Low End Mac Link Archive, September1999

Mac News Today

The Low End Mac Link Archive, September 1999

External news links are listed below by the date of publication with the most recent articles listed at the top, older ones below them. Other monthly archive indexes are linked on the right. Links were correct when originally posted. However, we cannot guarantee that these links are still active.

News: Webmaster boycotts Mac coverage in protest of Kihei actions, Mac Observer, 9/30.
Rumor: Yikes to be phased out in December, MOSR, 9/30. Apple expected to discontinue G4/400 once Sawtooth motherboard, faster G4 available in quantity.
Rumor: Kihei iMacs reach launch pad, MacWeek, 9/30.
Rumor: The skinny on Kihei, No Beige, 9/30. Reports U.S. prices of $949, $1,099, and $1,499 for new iMacs.
News: FileMaker releases four new products, but legacy Macs excluded, Applelinks, 9/30. "Unfortunately the new version of FileMaker requires a Power Mac with Mac OS 7.6 or later." (see also No FileMaker 5.0 Here)
Spam: New weapons for the fight against spam, Jesse Berst, ZDNet, 9/30.
Opinion: Will iBook's value soften used PowerBook prices?, Charles Moore, Mac Opinion, 9/30.
News: Apple fixes Lombard DVD-ROM problem, MacCentral, 9/30.
News: Dr. Bott announces MoniSwitch USB, 9/29. The original supported ADB and Mac monitors; the new one is for USB and VGA monitors (see our review of the original).
Analysis: Do photos portray new iMac?, MacWeek, 9/29. "Apple's threat of legal action over publication of the photographs seem to suggest that they are indeed genuine images...."
News: Drive recall touches Power Mac G4, MacWeek, 9/29. "...Western Digital Corp. announced this week that it is recalling about 400,000 of its WD Caviar hard drives - some of which shipped as original equipment in Apple's new Power Mac G4 systems.
News: Apple's USB 1.2 drivers don't support Sleep, MacInTouch, 9/29. Version 1.3 will restore this functionality (which we discovered this morning on a Lombard PowerBook).
News: Apple demands web sites kill iMac II pics, The Register, 9/29 [MacSurfer]. If you thought maybe they were doctored photos, I guess this confirms they are (or were) accurate.
News: The eOne is back, MacCentral, 9/29. New silver version replaces too-close-to-iMac blue and white design. Color looks like a match for silver on the Power Mac G4.
News: ATM incompatible with OS 9, fix coming weeks after OS 9 release, Mac Observer, 9/29. Any existing version of ATM will crash OS 9, but Adobe is working on a fix.
News: Netscape 4.7 now available, 9/29 [Macs Only!]. PowerPC only, 13-15 MB download depending on version.
Opinion: FileMaker Pro 5 reader reports, MacInTouch. "What this absurd policy of crippling FMPro will do in my case is cause me not to upgrade at all."
Rumor: Apple to ship dual, quad G4s in 2000, MOSR, 9/28.
Opinion: Apple's iMac triangle, Mac Gaming Beat, 9/28. "So is Apple shooting themselves in the foot by launching 3 separate iMac models?'
AAPL: Apple falls on expected sales loss from quake, Yahoo/Reuters, 9/28 [Macs Only!]. Taiwan quake disrupts iBook, PowerBook production, creates "slight shortfall."
News: ROM block broken, Bare Feats, 9/28. PowerLogix utility does allow use of G4 upgrade in Blue G3!
Opinion: G4, the ultimate game machine, Inside Mac Games.
Web: The iMac NewsPage relocates, 9/28. Last active site leaves MacTimes Network.
iBook: I got mine!, Macs Only!, 9/28. Several iBook List members who ordered through the Apple Store received iBooks on Monday.
iBook: First impressions, MacInTouch, 9/28. Feedback from iBook owners.
iBook: Readers give first impressions, iBook Zone, 9/28.
iMac: iMac 2 unveiled - impressive speed, style, sound, Ben Apple, Mac Junkie, 9/28.
Opinion: FileMaker 5 Product Announcement, A FileMaker Affliction, 9/27. "...only time will tell if FileMaker 5 is a dessert topping, a floor wax or both."
iMac: Photos of the new iMac?, The Kihei Site [Macs Only!]. Photos reproduced from MacNews.de show new iMac look.
Review: SimCity 3000, MacGamer.com. Power hungry sequel to a personanl favorite.
