• Looks like current Wallstreet but thinner
• CPU speeds of 333MHz and 400MHz
• 64MB RAM standard, 66MHz memory bus (unchanged)
• RagePro LT graphics chip (as before) but with 8MB SGRAM
• Two USB ports, hot-swappable expansion bay,
• Only 1 (not two?) PC Card slot
• Up to 5 Hour battery life
• Cooling is said to be better (rumor)
• 20% thinner and appx 2 lbs. lighter (estimates)
• Configurations start at $2499 and $3499
• Apple is giving away 50 of the 400MHz PowerBooks to the WWDC attendees (Jobs gave away two on-stage)

A picture is Apple's main page, and you can order on-line now at the Apple Store.

BTW - during the keynote it was also mentioned that OS 8.6 improves battery life of the existing Wallstreet models by 25% to 37%.

3Dfx Voodoo3 News: I've just read that contrary to original plans - there will be a 3dfx Voodoo3 3500 *PCI* version as well as AGP. The 3500 will have more features than originally planned but is now scheduled for July, with the PCI version some time after that. I was surprised at the PCI announcement, as only the low end 2000 model was made in PCI format previously. Could this be a sign that the 3500 will be offered in a Mac model? Let's hope so. The 3500 will run at 183Mhz, up from 166MHz of the 3000 model and 143MHz of the 2000 model. BTW - 3Dfx is reporting the 3 top selling video cards in the North America are Voodoo3 3000 AGP, Voodoo3 2000 PCI and Voodoo3 2000 AGP. The 3000 AGP model I have tested ran _very_ hot; the large heatsink was too hot to touch after a few hours but there were no heat related problems. Voodoo Review reported that with Tennmax's' V3 Cooler, the 3000 version ran reliably (all night in Quake II) with the clock speed tweaked to 180MHz.

The 3D Game News has today's update from Frank Bernier. Check it out for the latest info on Quake 3 and other mac games.

Peter Chin wrote that a possibly faster download source of OS 8.6 is at Download.com.

"Download.com has it...
They have about five servers that seem to be doing well- I'm downloading it at 20K per second at the moment.
Peter Chin
Mac Systems Administrator"

OS 8.6 Released! I'm getting a slow download from the Apple MacOS 8.6 Update page. Matthew sent word that 8.6 was available at this Apple FTP address but I could never get in (probably too many users logged in).

Jobs' WWDC Keynote is available Live via QT4 here (11:30AM EST- 2:30PM EST here)

More OS 8.6 Feedback: To offload the main page, I've created a separate OS 8.6 Feedback page to list compatibility issues and reader comments on the update.

500MHz Pentium III Photoshop Tests: I've updated my Photoshop 5 Performance page to show the results of tests with a Dell XPS-T500 500MHz Pentium III system with 256MB of RAM. Prior to the tests Photoshop 5.02 was updated with the Adobe Pentium III update (new MMXcore extension, Lighting and Wind filters). Although some filters were dramatically improved, total time for the 21 filter test still trailed most G3 Macs.

(The comments here earlier today have been moved to a specific OS 8.6 Feedback page)

More on Mac Server Cases: Bill Chin replies to the post on server cases in the weekend news:

" I'd love to see it in an Antec KS-011BX + RPP4032:
http://www.antec-inc.com/products/server/datser.html (Aspen Systems uses this for their high end server case for Alphas and Xeons) ..Bill Chin "

Quake3Test Perf. w/MP850 3dfx Banshee:

" I ran some benchmarks with my MP850 card and Q3A 1.03.
Beige G3/300, XLR8 MACh Speed 466/233 card, OC'd 500/250. Q3A 1.03, MesaQuake 3.1B11, Mac 8.5.1, MP850. 100 megs allocated to Q3, 128 physical. 129 VM.

My results easily show that the drivers for the MP850 (Glide) are -highly- unoptimized, as it takes a very fast processor to get frame rates even close to a voodooo 2 GameWizard.

640x480, preference 1.
G3/333/222, MP850, 1024k L2 : 54.6 FPS
G3/280, GW, 512k L2 : 62.4 FPS
G3/500/250, MP850, 1024k L2 : 75.4 FPS

Here are my full results. "

For results with the Voodoo2 Game Wizard and Rage128 see my Quake 3 page.

Speaking of Quake3, as noted in the weekend update to the 3D Game News Thresh (world's best Quake Player) has some comments on Q3Test and the B&W G3/350 they bought to run it at: www.firingsquad.com/features/q3test/q3testmac/default.asp

Louie G. Berry wrote that he's running his new XLR8 400/200/1MB Card (reviewed here) in a PowerCenter Pro 240 at 60Mhz bus speeds.

