Mac OS licensing may be dead for now (though AtAT still strongly suspects it'll be revived at some future date), but if Mac OS Rumors is correct, there's a distinct possibility that Apple is considering licensing Rhapsody, its next-generation server OS, to "several major hardware manufacturers." While licensing the PowerPC version might be a repeat of Apple's last OS licensing error, there's some interesting potential in licensing the Intel flavor.

Remember that Rhapsody runs just fine on Intel hardware, which means that all of those server manufacturers currently under Microsoft's giant NT thumb may leap at the chance to try something new. Whether or not Wintel buyers would be interested in Rhapsody over NT remains to be seen. To say that it can be "tough" to get information services departments to try something new is a gross understatement, but we're willing to guess that there are enough people out there tired of dealing with NT's "issues" (and perhaps even Microsoft's anticompetitive practices) to consider giving it a whirl. (It is, of course, then up to Apple to make sure that Rhapsody is great enough to win converts based on a quick demo.)

It makes sense for Apple; licensing Rhapsody instead of the Mac OS theoretically prevents cloners from cannibalizing Apple's own Mac sales, while extending Apple's OS installed base into the enterprise market. Given the speed of the PowerPC and the cross-platform compatibility of Rhapsody, a cheap Rhapsody PPC server might even be an attractive buy to an all-Wintel shop. Of course, given that Rhapsody will also be a "power user" operating system, there's nothing guaranteeing that Umax Rhapsody servers wouldn't be scarfed up by graphics and video professionals drawn to high speeds, low costs, and a bulletproof OS that still runs their Mac OS software incredibly well. It's that fact alone that makes us a little skeptical of the likelihood of Rhapsody PPC licensing. On the Intel side, however, we say "bring it on;" just make sure the technology is wonderful enough to make the users overlook the struggles of the past few years, and to make the manufacturers overlook that last little licensing debacle.

Don't junk that 1400 just yet. You are all aware that there are several third-party G3 upgrade cards that, when installed in, say, a stock Powermac 7500, actually outperform the fastest shipping Macs currently available from Apple? Well, that trend continues into the Powerbook realm. O'Grady's PowerPage mentions that they're testing an upcoming upgrade for the Powerbook 1400 that transforms the lower-end Powerbook into the fastest Mac portable on the planet.

The upgrade in question is a NUpowr G3 module from Newer Technology, those mad geniuses who are consistently able to push older machines way past their apparent limits. This new upgrade card let you stick a 250 MHz G3 processor (with 1 MB of backside cache running at 125 MHz) into your 1400's case, raising that 1400's MacBench processor score by up to 500%. According to the Powerpage, their upgraded 1400 scored 830, compared to 137 before the upgrade-- and compared to 745 for an actual Powerbook G3. And while pricing for this upgrade hasn't been announced, given that the Powerbook G3 costs some $4000 more than the 1400, it sounds like it's going to be a good deal.

Of course, we don't know when Newer will actually ship this sizzler, and with the Wall Street Powerbooks expected to appear in a few weeks, the title of "World's Faster Powerbook" will be returned to Apple. (The high-end Wall Street apparently MacBenches well into four digits.) Nevertheless, if you need a Powerbook now, getting a 1400 and upgrading when the card is a available sounds like a very cost-effective and viable option. Of course, if you can wait, we personally think you should hold out for a Wall Street with its light-up Apple logo. Gimmicks make the world go 'round. :-)

In this Age of Kali, darkness prevails as we hear about company after company replacing their Macs with Wintel PC's. The reasons are various and sundry, ranging from purchase cost per system to uncertainty over Apple's future. And while few, if any, of these justifications have much merit, the sad fact is that "migration" to Windows appears to be the order of the day. It's enough to make anyone consider packing up and giving in (unless you've actually had to use a Wintel system lately, that is).

That's why we're grateful to MacCentral for posting a story on a few companies bucking the trend, and switching from PC's to Macs. These companies are increasing their investment in Apple computers for a slew of good reasons: less downtime; better data integrity; improved functionality (being able to "work WITH computers rather than ON them"); problems with their Compaq systems; and more. If you have any stories on companies who are "upgrading" their Wintels to Macs, please tell MacCentral, so they can add to their list; it may become a valuable resource for companies deciding on which systems are best for their needs, as well as ammo for Mac freedom fighters to use when defending their systems against the onslaught of Wintel migration.

And actually, that's not the only reason we have to be grateful to MacCentral; we're tremendously honored by their generous inclusion of a link to AtAT on their home page. Thanx, folks!