All Points North

Might not be reachable ….

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Sally has a troll. I’m not sure what I’d do or how I’d feel if someone was just being an arse. I might publish the comments to see if anyone came to my rescue* or I might just delete them. Trolls are a joyful new present from the Internet age. It’s easy to be anonymous and to say mean things but the question remains, Why?

I’m no saint and have been tempted to leave the ‘you’re clearly a knob’ comment on various blogs but the effort it takes far outweighs my desire to share it with anything but the screen in front of me.

The thing with a troll is that they seem to exist wherever there’s a comment thread. Sometimes they are arguing with each other. There’s recently been a bit of a to do on the Mac Format blog. Weird as it’s usually a place of peace and tranquillity, much like Sally’s site.

But here’s the rub, I’ve called Sally by her first name twice now and I’ve never met her.** Could it be that a personal blog breaks down walls and make people think they know a person but with enough distance to still be mean and not feel bad about it? Getting Ink hardly covers the most controversial of topics but clearly someone thinks that its author needs to be abused.

I’m not blowing smoke up Sally’s ass but I visit her site daily (Yes I’m aware of RSS but then I don’t like it, deal) and for the life of me I cannot work out why someone would spend time bitching about her.

The Internet really has brought some great things to the world.

* To be fair anyone who’s spent more than ten minutes in my company would probably agree with the troll.

** To the best of my knowledge but then again I spent most of my days at IT press junkets arse over tit drunk just barely clinging on to the release so I may have been in the same room as her.

I have a new Eee PC 1000 which I have to admit is rather wonderful. The keyboard is *just* about big enough and the same goes for the screen. I’ve been longing for a replacement for the 12in PowerBook and this might just be it. It’s  nippy and more than capable for the type of stuff I’ll be doing on it. XP is a solid OS and though I was tempted by the Linux version I really wanted iTunes as I’ll be using this on my travels and I’m a fully paid up member of the movie downloads fan club.

Every time you take the piss out of a Windows Blue Screen a little part of me dies inside. Please stop it. It’s never been big, clever or funny.

I was throwing together a quick work through on how to make a slideshow with some music to it and thought what better than iMovie 08. WRONG, it’s utter shite. Nothing about it is intuitive it lacks the most basic features and to top it off is just as flakey as the iMovie which came before it. At least the previous incarnations of iMovie offered a halfway decent video editing solution. I reviewed iMovie as part of the iLIfe suite and said at the time that it was a step backwards but I hadn’t realised just how much of a step backwards it was. Anyhow, here’s the video I made. I’ve been assured that I’m not winning the baby bore competition so it’s time to ramp up my efforts with a sickening montage to music. Enjoy,

I was about to wipe my old 15GB iPod and thought to myself I’ll have a look before I do. The only thing on it was the copy and PDF of an interview I did with Steve Wozniak when I worked full time at MacUser magazine. I also interviewed Gil Amelo, Jef Raskin and Andy Hertzfeld not bad going for a lowly staff writer.

It was part of a series with all the same questions for ex-Apple people. Of the people I emailed, phoned, wrote letters only John Sculley, Bill Atkinson and, of course, Steve Jobs didn’t reply.

Of all the interviews this is the one I’m most proud of (which must be why it had an iPod all to itself) but tucked away on page 67 of the 9th of July 2004 issue is a really special piece of information that, looking back is really quite interesting.

I asked Gil Amelio What should Apple do next? His reply?

If it wants to remain a computer company, it should port Mac OS X to the Intel Processor and compete with Windows head-on.

Bloody good idea.

Here’s the text of the Wozniak interview:

MU What is your favourite Apple product ever?

SW That’s a tough one. The [Power Mac] 8500 goes and goes to this day (even the power supply). The first PowerBook changed my life forever. The Duo was my favourite of all – ultimate portability, light, great dock. The Titanium was the best-conceived product ever. Until the Aluminium series – my most useful Macintosh ever. The Cube really changed my home. The 20th Anniversary Macintosh with its sound system – wow! The G5 with its clean looks. The iPod changed my music life forever. The iPod mini is my music device now. It’s tough when you’ve had almost every Macintosh and loved them all.

MU What’s so special about Apple Computer that makes people love it so much?

SW Every product is great and special and lovable. Well, almost every one is. Apple lives up to its image of humanism in computers, ease of use and leadership. Owning a Macintosh makes you a special person. Being in a threatened minority makes you passionate. Our history is a lot of it.

MU What was your favourite time at Apple?

SW The early days – starting a revolution and knowing it.

MU As you see it now, what should Apple do next?

SW More consumer electronics products that go well with the computer – in other words, home products.

MU Is Apple’s future in software or hardware?

SW Yes. Seriously, it has been mainly in software. We bought Macintoshes even when they looked dull, because of the operating system. Switching isn’t that easy or that much an option. Also, certain apps that fit those that remain in the Macintosh camp, such as Photoshop and video editing, were driving factors for many to buy Macs.

MU Which person do you most admire?

SW My father. He taught me good values and supported my electronics interest.

MU If you could change one thing, what would it be?

SW Having had so much money.

MU What was the last book you read?

SW Deception Point by Dan Brown.

MU What’s your favourite holiday destination?

SW Maui. But I must say that London is close and safaris can’t be beat, also a cruise in the South Pacific without a computer was great, too.

MU Have you ever been to Bill Gates’ house?

SW No.

Bloddy hell that’s four years ago..

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Apple, Steve Wozniak, Steve Jobs, Andy Hertzfeld, Jef Raskin, Gil Amelio