay very much. (Don't have to
pay a celeb or actor.) Plus it shows how Macs are being used in real
world applications. While I realise this won't help gain the Gen-x market
it would help get the business market which is what Apple really needs to
gain market share.
Ok. The other stuff.
I'm a conservative, don't like the Clinton's, don't like Rush, abhore
Howard Stern but even if Apple used anyone of these to promote it's
products I would still buy Macs. Just my $2/100.
Bradley Whitla
>------------------
Stop the hegemony. Join EvangeList! Send an email to
Ðmacway-request@solutions.apple.comð for an automatic reply. (Any message
will work.) Archives are at: Ðhttp://wais.sensei.com.au/searchform.htmlð.
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>------------------
:)_ <-- That's drool. I'm drooling for a new PowerMac!!
Date: Wed, 28 Feb 1996 23:08:24 -0500
From: hoepfner@intr.net (Patrick Hoepfner)
Subject: Re: Bundling Catalogs
> Enough of this catalog discussion.
>
> Once someone buys a mac, and sends in their warranty card, they get on
> enough mailing lists to find out about these catalog companies.
>
> What I would like to see is some kind of data base of the software that
> you can buy for the mac included in the Performa bundle package (and the
> phone number of the manufacturer). I don't that would be so difficult to
> do. That would be more useful then a catalog from some specific mail
> order company. And it doesn't weigh anything.
The mail order companies all have web pages. Will this suffice?
Take a look at the following site for all sorts of software and hardware
vendors:
Ðhttp://www.macfaq.com/vendor.htmlð
-- Pat -------------------------------------------------ð hoepfner@intr.net
Subject: Energized ad idea
Date: Wed, 28 Feb 96 19:23:35 -0900
From: Thomas Twigg Ðttwigg@alaska.netð
Remember those Energizer battery commercials that started out with the
appearance that they were another type of commercial, only to have the
Energizer bunny come wandering through, surprising the actors? Perhaps
Apple could work out an agreement with Energizer to use their bunny in an
Apple commercial to the opposite effect.
Scene 1:
The Energizer bunny appears up to his old trick of keeping on going and
going, despite efforts made in vain to stop him (maybe by a mad scientist
type with PC), but then.....
Scene 2: ...the bunny sees a sexy new PowerMac and, wait, what is he
doing? HE STOPS AT THE MAC! as we hear the familiar "going and going"
voice say that "Every once in a while, you find something worth stopping
for" and the bunny turns his head to look at the camera, lifts his dark
glasses, and winks.
Apple, it keeps going and ....
Tom Twigg
ttwigg@alaska.net
Date: Wed, 28 Feb 1996 23:58:03 -0500
From: DanNorder@aol.com
Subject: Rush and Sandra Bullock
As a liberal working at a Mac-dominated prepress service bureau (what other
kind is there?), the disgust and stress from being forced by my boss to
listen to Rush Limbaugh's radio show is second only to having to use the sole
Windows-based machine in the shop. There are many, many other people who also
associate Rush with extremely unpleasant experiences.
Even though those who are pushing to have Rush in Macintosh ads are sincere
in their belief it could only help things, I am quite certain it would only
hurt. Why? Simple:
Rush makes no secret on his show that he is a Mac enthusiast. Therefore, his
target audience is already getting the message. Perhaps not as loudly as they
could, but dittoheads can call into the show with related topics and
otherwise let their like-minded friends know about it. Free advertising to
the intended market is a very good thing.
By putting Rush on a mass-market ad campaign, all you are doing is letting
liberals (and people who couldn't care less what Rush thinks) know that he
likes Macs. There's not much to gain and a lot more to lose. I think we are
much better served by finding non-controversial spokespersons.
Take Sandra Bullock. Who doesn't like her? I think the proposed script posted
with her in it was good, but I fear it would reinforce the stereotype of
Mac-users as arrogant. A better approach, IMHO, would be to have her let the
guy in and show him how wonderful the Mac is. Guy says, "Wow, you're
beautiful AND smart." Close up cut to Sandra's face with her quirky, lovable
smile. Fade to black. Apple logo, announcer, yadda yadda yadda.
