Apple, Tech, and Gaming
lives in the suburbs of
Columbus, Ohio, with his wife, Amie, and two children, Matthew and
Courtney. He bought his first Mac, a 600 MHz "Summer 2001" G3
iMac - just four months before Apple introduced the iMac G4. He says:
"This was the first Mac I purchased on my own, and the only one I
ever purchased new at full retail price before becoming a dedicated
low-end Mac buyer through eBay
auctions and local sellers. I paid $1,299 for my iMac G3 just 4 months
before the $300 price-drop on this model - and the surprising release
of the iMac G4 flat panel (grrrr . . . bad luck)."
Although a bit disappointed at first, Dan's old-fashioned CRT iMac
G3 has proven to be a wise investment with no hardware failures in a
decade of operation. It served him well as his workhorse for seven
years (through college and beyond) and has been outfitted with several
peripherals and upgrades over the years. It is currently running
Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger as a
back-up machine, and finally took a back seat in 2008 to a 1.42 GHz eMac G4 purchased for
just a fraction of the original price tag of the iMac G3, while
providing several times the performance.
Dan's main production machines include the above-mentioned eMac and
an off-lease 12" 1.5 GHz
PowerBook G4 acquired in January 2011. Both are running Mac OS X 10.5.8 Leopard. The eMac has
been maxed out with 2 GB of dual channel DDR PC-3200 RAM,
significantly boosting Leopard performance, and is connected to a 22"
AOC 1080p HD monitor via mini-VGA-to-VGA connection. It is also running
in extended desktop mode courtesy of Screen Spanning
Doctor. The PowerBook gets along just fine with the 768 MB of RAM
it was configured with, although maxing out at 1.25 GB would be
ideal.
On acquiring his first 12" PowerBook G4, Dan says:
"In April 2009, about a year after purchasing the eMac, I had
purchased an off-lease mint-condition Hi-Res 15" 1.67 GHz
PowerBook G4, and then sold it in December 2010 for roughly what I
paid for it initially in 2009! The sale was prompted out of desire for
a Sony Playstation 3 60 GB backward compatible launch console. I had
also been eying a 12" PowerBook. Due to the amazing resale value of the
Hi-Res PowerBook G4, I was able to nearly have both items without
adding any additional cash and have not regretted it since!"
On slightly downgrading to a smaller 1.5 GHz machine from a faster
1.67 GHz machine with more (faster) memory, a much larger
high-resolution screen and twice the VRAM:
"Needless to say, 'slightly downgrading' (while gaining amazing
portability with a 12" unit) was one of the best decisions I have ever
made. Although I really enjoyed the additional features of the 15"
Hi-Res (especially the stunning 1440 x 960 screen), the 12" 'Book runs
much cooler, and the portability has proven to be a worthwhile tradeoff
for the extra power (in addition to gaining a PS3 in the process). I
can't see myself moving to an Intel Mac in the near future, but at some
point I plan on upgrading to either a 17" Early 2008 MacBook
Pro with a 1920 x 1200 matte display or a 17" Early 2011 MacBook
Pro, which can still run Snow Leopard and is also equipped with
Thunderbolt."
Dan's other Macs include a 400 MHz Pismo PowerBook, which
he currently uses as a wireless file and print server, along with a few
project machines.
Dan enjoys creative, instructional, and informative writing. He is
working on a series of fantasy novels as a side project, plays various
recreational sports (golf, skiing, bowling, etc.), and has been an avid
gamer since the days of the Atari 2600, owning
countless games and a wide variety of handheld and home game consoles
since.
He was an 8-year member of Sony's (former) Gamer Advisory Panel,
providing insight and advice to developers and enthusiasts alike. He is
also a member of the Vintage Mac Consultants
Association, an alumni member of Phi Kappa Theta Fraternity, and a
2003 graduate of The Ohio State University, possessing a Bachelor of
Science in Consumer Affairs with a Minor in Economics.
He says, "Most notably, I am a Mac Fanatic!"
Why a Mac? "I love everything Apple and Macintosh related, and Macs
allow you to you feel more connected to your machine and workflow due
to the 'personality and attitude' given to them through unique design
and an attractive interface. I began using Apple computers in the
mid-80s with an Apple IIc+."
