The FUD Factor

You've heard it before: FUD (Fear, Uncertainty, Doubt). Perhaps more than anything else, these three things are what drive our decision-making process. Whether you're buying a car, a computer, a house, or deciding when and where to go for a vacation, and how to get there (should I drive, fly, take a train, a cruise?). Whatever it is, FUD, or lack of, will ultimately determine what you do. It was the same for me when I got myself into writing this column. Lots of fear, uncertainty and doubt. Not about my writing skills or knowledge of the subject, but whether it would be good enough for people (the public!) to read. With the exception of the delusional, we all suffer from FUD.

But we can overcome FUD with logic and practice. That's what I did. After about five minutes worth of thought, I decided that I know what I'm talking about and I'm not going to sit idly and let FUD or the Microsoft Marketing Xtras determine the fate of the Macintosh. Instead of letting people be dazzled by pointless commercials and PR nonsense, I'm going to do my part and fight back with facts, a commodity that is sorely lacking at Microsoft, among Windows users and the PC press.

At this point you're probably wondering who I am and what my qualifications are to write this column. That's a fair question. The short version, not in alphabetical order, is: I'm a graphic designer (a very good one), a 'fine-art' photographer, a Macintosh Consultant and a frequent beta tester of software. I live in Minnesota, where it is believed by some that we have only two seasons: Winter and Road Construction, and that our state bird is the Mosquito. I've been using the Macintosh since the first day in 1984 that they were available, and I still have the first Mac model ever built. Since then I've used every Mac that has ever been sold, along with many different types of software. In 1989 I began using the NeXTSTEP operating system and was immediately attracted to it, not only for the cool features it offered over the Mac, but the way it allowed you to control them.

Since Apple decided to buy NeXT Software from Steve Jobs and make their OS the underlying core of the forthcoming Rhapsody OS, that's what I'm going to be writing about here. I'm going to try to explain Rhapsody and it's features from the perspective of the average user, so you can see how it will affect you if you decide to buy it. I'm also going to look at and review some currently available software for NeXT systems that may or will be ported to Rhapsody.

I don't pretend to have all the answers or know everything about NeXTSTEP/OpenStep or even Rhapsody. The only people who could be considered all-knowing in that respect would be the Apple/NeXT engineering team. But what I don't know, I will certainly try to find out, rather than take a wild guess or speculate about. Finally, no matter what I do, this column won't be helpful without your feedback, in the form of ideas, corrections, and constructive criticism.