Multiple Input Device Bug in Mac OS X 10.5.8
From Ken in response to OS X 10.5.8
Update Provides Incentive to Get 10.6:
Hello Mr. Moore,
Thanks for your article describing how the multiple input device bug
in Mac OS X 10.5.8 affects your
Mac usage. In case you haven't already heard, the same problem is also
present in Mac OS X
10.6.
This particular problem also affects users of software that I have
written - software that allows users to create virtual mice for various
purposes. I have filed reports with Apple to make them aware of the
problem. Although I could explain the bug to Apple in technical terms,
I did not have a user scenario that adequately demonstrates why
it is important to have it fixed. Your article provides just such an
example. I hope you don't mind, but I have appended an excerpt from
your article to my original bug reports (and provided a link to your
full article).
Hopefully your words will help accelerate a fix from Apple for both
Leopard and Snow Leopard.
Regards,
Ken
Hi Ken,
Well, that's profoundly depressing news, but thank you
for the heads up. As I said in the article, I was already apprehensive
that might be the case. The problems with multiple input device support
in the early versions of OS X were persistent, and Apple didn't
seem very interested in hurrying to fix them. For a while, my only
workaround was to use a Wacom tablet mouse with the foot mouse, which
for some reason circumvented the problem and allowed tandem input. I
suppose it's possible I might have to revert to that, although I am
sorely tempted to just downgrade to OS X 10.5.6 until the bug is
eventually squashed.
Of course that's not a terribly attractive option,
since I would like to be able to write about Snow Leopard
non-vicariously.
I'm very pleased that you've brought this matter to
Apple's attention, and I have no objection to you appending my comments
to your report. Hopefully that might help a bit.
I'm not sure my words carry much weight with Apple,
and this is a relatively esoteric issue, but it is one that is driving
me batty in practice.
Charles
10.5.8 Mouse Issue Also Impacts Trackpad
From Paul:
Hi Charles,
Since installing the 10.5.8 upgrade, if I press the trackpad button
and just use the mouse to do the drag, the drag randomly releases after
a few seconds. This may related to the same bug. Can this behavior be
replicated on your hardware.
Thanks for your response.
Paul
Hi Paul,
It certainly seems to be replicable. I just tried the
method you describe on the Unibody MacBook using my Logitech V550
wireless mouse and the trackpad button, and the drag does randomly
release just as I've experienced using my foot mouse, so this is not
just an esoteric issue afflicting foot mouse users.
Unhappily, another reader has just informed me that
this behavior also exists in OS X 10.6, so Snow Leopard is not
going to be the answer until they get around to fixing this bug. Have
you tried OS X 10.6.1 yet?
Charles
Cheap USB 2 CardBus on eBay
From Scott, following up on Cheap
and Unobtrusive USB 2 CardBus Solution:
[The AKE BC168 card] is all over
eBay. Most of the suppliers are in Hong Kong. I only found one in
the US, and that's the one I ordered from. Sorry I can't remember his
URL - if he even had one.
Scott Cook
Hi Scott,
Thanks for the information. Looks like just a search
on eBay's search dialog or even a Google search for the name of the
item would do the trick.
Charles
Yes, it's not difficult to find. There are a bunch of sellers on
eBay, mostly in Hong Kong. The card is still working well. I'm using it
now to send this message from my Pismo through a USB Bluetooth dongle,
which my cell phone is tethered to. I'm at my mom's house in Maine, and
my cell phone is the my only Internet connection here. I'm appreciating
my cable connection in Dallas much more as I deal with the near dial-up
speed of my cell phone. I guess you deal with that every day
. . . I feel fer ya buddy! haha
Scott
Hi Scott,
I'm delighted to report that on Sept. 10, I finally got hooked up to a wireless
broadband service. They just got the tower operational last week,
and I'm one of the first customers in the area. It works extremely well
so far.
Charles
Multicolor vs. White Apple Logo on PowerBooks
From Rick in response to Mac OS
9.x and Kanga:
White logo on WallStreet's outside, color inside.
Hello Charles,
You were mostly correct in your reply:
[Kanga] was
also the only G3 PowerBook to sport the traditionally colored Apple
logo; future PowerBooks would have a plain white logo.
That is true of the Lombards onward. The WallStreet models fudged a bit
on the matter with the white logo on the outside while maintaining the
traditional version on the screen bezel.
-Rick
Hi Rick,
You are correct, of course. Must be brain fade that I
forgot about staring at that multicolored Apple logo on the screen
bezel of my Wall Street for half a dozen years.
Thanks for the correction.
Charles
Printer for Older PowerBook
From Nick:
Charles,
Just got ahold of a 867 MHz G4 PowerBook for a
double saw buck - needs a new hard drive.
Anyhow, can I use my old LaserWriters, like the 16/600, with it?
If not, then can you suggest a 'newer' type inkjet or laser printer
that the G4 can handle, without a lot of Mickey Mouse?
thxs
Nick
Hi Nick,
I can't say with 100 percent certainty, but I think
your should be able to use the LaserWriters with your PowerBook.
Charles
Go to Charles Moore's Mailbag index.
