XPostFacto Adds PB 2400, 3400, Kanga Support; Sony Vaio Laptop Sports 16" Screen; and More

Compiled by Charles Moore and edited by Dan Knight - April 12, 2002

Except as noted, prices are in US dollars.

• XPostFacto 2.2b1 Now Supports OS X Installs on Legacy PowerBooks
• Moo X 1.0b Optimizes Older and New Machines to Take Advantage of Their Hardware
• Century iAdaptor2 Power Adapter for PowerBook G4/Dual USB iBooks
• iBook iXtravaganza at PowerMax
• Apple Australia Supplies TiBooks for Round the World Yacht Cruise
• Other World Computing Introduces 160 GB External FireWire Drive
• Sony Releases Vaio Laptop with 16.1" Screen
• Bargain 'Books

XPostFacto 2.2b1 Now Supports OS X Installs on Legacy PowerBooks

Ryan Rempel's XPostFacto (formerly Unsupported UtilityX) helps to install Mac OS X, Darwin, and Mac OS X Server on some unsupported systems, now including beta-level support for the original PowerBook G3 (Kanga/3500), the 3400, and possibly the PowerBook 2400. Version 2.2b1 also fixes the "kernel panic if nothing connected to onboard video" problem, as well as a few other problems.

Macs Only! reports that Jake Luck has been successful in getting OS X running on his PowerBook 2400c using XPostFacto v2.2b1. Jake's 2400c has an Interware 400 MHz G3 upgrade and an Adtec 96 MB RAM chip for a total of 112 MB of RAM.

While Apple has limited its support for Mac OS X to those machines that originally came with a G3 or G4 processor, it is possible to install Mac OS X on several earlier machines. The unsupported machines that work now are the 7300, 7500, 7600, 8500, 8600, 9500, and 9600, as well the clones that were based on one of these systems (the Umax S900 and J700, and the Power Computing PowerWave and Power Tower Pro). The original processors in these machines will work (with the exception of the 7500, which requires a processor upgrade). G3 or G4 upgrade cards work as well. Other models that use the PCI architecture may be made to work in time.

New in this version:

• Beta-level support for the original PowerBook G3, the 3400, and (possibly) the 2400.
• Fixes for the "kernel panic if nothing connected to onboard video" problem. (The ATI driver update will still be needed for some ATI cards, however).
• Will permit installation onto drives connected to the UltraTek IDE card (with the OWC/FirmTek upgrade applied).
• Fixes a problem installing Darwin 1.4.1.
• Fixes a problem with Mac OS 9.2.x.

System requirements:

• Power Macintosh 7300 to 9600 or equivalent clone
• Original PowerBook G3 or 3400 (possibly 2400)
• Mac OS 9 or higher

XPostFacto is freeware.

Moo X 1.0b Optimizes Older and New Machines to Take Advantage of Their Hardware

Moo X stands for Mac OS Optimizer for X. It's main purpose is to make the most of your system by freeing up and fully utilizing your RAM, giving your system better performance. This application is useful for older machines that want that speed boost, but it also is a great tool for anyone that wants use more or less of their memory. By optimizing your system for more memory, applications can load and install faster while using less memory gives more value multitasking.

Developer's comments: "After cataloging through various optimizer programs, I discovered that many had great abilities, but none really combined all the features. This meant to fully optimize your system with 3 different settings set you would have to have 3 different applications. I thought this was ludicrous. After talking to the authors and understanding their approach I wrote Moo X."

This application is in beta release, and it's free.

System requirements: Mac OS X 10.1 or higher

Century iAdaptor2 Power Adapter for PowerBook G4/Dual USB iBooks

Century's iAdaptor2 is an ultra compact adapter compatible with Apple's PowerBook G4 and Dual USB (all-white) iBooks. It incorporates the plug into its body, much like the newest Apple adapter.

You can check it out at the PowerBook Zone Store.

iBook iXtravaganza at PowerMax

PowerMax has made some big iBook purchases at great prices and are passing along the savings to their customers. They have hundreds of these in stock.

• iBook 500, 64/10 GB/CD, $939
• iBook 500, 128/15 GB/CD, $999
• iBook 500, 128/10 GB/DVD, $1,099
• iBook 600, 128/15 GB/DVD, $1,169
• iBook 600, 128/20 GB/Combo, $1,349

Plus get a free Apple carry bag with every configuration- while supplies last.

