"PC100 sdram NG in beige G3
When I saw the price referenced on your web site for 128MB PC100 sdrams from ASR-Online, I jumped and ordered one for use in my Beige G3/333. The price was $62 plus $20 shipping, but the ram won't work in the G3, it won't boot with that ram installed in any slot. I tested it on a friend's wintel box and it works, so I guess its not compatible. Just thought I'd report that. Thanks for a great site anyway.
--- Jim Weisbin"

G4/AGP w/EditDV Unplugged Report: A reader replies to the earlier post on compatibility:

"Hey there. Just wanted to let you know that I was able to use the EditDV Unplugged 1.6.1 Demo on my AGP G4 450 under 8.6/QT 4.0.3/Firewire 2.2.2 with a Sony VX-1000 and a Canon ZR Camcorder. I just had to disable the "QuickTime FireWire DV Enabler" as instructed in the Read Me, and was able to easily import many DV clips with no dropped frames. The only problem I noticed was the need to connect the camera after opening EditDV to prevent a crash. Hope this helps.
Chris Plum"

As I noted in an update to the original post below, I hear Firewire 2.3 drivers from Apple may solve this, however they're not available to the public yet.

Techworks 256MB Dimm Sale: OWC sent yet another reader special, this time on 256MB Techworks brand SDRAM:

"Techworks 256mb 2-2-2 CL2 G3/G4 PC100 SDRam w/Lifetime Warranty (TWPC100SD256)
$227.00 for your readers!!!! "

The site specials page has the new pricing. OWC also wrote to say that RAM pricing in the specials list posted earlier today could be subject to change (they don't anticipate any but that depends on supply costs when current stock is depleted I assume).

C/Net has a preview of OS X. They rated it an 8. They also reviewed the Airport base station but noted poor performance (lower transfer rates than expected).

$109 Zforce/$105.75 Miles UW SCSI w/Softraid: George Cole of OWC sent a note on two new specials for readers:

"Also I wanted to mention that I have 2 specials exclusively for your readers available at this link:

http://shop.macsales.com/macsales/XLR8yourmac/XLR8yourmac.taf

PowerLogix Z-Force Zif Carrier G3 & G4 without ZIF (PLGZIF)
XLR8yourmac readers special: $109.00
For your readers only!

Also:

Initio Miles Ultra Wide PCI SCSI Interface OEM w/Conley Raid Software (IMPCISCSIOEM)
XLR8yourmac readers special: $105.75
For your readers only!

This initio card is bulk shipped and does not include any SCSI cables. It is brand new with full warranty.
-George"

OWC sent their latest list of specials that includes $119.00 PC100 128MB SODimms that work in all Powerbooks (including Pismo). [I tested one of these OWC SODimms in the Pismo - it's 222, but the Apple dimm is 322.] Fedex 2-3 day shipping is $5 extra. Also on the specials list is a EZQuest BOA 8X Write/4X Re-Write/ 32X Read Firewire CDRW Drive (EZQK55120) for $379.00.

OWC also noted a shortage of 350MHz ZIF upgrades:

"The 350 ZIFs will likely not return, that is unless a new supply crops up. We are currently oversold by 5 pieces. These 5 backorders will be fillable by no later than Tuesday 3/14/2000....We will soon have other products in that speed range. "

Pismo vs Sony Vio: A reader sent a note about a recent review of the Powerbook G3 (firewire) against the high end Sony Vio notebook:

"Hi Mike,
I saw this interesting, and pretty thorough, review today, pitting the Pismo G3/500 against Sony's Vaio PCG-F490. While berating the Powerbooks "small" screen (The Vaio has 15"), it also states that "our Photoshop filter tests ran 25 to 50 percent faster on the PowerBook than the Vaio", and that the Powerbooks hard drive is more than 3 times the speed of the Vaios! (Review link)

Cheers,
Simon "

I added that review link to the late update to the 'other net news' last night but wanted to post this in case anyone missed it.

EditDV/MotoDV & Apple G4/AGP Compatibility: [Update: An insider says that Firewire 2.3 drivers may solve this issue, but they're not available to the public yet.] A reader sent a note on a current incompatibility:

"Mike,
After MUCH hair-pulling regarding Digital Origin DV software and a AGP G4, here's what I found. It basically says that their products ARE NOT compatible with the NEW AGP G4s! You need to buy a 1394 PCI card or wait for the updated software to come out in a few weeks. BOGUS.

Thought many of your readers would be interested.

FAQ #259, Date created: 10/27/99
Q. Are EditDV, MotoDV and PhotoDV compatible with the Apple's G4 built-in-firewire?

A. Digital Origin products are compatible with the G4 system, but are not compatible with the built-in FireWire ports on some G4 models. G4 models with incompatible built-in FireWire ports may use Digital Origin's 1394 FireWire card today.

