'His Wife's LC III Has Just Died'
Hi Charles,
For some Apple users, it's definitely time to upgrade to an Intel
Mac.
A client called yesterday to ask me for help because the hard drive
on his wife's LC III has just
died, and he wanted to know if he could run it with an external SCSI
drive.
I was pretty much floored that she was actually using that old
system; hopefully he'll hand down his G3 iMac to her and get a new
machine!
Have a nice day,
Robert
Hi Robert,
Wow, that is an oldie. I still have a functioning
LC 520, but it's been literally
years - probably five or six - since it's been booted up. I thought I
was doing well still using a Pismo for real work.
I held out with PowerPC until last February and
probably could've gone a bit longer, but I'm glad I didn't.
As you say, it's time....
Charles
Tiger on a 400 MHz Pismo
From Tom:
Hi Charles,
Miscellaneous Ramblings is, as always, informative and interesting
to read.
Chris mentions that he does not know if Tiger would work as well
with a 400 MHz Pismo laptop as with a 500 MHz model.
I presently have a 400 MHz with 512 MB RAM and a 500 MHz with 768 MB
RAM, both running Tiger 10.4.11 with all software updates, and I think
I can offer some insight here.
The 400 with 512 MB of RAM runs 10.4.11 just fine - not at lightning
speed, yet at perfectly adequate speed - the spinning beach ball may
show up for a few seconds, but does so sometimes (less, it's true) on
the 500 with 768 MB of RAM. It's amazing, but the last Mac OS that will
work with G3s works quite well and smoothly with both of them!
I would say that the cheapest way to gain more speed for a 400 is to
max out the RAM to 1 GB, which I intend to do with my 500. 512 MB
RAM chips can be had relatively inexpensively if you look around,
installation is not really that tough (keep yourself grounded with a
wrist strap), though a bit heart-in-mouth putting the CPU board back,
and the Pismos I've seen with 1 GB of memory really have a lot of
pep. (Road Runners for Road Warriors?)
I personally think Pismos are amazing machines, proof of Apple's
design, versatility, and reliability excellence at its absolute peak,
and I hope mine lasts until the new MacBook Pros equal or surpass them
in excellence, which they appear to be on the way to doing.
God Bless,
Tom
Hi Tom,
Thanks for the insight on Tiger performance with a 400
MHz Pismo. Glad to hear my deduction was accurate.
I agree about maxing out RAM, and I would have done it
myself a long time ago if I was using my Pismo for a front line
production machine instead of mainly a drafting and editing
platform.
I've had RAM and processor daughtercards in and out of
Pismos so many times over the years that I think I could probably do it
in my sleep. Adding RAM to my unibody MacBook isn't really much, if
any, easier - just different.
Charles
Pismo Target Disk Mode Problem, Recommended OS 9
Apps & Extensions
From Chris:
I bought a Samsung HM160HC drive for my TC1100 and decided to put
its old hard drive (a 40 GB 4200 RPM Hitachi TravelStar) in the Pismo,
because not only was it much larger than the original 6 GB Fujitsu
drive, it's likely a bit faster and definitely much quieter. (Not
silent, but you'd have to really listen for it most of the time.)
It works . . . except when one of my favorite reasons to even look
at Macs is involved. Simply put, attempting to enter FireWire Target
Disk Mode will end up with the Pismo just shutting itself off.
Not only did this eliminate the possible use as an external FireWire
drive for my flagship custom-built Windows desktop (which happens to be
the only other computer with FireWire integrated, though others could
take expansion cards), but it also denies me the method I used to
install OS X Tiger. Thus,
I'm left with OS X Jaguar
(10.2), which appears to be even more useless than OS 9 from today's
standpoint because of the lack of available applications. (The
OS X software community in general seems to assume that you're
running Tiger, or even Leopard; in some cases, they even just assume
you have an Intel Mac!)
Back to the issue at hand - my guess is that it's one of those
drives that just won't play nice with Target Disk Mode, due to how it
works (something about SCSI commands IIRC, even though it's IDE/PATA).
At least I can comfortably have both OS 9 and OS X in their
own partitions now, and thus very easily switch between the two just by
holding down Option during boot (not to mention having files from one
OS start contaminating the other's file system and just making a mess
of things).
Anyway, since OS 9 is the only viable option left (I'd usually
consider Linux, but it's only supported well on typical IBM
PC-descended x86 machines and not old PowerPC Macs like a Pismo), I'll
have to know how to make the most out of it.
