Subject: Info-Mac Digest V16 #282 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: multipart/mixed; boundary="Info-Mac-Digest" --Info-Mac-Digest Info-Mac Digest Fri, 02 Apr 99 Volume 16 : Issue 282 Today's Topics: Troubleshooting wanted (A) Internet Explorer 4.5 and garbled text (Q) PowerBook GS Series modem scripts (Q) USB/Firewire PCI cards? .vcf file .vcf file [A] .vcf file... [A] Acrobat - full version [A] Anyone know of Replacement Zip cases [Q] Acrobat - full version [Q] Anyone know of Replacement Zip cases address book etc. Apple Certified System Engineer Book?Sftware to Learn C, C+ or C++ Don't laugh: a Mac LC & The Internet - do they bite or .. ? Firewire [R] I Mac OS 8.5.1 and TCP/IP Info-Mac Digest V16 #279 Macintosh Plus and Qisk MediaVision Reno CD info Modem for 5200 modems and Netscape modems and Netscape need info/help on norton vs. others Not a flame, just a question... On NOrton 4.0 Palm Desktop Problems and Questions Palm Desktop Problems and Questions Power for a PowerBook problem setting up printer(S) question for digest Re; iMac freeze Remote Mouse for PowerbookG3 stuffit for NT or UNIX the LC and the 'Net Video Card Needed The Info-Mac Network is a volunteer organization that publishes the Info-Mac Digest and operates the Info-Mac Archive, a large network of FTP sites containing gigabytes of freely distributable Macintosh software. Email Addresses and Instructions: * To submit articles to the digest, email . * To subscribe, send email to with subscribe in the Subject line. * To unsubscribe, send email to with unsubscribe in the Subject line. * To change your address, unsubscribe from the old address, then subscribe from the new address. If that fails, try using the list maintenance form at before contacting us. * Please send administrative queries to . * To submit files for the archive, email the binhexed file with a description to . 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We'd also like to thank AOL for the main Info-Mac machine. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- --Info-Mac-Digest Content-Type: multipart/digest; boundary="----------------------------" Content-Disposition: attachment; filename="Info-Mac Digest V16 #282" ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 31 Mar 1999 09:49:31 -0500 From: Allan Hunter Subject: >From: Greg Lyzenga >Subject: stuffit for NT or UNIX > >I recently had the following request from a PC-centric friend: > >>If you run across a program which generates Mac-friendly archives >>(.SIT?) from NT or UNIX, that would be great. Right now I'm using ZIP, >>but this is a PC archive, I believe. > >Can anyone suggest a solution? Thanks x 10^6. > > - Greg Lyzenga Send your friend to Aladdin's web site (http://www.aladdinsys.com) where there is now a Windows version of DropStuff. DropStuff for Windows creates Stuffit archives via drag-and-drop, and if you double-click it and use the available menu commands instead, you can also create Zip archives (the Windows compression standard). DropStuff is compatible with NT, W95, or W98, according to Aladdin. Allan Hunter http://home.earthlink.net/~ahunter ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 31 Mar 1999 13:27:49 +0100 From: "Johan Lindstrom" Subject: Troubleshooting wanted Hi, I have the following problems with my Power Macintosh 6400 - 180 =3D=3D> Q1. Once a day it happens that my computer gets stuck -- it stops, lika in an electronic glue -- when I have been clicking "Open PPP Connect". Then I must click in order to get a break off. But then the computer freezes completely =3D> the typical Powermac Syndrome with system 7.5.3 -- but I have OS 8.0. Then I must use electronic violence for getting a restart by . I am keeping the C-button down in order to switch over the command to the CD-disk. When the desktop appears from the darkness, the first ikon is not the normal =3D smiling Finder, but a diskette with a zero on it, which changes to a questions mark -- also a wellknown syndrom from Powermac. < This is the behavior before the big crash, when the whole system 7. 5. 3 disappeared from the hard desk ("Kura=E7c") Then comes Finder and so the "Wellcome to Macintosh". Now I am running the desk control, and click "Repair". The control find and repairs an error (without telling what). After restart the computer reports trouble with the modem which requires two reeinstallations. Then, at last, I can start sending letters or get out on the net. < Yours Johan Lindstrom, Goteborg, Sweden ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 1 Apr 1999 02:20:26 -0800 From: Daly Jessup Subject: (A) Internet Explorer 4.5 and garbled text abrody wrote: >It would seem that MRJ 2.1 and 2.1.1 install an incomplete version of the >Text Encoding Converter extension and files. Both the Extension and the >folder that contains Text Encodings in the System Folder need to have files >of the same version in order to allow IE 4.5 to work properly. Many web >sites that use plain text have trouble with it. To get a good version >working, the MacOS 8.5 CD-ROM has a custom install feature to allow you to >install just the Text Encoding software. But first you must boot from the >MacOS 8.5 CD-ROM, and remove the Text Encoding converter from your System >Folder's Extensions Folder on your startup hard disk and the Text Encodings >from the Text Encodings folder in the System Folder. Then run the custom >install, and Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.5 will work. >Found out about this on the Explorer newsgroup. I have installed MRJ 2.1.1 and have confirmed that with a Get Info on my MRJ extension. However, both my Text Encoding Converter