Miscellaneous Ramblings

Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2006 Archive

• Goldtouch fully adjustable ergonomic keyboard for Mac, 2006.12.19. If you suffer from typing injury or want to avoid it, the fully adjustable Key Ovation Goldtouch Apple Compatible Adjustable Keyboard may be just what you're looking for.
• The iEmulator and 'Other Red' controversies, 2006.12.12. iEmulator appears to be nothign but a ripoff of an open source program, and the legitimacy of the "Other Red" program remains under question.
• Web leaving Mac OS 9 behind, Pismo and Tiger, USB for PowerBook 5300, and more, 2006.12.11. Also a Pismo with no video, USB vs. USB and FireWire external drive enclosures, free WordPerfect download, and iListen in Canada.
• $20 i-Rocks IR-9200 USB 2.0 2.5" drive enclosure a good value, 2006.12.04. This inexpensive USB 2.0 drive enclosure is a great way to repurpose a 2.5" hard drive that's been removed from a notebook computer.
• Extended warranties debated, giving 'Other Red' benefit of the doubt, MacBook closed-lid cooling, and more, 2006.11.13. Also problems using Target Disk Mode to install Tiger, Afterthemac 802.11g USB adapter, iEmulator x86 emulation for PowerPC and Intel Macs, and unsupported operating systems.
• To AppleCare or not to AppleCare?, 2006.11.20. Consumer Reports, which generally recommends against extended warranties, says AppleCare makes sense. But does it?
• Disabling deep sleep on MacBooks, 'Other Red' a scam?, mixed RAM can reduce performance, and more, 2006.11.13. Also other disk utilities Mac owners should know about, Lombard cooling, Netscape 7 on OS 9, Final Vinyl for ripping LPs, and more.
• FaxCenter for OS X: All the fax software you may ever need, 2006.11.06. Anyone running OS X and looking for software that can replace the classic GlobalFax should take a look at FaxCenter.
• Best OS X for Pismo, mixing RAM speeds, LP to MP3, SpeedFan cools MacBook running Windows, and more, 2006.10.30. Also Lombard still rocks, Powerlogix WallStreet upgrade tip, old Macs still perform admirably, a 64 GB flash drive, and RadTech's clever BT600 mouse design.
• Reflections on the iPod revolution on its 5th birthday, 2006.10.23. Those of us who missed the Walkman revolution never expected the iPod to be the success it is, but it has helped create a new Apple Computer.
• RadTech BT600 rechargeable Bluetooth mouse, 2006.10.17. This cleverly designed Bluetooth mouse charges via USB - and can be used as a USB mouse when the batteries run out of juice.
• Ubuntu on older Macs; Lombard, Pismo, and WallStreet upgrade questions; installing clamshell RAM; and more, 2006.10.09. Also more on why some older Macs can't read modern CR-R discs and Russell Beattie's 'underhanded' criticism of OS X.
• Lombard, the 'middle child' PowerBook G3: Good enough for OS X?, 2006.10.02. The PowerBook G3 (Bronze Keyboard) was slimmer, lighter, and less expandable than the WallStreets it replaced. It added USB, gave up ADB, and retained SCSI.
• Ubuntu Linux not best for Macs, OS 9 on Macintel, using FireWire Target Disk Mode to install OS X, and more, 2006.09.25. Also looking at WallStreet hard drive ugprades, problems with fifth-generation iPods scratching, and media issues when reading CD-R and DVD-R.
• Is Ubuntu Linux a sensible alternative for Mac users?, 2006.09.18. If your Mac can run OS X decently, is there any reason to try Ubuntu Linux? If it can't run OS X well, is Ubuntu a reasonable choice?
• Using FireWire Target Disk Mode to install OS X on Macs without DVD drives, 2006.09.14. Two methods for using FireWire Target Disk mode to install OS X on a Mac that can't read DVDs.
• iMac startup problem solved, PowerBook 5300 and WallStreet memories, removing languages, and more, 2006.09.11. Also Kanga "all I need", another WallStreet upgrade, dual USB iBook thoughts, and problems reading CD-R in older Macs.
• PDQ PowerBook G3 at 8: Still Useful Or Too Long In Tooth?, 2006.09.05. The WallStreet and PDQ PowerBooks were Apple's most expandable 'Books ever, but is even that enough to keep them practical in the era of OS X?
• The PowerBook 5300 turns 11: A reminiscence, 2006.08.28. The first PowerPC PowerBook was a mixed bag with a new design, some very nice new features, some shortcomings, and a few serious problems.
• Clamshell iBook viability, problem reading CD-R, OS X unstable with video compression, iCab 3.0.3, and more, 2006.08.21. Also possible solution for booting into OS 9, WallStreet upgrade value, Power Mac no longer jinxed, MacTV value, AIM for ancient Macs, and more.
