Andy's Un-Official Unsolicited Mac Advice Thread

[DavidTO]

Update: Tiger is on the way - will be here monday

Awesome.

Before updating, you need to make sure that everything is pristine on your computer. It's a major update.

Do the following:

1) Open Disk Utility (it's in your utilities folder in your applications folder). Make sure your drive is selected. The click "Repair Permissions". When that's done, quite Disk Utility.

2) Then get your original Panther install disk ready. Put it in the slot, but don't push it in. Restart your computer and when you hear the chime push the disk in and hold down the "c" key. This will start your computer from the CD (or DVD). In that disk, and I forget exactly how you navigate there, but select Disk Utility from the menu bar. It should be: Select Installer > Disk Utility from the menu bar. Run "Repair Disk".

These two steps will ensure that your system is in perfect working order before you upgrade to Tiger.

Now you have a couple of options when you upgrade. You can select a simple upgrade, which will just upgrade your system, leaving everything where it was. This is the easiest way to upgrade.

If you don't yet have any important files on your Mac, then erase and install. This will reformat your drive and put a clean installation on your disk. Of course, if they send you upgrade disks instead of the full install disks, this will not be an option.

The other option is archive and install, which is a nice compromise between the first two. This will keep all your user files, but will rename your old system as "old", taking up extra space and possibly requiring that you reinstall 3rd party apps, and really should be dumped ASAP.

There's a good walk-through here. (http://www.peachpit.com/articles/article.asp?p=414286&seqNum=1) Don't let the upgrade process scare you off. Like I said, it's a major upgrade and the installer needs to do a lot of work. You need to make sure that you lay the groundwork as well as possible.

But really, if you just installed the upgrade without doing any of this, you'd probably be fine, too. Better safe than sorry, though, right?

[colourbox]

Good info, except for the "everyone needs to partition their drive" part. I'd have to disagree with that.
Spirited Away is new to me, gonna check that one out.

I would also disagree about partitioning. I am OK with it for desktop users with one or more ginormous >200GB hard drives. However, if your computer only has one hard drive and it's a space-constrained laptop or low-end desktop drive, I advise against partitioning due to the way it limits how much free space you can have on any volume. The partitions chop up your free space so each gets full faster, especially as unarchived RAW files pile up, OS X adds swap files, and apps like Photoshop and DVD authoring software create their GB+ temp files. If you make your system partition too small, your apps will start to die. And I've never been able to make a system partition that didn't get full a whole lot sooner than I thought it would, due to the growth in size of each new version of applications and the system, and the apps that want to put big temp files on the system volume. One partition maximizes your free space because it's all on one volume. Data security? That is now the job of my daily bootable whole-disk mirror backups.

Spirited Away is kinda neat. I dislike the menu icon, but if you do a Show Package Contents on the app you can edit the PNG to something more pleasing.

[jmathew]

If you don't yet have any important files on your Mac, then erase and install. This will reformat your drive and put a clean installation on your disk. Of course, if they send you upgrade disks instead of the full install disks, this will not be an option.


I dont have anything important on the computer yet - I have been holding off doing anything because I knew I'd be updating. The only apps I've installed are the canon utilities- given that- are the first 2 steps still necessary - or still recommended - its essentially a like new machine.

[DavidTO]

I dont have anything important on the computer yet - I have been holding off doing anything because I knew I'd be updating. The only apps I've installed are the canon utilities- given that- are the first 2 steps still necessary - or still recommended - its essentially a like new machine.


You can skip the first one, but I would still run the Disk Utility from the install disk. Make sure you do an erase and install. You will then have to reinstall the Canon stuff.

Of course, if they only provide you with an UPGRADE disk, you will have to do both.

[jmathew]

You guys are a great help - thanks again. Now, lets all meet here Monday night when I actually install it!


David - Im already looking forward to the widgets - please tell me there is something like a sticky appointments/to do list/daily calendar type thing - it'll be the first one I get!

[DavidTO]

You guys are a great help - thanks again. Now, lets all meet here Monday night when I actually install it!


David - Im already looking forward to the widgets - please tell me there is something like a sticky appointments/to do list/daily calendar type thing - it'll be the first one I get!


Actually, just use iCal. There are two widgets that work with it. iCal Events and iCal ToDo. They will display events and todos in your iCal calendars.

[DavidTO]

You can find most widgets here (http://www.apple.com/downloads/dashboard/) or here. (http://www.dashboardwidgets.com/showcase/)

[gus]

Phew,26 pages...:huh
david ..you & andy will be answerable to this one day.

[DavidTO]

26 pages...david ..you & andy will be answerable to this one day.


Did you actually read all 26? I could have saved you the trouble, mate. Just get the Mac and we'll set you up.

[vogel]

I would also disagree about partitioning. I am OK with it for desktop users with one or more ginormous >200GB hard drives.I can get with that for the most part. I like this option even though I'm working on a 80GB laptop HD because I'm one of those people who constantly has the latest greatest system update. But I like to do clean installs too, so the split solution works pretty well for me. I have a 200GB external that I do a full backup to and I archive anything more than 6 months old off the internal HD onto DVD's and keep them cataloged with Catolog. This is a new system for me so I'm still tweaking it, but so far it's worked quite well.

As a cautionary tale, I thought I had a full backup of all my images and documents the last time I did an erase and install for OSX 10.4. Instead I had a directory structure backup but no files! :uhoh I lost 3 months worth of photographs. That's when I went to the partitioned system. So, MAKE SURE A BACKUP WORKS BEFORE YOU GO AND ERASE STUFF!!

And I kind of like the little Pacman ghost guy for SpiritedAway...

[gus]

How cool is this ? (http://www.yanathin.com/ifizzle.html) someones blog.


b..b...bb...you mac guys already knew this about mac.. right ?

[Andy]

How cool is this ? (http://www.yanathin.com/ifizzle.html) someones blog.


b..b...bb...you mac guys already knew this about mac.. right ?

that's great, 'gus... hit this site a few times, and you'll already be used to how the mac works by the time you get it! :deal

[DavidTO]

I had the same thing happen when I was using Chronosync. I use SuperDuper now, and no problems. Take a look at that one. It has a "sandbox" feature that's targeted at people that want to be able to install the latest system but easily go back if it breaks something. Pretty cool.

I can get with that for the most part. I like this option even though I'm working on a 80GB laptop HD because I'm one of those people who constantly has the latest greatest system update. But I like to do clean installs too, so the split solution works pretty well for me. I have a 200GB external that I do a full backup to and I archive anything more than 6 months old off the internal HD onto DVD's and keep them cataloged with Catolog. This is a new system for me so I'm still tweaking it, but so far it's worked quite well.

As a cautionary tale, I thought I had a full backup of all my images and documents the last time I did an erase and install for OSX 10.4. Instead I had a directory structure backup but no files! :uhoh I lost 3 months worth of photographs. That's when I went to the partitioned system. So, MAKE SURE A BACKUP WORKS BEFORE YOU GO AND ERASE STUFF!!

And I kind of like the little Pacman ghost guy for SpiritedAway...

[DavidTO]

You can skip the first one, but I would still run the Disk Utility from the install disk. Make sure you do an erase and install. You will then have to reinstall the Canon stuff.

Of course, if they only provide you with an UPGRADE disk, you will have to do both.


JMatthew,

Actually, this part isn't exactly right. If you're doing an erase and install, you should use the Disk Utility to reformat your drive, which means you won't need to repair the disk with Disk Utility.

[DavidTO]

How cool is this ? (http://www.yanathin.com/ifizzle.html) someones blog.


b..b...bb...you mac guys already knew this about mac.. right ?

Never saw that blog before. Cool.

[DavidTO]

I love DesktopCalendar. (http://homepage.mac.com/takashi_hamada/Acti/MacOSX/DesktopCalendar/)

[jmathew]

AAArgh!

First time uploading pics to the new mac and something is screwy.

http://jmathew.smugmug.com/photos/popup.mg?popUp=true&ImageID=39178666&Size=Large

they actually look worse than that - lots of static, garbage etc. For some reason when posted to smugmug and displayed here its just grayed out.

When saved, the jpegs are "corrupt" and wont open in preview. The raw files will open but are all messed up too.

BUT - its not the actual pictures on the CF card....
Connected the card reader back to the pc - and all the files are perfectly ok...

http://jmathew.smugmug.com/photos/popup.mg?popUp=true&ImageID=39178082&Size=Large

I've used multiple apps - DPP, eos viewer, image capture, and they all result in these bad files - any clues? Bad usb connection from card reader to the imac?

and why arent my images embedded in the post like they used to be?

[DavidTO]

That's an incomplete transfer. At least the smugmug pic looks like that. Like you aborted partway through.

Maybe a bad connection. It's odd, never seen that. Try another USB port.

AAArgh!

First time uploading pics to the new mac and something is screwy.

http://jmathew.smugmug.com/photos/popup.mg?popUp=true&ImageID=39178666&Size=Large

they actually look worse than that - lots of static, garbage etc. For some reason when posted to smugmug and displayed here its just grayed out.

When saved, the jpegs are "corrupt" and wont open in preview. The raw files will open but are all messed up too.

BUT - its not the actual pictures on the CF card....
Connected the card reader back to the pc - and all the files are perfectly ok...

http://jmathew.smugmug.com/photos/popup.mg?popUp=true&ImageID=39178082&Size=Large

I've used multiple apps - DPP, eos viewer, image capture, and they all result in these bad files - any clues? Bad usb connection from card reader to the imac?

and why arent my images embedded in the post like they used to be?

[DavidTO]

That's an incomplete transfer. At least the smugmug pic looks like that. Like you aborted partway through.

Maybe a bad connection. It's odd, never seen that. Try another USB port.


If you're on IM, send me a PM and maybe I can help you.

[jmathew]

FEI: (for everyone's info)

Read on another board about a similar problem to mine - had to do with a CF card that did well on PC but not on mac when used with a card reader.

Tried switching CF cards (Kingston then Lexar) - same problem - and no problem with either when camera directly hooked up to the computer.

So - thinking some sort of card reader issue (its a cheap Dazzle high speed 2.0 multi-reader). Could still be a Panther vs. Tiger issue too, as David is pointing out to me. Just wanted to update in case others ever have a similar problem. Thanks again to David for his personalized help!

