Speed Bump Rumors, iBook Peripherals, Wireless Options, and Lots More

NOTE: This Miscellaneous Ramblings column originally appeared on MacOpinion on July 30, 1999. It is republished here by permission of the author and MacOpinion.

The next PowerBook

Now that iBook has been unveiled, the rumor focus shifts to the next generation professional 'Books - Lombard's replacement - and, some of us hope, to a possible "eBook" or thin executive PowerBook. The PowerBook Zone has published a page of very early speculation about "102," which will probably replace Lombard sometime in 2000.

The new professional PowerBook, expected to be evolutionary and not revolutionary, may include:

• AirPort wireless networking as standard equipment.
• FireWire, including a FireWire-based SCSI Disk Mode replacement
• DVD improvements
• 14.1" TFT continued
• 400 MHz processors on up
• 100 MHz bus
• Improved battery life

Blue & White speed bump should mean a faster Lombard soon

Meanwhile, MacInTouch reports that Apple will announce a blue & white G3 speed-bump update about the time you read this. The new blue & whites are rumored to range in speed from 450 MHz to 550 MHz with a 56K modem as standard equipment, at the following estimated prices:

• Power Mac G3/450, 64/6 GB/CD/16/56K, $1599
• Power Mac G3/500, 64/6 GB/DVD/16/56K, $1999
• Power Mac G3/500, 64/12 GB/ZIP/16/56K, $2499
• Power Mac G3/550, 64/9 GB Ultra2/CD/16/56K, $2999

If this speculation is accurate, we may further speculate that a G3 Series III (Lombard) PowerBook speed bump to 450 MHz is probably coming soon, although the current 333 MHz and 400 MHz models will probably be maintained as low and mid range units, restoring Apple's customary "three-speed" lineup in it professional PowerBooks.

Griffin's iMic adds sound input to iBook

Griffin Technology's iMic universal audio adapter is a USB device that allows the connection of virtually any microphone or sound input device to the new iBook, which does not include sound-in support.

Griffin says that iMic will ship when the iBook is released, and will have 1/8" and RCA inputs and supports both line and mic level input.

iMic features include:

• Supports better than CD quality at up to 48 KHz sampling.
• Works with virtually any microphone.
• Both 1/8 " stereo and stereo L&R RCA inputs.
• Priced at $25.

iMic Supports:

• Line Level Microphones
• Mic Level Microphones
• Multimedia devices
• Headsets
• Communications devices

The iMic can be preordered now but will not ship until the iBook is released. Griffin says that advance orders will not be charged until they ship.

For more information, visit Griffin Technology's Website.

VST announces twelve new iBook peripherals

VST Technologies, Inc. has announced 12 new peripheral products designed for the Apple's new iBook portable.

The new products include a series of ultra-compact USB hard drives available in matching Tangerine and Blueberry colors in a variety of capacities. A new USB Floppy Drive will also be available in matching colors for under $90. VST will also provide two types of Battery Chargers for iBook, as well as Lithium Ion (Li-Ion) Batteries and AC and DC (Automobile) Power Adapters.

"With the announcement of iBook at Macworld New York, Apple is providing the user community with a powerful, full-featured, lightweight, and wireless Internet capable portable computer," according to Vince Fedele, founder and chairman of VST Technologies, Inc. "With the iBook, Apple has created a product that virtually every student and consumer will want."

"Apple has an exceptional winner here, and every school system in the world stands to benefit," adds Fedele. "The pure educational value of the new iBook will provide added assurance for their student's future. Apple's commitment to education was built on the foundation of a truly superior (Mac) operating system, and iBook is the perfect complimentary hardware."

VST's new iBook products are:

Product	Description	Price	Availability
USB Hard Drive	4 GB Tangerine 4 GB Blueberry	$329.95	Sept. 1999
	6 GB Tangerine 6 GB Blueberry	$429.95	Sept. 1999
USB Floppy Drive	Tangerine Blueberry	$89.95	Sept. 1999
iBook Base Station Charger	Charges multiple iBooks simultaneously	TBA	Q4
iBook Battery Charger	iBook Smart Charger	$149.95	Oct. 1999
iBook Auto Adapter	12V DC Auto Adapter	$79.95	Sept. 1999
iBook AC Adapter	World Wide AC Adapter	$69.95	Oct. 1999
iBook Battery	iBook Li-Ion Battery	$149.95	Oct. 1999

Newer Technology announces BookEndz docking station for Lombard

Newer Technology, Inc. has unveiled a new BookEndz docking station for Lombard. An evolution of the previous BookEndz line of docking stations, the new BookEndz features a stiffer chassis for longer life and better support of connectors.

