Tuesday, March 23rd, 1999 00:27 CST @310

FireWire Frenzy

After the reader's comments yesterday on FireWire not being possible on a PC Card interface, the loyal armies of PB Zone readers reacted with an outpouring of technical specifications, URLs, and working products. Here is but just a sampling of the letters, some more strongly worded than others:

Erf. I'm not very strongly inclined to consider that the reader panning the notion of PCMCIA Firewire really knows, as they say, what they're talking about. Points of evidence:

(1) http://www.pcmcia.org (specifically, http://www.pcmcia.org/papers/new_bus.htm) - CardBus is listed as a 32 bit 33MHz bus, i.e., peak speed of 132Mbytes/sec. This is, one would imagine,acceptable for Firewire's present maximum of 50Mbytes/sec (400Mbits/sec).

(2) http://www.rexpccard.co.jp/english/products/cbfw1.html - Ratoc Systems' card, supposedly now waiting on OS 8.6's Firewire & USB support. Available now for Wintel purchase on their site. (Bear in mind: bus capacity and bus throughput need not be equal. There are, after all, SCSI-USB adapters. And in the other direction, check those VST Firewire drives - they're just bog-standard 2.5" drives with a Firewire interface. No advantage to a PowerBook user over an internal capacity upgrade, or an expansion bay option such as MCE's XCaret)

That notwithstanding, I'd still hope Firewire would be an integral part of Lombard, given the prominence Jobs has given the interface, aided by such folks as Sony (even including it in PSX2000!). It's a very good standard, and keeping it as a normal feature, rather than an add-on, would aid in its acceptance. (Now, if only Seagate, IBM, or Toshiba could agree on that..)

Well, if that didn't convince you that FireWire PC Cards exist, this reader has purchased one:

I have been to Japan a few weeks ago and I bought a firewire pc card from ratoc systems (www.rexpccard.co.jp/english). The price was approx. 200$US. There are no mac drivers yet, but they replied my e-mail request for the english win98 drivers within a few days and told me that the mac drivers are supposed to be ready in may. I tried to use the win98 drivers with virtual pc on a G3 292 but I did not work out. Now I am waiting for the mac drivers. The card is supposed to support up to 400mbps.

Finally, if you're looking to purchase a FireWire card, but just don't want to make the short trip to Japan (unless you live in Japan, in which case that joke doesn't really work out well), another source tells me that the main issue with getting Japanese companies such as MCE is vying for the role as Ratoc's US distributor. On another note, sources deep, deep within the dark bowels of the Cupertino campus have let on that the Apple FireWire Software version 2.0 has gone "Golden Master." It added needed support that the guys at VST need to ship their drives, but at this time, booting off the drives is still not supported. Sources say this feature will take some additional work.

A few moons back, we here at The PowerBook Zone mentioned that it was interesting that all the Apple promotions ended on April 30th, just in time for Apple's WorldWide Developer's Conference (WWDC) the following week, which has been largely speculated as the likely introduction of Lombard, the next professional PowerBook. One reader in Japan also notes some interesting facts both about a promotion they're running right now, and when incentive programs usually end there:

Any Apple Japan incentive program has historically ended about 2 weeks before announcement of a new version or product. The current 1% consumer loan program only for G3 Powerbooks ends May 5. So, if history repeats itself, something new for sale could be appearing mid or late May.

This new information certainly gives support to a U.S. introduction of early May, and possibly only a small delay for a worldwide release.

Can you create graphic masterpieces with the best of them? Can you do things with pixels that DaVinci couldn't top with a brush? Then you need to contact our employment division to apply to create a logo for a 'super-secret' project we're working on here at The PowerBook Zone Skunk Works. Our billing department is out for the next few weeks, so we can't really pay you, but it's the mention of your name on the site that really counts, right?

Here at PB Zone, we know you keep up on the latest news on the open-source software scene. Well, in case you haven't been downloading the nightly builds of the next generation browser developed in cooperation by Mozilla.org and Netscape, it has finally passed its "Milestone Three," so this build of the browser is aptly titled "M3." Before, Mozilla builds did not have much functionality, but this build now allows the user to use it on a day to day basis.

Monday, March 22nd, 1999 07:00 CST @583

Where Is Lombard?

While we all know that Lombard's introduction hinges on the release of Mac OS 8.6 and the current WallStreet PowerBook inventory, as March winds down, I find myself looking for a expected introduction date. While it's still very far off, about a month and a half, a Apple Media Event before WWDC in early May still looks right on for the introduction of Lombard. My sources have said that P1, the consumer portable is nowhere near ready, and will most likely not be introduced as ready to sell, but will be pre-announced like iMac.

