Sept 1, 1997 to November 8

Attention all Mac Users! Get the OS 8 now! We have tested it on both PowerPC's and those with 68040 processors and it is nice... There were a few problems from the switch but Apple has everything you need to fly right and you will fly! I was really amazed at the difference for the 68K Macs with the 68040 processors, and the ease at which I can install and uninstall the software, and I did trial installations just about every way possible. Yes, one of the machines even had the ADT drive but we got around it and had the OS 8 installed before the patch arrived, which we promptly put in. Update your Java after the installation with Macjava 1.5.1, which is available on the web. One of the machines I switched is a 650 Centris with an early 68040 and no floating point CPU or math cruncher chip. It has 16 megs of ram and only 256 megs of hard drive and this is the machine I am testing now as I write this. I installed and de-installed the operating system in a LC 575 with the math chip and it really hurt to go back to system 7.5.5 to make a legal lady out of the machine. One thing is for certain, and that is the smaller drives are quick but just for the simple programs being used in this machine, a hard drive with at least 500 megs is bare bones this day and age. The most pleasant surprise was that the Microsoft Explorer packaged with the update works well with both Cyberdog and Netscape because they are all using the same Java. Now you really do not need everything that the easy install will proceed to put in, but if you have a big lean fast machine that is ready for a boost, just follow the instructions with easy install and answer the questions afterwards.

OK Mr. Gates... ! The darn thing works! I can now advise Mac users to get the proper Internet Explorer for their machines and to get the feel of it. It has some features I like but to really give it a good test, I have to be on a PowerPC. Between the three browsers that come with the Mac OS 8, the user will find what features they like and adjust their web habits accordingly.

Apple: Your "Think different" marketing is one of the most powerful advertising messages I have ever witnessed. It is an emotional masterpiece that touches all hearts, and those hearts do not even have to own a computer. The simplest definition of "beauty" is, "That when comprehended, pleases...", and the television ad is simply beautiful and easily understood by all, from the youngest to the oldest.

The city of Seattle had a nice article on their own product testing of the Mac PowerPC's against the MMX Pentiums, and over all, the Macs were at least 19% faster. They did not like the difference of $900 between comparable units. If they stopped to think about it, an hour and a half wait time a work day would be saved by the machine. If the entire pay package of a high end employee was $50 an hour, the machine would make up the difference in purchase price in 12 working days... after that it makes you $75 a working day over what a Pentium Windows machine could do, with far less system trouble.

Claris, we ordered the ClarisWorks 5.0 and it should be in next week sometime. After we check out the update, we will make a decision on the ClarisHomePage 3, the Emailer and FileMaker Pro. I want to see how the new gif and jpg formats work with other software we have at our disposal, and it goes without saying, Opendoc. If it works as well as Claris Works for Kids, I am sure we will be happy.

As For The Web:

People are getting tired of banners and pop up consoles, midi music that suddenly cuts in and blasts us out of the office or living room. Now we know how to do all of that here at the factory, but have had our noses bloodied by pc's that did not have Quicktime in them when they visited the Mobius Projects. There are many smaller units on the web and something is happening that is a little unexpected by some in the field. The old machines are coming out of the closet and being upgraded as far as they can go, equipped with loaned or given 14.4 modems, small hard drives and a lot of guts. Pieces and parts are being swapped all over the world for both macs and pc's, and the consumer lashes back at the original manufacturer if the dusty item cannot be used by buying another brand. At least this hold true for the pc world, but not for Apple. Mac 68030 processors up will work on the web...

I went out and spent many hours cruising the various sites, including the adult only spots. Why? Try the graphics and special effects. Most of them are done on Macs. I like our links better... as well as the format on this site. The visitor here can squeeze his browser window down and just turn one browser window into a pal button control panel. The graphics will stay in the Pal Oil System because children use this site and they enjoy the color. The non-english reader can get around with icons and still have fun. Nine million pop up consoles will not fly out of your machine until it locks up, and there should be very little waiting for CGI codes from afar. This will be an Apple Quicktime site as Quicktime is an industry standard. Microsoft will also be using Apple color-sync and Quicktime and this will help bring some stability to the web. We have big plans here for animation, voice and music, but this will be a section all in itself. The kids will love it...

Techline: Having been in East county for all the new phone system testing, I think the time and effort into the 56k modems, especially the Livingstons, will be worth it. I have gotten some very snappy connections and some I am still wondering about... and I am running a 33.6 on the OS 8... The line to wolfenet where A&A Vaughn Special Products is located from palfac is almost instant. I am impressed...