"My late father (and Accredited Public Relations entrepreneur)
George Bashur, was in journalism, graphic design, and the PR business
throughout his entire professional career, and he always used a Mac,
since they were tools of his trade. I had the privilege of using his
numerous machines growing up (beginning with an LC and a Performa 476, followed by a Power Mac 6100/66 DOS Compatible,
a Beige G3 266, and
several others). Needless to say, Dad's collection of Macs and
peripherals gave me much of the inspiration I have today for the Mac.
As I began to learn more and more about the hardware, upgrades, Mac OS,
and the applications Dad used, it gave me an incredible thirst for
knowledge that I could only quench through an incredible amount of
research and hands-on learning."
Besides my passion for Macs, gaming, and writing, I also appreciate
repurposing older technology that was once too costly for the average
user but has become accessible due to its age. My Sony LocationFree
base stations are a testament to that. I own two of them, with a
total of five devices connected. Although they once would have cost
over $500 combined, I purchased the units for less than $50 each
shipped to my door - a savings of more than 80%! Why replace something
if it works just fine and still has a purpose or can be reused for a
different purpose? Those LocationFree base stations can still utilize
analog connections to send an acceptable picture over the Internet to
my PowerBook or PSP. It's certainly come in handy at places with WiFi
to help entertain our children by bringing up my connected devices
(including my digital cable DVR),"
Maybe you own an older Mac that's just sitting around that you were
thinking about letting go of and buying a brand new model. Think about
what its capable of without any upgrades, and then think about what
some used software that is now a fraction of its original cost, coupled
with potential upgrades, adapters, or additional peripherals, could
unleash. If it's cost effective and can still meet your needs. go for
it! Low-end Macs and low-end accessories cost much less than new, and
you can still be just as productive, while investing that money into
other passions. For me, that other passion happens to be gaming, and by
being a low-end Mac user, I am able to have the best of both
worlds!"
Dan Bashur has been writing for Low End Mac since July 2009 and also
has content published on projectgamers.com, a website
dedicated to the use of Sony's PSP. Updates to this site will be on the
way soon, and new Project Gamers articles will be posted within Apple,
Tech, and Gaming under Sony Handheld News going forward. The upcoming
release of the PlayStation Vita will
surely reinvigorate Sony's handheld gaming business and will give us
plenty to talk about for years to come!
- 12" PowerBook G4 to the Rescue Once Again, 2013.01.28.
With the much larger MacBook Pro in for service, it was a joy to rediscover how useful this old PowerBook remains.
- Remembering the Hi-Res PowerBook G4, 2012.10.29.
The last generation of PowerBooks had high resolution screens, potent graphics, and dual-layer SuperDrives.
- $90 USB 2.0 Blu-ray Drive Also Works Inside a Mac mini, 2012.09.05.
The Blu-ray drive inside this USB 2.0 enclosure transplants easily into a pre-2009 Core 2 Duo Mac mini, where it works like a charm.
- Xbox 360 and PS3: A PowerPC G5 Saga, 2012.08.27.
Oddly, as Apple was leaving PowerPC behind, Sony and Microsoft were preparing to adopt IBM's G5 technology for their next generation gaming consoles.
- 2005 iBook G4: Going Out with a Technological Bang, 2012.07.26.
The last generation iBook G4 had several technologies absent in earlier versions, giving it strong value even today.
- Mac Blu-ray Player Lets Macs Display Blu-ray Movies, 2012.07.24.
Dan Bashur reviews the only software designed to let you watch Blu-ray movies on Macs
- Blu-ray No Longer a 'Bag of Hurt' for Macs, 2012.07.10.
Dan Bashur looks at the first internal Blu-ray drive for the MacBook Pro and likes what he finds.
- Mac Pro on the Way Out or Changing with the Times?, 2012.05.22.
No other desktop Mac offers a wide range of expansion options, but is that enough reason for Apple to keep the behemoth powerhouse Mac Pro around?
- 17" MacBook Pro on the Way Out or Changing with the Times?, 2012.05.15.
No other MacBook rivals its expansion options, but is that enough reason for Apple to keep the largest MacBook Pro around?
- Unicorns of Pismo Lore: 1 GHz G3 and 900 MHz G4 Upgrades, 2012.04.16.
