EvangeList Digest Friday, July 3 1998 Volume 01 : Number 1223
In this issue:
Followup - Young EvangeListas Web Sites Tidbit - Resources For The Macintosh IS Professional Tidbit - Wintel-oriented Repair Woes Followup - Well Log Software Followup - FDDI solutions for G3 PowerMacs PR - PCI Expansion for Apple PowerBook G3 Series PR - MacA&D 6.2 Released Tidbit - iMac -- Too Expensive? Tidbit - Mac in The Truman Show Tidbit - Windows -- Why Good Enough Isn't Followup - Initio Miles UltraWide SCSI Card Testimonial Correction Tidbit - Mac Durability, Going Once...
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Date: Wed, 1 Jul 1998 02:06:08 -0800 From: John Halbig <john@garage.com> Subject: Followup - Young EvangeListas Web Sites
This follow-up message is from:
Johann Campbell, <jc@jcweb.demon.co.uk>
William Bellflower-Cocks said:
>Well I've been on a mac since I was 12(I'm almost 17) and would be >interested in making a website for young EvangeListas. I'd like this to >be a group effort so if your interedted in helping send me an e-mail at < ><netfreak@mindspring.com>.
I remember raising this issue a couple of weeks ago in my posting about young evangelistas. I received so many responses as a result, including an offer of a domain name and countless offers from people wanting to help, that I found it impossible to keep track of all the different threads going on in my computer.
To this end, I've decided to create a web-based BBS devoted to this topic. It's still in development, but it should be ready in a week or two. I'll e-mail the list again when it's ready for submissions, if that's OK with the EvangeList crew.
People who would like to be notified by e-mail when the site comes on-line should e-mail <yeah@jcweb.demon.co.uk>. No message or subject line is required.
Regards,
Johann Campbell <surf.to/jcweb>
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Date: Thu, 2 Jul 1998 02:07:00 -0800 From: John Halbig <john@garage.com> Subject: Tidbit - Resources For The Macintosh IS Professional
This tidbit is from:
Applelinks.com, <webmaster@applelinks.com>
In order for the Mac to survive in the corporate world, support resources need to be available for IS professionals. Apple offers a good set of resources that are poorly marketed. Several companies also have resources available for Macintosh IS professionals, both free and pay-as-you-go. As always, there is also room for improvement. Most of these resources would also be good for smaller companies that need occasional troubleshooting assistance.
The URL is <http://applelinks.pair.com/editorials/isprof.shtml>
Recently I tried to start up my 3 year old 6100. To my surprise, the screen remained black. I was obviously shocked, having never had a problem with a Mac of this nature previously. Trying to save time, I dropped it off on the way to work at a Wintel-oriented repair shop instead of taking it to an authorized Apple dealer. They did a quick "test" on the cpu box and then the Apple monitor. The diagnosis was that "it is definitely a problem with the monitor". I left the Monitor which they would look at further and fix if possible. When I returned in a few days, they said that the monitor was "burnt out" and I would just have to buy a new one. That diagnosis cost me $35.00.
I of course believed them, and did precisely what they said to do, I went out to purchase a new monitor. I brought home a nice Sony 17" and hooked it up to the 6100, started it up and....the screen stayed black. Oh no, not only the Apple monitor was ruined, but my 6100 also.
I then took the 6100 to Computer City which also is a Wintel-oriented store(What store isn't these days?)they tested it and quickly discovered that all it needed was a new battery. I was very relieved and asked them how much that would cost. They said "$14.00 for the battery and $89.00 to install it. By the way, they refused to sell me the battery to install myself. The diagnosis cost me $10.00 or so. I took the 6100 and left.
I then did what I should have done to begin with. I called the Apple Store which has an Apple Authorized repair service. I explained the situation to them and they advised me to go to Radio Shack and get the battery for an even cheaper price and to install it myself and kindly gave me instructions over the phone on how to do it.
