XPostFacto on WallStreet
From Henry Harrison in response to Wireless
Network and Used P'Books:
"Since you are using Photoshop and mentioned speed, my
recommendation among the machines you mentioned would be a Pismo (with or without a
processor upgrade) or a Lombard (likely with a processor upgrade). The
3400 is just too slow for your
purposes.
"A WallStreet would
be an option, and it is also processor upgradable, but it doesn't
support OS X 10.3 (Panther). In the price range you're
considering, you might also check out refurbished Dual-USB
iBooks."
Hi Charles
Just thought I'd let you know that OWC's XPostFacto
software (alpha version 3.0a9) allows Panther to install on a
WallStreet. I appreciate that not everyone is comfortable with alpha
software, but this is basically to achieve an install. Once installed,
Panther works pretty much as it does on my 12" G4 PowerBook. The speed is
very useable on the WallStreet; I have mine wirelessly networked and am
gradually setting it up as a server. The only gotcha with the install
to watch is to install onto the first partition, no larger than
8 MB (assuming you have upgraded the stock drive.
Kudos to Ryan and OWC for their work on this; it is brilliant.
Cheers and regards
Henry
Hi Henry,
Thanks. Last time I looked, Ryan was still saying that WallStreet
support for Panther installs with XPF was still to come, but I did read
somewhere last week that somebody had been successful getting Panther
running on a WallStreet using XPF.
I agree. XPF is a great effort.
Charles
WallStreet tale
From Andrew Main
Charles,
Some thoughts for your correspondent with the dead WS:
Good places to go to ask questions and get help are two mailing
lists:
Sound/power card failure is very often the cause of inert WS and
other G3 PBs, as the power input is mounted on this card. (I've just
been restoring a WS that had a bad sound card.) Sound cards can be
found on
eBay.
http://search.ebay.com/search/search.dll?GetResult&catref=C3&query=wallstreet+sound&from=R10&category1=25447
The bear is taking the PB apart far enough to replace the sound
card, a job not for the faint-hearted. As you know, Apple service
manuals are available via Web downloads, but I know you can't publicly
advertise this possibility. However, some good take-apart instructions
have been posted by PowerBook Tech repair/parts
service, which also might be a good source for parts. (Unfortunately
the site seems to be down at the moment so I can't look at it, but as I
recall their instructions were roughly as good as the Apple manuals, at
least for the dismantling procedure itself.)
Andrew Main
Hi Andrew,
Yes; I was party to stripping down a WS one time. Not for the
faint-hearted indeed. (We did get it back together).
Thanks for the info.
Charles
PRAM Battery Replacement (WallStreet)
From Carlos Robinson
I have a PowerBook
WallStreet, and now it time to replace the PRAM battery.
Do you have any how to on opening up this beast and replacing the
battery. I'm sure there are many who have these old PowerBook and have
the same problem.
Carlos
Hi Carlos,
I frequently get requests for info on how to tear down G3 Series
PowerBooks. Having done a WallStreet once without benefit of
instructions, I'm pleased to note that German PowerBook fan Michael
Kliehm has posted three excellent, and beautifully illustrated
tear-down tutorials for the three PowerBook G3 models: WallStreet,
Lombard, and Pismo.
You can check them out at:
• WallStreet: http://homepage.mac.com/sysop/PhotoAlbum3.html
• Lombard: http://homepage.mac.com/sysop/PhotoAlbum5.html
• Pismo: http://homepage.mac.com/sysop/PhotoAlbum7.html
The PowerBook Medic
online store offers detailed take apart guides for various Apple
portables. These manuals include detailed pictures and explanations of
take apart procedures. After purchasing the manual, you will
automatically be able to download it. The PowerBook Medic manuals cost
$9.95 each.
Take Apart Manuals are available for: Titanium G4 Gigabit, Titanium G4
400, iBook White "Ice", iBook Clamshell, G3 Pismo FireWire, G3 Lombard
USB, G3 WallStreet 1998, G3 Original Kanga, 3400c, 2400c, 1400c/1400cs,
Duo 230, 280, 2300c, 550c, 500, 190/5300, 150, 100, Macintosh
Portable
Charles
Re: PowerBook 1400, Kanga, and WallStreet
Reflections
From Paul Barton
Mr. Moore,
I still have my Apple PowerBook
1400c from 1997. It runs fine on OS 8.6, but I am interested in
upgrading it.
I have read that I can upgrade it with a Sonnet
Crescendo processor to a G3 capability.
With the new Sonnet G3 processor, how far current could I get with
Apple's operating system?
Is it possible to upgrade RAM on this machine?
Would it be possible to do the following also:
- Make the WiFi capable with my Apple airport?
- Make it USB compatible?
- Allow for an ethernet connection?
- Connect to external monitors?
I look forward to your reply and hope you can help with this
project.
