The Cutting Edge: COMPUTING / TECHNOLOGY / INNOVATION : Apple Faces Test Over Mac Clones at Show

Is Apple Computer’s glass half empty or half full? That perennial question presents itself starkly at this week’s Macworld show.

Many in the Apple community are brimming with optimism. The Power Macintosh, introduced last spring, has sold well, and there will be scores of new software programs written specifically for the speedy machine on display this week.

“The Power Macintosh has arrived,” said Mark Hall, editor of Macweek, a trade newspaper. “After Macworld, all the major third-party developers will be on board.”

The show itself seems healthy enough: 70,000 to 75,000 visitors are expected over four days, an increase of 18% to 20% over last year.

The busiest booths will likely be those of Radius and Power Computing, two San Jose companies that will show the first-ever clones of the Macintosh. Apple’s tortured decision to license its technology is one of the most important events in the company’s history, and many hope low-priced clones will expand the Macintosh universe.

Radius will sell a customized version of the Power Macintosh for desktop publishing and multimedia. Power Computing has said it will market a low-cost version of the Power Macintosh by mail-order.

Apple has proved resilient over the years in surviving the ouster of co-founder Steven Jobs and more recently, Chief Executive John Sculley. New Chief Executive Michael Spindler, who will speak at Macworld for the first time on Friday, has said the the company’s painful restructuring is behind it.

“The attitude no longer seems to be ‘Let’s change the world,’ ” says Stewart Alsop, editor-in-chief of Infoworld, an influential industry weekly. “Now it’s ‘Is it good for customers and will it make money.’ ”