You might consider shrinking the graphics on this one down a bit for those of us that do not have a 8 foot wide computer screen... or perhaps things just look much much smaller when you are nearing the end.

Crap. It looks good on my end. Pictures resize to the size of the window and everything...

Anyone else seeing grossly over-sized images?

See, Adam has succumbed to the elite ranks of Mac users who think it's everyone else's problem when their designs don't load properly on PCs.

As long as you recognize that we are elite.

I think its cute that Macs are still around. Anyone know if buying a MAC can be written off on your income tax as a charitable donation?

Oh, don't get me wrong, Macs are superior, it's just that reality dictates that some of us must use PCs some of the time (at least). It's analagous to the fact that your local newspaper is probably written at about a fifth grade reading level. Discuss.

Well, yeah, it's indirectly tied to using a Mac versus a PC, but it's more directly a problem of different Web Browsers. The EC looks crappy even on my Mac if I fire it up in IE...

That being said, let's not get all bitter-grapey because we're stuck using whatever PC. And let's not make fun of Macs (judging from the people I know to comment here often, you're getting in *WAY* over your head, b) until you see OS X in action.

boy oh boy, quite a brush fire there. The sort of thinking present here is the same sort of thinking that got a certain Austrian dictator into some trouble about 60 years ago. So take it easy... Hitler. It all seems to be working well now, Danka

Not really sure how web site appearance between various web browsers equates to 20th century genocidal fascist madmen, but go ahead and run with it, Wash. Did Adolf have problems with images embedded in tables as well?

[It's Danke, not Danka.]

Bitte Schoen.

The images looked great on my pc guys...

It's funny Adam, I was out sick the last two days coughing my head off.

Ahhh, spring...sigh...cough..cough...

People still use IE?

While my comment was no doubt offensive to the dedicated, minute group of computer users out there who actually use MACs, it pales in comparison to the comment left by WASH! Dear God man, in one stroke you managed to offend people of every nationality, age, religion, and computer orientation! The only demographic you may actually have complimented are the neo-nazi's who use MACs, who, we can only hope, can be counted on a single hand...

I, for one, think you owe De La Steve an apology...what say you all? I say, the EC should not stand for this!

I think I can say, on Wash's behalf, that a certain amount of sarcasm was intended. I see that the elite are still a thin-skinned bunch.

I will have to broaden the scope of my "shotgun blast o' Hatred" next time. Thanks for the heads up b. I hate when anyone feels left out. It ain't easy being completely ignorant and at the same time pervasively malevolent. I am still trying to figure out what IE is so I can slander it, back to the lab. Mwahahahahaha!

what the hell are you guys talking about, I'm lost...

Ugh, Newbies. (insert rolling of eyes here).

I think b was just trying to get people to ignore the fact that this all started because he denigrated Mac users.;;

Wrong Sir...I was insulting Apple as a company. Despite their reputation of offering a better personal computer, of having a superior sense of style, cutting edge case designs, and better commercials, they have never offered any real competition to the PC (i.e., IBM clone). Take for example the fact that last year, their share of the global computer market was 2-3% according to Forbes Magazine (yes I used google). Pitiful, just pitiful. And mind you, last year was not a fluke year.

Sure, Apple made a good move with iTunes, selling songs for $0.99. However, they have just been undercut by Walmart, who is selling songs for $0.88. With a long history of rolling over to the competition, it is only a matter of time for that business to tank.

And hey, I am no fan of Microsoft either. Like everyone else, I curse them on a daily basis. It is a shame that hardware which generally costs so little comes loaded with Windows crapola. However, like everyone else, I live with Microsofts consistent imperfections, get my work done, and move on with my life....

Going back to flyggrl's analogy, which I assume implies that the general population is stupid, the fact that the majority of the world uses PCs loaded with Microcrap is a sign of frugality, not stupidity. Frugal not only cost-wise (although that is more than enough of a reason), but also from a compatibility point of view.

So anyway, this comment exchange proved that *some* MAC users are too defensive, particularly concerning MAC performance. I may not be completely innocent, since I anticipated with glee this kind of outrage, but I stand by my comment.

Apple may have a much smaller share of the global market (I have not looked at the statistics myself), but they also use something called target marketing. If you looked at their market share in say, the publishing and design industries, I'm sure you'd find the market share is closer to 90%.

And on the frugality question, yes, there is some validity there, but the most frugal hammer in the world won't do you any good if what you really need is a screwdriver. Sometimes, though, when using anything Microsoft, I feel as if I am trying to pound a nail into the wall with a cheap plastic screwdriver...

And yes, most people in the world are stupid.

Ferrari, despite a reputation for offering a better car, having a superior sense of style, cutting edge performance and better show rooms, have never really offered any competition to the Ford Taurus.

Therefore, using b's logic. Ferrari is failing as a car company.

To finish beating this dead horse,

Bad analogy De La Steve. A measure of how well a company is doing is based on the market they are targeting. A proper analogy would be between Ferrari and Porche.

