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Some Pismo PowerBook owners
are reporting difficulty installing OS X 10.2 Jaguar on
machines that have been upgraded to more than 512 MB total RAM.
While you can install two 512 MB DIMMs in a Pismo for a total of 1
GB of RAM, Apple only officially
supports up to 512 MB in two 256 MB DIMMs.
The workaround is to remove any DIMMs of higher capacity than
256 MB during the system installation, and then reinstall them once
Jaguar is loaded. I hope this works on my Pismo with 640 MB of
RAM.
Mac OS X: No Modem Sound on PowerBook G3
Series
Problem: You cannot hear modem dialing sounds through speakers
or headphones on PowerBook G3
Series computers when using Mac OS X. I have personally
experienced this on my Pismo.
Products affected: PowerBook G3 Series computers running Mac OS
X 10.0 or later.
Lapvantage Dome Laptop Stand Inspired by Flat
Panel iMac
The Plasticsmith, Inc. has announced the release of the Lapvantage Dome, a laptop
stand designed to improve computing ergonomics. Inspired by the
look of the new iMac, the Dome gives PowerBook and iBook owners the ergonomics and style of a
desktop. The Deluxe model is a full-featured desktop enhancement
unit that adjusts to your desired height, swivels 360º and
sports a polished acrylic platform.
More and more people are replacing their desktop computers with
laptops. But the inherent design of laptops violates the most basic
ergonomic guidelines. Now laptop users no longer need to compromise
on comfort. The Dome lets you show off your laptop while at the
same time providing you the ergonomic benefits of optimal viewing
height, improved posture and enhanced functionality. Its small footprint saves valuable
desk space and allows you to tuck an external keyboard under the
platform. This keeps you close enough to your laptop's screen for
comfortable viewing while preventing neck, shoulder, and back
strain.
The Dome allows you to tuck an external keyboard up to 3.5"
under the platform. This keeps you close enough to your laptop's
screen for comfortable viewing while preventing back and neck
strain.
The faster laptop computers become, the more likely they are to
overheat. The Dome comes with gumdrop feet that users attach to the
top of the platform. This keeps cool air circulating underneath the
laptop.
Using an external keyboard and mouse can help extend the life of
your laptop. The Dome keeps your laptop protected from accidental
spills and reduces wear and tear on your laptop's built-in
keyboard.
Features:
Raises laptop to eye level for optimal vantage point
Designed for an external keyboard and mouse for ergonomic
computing
Includes 3M rubber feet to help keep your laptop running
cool
Deluxe model swivels 360º, vertically adjusts for optimal
viewing, and sports a clear, polished acrylic platform
Support arm made from anodized aluminum
Manufactured from high quality, durable recycled ABS
plastic
The U.S. Center for Disease Control recommends against using
laptops as primary computers unless they are used in a way
consistent with neutral posture: "The monitor should be placed so
the top of the screen is at or just below eye level when seated in
an upright position . . . Maintaining neutral postures will reduce
stress and strain to the musculoskeletal system."
Lapvantage can help make your laptop compliant with CDC's
ergonomics guidelines at a fraction of the cost of expensive
docking stations and external monitors.
What's more, you can swivel the Deluxe Dome to your heart's
content, making it easier to plug in peripherals and allowing you
to more smoothly turn your laptop screen for presentations or
simply showing your work to a colleague. Both models of the Dome
come with 3M rubber feet that attach to the top of the platform,
keeping your laptop running cooler.
The Dome, even at its maximum height position, supporting a
heavy laptop, has been engineered to be exceptionally stable,
weight-tested to support 75 lbs.
The Deluxe model comes in black or white, made of super durable
recycled ABS plastic with a polished acrylic platform and height
adjustment and rotating features, selling for $69.95.
The standard model comes in solid black or white with a
stationary base and platform, both also made of recycled ABS
plastic, which sells for $49.95. All four are sold exclusively at
the Plasticsmith's online store.
EZQuest Ships Boa 48x12x48x USB 2.0 CD-RW
Drive
EZQuest is shipping its new Boa
48x12x48x USB 2.0 CD-RW drive. Last month, EZQuest began
shipping its FireWire version of this drive.
The drives are priced at $189 for the USB drive and $199 for
FireWire. Together, EZQuest claims that these new drives are the
fastest, highest-performance drives in the industry. Both drives
can burn a 74-minute CD in 1.52 minutes (about 20% faster than 40x
drives) and rewrite a 74-minute CD in 6.1 minutes. Other features
include 48x read speed (the fastest available on a CD recorder),
2 MB buffer size, and buffer under-run technology (which
eliminates under-run errors in fast-write modes). These high-speed
drives are ideal for data archiving and desktop publishing, as well
as for MIDI and recording studio applications.
