EvangeList Digest Tuesday, March 24 1998 Volume 01 : Number 1134
In this issue:
Tidbit - Dutch Macintosh Faq & HINT Benchmarks Question Tidbit - The Mac Goes to the Circus PR - Andrew's Disk Copy 6.2 Scripts Tidbit - PowerBook G3 Faster than Pentium II 300 System PR - RetroSpinner 1.0 - Retrospect Log to HTML Converter Tidbit - Flying the Flag PR - MacTalk Radio Show News Content Providers Job - QA Specialist, Hardware (Alameda, Ca) PR - The MacSurfshop - NEW STUFF! Tidbit - Steamed Crabb moves to Abbott Systems Job - Programmer Needed for Port ;-) - Kids and Macs may NOT mix Tidbit - To Everest... With a PowerBook of Course
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Just to let you know that 'though there aren't many mac-users in Holland, a lot of them are very enthousiastic! So, we have a high-quality and friendly newsgroup nl.comp.sys.mac. It would be a shame to let that knowledge slip away, and so I've gotten busy writing a Faq. It's not yet at full maturity but the third version has seen the light of the day, version 0.3. OK, spread the word, I hope to help as much mac-users in Holland as possible.
The second item I'd like to bring to your attention is about the HINT benchmarks. They're platform independent, dedicated to comparing computational power between platforms. I couldn't find any results obtained with G3 powermacs! I guess it must be possible to correct this flaw ;-). __________________________ Digital Guy Sez:
I'm not familiar with the HINT benchmarks. Have they been ported to the Mac? I would love to see how my 300 Mhz G3 stacks up against the pack. :)
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Date: Mon, 23 Mar 1998 18:20:11 -0000 From: EvangeList <evangelist@apple.com> Subject: Tidbit - The Mac Goes to the Circus
Keyword: Advocacy, Macintosh in Action
This tidbit is from:
David Reaves, <rrsounds@aol.com>
A great article on the Ringling Bros. Barnum & Bailey Circus in the NY times Online...
"[The] circus is, well, a circus, live entertainment where the animals go through 5 tons of hay and 750 pounds of carrots a week. Can purists tolerate the song of the microchip harmonizing with the crunch of peanuts?"
Describing the many uses of technology at the circus, the article says....
"During the show, the crew uses a Hewlett-Packard mainframe computer to adjust the sound in the arena, compensating for the deadening effect of people in the hall and for changing temperature and humidity."
But, best of all...
"The stars of that light show are 102 top-of-the-line "intelligent lights": computer-regulated units that swivel and generate hundreds of colors. They cost from $6,000 to $12,000 apiece and are run by four Macintosh laptops (everything in the show must be portable).
Abigail Holmes, the show's lighting designer, said she had created the lighting architecture by drawing it on her Macintosh with a Minicad computer- assisted drafting program. It took Holmes and a crew of four (two of them computer programmers) three weeks to enter the show's lighting cues into the computers."
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Date: Tue, 24 Mar 1998 02:12:13 -0000 From: EvangeList <evangelist@apple.com> Subject: PR - Andrew's Disk Copy 6.2 Scripts
This announcement is from:
Andrew McNaughton, <andrew@patsy.demon.co.uk>
I have recently fallen in love with a little application which comes from Apple. It's been around for years, but we took it for granted. Then they gave it a major overhaul and now it's my favourite new toy.
Disk Copy 6.2 only became my 'favourite' toy when I created two little AppleScript applications which can be used to access the segmenting feature; which currently remains unavailable without these scripts (or similar scripts). The segmenting feature essentially knocks StuffIt Deluxe off the top spot, as the archiving format of choice; in my opinion. The compression capability is as good as StuffIt and files are almost instantly accessed, without risking a crash, unlike the leading 3rd-party compression software. When segmented a Disk Copy disk image doesn't have to go through a lengthy rejoin process to be accessible. Just double-click the first part and, provided the others are on the same volume, you have the same access you would as if it were a whole image.
