Wildheart's Macintosh Links

How I became a Mac person.....*l*

A long time ago, when I was in college, I had to learn how to use a computer because of an English professor who insisted that all her students learn how to do word processing. I was not afraid of computers, or any new technology, but until then, I had never really had to use one and didn't have access to one .......very few people had computers in their homes way back in the early & mid80's. The 1st computer I learned to use was an IBM™ pc; the real thing, not a clone......and Word Perfect™ was the program that I learned.........I have not used my typewriter since this time - it may be around here some where, but I'm not sure it works....*l*......I sure did hate writing papers when I had to use that friggin machine....Computers made me a much better writer.......I got A's on my essays for the 1st time in all my years in college when I started doing them in the computer lab....yep, I was sold very easily.....absolutely no desire here to go back to the old ways of doing things.......especially writing.....

I remember there were some Apple™ computers in my college's computer lab, but almost no one ever used them.........I wondered about these mysterious boxes, but at the time was too busy writing essays to check out the Apples.....

Too busy, until I got my job at the newspaper. Our Composing Department had 3 Macintoshes™ with huge monitors. I had never seen computers like this.......in my spare time I'd play with the Macs......they were different than the PC's I had used in college.......they were loaded with cool games & graphics programs......and I noticed the Macs were very easy to use....

Eventually, all of our terminals in the Editorial, Production & Advertising Departments were replaced with Macs.......and that is how I really got to know how to use one, but it wasn't that hard......they are so easy to use, and I suppose that's why I like them.....by the time Windows™ came around for PC's, it was too late......I was a Mac person.......Window's is a big improvement over the way PC's were when I 1st learned to use them, but it still cannot compete with the Mac OS when it comes to ease of use...... I don't like fighting with an appliance, whether it's a microwave oven, a VCR or a computer......I just want it to do what I need it to do.

So, when I decided I wanted my own computer at home, I looked at the PC's & did so with an open mind, but no one could convince me that a Mac wasn't just as good or better......and it's what I like, so I bought it!.......I got my Performa™ for about what a PC would have cost me anyway.....:)

Yes, there is room on this planet for more than one OS.......but, if we had to have just one, it should be the best........

My Mac at home: Performa 6320CD, 7.5.3, 32 mb RAM

I've had my Performa for more than 2 years......I've checked out systems 8.1 & 8.5, and am in the mood for an upgrade......*lol*......but other than problems that have come from lightning....(my fault for not having a surge protector)... I've had no trouble with it.....

Most of my computer time is spent on the internet.......usually chatting or working on my web page......but I also do alot of writing.....
 

My Mac at work: PowerMac 7100/66, 7.6.1, 42 mb RAM

This computer is a work horse.....*l*.....I've had it for about a year (I think); they kept giving me different ones.....it says 7100/66 on the HD, but I'm not sure that has anything to do with what's actually inside ...the disk has been replaced once since I've had it & it was infected with the auto start worm, which made it seem kind of sick........and it's part of a huge network......considering all the work this computer does - archiving, inputting, updating web pages, goofing off (that would be me, not the Mac...*l*).....it has been relatively trouble free.....a little fussy now & then.......I have 2 external HDs, an external CD drive and an external cassette drive.....and a big mess of cords that I get tangled in all the time.....

Mac Links

Macintosh Permian Basin Users Group (MacPUG) - Our Mac user group here in Midland......it's useful to join a users group (even if you don't have a Mac; there are PC user groups & Net user groups too) so that you can talk to people who use the same type of computer that you do....this is a great way to get information that you can use & understand......solve problems, get better use out of your computer, learn about new & different technology & software......when I 1st went to this group, what surprised me the most is how many people out there are using really old Macs.......we have a few at the paper that are about 15 years old and still going..... I was surprised that people have Macs in their homes that by computer standards would be considered antiques ........why get rid of it if it still works?

MacAddict - A MUST for any Mac owner........you get a disk every month with the latest software - 600 mb of demos, shareware & freeware.......and the magazine is written in the language of everyday people (not technical)......with reviews & great advice for getting the most use out of your computer.......I didn't know what Apple Script was until I subscribed to this magazine....

Apple Computer - well, this one may seem a little obvious. If you haven't been by their website in awhile, by all means, make a return visit......they have remodeled & the site is great.........I really like the software library.......you can find things here for every computer Apple has ever made.

The Icon Factory - Get cool stuff for your desktop at this place......and yes, it's free!!!!!!...:)

MacInTouch - a great resource for information on Mac's & other Apple computers compiled from the computer & software industries & from ordinary Mac users.......if you are having problems with hardware or software, they would like to know about it....I found excellant information on the AutoStart worm virus here.

MacSurfer's Headline News - all the latest articles related to Apple computers from both the internet & print journalism.

ICQ for Macintosh, how does it work? - a better question might be, does ICQ work for Macintosh?.....*lol*......I've been trying to get 1.5.5 to work on my Performa for ever, or so it seems. This web site has given me a few ideas, but so far, it still is not working!!!!!!!....grrrrrrr......maybe it will help you.

Mac software links

The Web site's I have put here make software for PC's too, but they make some of the best & most popular software used by Mac people......make a good software program for us & we will be devoted to you...;)

Adobe - The makers of the fabulous Photoshop and other great graphic deisgn programs....The also make PageMill, probably the best & easiest to use of all HTML editors.

Aladdin Systems - well, if you don't have a StuffitExpander™, you need one!!!!.....and these are the people that make them.

Netscape - the best browsers for Macintosh, or any computer.......Microsoft has improved it's Mac version of Explorer, but it is still sluggish compared to Navigator......and they weren't making squat for us until not too long ago, so Netscape sorta has our loyalty......they have always treated Mac users with respect.......I did this page on Netscape 4.0's HTML editor. I like it alot....very easy & fun to use......
 

"Sunday" - The Cranberries