Benchmark: Is a 7200 rpm drive faster than a 5400?, Bare Feats, 9/27.
Analysis: iBook Defects, MacProvider, 9/27. Some iBooks have keyboard problems, random cursor placement.
News: Kihei iMac design revealed (images), AppleInsider, 9/27. Changes include short-neck monitor, slot loading CD/DVD drive, 100 MHz system bus. (Images pulled at request of Apple legal.)
News: Windows on an iMac without software, Dr. Bott. Eric Prentice told me he'd done it - here's the picture to prove it.
News: IBM planning faster, lower-cost G3s, MacCentral, 9/27. IBM hopes to reach 800 MHz before ending G3 development.
News: Kodak DC240 now comes with different colors, USB Workshop, 9/27. Blueberry, grape, strawberry, tangerine, and lime - even has iMac-friendly USB.
Overview: Mac emulators for PCs, Jay's Mac Page.
Review: Newer Tech G3/466 daughter card, Accelerate Your Mac!
Opinion: NSI's domain name monopoly needs fixin', Jerry Pournelle, Byte.com, 9/27. Amen!
News: French army gives iBook users static, Nando, 9/25. "There should be no problem unless you are in a room next door to a military headquarters."
Benchmarks: G4/450 AGP performance, Accelerate Your Mac!, 9/25.
Review: Norton Utilities 5.0, The Review, 9/24.
Advice: Usings a Logitech USB WheelMouse with OS 8.1, MacInTouch, 9/24.
Review: Visor Deluxe, Cnet. Palm OS device has 8 MB RAM.
Review: Sonnet Crescendo G3/500 daughter card, The Review, 9/22.
Review: Visor Deluxe, VisorCentral, 9/22.
News: Outpost.com, on-line retailer, reports strong growth, MacCentral, 9/25. Outpost is known for a strong affiliate program.
Advice: Ask Dr. Mac #28, MacCentral, 9/25. Adding USB to a PCI Mac, digital video, more.
News: No AirPort for France, Liberation, 9/24 (French). According to Slashdot, the 2.4 GHz frequency is reserved by the French military, so IEEE 802.11 devised may be completely illegal in France.
AAPL: When the market doesn't work quite right, John Deke, Mac Junkie, 9/24. "So why the big price drop? Well, in the face of bad news there's a tendency for some people to panic and sell...."
Opinion: How the Mac changed the world, Del Miller, 9/24. "From the rainbow logo, to the cheerful optimism that a computer could change the world, everything about Apple said that there was room to make things better."
Opinion: The Mac is a business machine, Deborah Shadovitz, Puget Sound Computer User, 9/99 [Mac Observer]. "Truth is, everything you need to run a small business or home office efficiently is available for the Mac."
News: Life imitates art for Apple, Jim Davis, Cnet, 9/24 [MacSurfer]. "Despite the lifting of the restrictions, Apple said other red tape still limits its ability to export the G4 to numerous countries."
News: FileMaker Pro turns 5.0, MacWeek, 9/24.
Rumor: Specs for new iMac, Mac Observer, 9/24. Three iMacs: 350 MHz economy iMac, 400 MHz DVD edition, and premium version.
Opinion: Apple missing out on a powerful weapon, Bryan Chaffin, Mac Observer, 9/24. "...Apple should Think Different and pursue a policy of engagement with the online Mac community."
Web: Team Mac Observer needs your help, Mac Observer. Join the Mac Observer SETI@home team to look for extraterrestrial life and promote the number crunching abilities of the Macintosh.
Education: School library overflows with iMacs, MacCentral, 9/24. Norris School District has colorful iMac lab with all five flavors.
Opinion: The case for multiple iMac models, The iMac, 9/24.
AAPL: Apple stock tumbles nearly 10%, MacCentral, 9/24. Stock closed Thursday at 63 5/16, down 21% from high of 80 1/8 on Monday, 9/20.
Rumor: Kihei iMac industrial design details, AppleInsider, 9/24. "The most recent word on the street is that Kihei has officially been finalized, both internally and externally, with production beginning in limited quantities as of this past Wednesday."
Rumor: Apple seeds OS 9 final candidate 4, AppleInsider, 9/24. "...it appears that Final Candidate 5 will be the most likely candidate to be selected as Golden Master."
