The Back of Tuor's Head

…but I have to agreee that Kramer entering a doorway has more funny in it that the entire run of "Friends".

I've been an apple person for a long time.

I started out on an Apple IIGS, and when the II stopped being supported, I had to find something almost as good. At that time there was only one choice: Macintosh. Windows 3.1 was CRAP compared to GS/OS, and while the Mac still had work to do, was at least beginning to borrow back ideas from the GS and Lisa that were very good.

Dynamics were a bit different then, too. Up until that point there had been far more games available for the IIGS then Windows, so it wasn't even worth worrying about. There was still Printshop and a dozen apps that I didn't need to replace, all I wanted was access to the Internet and Multimedia, two Mac strong points.

Anyway, this all came from reading an article at PVP (Which I got directed to through an article on the dynamics of comics, which I have talked about before, and will probably talk about again.) And I have to say, having owned multiple platforms, I agree.

I have recently rediscovered AppleWorks for the IIe/IIGS. It is all text-based, and is an incredibly wonderful application for writing, with grammar and spelling checkers, all for an incredibly lower requirement then MS Word. And you can pick up the whole shebang, with a 3.5" floppy or old Zip 100 for less than a copy of Office. There's sure to be a local computer guru who would love to help you out, and if you're writing the "Great American Novel," then this may be all you would ever want or need.

Scott Kurtz talks about how he wants a Mac to "get things done" [a phrase, not a direct quote]. This is why I have never wanted to switch over to PC. In fact, he hits the nail right on the head when he talks about why he wants to keep a PC -- Gaming. Beyond that and a few specialized PC applications, anything you can do on Windows, you can probably do more easily and more reliably on a Mac. (Including running Linux.)

My question then is this: Is it better business to continue to pit Mac and PC users against themselves or to find a way for both to co-exist? Because whatever the media decides, I think the consumers are going to follow.

My answer: it is better for Microsoft to be against; for Apple to co-exist. Admitting they need Apple will erode their dominance, saying they don't allows them to hold on to that dominance for a while longer.

I think MS will loose its position one way or another, so maybe the question is moot. Besides there are several platforms waiting in the wings that are in many ways superior: Apple, Open BeOS/Haiku, Linux/BSD Unix, PegasosPPC/Genesi, and Amiga OS.

All are either ready, or have a currently running compatible OS you can use NOW.

What I want to say now

If you're not a PC gamer, or not primarily one, now is the time to check out your options. Borrow a friend's old system, go over and use theirs. Speed is unimportant anymore in the post 1 GHz era, they will all perform nearly the same, what is important is what you LIKE, and what can do everything you need it to. For Mac and Linux, the answer is likely everything you need, and the others are not too many months off.