During world war II the British developed the colossus, a literally colossal machine that was used to crack German cryptographic codes. It did not have a keyboard, mouse or even a monitor, but it was the first programmable digital 'computer'. And even though it could not fit into most regular sized bedrooms, it did help the Allies beat the Nazis, and it defined computing for over two decades.

Over the past two decades, however, computers have become smaller but sadly, also uglier and most of us are beset by the curse of the 'beige box'. The new Apple iMac G5 should change all that. The first iMac, the G3, was wrapped in a colourful bubble-shaped shell. The second iMac G4 was a table-lamp gone wrong. But they were unmistakably computers.

But the third generation iMac does not feel like a computer. The solid aluminium stand on which the screen rests disappears into the background, and in a dark room the iMac looks like an ethereal light seemingly coming from nowhere. Behind the display lies the brain of the computer-and it is a lot faster and far more flexible than that of the Colossus-the 1.8 gigahertz G5 processor.

IMAC G5 AT A GLANCE

» Two screen sizes: 17-inch and 20-inch widescreen TFT-LCD » Choice of 1.6 GHz or 1.8 GHz PowerPC G5 Processor » 256MB DDR SDRAM (supports up to 2GB) » Choice of CD-RW/DVD combo drive or DVD-R/CD-RW super drive » Three USB 2.0 ports, two USB 1.1 ports, two FireWire ports » NVIDIA GeForce FX 5200 64MB Graphics processor » 80GB or 160GB hard drive » Rs 87,800 (17-inch 1.6 GHz G5) » Rs 96,900 (17-inch 1.8 GHz G5) » Rs 1,23,400 (20-inch 1.8 GHz G5)

However, the problem with the G5 is that when you try to do too many things at once, the computer behaves like it is stuck in rush-hour traffic in Bandra, and that is because the iMac only ships with 256 megabytes of ram. You could, however, buy more memory. And if the keyboard and mouse were wireless, it would be much cooler, but that again is an (expensive) option.

The software compatibility issue rears its ugly head whenever you mention the term 'Mac'. There are, however, some really nice pieces of software for 'Mac'-heads. Microsoft Office for a Mac feels a lot nicer than Office XP. And then there is iLife-Apple's range of entertainment software that includes a DVD editing software IDVD and Garage Band, which is the best time-pass software I have come across in a long time. And you can actually get pretty good at composing your songs too.

Chances are that the iMac will never win a war, unless you play Medal of Honour, but this machine has defined what computers will look like in the future. The 'beige box' is on its last legs, and thank God for that!

-Kushan Mitra

TREADMILL
Your Questions Answered

This instalment of treadmill's a Q&A. readers frequently email me with queries and I usually try to reply to them individually. But for the benefit of other readers, here's a Q&A in print.

Q: I go to the gym regularly and wish to increase my muscle mass. I have as much muscle protein in my diet as possible. Usually, it is pulses and milk, but once or twice a week I have meat. Is it necessary or advisable to take extra protein through health drinks or in any other form? I have heard that these foods cause a strain on the kidneys.

Salil Kashalkar

Marketers of supplements will hate me for this, but let me tell you there's nothing better than deriving your protein from natural foods. You could add egg-whites to your diet of milk, pulses and meat, and try breaking up your diet into four or five small meals instead of three big ones. Yes, overdosing on protein can put a strain on your kidneys (which play a key role in protein assimilation), particularly if you don't ramp up the quantity of water you drink.

Q: How do I strengthen my lower back? I have heard that this is usually neglected the most by most gymmers.

Pallavi S.

A: You are right, it indeed is (so are leg muscles, but more on that later). The lower back muscle supports the upper body and is a key factor in maintaining good posture and, hence, is a foil against injuries. While you could do several floor exercises (a forthcoming instalment of Treadmill will demonstrate these), one exercise using dumb-bells is the stiff-legged deadlift. The accompanying illustration shows how. Caution: Be careful to keep your back straight and shoulders back throughout the movement.

Q: I'm a 32-year-old male weighing 65 kg. I exercise at home with a couple of 10lb (or 4.5 kilogram) dumb-bells. What exercises can I do to tone my body?

Sandeep Bhavsar

A pair of dumb-bells may be very basic equipment, but they're versatile. You can actually do many exercises with them to target all the big muscle groups: chest, shoulders, back, arms, legs. You should get a bench to help you do some of these exercises. As for the exercises, I suggest you refer to the following resources: The New Encyclopedia of Modern Bodybuilding by Arnold Schwarzenegger. Yes, it's by the Arnold S. and the book is considered the bible of bodybuilding. You could also check out www.exrx.net. This is a site that's probably the best resource for knowing your muscles and exercises, which come with video demos.

Q: I used to go to the gym five years ago (I was 17 then) and one day, I suddenly developed a back pain that has been persistent. Now, every time I try to lift weights, I get a radial pain that spreads from the back to my left shoulder. I have consulted orthopaedic surgeons and although they have suggested physiotherapy, it doesn't seem to help.

Vipul Kothari

A back injury is something that must be taken very seriously. The radially spreading pain could be because of a nerve getting squeezed between your spinal discs. I don't think you should ignore or neglect it. I think you should consult a reputed clinic or hospital, and go through all the diagnostic procedures: x-ray, MRI, etc. at the soonest. Physiotherapy comes later.

-Muscles Mani
write to musclesmani@intoday.com

ALL ABOUT ANTIBIOTICS

Got a sniffle, tempted to try an antibiotic? Don't. Know your pill before you pop it:

What are antibiotics?

Chemicals that kill bacteria; either naturally made by micro-organisms, or synthetically produced in a lab. Work only on bacteria, not on viruses.

What precautions should you take?

According to Dr. S. Chatterjee, Senior Consultant (Internal Medicine), Indraprastha Apollo Hospital, "As a rule, antibiotics should not be taken on an empty stomach, don't overuse antibiotics, and always complete your course." An incomplete course could leave unkilled bacteria that could turn resistant to the drug and give you a strong relapse.

What about the old wives' tale about antibiotics and milk?

Milk does not react with all antibiotics, but can hinder the absorption of tetracycline.

What about antibiotics and alcohol?

Again, one can't generalise. But common antibiotics with sulphur could react against alcohol due to the increased blood circulation. Anti-amoebics go badly with alcohol.

Can one mix antibiotics with other medicines?

"One medication affects the disposition and metabolism of another," says Chatterjee. If you mix Amoxycillin with Allopurinol (medicine for gout), you could get rashes, for example.

Any precautions just for women?

"Administration of some antibiotics like Amoxycillin and Doxycycline could reduce the efficacy of oral contraceptive pills," says Dr. Sohani Verma, Senior Gynaecologist and IVF Specialist, Indraprastha Apollo Hospital. Pregnant women and nursing mothers should avoid antibiotics.