Rumor: C2 "Kihei" iMacs due shortly, MOSR, 9/23. "...dealers are being told . . . to clear out their existing 333MHz iMac inventories and prepare to place orders for new models in 2-3 weeks."
Consumer: How to avoid a $400 "free" ISP phone bill, Cnet, 9/23. Free internet access may be via costly "local toll" phone number.
Web: AuctionMac switches to flat-rate selling rates.
Opinion: Which PowerBook makes the ideal desktop replacement?, Charles Moore, Mac Opinion, 9/23. "... I find that most people who get their hands on a PowerBook for a few days would just as soon never go back to their desktop machines."
Connectivity: Cable modems or DSL: which is better?, Simson Garfinkel, Salon, 9/23 [Slashdot]. "...both technologies have merits and should be able to stand on their own."
Connectivity: Earthlink, MindSpring to merge, Yeahoo/Reuters, 9/23 [Slashdot]. "The combined company would form the second largest Internet service provider in the U.S. with more than three million members...."
Review: Power Mac G4/400, Macworld, 12/99 issue. "Something old, something new, something borrowed, but no longer blue."
Opinion: PC Makers - who's hot, who's not, ZDNet, 9/22. Apple ranks just behind #1 Dell in IDC analysis.
Hands on: More Intellimouse Explorer feedback, Accelerate Your Mac!, 9/22. MS beta driver problems overcome using shareware USB Overdrive v1.2.
Analysis: The G4 processor: under the hood, Thresh's FiringSquad, 9/22 [MacSurfer]. "If properly utilized, AltiVec can quadruple the speed of certain applications."
News: Microsoft optical USB mouse, Accelerate Your Mac!, 9/22. Read this - you'll want one!
Opinion: There's no worm in this Apple, Slate, 9/21. "The obvious point here is that if you're going to have a problem, it's better to have one that's the result of too much demand rather than too little."
OS: Mac OS X Server, sent by Dagwood?, Todd Stauffer, MacCentral, 9/21. "Mac OS X Server is the coolest, most svelte, most interesting installation of Un*x I've ever seen."
News: Macheadlines Lite now free, Trexar. Mac headlines on your screen.
News: You can help support TidBITS, TidBITS. Contribution program allows users to support TidBITS.
News: iBooks reach dealers, Apple Store shipping for Thursday delivery, iBookPlanet, 9/21.
News: Powerlogix G4 with 2 MB cache, Accelerate Your Mac!, 9/21. "Bus speeds can be switched on the fly with the system on, so no need for a restart."
News: USB Overdrive v1.2. Driver for all USB mice, trackballs, etc. updated with 100% PowerPC code.
Analysis: What is the G4's biggest flaw?, Ben Apple, Mac Junkie, 9/21.
Analysis: G4 vs. Athlon, Philip Machanick, Mac Opinion, 9/21.
News: Taiwan earthquake and Apple portable production, PowerBook Zone, 9/21. Quanta, builder of the PowerBook G3, and AlphaTop, manufacturer of the iBook, are located in Taiwan. Both expect production to resume shortly.
Analysis: Behind Apple's projections, Robert Morgan, MacWeek, 9/20. "Anderson stated that Apple expected flat to lower sequential earnings growth in 4Q but also asserted that the company expected year-over-year growth for the quarter and the year."
Rumor: Apple to offer Carbon libraries for pre-OS 9 systems, AppleInsider, 9/20. "...once applications have been updated to the new Carbon API set, they will not run on the current Mac OS 8.x architecture without the help of a custom set of Carbon Libraries."
News: Apple warns of Q4 shortfall, ZDNet, 9/20. Motorola can't make G4 CPUs fast enough to meet the market's demand for Apple's new powerhouse.
News: Macs in peril in Gettysburgh High, Mac Mania. "The technical drawing teacher wants to eliminate Macs in the graphic arts area because, 'The graphic arts industry simply doesn't use macs.'"
Web: PALMAC, site for those using Macs and Palms.
News: Japan court grants preliminary injunction against Sotec for copying iMac, Apple, 9/20. "The preliminary injunction forbids Sotec from manufacturing, selling, displaying, exporting, or importing its eOne product."
News: Apple revokes MUG right to distribute OS updates, Macs Only!, 9/20. "As of October 10th, 1999, you are no longer authorized to distribute MacOS Software Updates."
Review, LaCie USB hard drive, About.com, 9/20 [Macs Only!]. "USB's limited bandwidth makes USB hard drives an unwise choice for daily use."