The Lombard BookEndz replicates all the PowerBook's ports: two USB ports; 25-pin female SCSI (identical to desktop Macs), RJ-45 Ethernet, RJ-11 modem port, 4-pin S-video, RCA composite video, 3.5mm (Walkman-style) audio in/out and a SVGA video connection. Additional features include cable routing channels for PC Card use, computer reset switch on the rear of the dock, illuminated dock indicator and a security slot.

The following PowerBook features can be used when docked: IR devices, expansion bays and the PowerBook security slot (rear door need not be removed prior to docking). As with previous BookEndz models, the factory power supply shipped with the 1999 PowerBook G3 should be used when AC power is required. Newer has endeavored to make the color and texture of the BookEndz an accurate match the new PowerBook G3 so when docked, it appears as an integrated system.

The Lombard BookEndz will have an estimated street price of $229 and is scheduled to ship in September.

For more information, visit Newer Tech's site.

VST to build DVD-ROM upgrades for 333 MHz Lombard

A new DVD-ROM Kit from VST is scheduled to ship in October at an estimated price of $439.95. The kit will include:

• A hot-swappable, second generation PowerBook DVD-ROM module capable of reading CD-ROM discs, including CD-R, CD-i, PhotoCD, and audio CDs, as well as DVD-ROM disks.
• A PowerBook DVD-Video PC Card: providing high performance MPEG-2 decoding technology capable of delivering full screen, 30 frames per second playback, plus quality audio via synchronized Dolby Digital audio decoding.

Avermedia's USBPresenter offers USB video support

AVerMedia Microsystems, Inc. introduced AVerMedia USBPresenter this week.

USBPresenter is suitable for a diverse variety of applications, mirroring computer screen images to TVs and other video display and recording devices. It will be able to be used to provide video out capability for the new Apple iBook, which does not support external monitors.

AVerMedia's USBPresenter uses advanced video compression technology to mirror and transfer image data, providing superior image quality on TV screens compared with traditional scan conversion technology generally used in other products. It features true plug-and-play support, and is compatible with a variety of video sources, including quick and easy installation onto blue & white G3 Macintosh, iMac and the Lombard PowerBook, as well as the iBook. USBPresenter is powered by the USB port, and doesn't require an external power supply.

"USBPresenter is the perfect solution for mobile presentations needed in the corporate training and educational arenas," notes C. S. Wu, President of AVerMedia MicroSystems, Inc. "No other product currently matches its quality, or its capabilities."

Offering still image mirroring and full motion video display at up to 30 frames per second, USBPresenter supports all available resolutions offered on Macintosh computers, with output to NTSC or PAL (composite or S-Video) video source. It is fully compatible with Apple QuickTime Playback as well as many popular QuickTime applications.

A versatile suite of integrated application software allows full control of digital scaling with PAN and ZOOM functions, along with adjustable sharpness/brightness, hue and color contrast controls, adjustable USB bandwidth and gamma correction.

Wireless modems coming for PowerBooks

The PowerBook Source reports that MCE PowerBook Products is developing Macintosh-compatible drivers for their new CDPD Wireless PC Card Modem for PowerBooks. The product is already shipping for Windows, and will provide PowerBook users with a 19,200 bps digital Internet connection over unused analog cell phone frequencies

To use the wireless modem, you will need a wireless account with a mobile provider (about $59 per month). The MCE modem card should sell for about $399 and be shipping two to three months from now.

Farallon's SkyLine wireless PC Card supports PowerBooks

Farallon's SkyLine Wireless PC Card wireless LAN networking solution for Macintosh PowerBooks and Windows notebooks, using the same standards-based IEEE 802.11 protocol supported by Apple's AirPort networking system, is to be introduced with the iBook.

SkyLine transmits like a small radio station on the 2.4 GHz band using the Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum protocol or DSSS. 802.11 is the IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) standard for wireless networking - comparable to the 802.3 standards for wired Ethernet LANs. This standard currently includes three different types - diffused infrared (DFIR), Frequency Hopped Spread Spectrum (FHSS) and DSSS (Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum).

The standard ensures interoperability among systems of the same type. Therefore, even though the three types all follow the same 802.11 specification, DSSS systems, such as SkyLine, are compatible with each other but not compatible with DFIR or FHSS systems and vice-versa.

Farallon says that their preliminary tests show that SkyLine is compatible with AirPort, and guarantees compatibility by the time AirPort ships.

While AirPort offers 11 Mbps solution for iBooks with an operating range of 150 feet, SkyLine is a 2 Mbps solution with a 300-500 ft. range. All current vendors with 802.11 DSSS wireless products are shipping 2 Mbps solutions, and the 11 Mbps 802.11 standard was only recently ratified. Farallon says that as 11 Mbps 802.11 silicon becomes available and vendors move towards this standard, Farallon will follow suit. IEEE 802.11 11 Mbps solutions will be backwards compatible with the 802.11 2 Mbps solutions shipping today.

