EvangeList Digest Tuesday, April 21 1998 Volume 01 : Number 1161
In this issue:
Tidbit - NT 4.0 not Y2K Compliant PR - QuakeFinder 1.5.1 Released Tidbit - PC Week - 300MHz PPC Faster Than 400MHz Pentium II PR - PrintTrack Beta Available Job - UC Irvine Special Event Parking Mac Guru (Irvine, CA) Tidbit - Credit Suisse First Boston Analyst "gets" Apple ?? - Macs and ATM Followup - Yahoo Favorite OS Survey Results Tidbit - RhapNet Reader Survey PR - PageInspector 1.5
=========================================================================== Submissions to EvangeList: <mailto:evangelist@apple.com>.
Help: <http://www.lists.apple.com/evangelist.html> or <evangelist-info@public.lists.apple.com> ===========================================================================
Date: Mon, 20 Apr 1998 02:11:08 -0000 From: EvangeList <evangelist@apple.com> Subject: Tidbit - NT 4.0 not Y2K Compliant
Keyword: Advocacy, Why Macs Are Better
This tidbit is from:
Juan Font, <jfont@etheron.net>
You may not believe this at first (I didnt either, I thought it was an error when I first read about it at <http://www.macnn.com/RhapNet/>, but Windows NT 4.0 is NOT Year 2000 compliant. And this is stated so in the Microsoft Web Page!!!. Their advise?: Dont delay; deploy NT 4.0 now, test NT 5 Beta 2 next summer, and upgrade to NT 5 next year (maybe their hurry to have you deploy NT 4 now comes from fear of savvy managers switching to Rhapsody as a solution, as it will surely be on the street before NT 5).
I just spent most of last weeks days and nights setting up a new Compaq Prosignia 200 / Pentium II 300 / running NT 4.0 Server in our network, and so far have not finished (I expect at least three more days will be spent setting up all the services needed). We assumed that we would not have to do anything else to it for a few years, and now find that well be forced to upgrade to NT 5 within a year!. I will definitely not follow this road anymore; as soon as Rhapsody is ready for the job, it will replace NT 4 in our network server. Period!.
I am so upset, I felt compelled to write this note inmediately after I knew the news, to avoid others from falling in the Microsoft Professional Operating System Solution trap.
Read for yourself the story on Windows NT 4.0 not being year 2000 compliant at:
Scott Kevill today announced the release of QuakeFinder 1.5.1, a minor improvement due to popular demand to the ultimate internet Quake server finder for the Macintosh.
QuakeFinder is the easiest and fastest program for finding, analysing, and joining, Internet multiplayer Quake servers on the Macintosh.
QuakeFinder takes the pain out of finding responsive and populated servers.
WHAT'S NEW IN VERSION 1.5.1?
- - Default command-line parameters for Quake to use at startup can be specified - - The number of attempts on a server before timing out can be set - - A maximum of 4 server info windows will be opened in one hit to guard against accidental double-clicks with many servers selected.
QuakeFinder 1.5.1 is a free upgrade for registered users.
MAIN FEATURES
- - Slick user interface - - Smooth and responsive Macintosh feel - - Powerful and intuitive LIVE filtering and sorting to sift through hundreds of servers - - Incredibly fast! - - Extract new servers from web pages, text files and the Mac's clipboard - - Automatically connect MacQuake to a server of your choice, optionally specifying command-line parameters - - Effortlessly use custom Quake modifications - - Easily manage lists of Master web sites for finding new servers - - See who is playing on a server and what their scores are
QuakeFinder is US$15 shareware and is available from the web site below.
REQUIREMENTS
- - Power Macintosh - - System 7.5 or later - - Internet connection - - Quake for the Macintosh (version 1.08.3 or later)
QuakeFinder is available now, and may be downloaded from the web site at:
<http://www.curtin.edu.au/~scott/macquake/>.