I installed the new battery, hooked up the new monitor and FINALLY a display came on the screen. Then I started thinking that maybe the original repair shop didn't know what they were doing and I hooked up the "burnt out" Apple monitor and to my pleasant surprise it worked perfectly. I returned the Sony 17" for a full refund.
Lessons learned:
1. Use Apple Authorized dealers only. 2. If this is the way Wintel-oriented stores operate, I want no part of it. __________________________ Digital Guy Sez:
The sharp reader will remember that the battery on the motherboard is what keeps the Mac's clock running when the system is turned off or unplugged, and preserves assorted information in the Macs PRAM...including some video information. It also can cause a problem where hitting the power key on the keyboard will not respond. While this is an oversimplification, this is often the answer to a whole slew of odd Mac problems.
The only macs that didn't have user installable batteries were the Mac II, IIx, IIfx...well, that's all I remember off-hand (most earlier macs used AA batteries accessible through a back panel to do the same job). But even those can have new batteries installed by anyone moderately comfortable with a soldering iron (I had to do that once with a couple of Mac II's that otherwise would have sat around useless. A cheap way to impress my fellow employees at the time. :)
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Date: Thu, 2 Jul 1998 02:07:00 -0800 From: John Halbig <john@garage.com> Subject: Followup - Well Log Software
This follow-up message is from:
Sharon L. Roney, <resi@pipeline.com>
I would like to thank all of the wonderful list members who responded to my request for well log software, especially Konrad Crist who sent me a template that I converted to Claris and used to make all 70 of them! Most people seem to create their own template for this type of work on programs such as MacDraw, Claris Draw or any number of other more elaborate CAD programs. Several individual suggested a company called Rockware which makes geological software for both Mac and PC <http://www.rockware.com>. They do have software that can be used to automatically generate the logs but it was a bit out of my budget. A freeware program was available at this web site <http://servermac.geologie.uni-frankfurt.de/SediTools.html> but I was never able to get it to work properly. I really didn't have time to really work with it. A site with alot of links to geological sites was suggested by several people <http://geowww.geo.tcu.edu/faculty/geosoftware2.html>. Thanks to the Evangelist I was able to get this project done on time!!!
Again thank you to all involved!!
Sharon L. Roney President Roney Environmental Services, LLC <resi@pipeline.com>
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Date: Thu, 2 Jul 1998 02:07:00 -0800 From: John Halbig <john@garage.com> Subject: Followup - FDDI solutions for G3 PowerMacs
There is also a company called TeamASA <http://www.teamasa.com> which produces a FDDI cards for the Mac.
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Date: Thu, 2 Jul 1998 02:07:02 -0800 From: John Halbig <john@garage.com> Subject: PR - PCI Expansion for Apple PowerBook G3 Series
This announcement is from:
Victoria Baker, <vicky@magma.com>
MAGMA announced that their three and seven slot PCI expansion systems are now compatible with the G3 Series PowerBooks from Apple. A MAGMA PCI expansion system adds PCI slots to Apple's PowerBook.G3 Series in a separate enclosure. The portable 3 slot PCI expansion system is an ideal solution for users who need more PCI slots, but do not want to deal with a bulky full size expansion system. The 7 slot system is an ideal solution for users who need more than three slots to get the most out of their portable computer. This product is essential for PowerBook users who need their portable computer to function like a desktop or tower Mac.
PowerBook G3 customers now have the freedom to attach practically anything to their portable computer, including video cards, digital video editing board sets, multiple graphics accelerators, fast ethernet cards, PC compatibility cards, RAID arrays and more. MAGMA's PCI expansion system also gives customers the ability to use multiple independent monitors with their PowerBook G3. The expansion systems also include mounting bays for fixed or removable media disk and tape drives, such as CD-ROMs, CD-Writers, DVD, Jaz and Zip drives. The expansion capabilities are only limited by your imagination.