and the Text Encodings themselves show version 1.4.2, and my Explorer works fine. Apparently MRJ 2.1.1 does not make that error for every system. Has anyone else observed the mismatch with Text Encodings and the Text Encoding Converter described above? Daly ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 1 Apr 1999 12:39:24 -0800 From: Rich Garella Subject: (Q) PowerBook GS Series modem scripts Al Bloom wrote: >But my increasingly fallible memory told me that GV makes the PB >G3 internal modems. Could the same fix that worked on the desktop >work on the PB? Try it. I copied the "GV V.90 Flex Preferred" script >to the PB's modem scripts folder and selected it in the PB's modem >CP. Voila! Worked like a champ. But where did you get this magical "GV V.90 Flex Preferred" script? I don't find it on the Global Village site, though Were you using the "PowerBook G3 Internal 56k" script that the G3 Series is set to initially? I'm still using that one, though I got some kind of updater from Apple at: http://download.info.apple.com/Apple_Support_Area/Apple_Software_Updates/English -North_American/Macintosh/PowerBook/PB_G3_Series/PB_G3_Series_Modem_1.0.2.smi.bi n It seems to deliver decent speed on my G3 Series 233. On occasion, MS Explorer reports a rate of over 9k/sec (though I realize there are factors that make this an ureliable figure). I wonder if this is a case of "If it ain't broke..." Or am I denying myself access to a hitherto-unknown world of lightning fast modem speed? _______________________________________________________ Rich Garella - rich@garella.com - Seattle, USA http://www.mindspring.com/~garella/rich NO CHAIN LETTERS, PETITIONS OR VIRUS WARNINGS ACCEPTED! ------------------------------ Date: 1 Apr 99 07:31:00 -0500 From: "D. Scott Beach" Subject: (Q) USB/Firewire PCI cards? List Readers: Michael I. Bell and A. Scottedward Hodel were discussing the future of Firewire and USB on GS PowerBooks. I'd like to know if there are USB-Firewire combo PCI card options for those of us still pluggin' along with 603(e)/604(e) Macs. I 'd like to preserve my PCI slots and get them both on one board. Anyone know of such a thing? - Scott (Remove "spamless" to eMail to me.) Scott Beach Toronto, Canada ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 31 Mar 1999 08:16:29 -0500 From: njtaber@mitre.org (N. J. Taber) Subject: .vcf file >Date: Mon, 1 Mar 1999 10:36:57 PST >From: "Randall G. Floyd" >Subject: .vcf file... > >Hi, > >What's a .vcf file and what do I need to open it with? Netscape Messenger 4.5 treats a .vcf file attached to an e-mail message as an extended signature, offering the options of viewing the full contents of the card or adding the information to the Netscape Address Book. I haven't tried opening one directly from Netscape. N. J. Taber njtaber@mitre.org ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 2 Apr 1999 08:56:49 +0200 From: Hans de Wolf Subject: .vcf file [A] A .vcf file is a vCard. It is a electronic business card, based on MIME standards and ISO standards. Most .vcf attachments to e-mails are created automatically by applications like Netscape. However, these vCards are only limited versions. Complete vCards can contain images (typically a picture of the owner and/or company logo), sounds (the correct pronunciation of the owner's name) and even movies. There is also an equivalent to exchange appointment information, called vCalendar ... You can download the vCard specification and a Software Development Kit at http://www.imc.org/pdi/ (SDK at http://www.imc.org/pdi/sdk-MacOS.sit.hqx). Don't be afraid about the name 'Software Development Kit'. It contains a lot of source code, but you do not have to compile the software - a complete working application is included. You can use this to create your own vCards, or read those from others... ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 31 Mar 1999 12:43:29 +0200 From: bromo@flashnet.it (Vittorio Barabino) Subject: .vcf file... > Date: Sat, 6 Mar 1999 13:26:10 -0600 > From: Gib Henry > Subject: .vcf file... > > If anyone knows of a Mac counterpart, I'd love to know about it! If > not...how about it, enterprising Mac shareware authors? I'd like to > see a cross-platform file standard for contacts, which would be > self-extensible to include all the above forms of contact, plus any > you'd like to add on the fly (NextTel extension number, CB handle, > whatever). Then, every application could access it, and you'd have > only ONE contact database for EVERYTHING! Cheers, It's quite easy to gather data from them via applescript: for sue I've an applescript for emailer to import them in Emailer addressbook (http://www.fogcity.com), but to import them in FileMaker or Palm Desktop (now free) is just as easy. -- Ciao, \+----------+ "La risposta e` dentro di te... Vittorio --| : ) o | ...MA E` SBAGLIATA!!!" /+----------+ +-----------------------------------------------------------+ | - = ( ENCICLOPEDIA DIGITALE DELLA FANTASCIENZA ) = - | | http://www.fantascienza.com/edf/ (con motore di ricerca!) | +-----------------------------------------------------------+ ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 01 Apr 1999 22:33:38 +1100 From: "Lewin A.R.W. Edwards" Subject: [A] Acrobat - full version > One feature is that Acrobat says it does OCR, although I've never seen a > review of the OCR abilities. Can someone tell me how useful it is for a > converting scanned page to text? It's certainly cheaper than Caere in I have used Acrobat 3.0 extensively for archiving my old paper semiconductor datasheets and programmers' reference manuals into PDF files (for archiving to CD-R and subsequent