Although 550 MHz G4 Pismo upgrades are still available and 900 MHz G3 were rare, the holy grails of Pismo upgrades are PowerLogix 1 GHz G3 and 900 MHz G4 upgrades.
- Bridging Gaps with New Macs, Old Macs, and iDevices, 2012.04.06.
Dan Bashur has found the ideal bridge Macs for newer and older technologies - a Power Mac G4, a MacBook Pro, and now an iPad.
- Pismo: The Next Generation, Part 1, 2012.03.20.
Restoring a failing PowerBook G3 and finding a new purpose for it with the next generation of Mac users.
- Long Lasting Mac Value: Tiger and Snow Leopard, 2012.02.20.
Mac OS X 10.4 and 10.6 stand apart by providing lots of support for older Macs and older Mac software.
- My Intel Mac Big Bang, 2012.01.27.
Over the past month, Dan Bashur has moved from G4 Macs to a Core i7 MacBook Pro with Thunderbolt and OS X Lion.
- Flash Continues to Lose Ground as HTML5 Gains Steam, 2011.11.08.
With Apple, Microsoft, and Sony dropping Flash support in their browsers, the HTML5 future means unexpected blessings for PowerPC Mac users.
- Letter to the Jobs Family and Apple, 2011.10.06.
"One of the greatest influences in my life has been Steve Jobs and the company he created."
- Linux on a PlayStation 3 or Not: My Personal Struggle, 2011.08.25.
The PS3 was originally designed to support a second operating system, such as Linux, but firmware 3.15 disabled it. Is it better to install Linux on your PS3 or have up-to-date firmware?
- OS X Lion and the Post-PC Era: Yay or No Way?, Part 4, 2011.07.20.
With iOS, Apple has created an excellent platform for content consumption, but will Lion make content creators happy?
- OS X Lion and the Post-PC Era: Yay or No Way?, Part 3, 2011.07.15.
Lion sounds wonderful, but I'm productive, comfortable, and happy running an older Mac with an older version of OS X.
- OS X Lion and the Post-PC Era: Yay or No Way?, Part 2, 2011.07.14.
Unifying the Mac and iOS experience while making Lion a flat-out 64-bit operating system paves the way for Apple's future.
- OS X Lion and the Post-PC Era: Yay or No Way?, Part 1, 2011.07.13.
Mac OS X 10.7 is going to change a lot of things, but are the changes for the better or worse for current Mac users?
- Adobe Flash Has Left PowerPC Macs Behind, 2011.06.10.
While Flash 10.2 supports a 2002 Pentium 4 and a 2001 version of Windows, the latest version leaves every PowerPC Mac out in the cold.
- Thunderbolt's Potential, Yet Target Display Mode Is Broken on 2011 iMac, 2011.06.08.
Thunderbolt has unlimited potential, yet it prevents the 27" 2011 iMac from using Mini DisplayPort input as earlier models did.
- PowerBook G4 to the Rescue of a Die Hard Pittsburgh Penguins Fan, 2011.05.09.
NHL GameCenter Live specifies a 1.6 GHz G5 minimum, but game 7 against the Tampa Bay Lightning was watchable on a 1.5 GHz PowerBook G4.
- Handheld Gaming in 2011: Apple vs. Sony and Nintendo, 2011.01.31.
Apple's iOS platform has become a big player for casual gaming, but new models from Sony and Nintendo should strengthen their markets.
- It's a Good Time to Buy a Used Mac, 2010.12.22.
Prices on late model G4 PowerBooks are better than ever, and there are some real bargains on Core Duo Intel models as well.
- Office 2011 for Mac: Do You Want It? Do You Need It?, 2010.10.26.
Microsoft Office 2011 brings Outlook to the Mac and much improved compatibility with the Windows version of Office.
- iLife 11: Another Nail in the PowerPC Coffin, 2010.10.21.
With the release of iLife 11, Apple has left even the newest PowerPC Macs behind.
- Better Audio Output from Macs without Digital Audio, 2010.10.06.
With the right hardware, any Mac with USB or FireWire can output multichannel and digital audio.
- Digital Audio Output: Apple's DVD Player vs. VLC Player, 2010.10.04.
