Mac Scope

Time to Play Hardball

Low End Mac Reader Specials

Memory To Go Special: MacPro 8 Core 8GB kit $232 / 4GB kit $116 / 2GB kit $72. New Macbook 2GB DDR3-$65. HARD DRIVES available -- Free shipping / LIfetime warranty.

Download Typestyler, still the Ultimate Styling Tool for Internet, Print and Video Graphics. Works great in Classic with a Native OS X Version on the way. Free Tryout: www.typestyler.com

LA Computer Company: Specials on AppleCare, iMac's, Apple Batteries and Apple A/C Adapters. Also Great prices on Used Apple Computers. Call 1-800-941-7654 Click Here.

Mac users can finally play Party Poker for Mac. Not only that, they can also learn how to play PokerStars for Mac.

Laptop Hardware Provided by TechRestore - Overnight Mac & iPod Repairs.

Compare products like desktop computers, laptops, and LCD TVs side by side! All the information and reviews to make the best purchasing decision for a new cell phone GPS products or MP3 players. The Ciao network makes searching products easy for you.

Stephen Van Esch - 2001.11.14

It's been quite a love-in for Apple over the last couple of years. Great looking products that are pleasing to the eye is an Apple tradition, and the iPod simply adds to it.

However, Apple still hasn't been burning up the charts when it comes to converting users. Granted, new users and even some PC stalwarts have been known to switch to Apple products. Is it enough, though?

Apple's strategy has been more or less inoffensive. "We've got good products, cool products, products that do the job," has been the message for a good while now. Time to take off the kid gloves.

With a stable version of OS X on the market and mind-blowing software and hardware, Apple has more than enough ammunition to start making a serious effort at claiming that they've got superior technology - and the world had better take notice.

The kind of "into the breech" attitude that would serve Apple well was recently exhibited in an internal email from a Microsoft sales VP regarding Linux. The email pretty much directs everyone to pour blood, sweat, and tears into their efforts to steal Linux users or win back those who have switched.

Now, of course, this is an internal memo. The friendly face of Microsoft is what the public sees most of the time, and it's likely to be the same at Apple.

Apple has the golden opportunity lying right in front of it. If the Microsoft email is to be believed, companies are tired of supporting their Unix boxes: "They're fed up with expensive Unix/RISC solutions from Sun, HP, and IBM."

Can you say "take advantage of the situation"? OS X is a Unix platform with cheap hardware. Why migrate to Linux and its inherent complexity when you can go with OS X, have your Unix, and still be able to trust at least some of the administration to someone who hasn't a clue what command line even means?

There's a rare confluence of events happening here. Here's a thought: Businesses might be getting tired of Sun solutions and the like, and they may be trying to cut costs. They have a choice: Either go with Linux, which might be just as complex as Unix on a cheaper box, or sign a pact to funnel money to Microsoft forevermore. The devil and the deep blue sea, wouldn't you say?

Apple can easily fire straight up the middle by attacking the main weaknesses of Sun, HP, and IBM solutions (expensive and harder to maintain) and Microsoft (incredibly restrictive licensing agreements with no easy out).

The power of Unix with the simplicity of the Mac.

Essentially, it's a "have your cake and eat it too" solution with Apple. The mantra, "The power of Unix with the simplicity of the Mac," wouldn't be lost on some high-ranking executives.

Keep your fingers crossed that somewhere in the Apple corporate sales department there's a banner saying "Smash Sun and Microsoft."

Stephen Van Esch is the founder and president of the E-learning Foundry, an online training resource for Mac users. Steve loves the Mac and is doubly bilingual, since he's also fluent in Windows and French.

