I'm a Mac user, and, yes, I do believe we live in a better world than WINTEL users. Floppy drives are of no use with the Internet and corporate networks. The Mac is really easy to hook up to a network, and everyone knows the iMAC is simple to setup on the Internet. If using a local area network (LAN), just put your file on your file server and E-mail your WINTEL counterpart as to where it is. You don't even have to leave your seat.

If you need to transfer a file to someone outside of your LAN, send it as an E-mail attachment. That's why the software is there (not for passing jokes). If your file is too big, use an FTP server, which is actually quite simple to learn how to use. To set up an FTP server, you might need the assistance of your network administrators, or you can install a product like Rhumpus and have your own little FTP server off your Mac.

The Internet and corporate LANs are much better means of transporting files from computer to computer. That's why Apple chose not to include floppy drives in its systems. In fact, there have been many tests conducted by the research firms Forrester and Gartner Group that back me up. Overall, the cost to businesses that use magnetic media, rather than the Internet or corporate LANS, to transfer files is much higher.

Zachary Magaw
zjm1@stern.nyu.edu

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