Computer
Connections
BY LLOYD PREZANT
October 2004
New G5 towers scream
Apple now has three new G5 Power Mac models. Although 500MHz short of
Steve Job's promise of a 3GHz machine in mid-2004, these babies are nothing
short of impressive. We start with the top of the line, which sports:
dual 2.5GHz processors, an 8x Super Drive, 512MB of memory, 160GB 7200RPM
hard drive and an ATI Radeon 9600 XT with 128MB of video RAM. Priced
at $2,999. The midrange G5 includes: dual 2GHz processors, an 8x Super
drive, 256MB memory, an 80GB 7200RPM hard drive and a Nvidia GeForce
FX 5200 Ultra with 64MB of video RAM. Priced at $2,499. The entry level
G5 has: dual 1.8GHz processors, an 8x Super drive, 256MB memory, an 80GB
7200RPM hard drive and a Nvidia GeForce FX 5200 Ultra with 64MB video
RAM. Priced at $1,999. While the lower price of this model is tempting,
consider its inherent technological limitations: it doesn't share the
PCI-X slots the other two Macs have (has the old PCI slots), and is limited
to a maximum of 4GBytes of RAM (having only four RAM slots). Gone from
all video cards is the Apple proprietary single-cable ADC connector.
It is no longer supported. You will find the usual DVI ports there. A
DVI-to-VGA cable adapter is included for legacy monitor owners. The dual
2.5GHz Mac has liquid cooling built into the processor modules to keep
them from flaming out. The 9 fans we have gotten used to are still there;
still as quiet. There's plenty of connectivity on these Macs. All models
have on the front panel a FireWire 400 jack, a USB 2.0 jack and a headphone
jack. The back panel has twelve ports: gigabit ethernet, FireWire 800,
FireWire 400, two USB 2.0, 56Kbps modem, four audio jacks (optical and
analog in and out) and antenna connectors for optional Bluetooth and
Airport wireless networking cards. Buy those cards for $50 and $79 respectively.
My recommendation is to purchase the mid-range Mac. By the time you upgrade
the hard drive and memory of the entry level Mac, you still lack 4 RAM
slots and have no PCI-X slots. Only media pro and high end graphics users
need the dual 2.5Ghz (unless your cash is burning a hole in your pocket!).
www.apple.com
New iMac G5s yell
Apple can't top the new G5 Power Macs, but they can surely kick up
a storm with the new iMac G5s. Gone is the
old hemispheric base that many people found so attractive. Instead,
the new design has an all-in-one monitor-plus-computer panel, centrally
mounted
on an aluminum pedestal. The wide-screen display can tilt from –5
to +25 degrees. The iMac G5 is dead quiet at 25db. Speakers are built
in, and their grilles help to cool the Mac. There's a slot-loading optical
drive in the base. From the start, the iMac has been an engineering struggle
between form and function. Form has won out – again!I know – get
to the specs. Okay, okay. Here are the specs for the high end model:
1.8GHz processor, 600MHz Front Side Bus, DVD-R Super Drive, a 1,680 x1,050–resolution
20" display, 160MB 7200RPM hard drive and Nvidia GeForce 5200 Ultra
card with 64Mb of video RAM. Priced at $1,899. The middle iMac has a
17" display with 1,440 x 900 pixels and an 80GB hard drive for $1,499.
The bottom iMac has a 1.6 GHz processor, a DVD-ROM/CR-RW Combo drive
and a 533MHz Front Side Bus for $1,299. All models have: Serial ATA-based
internal storage, analog or digital audio in and out, three USB2.0 ports,
two FireWire400 ports, a 56K v.92 modem and a 10/100baseT Ethernet support.
