EvangeList Digest Tuesday, September 8 1998 Volume 01 : Number 1270
In this issue:
;-) - iMac Related To Clothes Iron Tidbit - Mac Only Role Playing Game (Clan Lord) PR - Fairly Good Privacy 1.0b2 Released Tidbit - Big Disappointment From ADSL Provider Today... ?? - Beginning Mac Programming Tidbit - InformationWeek Item Tidbit - National Review Reviews the iMac Tidbit - Apple Wizards Sept Issue ?? - Request For Teaching Materials Tidbit - Macintosh Earth Science Software Resources Tidbit - Excalibur Spelling Checker
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Date: Mon, 7 Sep 1998 08:06:46 -0800 From: John Halbig <john@garage.com> Subject: ;-) - iMac Related To Clothes Iron
This tidbit is from:
Jones, Judy (Kansas City IT), <jjones@utilicorp.com>
just to prove we have a sense of humor and can laugh at ourselves...a co-worker who is certifiably on the dark side and has seen my iMac wallpaper sent this to me. Forgive me if you've already seen it -- I've been out for a few days and didn't have time to read all email upon returning.
Date: Mon, 7 Sep 1998 08:06:47 -0800 From: John Halbig <john@garage.com> Subject: Tidbit - Mac Only Role Playing Game (Clan Lord)
This tidbit is from:
Bart Janssen, <bjanssen@hort.cri.nz>
I just thought you might like to know about a new online RPG in development by DeltaTao. DeltaTao make great games and are primarily Mac game makers.
Their new game Clan Lord is still in development and is free at the moment. It is great fun and is MAC ONLY.
So maybe if you need a break or are just curious you could give it a try at:
<http://www.deltatao.com/clanlord.html>
Maybe some of the bright folks who read this list might also contribute to the development.
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Date: Mon, 7 Sep 1998 08:06:49 -0800 From: John Halbig <john@garage.com> Subject: PR - Fairly Good Privacy 1.0b2 Released
This announcement is from:
Tim Conkling, <conkling@mint.net>
Today Vaporware, Inc. announced the release of Fairly Good Privacy 1.0b2. Fairly Good Privacy is an easy-to-use text encryption program for the Mac OS written by 16-year-old Tim Conkling. The name obviously comes from Phil Zimmerman's "Pretty Good Privacy (PGP)" advanced encryption package.
1.0b2 provides significant improvments over 1.0b1, including greatly increased stability.
Standard features of FGP include support for multiple encrypts and 100% free registration. FGP is also easy enough for absolutely anyone to use.
Fairly Good Privacy 1.0b2 can be found one the web at <www.mint.net/~conkling>. Hotline users, check out the Realm of Moria at <moria.ml.org>, FGP's official Hotline site (hosted on a T3 for excellent download speeds).
Coder's note: I am very interested in programming for the Mac OS. This is the first program I have released to the public, and am very interested in feedback from fellow Mac users! I would also invite other would-be young programmers to email me for advice on how to get started. I have read that is it very difficult for younger teenagers to learn how to program in languages such as C (the language that FGP is written in), but I have to disagree. I have been programming since age 15 in C and have found it to be difficult but also great fun. Email me at <conkling@mint.net>
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Date: Mon, 7 Sep 1998 08:06:47 -0800 From: John Halbig <john@garage.com> Subject: Tidbit - Big Disappointment From ADSL Provider Today...
This tidbit is from:
Robert Westbrook, <riw@auracom.com>
I think I've heard the worst yet from an ignorant telephone company.
I've been waiting for ADSL (ethernet-speed access to the internet) to come for a long time, hoping it would come to my area soon, what with my Ethernet-equipped Powermac 7500 ready to blow past my old analog connection. It's finally here.
I called MT&T (canadian telco, <http://www.mtt.ca/> today to sign up for ADSL. Got thru all the speed specs and features, including the distributed apps, or "software on demand" (as they call it) features, which I could care less about, and then I happened to mention that I use a Macintosh.
"Oh. Umm... Macs aren't supported at this time. We're working on it, though."
"What do you mean, 'not supported?'" I asked. "Ethernet is ethernet, tcp/ip is tcp/ip, and your ADSL modem really doesn't care what computer is hooked up to it."
"Well, it's because you need a PC so the installer can come over and install the Ethernet card, and install and configure the Novell access software."
I began to get that sinking feeling. "My mac, and most others, comes with Ethernet hardware already installed, so you don't need to install an Ethernet card. Actually it's an easier install for your technician. After he sets up the modem hardware, all we need to do is plug the cat-5 wire into the back of the mac, enter the proper IP numbers into a control panel on the mac, and away it goes. I'm still willing to pay the install fee, of course."
[I know that if they use NAT I'll have to configure and use a router like ipNetRouter, but I'm prepared for that]
Silence... Then, "well there's a variety of issues surrounding Mac compatibility that prevents us from offering it at this time."
"Like what?"
"The software on demand feature doesn't work with macs."
"I don't mind about that; I have all the software I need. I just want the speed."
Sidestepping that, she said, "our help desk has no experience or training in macintosh support."
