Reduce Scanned Image: How?
From Rick Feldan
Hello....
Interesting article on the VueScan 8. I have tried v.7.6.84, and
it gives me a great image. However, the image is huge. I
simply want an image the size of the original, i.e. 4" x 6", 8" x
10". Is there a simple way to make this adjustment in VueScan that
I am missing? Thanks in advance.
Rick Feldan
eMac OS 10.2.8
Microtek ScanMaster X6 (36 bit)
Hi Rick,
Yes. Just adjust the scan resolution using
the pulldown menu in the left pane.
For adjusting the size of already scanned
images, my favorite tool is Toyviewer,
about which I can't say enough good. I has a limited range of
functions but performs them superbly, and it's freeware!
Charles
Pismo Screen Problem
From: Brian Gray
Mr. Moore,
I am having a problem with my 500 MHz Pismo (12 gig, 340 RAM) that I hope you may
have some advice on. I got my Pismo from eBay for a fair price in
April 03, and I haven't had any upgrades performed on the machine,
or any problems until now.
The problem is with the screen. At random times during use,
various areas of pixels will flash in yellow. I can still see the
screen, but it is most definitely a concern. The flashing patterns
seem to get more frequent during heavier work (like Photoshop
filters).
I live in a town where Mac help is nonexistent; the last time I
went to a computer store, they told me the problem was that I owned
an Apple. I hope you can help. I haven't seen anything on the Web
regarding a problem like this.
Thank you for your time,
Brian
Hi Brian,
It might be a ribbon cable problem, although
that shouldn't vary with processor load.
Have you tried connecting the PowerBook to an
external monitor (VGA) to see if the problem shows up there as
well. If it doesn't, then it's almost certainly a chafed, loose, or
damaged cable, or the screen itself is defective.
The wise guys at that computer store should
check out the reliability surveys of Apple vs. PC laptops. In any
case, LCD displays are industry generic.
Charles
A Low End Mac Server Tutorial
From Michael Jarve
Mr. Moore,
I thought I would share my experience in setting up a low-end
server with the rest of your readers.
First a little background.
I have a mixed PC and Mac LAN at my home and a very high speed
connection. I was not using this connection to its fullest, so I
decided to set up a small server to host images that I use on
forums and a small and simple website. I had an old Power Mac 6500 sitting around that I haven't
used for a long time. It was slow and cranky, but it had always
worked. It had the motherboard replaced after the metal retainer
for the Video Out came loose and shorted the motherboard, and so it
was running at a paltry 180 MHz (the motherboard was from a
Performa 6400/180).
I took it out of the basement and turned it on after four years
of not using it, and it worked perfectly well. 24 MB RAM, 33.6
modem, 2 GB hard drive, and OS 9.1. Hmm, something had to be
done before this could become a server.
I visited the Other World
Computing site and bought a couple sticks of 64 MB DIMMs (for
an excellent price) and a 20 GB hard drive to throw in. I also
bought a Dlink 10/100 PCI Ethernet card from a local computer
store.
Now we were getting somewhere!
I installed the upgraded components and decided to give Yellow Dog Linux a whirl. That
was a mistake. I could not get it to install for my life, and the
email support list was very little help (well, no help actually). I
was beginning to get dispirited when I heard about MacHTTP, a free (currently, anyway)
HTTP server for the classic Mac OS's (7-9). I downloaded it and set
it up; piece of cake! I set up the router to forward port 80 to the
6500, and I had my web server.
I also installed RealVNC
server to allow me to remote control it, but the version for the
classic Mac OS is very beta and would constantly crash. Oh
well, no headless server for me.
I then wanted to set up an FTP server to allow myself and others
to store files on it. Rumpus to the rescue. A local
print shop had a copy laying around they hadn't used since they
switched over to OS X, and I bought it for a song.
One last upgrade I am making is taking the motherboard from a
250 MHz Power Mac 5500 and installing
it in the 6500 (a 70 MHz increase).
Of course, I could have used my Power
Mac G3/400 (B&W) running OS X (Panther), but the
configuration is more complex, and I am not as comfortable leaving
it up and running 24/7 as I am with the Power Mac 6500.
So now I have my real web server with both HTTP and FTP
capability running on a system I'd be loathed to surf the Internet
with; it's almost crack-proof and invulnerable to the harshest
criticisms. And it works quite well. I have it set to automatically
reboot every morning (otherwise it slows to a crawl), and I can
pretty much ignore it otherwise.
Hope this helps other aspiring web geeks out there!
Sincerely,
Mike Jarve
Thanks for the tutorial, Mike.
Charles
WallStreet Upgrades
From Jon March
Quick question if you might help-
- Is there a PCI-type card that works in a WallStreet 300 to give
me FireWire & USB jacks? (that works with OS 9?)
- Can my Pismo 400 OS 9 be setup
for Wireless Internet (I have cable modem Ethernet) and wireless
USB printing!?
Can't hurt to ask I guess!
