Pismo firmware version after a processor module replacement
Regarding the recent discussion about the latest Pismo firmware, I just noticed from the System Profile on my Powerbook Firewire/400 (Pismo) that I have Boot ROM Version 3.2.7f2. Machine Model:PowerBook CPU Type: PowerPC 750 (83.2) Number Of CPUs: 1 CPU Speed:400 MHz L2 Cache (per CPU): 1 MB Memory: 512 MB Bus Speed:100 MHz Boot ROM Version: 3.2.7f2 Serial Number: Sales Order Number: I remember (I think) updating to Boot ROM Version 4.1.8f5 ages ago but the processor module (661-2386, P3589) was replaced under AppleCare a few months back after I had frequent problems booting up (bad processor I think). I assume the Apple tech must have replaced the whole processor board and I guess it includes the processor board ROM. So perhaps the new board only has a processor board ROM with an older version of the firmware (3.2.7f2). I seem to recall there was a reason for the 4.1.8f5 update but I forgot that reason (accessing Firewire drives?). Should I update the firmware to the latest version for the Pismo (4.1.8f5 I think or later?)? (I'm thinking I should). Other related trivia: 1. The new board no longer has my Serial Number or Sales Order Number reporting via System Profiler. 2. The temperature sensor (using the TAU on the PowerPC 750) seemed to be more inaccurate (unusually high) until OS X 10.3.5 disabled that functionality entirely. Thanks for suggestions, Harry. -- G-Books is sponsored by http://lowendmac.com/ and... Small Dog Electronicshttp://www.smalldog.com | Refurbished Drives | -- Check our web site for refurbished PowerBooks | CDRWs on Sale! | Support Low End Mac http://lowendmac.com/lists/support.html G-Books list info: http://lowendmac.com/lists/g-books.html -- AOL users, remove mailto:; Send list messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe, email: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] For digest mode, email: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscription questions: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Archive: http://www.mail-archive.com/g-books%40mail.maclaunch.com/ --- The Think Different Store http://www.ThinkDifferentStore.com ---
Re: Internet Connect (OS X 10.3.5)
Hi Emery I have a PowerBook G3/400 Firewire with 10.3.5 and I have the same problem occasionally: I lose the dial-in connection to my ISP, then the scrolling disconnecting doesn't stop and I find I have to reboot ... I've wondered if the inbuilt modem in the PowerBook sometimes gets hung (or stuck in a loop). In the old days, I'd be using some of the AT type commands to reset the modem but I guess rebooting works. I guess the whole dial in process is using a connect script so perhaps there is some way of using a better disconnect script ... I'd like a solution too! Adios Harry, Canberra, ACT, Oz. Message-Id: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Date: Wed, 8 Sep 2004 13:39:36 -0600 From: Emery Stora [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Internet Connect (OS X 10.3.5) snip At times, when my isp drops the connection the Disconnect scrolling message is seen to the right of the symbol and the phone line is actually disconnected but the scrolling disconnecting doesn't stop and it is impossible for me to reconnect unless I reboot the computer. snip -- G-Books is sponsored by http://lowendmac.com/ and... Small Dog Electronicshttp://www.smalldog.com | Refurbished Drives | -- Check our web site for refurbished PowerBooks | CDRWs on Sale! | Support Low End Mac http://lowendmac.com/lists/support.html G-Books list info: http://lowendmac.com/lists/g-books.html -- AOL users, remove mailto:; Send list messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe, email: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] For digest mode, email: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscription questions: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Archive: http://www.mail-archive.com/g-books%40mail.maclaunch.com/ --- The Think Different Store http://www.ThinkDifferentStore.com ---
Re: Pismo booted by external Firewire drive (Dreams of a Carbonated Pismo)
Hi Brian Yes, a Pismo will indeed (happily) boot 10.3 from an external Firewire drive. My 400 Mhz/512MB/40GB Pismo (with multiple partitions on the internal drive) will quite happily boot from the external (USB and Firewire) drive (actually the original 10GB Pismo drive in a case) with OS X (I am currently up to 10.3.4 but it also worked with 10.2.6 etc). Good Luck Harry. P.S. I wish Apple would bring out an updated (hot G4/G5 ...) version of the Pismo ... it is such a nice laptop to work on ... the more rounded (and warmer) plastic shape is a delight (sounds dubious huh?) to work on ... maybe a carbon fibre version? Carbonated Pismo! 8-) On 02/08/2004, at 5:07 AM, G-Books wrote: Message-Id: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Date: Sun, 1 Aug 2004 13:19:27 -0400 From: Brian Braunschweiger [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Pismo booted by external Firewire drive Will a Pismo boot OS X 10.3 from an external Firewire drive? If so, until I can get a bigger internal drive I need to move Panther from my iMac to this external drive. I'm getting ready to sell the iMac. -- G-Books is sponsored by http://lowendmac.com/ and... Small Dog Electronicshttp://www.smalldog.com | Refurbished Drives | -- Check our web site for refurbished PowerBooks | CDRWs on Sale! | Support Low End Mac http://lowendmac.com/lists/support.html G-Books list info: http://lowendmac.com/lists/g-books.html -- AOL users, remove mailto:; Send list messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe, email: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] For digest mode, email: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscription questions: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Archive: http://www.mail-archive.com/g-books%40mail.maclaunch.com/ --- The Think Different Store http://www.ThinkDifferentStore.com ---
