Several seasons of cold have gone by, followed by signs of spring, as usual -- Apple Computer had opened a chain of stores, a couple in New Jersey, and for some reason I never visited any of them, although I was very tempted to go to a couple grand openings in the NJ-PA-NY area, I just do not get out as much as I used to and/or might actually like to -- in the old days, when Evelio was alive, we would go to New York on a weekly basis and just enjoy ourselves looking for whatever he needed for his art or I for my furniture and other restorations.

My scanner is old as the hills and I kept promising myself that I would get a new one -- I pawed through the mail order catalogues that arrived on a weekly basis, checking specs, prices and comparing them to others -- what I wanted was a scanner platen larger than legal size paper and having whatever one needs to scan slides and film -- my old scanner, a Mustek Twain Scan II SP, is still connected with the UMAX s910 604e tower server, one of the last Apple clones ever made -- I got them way back in 1996-7. Since it cannot connect the old scanner to any of my newer computers, I keep it on the dresser in the bedroom along with the UMAX, and load the scans onto ZIP disks to transfer them to what I use now, a TiBook, obtained in 2002. For photo work I also wanted a CRT screen -- I find it difficult to figure out colors and densities on the flat panel screen of the TiBook -- if I move my head up or down, or even sideways, everything changes shade -- the really exceptional characteristic of the laptop is that is has an extremely small footprint on my work table, and has served me as a desktop since I got it, replacing that other short-lived Apple marvel, the Cube, which is still sitting here and works perfectly -- that was way before the laptop-as-desktop craze began!

All through the winter I had been comparing some of Apple's newer computers and their specs -- what might serve me well enough was the eMac, a handy all-in-one -- I did not want the lowest price one, nor the top of the line -- I would probably add some memory to at least approach the 1GB limit. Over the months I did call 2 catalogs places and we chatted about eMacs, and they always add things like printers and stuff to make it sound more interesting -- my problem is that I do not need nor want another printer -- one place added a FireWire floppy drive, which I could use for a couple of my old apps, when necessary -- they were supposed to get back to me after they check what I wanted, but never did. I even thought about getting the new G5 tower with two hard drives (a dualie) -- it would be the ultimate, as the UMAX was supposed to be in its day -- I could connect it to a normal large screen TV and have enough space to do loads of things, having several entire web pages open at the same time, if needed -- PLUS, be able to view the stack of unopened DVDs I have sitting here (series include -- Buffy, Star Trek, Angel, Firefly, Lord Of The Rings, Ice Age and several others) -- although I have seen a couple on the TiBook screen, my object is to see them way bigger -- to me, at least in this case, size does matter.

I cannot count the times I went to the Apple web site, comparing G4 and G5 towers, sort of wanting something that booted in OS9.2.2, which I have been using for a couple years already and find that it just does what I want it to do -- although I did try OSX when it first appeared and found it kewl but, for whatever reason, it rubbed me the wrong way with all the permissions, command lines, kernal panics and stuff which made it a lot more like a PC than a Mac -- I simply did not find it user friendly, and it seemed more like something that your average geek might enjoy tinkering with. I do not have time to be geeky -- I just want to do things, not worry about kernal panics and log-ins and passwords every time I want to do something.

Hey, I even still have saved a couple configurations of G4 and G5 towers in my online Apple Store Education account, and almost daily compare the specs, thinking that one of these days I might finally decide what to get -- the new G5s are way more exciting due to the 64 bit architecture, HyperTransport, way faster system busses and fabulous speeds and caches, and a dualie would be twice the fun -- even an Xserve seemed really kewl as a desktop and server for my web sites -- what to do?

On Monday, 16 April, the Sun was out in full force, the day was warm, I was sitting doing my usual Apple online Store thing when it occurred to me to check how long it would take me to get to one of the Apple Stores near New York -- I might kill two birds with one stone -- see what was available, get my paws on the stuff, compare what they are like and what they can do, and maybe even take a side trip to the Big Apple -- have not been there in about 2 years, I guess. I found that there was a store in Marlton (which rang a distant bell as being somewhat south of Trenton), and it would take me slightly over a half hour to get there -- the one I was thinking of going to, the one closer to NY, would have taken almost 3x that long -- should I or should I not? What the hell, I have been cooped up for weeks already, it was time for some fresh air!

