" Apple Remote Desktop with real-time screen sharing is the ideal desktop management solution for education, businesses, and professionals on the go. It gives you the power to manage Mac systems from anywhere on your network or remotely across the Internet. It can reduce administrative costs and enhance productivity in any environment.

You can perform a wide range of other functions remotely. Rename systems. Verify and repair hard disks. Get reports on software that has changed. Delete old software applications... "

System/OS requirements are listed as "iMac, iBook, Power Mac G3 or G4, or PowerBook G3 or G4 computers. Mac OS 8.1 through Mac OS 9.2, or Mac OS X v10.1 or later. Ethernet or AirPort network connection". For more info see the product page and Tech Specs page. Price is $299 for a 10-client license and $499 for an unlimited-client (per site) version.

Last year I posted a note about Samsung's SyncMaster 240T 24" widescreen LCD display with analog and digital (DVI) inputs plus HDTV-ready input with PIP (Picture in Picture) and a "digital zoom" (up to 64x) feature looks more attractive than the Sun 24" (for those that can afford very expensive displays).

Until I win the lottery at least, the Sony FW900 widescreen CRT may take up a lot more desk space, but at under $2K, it still looks like a better value if you want a large widescreen display.

" Hi Mike
I have a dual 533, 896 RAM, the VST card has two 60 gig Maxtors attached which I use mostly for Final Cut Pro. Applied the update and now I can finally use FCP 3 in X. I was fixing to buy a new controller card, looks like it will only be a $10 shareware fee instead!
Thanks,
Sean "

Another reader wrote:

" Voila! it works great. It must run under OS9 to do the update. But after one restart6 the card shows. Thanks to OWC
Avi "

The only problem report so far but it turned out he had a card bought off Ebay (not a retail VST card).

" Hey,
regarding the firmware update; it will not work on those Ultratek cards based on Promise Technology! Very disappointing indeed as both ASP and the update program recognize the card as such in the slot. But when you click on update, the message "Error!! !Unlicensed adapter!" appears.

Andy "

I asked Andy if his cards were actually Mac VST models and he later wrote he bought it on Ebay and thinks it's a PC version. (I asked him if it ever worked in a Mac before.) All VST IDE cards were based on Ultratek firmware and Promise controller chips - however the flasher will not update a card that does not already have the Ultratek Mac firmware in the card (i.e. the card must be the VST Mac ATA/66 model.)

The VST ATA/66 card is currently $49.95 at OWC (link removed after they sold out), the lowest priced PCI IDE controller I know of for the Mac. (Includes SoftRAID software for OS 9 also.)
If you try the firmware update with OS X, let me know.

" Mike,
I did up a review of the Apple RAID drivers vs the Atto RAID drivers for OS X. I emailed you on Monday but you say to email again if we don't hear anything back. [I have over 6,700 emails in my inbox, with more every hour literally plus other work, so I can't read all email sent - but I try-Mike]
I did this because I haven't seen much mention of SCSI Drives and cards on OS X. The article explains it all.
The link is here, feel free to post it if you find it of interest.
http://homepage.mac.com/bcarter/2940review.html
Thanks,
Brad"

" Visit: http://wireless.mhpcc.edu/
Use an Airport Base Station from 26 miles away. Now we're talking wireless!
Aloha, Baron"

Jan Peter van der Wenden sent a link to a different site showing mods to use a surplus Primestar Dish.

" SONNET ANNOUNCES NEW 466MHZ SPEED FOR POWERBOOK 1400

Sonnet Technologies, the worldwide market share leader in processor upgrade cards for Apple Macintosh® computers, announces the Crescendo/PB G3 466-1M, Sonnet's fastest upgrade yet for the PowerBook 1400, and the latest addition to its product line of Crescendo processor upgrade cards. This upgrade offers a powerful 466MHz PowerPC G3 processor with 1MB Level 2 backside cache, which produces an impressive 11x increase in performance over a 117 MHz stock machine that used a 603e processor. The Crescendo/PB is compatible with the PowerBook's existing hardware, software, RAM and peripherals. It transparently integrates with your system software, and performs flawlessly with Mac OS 7.5.3, through OS 9.1.

Availability and Pricing
Crescendo/PB G3 466-1M is shipping now and has an estimated street price of $299.95. This new product replaces the Crescendo/PB G3 400-1M at the same price."

For more info see the Sonnet web site. (Past reports on the Sonnet G3 cpu upgrades for PB 1400 models can be found by searching the Rate Your CPU Upgrade Database here.)

• Other World Computing G4/450 in B&W G3 (rated 10)
• Powerlogix BlueChip G4/500 in Powerbook G3 wallstreet2 (rated 7)
  (includes comments on OS 9 and OS X)
• Sonnet G3/450 in 9600/233 (rated 1)
  (problems noted)
• Sonnet Harmoni G3/500 in iMac (rated 9)
  (updated report commenting on Firewire port use)
• Beige G3/266 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-R DVD Recorder Drive Reports
• IDE DVR-104 in iMac G4 (OS X)
  (report on the standard drive in the high-end iMac G4, noted some soft of early drive failure apparently)
  
  DVD-ROM Drive Reports
• IDE Toshiba SD-M1612 (16x/48x) in B&W G3 (OS 9.1)
  
  Combo DVD-CDR Drive Reports
• IDE Toshiba SD-R1202 (16x10x40x +12x DVD ROM) in B&W G3 (OS 9.2)
  (noted not bootable and problems burning with discburner)
  
  IDE CDRW Drive Reports
• Lite-On LTR32123S (32x/12x/40x) in Umax S900 using IDE PCI card (OS 9.1)
  (problems noted burning CDs, using Tempo ATA/66 card)
• Mitsumi (4809) 24x10x40 in Dual G4 (OS X)
  (required iTunes support file mod)
• Plextor 12/10/32 in 8600 using IDE PCI Card (OS 9.2)
  (problems noted)
  
  Firewire CDRW Drive Reports
• Freecom Classic series 16/10/40 used w/Dual G4 (OS X)
  (listed under "other" brands. no iTunes support)
• Lacie 32x10x40 used w/G4 AGP (OS X)
  (no retrospect support, didn't note drive mechanism brand)
• Que 24x10x40x (Teac W524E) used w/Dual G4 (OS X)
• TDK Velo CD 32x10x40x (in Firewire Case) used w/iBook 2001 (OS X) (no iTunes support)
  
  IDE Hard Drive Reports
• Seagate ST380021A 80GB in Beige G3 (OS 9.2)
  (see Beige G3 MT illustrated HD upgrade guide here)

You can find full owner reports 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.]

• 1 year ago today
• 2 years ago today
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