[jmathew]

Ok - upgraded to Tiger, still not able to upload the pictures without distortion...off to get a new card reader tomorrow..........

[patch29]

So ten minutes to go until Apple makes some new product announcements, any good ideas of what it will bring. I think my G5 will not be top of the line anymore. :cry :lol3

[Andy]

So ten minutes to go until Apple makes some new product announcements, any good ideas of what it will bring. I think my G5 will not be top of the line anymore. :cry :lol3

apple online store closed.
i can smell my new pbook :D

[patch29]

apple online store closed.
i can smell my new pbook :D


Pick me up one too. :wave

[patch29]

Little info at the moment, CNBC reporting

ipod with video
new imac

[Andy]

Little info at the moment, CNBC reporting

ipod with video
new imac


meh. try stuff magazine (http://stuffmag.co.uk/hotstuffarticle.asp?de_id=594)

love those cheeky brits!

[Andy]

New iMac, new Video iPod, new Apps.

- iMac: faster, larger disk, built in iSight. Includes FrontRow (app)
- iPod: 30GB/60GB with Video - realtime decoding of MPEG4 and H.264. 260,000 colors. Video out.
- FrontRow and PhotoBooth Apps.
- 30GB iPod: $299 - 31% thinner than current 20GB; - 60GB iPod: $399.
- New iPods avail next week. Comes with case
- iMac: $1299 for 17" model with 1.5GHz, $1799 for 20" model with 2.1GHz
- iTunes 6 to be released
- Front Row - comes with new iMacs. Lets you enjoy video/music/pictures from sofa. Everything still displayed on iMac screen. iPod-like remote. 6 button remote.
- Photobooth - appears to be slide show application.
- Music Videos. 2000 available to buy. $1.99 each.
- Can "gift" music to other people. Peer reviews and recommendation service.
- Videos have Digital Rights Management built in. Can play on up to 5 computers.
- You will be able to buy TV shows from iTunes Music Store.

[patch29]

- You will be able to buy TV shows from iTunes Music Store.

perfect just what I need more TV, not shows I watch, so I might be safe. :lol3

You will be able to buy TV shows from iTunes Music Store. $1.99 per episode. ABC on board (Desperate Housewives, Lost)

[Andy]

apple online store closed.
i can smell my new pbook :D

annc'ts over - store open.

i must've been smelling ribs or something... so, i'll be sticking with my 15" pbook :D

[patch29]

annc'ts over - store open.

i must've been smelling ribs or something... so, i'll be sticking with my 15" pbook :D


Yeah, cool, but nothing super exciting or nothing that will be costing me a lot of money at the moment. Unless I can download "The Dukes of Hazzard". :lol3


and iTunes is loaded, but no video because it needs QT 7.03 which is not available for download yet. :bash

[gus]

These new ones really kick along...have a butchers at the front bus (http://www.apple.com/imac/specs.html)!!

Looks like a sig price drop here in 0z also.

[pathfinder]

These new ones really kick along...have a butchers at the front bus (http://www.apple.com/imac/specs.html)!!

Looks like a sig price drop here in 0z also.

I think I begin to see another convert. :): That's how it starts - reading the Apple mags and the Apple web sites.

I joined the Apple fan club last year gus, and it has been great.

[DavidTO]

With the release of the new iMacs, there's some great deals on the older ones.

Amazon has a 2ghz 17" superdrive iMac for $999 after $100 rebate, here. (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B0006PK8IS/ref=//002-9781107-2444041?v=glance&s=pc)

[gus]

With the release of the new iMacs, there's some great deals on the older ones.

Amazon has a 2ghz 17" superdrive iMac for $999 after $100 rebate, here. (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B0006PK8IS/ref=//002-9781107-2444041?v=glance&s=pc)After the announcement i went & looked at these yesterday....$3000 0z clams for that very machine (thats $2252 USD)

..but i bought 2 huge bowen mangos for a $1 each for my lunch.

[DavidTO]

After the announcement i went & looked at these yesterday....$3000 0z clams for that very machine (thats $2252 USD)

..but i bought 2 huge bowen mangos for a $1 each for my lunch.

I bet if you shop around you could find them cheaper. Sometimes it takes a bit for the prices to drop on the older ones.

hmmmmmmmm....mangos

[KevinKal]

Thanks to the advice from everyone in this post, I bought a PowerMac G5 with ACD 20" yesterday - so who do I send the bill to? :rofl I can't wait to get the new machine and pop in a bit more RAM from one of the discount sites already mentioned...I've had my new 20D sitting on my desk for 3 weeks because my current computer can't handle the files.

Thanks everyone,
Kevin K.

[DavidTO]

Thanks to the advice from everyone in this post, I bought a PowerMac G5 with ACD 20" yesterday - so who do I send the bill to? :rofl I can't wait to get the new machine and pop in a bit more RAM from one of the discount sites already mentioned...I've had my new 20D sitting on my desk for 3 weeks because my current computer can't handle the files.

Thanks everyone,
Kevin K.

Congrats!

Feel free to PM me if you need help.

[pathfinder]

Congrats Kevin!! :clap You're gonna love the experience:thumb

[KevinKal]

I'm up and running on my new G5, looking at this beautiful 20" Apple Cinema Display, and yes, YES it was worth every penny! What an elegant computer system...all I can say is Widgets :thumb . Next purchase will be PS CSII and then I can post some pictures (which is the reason for spending all this moola on the new system, after all).

Cheers then,
Kevin K.

[lynnesite]

Widgets! Indeed. I spent some time gathering new ones last night. Congrats on your sterling setup.

[DavidTO]

Congrats! And welcome to the club!

Here's (http://www.dashboardwidgets.com/showcase/details.php?wid=940) a widget that helps you keep up to date with the latest versions of your widgets. Make sure you enable all the sources for it to check.

[DavidTO]

Oh, and you now qualify for my lifetime free technical support. (Not as good as lynnesite's, but then again I never did this professionally!)

Any problem, drop me a line.

And in the meantime, make sure that you become acquainted with basic Macintosh maintenance. (http://homepage.mac.com/david_rosenthal/MacintoshTroubleShooting.htm)

[patch29]

New Hardware, updated PB's, G5's with dual core and price drop on 23 and 30 inch displays. Still waiting to see if they release a photo pro app.

More info. (http://www.macworld.com/news/2005/10/19/liveupdate/index.php)

[colourbox]

Still waiting to see if they release a photo pro app

I suppose you have refreshed your event feed by now... :D :):

[DavidTO]

I'm very interested to see Aperture. Apple's Motion is very cool motion graphics software. I hope that Aperture is as innovative. Hard to imagine it replacing PS CS2, though....

[patch29]

reading about Aperture now, could be cool, let's see a price, can I pick it up at the store today? :ear

[patch29]

Aperture $500, 6-8 weeks. I think I can hold off on that purchase. I would like to check it out.

[DavidTO]

The big question is whether it handles RAW like iPhoto does, where you really only work with the JPEG, cutting you off from the ability to control the RAW to JPEG conversion.

[patch29]

Tough minimum specs too. No good for the ole TI PB. :wxwax

Power Mac G5 with 1.8GHz or faster PowerPC G5; 17- or 20-inch iMac G5 with 1.8GHz or faster PowerPC G5; or 15- or 17-inch PowerBook G4 with 1.25GHz or faster PowerPC G4 processor

[colourbox]

Well, that was quick. I don't have $500 and they don't list the Rebel XT (http://www.apple.com/r/store/raw/) as supported RAW. I'll just read the reviews.

[patch29]

New G5 PM ram, if you want the full 16gb, $9500 for non ecc ram and $11500 for ecc ram. What is the difference, not that I will be buying it anytime soon. :huh

[DavidTO]

More info. (http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/051019/sfw095.html?.v=25)

[DavidTO]

from the above linked article:

RAW images are maintained natively throughout Aperture without any intermediate conversion process, and can be retouched with stunning results using a suite of adjustment tools designed especially for photographers. Aperture's nondestructive image processing engine never alters a single pixel of original photos so photographers have the power and flexibility to modify or delete changes at any point in the workflow. As Aperture allows users to create multiple versions of a single image without duplicating files, photographers can experiment without risk of overwriting the master image or using up large amounts of hard drive space. Aperture images can also be launched directly into Adobe Photoshop for compositing and layer effects.

[patch29]

I'll just read the reviews.

Same here, what does it do that PS does not do for me? :ear

The one cool thing it might win with is if the new album and print offerings are really geared for the pro market and they can deliver a wide variety of albums and portfolios at a competitive price. I still don't know if that would sway me.

It will be interesting to see some more info on this product though.

[patch29]

andy can I borrow your credit card. :ear :deal :lol3 :cry

Cart Items for QTY (1)
Power Mac G5 Quad-core 2.5GHz
Part Number: Z0AW
16x SuperDrive DL (DVD+R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW)
Accessory kit
2x500GB Serial ATA - 7200rpm
16GB 533 DDR2 ECC SDRAM- 8x2GB
Mac OS X - U.S. English
QUADRO FX 4500 512MB SDRAM
Apple Keyboard & Mighty Mouse - U.S English
2.5GHz Quad-core PowerPC G5
Estimated Ship: 3-4 weeks



Cart Subtotal: $17,724.00

Should I at least get Aperture for free? :dunno

[colourbox]

Same here, what does it do that PS does not do for me?

Even from the PR materials, it looks like it has some features I'd like to see in the Adobe tools (Photoshop/Camera Raw/Bridge) yet Aperture is not capable of completely replacing them. The most likely scenario is that I never buy Aperture because Adobe will probably add Aperture's best features to its trio in some upgrade down the road.

That's what I think is great about Aperture. There's nothing wrong with giving Photoshop some constructive competition so that all of our choices improve.

[patch29]

Even from the PR materials, it looks like it covers a few gaps that exist between Photoshop and Camera Raw and Bridge. It has some features I'd like to see in the Adobe tools. The most likely scenario is that I never buy Aperture because Adobe will probably add Aperture's best features to its trio in some upgrade down the road.

That's what I think is great about Aperture. There's nothing wrong with giving Photoshop some constructive competition so that we can have some choice.


