" Hi Mike,
Just thought I'd give you a heads-up on two issues which seem to be getting some attention from some users on the new PowerBooks, namely:

1. New trackpads are sometimes sluggish or unresponsive
2. 100GB HD occasional soft "plunk" noises.
(Note - this sounds like the comments here from some readers that installed a 100GB Seagate drive in their PB/iBook, which I'm guessing is the same drive used in the new PBs. See Friday's news item.-Mike)

I can confirm on a new 17" 1.67GHz/1Gb/100Gb/128MbDL Radeon 9700M PowerBook the following:

1. When booting the machine up holding down the option key (into the select startup volume area) the trackpad is virtually unusable. You can manage to move the cursor using the trackpad, but you must use very quick finger movements, and even then diagonal movements are more like 1" x-axis, 1" y-axis. As soon as you boot past the screen and the OS loads, the cursor returns to normal. It seems to me that the new trackpads rely on software being loaded after the low-level system software has loaded, in order to function properly.

2. These HD noises are "within spec" and are due to the thermal recalibration that the 100Gb Seagate 2.5" drives use, being interrupted by HD access. (thermal recal was also mentioned by another reader in a past report as the cause-Mike)

A couple of other observations: The backlight KB is SUBSTANTIALLY brighter, I can confirm this. The 17" display bezel on the new PowerBooks now use small rubber stopper in the top left and top right hand corners (absent on the previous model) to avoid Aluminium to Aluminium contact in these areas when the lid is closed, and hence case marking.
Cheers, Danny G. "

A reader replied to Danny's comments saying his Dec. 2004 purchased 15in PB G4 1.5GHz also had the rubber display bumpers installed. On my Powerbooks (older models) I've used those adhesive backed rubber "dots" (gray in color) on the display lid. (I couldn't remember the company name this morning but several readers refreshed my memory - they're from Radtech.)
Here's some other replies today on new PB trackpads:

" I've been having a problem with the track pad on my brand new 12" PowerBook.... (Yes, this is a brand new 2005 with the scrolling track pad.) In a nut shell the track pad is often unresponsive. It moves very slowly at first and only after considerable movement will it appear to "wake-up".

The problem with the track pad had been driving me so crazy that I have been thinking about returning the computer and if I had to, take the loss on the 15% restocking fee. This may not be such a big issue for some people, but I spend most of my waking hours using this laptop.

I called Apple support today about the problems with the track pad. After describing the problem and going through some basic tests, my call was quickly transfered to the second tier of support. One of the things the second tier support had me do was boot the computer to the startup manager (hold the option key). The track pad showed what appeared to be a similar issue to the wake/dim problem I've been experiencing. Though it never "woke up."

I attached a mouse and restarted the computer and the mouse did not have any problems. After being on hold for a little while the second tier tech came back on the line and told me I would have to return the computer for repair. They are going to replace the track pad.

I explained my concern that while the computer was in for repair, if enough time passed, I would loose the option to return the computer. It may come back with the same problem after all.
The tech felt confident that replacing the track pad would solve the problem and if it didn't and I wanted to return the computer, he would see that there would be an exception.
Bob "I miss my Pismo" "

Although not related to a 2005 model, another reader commented on trackpads:

" A fix for the jumping cursor with 10.3.8 on my 15" AL PB purchased in December merely involved connecting the apple mouse. The track pad works just fine while using ones own digits. No mouse involvement at all. Of course when I do use the mouse it also works OK.
Regards, Wil N. "

I've never gotten used to trackpads (still clumsy for me, despite using a powerbook of some type daily since summer 1998) - I always use a mouse.

" Hello Mike,
here the link to the last firmware update for the Pioneer 109 DVD burner:
wwwbsc.pioneer.co.jp/product-e/ibs/device_e/file/DVR109_FW117EU.EXE
(If unpacked on a Mac to get the rom, you need Stuffit 8 or later, although DVR-109 owners have said Flashkit 2.0 doesn't work with the 109 drive.-Mike)

Changelog:
• Support 16x writing on New 16x DVD-R Media
• 16x writing (FMitsubishi Chemical/Maxell)
• 12x writing (FBeALL)
• Support 16x writing on New 16x +R Media
• Support 8x writing on New 8x DVD-R Media
• 8x writing (FDaxon/Gigastorage)
• DVD-R/RW/+RW Writability Improvement
• Error correction at the Packet Write on the CD-RW

You can find it also here:
http://forum.rpc1.org/dl_firmware.php?category=4&manufactor=25
NB: A PC (or a USB box and Virtual PC) is still needed to upgrade, no Mac flasher available :(
Regards, Cesare G.
(he later wrote)
Update to my last feedback:
For those users who bought the retail version of this drive (A09) here is the right firmware: (like the 108 model, pioneer may have different updates for the retail boxed drives than the OEM versions-Mike)
wwwbsc.pioneer.co.jp/product-e/ibs/device_e/file/DVRA09_FW117EU.EXE