Let's keep throwing ideas out. At least we all agree there needs to be many
more commercials. Maybe we'll have to produce them ourselves to actually get
any out there, but this is a start.
Dan "Does CyberDog go 'Moof!'? Why not? Plush dolls, dammit, plush dolls!"
Norder
Date: Wed, 28 Feb 1996 23:25:24 -0600
From: chansen@innovsoftd.com (Craig Hansen)
Subject: Exclusive HP rumor!
> I don't recommend HP because
>of driver problems, and because of thier cheesy "intel inside/HP
>outside/winning pair" advertisement campaign for the HP PC. Ick.
>
>-Joseph
Joe:
You may change your mind when I tell you this. On Monday I ran into an HP
rep at my CompUSA job. We talk regularly--with me always pushing Apple
technology on him.
Anyway, he told me this: He expects that by THIS CHRISTMAS (96),
Hewlett-Packard Pavillions will dump Intel and go with the PowerPC Platform
motherboards.
He added that they WANT to offer dual O/S's (Windows NT & MacOS System 8)
but he's not sure how easy it'll be to get an O/S license from Apple. He
also mentioned they may look into sublicensing the MacOS from Motorola if
it's too sticky to get it from Apple.
This guy's no CEO, but it's a VERY INTRIGUING hearsay item. I'm sure HP is
nowhere NEAR going public with this, if it's true...
...although it does make some sense, since HP was a rumored takeover
partner to Apple during those dark days last December/January, before Sun
emerged.
Hmmm.....
Craig
=====================================================================
++ Craig Hansen, 41 W. Arlington Ave. #201, Saint Paul, MN 55117 ++
++ E-mail: chansen@innovsoftd.com ++
++ WWW: http://www.isd.net/chansen/ ++
++ Organization: Rose Creek Web Services ++
++ ++
++ "In the future, future events such as these could affect you ++
++ in the future." ++
++ -Criswell, PLAN 9 FROM OUTER SPACE, via ED WOOD. ++
=====================================================================
Date: Thu, 29 Feb 1996 00:29:57 -0500
From: Sappy@aol.com
Subject: ad suggestions
Studies have shown that celebrety ads do not necessarily increase sales, as
there are as many drawbacks to having a celebrity tied in to your product as
positive things. Comments on Rush and Howard have tended to miss the mark --
you don't want to alienate ANY of your potential audience. [a better idea is
to feature a BUNCH of faces, ala Grammy night, perhaps via a QuickTime
Live/Web interface, then pull back up to show a Macintosh web-surfer.]
The consumer does not want to feel stupid. Yet most people who use computers
(even Macs) feel that they don't know a whole lot about their system -- and
probably aren't getting 15% back on their $3500+ investment. Although I
enjoyed the Sandra Bullock script*, this will do nothing to assuage my
clients' fears that they bought the wrong machine, or that computers are
HARD. Good advertising reinforces the consumer's belief that he is Smart
enough to make his/her own decisions:
From _Ogilvy on Advertising_, perhaps the most famous book to be written on
the subject (and a fun read, too), comes the notion that there are a few good
things you *should* do in television commercials. One of the reasons Proctor
& Gamble products invade their competition's territory, then take over
subsequent markets, is by adhering to these simple ideas, which include:
1) do not mention your competitor's product by name. sometimes people get
confused and buy the product you're trying to steer them away from
2) do be humorous. funny things are things which people remember
3) KISS - keep it simple, stupid! digressing into long explanations is
tiresome and loses your audience. (really: a 30-minute performa ad? what is
apple thinking!)
4) Split windows, showing two products side-by-side, is the best technique
for helping the consumer to make their OWN decision which product is best.