802.11g-based wireless networking is an option when buying an AirPort
extreme card or using the internal Bluetooth interface. These iMacs ship
with OS X 10.3, Quicken 2004 for Mac, iLife '04, World Book Encyclopedia,
AppleWorks and a couple of games. A lower-priced alternative to the G5
tower! www.apple.com
Ritek reads in a
flash
Ritek Corp. now has an 11–in–1
flash memory card reader. Using USB 2.0 connectivity, this card reader
works with Mac, PC and Linux computer platforms. The supported formats
it reads are: SmartMedia, Secure Digital, mini Digital, MultiMedia, reduced-size
MultiMedia, CompactFlash types I and II, Microdrive, Memory Stick, Memory
Stick Pro and Memory Stick Duo (did I get all eleven?). At $29.99 it
is a must–have! www.ritekusa.com
Apple's display
white spots
Apple has posted details of its 15-inch PowerBook G4 Display
Repair Extension
Program. This program offers a fix for some Titanium and Aluminum
15" PowerBook
G4s that show faint white spots on their screens. Even if your 'Book
is out of warranty, it may be covered under this program (replacement
of LCD panel and free return shipping). If you have already paid for
repairs, you may be entitled for reimbursement. Qualifying PowerBooks
must have been manufactured between July 2003 to November 2003. These
include aluminum-clad PowerBook G4 models with processor speeds at 1
and 1.25 GHz as well as some Titanium ones clocked at 867MHz or 1GHz.
Serial numbers QT331xxxxxx to QT339xxxxxx or V7334xxxxxx to V7345xxxxxx
will qualify for this program. Get details at: www.apple.com/support/powerbook/displayprogram.
Bare
Bones get meat
Bare Bones Software released an update to their
latest version of BBEdit – an HTML– and text–editing
software program for Mac OS X. Version 8.0.1 refines the interface, adds
enhancements and fixes many reported bugs. It's a free update from version
8.0 only. Works only on OS X 10.3.5, not OS 9 or OS X previous to 10.3.5.
www.barebones.com/support/updates.shtml.
Apple Security Update
Apple has an important Security Update 2004-09-16. Beside protecting
many technical
areas of OS X code, it also updates Safari and iChat. Please
be safe and download this update. Use the Software Update control panel.
For
more information, go to: http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=61798.
Thanks!
600 Macs power Star
Wars
The technicians at Lucasfilm Ltd have reissued the original Star
Wars trilogy with incredible clarity,
using
some 600 Power Macs in the process. Four years of work went
into the restoration that included cleaning and removing dirt from
every frame
and cleaning up deterioration and other damage. The transfers
look almost as good as what the cinematographer and director saw
when the movies
were shot. Read the article on how G5s did the deed on the
Star Wars Website: www.starwars.com/episodeiv/
feature/20040916/index.html
Uniprocessor's
update
Apple has posted the Power Mac G5 Uniprocessor Firmware
Update
5.1.5fl. This update targets Mac users who have G5 Macs
with single processors. It improves reliability and sleep function
[boy
could I use that outside
of using my Mac :-)]. For OS X 10.3.5 users only! www.apple.com/support/downloads/
powermacg5uniprocessor
firmwareupdate.html.
Apple Java update
Apple has yet another update (are you sick of 'em yet?). Java 1.4.2
Update 2 brings more
stability for
desktop Java applications and improves behavior for applets
in Safari (a little parental punishment would get those applets
in line...). Use
the Software Update system preference pane (and don't
bother me about anymore updates this month!!). :-)
Solarian II sticks
it
to OS X
Oh, one
more item (this is fun...) Stick Software presents
Solarian II for Mac OS X. If you remember, way back in 1988 when the
first
color Mac computer
came out (the Mac II), there was a great game called
Solarian II. Similar, but way better than the arcade game Galaxian,
this
shareware game captured
the hearts of the Mac gaming community (very small
then). Ben Haller, the author, has finally ported the game to OS X.
Hear
the original
1980's
sounds! See the original 1980's graphics and animations!
Thrill to the ultimate shoot-em-up vertical assaults on your
senses your poor
mousing
hand can take!! Only $10 – and because it's shareware,
you can download it and try it first before you buy.
Please, everybody support Stick Software and Ben. When
you go onto his site, you will see other games and
utilities he has
made. Solarian
works
on OS 10.3 or higher. My mouse hand is hurting now!
www.sticksoftware.com/software/solarian.html
Lloyd Prezant is a NYC computer consultant who buys and sells recent used Mac computers and their peripherals. Call him at (718) 548-1623.
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