Tech: When do we need 64-bit processors?, David K. Every, MacKiDo, 9/20. "There are three ways to measure procesor size...."
Benchmark: How much does AltiVec speed up Photoshop?, Bare Feats, 9/19.
Opinion: Glory days of Apple portables, Don Crabb, ZDNet, 9/17. "...for the first times since the mid-1990s, Apple once again makes the best notebook computers you can buy."
Opinion: Did Apple sabotage your G3?, Loose Cannons, Applelinks. "...there is code in that particular ROM Update that says, in effect, 'If G4 card found, don't boot.'"
Opinion: The G4 stinks, and so does my PowerBook, Charles Moore, Applelinks. Moore means it literally - the scent of new computers can be troublesome.
Web: iMac Channel reaches #2 among Top 25 iMac Sites, 9/18.
News: PowerLogix G4s will run on Blue G3s, Macs Only!, 9/18.
Tech: G5 to take on Merced, MacWeek, 9/17.
News: Mac OS 9 compatible with clones, Mac OS Planet. Mostly positive results with late betas on Starmax, Power Computing systems.
Education: Backward migration at Auburn University, MacCentral, 9/17. IT drops support for 900 Macs on campus.
USB: Addonics releases USB CD-RW for iMac, Mac Observer, 9/17.
Opinion: Setting world on FireWire, Hiawatha Bray, Boston Globe, 9/16. "...Apple's decision to put FireWire on its G3s, and eventually on all its machines, is my pick for Apple's smartest move yet."
Opinion: How tough are PowerBooks?, Charles Moore, Mac Opinion, 9/16.
News: Handspring's new Visor sports USB port for connectivity, allUSB, 9/16. Visor is the new Palm OS handheld.
Analysis: Multiprocessor Macs? It's possible, MacWeek.com, 9/16.
News: MyTV brings USB television, video capture to iMac, G3, G4, Mac Junkie, 9/15.
Rumor: PowerBook G4 to be next Apple revolution, MOSR, 9/15. Possible 15.3" 1280 x 1024 display.
News: World's largest USB hard drive, Mac OS Planet, 9/15. Fantom Drives introduces 25 GB drive.
iBook: iBook Talk List, The Macintosh Guy. The iBook is finally shipping, but this email list is ten months old. Join in to discuss the iBook.
News: Jobs says iBook shipping today, The iMac, 9/15. "Preorders have reached 160,000 units!"
Hands On: iBook in-depth, part 5, The iMac, 9/15. "...it is the little touches that really make this an elegant design."
News: Apple changed Yikes! plans, AppleInsider, 9/15. Current G4 insert in Newsweek shows G4/450 based on Yikes! motherboard.
USB: Kensington USB MouseWorks mouse and TurboBall trackball announced, allUSB, 9/15. No information on Kensington site yet. TurboMouse lovers will rejoice at $60 TurboBall with scroll wheel.
USB: Graphite G4 UniMouse, Contour Design. First mouse to match the G4. Read our review.
Opinion: The slow lingering death of standards, Robert Leone, osOpinion.
OS: LinuxPPC & Mac OS X, macos-x.com, 9/15. Even-handed analysis of OS 10 vs. LinuxPPC.
Analysis: Vicom Internet Gateway vs. IPNetRouter, brindley.net. Two popular programs for sharing internet access among networked Macs.
Opinion: Fall of the sub-$500 PC, Think Secret, 9/15. Will Sega Dreamcast kill of the sub-$500 PC?
Review: Formac Proformance III with 3D glasses, Accelerate Your Mac!, 9/14. Optional 3D glasses provide a true 3D look, not just 3D flattened onto a 2D screen.
News: Motorola's PowerPC road map, MacNN, 9/14. How about a 2 GHz G5?
Y2K: 01/01/00, Macworld, 10/99. "...even the oldest Macs can deal with dates from January 1, 1904, through February 6, 2040, so there's no fundamental year-2000 disaster lurking inside your Macintosh."
Y2K: Proceed with caution, Macworld, 10/99. Some Mac software not Y2K compliant - check this list.
News: Dell chasing Apple's wireless plans, Cnet, 9/14. $400 PC Card offers same speed as iBook's $99 AirPort module.
Review: Meet the iBook, David Pogue, Macworld, 10/99. "Apple's iBook is much more than just a portable iMac; it's a long list of surprising delights."