The kinds of ads which work best for house cleaning supplies would also work
for computers -- anyone see the Motorola ad at the PowerPC rollout? The Mac
user busily, furiously gets his work done then goes home early on the right
side, while the PC user struggles from morning til dark on the left. The tag
line was something like: 'Something else you get with the PowerPC Macintosh
-- a life'.
5) Be informative. People LOVE to learn, and informative advertising is a
good way to teach them things. How about a series of ads where individual PC
lies are dismissed -- such as how Plug-N-Play doesn't work very well or often
(I've got a Pentium as well as a PowerMac, so I speak from experience). Or
how about debunking the need for a Wizard to perform every task -- on the
Mac, you plug in a video card and it usually works without changing ANY
settings.
Anyway, let's keep these ideas coming. It's a terrible shame that Macs do 95%
of the production of high-quality graphic design and advertising, yet Apple's
own marketing has been so lame. Normal consumers don't want concept ads --
they're too hard to understand (1984 = easy to use computers? looks more like
they're trying to scare me AWAY from using technology) -- instead, most
people just want to see results.
_____
* (Sandra Bullock doesn't alienate anybody because she's not terribly
beautiful, but always plays intelligent, try-hard, do-good women. Then again,
she's the 'cream in my canoli'.)
Date: Wed, 28 Feb 1996 23:46:24 -0600
From: chansen@innovsoftd.com (Craig Hansen)
Subject: The liberal John Scully
Drew wrote:
>Apple is already affiliated with left-wing politics. Doesn't anyone
>remember John Sculley sitting with the Clinton family during the State
>of the Union Address a few years ago? True, it wasn't an advertizement,
>but there can be little doubt as to the company's political leanings.
>
Sure we remember it. But also remember, Scully was fired shortly
thereafter. He was more concerned about buddying up to politicians than he
was about selling computers....which was part of my original point!
Fortunately, according the the Claris rep I talked to tonight at work, Gil
Amelio is the anti-Scully---a down-to-work business guy who cares more
about making companies profitable than about whose dinner parties he's
invited to.
At last!
Craig
P.S. (Apple has always been anti-establishment, but anti-establishment
does not necessarily equal liberal! I would suggest that after 42 years of
uninterrupted Democratic control of Congress (prior to 1994), left-wing
politics qualifies as establishment. As a conservative member of
Generation X, I consider my conservatism politically an in-your-face to
establishment liberalism. So "the times they are a-changing" in Bob
Dylan's words, and maybe the Republican Revolution and the coming Mac
Revolution are not mutually exclusive!)
....oohh, I bet I've REALLY ruffled some feathers with THAT statement. Tee-hee.
Remember folks, it was CLINTON who signed the law to censor the Internet.
Sounds pretty "establishment" to me!
Forbes/Keyes '96 --- MacOS System 8 in '97!!
-------
Craig
=====================================================================
++ Craig Hansen, 41 W. Arlington Ave. #201, Saint Paul, MN 55117 ++
++ E-mail: chansen@innovsoftd.com ++
++ WWW: http://www.isd.net/chansen/ ++
++ Organization: Rose Creek Web Services ++
++ ++
++ "In the future, future events such as these could affect you ++
++ in the future." ++
++ -Criswell, PLAN 9 FROM OUTER SPACE, via ED WOOD. ++
=====================================================================
Date: Thu, 29 Feb 1996 01:19:08 -0500
From: Sappy@aol.com
Subject: A CD we should all have...
I've been trying to come up with a solution for the situation which was
described a couple of posts ago: retail stores don't stock enough Mac
software; Mail order catalogs stock a lot, but new users may not know about
them; specialized vertical market products are virtually unknown to startup
businesses who shop for Performas; You don't want to piss off the Retail
market by pushing mail-order, etc. Here's the brightest idea I've come up
with.
How about a multimedia CD-ROM version of the Macintosh Product Registry?