I would like to test drive it and see how the RAW retouching works, that David referenced above. I wish Apple had more info on their site. :wxwax

[patch29]

I have been loading it for a while, unsuccessfully, but now they have made it live.

http://www.apple.com/aperture/

[DavidTO]

Even from the PR materials, it looks like it has some features I'd like to see in the Adobe tools (Photoshop/Camera Raw/Bridge) yet Aperture is not capable of completely replacing them. The most likely scenario is that I never buy Aperture because Adobe will probably add Aperture's best features to its trio in some upgrade down the road.

That's what I think is great about Aperture. There's nothing wrong with giving Photoshop some constructive competition so that all of our choices improve.

There are going to be features, or at least user interface features that PS will never copy. The question here will be if they are compelling enough to spend the money.

I've seen it with Motion/After Effects. The interface that you can see on the Aperture page looks the same. It will be different...we'll have to see if it's better!

[patch29]

Aperture

cool feature.

shuttle/jog control for faster scrolling.
rapid and easy 100% view from thumbnails for part of an image. (very cool)

[patch29]

I've seen it with Motion/After Effects. The interface that you can see on the Aperture page looks the same. It will be different...we'll have to see if it's better!

I watched a couple of the videos. It looks good so far and very easy to use. I wish the rest of the videos were live. They seem to have some broken, or improperly directed links. I would also be curious to see how the final image quality, noise etc is handled by Aperture vs CS2 and Capture One Pro. I certainly do not want to spend $500, but if it makes my life easier and faster, I will look into it. Give me a trial download now. :wxwax :rofl

[patch29]

I wonder why the dual cores top out at 2.5 ghtz and not 2.7? :scratch

[DavidTO]

Well, that was quick. I don't have $500 and they don't list the Rebel XT (http://www.apple.com/r/store/raw/) as supported RAW. I'll just read the reviews.

They list it as supported here. (http://www.apple.com/aperture/raw/)

[patch29]

Who will be first to give us some data on the speed advantage of a dual core DP vs just DP? We need some PS tests. :D


Well of course Apple has some specs vs 2.7 here. (http://www.apple.com/powermac/)

43% faster for their tested PS action.

I feel the need for speed. :D

[DavidTO]

Two things I can't find in Aperture:

CMYK
Curves

[DavidTO]

The thing that separates Aperture from PS and Motion from After Effects is the use of Core Image. This is a huge advance in the level of interactivity you will have with the app, and ultimately, the image. I've seen Core Image in action with Motion, and it's amazing. Dashboard uses Core Image to make the little ripply thing when you activate a new widget.

This is far and away the most important thing about Aperture. I believe it will provide us with a level of interaction with the image that we've never seen before.

The RAW workflow looks solid. If you watch the interview with the SI photographer on the site, even he says he may start shooting RAW because of this software. If ever there was a field that needs the speed of jpeg, it's sports photography. I am very interested to see that in action. Having all those versions available without actually writing files...could be very cool.

[patch29]

I hope this means we will be seeing Apple at more National Photo Trade Shows. They have been absent for far too long.

[Andy]

andy can I borrow your credit card. :ear :deal :lol3 :cry



Should I at least get Aperture for free? :dunno


patch, add on 5 grand for a pair of 30" apple cinema displays, which the beast now supports, and your at 22K :lol3

[patch29]

Some interesting tech specs out there.

The new G5's support 16gb of ram, both single processor/DC or the dual/quad G5. So will we see a DP quad that will some day handle 32 gb of ram? :ear



The Powerbooks now have a build to order option of a 100gb 7200 rpm hard drive. :clap Anyone interested in my Ti PB? :ear :deal

[CatOne]

Two things I can't find in Aperture:

CMYK
Curves

There are a number of things that aren't in Aperture that are in Photoshop, where editing is concerned.

We'll see how much I need to flip back and forth... and I'm very curious as to how the workflow works with PSDs with lots of layers (as Aperture says it supports only single-layer PSD documents... I don't know specifically what this means with "support.")

[patch29]

Anyone seen this trick (http://www.onedigitallife.com/?p=812) with Safari via the download window? :ear :thumb

[DavidTO]

Here's an interesting article (http://blogs.zdnet.com/Murphy/index.php?p=449) about PPC, X86 and Mac Pricing. We could all be in for a big eye opener once the MacIntels get launched.

[cabbey]

Here's an interesting article (http://blogs.zdnet.com/Murphy/index.php?p=449) about PPC, X86 and Mac Pricing. We could all be in for a big eye opener once the MacIntels get launched. Oi. That article is mind boggling. I'd accuse him of spreading FUD if I could just tell who's pocket he's in. I'd love to see him justify a few of the wild assertions or over-generalizations he's throwing around, like:


IBM's workstation is fundamentally designed for the Power4 generation.
IBM's machine, in contrast, is limited to AIX
Microsoft has said the PowerPC is its future
that the PowerPC line is the world's highest volume line overall and correspondingly dirt cheap
Microsoft expects ... a custom three core PowerG5 derivative running at 3.2Ghz,
Since he's not backed up much of anything, I'll provide some counterpoints to the above:

Actually the system in question was designed for the Power5, as Power5 has some requirements on the rest of the CEC that Power4 didn't. The rest of the system however does have a lot of design elements that go back a long way, some farther than Power4 even. IBM typically doesn't re-invent the entire system every new version (at least we got smart and stopped doing that a few years ago.) So the hot plug DASD cans are the same as from Power4 (actually they're compatible with ones from even older boxes) but not much of the rest of the system.
Actually, the system will run Linux just fine. IBM doesn't sell it that way, or support it. Neither does Apple support running Linux on the G5 hardware. IBM does employ a lot of people (myself included) to make sure Linux works on power hardware. Apple however appears to go to great lengths to force the Linux community to constantly have to re-engineer things like thermal and fan controls if they don't want their chips running at 50%.
EH?! They killed off the PowerPC ports of their operating systems a LONG time ago. Like shortly after we stopped helping with them due to OS/2 technology cross licensing. Now if he means the XBox 360... and I bet he does from another comment in here... I'd hardly call that the future of the entire company; one division maybe. And it's hardly a prime example of PowerPC in the mainstream usage.
HAHA. While it may be true that over the entire powerpc line, and all the derivatives, there are more of them fabbricated than there are pentiums or opterons; that's not saying quite what it might imply. You see there are litterally hundreds of variations of the PowerPC and it's kin. They include incredibly low power embedded chips (drive a ford? wanna guess how many ppc chips are in that car?) and absurdly high performance chips ("Check mate Mr. Kasparov") and just about everything in between. (Including a fair number of image processing chips in some cameras, though I've never been able to get the chip heads to tell me which camera company actually buys them.) The fab run for Apple's uses is a drop in the bucket. Go back and read the official IBM corporate response when Apple moved off PowerPC and you'll see what the fab guys thought. (Oh good, one less annoying low volume customer, we can do X more cell chips for the game consoles)
"three core PowerG5 derivative" Oh. My. Gawd. http://dgrin.com/images/smilies/yelrotflmao.gif Not sure where to even begin on that. Let's just say that demonstrates a complete lack of understanding of the lineage of these procesors.
Then there are a few minor issues with his oranges to rhubarb comparisons. The first two that come to mind:


The Apple box has ZERO hot pluggable parts inside the case. The IBM system has hotpluggable: drives, power supplies, pci cards, cooling fans. There's also a growth path to go from that box to a 64 processor system, with out re-installing your operating system or applications. Simply plop down the cash and be upgraded; many of the interim steps between a little p285 and one of it's bigger siblings allows you to have upgrades dynamic without even rebooting. The larger boxes also allow you partitioning and a whole world of features you can't even imagine on any apple hardware.
The p285 has nearly double the L2 cache, and 36M of L3 cache. While the apple maybe clocked slightly higher, in a LOT of use cases it's going to be blocked on memory a lot more than the Power5+ will.
Ugh, it's late and I'm ranting.

And to think, the whole reason I dropped to the end of the thread was to suggest Adium (http://adiumx.com/) for all your IM needs, and Colloquy (http://colloquy.info/) for all your IRC needs. Anyway, welcome to the best of both worlds Andy (only about 9 months late) and Jeff, and Kevin, and anyone else that switched in the thread I missed as I glossed over pages. (And by best of both worlds, I mean you get the rock solid foundation of UNIX, and all the eye candy spewing user coddling hand holding you could ever want, done far better than Microsoft ever has.)

Oh, and of course you probably already knew about it, but one of the best mac tools I've seen in quite awhile is probably here (http://www.smugmug.com/help/macs). http://dgrin.com/images/smilies/thumb.gif

[DavidTO]

Hey, good news!

At least two mac users here that I know of use Adium. Me and Andy. Probably more.

Thanks for the tips.

Thanks especially for clearing the air on that article. I have no idea about that kind of stuff, read it, and thought, dang, that sounds bad...

[Andy]

Oi.

(techno stuff snipped)

And to think, the whole reason I dropped to the end of the thread was to suggest Adium (http://adiumx.com/) for all your IM needs, and Colloquy (http://colloquy.info/) for all your IRC needs. Anyway, welcome to the best of both worlds Andy (only about 9 months late) and Jeff, and Kevin, and anyone else that switched in the thread I missed as I glossed over pages. (And by best of both worlds, I mean you get the rock solid foundation of UNIX, and all the eye candy spewing user coddling hand holding you could ever want, done far better than Microsoft ever has.)

Oh, and of course you probably already knew about it, but one of the best mac tools I've seen in quite awhile is probably here (http://www.smugmug.com/help/macs). http://dgrin.com/images/smilies/thumb.gif

thanks cabby - really appreciate it!

[cabbey]

At least two mac users here that I know of use Adium. Me and Andy. Probably more.
You can make that three minimum. http://dgrin.com/images/smilies/icon10.gif Though I did only survive the default sound set for about 30 minutes the first morning I was running it. (My "buddy list" at work has over 300 people in it, as they all started logging in around 9am, the constant quacking nearly drove me to http://dgrin.com/images/smilies/1drink.gif.)