"With this USB addition, we now have a full complement of CD-RW
drives," said Ebrahim Zmehrir, EZQuest president. "The Boa 48x USB
is packaged in our popular enclosure, which is the highest-quality,
strongest, and most functional in the industry."
Boa CD-RW drive features:
48x, 40x, 32x, 24x 8x write speed
Universal Power Supply.
2 standard 6-pin FireWire ports
2 MB buffer
Pro-Mar Case
The Boa CD-RW drives can be used with your home PC or Macintosh
computers with FireWire capabilities. Boa CD-RW drives allow you
to:
Backup large amounts of data (up to 800 MB).
Burn audio CDs using iTunes
Transfer data from one computer to another.
Read CDs at 48x.
Make audio CDs.
Copy CDs
Rewrite CDs (using CD-RW media)
Transfer data from PCs to Macintosh computers
The Boa 48x is housed in a light gray, streamlined case that is
fully shielded with 0.6 metal. It comes ready to use and includes a
built-in universal 50-watt auto-switching power supply, a cable,
and software (CharisMac Discribe for Macs). The Boa 48x is
compatible with Win 98SE and later versions, including XP. It is
also compatible with Mac USB 1.1, but at a lower speed of 4x4x8x.
The Boa 48x has a one-year warranty.
Iomega Releases Zip 750 MB USB 2.0 External
Drive
With more speed and more capacity, the new
Iomega Zip 750 MB drive and disk provides a fast and
durable portable storage solution to back up your
important data. Iomega Automatic Backup software makes backup a
snap, and Iomega Sync software helps transfer files between
computers. Zip 750 MB drives and disks are the smart data storage
choice.
Zip 750 MB USB 2.0 External Drive Macintosh System
requirements:
233 MHz or higher Apple Macintosh computer with certified USB
controller. Certified USB 2.0 Hi-Speed add-in PCI controller
required for optimum performance.
Mac OS 8.6 - 9.x (USB 1.x) / Mac OS 10.1 and greater (USB 1.x
and USB 2.0 High-Speed)
Must meet minimum RAM required for your specific operating
system
16 MB hard drive space recommended, software suite applications
will require additional hard drive space
4X CD-ROM drive for software installation
The Iomega Zip 750 MB USB 2 version is shipping and sells for
$179.95.
A Mac OS X (and OS 9) compatible FireWire version will cost
$199.95 and is not shipping yet. The drive will also support Mac
OS X compatible Automatic Backup (formerly QuickSync).
750 MB Zip disks will cost $12.49 per disk Iomega.
PowerBook Zone Offers Special Deal on 40 GB
FireWire Drives
The PowerBook Zone is trying something new with their stock of
FireWire
enclosures. Until now, they have offered bare enclosures
without a hard drive. Customers mainly used the enclosure to place
their PowerBook's original drive when they replaced it with a
larger one.
However, they are now offering a complete package: an external
FireWire enclosure with a 40 GB IBM Travelstar 40GN 2.5" hard drive
included.
The package comes with all of the features of the regular
enclosures: power supply, padded carrying case, high-quality
FireWire cable, and user's guide, plus a one year warranty on the
hardware and a service satisfaction guarantee. If anything's not to
your liking, PowerBook Zone will fix it, guaranteed.
The initial price for this batch of drives is $230, and they
will be shipping on August 25th.
Cooling Fan for PowerBook and iBook Users
Kensington's FlyFan USB
Fan is intended to keep your cool, wherever you are using your
'Book - stuffy meetings, crowded airplanes, and even taxis in Texas
won't wilt you anymore. The FlyFan plugs into a USB port to provide
a steady stream of cool air - without draining your battery.
Price: $24.99
Formac Releases DVI to ADC Conversion
Box
Formac Electronic Inc. has announced Formac ADConnect,
a DVI to ADC conversion box that opens the world of high-quality
ADC displays to Macintosh and PC users with DVI connectivity.
"The superior picture quality of ADC flat panel displays such as
Apple's line of LCDs and the Formac gallery displays, have thus far
only been accessible through expensive converters", said Oliver
Bergmann, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer and President of Formac
Inc. "The new Formac ADConnect provides the same high-quality
conversion at an affordable price."
In developing the new conversion box, Formac has focused on a
cost-efficient design. Unlike other DVI to ADC converters on the
market, Formac ADConnect is only one small box (8" x 3" x 1.5"),
incorporating all necessary connectors and the power supply.
Formac's conversion box combines DVI video, USB, and external power
to drive ADC flat panel displays with perfect image quality, and
supports the convenient USB ports on the back of ADC flat panel
displays. The efficient design allows Formac ADConnect to be priced
almost at half the price of competitive products. In addition it
reduces cable clutter and makes setup much easier than with
conventional converters.
