Computer
Connections
July ’03

by Lloyd Prezant

Lloyd Prezant is a NYC computer consultant who
buys and sells recent
used Mac computers and
their peripherals. Call him
at (718) 548-1623.

August ’03 Edition

June ’03 Edition

May ’03 Edition

Apple G5 - Gee Whiz!
Apple claims it now has the world's fastest personal computer. In theory, they might be right. When we can buy one, well that's another story. The real deal is that Apple has finally made good on their promise of a screamin' Mac. The G5 has arrived! A new aluminum case houses this landmark Mac. There are 9 (count 'em) fans - all computer controlled from the motherboard to keep your Mac cool! Inside, we can expect to see: an IBM PowerPC chip running 64-bits wide; up to 8 GB maximum RAM; up to 1 GHZ front side bus and a top processor speed of 2 GHz. RAM is 128-bit DDR SDRAM that processes data at over 6 GB/sec.There's also: gigabit ethernet; FireWire 800; FireWire 400 and USB 2.0 jacks. The G5 has built in support for Bluetooth and AirPort wireless protocols (you have to buy the cards to enable these options); optical digital audio in and out, as well as analog in, out and headphone out jacks. To help computing, there are two floating point units, optimized Velocity engine, and support for SMP (symmetric multi-processing). Three flavors of G5's are available. Let's start at the bottom: 1.6 GHz single processor with an 800MHz front-side bus; 80 GB serial ATA hard drive (serial is fastest); 256MB 333 MHz Dual Channel 128-bit DDR RAM (4 GB max); a Nvidia GeForceFX 5200 Ultra video card housing 64 MB DDR RAM; 3 33 MHz PCI slots and a 4x SuperDrive (burns and plays DVD's and CD's). $ 1,999. In the middle, you get: a 1.8 GHz single-processor with a 900 MHz front-side bus; 160 GB serial ATA hard drive; 512 MB 400 MHz Dual Channel 128-bit DDR RAM (8 GB max); Nvidia GeForceFX 5200 Ultra video card (64 MB DDR RAM); 3 PCI-X slots (two 64-bit 100 MHz and one 133 MHz) and a 4x SuperDrive. $2,399 Finally, the top dog: dual 2.0 GHz processors; dual independent 1 GHz front-side busses; 160 GB serial ATA hard drive; 512 MB 400MHz Dual Channel DDR RAM (8 GB max); an ATI Radeon 9600 Pro card with 64 MB DDR RAM; 3 PCI-X slots and a SuperDrive. This one costs $2,999. They all ship with OS Jaguar (10.2.x) Apple claims they will ship in August. Let's see if they can do that! The Apple Website can tell you more: www.apple.com

Panther strikes.
Apple's next operating system keeps it in the cat family. Called Panther, it will have over 100 new features (OY!). It will have: an improved Finder interface; faster search; better Windows integration; ExposÈ - allows users to view all open windows while choosing a specific one to be on top and tiles overlapping windows making them viewable; FileVault, which encrypts home directory content (laptop security) and VPN (Virtual Private Networking) support. The Safari mail app. is redone to display HTML-formatted e-mail. iChat AV is an updated version of Apple's instant messaging software supporting full screen full motion video on broadband connections (will work with iSight video conferencing camera). iDisk lets .Mac subscribers access their Internet storage right from their desktops. Integrated faxing is available from all printing panels (receiving and sending) and now supports cover pages. Preview, the world's fastest PDF reader will enable text selection, search and copying functions in the PDF 1.4 standard. Not to mention Pixlet - a studio-grade codec for QuickTime filmmakers. Designed with Pixar, it provides HD-quality video free of those visual artifacts (digital worms!). Whew! There's more (I didn't name the over 100 features). You will have to wait until the last quarter of 2003. Fork over the usual - $129 to get it - when you can get it. Your new G5 will love it!

Go Pro-Card.
Apple Store Pro Card. If you buy your new G5 at any Apple Store, get this card. It entitles you to have a Mac Genius transfer your files to your new G5. The Pro Card allows a next day consultation with a Genius to address any problems you have with the G5. Also, you can have a one time 10% off software sold at the Apple store and have the Genius install it into your Mac G5. Of course, once you give them your information to get the card, they will bombard you with offers and upcoming events notices. Privacy? What privacy.....

AirPort more Extreme.
Apple has released an update, bringing the AirPort Extreme card up to the newly approved IEEE 802.11g wireless standard (54 Mbps speed). This update helps with interference from other wireless devices in the 2.4 GHz range and its overall setup is simpler. Original AirPort products don't benefit from this update. Get the update by using the Software Update System Preferences pane in OS X. Earlier OS users can go to www.apple.com and update through the Knowledge Base support site.

iPod - iBetter.
Apple updates the iPod with iPod Software Update 2.0.1. Now you can update and restore your iPod using the dock connector.If you have an older iPod (scroll-wheel or Touch-wheel models), then download iPod Software Update 1.3. v 2.0.1 offers: improved playback performance; improved backlighting; better support for Asian languages; enhanced playlist functionality; a better alarm clock and imporoved use of MP3 VBR songs. A left/right channel swapping problem is also addressed and fixed. The restore command erases the hard drive and formats it. The update command downloads new software to your iPod. Find the iPod software at: www.apple.com/iPod.