Rumor: Power Mac G4 report updated, MacFixIt. Apple may fix G4 block with OS 9, G4 may be faster than even Apple believes, and Newer Tech says there is no power supply problem with an upgraded Blue G3.
Analysis: Is G4 as promised?, Philip Machanick, Mac Opinion, 9/14. "For the Mac, AltiVec will speed some applications enormously; I will be surprised though if all applications will see a significant speedup."
News: Son of Palm: cheaper, faster, expandable, CNN, 9/14. Handspring introduces Palm OS line of handhelds. (See also Palm Infocenter, Visor specs)
News: IBM plans 700 MHz G3 "this year," MacWeek.com, 9/13. Despite the G4, the G3 is far from dead.
Opinion: Cheap PCs come under fire, Tom Spring, PC World, 9/13 [Macs Only!]. "I guess my mom was right, you get what you pay for."
Analysis: Why geek geniuses lack social graces, Norman Doidge, National Post. "Ten years ago, Dr. David Forrest . . . turned his research attention to those who are designated 'nerds,' 'geeks,' and 'space-cadets.'"
Rumor: Next generation iMacs to pack luxuries, AppleInsider, 9/13. Another site agrees that too many iMacs spoil the market (see Gilding the iMac lily for my take).
Review: Power Mac G4/400, Ric Ford, MacInTouch. "Jumping in now with the G4/400 is reasonable if you have no window to wait and you need its extra performance immediately."
News: PowerLogix announces G3/500 upgrade, PowerLogix. First Mac upgrade to reach 500 MHz mark without overclocking.
News: Unnamed iMac-like clone sports LCD, No Beige, 9/13. Expect most desktop computers to look a bit like this within a year or two.
Rumor: Mac OS 9 reaches final candidate, AppleInsider, 9/13.
Web: Mac OS X.com, new Mac OS X site.
Tech: G4's (7400) with AltiVec arrives, David K. Every, MacKiDo, 9/13. Good explanation of Maxbus, AltiVec.
Advocacy: Macintosh mistruths, Chris Davies, MacNerds, 9/13. "When Macs are compared to PCs often I notice the same old lies and mistruths and myths bandied about...."
Advice: Ten ways to keep your Mac happy, Michael Greifenkamp, MacNerds, 9/13. "...ten great ways to keep your Macintosh happy and running smoothly."
News: 3Com spinning off Palm division, 3Com, 3/13 [Slashdot].
Gaming: PlayStation 2 unveiled, Gaming Age, 9/13 [Slashdot]. 128-bit Emotion Engine CPU runs at 295 MHz, includes 4x DVD-ROM drive, due for sale in Japan on March 4, 2000 - and it runs all current PlayStation games.
Review: SimCity 3000, Micah Siegal, MacNerds, 9/13.
Rumor: Apple source speaks on G4 ROM block, Think Secret, 9/13. Says power supply problems behind Apple's decision to block G4 use.
Rumor: OS X Client $99? G4/400 cut by year's end?, MOSR, 9/10. Apple aiming for $99 price and January delivery of OS X Client. "Yikes" G4 may be discontinued shortly after Sawtooth ships.
News: Pixela announces USB DVD-RAM drive, USB Workshop, 9/8 [Daily iMac]. Will support Macs, but can USB move data fast enough for watching movies?
News: PowerLogix bundles LinuxPPC with G3, G4 upgrades, Insanely Great Mac, 9/10.
Benchmark: Is the G4/400 faster than the G3/400?, Bare Feats, 9/10.
Opinion: Upgrades and Macs, David K. Every, MacKiDo, 9/10. "They say they didn't promise that G3's were upgradable - but they didn't say they were going to be intentionally crippled either."
Hands On: iBook in-depth part 4, The iMac, 9/10. "To upgrade the iBook, you simply pull two latches at the top of the iBook's keyboard...."
Opinion: iMac 2 rants and raves, Ben Apple, Mac Junkie, 9/10.
News: FireWire's popularity continues to grow, MacCentral, 9/10. Faster 800 Mbps version due in 2000.
News: Zap! and your PC's dead, Yahoo/ZDNet, 9/10. HERF stops computers dead in their tracks.
Opinion: The power of AirPort, About.com, 9/9.
News: G4 Macs start arriving, MacWeek, 9/9. But I haven't got mine yet....