Jon
Hi Jon,
Affirmative on both counts. I have Macally
CardBus FireWire and USB adapters in my WallStreet, and they work
well. I don't have a wireless adapter, but an inexpensive one that
supports the WallStreet is available from Wegener Media. I don't
know about the wireless printing. You would need a hub of some
sort.
Here are some descriptions and URLs to check
out:
Macally CardBus to FireWire Adapter. Connects FireWire to G3
series PowerBook or any PowerBook with a CardBus slot. Compatible
with Mac OS 9.0 or later. DVConnect Apps for DV Camcorder. Final
Cut Pro, iMovie, Adobe Premier. Price: $61.99.
ADS Technologies USB Turbo 2.0 for Notebooks.
Add 2 high-speed USB 2.0 ports to your CardBus equipped laptop.
$29.
ADS Technology Dual Link CardBus Card for
laptop computers (Mac & PC). Add FireWire & USB 2.0 to your
notebook with one CardBus card. $67.95.
IOGear USB 2.0 / FireWire Combo CardBus Card.
2-in-1 CardBus (FireWire, USB 2.0, and USB 1.1). $78.95.
The ADS Turbo 2.0 and IOGear cards are
available from
Other World Computing.
RoamAbout 802.11 Wireless Card. Full 10bT networking
capabilities. Full compatibility with AirPort base stations. 11mbs
Transfer rate. Price: $27.99. Compatible with PowerBooks:
- 5300c/cs/ce
- 1400c/1400cs
- 3400c
- 2400c
- G3 ("kanga" )
- G3 WallStreet
- G3 Lombard
- G3 Pismo
- G4 Titanium
- For more information, visit Wegener Media.
Charles
iBook G3 Heat
From Dana Trantham
Re: 'Book of Fire
From William Reese:
I've had the same problem with the Apple iBook
G3/800. It happened to me twice. The first time it occurred, I
contacted Apple Care, and the technician told me that under no
circumstances should you move your iBook while it's on - and it's
on even when it's asleep. Ever since then I have shut down the
laptop and haven't had the problem since (well once, but that was
an embarrassing mistake)."
I move my iBook 800. I have AirPort. I pick up the iBook and
take it in the den and work sometimes. So AppleCare thinks I ought
to shut it down and reboot it? What can happen with me gently
carrying it into the den? What is so sensitive that you can't move
it running? There's some information missing here.
Dana Trantham
Hi Dale,
I would be interested to learn if "don't move
your iBook when it's asleep" is official AppleCare policy or just
that rep's off-the-cuff advice. I suspect the latter, but....
Personally, I almost never shut down my
'Books, including when they're being transported in a case.
Charles
iDVD for OS 9
From Christopher Beaver
Greetings, Charles:
I make digital films with an Avid Xpress editing system that
only works with OS 9. According to my technical contacts at
the Avid retail outlet, the Xpress doesn't even like to have
OS X loaded on a separate partition.
The problem I'm currently facing is trying to find a copy of
iDVD that's compatible with OS 9 so I can burn DVDs with my
built-in SuperDrive.
iDVD was not part of the original system install, and I haven't
been able to find the software on the Apple website.
Would I find a copy on the System Restore disks or some other
location? If so, how would I go about installing just that portion
of the software? Or if not, do you have any ideas for me?
Many thanks, always appreciative of your column,
Christopher Beaver
Hi Christopher,
iDVD has been OS X only since the iDVD 2
release in January, 2002.
I can't recall if iDVD was ever bundled with
Mac OS system software, but I'm inclined to think not.
I hit a brick wall on this one.
Charles
Unable to Install X on Titanium G4/800
From Chris Houston
Hello Charles,
I am a regular reader of your columns and enjoy them
thoroughly.
Just wanted to post about a problem, in case you or another
reader may have a solution.
I recently inherited a TiBook
G4/800 that had hard drive problems. The previous owner
reported that the drive made a regular clicking sound and the
computer would freeze on occasion. He said he sometimes worked for
a couple of hours before the problems arose.
I swapped out the hard drive, put it into a Pismo and found
that, after a bit of disk repair with Disk Warrior, it was
okay.
I then installed a new 40 GB 5400 rpm drive in the TiBook,
divided it into two partitions and installed 9.2.2 on one. It works
just fine. No problems, no clicking hard drive, no freezes. Very
fast, great AirPort reception, Combo drive still working okay,
etc.
I then tried to install Panther on the other partition. It
seemed to go well; the installation finished and the PowerBook
restarted on its own. But then the problems: grey screen, clicking
hard drive, unable to boot from any system folder while restarting
and holding down the ALT key (no system folders appeared on
screen), unable to reboot from the Panther CD. I finally got it to
reboot from the 9.2.2 partition, then repaired the disk (lots to
repair, said Disk Warrior), and the clicking HD disappeared. Ran
well once again in 9.2.2.
After 24 hours, I decided to retry my luck. Tried to install
Panther on the 2nd partition. Exact same results. Same grey screen.
Same clicking HD.
I finally wiped the partition and installed 9.2.2. on it.