[DavidTO]

You can make that three minimum. http://dgrin.com/images/smilies/icon10.gif Though I did only survive the default sound set for about 30 minutes the first morning I was running it. (My "buddy list" at work has over 300 people in it, as they all started logging in around 9am, the constant quacking nearly drove me to http://dgrin.com/images/smilies/1drink.gif.)


I just wish it did file transers, though. :(

[SteveF]

At least two mac users here that I know of use Adium. Me and Andy. Probably more.

I've thought about it, but my prescription plan doesn't cover it. :tough

[Andy]

anyone see the apple site today? very nice and cool of them to do this:

[DavidTO]

Yes, it is.

It was up yesterday, too.

[JohnR]

I prefer iChat to Adium. Tried it way back when and still prefer iChat.

For those who want it, my ID on there is jbr123064

[Andy]

I prefer iChat to Adium. Tried it way back when and still prefer iChat.

For those who want it, my ID on there is jbr123064

yabbut - can ichat linky uppy to aol, yahoo, msn, jabber folks? that's why i use adium, i need to be able to chat with folks on all sorts of ims.

[DavidTO]

I prefer iChat to Adium. Tried it way back when and still prefer iChat.

For those who want it, my ID on there is jbr123064
I prefer the fact that file transfer actually works in iChat, but it's a screen hog, so I spend most of my time in Adium, since you can make it very screen efficient.

[JohnR]

I used to use Yahoo, ICQ and MSN, but gave those up awhile ago.

[Andy]

I used to use Yahoo, ICQ and MSN, but gave those up awhile ago.


:nono i think you're missing my reason: i need to chat with people that are on all those services - and so, adium let's me do that.

[Andy]

so, my new 15" pbook arrived - very cool, 1440x960 screen rez, i'm diggin it. other than the faster hd (7200rpm) it's the same box as before....

[colourbox]

it's the same box as before....

I believe they added digital audio in and the ability for the 15" to drive the wallet-draining 30" Cinema Display, didn't they?

I have the original 15" and am lusting after the upgraded screen resolution.

[Mike Lane]

so, my new 15" pbook arrived - very cool, 1440x960 screen rez, i'm diggin it. other than the faster hd (7200rpm) it's the same box as before....
Noticed any performance benefits with the faster drive yet?

[Andy]

Noticed any performance benefits with the faster drive yet?

not yet, just installing cs2 - will edit some photos later and see -

[Andy]

david sent me a linky to a pretty darn cool safari plug-in, called acid search (http://www.pozytron.com/?acidsearch) it's darn cool.

[jmathew]

Not sure if anyone has posted this or not, but Quicksilver (http://quicksilver.blacktree.com/) is a very cool app!

[DavidTO]

Not sure if anyone has posted this or not, but Quicksilver (http://quicksilver.blacktree.com/) is a very cool app!


Cool. I may have to check that one out. I fixed your URL, you had two http://'s in it. How's the transition to Mac going for you?

[DavidTO]

Removing Cached Recipients from Mail.app (http://www.math.ku.edu/computing/applemail_removeaddress.html#h2)

For when you need to remove bad addresses that mail has cached and keeps offering you as an option for email.

[Andy]

Dave,

I have questions about how "sleep" mode works - do you have any comments or links?

[Andy]

uh, Dave, I'm waiting......

[Andy]

The responsiveness in this thread is dog slow, can I request an upgrade :lol3

[DavidTO]

Dave,

I have questions about how "sleep" mode works - do you have any comments or links?


Well, if you're having problems with waking from sleep, there's this article from MacFixit. (http://www.macfixit.com/article.php?story=20050301010110876)

The new Powerbooks have a mode called SafeSleep, which it is possible to hack into older books, but no guarantees. That article is here. (http://www.andrewescobar.com/archive/2005/11/11/how-to-safe-sleep-your-mac/) I viewed it this morning, but it's currently not loading. Looks like it's a site-wide problem for Mr. Escobar, so if you can't get it, try back in a day.

[Andy]

got up from ur nap i see...

[DavidTO]

got up from ur nap i see...


Uh, yeah.

Hey, if you want to toggle open windows within the active application, hit cmd~

Works in Safari, Mail, etc.

It does NOT work in PS.

[colourbox]

Uh, yeah.
Hey, if you want to toggle open windows within the active application, hit cmd~
Works in Safari, Mail, etc.
It does NOT work in PS.

In Photoshop, use Ctrl-Tab.

[Andy]

So, I was in SmugMugville for the past few days, came home, and there was a big box from Apple :clap Can't wait to see what this thing does with Photoshop :evil

[jimf]

So, I was in SmugMugville for the past few days, came home, and there was a big box from Apple :clap Can't wait to see what this thing does with Photoshop :evil

Heh. Mine is on a truck somewhere in the middle of the country, due to show up at my office while we're all off for Thanksgiving. I whimper about that whenever I start a "run all night" set of image conversions in Capture One on the laptop....

[Andy]

This time, I did things right. I bought a UPS, finally - I get power spikes about 1x per month, and maybe 3-4x a year the power goes out. Orderly shutdowns! :clap

[Andy]

tiger seems faster for photoshop

i ran this test (http://www.retouchpro.com/forums/showthread.php?t=8440&page=1&pp=15) and it came in in 48 seconds flat. bt, before tiger, the test ran in 58 seconds.

cool!

Old system (G5, dual 2.5Ghz): 48 seconds http://williams.smugmug.com/photos/15939222-L.gif

I ran the same test again on my new Quad G5. http://williams.smugmug.com/photos/15903995-L.gif 22 seconds.


:wave Hiya 'Gus!!! http://williams.smugmug.com/photos/15651390-L.gif

[gus]

Old system (G5, dual 2.5Ghz): 48 seconds http://williams.smugmug.com/photos/15939222-L.gif

I ran the same test again on my new Quad G5. http://williams.smugmug.com/photos/15903995-L.gif 22 seconds.


:wave Hiya 'Gus!!! http://williams.smugmug.com/photos/15651390-L.gif
Thats Fantastic..totally unbelievable.

...i met a bloke the other day whom had just bought a Ferrari & was having a winge at all the happy campers in '68 VW's passing him in traffic cause they picked a better lane.

[Andy]

Thats Fantastic..totally unbelievable.

...i met a bloke the other day whom had just bought a Ferrari & was having a winge at all the happy campers in '68 VW's passing him in traffic cause they picked a better lane.


Bloody Nora, have a butcher's at this (http://alienware.com/product_detail_Pages/area-51_alx_sli/alx_features.aspx?SysCode=PC-AREA51-ALX-R3-D&SubCode=SKU-DEFAULT)!

[gus]

Bloody Nora, have a butcher's at this (http://alienware.com/product_detail_Pages/area-51_alx_sli/alx_features.aspx?SysCode=PC-AREA51-ALX-R3-D&SubCode=SKU-DEFAULT)!
Jan '00. Im on a flight to Sydney & picked up a comp mag at the airport. I was about to buy a 500 Mhz intel proc & in there was an article (dont ask me why i remember this) on how they were actually running a 1 Ghz overclocked intel processor with a refrigeration unit mounted under it & piping chilled water past it to cool it.

You are aware that others will poke fun at you for not buying it just as much as some will for buying it mate...you cant win here so just drop the card out let it happen my friend.

[Andy]

You are aware that others will poke fun at you for not buying it just as much as some will for buying it mate...you cant win here so just drop the card out let it happen my friend.

I was wrong on the timing on that test -- I ran it again, it was 21 seconds :lol3

[pathfinder]

SO you sold your 2xG5 for the quad G5 at what cost?? And it saves you 27 seconds. Hmmmmm. How much per second was that cost??

[Andy]

SO you sold your 2xG5 for the quad G5 at what cost?? And it saves you 27 seconds. Hmmmmm. How much per second was that cost??

:nono you are missing the point completely :lol3 it's NEW, pathfinder!

Well, that and this thing eats up files in Adobe Bridge like Harry with a plate of ribs at Virgil's! It opens up 5D and 1Ds Mark II raw files in the blink of an eye - 1 second, maybe 1.5 secs to open up in ACR, then 1.5 sec to open in photoshop as a 16-bit file. That's where the difference is, for me. Processing time for filters - well, that's fine for benchmarking but it's not the difference maker for me...

Oh and the sale on the dual - hardly enough to worry - and after all, I used it for 8 months, so I got plenty of value there. I think the buyer, a dgrinner, is quite happy with the deal, too.

[David_S85]

I'll bet you can run all of smugmug on just a partition with that monster from your study. :rofl


Honestly, it looks like a fun toy. Makes my new Pentium D 830 look like a mere can opener.

[cabbey]

I'll bet you can run all of smugmug on just a partition with that monster from your study. :rofl
Well, except that the 970MP cpus in there (aka G5s) that Apple is using don't have hardware support for partitioning. For that you need to move over to the power line of processors, such as the current power5+ systems, top of the line is p595 at 64x 1.9Ghz 64bit processors, 2 TB of memory, and 28.1 TB of internal storage (several EB if you go with external storage options.) One logical partition on that puppy could certainly run all of smugmug, and then some.... though for decent uptime, you'd want a second machine geographically distant. http://dgrin.com/images/smilies/icon10.gif

(This does actually bring up a point I've always wondered about... what hardware *does* smugmug/dgrin run on?)

[Andy]

(This does actually bring up a point I've always wondered about... what hardware *does* smugmug/dgrin run on?)

We're kinda quiet about what and where, due to security reasons... but you can get a little flavor from Onethumb's post here (http://www.dgrin.com/showpost.php?p=79857&postcount=7)

[Andy]

The Apple Store (http://store.apple.com) is having a sale tomorrow (Friday, Novemember 25th).

[Andy]

Here's the stuff that's on sale (http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPLE/WebObjects/AppleStore.woa/7200507/wo/RS44QZ8K9vbt2pDngTb0DfYzSSu/0.SLID?mco=B07714CF&nclm=OneDaySavings)

.Mac, $68 / yr instead of $99 that's nice. A few other good deals, too.

[actorguy1]

Thanks for the help -

In terms of what I need, speed may not be a big issue. I mainly need to just be able to get on to web-based hospital information systems - citrix based, and as long as I can make the connection and get on I'd be happy, even it its a bit slower. I wont need to be running any applications that I couldnt do on the mac....I think....or at least I hope. Hopefully the buy/sell boards on here and FM wont work on my mac, so I can quit spending so much $$$.

