Here is the latest Sonnet eNewsletter filled with useful and relevant information to help increase your sales and satisfy your customers. Please e-mail us (newsletter@sonnettech.com) with any comments or requests for future content. We will continue to use this forum to focus on product benefits and updates, selling hints and tech tips, as well as to highlight Sonnet’s noteworthy accomplishments throughout the year. Don’t forget that Sonnet’s products enhance the Macintosh digital hub in three important areas. You can find a powerful Sonnet solution when you need to: Connect – Accelerate – Store.
This issue’s topics 1. PCI vs. PCI –X Slots in G5s 2. Getting Your iLife Together 3. Tech Tip – OS X 10.3.x and Deep Sleep --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- PCI vs. PCI-X slots in G5s
Among the many new technologies introduced with the Power Macintosh G5 was PCI-X, the latest and most powerful standard for PCI expansion cards. From the calls and e-mails we’ve received, there is obviously a lot of confusion regarding exactly what will work in this new kind of slot.
In order for a PCI card to work in a PCI-X slot it does NOT have to be PCI-X card. PCI-X slots are completely backwards compatible with PCI cards - it's no different than when you plug a FW400 device (with appropriate cable) into a FW800 port and the system recognizes the difference and adjusts accordingly.
However, there are some PCI cards that won't physically fit into a PCI-X slot. That is because when they were designed, the "universal" (also referred to as "3.3 V signaling, but 5 V tolerant") option was not implemented. This option provides an electrical system and connector that will work in both PCI and PCI-X slots.
As a general rule, if a PCI card can be inserted into a PCI-X slot and there is driver support, there is no technical reason for the card not to work. For a list of Sonnet products and their compatiblity with the G5 please visit: http://www.sonnettech.com/news/g5_update.html
-------------------------------------------- Getting Your iLife Together
Apple introduced iLife '04 at Macworld Expo, and while OS X 10.3 still works on lots of "stock" systems dating back to the Blue & White G3, iLife would like to leave many of these otherwise great systems out in the cold. But if you own one of these, don't give up hope. While Apple won't tell you about them, you do have some options before buying a new computer.
Processing power is where these systems need a boost. The insanely great new GarageBand requires at least a 600MHz G3, and wants a G4 if you're going to use "software instruments." iDVD is even more demanding, looking for at least a 733MHz G4 to get started. That leaves a good number of iMac, iBook and PowerBook customers behind, with a good number of G4 minitower users also coming up short.
So what's an honest Mac user looking for an affordable digital life supposed to do? Sonnet can help out in a number of cases:
Original iMacs (Rev. A-D) Sonnet's HARMONi upgrade gives you a 600MHz G3 processor AND a fully functional FireWire port both on the same $349.95 upgrade. This product provides your Mac what it needs to use GarageBand, iTunes (yes, the FireWire port is completely iPod compatible), and everything else except iDVD (these systems can't support SuperDrives). For more information, please click here: http://sonnettech.com/product/harmoni_g3.html
Blue & White G3/PCI Graphics G4 Minitowers The new Encore/ZIF CPU upgrades can take these machines to 800MHz or even 1GHz of G4 processing power. These systems can be converted to fully functional GarageBand workstations, and will do an equally great job with iTunes, iPhoto and iMovie. If you've never upgraded your hard drive, now might also be a good time to look into affordable storage solutions up to 250GB, that can be easily installed and supported with the Sonnet Tempo ATA133. For more information, please click here: http://sonnettech.com/product/encore.html
AGP Graphics G4 Minitowers: The first several models in this powerful line fall short of GarageBand's and/or iDVD's minimum processing requirements. Many of these even have SuperDrives installed, leaving them more than ready for an iLife installation. Sonnet's popular Encore/ST G4 CPU upgrades can move you anywhere from a little over the line (800MHz G4 for $$239.95) to the top of the heap (1.4GHz for $499.95). With all the other modern interfaces and AGP video built-in, the only other things you may want to consider are RAM and storage. If you add a big drive (over 120GB), you should check out the Sonnet Tempo ATA133. For more information, please click here: http://sonnettech.com/product/encore_stg4.html
For just a few hundred dollars, you can get YOUR system updated and ready for Apple's digital lifestyle revolution.
---------------------------------------- Tech Tip – Mac OS X 10.3.x and Deep Sleep
After upgrading my system software to Mac OS X 10.3.x, my computer will no longer go into Deep Sleep.Symptom 1:After I updated my system software to Mac OS X 10.3.x with a PCI adapter card installed, or after installing a PCI adapter card into a system that was already running Mac OS X 10.3.x, the computer will not go all the way to Deep Sleep. Issue:When the Mac OS version 10.3.x cannot completely identify a card running on the PCI bus, it will only put the machine into a so called “doze mode,” the machine is using less power, however the fans continue to run. This is the power management part of the Mac OS, and prevents malfunctions of the computer or peripherals that might result from sudden loss of power to the PCI bus. This is not a defect in either the Mac OS nor in the PCI card, as this behavior is prescribed by the specifications of sleep mode.Solution:This is an issue that is not specific to Sonnet’s PCI adapter cards, however it has been seen across a wide range of third party PCI cards. While Apple has not made any statement regarding future versions of OS X that will recognize a wider range of PCI cards, it is hoped that this will be addressed over time. Hello All,
The February eNews for RESELLERS is below. Please forward to your resellers.
The end-user version will be ready tomorrow.
Thank you.
