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News stories of July 29th, 2002: |
| Toshiba Notebook 40GB, 16MB Cache/5400 RPM/Fluid Bearing Drives |
[Update - when I checked the Transintl product page link below at 6:30 PM, it shows "not available" now. When I called at Noon eastern time (before posting this) I was told they had over 100 in stock and the link was working, but they must have sold out today.]
Earlier this spring I posted a note about the first 16MB cache IDE hard drive (to my knowledge) - the Toshiba MK4019GAX (40GB, 5400 rpm, fluid bearings). It's 9.5mm high so it fits even the iBooks. Originally they were only available in PC Notebooks but apparently now they are beginning to ship to dealers based on a drive database report from an iBook owner over the weekend that noted he bought one from TransIntl.com. I checked their site at 3AM this morning when doing the database updates (after seeing that report) but had to search their site to find it. They show the drive for $249 currently at this page, or you can call 1-714-634-1583. I was told today they have over 100 in stock at noon eastern time. (Toshiba's product page for the MK4019GAX is here.)
PowerBook G3 wallstreet, Pismo (lombard similar) and PowerBook G4 photo illustrated hard drive upgrade guides are linked here on the IDE articles page and in many drive database reports. (The iBook requires quite a bit of disassembly to replace a drive - but the FAQ's iBook section links to this article which has covers the 2001 iBook model - 2002 models look identical.)
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| Nvidia NV30 'Sneak Preview' |
Although I hear it may be end of the year/early 2003 before it ships - a reader posted a link to a Nvidia NV30 preview, but there's really not a lot of info in the article due to NDA's they say. They mainly comment on "CineFX" rendering engine and link to a CineFX PDF tech brief. Click on the sidebar thumbnails for screenshot samples and a table of NV2x vs NV3x features. (Note - web page requires a browser that supports inline frames.)
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| Reader Comments on EyeTV 1.01 Software Update |
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Last week I posted a note about the EyeTV 1.01 software update and added the info to the EyeTV owner reports page. A reader sent comments on the 1.01 update noting improvements:
"
Hi again Mike,
Just thought I' drop a line to let you know that the eyeTV 1.01 update
actually makes the device work.
With the 1.0 software the TV was viewable, but channel changing would
take 10-15 seconds and the automatic recording function would more often
cause the eyeTV software to unexpectedly quit then produce anything.
With the 1.01 software the channel change takes 3-4 seconds and I was
able to use the TitanTV web site to pick a program and it was recorded
perfectly.
One of the most exciting aspects of this for me is that I am using
unsupported hardware. I am running this on a Powercomputing Powerwave
upgraded to g4/450 with 256M of Ram and Mac OSX 10.1.5 with Ryan
Rempel's XpostFacto (Thanks Ryan!). USB via a Macally USB/FW combo card.
One of the annoying aspects of running OSX on my unsupported PCI macs is
that the audio in doesn't work, neither via a Plaintalk mic nor via the
RCAs (on the 8500/7500). The eyeTV in addition to providing a TV tuner
via USB, also has RCA inputs for both Video and Audio (stereo). So eyeTV
gives me the first audio (and video) input I have seen under OSX on my
old rigs.
The video quality is not that good, although there is a "high quality"
option that produces a larger file size (twice the size?), and a better
picture.
I'm glad I didn't return eyeTV right away, and hopefully the Elgato (how
cool is that name) people will continue improving the software and maybe
even introduce a better (firewire?) tuner.
Marty"
The reader comments last week about a possible Firewire version in the future has me interested...
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| Apple Portables Team Requesting Feedback |
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A recent ADC (Apple Developer) mailing included the following:
"Portables Team Requests Feedback
Apple's Portables development team would like to know
how they're doing with the PowerBook and iBook. From your
perspective as users and developers, please comment on current
PowerBook and/or iBook product features and functionalities that
are compelling to PC users looking to switch. Please categorize
your comments as hardware, software, and Mac OS, and email to
powerbookmarketing@apple.com before August 10, 2002.
" |
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| Que 40x12x48x IDE CDRW $39.xx after $20 Rebate |
One of the weekly sale items at Circuit City Sunday was a 40x12x48x Que IDE CDRW drive for $59.99 ($20 off their normal price this week) with a $20 mail-in Ckt City rebate for 7/28-8/3/2002 purchases. It would not be my choice for a Mac however (due to no iTunes support, and the fact it doesn't report a drive mfr. due to the firmware - and there's no firmware updates at Que's web site, which didn't even list the model as of yesterday on their products page). The QPS QPCDRW401040I has a 2MB cache and no mac support listed on the box. (It comes with Nero's PC burning software only.)
A neighbor bought one yesterday and I installed it in a PC I built for him last fall.
The drive didn't even report a brand/manufacturer in Win98's device manager (just "40x12x48x" with a firmware version of 1.00). Since the box noted "Just Link" buffer underrun protection (developed by ricoh per this page and also noted on some aopen and other 'brands' of drives) I searched the net and found out it was similar to the Aopen 4048 drive - which has a firmware updates page showing 1.07 as the latest (as of July 2002). Luckily the Aopen 1.07 firmware update applied OK even though the drive didn't report itself as an Aopen model (it does after the firmware update though). The drive burned a 695MB CDR in 3:07 (not including closing the disk) using Nero 5.5 on the PC. Like most 40-48x speed drives, it's not exactly quiet when it spins at high RPM (it buzzed the Coolermaster alum. case)
I could not find a review of the Aopen 4048, but did find a review of what appears to be the same mechanism sold as the CyQve 4048 in this review. (They used an older firmware version however).
