Firmware Updates
From Stephen Jones
I have a 233 MHz G3 iMac (tray loading) that I want to run 9.2 on.
I have a copy of 9.2 from my G3 PowerBook. I downloaded a firmware
update from Apple, updated the firmware on the G3, and tried to
install the 9.2 from the PowerBook install CD. A message pops up that
I need to update my firmware. I'm running 8.2 on the iMac now. Any
hints? thanks.
Steve Jones
- Hi Steve,
I expect that your firmware is okay and that the issue is that
you're attempting to install OS 9.x from the PowerBook install CD
(it can't be OS 9.2.2 if the disk is from a G3 PowerBook, because
no PowerBook G3s shipped with that version - it's probably 9.0.4
or 9.1). Software restore CDs are machine specific. For example,
the OS 10.2.1 CD that shipped with my
iBook won't mount on my Pismo
PowerBook. A regular OS 10.2 CD works fine.
You need a proper install CD, although a workaround would be to
just drag a copy of the OS 9.x system onto the iMac from the
PowerBook. If you have any version of OS 9.x, upgrades to OS 9.2.2
are free downloads from Apple's support site.
Charles
Better Trackpad I hope you can help
From Kenneth D Kass
I've been looking in vain for a place that has Better TrackPad
archived. The Mac site doesn't exist anymore. Do you have a copy of
it you could send me? Even just the pref pane would work.
It is freeware and open source, so there should be no problem
sending it.
Kenneth D Kass
- Hi Kenneth,
I had never heard of Better TrackPad before. Sounds like an
interesting utility.
You're right. The .mac page link for downloads from MacUpdate
doesn't work, and I didn't find an alternative source. Can anyone
out there help?
Charles
GPS Software
From Richard & Carol Ray
I have developed a GPS Navigation application for OS X.
http://www.gpsnavx.com
PB 1400
From John Kirby
Hi Charles,
I snagged a PB 1400 off of
eBay
and am having a tough time with the CD drive.
I wanted to upgrade to 8.6 (it's 8.1 now), but the drive doesn't
read any of my "later" software CDs.
I have some older software on CD that the drive will read just
fine.
It almost seems like there was a shift in drivers or something,
and this model is running OS/drivers before that change.
If I can't get the CD drive running the way I'd like, are there
any PCMCIA Ethernet cards you'd recommend so I can upgrade/download
from the Net?
Thanks,
John Kirby
- Hi John,
That's an odd problem if the 8.1 CDs read okay. I've had no
problem installing OS 8.6 on either of our PowerBook 1400s.
Any Mac-compatible PC Card Ethernet adapter that doesn't require
CardBus support should work fine.
For the system install, one workaround would be to install OS 8.6
on removable media like a Zip disk and then drag the System folder
onto the 1400's hard drive.
Charles
Spam filtering
From Gregory Chan
Hi Charles,
Read your article on spam management Thought you would like to
check out POPFile. Works with all email clients via POP.
http://popfile.sourceforge.net/
- info
http://www.artz-net.de/popfile/
- install guide
This cool software has kept my Inbox clean as a whistle!
Greg
- Hi Greg,
Thanks for the tip and links. I'll check it out.
Charles
A little help...
From Max
Hi,
I'm comparing the first generation iBook's performance with the
current lineup of iBooks. Is there any place on your site that shows
me that sort of info? To be a bit more specific, I mean frame rate
numbers in Quake III and other 3D games. Any sort of benchmarks would
be nice I suppose.
Please let me know,
Max
- Hi Max,
There are a bunch of Mac 'Book benchmarks on MacSpeedZone.
The comparison doesn't go as far back as the original iBooks, but
it should help give you a frame of reference.
Charles
Response: "Virex for OS 9?"
From Christopher Laspa
Hello Charles,
The last time I ran into a virus on any Mac was the Worm in 1998.
That's it. I should note, though, all the PowerBooks we use here in
our home-based Web design business (G3
WallStreet, 3400c, & my
wife's iBook) are running Norton Anti-Virus 5.0 (Yeh, I know I should
update) with monthly definition updates I manually download and
install. Either Norton is really doing its job well - or there is
actually nothing going on out there (!)
Love your column!
Regards,
Christopher M. Laspa
Discover more about us at: http://www.pathcom.com/~999ad
- Hi Christopher,
Glad you like the column.
There doesn't seem to be much Mac virus activity, but the
MS-specific worms can bite cross-platform.
Charles
Hosed by Everyone but...
From Ben Brenker
After much complaining and raving about both UPS and FedEx, I
can't believe nobody has mentioned the US Post Office. Now I know you
likely can't use them to send packages out of Canada, but I
don't see why somebody can't use them to ship into Canada.
Any time I've had to send something internationally, I've priced
out the competitors, and USPS Global Priority beats them, hands down.
I had to ship a guitar to the Netherlands, Federal Expensive wanted a
minimum of $400, UPS wanted $375, and that was for 10 day shipping.
USPS shipped it for $72, 5 day shipping, with insurance and
everything else included. The only downside was the $15 tariff the
receiver paid that neither of us knew about before hand.
Still, that comes out to $87 complete, and that's a major shaving
of total costs. I also sent a minidisk player to the Ukraine. I don't
have the receipts or the memory, but from what I can recall for 3 day
shipping it was about $20, with insurance again.
Neither of the big two screw jobs could come close. And in case
people are wondering, the USPS has dramatically improved its
customer service. We shipped a Kanga
floppy drive that arrived at the receiver's address shredded and
missing the drive. The recipient signed for the package even though
it was obviously open (shades of fraud here) and filed a claim
against us through eBay
and the USPS. The Post Office was extremely helpful in solving this
matter, working with us and him trying to settle it. In the end, he
got an insurance claim (we always ship insured), and we have no
negative feedback from him. I believe the lesson here is trust the
government, but only with your belongings, not your liberties, and
always price up USPS.
Thanks again for a great site!
Ben Brenker
- Hi Ben,
I agree. Parcel Post is badly underrated. It's cheaper, and I find
that living out here in the boonies, Parcel Post seems little if
any slower than the courier parcel services.
And, Canada Post at this end charges a flat rate of only Can$5.00
for "customs brokerage."
Charles
USB extension cable
From Peter da Silva
I haven't found the short USB extension cable separately, but the
kanguru 3-port micro-hub and the cable together retail for $9.95.
- Thanks Peter.
Charles
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