G4 models M7631and M7826 use compatible Firewire ports. All other G4 models use a new OHCI Firewire port that is not yet compatible with Digital Origin software. It is not possible to use the FireWire 2.1 Apple software with the G4 Sawtooth computers because the 2.1 only supports the FireWire chip included in the G3 and G4 models M7631and M7826 .

How can you tell what which models are compatible:

All the compatible G4 models also use a PCI graphics card. G4 models with incompatible OHCI Firewire ports use an AGP graphics card. Refer to Apple's Technical Info Library Article #58418 for further details on how to differentiate the different G4 models. At this time, the Digital Origin IEEE 1394 Firewire card is required for G4 models that do not have compatible built-in Firewire ports. Digital Origin is working with Apple and intends to support the G4's OHCI Firewire ports in the future.

Digital Origin is working with Apple to resolve this issue. An update will be required to allow Digital Origin software to communicate directly with the built-in FireWire on these new Apple systems.

Please check our website in the coming weeks for additional information on availability of this update. If you wish to be notified when FireWire 2.3 is available then subscribe to DVwire, our announcement newsletter. You can subscribe from our home page."

The above mentions Firewire 2.1, a later version is installed on new G4s, but I'm not sure that will solve this issue since Digital Origin's Mac Compatbility page still shows the issue with AGP systems onboard firewire.

List of OS X DP3 SCSI Card Support: An insider sent this info on the list of SCSI cards supported in OS X DP3. (A reader noted that he's used a 29160/39160 card in OS X, although it's not on the list). Also note that the 2940UW is listed, but a reader reported problems in actual use (noted in yesterday's news):

"Please don't disclose this as coming from me: Here are the id's the Adaptec78XXSCSIController driver matches against in DP3: ADPT,3950U2B', 'ADPT,2940U2B', 'ADPT,2930CU', 'ADPT,2930U', 'ADPT,2940U2W', 'ADPT,2940UW'

And here are the ones that the Sym8xxSCSIController matches against: apple53C8xx', 'Apple53C875Card', 'ATTO,ExpressPCIProLVD', 'ATTO,ExpressPCIProUL2D'

If the Adaptec 29160/39160 id's itself as one of the above, then it'll be recognized and _might_ work. If it doesn't, then the only way it would work is if Apple included Open Firmware SCSI Manager 4.3 support in DP3. I don't know about that, as all the cards I have are supported cards.

Note that the retail 2940UW is listed above. That means that the driver does recognize the card and will attempt to use it. However, that doesn't mean it'll work, since there might be slight differences between the Apple OEM version and the retail version. Apple might not have tested the driver against the retail version yet. If I had a 2940UW, I'd make sure to reset the settings to default and pull all but one hard drive off the bus(es), triple check termination and cabling issues, and then see if it works. Then slowly put things back on the bus(es).

Another thing to note: many drivers and the surrounding support fall under the Darwin Open Source license. Therefore, we'll be able to get in and alter drivers existing drivers. Hopefully that means supporting a lot more Symbios Logic family based SCSI cards (I don't believe the Adaptec drivers falls under the Darwin Open Source license). Initio has released their Linux driver with source code (I believe full source code is now included) so that is a candidate for a programmer to tackle with the new KDK. Of course, I expect many vendors to write drivers for their cards. It's products that came from now defunct Mac vendors that we won't see support unless 1) source code is made available 2) programmers spend time to create the drivers from the source. ­"

PPC Checker 2.0: Michiro Isobe's utility has been updated to v2.0 with the following changes:

"The new version includes following new features and changes.

(1) PPC Checker now supports Nubus based Power Macs and Performas by using alternative code contributed by Steven Bytnar.

(2) PPC Checker displays the revision number of PowerPCs.

(3) Removed unwanted comments about specific revisions.

(4) Added support for G4 stepping 2.8.

If you find any "unknown types" or "unknown rev" PowerPCs, please let me know the PVR value and the specs of your macintosh. "

VGA to DVI Adapters: A reader sent a note about a website (Cable-Comm) that lists VGA to DVI adapters, but I'm not clear if these are just components (connectors/cables) or complete assemblies. If anyone has used any VGA/DVI adapters please let me know.

Control Strip CPU Usage: This reader sent an odd report from an OS 8.5 equipped B&W G3:

"Hi Mike,
Just one thing to add to the discussion of the Control Strip's CPU usage. I noticed back in OS 8.5 that Peek-a-Boo showed the Control Strip taking up something like 5% of the CPU. However, unplugging my keyboard's USB cable (the mouse is plugged into the keyboard) from the back of my B&W G3 and then plugging it back in will drop the CPU usage down to negligable amounts. Maybe your readers can speculate what's going on here.
Jeff Berman"

Later USB extensions don't use polling which should help (interrupts are used). I'm not sure when that change was incorporated with onboard USB Mac extensions however. Why replugging the keyboard would not result in polling the bus again is odd however.