disposal of paper versions). You never know when you may be called upon to maintain a piece of 1970s technology, and storing all those books is expensive (Transporting them 10,000 miles, which I need to do in a couple of weeks, would also be expensive :-)) Some documents do make it unstable. For example, no matter how I scan a particular page of the Rockwell RC288DPi Preliminary Modem Designer's Guide, Acrobat crashes very hard indeed if I try to capture (OCR) that page. Overall it performs creditably on text, including tables and multicolumn pages. The random problems are annoying, though. If you use it for a purpose which requires the original document image for legal purposes, you can store it in a special format with text onscreen and the full image "behind" it, stored in the PDF. I'm really not sure what this format might gain you, apart from slightly improved rendering speed and text quality at high zoom, but anyway it's there. If you want to use Acrobat to OCR documents for import into something else - Word for instance - I don't think it's what you want at all. The OCR capability in Acrobat is there to allow you to build smaller PDFs when you only have hardcopy to start with. If it detects text in an area, it nibbles a white hole out of the scanned image at that point and overlays an opaque rectangular text object. If you are scanning, for instance, a spined book, you will get holes chewed out of the shadow around the spine which are very noticeable - the text integration is not seamless. You can annotate PDFs, but I don't think the process is really "freehand" enough to be used realtime. Certainly not like an electronic white-board. ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 2 Apr 1999 09:02:23 +0200 From: Hans de Wolf Subject: [A] Anyone know of Replacement Zip cases Philip Emery asked: >Has anyone ever seen replacement cases for zip disks? You'd think with how >popular they've become that they would be as common as CD cases. I've never >been able to find any. They are available in the Netherlands. They cost about 1.50 Dutch Guilders each, and are sold in six-packs (that is about $5 for six). The manufacturer is "Walvis Plastics". In the past also Iomega sold these cases. ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 1 Apr 99 09:43:05 -0800 From: "B. J. Major" Subject: [Q] Acrobat - full version In reply to: >Date: Wed, 24 Mar 1999 16:09:27 -0400 >From: hope@eat.spam (Joni Hope) >Subject: [Q] Acrobat - full version > >I'm curious about the full version of Adobe Acrobat (not the free Acrobat >Reader). It has two features that might make it very useful to me. I'm >wondering if anyone can tell me how well it might suit my needs. > >One feature is that Acrobat says it does OCR, although I've never seen a >review of the OCR abilities. Can someone tell me how useful it is for a >converting scanned page to text? It's certainly cheaper than Caere in >general, but not cheaper than Xerox TextBridge (gets good reviews, I've >never seen it) when TextBridge goes on sale. 1. Textbridge has major problems with Mac OS 8.5; namely, it doesn't work. I can't use it any longer in our office due to the Mac and scanner systematically freezing each and every time something tries to be scanned. There is no work around for this presently so I'd avoid this product IF you use Mac OS 8.5. 2. I used Acrobat 3.0 for one full day before we found out there were also incompatibilities with IT and OS 8.5 and at the moment our office is waiting for MacWarehouse to send us Acrobat 4.0 which supposedly will not have problems with 8.5. My comments below are based on a full days usage of Acrobat 3.0: a. Just from what it can do, I'd support buying Acrobat over any other OCR software, hands down. Your message mentioned the need for a cross platform solution--you *have* that solution with Acrobat pdf files which can be read by Windows, Mac, and Unix machines--no matter which platform the pdf file was created on. b. If you have the need for forms creating as our office does, nothing on the market does this like Acrobat. It's the only software out there in which you can create an interactive form that people can open and fill out by typing in, then printing the completed product. This feature simply can't be understated. c. Even if you don't use all the features of Acrobat Exchange, having the pdf printer extension is worth the cost of the entire product. This lets you save any file you are working on in almost any software (say, Clarisworks, PageMaker, whatever) as a pdf file simply by "printing" to the pdf extension. Nothing prints on your attached printer by doing this, of course, but you almost instantly have a .pdf file created on the desktop from the document you are working on. You can then change printers in the Chooser and actually print the pdf file you just made. This part of the program eliminates the need for lots of additional OCR scanning that you would have to do normally. Plus, Acrobat has advanced features that I didn't have time to use that day in the way of text recognition, searching, etc. etc. It really sounds like you could benefit by using this program. d. The one thing sorely lacking in the entire Acrobat package is adequate documentation. There is only a small, thin "installing" booklet that literally tells you nothing about how to use the program, only how to install the various parts. There is lots of "here are more cool things you can do" on the CD ROM, but precious little "here's *HOW* you do those cool things" instruction. I actually had to ask in the comp.sys.mac.apps newsgroup how to use the various aspects of the product the day I was using