One of my little apps segments an image into the number of parts you choose and the other segments a chosen image into 1.4MB floppy sized pieces. Although they can be used by themselves both of the files should be put in a folder called "Scripts" beside Disk Copy, to provide access to their features as though they were built-in commands via a Scripts menu. The scripts should be available from the Info-Mac archives in the "Disk & File" directory (or the compression one), named "dcscripts-101.img.hqx". This means they will be on Info-Mac CD-ROM soon and they will also be available on the next AMUG CD-ROM in August. They are also on my web site at <http://www.patsy.demon.co.uk/Downloads/>
It took me ages to perfect the little applications (never having learned how to use AppleScript before) and a friend suggested, I suggest, users of the scripts "tip" me 5 (or $5 in the US); although this fee is only to be paid by those who can afford it and feel that the scripts have saved them time and brought them good. :-) Otherwise visit my web site to bump up that hits counter; <http://www.patsy.demon.co.uk/> (requires Netscape 3 with LiveAudio enabled).
I can't wait until they enable the public version of Disk Copy 6.x that makes the Self-Mounting Images we've seen with the release of Mac OS 8.1.
System Requirements :
Disk Copy 6.2 (which requires System 7.0.1 or later; Mac OS 8.1 or later for HFS+ images); AppleScript 1.1.x or later.
Disk Copy is currently FAT and AppleScript is currently 68K so no real hardware limits.
If you don't have Disk Copy 6.2 already you can get it from Apple's FTP sites free of charge.
Thanks. Andrew McNaughton.
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Date: Tue, 24 Mar 1998 02:13:07 -0000 From: EvangeList <evangelist@apple.com> Subject: Tidbit - PowerBook G3 Faster than Pentium II 300 System
This tidbit is from:
Michael Breeden, <mike@xlr8yourmac.com>
Just a note that I ran the ByteMark (Motorola version) on both my PowerBook G3 and a Pentium II 300 Mhz (Micron XKU) recently. Both machines had 128MB of ram. The PowerBook outscored the PII 300 on both Integer and Floating point tests.
The PowerBook G3 really is a "Giant Killer":
<http://www.xlr8yourmac.com/030998.html>
As shown there, even when the PII is overclocked in bus and CPU speeds, it barely exceeds the PB G3 in Floating Point, and still trails by a good margin in Integer performance.
Glad to see Apple finally taking a offensive stance against Intel. Advertising that illustrates the product performance advantage is a refreshing change. It's already made an impact at my workplace (which is 99% PCs). Bravo Apple!
I'll be including ByteMark tests in all future CPU card and system reviews. As soon as I can, I'll be comparing real world application timed test results of the Apple G3 systems vs. the Pentium II 300 as well.
Best Regards, Mike Breeden <mike@xlr8yourmac.com> "Accelerate Your Mac!" at: <http://www.xlr8yourmac.com>
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Date: Tue, 24 Mar 1998 02:12:25 -0000 From: EvangeList <evangelist@apple.com> Subject: PR - RetroSpinner 1.0 - Retrospect Log to HTML Converter
This announcement is from:
Javed Ikbal, <javed@home.com>
I am happy to announce RetroSpinner 1.0, a utility for converting Retrospect logs to color-coded, date-indexed html files for viewing over the web.
System requirements: PowerMac Connection to intranet/internet (or access to a web server for publishing)
The shareware fee for RetroSpinner 1.0 is just $10.00. You can download RetroSpinner 1.0 from the usual Mac shareware sites and from our web site:
<http://members.home.net/javed/retrospinner>
RetroSpinner 1.0 is not crippled in any way, so you can use it right away.
