APPLE'S FAITHFUL CORPS : FIRM'S WOES DON'T CLOUD MACFAIR.Byline: Dawn Yoshitake Daily News Staff Writer Apple Computer Inc. may have lost millions of dollars but Macintosh devotees haven't lost faith. An estimated 5,000 Mac users descended Friday on Burbank for MacFair LA 96 to schmooze and shop for their prized computers. ``Macs will definitely be here next year. They're superior in graphics and other uses,'' said Anita Epler, senior associate editor for Macworld magazine and a panelist on the future of the Macintosh. The company's outlook has been a hot topic following its unexpected $700 million second-quarter loss, 1,300 layoffs and questions about its long-term viability. But there's also been encouraging news, Mac users note. IBM (International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY, www.ibm.com) The world's largest computer company. IBM's product lines include the S/390 mainframes (zSeries), AS/400 midrange business systems (iSeries), RS/6000 workstations and servers (pSeries), Intel-based servers (xSeries) Corp. and Motorola Inc. have agreed to make computers using the Mac's operating system operating system (OS) Software that controls the operation of a computer, directs the input and output of data, keeps track of files, and controls the processing of computer programs. . And Friday there were reports of a corporate image make-over from Italian clothier Benetton Group Benetton Group S.p.A. (NYSE: BNG) is a global clothing brand, based in Treviso, Italy. The name comes from four members of the Benetton family who founded the company in 1965. , known for its controversial marketing campaigns. Customers and software developers remain optimistic op·ti·mist n. 1. One who usually expects a favorable outcome. 2. A believer in philosophical optimism. op Mac will survive. ``I'm a little bit concerned, but I expected this because we're in a transition period,'' said Ron Holmes Ronald Holmes (born August 26, 1963 in Fort Benning, Georgia) is a former professional American football defensive end who played 8 seasons for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Denver Broncos in the National Football League. He started in Super Bowl XXIV. , an Echo Park resident. ``I think the clones will open things up for Macs and may result in lower prices because of competition.'' Jeffrey Ichikawa, a Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. resident, said he hopes the cloning of Macs will open up consumers' options, such as buying a Mac with ``this drive, or that, or more RAM but no CD-ROM CD-ROM: see compact disc. CD-ROM in full compact disc read-only memory Type of computer storage medium that is read optically (e.g., by a laser). .'' Software developers are also confident the demand for Macs will not dim. ``There's still so many people out there with Macintoshes that I'm not concerned we're going to go belly-up if Apple does,'' said John Manahan, vice president in the Reseda-based Western regional office for E-Magine Co. E-magine's target market is photographic artists and educators for its Mac-based ProView, which combines video, photographs, graphics and text into a digital portfolio. Although there are an estimated 50 million Mac users worldwide, only 10 percent of new computers sold globally are Macs. Jim Cadenhead, Southern California Southern California, also colloquially known as SoCal, is the southern portion of the U.S. state of California. Centered on the cities of Los Angeles and San Diego, Southern California is home to nearly 24 million people and is the nation's second most populated region, account manager for Claris Corp., said 80 percent of the company's software applications are for Macs, and the remainder for PCs using Windows. Cadenhead expects the ratio to reach a 50-50 split in the coming years, but noted Claris' Mac software sales will continue to grow with its Windows software sales. MacFair runs through Sunday at the Burbank Hilton Hotel & Convention Center. CAPTION(S): Photo Photo: (color) Erin Wormley, right, shows Jeff Bunnell herfirm's software during MacFair LA 96 at the Burbank Convention Center. Gus Ruelas/Daily News |
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