it. Definitely buy third party books when you buy the program--you will need them. That's the only real criticism I have of the product. Regards, --bj Home Page: ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 31 Mar 1999 09:29:33 -0600 From: Chaz Larson Subject: [Q] Anyone know of Replacement Zip cases At 10:21 AM -0500 3/9/99, Philip Emery wrote: > Has anyone ever seen replacement cases for zip disks? You'd think with how > popular they've become that they would be as common as CD cases. I've neve= r > been able to find any. I've bought lots of these at CompUSA. They have two sorts, last I=20 looked: the clear styrene ones that are a direct replacement for the=20 stock cases, and a colored polyethylene case that's more rugged and=20 has a snap closure. The clear styrene ones were a CompUSA or Computer City house brand. The poly ones came in a couple brands. Belkin brand polyethylene cases: Memorex Zip rack with polyethylene cases: These poly ones were also available as a generic brand. I've got=20 some of all three, and except for the logo stamped on them they are=20 indistinguishable. I suspect theyre all OEMed from the same place. Hope this helps. BTW, I have no connection to CompUSA other than as a satisfied=20 customer. I'm sure these products are available elsewhere. chazl Will these followers ever stop doggin' me now that I've thrown off this ston= e and got loose somehow? - The Roches; Christli= ke Chaz Larson - chaz at spamcop dot net - http://www.visi.com/~ch= az ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 31 Mar 1999 12:04:27 -0400 From: Salvatore Liotta Subject: address book etc. Dear Folks, May I interrupt for a few questions? Can anyone tell me which if any Mac version of Netscape has 128 bit encryption? Also, in trying Navigator 4.0 (not preferred over Communicator) I mucked up the works and lost my address book while Norton'sFile Saver was turned off. Is there anyway to retrieve my lost and,drat! unbacked up address book? Thank you. Sam from Buffalo ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 31 Mar 1999 13:53:58 -0800 From: Failed Philosopher Subject: Apple Certified System Engineer Hello All; Does anyone have any info about being Apple certified? If so, please reply this msgs to quantum@ecst.csuchico.edu or jfu@smuhsd.k12.ca.us Thanks in advance Jonathan ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 31 Mar 1999 10:00:10 -0500 From: "R. W. Ober" Subject: Book?Sftware to Learn C, C+ or C++ What do people reccommend for a Book/Software combination to teach one's self programming in C, C+, or C++? TIA, Randy Ober Windows 95: Noun; 32 bit extensions and a graphical shell for a 16 bit patch to an 8 bit operating system originally coded for a 4 bit microprocessor, written by a 2 bit comp that can't stand 1 bit of competition. ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 31 Mar 1999 12:38:33 +0200 From: bromo@flashnet.it (Vittorio Barabino) Subject: Don't laugh: a Mac LC & The Internet - do they bite or .. ? > > Date: Tue, 09 Mar 1999 03:23:27 -0800 > From: Rowdy Blokland > Subject: Don't laugh: a Mac LC & The Internet - do they bite or .. ? > > .. or, can a Mac LC be used to surf the Internet without data > dripping in like frozen honey? > > See, it's not my fault - my girlfriend bought a Mac LC back in 1991 > - right now, one'd have to pull a gun to someone's head to ever > sell one -, and the darn thing simply refuses to break down, > or explode, or open a window at jump out of it by itself, so: > > QUESTION: A Mac LC with NE-7.5 system software and 4 MB ram; > can it really be used to, perhaps modestly, > surf the Internet? 4 Mb is way too little ram (no virtual memory for the LC): my LC surf the net with Netscape 2 because I upgraded to 12 Mb (of which only 10 Mb are seen, due to a bug in ROM) -- Ciao, \+----------+ "La risposta e` dentro di te... Vittorio --| : ) o | ...MA E` SBAGLIATA!!!" /+----------+ +-----------------------------------------------------------+ | - = ( ENCICLOPEDIA DIGITALE DELLA FANTASCIENZA ) = - | | http://www.fantascienza.com/edf/ (con motore di ricerca!) | +-----------------------------------------------------------+ ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 2 Apr 1999 09:10:43 +0200 From: Hans de Wolf Subject: Firewire [R] At 1/4/99, gene nail wrote: >can anyone at tidbits or any reader answer a couple of questions for me >about Firewire. (1) has anyone heard or seen anything about any >companies making a firewire board that will allow the earlier G3s to use >upcoming firewire equipment such as hard disks and DVDs? (2) is it >possible, either with a built in firewire port or with such a port as >mentioned above, to use an adapter from firewire to SCSI. I'm asking to >help me decide on purchasing equipment that i wouldn't want to be >outdated as quickly as i buy it. I am also looking at possibilities to upgrade my system with option=20 (storage) that does not become obsolete soon. I found an interesting=20 item from Adaptec: they sell a combined ultra wide SCSI controller=20 and Firewire interface on a single PCI card: the "HotConnect=81 Ultra=20 8945 1394/Ultra Wide SCSI-to-PCI Card" More info at http://www.adaptec.com/products/overview/aha8945hc.html Adaptec sells also a Firewire-only card, the 8920. (more at=20 http://www.adaptec.com/products/overview/aha8920hc.html) I have not practical experience with this stuff yet, and have still=20 some questions. For instance, I do not know if you can boot from a=20 SCSI or Firewire disk connected to these cards ... ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 31 Mar 1999 09:02:04 -0500 From: hadleysw@ornl.gov (Stanton W. Hadley) Subject: I Mac OS 8.5.1 and TCP/IP I had a similar problem when upgrading a Power Computing Power Center 150 to 8.5. I finally pulled out the extension "Apple Enet" from 8.5 and put back "Apple 10/100 Fast Ethernet" from 8.1, along with Apple Built-in Ethernet. Then my connections worked fine. In article <7dsq3e$6s3$1@grapevine.lcs.mit.edu>, digest@info-mac.org wrote: >Date: Wed, 10 Mar 1999 09:08:20 -0500 >From: "Patrick Ellis" >Subject: Mac OS 8.5.1 and TCP/IP > >Dear fellow readers, > >1) We recently upgraded 4 Power Mac 7200/75 to 64MB RAM and OS 8.5.1 >The only recurring problem that is experienced is an intermittent >network "drop-off" >that is - after a period of time, items over the network (ethernet) >disappear. This >has occurred with printers, a server (an old 660AV set up in my office >running OS 8.1 >and FileSharing) and internet. With MacOS 8.1, I did not experience >this. -- Stanton W. Hadley hadleysw@ornl.gov Oak Ridge National Laboratory Bldg 4500-N, MS 6205 P.O. Box 2008 Room G-28 Oak Ridge, TN 37831-6205 (423)574-8018, fax:(423)574-8884 ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 31 Mar 1999 09:23:33 -0800 (PST) From: Lisa Thompson Subject: Info-Mac Digest V16 #279 I have the same problem, although it doesn't happen 100 percent of the time, Palm Desktop very often "quits unexpectedly" after I quit the program. It's more likely to happen if I have printed while the program was open. I've tried deleting prefs and giving the program more RAM. Haven't tried a conflict test, but I think that's the next step. Yours is the first reference I've seen to this problem - nothing on MacFixIt or PowerBook message boards, etc. What's your System info? Mine is Mac OS 8.1 on PB G3 Series 233, 32MB. L. Thompson Original Message -------------------------------------------------- Date: Mon, 8 Mar 1999 07:19:25 -0500 From: Alan Stein Subject: Palm Desktop Problems and Questions I just downloaded Palm Desktop from the the 3Com site and, while it has convinced me that the Palm Pilot will be my next hi-tech toy, I'm having two minor problems and have a couple of questions. Problems: ... 2. I'm getting a message that Palm Desktop quit unexpectedly everytime I quit the application. _________________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Get your free @yahoo.com address at http://mail.yahoo.com ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 01 Apr 1999 20:09:39 +0000 From: "Ian Burt" Subject: Macintosh Plus and Qisk Hello Mac Worthies, Some friends have been bitten so badly by the Mac bug since buying an original iMac that they are now buying up anything going spare with an Apple logo on it. That is why I find myself staring at a Macintosh Plus and its Qisk. So what the heck is a Qisk? It is some sort of storage/boot device, 20 MB, Q2. That's all the info going. On boot up it gives a Smiley Mac until reaching a Dialog that says "The Finder File is damaged on this disk. The installer can repair it. Restart." Or words to that effect. It will boot from an old external HD with System 6.x and also an improvised floppy boot disk, System 6.0.8. What I think I need to know is can I Daisy Chain the Qisk and external HD ? Or can anyone throw any light on things please? TIA Ian Burt ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 01 Apr 1999 22:48:28 +1100 From: "Lewin A.R.W. Edwards" Subject: MediaVision Reno CD info > I just got a Reno CD player and it didn't come with an external wall > wart. Does anyone have one they can give me whatever info is printed on > it? I suspect it is going to be hard to find one since it is a 13.5V > power supply. Argh! I used to have one of these but sold it a while ago, so I can't answer that part of the question - but it worked fine for me with FWB CDTK, I remember that much. It might even have come with a licensed version (very old). I don't recall the Reno well enough, but I do remember that the Panasonic KXL-D742 portable CD-ROM drive I bought had no adapter, either - and the biggest problem was a VERY rare, maybe proprietary DC input connector. I eventually desoldered the connector and replaced it with a standard sort of power jack (the PCB holes were just right for it, luckily). Your PSU problem should be solved quite easily with a simple circuit based around a transformer with maybe 25V on the secondary, a bridge rectifier and an adjustable regulator like the LM317T (TO-220) or LM317K (TO-3, if your drive is greedier :-). I've got half a dozen portable devices sitting on my desk powered from home-made regulated PSUs of this type. (Ever noticed how items like pocket TVs say "use only our AC adapter", but the adapter is totally unavailable?). ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 31 Mar 1999 09:26:27 -0800 From: "Antonich, James" Subject: Modem for 5200 Anyone know the whereabouts of a good internal modem for a Mac 5200? My 14.4 modem is driving me nuts. Tia, Jim jantonich@earthlink.net ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 31 Mar 1999 15:30:35 +0100 From: Richard Platt Subject: modems and Netscape >1./ I have a Global Village Platinum Fax/modem upgraded to 33.6 which has >served me well, but I would like faster connections. Would the new Global >Village 56Kbps Fax/modem make a significant difference to connection speeds? "Don, Cathy Jo and Cory" wrote that >Web pages load much faster and downloads are completed in much less time. with a 56Kps modem A small word of caution: speed depends on the condition of your telephone lines, the distance to the exchange, and how busy your ISP is. If you live in a rural area, more than (say) three miles from an exchange, a faster modem