Scott Kevill has been developing software for the Macintosh over the last seven years. He has previously released Doom ][ Keys, an indispensible utility for customizing the control for Doom players. Scott is also known for his other Quake utility in development, Quiver, a powerful and intuitive Macintosh Quake level editor.
Quake is a registered trademark of id Software. QuakeFinder is not affiliated with or endorsed by id Software. Macintosh is a registered trademark of Apple Computer, Inc.
Scott Kevill <scott@kagi.com> Support <scott@kagi.com> Press Contact <scott@kagi.com> World Wide Web <http://www.curtin.edu.au/~scott/macquake/>
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 20 Apr 1998 02:16:07 -0000 From: EvangeList <evangelist@apple.com> Subject: Tidbit - PC Week - 300MHz PPC Faster Than 400MHz Pentium II
Keyword: Advocacy, Why Macs Are Better
This tidbit is from:
MrFin, <MrFin@columbus.rr.com>
PC Week has a very favorable review of the Apple 300MHz G3 computer, claiming that it is even faster than the 400MHz Pentium II Compaq Deskpro.
"The most powerful Apple system yet, the 300MHz G3 is admirably suited for publishing and graphics professionals who need the high performance, but graphics isn't the only area in which the G3 shines. Microsoft Corp.'s Office 98 applications ran uniformly faster on the new Power Mac than on the previous models, both when we opened and saved large documents and in processing PowerPoint presentations."
PrintTrack V0.94 is being made available in beta. PrintTrack logs the date, user name, job number, document name, printer name and number of pages for each print made from any application to a log file. The PrintTrack log file can be imported into a spreadsheet or database for cost accounting or job / client billing.
This pre-release beta version is being made available free for the first 100 people who request it. All who participate will receive a free copy of PrintTrack!
Minimal beta-testing requirements are: loading PrintTrack and reporting any difficulties encountered and any conflicts or problems in tracking from a specific application. A list of applications and their version numbers that you have successfully used with PrintTrack will be requested as well as any success stories or positive feedback you may have on the product.
To request participation in the PrintTrack beta, email: <sales@pr-int.com> Include your name, company name and address and your phone number. You will recieve a reply along with the beta and a serial number.
BTW: PrintTrack originated from an advertising agency on the EvangeList asking for a simple way to track the number of color prints done for clients by job number.
Productive Intelligence, Inc. web site: <http://www.pr-int.com> email: <sales@pr-int.com>
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 20 Apr 1998 02:14:58 -0000 From: EvangeList <evangelist@apple.com> Subject: Job - UC Irvine Special Event Parking Mac Guru (Irvine, CA)
This job announcement is from:
David SUGG, <DSUGG@uci.edu>
This is a great job in a department that is totally mac-centric. I've installed nice equipment (a mix of G3's and PMacs, scanners, printers, a vinyl sign cutter, etc...) with a good network and there are great people working there. It's a bit different, but it's a great place to work!
David Sugg UC Irvine Special Event Parking
- ---------------------------------------- May close on or before filing deadline.
DUTIES: Under supervision of Departmental Manager, incumbent is responsible for maintaining operations of Macintosh computers for Special Event Parking. Responsible for Macintosh OS installation, configuration, and troubleshooting on portable, desktop, and video production machines/software. Responsibilities also include Apple printer maintenance, programming, system documentation, purchasing assessment, training, and system security. Maintain internal email and web servers db. Responsible for all aspect of Special Event parking field operation. Operations include event parking service, traffic direction, safety escort service, parking lot patrols, event support services, valet and shuttle services, disabled transportation, and campus information kiosks. Supervises and evaluate approximately 55 part-time casual parking attendants.