More Pioneer 10x DVD Drive Reports: The latest reader comments on the drive:

"Hello,
just bought a Pioneer 10x DVD (104S, firmware version 1.23) and installed it in my Rev A BW G3. The Apple CD/DVD driver (S1-1.3.2) from OS 9 works just fine here, contrary to previous reports. I can read cds, play dvds with the cracked Apple player and even boot from cds. Kickass.
Jacob Ehnmark"

Hard Times for Disk Drive Mfrs: PCWorld has an article that's reporting low profits for hard drive manufacturers. They also have a story on higher capacity drives of the future (up to 100GB).

Thad received word from Koblo that Stella9000 is only available as part of Studio9000, so the pricing and value section of the Stella9000 Review has been revised.

The Owner's CPU Upgrade Reviews and Mac Game/Video card Performance searchable databases were updated at midnight last night.

Other Net News:

News
• A new generation for ATI (rehash of the Canadian Press release noted here two days ago).
• Welcome to 2010
• iMac copycats won't give up (Macweek)
• The secret world of software updates (Arizona Central)
• MGL's latest Giveaway (currently Quake1/2 and Quake3)
• Rude Software: The Readers Respond, Grand Ol' Future, Snake Oil, Apple Can Make A Difference: Part 1 The Problem (MacOpinion)

  Software Updates:

• Jackhammer G4/OS 9 Update 1.45
• Real Tek driver (I have no idea what this card does)
• Unreal Tournament Utilities (Applescripts for UTCacheCleaner, UTMapInstaller & UTMapUninstaller)

  TILS

• iMac DV: Final Cut Pro 1.2 Not Currently Supported
• Final Cut Pro: Compatibility Matrix
• Final Cut Pro 1.2.1: Truncated Serial Number

The recent features page also lists articles posted (most recent first) as does the sidebar links here. The site topics pages (systems, cpu upgrades, etc. - see top and sidebar links on this page) also are places to check as well as the FAQ.

Thursday's News Summary

• PB G3/500 DVD playback comments
• More on OS X Retail SCSI Card Support
• RedHat Linux Install Guide for VPC
• Final Cut Pro/Pismo Firewire Capture Issues
• MaxPowr Beta/RamDoubler 9 Tip
• OS X DP3 hangs at boot w/Retail SCSI 2940UW Adaptec card
• Reminder on Sony Spressa USB/iLink CDR Patch
• New Mac OS ROM Versions
• Mac N64 Emulator Gets New Name/Features
• Stella900 review revised for pricing
• Reminder on $99/128MB SDRAM sales
• Owner's CPU Upgrade Reviews and Mac Game/Video card Performance searchable databases updated.
• Other Net News/TILs/Software Updates

Wednesday's News Summary

• More $99/128MB SDRAM Sales
• Stella9000 Review (Audio)
• New G4/500s Have Speculative Processing Enabled?
• Comment on Toast 4 & Ricoh DVD/CDRW
• ATI to Unveil 'Revolutionary' 3D Graphics Technology
• 3dfx at GDC
• Update on Ricoh DVD/CDRW Combo Drive in Macs
• iSub Owner Solves Audio CD Skipping
• iSub Raves
• Ramdoubler 9/PDS Maxpowr 1.1b4 Conflict?
• IBM Solved G4 Higher Speed Production Problems?
• Early Sawtooth/DVD Player 2.1 Report
• Final Cut Pro & Firewire PBs
• Owner's CPU Upgrade Reviews and Mac Game/Video card Performance searchable databases updated.
• Other Net News/TILs/Software Updates

Tuesday's News Summary

• DVD Player 2.1 Patch Site Tips
• Another TurboMax AV Performance Report
• TurboMax 1.7.4 Update Improves Performance
• iSub Audio CD Skipping Report
• PCI IDE Card Support in OS X
• Wanted: More Ricoh DVD/CDRW Combo Reports
• More PCI Bus Errors Feedback
• GLQuake 0.5 Tip
• Quake3 Skinning Tutorial
• MacSense XRouter with DSL Support
• Owner's CPU Upgrade Reviews and Mac Game/Video card Performance searchable databases updated.

For links to older news pages see the Archives page.

The recent features page has a lists reviews/articles you may have missed.

For a guide to finding answers to questions - see my Site Guide page.

Considering a CPU Upgrade? Search the CPU Upgrade Owner's Survey results and search for owner reports by Mac model and/or card brand. The current database has more than 3,300+ reports and growing.