Low End Mac Editorial Archive

January 2002

First Mac use a revelation, Steve Wassenich, My First Mac, 01.31. "The Mac didn't tell me where to put the words; it let me do that, and I didn't have to define where I wanted the words to appear."
iPhoto missing one important feature, Jeff Adkins, Mac Lab Report, 01.31. iPhoto is marvelous, but it's missing one very useful feature.
Going Ten: Installation, first impressions, Dan Knight, 10 Forward, 01.31. The weird, wild, wonderful world of OS X - now installed on two older Macs.
Star Trek: A lost episode, author unknown, The Lite Side, 01.31. Which will defeat the Borg: Windows software or Microsoft's lawyers?
SyQuest drives: Fast, cheap removable storage, Korin Hasegawa-John, Mac Daniel, 01.30. When looking for a fast, low-cost removable media drive, don't overlook the old SyQuests.
Battery Amnesia, a second look, Dan Knight, 01.30. Yes, a $10 shareware utility can put life back into an old drained PowerBook battery.
Comet, Andrew Hill's PowerBook, Andrew W. Hill, Tools of the Trade, 01.30. A look at the portable hardware and software that comprises Andrew W. Hill's tool of the trade.
Computer elitism, Charles Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 01.29. In order to grow market share, Apple would have to dumb down and compromise the Mac experience to appeal to the broad consumer market.
10 forward, part 2, Steve Watkins, The Practical Mac, 01.29. An easy, successful upgrade to OS X, and how I crashed OS X in one easy step.
Installing OS X on a SuperMac S900, Bill Rose, Unofficial SuperMac Support Site, 01.29. The trials and tribulations of installing Mac OS X on an unsupported SuperMac.
An introduction to Unix, Adam Loiacono, Unix & the Mac, 01.29. A brief look at Unix, why it has emerged as the leading alternative to Windows, and what it means to Mac users.
Lessons from OS X on unsupported hardware, Dirk Pilat, Mac UK, 01.29. It works very nicely, thank you, but be sure to use a fast hard drive.
The new Power Mac value equation, Dan Knight, Mac Musings, 01.28. We finally hit the 1 GHz mark. Here's how the new compares with the old.
Microsoft policies shaped by weather, Jeff Adkins, The Lite Side, 01.28. Microsoft's business plans affected by weather, says researcher.
Recording audio on your Mac, Charlie Ruggiero, Mac Daniel, 01.28. How to record from your stereo, rip from your CDs, edit on your Mac, and burn your own CDs.
Video board victory, Stephen Archer, My Turn, 01.28. Norton System Ratings shed some light on which is the most valuable system upgrade.
My Performa and my iMac, Matthew Urban, Matt's Mac, 01.28. How Matthew Urban uses both an old Performa 635 and a new iMac to get things done.
Chtzrik, Andrew Hill's Power Mac, Andrew W. Hill, Tools of the Trade, 01.28. A look at the desktop hardware and software that comprises Andrew W. Hill's tool of the trade.
Résumé spam hall of shame, 01.25. I like the idea of sharing the names of geeks who spam Low End Mac in search of employment. Here's our first.
OS X: How fast the future?, Tim Nash, Taking Back the Market, 01.25. How Apple will move OS X past the early adopter phase and make it the dominant Mac OS.
OS 9 or X: You can't go home again, Kevin Webb, The Mac Webb, 01.25. Missing some aspects of OS 9, I decided to go back for a week. The experiment lasted all of one hour.
Digital hub or entertainment center?, Adam Robert Guha, Apple Archive, 01.25. Apple's digital hub or Microsoft's digital entertainment center - which is right?
Tech Week in Review 2002.01.25, Chris Lawson, Tech Reflections. CD copy protections, upclocked CPUs, Intel's "concept" PCs, BusinessWeek and Apple, cleaner silicon, USPS and Windows XP, tech hoax, power of AppleScript, and Web resources for Mac users.
The 'Book Review 2002.01.25, Charles Moore. Hard drive upgrade tutorial, TiBook touchup paint, 16x portable CD burner, do-it-yourself iPod case, new PowerBook cases, and bargain 'Books.
Why Microsoft's .NET is .not for me, Jeff Adkins, Mac Lab Report, 01.24. Microsoft is an illegal monopoly and I don't trust them with my data.