Pismo Sleeping/Booting Saga
Hi Folks As I mentioned previously, my Pismo (Powerbook G3 (Firewire), 400Mhz/512MB/40GB) is suffering from a sleeping (i.e. not waking up) and booting (i.e. not booting up) malady though to be precise the hard disk seems to turn on fine (as I hear it hum) but nothing pops up on the screen and no chime occurs. I have no real clue but suspects include the main battery, PRAM battery, PMU and any other parts involved in booting and sleeping ... 1. One previous suggestion was to reseat the memory and daughtercard but the fact that the Pismo eventually boots from AC (after overnight, some 8 hours without power attached ) makes me wonder about other suspects ... 2. I thought if I replaced the worn out main battery (LiIon) it might help but it didn't ... in any case it runs well on AC power (once booted up ...). 3. I then thought it might be the PRAM battery is worn out ... maybe it is though I removed it and tested it with a voltmeter and it read 6.4 Volts but of course I didn't wait any time to see how long it held that charge ... could it be worn out too? But in any case even when it was charged up it didn't boot the machine up ... but perhaps it loses charge after being left overnight and then the PRAM is in some default state allowing reboot ??? I also borrowed a working Pismo 500Mhz (damaged screen, poor thing!) and swapped PRAM batteries and mine still didn't boot whereas the Pismo 500Mhz did on my PRAM battery ... 4. Once booted up ... putting it to sleep is usually permanent (no screen waking up though the keyboard lights are live, and hard disk hums) ... and reboots do not usually bring the screen up either ... I generally have to do some magic (not sure what works) ... reset the Pismo using the rear button, remove battery, and try to reboot from AC ... sometimes it works after some hours left alone. I'm lucky (?) I extended my AppleCare ... so I will put it in for service soon but I hate to be without it and I need to backup regularly (in case the service folk kill the drive ... hmmm ... could it be a drive problem ... I installed a 40GB Travelstar in late 2002 ... but it seems to run fine ...) Sorry about the length, it is still a mystery to me (I hoped it was just a PRAM battery problem since I occasionally lose dates) Thanks for any help and suggestions, Regards Harry. (DownUnder in Canberra which is getting chilly! Snow in the Mountains!) -- G-Books is sponsored by http://lowendmac.com/ and... Small Dog Electronicshttp://www.smalldog.com | Refurbished Drives | -- Check our web site for refurbished PowerBooks | CDRWs on Sale! | Support Low End Mac http://lowendmac.com/lists/support.html G-Books list info: http://lowendmac.com/lists/g-books.html -- AOL users, remove mailto:; Send list messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe, email: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] For digest mode, email: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscription questions: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Archive: http://www.mail-archive.com/g-books%40mail.maclaunch.com/ --- The Think Different Store http://www.ThinkDifferentStore.com ---
Re: next generation of laptop construction and design
Hi I agree the White iBook was nice ... but not for the PowerBooks; I reckon a return to black would be nice ... maybe with some chrome highlights ... but it could be my motorbike days are messing with Pismo on my brain ... I'm unsure whether a glossy black or a matt black would be the go ... maybe some sort of fluorescent black ... but perhaps some sort of black that means business ... Harry. P.S. Any (preferably Oz-based) subscribers know if the Pismo backup battery is easy to obtain from a non-Apple source. I guess it is easy enough to install. My local AppleCentre (http://www.mac1.com.au/index.shtml) rang me today to say that the exchange Pismo main battery has arrived (A$230 with return of original battery). They quoted A$50-70 for the backup battery ... I wonder if it is cheaper elsewhere. (I'm having intermittent booting problems of my Pismo and I want to see if fresh batteries will remove that factor from the possible causes. Otherwise it'll be time to use my AppleCare and pray ...) On 07/06/2004, at 1:46 PM, Dana Sibera wrote: On 07/06/2004, at 8:42 AM, Donald Keenan wrote: I've got a very genereal question and I'd be very interested if anyone has any thoughts about it. Looking at my Pismo, I now find the Titanium PowerBook vintage appeal starting to call me. These were troublesome in that they were easily banged up, scratched, etc. Is the aluminum as vulnerable. While I have no experience of machines I've owned, the problems with TiBooks seemed related to the titanium showing through paint chips, and the plastic (carbon fibre?) around the edge of the inside also showing through damaged paint. No matter how badly scratched an AlBook gets, at least the scratches are relatively the same colour :). Does anyone suspect that Apple will settle with light metal, specifically aluminum, from now on? Is there likely to be a new industrial plastic or composite of some sort that will be more durable and damage resistant? With apple being as image oriented as they are I think the metallic look will persist for a while