With wireless networking, the higher the data throughput speed, the shorter the operating range. Consequently, at 11 Mbps, Apple's Airport has a range of 150 feet while at 2 Mbps, Farallon's SkyLine has an indoor range of 300-500 ft. SkyLine's operating range is up to 1000 feet outdoors.

SkyLine supports the following Macintosh PowerBook models using Mac OS 7.5.5 or later: 5300, 3400, 2400, 1400, and G3 Series. It also supports Windows PCs with a PC Card slot (PCMCIA) using Windows 95/98 or NT.

With the SkyLine PC Card, two or more SkyLine-equipped notebook computers can communicate with each other directly for file sharing. A robust control panel provides a real-time signal strength meter (Macintosh version), network statistics as well as dynamic configuration, omitting the need to restart. SkyLine equipped notebooks can also use an access point radio receiver and transmitter that connects to your wired Ethernet network, SkyLine-equipped notebook computers can tap into wired network services, such as email, Internet access, and printing by communicating wirelessly through the access point. Any number of SkyLine-equipped notebook computers can share a single access point. Multiple access points are area coverage can increase bandwidth for larger numbers of users.

SkyLine has been tested for compatibility with 2.4 GHz DSSS access points from Nokia (formerly InTalk), Lucent, Maxtech and Zoom. As noted, preliminary tests show that SkyLine is compatible with Apple's AirPort wireless solution for iBook.

As an alternative to buying an access point, a second PowerBook outfitted with a SkyLine Wireless PC Card and wired to an Ethernet network could provide access to Internet, LocalTalk, and AppleShare/IP file sharing. Internet access could be achieved using a software application such as Vicomsoft's SurfDoubler and access to printers could be achieved with Apple's LocalTalk Bridge.

Ad hoc wireless networks use the file sharing security features provided by your computer's operating system. In addition, there is the added security protection of the limited range of the radio transmitter as well as the fact a DSSS system is difficult to monitor and decode because it is broken up into different transmitting frequencies.

Infrastructure networks can have substantially more security depending on the access point and how it is configured. Some require a password, while others only allow wireless card whose hardware addresses have been previously entered into the access point by the administrator access the LAN.

SkyLine features and specifications include:

• Type II PC Card (PCMCIA) with the Harris PRISM chip set for advanced Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum (DSSS) technology in the 2.4 GHz radio frequency band
• IEEE 802.11 standard, including translation and encapsulation addressing modes, for seamless integration with any Ethernet network
• Compatibility with 802.11 DSSS access points from manufactures such as Nokia (formerly InTalk), Lucent, Maxtech & Zoom
• Robust Control Panel with real-time signal strength meter (Macintosh version), statistics & dynamic configuration
• Multiplatform drivers for use in Macintosh PowerBooks & Windows 95/98, NT notebooks
• Range is approximately 1000 ft in open air; 300-500 ft indoors to an access point or other wireless device
• Farallon test utilities & at-a-glance status LEDs simplify troubleshooting
• Support for peer-to-peer ad hoc networking
• Free Dr. Farallon technical support & 3 year warranty Dr. Farallon offers free cross-platform technical support (1 800-613-4954).

SkyLine should ship by the end of August and will carry a price tag of about $250.

Lucent WaveLAN IEEE 802.11 PC Card (Bronze) wireless LAN PC Card

Lucent Technologies' WaveLAN IEEE 802.11 (Bronze) PC Card will be another wireless LAN option for PowerBook users and will be compatible with all PowerBook models from the 190 up, except for the 2400. Apple is currently using the WaveLAN PC Card in its bronze keyboard PowerBook G3 Series demo units - along with Apple's own AirPort Base Stations, which were developed in cooperation with Lucent.

WaveLAN PC Card features include:

• Increased message reliability and more robust interference management via Carrier Sense Multiple Access/Collision Avoidance (CSMA/CA) with Acknowledge.
• Guaranteed quality of service through eliminating lost messages as a result of "hidden node" collisions using Request to Send/Clear to Send (RTS/CTS) mechanism.
• Increased performance reliability (the system will always work, but at lower data rates) and choice of network design (user can choose coverage & cost or performance) through Automatic Rate Selection (ARS).
• Improved resilience to interference.
• Increased network capacity and performance via seamless, multichannel roaming.
• Advanced Security though Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP)*

The WaveLAN/PC Card features low power consumption and also provides software download support to simplify future functionality updates and 5.0V support for multiple host platform power supply options. An external antenna connector allows you to add an external antenna when a different antenna location or a range extension is required. A 2 Mbps version of the card runs $295, while the Turbo 8-10 Mbps version is priced at $395. Both versions are currently shipping.