Sorry i just saw your post but all you need to do is get citrix for your mac (free download) and if you have a high speed connection, you should be able to work just fine. I use my Mac at home and connect to our network via VPN and use Citrix. Very little speed degredation as far as I can tell.

[cabbey]

WooHoo!!
http://dgrin.com/images/smilies/biggrinbounce2.gifhttp://dgrin.com/images/smilies/biggrinbounce2.gifhttp://dgrin.com/images/smilies/biggrinbounce2.gifhttp://dgrin.com/images/smilies/biggrinbounce2.gif:smile6http://dgrin.com/images/smilies/biggrinbounce2.gifhttp://dgrin.com/images/smilies/biggrinbounce2.gifhttp://dgrin.com/images/smilies/biggrinbounce2.gifhttp://dgrin.com/images/smilies/biggrinbounce2.gif

Not only is my quad shipping, but it shipped fully a week before they said it would. And thanks to the anti-recomendation over in the digidarkroom software thread I'm saving $500 by skipping on Apperature.

Sorry, just had to share... I'm going back to bouncing off the walls in giddy anticipation now. This will be such a HUGE upgrade from the Mac I mainly use today... a G3 Powerbook... heck it will even be a step up from my main unix workstation today, a dual athlon 1800+. I can't wait to see how fast dcraw is on this thing.

[jimf]

[center]WooHoo!!
[img]And thanks to the anti-recomendation over in the digidarkroom software thread I'm saving $500 by skipping on Apperature.

Sorry, just had to share... I'm going back to bouncing off the walls in giddy anticipation now. This will be such a HUGE upgrade from the Mac I mainly use today... a G3 Powerbook... [...] I can't wait to see how fast dcraw is on this thing.

Well, don't necessarily ditch Aperture purely on account of its renderer. I have plenty of complaints about it now that I have started using it for a lot of images (sometimes it does a great job, other times it just sucks, and there doesn't seem to be a whole lot of in-between) but Aperture has other strengths that make it interesting nonetheless.

I have never used iView (or other commercial archiving systems) and if you have it, plus a good renderer (I like PS CS2 and C1, never liked PS CS or dcraw) Aperture may be totally redundant. I am finding Aperture to be a very useful part of my workflow, though -- I haven't used anything that makes it so easy to rip through a lot of shots and separate the wheat from the chaff. The interface is first-rate in that respect, way better than C1. Its tagging is kind of primitive, and there are some really screwy interface behaviors (like when you're browsing images in date sorted mode and drag an image into a stack that isn't contiguous with the image it switches into "custom" sorting mode and your whole stack disappears to the end of the browser -- grr), but compared to what I used to do for image management it is a monster step up.

I find Aperture to be useful for bulk conversions (like dumping a whole directory to JPEGs for upload to the web[1]) and quick prints. It's definitely Not There Yet for high quality output (although it doesn't *always* suck, depends on the image) ... but then again if I want a terrific print I'm probably going to use Photoshop on it anyway.

My use of it is to pick the image I want, then I export master to PS CS2 and edit and print from there. Previously I would browse, do simple changes, and render to 16-bit TIFF in C1 (C1's browsing SUCKS but I love its renderer) then final editing and printing in PS. Aperture plus upgrading to PS CS2 allows me to ditch C1 and reduce the time spent going from a set of images to a print.

YMMV, but it's saving me so much time in image selection that I think it's worth the money despite the renderer. I rather expect Apple to improve its renderer over time, too; they're getting beaten up over it.

By the way, C1 on the Quad renders a 6MP CRW frame to 16-bit TIFF in nine seconds flat. My G4 powerbook took 5 minutes. I would be surprised if dcraw saw that kind of performance jump but you'll be happy relative to your old hardware in any case. And I, too, was bouncing off the walls when the Quad showed up.

[1] While I haven't done it myself I have seen examples of reduced-resolution images produced by Aperture and they suck. But it does a pretty good job at full resolution.

[Andy]

WooHoo!!
http://dgrin.com/images/smilies/biggrinbounce2.gifhttp://dgrin.com/images/smilies/biggrinbounce2.gifhttp://dgrin.com/images/smilies/biggrinbounce2.gifhttp://dgrin.com/images/smilies/biggrinbounce2.gif:smile6http://dgrin.com/images/smilies/biggrinbounce2.gifhttp://dgrin.com/images/smilies/biggrinbounce2.gifhttp://dgrin.com/images/smilies/biggrinbounce2.gifhttp://dgrin.com/images/smilies/biggrinbounce2.gif

Not only is my quad shipping, but it shipped fully a week before they said it would. And thanks to the anti-recomendation over in the digidarkroom software thread I'm saving $500 by skipping on Apperature.

Sorry, just had to share... I'm going back to bouncing off the walls in giddy anticipation now. This will be such a HUGE upgrade from the Mac I mainly use today... a G3 Powerbook... heck it will even be a step up from my main unix workstation today, a dual athlon 1800+. I can't wait to see how fast dcraw is on this thing.

Congrats - it's a great machine, I love mine. It's.... fast....

[DavidTO]

lynnesite sent me this freeware app, AppleJack (http://applejack.sourceforge.net/). It's a handy disk repair app, that you access through single user mode at startup. You restart, hold cmd-s and then type in applejack auto. Nice, easy, free.

[cabbey]

I haven't used anything that makes it so easy to rip through a lot of shots and separate the wheat from the chaff. I have a set of scripts I use today on linux that help me with that, I expect to port them to the mac. Oddly enough, I call them the main script "thresh". http://dgrin.com/images/smilies/xzicon_smile_cool.gif

I find Aperture to be useful for bulk conversions (like dumping a whole directory to JPEGs for upload to the web[1]) and quick prints. Again, something I script... but then I'm a unix geek.

It's definitely Not There Yet for high quality output (although it doesn't *always* suck, depends on the image) ... but then again if I want a terrific print I'm probably going to use Photoshop on it anyway.

My use of it is to pick the image I want, then I export master to PS CS2 and edit and print from there. Previously I would browse, do simple changes, and render to 16-bit TIFF in C1 (C1's browsing SUCKS but I love its renderer) then final editing and printing in PS. Aperture plus upgrading to PS CS2 allows me to ditch C1 and reduce the time spent going from a set of images to a print.

YMMV, but it's saving me so much time in image selection that I think it's worth the money despite the renderer. I rather expect Apple to improve its renderer over time, too; they're getting beaten up over it. Yes, exactly, why I'm waiting for v2. Heck, if the main thing it's good at is threshing the wheat from the chaff, maybe I should polish my scripts up and sell 'em... a mere $100... a steal at twice the price. http://dgrin.com/images/smilies/icon10.gif

By the way, C1 on the Quad renders a 6MP CRW frame to 16-bit TIFF in nine seconds flat. My G4 powerbook took 5 minutes. I would be surprised if dcraw saw that kind of performance jump but you'll be happy relative to your old hardware in any case. And I, too, was bouncing off the walls when the Quad showed up. Well, C1 I suspect is fully threaded, so it's using all 4 cpus... and it's quite likely vectorized, so it's using altivec too. So far as I know, dcraw today doesn't have any of that... BUT... that's one of the things on my project list to go off and investigate/implement. (The main reason for the quad is actually software development, not photo... it just happens that it will make that a lot better too... not to mention editing video, that's the quad's killer app, rendering HD content... not still frames.)

And having just hauled it down from the front door... all I have to say at this point is DEAR GAWD THAT'S HEAVY. http://dgrin.com/images/smilies/eek7.gif I've moved dual 2.7s around at work... they aren't this heavy. Welp, enough of a rest, time to clear some space and get this bad boy unwrapped.

[DavidTO]

Apple has some really good advice here. (http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=301920) The first line is especially funny.

[jimf]

Again, something I script... but then I'm a unix geek.

Me too, actually. I have a bunch of scripts for doing image management and backup. But I haven't yet seen a good batch renderer (no, dcraw doesn't do it for me) and there's really no comparison between a really good image management UI and scripts.

(FWIW, I wrote xloadimage if you go back that far. Ahh, image display on X11, I hardly miss ye. Thank God DEC is out of business.)

Yes, exactly, why I'm waiting for v2.

I figured I don't lose much by jumping early; Apple's upgrades tend to be about $100 so if you presume v2 is going to do a good job that's my sunk cost.

(shrug) I have spent more money on worse things :-)

jim

[rutt]

My nearly 3 year old 1GHz 17" powerbook was just a little broken, the keyboard had stopped lighting and the latches on the case didn't work perfectly. My secretary had a little free time, so I asked her to make an appointment and take it to the genius bar and see if they would fix it.

Well, turns out they said they couldn't fix it; had to send back to Apple, but it would only take 3 days, would that be OK? Since this is not my only computer (!) I said, sure, WTF. I could live without it for 3 days.

3 days pass. 1 week passes. I get email, repair is on hold waiting for a needed part. Another week passes. I call them. They need a part, no ETA. I ask them, a week? a month? a year? No answer. It will be fixed when it's fixed.

Yesterday I called again. Same story. I suggest they put the hard drive into a different computer. No can do, they don't have any computers (this is Apple, remember). I remind them that they do have computers, but that doesn't seem to help. May I talk to your manager, please.

On hold for 30 minutes, then I am talking to the manager. I suggest the disk swap, but Apple doesn't do that. Repair and manufacturing are not only on different continents, but different companies (manufacturing is outsourced, repair also for all I know.) I explain that since I did buy Apple Care it only makes sense for them to fix my computer in some reasonable amount of time. Yes, but that only extends your warranty.

Then he says, OK, OK, OK, enough already. Here's the deal, take it or leave it. Go to the Apple Store page and look at the 17" powerbook there. We'll send you a new one of these. But you lose your data, memory upgrade. What you get is what's on sale now and that's it. Your old computer goes back to the "manufacturer" for scrap.

Lucky it's not my only computer and so I have a complete backup (actually redundancy). Go for it. I get improved resolution, 1.67GHz, 120 instead of 60G drive. I lose my 1G memory upgrade, but Crucial has a 2G upgrade kit for $200.

So for $200, I have a new PB ready to sell when the Intel version hits the streets. Should have much better resale value.