yet. One more thing to differentiate them from 'plain' old iBooks for most people (although for me, the pure white glossy G3 iBooks were about the loveliest looking laptops I've ever seen) -- G-Books is sponsored by http://lowendmac.com/ and... Small Dog Electronicshttp://www.smalldog.com | Refurbished Drives | -- Check our web site for refurbished PowerBooks | CDRWs on Sale! | Support Low End Mac http://lowendmac.com/lists/support.html G-Books list info: http://lowendmac.com/lists/g-books.html -- AOL users, remove mailto:; Send list messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe, email: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] For digest mode, email: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscription questions: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Archive: http://www.mail-archive.com/g-books%40mail.maclaunch.com/ --- The Think Different Store http://www.ThinkDifferentStore.com ---
Re: Pismo Sleep/Booting Problems
Thanks Jim, I was wondering if the Pismo was trying to tell me something ... I actually thought of reseating the cards (Ram and processor daughtercard) but I got stalled at removing the heatsink ... seems my electronics workshop friends (since moved on) used brute force to tighten one of the screws so that I have to find a decent screwdriver (and luck) to untighten it without doing damage to the Pismo ... sigh! 8-( For now, it seems that if I power down (rather than put to sleep) the Pismo it takes only a few ctrl-command-power attempts to boot up (though this morning it was sufficient to hit the power on button once and it started up nicely!). I wonder if the fact that all the batteries are (near) dead (main PRAM) cause some corruption of the memory (?) and may have something to do with the (rare) flashing symptons too ... or is just an intermittent fault. Well I've ordered an exchange main battery from Apple for A$230 ($US160) (which is presumably a repackaged fresh one) though I also have some thoughts of ordering a longer life one from a suitable distributor in the USA ... I suppose I should also replace the PRAM battery ... Thanks to all, 8-) Harry. On 03/06/2004, at 1:55 AM, Jim Eddy wrote: On Jun 1, 2004, at 12:56 AM, Hoju Dingo wrote: A further quick(er) follow up on symptons: I just had to reboot since my modem wasn't disconnecting properly (dialin from home is patience forming inducing compared to Ethernet at work) so: 1. selected restart from drop-down Menu 2. watched the cycling animation before power down occured 3. screen blanks off 4. No chime sound or screen blanking on; but hard drive sounds indicates life. Keyboard has power ... caps/num lock lights work. 5. After waiting some time ... few minutes ... in case the Pismo might be rebooting (with screen dark) ... only hard drive sounds emanated ... no screen/or sound from volume controls ... 6. pressed ctrl-command-power with no discernable result 7. pressed ctrl-command-power and got a beep-beep-beep sound and flashing sleep light: one long flash, 3 short flashes and then a delay and then over again ... weird! (Morse code?) That IS a code indicating a hardware problem. I had a similar response from an iMac. I recall that the 3 flashes signify a problem with memory or related hardware. So it could be that one of the RAM cards is faulty, if you are lucky. Try removing one, then the other (if you have two) and see if the problem continues. Try reseating the RAM chips. Also reseating the processor daughtercard that can come loose (though that hasn't happened on MY pismo). If none of these things have an effect, then it may be more serious problems with the logic board or other hardware. You are fortunate to still have Applecare in effect. The Pismo is able to run with the lid closed--the screen is off when that happens. An external mouse or keyboard will wake the Pismo up while the screen is closed. When you open it up, it will be running, but with no screen. It appears for all purposes like the machine is locked up and not running. This had me confused when I would plug the USB hub with a printer and a mouse into my Pismo and not get the screen on when opening. Closing the lid again will put the machine to sleep. Open it again to wake it up and the screen will come on too. This may be one of the problems you are having, though not what is causing the 3 beeps and flashes. -- G-Books is sponsored by http://lowendmac.com/ and... Small Dog Electronicshttp://www.smalldog.com | Refurbished Drives | -- Check our web site for refurbished PowerBooks | CDRWs on Sale! | Support Low End Mac http://lowendmac.com/lists/support.html G-Books list info: http://lowendmac.com/lists/g-books.html -- AOL users, remove mailto:; Send list messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe, email: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] For digest mode, email: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscription questions: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Archive: http://www.mail-archive.com/g-books%40mail.maclaunch.com/ --- The Think Different Store http://www.ThinkDifferentStore.com ---
Pismo Sleep/Booting Problems
