Info-Mac Digest V17 #71
Posted: May 1st, 2000, 7:30 pm
Subject: Info-Mac Digest V17 #71
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: multipart/mixed; boundary="Info-Mac-Digest"
--Info-Mac-Digest
Info-Mac Digest Mon, 01 May 00 Volume 17 : Issue 71
Today's Topics:
(C) Washington DC/Baltimore area in need of another Mac support
[A] Zip Drives
DVD and PowerBook
Info-Mac Digest V17 #67
Info-Mac Digest V17 #68
installing memory in Performa 635CD
Looking for Mac software to create and operate virtual robotic
New Mac user requesting help!
OS 8.6 Universal version CD
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.
Working with the Info-Mac Digest:
* To submit articles to the digest, email .
* To subscribe, send email to with the words
subscribe info-mac in the message.
* To unsubscribe, send email to with the words
unsubscribe info-mac in the message.
* To change your address, unsubscribe from the old address, then subscribe
from the new address.
* Please send administrative queries to .
Downloading and Submitting Files from the Info-Mac Archive:
* A full list of Info-Mac mirror sites is available at:
* Search the archive via the MIT HyperArchive at:
.
* To submit files for the archive, email the binhexed file with a
description to . Submissions must be made
by the author or with permission of the author. It may take up to a week
to process; check mirror sites for the status of new uploads.
* To submit files larger than 2 MB, email a description to
and then use an FTP client to upload the
binhexed file to info-mac.org, using the userid "macgifts" and the
password "macgifts". Or, click .
Info-Mac volunteers include Adam C. Engst, Demitri Muna, Hugh Lewis,
Tom Coradeschi, Shawn Bunn, Christopher Li, Patrik Montgomery, Ed Chambers,
and Chris Pepper.
America Online donated the main Info-Mac machine
.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
--Info-Mac-Digest
Content-Type: multipart/digest; boundary="----------------------------"
Content-Disposition: attachment; filename="Info-Mac Digest V17 #71"
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 29 Apr 2000 15:53:48 -0400
From: "[email protected]"
Subject: (C) Washington DC/Baltimore area in need of another Mac support
Dear Digest,
The only support group in our area is the Washington Apple Pi, which
has meetings only monthly, on weekday evenings, and rarely on
weekends. Being located in Bethesda, it is too far for us to drive
from places such as Laurel, Burtonsville, and Silver Spring. It's
annual membership costs are too high for the services provided.
Exclusionary appears to be its motto. With the moving of
MacUpgrades to Gaithersburg, the only Apple repair specialists are
CompUSA, and Apple directly, for people who work weekdays, and only
have weekends and evenings off. I would like to help form another
group, but don't know anybody else who owns a Mac who would want to
join the group in the area. Perhaps somebody here could point me in
that direction?
Thank you.
Sincerely,
[email protected]
--
Check out over 700 internet sites updated monthly at:
http://www.index-site.com
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 29 Apr 2000 11:13:54 -0700
From: David Madfes
Subject: [A] Zip Drives
My condolences on getting PCs -- as someone who went through the same
scenario I know that that decision will haunt you for years.
If the decision is not yet cast in stone and you want ammunition to keep
using Macs write me back, I'll help, especially if the decision is based on
price -- in the long run Macs are far less expensive than WinTels,
especially at schools. But....
Assuming that your zip drives are the SCSI type for older Macs (Older than
the new USB models that is, and I don't know why you would be replacing
iMacs, or G4s... so they must be) the only way you will be able to use the
old Zip drives is if the PCs have SCSI cards in them; but newer PCs
typically are not configured with SCSI, they use EIDE for the CDROM and Hard
Drives which is nearly as fast, but cheaper, and USB, serial and parallel
ports for external connections, so my guess is you are out of luck. Besides
the extra maintenance costs PCs will incur, as well as their limited
lifetime, this is another case where buying PCs turns out to be more
expensive in the long run than buying Macs!
