" Mike,
I've been meaning to get this tip to you for some time now...
[I'm a day or so late posting it also, flooded with emails here-Mike
I've found that OS X will allow installation of the Apple driver on any hard drive. For example, I obtained a Fujitsu UltraWide SCSI drive for an 8600. The OS 9 version of Drive Setup said <not supported>. I moved the disk into my Dual G4 and under OS X, Disk Utility allowed me to initialize the drive, which also installs Apple's driver.

The results; the drive boots with the classic Mac OS on the 8600, and also works with LinuxPPC (as expected). If you re-open Drive Setup in OS 9, it will still say <not supported>, even though the current Apple hard disk driver is installed.
Thank you for your great website! Colin"

There were a few (rare) reports of lost audio (see yesterday's news for a tip for that) after yesterday's firmware updates, but this iMac owner reported he had a dimm not recognized after the 4.1.9 firmware update, even though DimmFirstAid said the dimm was ok, and he had no problems with the previous firmware update:

" Hi Mike,
I have had problems on updating an IMAC. You can find my remarks on the versiontracker IMAC firmware update page under the name cdlaat. [update - he later wrote he asked VT to remove his comments-Mike]

So although dimm first aid said everything would be oke and the previous 4.1.7 firmware updater did do fine (not disable ram) this one did. Seems to me that the current check is tighter than previous one.
Best regards,
Cees.
(I asked for more info on the dimm that was not recognized and he wrote)
The RAM was installed by the Apple vendor who sold it to me at the university, That is a local vendor named N&G computers http://www.neg-computers.nl .
The not working dimm was actually a 128 MByte dimm:
PC100 322 620
HYM7 V65 1601
ATFG-10s BA
HYUNDAI 9850
These codes don't mean much to me except the brand. My impression was that the system rejected the dimm on grounds of the timing (8 versus 10 ns) but who knows? I placed the dimm in another imac with the 4.1.7 firmware and that one accepted the dimm as working again. I am not going to upgrade that IMAC for a while."

I've never personally seen 10ns chips in a PC100 dimm (only in PC66 dimms).
If any other iMac or G4 owner has a similar problem, please let me know the details. (The previous firmware update disabled some memory dimms that did not have CL3 timing, even if they were CL2 dimms, as noted on our firmware update/lost ram page which links to a utility to repair some affected dimms.) I have seen no problems like this with my Macs running OWC and Transintl RAM here.

" I see your Tuesday news item about the OS X 10.1 server upgrade and have some news for you. I just purchsed OS X 10.0.4 server 3 weeks ago through CDW and called Apple about getting the 10.1 upgrade. They told me I have to go through CDW. I called CDW and my account rep said he had no info regarding the upgrade path and that he called Apple and they had no information at this time. I just spent $999.00 for the unlimited version of OS X 10.0.4 server and now it looks like if I want OS X 10.1 server I need to spend another $999.00!

Regarding the standard OS X 10.1 upgrade - They found some kind of record about one of my purchases that quailfied me for the OS X 10.1 upgrade for a single machine and I ordered it and was told I will see it in about 3 weeks even with FED EX delivery. I'll let you know when I get it.
I also pre-ordered the Microsoft Office X upgrade since I have Office 2000. I also ordered a 733 standard config machine that I intend to build into a server and install my OS X server software on... Lonnie R.
he later wrote with an update]

Well I called a customer satisfaction number supplied to me by the guy I ordered my new G4 from and after spending a lot of time transferring from one person to the next I finally got through to a person who directed me to a form to fill out for the server upgrade to 10.1. So I have to fill out this form and mail it in to receive upgrade disks, aong with my $19.95 shipping and handling charge.
www.apple.com/macosx/server
There is a new posting with information on how to upgrade. "

That's the same link I noted in yesterday's news but apparently it's had more information added since then.