The MAGMA PowerBook PCI expansion system connects to the PowerBook through a multimedia bay module and special expansion cable. Prices start at $975 for 7 slot systems and $1015 for 3 slot systems. The expansion system can also be connected to a desktop Power Macintosh computer. Purchase a PCI host interface card from MAGMA and you have a PCI expansion system for both your portable and desktop Power Mac.
Apple's new PowerBook G3 series is an extremely scalable product line that lets customers select among key variables such as screen sizes and processor speeds. Some of the many options customers can chose include either a 12.1-inch passive matrix, or 13.3-inch and 14.1-inch active matrix flat panel display; and PowerPC G3 processors running at 233MHz, 250MHz and 292MHz.
MAGMA's PCI expansion product line is compatible with many PCI based computers, including Macs and PCs. MAGMA is very excited to be at the forefront of the PCI industry and will continue to develop products that break new ground in the PCI world.
For more information, contact MAGMA at 619.457.0750, fax 619.457.0798, email <sales@magma.com> or go to <http://www.magma.com> for additional information.
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Date: Thu, 2 Jul 1998 02:07:03 -0800 From: John Halbig <john@garage.com> Subject: PR - MacA&D 6.2 Released
Keyword: Becoming an AppleDeveloper
This announcement is from:
Excel Software, <es@ibm.net>
Excel Software is pleased to announce availability of major upgrades to its software engineering products for Macintosh. MacA&D supports system analysis, requirements specification, software design and code generation for a wide range of software engineering methods and notations. Version 6.2 adds a new contents view for diagram editors, enhanced color support and automated inheritance graphs for object-oriented designs. MacA&D is now available in the Standard, Desktop, Educational and Developer editions to fit the needs of independent developers, educational institutions and large scale development teams.
MacA&D supports diagram editors for data models, class models, state models, object models, structure models, task models and screen models. Each diagram editor has a contents view that can be shown or hidden. The contents view represents each diagram as a folder icon with a list of diagram objects under it. The user can navigate between diagrams or edit properties of diagram objects from the contents view.
Instant inheritance graphs can be generated from root classes in the object-oriented design dictionary. Sophisticated algorithms provide a concise inheritance graph to express the class inheritance structure of design projects containing thousands of object classes. Designers can edit class properties from the inheritance graph.
The enhanced color support includes the ability to define background colors for diagram objects in each diagram editor. Printed output can be in color or converted to solid black and white for crisper printouts on printers that don't support color.
MacA&D 6.2 is available in four product options, MacA&D Standard at $695, MacA&D Desktop at $1295, MacA&D Educational at $845 or MacA&D Developer at $1995. Owners of older MacA&D or MacAnalyst products can contact Excel Software for upgrade pricing. MacA&D runs on Macintosh 68K or PPC and can be purchased by single user, 5 User Site or Unlimited User Site license.
For Information Contact: Excel Software Ph: (515) 752-5359 Fax: (515) 752-2435 Web: <http://www.excelsoftware.com> Email: <info@excelsoftware.com>
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Date: Thu, 2 Jul 1998 02:07:01 -0800 From: John Halbig <john@garage.com> Subject: Tidbit - iMac -- Too Expensive?
This tidbit is from:
Dan Knight, <dknight@mail.iserv.net>
The experts keep saying iMac is too expensive, that consumers don't want to spend that much money on a computer.
But a look at the best selling "budget" computer systems tells another story. Compared with today's top choices, iMac is a true bargain.
See why on the iMac channel <http://www.mactimes.com/imac/>.