All above are factory refurbished by Apple.

Apple Australia Supplies TiBooks for Round the World Yacht Cruise

David Frith of Australia's The Barrow reports that Apple Computer Australia is sponsoring a group of young people embarking on a cruise around the world for two years on a luxury 54' yacht.

Apple Australia is supplying Titanium PowerBooks and Final Cut Pro video-editing software for The Voyage of Kijana, a venture proposed by 20-year-old Jesse Martin of Melbourne, who has already sailed alone round the world at age 18.

Kijana is a ten-year-old 54' two-masted cutter built in Brisbane, which left Sydney Harbour last week. The crew will post one-to-three-minute QuickTime movie clips on the Kijana website and answer emails from schoolchildren following their progress round the globe.

Digital footage will be downloaded from Sony Cameras into the PowerBooks, edited on Final Cut Pro, and beamed back to Australia via Telstra-supplied satellite phones.

A 13-part documentary TV series will be translated into 17 languages and has already been presold to more than 100 countries.

The crew have been given three Titanium PowerBook G4s, Apple's Cut Pro 3 professional video editing software, and an iPod. The crew of five - Jesse and Beau Martin, Josh Schmidt, Mika Tran and Nicolette Fendon - have all undergone a two-day training course in Final Cut Pro.

Other World Computing Introduces 160 GB External FireWire Drive

Other World Computing has introduced a new 160 GB OWC Mercury external FireWire drive that spins at 5400 RPM and uses an Oxford 911 chipset.

The company also announced that it has lowered its prices on all OWC Mercury-brand external FireWire storage drives. Pricing for OWC Mercury drives ranges from $149.95 for a 20 GB 5400 RPM drive to $519.97 for a Mercury On-The-Go 2.5" portable drive, with the new 160 GB FireWire drive priced at $379.95.

OWC Mercury storage devices provide a fast and convenient way to add significant plug-and-play storage to personal computers and notebooks. OWC's FireWire drives feature transfer rates as high as 400 Mbps and weigh as little as 11 ounces. The drives are compatible with Macintosh and Windows systems, and they feature the fastest Oxford 911 bridgeboard technology available.

OWC Mercury FireWire drives are alternatives to upgrading internal hard drives, and allow for easy computer-to-computer transfer of data. OWC's Mercury On-The-Go drives offer a portable solution that measure as little as 3.0" wide by 5.5" deep and 1.0" high. OWC's Elite Pro models measure 9.0" deep by 1.5" wide by 5.5" high and can be conveniently stacked out of the way to conserve desktop space. OWC Mercury Elite Pro models also do not require a fan because the power supply, which generates the majority of the heat, is actually a separate, compact external power supply brick, providing a much quieter working environment.

The drives can quickly be connected to any computer with a FireWire port. For computers without FireWire ports, OWC also offers a variety of PCI cards for desktops and CardBus cards for notebook computers.

Below is the current price list for OWC's external storage solutions:

Mercury Elite Oxford 911 7200 RPM External Solutions

• 20 GB $159.99
• 40 GB $179.99
• 60 GB $199.99
• 80 GB $239.99
• 100 GB $295.99
• 120 GB $309.99

Mercury Oxford 911 5400 RPM External Solutions

• 20 GB $149.95
• 40 GB $169.95
• 60 GB $189.95
• 80 GB $215.95
• 120 GB $295.95
• 160 GB (New for April 2002) $379.95

Mercury On-The-Go 2.5" Portable Oxford 911 External Solutions

• 20 GB $189.97
• 30 GB $215.97
• 40 GB $279.97
• 48 GB $395.97
• 60 GB $519.97

Sony Releases Vaio Laptop With 16.1" Screen

The new Sony Vaio GRX Series notebooks now offer the largest LCD screen available in a laptop computer. (iCab warns that this page contains an endless loop, although IE 5.1 has no trouble with the page.)

