" The 10.3.1 Update delivers enhanced functionality and improved reliability for the following applications, services and technologies: FileVault, Printing, WebDav, and FireWire 800 drives. This update also includes the latest Security Updates.

Important Note: Apple has identified an issue with external FireWire hard drives using the Oxford 922 bridge chip-set with firmware version 1.02 that can result in the loss of data stored on the disk drive. Even with the improvements available in this update, Apple recommends you update the firmware on your FireWire drive. Please contact your drive manufacturer for more information. "

The firmware updates for Oxford922 (and other FW bridges) were noted here previously (and added to the FAQ's Firewire section). Note this does not fix the Geforce4MX/2MX issues with older G4 towers seen with 10.3.0 per reports.

" Hey Mike....I have a few things to comment. My iBook G4 arrived in good time, and is outstanding! Bluetooth is very fast and has good range. I have not yet tested my AE (Airport Extreme) card though. I did however replace the internal hard drive. I'd like to keep this information anonymous please, lest some Apple service people are reading!

I ordered the 30 gig internal knowing I'd be replacing it. I xBenched it at about 59 points. The drive did get noticeably hot during use, making my left hand sweat! I looked on the old dual USB ibook pages (linked in the FAQ's iBook section here) for how to replace the hard drive, and have some great comments to report.
First of all, you don't have to remove the bottom cover at all (on the iBook G4 model) to remove the top. Remove all the screws on the bottom, and there are now two extra in the battery compartment. The bottom will not remove even if you try, there are two screws near the slot loading optical drive! Anyhow, remove the keyboard, AE card and the plate to access the RAM.
Disconnect the keyboard, remove all screws (including one under the small round magnet in the middle-top). The top of the case then comes off very easily, starting with the battery compartment and going around clockwise until it comes off the last corner, since it needs to come out quite a bit to get it over the power plugin.
The heat shield comes off easily and the drive was a cinch to replace! It's mounted on rubber bearings, and the cable for the optical drive no longer runs across the machine. There is a fan in the middle top, near the monitor hinge, and there is a wicked cool curved heat sink that runs from there over the CPU to the hard drive area, and then out the vent!

Anyhow, I went with the 80 gig Travelstar and it's cooler, quiet, and faster, even at 5400 RPM. xBench shows it at about 61. So about the same :) I don't recommend anyone actually do this, since it was a nightmare of nervousness, BUT if you know not to try and pry the bottom of the case open, it's really quite easy, just take your time.

In other general reports, the display is beautiful and bright, although it takes a few seconds to come up to your brightness setting after dimming, I don't know if this is a general LCD screen 'feature.' The slot loading drive does make quite a crunch when inserting or ejecting a disc, however having a slot loading drive makes this a moot point! Battery life has been 3.5 to 4 hours, with AE, Bluetooth and heavy use. The modem is typical of other internal Apple modems, rarely really getting better than 28.8 speeds, but oh well :) The keyboard is NOT the translucent old spongy type, but solid white and very much like the Powerbook ones....
(name withheld by request) "

I'll add his report to the previous page here with other iBook G4 comments, initial tests, etc..

" Mike,
saw the note about Macromedia apps not launching on Panther... (Friday's news also had a note/link to a Macromedia service note on problems after a 10.2.8 or 10.3 archive and install or clean install-Mike) thought I'd add my additional tip.

I installed Flash MX 2004 Pro after installing Panther and saw the same 'bouncing icon -> quit' behaviour. After a couple of support calls Macromedia pointed me at this technote for contribute http://www.macromedia.com/go/18979"
The recommended fix is to logout, login as root (see link there to Apple kbase doc on enabling root user in OS X), run the app, register it, then quit, logout and back in as your normal user. Apparently this fixes some permissions issues.
best regards,
andy "

• More efficient motion detection
• Motion detection mask can now be a complex area instead of just a simple rectangle
• "Input switching" to use all three inputs of the DFG/1394-1 FireWire device simultaneously
• New option in the preferences to choose date ordering for file names etc
• Some minor bug fixes and improvements

• Apple G3/350 ZIF in Beige G3 (at 400MHz)
• Other World Computing G4/700 (at 800MHz) in (gigabit) G4/AGP (rated 10)
• PowerLogix G4/1.2GHz in (sawtooth) G4/AGP (rated 5)
• PowerLogix G4/1.2GHz in (Digital Audio) G4/AGP (rated 10)
• Sonnet G3/400 in 7200/120 (rated 10)
  (My reviews of G4 and G3 upgrades w/apps/game tests, install info, etc. are linked here. OC/CPU module articles are on the Systems page.)

(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.)

CD-ROM Drives:
• IDE LG CRN-8241B 24x in iMac (OS X server)
  
  CDRW Drives:
• Firewire (IDE drive in FW case) LG GCE-8520 (52x24x52x) used w/Powerbook G3 lombard (OS 9.2)
• IDE Sony CRX100E/X2 (4x2x24x) in Beige G3 (OS X)
• IDE Sony CRX 225E in Beige G3 (OS X)
  (no itunes burn support, didn't note drive speed or if bootable from CD)
  (Illustrated CD drive install guide here covers G4 towers up to the Digital Audio Model, Beige G3 MT, B&W G3 and 8600/9600 Macs)
  
  DVD-ROM Drives:
• Liteon 12x (didn't note model#) in B&W G3 (OS 9.2)
  (may actually have a Beige G3, didn't test for boot from CD)
  
  Combo DVD-CDR Drives:
• Firewire (IDE drive in FW case) LG GCC-4480B (48x24X48x + 16x DVD-ROM) used w/Dual G4 (OS X 10.3) (native burn support in 10.2.8 and later, FAQ has OS 9 and prev. OS X burn support files)
  
  DVD+R/RW + DVD-R/RW Drives:
• IDE NEC ND-1300A in G4/AGP (OS X 10.3)
  (didn't note if supported by iTunes or iDVD for burning)
• IDE Pioneer DVR-106 (using cable/mods) with iMac (OS X 10.3)
• IDE Pioneer DVR-106 in G4/AGP (OS X 10.3)
  (noted drive sleep/spindown issue)
• IDE Ricoh MP5204A in G4/AGP (OS X 10.3)
  (no native burn support, noted using toast 5.x)
• IDE Sony DRU-510A in iMac G4 (OS X 10.3)
  (no native burn support)
  
  DVD-R Drives:
• IDE Pioneer DVR-104 in iMac G4 (OS X)
  (iMac G4 take-apart here)
• IDE Toshiba SD-R5112 in Single G4 DDR (OS X)
  (using 10.2.8, didn't test for iTunes burn support)
  
  Hard Drives:
• IDE Hitachi Travelstar 80GB in iBook G4 (OS X 10.3)
• IDE (serial ATA) Hitachi 7K250 160GB in PowerMac G5 (OS X 10.3)
• IDE Maxtor Diamond Plus8 40GB in Umac C600 (OS 9.1)
• IDE Western Digital Caviar 80GB in G4 no AGP (OS X)
  (Illustrated guide to adding a 2nd HD here in B&W G3 rev2 and G4 towers up to the QuickSilver models.
  IDE articles page RAID section has an illustrated guide for adding 2 more drives in the side bays.)
• SCSI IBM DNES-309170 9GB in Beige G3 (OS 9.2)

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