For instance, it would be helpful if there were extensions to add
some sort of scrolling feature to the trackpad, or change the battery
icon into a percentage readout that I can view without having to bring
up the Control Strip, or perhaps add functionality I haven't thought of
at the moment.
As for applications, it seems that Classilla (especially if they do update it
down the road) and Office 98 are my best bets for general computing.
It's easy to find plenty of Classic Mac OS games that will run well on
it, but aside from that, I can't think of anything that may run only on
OS 9 and still be viable in my environment.
May I ask your recommendations in terms of sprucing up OS 9?
(Also, this isn't just for you, Charles - anybody who reads this on the
mailbag at Low End Mac can respond. That's what I like about the site -
it's a whole community, more than just the main article authors!)
-Chris
Hi Chris,
I'm not sure what the deal is with that hard drive's
incompatibility with Target Disk Mode. Puts you in the same boat with
me and my FireWire-less MacBook. You might want to look into getting a
USB 2.0 CardBus adapter for a substitute faster data transfer
interface.
As for OS 9, my favorite nonstandard tweak was (and
still is in Classic Mode) a little scrolling utility called Scrollability ($10
shareware).
Aside from that and TypeIt4Me, which I also use with
OS X, my standard practice with OS 9 was to disable as many
extensions and control panels as I could get along without (there are a
lot of them) using the Extensions Manager. Here are some resources on
doing that:
The biggest challenge these days with OS 9 is
browsers, which as you said Classilla looking the most promising of
what's currently available.
Charles
PowerPC Macs in the Age of Snow Leopard
From Brian:
Hi Charles,
You make some good points. I remember that I bought my first generation G5 iMac refurbed in
Sept. 2005 - right as the Intel was about to hit. I debated whether to
wait for an Intel iMac or just go ahead, but I've never regretted the
decision I made.
I just hope that Apple continues support for PowerPC code in iTunes
and QuickTime for a few more years.
Brian
Hi Brian,
I think they will continue to support the core iApps
on PPC for a long time yet.
I bought a 17" G4 PowerBook about a
month after the first MacBook Pros landed and never regretted it.
Charles
DVD-less Mac Tiger Install and System-Specific
DVDs
From Adam Rosen:
Hi Charles,
Was just reading your latest Miscellaneous Ramblings column and
noticed your followup with Nancy
about getting Tiger installed onto her DVD-less iBook. I covered this
situation recently in my own article on LEM, Tips & Tricks for
Installing and Reinstalling 'Tiger'.
The use of an Intel-equipped computer as an external DVD drive
(booted in Target Disk Mode) will indeed work to install Tiger on a
PowerPC Mac. I used this technique recently with my MacBook to
reinstall Tiger onto a client's iMac G4 and just reverified that this
works using the MacBook with my own iMac G4. I don't think finding a
PowerPC Mac with a DVD will make the difference here.
I didn't see the earlier parts of your thread, but Nancy may be
using a system-specific (bundled) install DVD for Tiger, rather than a
full retail installer. Those system specific discs do not boot all
machines and can cause the type of kernel panics and installation
messages that she's receiving. Might this be the source of the
problem?
Best,
Adam
Hi Adam,
Thanks for the comment and suggestions.
I know it will work, because I used the method to
install Tiger on my G3 iBook from my Pismo via Target Disk Mode back in
the day.
I overlooked an obvious possibility of it not being a
standard Tiger install disk. Nancy didn't say what sort of install disk
she was attempting to use, but plenty of people have run afoul of that
issue.
Charles
Response to Tiger on DVD-challenged Mac
Problem
From Chris:
Greetings, Charles:
I just read the latest mailbag post on LEM, topped off by Nancy's
problems with installing OS X Tiger on an iBook through an Intel Mac
and FireWire Target Disk Mode.
The fact that she's using an Intel Mac with a PowerPC Mac is indeed
the problem. I noticed this when I attempted to install OS X Tiger
on my Pismo through Target Disk Mode through the neighbors' MacBook and
iBook G4s (the Pismo's DVD drive is unreliable, as you may recall). You
have to have a PowerPC Mac in order for the install to work on the
iBooks; the gray Tiger discs that shipped with Intel Macs are
Intel-specific, whereas with gray PowerPC discs, you at least have a
shot of getting other PowerPC systems working if they support FWTDM.
(I'd still only recommend using retail Tiger discs if you have them,
though.)
However, FWTDM also passes off a Mac's optical drives, not just its
hard drives. You can use this to get Tiger installed on the iBooks, but
only if you have a retail Tiger disc.