Apple Computer will not be offering an Apple-branded IEEE 802.11 wireless AirPort PC Card for PowerBook use. Instead, PowerBook users who want wireless networking support will have to purchase a Macintosh compatible card from third-party vendors such as Lucent and Farallon.

More Mac wireless networking options

An O'Grady's PowerPage reader reports that Aironet will soon release Mac drivers for their PC card 11 MB wireless access products. The reader says that Aironet products "rock," and that he feeds his customers anything from 128k to dedicated 2 MB internet access. Sounds good.

Nisus Software rereleases free Nisus Writer 4.1.6

Regular Road Warrior readers know that I am a big Nisus Writer fan, and Nisus Software is reprising their offer of Nisus Writer 4.1.6 as a free download.

This generous giveaway will provide you with one of the best word processing programs ever written for the Mac absolutely free, complete with a registration number and the developer's blessing. This is not crippleware or nagware; it's a full-fledged, completely functional, no excuses, high-end word processor. Tell your friends.

Nisus Writer 4.1.6 is the last-generation version of Nisus Writer Of course, Nisus hopes you'll like NW 4.1.6 so much that you'll upgrade to the current Nisus Writer 5.1.3 version, which you can do for a modest $41.95, including a printed manual - an incredibly sweet deal when you consider that Nisus Writer 4 was selling for $495 just four years ago. The Nisus Writer 4.1.6 manual is available for $8.95.

Nisus, like beer, is an acquired taste, but once you've got it, nothing else quite does it for you. Nisus does not have a lot of fancy bells and whistles like Word 98, but under its unassuming appearance lurks incredible power, especially for text-editing.

If you're interested in what features you get in version 5.1.3 that aren't in the free 4.1.6, here is Nisus's own top ten picks:

1. A more intuitive interface (You may customize to suit your needs)
2. Improved footnotes
3. Save as HTML
4. Optional background color to all documents.
5. Easier Power Find Pro (find/replace, the best in the business)
6. Multiple Macro Files (automate repetitive tasks with one click!)
7. Form Paragraph (easily remove extra returns from your e-mail)
8. More Keyboard Shortcuts (designed to simplify)
9. Immediate WYSIWYG Font Menu (see font names in their fonts)
10. Mac OS 8.5 compatible

If none of these is of major interest to you, you'll probably be just as happy with the free version, which is otherwise pretty similar to the current one.

I've personally found Nisus to be a great PowerPC-native replacement for Word 5.1 and it's speed and low memory requirements make it a natural for older machines as well as the latest ones.

Nisus takes a bit of getting used to if you've cut your word processing teeth on Word, WordPerfect, or ClarisWorks, but it quickly grows on you. The free version is downloadable here in one stuffed file or five stuffed segments. Nisus emails you your registration number.

Among things Nisus Writer (either version) does better than Word are:

• Speedier document opening
• Faster, more intuitive spell checker
• Electronic "bookmarks" in text

The "lite" version of Nisus Writer, Nisus Compact, is still available as a free download as well, for those who need a smaller, faster word processor, and is available at this link.

Microsoft offers new "consumer" Word 98 SE

Speaking of Word 98 as we just were, Microsoft has announced "Word 98 Special Edition," a consumer version of the ponderous word processor that ships with Microsoft Office 98. The new application is targeted especially toward iMac and iBook users.

Word 98 Special Edition will include the complete version of Word 98 for the Mac plus 5,000 clipart images and greeting card templates. Also included on the CD are Internet Explorer 4.5 and Outlook Express 4.5. The Word 98 SE package will be offered from Aug. 26 to Jan. 31, 2000 at a special introductory price of $99 (after an in-the-box $30 rebate).

WordPerfect for Mac headed for the last roundup?

Still with word processors, Corel Corporation has announced that it will soon offer a Corel WordPerfect 3.5 Enhancement Pack for Macintosh as a free download from its website. Corel WordPerfect 3.5 Enhancement Pack for Macintosh, WordPerfect 3.5, released in August, 1997, is the latest Mac version of this once-mighty, high-end word-processor.

Despite some minor incompatibilities with the latest release of the Mac OS, Corel believes that WordPerfect 3.5 for Macintosh continues to provide great value to the Macintosh community. In particular, WordPerfect 3.5 for Macintosh offers compatibility with older, non-power PC-based Macintoshes, as well as speed, customizability and rich functionality. Corel will make the download available as of August 16, 1999.

If you would like to be notified when the download is available, go here to be notified by email.