PowerBook Central has a report today on "Battery Conservation Tips". Check it out and send them some feedback.

Okay, Okay, I was supposed to post that yesterday, but I simply didn't get around to it, sorry. If you still want to send feedback you are more than welcome to do so.

Some of the readers who have been around will recall that Monday is sometimes reader question day, where you can send in your questions to me and I'll post them on the site on Tuesday, letting the whole readership add their expertise. If you've got a question, send it our way.

My sources are still adamant that FireWire on Lombard is on a PC Card, and I'm going to stick by that claim. However, a reader sent these comments:

The next generation Powerbooks will have Firewire. You CANNOT put Firewire on a PC Card because the PCMCIA interface does not support the data rates necessary. (Neither does the "cardbus" or "zoom video" extentions, the latter cannot be used for anything except displaying video... you can't record the video off of it as the data is streamed directly to video memory without giving the processor access to the data stream) Its a meaningless thing to say. Apple wants FireWire across its line. It is a critical technology, as evidenced by the lack of SCSI built into Blue G3s. Therefore, FireWire will be built into the powerbooks.

Also, since there will only be one PC Card slot in the next powerbooks, this indicates that Jobs believes that having Firewire and USB built in along with ethernet and modem eliminates the need for the second slot- as almost every peripheral can fit in those other busses or is included

CardBus is simply a PCI interface, just like the FireWire card for the Platinum G3s use, for the PC Card protocol, so a FireWire card is possible. Furthermore, Sony makes a FireWire PC Card for Windows, but it has no Macintosh drivers. Got your own comments to add?

Sunday, March 21st, 1999 --:-- CST @---

No Update.

Saturday, March 20th, 1999 14:40 CST @903

Consumer Editing Explosion with FireWire iMac?

A reader sent this in:

It struck me at one moment of creative thinking. If you put some of the rumors together; depleted inventory of iMacs speculating that Apple is paving the way for next rev, the suggestion of this rev to have Firewire, Final Cut Pro in the works - possibly for NAB 22 of April. Isn´t Steve cooking a breathtaking demo for the broad mass to show what they could do with a Sony Digital8 and the above mentioned equipment. Yes sir, and it will surely sell a LOT of iMacs (bundled with Final Cut?) when the good folks see the true Mac plug and play. Finally we´re going to see multimedia for the masses!

There are a few problems with this whole scenario. The next revision of iMacs will be identical to the revision C colored ones, with the exception of a larger hard drive and faster processor, which should be 300 MHz. It will NOT however, have FireWire connectivity. And to relate this somehow to PowerBooks, the next generation of pro PowerBook, codenamed Lombard or 101, will have USB onboard, but FireWire will have to be accessed through a PC Card.

We're at work on our PowerBook Internet access through a cell phone article. This is our last request for information you might have about this. We'll probably be posting the report tomorrow at some point.

Colourfull Creations is making a $70 dollar PowerBook adaptor that allows you to connect your PowerBook to almost any display device, such as a TV or projector. It supports the PowerBook 3400 and G3 Series.

• The Motley Fool has a story on Steve Jobs titled "From the Garage to the Boardroom."
• The Laptop Guide has a Video Chipset Review, which includes MacOS offerings as well as those for the Dark Side.

Friday, March 19th, 1999 07:03 CST @585

TidBits

• PowerBook Central posted an article yesterday on how to Protect Your PowerBook from theft.
• We're working on a feature article on wireless Internet access through cell phones and PowerBooks. More feedback is needed on this issue, so open up.
• As for the rumors you hear of another revision of the iMac line, it's true. Steve's keeping the iMac line up to date with a larger hard drive and 300 MHz processors. Expect to see these iMacs very, very soon.
• Hold the presses! (though we have no presses) Microsoft yesterday introduced MS Internet Explorer 5 for Windows. Nothing really revolutionary in this update, big surprise.
• Apple has recently made a few huge educational sales including loads of PowerBook G3 Systems.
• There's not much news as you can see. Stay tuned this weekend for updates on Saturday and Sunday.

Thursday, March 18th, 1999 00:01 CST @292

Wireless Internet Through Your Cellphone

Those of you who are filthy rich or have your employers pay your cell phone bill might want to take note of this topic I'm starting here with this post from a reader:

I have a Qualcomm QCP-820 Digital/Analog dual mode mobile phone. I also have a Rev. 1 Wallstreet...250 Mhz, 96 MB Ram, 4 Gig. Can you point me in any direction about how to use my cell phone to connect to the internet while in route with my 'book? Any of your readers have any experience?

I really don't know much about this, so if you're so inclined, enlighten us.