Production can be paid for by advertisements for the products within; just
like the white pages, listings of products and companies are free. In
addition to product listings by name, vendor, or type of product, it should
include a listing of all of Apple's authorized resellers: OfficeMax, BestBuy,
CompUSA, as well as the smaller VARs like PixelCreek, etc., and of course,
all the mail-order catalogs. It could also serve double-duty by providing a
list of registered Claris developers and trainers, too. This means it will
also need a (Filemaker Runtime) database engine capable of spitting out the
nearest reseller by zip code or area code. That way, customers have their
choice of where they want to buy. If they wish to shop for a better price,
they could shop around. If they have a poor experience with one dealer, the
CD can help them to find another.
Of course, some companies probably have cool multimedia presentations for
their products, but what people would need most from this product are
descriptions of the programs and hardware accessories which are available for
the Mac. PICTURES, lots of pictures (thank god for QuickTime JPEG
compression) What would impress people the most by this product would be
opening our eyes to all the different things that people DO on the Mac. For
instance, how many of you knew about the security system for tracking
building fires (as posted recently in Evangelist)? That's the kind of stuff
that makes me proud to be a Mac owner.
This CD wouldn't have to be all that fancy -- practical, yet attractive.
Maybe it could spit out PDF versions of product literature, or perhaps Text
versions of the company/reseller information in case you need to print it out
to take to your dealer to get him to order it for you. My desire is that this
CD would be shipped with every Macintosh sold, and perhaps packaged with the
occasional MacWorld, Wired, or BYTE (or TIME or Sports Illustrated...) Of
course, it would be a great sales tool as well for the dealers/VARs as well.
(An aside: it's totally sad that most 'sales' people at Apple dealers are
just clerks: "May I take your order please? And do you want a CD-ROM with
that?" If the dealer channel inspired SALESMANSHIP (as it used to with sales
contests which put Macintoshes in the homes of their sales force), perhaps
the market could grow by an additional 5% or so. Most of the sales people at
Apple dealers I've met are kind of lazy. If they used a Mac more, and knew
more about it, they'd make better informed decisions when telling customers
what to buy so that the customers are happy / at least not disappointed /
from the get-go)
Date: Thu, 29 Feb 96 02:28:08 EST
From: Christopher.Young@ISL1.RI.CMU.EDU
Subject: Catalog buying
From: "Gino Larsen-Giacalone" Ðggiacalone@htland.comð
>
>I'm afraid I've also moved away from MacConnection.
>HOWEVER, given our discussions in Crepe Diem about the importance of MAC
>visibility, I wonder if MacConnection shouldn't be given more credit for putting
>the platforms on equal footing. Where before WinTel customers would only see a
>homogenous set of offerings they now see that Mac offerings are, in many cases
>but not all, right there with the WinTel products. ANd, of course, there are
>some progams that ARE only on the Mac.
Is MacConnection putting Macs on equal footing? This can only be the case
if Mac materials are listed in the PC Connection Catalog. PC stuff in the
Mac Catalog does not in fact expose PC users to Mac software.
-- Chris.
Date: Thu, 29 Feb 1996 00:19:58 -0800
From: MartonC@eworld.com
Subject: Philippine President uses Macs
Hi there fellow Loyalistas,
As mentioned in EvangeList a couple of months ago, President Fidel Ramos of
the Philippines (where I was born, although I'm now a naturalized American
citizen) is a big-time Macintosh fan. President Ramos uses Macs in a nation
that has been enslaved by the Intel Evil Empire. As reported, Ramos insists
that his entire Cabinet use Macintosh computers, and for mobility, the
President keeps in touch with his staff using ARA (and PowerBooks, I assume).
When the Malacanang Palace Home Page (the official Philippine government
page) went live on the web late last year, it was certainly promising for a
so-called "developing" nation such as the Philippines. The home page is well
organized, highly regarded by the Filipino websurfing community, and was also
designed on Macs. The home page was redesigned again this January, and the
site has even more professional looking graphics now. No pixelated DOS-crap
graphics here, folks.
In January, I emailed President Ramos congratulating him on a great web page.