"We recognize that WordPerfect for Macintosh remains popular within the Macintosh community," said Dr. Michael Cowpland, president and chief executive officer of Corel Corporation. "We are offering the free download because we believe it can continue to offer value to the Mac community as an alternative word processor where few competitors exist."

Aging source code and increasing differences in functionality between the Macintosh and Windows versions of WordPerfect have made it no longer feasible for Corel to enhance or build on the WordPerfect 3.5 Macintosh code base. Therefore, no further versions of WordPerfect for Macintosh will be released based on the 3.5 code base.

The free download will consist of the WordPerfect software only. The clipart, webart, sounds, templates and fonts that are included with the full box product will not be included in the downloadable package. Customers wishing to purchase the full box product may still do so through the Corel eStore while quantities last.

Technical support for WordPerfect 3.5 Macintosh will no longer be offered as of October 29, 1999.

MacSpeech signs license deal with Philips Speech Processing

Being afflicted with chronic typing pain, I have been taking keen personal interest in the progress of continuous speech dictation technology for the Mac.

MacSpeech, Inc., the Barre, Massachusetts, based startup which has been developing continuous speech recognition technology for the Mac for more than a year, has entered into a cooperative effort with Philips Speech Processing division of the Dutch electronics giant, Royal Philips Electronics, for licensing Philips' natural speech recognition technology to create continuous speech applications for the Macintosh.

"We are delighted to announce this major step closer to realizing our dream. Thanks to this arrangement, Macintosh users will enjoy continuous speech recognition by the end of 1999!" said MacSpeech's President Andrew Taylor. "As the only exclusive Macintosh developer, we are proud to announce this new relationship," "and we look forward to continuing our long-term commitment to the Macintosh market."

By working with Philips Speech Processing, MacSpeech will gain access to more than 40 years of experience in the development and marketing of speech products. Philips has established itself as a world leader in speech recognition, natural dialogue and language understanding technologies for the consumer and professional markets.

"Philips is answering the demand for state-of-the-art speech recognition in every operating system" said Ron van den Bos, president and CEO of Philips Speech Processing. "Macintosh users have always been eager adopters of new technologies and Philips' speech recognition engine will play an important role in providing a powerful productivity tool for Macintosh users around the globe."

An industry leader in research/development and linguistics, Philips is active in the establishment of global speech technology standards and offers 13 different language versions in its portfolio of speech recognition applications. The Philips portfolio of products is built upon innovative technologies that combine natural speech recognition and computer applications for desktop and client/server environments in the professional and end user markets. The company also produces speech Software Development Kits used by developers worldwide to create cutting edge, speech-enabled applications.

"We are delighted to be working with Philips," added Taylor. "Their state of the art technology and wide array of languages will enable us to quickly develop and implement various applications and provide our customers with cost-effective solutions that take advantage of the Macintosh platform and high-performance PowerPC architecture."

"Speech recognition is a rapidly growing market. It offers a more natural way for educational organizations, professionals, consumers, and businesses to work with their computers," explained Sidney Falthzik, Vice President of Sales.

"Philips is excited to work with an industry pioneer like MacSpeech to bring Philips leading-edge speech recognition to a new market and to an expanding user base," said Tom Stolk, program manager at Philips Speech Processing. "The Philips development team worked closely with MacSpeech to create a speech utility that would take full advantage of the versatile Macintosh hardware and operating system in order to offer a truly valuable addition to Mac users."

MacSpeech's products target educational, medical, and legal audiences, as well as the general consumer market. The initial releases planned are an American English version and a separate special-vocabulary Medical Edition. Additional languages, including French, Italian, German and Spanish and other special vocabulary editions will follow. The planned shipping date for the initial release is Q4, 1999.

"We expect speech to become the primary way that consumers and businesses use their computers, because of its simplicity, and because it is quick and efficient at accessing information within the computer, on the Web, and over networks," said Andrew Taylor. "We are delighted to announce this major step closer to realizing our dream. Thanks to this arrangement, Macintosh users will enjoy continuous speech recognition by the end of 1999!"

The MacSpeech development team has been working in the field of speech recognition since 1993. The company is committed to the mission of "Speech Everywhere." To that end, MacSpeech's professional team is dedicated to building superior dictation products with a continuous speech recognition engine running on Apple's Macintosh computer. The company's engineering team, developed Dragon/Articulate Systems' now-discontinued PowerSecretary and Voice Navigator products for the Mac, and has continued ongoing work with speech including this agreement with Philips.

Philips Speech Processing is a pioneer and one of the global market leaders in speech recognition, natural dialog and language understanding technologies. A developer of voice-enabled telephony applications, Philips has a large installed base of speech recognition and natural dialog systems in Europe and is a major speech technology provider in North America.

Philips has more than 40 years experience in the development and marketing of speech products and developed the first commercially available PC-based natural, continuous speech recognition engine for speech to text applications in 1993.

