| It used to be that the choice between a Mac and a | | | | automatically updated search templates to help users |
| PC was pretty clear. If you wanted to go for the | | | | manger their hard drives much more efficiently. The |
| more expensive, easier to use, and better graphics | | | | biggest improvement is to be able to network |
| and sound, you went to buy a Macintosh, for the | | | | systems from multiple vendors running multiple |
| cheaper price, it was the PC. Now it is a much | | | | operating systems. Like Windows 95, Copland will also |
| different show. With the release of Windows 95 and | | | | have a single in-box for fax, e-mail, and other |
| the dynamics of the hardware market have changed | | | | communications. The disadvantage of Copland is it |
| the equation. | | | | can only be used on Power Macintoshes. |
| On the other hand, Apple has made great price | | | | I would personally go for a PC with Windows 95. I |
| reductions on many of their computers last October. | | | | choose it because of the many programs that can |
| You can now buy a reasonably equipped Power | | | | be used on PC's. Whenever I walk into a computer |
| Macintosh at about the same price as a PC that has | | | | store, such as Electronics Boutique, half of the store |
| about the same things. This makes the competition | | | | is taken up by programs that can be used on an IBM |
| much harder. | | | | compatible PC. There is only one little shelf for things |
| Windows 3.x have been great improvements over | | | | that run on Macs. It seems that the more people use |
| the earlier versions of Windows, and of course over | | | | PC's. I have met very few people with a Macintosh. I |
| DOS, but it still didn't compete against the ease of | | | | can bring many things from my computers to theirs |
| use on a Mac. The Windows 95 interface is much | | | | and the other way around without worrying, "What if |
| better than Windows 3.x. It borrows some from the | | | | I need to find this for a Mac?" |
| Macintosh interface and has improved on it. | | | | Schools should use Windows95 PC's because of the |
| Some improvements are the ability to work with | | | | many more educational programs available for PC's. |
| folder icons that represent directories and | | | | Since of the making of Windows 95 many companies |
| subdirectories in DOS. Windows 95, unlike the Mac, | | | | now make programs for the PC. It may be a long |
| logically groups data and resources. A Taskbar menu | | | | time, if ever, that they will decide to make it for a |
| lets you call up and switch between any software | | | | Mac. Plus since of the many people with IBM PC's at |
| application at any time. Thus feature is better than | | | | home, people can bring their work to and from |
| the Mac's because its use is more obvious. It clearly | | | | school. If everyone had the same kind of computer |
| shows what is running and allows you to switch | | | | on a network, students could go into the computers |
| programs with a single click of the mouse. Control | | | | at schools all over the world to use programs there. |
| panels have been added so you can configure your | | | | So since now that the quality of computers are equal |
| hardware. There is easy access to frequently used | | | | it is very hard to make your decision. For those that |
| files. You can make very long file names on Windows | | | | are not computer literate, the best thing to do is to |
| 95 instead of short and strange names that leave | | | | go for the Mac because of the easiness involved in |
| you wondering about, such as on Windows 3.x I | | | | using one. This means you get less choice of |
| could not name a folder This is stuff for school it | | | | programs in a store, and if you go online, many |
| must be a lot shorter. The Help system helps you | | | | people will be using something different from you so |
| implement its suggestions. A multilevel Undo | | | | you have no idea what they are talking about. If you |
| command for all file operations safeguards your | | | | know how a computer is basically used, a Windows |
| work, something Macintosh does not have. | | | | 95 PC will be no problem. It doesn't take that long to |
| Something that Windows 95 has, similar to the | | | | learn. You will have a bigger choice of programs and |
| Macintosh Alias function, is shortcut icons. It calls up a | | | | may be able to do more things with other people |
| program very easily, instead of searching through | | | | that have a computer. It comes down to this choice. |
| your hard drive. The Windows 95 shortcuts go | | | | Most of the choosing will go to schools because of |
| beyond the Mac's, they can refer to data inside | | | | the many using Macintosh computers, which most of |
| documents as well as to files and folders, and can | | | | Apple's money comes from. It is only recently |
| also call up information on a local area network server | | | | companies that made software for PC's that got |
| or Internet site. Windows 95's plug and play system | | | | interested in making programs for educational |
| allows the operating system to read what's on your | | | | purposes. |
| machine and automatically configure your new | | | | So if you are deciding a computer. I leave you to |
| software that you need to install, however, this only | | | | decide this. Windows 95 or Macintosh, the choice is |
| works if the added hardware is designed to support | | | | yours. |
| it, and it will for a majority of hardware. | | | | I feel that this is the best journal entry I have ever |
| All these things are major improvements, but | | | | written. It informs the reader a great deal about the |
| hardware and CONFIG.SYS settings left over from | | | | subject and it helps you make a decision that is very |
| earlier programs can conflict with the new system, | | | | important if you decide to buy a computer for work |
| causing your hard drive to crash. This is something all | | | | or home use. It is very helpful because it can |
| users of Windows 95 will dread. Even though | | | | educate people in the world that are not computer |
| Microsoft has made many wonderful changes to | | | | literate in a world that is being taken over by |
| Windows, Apple is working on developing a new | | | | computers. Things such as the internet are used by |
| operation system, called Copland. It may beat many | | | | many people, and it would certainly help if you |
| of the Windows 95 improvements. Apple is still | | | | needed to know what kind to buy so your would be |
| deciding on what new things to add when the | | | | compatible with someone else's. This entry tells that I |
| system will start shipping later in the year. Some new | | | | am one that is around computers a lot and have an |
| things may be a customizable user interface and | | | | interest in them. |
| features such as drawers, built-in indexing and | | | | |