News: Army web site more secure, ArmyLINK News, 9/9 [MacFixIt]. U.S. Army switches from Windows NT to Mac OS web server.
News: iBook has no backup battery, Apple TIL, 9/9 [MacFixIt]. Small capacitor maintains PRAM contents for only 20 seconds with battery disconnected.
Opinion: An open-and-shut case, Don Crabb, Chicago Sun-Times, 9/9. "The iBook is the first really innovative notebook computer to hit the lower price points in years."
Opinion: Quality, Quantity, Benchmarks, and Reality, Jeff Lewis, Mac Opinion, 9/9. Long column with some excellent comparison of G3/G4 to other processors.
Opinion: Apple's new iBook offers much, WallStreet Journal, 9/9. "On the three qualities crucial to every laptop - the keyboard, the screen and the battery - the iBook acquits itself very well."
News: Students bask in the laptop of luxury, Roanoke Times,9/9. Henry County schools working toward goal of a PowerBook for every student.
Gaming: SimCity 3000 Mac has unique features, Apple. Third generation game even lets you install Apple campus!
Analysis: Windows 2000 adoption to cost a pretty penny, Infoworld, 9/9. "According to the Gartner Group's numbers, it will cost between $1,250 and $2,050 per desktop to migrate from Windows NT Workstation 4.0 to Windows 2000 Professional. The cost of moving from Windows 9x to Windows 2000 will be even higher, according to the report - between $2,015 and $3,100 per PC."
Consumer: Panasonic announces SuperDisk digital camera, Insanely Great Mac, 9/9. "In high resolution, (1280 x 960 pixels), this disk will hold approximately 450 Super Fine images."
News: Visor: A faster, cheaper Palm?, MSNBC, 9/8. Visor starts at $149 and includes Mac software.
News: Move over Palm, Visor coming, MacWeek, 9/8. New Palm OS machines cheaper, faster, more expandable than Palm offerings.
Web: iMac Channel now #3 on Top 25 iMac Sites
Opinion: Ruminations on computer aesthetics, Charles Moore, Road Warrior, 9/9. "It will remain to be seen how the iBook's color and styling wears aesthetically."
Consumer: Warning: Higher RAM prices dead ahead, Mac Observer, 9/8. "According to experts in the memory market, the rise in RAM pricing is not over."
Opinion: Writing a review 101, Thomas Kephart, osOpinion. "iMac improves upon eOne design."
News: Delays in G4 production may delay new Macs, MacUser, 9/8. "Slower than anticipated production" for 450 and 500 MHz CPUs.
News: Update on b&w ROM G4 CPU check, Accelerate Your Mac!, 9/8. "...there were reports of improved PCI performance and compatibility with the ROM update."
Rumor: Apple planning multiple iMac models?, Mac OS Rumors, 9/8. "There are rumored to be as many as five or as little as two versions...."
Analysis: Of iMacs and eOnes, David K. Every, MacKiDo. "They might as well market it as 'like the iMac, only not as easy or elegant.'"
Tech: How the G4 differs from the G3, Accelerate Your Mac!, 9/8.
News: Lucent's high-speed Stinger, Wired News, 9/7. Stinger handles voice and high speed data connections over standard phone lines.
Analysis: G4 trashed by mainstream media, The iMac, 9/7. Tidbit: four 400 MHz Intel CPUs = 1 GFLOPS, but one G4/500 can reach 4 GFLOPS.
Rumor: Apple to fix G4 ROM block, Mac OS Rumors, 9/7. "...the company is planning to include fix for the G4 upgrade block installed with the latest Blue G3 Firmware."
Opinion: Is the time right for an Apple gaming machine?, Ben Apple, Mac Junkie, 9/7. "A price tag of $250 or less would fall within the boundaries of a reasonable holiday gift."
Analysis: PC or Mac? Both give great service, Roanoke Times. "We also find that Macintosh computers last longer and retain their value longer."
Opinion: Look, Ma, no wires!, Ceolaf, PowerBook Source. "Wireless Ethernet used to be expensive. And slow."
Opinion: The G4 and Apple's second coming, Jon Katz, Slashdot. "If there's an ideology at the heart of computing, it's to be forever on the lookout for the coolest, fastest, most powerful thing. The G4 clearly, is it."
News: Computer labs out of order, classes stopped, Metropolitan State College of Denver [MacCentral]. Switching PCs to Windows NT shut down 12 computer labs, leaving Macs the only working computers.