I don't know if this is earth shattering or not, but I'll post it anyway, as it may help readers who are outgrowing their 2GB drives, and want to keep it if they replace it.

This may be common knowledge however, I found a "hidden feature" using an MCE IDE/PCMCIA card adapter. I purchased a 3.2gig Hitachi Hard drive for my 3400/180 to replace the stock 1.3gig drive from Powerbook Products. I also purchased one of their PC/IDE external enclosures so that I could recycle my internal 1.3 gig as a removable HD. I needed to back up my 3400 the other day so I copied everything to the 1.3gig in the external case and just for curiosity I decided to see if I could boot up off it ( I was told this was not possible from a PC Card attached drive).

I restarted with the adapter inserted into the PC slot and held down the Cmd-shift-opt-del keys and presto, it booted off the PC card! The drive had been reformatted using Drive Set Up 1.6.2 (which by the way can be used to overwrite any third party formatter and driver back to Apple OEM drivers) to HFS+ format and is big enough to fit just about an kind of disk utility you could think of plus has enough space to recover files from a crashed internal if needed. I then took my PC-Card drive over to my PB G3/300 and it booted off the PC card drive as well. Makes a great shuttle drive between the laptops as well.

Got anything to add?

Check back for an update tonight...probably closer to 8 PM CST

Wednesday, March 17th, 1999 00:30 CST @312

Another Day, Another Huge Apple OS Strategy

Yesterday, Copland/Rhapsody/MacOSX transitioned from "Gonna ship soon" vaporware to a shipping product. Yes, Mac OS Ten Server is now available for $499, rather than the $995 Steve Jobs said at MWSF. But wait, that's not all. Apple also introduced Darwin, an open source initiative to allow developers to add a greater amount of work and feedback to the Mac OS. (The name Darwin may have a connection with the www.mammals.org domain pointing at Apple..Mac OS Ten uses "Carbon" based life forms. It all sorta loosely fits). To read plenty of coverage of all this, visit your favorite large mainstream site. However, I will point out this MacInTouch report that seems to be a direct report from someone at the Apple press conference yesterday. Okay Apple..When's Mac OS Ten Consumer going to ship?

More HotSync Issues

This seems to be an important topic to a lot of readers as many of you wrote in asking for more information, and some of you wrote in with more feedback. It seems that the problem with the Serial Port Monitor extension does not limit itself to the G3 Series. One reader with a 1400 also reported the problem. Many readers also expressed that their machien was working fine:

No problems here with PB G3 sleep and any Desktop 2.1 functions including the sleep with serial port monitoring. I have even had the luck to be able to hotsync via the IRDa port (although it is very intermittent). I have noticed it takes a LOONNGG time to go to sleep and wake up with IRDa enabled though (a little more than a minute). But everything works just fine with a little patience. Being not quite that patient, I have gone back to the cable for work. Maybe the long waits are looking like lockups to other less patient folks... I know it caught my attention in the beginning.

And another reader writes:

I'm running the release version of MacPac 2, and have HotSync enabled at startup. I have no problems putting my PB G3 Series to sleep, either using the Finder menu or by closing the PB (just tested the later before writing this email).

For what it's worth, it's a G3 266 with OS 8.5.1 (and all the latest Apple patches) and "just the usual" extensions (primarily a bunch of Microsoft gunk).

Well, it seems there's just two sides to this issue. We'll try to get some confirmation, and keep an eye out for MacFixIt's report today, they might have uncovered a fix other than disabling the Serial Port Monitor extension.

Unannounced Price Cuts On 300 Mhz Model?

So far the last two price cuts have been on the 233 MHz model of PDQ (Wallstreet II). However, many news sites are reporting that MacConnection has dropped the price of the 300 MHz/DVD model from $3499 to $2999. This is $400 dollars under the lowest previous price for the DVD model according to AbsoluteMac. Basically MacConnection has dropped the price of the DVD model to the price of the 20X CD-ROM module, leaving them at the same price, which makes no sense. This PowerBook is listed at the AppleStore for $3699. With all the flurry of news surrounding Mac OS Ten, this significant event shouldn't be ignored. MacInTouch reported yesterday that Apple is discounting PowerBook purchases in volume (like the volume that a huge mail order place like MacConnection has), in another effort to reduce the backlog of G3 Series models.