All these firmwares are available here:
wwwbsc.pioneer.co.jp/product-e/ibs/device_e/dev00001r_e.html#firmware1 (this is always the world most updated page since it's from Japan)
I've sent a feedback requesting a Mac flasher here:
http://www.pioneer.co.jp/support/environment-e.html
Maybe other users will be interested in such a thing...
Let's hope to get an official Mac-flasher soon because DVRFlash/Flashkit 2.0's guys don't look much interested in Mac tools :(
(To be honest, I'm thankful for the efforts of those that worked on the flasher for OS X, considering the lack of mac support from most mfrs. Other than a few companies like Plextor, we've been reliant on 3rd party flashers in general. -Mike)

PS: i've also tested the official MacOS 9 Pioneer flash utility (the one i used to flash my 105 before DVRFlash was available... yes, that strange "UpgMac.exe" app) but it doesn't work with the 109. "

That old OS 9 updater was mentioned here many years ago - still linked in an older FAQ item. Logitec (not Logitech) posted a GUI OS X flasher for the 108 drive mentioned here last month, but no feedback on it with other than DVR-108 drives. (Update - Cesare wrote he tried the Logitec flasher and it didn't recognize his DVR-108 drive.)
Using a USB case with Virtual PC is an old tip here from before there were OS X native flashers, as VPC won't work to flash internal drives or FW drives, unless that's changed in version 7.
I don't own a DVR-109 drive but if anyone finds a way to get Flashkit 2.0 or the Logitec flasher (linked in the FAQ's DVD section in the item on DVR-108 updates) to work with a 109 model with its firmware file, let me know.

• During a cold boot/powerup - the X800 fan runs full speed until the ROM Xtender loads (which controls the fan speed). If you hear the X800 fan lower in speed as the OS loads - then the ROM Xtender is installed. (Some thought the 10.3.8 update may have corrupted it or removed it - I do not see that problem here)
  
  
• When I test for video card fan noise I remove the G5 side cover (metal) and tip out the plastic cover (don't remove it or the system fans will spin up to full 'fail safe' mode) and then carefully press on the center of the card's fan to stop it for a second to see if the card fan and not the system fans are the source.

I mention the card fan test since some of the X800 comments I've had after the 10.3.8 update blamed the X800 fan but sounded exactly like complaints on G5 system fan speed increases from other readers after that update. (The past tip here of setting the Energy Saver performance option to "Highest" vs "Automatic" helped some that reported that problem, but not all.)

" while in USA and Europe Apple removed the 6800 GT as BTO they removed the 6800 ULTRA in asia and kept the GT as option there.
Mark H. "

He included screenshots that showed the GT (not Ultra) on the BTO options menu from Apple australia, Singapore and Hong Kong. I wonder if this is due to supply problems (temporary) of the Ultra card. (I asked if those online stores still showed the Ultra card available separately.)

DVD-ROM Drives:
• IDE LG GDR-8163B (16x/52x) in Beige G3 (OS 9.2)
  (Illustrated CD drive install guide here covers Beige G3 Minitower Model)
  
  DVD+R/RW + DVD-R/RW Drives:
• IDE Liteon SOHW-1633S35C in B&W G3 (OS X 10.3)
  (Using Patchburn 3 for iApps burn support. Illustrated CD drive install guide here covers B&W G3 and G4 towers up to the Digital Audio Model)
• IDE Sony DW-D22A in G5 Tower (OS X 10.3)
  (Using Patchburn 3 for iApps burn support.)
  
  Hard Drives:
• IDE Western Digital WDC-WD800BB 80GB in iMac slot-loading (OS X)
  (noted drive didn't power down in sleep. some other older mac owners also mentioned sleep problems with some WD drives IIRC.)

You can find full owner reports (latest shown first) by searching the database by drive/brand/interface/mac models (the latest reports are shown first in searches). For guides to installing CD/CDRW/DVD drives or Hard drives in many mac models, see the IDE Articles page. The Firewire articles page also has guides on case kits, installing drives, etc.
If you've added a IDE, SCSI, Firewire or USB hard drive, CDRW, tape drive, etc. make sure you add a report to the database. (If you post an updated entry - make sure you use the same name, etc. as you did before so I can find your past entry. Thanks.)
(Incomplete entries are deleted. Do not post questions in the database, it's for drive reports not questions on what drive to buy - for that try searching the database for reports from owners of your mac model on the drive type/brand/interface, etc. you're interested in.)

• FastMac G4 1.3-1.4GHz in (Digital Audio) G4/AGP (rated 8)
  (listed under "other" brands, updated comments on fan noise/replacement fan)
  
  (Full reviews of G4 and G3 upgrades compared to stock CPUs, including real world apps/game tests, install info, etc. are linked at the CPU upgrades page. OC/CPU module articles are on the Systems page.)

(Warning - Overclocking may not be reliable and could lead to hardware failure or corrupted data.) You can find the full reports by searching the database selecting the indicated Mac model and upgrade card brand/type. If you've upgraded the CPU on your Mac, please post an entry in the database. Search the database for entries from most every upgradable Mac model *before* you buy. (Searchable by mac model/upgrade brand).