User group Newsletter Editors: Utilize this content in your newsletter -- PLEASE ... reference The User Group Network _ / _ UG Network Channel _ / _ NEWS_/ _ Info Manager The Info Manager is looking for your rumors and tidbits... give him a post! ...or subscribe... see subscription notes below 1101.28: ScanSoft; Apple Profits; PowerMac for $125; Vintage Mac info; GeoWorks; MacAlive; Adobe on Linux; Mac Help List; Neptune sinks; Free Tomb Raider Gold Market Share **** ScanSoft MacWeek reported on 1/19, that ScanSoft Inc., which recently gave a home to the ex-MetaCreations apps PhotoSoap2, SuperGoo and PhotoFactory, announced that it would acquire Caere Corp., maker of OCR software OmniPage Pro and others. The transaction is reportedly worth more than $140 million. Hopefully that means the OmniPage Pro for the Mac will be updated finally. **** Apple profits Undoubtedly by now you have heard that Apple reported a net profit of $183 million, or $1.03 per diluted share for its first quarter of Fiscal 2000. This was an increase of $31 million from last year. It is interesting that they reported sales growth that was 2.5 times higher than the industry average. Which obviously means market share growth. Apple's cash pile also grew to $3.6 billion in cash and short-term investments. Also mentioned, was that the company paid $90 Million in executive bonuses, mostly to its $1 a year iCEO. In the form of stock options on ten million shares of Apple stock (at $87.19/share) and a Gulfstream V airplane. (Worth every penny). **** PowerMac @ $125 Looking to move up to a PowerMac? How about a 6100/60 model with 24MB RAM, a 250MB HD, and some free software. Just checkout http://homepage.mac.com/firewall/ While I have never dealt with these people, it would be hard to go wrong at $125. You might ask about the price with additional RAM. At 24 Megs, it is coming with 2 eight Meg SIMMs and you have to replace them in pairs to get more. The 6100 will go up to 72 Megs. Note: one of our user group members is leaving his 6100 at the meeting site so he won't have to carry it in ONCE a month. **** Old Mac info Got a IIci or an LC that you would like more information on? Then here is the web site for you: Resources for Specific Apple Computers at Pacific Macs **** GeoWorks Okay, everyone raise their hands that remember GeoWorks and GEOS. Come on, I ain't the only old fogey around. GeoWorks is the company that tried unsuccessfully to compete against Windows on PCs. In fact it was used on AOL for PCs, before Windows was around and was even on Apple ][s for awhile. Well, when that didn't pan out, they switched their marketing focus to other devices that use graphical interfaces. (Primarily doing server business today). In 1994, they patented a process that developed an interface for wireless devices. A similar process was developed for WAP, the interface for wireless phones transferring data. GeoWorks stands to gain millions over the next several years as the result of their patent and they don't have to expend any additional work. Of course, they might have to hire a few lawyers. See the complete story. **** MacAlive! MacAlive is offering user group prices for MacTuner (receive Internet audio), WeatherTracker (weather reports) and MacHeadlines Pro (news reports). I belive these are all done as scrolling banners across your screen. Sound perfect for those lucky enough to have ADSL or Cable modem connections. Regular prices are $22.95, $24.95 and $19.95. The user group pricing is: $16.00, $17.50 and $14.00. To find out more and to order your product just visit MacAlive.com **** Adobe Adobe has announced that its desktop publishing software, FrameMaker is now available for Linux. You would have thought they would have ported one of their more popular programs, such as PageMaker or even their new InDesign first. FrameMaker, which is designed to handle long documents seems like a strange choice. But then they know more about their business than the Info Manager. **** Mac Help List The Announce Mail List provided the following news: A new tech list called "Apple Free Tech." Here's the info: Community email addresses: ___ Post message: 1AppleFreeTech@onelist.com ___ Subscribe: 1AppleFreeTech-subscribe@onelist.com ___ Shortcut URL to this page: ___ http://www.onelist.com/community/1AppleFreeTech It is sponsored by The Tri-State MUG Team of PA, NJ and DE and Bux-Mont MUG. Haven't tried it myself, but being user group sponsored, it is probably pretty good. **** Neptune Microsoft has now announced that the consumer version of Windows 2000 code named Neptune has been canceled. According to The Register, Windows 98 won't be replaced but instead augmented with technologies code-named "Millennium" and renamed Windows 98 Third Edition. They are aiming a new version for 2001 to be aimed at both Consumer and Business. **** Free Tomb Raider Gold Aspyr Media and Eidos Interactive on 1/21 released Tomb Raider II Gold (four expansion levels for Tomb Raider II), as a free download for Tomb Raider II owners (24.3MB). It does require the full version of Tomb Raider II, which can be found for $19.95. **** Quote of the Week: "Computers in the future may weigh no more than 1.5 tons." --Popular Mechanics, forecasting the relentless march of science, 1949 **** 4th Qtr Market Share - IDC US ................. World Dell: 16.8 ____ Compaq: 13.7 Compaq: 16.1 ____ Dell: 10.5 HP: 10.2 ____ IBM: 8.2 Gateway: 9.2 ____ HP: 6.7 IBM: 5.5 ____ NEC: 5.3 Apple: 5.0 ____ Apple: 4.2 Gateway ... 4.1 Don't forget Any suggestions for topics and reports of rumors are always welcome. Please me know at the address below. Thanks ... the Info Manager invites you to use all or part of his column in your user group newsletter. Please let him know at rumormangr@aol.com and if possible send an electronic copy for the old scrapbook. pau Subscribe to Rumors@lists.user-groups.net DIGEST VERSION: rumors-digest@lists.user-groups.net (recommended) rumors-on@lists.user-groups.net for more information go to: http://www.user-groups.net/ugcommunity/subscribe.html The Info Manager is a veteran of the UGN (AOL User Groups Forum) and User Group Network. He's been a supporter and volunteer on many, many UGNet and User Group Academy projects. As a long time user group member, he's served as volunteer from Honolulu to Boston and many points in between. Currently working with the Apple Corp of Dallas, the Dallas Mac Pack, Cowtown MUG of Ft. Worth and TUMS (the Tulsa Users of Macintosh Society) doing newsletter articles and the monthly CD-ROM Update. UG Network Channel _ / _ NEWS _ / _ UG Library _ / _ UG Bookshelf To Advertise or become a sponsor -- Contact Jennifer -- Press Releases for publication -- should be directed to: UGNN News Desk at: UGNN News Desk. Article Reprints -- User Group Network Affiliates may reprint articles as long as full credit is given. Other Non-profit or non-commercial publications should contact us. The UGNN cannot guarantee accuracy or timeliness of articles. Many have been forwarded to us by field correspondents, or press release services. All care is taken to assure the accuracy of URLs and email addresses. Some items may be 30 to 60 days old. 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