This issue is on the small side and I would like to point the finger of blame directly at the folks at Delta Tao Software. They asked if I would like to take a look at their games, Spaceward Ho! and Strategic Conquest, and of course I agreed, not being stupid. Unfortunately, Spaceward Ho! is highly addictive, and I can't wait until a friend comes to stay for a few days so we can play it over the network. I didn't spend too much time playing, really, I think. Oh, that's right, I spent all that time last week finishing off our comparison of DiskDoubler and SuperDisk. Now I remember. :-) Anyway, if you want to read more about Spaceward Ho!, Ken Hancock wrote an excellent review of it in TidBITS-056. I'd encourage you to check out the review and then the game if you're the megalomaniacal sort who likes conquering the universe. One note, since Delta Tao is a small company many dealers and distributors overlook its products, which can make them rather hard to find. If you can't find Spaceward Ho! or Strategic Conquest at your favorite purveyor of software, hassle them about it. Delta Tao does good work and the user community shouldn't be prevented from seeing such good software just because the big businesses out there can't be bothered to recognize little businesses. Remember, a big business without customers is, well, like Ashton-Tate. :-)

Apparently Apple did well in a recent J.D. Power & Associates survey of 2000 customers recently. Apple took the top honors in best personal computer and best printer, although the blurb I got didn't specify which computer and printer that might be. Somehow I doubt it's the Mac LC with an ImageWriter LQ. Borland won the best software in the large-business segment, but again, it's unlikely that Borland's long-dead Mac products figured in that prize. Rating categories included performance, ease of use, capability, and support, prompting Mark Anbinder to comment, "What do they think it is, a car?" I think Mark's on to something there. We should do a survey rating computers on steering, acceleration, aesthetic design, interior comfort, ventilation, emergency handling, and rust proofing. I'd also like to see a 5 year, 50,000 mouse mile warranty with a guaranteed loaner if it breaks down during the warranty period. Actually, given how much I hate shopping for cars and bargaining on price, forget it. (Which brings up the old joke - what's the difference between a used car salesman and a computer salesman? Used car salesmen know that they're lying to you.)

Information from:
Mark H. Anbinder -- mha@baka.ithaca.ny.us