Suggestions:
1. Assuming again that your teachers have Macs at home and have been using
the Zip disks to bring files back and forth between home an school. Keep at
least one Mac in the lab with a Zip drive on it. Teachers can then transfer
files from the Zip to their directories on your server and then they can
use them on the PCs, and back again of course.
2. Another method is to use any of the several free Internet based "hard
drives" such as http://www.xdrive.com. As long as there is a relatively
fast connection, or files are small, your teachers can save and retrieve
their files from any platform files at one of these sites.
You do have a network and a server don't you? No?, write back for more
help.
David Madfes
Technology Coordinator
Abraham Lincoln High School
San Francisco, CA
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 29 Apr 2000 15:05:02 +0100
From: "Dewey Markham, Jr."
Subject: DVD and PowerBook
Hello All,
I am considering the purchase of a PowerBook in the US to bring back
to France where I live and work, but I have a question regarding the DVD
drive. To try and limit the global bootlegging problems that exist with
videocassettes, DVD players have a built-in zone identifier which prevents
DVDs purchased in one zone from being played on a DVD player purchased in
another zone. The US is in a different zone from Europe, so I shall be
unable to view any DVDs rented or bought over here on my US-made PowerBook.
Here are my questions: is the zone information hard-wired on the DVD
drive itslef, in which case if I purchase a replacement drive here in
France my problems are over; or is the zone identifier registered in the
DVD or system software, in which case a little tinkering with ResEdit might
allow me to get around this?
Thanks for any help.
Dewey
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 28 Apr 2000 21:15:28 -0400
From: "Michael G. Schabert"
Subject: Info-Mac Digest V17 #67
>Date: Sat, 22 Apr 2000 14:42:15 +0100
>From: Tina
>Subject: Internet Explorer 5 Font Problem
>
>I've recently downloaded Explorer 5 and to my surprise
>I've found that pages I have viewed in Explorer 4.5 and Netscape
>that have been fine, are now showing fonts in a much bigger
>size - including my own web pages. Has anyone else had this problem?
>I'm not too sure what to do because if I decrease the font size it will
>look tiny in other browsers - help!!
>
>Tina
Hi Tina,
Browsers generally have a preferences setting which lets you select
what they consider the "base" font and fontsize for both monospaced
and variable-width fonts. Apparently, MSIE 5 has a larger default
setting for those.
HTH
Mike
Bikers don't *DO* taglines.
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 29 Apr 2000 10:17:37 -0400
From: "Michael G. Schabert"
Subject: Info-Mac Digest V17 #68
>Date: Mon, 24 Apr 2000 22:46:02 -0700
>From: "David J. Fischer"
>Subject: DSL Connection for two computers
>
>I'm about to have DSL installed on Saturday. Is there a hardware device that
>will allow me to connect two computers (an old PowerPC and a GS laptop?) I
>don't want to necessarily run them simultaneously, nor do I want to make the
>old PC a "server." But if I use it as a server, can I connect the laptop
>using AppleTalk? Both are running System 9.0.4.
Hi Dave,
If you are not interested in using them simultaneously, nor setting
up one as a server, then you would just unhook one computer when you
hook up the other...like you would for an external modem, except that
the DSL modem hooks up using EtherNet instead of a serial cable. For
AppleTalk, the Internet doesdn't use AppleTalk, but rather uses IP
(TCP, UDP, ICMP) for exchanging data, so you'd want to use that for
communicating across the DSL modem. The computers themselves can
speak AppleTalk to each other, but that's entirely unrelated to the
TCP/IP stack. Both protocols can be active simultaneously, and one
won't interfere with the other. The biggest question is how you
currently have your network set uup and how you wish it to be set up
after the installation...do you currently have Ethernet ports on both
Macs and do you have a hub?