Jan 1,1997 to June 15, 1997

Where has the time gone?!... The winter is over and the flood waters are coming in some areas and receding in others. Our web servers are updating and the rest of us, numb or not, have to follow suit. In some polls, Claris Home Page Builder is rated number one, Fetch by Dartmouth College is upgraded, Open Transport and OpenDoc are realities, Quicktime is an industry standard, Netscape still is the browser of choice and Microsoft still is trying hard to straighten out Active X and Java.

Though in truth I still am a bit stuck in a rut, but I will go so far as to suggest updating to System 7.6+, buy everything Claris has to offer for your machine including their E-Mailer, hold off buying a 56.6 modem until technology agrees to one format, and above all, every Macintosh person should let Apple know that the words "My Computer" are very offensive to loyal customers and newbies who just junked their Windows machines...

Cyberdog, if you keep improving the way you have, you will become a necessity. We shall have no "Wine" before its time, but in your case, I do like to keep tasting and like any pup, your going to be quite a hound when you grow into your feet.

As far as the rumor mongers who are still crying Apple is out of business, I guess they still have not got it figured out that 60% of the machines in the school systems are Apples, and they still are the wise college student's choice. ( Even Rush Limbaugh prefers Mac and he is very conservative...) The high school graduating classes now are about to go on to higher education or join the work force. They will make the Web a priority necessity along with their home stereo units, and the wise ones will choose the easiest format they are most familiar with. Some of them will watch the Pentium MTV type adds on television and buy those machines because the marketing is "Cool..." , never mind the chip is faulty again and the bulk of the kids this day and age just hate to read...

Microsoft states their Explorer was the choice of the United States Navy... but it seems someone forgot to poll the individual sailors, at least the ones I have talked to. The Explorer was the choice of a purchasing agent or agents. The bottom line was let's make a deal... possibly under the table according to some sources. Oh well, Washington DC has its "Water Gates" and Seattle Washington has its "Bill Gates"..., and he will bill you sooner or later.

To give Bill Gates his due, he has managed to keep an antiquated system alive, is a new father, and has improved the Explorer for Macintosh. I should know because it was downloaded this morning about 8:00 AM and tossed away at 1:00 PM. It was crash and burn again... (Four times at least now with four different machines, a total of 16 trashes.) I have a lot of faith in Bill because I have seen some very good software from Microsoft for the Mac, and he will get it right sooner or later. He did it before, and ultimately he will do it again, hopefully before I pass on to my greater reward. Be sure to hug your kids Bill, and remember the bulk of their programming should occur as early as possible for the next ten years. Never forget they are your most important project.

ATTENTION CLARIS: Now we really did something that I do not suggest the timid copy, and that is to turn two kids, ages 5 and 7, loose on the factory Mac. (I locked the systems and applications folders first.) Why did I do this? This was done to test out the Clarisworks For Kids, a "b" that had no critical problems I could find during testing. It must be noted this is available for trial right now at Claris. The two boys had some experience with an Apple IIgs which they have at home, and one had some Mac experience from school... Now I never said a word and just watched them work it out between themselves, the 7 year old teaching the 5 year old. It was wonderful to behold! Totally intuitive, the boy of 7 used the entire program including the spell checker. The 5 year old really made the graphics section shake and dance. I FULLY RECOMMEND THIS SOFTWARE ! One other thing... when the 5 year old started playing with all the keys on the factory Mac, it finaaly locked up. He came to me and told me the machine had a stroke. It was corrected by restarting the machine and there was no dammage done.

Macintosh can do the above and survive, and believe me when I tell you Pentiums running Windows cannot ! The results from the other side of the industry would have been disasterous. (I tried a similar test on one of those machines some time back, and got to totally reinstall the system and software...)

I had the chance to try out an IBM Aptiva. For those in Grays Harbor who want a faster, better, smoother machine, buy a Techline... You will get a good system, full support, and the right software bundle for you! I know these people, have watched them build and test their machines, and have personally tried them. Techline takes pride in their work...

Netscape... What can I say? You are the target because you are by far still the best. We can hardly wait for the finished Communicator product because we know it will end up working flawlessly with the Mac OS. We loved you when we first saw you and your not getting older, just better like Techline.com and the Pal Oil System...

Sincerely, Allen D. Furford