" Just a note for your readers:
I've just updated my benchmarking product, Xbench, to v1.0b5. The new version features online results comparison, and other improvements.
Get it at: http://www.xbench.com
- Ladd "

Real world apps/game performance is what matters most, but I recently started using XBench as part of my reviews (spearate benchmarks page) such as the recent PowerLogix Series 133 dual 1GHz/DA Dual 533 vs MDD G4 Dual 1GHz review.

" Hey Mike:
I just got back from CES. I am working off of the AppleIntelAC97 driver trying to get it to compile on PPC instead of x86. I had a couple of people helping me, but things seemed to have come to a halt lately with the holidays. I am going to try to get things rolling again now that I am back. My biggest problem is I am still on the learning curve on the programming. If I can get everyone to give a good effort, it would not take long to get basic audio up - Apple did the work. So things have not changed lately. I originally wanted something by Christmas, but this seems to be dragging on.
Brian "

If there's any programmers that would like to help with this project, let me know and I'll pass your contact info along to Brian.

"A few weeks ago I submitted a report on the Toshiba SD-R2212 combo drive which is in the new iBooks. I talked about how it has a 16x CD-R rating but it only burns CDs at 4x or so. Two others noted problems with it not burning CDs at the full 16x. You noted that 16x is the max speed and that it would only be achieved near the beginning of the burn when the drive doesn't have to spin as fast.

I just wanted to say that first of all, I also have used a Toshiba SD-R1202 desktop combo drive, which burns CD-Rs at 16x as well, and it definitely burns CDs faster than this one in my iBook.

Also, I have tried various different media types and they've all burned at a pitiful 4x speed, even the 48x Verbatim ones that I bought directly from Apple for the sole purpose of making sure I'd get the same media as came with the iBook. Well, the Verbatim Data-Life Plus that I got with the iBook burned at 16x but all the ones on the spindle I got from Apple burn at 4x. I have gotten that single piece of media to work at 16x, so I know what this drive is capable of. Finally, after more than a week of calling in and waiting, I got connected with a tech specialist who said that they are aware of the problem and that they're working on a fix for it. There is a lengthy discussion of it at the Apple Support area... Apple > Support > Discussions > iBook > CD/DVD drives.

I hope a firmware patch comes out soon, I am getting annoyed with the problem. I just wanted to let you know the full extent of this problem. I would be very interested to know what percentage of iBook owners are having this problem.
Luca R "

There was a past workaround/tip for Toast when this issue was first noted - I think it was to insert the CDR just before burning if I remember correctly. I also saw an Apple Kbase doc on this issue recently, and found it after searching at Apple's support pages. However it basically notes to use high speed rated media.
PowerBook G4, iBook: Combo Drive Does Not Write CD-R Media at Maximum Speed.

" Combo drives in PowerBook G4 and iBook computers write for a longer time than expected, or do not offer the maximum write speed specified for the drive.

Solution
Use CD-R discs that are capable of writing at 16x speed. The 16x or maximum option should be selected, if available, prior to inserting a blank disc. If so, the Combo drive is behaving correctly.
Combo drives included with iBook and PowerBook computers can detect imbalances in the disc that are caused by poor production quality or the presence of labels and ink on the disc's surface. These imbalances can cause write errors. When blank discs are initialized, if imbalances are detected the writing speed is slowed to between 4x and 8x write speeds (depending on the magnitude of the imbalance) in order to reduce the potential for write errors."

If any readers spot a firmware or other update to address this - let me know.

" Hi Mike,
I did not see it mentioned so far so this is why I am passing this info to you. Keynote will not work on computers having less than 8 MB of VRAM running Jaguar. This is the case for many Powerbook Wallstreet models and probably some other G3 Powerbooks. So if you have such laptop, just forget about Keynote and stick with Powerpoint.

I have attached a screenshot showing what happened when trying to run Keynote on a Powerbook Wallstreet (it has the ATI Rage LT (4MB vram) I think under the hood).

(dialog box notes)
"Keynote cannot play the slideshow because your computer does not have enough video random-access memory (VRAM)
Keynote requires 8MB of VRAM to play a slideshow"

This is really too bad, I was hoping to impress my PC friends at work during my next presentation.
Frank "

I didn't realize this was a requirement but checking Apple's requirements page on Keynote (from the apple store listing) does show 8MB video ram is required.

• Mac OS X version 10.2 or later (Mac OS X v.10.2.3 recommended).
• PowerPC G3 processor. (or better)
• 256MB physical memory (RAM) and 8MB video memory.

Update - a reader replied to this post saying he occasionally saw a similar error message as Frank, even with a PB G4 w/32MB of vram:

" Strange that I got the same message when running Keynote on a 800MHz G4 laptop with 32 MB of video Ram. Quitting Keynote and then restarting cured the bogus message. This has appeared more than once.
Bruce L "

If the requirements are true, I don't think Frank will be so lucky with a 4MB VRAM wallstreet.

Combo DVD+CDR Drives:
• IDE LG GCC-4320B (32x10x40x + 16xDVD) in Beige G3 (OS X)
  (burn problems in X noted)
• IDE Toshiba SD-R1202, (16x10x40x + 12x DVD-ROM) in G4 no AGP (OS X)
  
  IDE CDRW Drives:
• Buslink 12x10x32 (LiteOn mechanism) in B&W G3 (OS X)
  (listed under "other" brands)
• Lite-On LTR-52246S (52x24x52x) in Beige G3 (OS 9.2)
• Sony CRX220 (52x24x52x) in G4 AGP (OS X)
  (using modified support file)
  (FYI - Illustrated CD drive install guide here covers G4 towers up to the Digital Audio Model, Beige G3 MT, B&W G3 and 8600/9600 Macs.)
  
  Firewire CDRW Drives:
• Plextor PX-W4824TA (48x24x48x) in FW case used w/Dual G4 (OS X)
  (requires modified support plugin for itunes burn support)
• Sony CRX 145E/X1 (10x4x32x) used w/G4 Cube (OS X)
  (problems noted - drive or case/bridge may have failed)
  
  IDE Hard Drives:
• Seagate Barracuda IV 80GB in iMac (OS X)
  
  Firewire Hard Drives:
• Seagate Barracuda IV 80GB in FW case used w/G4 AGP (OS X)
  (firewire articles page here has case kit build guides/drive install guides)
• Seagate Barracuda IV 80GB in FW case used w/Dual G4 DDR (OS X)

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.)

• Dual G4/867 MDD OC report (@1GHz)

(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.)

• 1 year ago today
• 2 years ago today
• 3 years ago today