Could you possible give me all(!) the details on how I can hook my two Macs to my cable modem:

The modem sits with the iMac (running 10.2.8). One floor up, about 60 feet away, sits a Performa 6290 (running 9.1). I think I need an Ethernet card for the Performa, because the communication slot seems to hold the internal modem. Should I go wireless or string a 10/100 cable? Do I need a hub/router? Any additional software? My service is through EarthLink; any considerations on that end? The Performa is used by my mother mainly for e-mailing and a few sites. I’m on the Web a lot with my iMac. Technically, I’m an amateur when it comes to the innards and hardware in general, but I know how to get into the Performa to change out a card.

—Brigitte Starkey

Thanks for the great article.

I’ve been using Tinderbox for a couple of years now. I am alternately impressed and annoyed by it. As you say, it is very powerful, but I always feel that I am just not quite grasping its full range or potential. That is totally frustrating.

You compare it to FileMaker and Photoshop in its complexity and capability. The only reason why I am proficient with either of those programs is because I’ve spent lots of time pouring through third party manuals and how-tos. I typically need to have training presented multiple times and multiple ways before I get it. I’m not getting Tinderbox.

What I would love to see is an extended tutorial, something like “Learn Tinderbox in 24 Hours.” The forums discussions are not methodical or thorough enough and aren’t a substitute for a good training manual or two.

—Michael McKee

I used to work as an academic, teaching literature, and I used Tinderbox to track everything I did and as a teaching and presentation tool. It gave me an edge and helped keep me find new approaches to pedagogy and learning. Now I work as a journalist. I track article pitches, commissions, research, articles, contacts, and write full time in Tinderbox. Again, it’s adapted perfectly to my work because I’ve embraced the metaphor of Tinderbox.

At no point have I expected Eastgate to tell me what to do with the application. I’ve simply adapted it to the kind of work I do. I think that’s the way you have to approach Tinderbox. You jump on board, keep using it, thinking (and thinking in public through blogging is a great way of learning more about Tinderbox) and reacting. At times the program is difficult. The user interface is initially very low-fi, but using Tinderbox has led me to clear the clutter away from a lot of applications I use. It’s not superficially snazzy: it doesn’t look like a super “sexy” application. But like a tough novel, once you scratch below the surface there’s incredible depth. It’s a robust, powerhorse.

I could go on about how to use Tinderbox but I’d be talking about how I use it. You have to discover what it can do for you. And like learning to play a musical instrument, it’s hard work. But, boy, the rewards are great.

In short, I couldn’t do what I do so effectively without the daily support and working environment Tinderbox provides.

—Jon Buscall

Outlining is a way of minimizing the distractions inherent in text processing when setting out and manipulating the structure of text. This gives rise to two standards of quality: elegance in eliminating distractions and power in manipulating text. Although these factors will have importance for all users, users seem to diverge in their emphasis. The surprise in comparing outliners on Windows and the Mac is that the Macintosh outliners are more powerful than what’s available on Windows, while there are Windows outliners more nimble and elegant than anything the Mac has.

If Tinderbox is the best example of a Macintosh power outliner, BrainStorm is the best example of a super-elegant Windows approach. In answer to Ted’s challenge, BrainStorm has the following ergonomic features that appear absent from any outliner on the Macintosh.

Eliminates all headers but a parent and its children, for focused work on the order and coherence.

Preserves the order of the user’s selection of headers in mark and gather operations. (Not currently supported on the Macintosh, but the pre-OS X outliner MindWrite had it.)

—Stephen R. Diamond

I have just purchased a Power Mac G4. My previous computer was also a G4, but Mac OS 9 was becoming obsolete. My new G4 has both 9 and X. This is the first time that I have seen your newsletter, and I think it is excellent. I can understand and even follow the instructions. This might not sound like a big deal, but I am sure there are many who throw up their hands in frustration or hit Delete because it is too “techy.” Thanks.

—Janice Bowley

Thanks a lot! ATPM is a great plus for anyone into Macs/Apple stuff.

—David Todd

Wow, I think it was back in 94 or so that I used to get ATPM as a DOCMaker file with MacUser (or Macworld) when I was working for desktop magazine back in Oz. I used to love it but thought it was long gone.

Great to see it’s still around—and still with the good old ugly-as-hell logo!

—matthk