Hi Folks Sorry for the length of this Email but I am trying to give some background ... BACKGROUND: My Pismo has been giving relatively troublefree service for about 3.5 years: * Battery is probably near dead with only 15 minutes of life and the onboard backup battery (?) possibly is (near) dead too as I often lose time/date settings if the main battery is discharged (presumably). * The LG DVD player had to be serviced/replaced twice recently as disks no longer mounted. It has had a memory and disk upgrade almost a couple of years ago (to run OS X) so it is now a Powerbook G3/400Mhz 512MB/40GB. * It has had OS X systems running on it since OS 10.1.5 through to 10.2.8 and now it is running 10.3.4. I upgraded from 10.2.8 to 10.3.4 in the last few weeks. PROBLEMS (In the last four days): The Pismo refuses to wake up properly after sleep. It possibly may also fail to reboot sometimes (but I dare not check this right now as I need to complete some projects on it). If I close the lid, it usually goes to sleep but does not awake on reopening. Or possibly it only partly awakes as I think I can hear the drive start up but the screen doesn't wake. In this latter case power is making it to the keyboard as the caps lock/num lock light up. On attempted reboot (via ctrl-cmd-power), on several attempts, I get a chime and then nothing on the screen (and sometimes a distorted noise just after the chime). Often, I get no chime but the drive appears to start up (not sure if this means the Pismo was still on or not and it is failing to wake the screen. Rebooting with a software restore disk (OS 9) the DVD player fails to start up ... and I have to manually eject it ... Reattempting reboot, I sometimes get a chime and then the screen comes up. Usually this success only occurs after leaving the Powerbook alone and unplugged for about 10 hours. (Maybe it is trying to tell me to give the poor thing a rest! 8-) ) I'm wishing for a backup Powerbook (or even iMac) since I am backing up on an external firewire drive religiously but depleted finances (in between paying contracts) prevent me from pursuing a purchase; hopefully I can borrow something if need be to access my project files, as my other Macs (classic II, Peforma 520 do not support USB or firewire). Luckily I am putting some stuff onto 100MB ZIPs (but it is really cramped and slow). Anyways, I feel this sort of behaviour may have been discussed before and I am wondering if there are some reasonable solutions. Luckily I had purchased an extension to my AppleCare so I can send it in for service (but I can't do without it right now!) and see if the Apple Techs can both find and solve the problem. Is the age of the main/backup batteries an issue? Or is it likely to be some power board issue? Or a loose RAM board? ... though the fact that it reboots and runs OK after 10 hours means the latter is unlikely. Does 10.3.x have any sleep/boot issues? Thanks for any ideas, Harry. (DownUnder in Canberra, 1st day of winter and snowfields getting some powder!) -- G-Books is sponsored by http://lowendmac.com/ and... Small Dog Electronicshttp://www.smalldog.com | Refurbished Drives | -- Check our web site for refurbished PowerBooks | CDRWs on Sale! | Support Low End Mac http://lowendmac.com/lists/support.html G-Books list info: http://lowendmac.com/lists/g-books.html -- AOL users, remove mailto:; Send list messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe, email: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] For digest mode, email: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscription questions: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Archive: http://www.mail-archive.com/g-books%40mail.maclaunch.com/ --- The Think Different Store http://www.ThinkDifferentStore.com ---
Re: Pismo Sleep/Booting Problems
Hi Folks Thanks for the suggestions Laurent. I agree that if there were loose connections, symptons would be likely to be more random. No (related?) problems seem to occur while working over a four hour period (dialin time limit) only on restart or waking from sleep. My next test (later tonight after work is done) will be powering the Pismo down and then starting it up (via the Power button). A further quick(er) follow up on symptons: I just had to reboot since my modem wasn't disconnecting properly (dialin from home is patience forming inducing compared to Ethernet at work) so: 1. selected restart from drop-down Menu 2. watched the cycling animation before power down occured 3. screen blanks off 4. No chime sound or screen blanking on; but hard drive sounds indicates life. Keyboard has power ... caps/num lock lights work. 5. After waiting some time ... few minutes ... in case the Pismo might be rebooting (with screen dark) ... only hard drive sounds emanated ... no screen/or sound from volume controls ... 6. pressed ctrl-command-power with no discernable result 7. pressed ctrl-command-power and got a beep-beep-beep sound and flashing sleep light: one long flash, 3 short flashes and then a delay and then over again ... weird! (Morse code?) 8. pressed ctrl-command-power again, and (finally) get a startup chime and even a powering up screen (Yay!). Are these (weird) symptons still related to a power issue? Main battery? PRAM battery? PMU? Or? When I do send my machine in for service (sob) I hope to have some decent symptons to guide them ... so I can get it back quickly ... (hopefully I can get a loan machine from somewhere!) ... my Performa 5200 is so slow ... Thanks for any further suggestions, Regards Harry. On 01/06/2004, at 2:21 PM, Laurent Daudelin wrote: on 31/05/04 23:12, Hoju Dingo at [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: [snip!] Anyways, I feel this sort of behaviour may have been discussed before and I am wondering if there are some reasonable solutions. Luckily I had purchased an extension to my AppleCare so I can send it in for service (but I can't do without it right now!) and see if the Apple Techs can both find and solve the problem. Is the age of the main/backup batteries an issue? Or is it likely to be some power board issue? Or a loose RAM