Miscellaneous Ramblings

Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2007 Archive

• Low End Mac's Compleat Guide to Mac OS 9, 2008 edition, Charles W Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2008.05.12. Mac OS 9 remains fast and stable, but Classic software hasn't kept up with the changing internet. Which Macs support OS 9, where to buy it, and how to update to 9.2.2.
• Eudora broken with dialup in Leopard, but where to go next?, 2007.12.24. The old, fast, reliable, friendly, comfortable Eudora email program has worked through many versions of the Mac OS, but it's not able to send over dialup since going to Leopard.
• Other great USB keyboards, cooler running laptops, the value of old G3 Macs, and more, 2007.12.17. Other alternatives to Apple's aluminum keyboards, booting OS 9 from RAID, weak AirPort reception, and cool running notebooks.
• The best alternatives to Apple's USB keyboards, 2007.12.10. There are a lot of USB keyboards out there, even for the Mac, but these two have great keyboard action, are solidly built, and have features Apple's keyboard don't include.
• Cooler laptops, a G4 recording studio, a fast Unicode text editor, and phantom email, 2007.12.03. Quieter, cooler running notebooks, a Power Mac G4-based recording studio using Mac OS 9, a fast text editor with great Unicode support, and phantom email in Mail in OS X 10.3.9.
• Classic still useful, a cooler running MacBook, Panther vs. Tiger for text editing, and more, 2007.11.19. Classic is far from dead, Text Edit in Tiger slower than in Panther, the case for a quieter laptop, Buffalo WiFi in Pismo, and Word files on an 800K floppy.
• The case for a quiet, cooler running, low powered MacBook, 2007.11.12. Not all notebook users need a lot of power - or the heat, noise, and shorter battery life that go with it.
• Dell's 802.11g card for PowerBooks, glad for the death of Classic, FireWire cams, and more, 2007.11.05. Also silent computing with 'obsolete' Macs, Leopard and the 867 MHz limit, and Tiger performance on a 600 MHz G3 iBook.
• iBook G3 quality, 802.11g for older PowerBooks, installing Tiger on a CD-ROM eMac, and more, 2007.10.29. Also FireWire webcam options for the classic Mac OS and installing Leopard on an upgraded Power Mac G4.
• Is a used iBook still a sensible low-end option?, 2007.10.15. From 500 MHz G3s through 1.4 GHz G4s, used iBooks range in price from under $200 to over $700. Are they a good choice, or do reliability issues say otherwise?
• Is the SteelSeries 4D the best mousepad ever?, 2007.10.15. This large, double-sided mousepad was optimized for gamers, but it makes a fine addition to any mouse user's work area.
• FastMac 8x SuperDrive and BurnAgain DVD: Fast and easy multisession disc burning, 2007.10.08. FastMac's 8x SuperDrive upgrade is remarkably fast compared with older PowerBook burners, and BurnAgain DVD makes it easy to append files to a previously burned CD or DVD.
• WiFi options for Lombard, installing Tiger on a DVD-less eMac, 3D home design software, and more, 2007.10.01. Two PC Card 802.11g options for the Lombard PowerBook, PowerPC version of OS X needed for eMac, three programs for home design, and a source for downloading old Mac software.
• My PowerBook pilgrimage, 1996 to present, 2007.09.24. Starting with a grayscale PowerBook 5300 bought end-of-life in late 1996, the author has used six different 'Book models over the past 11 years
• Feeling like an iChump, Lombard and Pismo praise, being a late adopter, Classic mode, and more, 2007.09.17. Also the 'Road Apple' x200 series, Apple's biggest hardware price cut, iBook video chip repair, data exchange with a PowerBook Duo 2300, and more.
• The costs and dangers of being an early adopter, 2007.09.10. I guess somebody has to go first - but not me, if I can help it.
• Apple's first subnotebooks: The PowerBook Duo family and the PowerBook 2400c, 2007.09.04. With rampant rumors of a subnotebook MacBook Pro, it's a good time to look back at Apple's earlier attempts at subnotebook computers.
