" Hey again Mike!
I just found out that 3dfx is offering a $50 (yes, FIFTY) on the PC and Mac versions of the Voodoo 5 (PCI and AGP). This is supposedly an "exclusive" deal for subscribers to an online gaming magazine (Daily Radar), but no where on the rebate PDF do you have to have proof of that. I'm seriously thinking about buying one now since Onvia has them for $300, which nets for $250 after the rebate. Here is the link to the PDF:
http://www.dailyradar.com/contests/voodoo5.pdf
Lucian"

The Rebate PDF file notes the offer is good only on purchases made between Oct 20th, 2000 and Oct. 31st, 2000 and is valid only in North America. (For a review of the Voodoo5 PCI for Macs, see the Video articles page, Graphics card section.)

" Just as an additional temptation, the "Ultimate Toy Box" is on sale at Tower for $50, down from the list of $70. The two movie discs may be the same (I'm not sure), but the extra third disc has over /five hours/ of extra goodies, covering the gamut from early pitches of the concept and some preliminary sketches (the star, at that point, was Tinny, from Tin Toy. That later became Woody, who was a pretty hard-edged character, and a ventriloquist's dummy), through rendering bugs, music composition, and more, for both films. (If the two sets do have the movie discs in common, try the 'Toy Story Goodies' - a couple dozen scenes with the characters acting.. well, off-screen. Hilarious!)
-- Porsupah"

The 2 disc set I bought also had a few "extras". ( I watched the Toystory 2 DVD's extras including Pixar's first animation, out-takes from the movie, etc.)

" We have 300mhz to 400mhz XLR8 MachSpeed PCI upgrades on special in limited supply.

XLR8 MachSpeed G3/300mhz 1024K PCI - $157.45
XLR8 MachSpeed G3/333mhz 1024K PCI - $191.95
XLR8 MachSpeed G3/366mhz 1024K PCI - $234.95
XLR8 MachSpeed G3/400mhz 1024K PCI - $289.95

Prices are good while supplies last. Products are brand new.
Best Regards,
Larry O'Connor
Other World Computing, Inc."

For the latest prices and availability, check OWC's cpu upgrades page. The G3 Upgrade Reviews page has some previous reviews of XLR8 upgrades and there are hundreds of owner reports in the searchable Rate Your CPU Upgrade database. (These cards fit 7300-9600 Macs as well as Umax J700, S900, Daystart Genesis/Millennium, PowerCenter/Pro, PowerTower Pro, PowerCurve and PowerWave Macs.) www.xlr8.com also has product and compatibility info.

" [RaveDrv.RaveRenderDevice]
Use32BitTextures=True
Translucency=True
VolumetricLighting=True
ShinySurfaces=True
Coronas=True
HighDetailActors=True
NonATI=False
LightModify=0.000000
TextureComposite=True
VertexLighting=False
DisableVSync=True PageFlip=False
DetailBias=0.000000
MipMapping=True
DetailTextures=False
ShrinkPercent=1.000000"

" Hi Mike:
I have to report bad news about the latest Proformance III EPROM (2.5.1) and Prographics Control Panel 5.9.3.

My system:
PTP 250 -- xlr8 G3 Carrier Zif 466
OS 8.6
Speed Doubler 8.1.2
Proformance 3 Card with 16M VRAM (original software GA 5.7.1 EPROM 2.2.6)
NEC P750 17" monitor

After installing the new software the monitor DDC wasn't recognized and I had only the 640 x 480 resolution available. It also disable my xlr8 backside cache software (MACh Speed Control 1.4.3)

I was able to backward flash the firmware and restore the original configuration to make it work again.
Best Wishes,
Allan"

One reader noted Zapping the pram helped ( hold the command+option+P+R keys down until the mac chimes 3 times as noted in the FAQ). Other than fixing the G4 system sleep issue (previously reported here from G4 Gigabit ethernet system owners), it's unknown what other changes/fixes are in the new version. I welcome other comments from Proformance 3 owners using this update. (Not sure it matters, but note if your card is the original or Plus version and if it has the digital LCD addon module and please note your Mac model and monitor info.)

While at Fileplanet, I noticed another cool looking mod called PaintKeep Arena (not sure it works with Macs but the 10MB download page is here).

TechTool Pro 3.0.2:

New features:
New File Scan Feature
Rebuild/Repair Directory Speed Improvements
Added Auto-Updating Of Protection Files
Added more conflicts to the Conflict Database file.
Added Support For Third-Party USB And Cards
Added Support For More Third-Party SCSI Cards
Added Improved SCSI Scanner Detection
CD Boots All Current Systems

Bug Fixes:
Fixed bug where System File test would not find some valid system files/folders.
Fixed bug where SCC chip test would crash program on some configurations.
Fixed control panel bug that would prevent the saving of preferences on some systems.
Fixed Software Conflict bug that would not properly identify some system versions.
Fixed a wide variety of minor operational and cosmetic bugs.

NOTE: Another reader wrote with a warning on the risks of using this hack based on comments from Matt Watson at Apple who says that you may send or receive corrupt/incomplete data from FTP, HTTP, SMTP, POP or IMAP connections which may cause higher layer applications in the system to crash. He also noted a PowerBook's battery may drain at much faster rate and that your disk may become corrupted requiring a complete re-install your system software. This info is noted at this (non-Apple) OS X Faq page.

