Regarding my article (and opinions) on Apple & DVD ROMs
Terry:
I just finished reading your article in Replication News. Were I to take
issue with many of your assumptions and conclusions I am sure you would put
me in the "Mac zealot" category and write me off. But I do have to say
that my reading of the article gives me more of your thoughts and bias than
real facts. My suggestion would be that you check facts more closely in
the future as you are embarrassingly off base on some of them.
Best regards
Russell Gnant, President
Spectrum Digital Services, LLC
My long winded response to the above message
(which Russell is working on a response to)
Dear Mr. Gnant:
Thank You for your response. I don't claim to know everything (or even close to it). I have been actively involved with computers (both hardware & software) since 1974 (when it was ticker tape & punch cards on a teletype connected to a mainframe). I was an Apple developer for 3 years (stopped developing for Apple in 1990) when it was obvious that Windows was taking over the world. I have a few customers (mostly graphic artists) who still swear by the MAC (love it for the ease of use, and cuss it for the limited upgradability). I don't consider them (or you, especially since I know nothing about you) "Mac Zealots."
There are a lot of people, especially in the computer animation, video, and gaming industries that develop their project on the MAC, even if it is for a Wintel world (i.e., not a hybrid disc). There are also a large number of people that are stuck with tens of thousands of dollars in equipment in the MAC world (equipment designed for the MAC and not able to work as well or at all in the Wintel world - such as early AGFA and FUJI equipment). I know some of these people, and both watch and listen to why they make the decisions they do (regarding MACs). Many have converted to the Wintel world, mostly when PageMaker, Quark, PhotoShop, and various other (previously MAC only and/or best) programs made the switch to Windows in the early '90's.
When there are few "up-to-date" and educated people in the industry that can are either available and/or willing to discuss these issues, one is left with nothing more than opinions (based on what knowledge, experience, and training they have - whether up-to-date or inaccurate, or not). I'm never embarrassed by what I don't know. I learned a long time ago that no mater how smart, well-educated, or hard working a person is, they can't know everything. Not one day goes by that I don't learn something new in this industry (in particular). I'm very good at Wintel based hardware & software, and can effectively reduce the technical support level of virtually any product (including MAC stuff).
Yes, I am bias. I truly wish that Apple would allow more affordable and available parts & pieces for upgrading. I wish that there was more cross-platform ability between the MAC and Wintel world. Here are some questions for you, if you have the time (which really express my ignorance of the current MAC world):
 | Can MACs take any of the less expensive EIDE hard drives - or is it still SCSI? I don't know... everyone I've spoke with tells me that they are still limited to the SCSI world, which triples & quadruples the prices of a (now) comparable size & speed EIDE drives. |
| Can the MAC plug into ANY (or even the majority) of printers on the market? |
| Can the MAC take advantage of the less expensive (affordable by virtually everyone) parallel scanners available now? |
| Can the MAC be upgraded to take additional hard drives , JAZZ, ZIP, removable chassis, etc. with a similar cost ratio of the custom Wintel market? I have yet to see a MAC computer case that would allow me to plug in any new (additional) internal devices, and most of the MACs were limited to 6 external SCSI devices. For a mere $200 I can plug in Adaptec's 2940AUW and can deal with 15 SCSI, SCSI-2, SCSI-3 devices within minutes. Maybe that card (or something comparably priced) works as well on the MACs; however, the last I checked (4 months ago) a similar card cost nearly $600 - three times as much. |
A descent quality 100MHz motherboard for the Wintel world costs under $200, and can be installed in about 30 minutes... with at least 20 different manufacturers and a ton of options to choose from. The last (not even upgrade, but replacement) MAC motherboard I tried to get was over $500, had only 2 manufacturers to choose from, and no other options! (Oh, this was also after about a dozen calls, trying to find someone that would even sell me a motherboard only for the MAC).
I made 3 calls looking for Wintel capable DVD burning, and was met with five or six different drive types and three different software programs, ready to ship. I called 5 different MAC dealers/suppliers looking for the same capability, and only two that even hinted it was available, with only one that thought they would be able to ship any day.
Regarding the software availability - name one that is available in the MAC world that isn't also in the Wintel world, AND/OR that doesn't have a better alternative in the Wintel world. I can't think of any utility programs that don't exist in the Wintel world (even Stuff-it, the MAC compression program, has a Wintel version now). As for Applications, Claris was one of the last major "hold-outs" migrating to the Wintel world (though I think they are probably bigger and have more profit from the MAC world still). The last I heard Quark Express has more Wintel users now than they have MAC users (and they started in the MAC world around 1988, and didn't release a Windows version to the public until 1990ish).
In the MAC world, in most cases, you have only APPLE (or one of their FEW "authorized dealers" - which pays Apple money each year to maintain that status) to purchase MAC systems, parts, and pieces through. god help you if you live in a small town in the middle of no-where and have MAC problems! Whereas, in the Wintel world, towns with populations of only 500 generally have at least one technician able to help fix or solve their Wintel problem... and an expert within 50 miles or so. I was born and raised in a small in Southern Oregon (by the California border), and there is "Connecting Point" or a 2.5 hour drive for the next closest "real" expert. The same area has at least 100 "wanna-be" Wintel techs that can deal with the basics, and more than 25 "real" experts within a 50 mile radius.
Mr. Gnant, I'm not trying to "pick a fight" or say that I know more about MACs than you do (because it's likely that I don't). And it is entirely possible that things have changed, are freer, less expensive, more available, and even a whole lot better in the MAC world. Things do change quickly, and I honestly do not keep up with the MAC world.
I was given the task of finding out about the current state of MAC's & DVD, and the new re-writable DVD drive MAC is pushing. I found that an ex-Apple evangelist was the most helpful (and corrected a lot of my biases) and that Mac Warehouse was one of the most helpful places willing to talk to me and answer questions. It is sad, but I have dead lines, and the article was drastically "toned down" (by my partner & editor). I doubt I could do a great job trying to capture more market share for Apple, and to keep more people from migrating to the Wintel world. I do have a great deal of respect for Steve Jobs, and wish him all the luck (and skilled help) in the world to get MACs a larger market share. However, bias or not, I would think that a number of the above points are still very true. Please feel free to correct me on those which aren't.
I welcome feed-back that can show when and where I may have the wrong idea or opinion regarding virtually any subject, especially computers (including MACs).
Sincerely,
Terry E. Mercer
PBG (Pacific Buyer's Group, LLC.)
Consultant & Wintel Technician (and "wanna-be" part-time writer)
Terry:
You spent a lot more time responding than you should have, although I can see where you
might feel cause to do so given my earlier email to you.
In both your article and your response there are items I take issue with that I would like to address, but time right now precludes a lengthy response.
I promise though, that since you took the time to so politely respond in depth I will do the same at some point in the near future.
I do appreciate your response, and willingness to correspond. Generally, Macintosh
users get the rolling eye treatment whenever they try to make a point. The fact that I
will have an attentive audience is intriguing.
Best regards,
Russ Gnant