City Room; Windows-Based Bar Exam Rule: No Macs Are Allowed.

Thousands sat for the grueling New York State Bar Examination on Tuesday and Wednesday, sweating out the intricacies of criminal codes and contract law. For many, the fear factor was heightened by the threat of a personal computer meltdown during the exam. ''There's no guarantee when it comes to technology,'' said John McAlary, the executive director of the New York State Board of Law Examiners, before the exams. ''There's always a risk that something can go wrong.'' [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]