The DSL modem most likely has a crossover-wired ethernet port,
meaning that it's designed to hook directly into a computer as
opposed to being designed for a hub, but you can either hok it up (a)
to an uplink port with a regular ethernet cable, or (b) to a regular
port with a crossover cable, in order to get it to connect through a
hub. In that way, you could either have one computer set up as a
server to control the connection (to use both simultaneously), or you
could alter which computer is set up to DHCP an address through the
modem to use only one at a time. To set up one as a server and allow
simultaneous connections, you will need to purchase software, such as
IPNetRouter, or run a un*x derivative. It is possible to do with a
single ethernet card per computer, but the generally-preferred method
is to have the server have 2 ethernet cards...one to connect to the
DSL, and the other to connect to the network/other computer.
Just some thoughts,
Mike
Bikers don't *DO* taglines.
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 29 Apr 2000 23:36:56 -0400
From: "Chuck Reti"
Subject: installing memory in Performa 635CD
In info-Mac Digest V17 #67, [email protected] (Jenny Tenlen) writes:
>
> Hi,
>
> My school received several Performa 635CD donations, and as defacto Mac
> "expert" I've been given the task of upgrading them. All has gone well
> until I tried to install the memory upgrade I purchased for them - how to
> get the casing open! I've installed memory on my Performa 6116CD (the
> pizza box) and newer G3s with no problems - the casing comes off easily,
> with easy access to the RAM slot. But I can't seem to figure out how to
> open up the 635CD. I'm told it is very similar to the LC/Quadra/Performa
> 630. I'd like to avoid taking it to my local computer shop, where they
> charge $25 per computer to install RAM. Any help is much appreciated.
>
> Thanks!
>
> Jenny Tenlen
> [email protected]
It's quite simple to access the innards of these form factor boxes.
For quick and easy explanation check out "The Idiots Guide to Mac Cases"
website. Info on the 63xx series at
Also, while you've got the Logic board out, make sure you replace the logic
board battery (Rayovac #840 Alkaline cube). Do this to _all_ the 635's as
these batteries have limited life and when they go, the machines won't start
up. Mac battery info at
Having installed RAM and replaced the battery,
Make sure to reset the little red reset button on the logic card before
you re-insert the card, or you may have restart problems. Upon this reset,
you'll have to reset some of yourControl Panel settings.
--
Chuck Reti Detroit,MI | Member- MacGroup Detroit Mac UserGroup
[email protected] | http://www.macgroup.org
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 29 Apr 2000 10:47:48 -1000
From: Ed Cesar
Subject: Looking for Mac software to create and operate virtual robotic
I am looking for one or more programs that will enable me to create
"virtual robotic entities" that I can assign various behavioral
attributes to, like communicating with other similar "entities, " or
with a control center; movement dynamics such as, rate of speed,
medium (air, over the ground); and such physical characteristics as
form, appendages and their functions, relative size, etc.
Where might I look for such programs for the Mac? I presume many
games utilize them and some are better than others. What languages
are they programmed in and where can I learn more about that subject?
TIA,
Ed Cesar
[email protected]
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 29 Apr 2000 12:40:12 -0500
From: "Matt Burks"
Subject: New Mac user requesting help!
Hello,
I just bought my first Mac. I got a used Performa/180. This system has
32Mb of RAM with a 603e PowerPC chip in it at 180Mhz. Does anyone know
anything about this system? Mainly i want to know if Mac OS 8.5 or 8.6 will
run on it?
please reply to [email protected]
Thank you for you help,
Matt
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 30 Apr 2000 03:12:36 +0000
From: rEdmAc
Subject: OS 8.6 Universal version CD
Hi All
I know it's time for OS 9 but I really like OS 8.6's simplicity.
I am looking and willing to pay reasonable price for an OS 8.6 Universal
System CD.( North America will be great or International English version)
Please reply to my email account.