" Mike,
I saw your mention of refurbished Radeon cards for $149. I wanted to let you know that MacWarehouse has new (well, at least I think so) Radeon AGP's for $149.
www2.warehouse.com/product.asp?pf%5Fid=SH3167&cat=mac
It's listed as "ATI Radeon DDR 32mb AGP for MAC - Only $109 After Rebates. While Supplies Last"
But I'm not sure where the $109 comes from... the page lists 2 separate rebates for $20 each, one for "ATI RADEON MAC AGP" and another for "ATI MAC Series", so apparently they are indicating that both rebates apply to the Radeon, but that doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me.

But still... $149 for a brand new Radeon is a great price... with $20 off, it's even better. If I can get $40 off with both rebates, I'll be thrilled! Anyway, just wanted to pass this along... apparently availability is limited.
--Mike "

My review of the Radeon retail card noted a $30 rebate for Mac owners (PDF file shows it expires September 30th, 2001 - see coupon for full rebate details.)
Also remember the retail Radeon has VGA and DVI ports, no ADC port, so it can't power the Apple LCD ADC displays.

Combo DVD/CDRW Drive Reports:
• Toshiba R1002 in G4/AGP
  (missed past iTunes/DB mod file notes in the FAQ and misc articles here)
  
  IDE CDRW Reports:
• Acer CRW 1610 (16/10/40) in Beige G3
• Philips 1208 in 2001 G4/AGP
  
  IDE Hard Drive Reports:
• IBM 60GXP 20GB in iMac
  (noted boot problem after reinstalling OS - may be fixed with the speeddisk tip noted here previously)
• Quantum Fireball AS 60GB in 2001 G4/AGP
• Western Digital 40GB in B&W G3
  
  SCSI Hard Drive Reports:
• Seagate ST15150N 4.3GB in 9600

You can find full owner reports 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.]

• Powerlogix G3/350 in PowerCurve (rated 10)
• Sonnet G3/500 in 8100/80 (rated 6)
  (detailed report with comments on new revised version of their Fortissimo upgrade to work with Nubus cards)
• Sonnet G3/300 in 6100AV (rated 8)
  (questions over actual CPU speed)
• XLR8 CarrierZIF w/G3 400 ZIF in 9600/200MP (rated 10)
• PowerBook G4/400 OC report
  (noted problems after some use at 500mhz, requiring a repair)

(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). For detailed reviews with performance tests and install tips, see the CPU Upgrades page.)

• 1 year ago today
• 2 years ago today [27th, 26th was Sunday]
• 3 years ago today

Software Updates:
• iMovie 2.1.1
• iGetter [download utility for both MacOS and OS X - expires Nov. 1]
• Adobe SVG B3
  
  OS X Software
• Wacom Beta Driver 4.70-7 for Mac OS 10.1
• Toast 5 Titanium for OS X version 10.1, Preview #2

Mac/PowerPC Related News:
(Note: Rehashing of press releases, repeated news, etc. not listed)

• Seybold Keynote (apple)
• iDVD 2 Preview (apple)
• Navarre Corporation Announces Agreement With Apple; Strategic Alliance Encompasses Apple Retail Stores and Web Fulfillment (businesswire)
• Toast 5 Titanium for OS X, Preview #2 FAQ (roxio)
• Jobs lauds OS X 10.1 (macworld uk)
• OS X applications reaching critical mass (macworld uk)
• Powerlogix lowers pricing on upgrades (powerlogix)
• Apple: Update Makes OS X Ready for Primetime (yahoo)
• Apple Reschedules QuickTime Live 2001 (apple)
• Free wireless Net access for the masses (cnet)
• RESEARCH ALERT-ABN AMRO cuts Apple target to $20 (yahoo)
• Mixing Java and Titanium: Part Three (orielly)
• Apple Makes Its Case for OS X (macworld)

Gaming:
• Clan Lord (deltatao)

Misc. Hardware Related:
• Proxim Delivers New Skyline 802.11b Products for Small Businesses and Schools (businesswire)
• M-Systems Introduces Higher Capacities for DiskOnKey, Includes Additional Enhancements to Latest Product Line (businesswire)
• Skyline 802.11b Wireless Broadband Gateway (proxim)