• Getting the most out of the clamshell iBook, 2006.08.14. "'Unique' is an overworked adjective, but in the case of the clamshell iBook, it's justified. There's never been anything quite like it before or since."
• InforMac: A free and better replacement for Apple's System Profiler, 2006.08.07. "InforMac works great, is very quick (except for loading the Applications pane, which takes a while), and is a lot more fun to use than System Profiler."
• OS X features for OS 9, Opera as default browser, MacTV value, jinxed Power Mac, and more, 2006.08.02. Also an unexpected iMac G3 startup problem, where to find older versions of AOL Instant Messenger, and a homemade digital Rolleiflex TLR.
• More laptop cooling ideas, more on FireWire installation of OS X, Flash Player and iCab, and more, 2006.07.31. Three more laptop cooling solutions, ins and outs of installing Tiger via FireWire Disk Mode, getting Flash Player working with iCab, and where to find support for the eMac.
• 7 tools for keeping your laptop (uh, notebook) cool, 2006.07.24. A quick look at the Podium CoolPad, ChillMat, ChillHubs, Laptop Desk, Xpad, iLap, and iBreeze - seven stands designed to keep you 'Books running cooler.
• More ways to add OS 9 features to OS X, modem problems with MacBook and USB modem, Opera problem, and more, 2006.07.17. Also potential problems using Target Disk Mode to install the OS, using Classic on Intel Macs, value of Pismo G4 upgrades, "Tiger" on a G3 iMac, better laptop ergonomics, and more.
• Adding 'lost' OS 9 features to Mac OS X, 2006.07.12. While OS X offers a lot of things the classic Mac OS didn't, longtime Mac users may miss some features of the Classic Mac OS not included with OS X. 7 programs to restore some of those features.
• Installing OS X 10.4 'Tiger' on DVD-challenged Macs using FireWire Target Disk Mode, 2006.07.10. Mac OS X ships on a single install DVD, which Apple will exchange for CDs at $10. But if you have access to a DVD-equipped Mac and a FireWire cable, you're good to go.
• TopXNotes: A user-friendly solution for creating, managing, and accessing your notes, 2006.07.05. TopXNotes is a shareware tool for managing your text notes, replacing the Note Pad of the Classic Mac OS.
• More on the best classic Mac OS browser and video capture option, Charles W Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2006.06.28. WaMCom as the best classic Mac browser, software suggestions for OS 9 video capture, and two hardware alternatives to having your Mac do the video conversion.
• Mac Pro musings, no Pismo startup chime, changing a user's Short Name, MacBook drive upgrades, and more, 2006.06.26. Also OS X installation questions, a cool hard drive gadget, thoughts on Mark Pilgrim switching from the Mac, and more on an upgraded Pismo vs. a PowerBook G4.
• Is Netscape 7 the best classic Mac OS browser?, 2006.06.12. Why the one-time "king of browsers" beats out Internet Explorer and iCab as the classic Mac user's browser of choice.
• Matte vs. glossy screens, upgraded Pismo vs. 12" PowerBook G4, video capture with OS 9, and more, 2006.06.05. Also how DiskWarrior can save the day even when it 'fails', thoughts on keyboards for those with neuropathy in their hands, Norton SystemWorks for Mac, and more on OS X browsers.
• DiskWarrior 3: The one disk utility every Mac user should have, 2006.05.30. DiskWarrior does one thing - and does it very well. It finds and repairs directory damage, then create a new optimized replacement directory.
• Best OS for older Macs, why OS 9 remains a player, Camino browser fast, DVD-RAM support for Macs, and more, 2006.05.22. Also MaxiMice as a potential replacement for Scrollability, Links an alternative to WannaBe, putting a 300 MHz CPU in a slower WallStreet, Word 2004's Word 5.1 option, and more on Pismo modems and Tiger.
• Is Mac OS 9 still a player?, 2006.05.15. Is OS 9 still important? Which Macs can boot into it? Where can you buy OS 9? How do you obtain and install the available OS updates?
• Flexible eWheelie stand improves notebook use at your desk, 2006.05.08. With a unique wheeled design, the eWheelie Laptop Stand lets you roll your 'Book to the side when you need to use your desk for other things.
• Apple's WallStreet PowerBook G3 at 8 years old, 2006.05.04. Probably the most flexible, expandable PowerBook ever, the G3 Series offered desktop performance to go - and today it's a good deal on the used market. Also, the WallStreet CPU Upgrade Guide.
• Pismo modem issues, best Mac keyboard, Pismo processor upgrade value, and more, 2006.05.01. Also swapping screens between Lombard and Pismo, more on Frankenpismo, PRAM reset may resurrrect dead Lombard, and more on the dead Lombard.
