" Mike,
Safari 1.2 appears to be about 1MBps faster than the earlier v1.1, which was downloading 64MB test files at 7.6MBps versus the 8.6MBps I observed this morning with Safari 1.2.

Testing is via a 100Mbps Switched Ethernet connection between a 500MHz G3 ASIP 6.3.3 Server and an 800MHz B&W G3 workstation. The server tests at 11.1MBps (88.8Mbps).

Tests are being conducted to determine what the fastest browsers (both Windows PC and Macs) are used in a large Intranet, to determine which browsers are bottlenecks and which aren't, as well as testing these browsers on Gigabit Ethernet networks. Many browsers are poor performers when involved with fast Intranets, yet few are aware of this or bother to examine it. Fast WiFi and WiMAX is also beginning to show which browsers have enough speed to support these very fast data links.
FYIW.
-Rod "

Rod used a direct/local server connection since download tests via the internet would not be a good (repeatable condition) test due to constantly changing network state/traffic, server load, etc. I've added Rod's report to the previous page of Safari 1.2 and Java 1.4.2 update feedback earlier today.

" Unsanity and Other World Computing ShapeShifter Theme Contest submissions are available for download and voting.
For the past 6 weeks, nine graphics experts have been working hard on their themes for submission to the Unsanity OWC contest. The deadline has passed and the results are posted for download and voting here: http://www.unsanity.com/contest/
Help decide the winner of the following prizes by casting your vote.
FIRST PRIZE: 120GB Mercury Elite Pro + $250 USD
SECOND PRIZE: 120GB OWC Mercury Elite + $150 USD
THIRD PRIZE: 80GB OWC Neptune + $100 USD "

" OWC Mercury On-The-Go 40GB 5400RPM Model with 16MB Data Buffer was $249.97, now $229.97 for the FireWire Only Model, was $259.99 and is now $239.99 for the FireWire+USB 2.0/1.1 Model.
A nice price cut on a nice speedy pocket drive. :)
Best Regards,
Lawrence R. O'Connor Other World Computing "

" Just as a followup to your news about Apple trade-in offers (Australia and Hong Kong), Apple Japan is offering the same thing. One of their ënew year promosí is a trade-in deal, where you can send your G3 or G4 in, have it appraised, and then automatically deduct that amount from the cost of a new Mac.
This deal, along with Apple Japanís great one-year 1% ësuper loan,í runs until March 27. The loan offer was previously set to expire Dec 26 of this year, but was extended in late December.
Jim "

" I'm hoping that one of your readers will be up to a challenge. I'm trying to utilize old Macs to provide control and graphics of a Cable Access TeleVision (CATV ) Head End for a private school in NYC.

I have a Blonder-Tongue VACD-12 Video All Call Distributor with a contact closure:
AB-800 Control Voltages: +/-15 VDC
Sensing: Contact Closure
More info:
www.blondertongue.com/media/pdfs/catalog_classes/he_misc.pdf (page C-17, the first one)
Do your readers know a way I can use a Mac as a timer to trip this contact closure on and off? Say either a Din-8 serial port or a USB port?

Also I have an Applescript that downloads weather JPGs, GIFs and MPGs from noaa.gov and updates them every 15 minutes. I'm looking for presentation or slide show software that will automatically update the image from a file every time the slide in presentation mode , rather than storing it within a data file, say like PowerPoint does or copying the image into another folder like iPhoto. Otherwise, the file remains the same the whole time and never changes. The graphics from the Mac will go into a a campus info channel

Thank you for your time and attention. Please contact me with any questions. (Please print my E-mail address)
Jason McDonald
Media Specialist
(jmcdonald at unis.org) "

• Sonnet G4/1GHz in B&W G3 (rated 8)
• Sonnet G4/1GHz in B&W G3 (rated 8)
• Sonnet G4/500 in Beige G3 (rated 9)
  (My reviews of G4 and G3 upgrades w/apps/game tests, install info, etc. are linked here. OC/CPU module articles are on the Systems page.)

(Warning - Overclocking may not be reliable and could lead to hardware failure or corrupted data.) You can find the full reports by searching the database selecting the indicated Mac model and upgrade card brand/type. If you've upgraded the CPU on your Mac, please post an entry in the database. Search the database for entries from most every upgradable Mac model *before* you buy. (Searchable by mac model/upgrade brand). For detailed reviews with performance tests and install tips, see the CPU Upgrades page.)

Combo DVD-CDR Drives:
• IDE Liteon LTC-48161H (48x24x48x + 16x DVD-ROM) in eMac (OS X 10.3)
  (using patchburn II for burn support)
• IDE Pioneer DCR-111 (OEM pull from eMac) in B&W G3 (OS X server)
  
  DVD+RW Drives:
• IDE HP dvd100i in Dual G4 (OS X)
  (no native burn support, problems noted)
  
  DVD-R Drives:
• IDE Pioneer DVR-105 in eMac (OS X 10.3)
  (FAQ's iMac section has offsite link to eMac drive upgrade guide)
• Firewire Pioneer DVR-K11 used w/iBook 2001 (OS X 10.3)
  (using Patchburn II for Panther.)
  
  DVD+R/RW + DVD-R/RW Drives:
• IDE NEC ND-2500A (8x DVD+/-R) in G4/AGP (OS X 10.3)
  (using patchburn II for burn support, didn't test for booting from CD)
• IDE Pioneer DVR-106D in Single G4 DDR (OS X 10.3)
• IDE Pioneer DVR-106D in Dual G4 (OS X 10.3)
  (Illustrated CD drive install guide here covers G4 towers up to the Digital Audio Model, Beige G3 MT and B&W G3 Macs)
  
  Hard Drives:
• IDE Maxtor 160GB in iMac (OS X) (pre-iMac G4 models can't fully address big drives without addon drivers w/48bit support like intechusa.com's)
• IDE Maxtor 120GB in iMac slot-loading (OS X 10.3)
  
  Removable media drives:
• IDE Iomega Zip 250 in B&W G3 (OS X server)

You can find full owner reports (latest shown first) by searching the database by drive/brand/interface/mac models (the latest reports are shown first in searches). For guides to installing CD/CDRW/DVD drives or Hard drives in many mac models, see the IDE Articles page. The Firewire articles page also has guides on case kits, installing drives, etc.
If you've added a IDE, SCSI, Firewire or USB hard drive, CDRW, tape drive, etc. make sure you add a report to the database. (If you post an updated entry - make sure you use the same name, etc. as you did before so I can find your past entry. Thanks.)
(Incomplete entries are deleted. Do not post questions in the database, it's for drive reports not questions on what drive to buy - for that try searching the database for reports from owners of your mac model on the drive type/brand/interface, etc. you're interested in.)