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01/20/99 - Wednesday's News:	Current News Page
Carmine's MiM News Feed (links may not work in the future) AppleTIL Updates (WEDNESDAY.01.20.99)  Europe Adopts New Currency, the Euro  Apple Keyboard Home Keys: Position of "Bumps"  Power Macintosh G3: Video Capture Frame Rates  Network Assistant 3.0, 3.5: Increasing Performance  Ethernet: Hardware Address, Device w/ Built-In Ethernet  U.S. Apple Equipment: Using Internationally  Macintosh: PDS Expansion Slot Differences  Macintosh: Specifications of Metal Enclosures  VGA Monitors: Which Macintosh Models Are Compatible  Power Macintosh: L1 and L2 Cache Explained  WebObjects And the Browser Stop Button  iMac: Directory of USB Products Available on the Web  LaserWriter 8500 PPD 1.1: Read Me  Claris Software Updates posted to Apple Web Site  FaxSTF and ClarisWorks  Remote Access 3.x: Testing Your Modem With AT Commands  iMac: No Modem Dial Tone Due to Voice Mail System  Drive Setup: Version History  iMac: USB Device Troubleshooting  Mac OS 8.5: Open Transport 2.0 Technical Information  Finding Apple Software Updates Online  Apple System Profiler 2: Practical Uses  Mac OS 7.6: Clean Install Instructions  Mac OS: Upgrading from Older OS Versions Kudos for Videonics' Effetto Pronto (Yahoo) Apple Ignites FireWire Fury (TechWeb) Wireless Home Nets Get Standard Treatment (ZDNet) SCOOP Intel to electronically ID chips (ZDNet) = [5:00 PM Update] = CDrom Mounting Speedup Tip?: A reader responded to my complaint on slow mounting of volumes in the Yosemite : " I work with Windows boxes (as well as my Mac and SPARCstations) at my job and have discovered that removing the UDF (Universal Disk Format) capabilities of Windows 98 has sped up ISO CD access considerably. You may want to try removing/disabling the UDF Access extension on your Mac to see of CD-ROM mounting can be sped up. Of course, disabling UDF access doesn't allow you to read UDF-formatted DVDs. In case you care, this is accompished in Windows 98 by running MSCONFIG.EXE, clicking Advanced..., and selecting "Disable UDF format". Hope this helps. Humor me and give it a try. Erik "Voch" Kovach " [Update: I tested the Yosemite without the UDF extension and it was no faster in mounting CDs]. I wanted to make one other note as my earlier post today on sluggish file accessing may not have been clear - this pausing affects all removable media drives, not just CDroms. It happens with ZIP and JAZ drives as well. I've revised the original post to make that clearer. (BTW: I really liked Erik's signiture - "Computers in the future may weigh no more than 1.5 tons." -- Popular Science, 1949") Yosemite L2 Cache mode: Michiro Isobe wrote to say that his tests show the Yosemite's backside cache is running in 'write-through' mode vs the faster 'copy-back' mode. [The G3 has tag ram in the chip I'm told ] The Unreal Tips and Tricks page has another massive update from Frank on new levels, new games and more on Unreal skin tricks. The post on Dave Beutel possibly losing his right eye apparently was premature. The latest update has better news. It will be in tomorrow's news. = [1:30 PM Update] = Update on Dave's Condition: If you've read our news the last few days you know that reader Dave Beutel was in a terrible auto accident. I just received an update from Frank, a mail from Dave's friend on his status - great news! " [Frank: Can you tell me if Dave has a voodoo II card already ? (I was going to send him a card as a get-well gift-Mike)] Yes. He just got a MicroConversions not even a week before the accident. [Frank: How is he today ?] Much improved. The Neurosurgeon got there to check on him, and the nurses weren't too happy that the doc hadn't seen any improvement. So, they stopped the sedatives he's on, and GUESS WHAT? Dave promptly took his own breathing tube out, and tried to roll out of bed. So, the brain doc had to admit, "Gee, he is doing better!". So, he's off a respirator, sedated to stop motion, and has a couple straps holding him in bed. Guess he shouldn't run off just yet. So, he ordered Physical Therapy to get started, Occupational Therapy (fingers, toes, arms, etc.), the whole deal. This is a great sign! He still hasn't talked, just some guttural pain moans, and he's not using his right arm or leg really well, but get this- When I got there tonight, his dad asked, "When he plays that game, is he tapping his fingers on his left hand a lot?". I said yes, of course, that's how you move around! His dad had no clue that while Dave's all doped up with moriphine and on a sedative, he's still playing Unreal!!! So. I then handed out the TWENTY FIVE pages of get well notes. We all really appreciate the good wishes. I went into Dave's room and told him about all the notes. I didn't even have to get past the word "Unreal" before his pulse went up (we're not supposed to agitate him too much, too much movement can be bad for a head trauma). His pulse was at about 70 when I got into the room, 85 when I said "Unreal" and then I told him about one of the guys wishing he could send him a "real super health pack" and he started to move his leg and arm. My Wife came into the room then, and saw him open one eye and she then went to get his Wife. We calmed him down and I decided enough was enough for the night. By the time I left, his pulse was at 102. This is a great sign! The only thing that has gotten him so worked up other than this is saying his Wife's name, Susan or his 1yr old's name, Alec! So, I guess this mean's he's a true Unreal "addict"! So, PLEASE tell everybody how thankful we are to have so many well wishers! I was just floored when I saw all the notes, and I can't thank you enough! I'll email you status tomorrow evening, when I return from the hospital again. Jamie " Thanks again to all of you that signed the Get Well Guestbook (we overran the limits there) and said a prayer for Dave. Yosemite DVD drive: Is everyone out there noticing how long it takes the DVD