By Diana Ezell

The one thing I really love about the Internet is that I never know who I might be talking to, and moreover, what kind of computer they are using. They may be on a Sun Sparc station at a Supercomputer center, a 286 PC in someone's basement, a simple terminal at their University connected through a VAX, or a Macintosh Performa in their den. The best part is that it doesn't really matter who has what kind of computer any more, most of the time.

The one time when things get a little complicated is when people try to send me files. Often times, things are encoded or encrypted without the sender's knowledge because of their operating system or their e-mail program. However, there are ways around even this obstacle. In the last issue we had an article on Binhex. In this issue, as promised, there is an article which discusses UUencode and UUdecode.

While I hope that these articles help you to better understand what is happening "behind the scenes" on your Macintosh computer, there are some folks who would rather not be bogged down by the details. After all, isn't that why we bought Macintosh computers in the first place? It is when I get deep into the depths of the technical detail swamps that I remember why I truly enjoy my computer.

This is the time of year when many people are planning their holiday gift purchases. Maybe someone you know has decided that this year they are going to buy a computer. For me, this can be a frustrating situation. I want to tell them how great Macintosh computers are, how much easier they are to use than IBM compatible personal computers. Most of the time I just keep my mouth shut and watch as my friends are taken in by the "PCs are better, cheaper, etc." drivel spewing forth from the salesperson's mouth. The dad says, "It's what I have at work" which clinches it.

After all, who am I to force them into buying something they don't want or like? If they are already comfortable on a Windows PC, I figure I usually have no chance of changing their minds. On the other hand, if this is their first PC and they are not yet predisposed to one platform or the other, I usually attempt to sway them.

Fortunately, Apple's prices are down this year and Apple has provided me with some useful food for thought. If you are feeling evangelical about the Macintosh platform this holiday season, Apple has provided you with some ammunition on the Web. Here you'll find a well organized area which will help to get you ready to compare a Macintosh computer to a PC running Windows 95. Check it out at this URL: http://www2.apple.com/whymac/default.html

I guess the bottom line is that you shouldn't try to force people to eat something they just cannot stand. Some of us will never like southern-style cornbread dressing while others despise Yankee stuffing. I myself never could stomach cranberry sauce/jelly, but then again I haven't tried it since I was 10. So if you have a friend who feels a little queasy about Macintosh computers, maybe you can convince them it is time to try it again. In the spirit of sharing the wealth of your knowledge and good Macintosh-savvy taste, have a happy holiday season.

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