I have a separate blog that's about 25% done that I was hoping to post tonight, but seeing as how it is close to 4AM and I've got another early start tomorrow I'm going to save that one for tomorrow night and post this instead.

To those of you asking about the AT Mac section, it is coming. The site design refresh was pushed back from late May to the middle of June, there will be some new sections introduced with the new site - the Mac section inclusive. The first article in the Mac section will be the long awaited article about my 30 days with the G5 (and my subsequent integration of the G5 into my office). For those of you that are curious, the G5 is still running very well and it's still my primary workhorse. I will also add that the worst application I've used under OS X continues to be Microsoft Office X (ok so it's not an application), and that's coming from a user who is quite fond of the suite under Windows. I'll save the continued harsh criticism for a separate Macdate.

I'm slowly but surely getting back into the swing of things. It's been about a year since I've been able to have AT as my real focus every day and as much as I'd like to hit the ground running, I want to make sure I hit the ground sensibly. I setup my first test bed last week (the storage test bed) and things are proceeding smoothly, tomorrow (I guess technically today) I'm going to add a second and see if I can't get this new storage suite done before I leave for Computex.

That's right, it's that time again. This Saturday, Derek and I will be making the trip over to Taiwan to meet up with Kris and Wes for my first Computex in 2 years. I couldn't make it last year because the SARS-delayed Computex conflicted with school, but with that no longer an issue I'm ready to take the 14 - 18 hours of flights to wear a suit in humid weather that puts NC summers to shame. It's been so long that I'm having trouble remembering why Computex was my favorite large tradeshow, but I'm certain that once I see that show floor and get in the grind it'll all come back to me.

At this point I'm really exploring ideas for next steps. We're lucky enough to have a great team of writers here at AT now, giving me the flexibility to tackle a number of areas. I'm definitely putting storage as a top priority (finally), but I'm always looking for new ideas. Anything in particular that you all would like to see me handle? I can't guarantee you that I will, but I'll do my best to accomodate as much as possible.

Forgive me for any spelling mistakes, I'm dead tired and laying in bed on my laptop (not laying on my laptop...I know, my humor shows my age...times 10).

Goodnight and take care :)
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  • Ed - Wednesday, May 26, 2004 - link

    As was said, the 150,000,000 dollars were in stock, not in a 'cash infusion'. $150,000,000, even in Apple's dark period, was not enough to have done much of anything. It was a symbolic gesture that has been taken way out of context by the media and PC users, nothing more. More over; the stock was non-voting stock, so Microsoft had ZERO say-so in Apple's actions. And yes, Apple bougth back the stock some years ago.
  • Tim - Wednesday, May 26, 2004 - link

    That famous 1997 détente between Microsoft and Apple was more about optics than anything else. The $150 million "injection" -- or more accurately share purchase -- was a pittance in comparison with the billions Apple held in cash at the time. Nevertheless it was widely reported and may even have assisted in preventing the defection of developers after Apple's worst-ever year (1996). As ViRGE said, MS later sold those shares at a considerable profit.

    The agreement to produce future versions of Office for the Mac expired after the intro of Office X. Since then Office 2004 (code name Mac Office 11) has been introduced and the MacBU is known to be working on Mac Office 12. Clearly MS has a business case (i.e. profit motive) in continuing to develop for Mac.

    Let me add my congratulations on your graduation Anand. And have fun in Taiwan!
  • ViRGE - Wednesday, May 26, 2004 - link

    Just an FYI Joe, but Microsoft sold their shares in Apple nearly a year ago.
  • Joe - Tuesday, May 25, 2004 - link

    I got a chukle out of your comment about MS Office. You are begnnning to sound like a Machead. One little tidbit of historical financial information for you. Back in 1997 Microsoft and Apple settled a lawsuit (Apple claim was that Microsoft copies the Windows concept). Part of the settlement included a cash injection by Microsoft into Apple and Microsoft owns about 7 to 8% of Apple stock today. Microsoft also agreed to make Mac version of Office for a number of years going forward. Apple did not have a big hammer because they did not have patents on features of the operating system. Apple has recently been more aggressive in filing patents on OSX and a recent application for a patent on parts of the operating system window that becomes more invisible over time without use and other features is generating some discussion because guess what? It is rumored that Longhorn may have some of these features. But for the most part I think both companies are trying to be friendly competitors these days.
  • Eug - Tuesday, May 25, 2004 - link

    I haven't tried it yet, but people are happy with Microsoft Office 2004. Here are some comments about Office 2004 (in an Ars thread) from one of the MacBU guys.

    http://episteme.arstechnica.com/eve/ubb.x?a=tpc&am...

    It's interesting because not only does he talk about features changes and bug fixes, but he also talks about some of the under-the-hood changes and potential future directions.
  • Anonymous - Tuesday, May 25, 2004 - link

    Last cooling article was Nov 21 2002.

    hint, hint.

    Congrats on graduating and don't you have a wedding to plan for now? Good luck, I just had mine last September.....you're gonna love it :)

    Have fun flying, too.
  • me - Tuesday, May 25, 2004 - link

    More thoughts on the education system :-)

    Become a champion of Small Form Factor and wireless...push it...push it...push it. No more wires. I don't want to see my computer anyomore.

    More thoughts on the future and 2 cpu's per core. if this is really where we are going please push for more multithreaded apps!

    Use your powers for good :-)
  • me - Tuesday, May 25, 2004 - link

    More thoughts on the education system :-)

    Become a champion of Small Form Factor and wireless...push it...push it...push it. No more wires. I don't want to see my computer anyomore.

    More thoughts on the future and 2 cpu's per core. if this is really where we are going please push for more multithreaded apps!

    Use your powers for good :-)
  • GTaudiophile - Tuesday, May 25, 2004 - link

    Two good ideas I've seen posted in the GH thread so far:

    1) More emphasis on wireless and mobile platforms.

    2) To celebrate Anand's marriage to Vinney (and maybe the 10th Anniversary of this site?), we need to have ANAND FEST. Picture it: a few thousand loyal anandtechers in Raleigh, NC fragging each other for an entire weekend. We'd have prizes for the most frags for those who came the farthest distance, etc. Would be fun!
  • Patrick - Tuesday, May 25, 2004 - link

    I'm just glad to see that the Mac section is still in the works. I truly look forward to it. Congrats on the diploma.

    BTW, I'd love to see the 2nd gen. G5 put through its paces after WWDC.

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