board? ... though the fact that it reboots and runs OK after 10 hours means the latter is unlikely. Does 10.3.x have any sleep/boot issues? Could be the PRAM battery getting dead because the main battery is almost dead. Could also be the PMU (power board). Maybe a loose connection with a RAM chip or the processor daughterboard. Although, in the last 2 possible causes, this would be more random than what you describe. -Laurent. -- G-Books is sponsored by http://lowendmac.com/ and... Small Dog Electronicshttp://www.smalldog.com | Refurbished Drives | -- Check our web site for refurbished PowerBooks | CDRWs on Sale! | Support Low End Mac http://lowendmac.com/lists/support.html G-Books list info: http://lowendmac.com/lists/g-books.html -- AOL users, remove mailto:; Send list messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe, email: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] For digest mode, email: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscription questions: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Archive: http://www.mail-archive.com/g-books%40mail.maclaunch.com/ --- The Think Different Store http://www.ThinkDifferentStore.com ---
Re: Pismo Battery
Hi Folks On 18/05/2004, at 10:41 PM, malcolm cornelius wrote: The original PowerBook G3 Series has the ability to use two expansion bay devices and run from the AC adapter with no main battery installed. Note: The PowerBook G3 (Bronze keyboard)and PowerBook (FireWire) do not have this capability. I have been using my Pismo (Firewire 2000) directly from the AC with the battery removed for about 6 weks now...No problems at all... Mike K I think we've done this one now - I still say that Apple were stating that the capability missing from the bronzes is the ability to use two expansion bay devices. Malcolm Exactly correct as mentioned by others already. I tend to run with the battery installed, in case of a power outage (the bane of desktops). I need a new battery (expensive in Oz) but the old one has about 15-20 minutes of life, which I suppose is enough for it to act as a UPS in case the power goes off ... a graceful shutdown/sleep is better in the long run. (Of course I should have a real UPS and a new battery but I move around a lot and have enough stuff to lug already!). Thinking about going wireless (Airport or a PC card?) but no real point until I source a cheaper (new/newish) battery. Adios Harry. Powerbook Firewire (Pismo), 400Mhz, 512MB, 40GB, OS X 10.3.3 and OSX 10.2.8 (and MacOS 9.2.2). -- G-Books is sponsored by http://lowendmac.com/ and... Small Dog Electronicshttp://www.smalldog.com | Refurbished Drives | -- Check our web site for refurbished PowerBooks | CDRWs on Sale! | Support Low End Mac http://lowendmac.com/lists/support.html G-Books list info: http://lowendmac.com/lists/g-books.html -- AOL users, remove mailto:; Send list messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe, email: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] For digest mode, email: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscription questions: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Archive: http://www.mail-archive.com/g-books%40mail.maclaunch.com/ --- The Think Different Store http://www.ThinkDifferentStore.com ---
Re: Problem with sleep switch on Pismo
Hi Folks I have a Pismo ... and I can confirm that even a large paper clip sticks very well ... it is quite a decent magnet .. about 3.5cm from the left edge of the laptop and 0.5cm in from the front edge ... at least on mine. Hmmm ... I wonder if this is a form of magnet therapy (RSI?) for left-hand wrists? Being a southpaw I tend to wear watches on my right hand so no worries about my watch being stuck to the laptop. 8-) Harry. Pismo 400Mhz/512MB/40GB, OS X 10.2.8 On Thursday, April 29, 2004, at 03:15 AM, Laurent Daudelin wrote: On 28/04/04 13:08, Jim [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Laurent, As you face your Pismo, with your hands on the keyboard, the magnet is under your left wrist. Probably where your wristwatch is touching the case. It's fairly strong magnet, and you can easily detect its exact location just by waving a paperclip over that area of your case. What kind of detector is present in the upper left corner of the Pismo screen that detects the magnet, however, is a mystery to me, since I've never had my lid disassembled. But that's the place to be looking. Maybe something is unplugged or missing? Hmm, maybe the magnet is missing? I've ran a small paper clip on the palm rest, around the area you're suggesting and it never got stuck, so if the magnet should be there, then I would imagine that the small paper clip would stick, but it doesn't. I'll have to have a look later this evening, checking the older top case and the new one. --- The Think Different Store http://www.ThinkDifferentStore.com --- -- G-Books is sponsored by http://lowendmac.com/ and... Small Dog Electronicshttp://www.smalldog.com | Refurbished Drives | -- Check our web site for refurbished PowerBooks | CDRWs on Sale! | Support Low End Mac http://lowendmac.com/lists/support.html G-Books list info: http://lowendmac.com/lists/g-books.html -- AOL users, remove mailto:; Send list messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe, email: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] For digest mode, email: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscription questions: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Archive: http://www.mail-archive.com/g-books%40mail.maclaunch.com/ --- The Think Different Store http://www.ThinkDifferentStore.com ---
Re: OS X tossing prefs ?