• Degunking Your Mac, Tiger Edition, 2006.04.24. This book explains how to degunk your Mac by removing unwanted and obsolete files, clearing out spam, and generally tuning up your Mac.
• Best Lombard replacement, Pismo CPU upgrades, a trackball tip, and more, 2006.04.17. Also a "Frankenpismo" project, market value of the color PowerBook 170, and thoughts from another David Pogue fan.
• Mac OS X Missing Manual 'the OS X book to have', 2006.04.10. "Whatever aspect of working with the operating system and the 50-odd programs that come bundled with it, you're almost certain to find it addressed in the pages of this book."
• MR Review: DEVONthink Professional, 2006.04.04. DEVONthink Professional is a very powerful, sophisticated, intelligent data manager just for the Mac.
• 'The Ball' wireless trackball meets high expectations, 2006.03.27. This Bluetooth trackball is solidly built, precise, and very compfortable to use, quickly becoming an intuitive alternative to the mouse.
• Copyright bullies, fair use, fear of change, free culture, ballistic laws, opting out, and more, 2006.03.20. Readers weigh in on attacks on fair use, the RIAA's fear of new technology, the way copyright law no longer serves the public interest, and more.
• Copyright bullies may win some battles but must lose their war, 2006.03.13. Traditional copyright law is obsolete, and modern copyright law is hopelessly broken, sold out to vested commercial interests at the expense of personal rights.
• Pismo and Panther, Pismo on last legs, and Lombard vs. PowerBook G4, 2006.03.08. More on OS X 10.3.9 as the best for Pismo, Pismo plagued with kernel panics, and whether to upgrade a Lombard or replace it with a PowerBook G4.
• Upgrade for compatibility, SeaMonkey fastest Mozilla, LimeWire, and journalistic credibility, 2006.03.06. Upgrades may be fore compatibility and ease of use, not just speed. Also SeaMonkey the fastest Mozilla browser, LimeWire for sharing files, and the credibility of new media vs. old media journalism.
• Installing OS X on a WallStreet using an external CD-ROM, 2006.03.01. You'll need a Mac OS 9.1 install CD, XPostFacto, a bootable SCSI CD-ROM, and OS X - preferably 10.3 "Panther".
• Tips for Pismos, 10.3.9, resetting a stuck modem, using widgets without Tiger, and more, 2006.02.27. More advice on dealing with Pismo modem problems, OS X 10.3.9 as the best OS for Pismos, and two utilities Panther users should know about.
• Dvorak adoption notice, tips for Apple's Yo-yo power supply, old iMac a good value?, and more, 2006.02.27. Also a 'Pismo up in smoke' update, Lombard up in smoke, iBook G3 logic board problems, Wangwriter appreciation, and more.
• Back to the future: downgrading my Pismo to OS X 10.3.9, 2006.02.20. With Spotlight and Tiger's Find refusing to work on the Pismo, it was time to backtrack to OS X 10.3.9 - which actually seems faster and more stable on this PowerBook.
• Tiger 10.4.4 update cripples Pismo's internal modem, 2006.02.13. Pismo's internal modem works flawlessly under OS 9 and OS X 10.3, but it's grown less reliable under 10.4, becoming unusable with the most recent update.
• Pismo up in smoke, Macintel ends virus-free Macs?, G3 iBook a risk with logic board problems?, and more, 2006.02.06. Also the great value of a refurbished 20" iMac, booting OS X on WallStreet with an external CD drive, and ramblings about the MacBook name, the usefulness of old Macs, and working with Windows Mobile.
• FastMac's $190 8x dual-layer SuperDrive for PowerBooks and dual USB iBooks, 2006.01.30. For US$190-250 you can replace the CD-ROM, CD-RW, Combo, or slow old SuperDrive in most PowerBooks, white iBooks, slot-loading iMacs, and Cubes with a faster, dual-layer drive.
• Future of FireWire, NKJV Bible software?, WallStreet battery and keyboard problems, Macintel or G5?, and more, 2006.01.23. Also OCR on the Mac, trackpad issues, UPS Canada brokerage fees, the fate of SpellTools, and Macs for Internet cafes.
• Switching to the Mac: The Missing Manual - Tiger Edition, 2006.01.18. "...Switching to the Mac: The Missing Manual is a must-have for anyone making the Windows to Mac transition."
• The Mac Plus, my first Mac, turns 20, 2006.01.16. Apple introduced the first real workhorse Mac 20 years ago. The Plus had SCSI connectivity, RAM expandability, double-sided floppies, and supported networking.
• Matias OS X and USB 2.0 Keyboards reviewed, 2006.01.03. Two very good, nicely priced keyboards for the Mac - one even has a USB 2.0 port for the iPod shuffle and other devices.
• more in the Miscellaneous Ramblings archives: 1999-2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010