Apple Computer is on a rebound.
OK, it's never going to catch up to Microsoft. And it might never see the glory years of the 1980s again.
But don't tell that to the Mac faithful gathering at the Forest Fair Mall for AppleVention '96, Cincinnati's largest Apple computer fair.
The show is sponsored by AppleSiders of Cincinnati, which has been helping users of Apple II and Macintosh computers for 17 years.
According to club member and AppleVention organizer Larry Klug, past AppleVention events have been small affairs, running for only a few hours and attracting a few hundred visitors. But this year, the club is throwing what it hopes will be a major bash that will attract more than 2,000 visitors.
One reason they're hopeful about a big turnout is the location, in the former Sam Goody story in the Forest Fair Mall. And admission is free - unusual for a computer fair.
AppleSiders was formed in 1979 by enthusiasts of the original Apple I and II computers. Today, the 300 members meet monthly, produce a newsletter (AppleSiders Press) and offer classes on Macintosh software and the operating system. They also maintain a bulletin board and have a small Web site (http://www.applesiders.com/applesiders). (For more information, call 741-4329.)
The group is sending out 10,000 postcards this weekend to area Macintosh users, based on a mailing list provided by MacWorld magazine. They're expecting about 30 vendors of Apple computers, hardware and software and will have a vendor who will perform repairs and upgrades while you wait.
There will also be a flea market area where individuals can buy, sell and trade. Based on past years, Mr. Klug said, most of the flea market goods will be used software and CDs.
They'll have some ancient Apple computers on display, including the original Apple kit computer, Mr. Klug says. And the club will be offering door prizes: software given the club by vendors such as Adobe.
For Macintosh enthusiasts, at least two things will be worth seeing: the Internet on Macs and the new Macintosh clones from PowerComputing and Motorola.
Exodus Online Services of Cincinnati (http://www.eos.net) will be providing Internet access for the show and offering advice for Mac users on how to get online.
A couple of years ago, Apple decided to license the Mac operating system to other vendors. The resulting new clones offer more ''bang for the buck'' than Apple machines and could even up the price difference with Wintel machines.
(A recent study by CompUSA found that a Mac costs an average of $300 more than a comparable PC clone.)
AppleVention '96 runs from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Nov. 9. on the lower level of the Forest Fair Mall, near the Center Court.
As for the future of Apple, it looks like the company that started the whole graphical user interface (GUI) thing might be around a while longer. After posting losses of more than $800 million so far this year, Apple finally turned a profit: $25 million for its fiscal fourth quarter of 1996.
OK, some stock analysts say this is just a maneuver by Apple to restore customer confidence before the crucial Christmas buying season. The highly touted System 8 operating-system upgrade (dubbed ''Copland'') still is months away, and there's a new rumor that System 8 might not run some older versions of Mac software.
All that aside, Apple should be around a while longer, and the Mac OS will be in use for many years to come. There are lot of folks out there (Apple claims 60 million) who think that the Mac is the most stable, easiest-to-use personal computer.
One more thing: Apple devotees can show their true colors by displaying the Apple logo on their car (or on the screen of the office PC). Apple is giving away five packs of static cling (no glue) Apple logos. Call 1-800-373-0877 and select option 8.
E-mail Charles Brewer with questions or comments at cbrewer@enquirer.com