Although it was noted previously in the the other net news links, a reader that missed it wrote with a reminder:

" Mike,
Could you somehow let your readers know that there has been a hack made for the Airport under Mac OS X? Tell them to follow this link:
http://loki.creol.ucf.edu/~jpb/publicbeta/packages/AirPortHack.html
and click on the download link at the bottom of the page. Now, boot into OS X and double click on the file named AirPortHack-0.1.pkg. A dialog will come up and just follow the directions for installing the airport hack. Use the same tcp/ip info you use in OS 9 and make sure the built-in ethernet port is disabled while the Ethernet card 1(Airport) is enabled. And if you follow this, you should be able to use your Airport.
Best regards,
Patrick Gast"

" Hi Mike,
Just wanted to drop you a note and let you know that it would appear they've fixed the sound issues that plagued Media Player 6.3 while playing .ASF files. I was able to play video in the .ASF format without losing sync with the sound at both normal and full (800 x 600) screen. This is on my PowerCurve with G3 clocked at 400mhz, 144meg RAm, and virtual memory turned off, under OS 9.
Jeff"

Tape Drives:
• SCSI WangDAT 3400DX (8/34GB) in 73-7600 Mac
  (didn't note specific mac model)
  
  CDRW Drives:
• Plextor IDE 12/10/32A in Beige G3 (slave to original CDrom)
• Plextor IDE 12/10/32A in Starmax (includes notes on performance w/older onboard IDE controller)
• Plextor IDE PX-W8432Ti (8x/4x/32x) in G4/PCI
• Que Firewire QPS PX-W1210A w/PB G3 wallstreet 2
• Que Firewire QPS PX-W1210A w/B&W G3
• Sony SCSI External CRX145S/C 10x4x32 w/7300-7600
  (didn't note which exact model)
• Sony SCSI External CRX145S/C 10x4x32 (external) w/Beige G3
  (Notes getting the drive on sale at his local CompUSA for $199.xx)
• Yamaha SCSI External CRW8424 in 7300-7600
  (didn't note which exact model)
  
  Hard Drives:
• IBM IDE 75GXP 20GB in PowerTower Pro w/PCI IDE card
• IBM IDE 75GXP 30GB in Starmax w/PCI IDE card
• Maxtor DiamondMax 60GB in 8600 w/PCI IDE card
• Maxtor DiamondMax Plus 40GB in G4/PCI
• Maxtor DiamondMax 46GB in Beige G3/MT
  (used guide at www.xlr8yourmac.com/G3-ZONE/IDE/)
• Maxtor DiamondMax 80GB in B&W G3 rev 1
• Maxtor DiamondMax 80GB in B&W G3 rev 1 w/PCI IDE card
• Maxtor DiamondMax Plus 15GB in 6400
• Maxtor DiamondMax Plus 40GB in G4/AGP
• Maxtor DiamondMax Plus 10GB in Beige G3
• Maxtor DiamondMax Plus 40GB in B&W G3 rev 1 w/PCI IDE card
• Quantum SCSI Fireball SE 8GB in 7300
• Quantum IDE LCT8 26GB in iMac
• Western Digital IDE WD136AA 13GB in B&W G3 rev 1
  (notes data corruption seen)
• Western Digital IDE WD205BA 20.5GB in Beige G3 (All in one)
• Western Digital IDE Caviar 20GB in G4/AGP
• Western Digital IDE Caviar 20GB in iMac

You can find these full reports by searching the database with the drive/brand/mac models listed above selected (the latest reports are shown first in searches).
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.

• Newer Tech G4/500 in B&W G3 rev 1 (rated 10)
• Newer Tech G4/450 in 7300 (rated 9)
• Powerlogix G3/350 in PowerCurve (rated 9)
• Powerlogix G3/350 in 7300 (rated 9)
• Powerlogix G3/300 in 8500 (rated 10)
• XLR8 CarrierZIF w/OWC G3/400 ZIF in 9500 (rated 10)
• XLR8 CarrierZIF w/OWC G3/300 ZIF in 8600/250 (rated 10)
• XLR8 CarrierZIF w/OEM G3/233 ZIF in 8500 (rated 9)
  
  
• Apple B&W G3/450 OC report

You can find these 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 of over 4,600 entries from most every upgradable Mac model *before* you buy. (Searchable by mac model/upgrade brand)

Software Updates:

• EtherFast 1-Port Cable/DSL Router (direct download ZIP file)
• iCab 2.2b browser (direct download link)
• iCab 2.2 for OS X (direct download link)
• Appleshare Helper 1.6 (direct download link)
• MicroMat TechTool Pro 3.0.2 [see main news page for info] (direct download link)
• Macsense MIH-130 XRouter Pro 1.19b (direct download link)
• RealAudio 8.0
• RockNES/MacOS (Nintendo emulator)
• ImageDV 1.0.1 (direct download link)
• aUtils for FileMaker
• Whistle Blower 2.1 (server monitor)

Apple TILs:
• PowerBook G3 Series: Upgrading Memory
• Macintosh: How to Test FireWire Ports
• Mac OS X Public Beta: File Systems Accessible in the Classic Environment
• Mac OS X Public Beta: Choosing Between Multiple Mac OS 9 System Folders