Thanks
rEdmAc
--------------------------------
--Info-Mac-Digest--
End of Info-Mac Digest
******************************
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: multipart/mixed; boundary="Info-Mac-Digest"
--Info-Mac-Digest
Info-Mac Digest Mon, 01 May 00 Volume 17 : Issue 71
Today's Topics:
(C) Washington DC/Baltimore area in need of another Mac support
[A] Zip Drives
DVD and PowerBook
Info-Mac Digest V17 #67
Info-Mac Digest V17 #68
installing memory in Performa 635CD
Looking for Mac software to create and operate virtual robotic
New Mac user requesting help!
OS 8.6 Universal version CD
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.
Working with the Info-Mac Digest:
* To submit articles to the digest, email .
* To subscribe, send email to with the words
subscribe info-mac in the message.
* To unsubscribe, send email to with the words
unsubscribe info-mac in the message.
* To change your address, unsubscribe from the old address, then subscribe
from the new address.
* Please send administrative queries to .
Downloading and Submitting Files from the Info-Mac Archive:
* A full list of Info-Mac mirror sites is available at:
* Search the archive via the MIT HyperArchive at:
.
* To submit files for the archive, email the binhexed file with a
description to . Submissions must be made
by the author or with permission of the author. It may take up to a week
to process; check mirror sites for the status of new uploads.
* To submit files larger than 2 MB, email a description to
and then use an FTP client to upload the
binhexed file to info-mac.org, using the userid "macgifts" and the
password "macgifts". Or, click .
Info-Mac volunteers include Adam C. Engst, Demitri Muna, Hugh Lewis,
Tom Coradeschi, Shawn Bunn, Christopher Li, Patrik Montgomery, Ed Chambers,
and Chris Pepper.
America Online donated the main Info-Mac machine
.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
--Info-Mac-Digest
Content-Type: multipart/digest; boundary="----------------------------"
Content-Disposition: attachment; filename="Info-Mac Digest V17 #71"
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 29 Apr 2000 15:53:48 -0400
From: "[email protected]"
Subject: (C) Washington DC/Baltimore area in need of another Mac support
Dear Digest,
The only support group in our area is the Washington Apple Pi, which
has meetings only monthly, on weekday evenings, and rarely on
weekends. Being located in Bethesda, it is too far for us to drive
from places such as Laurel, Burtonsville, and Silver Spring. It's
annual membership costs are too high for the services provided.
Exclusionary appears to be its motto. With the moving of
MacUpgrades to Gaithersburg, the only Apple repair specialists are
CompUSA, and Apple directly, for people who work weekdays, and only
have weekends and evenings off. I would like to help form another
group, but don't know anybody else who owns a Mac who would want to
join the group in the area. Perhaps somebody here could point me in
that direction?
Thank you.
Sincerely,
[email protected]
--
Check out over 700 internet sites updated monthly at:
http://www.index-site.com
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 29 Apr 2000 11:13:54 -0700
From: David Madfes
Subject: [A] Zip Drives
My condolences on getting PCs -- as someone who went through the same
scenario I know that that decision will haunt you for years.
If the decision is not yet cast in stone and you want ammunition to keep
using Macs write me back, I'll help, especially if the decision is based on
price -- in the long run Macs are far less expensive than WinTels,
especially at schools. But....
Assuming that your zip drives are the SCSI type for older Macs (Older than
the new USB models that is, and I don't know why you would be replacing
iMacs, or G4s... so they must be) the only way you will be able to use the
old Zip drives is if the PCs have SCSI cards in them; but newer PCs
typically are not configured with SCSI, they use EIDE for the CDROM and Hard
Drives which is nearly as fast, but cheaper, and USB, serial and parallel
ports for external connections, so my guess is you are out of luck. Besides
the extra maintenance costs PCs will incur, as well as their limited
lifetime, this is another case where buying PCs turns out to be more
expensive in the long run than buying Macs!
Suggestions:
1. Assuming again that your teachers have Macs at home and have been using
the Zip disks to bring files back and forth between home an school. Keep at
least one Mac in the lab with a Zip drive on it. Teachers can then transfer
files from the Zip to their directories on your server and then they can
use them on the PCs, and back again of course.