Date: Tue, 24 Mar 1998 02:12:19 -0000 From: EvangeList <evangelist@apple.com> Subject: Tidbit - Flying the Flag
Keyword: Advocacy, Guerilla Tactics
This tidbit is from:
Martin Pickering UK, <repairman@netcentral.co.uk>
As a self-employed entrepreneur, I get to write equipment reviews for magazines. Here is the final paragraph of my latest review. Kick Ass!
"The Capacitor Wizard was designed by an American engineer who uses it himself and it shows! The booklet is clear, concise and even includes tables to enable you to check capacitors as low as 0.1uF as well as small-value inductors. There's also an explanation of how to check for leaky or shorted semiconductors. This meter is more versatile than you think!
Of course, you say, I thought long and hard before committing myself. Well, no I didn't actually! Once I realised what this thing would do and how much time and money it was going to save me, I posted off my check right away. Like an Apple G3 PowerMac, it does the job faster and more efficiently than anything else available and, like a G3 PowerMac, I simply had to have one!"
Martin T. Pickering B. Eng. <repairman@netcentral.co.uk>
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Date: Tue, 24 Mar 1998 02:12:34 -0000 From: EvangeList <evangelist@apple.com> Subject: PR - MacTalk Radio Show News Content Providers
This announcement is from:
Applelinks.com, <webmaster@applelinks.com>
Today The MacHome MacTalk Radio Show announced their official choices for news content providers: Applelinks.com, Insanely Great Mac and The thessaSOURCE.
Applelinks.com, Insanely Great Mac and The thessaSOURCE are three of the top Macintosh news sites on the web. They provide timely news, in-depth reports, shareware updates, reviews, editorials and several thousand Mac links between them. The partnership between these three news sites and MacHome will make MacTalk Radio show one of the most informative Mac broadcasts on the web.
MacTalk radio show has expanded Mac Home magazine from the printed page to the airwaves. MacHome MacTalk Radio Show, an internet-based Apple and Macintosh specific show, airs every Wednesday night from 6-8 PST, 9-11 EST. Each week, hosts Shawn King of King InfoMedia and Adam Clark of Late Night Consulting, discuss all things Apple and Macintosh. Listen to captivating discussions, timely industry news provided by Applelinks.com, Insanely Great Mac and The thessaSOURCE, informative interviews with Mac industry notables - and much more.
Listeners only need an ISP account, a current Web browser and the RealAudio browser plug-in to enjoy two full hours of the most informative and entertaining Apple and Macintosh coverage available across the Internet. To access the MacHome MacTalk Radio Show, simply go to the MacHome Interactive Web site <http://www.machome.com/>and> click on the MacTalk Radio Show logo. Sit back for two hours of weekly bliss.
Position Summary: We are looking for an experienced QA Engineer to ensure that a quality product is developed and released.
Responsibilities: products. . Design and program automated tests, participate in Bug reviews, writing test specs and reports, and isolating problems.
Qualifications: team. . Networking experience and knowledge of TCP/IP are required. . Experience in IPX, Appletalk prefered. . Requires 2+ years experience testing LAN/WAN.
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Date: Tue, 24 Mar 1998 02:12:53 -0000 From: EvangeList <evangelist@apple.com> Subject: PR - The MacSurfshop - NEW STUFF!
This announcement is from:
Mike Yrabedra, <BIGkahuna@macsurfshop.com>
Attention Surfers!
If you liked Apple's new "bunnies" commercial, then you are going to love the NEW Tshirt design at the MacSurfshop! The design is called "BURN BABY BURN" and it features our adorble little "MadMac" character blasting the intel dancer with the G3. It is printed on a 100% cotton white short sleeve T.
Get it while it's HOT! ( Sorry, I couldn't resist )
BTW, The brand new "Wiz on Windoze" auto decals will be ready and available next week! They are in limited printing ( only a thousand ) and will not be available again. So make sure and get yours early!