• iBook unreliability, iBook G4 AirPort problems, RAM for a PowerBook 1400, and more, 2007.08.27. Pismo vs. iBook as the more reliable portable, catastrophic iBook failure, and a Pismo that won't recognize new hardware.
• Are the white iBooks still a good bet or should you steer clear of them?, 2007.08.20. The dual USB iBooks have the worst repair record in Mac history, yet some are exceptionally reliable. Should you consider buying one or avoid them?
• A light touch keyboard, PowerBook 520c questions, moving a G3 iBook from 10.2.8 to 10.3, and more, 2007.08.13. Also running QuickBooks on Intel-based Macs, 'Book magnets causing CRT problems, and wondering about the $150 Linux laptop.
• Discover the power of iWork with The Missing Manual, 2007.08.06. Since not much has changed between iWork '05 and iWork '06, the 2005 edition should be plenty to get any iWork user up to speed quickly.
• Bible-Discovery: Powerful but sluggish Bible study software, 2007.07.30. As a Java application, Bible-Discovery isn't fast or Mac-like, but it is a powerful tool for studying the Bible in Greek, Hebrew, and several English translations.
• Shiira 2.2 an even stronger contender for best Mac OS X browser, 2007.07.24. Shiira incorporates elements from many other browsers, has developed a unique interface, and could be a serious challenger to Opera as the Mac's best browser.
• OS X on a G3, FireWire Disk Mode missing in action, Panther on a Power Mac, and more, 2007.07.16. Also glossy displays are sharper, where to get Netscape 7, two OS X replacements for MacDraw, and an iBook power problem solved.
• No new Macs for me, irreplaceable classic Mac apps, unexpected Navigator 9 slowdown, and more, 2007.06.27. Also Netscape 7 the best browser for classic Macs, MacBook and MagSafe magnets and CRT displays, and replacing MacDraw Pro.
• My first mobile Mac: A Classic II, Jacek A. Rochacki, 2007.06.25. When a PowerBook 100 was beyond the author's means, he bought a second-hand Mac Classic II and fabricated his own carrying case to make it mobile.
• Unmatched Classic Mac OS apps, TiBook reliability, Matias Tactile Pro 2.0 disappoints, and more, 2007.06.18. Also Netscape 7 and 9, MacBook causing problems with iMac's display, and graphics cards for a Power Mac G4 and an ADC display.
• 2 earbuds and 2 headsets for music and gaming, 2007.06.11. Colorful, good sounding earbuds, retractable earbuds, and a pair of gaming headphones that include built-in microphones.
• A whisper quiet notebook drive, Pismo runs cool with 7200 RPM drive, upgrading from OS X 10.1, and more, 2007.06.06. Also WallStreet wireless faiure, 12" PowerBook G4 reliability, and Pismo's fan rarely kicks in.
• Best video card for a G3 Power Mac, upgrading vs. buying a newer Mac, many OS 9 fans, and more, 2007.06.04. Also iCab is outdated and sluggish, where not to obtain OS 9, installing OS X using FireWire Disk Mode, and troubleshooting a Mac from Linux.
• Bean: Free word processor is fast and lean and looks great, 2007.05.29. Bean is a great tool for basic word processing, but it doesn't support the kind of high-end features some users may depend upon.
• Most durable 'Book, prepping a blue & white G3 for OS X, 7200 rpm drive too hot for Pismo?, and more, 2007.05.21. Also how the need to run "Tiger" is a problem, an iBook G4 with serious shutdown issues, and burning CDs at a lower speed may make them easier to read in older Macs.
• Apple on mini CDs, 74 minute CD-Rs more compatible, iBook G4 reliability, and more, 2007.05.14. Also installing OS X using Target Disk Mode, partitioning your hard drive, Google's tool to simplify web pages, Canada and copyright law, and more.
• Is Canada a 'haven for pirates' or a sovereign nation with it's own copyright laws?, 2007.05.07. The International Intellectual Property Alliance is asking the US government to put pressure on Canada to adopt laws as draconian as the Digital Millennium Copyright Law.
• FileMaker Pro 8.5 well worth checking out, 2007.04.16. If you're considering investing in a database program, FileMaker Pro 8.5 is definitely worth looking over.