Besides giving Mac and PC owners the option to use ADC displays
with a standard DVI interface, Formac's new ADConnect also allows
multiple ADC displays to be connected to the same ADC G4. Formac's
ADConnect is compatible with all G4 Power Macintosh and G4
PowerBooks with built-in DVI interface, as well as with older
Macintosh and PCs that have a compatible DVI video card
installed.
Formac ADConnect is available in the US through Formac Certified
Resellers and Shop Formac! with an estimated retail price of
$79.
Bargain 'Books
There are two different versions of WallStreet running at 233
MHz, the cacheless MainStreet version and the later
Series II with a level 2
cache. It's not always possible to determine from the vendor's
listing which is being offered, so we've included links within this
paragraph to the two models. The same goes for the PowerBook G4/667 (Gigabit
Ethernet/2001) and G4/667
(DVI).
Mac of the Day: iMac Core2, Sep. 2006 - Apple introduced the biggest screen ever in an iMac with a 24" Core2 Duo model at 2.16 GHz.
List of the Day: Old Mac MP covers 604-based multiprocessor Macs and clones.
September 6 in LEM history: 99: G4 vs. Pentium III - 00: Setting up a server - 02: Norton Utilities warning - 10 greatest computer annoyances - 06: iMac Core2 Duo - Mac mini Core Duo - The iMac Core2 value equation - 07: Apple seduction - Why I really want an iPod touch - iPod history, 2005 to present - Upgrading a Power Mac G - Apple intros iPod touch, classic, and video nano
Listen to Just the Music with the V-Moda Vibe Earbuds, Tommy Thomas, Welcome to Macintosh, 09.05.
Well built, the noise canceling earbuds will let you hear all the nuances of your music without letting through background noise.
Best iPod touch Deals, Low End Mac Deals, 09.05.
Refurb 8 GB, $199; new, $284; refurb 16 GB, $299; new, $370; refurb 32 GB, $399; new, $453.
Best 15" MacBook Pro Deals, Low End Mac Deals, 09.05.
Used 1.83 GHz Core Duo, $999; 2.16, $1,125; new, 2.2, $1,450 after rebate; refurb 2.4, $1,699; 2.5, $1,999; 2.6 Santa Rosa, $1,849; rebates on new.
Best iMac G4 Deals, Low End Mac Deals, 09.05.
Used 15" 700 MHz CD-RW, $279; 800 Combo, $300; 1 GHz $390; 17" 800 MHz SD, $439; 1.25 GHz, $449; 20", $569.
Tomorrow's Solid State Drives and Notebooks, Dan Knight, Mac Musings, 09.04.
Flash drives are great but have some shortcomings. Some thoughts on building better SSDs and notebooks to use them.
Best 12" PowerBook G4 Deals, Low End Mac Deals, 09.04.
Used 867 MHz Combo, no APX, $490; 1 GHz, $550; SuperDrive, $625; 1.5 GHz w/o APX, $660; w/APX, $675.
Best Mac mini Deals, Low End Mac Deals, 09.04.
Used 1.25 GHz G4 SD, $549; 1.42 Combo, $409; new 1.83 Core2 Combo, $569 after rebate; 2.0 SD, $769 after rebate.
Best 17" PowerBook G4 Deals, Low End Mac Deals, 09.04.
Used 1 GHz, $779; 1.33 GHz, $799; 1.5 GHz, $859; 1.67 GHz, $910.
11 Mac Browsers Compared, Simon Royal, Mac Spectrum, 09.03.
The latest versions of Internet Explorer, Opera, Safari, Shiira, iCab, Radon, Firefox, Netscape Navigator, SeaMonkey, Flock, and Camino tested in Leopard.
Best eMac Deals, Low End Mac Deals, 09.03.
Used 700 MHz Combo, $120; 1.25 GHz SuperDrive, $150; 1.42 GHz, $349.
Best Mac OS X 10.5 'Leopard' Deals, Low End Mac Deals, 09.03.
Mac OS X 10.5, single user, $99; 5 users, $140; 10.5 Server, 10 users, $395; unlimited, $850.
Best MacBook Air Deals, Low End Mac Deals, 09.03.
Refurb 1.6 HD, $1,499; new, $1,690 after rebate; refurb 1.8, $1,699; new, $1,919 a/r; refurb 1.6 SSD, $2,099; new, $2,294 a/r; refurb 1.8, $2,299; new, $2,400 a/r.
Psystar Strikes Back, Countersues Apple, Frank Fox, Stop the Noiz, 09.03.
Psystar is trying to paint Apple as a monopoly and force it to license the Mac OS.
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