I wonder if I'll be able to buy an new 3 year Apple Care plan for it? My old one seems to have been a fine deal once a little moxie and persistence were added.

FWIW, this experience was a little better than dealing with IBM, Dell, or HP. I once got HP to provide a new computer after they repaired one 3 times and it broke within a month each time. But it took them about a month to "manufacture" it.

[Andy]

My nearly 3 year old 1GHz 17" powerbook was just a little broken,

Applecare rawks. DavidTO had a similar story, not as fortunate outcome but good nonetheless. Great story, Rutt! I moved it to the big Apple thread.

[rutt]

Applecare rawks. DavidTO had a similar story, not as fortunate outcome but good nonetheless. Great story, Rutt! I moved it to the big Apple thread.

"Rawks" not "Rocks" is a good description. Not really perfect, but eventually human. If you add up the time we spent on it and consider what we earn/hour, we probably got the upgrade just about at it's street value.

[rutt]

"Rawks" not "Rocks" is a good description. Not really perfect, but eventually human. If you add up the time we spent on it and consider what we earn/hour, we probably got the upgrade just about at it's street value.

Well, maybe we're not actually that highly paid, but I'm still ticked off that it was so hard.

[Andy]

Well, maybe we're not actually that highly paid, but I'm still ticked off that it was so hard.

It took me 15mins of phone time with Apple to get my "non-gettable" RMA on Aperture - becuase I had opened the package... but they relented.

[rutt]

It took me 15mins of phone time with Apple to get my "non-gettable" RMA on Aperture - becuase I had opened the package... but they relented.

I guess that's the point. They will relent if you persist. It's much harder to get Dell or HP or IBM or Sony to relent in my experience. Especially with Dell and HP it's pretty easy to get routed to someone in India who really has no authority to do anything to help. An associate of mine spent a whole day on the phone with Dell, mostly on hold and eventually they just hung up on him. And there was no record of any of it, so he had to start fresh. Service like that is so bad, that it's actually worthless. Just buy something cheap enough that you can actually just replace it when it breaks. Or learn to fix it yourself.

[SCS_Photo]

I guess that's the point. They will relent if you persist. It's much harder to get Dell or HP or IBM or Sony to relent in my experience. Especially with Dell and HP it's pretty easy to get routed to someone in India who really has no authority to do anything to help. An associate of mine spent a whole day on the phone with Dell, mostly on hold and eventually they just hung up on him. And there was no record of any of it, so he had to start fresh. Service like that is so bad, that it's actually worthless. Just buy something cheap enough that you can actually just replace it when it breaks. Or learn to fix it yourself.

Tell me about it... The first generation G4 iBook I'm using right now spent about 6 months total (3 seperate visits) back to Apple. I spent hours on the phone, 1st time they shipped it back after a month because I had YDL installed on it. Second time they replaced the faulty logic board with yet another faulty board. 3rd time, after the 1 year warranty had expired and it started acting up again, they finally took it after some forceful haggling with the tech person. I had to argue that the last replacement board was a Lemon before they sent me the box. I didn't do the applecare thing because I was short on money at the time. I'm not sure I would do it again... Not with apple's QC problems with laptops. At least not 1st generation ones.

Anyway... Theres a little crack on the LCD mounting, but other than that and a slightly crooked keyboard, its fine. I'll keep it until it dies completely, which better be a while, being that the first 14 months I had it it was basically useless.

[rutt]

Well I have the new computer, but it was torture. The worst part is how completely confused they were internally. Was I supposed to get it tomorrow or a month from now? Apple is still better than HP, Dell, and Sony, but they are working on erasing that product differentiation. When they get those Intel products out, I predict they will feel able to close this gap.

[jimf]

Well I have the new computer, but it was torture. The worst part is how completely confused they were internally. Was I supposed to get it tomorrow or a month from now?

Didja order a Quad? That really was torture: When I ordered it the ship date shifted two weeks later than I expected based on a pre-order pricing effort, then people started saying they got theirs early but when would mine ship? Then mine shipped (almost the exact day that I originally thought it would ship) but it was due to show up at the office on the Friday after Thanksgiving when, of course, no one would be there to sign for it.

Luckily UPS beat their shipment and got it to me the day before Thanksgiving. My wife made the turkey, I messed around with computer hardware. A great weekend, really.

[DavidTO]

A cool widget. Sysstat (http://www.apple.com/downloads/dashboard/status/sysstat.html)

[patch29]

Does anyone have any ideas for this problem?

My friend's 11 year old niece was lucky enough to get a 14" ibook for Christmas. They had me install the extra ram, update the software and install a game. The last being the problem. I have not witnessed what happens, but they told me the game is locking up after a few minutes and does it even after the system is rebooted. The ibook is above the minimum book specs, the lowest is 32mb of VRam which is the min. The system is running 10.4.3, I checked with Macsoft's website and there are no updates or any troubleshooting issues. So I don't know what to tell them, other than to call tech support for the game, or not play games. :wxwax Any gamers or parents who install their kids games and have a similar problem?

[DavidTO]

Does anyone have any ideas for this problem?

My friend's 11 year old niece was lucky enough to get a 14" ibook for Christmas. They had me install the extra ram, update the software and install a game. The last being the problem. I have not witnessed what happens, but they told me the game is locking up after a few minutes and does it even after the system is rebooted. The ibook is above the minimum book specs, the lowest is 32mb of VRam which is the min. The system is running 10.4.3, I checked with Macsoft's website and there are no updates or any troubleshooting issues. So I don't know what to tell them, other than to call tech support for the game, or not play games. :wxwax Any gamers or parents who install their kids games and have a similar problem?

What's the game? Have you repaired permissions, repaired the disk directory? It could be the RAM, I suppose...

[patch29]

What's the game? Have you repaired permissions, repaired the disk directory? It could be the RAM, I suppose...

Zoo Tycoon 2, no, no and it is so new they have not done much with it, so I think the ram would mess with other programs too, so a few days of using it should show that. :dunno

I will see if her mom can try fixing permissions. Thanks. I forget about that since I run macaroni. :D

[Andy]

A cool widget. Sysstat (http://www.apple.com/downloads/dashboard/status/sysstat.html)

Totally useless, but funny nonetheless widget (http://www.apple.com/downloads/dashboard/games/familyguyrandomquotegenerator.html)

[DavidTO]

Zoo Tycoon 2, no, no and it is so new they have not done much with it, so I think the ram would mess with other programs too, so a few days of using it should show that. :dunno

I will see if her mom can try fixing permissions. Thanks. I forget about that since I run macaroni. :D


Ooooh. My daughter would love that (she has the first version) if I could pry her away from World of Warcraft...go figure :dunno

[cabbey]

A cool widget. Sysstat (http://www.apple.com/downloads/dashboard/status/sysstat.html)

the one thing I wish it had (or any other tool under OS/X for that matter) are the various temperatures, like the cpu temps, the harddrive temp, the case air temp... they should all be available somewhere, I know they are unders linux, but I've been totally unable to find anything that can show them to me under OS/X.

[DavidTO]

the one thing I wish it had (or any other tool under OS/X for that matter) are the various temperatures, like the cpu temps, the harddrive temp, the case air temp... they should all be available somewhere, I know they are unders linux, but I've been totally unable to find anything that can show them to me under OS/X.

Any of these work? (http://www.versiontracker.com/php/search.php?mode=basic&action=search&str=temperature&plt%5B%5D=macosx&x=0&y=0)

[DavidTO]

I downloaded and installed this widget: http://davidrosenthal.smugmug.com/photos/49821274-L.jpg (http://www.bresink.de/osx/TemperatureMonitorWE.html) (click on it!)

[cabbey]

I have not witnessed what happens, but they told me the game is locking up after a few minutes and does it even after the system is rebooted.

That screams graphics card overheat to me. If they feel around on the top/bottom of the system is there a hot spot when it locks up? Do they have it sitting on a hard solid surface so that the feet on the bottom lift it up and allow proper airflow? I don't know how heavy "Zoo Tycoon 2" pushes the graphics card, but it might be just hard enough. A test for this might be to load up something that we know pushes the graphics card hard and see what it does.... The only idea of something that comes even remotely close, and ships on all systems is the "flurry" screen saver... set all the adjustments to the right and put it in test mode.

[cabbey]

Hmm... there are a couple more on that version tracker list than the last time I looked. The one from Bresink I've looked at before, but I'm not sure I trust it... Here's the current claim for my system, I can't buy those values on an IDLE box in a 65 degree room. Not when my thermometer in the output airflow says 68 degrees.

[DavidTO]

Hmm... there are a couple more on that version tracker list than the last time I looked. The one from Bresink I've looked at before, but I'm not sure I trust it... Here's the current claim for my system, I can't buy those values on an IDLE box in a 65 degree room. Not when my thermometer in the output airflow says 68 degrees.


Apparently with no support from Apple on this front, the developers need to do a lot of reverse engineering to determine what the output of the sensors really means. Guess they need to work on it more!

[cabbey]

Apparently with no support from Apple on this front, the developers need to do a lot of reverse engineering to determine what the output of the sensors really means. Guess they need to work on it more!

Yep, that's always the downside to having to reverse engineer anything. :cry

[DavidTO]

Here's a tip you may not know...

On any finder window just cmd-click and hold on the title of the window, and a pull-down menu of the path shows up!

http://davidrosenthal.smugmug.com/photos/50556443-L.jpg

Pretty cool, huh? Well, I've known that one for a long time...


What I didn't know is that the same thing works in Photoshop!

http://davidrosenthal.smugmug.com/photos/50556474-L.jpg

[Andy]

I use Capture (http://www.apple.com/downloads/dashboard/business/capture.html), a widget that allows you set filetype and size of your captures.


