Windows-based Tuning Program

[Glenn Grafton]

Dave Stocker wrote:

snip
>There are now very few PCs, even laptops, that do not come with full
>multimedia accoutrements. [Multimedia means sound, certain video
>requirements, and usually a CD-ROM drive.] Dean has had more experience, I
>gather, programming Macs, and so chose them for the platform for some rather
>amazing whiz-bangs.
>
>Had I spoken with him before he began, I would have pleaded with him to do it
>IBM compatible. A harder job because of fluctuating standards, but I ain't
>gonna buy a Mac. And Apple's share of the market has dropped below 8%, last I
>heard.
snip

It's true that Wintel machines have a larger market share. If market share
were everything there would be no market for BMW, Saab, Mercedes, etc. that
have very low market share compared to Ford & Chevrolet.

Most high end Pre-press work is done on Macs and most recording studios use
Macs for sequencing. The reason for this is because the Macs excel in
multi-media. This was the case even when Macs were priced higher than
Wintel machines. Currently you can get a Mac of compareable processor power
for the same or less than a Pentiuim based computer from Compac, Gateway,
etc.

I think Dean Reyburn I think felt that the Mac offered the best platform
for his program due to the capabilites of the Mac. I run Cybertuner on a
lowly Performer LC575 with a 33mhz 68030 microprocessor and it works great.
I recently picked up a used PowerPC based Powerbook 2300 with 32 megs of
RAM and a 1.2 gig hard drive for $1600. This has a built in mic, needs no
sound card and is smaller than my Daytimer.

A recent editorial on KYW newsradio puts it well I think.
By KYW's Rich Levin

"It's that time of the year when parents everywhere are thinking about
giving that special someone a computer for the holidays. Many first-time
computer buyers have a natural attraction to the Apple Macintosh, but are
afraid a commitment to the Mac will leave them out in the cold.

Some facts: Over 60% of Internet Web sites are created and run on a
Macintosh. More K-12 schools, colleges, universities, and scientific
institutions use Macs than any other platform. And nearly every magazine,
advertisement, and multimedia title is created on a Macintosh. Even
Microsoft uses Macs for some of their publishing and multimedia content.

This is not to say that a Windows PC is a bad thing -- it's not -- but Macs
remain the easiest, most reliable, most productive computers available
today. You've heard the complaints from Windows users who can't get their
PCs to work right. When's the last time you heard a Mac user complain?
Think about that before you buy."

Another interesting blurb I picked up on a mailing list that clarifies the
issue of the differences between ease of use that still exist between the
Mac vs. Windows 95. (The Phaser IIPX is a color laser printer from
Techtronics.)

"Here is an actual email message from a mixed Mac/PC shop (a major
software developer) listing the steps needed to use a new color printer.
Save it for the next time someone says Windows is "just like a Mac!"
Names have been changed to protect the guilty. Apply liberally to the
infested area of your organization. :)"

xxxxxxxxx

From: xxxxxx xxxxxx
Subject: Phaser on line
To: xxxxxxxxxx

The Phaser II PX is now on line and accessible from both the MAC and the
PC. The Drivers are in Y:\AXXXX\DRIVER\PHASER. To use the printer do the
following.

MAC System 7

1. Just select the printer in the Chooser and print.

Windows

1. Replace the Capture command for LPT3 in you startnet.bat file with the
following. Capture l=3 q=PHASER_II s=VCSLIB a nob NT
2. Reboot you computer
3. Run startnet
4. Start windows
5. Double click on the Control Panel icon
6. Double click on the Printers icon in the Control Panel dialog box
7. Click on the Add Printers button.
8. Select the Apple LaserWriter II NT/NTX PostScript Printer
9. Double Click Install
10. When the use current or new driver prompt comes up Click on Current
11. Click the Configure button
12. Select LPT3: for the printer port
13. Click on the Setup button
14. Click on the Add Printers button
15. Type in the path Y:\ALDUS\DRIVERS\PHASER\WINDOWS in the path prompt.
16. Select Tektronix Phaser II PX printer
17. Click on the Add button to add the printer
18. Click the Done button
19. Click OK in the add printers dialog box
20. Click OK in the configure dialog box
21. Click Active in the Printers dialog box
22. Click OK in the printers dialog box

If you have any questions just drop me a note or go by my office.

Thanks

xxxxxxxxx

We all have our preferences and tend to stay with what we initially feel
comfortable with. I've been a Mac user for years but have recently added
Windows 95 to my Mac PowerPC with SoftWindows to be able to demo some
Windows music programs in our store.

I applaud Robert Scotts efforts to develop a Windows based tuning program
and I'm sure there's a good market for it and competition is good.

Glenn Grafton
Grafton Piano & Organ Co.