By Diana Ezell

In my short tenure as "Information Alley" editor, I have gotten quite a bit of e-mail. I'd like to thank you all because it is only with your input that I can make this newsmagazine more informative and helpful for you. Your suggestions have been great and your comments useful.

Several articles in this issue are the direct result of the ideas you have submitted. I was reminded that not everyone has a PCI-based Power Macintosh computer, nor are all of you running System 7.5, even if these are the hot topics of the day. Some international readers proposed that I try to incorporate a few articles concerning international Apple products.

One common thread I noticed in many of the e-mails I have received so far is that a large number of "Information Alley" readers are seeking assistance with technical problems. While I cannot answer these questions myself, there are numerous other resources available to online-savvy Apple customers. Using the telephone or contacting a local service provider for support may not always be the quickest way to find answers to your questions, especially if you have access to the Internet.

Where would most people usually go when doing research or trying to find an answer? A library perhaps? Apple's Technical Information Library (TIL), the tool used by Apple technical support representatives around the world, contains thousands of informational facts and troubleshooting articles about Apple products. You can look up any Apple product from the Apple Dot Matrix printer to the Color LaserWriter 12/600 PS, or from the Lisa to the Power Macintosh 9500.

A great advantage of an online library is that it is very timely. An article might take a week or even a month to be published in a printed magazine while an article in an online library may take as little as twenty-four hours to be posted. Apple has a staff of writers, database managers, editors, and engineers contributing to the TIL on a daily basis -- maintaining, updating, and archiving thousands of articles.

Not only is the TIL an up-to-date information gold mine, it is also a convenient place for one-stop information shopping. There are no phone trees to navigate, no transfers between departments, no tedious card catalogs, and no steep flights of stairs to climb. There aren't many libraries where you can browse through thousands of volumes in your slippers and housecoat from the comfort of your favorite chair with your PowerBook in your lap.

The TIL is available on several subscription online services (AppleLink, Compuserve, and eWorld) and on the Internet (Word Wide Web). I have included in this issue an article which details how to find the TIL online. The article also points the way to a wealth of other information including: AskApple - Apple's online technical support on eWorld, Apple software updates, Apple product specification sheets, and, of course, the "Information Alley". Happy searching!

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