This Widget blows.
I'm a "Grab" guy, through and through. Any moron can make an application (like Capture) that is non-intuitive and more work than what came with the OS - Grab. And Patch :bow :bow :bow thank you for bringing SCIT to my attention, now my GRABs are native jpg and that's just, well, easier :D

Patch, you totally RAWK

[DavidTO]

This Widget blows.
I'm a "Grab" guy, through and through. Any moron can make an application (like Capture) that is non-intuitive and more work than what came with the OS - Grab. And Patch :bow :bow :bow thank you for bringing SCIT to my attention, now my GRABs are native jpg and that's just, well, easier :D

Patch, you totally RAWK


Hey, buster. Patch didn't bring anything to your attention, because you're too lazy to read. I had to tell you about it. I had to find it for you. If I hadn't told you about Patch's find, and actually FOUND it for you (because you were incapable of finding it yourself!), you'd still have your head up your...butt trying to figure a way out of capturing jpg files instead of png!

Stop thanking Patch, when you know full well where your bread is buttered, mister!


Sheesh.


Oh, and Patch? Scit's cool.

[Mike Lane]

Hey how can you stay mad when you see cute doggies on a swing?!?!?!

[Andy]

because you're too lazy to read.

READING IS HARD

[cabbey]

What I didn't know is that the same thing works in Photoshop!
This actually works in all "Document Oriented Applications" unless the author has seriously screwed up.

For the non programmers out there, a "Document Oriented Application" is one that opens a seperate window for each "file" or "document" that it is manipulating, such as Photoshop, GraphicConverter, Preview or TextEdit. Sadly, TextEdit falls in that category of seriously screwed up. I suspect it's something to do with being a carbonized application, and not a "native" os/x cocoa application, since grab share's it's fate.

[cabbey]

This Widget blows.
I'm a "Grab" guy, through and through. Any moron can make an application (like Capture) that is non-intuitive and more work than what came with the OS - Grab.
...
now my GRABs are native jpg

uhm, so SCIT supposedly changes the format that /usr/sbin/screencapture records (this is the tool that is invoked when you hit shift-⌘-3 or 4), does it also affect the grab application (/Applications/Utilities/Grab.app) available from system services menu? :scratch (I ask because the SCIT download apears to be broken still, so I've not been able to try it.)

[DavidTO]

...


uhm, so SCIT supposedly changes the format that /usr/sbin/screencapture records (this is the tool that is invoked when you hit shift-?-3 or 4), does it also affect the grab application (/Applications/Utilities/Grab.app) available from system services menu? :scratch (I ask because the SCIT download apears to be broken still, so I've not been able to try it.)


No. Andy's confused. He thinks the keystrokes (cmd-shift-3, etc.) is Grab. I have SCIT installed, it captures jpeg with the key commands. Grab still grabs TIFF.

I just downloaded SCIT today...I'll check out the link....

[DavidTO]

Here you go. This link will download immediately! (http://www.daniele.ch/SCIT.sit)

[cabbey]

Here you go. This link will download immediately! (http://www.daniele.ch/SCIT.sit)

Yeah, same url I've been trying... both from a browser and from the command line with curl. When stuffit expander gets going on it I get:

The file "SCIT 1.0" does not appear to be compressed or encoded. It is advised that you obtain further information about the contents of this file from the sender or provider of hte file.

It will help to know what program created the file and what operating system(s) the file can be used on.

(_OK_)

Attempting to figure it out from the command line hints that something didn't quite make it...


madhatter:~/Downloads cabbey$ md5 SCIT.sit
MD5 (SCIT.sit) = 5ca22e3969a0eee3dff504ec77314878
madhatter:~/Downloads cabbey$ ls -l SCIT*
-rwxr-xr-x 1 cabbey cabbey 74832 Jul 10 06:38 SCIT 1.0
-rw-r--r-- 1 cabbey cabbey 970733 Jan 5 21:36 SCIT.sit
madhatter:~/Downloads cabbey$ file SCIT*
SCIT 1.0: header for PowerPC PEF executable
SCIT.sit: StuffIt Archive : SCIT 1.0
madhatter:~/Downloads cabbey$


I've mailed the author in case he can suggest something. It seems like a usefull tool, but I fear all it's doing is changing some plist somewhere that I could do by hand if I just knew where it was. In which case we're back to Andy's making things more difficult than they need to be. :D

[Andy]

Yeah, same url I've been trying... both from a browser and from the command line with curl. When stuffit expander gets going on it I get:



Attempting to figure it out from the command line hints that something didn't quite make it...


madhatter:~/Downloads cabbey$ md5 SCIT.sit
MD5 (SCIT.sit) = 5ca22e3969a0eee3dff504ec77314878
madhatter:~/Downloads cabbey$ ls -l SCIT*
-rwxr-xr-x 1 cabbey cabbey 74832 Jul 10 06:38 SCIT 1.0
-rw-r--r-- 1 cabbey cabbey 970733 Jan 5 21:36 SCIT.sit
madhatter:~/Downloads cabbey$ file SCIT*
SCIT 1.0: header for PowerPC PEF executable
SCIT.sit: StuffIt Archive : SCIT 1.0
madhatter:~/Downloads cabbey$


I've mailed the author in case he can suggest something. It seems like a usefull tool, but I fear all it's doing is changing some plist somewhere that I could do by hand if I just knew where it was. In which case we're back to Andy's making things more difficult than they need to be. :D

I got the same message, but it unstuffed just fine, and I dumped it in my apps folder. Works a treat!

I put it on my idisk for you, unstuffed. Help yourself :thumb (http://homepage.mac.com/awilliamsny).

Let me know when you've got it!

[cabbey]

I got the same message, but it unstuffed just fine, and I dumped it in my apps folder. Works a treat!

I put it on my idisk for you, unstuffed. Help yourself :thumb (http://homepage.mac.com/awilliamsny).

Let me know when you've got it!
Got it, thanks Andy!

edit 1:
And this time it's a different version 1.1 instead of 1.0, and the output file is different, works like a charm now.

edit 2:
And a couple minutes of digging into the ap shows it's a fancy gui wrapper for:


defaults write com.apple.screencapture type XXX
killall SystemUIServer

But hey, he knew the value to write and where to write it, and put a nice gui around it for non-unix nerds... nice job Daniele (on the off chance you ever see this, since your mail server doesn't like mine.)

So, an open question to Andy and folks... are there other simple little tools like this that you think are missing? This is the kind of thing I could write, just need someone to say "hey, we need a tool to do _______." (feel free to pm or email me if you have any ideas like that and don't wanna put them here.)

[Andy]

Got it, thanks Andy!



You are most welcome!

:D

[patch29]

and here it comes drumroll please... :drums

the newest mac will be.......

[patch29]

iLife 06 looks pretty good. I will have to check out the blogging software. I only wish Apple would not tie everything to dot mac. :wxwax

[patch29]

The first intel mac is the imac. I did not see the rumors for that one. :scratch

[patch29]

If the speed is real, that is cool. Wow 2-3x faster. :clap

Same sizes. 17", 20". Same design. Same features (isight, front row, apple remote), Same price. What's different.


Intel Processor. 2-3x faster than the iMac G5.

Two cores. each one faster than the G5

[DavidTO]

If the speed is real, that is cool. Wow 2-3x faster. :clap


It has to be to make up for Rosetta ;)

[patch29]

Cool. :clap

10:31 am 4-5x faster.
10:31 am 2 processors in every Macbook pro.
10:31 am No more Powerbook. Intel duo Core.

[DavidTO]

Cool. :clap


Yeah, huh? The death of the Powerbook....

[patch29]

Yeah, huh? The death of the Powerbook....


No more power PC, so out with the power, at least they did not put intel in the name.

[patch29]

Macbook, no internal modem. That is awful handy if you are on the road and have to fax or use dial up??? :rolleyes


Nice new power adapter connection, with a magnet, so it hopefully will release without pulling your macbook off the table, etc.

[patch29]

http://www.apple.com/macbookpro/

[StevenV]

damn damn and double-damn, Steve. I'm stuck in this bloody cycle... months of being happy followed by MacWorld and several weeks of Mac-lust... then about the time I've gotten myself back to being happy with what I'm using... Macbook!

Grrrrrr! http://svore.home.mindspring.com/icon_pirate.gif

[DavidTO]

Any news on how Photoshop will run with Rosetta? Or when it will be Intel ready?

[patch29]

Any news on how Photoshop will run with Rosetta? Or when it will be Intel ready?


I am curious what it will take to boot into Windows, not that I want to, but Garmin GPS integration is virtually non-existant on the mac. It would be cool access that software and not need more hardware.

[patch29]

Very cool about the new imacs.

missed this earlier, but I just noticed that the new iMac lets you use a second display in extended desktop mode, rather than just mirror image. This is huge. The iMac is now a serious desktop computer and no longer a lightweight geared toward the "average" consumer.


Quote Source TUAW (http://tuaw.com/2006/01/10/new-imacs-support-two-displays-with-extended-desktop/) :thumb

[rutt]

How far away can vmware be for this? I've been using it for years to run windows on linux. Very very stable and nice for the sort of thing you have in mind. Even OK for photoshop, actually.

[gubbs]

What do you reckon on the imac's. I'm tempted.

[rutt]

I think this is likely to be a really nice product. If I were actually shopping, though, I'd wait just long enough to get to play with one at an Apple Store and see how well Photoshop runs under Rosetta. Adobe will fix that eventually with a native version, but what about the meantime?

Macbooks also look nice. Wonder how long a wait for 17"

[photocat]

Anybody watched keynotes yesterday? Mighty interesting...
They have laptops now with intel processors, and build in webcam. Cool I would say. I just bought me another laptop (15 inch powerbook) six months ago, so no intel laptop for this one here. (But then I like the mac so much, so it is not really a problem... I wonder how much new software you will need for intel...)

[DavidTO]

What do you reckon on the imac's. I'm tempted.


Get it.

Rutt's right, but at the same time, the unit's 2x faster than the PPC iMac. Even if PS takes a 50% speed hit under Rosetta, which I doubt it'll be that much, you're still as well off as you would have been with a PPC. PS can't be too far behind with a Universal version of PS.

IMO, it's either that or wait 9 months or more for rev. 2. That's a long time to be Macless. That's a step below feckless. Blecch.

[rutt]

Get it.

Rutt's right, but at the same time, the unit's 2x faster than the PPC iMac. Even if PS takes a 50% speed hit under Rosetta, which I doubt it'll be that much, you're still as well off as you would have been with a PPC. PS can't be too far behind with a Universal version of PS.

IMO, it's either that or wait 9 months or more for rev. 2. That's a long time to be Macless. That's a step below feckless. Blecch.