Sincerely,
Paul Barton
Hi Paul,
Re: 1400 processor upgrades, the G3 makes the old 1400 much faster, but
even with 466 MHz of G3 power, you're still going to be hobbled
by:
• A slow, 33 MHz system bus (compared with a Pismo's 100 MHz or
the iBook's 100 MHz)
• A RAM upgrade ceiling of 64 MB (CompactFlash cards are a
potential workaround fudge, but I have no experience with them)
• Mediocre (16-bit) and non-upgradable video support
• Video out requires optional add-on card
• A 800 x 600, 11.3" display - passive matrix on the 1400cs
• Nonsupport of SCSI Disk Mode with hard drives over
4 GB
• Non-CardBus PC Card slots
• Ethernet requires either an internal expansion card (which means
you can't use the video out card simultaneously) or a PC Card
• No way to add USB or FireWire
• No OS X support (OS 9.2.2 is the end of the line)
For more on this topic see my Road Warrior column Does
a 466 MHz PowerBook 1400 Make Sense?
As for WiFi support on the 1400, see the RoamAbout wireless
card and my Road Warrior column The
AppleCare Dilemma and the Wireless PowerBook 1400.
With Lombard and Pismo prices getting down into the $400-$650 range, I
would be inclined to point you in that direction.
Charles
Jerky, Freezy Mouse
From Jeff T. Matsuda
Dear Charles:
I have an iMac flat screen running OS X 10.2.4, and recently I've
noticed that the mouse will start getting "sticky" and "jerky" on the
screen, then freeze up altogether, taking the rest of the keyboard with
it, forcing me too shut the machine off and restart using the power
button.
Some sites have suggested that it might be a sign of bad memory.
I've used Disk Tools to repair permissions and cleaned out the cache in
my user library, to no avail.
Other sites have suggested that it might be low power to the USB
connections. This might be part of the problem as the USB connectors in
the keyboard (which the Apple Pro Mouse plugs into) are fairly loose.
Under this theory, the machine loses sight of the connected device and
disables it, and then when there's enough juice again, it reengages it
again.
What do you think? Thanks.
Jeff T. Matsuda
Hi Jeff,
There are a vast number of possibilities as to what might cause this
type of behavior. I doubt that it's bad memory, though. I'll
provisionally go with the evidence - those loose USB ports. I suggest
hooking up another keyboard and mouse to see if the problem goes
away.
I would also suggest upgrading your system to OS 10.2.6 (free download)
which is IMHO the most stable version of Jaguar.
Charles
iMac G3 CD-ROM Drives
From Lotas Smartman
Dear Charles,
I have a question about iMac CD-ROM drives. I bought an iMac about a
month or two ago (got it or 110 Euro, which wasn't bad since most of
them sell for 300+). its a 333 MHz Rev D. I have upgraded RAM so far,
but the CD-ROM is totally dead (hence the reason I got it at 110 Euro).
I have tried getting a new one (MCE have a CD-RW drive, but its
$200+). Any ideas how I can get a replacement iMac CD-ROM drive cheap?
I have seen new non-CD-R drive for ~ $100, but that's quite expensive
since the Mac its self was just a little over that.
Any ideas?
Thanks.
Lotas Smartman, Ireland.
Hi Lotas,
Check out these
drives at Wegener Media.
Not sure they will fit as a drop in, but they could probably be made to
work.
eBay?
Charles
Editor's note: Wegener Media also has a page of drives just for
iMacs.
Whining About the G5
From Proz
For the person who was complaining [in Question: G5 Optical Drives], I remembered I had some
mockups I did since I thought it'd be nice if they had more internal
storage options in that case.
One thing to consider is where to put things. The G5 is, I think,
the tallest Apple case ever. 20" tall. G4 at 17" tall. The old monster
Quadra 950 case was only 18.6"
tall. The 840AV, 14". When you
bear in mind that adding another CD-ROM slot would increase the size
at least 2", that's getting to be a rather large case. 22"?
Probably closer to 2 feet when the internal spacing is tweaked for
optimal airflow?
Sure, I'd love a G5 with more internal storage. However, I think
Apple recognized, correctly, that most people would complain about how
much space the system takes. Most people probably do not need 4
internal hard drives or 2 internal optical drives. Those who really
need another optical drive can invest in a $30 external FireWire or
USB2 CD-ROM enclosure (some good deals on http://www.deal-mac.com/ on these).
More internal storage is definitely an enthusiast thing. And heck,
the guy got a single 1.6 GHz G5. Most enthusiasts would have gone for
the dual 2 GHz or, now that its available, a dual 1.8 GHz. I truly
wonder what additional "performance" the guy expects from another
internal optical drive....
Proz
MisFox vs. More Internet
From Robert Friede
Re: MisFox Alternative
From David Deckert
Charles,<
Not sure if you've covered this already, but More Internet is a
freeware standalone solution that works well:
http://www.monkeyfood.com/software/MoreInternet/
-David
Hi David,
Thanks for the tip. I'll check it out.
Charles
Gee, I just replaced More
Internet with MisFox! Hope to read your own views on these two
when compared. MisFox handles much more, IMO.
Rgds,
Bob Friede
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