If you tune in regularly, you're fully aware of how anxious we are to see Artemis hit the stores. Artemis, as you most likely know, is the code name for Apple's Power Macintosh G3 Home, an all-in-one machine that supposedly integrates a 200 MHz G3 processor, 32 MB of RAM, 3 PCI slots, a 2 GB hard drive, a 24x CD-ROM, and a 15-inch display capable of displaying 16-bit color at 1024x768-- all for $999. At least, them's the rumors.

Despite its reportedly tooth-shaped case, such a machine could easily give Apple's sagging home sales a serious kick in the pants. But what really distinguishes it from all the Wintel-based sub-$1000 PC's out there? Yes, it's a Mac-- but to the general uninformed sub-$1000-PC-buying public, that's a drawback, not a benefit. Apple's got to make it clear that Artemis offers something more to its customers.

That's why it's nice to see that, according to Mac the Knife, Artemis may introduce a couple of "sweeteners" to Artemis' already-formidable feature set. Reportedly, Apple's considering adding a wireless infrared keyboard and mouse, and maybe even a DVD drive and a TV tuner. Smart! Those are flashy, fun features that could play a considerable part in attracting sales. Of course, with the unbelievably low cost of the system, we can't see how Apple could possibly make much of a profit, but Artemis stands a good chance of recapturing some of Apple's shrinking market share, especially in the consumer and educational spaces. We take it as a terrifically good sign that Apple might be past the point of only focusing on immediate profits, and may be pursuing longer-term strategies to rebuild its market presence.

But Apple's not just shooting for lower desktop prices; if CNET can be believed, we can expect a low-cost Powerbook, as well. No, not low cost like Compaq's $999 notebook; more like $2000. "So?" you say. "I can already buy a 1400/166 for that much." Well, yeah, you can-- and that's a mighty nice Powerbook, based on the ones we've had the pleasure to use. But it lacks one thing: a G3 processor.

In fact, right now, if you want a G3 Powerbook, you're looking at a $5600 price tag, at least until you pass out from the shock. The problem is, when you come to, it wasn't all just a horrible nightmare; that price is real. Which is why the rumors of a sub-$2000 G3-based Powerbook are so important. The G3 totally destroys any processor you can find in a Wintel notebook. If Apple can really stick a 233 MHz G3 in a Powerbook with a decent screen, hard disk, and CD-ROM drive and sell the thing for $1999, its high performance may well attract legions of budget-conscious road warriors. Including ones that wouldn't ordinarily even consider a Mac.

Incidentally, there are apparently G3 upgrades coming out for the 1400's from third-party companies, so you shouldn't necessarily feel buyer's remorse if you just ran out and bought one. After all, it's still a great machine. (Wish we had one, ourselves, but we're really drooling over the super-small 2400...)

Many of you may not have much direct interest in (or may never have even heard of) StarNine, the company that makes WebSTAR, the most popular web server software for the Mac platform. We at AtAT, however, have a vested interest in following the status of our favorite server software. That's why we were a little concerned when, two months ago, StarNine was sold by its parent company, Quarterdeck, to Platinum Equity Holdings. How would that sale affect WebSTAR development, we wondered? Despite the rosy picture put forth by the StarNine employees on the WebSTAR mailing list, we had our doubts.

Those doubts grew when Chuck Shotton, the man who wrote WebSTAR way back when it was MacHTTP, seemed to vanish from the mailing list right around the time of StarNine's sale. We were beginning to suspect that he'd been abducted by aliens (but heck, let's face it-- when the mailman's ten minutes late, we suspect that he's been abducted by aliens) when a faithful viewer pointed us to this statement from Chuck, explaining "what really happened." Apparently when he heard that Quarterdeck was planning on selling off StarNine, he proposed that his own company, BIAP Systems, Inc., buy StarNine. Throughout the ensuing negotiations, Chuck was assured by various Quarterdeck execs that the sale was a "done deal," but at the last second, Quarterdeck backed out and sold the company to Platinum. Without so much as a "by your leave."

Of course, legal action ensued, and issues are still being worked out. In the meantime, Quarterdeck "terminated" Chuck's position, meaning that he is no longer affiliated with StarNine, Quarterdeck, or WebSTAR. Chuck's departure from the WebSTAR scene will be a stinging loss for quite a while. We can only hope that StarNine, under its new ownership by Platinum, will be able to keep WebSTAR development progressing even without Chuck's help.