Nintendo 64 Emulator: The Game News page earlier today had a note about a Mac N64 Emulator several readers had written about. Check it out at http://mac1964.gerrit.net/. If you've tried it I'd like to know how well it works with ATI and 3Dfx cards. Contact me with your system details and comments. [My 3dfx forum has some comments on it already under the 'Mac1964' topic. Reader mail so far is VERY positive.]

[I've had repeated problems sending and getting email today due to ISP mail server problems. This might affect mail sent to me as well. Hopefully it will be corrected soon. It seems to be an intermittent problem today.]

Powerlogix has posted a page with Macworld Expo info. The show has not officially started yet but George Cole has comments on the page regarding new product announcements expected, trends and a few linked photos.

CarrierZIF 2.0 Announced: XLR8 has a press release on their new version of the CarrierZIF. Here are some features of the new design:

• MP (Dual CPU) ready
• Smaller, more efficient form factor
• Easier installation
• Fewer Switches
• Easier configuration
• Improved power supply
• Increased speed capabilities
• Expanded compatibility PowerCC, PowerBase compatible

For more info see their press release. The original CarrierZIF was also my pick as the best upgrade of 1999. See my Dec 20th news page for my Upgrade Gear of the Year picks from 1999.

The news has been a little lighter as I'm working to finish a review of the PowerLogix G4/350 upgrade.

I also wanted to mention that although I'll not be able to make Macworld SF, a reader has promised to send info and photos from the show floor. I'll be in contact with him at the show to be able to post timely updates of Expo coverage here. I always welcome any reader reports from the show as well.

Formac Exodus?: I (and others I'm sure) was blind copied on an email to a rumors site from Pat Berry that he's leaving Formac, mentioning salary issues and other disagreements. Another ex-employee that's departing noted that "not only is the [USA I assume-Mike] Sales Manager gone, but also the Technical Support person and the Customer Service Manager". I sincerely hope they fill these positions quickly.

$180 27GB Maxtor Drive: Steve Weisel went to buy one of these drives at the $199.97 Staples price I noted in yesterday's news. However he found a store selling them for less than the price I saw here locally:

"Hi Mike,
I picked up the DiamondMax Plus 7200 RPM, 27.2 Gig drive at the Staples on Wilshire Blvd. on the "Miracle Mile" in Los Angeles for $179.99!!
Thanks for the tip.
Take Care,
Steve"

Toshiba 6X DVD Report: A reader comments on the Memorex $99 drive (Toshiba SM-1212 as noted) I mentioned in the weekend news:

"Got it to work on a G3/450/256MB/37 IDE+9gig UW SCSI. The drive I used is a Memorex 6x/32x DVD, which is really a Toshiba SM-1212 (Verified by the casing). It also worked on my Phillips 5x DVD drive I got from my PC (which is really a Toshiba SM-1202).

Haven't played many movies on it yet, but watched a bunch of Army Of Darkness & The Professional. Audio sync was not a problem, and skipping wasn't happening at all. There were occasional pops (minor) of audio, but not annoying. The picture quality was a tad dark, and the sound was quiet, but upping the brightness & system volume corrected that. Overall, I'd say it's a winner.

Anyway, it works great! Hopefully Apple won't defeat the patch in a newer release of the software, or find some othe way to make it incompatible.
-Dan "

The DVD Player patch was noted in the news here some time back - see the FAQ's DVD topic area for links.

Quickmail Y2K Bug and Fix:

"Hey Mike,
Just discovered my first issue relating to Y2k on my mac. It seems that when I tried to send a reply to any mail that was sent post 2000 in Quickmail 2.0.3, the date in the message would always come up as Feb. 21, 1939. CE's tech support told me this was a bug in the program that they didn't catch. He went on to tell me that the windows version has the same problem although the date is different. An update (2.0.4) was posted while I was on the phone with the guy and it took care of the issue. Thought someone might want to know. Thanks for the site.
Jon Toney "

Get the update at http://www.cesoft.com/updates.html

Lotus cc:Mail Mobile Y2K Bug? 1944 seems a popular date for email bugs:

"Similar to what another reader reported with Claris Emailer, I have a Y2K date problem with Lotus cc:Mail Mobile for the Mac. The last version was 2.0.3 from a few years ago, and it stamps all outgoing mail with a date of 11/9/44 (on 1/1/2000). This is no longer supported by Lotus--any idea why these programs are starting with a date of 11/9/44?
Kevin "

I have no idea. If anyone knows of any official or unoffical patches for this contact me.

Emailer/AOL Date Fix: John Radu sent a note about a applescript-based fix for the '44' date issue with AOL noted in yesterday's news.

"http://home.earthlink.net/~ktekinay/public_files/AOL_Date_Fix is a site for the AOL date fix

Emailer/AOL Date Fix v.1.0.2
©2000 by MacTechnologies Consulting.

Note: This script is being distributed AS IS and is unsupported.

Description:
Emailer currently stamps AOL mail as sent in 1944. This script will correct that date by creating a new message that mirrors the original. It is meant to be used as part of a mail action."

For more information read the full linked page. Not all readers reported the problem, so I wonder if it was also related to OS or AOL version perhaps.

DVD Movies and VR128 TV Out: A reader notes that Mac2TV works fine for viewing DVD movies with the software player:

"Hello,
I sent in an email about the DVD patch to make Apple DVD player 2.0 work on any rage 128 G3. Well you wanted to know how well the mac2tv would work with my rage VR128. It works great. Just make sure you set the control panel to movie and your set. David M. "

New Sonnet L2 G3 Upgrades/PCI Video Card Report: This owner said the new card design did not solve the problem with his Rage128 Orion:

"Mike,
Just saw your reader note about the 6500 and the Sonnet 400 G3/L2. I am one of the ones that wrote earlier with a freeze report on the card when using either a Voodoo 3 or an ATI RagePro.