-Joy
-----------------------------------
<bold><fontfamily><param>Times</param>Sonnet eNews ñ February 2004
Here is the latest Sonnet eNewsletter filled with useful and relevant information to help increase your sales and satisfy your customers. Please e-mail us (<underline><color><param>0000,0000,FFFF</param>newsletter@sonnettech.com</color></underline>) with any comments or requests for future content. We will continue to use this forum to focus on product benefits and updates, selling hints and tech tips, as well as to highlight Sonnetís noteworthy accomplishments throughout the year. Donít forget that Sonnetís products enhance the Macintosh digital hub in three important areas. You can find a powerful Sonnet solution when you need to: Connect ñ Accelerate ñ Store.
Among the many new technologies introduced with the Power Macintosh G5 was PCI-X, the latest and most powerful standard for PCI expansion cards. From the calls and e-mails weíve received, there is obviously a lot of confusion regarding exactly what will work in this new kind of slot.
In order for a PCI card to work in a PCI-X slot it does NOT have to be PCI-X card. PCI-X slots are completely backwards compatible with PCI cards - it's no different than when you plug a FW400 device (with appropriate cable) into a FW800 port and the system recognizes the difference and adjusts accordingly.
However, there are some PCI cards that won't physically fit into a PCI-X slot. That is because when they were designed, the "universal" (also referred to as "3.3 V signaling, but 5 V tolerant") option was not implemented. This option provides an electrical system and connector that will work in both PCI and PCI-X slots.
As a general rule, if a PCI card can be inserted into a PCI-X slot and there is driver support, there is no technical reason for the card not to work. For a list of Sonnet products and their compatiblity with the G5 please visit: http://www.sonnettech.com/news/g5_update.html
--------------------------------------------
<bold>Getting Your iLife Together
</bold>
Apple introduced iLife '04 at Macworld Expo, and while OS X 10.3 still works on lots of "stock" systems dating back to the Blue & White G3, iLife would like to leave many of these otherwise great systems out in the cold. But if you own one of these, don't give up hope. While Apple won't tell you about them, you do have some options before buying a new computer.
Processing power is where these systems need a boost. The insanely great new GarageBand requires at least a 600MHz G3, and wants a G4 if you're going to use "software instruments." iDVD is even more demanding, looking for at least a 733MHz G4 to get started. That leaves a good number of iMac, iBook and PowerBook customers behind, with a good number of G4 minitower users also coming up short.
So what's an honest Mac user looking for an affordable digital life supposed to do? Sonnet can help out in a number of cases:
<bold>Original iMacs (Rev. A-D)
</bold>Sonnet's HARMONi upgrade gives you a 600MHz G3 processor AND a fully functional FireWire port both on the same $349.95 upgrade. This product provides your Mac what it needs to use GarageBand, iTunes (yes, the FireWire port is completely iPod compatible), and everything else except iDVD (these systems can't support SuperDrives). For more information, please click here: http://sonnettech.com/product/harmoni_g3.html
<bold>Blue & White G3/PCI Graphics G4 Minitowers
</bold>The new Encore/ZIF CPU upgrades can take these machines to 800MHz or even 1GHz of G4 processing power. These systems can be converted to fully functional GarageBand workstations, and will do an equally great job with iTunes, iPhoto and iMovie. If you've never upgraded your hard drive, now might also be a good time to look into affordable storage solutions up to 250GB, that can be easily installed and supported with the Sonnet Tempo ATA133. For more information, please click here: http://sonnettech.com/product/encore.html
<bold>AGP Graphics G4 Minitowers:
</bold>The first several models in this powerful line fall short of GarageBand's and/or iDVD's minimum processing requirements. Many of these even have SuperDrives installed, leaving them more than ready for an iLife installation. Sonnet's popular Encore/ST G4 CPU upgrades can move you anywhere from a little over the line (800MHz G4 for $$239.95) to the top of the heap (1.4GHz for $499.95). With all the other modern interfaces and AGP video built-in, the only other things you may want to consider are RAM and storage. If you add a big drive (over 120GB), you should check out the Sonnet Tempo ATA133. For more information, please click here: http://sonnettech.com/product/encore_stg4.html
For just a few hundred dollars, you can get YOUR system updated and ready for Apple's digital lifestyle revolution.
----------------------------------------
<bold>Tech Tip ñ Mac OS X 10.3.x and Deep Sleep
</bold>After upgrading my system software to Mac OS X 10.3.x, my computer will no longer go into Deep Sleep.<bold>Symptom 1:</bold>After I updated my system software to Mac OS X 10.3.x with a PCI adapter card installed, or after installing a PCI adapter card into a system that was already running Mac OS X 10.3.x, the computer will not go all the way to Deep Sleep.
<bold>Issue:</bold>When the Mac OS version 10.3.x cannot completely identify a card running on the PCI bus, it will only put the machine into a so called ìdoze mode,î the machine is using less power, however the fans continue to run. This is the power management part of the Mac OS, and prevents malfunctions of the computer or peripherals that might result from sudden loss of power to the PCI bus. This is not a defect in either the Mac OS nor in the PCI card, as this behavior is prescribed by the specifications of sleep mode.<bold>Solution:</bold>This is an issue that is not specific to Sonnetís PCI adapter cards, however it has been seen across a wide range of third party PCI cards. While Apple has not made any statement regarding future versions of OS X that will recognize a wider range of PCI cards, it is hoped that this will be addressed over time.
