Re: Mac or Pc ??????

[stevee@onix.com]

Antonio writes:

 >I will be going to a college that is mostly all Mac. Some people
 >people tell me to get a Mac and others tell me to get an IBM
 >and just convert my work to Mac(Apple).  I will be either majoring
>in Computer Science or Information Systems(Still Undecided).

Some other responder has probably already beat me to the punch is
pointing out that this newsgroup covers the old Apple II line, which
has no connection with the Macintosh line.  This is a common
confusion because of there having once been a "Macintosh II" model,
which had no connection to the Apple II other than being made by the
same company.

First, I suggest that you go to the nearest large public library
(probably in your county seat) and read a few books on the history of
computers.  Besides learning about the Apple II, you'll also have a
whole lot of background that will give you a broader perspective on
computer science.

Second, if I can be forgiven (and even if I can't) for straying off
the theme of this newsgroup, I would get several used computers,
including both Mac and PC types.  I doubt your university assignments
will require a Pentium or Power Mac for the next year or two.  And
much more important, with multiple computers you won't fear that your
tinkering with the hardware and systems software will render you
temporarily computerless.  You'll experiment way more and learn way
more if you're not afraid of messing up your system.  By the way, if
you're really ambitious, the background you would get from teaching
yourself peek and poke (look up the terms) oriented Applesoft BASIC
and then a bit of machine language on an old 8 bit Apple II model
such as the Apple II+ would put you way ahead of the pack in
understanding how computers work.

Of course, it is too soon to try guessing what specific job skills
and hardware/software platforms will be in demand and/or popular when
you graduate.  If the prevalent ideas of today, such as that object
orientation and the SEI maturity model (again, look it up) are the
future, that Microsoft will remain on top, and that mainframes will
continue to die out, pan out, you'll have plenty of time to adjust to
this in your last year or two of college.

Steve Eisenberg     Pennsylvania, U.S.A.     stevee@onix.com

P.S.  To keep in touch with current trends find someone in the
computer industry who will loan you their weekly issues of  _Info
World_.  This may be the best free publication in the history of
journalism.