"My whole family uses PowerBoost so that we can have 3-way iChat AV conferences. Since none of us have a computer that meets the minimum specs for 3-way conferencing, we each needed a copy. (Although I've tested it with and can confirm that if any of the participants is capable of supporting 3-way conferencing, they don't need PowerBoost to join in.) Since they offer a multi-license discount, it wasn't too expensive to get the licenses.

Installation is dead simple and the program requires no configuration. It just plain works. There's an optional PowerBoost meter that tells you something about how hard it's working, but you don't have to have it open, nor does it serve much purpose except to confirm that you installed it correctly. As far as I can tell, it gets things working by simply reducing the resolution of the video so that the computer can keep up with it.

We do occasionally have problems connecting, but extensive troubleshooting and testing has proven these to be iChat problems, not PowerBoost problems. iChat's just finicky, especially when one or more participants is low on bandwidth or behind a NAT router/firewall.
-Nik "

" I used to use it on my 12" PB G4 1GHz 768MB RAM and it ran fine. I used the iSight camera. I could initiate a three way call. It was very processor intensive, so you pretty much could not do anything else on the computer. The software comes with a utility that shows how much processor power is being used. But in general, yes it works.
-Rick "

" I am using PowerBoost for multi-chat on my PowerBook G4 15" DL SD 1.67GHz, 2GB RAM, OS 10.4.7.
I have joined up to 4-way video chat and have hosted a 3-way video chat. Overall performance is pretty good; PowerBoost's indicator bar will consistently show that it is operating at maximum capacity.
I run into connection problems quite often, but this seems to be generally the case with iChat AV not getting enough bandwidth or firewall issues. Reducing QuickTime's transport speed sometimes helps.
I am using their iChatUSBCam software to run a Logitech QuickCam for Notebooks Pro. It would be much more convienent if I had a MacBook Pro, but this setup still gives me a completely portable video conferencing solution.
Regards,Tom "

" G4 933 Quicksilver Tower, 1.5GB RAM, iSight
Works great. Alows me to host multi-person chats which was not supported on my machine with iChat alone.
(One reader implied you had to install it on all systems you want to VC with, which didn't make sense to me and I didn't see it mentioned at the vendor's site, so I asked Russell-Mike)
Not in my experience. I use Powerboost, but my friend (who has a more powerful machine) does not. Either one of us can host a multi-person chat.

iGlasses (by the same mfr) is also a great little piece of software. They always send out updates and reply quickly to questions and feature requests.
Russell "

This reader sent his opinion but hasn't actually used the software:

" No. For good reasons.
Because it would require installation on all machines involved. (this is not a requirement - see user notes above-Mike)
Trying to get things right on 2 machines over a distance is hard enough. Adding 3 or more machines, and the problems increase exponentially.

Eventually, the effort:reward ratio diminishes drastically such that the perceived cost of effort needed + cost of software is much < than the cost of picking up a telephone instead.
And then Apple's releasing a new version of iChat with Leopard, early next year. If just one of your counterparts upgrades to Leopard, then that increases the amount of troubleshooting for everyone.
Try jajah.com which IMHO is as simple as it gets. Then try multi- party audio iChat which is not too bad. Then try Skype + video. Just to get a free taste of potential issues with relying on 3rd party software for video chatting.
I suppose the answer is: try it, (they have a trial version) but only if all the people you want to chat to are really really determined to get it working. (Nothing is a sure thing anymore but from the reports above from users, it doesn't seem like that's an issue really-Mike) Otherwise, save your dollars for a faster computer and bandwidth (for native iChat AV multi conferencing).
-Chuan "

" I've upgraded a few MacBooks at work with Seagate Momentus 7200rpm drives (Momentus 7200.1 ST910021AS) and they been virtually silent, but that's not why I'm writing. I just wanted to add to the discussion that my MacBook has a TOSHIBA MK1032GSX 100GB stock drive in it and I have never heard the hard drive, ever. It is completely silent. So I'm not sure if I should consider myself lucky, or if the original questioner should maybe try to get a warranty replacement.
-Jeff N. "

