All things Mac
March 1997 issue
(c)1997 Brian Fouhse. All rights reserved excepting that this file may be
copied for non-commercial purposes, unchanged. No warranties apply. I am
just a user volunteering my observations.

Just a few quick lines for this month, our editor has shifted the dealine a
bit earlier than I was ready for.

Thanks to Bill Maguire for stealing all the "good" news with his daily
internet update. It makes it tough for us part time editors to come up with
something original. On the other hand, I enjoy his collection of
information, keep up the good work.

There's new computers on the way again (some here already.)

New PowerBook 3400 from Apple - faster than a 1400, more capable than a
locomotive, fastest laptop available (240 MHz, the PC industry hasn't made
it there yet, bragging rights are Apple's at least for now.) More details
next month.

Canadian made Vertiegri machines. Available in the traditional tower cases,
and also an innovative (matter of opinion) laptop. This laptop madel takes
a desktop models motherboard and stuffs it into a laptop size case. The
battery is optional, the thrust of the machine is power over portability.
There is likely a market for this arrangement. Personnally, my PowerBook
seldom leaves the tether of power cord, colour monitor, zip drive, CD,
printer, and desktop. It makes me think that a desktop model is better
suited to my lifestyle. It's almost time to join the PowerPC revolution
anyway. My 68030 is getting a bit outdated, about the same vintage as the
PC camps 386, but much less obsolete, in my opinion.

Products available from "Faster Than Light Communications" in Tisdale (ran
what I've heard was a great demo  at the Febrauary meeting, sorry I had to
miss it) include the Motorola line from $1685, Apple PowerMacs, Performas,
and PowerBooks. Let's keep the money in the family when it's time to
upgrade your machine. They deserve our dollars much more than a big out of
province operation. The prices are a surprise as well, very reasonable.

Coming this summer from Apple is a model based on the Exponential chip
(PowerPC clone of sorts, not built by Motorola or IBM.) It is rumored to be
running at 533 MHz, that's not a typo, but five hundred and thirty three
megahertz. One observer commented on the speed of Insignia's SoftWindows
software on this machine as being faster than a 200 MHz Pentium, not bad at
all.  This is definitly not your home office, word processing variety
machine, serious horsepower here folks.


Other stuff
If you notice any errors or omissions in my presentation, please let me
know. I am also open to any and all suggestions for format or content.
See you again NeXT month.

Brian Fouhse
bfouhse@cableregina.com