I printed out the online Map Quest driving directions, which were sort of understandable because I recognized most of the roads indicated, and started out -- I had to stop to ask directions a couple times, which is normal for me, and nobody, even a Comcast repair man, had ever heard of the Apple Store -- finally, at the entrance to the shopping center, The Promenade, a lady did know where it was and I zipped right there -- this pic was taken from my handicapped parking space at 14:15h, when I finally found the store -- -- I guess one might call the center upscale -- many brand name shops, all trying to lure customers in with discounts, so it was not exactly quite as upscale as Harry Winstons in NY or Bailey, Banks and Biddle in Philly -- a couple people walking nice, clean dogs, instead of the pitbulls I frequently see in my neighborhood in Trenton -- my Jeep may have been the dirtiest vehicle at the center, and probably one of the oldest cars there! Anyway, the minimalist store facade stood out from all the rest -- -- way kewler and ultra simple and modern, with the expected Apple logo -- no awnings or overhangs to obscure the pure lines -- large windows very tastefully displaying various colors of the new mini iPods and an iMac, although I would never allow a flat panel screen or even the iPod screen to be exposed to the full Sun in that way. Inside was not cluttered -- much open space compared to the run of the mill mall shop, and with loads of hands on goodies to get the feel of! Although relatively smallish, it had a wowser aspect, which has always been a trademark of anything Apple did/does. There may have been 2 peeps in the place when I walked in, and probably 4-5 sales people which I could see, most youngish and all very enthusiastic and almost gushy. One effusively welcomed me to the store -- the only thing missing was a traditional Euro hug and kiss on the cheeks! -- another commented on my Nikon camera, which he said he also uses -- I sort of grazed from one open hands-on display to another, marveling at how quiet the new G5 towers were, and the larger flat panel screens -- I did a check of the system profiles of several models -- all were a lot faster than my 667mHz powerbook, more responsive and I even liked the look of the 3rd major itineration of OSX! What a difference from the original X operating system -- hey, it even had the color labels for files, which was missing in v1 -- the sales personnel were not clinging, but always ready to answer my questions -- and boy, oh boy, did I keep them busy!

I had not slept too much in the last 24 hours, and after about an hour decided that I needed coffee, so I left searching for some bistro or whatever -- got my cane out of the Jeep, just in case I may have to walk some distance -- my hip was beginning to pain me, as usual. Half way down that strip of shops I found a Sur La Table, specializing in kitchen wares and such -- oh, well, I may as well go in to see what they have that could replace my old kitchen timer which I had since Evelio was alive -- must be at least 15 years old by now, and the plastic recently broke on the back -- I thought of getting some stainless steel model, if I could find one that was not overly expensive. They had quite a few models, mostly digital, which I did not want -- I just want the old fashioned kind that you turn the timer -- I hate worrying about replacing batteries all the time! Only one stainless model, but it was way too large and the bell was barely audible -- so I decided on a heavy plastic one made in the UK -- -- it had clean, crisp lines, may have been a trifle larger than I thought I wanted, but got it anyway -- the old one is on the right -- and does the new one have a loud, prolonged ring -- the old one barely even peeped anymore!

I checked out wooden utensils, but there was nothing I do not already have -- I got my bamboo ones at the local Dollar Store, and here they were between $5-14! Oh, why not check out medium sized stainless steel pots that might last until I croak -- GAWD! Who buys these things? Donald Tromp? I went up to the counter and asked what they had on super special -- curiously, they did have a few things, so I checked them out. I spied a pot just the size I was looking for, and asked the dude how much? OK, the reduced price in red is the sale price -- OMG! $69 is half off? I told him I wanted something to cook in, not something that costs what I may spend on food in 2 weeks -- I would not have anything to put in the thing! He apparently knew exactly what I was saying, and went to the manager to ask about the sale price -- hummmmmm -- he said it was half off the half off! -- -- it is heavy as all blazes, seems extremely well made, NO non-stick, which I have become to hate -- and should last several lifetimes, so I added that to the timer and headed on back to the Apple Store.

A couple of the peeps who had been there before were gone, and a couple new ones appeared -- I latched onto one of them, Gabe, and we chatted about models, specs, prices, including my unusual education discount, adding memory, potential uses and add ons, dual drive models vs single drive, monitors, networking cables to connect my TiBook to whatever I might get, the ability to connect to a normal TV and the cables needed, and where is the cheapy section with slightly outdated refurbished floor models and other goodies. He was extremely kewl, and had the patience of a saint! I rambled, as usual, from one topic to another, trying to make heads or tails out of differences and general all around usefulness. I dragged one of the stools from the Genius Bar around with me because there is no seating in front of anything else, and my hip was really starting to hurt me -- I need more exercise! Curiously, as we talked about eMacs, two different clients brought in their old eMacs for repairs! hummmmm -- is this a sign for me to maybe get something else? I was totally open to anything, keeping in mind that upgrades were on the near horizon on most models, and I did not really want to acquire something that might be totally changed in a week -- plus, the system upgrade was also due in the near future. I doubted that organic crystal screens would be out yet -- they are supposed to be cheaper, use way less power, and have much better color calibration that does not changer according to viewer angle. On and on we chatted and discussed options and even the option's options! He said he was born in the Trenton area and visits infrequently.