Unlike your analogy, PCs and MACs have traditionally competed for the same market, i.e., the average computer user. For truly high performance computing, a user turns to Risc, or Unix, or whatever, which is not unlike the gap between the Taurus and Ferrari.

In the average computer user market, 90% of the world computers use Windows. Staggering. After so many years, less than 10% (because, lets face it, there are other OS's out there) of the worlds computers use MAC OS???

Not necessarily a measure of performance, nor quality, but the bottom line in business. Hence, Apple has routinely failed in their mission to convert the target market to their technology, and is therefore a failing company. I think the biggest slap in the face was when Bill Gates personally invested 150 million in Apple back in 1997. Couldn't Apple find $150 million someplace else??

Yes, great, Apple dominates in a few niche markets. And, as demonstrated here, they have a nearly religious following , comprised presumably of people using PCs to drive nails. But lets face facts, Apple does not seem to be gaining ground like the Dells of the world, or the HPQs. Do Apple a favor, buy a few more of their computers, keep them alive long enough for them to find a way to actually become successful. The world may benefit from emerging from the iron grip of Microsoft.

For me, this pile of horse guts is too yucky to look at. Keep using MACs, or don't, whatever.

Actually, I think De La's analogy is rather spot-on as an illustration of where b's argument goes awry.

I've yet to see where in the Apple mission statement is says "to dominate over Microsoft in the global computer market." I'm not sure which marketing textbook b gets his financial info from, but last time I checked things like profit margin and PE ratio were standard measures of a company's success, not global market dominance. I'm no marketing whiz either - we'd have to tap flygrrl's marketing course knowledge for more details on that.

And we should be cautious comaring comanies like Dell or Hewlett-Packard (which do not offer their own OS) or Microsoft (which does not build their own computers) to Apple (which, off the top of my head, anyway, is the only company around that sells both their own computer and operating system).

While we're talking about uninformed opinions of what Apple's marketing strategies and target market are, here's mine. I don't think Apple is going after the "average computer user." If you want a computer to read email, browse the internet and run TurboTax once a year, great! go buy a Dell pre-loaded with Windows.

I think b has a good point about Apple's troubles back in the day. But, they lay low for a while, and have come back with really solid products, process, and marketing. Let's just hope they keep the momentum and don't make the same mistakes. I'm with Adam on the issue of profit (well, it needs to be sustainable) and other indicators of the "success" of a company being just as important as global market dominance. It all depends on the company's strategy. I also think that with technology changing so rapidly, it is harder for behemoth companies to keep tabs on all that. Unless they are effectively squelching innovation (or simply co-opting it into inferior versions) as Microsoft has been accused of doing.

And there is still the somewhat utopian ideal, markets aside, of excellence. By trying to be all things to all people, you assure nothing more than mediocrity. McDonald's has a pretty damn large hunk of global market share for ready-to-eat food, however, I would not argue that it is quality cuisine in any sense of the word. That may be nearer the Ferrari argument again, but... I think there is something in all of us that demands quality and functionality, and I find it really sad that we are constantly asked to settle.

Horse dead now. Promise.

I will use a real shotgun if it is not. I just figured out what BLOG stands for, Big Loud Opinions Gathered or is it Bellowing Louts Openly Grappling, could also be Bantering Limits Obviously Growing, or even Backhanded Largess Oppressively Given... damn I guess I dont have it figured out but I think I get the gist of the whole thing now.

Man Wash, save your bullets for those running zombies...and pick off that digi-monkey while you are at it....

My brain hurts.

i guess anything can devolve into a mac vs. pc rant given long enough. in this case, it took 3 comments!

welcome to the interweb!

Considering we hit Godwin's law after 9 posts, this thread should have long since died.

Actually, it was the 8th post, but let's not split hairs...

Godwin's Law  [Usenet] "As a Usenet discussion grows longer, the probability of a comparison involving Nazis or Hitler approaches one." There is a tradition in many groups that, once this occurs, that thread is over, and whoever mentioned the Nazis has automatically lost whatever argument was in progress. Godwin's Law thus practically guarantees the existence of an upper bound on thread length in those groups. However there is also a widely- recognized codicil that any intentional triggering of Godwin's Law in order to invoke its thread-ending effects will be unsuccessful.

Eating Grape-nuts before the milk soaks in is like chewing pebbles

ah Wash, you have to coat the grapenuts with honey first. Then pour on the milk. It makes the pebbles sweet!

Grape Nuts ARE pebbles.

Here I have proof: I got this from the Kraft foods website:

Grape-Nuts

One of the first ready-to-eat cereal products ever made available to the public, Grape-Nuts was first introduced in 1897. Made of pebbles and very small rocks, Grape-Nuts was so named because its inventor, Charles William Post, said that grape sugar was formed during the digging process and described the cereal as having a Earthy flavor. Post was a pioneer in introducing and making popular pebbles into cereal, a food product that today has become a standard breakfast staple.

If I had defended OJ he would be living in Ferman's house right now. Look at the silly monkey!

wha?