" Mike:
I know you like Power Center Pro 240's like mine and that you have one. Is it still broken? [Yes, with all the mail and work here I've not had time to try fix it-Mike]

Thursday evening I received a XLR8 400/200/1MB card for it from MacGurus. It must be brand new because it came with the latest v 1.3.1 software (final release, not beta) with a ReadMe dated 23 April 99. It is a copper based IBM chip. I popped it in and played with it Friday night and yesterday. Today, I started tweaking it and had no problem with a 60 MHz bus speed. In fact, after easing it up faster and faster, it is now running reliably at 450/225 with a 60 MHz bus and shows a temperature of 16 degrees C. I'll report further after it runs longer.
Regards,
Louie G. Berry "

He went on to note some audio issues that I suspect are due to the fact that he may not have installed the PCI Timing update (noted on my PowerCenter Pro and Power3d reviews as addressing audio issues on Catalyst based motherboard systems.

Jonathan Ong sent and update to this weekend's post noting that he's running is beige G3/300 with XLR 466/233 upgrade reliably at 500/250/83 now.

If you don't check every day's daily news (updated several times a day normally) you might miss something valuable. Check the summary list below for highlights of the last two days news and the archives page for older new page links. For a blast from the past, read what was on the news page here exactly a year ago.

Other Net News:

• Mac OS 8.6 Update Due Out Monday... (theiMac.com)
• Colors are blooming everywhere in the Mac market! (theiMac.com)
• Happy Birthday, iMac! What a ride... (theiMac.com)
• IIS, Site Server vulnerable to hackers Ecommerce info could be exposed (ZD/Net)
• (Oops!) FCC sends dirty joke to email list (News.com)
• Graphics Workstations: Power Up, Prices Down (ZD/Net)
• Be plans set-top push (News.com)

Weekend's News Summary

• 3D Gaming News updated
• Reminder on OS 8.6 Quad CPU issue
• OS 8.6 brief release, review at MacsOnly
• Carmageddon2/Libmoto Conflict (see Libmoto page)
• Toast/Grappler CDR Burning Problems clarification
• Comments on ZIF bus speed adjustments
• B&W G3 Firmware Update fixes montor sleep
• Alex's new column on IP routers/Net sharing
• Reader comments on Routers
• More OWC $299 ZIF Raves
• BLOL Specials (incl. DVD)
• B&W G3 Server Case wish list
• 9500 RAM Upgrade how-to
• More on Grappler/4416S/Toast
• More Q3Test Framerates
• Sonnet G3/PowerBase Towers fit issues
• Quake 3 Tips/Screenshots updated
• Rate Your G3 Upgrade database updated
• Other Net News

Friday's News Summary

• Review of PowerForce G3/400/200/1MB ZIF
• Call for accurate G3 Temp util
• News on Apple WWDC and RAM Chip pricing
• 3D Gaming News massive update
• reader 930U/Yamaha4416/Toast problem report
• Bottom Line $279.99 total DVD Kit (Decorder card/drive)
• Softraid 2.1.6 update released
• CDW Powerbook sale
• More 400Mhz reports from OWC's $299 366/ZIF
• Casaday & Greene Speed Startup
• Disable RAM tests tip in OS 8.5
• Petiton for UPS Mac Support
• MRJ 2.1.2 released
• More on Permedia 3 Card from Formac
• How to help Mac RC5 Contest
• How to share a Modem on the Mac
• MesaQuake B11 released
• Sonnet and OWC G3 upgrade sales
• Conflict Catcher updated
• One year ago today news
• Quake 3 Tips updated
• G3 CPU Upgrade Ratings database updated
• Other Net News

For other recent site news/features links, see the Sidebar to the right and the Recent Site Features page.

If you own a G3/300 or faster Mac, you might want to get our PPC Checker utility that will report if your CPU is copper or aluminum based.

Considering a G3 Upgrade? Check the CPU Upgrade Owner's Survey results and search for owner reports by Mac model and/or card brand. The database is being updated daily for new reports. Also make sure you ask your dealer about any issues with current builds of some models (ie PF G3) as I have gotten several reports of issues with certain mac models in the last few months (Mach 5, PowerBase, 7300). I urge any owners that have had problems to report this via the Survey Form. Always give the most weight to recent owner reports (dated in the listing).