I just said to wait long enough to actually be able to play with one a little, not 9 whole months.

Andy, got your MacBook order in?

[DavidTO]

I just said to wait long enough to actually be able to play with one a little, not 9 whole months.

Andy, got your MacBook order in?


I understood what you were saying, even if I wasn't clear in my reply.

Gubbs, you can also still buy a G5 iMac, BTW.

Same for the Powerbooks. Still available.

[rutt]

I understood what you were saying, even if I wasn't clear in my reply.

Gubbs, you can also still buy a G5 iMac, BTW.

Same for the Powerbooks. Still available.

There is a little matter of personal self discipline involved as well. I have this brand new 17inch PB, 1.6GHz, 2GB, the whole 9 yards that I got because Apple failed to be able to fix the simplest thing in my old one (keyboard lights) in a timely fashion and I was a pest after they had it for 3 weeks and couldn't say when it would be done. So I'm wondering how to time the sale of this one and purchase of a MacBook. I use the big machine for serious PS work, but I do love having a nice notebook and I do love that 17inch screen.

Jeez, make me an offer.

[DavidTO]

Very interesting read on the whole Intel/Mac thing (http://macintouch.com/sf2006/day1.html)

[photocat]

Very interesting read on the whole Intel/Mac thing (http://macintouch.com/sf2006/day1.html)

I bought the first series of the iMac G5, and I must say that I paid learning money... That is never again buy a new machine in the first batch...
Wait till they get on the second batch...

Both the iMac G5 and powerbook 15 inch are very good machines...
I was so lucky to get an apple inside tour in apple Headquarters in october...

[rutt]

I bought the first series of the iMac G5, and I must say that I paid learning money... That is never again buy a new machine in the first batch...
Wait till they get on the second batch...

Both the iMac G5 and powerbook 15 inch are very good machines...
I was so lucky to get an apple inside tour in apple Headquarters in october...

Yeah, the smart thing to do is wait just a little bit. That's why I was asking about Andy and that MacBook. We need a guinea pig.

[jimf]

Yeah, the smart thing to do is wait just a little bit. That's why I was asking about Andy and that MacBook. We need a guinea pig.

I was going to say the same thing. We're talking not only about a new model, here, but a completely new release of all the software except the stuff running under a completely new emulator. That is just fertile ground for various problems.

Apple has done it before successfully and I have no reason to believe it's not going to work this time but the smart money is on waiting at least a few months to see how the early adopters do.

I waited on buying a mac mini for my in-laws until I found out whether or not they were going to introduce an intel version. I was split on what I'd do if they did -- do I buy the known-reliable package that is already out of date, or do I buy the new one that presumably will have a longer life but likely have bleeding-edge issues. Lucklily Apple didn't make me make the choice :-).

(I still can't believe how small the mini is. Eesh.)

[Andy]

Yeah, the smart thing to do is wait just a little bit. That's why I was asking about Andy and that MacBook. We need a guinea pig.

Bucking the trend (Ladbrokes (http://www.ladbrokes.com/lbr_portal) stock has just tumbled :lol3) I *am not* buying the MacBook on Day 1. I will wait and see how the new software and platform performs :deal

[rutt]

Bucking the trend (Ladbrokes (http://www.ladbrokes.com/lbr_portal) stock has just tumbled :lol3) I *am not* buying the MacBook on Day 1. I will wait and see how the new software and platform performs :deal

Damn! Who are we going to get to do this now? DavidTO talks a good game, but it's all just talk. Do as he does not as tells you to do. If not Andy, who?

[DavidTO]

Damn! Who are we going to get to do this now? DavidTO talks a good game, but it's all just talk. Do as he does not as tells you to do. If not Andy, who?


Rutt, didn't you know? I am the puppetmaster!

[rutt]

Bucking the trend (Ladbrokes (http://www.ladbrokes.com/lbr_portal) stock has just tumbled :lol3) I *am not* buying the MacBook on Day 1. I will wait and see how the new software and platform performs :deal

Whew, I just reread and decoded this message. Not Day 1. But how long can he wait after Day 1? Day 7?

Seems like a good thing to have a pool on, doesn't it.

[Andy]

Rutt, didn't you know? I am the puppetmaster!


It's true!

[StevenV]

I am curious what it will take to boot into Windows, not that I want to, but Garmin GPS integration is virtually non-existant on the mac. It would be cool access that software and not need more hardware.

from http://www.macintouch.com/sf2006/products.html


Garmin (http://www.garmin.com/pressroom/corporate/011006.html), a major designer and manufacturer of GPS systems, announced that it will immediately begin to make its line of GPS and mobile electronics devices compatible with Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger. According to the press release, a Mac version of Garmin's Training Center software for workouts will be available this spring. Also in the spring, it promised to provide Mac compatibility for the interface of www.MotionBased.com, which translates GPS data into performance analysis, online mapping, and route sharing for endurance and outdoor athletes. The release also notes:


By the end of 2006, Garmin intends to have made all its popular hardware and software applications Mac OS X compatible. This includes the ability to load MapSource map data to Garmin units via a Mac, as well as waypoint and trip planning applications. Additionally, the Garmin nRoute application will allow Powerbook and iBook users to turn their laptop into a powerful street navigation tool with Garmin's GPS 10 or GPS 18 sensors.

[StevenV]

on the "can it boot into Windows" front...

all reports indicate that the Apple party line is "we won't support that," which is a lot different from "it won't happen."

Also, a News.com story quotes Apple marketing VP Phil Schiller saying that there are no plans to sell or support Windows on an Intel-based Mac, followed by the money quote.... "That doesn't preclude someone from running it on a Mac. They probably will," he said. "We won't do anything to preclude that." [emphesis mine -sjv]

[rutt]

Trust me, vmware. That's what we want to solve this problem. Put windows in a nice little box that we can pop up when we really need it and which can't do any real damage.

on the "can it boot into Windows" front...

all reports indicate that the Apple party line is "we won't support that," which is a lot different from "it won't happen."

Also, a News.com story quotes Apple marketing VP Phil Schiller saying that there are no plans to sell or support Windows on an Intel-based Mac, followed by the money quote.... "That doesn't preclude someone from running it on a Mac. They probably will," he said. "We won't do anything to preclude that." [emphesis mine -sjv]

[Andy]

Whew, I just reread and decoded this message. Not Day 1. But how long can he wait after Day 1? Day 7?

Seems like a good thing to have a pool on, doesn't it.

If you guessed today, January 11th, 2006 - YOU WIN!!!!!!

bumped it to 2gb ram, and the 7200rpm 100gb drive. Ships in Feb.

Seriously, did y'all think I'd not be getting this? :lol3

[rutt]

If you guessed today, January 11th, 2006 - YOU WIN!!!!!!

bumped it to 2gb ram, and the 7200rpm 100gb drive. Ships in Feb.

Seriously, did y'all think I'd not be getting this? :lol3

Perfect, it was just what I hoping for. Andy, the first thing you're going to do is run those FM photoshop performence tests, right? Awesome.

[Andy]

Perfect, it was just what I hoping for. Andy, the first thing you're going to do is run those FM photoshop performence tests, right? Awesome.


:deal with a full report, posted on dgrin.smugmug.com!

[DoctorIt]

:deal with a full report, posted on dgrin.smugmug.com!tick tock tick tock...

baby steps till february...

[cabbey]

:deal with a full report, posted on dgrin.smugmug.com!

It'll be interesting to see how that compares with the laughable commentary from Jobs in the keynote. SPECint and SPECfp? :rofl What was it he called them? "The most important benchmark in the industry" was it? :bs I'll take "SPECandy" here as a bit more relevant to us.

[Andy]

Hey David,

Nice Shirt! Do you have Apple undies, too? :uhoh

Get yours, now (http://www.thankyousteve.com/page1/page1.html)

[rutt]

It'll be interesting to see how that compares with the laughable commentary from Jobs in the keynote. SPECint and SPECfp? :rofl What was it he called them? "The most important benchmark in the industry" was it? :bs I'll take "SPECandy" here as a bit more relevant to us.

Hey man, those SPEC things are very important. I've worked on both sides: in industry trying to make high performance systems and trying to improve the quality of the benchmarks themselves so they really do measure important features of the systems. There is a huge amount of effort on both sides of this and it really has been a good thing for computing to be able to make head-to-head comparisons in fundemental performance between systems.

That's the problem though, these are basic low level measures of performance and there are lots of details Steve didn't bore us with (though you can find out all you want and more at [ur=http://www.spec.org] the spec web site[/url]. In the case of these particular computer and this particular audience, there really are only two relevant questions:
How well does current Photoshop run under Rosetta?
How long before there is a native, "universal", version?


The same sort of questions are probably relevant for video editing and other performance sensitive applications. The bad thing that could happen is that even with the much faster (and multi-core) CPUs, the Rosetta translation hit will be bad enough that people switching from PCs (Gubbs, e.g.) will be disappointed until the native versions of their favorite programs are available.

Waiting until the answer to the first question is available won't really change when you'll actually be able to get one of these machines by very long. As soon as people get their hands on these machines, these answers will become available. Perhaps by that time Adobe and the like will have announced their roadmap for making "universal" versions. Order a machine then and get it in a week or so (or bring home from the Apple Store or a dealer the same day.)

I've had a yellow flag out for new Mac notebook purchases since last spring. This machine is about to change that. It's only a question of a few weeks now.

[cabbey]

Hey man, those SPEC things are very important.
haha, I didn't mean to imply SPEC wasn't important, just that the two test they chose to scream about weren't. Especially since I serious doubt the claim that the ppc compiler was "the best one available". It *may* have been xlC, but if so I seriously doubt it had the right options enabled at build time... I actually suspect it was gcc. I'd like to see the full, submitted, accepted for publish report for the runs they used for that claim. Of course I doubt we ever will, cause I really think they skewed the results in their favor. And I also think they did the G5 runs in 32bit mode... which really doesn't help their "performance per watt" metric at all... having all that unused silicon.

If they had used say SPECviewperf8.1, or SPECapc for Maya, or SPEComp2001, or SPECjbb2000 (just because I have fond memories of the project when we created it, and I don't think SPECjbb2006