The Phillips Files #5 -- The Bandwagon: iMac & iBook - and what iGot!
by R.P. Phillips

Let's welcome all those wonderful folks who have "jumped" onto the Apple Computer bandwagon since the introduction of the iMac.

Most noticeably, and mentioned previously, Target and their endless supply of iMac & now iBook accessories; from cordless and corded phones, hair dryers, etc...Gone shopping there lately?? Give it a try and keep your eyes open for all the household items as well as school and business accessories you can get to "match" the "flavor" of your iMac and/or iBook.

Then you have a lot more information about Apple computer in PC mags, on PC based web sites and on their PCTV [ooops-ZDTV - humm, well, maybe not an ooops after all]. Most of this "major" attention is centered around the iMac and iBook. I laughed hysterically at the Bloomingdales store display with the mannequins with "Blueberry" and "Tangerine" hair and sporting the new iBooks for their "Back to Cool" back to school sales promotion.

Yes, we now have BestBuy, Sears, JC Penny, Com"pc"USA [ooops CompUSA - humm, again] all vying to be your next Mac Store. All of them have a long way to go before they will even come close to being a real "Mac Store".

The iMac has gotten so popular that even the president has been seen with them [giving them away to the schools of Bosnia I believe - no roof on the bombed out schools, but they're ready for Y2K].

And of course there has been a couple of "pc" computer makers making their version of iMac clones [only worse--it's pc inside] & there are bound to be a lot more pc companies, who have recently [Aug. '98] realized that computers can come in different "flavors", that will also be adding colors to their next line [Well, maybe not their next line; look how much longer it took them to realize the century was going to end than Apple (1984 was when the Macintosh line of computers was first being built -- Y2K was already realized and compliance was built in to every Mac ever made); I'm not sure all the pc companies are ready for Y2K, yet.].

So, we of the Mac persuasion will truly be celebrating the beginning of the 21st century with more than just an iMac and/or an iBook; we'll have G3 mini towers and servers, G3 portables, a lot more software than in previous years [as software makers realize the preferences of the masses who would rather Mac than crash], a whole lot of colorful peripherals and most of all a smiling Mac OS face to greet us on everything we get [beats a shattered, flying window every time].

So what about the iMac and/or iBook shortcomings when compared to the "high-end" Wintel computers that most of these pc fanatics prefer to compare them to when it comes to "near equal" performance - or - the "garbage" peecees that sell for a lot less then the iMac/iBook when they want to boast about prices. Well, you can pay a lot more for a peecee desktop before you can equal the performance built in to every iMac 333 and as of yet - you can pay a lot more for a pc-type portable and not quite match the performance - so where's the shortcomings??

You want "Touch Screens"? Word is you'll be able to get on for your iBook for a company named - oops, please read the iBook2day August 2nd article for the company's name and more information on it; they indicate that they will be available around the same time the iBook is delivered [they install and guarantee the screen].

You want more colors for your iBook? You want your iBook to match your iMac and the rest of the "flavored" household items you've recently purchased at Target? Word is this might be happening as well [not yet confirmed].

You want to be able to use/install PCI cards to your iMac? Geez! Although I've not found one yet, I understand there is an attachment that allows you to attach PCI cards through an external device. If you know what it is called and/or where to find it - let us know! This will allow us to let everyone else know what it is and where to find it.

You want "Firewire" on your iBook? With the AirPort attachment and Timbucktu, you've got the most versatile and "totally" portable "Portable" ever made. This will allow you to remote access your desktop/mini-tower and access all its attachments without putting an extra strain/drain on your iBook's battery.

You want SCSI & Floppy back? iSCSI & SuperDisk are just two answers to these problems. There are quite a few different USB attachments that allow you to read/write 1.44MB floppy disks and even more that allow you to attach SCSI devices through USB.

You want more and better gaming attachments? I've found more gaming attachments for USB than I've found for any other type of Mac port. Although; if you're like me and can't find a USB MacSense Funstick similar to their ADB FunStick [my personal favorite joystick - before they changed its style when they switched it to a USB version, it use to be more "universal" for both right and left handed people], there are alternatives for attaching it through your USB [USB to ADB adapter] while we await MacSense [or whatever your specific joystick preferences are] to make a USB version of their original Funstick [or your favorite joystick].

You want to stop whining?????? USB on Mac is just a bit over a year old, give it time and you'll find a lot more USB and Firewire attachments that will more than allow Mac users to attach whatever "old" devices they want as well as a lot of "NEW" devices. Mac is on the move, new technologies are being added and old ones must be deleted to make room and/or keep overall costs down.

What iGot! Granted; I was really going to miss my favorite joystick, my SCSI attachments [external Hard Drive for storage/back-up & scanner] and my floppy drive [all my articles are saved on a floppy] - but I decided, with a lot of help and advice, on a G3/450 mini tower from ClubMac (1 800 217-9153) and their "Build To Order" program. Now this computer already comes with an "ADB" port for my favorite joystick and I was able to add an internal SCSI card for my neat SCSI "stuff" and adding a USB solution for my floppy situation was just as easy. Now while there are alternatives for attaching everything I want to an iMac, I still decided on the mini tower; it was a judgment call/personal choice. Adam (1 800 278-1246 ext 4755) & James (1 800 278-1246 ext 4755), Jason, Mark, Allison and Bob (from ClubMac), Sonya (1 800 409-5381 ext 2530) from the AppleStore (1 800 795-1000) and someone (silly me - forgot their name) from Cyberian Outpost (1 800 OUTPOST [688-7678]); if you're out there, THANKS FOR ALL YOUR HELP and PATIENCE; I couldn't have found better and more knowledgeable help anywhere [I tried a few other places]. Personally, I started creating the a couple of weeks before I received the rest of the money I needed to pay for it - putting it on hold, canceling, changing, questions galore, price comparisons between multiple online sites. It was very hectic and stressful and these people made it a lot easier - a lot. Thank you all, again! I really feel bad about poor Sonya and the "someone" at Cyberian Outpost; they offered a lot of help, advice and professionalism and now I'm getting the computer from a different store.

I am eagerly awaiting my delivery and have finally gotten my "drooling in anticipation" down to about 5 minutes an hour. And "No"; no-one agreed to "throw in" anything for free for being mentioned. Actually, only one of these people/places even knew I was the writer of the "Phillips Files" and this wasn't mentioned until "after" a order was created. [Should have mentioned it to everyone I suppose; my "soon to be three" year old really wants a Lime iMac - 'though I very seriously doubt anyone would have or could have tossed one in for free].

R.P. Phillips -- Homepage
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