Web: iMac Channel #4 on Top 25 iMac Sites
Opinion: Intel straddling FireWire fence, Tony Smith, MacWeek, 9/7. Intel undecided between FireWire, USB 2.0.
Analysis: G4 vs. PIII, Athlon, Architosh, 9/7. "Compared to rival Wintel processors by Intel and AMD, the G4 smokes them all (even at much lower clock speeds), except for the new AMD Athlon chip."
Opinion: Is G4/400 a good value?, Charles Moore, Applelinks. "...the Mac/Wintel 'which is faster' debate should be effectively silenced for the foreseeable future."
Rumor: iMac II to sport LCD, DVD, FireWire, AirPort, more, Japan Apple Watch, 9/7 [Slashdot]. Site says several configurations will be available.
Analysis: Dawn of desktop supercomputers, Byte. "The Velocity Engine is at the very beginning of its evolution cycle."
Rumor: Shark Power Macs to deter processor upgrades, AppleInsider, 9/7. Shark is the generation after Sawtooth.
Opinion: OS X: The last step to world domination, Paul Yap, osOpinion. "If MacOS X Client delivers on its' promises, then the G4 will have an OS worthy of it."
Tech: Processor wars, part 02. Vector processing, Philip Machanick, Mac Opinion, 9/7. A vector computer performs the same function on large quantities of data.
Low End: G3 upgrades for compact Macs, IIcx, Quadra 630, more, Nextro [Accelerate Your Mac!]. Japan. It can be done - but it's cheaper to buy a new G4/400.
Software: iCab preview 1.7 available [Macs Only!]. Alternative to Netscape, IE. Download still under 1 MB. German, English, and Japanese versions available. Now supports some Microsoft and Netscape tags not part of HTML 4.0. Can bookmark frames. Still no Javascript, CSS. Lots more.
Hardware: InterCoolers available outside Japan, Macs Only!, 9/7. Cools your PowerBook.
Review: G3 ZIF, XLR8 Carrier tested, Macs Only!, 9/7.
Web: 50 greatest comic books, Mitchell Brown. Excellent fan site with good ranking of most significant titles.
Hands On: iBook in-depth part 3, The iMac, 9/6. "...the battery's life is probably less than the theoretical limit; specifically 4 to 5 hours depending upon how you are using the iBook."
Hands On: iBook in-depth part 2, The iMac, 9/6. "...the 3D graphics produced by the Rage Mobility is pretty awesome for a little consumer based notebook computer, which means that it's a wonderful option for gamers."
News: Brett Harris files complaint with FTC over G4 ROM block, Accelerate Your Mac!, 9/6. (See Why the G4 uproar? for more on this issue.)
Survey: Apple surveying Power Mac G3 users. Your chance to let Apple know what you love and dislike about the Power Mac G3 you use.
Opinion: eOne takes on iMac - and wins, Bill Machrone, PC Magazine, 9/3. "...in many ways, the eOne improves on the iMac design, offering a floppy disk drive, a CD-ROM drive with external controls, video-input hardware, and a home network adapter."
News: XLR8 announces immediate availability of G4 upgrades, MacCentral, 9/4.
Opinion: Apple's G4 ROM block will only lose customers, Bryan Chaffin, Mac Observer, 9/3. "These are customers who are not going to buy a new Mac anyway!"
Opinion: Think different about upgrading, Wired, 9/3. "Apple's recent line of Power Mac G3s can't be upgraded to Motorola's new G4 chip, and according to hardware manufacturers, the engineering was intentional."
News: G4 upgrade road block, MacWeek, 9/3.
Analysis: On the G4 and Altivec: Promises of gold, Mac OS Rumors, 9/3. "...the G4's vector engine can accelerate almost any large calculation, not just multimedia."
News: Scientist finds "back door" in Windows, CBS MarketWatch, 9/3. Two "signing keys" in Microsoft allow full access to supposedly secure machines.
Analysis: Apple Expo France: A boon for Apple, Mac Observer, 9/3. "France is the #2 market for the Macintosh."
News: Microsoft says security speculation "inaccurate and unfounded," PRNewswire, 9/3. Microsoft admits presence of key, denies sharing it with NSA.
AAPL: Apple stock at all-time high of 73.25, Apple Investors, 9/3.