More TidBits Than You Can Shake a Stick At

• There have been 3.5 million downloads of the Star Wars Episode I trailer, with 1.2 million downloads of the QT3 software.
• Vimage has a limited-time offer, only on their website, for the 240 MHz G3 upgrade for the 2400. The price offered is $489, where it's regularly $649.
• Notice that all of Apple's product promotions end on April 30th? So did Macintosh 4ever, and they wrote about it. The most intriguing thing is that the WWDC keynote where product introductions are most likely is just a scant 9 days after the end dates of those promotions.
• MacReviewZone has a "G3 PowerBook buyers guide, whose price information is already out of date given the above issues.
• Though I could swear they *already* introduced them, NewerRAM has introduced 256 MB RAM chips for the upper slot of the PowerBook G3 Series. Combined with a low-profile 128 MB chip in the bottom slot, this gives a total of 384 MB RAM as your limit.
• Just when you thought that there could not be any more online auction sites, Outpost.com went right ahead and launched a auction website, titled OutpostAuctions.com.
• Good bit of PowerBook news. Wish they'd spread it out more..

Tuesday, March 16th, 1999 00:01 CST @290

HotSync/Sleep Issues

It first came to my attention a few days ago that there were some more issues the the Palm MacPac 2.0 software and PowerBooks. One reader writes:

The G3 series powerbooks tend to crash when awakening if the "Serial Port Monitor" is on and set for Infrared Sync. There is confirmation of this on MacFixIt's most recent page. I've reported it to 3Com.

Then another wrote:

A couple of days ago I sent some feedback regarding HotSyncing the Palm III with my Powerbook G3/300. I have since found a major problem with the Palm HotSync software...it causes my machine to either lockup when waking from sleep and sometimes it crashes when I put it to sleep...meaning the screen doesn't dim when you close the powerbook...I came back to notice my machine had got very hot since I had closed the lid and it wasnt sleeping (and since all the heat dissipates through the keyboard this can cause severe damage)...after a few tests I have definitely confirmed the culprit is the Serial Port Monitor that the HotSync software runs at startup.

I had to set the HotSync to Disabled and uncheck the "Enable hotsync software at system startup" checkbox to prevent the Serial Port Monitor from starting up (just disabling it from the Extensions Manager won't work, the Hotsync software will put it back in and run it).

Seems the only way to fix this is to completely remove the Serial Port Monitor, which isn't allowing the PowerBook to sleep when closing the lid, which is a VERY bad thing, as the G3 Series vents through the keyboard. Got more on this issue? Send it on in!

More Fun College Mac Feedback

If you don't want to read this, you don't have to. It's another feedback on college Mac choices.

Well, I would definitely choose a PowerBook (or any laptop) over a desktop. I have had my 7300 for about a year and a half, and though it's nice, it's a total pain in the ass. I got a 17" monitor, which renders most of my desk useless. Plus, I have to put the computer on the floor, and where on the floor is severely limited by the length of the computer-to-monitor cable.

Another problem is moving in and out of the dorm. My computer now occupies three boxes when I move -- monitor, computer, speakers. The monitor box weighs about fifty pounds and the computer weighs around 20 lbs. Living on the third floor makes this no fun.

The powerbook has its own problems, of course, such as the increased risk of wrecking the computer by spilling something on the keyboard, and if you drop the computer... well... that's bad.

These points aside, I'll be first in line when the Lombards are released. My 32 MB, 2 GB, 180 MHz just doesn't seem to cut it anymore. P>And regarding the reader on the front page who used his at his girlfriends', the only problem is that if she only has one Ethernet port, you're screwed!

Big Announcement Today?

Sometime today in Apple's headquarters of Cupertino, CA, Steve Jobs is supposed to circle the wagons for an "Apple Event," where the world stands still as the RDF (Reality Distortion Field) takes over. Point your browser over to News.com as they seem to have some substantial news on what may be the subject of this "Event." While early speculation put it as only a Mac OS Ten Server information rally, there may be a larger announcements of some OS strategy. Hopefully since Apple's OS guru Avie Tevanian is there, we'll hear about the progress of Mac OS 8.6, which is highly important to the introduction of both P1 and Lombard.

Calling All Repair Techs, Calling All Repair Techs!

We have two things we're looking for here. First, I have a Apple Design keyboard that decided to start not functioning. I had a mouse plugged into it and it was working through the keyboard, then I restarted the Mac to try to get the keyboard to work again. Now the Mac won't start up because it requires that key on the kb to start it up. For reference, this is a Performa 6320 system.

Then I'm asking everyone to think real hard about this one. Do you have a LCD panel from a PowerBook 5300cs or 190cs? (They're the same). I have a reader who would desperately love to have one and is willing to pay a bit.

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Written/Edited/Published by Doug B. Landry
Logo by Jon Iverson
Apple, Mac, Macintosh, Mac OS,The Apple Store, and Powerbook are trademarks of Apple Computer, Inc.
©1998 Doug B. Landry. All rights reserved. All or part may not be reproduced or distributed without written permission.

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