Configuring your Mac for digital audio output with DVD Player is a convoluted process. The free VLC Player makes things much simpler.
- Tech Changes, and So Does Life, 2010.09.15.
Dan Bashur reflects on the birth of a daughter, the loss of his father, and bumps in the road of life.
- iPad Gaming Potential, 2010.03.11.
Two years of developing games for the less powerful iPhone and iPod touch has prepared developers to unleash the iPad's potential.
- The iPad as Your In-between Mac, 2010.03.09.
Apple's iPad will have a place as the in-between Mac that can do a lot of the light duty tasks typically done on a notebook.
- Buying a Mac for Less and Spreading Apple Joy, 2010.03.03.
Compare a $300 netbook and a used, top-end, maxed out iBook with OS X. You can go Mac at netbook prices and have the full Apple experience.
- Using Front Row on Macs That Don't Support Apple's Remote, 2010.02.02.
Two hardware solutions for remotely controlling Front Row on Macs that were never designed to work with the Apple Remote Control.
- Mini VGA to S-video Adapter a No Go for eMacs, 2009.11.24.
You might think that Apple's Mini VGA S-video adapter is a cheap way to connect your eMac or G4 iMac to your TV. You would be wrong.
- DVI-to-Mini DisplayPort Converters: A Ray of Hope for the 27" iMac, 2009.11.13.
The new iMac accepts DisplayPort input, but it won't work with the usual DVI-to-Mini DisplayPort adapters. It requires a more expensive converter.
- How to Connect Some VGA Macs to Analog HDTVs, 2009.10.16.
Using the Sabrent VGA to Component Video Converter to connect some VGA Macs to a 1080i high-def TV with no digital input.
- Re-imagining the Mac Cube for the Intel Era, 2009.10.07.
The Power Mac G4 Cube was one of Apple's most beautiful computers. Here's how Apple could resurrect the concept - and succeed this time.
- Teaching an Old iMac Some New Tricks, 2009.10.02.
Using a G3 iMac as part of your home entertainment center with remote control, audio out to your stereo, and video out to your TV.
- Blu-ray Playback in Mac OS X: Will It Ever Happen?, 2009.09.30.
Today's Macs have the power to support Blu-ray, but not the software. And as far as PowerPC Macs are concerned, we'll probably never see Blu-ray playback.
- 5 Best Sub-$1,000 Mac Notebooks for Gamers, 2009.09.25.
Good Mac 'Books for gaming start below $300 and cover the G3, G4, and Intel eras.
- The Best Sub-$1,000 Mac Notebooks for Gamers, 2009.09.25.
We have a tie for the best Mac gaming notebook below $1,000, and also four 'Books that almost made the cut.
- Apple and Gaming: Today's Reality and Tomorrow's Dream, 2009.09.15.
By creating a way to play iPhone/iTouch games on Macs and/or Apple TV, Apple could become a dominant player in portable and home-based gaming.
- 5 Best Desktop Macs for Gaming for Under $1,000, 2009.09.10.
You can have a decently configured gaming Mac for as little as $300 - and the ultimate for under $700.
- The Best Desktop Mac for Gaming and 3 Runners Up, 2009.09.10.
The ultimate desktop gaming Mac for under $700 plus three low-end budget contenders.
- MacBook with 'Snow Leopard' Trumps $1,000 Windows Notebooks, 2009.08.28.
If you're on a $1,000 laptop budget, hunt up a MacBook. If you need 17 inches, hunt for a PowerBook or early MacBook Pro.
- Emulation on a Mac, 2009.08.12.
Whether you're emulating an older Mac, a Windows PC, or a game console, emulation software provides the tools you need.
- Gaming on a Pismo PowerBook, 2009.08.07.
Apple's Pismo PowerBook G3 has plenty of processing power, but its deficient when it comes to graphics power and video memory.
- Gaming on an Aluminum PowerBook, 2009.08.04.
There are quite a few high-end games from the late PowerBook era that run quite well on the later, faster G4 PowerBooks.
- The Last PowerBooks Have Plenty of Life Left, 2009.07.31.
Introduced in 2005, these were the last PowerBooks before Apple went Intel, and they remain useful in the age of Leopard.