First Look: XLR8's G4 400 MHz ZIF upgrade, Accelerate Your Mac! Beta drivers show improved floating point performance and better memory bandwidth.
Consumer: G4 ROM block on Blue G3, MacInTouch. ROM version 1.1 prevents G4 upgrade. Earlier ROM versions are G4 compatible.
News: Detailed comparison of Power Mac G4 motherboards, AppleInsider, 9/3.
News: E-Machines: "We would be harmed by Apple's suit," MacCentral, 9/3. Isn't that the point?
Opinion: Apple's new TV campaign targets Intel, CNBC, 9/2. "...few PC buyers are likely to be swayed by the tough new Power Mac G4 TV ads, which ridicule Intel's Pentium III chip."
Analysis: G4 rules SPECint at 450 MHz, SPECfp at all speeds, Mac Evolution, 9/2. 550 MHz Pentium III beats G4/450 on SPECint.
Rumor: OS 9, QuickTime 4.1 to include Velocity support, Mac OS Rumors, 9/2. Also, PowerBook G4 under development for early 2000 release.
News: Apple stock soars past 70, Mac Junkie, 9/2.
News: Hot Apple + cold PCs = Apple topping 70, Mac Observer, 9/2. Apple at highest level since April 12, 1991.
News: Microsoft will host Office over the net, TechWeb, 9/2. Microsoft pushing software for rent model.
News: Experts question Apple, SF Gate, 9/2. Government may classify G4 as a supercomputer, but real supercomputers are in the terraflops range!
Opinion: One supercomputer coming to an Apple dealer near you, Gene Steinberg, Arizona Central, 9/2. "So the speed gap didn't widen a lot, except for PowerBooks, where Apple's laptop is the overwhelming winner against Intel's best efforts."
Virus: Experts assess risks surrounding "Thursday" virus, ZDNet, 9/2. "It must be Thursday. I never did get the hang of Thursdays." High risk for Word 97 users. (Yup, Windows only.)
Review: $50 Logitech USB QuickCam Express, ZDNet. Too bad there's no Mac support, but QuickCam VC supports USB equipped Macs. (QuickCam VC, $69.95 shipped from Outpost.com)
Internet@30: Internet just leaving its stone age, Yahoo/Reuters. "...the Internet is about 20 percent invented, and we have about 80 percent to go."
Back by popular demand: EvangeList
Consumer: Prince of Egypt DVD review, DVD Resource Page. Not Mac related, but an incredible movie experience. $20.99 from Amazon.com through Sept. 14.
News: Bootable USB on Power Mac G4, Apple TIL 58430. Also, G4/450 and G4/500 have two separate USB controllers.
Rumor: New iMac debut at Apple Expo 99 in Paris?, Think Secret, 9/2.
Web: Tanks ad available on Apple site.
Performance: G4 upgrade tested in B&W G3, Accelerate Your Mac!, 9/2. Author discovers updated ROM prevents startup.
Consumer: Nintendo announces GameBoy 2, Nintendojo, 9/1. Uses 32-bit ARM CPU (remember Newton?), 16-bit 240x160 display. Due August 2000.
Opinion: Look, Ma, no wires!, Jason O'Grady, MacWeek, 9/1. "The inclusion of the AirPort technology in the G4s is nothing short of mastery by Apple...."
Hands On: iBook in-depth, The iMac, 9/1. "...it is every bit as cool as it first appeared at MacWorld Expo 3 weeks ago."
News: The Macintosh Guy launches Power Mac G4 list.
News: USB 2.0 to be faster than expected, allUSB, 9/1. "The speed target for USB 2.0 was raised . . . to 360-480 Mbps."
Internet@30: Pioneers recall internet's first steps, Yahoo/ZDNet, 9/1. "Thirty years ago, it seemed like a pretty crazy idea: a worldwide network of computers that would let people swap information at lightning speed."
Analysis: Apple intros the "Silver Supercomputer," Eliot Hochberg, Mac Junkie, 9/1.
Opinion: G4: The amazing gaming machine - and supercomputer, Ben Apple, Mac Junkie, 9/1. "What do you get when you add up a 128-bit graphics card, a 2x AGP slot, a graphics-enhancing Velocity Engine and a 128-bit 500 MHz G4 processor?"
Opinion: Apple turns on the juice with introduction of G4, LA Times, 9/1. Includes a comment from Intel: "We think Intel processors deliver the best performance for a wide variety of users." Duh!

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