" I upgraded my Macbook with the Seagate 120GB 5400rpm Momentus ST9120821AS. I have to put my ear to the keyboard to tell if it's even running.
Speed is better too, which I didn't expect; about 5MB/sec faster than the stock drive in xBench even after filling the drive up to about 90GB.
-Adam "

" The stock drive in my MacBook Pro, a (100GB) ST9100824AS is almost completely silent, quieter than any previous drive I have had in a notebook. Since it is quiet, it is much easier to hear all the other noises my MacBook Pro makes (inverter whine when on battery, the fan when it occasionally ramps up).
(name withheld by request) "

" I have upgraded my MacBook with a Seagate 100gb 7200rpm drive (Momentus 7200.1 ST910021AS) and it is quiet as all heck! Start up time and daily running operation is greatly improved shown by using xbench. Good luck in your search.
-Jim C."

" Well, mine's PATA, not SATA, but the stock 100 GB 7200 RPM Seagate ST910021A in my 2005 PowerBook is dead silent (in a room with no noise and two powerbooks, I can hear the fan or disk on my 2001 TiBook whispering at idle but I can't hear anything from the new 'book). Unlike the Hitachi on the TiBook, which makes some noise when I use it, I almost never (maybe never) hear anything from the Seagate, even after a year of hard use.

The manufacturers site claims "QuietStep ramp load technology Enables whisper-quiet load/unload acoustics". Their ST910021AS would appear to be the SATA version of this; the data sheet for both claims 2.5 bels idle and 2.9 bels under "performance seek". On a couple of charts 29 decibels is a "library", and I'd have to agree. If anything, it's quieter.
-Ken "

One reader said he's used Dynamat on hard drives (sound proofing sheets, popular for cars for instance although they also sell a Computer Kit for lining the inside of cases) but I'm guessing he used it on desktop drives, not drives in notebooks. Even if there was clearance for some of that inside I don't think I'd want to add another insulating layer on a drive inside a notebook.

" Hi Mike, I rarely put my MacBook Pro to sleep but since updating to 10.4.8, I'm experiencing the same sleep issue as Marlon with his NitroAV FW800 Expresscard.
The screen would go blank but the MBP does not sleep--the sleep indicator would remain dimly lit until I force power-off the Mac.

I should add that if I unmount the drives connected to the SIIG FW800 ExpressCard and select "Power off Card" from the card menu bar icon, the system can sleep and wake up successfully. Just need to eject and reinsert the card if I need to use FW800 peripherals.
Regards, Eric "

A MBP owner with an eSATA card (not bootable he said) didn't see the problem:

" I have the same (MBP) model as Marlon, and use the Firmtek Expresscard/34 eSata card, and have no trouble with wake from sleep. One difference is that this card is not bootable (unfortunately).
(I asked Lars if he was running OS X 10.4.8. (As some mentioned they thought the problem appeared after updating to 10.4.8.)-Mike)
Yes, 10.4.8. I just tested it to be sure, by putting the computer to sleep from the Apple menu, and waking it from sleep. I got the pulsing light, heard the external drive spin down, and then woke the computer from my external USB keyboard. So all seems fine for me.
-Lars "

I've added these to the previous posts in Friday's news.

• Apple Launches iTunes & Online Apple Stores in New Zealand
• Apple Xsan 1.4.1 Admin Update and Xsan 1.4.1 Filesystem Update
• Toshiba Announces 100GB 1.8-inch Hard Drive
• New chip provides high-end sound
• Zune Diary: Software and syncing (Nov. 16th news also had link to article on Installing the Zune software)
• Watch the New Halo 3 Trailer (xbox.com - windows media file)
• PC Gamer's Unreal Tournament 2007 Vehicle Preview
• Secure your Bluetooth wireless networks
• Student accused in PlayStation robbery fatally shot by Police trying to serve warrant
• A quick guide to PSP firmware update v3.01
• Office 2007, OpenOffice.org to Work Together