Tips on Computer Technology

By BILL MICHLING

Welcome back, so is everybody ready to get a “Cube”?

Last week we talked about the PowerMac G4 Cube, not only is it stunning, but it is very fast as well.

This week we will touch upon the recent Apple Expo that was just held in France, last week. Steve announced new iBooks, released MacOS X beta, Office 2001 was announced, and got a little wet.

I would also like to remind everyone that all the year 2000 articles on the website ( http://www.mespn.com/forms/tech_articles ) are now searchable by keyword(s) or article date. This has been requested a number of times from many of my loyal readers, and now it is available, check it out.

Remember, this article and all past articles are available online at: (http://www.mespn.com/forms/tech_articles ) as well as the online version of the Saipan Tribune, which you can access by clicking the banner on that same page.

Last week Apple Expo 2000 opened in Paris France. I need to say Paris France as there are other cities named Paris that are not in France, Paris Texas comes to mind.

Paris is of course home of the famed Eiffel Tower built by the engineer Gustav Eiffel in 1889 for the Universal Exhibition, the Eiffel Tower with its 3 floors, is 317 meters high and carries the capital’s radio and television transmitters. A visit to the machine room housing the 1899 elevators, located under the east and west pillars, is an amazing spectacle reminiscent of the world of Jules Verne. Take a look at it out at: (http://www.paris-france.org/Parisweb/fr/visiter/images/eiffel7b.jpg )

Keynote

The high light of the expo was the keynote by Steve Jobs.
After checking his proverbial bottled water supply on the desk, Steve began the keynote with the previously announced product line. The updated iMac line with their new colors, Indigo, Sage, Ruby, Snow, and the improved Graphite. All the new iMacs include iMove 2 along with a complete suite of software for the user.

He did a quick demo showing how the 500Mhz G4 is actually faster then a 1Ghz Pentium processor. He and Phil Schiller, vice president of world wide marketing for Apple, showed a Photoshop script running on a G4 500 MHz and a Pentium 1000Mhz processor. Of course the G4 finished first.

They then mentioned and demode the new dual processor PowerMac G4 tower using the same Photoshop script. This time the G4 finished about twice as fast as the Pentium!

Steve then talked about the new PowerMac G4 Cube and then showed a short video clip. You can see the clip at: ( http://mespn.com/me/default.html) then click on the link next to the G4 Cube.

iBook

Steve then introduced the long awaited iBook. The new iBooks come in new colors. The standard iBooks are available in indigo and keylime. The special edition models are available in keylime and graphite.

The specs on the new iBooks are as follows:

Features
• Impressive performance and portability

• 366 or 466MHz PowerPC G3 processor with 256K on-chip level 2 cache

• ATI RAGE Mobility 128 graphics controller with 8MB SDRAM for 2D and 3D graphics acceleration, faster games, and enhanced movie playback

• 64MB of SDRAM, expandable up to 320MB

• 10-gigabyte Ultra ATA hard disk drive 1

• Up to 6 hours of battery life on a single charge 2

• Stunning style designed to go wherever you go Striking shape designed for easy carrying

• a choice of three colors

• Brilliant TFT active-matrix display

• Convenient foldaway handle and simple closing mechanism with no latches to break Durable construction of polycarbonate and rubber Movies to make, movies to go and show Preinstalled iMovie software for professional-looking titles, transitions, and special effects FireWire port for high-speed input from your camcorder and up to 63 other multimedia devices DVD-ROM drive in iBook Special Edition for watching your favorite movies AV port to show off your movies and presentations on a big-screen TV

Fast, easy Internet access 30 days of free Internet service from EarthLink Setup Assistant that gets you on the Internet in less than 10 minutes and can sign you up for iTools Preinstalled Internet software for browsing the web and sending and receiving email Built-in 10/100BASE-T Ethernet, ready to connect to a DSL or cable modem or a high-speed local area network Support for AirPort wireless networking

• Easy setup and use

• Easy-to-use Mac OS 9 system software

• Preinstalled applications so you can begin working and playing right away

• Interactive tutorials to get you started with your new computer
Comprehensive online help available whenever you need it

• Office 2001 for the Mac

Steve invited Kevin from Microsoft to come up and demo the new Office 2001 for the mac. Rather then mention all of what Kevin said, lets just say the theme of the talk was, “on the Mac, and only on the Mac”! The software should be available in October or early November.

MacOS X

And then the pias de resistance, Steve showed the MacOS X beta package and announced it is available NOW! For $29.99 you get the CD, and a small booklet.

Steve then sat down and began to demo MacOS X. Some new features have been added to the beta version, like the Save as pop down window, and the division between applications and documents in the dock.

If you really want to see how MacOS X works, then don’t walk, run to the nearest Apple reseller and order yours today! As Steve said “MacOS X is the future of the Macintosh”.

Have a wonderful week.

See you here and on the web next week.

Bill Michling is a computer professional and welcomes any comments or questions you may have. Just send email to: bill@mespn.com or michling@usa.net.

You may also go to Marianas Electronics and ask help from the friendly staff there, or call them at: 234-5424, Just ask for Annie, Jun or Joseph.

For world access this Wednesday column is also on the Saipan Tribune website at: (http://www.saipantribune.com) or at the mespn.com site at: (http://mespn.com/forms/tech_Articles/ ), now connected to the Internet via broadband T1+