"This free update of AppleWorks adds frequently requested features, including the ability to read and write Microsoft Word and Excel files, enhanced formatting tools, faster downloading of Internet templates, improved networking compatibility and more.

The AppleWorks updater automagically senses which version of the Mac OS you're running and installs the proper version on your Macintosh. If you use Mac OS X, the program installs AppleWorks 6.2. For Mac OS 8.1-9.1, the program instead installs AppleWorks 6.1. Both share a common feature set, but are optimized for the different operating system versions."

" I just installed a Keyspan USB 2.0 card in my 450Mhz AGP G4. I have 640 Megs of RAM Sys 9.1. I purchased the card so I would have a detected USB port for my Sound Stick speakers. Also having USB 2.0 would allow me to update when it becomes available for the mac. I installed the card hooked up my Sound Sticks and started up. Everything worked fine the card and ports were reported by system profiler. When my computer was awaken from sleep the speakers stopped working, and it took a hard restart to get them working. I also tried a mouse in the card and it also stopped working after sleep. I was wondering if any one has had good luck with this card.
Ron P. "

I would have thought the onboard USB would be a better port for the Soundsticks. I suggested he also report these issues to Keyspan's tech support.
If there are any other USB 2.0 card owners that can comment on their experiences let me know.

" Dear Mike,
I just tried this procedure, and it works. Toast shows the update drive as 1.0n, where it was 1.0d originally. This makes you wonder, though: why on Earth doesn't Yamaha make a firmware updater for the Mac/IDE combination available?
Eddy E. "

I've updated the FAQ's CDROM/CDR section on Yamaha 2100 firmware update info to include this tip for future reference.

B&W G3 System
Yamaha IDE 2100 E-VK (16/10/40) drive
Comments:
" this is an update to a previous review i posted on 5/18/2001.
I've got important information about upgrading a Yamaha 2100 E IDE without the "help" of a PC.
I made my own "IDE updater" by mixing a scsi installation program (Macinst21.exe) and the latest version of the firewire firmware (atf01302.bin). You need to put them in a same folder. I named it "me2110n_e". Put anything else in the trash. Then double click the installation program and... voily!!! I tried it and It's working. No problems (reading, writing CDs, and it's still bootable).
Emmanuel"

I don't have a 2100 drive to test this personally but see the later update above for another IDE Yamaha 2100 drive owner that noted this worked.
Of course when messing with firmware, the old "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" rule applies. (And check your drive's firmware version - it may already have the latest version installed if you bought it recently.) If you're having problems with the drive that a firmware update might address, this might be worth a try - but if something goes wrong you may end up with a useless drive.
Our FAQ's CDROM/CDR section has has a note/link to a Yamaha flash updates for the 2100 series drives, but they only list SCSI and Firewire model flashers. The downloads include a rom file and a flash utility.

" Mike, More bad news about Sonnet. After 2 days of testing my:
9600/233 Sonnet Crescendo PCI G3/500
256 RAM
2x SCSI HD (one OS X dedicated)
PCI Radeon

with both Ryan's newly updated method and Sonnet's new installer the following was true for me:
-Both installers work fine. Yes there are hiccups every now and then with both, but neither one posed more difficulty than the other.
-Both methods boot fine with no kernel panics
-With the 9600, yes, the PCI Radeon works.....xlr8'ed and all. HERE's THE PROBLEM:
-The Sonnet installer causes my system to hang repeated and frequently during normal system operation. Boot up like I said no problem, but minutes into normal tasks the finder hangs (little color wheel still spinning) and forces a hard restart. Also sometimes I'd get random kernel panics too (during regular system usage), and have to restart. I did this several times, each with a clean disk, and with 10.0 all the way up to 10.0.4
-Ryan's method works perfectly, like I stated, even with the Radeon installed.
-The Sonnet crashed even with the stock video card. ALTHOUGH
-The Sonnet solution did feel noticeably snappier and more responsive when it was not hanging.
-The Sonnet solution was a simpler setup/solution as it didnt require additional L2 enabling software.