Decisions, decisions! OK, I have been there already for something like 3 entire hours -- Gabe was still attentive and going strong -- we looked at their reduced goodies, from scanners, digital cameras, and some cables, to laptop batteries and printers -- it was time to start getting my selections on the counter and get the ball rolling -- -- this pic was taken at 18:49 -- I opted for the combo drive eMac, and to my surprise it was one of the new upgraded models that came out only a few days before -- I upped the memory from 256megs to 768megs -- got a Belkin ethernet switch, a Belkin ethernet crossover cable (for connecting 2 computers) and 2 Belkin ethernet cables for the switch -- they had something reduced that I wanted to get with my TiBook, a replacement battery as backup, so that went in with the other goodies -- the 3 year Apple Care contract -- I did not want the same thing to happen as did with the TiBook -- I was not sure of the exact date I got the thing, and on the absolutely last day of the purchase year frantically called Apple to arrange for the extended warranty -- I was really sweating, the lady on the phone was most helpful and we called each other at least 4 times -- and less than an hour before the deadline, my order finally went through! -- --

at this point, they had to add the memory, something which I could have done at home in far less time -- it took them at least 30 minutes -- in the meantime I was checking out the reduced section again, and noticed a potentially interesting HP scanner which include the slide/film adaptor in the lid -- much less bulky than my old scanner and about 4x cheaper than the original price, so that came with me too -- --

Gabe left, probably after 19h -- he told me that he gives some of the in-store presentations, and that I might find them interesting -- I probably would, but I rarely feel like driving this far for anything! After the memory was added and they included the scanner with my order, one of the dudes helped cart the stuff out to the Jeep. GAWD, is the eMac heavy -- good thing it has handles on the box! While I was there I only saw one iBook leave, and a couple minor things. There were now at least a dozen browsers wandering around, most of them youngish.

Once I got home I made some room on my desktop, removing the old iMac from the table beside the TiBook and putting it on the table near the window where Hillary and Bernie's aquaria still sat -- they had to find another quasi-empty space in an already overly cluttered apartment! I then went back downstairs to the Jeep to get my new goodies -- I do not know how I got the eMac up the stairs -- there is just barely enough space for the width of the box because the right ascending side of the stairs is piled high with boxes of books -- somehow I got it to my study, at the front of the house, then opened it -- now how the hell do I get the thing out of the box?? No handle anywhere -- just a smooth surface all around -- no straps or any helpful something to aid in removing it from the freekin box! Come on now, Apple, there has to be a better way of doing this! Well, I finally, with some difficulty was able, somehow, to get it out of the box and over to the table top -- the printer is on the right, barely visible -- the Cube is on the shelf with a blue plastic dust cover I made by using a Sunday edition New York Times bag (hey, I was not going to knit a nice cover for it from Martha Stewart's always helpful web site!) -- the new eMac sits to the left of the TiBook, and the scanner to the left -- -- so now I can potentially network my TiBook with the new eMac when needed, and have to try out the new scanner.

It may have taken me a couple minutes to connect everything, consolidating plugs on the 2 strip outlet thingys I have, and then pressed the ON button -- HOLY SHIT! It booted in no time, and I did the usual typing in of some owner data, passwords and such -- looked at how the loaded files were set up, found my HOME, a cute little house icon -- checked out Garage Band and even did a sample piece without going through any instructions or anything! ULTRA KEWL! Hooked up the phone line and got on AOL using some old software I had for v.5 -- upgraded to AOL for OSX, which took over an hour! In the meantime I got the networking stuff together and connected the two computers -- this was going to be an adventure in itself because I had attempted networking when I was in Europe and again here at home a couple times, and could never get it to work. OK, so I am now connected on the new AOL browser and it is as kewl as I found it when I was doing some trial runs of OSX a couple years ago -- while there, why not try out Apple's new browser, Safari -- so I did -- found it fast, snazzy and very responsive -- matter of fact everything about OSX3 is way faster than the original version, which almost amazed me (and I am not easily amazed!) -- I can only imagine what it is like using the new G5s, but for that I shall have to wait a while longer, I guess.