Specs

• Mobile Intel Pentium 4 processor: up to 1.70 GHz, supports enhanced Intel SpeedStep technology for optimized performance on the road
• LCD screens up to an amazing 16.1" 1600x1200 with dual display support. The 16.1" screen option offers the same viewing area as most 17" CRT monitors.
• AGP-enabled ATI Mobility™ Radeon 7500 graphics with 32 MB SDRAM and 3D acceleration support
• Integrated 10Base-T/100Base-T ethernet and V.90 modem
• Hot swappable multi-bay design allow internal removable CD-RW/DVD combo drive or optional second onboard battery for extended mobile power on the road
• Center Jog Dial control with back button for fast navigation, plus MagicGate Memory Stick media slot for fast, easy transfer of digital images and other important data
• Choice of 256 MB or 512 MB SDRAM
• Choice of 20, 30, or 40 GB hard drive
• Choice of CD-RW/DVD combination or DVD-ROM drive
• Choice of Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition, XP Professional, or 2000 Professional
• Choice of Microsoft Word 2002, Office XP Small Business, or Office XP Professional
• Choice of 1 or 3-year Limited Warranty

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.

MacResQ

• PowerBook G3/333 Lombard, 64/4 GB/20x/56k/14.1", refurbished, $899.99

PowerMax

• PowerBook G3/333 Lombard, 64/4 GB/CD/56k/14.1", $869
• PowerBook G3/333 Lombard, 128/4 GB/CD/56k/14.1", $899
• PowerBook G3/333 Lombard, 192/4 GB/CD/56k/14.1", $929

ExperCom

• iBook 500, 128/10G/CD-RW/12.1", factory refurbished, 1,099.99
• PowerBook G4/400, 128/10G/DVD/15.2", factory refurbished, 1,499.99

Small Dog Electronics

• PowerBook G4/550, 256/20 GB/DVD, new, $1799
• PowerBook G4/550, 512/20 GB/CD-RW, new, $1949
• iBook 500, 64/10/CD-ROM, refurbished, $999
• iBook 500, 128/10/DVD, refurbished, $1,049
• iBook 500, 128/10 GB/Combo, refurbished, $1,179
• iBook 500, 128/15 GB/CD-ROM, refurbished, $1,089

L.A. Computer

• PowerBook G4/667, 256/30 GB/DVD/ethernet/15.2"/56K/OS X, new, $2,449

Recent 'Book Reviews

• MagSafe Out of Warranty Replacement, nVidia Flaw Affecting Macs, MacBook Air Revision Soon, and More, 08.22. Also 160 GB microdrive from Intel, MacBooks on grocer's shelves, Intel future CPU plans, a checkpoint friendly notebook case, bargain 'Books from $220 to $2,699, and more.
• 'All nVidia GeForce 8600 Chips Bad', Subcompact MacBook in 2009?, Instant On Notebooks, and More, 08.15. MacBooks in high demand in education, first quad-core ThinkPad, Dell notebook claims 19 hour battery life, new Logitech mouse clips to your notebook, bargain 'Books from $200 to $3,069, more.
• US Customs Can Seize Any Laptop, Aluminum and Ultraportable MacBook Rumors, and More, 08.08. Also thoughts on the next generation of MacBooks, "I want to marry the Apple MacBook Pro", do it yourself MacBook Pro hard drive replacement, bargain 'Books from $490 to $3,069, and more.
• Next Gen MacBook Rumors and Speculation, Laptop Laidback 3 Released, Privacy Screen, and More, 08.01. Also Apple warns of MacBook drought, mobile chip overkill?, Apple rumored abandoning Intel chipsets, MacBook Air requires SuperDrive to install Windows, bargain 'Books from $325 to $3,069, and
• More in the .

Links for the Day

• Mac of the Day: PowerBook 190cs, Aug. 1995 - The last 680x0-based PowerBook could take a PowerPC upgrade.
• List of the Day: The iPod List The iPod List is a forum to discuss the iPod, it's accessories, the iTunes Store, iTunes, and related topics.
  