• Gmail with old browsers, Mozilla 1.3.1 on OS 9, Intel Core CPUs 'really open up' with RAM, and more, 2007.04.23. Also Mac OS 9 software development, a stinky iBook, possible solution to problems reading CD-R on old Macs, choppy iTunes video, and more.
• Logitech TrackMan Wheel intuitive, easy to use, 2007.04.16. Trackballs are well suited for some tasks, less well suited for others. Logitech's thumb-controlled TrackMan Wheel is quickly mastered, and its software provides lots of options.
• Clamshell iBook upgrades, choppy iTunes video, Netscape 7 for Mac OS 9, and more, 2007.04.09. Also fixing flash drive problems with Disk Utility, problems booting a secondhand iMac, PowerBook ramblings, and more.
• The state of Mac OS 9 compatibility, upgrades, resources, and hacks in 2007, 2007.04.02. Discontinued five years ago, Mac OS 9 remains fast and stable, but its software hasn't kept up with Web changes. What Macs support it, where to buy it, and how to update to version 9.2.2.
• Drag and drop problems with flash drive, troubleshooting a Mac with Linux, G3 video problems, and more, 2007.03.27. Also FireWire boot drives, bootable partitions, bootable external DVD drives, and maximum hard drive size on older Macs.
• Maximum drive size in older Macs, 12" PowerBook 'the new Pismo', best browser for archiving, and more, 2007.03.21. Also WiFi cards for PowerBooks, video problem with a blue & white G3, installing OS X using NetBoot, and more.
• Troubleshooting an iMac and possible Pismo overheating, 2007.03.19. Figuring out what's wrong with a G3 iMac that won't boot properly and possily spurious temperature readings from Gauge Pro.
• Pismo Spotlight woes solved with simple fix, 2007.03.16. After working for 8 months, Tiger's Spotlight indexing had simply stopped working. Here's why - and the easy solution to the problem.
• Pismo Spotlight and Find woes persist with latest version of Tiger, 2007.03.12. In early 2006, Spotlight and Find inexplicably stopped working on the G4-upgraded Pismo. A year and four OS X updates later, the situation hasn't changed.
• Why OS X 10.2 is best for Classic, switching to Opera, installing Tiger on a B&W G3, and more, 2007.03.05. Also thoughts on Firefox, modem problems on a Pismo with OS X 10.4, and connecting an Apple Studio Display to a MacBook.
• Opera the best browser for the Mac, 2007.02.26. "In my opinion, Opera is still the best all-round general surfing browser for Mac OS X, and Safari has a long way to go to even come close to matching it."
• 3 MacMice mice compared: 2 winners, 1 loser, 2007.02.19. MacMice products are well-designed and hold up well over time, but their Bluetooth mouse is poorly balanced and suffers from latency problems.
• OS X 10.2 best for Classic?, Tiger on a Blue & White G3, salvaging an iBook hard drive, and more, 2007.02.12. Why Jaguar may be the best OS X for Classic mode, getting Tiger on a DVD-free Power Mac G3, transplanting a dead iBook's hard drive, and Mac service sources in Bogota, Columbia.
• Tex-Edit Plus: Powerful styled text editing for OS X and the Classic Mac OS, 2007.02.05. Whether you're looking for a powerful text editor or a simple, flexible word processor, Tex-Edit Plus could be exactly the tool you need.
• OS X 10.3 or 10.4 on a G4/533?, Lombard to Pismo hard drive swap, 'Book repair, and more, 2007.01.29. The best OS for a G4/533, migrating by swapping hard drives, WallStreet and iBook repair and replacement options, and upgrading RAM in Lombard.
• What's the minimum Mac or 'Book for Mac OS X 10.4 'Tiger'?, 2007.01.22. Today's Intel-based Macs are great with Tiger, but how old a Mac can you use and still find satisfactory performance?
• PC Card WiFi for OS X PowerBooks, installing Classic for OS X, Gmail problem with Shiira, and more, 2007.01.15. A low-cost WiFi PC Card for PowerBooks running OS X, tips on installing Classic under Tiger, Gmail broken with Shiira 1.2.2 browser, and stimulating a flashd rive on pre-USB PowerBooks.