won't make a blind bit of difference. I have a GV 33.6 modem, and it won't connect reliably faster than 26Kps. Richard Platt Telephone: (44) 1892 890741 Fax: (44) 1892 890951 Old Squash Court, Bayham Abbey, Lamberhurst, Kent, TN3 8BG, United Kingdom Website: http://dspace.dial.pipex.com/richard.platt/ ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 1 Apr 1999 05:49:03 -0500 From: J&K Originals Subject: modems and Netscape Regarding upgrading to a 56k modem...The fastest I have ever connected with my 28.8 modem is 26.4. My ISP (which has 56k) told me that that means there is some hardware in the phone lines that will prevent me from ever connecting any faster. It sounds possible as we are out of town, any wisdom on this? KAte ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 1 Apr 1999 09:20:19 -0600 From: Ted Logan Subject: need info/help on norton vs. others At 2:49 PM -0600 on 3/24/99, Freistadt, Marion wrote: > I am having some problems (decresased performance, inability to save files, > etc) with my G3 desktop. Norton Utilities 4 was recommended. However, > others have said it is risky, try Disk warrier or Techtool pro. Any > recommendations? The latest version of Norton for the Mac is 4.0.3. In my experience it is totally safe and the best of the lot. One earlier version had problems with HFS+-formatted disks, but that was resolved several versions ago. Version 4.0.1 was a Disk Doctor patch that required booting 4.0 off the CD-ROM, then running Disk Doctor 4.0.1 off a floppy, but that, too, is now history. Remember, also, that TechTool does not include defragmenting or "optimizing," which NUM does. Stay *far* away from Disk Essentials. Don't know about Disk Warrior. I have use NUM as my main disk repair/recovery software for years (and with old MS-DOS and Windows 3.1 before I grew up), but I also use TechTool freeware version for other tasks (PRAM zaps, desktop rebuilds -- the latter also included with Conflict Catcher). Ted Logan Logan Writing, Inc. (Cleveland, Oklahoma) Consultant to The Parthenon Publishing Group (New York and London) Email: tedlogan@busprod.com ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 30 Mar 1999 22:24:32 EST From: Luskin@aol.com Subject: Not a flame, just a question... Last week, there were several files in the info mac compendium that I wished to download. For some reason, I have been looking every day, they are not there yet. I am curious as to why, what the process is of getting them there, if they are virus checked, what liabilities someone incurs by running an archive... I am perfectly willing to wait until they get there, I am just curious why some files are there as soon as info Mac hits the streets, while others take time. mbl ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 1 Apr 1999 07:40:07 EST From: Luskin@aol.com Subject: On NOrton 4.0 I was having a variety of difficulties with my G3 233, and so I broke down and bought Norton. It seems to work quite well. It discovers all sorts of purported errors and corrects them. At any rate, things work better and more reliably for me now. I frankly wonder how come I have all these bad custom icons, where they come from, why bundle bits, whatever they are, are so often incorrect, and so forth, and so forth, but if Norton can set it all right, then good. By the way, Norton has a rebate deal, such that if you have ever bought their software in the past, and can prove it, you get a fifty dollar rebate on 4.0. In short, it seems a good tool to me. Michael B. Luskin ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 31 Mar 1999 17:38:25 -0500 From: "Peter J. Paul" Subject: Palm Desktop Problems and Questions Problems: 1.The installation placed the "Serial Port Monitor" in my Startup folder, which created a "serial port is in use" error when I tried using my modem. Right now, I easily solved that problem by removing it from my Startup folder, but I suspect that will be a problem when I get my new toy. Run the Hotsync Manager and uncheck the "Enable at Startup option" You must manually enable each time you do a HotSync (no big deal) 2. I'm getting a message that Palm Desktop quit unexpectedly everytime I quit the application. Got me. I suspect an extension conflict. It runs just fine on my 7100 under 8.5.1 Questions: 1. Which models will synchronize with a PowerMac through its printer or modem ports? I've used a Palm III and a Palm V through the modem port. Note that if you have both a modem and the Palm cradle going into the modem port you either need an A-B switch or must shut down and switch serial port cables (then enable/disble the HotSync software) 2. Which models will synchronize with one of the newer Macs through a USB port? (Since I expect to replace my aging PowerMac with an IMac in the not-too-distant future.) Sorry, no personal experience here yet. BTW - it's a GREAT toy. Peter J. Paul pjp@cheerful.com ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 31 Mar 99 21:00:52 -0800 From: "B. J. Major" Subject: Palm Desktop Problems and Questions In reply to: >Date: Mon, 8 Mar 1999 07:19:25 -0500 >From: Alan Stein >Subject: Palm Desktop Problems and Questions > >I just downloaded Palm Desktop from the the 3Com site and, while it has >convinced me that the Palm Pilot will be my next hi-tech toy, I'm having >two minor problems and have a couple of questions. > >Problems: > >1.The installation placed the "Serial Port Monitor" in my Startup folder, >which created a "serial port is in use" error when I tried using my modem. >Right now, I easily solved that problem by removing it from my Startup >folder, but I suspect that will be a problem when I get my new