Newer Technology Goes Belly-Up [UPDATED]

Friday, December 29, 2000

Alas, it's true: read all about it at the Macintosh News Network. Most employees have been sent packing and all that's left is sweeping up and locking the doors. This comes after a one-year extension of credit that apparently failed to do the trick.

As you might expect, many people are less than happy with this development, especially since it is "unclear" whether Newer's customers can expect any kind of future support at all. One thing this means is that if your Newer-upgraded PowerMac doesn't run OS X at the present time, it probably won't in the future, either. Our own XLR8-branded G3 upgrade humming along nicely in the editorial 8600 won't ever have a chance to taste the delights of OS X either, since XLR8 is leaving future support for this card up to Apple. [As you know, Apple isn't interested in carrying water for those people with upgraded PowerMacs: the name of the game is "buy new hardware" or be left out in the cold, which irritates this particular impecunious Mac owner no end. In fact, we wouldn't be surprised if OS X had a hand in tanking Newer Technology. If upgraded Macs can't run OS X reliably (yes, we know there are exceptions), well... -- JHF]

UPDATE: 10:21 a.m., MT -- Our gloomy announcement may be premature, according to Gene Steinberg's posting at his Mac Night Owl site. The company is not absolutely dead but may merely be in an extended period of gasping and wheezing. What they're after is "bankruptcy protection," a concept whose efficacy eludes us as far as Newer's customers are concerned. The employees are gone, after all, so draw your own conclusions.