REQUIREMENTS: Expert level of knowledge and experience with the following: Macintosh OS 7.x and 8.x, 680x0-based. Expert level with Microsoft Excel and Claris Filemaker Pro. Ability to set-up and maintain office computer network including skill to upgrade software; analyze and repair problems with software, Ethernet, and AppleTalk; and troubleshoot and repair hardware problems including Apple laser printers, Apple DOS card and other thirty-party DOS card, Microsoft Office suite applications, Eudora, Netscape, Microsoft Internet Explorer, Software-based DOS emulators; experience in AppleTalk and Ethernet LAN configuration; experience in writing user manuals and system documentation; excellent interpersonal skills; effective oral and written communication skills; ability to provide training and instructions effectively.
DESIRABLE: Familiarity with winstar and hand held radios, Windows 95 and Windows NT client. Demonstrated supervisory skills in directing and managing groups of staff including delegating work, supervising and providing a work environment conducive to the motivation of subordinates, recruiting, hiring, training, performance evaluation and administering necessary disciplinary actions. Ability to analyze and resolve complex traffic,event and parking problems and make recommendations to Manager.
APPLICATION: This is not the official/legal job announcement. You will be able to find the official announcement at:
Please Contact: Stacey L. Murren <slmurren@uci.edu> Manager UCI Special Event Parking 714-824-5065
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 20 Apr 1998 02:16:30 -0000 From: EvangeList <evangelist@apple.com> Subject: Tidbit - Credit Suisse First Boston Analyst "gets" Apple
This tidbit is from:
Ritholtz, <Ritholtz@aol.com>
There has been much wailing and lamenting that "Wall Street" just doesn't get Apple. So when an analyst does get it right, I think it is incumbent upon us to recognize that individual, as well as their firm.
The following is excerpted from an analyst's report by Credit Suisse First Boston's Charles Wolf:
"Ya gotta believe. Apple turns a profit for the second quarter in a row and actually shows signs of life on the revenue line . . . What's more important, unit shipments of 650,000 show the first year over year increase in three years. Excluding horrendous write-offs, the company actually created value in March . . .
"We told you so. The majority of people thought we were crazy for upgrading the stock to a Buy. Until today, it was not apparenty why we did. Apple's March results were a surprise chiefly on the gross margin line. [24.9% up from vs. 18.9% year ago] . . . Apple's new line of G3 computers, introduced in November was the reason. The G3 family, which is superior in the price/performance space to comparable Wintel machines form IBM, Compaq and others, has proven that customers will buy Macs when the value proposition is there.
"The second piece of good news is that unit shipments increased year-over-year as well as sequentially . . . "
After speaking to Charles on Friday, its apparent to me that he not only "gets Apple," but is a decent guy, too (Even if he is friendly with Stewart Alsop ;-)). He was the only analyst to my knowledge who had upgraded Apple to a "Buy" early this year--back on January 7, 1998.
Had you bought Apple stock back when Charles suggested so, your return would have been over 100%--versus an S&P 500 return of around 12%.
For those of you who may not have been aware, Apple is the best performing computer OEM for 1998, and one of the very top performing S&P 500 stocks this year.
I've got a PC blip on my RADAR and need some help from my fellow EvangeListas to blow it out of the water. The threat is not yet fully defined, so my info is not as precise and detailed as I'd like it to be - but I decided not to wait until it was too late to do anything but tell my fellow EvangeListas what hit me and what to look out for.
All the local schools are in the process of being required to go to Wintel boxes. The reason for this is to be sure "that our district will be compatible with a new regional/statewide opportunity." This opportunity consists of a service cloud that schools access using Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) protocols. This plan proposes that multiple T1 connectivity (using ATM protocols) be provided to the local High School. At the HS, this multi-T1 pipe feeds into an ATM switch which feeds the building ethernet network thru an "edge device." This ATM switch also (and here's the clinker) feeds a remote learning computer lab via a 25Mbps direct ATM feed to each student workstation. Reputedly, workstation specifications are being written up for Wintel boxes only. The "experts" involved seem to think that Macs can't do this or they don't want to find out if they can.