Eudora Pro email client released

Qualcomm Incorporated has announced the release of Eudora Pro Email 4.2 in both Macintosh and Windows 95/98/NT versions. A substantial upgrade, Eudora Pro 4.2 offers several new features and functions, including automatic spell check, enhanced search capabilities, graphics and web page viewing, and an option that will read messages aloud. Registered users of Eudora Pro 4.0 or 4.1 can download the free upgrade from Qualcomm's web site. Eudora Pro 4.2 will be available from resellers the first week of August, as well as for electronic download from Beyond.com. The suggested retail price is $49.95.

Features new to both the Macintosh and Windows versions of Eudora Pro 4.2 include:

• Automatic Spell Check - automatically double-underlines misspelled words as the user types outgoing messages
• Speak Filter Action - speaks the name and subject of an incoming message
• Auto-wrapping Plain Text Messages - adjusts received plaintext messages to the computer's display width automatically
• Improved Search/Find - allows searching for text in messages located in one or all mailboxes and folders. Up to five levels of search criteria can be entered and a powerful Regular Expressions function allows complex character-string searches.

Features new to the Macintosh version of Eudora Pro 4.2 include:

• Internet Message Access Protocol (IMAP) - allows Eudora to access and manage email messages on a server and permits manipulation of remote mailboxes as if they were local
• Automatic Email Delivery in Background - Eudora now retrieves email, filters it and delivers it to specified mailboxes automatically in the background; Speak Option - allows Eudora to read entire email messages aloud; and Animated Graphics Interface Format (GIF) Images - animated GIF images embedded in HTML messages are displayed.

"Eudora Pro remains the leader in email communications software for business and personal use because it allows consumers to take control of their email," said Jeffrey K. Belk, vice president and general manager of Eudora Products. "Eudora Pro provides a broad array of features that support Internet and multimedia standards and allow users to be more productive, organized and efficient."

Road Warrior Mailbag

Regular RW readers may recall that our Indonesian correspondent, Albert Juwono, recently succumbed to the cheap PC bug and bought a Celeron based Wintel box. Happily, Albert has repented and is going to replace the Celeron with a used PowerBook 3400/180 "in mint condition" at a great price.

From Albert:

I'm going to get the 3400c/180 today. I can't believe I'm going to own a PowerBook 3400c for the price of my junk Celeron PC :) BTW, I sold the Celeron 450 MHz PC to a client for about US$700. It crashed a lot, and backing up to 300 MHz doesn't solve the problem. I guess I always gonna be a true Mac user; other type of computers doesn't seem to like me very much :)

Later:

I have the 3400 here in front of me. The first thing to do is ordering more RAM, I just checked OWC and they sell 128 MB module for only US$239, impressive!! I faintly remember that it used to cost US$800 bucks or something. Maybe I'll go for the 96 MB module, which is enough for me.

The 3400c is huge, and heavy, but despite it being rather ugly looking, it's definitely looks more luxurious than 1400 IMO (maybe because it's bigger?). But the greatest disappointment for me is the keyboard. It feels cheap compared to 1400. Also the screen hinge doesn't feel as firm as that of 1400's. Overall construction IMO is somehow not as good as the 1400, but I really enjoyed the bigger screen, snappy hard drive, CD ROM (I've almost paid 200 bucks to get a 1400 CD ROM). Well, it's a great machine overall and I really enjoyed having a look at my room which becoming more and more like Apple Service Center. My father's duo 280c is also here, he asked me to install MacOS 8.0 in it, so I have three PowerBooks side by side right now :)

Albert J
No More Celerons!!

I wouldn't call the 3400 exactly *ugly.* "Functionally angular" maybe. These evaluations are of course subjective. The 1400 keyboard is thought by some to be the best PowerBook keyboard ever. The 3400 has the not-so-great keyboard inherited from the 500 Series, the 190/5300, and the 20th Anniversary Mac - not the 3400's best feature.

---

From Scott Atkinson:

Fine column, but I have a question - where do these folks get their money?

I'm a reasonably well-heeled professional with an appetite for Macs... but even I couldn't spend at the clip your PowerBook correspondents do and still sleep at night.

Is this the kind of spending one writer (I think it was John Seabrook) called 'Computer Money' a few years back, in which increments of $300, $400 or $500 seems like a lot, unless you're talking about computers - in which case, it seems perfectly natural.

---

From Jeffrey Harris:

Couple of PB topics for you.

1. I have tried numerous versions of iCab, egged on by your columns. But it never seemed that much faster to me (and I tried it on a 5300 with 24 megs and RAM doubler, just like your setup), and it crashes. And if I am connected, each crash costs me 15 cents - Australian phone system is not unlimited local calls like US - at least they are not metered like Europe. Anyhow, while I support the idea of a compact browser from a start up, there needs to be more work to make it viable.