I did receive a new Sonnet card almost 2 weeks ago WITH the hardware patch, apparently since RMAs take precedence over new orders (thankfully). Please inform your readers that this patch DID NOT fix the freeze that is linked to graphics acceleration, at least when using the ATI Rage Pro. I have not yet tested the Voodoo 3. I sent a long evaluation of this to a contact at Sonnet over 10 days ago but have heard nothing back. I will let you know if I find out anything. In my book, buying the Sonnet 400 G3/L2 for a 6500 with a 3rd party video card in it is NOT a safe matter.
Stefan Jeglinski "

The issue of L2 Cache slot upgrades and PCI Video cards has been mentioned many times here. Many Newer Tech L2G3 owners (and Vimage, now RIP) in general seem ok, but not so with most Sonnet owners based on feedback. See my L2G3 Feedback page linked on the CPU Upgrades page, sidebar here under CPU related articles and in my www.mac3dfx.com system compatibility page.

Mac vs PC Quake 3 TeamDM: The Game News page has info from a post in my 3dfx forum about a possible Mac vs PC team match in Quake3. Also there is a reminder on a gathering of Bungie fans at Macworld SF.

Latest Forum Topics: A small sample of the latest discussions going on in the message boards:

G4 Forum:

• Speculation on CarrierZIF 2.0
• Any Sound Card for Mac with a Joystick-Port?
• DVD 2.0 on International English 9
• Buying RAM cheap
• Random Freezes on Boot on Yikes
• DVD Screen Captures?
• Gravis GamePad Pro USB
• Mouse puck problems
• Epson Stylus 600, SCSI, and a G4!
• What is to hot for a G4 processor temp?
• Swapping G3 DVD with G4 CD?
• HD in Zip bay?
• Mouse problems with Seti
• 128k more usable then G4?
  and hundreds of other messages/threads

3dfx Forums:

• VGS wants apple cd-rom drive?!
• V3 and GLQuake 0.3.1
• MacWorld Announcement guesses ....?
• Mac1964 (Nintendo 64 Emulator for Mac)
• Rainbow 6 problems!
• ATI Rage Fury MAXX Reviews
• Yamaha CD-RW not compatible with Apple Driver?
• Mac vs PC Quake3 (TeamDM) match
• Netscape with V3
• Does V2 1000 work on mac???
• Rage Orion slower than 8500 on-board video for 2D
• Is the VooDoo 3 3000 S-Video port supported?
• 100% online with QUAKE3 everytime
  and hundreds of other messages/threads

For a blast from the past see what was on the front page news here one year ago.

Monday's News Summary

• XLR8 whistle and win Macworld giveaways
• $199.97 Maxtor 27GB DiamondMax Plus HD
• Acer 8X/4X/32X IDE CDRs for $249.95
• Mac Software Y2K Issues Reported (emailer/AOL and nubus mac reports)
• Orange Micro Combo Firewire/USB Card Report
• Sonnet L2 Cache Slot G3/400 Cards - New Revision?
• CharisMac Product News (Audioscribe and MWSF giveways)
• Rainbow 6 Column Issue #2
• Free DSL Service?
• Latest topics in the G4 and 3Dfx Forums
• Macsonly review of PF G4/350 upgrades
• G4 vs Athlon CPU design article

Weekend's News Summary

• Rate Your CPU Upgrade, Mac Game Reviews, and Mac Game/Video Card Performance searchable databases updated with new entries.
• Apple Site Year 2000 Date Glitch
• Reminder on ZIF Heatsink Clip Orientation (important for cooling/stability)
• Memorex $100 DVD ROM Drive
• More Wired4DVD/Pioneer 10X DVD ROM Feedback
• Pioneer DVD ROM Driver Tips
• Beige G3 w/Pioneer 10X IDE Drive Report
• TombRaider II Update Boon for Voodoo3 Owners
• Other Software Updates (Communicator, Fax STF Pro, Hash Animation Master 2000)
• Forum Topics in G4 Forum and 3Dfx Forums.

Friday's News Summary

• Audio Column Update: Issue 51 has comments on Creative's Soundblaster Live! and more
• Notes on emails and site resources for answers to questions
• Y2K comments and reports from around the world
• Creative DVD-RAM in Macs: two reader reports on using the drive.
• Pioneer DVD Drive/Wired4DVD Tips
• Possible Mac Glaze3D? Bitboy's say they're considering mac support
• OT Tuner Update Tip
• Reasons for DVD Audio Playback Issues
• Voodoo3 Image Quality Tip
• Mac Quake3 (Retail) Shipping
• Forum Topics in G4 Forum and 3Dfx Forums.

Thursday's News Summary

• $199.99 8X SCSI CDRs (Imation/plextor drives)
• $14.95 5.2GB DVD-RAM Disks
• $299 DVD-RAM Drive
• Summary of PC IDE CDR Tests in B&W G3
• OT Tuner/DSL Problem Report
• Mac Rainbow Six Column Issue 1
• Matrox Replies on G400 Support
• Napster MP3 Util for Mac
• More Pioneer 10X DVD ROM Drive Reports
• OWC Comments on Beige G3 ROM/466MHz G3 Upgrades
• Rate Your CPU Upgrade database updated
• Value America cuts workforce
• Latest topics in the G4 and 3Dfx Forums

For links to older news pages see the Archives page.

The recent features page has a lists reviews/articles you may have missed.

For a guide to finding answers to questions - see my Site Guide page.

Considering a CPU Upgrade? Check the CPU Upgrade Owner's Survey results and search for owner reports by Mac model and/or card brand. Readers post new entries daily and the database is updated several times a week. The current database has more than 2,800 reports and growing.

-Freq Asked Questions