I'm not sure how well this drive would work in Macs (and with 1.00 firmware and no way to update that on a Mac) but for $39.xx net (plus tax) after rebate, it's the lowest cost 40x12x48x drive I've seen. If anyone tests it in a Mac or a Firewire case (using Toast) post a drive database report. (Better supported drives like the 40x12x48x Lite-On however are pretty cheap now and would be better choices for Macs in my opinion).
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| Under $10 (after Rebate) 100 pack of 40x rated 700MB CDRs |
Although I'm not a fan of rebates, I noticed Staples currently has a spindle of 100 Philips 40x rated/700MB CDR discs for $29.94 (plus tax) with a Philips rebate of $20. I first saw this at Staples' web site (this page) - the local Staple's store here didn't have a sales flyer and still had them at $39.xx - but reduced the price after verifying it at their web site. (Notes from their product page say this $29.94 "Special Buy" pricing expires 8/3/02. Mail-in rebate offer from Philips expires 3/28/03. The rebate form with full terms/conditions is printed on the package label.)
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| CDRW/CD/DVD/Hard Drive/Cardreader Compatibility Database Updates |
| The Drive Compatibility searchable database had 26 new reports added today. The database includes reports on Combo DVD-CDRW, CDROMs, DVD-ROM, DVD-RAM, DVD-R, CDRW, Hard Drives and Removables (tape drive, ORB, ZIP, MO drives, CF/Smartmedia readers, etc.) in all interface types (IDE, IDE RAID cards, Firewire, SCSI, adapters). Current total 7,992 reports. Here's a summary listing of today's new reports. (Does not include updates to previous entries)
Multi-Format Card Reader
- USB PQI FPT-A (6-in-1 reader ) used w/Dual G4 (OS X)
(listed under Other brands)
DVD-R DVD Recorder Drive Reports:
- IDE Pioneer DVR-104 in G4/AGP (OS 9.1)
[noted sleep issue]
- IDE Pioneer DVR-104 in Dual G4 (OS X)
Combo DVD-CDR Drive Reports:
- IDE Samsung SM-332 (32x10x40x + 12x DVD ROM) in G4/AGP (OS X)
(no itunes support)
- IDE Toshiba SD-R1102 (8x8x32x + 8x DVD ROM) in B&W G3 (OS X)
(FYI CD drive install guide here covers B&W g3, G4 towers up to Digital Audio, 8600/9600 and Beige G3 Minitower)
DVD-ROM Drive Reports:
- IDE Hitachi (OEM) (slot load) 6x/24x in iMac Slot loading (OS X)
(OEM Apple slotted DVD drive from OWC for $49.95)
- IDE LG DRD-8160B 16X/48X in G4/AGP 2001 (OS X)
- Firewire Lite-On LTD-163D (16X DVD/48X CD) in OWC FW case used w/Dual G4 (OS X)
- SCSI Pioneer DVD-u05s (10x DVD/40x CDROM read) in Dual G4 (OS X)
IDE CDRW Drive Reports:
- Lite-On LTR-40125S 40x12x48 in G4 no AGP [yikes] (OS X)
(noted OS 9.2 boot problems)
- Lite-On LTR-16102B 16x10x40 in G4/AGP (OS X)
- Lite-On LTR-40125S 40x12x48x in G4/AGP (OS X)
Firewire CDRW Drive Reports:
- Freecom portable II FIREWIRE 24x10x40x used w/G4 Cube (OS X)
- Yamaha CRW2200FXZ 20x10x40x used w/7500 (OS 9.1)
- Yamaha CRW 3200 IX (24x10x40) used w/PowerBook G3 2000 (OS 9.1)
[noted Norton AV auto-protection enabled caused problems]
SCSI CDRW Drive Reports:
- Yamaha 8424S (8x4x24x) in 85/8600 (OS 8.6)
(problems noted - reminds me of this old article)
IDE Hard Drive Reports:
- IBM Travelstar 48GH 48GB in PowerBook G3 wallstreet2 (OS 9.1)
(illustrated HD install guide here)
- IBM 60GXP 40GB in iMac (OS X)
- Maxtor 80GB in Beige G3 using IDE PCI card (OS 9.2)
(problems noted)
- Maxtor D740X 40GB in Beige G3 (OS 9.2)
- Maxtor D740X 60GB in Beige G3 (OS 9.2)
(Beige G3 MT illustrated HD upgrade guide here)
- Maxtor D740X 60GB in PowerTower/Pro using IDE PCI Card (OS X)
- Western Digital 80GB (8MB cache) in Beige G3 using IDE PCI card (OS 9.2)
- Western Digital 80GB (8MB cache) in G4 no AGP [Yikes] using IDE PCI card (OS X)
(FYI Illustrated guide to adding a 2nd HD here)
- Toshiba MK4019GAX (16MB cache/5400 rpm) 40GB in iBook 2001 (OS X)
SCSI Hard Drive Reports:
- Quantum QTM336400N 36GB in 8500 (OS 9.1)
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.]
(Entries today will be added the following newsday. 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.)
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| CPU Upgrades Owner Reports Database Updated: |
The Rate Your CPU Upgrade database has been updated today with 5 new reports since Friday. (Total to date: 7,296). [Entries made today are posted the next newsday morning. Incomplete entries, those with no comments, missing info, etc. are deleted]
Here's a summary of the update (does not include update/added comments to previous reports):
- Apple G4/466 module in G4/AGP (sawtooth) (rated 9)
- Other World Computing G4/550 in B&W G3 (rated 10)
- Powerlogix Bluechip G3/466 in PowerBook G3 wallstreet1 (rated 9)
[includes comments on wake from sleep/backlight issue]
- Powerlogix Bluechip G3/466 in PowerBook G3 wallstreet2 (rated 5)
- XLR8 CarrierZIF MPe w/450Mhz XLR8 ZIF in PowerTower Pro (rated 10)
[didn't note if a G3 or G4 CPU]
(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.)
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