One relatively rather minor thing I noticed -- I had totally forgotten how somewhat noisy computers had been, after working with the whisper quiet Cube and TiBook for a couple years -- I have a floor model air purifier near my work table, and that provides some minimal, almost soothing, background noise as I labor into the early hours of the morning -- it is amazing how absolutely quiet it gets in my study when I turn off the purifier! After I booted the eMac, the quietness quickly disappeared and I once again experienced the sound of the puter -- not excessive, by any means, but my left ear was becoming slightly annoyed at a sound which it was not accustomed to in a long, long time. I do not think even the G5s at the Apple Store were as overtly, how can I say it in a nice way -- buzzy or hummy or computery?? I am sure that I shall get over it, as I had in the past.

Ok, now let me try the networking thing -- everything is connected, I followed the general scanty directions I found, and it did not work -- hey, this is supposed to be automatic! I called the Belkin customer service phone center -- SHIT! They apparently outsourced their service to India, and I could hardly understand the guy -- he gave me routing numbers to add to the TCP/IP data entry spaces, which I added while speaking -- it still did not work -- his knowledgeable advice then was that it was an Apple problem, and that I should contact them! Putting my propeller beanie on, it occurred to me to see if Ron, the Wunderkind, was online, which he was -- I called him on the phone and he walked me very patiently through the process, which was easy enough, and finally I was able to see the TiBook on my eMac, but not the other way around -- thank God for little things -- that was basically all that I needed anyway.

Next came a trial run of the new scanner, so I got out 2 art catalagues I hope eventually to put on eBay and started, first connected to the eMac and then to the TiBook, which is where all my photo software is stashed -- after figuring out the new steps for basic scanning, which are slightly more complex than with the old one, the book scans turned out great, somewhat faster than with the old scanner, and I think the scans are better/crisper -- now to find some slides to experiment with -- I have a dresser full of thousands of slides across the street, but at this point, in the wee hours of the morning of the next day, did not feel like going over there -- luckily I found a single slide box with some pics I took many Moons ago in New York, and selected a couple -- I have zillions of color slides from my European adventures that will eventually be added to my memoirs, if and when -- but I did do a couple trials of the ones I found, just to get the hang of it -- these pics are from September, 1986 -- New York -- the photo quality never was the best on this series of slides, and the intervening years did not make them any better -- -- Evelio and I went on one of the excursions on the Hudson River, to see the skyline from a different perspective -- he loved NY, as do I, despite my extremely rare visits since he died -- I do not like going anywhere by myself, nobody to share the experience with -- we must have visited the Statue of Liberty at least 4 times, all the way to the top -- -- it is still hard to imagine that those two tall towers (the World Trade Center) disappeared some 15 years later, to the month!

Allow me now to compare some of the characteristics of the two computers I am using in the following table --

A Summing Up -- what more can I say? The new eMac is a fabulous, surprisingly affordable desktop, useful for any home or business purpose -- the new OSX3.3 operating system rocks, as does Safari and Garage Band -- iTunes I have raved about before, and the other new apps included in the iLife suite will eventually be checked out -- the operating speed is noticeably faster than anything I have had up to this point, and the desktop setup, including the Dock and file system and colors and everything else are really kewl -- what a difference from when I tried the original version of OSX, which I played with quite a bit before finally deleting it from the partition on the TiBook -- both the TiBook and this new toy have a lot more memory space than I shall ever probably need/use in this lifetime, not even counting the Cobra external drive that I have for backup, which has 120 gigs -- I have all of my web domain/website files, as well as every eBay item I ever listed over the years, including thousands of photos, stashed on this extremely compact and totally portable TiBook, and have only used, of a nominal 30 gigs, something like a nominal 8 gigs [nominal because a 30gig hard drive only has a real capacity of 27.94 gigs]. I am, once again, a very happy Apple Computer camper! They never really disappoint with their products, and are constantly making them better, and I am sure that totally new ground breaking advances are just over the horizon, as usual.

Thanks again to Gabe, for making my first Apple Store visit a memorable delight, and to Ron for helping me set up the ethernet networking. Now I cannot wait until some new goodies appear, and already have been wanting to upgrade to a dual G5 server -- maybe I shall wait for the organic crystal flat panel screens, if I live that long. The new eMac may eventually replace the TiBook as my main desktop, and the laptop will only be used as a portable when I travel, as rare as that has been over the last 15 years or so!

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Editor/Webmaster - Sonny

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