• Shiira 2.0b2 browser: Neat features, but not ready for prime time, 2007.01.08. Shiira is a small, fast, free browser based on Safari WebKit that includes some very useful new features.
• Classic install with Tiger, OS 9 browsers or plugins?, other 'fastest' Macs, and more, 2007.01.03. Also a failed Tiger install via FireWire, simulating a flash drive on a 5300, Word 5.1 documents in the modern world, PowerBook power supplies, Xubunto for older Macs, and "Other Red".
• 15" PowerBook G4 lower memory slot problem revisited, 2007.01.02. Another look at the lower memory slot problem and Apple's repair extension program for 1.5 GHz and 1.67 GHz 15" G4 PowerBooks
• No new Macs for me, irreplaceable classic Mac apps, unexpected Navigator 9 slowdown, and more, 2007.06.27. Also Netscape 7 the best browser for classic Macs, MacBook and MagSafe magnets and CRT displays, and replacing MacDraw Pro.
• My first mobile Mac: A Classic II, Jacek A. Rochacki, 2007.06.25. When a PowerBook 100 was beyond the author's means, he bought a second-hand Mac Classic II and fabricated his own carrying case to make it mobile.
• Unmatched Classic Mac OS apps, TiBook reliability, Matias Tactile Pro 2.0 disappoints, and more, 2007.06.18. Also Netscape 7 and 9, MacBook causing problems with iMac's display, and graphics cards for a Power Mac G4 and an ADC display.
• 2 earbuds and 2 headsets for music and gaming, 2007.06.11. Colorful, good sounding earbuds, retractable earbuds, and a pair of gaming headphones that include built-in microphones.
• A whisper quiet notebook drive, Pismo runs cool with 7200 RPM drive, upgrading from OS X 10.1, and more, 2007.06.06. Also WallStreet wireless faiure, 12" PowerBook G4 reliability, and Pismo's fan rarely kicks in.
• Best video card for a G3 Power Mac, upgrading vs. buying a newer Mac, many OS 9 fans, and more, 2007.06.04. Also iCab is outdated and sluggish, where not to obtain OS 9, installing OS X using FireWire Disk Mode, and troubleshooting a Mac from Linux.
• Bean: Free word processor is fast and lean and looks great, 2007.05.29. Bean is a great tool for basic word processing, but it doesn't support the kind of high-end features some users may depend upon.
• Most durable 'Book, prepping a blue & white G3 for OS X, 7200 rpm drive too hot for Pismo?, and more, 2007.05.21. Also how the need to run "Tiger" is a problem, an iBook G4 with serious shutdown issues, and burning CDs at a lower speed may make them easier to read in older Macs.
• Apple on mini CDs, 74 minute CD-Rs more compatible, iBook G4 reliability, and more, 2007.05.14. Also installing OS X using Target Disk Mode, partitioning your hard drive, Google's tool to simplify web pages, Canada and copyright law, and more.
• Is Canada a 'haven for pirates' or a sovereign nation with it's own copyright laws?, 2007.05.07. The International Intellectual Property Alliance is asking the US government to put pressure on Canada to adopt laws as draconian as the Digital Millennium Copyright Law.
• FileMaker Pro 8.5 well worth checking out, 2007.04.16. If you're considering investing in a database program, FileMaker Pro 8.5 is definitely worth looking over.
• Gmail with old browsers, Mozilla 1.3.1 on OS 9, Intel Core CPUs 'really open up' with RAM, and more, 2007.04.23. Also Mac OS 9 software development, a stinky iBook, possible solution to problems reading CD-R on old Macs, choppy iTunes video, and more.
• Logitech TrackMan Wheel intuitive, easy to use, 2007.04.16. Trackballs are well suited for some tasks, less well suited for others. Logitech's thumb-controlled TrackMan Wheel is quickly mastered, and its software provides lots of options.
• Clamshell iBook upgrades, choppy iTunes video, Netscape 7 for Mac OS 9, and more, 2007.04.09. Also fixing flash drive problems with Disk Utility, problems booting a secondhand iMac, PowerBook ramblings, and more.
