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Monday
Gee, it's only been...what?...three months since I last posted an entry. Yeah, well, time flies. Anyway, some news to report. Yes, news. News Item #1: I'm finally starting to get web projects. Projects that pay. Nothing giving me immediate and certain financial security, but something to grasp at. And, man, am I grasping like crazy. I've also found some programmers to work with -- one, a former San Diegan, now living in London. Now, if the Bush Administration would stop wagging the dog and conscentrate on boosting the economy...ah, what am I thinking? Bring back President Bill Clinton! News
Item #2: I bought a Mac! My very own Macintosh! Woo-w
Yes, it's been an adventure setting up and playing with my new Mac. I still have to match all the graphics software on my PC (ahem: for the record, I'm KEEPING Mr. Wizard -- in fact, I have upgrade plans for him in the future). In addition to the OS X version of The Big Box of Art clipart/stock photos software I bought months ago, I've added Norton Anti-Virus, Toast Titanium 5, and Extensis Suitcase -- all for OS X, to my Mac. Unfortunately, my beloved Adobe Type Manager Deluxe (which I have on my PC), according to Adobe, will not be made available in OS X -- only in Windows and OS 9.2 and earlier. What a crock. Adobe not making a key piece of graphics software available for the latest Mac operating system? Adobe would not be the company it is today were it not for the Macintosh platform. So, on the recommendation of a few friends, I went for Suitcase. I am NOT going back to OS 9.2 because of one damn application. Anyway, so far, Suitcase is working out for me. As for the remaining apps -- I'm hoping to get Adobe Web Collection this week (Photoshop, Illustrator, GoLive, and LiveMotion). In the next month or two, I hope to buy Macromedia Studio MX (Dreamweaver, Flash, Fireworks, and Freehand), plus Microsoft Office X. Yeah, MacMerlin's gonna be workin' his little snowy butt off...soon. I'll be shifting the majority of graphics production to the Mac, with the PC handling mainly web development and basic office stuff. I also have both machines plugged into my Netgear ethernet hub so they can share my cable internet connection. I've been using Apple Mail lately to download some of my email. Nice to know that the Klez.worm and Bugbear viruses can't wreak havoc with my Mac (and, of course, NAV is running on the Mac as well as the PC -- I take no chances with my machines). I love the speakers on this Mac -- they're made by Harman Kardon. I transferred some MP3s from my PC into iTunes on the Mac. Whoa. Dang. I really didn't expect the speakers to sound so good. I finally made a trip Saturday to the San Diego (Fashion Valley) Apple Store. I was pleasantly surprised by the amount of people milling about the store -- some lookie-loos, but you never know. I ogled the Titanium G4 PowerBooks and the 22" cinema display monitors, iPods, and other kewl goodies. I chatted with two salespeople -- they're very friendly. In fact, they greet patrons with an ebullient, enthusiastic "HI!" like salespeople at the Disney Store and Gap. Anyway, I told them that if I ever win Lotto, I'm going to pretty much clean out the store. One saleswoman told me, "Well, I'd rather have you win Lotto, then." So, I finally have my first Mac. My own Mac. I know, I know. Windows users are rolling their eyes right now. And, hey, I like my PC. But I love my Mac. Until you have one of these machines (especially one running OS X, based on Unix, the king of all operating systems), you just won't understand. So, if I sound like a Mac evangelist...oh well. I won't bash Windows, but I'm not going to promote PCs, either. With 90% of the computer market, Microsoft doesn't need my help. I have Apple stickers on my Jeep instead. Jeez, I'm starting to sound like one of those switchers. Gah! Anyway. MacMerlin is in da house.
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oo!
No, it's not the dual processor G4 quicksilver tower (obviously I didn't
win the California Lotto jackpot), but a super fast (as in faster than
a Pentium 4) 700MHz G4 (w/Velocity Engine) 