So I'm with Ryan's method and all is well.
Thanks, Thomas Z."

For more info, instructions and to download Ryan's software, see OWC's OS X on Legacy Macs page. For those that want to buy Sonnet's enabler, see their OS X page at www.sonnettech.com.

" Mike,
Just tried the OS X update (had to buy QTPro key as my Win QTPro key would not work...got to buy more shares of Apple...) and found it as as posted! Thanks!
Add that its NOT the Sorenson 3 Pro Codec but the Limited SE version (most features turned off). Pro users should pre-order the codec from Sorenson (www.sorenson.com/web/jsp/catalog.jsp)
However, its not listed on their site. May have to contact them direct.
Ed- "

" FYI for adventurous readers:
I am running OSX on a B&W G3/350 (overclocked to 400) with 448 megs of ram, a 20 GB Maxtor Plus 40 hard drive, an aftermarket USB card (for dual USB busses), and an Orange Micro 2906 SCSI card.

In an attempt to speed up OSX, I experimented with the extensions folder in the \system\library\ folder on my OSX partition (I have 2 HFS+ partitions “ one for X and one for 9.1)

If you boot into OS 9 and you manually move unnecessary kernel extensions to a backup folder (or to the trash), OS X will still boot and operate normally.

As an example, I removed the 3 Radeon files, the 4 Nvidia files, the Key Largo IC file, and Adaptec and Acard files with no problems. (Of course what you should remove is entirely dependent on your system configuration). The BW G3 of course does not use the Key Largo chip or the GE Force2/3.

This foots out well with the apple documentation on the kernel and kernel patching extensions.
Apparently, the registry of kernel patches is recreated at boot time, so if you remove one there shouldnĂt be any problems (provided its functionality is not needed on your system).
Check out this link if you havenĂt already:
developer.apple.com/techpubs/macosx/Kernel/kernel.html
Mark"

I wonder if this does more than to save some time at boot (assuming the OS checks for extensions compatibility at boot perhaps), or save some disk space. One reader noted the unnecessary extensions were not loaded in memory on his Mac model so any benefits might just be less files on the disk and/or perhaps slightly faster load times (assuming there is some sort of check at boot for applicable extensions to load).

• Newer Tech G4/400 in Beige G3 (rated 10)
• Powerlogix G3/400 in 9500/150 (rated 10)
• XLR8 G4/450 ZIF in Beige G3 (rated 8)
• XLR8 G4/500 ZIF in G4/no AGP (Yikes G4/PCI) (rated 10)

You can find these 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.)

Software Updates:

• QuickConference
• PageSpinner 3.1
• iWake 1.0
• Stuff'n Crypt v1.0.1
• Stitcher 3.0
• FormZ 3.6.5
• Apple Mac OS USB DDK 1.5.3b1
• AppleWorks 6.2 (see above for details and links)

Apple TIL Updates: (none today)

Mac News:
(Note: Rehashing of press releases, repeated news, etc. not listed)

• Independent DVD-on-Mac OS X project yields workable software (bite.org)
• Napster File Transfers Suspended (napster)
• WWDC Survey (apple)
• Strained relations cause Adobe no-show (macuser uk)
• Rumours point to Mac range revamp (macuser uk)
• Phil Schiller Keynote Streaming Media West (apple)
• Prudential Cuts Compaq Estimates, Says Apple May Miss Top Line (thestreet.com)
• KAUi Kampus (kaui)
• The Apple PDA - Cheese Looking for A Mouse (osopinion)
• Oracle looks to Mac OS X clients (zdnet)
• Mac OS X: The Complete Reference (mymac)
• LockOut (securemac)
• Ebrahimi to give XPress 5 UK demo (macworld uk)
  
  Rumors:
• On Mac OS X 10.1: Puma Details and a few Build 5D15 Screenshots (thinksecret)
• Mac OS X 10.1 not ready until September? (the register)

Gaming:
• Brad Oliver Q&A [Westlake programmer] (games4mac)