• The state of Mac OS 9 compatibility, upgrades, resources, and hacks in 2007, 2007.04.02. Discontinued five years ago, Mac OS 9 remains fast and stable, but its software hasn't kept up with Web changes. What Macs support it, where to buy it, and how to update to version 9.2.2.
• Drag and drop problems with flash drive, troubleshooting a Mac with Linux, G3 video problems, and more, 2007.03.27. Also FireWire boot drives, bootable partitions, bootable external DVD drives, and maximum hard drive size on older Macs.
• Maximum drive size in older Macs, 12" PowerBook 'the new Pismo', best browser for archiving, and more, 2007.03.21. Also WiFi cards for PowerBooks, video problem with a blue & white G3, installing OS X using NetBoot, and more.
• Troubleshooting an iMac and possible Pismo overheating, 2007.03.19. Figuring out what's wrong with a G3 iMac that won't boot properly and possily spurious temperature readings from Gauge Pro.
• Pismo Spotlight woes solved with simple fix, 2007.03.16. After working for 8 months, Tiger's Spotlight indexing had simply stopped working. Here's why - and the easy solution to the problem.
• Pismo Spotlight and Find woes persist with latest version of Tiger, 2007.03.12. In early 2006, Spotlight and Find inexplicably stopped working on the G4-upgraded Pismo. A year and four OS X updates later, the situation hasn't changed.
• Why OS X 10.2 is best for Classic, switching to Opera, installing Tiger on a B&W G3, and more, 2007.03.05. Also thoughts on Firefox, modem problems on a Pismo with OS X 10.4, and connecting an Apple Studio Display to a MacBook.
• Opera the best browser for the Mac, 2007.02.26. "In my opinion, Opera is still the best all-round general surfing browser for Mac OS X, and Safari has a long way to go to even come close to matching it."
• 3 MacMice mice compared: 2 winners, 1 loser, 2007.02.19. MacMice products are well-designed and hold up well over time, but their Bluetooth mouse is poorly balanced and suffers from latency problems.
• OS X 10.2 best for Classic?, Tiger on a Blue & White G3, salvaging an iBook hard drive, and more, 2007.02.12. Why Jaguar may be the best OS X for Classic mode, getting Tiger on a DVD-free Power Mac G3, transplanting a dead iBook's hard drive, and Mac service sources in Bogota, Columbia.
• Tex-Edit Plus: Powerful styled text editing for OS X and the Classic Mac OS, 2007.02.05. Whether you're looking for a powerful text editor or a simple, flexible word processor, Tex-Edit Plus could be exactly the tool you need.
• OS X 10.3 or 10.4 on a G4/533?, Lombard to Pismo hard drive swap, 'Book repair, and more, 2007.01.29. The best OS for a G4/533, migrating by swapping hard drives, WallStreet and iBook repair and replacement options, and upgrading RAM in Lombard.
• What's the minimum Mac or 'Book for Mac OS X 10.4 'Tiger'?, 2007.01.22. Today's Intel-based Macs are great with Tiger, but how old a Mac can you use and still find satisfactory performance?
• PC Card WiFi for OS X PowerBooks, installing Classic for OS X, Gmail problem with Shiira, and more, 2007.01.15. A low-cost WiFi PC Card for PowerBooks running OS X, tips on installing Classic under Tiger, Gmail broken with Shiira 1.2.2 browser, and stimulating a flashd rive on pre-USB PowerBooks.
• Shiira 2.0b2 browser: Neat features, but not ready for prime time, 2007.01.08. Shiira is a small, fast, free browser based on Safari WebKit that includes some very useful new features.
• Classic install with Tiger, OS 9 browsers or plugins?, other 'fastest' Macs, and more, 2007.01.03. Also a failed Tiger install via FireWire, simulating a flash drive on a 5300, Word 5.1 documents in the modern world, PowerBook power supplies, Xubunto for older Macs, and "Other Red".
• 15" PowerBook G4 lower memory slot problem revisited, 2007.01.02. Another look at the lower memory slot problem and Apple's repair extension program for 1.5 GHz and 1.67 GHz 15" G4 PowerBooks
• more in the Miscellaneous Ramblings archives: 1999-2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010