Ok folks after the recent hub bub on Slashdot over the iMac release (check out that story... 300+ comments) Benjamin Shive sent me a bunch of points in response to most of the criticisms that occured in the comments. I would consider one personally (it would end up being an X-Server in my living room :), but it would be nice if it was a couple hundred bucks cheaper. But these things are designed with a different audience than most of us hardcore techies. Anyway, Ben has covered the issues pretty well, so if you were partaking in the flamefest yesterday, it's probably worth reading this.

Well it's a new desktop line. Integrated Monitor/PC in a transparent case, 233Mhz G3, 4gig HD 32 megs of RAM, for $1300. No complaints from over here. You may want to swing over to Apple and take a look for yourself. Sure wouldn't be a bad little Linux box...

beleriand wrote in to tell us that something a bit crazy seems to be coming up in a few hours on Apple.com... Updated Well the big hype was a trippy, extremely cheap ($1300) mac. 233Mhz G3, 32 Megs RAM, 4gig HD- looks like a decent Linux box to me.

This is a sorta different thing for me to post, but bear with me. Curtis Wilcox sent us a note saying that "">Macintouch would like to hear from anyone successfully running Linux within Connectix's VirtualPC 2.0. Email them at notes@macintouch.com " If anyone has pulled it off, they definately should let them know. And if anyone has a lazy evening, maybe they should try to pull it off... Update Thanks to the 50 of you who warned me about the (now fixed) typo that was once above, all naked and exposed to the whole world *grin*.

Scott Millen (my coworker, and sparring partner in the OS war :) sent me a link to Mac OS Rumors, which is posting a Press Release from Al Guerra Enterprises, Inc, which apparently is stepping up to the plate to support MkLinux. They sell a service plan for $99 and up. This is a really interesting idea: the new Mac hardware is impressive, and a lot of MacOS users may be interested in giving Linux a shot. Apps like The Gimp certainly are a good incentive to try out a new OS.

An anonymous reader sent us a link to Mac OS Rumors where you can read a comment that Mach will actually be the muscle underneath most PowerMac products in the next 12 months. The scariest comment is about an experimental MkLinux kernel that runs Rhapsody DR2 and MMKLinux DR3 simultaneously. I always figured my next box would be an Alpha, but those G3s are looking better every day.

Lee Maguire writes "ZDnet is running this story about one of Apple's billboards being defaced. It's good to see that when Mac users vandalise, at least they use a little creativity".

John sent us this link where you can read about a G3/300 overpowering the Compaq box with a P2/400. The tests were just Photoshop, so that biases things somewhat, but its still pretty cool. Can't wait to try Linux out on one of those buggers. We should perform some of the same tests in the Gimp just for comparisons sake.

While the first release of Rhapsody should be in July, it appears that future versions of the MacOS will also be based on the Mach kernel, Rhapsody core OS and "Yellow Box".

Benjamin K. writes "Apple seems to have created a very intrusive license agreement for Quicktime 3. It is creating quite a buzz in the Macintosh community. The license requires that to distribute QT3, a developer either pay $1 per copy of the program, or must copy an advertisement to the desktop EVERY time the program is run. This could be bad. Furthermore, the new movieplayer has fewer features (in the free version) than the old version. I wonder what Apple was thinking!" With Microsoft's new video formats coming out, it seems like now would be a good time for Apple to try to gain market share instead of doing stupid stuff like this.

A 1499$US G3 has been delivered by Apple. This deal is for schools only, a clear sign that Apple is desperately trying to hold on to its market share in that key area. The price is all inclusive for all parts needed to run the machine-yes, even the monitor.

Apple has publicly stated that there is no deadline on Steve Jobs' position within the company. The Board has made it clear that they hope that Jobs will stay at Apple for "a long time", a clear statement of support.

Apple is reportedly going to ask Steve Jobs, whether or not he plans on staying at Apple in the board meeting on Tuesday. Jobs role has been relatively undefined since his return to the company, and the board is looking to naildown exactly what his role will be at the company. It is rumored that if he stays on, the board will give him an 8% stake in Apple, a not unconsiderable amount of money.

William Lachance wrote in to tell us that John Carmack's .plan file has updated with interesting stuff about Rhapsody. finger johnc@idsoftware.com for the whole scoop. James M. sent in this related link to blue's news where Carmack is quoted as saying that as part of the MS/SGI deal, MS owns OpenGL, so it is unlikely that there will be rhapsody (or Linux or Be) OpenGL.

We've mentioned the death of Newton before but Frank Wojcik sent us not one, not two, but three articles about the little PDA that couldn't. But Eric Harlow wrote in with a cool idea: why not have apple release all the specs and code. GPL it. Open it totally up. Geeks would scoop up the leftover newtons and maybe code cool stuff for it. Apple can't afford to maintain newton- why not let the world take a stab at it- there was a ton of cool technology in those little boxes, it would be nice to take advantage of it.

Jason Caron wrote in to plug Issue 5 of RhapsodyOS Report. It's sort of a general summary of all things Rhapsody.

Bart Schuller wrote in to tell us that Apple has officially announced that it is discontinuing Newton OS. Nice to know that Steve is making the hard choices over there- Newton is a good product, but not competitive. Apple needs to trim fat and as cool as the newton is, it is fat. Check out what apple has to say about it.

Mac OS Rumors is running an article now that speaks about how Linux and Rhapsody may actually merge together in some future version of the OS. The first person to send this in was Iestyn Lewis. Several others expressed skepticism over this and I have to agree. Anyway, read it and make your own call.

Pat St. Jean wrote in with this link where you can read about the Rhapsody/Server thing. Apparently the whole mess was the result of a reporter not checking is facts. Note to self:Be more careful or look real dumb. Apple isn't aiming for servers, but instead for Power Users.

Jason Caron wrote in to tell us that RhapsodyOS.com has started The Netscape for Rhapsody Project which has volunteers, and members of the Netscape for Unix team joining together to port Netscape to Apple's OS. Apple's new server OS. Have they Thought Differently about that yet?