toy. Alan: the first thing you should do is create a new set in the Extensions Manager called "Palm" which contains the Hot Synch Manager, Instant Palm Desktop, and the Serial Port Arbitrator by themselves with only the 8.5 base control panels or extensions (or whatever Mac OS you use). Don't run Palm extensions with your other 3rd party stuff unless you want trouble big time, including freezes and crashes, etc. >2. I'm getting a message that Palm Desktop quit unexpectedly everytime I >quit the application. Same here, with 8.5.1. You just have to live with that, I'm afraid. >Questions: > >1. Which models will synchronize with a PowerMac through its printer or >modem ports? All models of Palm will synch--The original Pilot, Pro, Personal, Palm III, etc. etc. What's important is that you are using the most up to date version of the Palm Desktop on the Mac side--which is version 2.1. >2. Which models will synchronize with one of the newer Macs through a USB >port? (Since I expect to replace my aging PowerMac with an IMac in the >not-too-distant future.) I don't know of any plans by Palm to sync in the future via USB; for now it's only serial port(s) or infrared beaming that's supported (through IrDA, *not* IrTalk infrared ports on some PowerBooks). If you do indeed buy an iMac, you can synch cordless-style through the iMac's IrDA port--provided you've upgraded your Palm innards to Palm III specs and have the infrared memory door that's included with the upgrade to either the Palm personal or the Palm Pro. You will need to install the IrDA extra files on your Palm included in the IrDA folder within the new 2.1 Palm software (the iMac already has what files it needs for this). Regards, --bj Home Page: ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 31 Mar 1999 12:18:52 -0500 From: Ed Ver Hoef Subject: Power for a PowerBook I am contemplating the purchase of one of the new PowerBooks to use while travelling in a motorhome. I'd like to be able to use it while underway without having to fire up my 110v generator or use a convertor to get 110v AC just for the computer. On the other hand, I have a RadioShack power converter that can take the 12v DC and produce a variety of different DC voltages. I currently use it to supply power for my portable CD player. It has a number of different tips for plugging into a external power feed of devices using externally supplied DC power, either with a positive or a negative tip. Could something like that be used for the PowerBook? If so, what is the current demand? TIA Ed Ver Hoef ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 1 Apr 1999 10:02:52 -0600 From: Chaz Larson Subject: problem setting up printer(S) At 3:26 PM -0500 3/24/99, Luskin@aol.com wrote: >When I try to use the chooser, everything seems to be in order. I am uneasy >about the "wrong" laser printer having been selected when doing the set up. Don't be. The setup printer selection does the same thing as opening the Chooser and selecting a printer. The MacOS Setup is just helping you select a printer initially. >I >am also curious what direct means, as well as network, with respect to hooking >up printers. Direct means the printer is connected via a serial connection rather than via a network connection. Serial is a point-to-point protocol. There's a sender and a reciever [computer and printer, computer and modem, computer and PalmPilot, etc.] and the devices are accessible only to each other [without the addition of special software or hardware]. A network connection is a many-to-many connection. With n computers and n printers connected via a network, all the computers can see all the printers [and all the other computers]. With a printer connected via a serial connection [like my daughter's HP], only that computer can print to it ordinarily. Even though my computer is connected to hers via Ethernet, I can't see her printer. The laser printer, on the other hand, is connected to the network, so we can both see and print to it. There is software that allows sharing of printers that are connected via serial connections, so if I set it up that way I could print to her printer from mine, *but* that would require her computer to be on when I wanted to print. With a networked printer, only the printer and the computer you're printing from need to be on. >However, the chooser shows both correct printers in the right >hand box. Then you're fine. >What does appletalk have to do with any of this, and is the pci extension >necessary with 8.1, as well as 8.5.1, which I might go to if not to 8.6, if it >really exists.... Your networked printers are communicating with your Mac using the AppleTalk network protocol over LocalTalk network cabling. The LocalTalk PCI 1.2 extension is only needed for 8.1: Hoep this helps. chazl Will these followers ever stop doggin' me now that I've thrown off this stone and got loose somehow? - The Roches; Christlike Chaz Larson - chaz at spamcop dot net - http://www.visi.com/~chaz ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 31 Mar 1999 15:55:11 -0800 From: David Donaldson Subject: question for digest I would be pleased if the following question were to appear in the digest. Thanks, dd I am currently using Norton Disk Doctor 4.0.3 on my beige G3 which is running System 8.5.1. Each time I use it, it reports that "A minor error was found in the Master Directory Block: The attributes are incorrect" and it reports the code (5,1,2). If I let NDD 'fix' the problem, it is present again the next time I run the program, even if all I do is quit NDD and then start it up again. I suspect that NDD is wrong about this. Am I right? David Donaldson Vancouver, Canada dvdd@interchange.ubc.ca ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 31 Mar 1999 14:08:19 EST From: NCICCHECK@aol.com Subject: Re; iMac freeze My son's iMac (rev B) froze at odd times too when first delivered. 