• August 28 in LEM history: 95: PowerBook Duo 2300 - 00: Gaming on older Power Macs - 01: AppleShare on Linux - From Beebs and Acorns to Macs - 02: Sleep of Death, - Think smarter? - It's the software, stupid - 06: PowerBook 5300 reminiscence - You might be a Mac fanatic if... - Hiding complexity behind elegant simplicity

Recent Content on Low End Mac

• 10 Mac Browsers Compared, Simon Royal, Mac Spectrum, 08.28. A look at Internet Explorer, Radon, Opera, Safari, Shiira, iCab, Firefox, Netscape Navigator, Flock, and Camino running in Leopard.
• Clone and Boot: Another Advantage of the Mac OS, Kev Kitchens, Kitchens Sync, 08.28. Unlike Windows, Apple makes it possible to clone a bootable drive (Classic Mac OS or OS X) and use it with another supported Mac.
• Best MacBook Deals, Low End Mac Deals, 08.28. Used 1.83 GHz, $799; 2.0 black, $875; refurb 2.1 GHz, $899; 2.4, $1,099; black, $1,299; new 2.1, $1,019 after rebate; 22, $1,094; 2.4, $1,219 a/r; black, $1,394 a/r.
• Best iMac G5 Deals, Low End Mac Deals, 08.28. Used 17" 1.6 GHz Combo, $499; 1.8 SuperDrive, $530; 2.0, $600; 1.9 iSight, $625; 20" 1.8 GHz, $580; 2.0, $650; 2.1 iSight, $700.
• Best classic Mac OS Deals, Low End Mac Deals, 08.28. System 6, $10; 7.1, $12; 7.5.1, $4; Mac OS 7.6, $13; 8.0, $13; 8.1, $48; 8.5, $25; 8.6, $20; 9.0, $20; 9.2.2, $20; more.
• CrossOver Strikes Out, Frank Fox, Stop the Noiz, 08.27. Running Windows apps on a Mac without paying for Windows is great in theory, but actually getting Windows software working is another story.
• MacDrought: 4 Months with No New Macs, Dan Knight, Mac Musings, 08.27. The most recent Mac update was over four months ago, and the Mac mini has been unchanged for over a year.
• Resurrecting a Dead Pismo, Spotlight Search Tip, and EasyFind a Good File Finder, Charles W. Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 08.27. Lots of tips on bringing a comatose Pismo back to life, a Spotlight file name search tip, and EasyFind as an alternative to Spotlight.
• Best Intel iMac Deals, Low End Mac Deals, 08.27. Used 17" 1.83 GHz, $625; 20", $599; 2.16, $749; 24", $950; refurb 20" 2.4, $999; 2.66, $1,299; 24" 2.4, $1,299; 2.8, $1,549; new 3.06, $2,094 after rebate; more.
• Best 15" PowerBook G4 Deals, Low End Mac Deals, 08.27. Used 1.25 GHz Combo, $600; SuperDrive, $650; 1.33 Combo, $640; 1.5, $680; SD, $725; 1.67, $730; hi-res, $800.
• Best Time Capsule and AirPort Deals, Low End Mac Deals, 08.27. 500 GB Time Capsule, $294; 1 TB, $468; AirPort Extreme Card, $39; 802.11n Base Station, $166; 802.11g AirPort Express, $60; 802.11n, $98.
• Does Running OS X System Maintenance Routines Really Do Any Good?, Charles W. Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 08.26. Mac OS X is designed to run certain maintenance routines daily, weekly, and monthly - but can't if your Mac is off or asleep.
• Purposeful Reincarnation for Old Macs, Phil Herlihy, The Usefulness Equation, 08.26. The key is to avoid spending more on upgrades than the final use of the machine can justify.
• Best Power Mac G5 Deals, Low End Mac Deals, 08.26. Used 1.6 GHz single SuperDrive, C$499; 1.8, $569; dual, $675, 2.0, $800; 2.3, C$899; 2.5, C$1,199; 2.7, $1,225; 2.5 Quad, $1,500.
• Best 17" MacBook Pro Deals, Low End Mac Deals, 08.26. Used 2.16 GHz Core Duo, $1,330; 2.33 C2D, $1,689; refurb, 2.4, $1,899; new, $2,099; 2.5, $2,558 after rebate; 2.6 Santa Rosa, $2,399 a/r; more.
• Best iPod shuffle Deals, Low End Mac Deals, 08.26. Refurb 3G 1 GB, $39; new 3G, $45; refurb 2 GB, $59; new, $68.
• More links in our archive.

Go to the 'Book Review index.