Benchmarks: Barracuda!, 01.24. We dropped a 20 GB Seagate Barracuda IV Ultra100 hard drive in our beige G3 - wow, it's fast! (And it's also cheap.)
SuperMacs, Fan Noise, Presentation Software, and iBook Issues, Charles W. Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 01.24. Best hard drive option for a SuperMac, the main source of computer noise, UPresent software, and iceBook issues.
Myth mongering still a popular pastime, Stephen Van Esch, Mac Scope, 01.23. Debunking the myth that Macs don't work on Windows networks.
Not another ten best list, Mike Sherman, My Turn, 01.23. The ten best and most significant Macs ever - and the five worst.
Macs, myths, conformity, and Bible software feedback, Charles W Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 01.23. More thoughts on Macs, myths, and conformity - and some more feedback on Bible software.
10 Forward!, Steve Watkins, The Practical Mac, 01.22. All the old commands are in different places, but forward migration shows just how rock solid Mac OS X is.
Freeware I wouldn't want to be without, Beverly Woods, Acoustic Mac, 01.22. A free launcher, program switcher (both better than Apple's), and a POP mail checker for dumping spam.
Music on the Mac made easy, Eric Schwarz, The Power of Mac, 01.22. How to create and move audio files between your Mac and your stereo.
Benchmarks: Power Mac G3/266. What are the best settings for virtual memory and the disk cache under Mac OS 8.1 through 9.2.2?
Microsoft's "Tsunami" Memo: The Real Text, Jeff Adkins, The Lite Side, 01.21. The Lite Site has obtained the full text of the Microsoft "Tsunami" memo, in which the Software Architect describes the new strategy his company must follow in the future.
The Mac Web and the future of Mac magazines, Dirk Pilat, Mac UK, 01.21. There used to be little more exciting than the latest issue of MacUser. The Web has changed all that.
Progress and the right handed Mac, Frank Wells, My Turn, 01.21. Who'd have thought that moving the access door from the left on the Power Mac 8600 to right on the blue & white G3 would cause such problems?
Tech Week in Review 2002.01.21, Chris Lawson, Tech Reflections. Clueless commentary at BusinessWeek, Microsoft sneakiness, making money from spam, dot-com clowns, silicon real estate, and the stupid computer industry quote of the week.
Partitioning your hard drive, Evan Kleiman, Mac Daniel, 01.21. Why you may want to partition your hard drive and how to do it.
Poor first quarter, but prospects look better, Tim Nash, Taking Back the Market, 01.18. Apple had a small profit last quarter, but future prospects are very good.
Should Apple port OS X to Intel?, Adam Robert Guha, Apple Archive, 01.18. Why porting Mac OS X to Wintel hardware is not a good idea.
Why Apple shouldn't port OS X to PCs, Korin Hasegawa-John, My Turn, 01.18. How selling OS X to PC users would destroy Apple and give Microsoft a monopoly.
The 'Book Review 2002.01.18, Charles Moore. Make your own screen protector, USB video output for original iBook, hot deal on FireWire card, ADC converter, bargain 'Books, and more.
Educational Standards and Benchmarks on the Web and in the Classroom, Jeff Adkins, Mac Lab Report, 01.17. There's a tremendous opportunity for Apple or someone else to help teachers find and implement classroom standards.
Macs, myths, and conformity, Charles Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 01.16. Apple debunks the myths, but are those the real reason people choose Windows over Macs?
That 80s Mac, Eric Schwarz, The Power of Mac, 01.16. A look back at the compact b&w Macs of the 1980s, from the first Mac through the SE/30.
PowerBook 100 series still rocks, Heather Anne Hurd, My Turn, 01.16. A decade after their introduction, old PowerBooks are still great tools that put PDAs to shame.
Going Ten, part 1, Dan Knight, 10 Forward, 01.15. We've got the low-end hardware and are preparing for OS X.
Stop the email madness, Steve Watkins, The Practical Mac, 01.15. Fighting spam is a good thing, but some ISPs carry things too far.
Unknown OS redux, Dan Knight, Mac Musings, 01.15. On reexamination, it looks like our "unknown" visitors are mostly spiders, not OS X users.
Microsoft loses, pigs fly, hell cools, Broderick Sagacious, The Lite Side, 01.14. Judge Motz calls proposed settlement lame, Apple rolls out new hardware and software.