Locally, the hope is that sufficient money will be found to enable ALL schools in the district to tap into this ATM feed - ergo: ALL new machines in the district must be able to become part of the remote learning ATM link. (My personal opinion is that any machines purchased this Spring will wind up connected to their building ethernet and will happily end their normal service lives that way - however, that's a tune that is not acceptable around here for the time being.)
I must prove to the Superintendent that any new Macs are or can be made capable of accepting multimedia classroom instruction via a 25Mbps direct ATM feed from an ATM switch. Since some or all of the instruction will be platform specific, I suppose that it would be good insurance to specify that they also be capable of doing it while running Virtual PC. I'd be surprised if this can't be done - what do I need to make it happen? What are the cautions and pitfalls that I should be aware of?
So far, I have found three vendors who advertise ATM products for Macs but the ads sound like they will only make Mac servers able to access ATM feeds, not client Macs. I'm in the process of contacting these vendors for more info, but I feel the need to quickly tap into a larger knowledge base - this blip kind of feels like a battleship on the horizon - and right now I have enough ammo to fight off a rowboat!
TIA for your help. Since this sounds like a problem that a lot of us may have to deal with in the future, I will be sure to post a summary of the responses to this list. I will also offer my apologies in advance to those who respond to this posting - based on my past experience with this list, I expect that there will be too many responses for me to answer
Well, the Yahoo survey is finished, and here are the results that, I believe, speak for themselves:
"Despite the current cries of "Monopoly!," it seems there are plenty of operating systems available for people who just don't do Windows. From Amiga to Be to CP/M, there's a veritable alphabet soup of computing choices, some practical, some prehistoric. Now we don't want to make a federal case out of it, we just want to know...What is your operating system of choice?"
Of 201736 votes
Windows 2% Macintosh 35% Unix 19% BeOS 13% Palm Pilot 1% Nintendo 64 28%
My name is Oliver Dueck, and I am editor of RhapNet <http://www.macnn.com/rhapnet/>>, a web site devoted to bringing you top-notch Rhapsody news and articles.
>From now until Friday, May 8, we are holding a reader survey, to find out who our readers are and what they think about the site. We hope to continue to improve the site based on the results of the survey.
So, come on over to RhapNet, and catch up on the latest news, perhaps read an editorial or two...and then take a minute to fill out the survey.
Remember, the address is <http://www.macnn.com/rhapnet/>.
Regards,
Oliver Dueck RhapNet www.macnn.com/rhapnet/ <rhapnet@macnn.com>
Douglas Clarke releases PageInspector 1.5. Available now by download <http://www.kagi.com/doug/pi/> Shareware $15 through Kagi Shareware.
PageInspector is a Macintosh-only HTML syntax validator. It reports and corrects errors that cause HTML pages to render incorrectly, and that are difficult to find by eye. It also checks links, both local, FTP- and HTTP-based links.
FEATURES: ========= - - Displays the text of the open file and highlights the exact location of errors.
- - Checks local as well as Internet links (that is, HTTP and FTP -- no other program does this).
- - Checks the case of local links to ensure they are UNIX-safe in addition to being Mac-safe, which is not done even by programs that "specialise" in HTML link checking.
- - Obtains the document base URL from the file's Finder comment. No other program does this.
- - Lists up to 8192 errors in HTML documents. Explains why PageInspector reported the error, and how you can correct it (or even have PageInspector correct it for you.)
- - Contextual menus provide shortcuts to commands (even in pre-MacOS 8 systems).
- - Complete AppleScript support, including a scripts menu. Full scriptability lets you extend PageInspector's automatic error corrections, and select errors in your favourite text editor for correction.
- - Uses a modern MacOS 8 3D platinum interface.
- - Many preferences offers full customisation of PageInspector's behaviour.
PageInspector works on all Macs running System 7 or later. It is accelerated for Power Macintosh. Open Transport and a Power Macintosh are required for Internet link checking.
------------------------------
End of EvangeList Digest V1 #1161 *********************************