Dan Knight, <dknight@mactimes.com> editor in chief, MacTimes <http://www.mactimes.com/> webmaster, Low End Mac <http://www.mactimes.com/lowend/>
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Date: Thu, 2 Jul 1998 02:07:01 -0800 From: John Halbig <john@garage.com> Subject: Tidbit - Mac in The Truman Show
Keyword: Advocacy, Macintosh in Action
This tidbit is from:
<Dick@plotz.com>
It only lasts about a second, but there's a clear view of a PowerBook, including the Apple menu logo, in the control room in The Truman Show, a movie well worth seeing for all the usual reasons. Now I've already said more than you need to know about the actual movie.... __________________________ Digital Guy Sez:
I've seen the movie. Without spoiling the plot (which every critic in America seems delighted to do :/) I can highly recommend this movie... Jim Carrey proves he can act, and Peter Weir has ALWAYS been one of my favorite directors (even if that final scene in "Gallipoli" is still one of the most emotionally wrenching I have ever suffered through). You'll wish the movie was LONGER.
But I digress... :-)
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Date: Thu, 2 Jul 1998 02:07:00 -0800 From: John Halbig <john@garage.com> Subject: Tidbit - Windows -- Why Good Enough Isn't
This tidbit is from:
Steve Kayner <kayners@jps.net>
I've posted a pro-Mac piece titled "Windows: Why Good Enough Isn't" at:
<www.jps.net/kayners/>
Here's a snippet:
"In short, buying a Windows computer that's only considered "good enough" is selling yourself short. It's not good enough for students. It's not good enough for home users. It's not good enough for business. It's not even good enough for government work. Good enough is ultimately only good enough for those who actively resist excellence -- those whose upper limit is "average."
Check it out. Send comments. Feel free to repost wherever you like.
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Date: Thu, 2 Jul 1998 02:07:02 -0800 From: John Halbig <john@garage.com> Subject: Followup - Initio Miles UltraWide SCSI Card Testimonial Correction
This follow-up message is from:
Mike Breeden <mike@xlr8yourmac.com>
The comment credited to me below (Miles SCSI PR) is not 100% correct.
Dual ATTO ExpressPCI SCSI cards do work with the PowerForce G3 CPU cards. The Adaptec SCSI cards have problems with the PowerForce G3 in general as reported many times at my news page.
The Initio Miles card is a great value and did outperform other models in some specific tests based on my SCSI reviews at www.xlr8yourmac.com/scsi.html. These tests used a earlier Miles bios revision than the current shipping version. The bios file is available as an update for existing owners at the Initio web site (www.initio.com).
Just wanted to set the record straight.
Best Regards, Mike Breeden <mike@xlr8yourmac.com> mbreeden@cstone.net> (personal)
Accelerate Your Mac! at: <http://www.xlr8yourmac.com> __________________________ Digital Guy Sez:
Well, I complain when the media doesn't "set things straight" in the same forum they screwed up in, so it's only fair that y'all should see this here. The quote that Mike refers to is reproduced below for EvangeListas reference. - --- Testimonial: Mike Breeden, <http://www.xlr8yourmac.com> says: "The Miles UltraWide SCSI card not only out-performs much-higher-priced models from other manufacturers, but is the only card that will run reliably in pairs with the PowerForce G3 CPU card," Breeden said. "That feat cannot be accomplished with the higher-priced ATTO and Adaptec cards."
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Date: Fri, 3 Jul 1998 02:06:39 -0800 From: John Halbig <john@garage.com> Subject: Tidbit - Mac Durability, Going Once...
Keyword: Advocacy, Why Macs Are Better
This tidbit is from:
<adfj@spirit.com.au>
I attended an Apple Roadshow this week where one of the speakers mentioned that on his visits to printers and pre-press service bureaus, he still saw six and seven year old Macs being used. (He went on to say that this was a false economy and they would be better off getting new G3s).
However, this did bring to mind a recent computer auction I attended. In amongst the ex-government Macs on offer was a wooden pallet load of 286s with keyboards, but no monitors. The starting price for the 10 or so CPUs? $50 (The $Oz is worth about US60 cents). There were no takers. The auctioneer then went down to $40, $20, finally $5. No takers.
So, while PCs are being sent to the dump, their Mac counterparts are still earning money for their owners. Imagine how long a new G3 will stay in service?
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End of EvangeList Digest V1 #1223 *********************************