Normally, if you choose a disk with not enough space to install the
OS, it should give you a list of features to remove. Taking out the
printer drivers and extra languages will save some precious gigabytes,
as will cutting out iLife and iWork if you don't use them.
Would you please forward this information to Nancy? I think she
would appreciate it, and after all, this is part of what makes Low End
Mac - a community beyond just the article authors, all willing to
help.
-Chris
Hi Chris,
Thanks for the info and insight. I've forwarded your
note to Nancy.
Charles
iTablet with Bluetooth Keyboard
From Oliver:
Hi Charles,
Thanks for your reply. Let's put it this way. I'm such a fanboy I
think that I might buy whatever Apple puts out.
On the other hand, I would be really averse to buying an $800 10"
Touch with a touchscreen keypad, external keyboard compatible or no.
That is, unless it had the Kindle-like capability of giving me free
Internet access anywhere. Otherwise, I'll just pick up a used 13"
MacBook Pro somewhere down the line.
So it looks like we have a point of disagreement. We'll see what
happens within the next six months if not sooner.
Cheers.
O.S.
Hi Oliver,
That we will. I'll have to wait as well to see if this
is something I would seriously consider buying. The 13" Unibody is just about as
perfect as a computer as I've experienced so far, and mine isn't even a
Pro.
There's a lot of substance backing up fanboyism.
;-)
Charles
Power on the Road
From Brian:
Hi Charles,
I'm about to embark on a road trip across several states to Glacier
National Park and got to thinking (perhaps too late) about power
sources for my 'Book while on the road. I haven't decided yet whether I
will be taking my MacBook Pro or older iBook, but in either case, I
find myself wondering whether packing a surge protector will be
sufficient.
As the Road Warrior, and having read about your recent experience
with electrical issues on your Pismo, do you have any thoughts?
Thanks,
Brian
Sent from my iPhone
Hi Brian,
Actually, carrying a surge protector on the road is
something I had never given much thought to, although it doesn't sound
like a bad idea. Off the top of my head, I don't know whether anyone
makes dedicated surge protectors for mobile computer users are not. You
could certainly carry along a standard power bar with a surge protector
to hotels and whatnot.
The power manager board failure in my Pismo would not
have been prevented by a surge protector, since it appears to have been
caused by a faulty extension cord arcing and wasn't really blamable on
the power source. I have since scrapped that cord!
Power issues on the road are more often associated
with finding a place to plug in the 'Book to recharge. In that context,
the PowerPC books have a convenience edge, since they will work with
third-party Auto/Air 12 volt source power adapters like the ones made
by Kensington, and Apple has not seen fit to supply a automobile power
socket compatible MagSafe adapter for the Intel 'Books, nor have they
licensed anyone else to produce them. There is a company called
Mikegyver that does conversions of Kensington adapters to
MagSafe connectors.
Charles
RSI and Pointing Devices
From Vickere, following up on Eudora 8.0 Keyboard Shortcuts:
"Interesting that trackballs would cause RSA, when
they're touted frequently as a RSA prevention/workaround."
De Quervain's tenosynovitis is inflammation of the thumb tendon from
incessant clicking.
"As for foot mice, I just use some old Apple 'hockey
puck' USB mice (exclusively for clicking) with the tracking balls
removed and the aperture taped over."
Oh, that's a good idea. I don't know if I have the USB port to
spare, with both left- and right-hand mice, but maybe I could put a
one-button mouse on the floor. No shin splints?
I'm pretty fortunate to have no wrist pain, but actually, I fell off
my bike and broke my wrist (and elbow) and the soft tissue in my wrist
is still significantly inflamed from the hard impact, so I might have
to right-hand mouse only for a while, even when I can start adding my
left hand back to typing. Maybe will be problematic.
Vickere
Hi Vickere,
Thanks for the explanation about De Quervain's. Makes
sense now for sure.
As for the foot mouse, I would be sunk without USB
hubs. I keep two hooked up to my production MacBook in my office and
still sometimes run out of ports. Apple's parsimoniousness with USB
ports is perversely idiotic. Even $300 PC netbooks usually have
three.
Sorry to hear about the bike crash and injury. Makes
me feel even more thankful that I survived my own bike crash last
Saturday without serious injury. I dropped a front wheel into a culvert
cutout that was obscured by weeds while pulling over to let a truck
pass and went over the handlebars. Some scrapes and bruises, and then a
lot of stiffness set in for several days, but nothing broken. Glad I
had a helmet on. Not the sort of acrobatics for a guy who will be 58 in
a month!
Charles
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