See you there---> <http://www.macsurfshop.com>
Aloha! B^)
Mike Yrabedra BIGkahuna - ----------- 1.888.489.6790 912.489.2628 www.macsurfshop.com <bigkahuna@macsurfshop.com>
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Date: Tue, 24 Mar 1998 02:12:58 -0000 From: EvangeList <evangelist@apple.com> Subject: Tidbit - Steamed Crabb moves to Abbott Systems
This tidbit is from:
Abbott Systems Inc., <info@abbottsys.com>
Steamed Crabb moves to Abbott Systems!
We are pleased to announce that Don Crabb's famous 'Steamed Crabb' column has moved from MacWEEK to the Abbott Systems Website at:
The weekly column, which has been running since May of 1996, is one of Don's most popular columns and has thousands of loyal readers.
Don, who somehow manages to balance the roles of outspoken critic and friend of Apple, recalls that "the very first column, on May 8 of 1996, was my analysis of Apple's need to dump its large retail channel partners - - something which only took Apple 18 months of self-flaggelation to execute!"
Don's popular 'Mac Manager' column will remain at MacWEEK.
Don's views are his own, and do not necessarily agree with ours, and this column is in no way an endorsement of Abbott Systems products.
Abbott Systems is the developer of CanOpener and other Mac Utilities.
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Date: Tue, 24 Mar 1998 02:13:22 -0000 From: EvangeList <evangelist@apple.com> Subject: Job - Programmer Needed for Port
This job announcement is from:
Travis Ray, <munkey@wcox.com>
***Programmers! Techware needs you!***
The Simulation Dept. of TechWare recently published a utility for the PC version of Hornet Korea called H.K. PAL. This utility allows Hornet Korea users to use different military paint schemes, and change the land textures to either the Gulf War, Siberian Winter Oilfields, or the default Korean Jungle.
According to Tikkabik, TechWare's James "Ghost" Wohlever has indicated interest in bringing H.K. PAL to the Macintosh. His deal is simple: whoever does the work gets 50% of the Macintosh shareware receipts. E-mail him at <techware@mindscape.com> if you're interested. Be sure to indicate "Mac Version Resume" in the subject line of your e-mail.
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Date: Tue, 24 Mar 1998 02:12:49 -0000 From: EvangeList <evangelist@apple.com> Subject: ;-) - Kids and Macs may NOT mix
This tidbit is from:
cousar, <cousar@istar.ca>
There is a downside to being a Mac owner (but it's pretty small!)
My husband and I have agreed for years that Mac would be the way to go when we got a computer. Not only do we have enthusiastic Mac-o-phile friends, but experiences at school (high- and post-secondary-) made us realize that Mac's were MUCH better for us than that other kind.
So, two years ago, we bought a Mac, shortly after our elder daughter turned one year old.
Consequently, for two years now, she has been on the computer as much as Mommy or Daddy -- the kid can spend 3+ hours at a stretch playing educational computer games (though her favorite is "Daddy's 'Stay Down!' Game", a.k.a. Quake.)
But a sad fact of childish overuse has finally hit home. Our three year old was annoying us the other day. I finally sent her to her room because "Mommy doesn't want to play that game anymore".
Her answer? "That's ok, Mom! Click on me to play a NEW game!!"
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Date: Tue, 24 Mar 1998 02:12:43 -0000 From: EvangeList <evangelist@apple.com> Subject: Tidbit - To Everest... With a PowerBook of Course
Keyword: Advocacy, Macintosh in Action
This tidbit is from:
Erik Toh, <eriktoh@pacific.net.sg> (by way of EvangeList, <evangelist@apple.com>>
Singapore is making its first ever attempt to scale Mount Everest this March.
On the March 17th issue of the Straits Times (a local newspaper), an article featured the team, and splashed a photo of the team's communications expert with the Nepalese porters, with (what else?!) a PowerBook (which had an enormously prominent Apple logo sticker affixed to the cover). According to the newspapers' website, the communications specialist (Johann Annuar) was updating the team's official web site and also answering email, via satellite. COOL!