Apple growing a new backbone?, Jeff Adkins, Mac Lab Report, 01.14. Could it be that Apple is undergoing a radical mutation and growing a new backbone?
The new iMac value equation, Dan Knight, The iMac Channel, 01.14. How good a value are the new LCD iMacs - and the remaining classic iMacs?
The new iBook value equation, Dan Knight, 01.14. While the smaller iBooks are indisputably good values, the value of the 14" iBook is entirely a personal decision.
Apple needs a revolution, not just a new iMac, Steve, Jason Laffin, My Turn, 01.14. The new iMac looks great, but it's not revolutionary. Here's what Apple needs to stoke the revolution.
Is OS X the unknown OS?, Dan Knight, Mac Musings, 01.12. Our server logs don't list any visitors using Mac OS X - is it falling under "OS unknown"? If so....
Expo wrapup, Jeff Adkins, Mac Lab Report, 01.11. Cool products, stingy vendors, weird food, and other thoughts about Macworld Expo.
Tech Week in Review 2002.01.11, Chris Lawson, Tech Reflections. Anti-spam victory, divided views on OS X, Rev. R2D2 iMac, free Maya, thoughts on new iMacs and iBook.
OS X: Time to upgrade?, Adam Robert Guha, Apple Archive, 01.11. Now that Apple has made OS X the default on new Macs, is it time to upgrade your current Mac with the new OS?
The new order, Tim Nash, Taking Back the Market, 01.11. New iMacs, a new iBook, a new application, and a new default OS shape the new order.
Manuel Mejia Jr's four old Macs, Manuel Mejia Jr, Tools of the Trade, 01.11. A look at the four Macs, multiple printers, and software that comprises Manuel Mejia Jr's tool of the trade.
The 'Book Review 2002.01.11, Charles Moore. "Son of Pismo" 14" iBook, iBookEndz, new Willow slipcases, iPod auto adapter, bargain 'Books, and more.
Preparing for OS X, Dan Knight, Mac Musings, 01.10. Yes, we will be trying OS X soon - here's the low-end hardware we'll be using.
Digital hub incomplete, Jeff Adkins, Macworld Expo SF 2002, 01.10. Gaps in Apple's digital hub and Apple file formats that don't talk to each other.
No PC could equal it, Henk Goewie, My First Mac, 01.10. "Apple manufactures incredible hardware that has the life span of a quality TV or stereo, whereas the average PC equals an average toy."
40,000 the hard way, Dan Knight, Mac Musings, 01.10. Wow, three days in a row at the 40,000 page level - and no single article bringing in all the traffic.
Macworld and the new iMac, Jeff Adkins, Mac Lab Report, 01.09. A closer look at the new iMac from the show floor and some comments on the low end.
Redefining Apple's market, Stephen Van Esch, Mac Scope, 01.09. By redefining itself as a digital hub company, Apple can have a 100% market share.
Joy in iMacville, Dan Knight, Mac Musings, 01.09. The death of CRT computing? No, Apple will keep the CRT iMac around!
More on Bible software for the Mac, Charles W Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 01.09. Reader comments on Bible study software for Mac users.
Lament for a budget iMac, Dan Knight, Mac Musings, 01.08. I come not to bury the classic sub-$1,000 iMac but to praise it.
Steve Watkins' iBook, Steve Watkins, Tools of the Trade, 01.08. A look at the hardware and software that comprises Steve Watkins' tool of the trade.
Macs get the job done, Brian Miller, My First Mac, 01.08. "With a Mac, I don't spend time thinking about what I'm trying to do, but thinking about what I can do."
SF Expo 2002 Keynote, Dan Knight, 01.07. Mac OS X now standard on new Macs, new iPhoto software, a larger 14" screen iBook, and (finally) a flat-panel iMac.
Who let the iMac out?, Dan Knight, 01.07. Oops, Time magazine let the cat out of the bag early.
PowerBooks, startup drives, and Word Perfect, Charles W Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 01.07. PowerBook questions, SuperMac startup problems, iBook hinge issues, and where to get WordPerfect for free.
iCab beats Opera as fastest low-end browser, Clarisse Leite Motter, My Turn, 01.07. For an older Power Mac with a dialup connection, nothing beats iCab.