2. I have not told you about my favorite ultra portable set up. It is a Psion 3a palmtop, now nearly 5 years old. Runs 40 hours on two AAs, and weighs 10 ounces. Has decent word processor and Excel clone, and a very nice POP mailer and primitive (HTML 1.1) browser. I use it with a small 2400 baud battery modem I got used, but also have a 14400 (got that cheap from an Ontario company). Can interface well with Macs and PCs. I also have a keyboard interface that I can use for typing on a compact (laptop size) PC keyboard I have, but the wires are a bit bulky to use on a plane. Very reasonable used prices, and the newest models (Psion 5mx) give much larger keyboard and real browser and Java. For many people, this is the portable they really need - I know it is for me, and I am a physicist and engineer. And it goes nicely on a plane across the Pacific. I also have a tinier Psion Siena I use just for an organiser, uses same software and data as the 3a.

The Psion is much more reliable than the WinCE machines, and more powerful for real tasks than the Palm. Might be worth taking a look at for your readers.

The place to start looking into Psion hand helds is http://3lib.ukonline.co.uk/

BTW, I have found that Psion software reliability puts even the Mac to shame.

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From Nathan Baes:

I recently found your article on the PowerBook 5300 series on the MacOpinion site and I'm thinking of buying a 5300cs 16/750 (factory reconditioned, 90 day warranty). You mentioned in the article that the trackpad button can break, and that it can be replaced. What is the procedure for doing this? Do you know what part number it is?

Thanks,
Nathan

To replace the trackpad button, you pretty much have to disassemble the PowerBook - a job for professionals unless you are very handy.

I don't recall the part number, although I had it written down somewhere, but I understand that The MacZone has (had?) them. Otherwise, your local Apple dealer should be able to get one.

On the bright side. The 5300 I'm typing this on has over 10,000 hours and still no TP button problems.

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From Brian Donnelly:

Hi, Charles. I just read your report on the iBook. I agree that it'll probably sell well, but Apple should have made it smaller & lighter. Apple has a habit of doing things like this. Remember the original iMac? It had a 33.6 Kbps modem (and several other shortcomings) until consumers complained. I guess Apple's thinking is "Give them as little as they will likely bear. If they complain, then and only then will we give them what they want." Hence, the iBook.

I'll stop ranting now. My purpose in writing to you is this: I've used a Performa 637CD (my second Mac after my SE) since just six months before it was discontinued. Both my Macs have been "home computers." However, I've grown tired of the bulkiness of my Performa and want something smaller. Even today's Tower model would be too bulky for me, I think. This leaves me with four options: the iMac; the Wall Street (I or II, I don't know); or the iBook. Could you recommend one of these, keeping in mind that I don't want to spend a fortune? I should also tell you that I have peripherals - -a La Cie external hard drive; a Supra FaxModem external modem; a Zip drive; and an HP LaserJet III connected via a PowerPrint cable to my Mac.

Charles, thank you in advance for any assistance you might be able to give. I truly appreciate it.

These decisions are largely subjective, but my personal choice in this general price range would be a used or refurb. WallStreet. Most versatility for the money, lots of legacy ports for your non-USB peripherals, and the WallStreet can be expanded to USB and FireWire support as well. Either a Series I or Series II machine could be a good choice, depending on the deal and condition.

My general thesis is that PowerBooks are the logical Mac if you can eat the extra cost over an iMac or other desktop machine with equivalent performance.

I'm skeptical about the iBook as an *only* computer, but if the limited connectivity doesn't bother you.....

---

Here's Chris Long's thoughts on similar matters:

Hey - have you heard ANYTHING more regarding an 'exec' version of the iBook? I too still lust after the notion of a VAIO-style ultraportable from apple. I almost wish now that I'd bought a 2400 instead of this 3400 ... ALMOST ...

re: iMacs/iBooks: I've played with a few at the stores ... we just got our first iMac at the office last week - WOW!!! those things are truly FAST and even the bizarre design is kind of appealing. I work on a 7200 (7600?) all day every day and it's a DOG in comparison. For $1199 that iMac is a great little box. But ultimately I personally will probably NEVER (?) buy a desktop computer, even an iMac. I just adore the laptops too much. The raw power/speed of the iBook (my NOTION, anyway) is quite appealing when compared to this twice-as-expensive 3400 ... True, I have options/potentials the iBook won't have ... but I rarely use anything beyond the basics anyway. ALTHO the new 'Quark-killer' from Adobe is coming out very soon ("InDesign") and I got a chance to play with it recently at an all-day seminar in Minneapolis sponsored by Adobe - InDesign will REQUIRE 48 MB ram (!!!) and preferably 64 MB (!!) - and a FAST (not my 3400) processor - so I'm stuck with Quark Xpress on this thing until/unless I upgrade - and I'm NOT spending $3G on my next laptop; I'm going CHEEP.