Hi Folks, I don't know if it is relevant but I've experienced loss of OS X preferences for Mail periodically. It occurs mainly when I'm using a number of applications but particularly Safari and Mail which seem to be memory hungry and when I've only (!!) had around 500MB free disk space on the system partition. Presumably the number of swap files (each is about 76MB) in /var/vm keeps increasing to use up all disk space on the system partition and then Mail cannot save back preferences properly. Perhaps this happens also for other application preferences. I'm currently running OS X 10.2.6 on a Pismo/400Mhz/512MB/40GB with 5 partitions: 12GB main partition with OSX/OS9; 6GB partition with previous OSX version; 2 8GB partitions for data and a 3GB partition for temporary stuff (now stuffed with music files!). It would be nice if (like real Unix systems 8-) ) that the virtual memory swap files could be put in a separate partition (at least from the system files) which would then not cause this problem. Of course one is RAM limited by the disk space on the swap partition but that is how it should be. I wonder if anybody has tried this. Adios Harry. PS. Digression ... I used to run a fleet of IBM RT PC's while postdocing in Sweden in the late 80's and most of them only had a 75MB hard disk in addition to having only a 5 1/4 disk drive for installing system files etc. I was kind of proud to be able to pare back the system (e.g. AIX 1.x, AIX 2.x, AIX 3.1) enough that of 75MB there was 25-30MB for user files and one still had two different Fortran compilers, two editors (emacs, vi), a TeX system, a graphics package, and the base Unix system (with c compiler). However, the step up to X-windows was the big one, and though could be squeezed into 75MB, the advent of a 315MB disk made things much more comfortable ... and to think I now have 2x256MB=512MB RAM (a pity the 512MB modules were a bit pricey two years ago ... Oz aint as cheap as the USA for many computer things!). On Tuesday, March 30, 2004, at 05:05 AM, Bruce Johnson wrote: On Mar 29, 2004, at 10:38 AM, Laurent Daudelin wrote: On 29/03/04 12:32, [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Our sole gripe with OS X is the way it dumps the prefs without warning now and then, and loses data. I'm curious. I've been running OS X since it came out (starting with the public beta back in 2001) and I've never experienced loss of data of any kind on 3 different Macintosh. Me either, and this is not an issue that has affected the some 30-odd Macs running OSX here... Something's odd with that system. -- G-Books is sponsored by http://lowendmac.com/ and... Small Dog Electronicshttp://www.smalldog.com | Refurbished Drives | -- Check our web site for refurbished PowerBooks | CDRWs on Sale! | Support Low End Mac http://lowendmac.com/lists/support.html G-Books list info: http://lowendmac.com/lists/g-books.html -- AOL users, remove mailto:; Send list messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe, email: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] For digest mode, email: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscription questions: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Archive: http://www.mail-archive.com/g-books%40mail.maclaunch.com/ --- The Think Different Store http://www.ThinkDifferentStore.com ---
Re: OS X tossing prefs ? To Partition or not to partition ...
On Wednesday, March 31, 2004, at 11:06 AM, Harry D. Corsover wrote: On Mar 30, 2004, at 5:53 PM, Hoju Dingo wrote: I'm currently running OS X 10.2.6 on a Pismo/400Mhz/512MB/40GB with 5 partitions: 12GB main partition with OSX/OS9; 6GB partition with previous OSX version; 2 8GB partitions for data and a 3GB partition for temporary stuff (now stuffed with music files!). This situation seems to me to be a good argument for not using partitions. In my experience, I can never accurately anticipate the future need for space on a partition. I stopped using them a few years ago. I'm using an Aluminum 15 PowerBook G4 with an 80GB hard drive, with 768 MB RAM. So far, I've put about 20 GB on it Actually not a good argument for not using them, just one for good planning. Some of the benefits of using partitions are to keep similar files on the same partition (e.g. user versus system files) and (if properly implemented) to reduce the chances of overflowing the system disk (e.g. with large user video files). It doesn't stop the problem of filling up the disk with swap files under OS X because /var/vm is presumably expected to be on the system disk (which is pretty silly!). Backup/maitenance of the user/system area is much simpler and one can even have separate partitions for separate systems. I keep two versions of the OS X system around (25 years of computer programming have made me just a little cautious!). There are many e-tomes around that debate the pros/cons of partitioning ... in my case it is partly a filing/maintenance function (seems neater!). If I had multiple disks (less likely on a Pismo but possible in principle) one could delegate swap space to the other disk (if OS X would allow it) and perhaps gain speed (but debatable since RAID might be a better option). In my case 5 partitions is just enough for my use (it also makes take stock of disk usage before I really fill things up! I feel while one can get by unpartitioned (1 partition) that at the very least 2 partitions are much better (system+user space) and 3 partitions even better ( system+user+swap space). My paranoid behaviour accounts for an extra partition for having a previous system around (in case current OS X is trashed or for comparison purposes) and I also have an extra user space for (Unix type) programming oriented files versus the user space for (Mac type) data files. I do know that if I used just one partition I would be less careful with space and in backing up ... I can use all space, time that is allocated to me ... hence one of my stints as a supercomputer jock. I'm very happy to have my own UNIX system with complete control over it! Of course as per usual ... your mileage may vary! Adios Harry. -- G-Books is sponsored by http://lowendmac.com/ and... Small Dog Electronicshttp://www.smalldog.com | Refurbished Drives | -- Check our web site for refurbished PowerBooks | CDRWs on Sale! | Support Low End Mac http://lowendmac.com/lists/support.html G-Books list info: http://lowendmac.com/lists/g-books.html -- AOL users, remove mailto:; Send list messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe, email: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] For digest mode, email: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscription questions: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Archive: http://www.mail-archive.com/g-books%40mail.maclaunch.com/ --- The Think Different Store http://www.ThinkDifferentStore.com ---
Buying Replacement Pismo Batteries: Experiences?
