" The install of 10.3 only includes Adaptec driver v. 1.1 and you need to install v. 1.2 which was released in December2002 and required 10.2.4 or later in most cases to use SCSI devices. Now Adaptec has posted beta (OS X) drivers as of 1-9-2004
(latest driver linked at the Adaptec 29160/29160N support page - v1.3beta1 dated Jan. 8th, 2004.)

See the caution note on beta drivers at the linked OS X Driver download page there.
They later updated the 39160 downloads page to also include a 1.3beta driver update.

" HP and Apple announced a strategic alliance to deliver an HP-branded digital music player based on the iPod and the iTunes digital music jukebox and pioneering online music store to HPÌs customers. As part of the alliance, HP consumer PCs and notebooks will come preinstalled with iTunes software and an easy-reference desktop icon to point directly to the iTunes Music Store, ensuring a simple, seamless music experience. "

" Mike,
Here is my Picks and Pans of the Expo list. I chose not to include the whys of the picks in hopes that readers would seek information on their own, if they aren't already aware of these items by now.
Hope you Dad is doing better.
Matthew

(I added website/product page links for these but Microsoft's office and Virtual PC pages are not updated yet for new versions)

Picks:

Apple Garageband. Get yer ya-ya's out! (part of iLife4)

Omni's OmniWeb 5. Real tabbed browsing, workspaces.

Microsoft Office 2004. The best productivity tool gets better.

Microsoft VirtualPC 7. Most awaited cross platform tool.

Alsoft Disk Warrior. Still the best utility.

Salling Software Clicker. Bluetooth you can really use.

Parliant's PhoneValet. SOHO product for all.

El Gato EyeTV products. Convergence appliance of merit. (they recently expanded their Firewire EyeTV line to include a new 200 model.)

ATI Radeon 9800 Pro (Special Edition model shown at the Expo). What a graphics card!

MacSoft Halo. So pretty even non-gamers will want it.

Slim Devices Squeezebox. Move that music around.

eMedia Playing Music Made Easy series. Hey, you have to practice for Garageband don't you?

Hoodman's entire product line is appealing for road warriors and video accessories.

Laptop Armor cases. Beautiful and rugged.

Rogue Amoeba and Unsanity for assorted useful add on products.

IBM G5 path. Enough said.

Pans:

Apple iPod Mini. I thought the days of Apple outrageously overpricing products was over. (a lot of folks are not happy at the $249 price - only $50 less than a 15GB std iPod.)

Adobe. Nothing new. Tell me again why they are here? (to demo the CS line I assume - but beware Golive CS from what I've heard...)
Matthew"

During a phone call this morning Matthew also said that he felt like Ryan Remple (of Xpostfacto fame) deserved an award for his work at the Expo. Matt said even when he wasn't giving presentations at OWC's booth, he was constantly working to help end users. If you missed it previously, we posted an Interview/Q&A with Ryan here back in late October 2003.

" Hi Mike,
TransIntl 80 GB F400 FireWire/USB 2.0/1.1 [5400-RPM: 8MB Cache] Portable Ext Drive...$319
TransIntl 40 GB F400 FireWire/USB 2.0/1.1 [5400-RPM: 8MB Cache] Portable Ext Drive...$219
All our FireWire External Disk Drives Includes...
Includes Intech Speed Tools Disk Utlility
Dantz Retrospect Express: Data BackUp Software
http://www.transintl.com/store/category.cfm?Category=2435

1.4 GHz G4 Powerlogix PowerForce G4 100 Series w /2MB Cache Processor Upgrade...$398
http://www.transintl.com/store/category.cfm?Category=859
Thanks
Ken
Transintl.com "

" Hello Mike, I have am small report about my experience with Acard PCI cards for you. I hope it is useful:

In older G4 AGP Macs including first Quicksilver generation these cards work fine without any trouble. But in the actual G4 machines I have (had!) following phenomenons:

I am working with 3 new actual G4 1.25 MDD Machines in my office. Everyone got an Acard 6280M (firmware is up to date) and connected all harddiscs (actual Maxtor/Hitachi Series), no HD is connected to Apple Mainboard.
In Photoshop 6 or 7, OS 9.2.2, many pictures got corrupted (see attachement). (no attachment sent) Sometimes it is reversible if you do not save an restart the MAC, sometimes it is totaly damaged. Memory and Cables are OK...so I did not know what to do. I can't say if it's the same in OS X...because I'm working in OS 9...
I tried to contact Acard but did not get any reaction. I sent further emails to Acard Germany-but the only stupid answer was "change the cabels..."(these are the original Acard cabels!!!)

A friend gave me his new Sonnet Tempo ATA 133 Card. (Note - Tempo RAID cards are Acard based, but their non-RAID Tempo cards are Promise chip based-Mike) This card works fine and makes no Problems. Now you can see my cards at ebay ;-)
juergen "

If any other reader has seen this problem (or not) with an Acard 6280M IDE card in a MDD G4 (under either OS 9.x or OS X) let me know.

• Giga Designs Dual G4 1.2GHz in G4/AGP (rated 5)
  (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.)

CDRW Drives
• SCSI Ricoh MP8040SE used w/Powerbook 2400 (OS 9.1)
  (problems copying larger files/folders to HD)
• Firewire (cased) Liteon LTR-16102B 16x10x40x used w/7300 (OS 9.2)
• IDE LG GCE-8525B (didn't note drive speed rating) in Dual G4 DDR (OS X 10.3)
  (no native burn support)
• IDE Liteon LTR-52327S (52x32x52x) in Single G4 DDR (OS X)
  (native burn support in 10.2.8 and later, FAQ here has burn support plugin for 10.2.6.)
  
  DVD+R/RW + DVD-R/RW Drives:
• IDE Liteon LDW-411S in Dual G4 DDR (OS X)
  (no native burn support, didn't test for booting from CD)
• IDE Pioneer DVR-106D in Single G4 DDR (OS X 10.3)
  (another report of no native burn support ... 10.2.8 and later should have native support for the DVR-106D.)
  (Illustrated CD drive install guide here covers G4 towers up to the Digital Audio Model, Beige G3 MT and B&W G3 Macs)
  
  Hard Drive:
• IDE Hitachi Travelstar 7K60 60GB/7200 rpm in iBook 2001 (OS 9.2)
  (Review of this drive in a FW case is here. FAQ's iBook section has links to off-site HD install guides)

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.)