" Hi Mike, since the release of the AppleScript to enable spanning on some iBooks/iMacs/eMacs by the german magazine c't (see below) I have received some reports of failed iBooks. This is the same issue as with my original patch where 600 MHz iBooks (other Rage-based iBooks might be affected as well) with the Rage Mobility chip will die after applying the patch (the AppleScript apparently doesn't check if you use this kind of iBook). (This warning was noted in the previous page here on this mod last fall-Mike)
Maybe you could add a warning to the news item on your site that this patch will not circumvent this issue.
Unfortunately there is no known way to revitalize those iBooks besides replacing the mainboard.
Thanks-Klaus "

(Reader mail on an applescript based mod follows)

"hi mike, the in germany well known comp-mag c't has made an applescript that should enable the dual-display support for ibooks, imacs and emacs (models with dual display capable gpus like radeon 7500..) unlike changing the settings in the OF yourself.
(there's an older article here on this sort of OF mod)
it should be reset to default, if you zap your nvram.
you have to use it in X, after enabling the dualsupport is also in 9 given. if your ibook has only 16megs (VRAM) you should enable quartz extreme using PCIextreme (assuming Radeon chip and not a Rage128 chip which has no QE support regardless)
the download page is:
http://www.heise.de/ct/03/16/links/192.shtml
after unstuffing you'll find two textdocuments and two applescripts iBookScreenEnhancer
iBookScreenEnhancer + Desktop
the second is to use the ibook with external monitor and closed lid.
i haven't tried it yet, because i don't own one of these machines.
regards, oli v.
frankfurt/germany"

" I'll post a full review next week but wanted to comment on first impressions of the MacResq PB G4 Superdrive upgrade ($399 includes overnight shipping both ways) since in the past I've heard supplies of these drives have been limited.

The Matshita UJ-815 drive showed a mfg date of July 2003 and had firmware DWDB (later than even the Dantz posted DOCB firmware). This is the same mechanism that Apple ships in the Superdrive equipped Powerbooks so it's fully supported in OS X 10.2.6 (iTunes burning, Discburner, iDVD, iPhoto, etc. - no iTunes support for OS 9 however, although ASP shows disc burning supported. I've not tried editing the MatshitaCDR file in OS 9 to add support for it. Toast5 in OS 9 supports the drive of course). Remember if using Discburner for burning DVDs, you need to have adequate free space (4.7GB, preferably more of course) on the hard drive since it makes an image on the hard drive of the DVD disc to be burned. The drive was bootable from CD (Techtool Deluxe 3.0.3 CD tested). iDVD 3.0.1 as expected supports the drive for burning DVDs.

Although the reason for buying this drive is the DVD burning support, the higher CDR rating (16x Max vs 8x Max for the combo drive) is another plus. Total burn time isn't twice as fast since the burn rates are variable across the disc, but it was several minutes faster (about 1/3 faster overall) in burning a nearly full CDR disc in iTunes4 and Toast 5. Toast 5 showed 16x max speeds with my Memorex 40x rated CDRs (I mention this since some OEM combo drives rated for 16x max speeds have been reported to not show the max rates as an option in Toast.)
Both the combo and superdrive (like most all notebook drives) have a 24x (max) CDROM read rating and copy times (to HD) were about the same as expected. However I was glad that this superdrive didn't have the loud 'buzzing' with CDs that the combo drive had during high speed reads (for instance when verifying a CD in Toast - even with a CDR disc w/o a label).

Like the OEM model shipped by Apple, DVD-R speeds are 1x, although the mfr specs on the original drive I believe note 2x max DVD-R rates. Some thought the Dantz posted firmware would enable 2x rates, but I have no feedback that is true (and this drive had later firmware). I also tested a DVD-RW disc to make sure it was supported - it was. Although I don't have Retropect to test, the UJ-815 is a supported drive.

Bottom Line: Although this PB G4/800 isn't the fastest PowerBook G4 available, I've been happy with its overall performance. I had previously upgraded to 1GB of RAM and an 80GB internal drive but the main feature I missed over a new model was the internal superdrive. With this superdrive upgrade, I'm going to postpone buying a new Powerbook until there's a future model that offers a lot more performance.

If you want one of these drives, MacResq's upgrade program is about the fastest and easiest way to go with their quick turnaround (24hrs after receiving your PB it's shipped back) plus the price includes overnight shipping both ways at a price that is less than MCE's. If you have any questions, check their website FAQ or give them a call at 1-866-Mac-Repair. "

Note: See later news pages (i.e. Saturday news page on Archives page) for info on later announcements like OWC selling the drive alone (for those that do not want to ship their powerbook G4 in for the swap) and PR from MCE on a 2x DVD-R/DVD-RAM drive version.

" The update includes a German localization and includes a few bug fixes.
- Fixed a bug causing one of DiskWarrior 3 popup menus to be substituted with FruitMenu's one.
- Fixed a bug indirectly causing crashes of Apple's X11.app.
- Included German localization by Martin Uhl.
More information on FruitMenu can be found here:
http://www.unsanity.com/haxies/fruitmenu/" "

• Other World Computing G4/533 in Beige G3 (rated 10)
  (My full reviews of G4 and G3 upgrades w/apps/game tests, install info, etc. are linked here.)
• Apple Beige G3/300 OC report
• Apple G4/400 AGP OC report

(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.)

DVD-ROM Drives:
• IDE Toshiba SD-M1202 (4.8X/32x) in Beige G3 (OS X)
  
  DVD-R DVD Recorder Drives:
• Firewire (IDE drive in FW case) Pioneer DVR-105 used w/Powerbook G4 (OS X)
  
  CDRW Drives:
• IDE Acer (Aopen) CRW4850 48x12x50x in G4/AGP (OS 9.2)
• IDE Liteon LTR -52246S (52x24x52x) in Dual G4 DDR (OS 9.2)
• IDE Liteon LTR -52246S (52x24x52x) in Dual G4 DDR (OS X)
• IDE Memorex 52MAXX (52x24x52x) in Beige G3 (OS 8.6)
  (listed under "other" brands)
• IDE Teac CD-W552E (52x24x52x) in B&W G3 (OS 9.1)
  (not bootable from CD he said) (FYI - Illustrated CD/DVD/CDRW drive install guide here covers G4 towers up to the Digital Audio Model, Beige G3 MT, B&W G3 and 8600/9600 Macs.)
  
  Hard Drives:
• IDE Maxtor 120GB in 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.)

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