Hi Folks I'm considering a new Pismo Battery (maybe I may also get the existing one exchanged, but later). I was wondering about the availability and compatibilty of Lithium Ion Extended Life Batteries for my Pismo: http://www.truedataonline.com/xq/asp/file.item/itemID.APB-M7318/qx/ 11.1V 5400mAh 12.5% Higher Capacity than the original Apple battery! Anybody got any experience with these? Probably it wouldn't make sense for me to try to ship a couple of these over here to Ozstrayla but maybe similar ones are available here? Maybe I might get lucky (?) in the coming weeks while I am visiting South Korea; despite all the PC's there are actually Apple store there too and prices may be more reasonable ... pricing here is near A$280 (or $360 from Apple). Thanks Dingo. -- G-Books is sponsored by http://lowendmac.com/ and... Small Dog Electronicshttp://www.smalldog.com | Refurbished Drives | -- Check our web site for refurbished PowerBooks | CDRWs on Sale! | Support Low End Mac http://lowendmac.com/lists/support.html G-Books list info: http://lowendmac.com/lists/g-books.html -- AOL users, remove mailto:; Send list messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe, email: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] For digest mode, email: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscription questions: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Archive: http://www.mail-archive.com/g-books%40mail.maclaunch.com/ --- The Think Different Store http://www.ThinkDifferentStore.com ---
Re: PRAM Battery
On Wednesday, February 4, 2004, at 01:47 PM, Ely Zimmerman wrote: Re: PRAM Battery. I had the same problems on my Lombard and was advised to download the free battery reset program from apple. It worked. The formerly dead battery now hold 2.5 hours of charge and the pram is fine. I don't recall the exact apple page but the advice came from this list, from Laurence, I believe. Ely Does it work on a Pismo? Though I think my battery may be beyond redemption! -- G-Books is sponsored by http://lowendmac.com/ and... Small Dog Electronicshttp://www.smalldog.com | Refurbished Drives | -- Check our web site for refurbished PowerBooks | CDRWs on Sale! | Support Low End Mac http://lowendmac.com/lists/support.html G-Books list info: http://lowendmac.com/lists/g-books.html -- AOL users, remove mailto:; Send list messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe, email: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] For digest mode, email: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscription questions: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Archive: http://www.mail-archive.com/g-books%40mail.maclaunch.com/ --- The Think Different Store http://www.ThinkDifferentStore.com ---
Re: Keep my pismo or ??
On Tuesday, February 3, 2004, at 02:29 PM, Geoffrey Loeffler wrote: I think the Pismo is the best power book that Apple has built IMHO It still keeps up with the OS Panther runs OK. OS 9 is faster-please lets not debate that I look at what Apple has come out with and so far I just don't see what I feel is worth the price. Keep it a while longer. I would tend to agree that the Pismo is a great machine. My experience however covers mainly the older machines (Mac 512K, Mac Plus, Mac II, Mac Quadra 700, Mac Classic II, PowerMac 6100/560, Peforma 5200, PowerBook 520, PowerMac G3/266, Graphite iMac SE) so maybe I am biased (partially); but based on other reports and specifications I feel it is to soon to bu a replacement (though if I could get a cheap backup machine I will!). I'm hoping mine will last till a decent and affordable G5 laptop (or something similar) appears. The Pismo was definitely ahead of the Titanium models in features (except for the G4 chip) and none of the iBooks really matched it either. It is amazing what a used Pismo will go for over here (Oz, Down Under) as one on eBay went for over A$2000 (crazy to some extent). Wish I could get even used ones as cheap as in the USA! Luckily, (though A$384 is somewhat pricey but OK) I could get Apple Care renewed for another two years. I've had reasonable luck with the occasional repair through Apple Care. My DVD/CD drive refused to mount disks disks reliably and I think it might have been a bad contact since if I held the drive in, disks would mount. I had to send just the drive module into Apple and while it took a few weeks the first time, the second time (same problem I guess) it only took just less than a week to return. I've had far more problems replacing the defectively (designed) Yo-Yo adapters ... on my third one and I also killed one of the black brick ones two ... all due to inadequate design; My useage was very careful and wear and tear was minimal so this points to inadequate cabling and solder strength (a weak point in the connection from the centre of the yo-yo from the power-plug to the circuit board; makes for a spark show until it dies). Yeh, in the mean time just pick up another Pismo (or iBook) as a backup machine. It sucks to be without my Pismo ... 8-) Good Luck Dingo. -- G-Books is sponsored by http://lowendmac.com/ and... Small Dog Electronicshttp://www.smalldog.com | Refurbished Drives | -- Check our web site for refurbished PowerBooks | CDRWs on Sale! | Support Low End Mac http://lowendmac.com/lists/support.html G-Books list info: http://lowendmac.com/lists/g-books.html -- AOL users, remove mailto:; Send list messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe, email: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] For digest mode, email: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscription questions: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Archive: http://www.mail-archive.com/g-books%40mail.maclaunch.com/ --- The Think Different Store http://www.ThinkDifferentStore.com ---
Re: OT: please stop rehashing this old myth!!!