"I don't think I'll be needing that either, in fact I'll even sign an agreement stating so. I've been using my mac online for a number of years now, with both dialup and ethernet connections. I pretty much know my way around."
"We just don't support macs, I'm sorry."
"That's okay, will you come and install the modem hardware anyway? I'm perfectly willing to pay for the install fee and one month's service, regardless of whether it works or not."
"I'm sorry, we can't install it."
"You mean to tell me that if I order the service, and the installer arrives and sees that we only have a mac here, he will refuse to put in the wires and modem?"
"That's correct."
"Why? It will work. Maybe not your special software features, but again, I don't much care about them."
Now this next response floored me - "Well it's not really a matter of whether it will work - yes, it will 'work' - we just don't support it. We haven't tested it."
I was beginning to get a little angry at this point, as they had claimed that they were 'working on it', but managed to suppress my urge to yell into the telephone.
"May I speak to your supervisor?" I asked.
When the supervisor came on, we rehashed my previous arguments about compatibility issues, and my astonishment that they were unwilling to take my money for a service in which they would be even less responsible for and required to do less for than the standard user. She claimed that MT&T was still researching the size of the mac market, and I stopped her right there.
"Look, if your company is going to make the decision based on market share, I can tell you right now that they will say no. The mac market share is low at the moment, and they probably will not see much benefit in training people to support what they see as a 'measly four percent'. "What bothers me is that you have an ADSL system that, by your own admission, *will work with a mac* but you flatly refuse to give mac users the option of trying it and frankly, to me that seems unfair. Aren't you interested in satisfying all of your customers?"
"I understand that, but that is our current policy."
"I mentioned to your technician that I would be willing to waive any help or technical support, in writing, and that I would pay the full installation fee, and at least one month's worth of service, if only you would let me try the service."
She paused. "Let me understand, you would forego any help desk assistance, and pay the installation fee and one month's service, regardless of whether it works or not?"
"Absolutely."
She sighed. "Tell you what, give me a couple of days to get back to you, but I'll see if I can get you signed up as a beta tester. I can't promise anything, but I will look into it." I gave her my name, number and email address, and we parted on that hopeful note. I figured that was the best I was going to get today.
This incident has shaken my faith somewhat. What might I have said to improve my argument with these people? What can I tell them that will make it seem worthwhile to support the mac community? Did I forget anything important?
I did not show my anger, and I think that helped, but I don't expect to ever hear from MT&T again about this.
Thanks for listening, as I simply had to vent...
Robert Westbrook
P.S. - I'm thinking of changing long distance carriers (MT&T is mine), but I don't think they'll really care... What the hell is one lousy customer to them? __________________________ Digital Guy Sez:
Wow, I've been hearing a lot of techincally stupid things lately...but this is just beyond stupid. You pretty much covered all of the salient points (particulalry the part where they get what amounts to FREE money for service and support you neither need or want).
The best workaround I can suggest: Rent or borrow a Pentium class PC for a single day. Have them come out and install the service. Thank them, pull the info from the various PC control panels, and setup up the Mac yourself. Then, call a press conference to show how a single customer could do what a major corporation apparently can't.
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Date: Mon, 7 Sep 1998 08:06:50 -0800 From: John Halbig <john@garage.com> Subject: ?? - Beginning Mac Programming
This request is from:
Kris Johnson, <idolatry@earthlink.net>
Hi gang -
Help me learn how to program on my Mac. (And destroy the Wintel hegemony!)
I programmed in BASIC on yellow punch tape in 1971 when I was 10, so I'm familiar with loops and subroutines, but that's about it. I actually drew my signature with about 40 HPLOT statements! But I stopped programming in college because Pascal (anyone remember punch cards?) turned me off. No line numbers, weird spacing, et al.
But I occasionally think of little things I'd like to write for myself or friends or the shareware market, and I'd LOVE to have the Mac look (I've maintained my desire for lean, elegant software!). I want to learn to program my own dialogs, menus, icons, etc. Besides, I'm forced to use a *gag* Microsoft FoxPro version of some screenwriting software, and I'd eventually like to make it PPC native for them.
My research has brought up 2 start points:
SOFTWARE CodeWarrior Discover Programming Edition $70 <http://www.metrowerks.com/discover/mac.html> This software includes the CodeWarrior environment, a lot of sample code, and several online books. It looks like a great overall education from beginning to intermediate.
BOOKS I spend so much time sitting and looking at computer, television or movie screens all day that sometimes laying on the bed reading is a good break. The 3 books that seem most popular at Amazon <http://www.amazon.com> are:
Mac Programming for Dummies by Sydow Foundations of Mac Programming by Sydow Learn C on the Macintosh by Marks (BTW, this is also one of the online books included in the above software)
So 'Listas, what's the best way to start? Please email me only if you've learned from the ground up, esp. recently - I'd like the most current, easy to understand info I can get. And let me know of any esp. good tips or possible pitfalls.
I just got this week's InformationWeek, which, being for ENTERPRISE computing, tends to go somewhat light on mac news, though they seem to be fair in what coverage they do provide. On page 14, of the August 31st issue, they have a sidebar about a website that provides information on the vulnerabilites of different OSes, and vendor patches.
