Judy's News and Notes



Author: Judy Bennett

Date: February, 1987

Keywords: adobe postscript illustrator appleshare finder 5.4

Text:
     Apple Computer Corporation has begun the new year with a definite
bang.  Unless you've been living in a cave, you are aware of the stock
market situation.  Apple has been a part of this great upsurge.  In the
last quarter of '85 Apple stock was selling for less the $20 a share. 
On Friday, Jan. 23, '87, Apple closed above $53 a share.  I hope all of
you bought your Apple stock when I first began suggesting it.
     Along with Apple, Microsoft Corporation has been experiencing
great gains in the market.  Microsoft was first offered in '86 at $25 a
share.  It closed on Jan. 23, '87 in the low $70's.  
     According to Andy Hertzfeld and Michael Kowell, we should all
start buying Adobe Systems.  They believe this to be an up-and-coming
software company.  Adobe Systems writes Postscript for the Laserwriter
and other laser printers. Adobe introduced its new program Adobe
Illustrator at the MacExpo and it was the hit of the show.  According
to Infoworld  this program will be competing with $2,000 cad/cam
programs at one-fourth the cost.  In early January, Adobe was selling
for $30 a share.  At this time it has gained five points.  So watch
Adobe.
     On to other topics.  I am sad to announce that one of my favorite
pastimes and sources of much Apple gossip is no longer.  Online
Publishing System or The Mac Underground  is gone. While at the MacExpo
I had the occasion to ask someone about Jerry Daniels, the owner of
OPS.  I was told he would probably continue to write for the Macazine,
unless  ''he ended up in jail.''   OPS suffered some financial
disasters and apparently has filed bankruptcy or just disappeared.  
When I returned home from the MacExpo, I attempted to contact The
Underground via modem.  Ma Bell informed me the number had been
disconnected with no further information.
     So goes another attempt at Macintosh ''entrepreneurialism.''  
Jerry Daniels had written some wonderful programs for the Mac and had
made available a marvelously entertaining and informing system through
his MacUnderground .  
     The Club Mac  was the first of my favorite Mac pastimes to bite
the dust and now The MacUnderground  has followed.   There are many
creative people out there in ''Mac Land,'' I have hopes that something
equally interesting will appear for me to spend my money on.
     How long does a diskette last?  According to the experts, about 10
million passes of the drive head.  For most, this means about 1 to 2
years.  For frequently used disks, 6 months is probably a safer time.  
So if your disks are starting to act differently, perhaps it's time to
replace them with new ones. This info courtesy of The Mac Valley Voice.
 
     If you're a university student near Kansas City, you might be able
to buy a 512E and Microsoft Works for under a $1000.  Just takes being
in the right place at the right time.
     Apple showed no new hardware at the MacExpo in San Francisco. 
Rumors persist that we will be seeing the new open Mac soon, probably
in March. 
     Those attending the Seybold Group's Conference on Desktop
Communication, in San Francisco at the end of January, will probably
finally get to see Apple's long awaited file server, Appleshare.  Also
anticipated is the Appletalk card for the IBM PC .  This may also be
the site where Apple finally releases its new personal laser printer
with the under $2000 price tag.    
     Rumor has it that the Mac as we know it has always had color
capabilities built into ROM.  Maybe there will be a color Mac someday.
     Along the lines of rumor dredging, has anyone else out there heard
anything about a Mac that will run a UNIX system?  Seems as though last
summer Jean-Louis Gassee lectured to a group of university students as
said Apple was definitely planning on bringing out a UNIX based Mac.
     Interesting interview with Andy Hertzfeld in MacWorld.  His
comment about Gassee trying too hard to make himself liked was rather
sharp.  Gassee's French influence was seen at the MacExpo.  There were
some very interesting architectural drawing programs that came from
France.  They could be used on 512s without a hard drive.  That could
be a real boon to the amateur designer.
     AST Research Inc. will be bundling Microphone  with its four new
modems offered for the Mac.  AST Research Inc. 2121 Alton Ave. Irvine,
Ca. 92714.
     According to a couple of different rumor sources, Apple has
another Finder waiting in the wings.  It has been in beta testing in
various locations throughout the country since last fall.  It's Finder
5.4.  One of the biggest changes is in the trash can.  The new trash
can displays a flag when something has been placed in the trash.  The
flag disappears when the trash is emptied. The Get Info boxes have been
changed and use a much smaller font to allow more information to be
placed within. There are also extensive changes to the control panel. 
This new finder will be necessary for the the new Apple file server.
     Rumors of a different mouse come from Cringely in Infoworld. . He
suggests the existence of a light pen that can be used instead of the
mouse.  
     Prices should be dropping once the new Macintosh(s) make their
appearance.  The MacPlus will probably be selling for $1300.  The new
Macs might sell for $2500 and $3900.  Time will tell.  Until then, call
 your broker.

Copyright © february, 1987 by Judy Bennett