Hands on: Dave 3.1, Alan Zisman, Mac2Windows, 01.07. How Dave lets Mac users (classic and OS X) share files and printers on a PC network.
Kevin Webb's PowerBook G4, Kevin Webb, Tools of the Trade, 01.07. A look at the hardware and software that comprises Kevin Webb's tool of the trade.
Michael 'Mike' "Mick" McMac's Mac Know-it-all Column #2, Jeff Adkins, The Lite Side, 01.07. Worthless advice on macaroni, RAM, ROM, iMacs, Rage, airport security, printing from Windows, and more.
Best Buy: Beige Power Mac G3, 01.07. Although we still consider the beige G3 a best buy under the classic Mac OS, we no longer recommend it as an OS X machine.
Addressing battery problems, Dan Knight, Troubleshooting Your Mac. A lost network connection, sluggish performance, slow mouse, b&w display, and the wrong year can all be due to a bad battery.
Way beyond AirPort, Dan Knight, Mac Musings, 01.06. Imagine the potential for high speed wireless Internet access from space....
Tech Week in Review 2002.01.04, Chris Lawson, Tech Reflections. OS X is not for me, Mac Portable returns as Sony LCD desktop, what Steve won't announce on Monday, standards compliant HTML, IE 5.1 vs. iCab, more.
The 'Book Review 2002.01.04, Charles Moore. G4/500 vs. G4/550 performance, iBook port protection, Kerouac carrying case, MCE's new light CD-RW drive, and hot deals on older PowerBooks.
Hands on: Virtual PC 5.0, Alan Zisman, Mac2Windows, 01.04. If you need to run PC software but love your Mac, Virtual PC may be for you.
Apple's retail grab: The future, Tim Nash, Taking Back the Market, 01.04. The economics and deployment of Apple's retail store strategy.
Technogeek falls in love with OS X, Rob D Libbert, My First Mac, 01.04. Linux power user discovers OS X, falls in love with the interface.
My ideal laptop, Adam Robert Guha, Apple Archive, 01.04. The TiBook is too wide, the iBook's screen is too small, and my Lombard is too big and heavy.
Dreams for Macworld Expo, Dan Knight & Anne Onymus, RumorLog, 01.04. Four ideas (not rumors) we'd love to see Apple introduce at next week's Expo.
Remote control your Mac, Jeff Adkins, Mac Lab Report, 01.04. The pros and cons of using Timbuktu or Network Assistant to remotely manage Macs.
Charles Moore's WallStreet PowerBook, Charles W Moore, Tools of the Trade, 01.03. A look at the hardware and software that comprises Charles Moore's tool of the trade.
How far can you go?, Andrew W. Hill, Aquatic Mac, 01.03. Making the right choice when picking a low-end PowerBook.
Fixing Peter Jennings' pain in the neck, Broderick Sagacious, The Lite Side, 01.03. That graphic on ABCNews.com was driving me crazy. Here's how I fixed it.
Troubleshooting FileMaker Pro, Dan Knight, Troubleshooting Your Mac. How to avoid and solve problems with shared databases, large caches, damaged files, and more.
Apple struggles to discredit Windows, Anne Onymus, The Lite Side, 01.02. Apple memo from 1993 outlines attack on Windows - strangely reminiscent of 'Microsoft' memo leaked today.
Why BeOS was so different, Dan Knight, Mac Musings, 01.02. Why BeOS was such an impressive operating system compared with Unix, Windows, NeXTstep, and the Mac OS.
Early iMac video failure, Manuel Mejia, Mac Daniel, 01.02. Some tray-loading iMacs are experiencing video failure after just 2-3 years - what causes it?
A Mac Plus in 1986 - the rest is history, Scott Clausen, My First Mac, 01.02. I saw an Apple dealer and decided to see what their product was like. The rest is history.
Looking for a better solution, Dan Knight, 01.02. We're trying to find a better program to manage our email lists. Can you help?
Rumors for a new year, Anne Onymus, Rumor Mill, 01.02. Some idle speculation about iVo, iVideo, the iBox, QuickFlick, digital television, and fast wireless networking.
32-bit addressing on older Macs, Troubleshooting Your Mac. Why older Macs have 24-bit addressing, why some need Mode32, and why memory sometimes seems to disappear.