"The Infilsec Vulnerability Engine attempts to serve as a central repository of all known hacks and exploits for 14 operating systems, including most unix, Mac OS, and Windows NT systems."
Well, the mention of Mac caught my attention and I thought I had better check out the vulnerabilities, to be sure I have them all covered!
So I went to <http://www.infilsec.com/vulnerabilities/> and clicked the top level link to Mac OS vulnerabilities. Here is the result, verbatim:
No vulnerabilites matched. Try using a different search criteria.
So I did. I went back and clicked Windows NT:
It listed 29 on the first page and a link to the remainder of the 186 vulnerabilities listed.
Gee, if I worked for one of those large Dilbertesque companies, I might just put "find and fix system vulnerabilities" on my to do list and then take a month or two off. But since all we use here are Macs, they'd catch me! No wonder there are so many jobs available for Windows NT experience.
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Date: Mon, 7 Sep 1998 08:06:56 -0800 From: John Halbig <john@garage.com> Subject: Tidbit - National Review Reviews the iMac
This tidbit is from:
Aylward, John E, <John.Aylward2@pss.boeing.com>
The August 17th edition of the National Review has a positive review of the iMac computer. David Klinghoffer writes:
"Working with Windows is like dealing with a child. You never know what stunt it will pull - freeze up, detect some obscure software conflict, announce that a mysterious "error" has occurred and abruptly shut down - which you'll have to figure out how to clean up after. Macs, on the other hand, do what you expect them to do."
Even the subtitle states that "The Mac is a superior product."
I realize that NR may not be on the Silicon Valley reading list, but give this article a try.
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Date: Mon, 7 Sep 1998 08:06:53 -0800 From: John Halbig <john@garage.com> Subject: Tidbit - Apple Wizards Sept Issue
Apple Wizards September Issue Has Arrived! <http://applewizards.net>
Apple Wizards, <http://applewizards.net>>, is excited to announce the release of our September issue. In this month's feature article, we disect Apple's upcoming 8.5 and tell you why this is an essential upgrade. Don't miss our comprehensive reviews of Olympus' D-500L Digital Camera, Diablo, and aGORA. This month's issue even includes an extra special review of Myth that tells why this game still rocks the gaming world months after its initial release. Stop by the website at <http://applewizards.net> and download your copy of Apple Wizards today!
Apple Wizards is a free e-zine committed to serving the Macintosh community with insightful opinions, news, tips and tricks, software and hardware reviews, and much more. We publish a monthly e-zine in DOCMaker format, available for download or through an email subscription. Go to <http://applewizards.net> for more information and to download the current and past issues.
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Date: Mon, 7 Sep 1998 08:06:51 -0800 From: John Halbig <john@garage.com> Subject: ?? - Request For Teaching Materials
This request is from:
Debra Sansoucie, <sansouci@pbmo.net>
I have been working as a freelance computer consultant for several years, but I have just been given the opportunity to start teaching a local business class. As a freelancer, I teach first-time computer owners everything from basic mouse skills, to word processing, surfing, web site development, etc. Because some of my clients do know a little about their computers, I usually begin by teaching whatever they specifically want to learn or need to know at the time. Of course, each client's needs are different, so I do not have a specific curriculum to follow.
Teaching the business class will be quite different. Basically, they want me to teach the same thing that I do now: basic system navigation, word processing, database, spreadsheets, web surfing, email, DTP, FTP, HTML, etc. The problem is I only have two months with each student. Currently, the students are leaving this class without ever learning anything and their instructor has been asked to leave. A supervisor recently sat down with the top student from this class and asked her to copy a certain file to a floppy disk. The student had no idea of how to do it.
I want to teach these students as much as I can but without overwhelming them. I have managed to acquire a list of things the students must learn in this class, but it is very outdated; it does not mention computers at all. Therefore, I have started adding my own requirements to the list. I'd like to know if I'm on the right track. If anyone on this list could suggest some materials, books, etc. that present a guideline for teaching these computer skills in an organized manner and in a short amount of time, I would greatly appreciate it. In addition to teaching computer skills, I must also teach the students some clerical skills. Any help from those of you working in a similar situation would also truly be appreciated.
Please excuse the long message and thanks in advance for any suggestions you might have.
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Date: Mon, 7 Sep 1998 08:06:54 -0800 From: John Halbig <john@garage.com> Subject: Tidbit - Macintosh Earth Science Software Resources
Keyword: Market by market, Science
This tidbit is from:
<BUSBEY@gamma.is.tcu.edu>
I maintain a long list of Macintosh geological/earth science software at my location:
Excalibur is a *free*, full-featured spelling checker for the Macintosh. It will work with Eudora, Netscape mail and Microsoft Internet Mail. It also words with any Word Services aware program such as ClarisWorks, Word Perfect, MT Newswatcher, Eudora Pro, and others.
Excalibur is a robust application that was developed at Bucknell University. There are currently thousands of Excalibur users around the world. Excalibur comes with dictionaries for American English, British English, Catalan, Dutch, Italian, German, Norwegian, Spanish and other languages.