Repaired the partitions and both run fine, though still only 9.2.2.
Weirdly, no HD clicking at all when running 9.2.2.
Ever heard of this? Seems weird to me, at least in my not so
vast experience. If you or anyone has any suggestions, I'm all
ears. I like 9.2.2, but I'd like to have Panther on the other
partition too!
Thanks,
Chris Houston
Hi Chris,
Sounds weird to me as well. Here's a wild
notion. Could the problem be a substandard or defective RAM
upgrade? Memory incompatibilities can sometimes cause strange
symptoms with OS X, but OS 9 will work fine.
The fact that two separate hard drives have
manifested the same sort of malfunction (and the original drive
works okay in the Pismo) indicates that the drive itself likely
isn't the problem.
Charles
Drivers for Mac SCSI Cards
From Walter J. Ferstl
Hello Charles,
Apart from Adaptec, there are other manufacturers of fine SCSI
cards for Macintosh.
- Atto is one of
them, with drivers for Classic OS as well as OS X including
Panther.
- Initio
deserves respect, too (OS 9 to 10.3).
Regards,
Walter
Hi Walter,
Thanks for the information and links.
Charles
OS 9 on Newer Macs
From Fred Goff
Charles,
There may be a couple of options for a person wanting to run an
older OS on a newer Mac. There's a program called Basilisk II that
will emulate a 68K Mac. It's been ported to OS X. It will run
up to OS 8.1. Unlike Classic, it actually emulates a 68K machine.
You'll need a valid boot ROM file to make it work. The only caveat
is no PowerPC software allowed.
The other option may be looking at Mac on Linux. This is an open
source project that will run Mac OS 9 or X on a Linux system.
The person could install Linux on a partition and then install Mac
on Linux. I do not know if the machine has to be able to boot in
OS 9 to run OS 9 under MOL, but this may be another
option. On New World machines, you don't need a ROM file to run
MOL.
Interesting potential workarounds for the
determined.
Charles
Beige G3s vs. B&W
From Anna Vinding
Hi,
Our problem is probably a little unique, and I hope you can
provide some direction. We are still running a database system on
OS 8.1, although we are working on upgrading the software to
Panther. Some of our Macs are dying, though, and we need
replacement systems until we're ready to get everyone on Panther. I
thought we could get beige G3s
meanwhile, since they run OS 8, and I've tried them with the
G4 upgrade (500 MHz). I've also installed Panther in it at one
point, and it worked fine, too. Now that I've read more about older
systems, I think the B&W seems to
be a better overall deal. The question is, will the B&W run OS
8.x? I can't find much literature on the subject. I was wondering
if you could somehow have an answer to that?
Thanks,
Anna
Hi Anna,
The B&W Power Mac requires Mac OS 8.5 or
later, which may or may not be helpful to you.
Will your database not work on later versions
of the Classic OS?
In general, I think the B&W is a much
superior machine to the beige G3 Power Macs, but if you absolutely
need OS 8.1 support, the beige G3 (or the G3 All-in-One) are your
latest option.
Charles
Jag in WS
From R. Friede
Charles,
Re: "Now you've provided me with some interesting information. I
wonder if that could be why I haven't been able to get Jaguar to
install on my WallStreet?"
Nope, it's 8 not 7 GB. You might try XPostFacto though. That's
the only way I was able to get Jag onto my WS.
Rgds,
Bob Friede
Thanks Bob,
Worth a try, perhaps, although I'm very
pleased with how OS 9.2.2 has been running on the old WallStreet.
It's been a month or so since my last restart, and I'm nearly up to
"Untitled 200" in Tex Edit Plus.
Charles
Re: Jag in WS
Frankly, I believe OS X isn't worth the trouble in a WS unless
there's some important software need. I like the way 9.2.2 runs in
mine, too, though I don't use the WS much anymore.
Tex Edit Plus is great. It's as close as I'll ever get to a word
processor in a Mac. I still have M$ Word 5.1a around here, but it's
not worth the trouble to install it to run in Classic on the TiBook
I use daily when Tex Edit does fine for snail mail letter writing
and the like. The only trouble I've had with it has to do with the
difference between screen font size and print font size; that is,
if I printed using the same size I see onscreen, it printed way too
big. Upon my request, Tom Bender wrote me a nifty AppleScript that
reduces just the text and not the stationery letterhead prior to
printing and then restores the original size afterward.
Regards,
Bob Friede
Hi Bob,
I, too, am very satisfied with the
performance of the WallStreet in OS 9.2.2. I haven't restarted for
about a month and am up to "Untitled 245" in Tex Edit Plus - my
favorite Mac OS application ever. Tom Bender is a prince of a
fellow. You wouldn't get service like that from Bill Gates!
Charles
PCI Radeons Gone
From Peter da Silva
The Radeon 7000s from the Xserves all went to one person. Terra
Soft seems rather surprised by the response.
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Charles Moore has been a freelance journalist since 1987 and began writing for Mac websites in May 1998. His The Road
Warrior column was a regular feature on MacOpinion, he is
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