Recently on Mac Scope

Links for the Day

  • Mac of the Day: 15" iMac G4/800 MHz, Jan. 2002 - The iMac is redesigned with a flat panel display and G4 CPU.
  • Group of the Day: Mac Canada is our list for Canadian Mac users.
  • December 1 in LEM history: 99: Monitor dot pitch - 00: Macs for new users - Everybody wants to use iMacs - Career options - 03: Pfinder: Panther-like Finder for legacy Macs - 04: Why I use an eMac, iBook, and Power Mac - ThinkFree Office - MacLink Plus 15 - 05: PowerBook 190 still a great laptop - Eudora, the Mac's most powerful email client - 06: Core 2 'Books cooler and faster

Recent Content on Low End Mac

Recent Deals

  • Best iPod nano Deals, 12.01. Refurb 3G/4 GB, $79; new, $105; refurb 8 GB, $99; new, $115; 3G/8 GB, $134; 16 GB, $174. Prices include ground shipping.
  • Best 12" PowerBook G4 Deals, 12.01. Used 1.5 GHz SuperDrive, $481/C$599 plus shipping.
  • Best Mac Pro Deals, 12.01. Used 3.0 GHz 4-core, $2,102; new 2.66 GHz 4-core, $1,949 after rebate; 2.8 4-core, $2,099 a/r; 8-core, $2,515 a/r; 3.0 $3,320 a/r; 3.2, $4,099 a/r.
  • Best MacBook Deals, 11.26. Used 1.83 GHz, $595; 2.0 SD, $660; refurb 2.1 GHz, $949; 2.4, $999; black, $1,099; new 2.1, $869 after rebate; 2.4, $1,150 a/r; black, $1,194 a/r; more.
  • Best iPod touch Deals, 11.26. Used 1G/8 GB, $160; refurb, $179; new, $198; used 16, $200; refurb, $219; refurb 32, $319; new, $340; 2G/8 GB, $219; 16, $289; 32, $379.
  • Best Power Mac G5 Deals, 11.26. Used 1.6 GHz single, $450; 1.8, $499; dual, $600, 2.0, $800; 2.3, $816; dual-core, $1,000; 2.5 dual, $1,000; 2.7, $1,050; 2.5 Quad, $1,400.
  • Best MacBook Deals, 11.26. Used 1.83 GHz, $595; 2.0 SD, $660; refurb 2.1 GHz, $949; 2.4, $999; black, $1,099; new 2.1, $869 after rebate; 2.4, $1,150 a/r; black, $1,194 a/r; more.
  • Best Mac mini Deals, 11.25. Used 1.42 GHz G4 Combo, $429; 1.66 GHz Core Duo, $449; 1.83, SuperDrive $629; new 1.83 Core 2 Combo, $570 shipped; 2.0 SD, $760 shipped.
  • Best 15" PowerBook G4 Deals, 11.25. Used 1.67 GHz SuperDrive, $539; hi-res, $800. Shipping additional.
  • Best Time Capsule and AirPort Deals, 11.25. Refurb 500 GB Time Capsule, $249; new, $281; refurb 1 TB, $419; new, $462; AirPort Extreme Base Station, $159; Express, $60.
  • More deals in our archive.

Channels
 Power Macs
 iMac Channel
 iBook/PowerBook
 MacInSchool
Computer Profiles
 iMac
 Power Mac
 PowerBook/iBook
 Performas
 Mac Clones
 Older Macs
 LisaNeXT
Editorial Archive
Mac Daniel's Advice
Email Lists
LEMchat (uses AIM)
Online Tech Journal
Consumer
 advice, reviews
 guides, deals
Software
Apple History
Best of the Web
 Best of the Mac Web surveys
Miscellaneous Links
 Best Used Mac Buys
 Used Mac Dealers
 Video Cards
 Mac OS X
 Mac Linux
 Macspeak
 RAM Upgrades
About Low End Mac
Site Contacts

Open Link

Support LEM

Affiliates

The Apple Store
.mac
iTunes Store
Club Mac
MacMall
MacResQ
ExperCom
eBay
Amazon.com
PayPal
PCMall
PC Zone
Crucial Memory

Our advertising is handled by BackBeat Media. For detailed price quotes and advertising information, please contactat BackBeat Media (646-546-5194). This number is for advertising only.