---

From Neil Barham:

Why or how or when will Macintosh users of MSIE 4.5 be able to view Web sites that use the new DHMTL? Please go to: http://www.useractive.com/ and read the warning for users of MSIE4+ for Macintosh. I just spent a day putting a site together using Cyberstudio 4.o and a PB 400. Works great when viewed from a Mac with 4.5 Communicator. Or a PC using MS 4+ or Netscape 4+. You should really do research before running your mouth off on MS's site about how great their for Mac product is. They are not only holding Mac users off but sabotage their MAC offerings. In order to complete in today's world I will now have to buy a Wintel system. Apple is finished as a viable web platform if we don't get 5.0, with all-of-the-features soon. I have exclusively used Mac since the 80's - but how will I be able to continue if I can't provide the solutions that my customers demand? I doubt that webmasters using Wintel hardware and IE 5 will write back up versions of their sites for Mac people to see. I think this continual sabotage of Mac software by MSoft should be enough of a basis to break them up!!!!

Please make calls and hit the DHTML authoring sites via a Sherlock search.

Neil Barham

Frankly, I was blissfully unaware of this issue until Neil wrote. My usual browser MO would likely bring tears to Neil's eyes - images and Java turned off. Anyone who thinks this is odd should try living at the end of noisy, copper, rural phone lines 50 miles from their ISP which still uses 33.6 modems.

Anyway, I'd be interested in feedback from readers about how important as issue this DHTML problem with IE 4.5 is to them. My guess is that for most of us, it's not a big deal, although I'm sure it is annoying for people like Neil.

MSIE 5 is reportedly coming in September, and hopefully it will remedy the problem.

---

From Joe Williams:

I'm wondering if in your various conversations with others, if anyone has attempted to replace the ribbon cable connecting the screen to the mother board in a 5300-series PowerBook. My screen is acting up again, giving me vertical lines compacted on one side of the display. The last time this happened, about 9 months ago, it cost me about $120 to send to Apple and get it done. I'd like to do it myself, if I can. I'm not sure who carries the ribbon cable - I thought Other World Computing did, but I couldn't find it. I'd appreciate any light you might shed on this matter.

If worst comes to worst, I'll decommission my PowerBook as a portable and simply use an external monitor with it. I've been doing that at work, anyway (as I mentioned in my previous note to you several months ago).

My guess is that if anyone can help you with this it would be the folks at MacResQ, who are sort of specialists in flat screens for older PowerBooks.

The URL is www.macresq.com

You can check with them, and I'll be interested to hear how you make out.

<

Charles Moore has been a freelance journalist since 1987 and writing for Mac websites since May 1998. His The Road Warrior column is a regular feature on MacOpinion, and he is a news editor and columnist at Applelinks.com.

Recent Miscellaneous Ramblings

• Resurrecting a Dead Pismo, Spotlight Search Tip, and EasyFind a Good File Finder, 08.27. Lots of tips on bringing a comatose Pismo back to life, a Spotlight file name search tip, and EasyFind as an alternative to Spotlight.
• Does Running OS X System Maintenance Routines Really Do Any Good?, 08.26. Mac OS X is designed to run certain maintenance routines daily, weekly, and monthly - but can't if your Mac is off or asleep.
• 8 Free POP3 Email Options, 08.25. In recent years, a lot of free POP3 email providers have started charging or left the field. Here are 8 choices you may want to consider.
• Pismo Won't Start, Spotlight Finds Too Many Files, and Panasonic SuperDrive in Pismo, 08.20. Resetting a dead Pismo, an alternative to Spotlight gives better results, and success with the Panasonic UJ-850 drive in Pismo PowerBooks.
• More in the Miscellaneous Ramblings index.

Links for the Day

• Mac of the Day: PowerBook 170, Oct. 1991 - At 25 MHz, the PB 170 was at the top of the original PowerBook line.
• List of the Day: The iPhone List Low End Mac's forum for discussing and supporting Apple's iPhone.
  
• August 30 in LEM history: 99: The truth about USB speed - 00: Could Eazel kill the Mac? - Mac OS 8.1 on a IIci and LC III - 01: Beyond MHz and GHz - Getting a handle on email - Thanks for the IBM PC, Dad - Apple's anniversaries - 02: Mac OS X v10.2 - iBook video out - 04: Things that freak out my students - 06: Nvu and SeaMonkey can't replace Home Page - 07: DVD-RAM support

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