On Sunday, February 1, 2004, at 05:58 PM, Robin Ashe wrote: You're working under the false assumption that I was trying to back up my previous comment. This, however is: Regardless, I don't see how putting the blame on a 3rd party because apple didn't make it has any point. Apple is responsible for the business partners they chose. Same with blaming Motorola for not improving the G4 fast enough. Sure they were dragging their heels, but Apple entered into a business agreement with them, so they're responsible for the outcome. This sort of blanket statement flawed logic is really a waste of electrons. How is Apple responsible for what any 3rd party choses to do? Any rational response must depend on the timescale of course! Time for rational analysis as what to do next. Obviously Apple has finally decided to give up on Motorola and go with IBM. Should they have dropped Motorola earlier? Retrospective hindsight is easy, but one could argue decisions made in haste are usually not optimal. Of course PC makers such as Dell and Gateway always make optimal decisions! Think first before posting, Dingo. -- G-Books is sponsored by http://lowendmac.com/ and... Small Dog Electronicshttp://www.smalldog.com | Refurbished Drives | -- Check our web site for refurbished PowerBooks | CDRWs on Sale! | Support Low End Mac http://lowendmac.com/lists/support.html G-Books list info: http://lowendmac.com/lists/g-books.html -- AOL users, remove mailto:; Send list messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe, email: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] For digest mode, email: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscription questions: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Archive: http://www.mail-archive.com/g-books%40mail.maclaunch.com/ --- The Think Different Store http://www.ThinkDifferentStore.com ---
Re: OT: please stop rehashing this old myth!!!
Gee ... my Pismo has been very reliable since 2000, so maybe I just got lucky. H ... compared to comparable (or even more expensive) PC laptops, I'm singing and dancing and even am able to run the latest OSX operating system (not to mention OS9, Linux, BSD, Windows ... etc) which allows one to have a really nice GUI and Unix as well (rather than the usual Windows/Linux dual boot saga ... been there done that!) (See also http://www.kernelthread.com/mac/vpc/ for how many more operating systems one can run on a Powerbook. Rather harder on a PC laptop.) My opinion is based on being a programmer on multiple platforms since the late 70's and while sidetracked by the wonderful Amiga (where I predicted in 1986 that a consistent GUI on top of Unix would be the ultimate good thing (till the next good thing). Unfortunately, Commodore lost the plot and I had to wait some 15 years to get where I wanted to be! Sigh! (PC's for me were an intermittent passing phase since DOS in the early 80's, I would rather avoid them but have used W3.1, W95, W98, WNT, WXP in more ways than most PC-folks!) Enjoy, Dingo. P.S. Betting on ill-defined statements is rather pointless. On Sunday, February 1, 2004, at 06:00 PM, Robin Ashe wrote: Are you willing to bet money on that? Because I'm willing to bet money against it. Quality Macs have been disappearing since 2000. -- G-Books is sponsored by http://lowendmac.com/ and... Small Dog Electronicshttp://www.smalldog.com | Refurbished Drives | -- Check our web site for refurbished PowerBooks | CDRWs on Sale! | Support Low End Mac http://lowendmac.com/lists/support.html G-Books list info: http://lowendmac.com/lists/g-books.html -- AOL users, remove mailto:; Send list messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe, email: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] For digest mode, email: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscription questions: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Archive: http://www.mail-archive.com/g-books%40mail.maclaunch.com/ --- The Think Different Store http://www.ThinkDifferentStore.com ---
Linux on Mac hardware
Hi All, All hardware can have problems but I've experienced more problems with PC systems, particular PC laptops (e.g. a Gateway brick) and PC workstations (a highly configured Pentium research machine where my disk died/fried?). On Monday, February 2, 2004, at 04:20 AM, markemmanuel wrote: Isn't the main reason for new Apple hardware to run the latest BSD stuff (sans FreeBSD), Linux, Windows (via VirtualPC), and other stuff due to Apple's acceptance of Openfirmware while Windows based manufacturers still rely on BIOS? The advent of Open firmware may have made it easier but Linux (and BSD and possibly even Minix) have been available on the Mac platform many model aeons ago. see e.g. http://www.maconlinux.org/ http://www.mac.linux-m68k.org/ Now I've only played with YellowDog personally but spent much happy time with LinuxPPC as a dual boot on my Pismo with OS8/9 until a more mature OS X (10.1) came out. I'm happier not to have to dual boot and also not deal with the cross-partition format incompatibilies. Your link failed to include links to Debian, Mandrake, and Yellow dog. They all make Linux for Macs and work on in a very dilligently The link ( http://www.kernelthread.com/mac/vpc/) was just an (rather tongue in cheek) aside. 8-) A site I came across where some dude chose to stuff as many OSes as he could on his PowerBook (mostly using VPC) and it wasn't the main flow of my response to the erroneous assertion that Macs have been getting less reliable. Your sentence appears to fade off here hmmm ... I already referred to Linux in my original post. One flavour is much like another (all Linux is like icecream!) Actually there are (were) many more distributions e.g. LinuxPPC, Suse, MKLinux, HA Linux. See http://www.linux.org/dist/list.html or http://www.distrowatch.com/ for a current list. Regards, Dingo -- G-Books is sponsored by http://lowendmac.com/ and... Small Dog Electronicshttp://www.smalldog.com | Refurbished Drives | -- Check our web site for refurbished PowerBooks | CDRWs on Sale! | Support Low End Mac http://lowendmac.com/lists/support.html G-Books list info: http://lowendmac.com/lists/g-books.html -- AOL users, remove mailto:; Send list messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe, email: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] For digest mode, email: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscription questions: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Archive: http://www.mail-archive.com/g-books%40mail.maclaunch.com/ --- The Think Different Store http://www.ThinkDifferentStore.com ---