As a Filipino expatriate, I commented that the President was in the right
direction by being Net-literate, and in the belief that the vast resources of
the Internet may someday help a developing nation like the Philippines
modernize and catch up with modern technology.
The President never replied to me directly. However, a week ago, NewsBytes
had a news report confirming the increasing popularity of President Ramos'
web page, and that President Ramos was beaming proud of all the hundreds of
enthusiastic responses he received complementing his presidential home
page... a home page made possible by the MacOS.
I hope Apple Computer is listening to this. Apple has a fanatic following in
Japan. Motorola may be selling Mac clones in China in the coming year. But
the MacOS is way outnumbered in the Philippines, virtually unheard of,
because Apple has not aggressively marketed the Mac platform there. That
country has one of the fastest growing IT and cellular industries in Asia,
and is getting "wired" to the Net very quickly--at least for the citizens
that can afford the luxury of computing technology. If you don't believe me,
following NewsBytes will show you that the news subject "Philippines
Technology Newsbriefs" comes up quite regularly. Apple had better act fast,
while the President there is a Macintosh fan. The Law of Statistics dictate
that the next president to succeed Ramos will likely be a Wintel-using dope.
Regards,
--
Marton Carungay
Warrior-Priest of the Macintosh Way
http://home.earthlink.net/~martonc/
martonc@eworld.com
Date: Thu, 29 Feb 1996 00:20:03 -0800
From: MartonC@eworld.com
Subject: Looking for fabled pro-Mac t-shirt
I was told of the existence of a fabled pro-Mac t-shirt that read:
* "This is you brain" (accompanied by Apple logo)
* "This is your brain on drugs" (accompanied by MS Windows logo)
* "Any questions?"
Hmmm... I was extremely disappointed at not finding that fabled t-shirt upon
my pilgrimage (making my "hajj") at Macworld Expo this January. If anyone has
info on its whereabouts, please email me privately. If I had such shirts to
wear, it would certainly help my evangelizing efforts.
--
Marton Carungay
Warrior-Priest of the Macintosh Way
http://home.earthlink.net/~martonc/
martonc@eworld.com
Date: Thu, 29 Feb 1996 00:55:55 -0800
From: Joseph McLean Ðjoseph@coc.powell-river.bc.cað
Subject: Re: Apple ads
>Since Apple is the "real thing" it ought to team with Coca-cola on
>some "real" ads.
No Way! PEPSI. (uh oh, here we go again...) Although this message may
appear useless at first sight, it contains important information (once
again stolen from JINX, subscribable by sending "jinx me!" to
Ðjinx@thecentre.comð, blah blah)
This just in: The vast majority of MS Windowing teens drink Coke.
However, an equal majority of teens who use Macintoshes choose Pepsi!!!
Why? As usual, no one really has a clue. Perhaps because both Coke and
Microsoft use the same "50s-style" nostalgia advertisements, and rely on
conformity to sell their products, they attract the same flock...
Besides, long time Apple CEO John Sculley *ran* Pepsico before the days
of of the Mac! His recruitment went something like this: "Are you going to
spend your life selling sugar water or are you going to change the world?"
(Steve Jobs)
...what could Sculley say? After much deliberation he decided that
changing the world would be more fun...
Date: Thu, 29 Feb 1996 07:04:53 -0500
From: egghead@i2020.net (Michael Kelleher)
Subject: Re: Mac-using celebrities
>>"What do Bjork, Douglas Adams, Tori Amos, Brian Eno, Laurie Anderson,
>>Sheryl Crow, Danny DeVito, Peter Gabriel, Brian Eno, New Order, William
>>Gibson, Tom Hanks, Jodie Foster, Harrison Ford, Bono, John Laroquette,
>>Spike Lee, Seal, George Lucas, Conan O'Brien, Neil Young, Bob Zemeckis,
>>Buzz Aldrin and the President of Iceland have in common?"
> [snip]
>And did you miss Harry Anderson? Have you noticed he appears