99% of the freezes were eliminated by turing off speech and removing some Microsloth libraries starting with MS. I also made a little button for resetting it from a Push Pin (thumbtack) and some double sided tape, as per a tip I found somewhere. and since then i haven't had to use it. John McGibney nccicheck@aol.com nccicheck@worldnet.att.net ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 31 Mar 1999 08:47:37 -0600 From: "John A. Cooper" Subject: Remote Mouse for PowerbookG3 Does anyone make a remote mouse for the PowerbookG3? Or any Mac? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ John Cooper Dept. of Cell Biology & Physiology Washington University School of Medicine St. Louis, MO 63110-1093 US Post Office address: Box 8228, 660 S Euclid Ave Shipping (FedEx) address: Dept of Cell Biology, 4566 Scott Ave Phone (314) 362-3964 Fax (314) 362-0098 E-mail: jcooper@cellbio.wustl.edu World Wide Web site: http://www.cooperlab.wustl.edu/ ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 31 Mar 1999 05:40:12 -0800 From: Daly Jessup Subject: stuffit for NT or UNIX Greg Lyzenga asked: >I recently had the following request from a PC-centric friend: > >>If you run across a program which generates Mac-friendly archives >>(.SIT?) from NT or UNIX, that would be great. Right now I'm using ZIP, >>but this is a PC archive, I believe. > >Can anyone suggest a solution? I think you should be able to open Zip files on the Mac without a problem, using StuffIt Expander. If you are having some problem with that, you can go to http://www.aladdinsys.com/downloads/index.html and download the Windows version of DropStuff, which does make StuffIt archives. Daly ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 31 Mar 1999 14:08:16 EST From: NCICCHECK@aol.com Subject: the LC and the 'Net Yes you can use an LC to surf the net. i did it when my 6100 PPC was in the shop. I used version 3.x of netscape navigator and version 2.7 of AOL. I had good access through both of my ISP's, although downloading and displaying web pages was slooow, especially the one's with alot of graphics. Downloading files was about the same in terms of speeds. And it was crash free. John McGibney NCICCHECK@aol.com NCICCHECK@worldnet.att.net ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 1 Apr 1999 10:31:34 -0600 From: Chaz Larson Subject: Video Card Needed At 1:45 PM -0500 3/30/99, Steve Seiden wrote: >I have inherited a Sony CPD-1604 Multiscan HG Trinitron monitor. >At home I have a Performa 6360 >with built in video, with which the Sony works fine, but only in 640x480 >resolution. I desire to use higher resolutions to be able to utilize the >larger screen size. What type of adapter are you using to connect the VGA monitor to the 6360? The 6360 should be able to drive a multi-sync monitor at a higher resolution than 640x480 [GURU says it does up to 1024x768 @ 8bit]. My daughter's 6300 will go to 832x624 @ 8bit, so I would expect the 6360 to do at least that. Maybe you just need a different monitor adapter [or a different configuration for the one you have]. >That said, I >do not need sophisticated gaming or 3D technology, though perhaps it would >come with a value priced option. I just want simple support for normal MS >office, MSIE 4.5, Eudora, 56k modem, etc., at minimal cost. > >I would appreciate recommendations for used, clearance or exceptional value >items that might meet this need. One thing you *don't want* is a 3D accelerator card, like a Voodoo card. These work in concert with your existing video card to accelerate some games. Because they're add-on cards to your existing video system, they're generally much less expensive than an standard video card, so they may look attractive at first [for example, I paid $30 at CompUSA for my Diamond Voodoo1 card]. They don't drive a monitor on their own however, so you can weed them right out for your purposes. With a 17" monitor, and assuming you're not planning to take this card with you to another machine with a bigger monitor, you can select purely on price. For example, Small Dog Electronics has an ATI Xclaim VR 2Mb card for $69 which would suit your purposes. This card has a Rage II video acceleration chip on it; you could make that an ATI Xclaim 3D Rage Pro 4Mb card for $99. The latter would give you more colors at higher resolutions, but the former will drive a 17" at millions of colors already. The latter would give you improved 3D performance with software that supports it [RAVE games like Tomb Raider, for instance]. Here's a real buy, however. I know this guy named Nathan down in Texas; he bought a bunch of excess inventory when PowerComputing closed down and has been selling it online. He's got 1Mb "Artista" PCI video cards for something like $20. I've got one running my second monitor here at work [and had one at home, too, until I put my main monitor on an 8Mb ATI Xclaim 3D and moved the second monitor to the built-in]. It'll do 1024x768 in thousands of colors. Visit him at: I've bought about $300 worth of stuff from him with no problems at all, and have no connection to him except as a satisifed customer. chazl Will these followers ever stop doggin' me now that I've thrown off this stone and got loose somehow? - The Roches; Christlike Chaz Larson - chaz at spamcop dot net - http://www.visi.com/~chaz -------------------------------- --Info-Mac-Digest-- End of Info-Mac Digest ******************************