drive to mount a standard CDrom? It seems like 30 seconds in most cases from the time you close the drive until the volume appears on the desktop. The drive seems fast as far as copy speed but just slow to mount volumes. While on the subject, I really wish the OS would cache the removable volume directories, as every file open (even deep inside folders on the HD) seems to result in the system accessing the CDrom drive [and ZIP if present]. (This is not a Yosemite specific issue, it happens here on the PB G3, etc.) The effect is like slamming on the brakes in an otherwise responsive system. Since I'm only trying to open a file on the HD I don't understand why it is accessing the CD (or ZIP, etc.) when no disk changes have occurred since mounting and with a 6MB disk cache. I hope this is addressed in a future OS/Filemanager version as it really makes a otherwise fast system seem sluggish (again this is not Yosemite specific, I've seen it on the PB G3, Beige G3, etc.) I also wanted to make it clear this pausing/accessing affects all removable drives (ie ZIPs), not just CDs. Autocache Feedback: I was flooded with feedback on the new util, most reported success with Powerlogix cards with a few exceptions. I'm behind in mail but will try to review them all as soon as I can. Please refrain from sending any more until I can catch up :-) Copper G3s: In response to lots of reader mail, I queried some sources in the CPU business to verify that IBM 333MHz and up G3s were copper. I was told they are (not just the 400MHz models as some thought). One source said as far as they knew only IBM was shipping copper based G3s. As I noted yesterday this could account for the lower wattage ratings on the IBM copper G3s (since copper has less resistance than aluminum, it should dissipate less heat). Apple U2 SCSI TIL Reappears:Sean Collins writes: " The TIL has been reposted, exactly as it was 4 days ago: http://til.info.apple.com/techinfo.nsf/artnum/N58205 I figure: 1) somebody goofed, and it's not supposed to be back up, or 2) it's correct for all machines coming off the line from now on. I can only hope it's #2, cause then I think I'll get the correct card. I still haven't heard back from Apple though. Sean Collins " FWB HDT 3.0 RAID Compatibility: Eric Meislahn wrote a long letter on the current incompatibility of HDT's 3.0 RAID and Adaptec SCSI cards (including the 8945 SCSI/Firewire). He notes it pays to read all the documentation including the ReadMe file *before* you use the software. I believe this issue was reported here in the past by another reader. Here was a clip from Adaptec's tech support " Currently FWB's Hard Disk Toolkit 3.0 and Adaptec cards do conflict when customers are using the RAID portion of that software. From our testing it appears to be a bug in FWB. We are also currently working on version 4.0 of our PowerDomain software and will be releasing it as soon as possible." Web Server Accelerator: ClearWay Technologies, Inc. today shipped FireSite Web Site Accelerator version 2.5, ClearWay's patent-pending system for increasing Web server bandwidth on demand. Clearway claims FireSite accelerates Web servers beyond the bandwidth limits of their own Internet connections, often delivering a 300%-400% increase in server bandwidth. The new FireSite version 2.5 adds an improved user interface, automatic HTML compression, and extended support for RealAudio, RealVideo, and QuickTime. Free demos are available from http://www.clearway.com/FireSite/ (as of 1/20/1999). More IBM vs Moto: Phil Klewicki sent a note that IBM has now revised their overview page specs to agree with their performance page noted in yesterday's Which is Faster article. However he later sent a URL to another page at IBM that still shows the lower 17.6 value for the same part (G3/400/1MB L2/Copper) which is I'm sure just another older page that has not been updated. The IBM vs Moto page has an update with his latest digging to show more conflicting specs and differences in die size, etc. between the IBM and Moto parts. Transmit 1.2 FTP Client (formally Transit) is available for download at: http://www.panic.com/transmit/download.html. They cite a tremendous number of changes (Themes-savvy with proportional scrollbars, new Clone Window feature, graphic preview, synchronizations now gives you a report, more server types, more stable, extensive balloon help). Peripherals.net has a review of the Quickcam VS USB camera with sample images and pros and cons. The camera is said to cost as little as $69.95. Yesterday's News Summary Thanks for all who signed Dave's Get Well Guestbook Andreas Varga's Awesome new Game "Parsec" to be free! Carmine's TIL Updates and Net News Feed Autocache feedback IBM vs Motorola CPU specs battle page posted Discribe adds IDE CDrom support Applescript for consumers editoral at MacsOnly USB drivers site for pre-modified version for PCI USB cards My Commentary on reader mail regarding Voodoo2 performance Descent 3Dfx update Other Net News Summary of Monday's news For other recent site news/features links, see the Recent Site Features page. Note: Before sending tech support related questions please check the Freq. Asked Questions, Site Contents, CPU Card reviews/articles, SCSI reviews articles, Graphics card reviews, Tips/Misc, Message Boards and Help pages - in many cases the answers to your questions are there and they have far more detail than I can list in an email. For Apple G3 system info - see the G3-ZONE. For links on recent articles, see the Recent Features page. Please try the Men in Mac Help page as an alternative on requests for tech support to help me be able to spend more time on reviews. Thanks. Make a Difference: Be the Difference Randy Mita, Brad Lau and I came up with a new slogan and theme for Mac advocacy - "Make a Difference: Be the Difference". We're asking that all Mac owners take advantage of every opportunity to let others know the Mac advantage. It's a grass-roots approach that will surely help.