2. Another method is to use any of the several free Internet based "hard
drives" such as http://www.xdrive.com. As long as there is a relatively
fast connection, or files are small, your teachers can save and retrieve
their files from any platform files at one of these sites.
You do have a network and a server don't you? No?, write back for more
help.
David Madfes
Technology Coordinator
Abraham Lincoln High School
San Francisco, CA
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 29 Apr 2000 15:05:02 +0100
From: "Dewey Markham, Jr."
Subject: DVD and PowerBook
Hello All,
I am considering the purchase of a PowerBook in the US to bring back
to France where I live and work, but I have a question regarding the DVD
drive. To try and limit the global bootlegging problems that exist with
videocassettes, DVD players have a built-in zone identifier which prevents
DVDs purchased in one zone from being played on a DVD player purchased in
another zone. The US is in a different zone from Europe, so I shall be
unable to view any DVDs rented or bought over here on my US-made PowerBook.
Here are my questions: is the zone information hard-wired on the DVD
drive itslef, in which case if I purchase a replacement drive here in
France my problems are over; or is the zone identifier registered in the
DVD or system software, in which case a little tinkering with ResEdit might
allow me to get around this?
Thanks for any help.
Dewey
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 28 Apr 2000 21:15:28 -0400
From: "Michael G. Schabert"
Subject: Info-Mac Digest V17 #67
>Date: Sat, 22 Apr 2000 14:42:15 +0100
>From: Tina
>Subject: Internet Explorer 5 Font Problem
>
>I've recently downloaded Explorer 5 and to my surprise
>I've found that pages I have viewed in Explorer 4.5 and Netscape
>that have been fine, are now showing fonts in a much bigger
>size - including my own web pages. Has anyone else had this problem?
>I'm not too sure what to do because if I decrease the font size it will
>look tiny in other browsers - help!!
>
>Tina
Hi Tina,
Browsers generally have a preferences setting which lets you select
what they consider the "base" font and fontsize for both monospaced
and variable-width fonts. Apparently, MSIE 5 has a larger default
setting for those.
HTH
Mike
Bikers don't *DO* taglines.
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 29 Apr 2000 10:17:37 -0400
From: "Michael G. Schabert"
Subject: Info-Mac Digest V17 #68
>Date: Mon, 24 Apr 2000 22:46:02 -0700
>From: "David J. Fischer"
>Subject: DSL Connection for two computers
>
>I'm about to have DSL installed on Saturday. Is there a hardware device that
>will allow me to connect two computers (an old PowerPC and a GS laptop?) I
>don't want to necessarily run them simultaneously, nor do I want to make the
>old PC a "server." But if I use it as a server, can I connect the laptop
>using AppleTalk? Both are running System 9.0.4.
Hi Dave,
If you are not interested in using them simultaneously, nor setting
up one as a server, then you would just unhook one computer when you
hook up the other...like you would for an external modem, except that
the DSL modem hooks up using EtherNet instead of a serial cable. For
AppleTalk, the Internet doesdn't use AppleTalk, but rather uses IP
(TCP, UDP, ICMP) for exchanging data, so you'd want to use that for
communicating across the DSL modem. The computers themselves can
speak AppleTalk to each other, but that's entirely unrelated to the
TCP/IP stack. Both protocols can be active simultaneously, and one
won't interfere with the other. The biggest question is how you
currently have your network set uup and how you wish it to be set up
after the installation...do you currently have Ethernet ports on both
Macs and do you have a hub?
The DSL modem most likely has a crossover-wired ethernet port,
meaning that it's designed to hook directly into a computer as
opposed to being designed for a hub, but you can either hok it up (a)
to an uplink port with a regular ethernet cable, or (b) to a regular
port with a crossover cable, in order to get it to connect through a
hub. In that way, you could either have one computer set up as a
server to control the connection (to use both simultaneously), or you
could alter which computer is set up to DHCP an address through the
modem to use only one at a time. To set up one as a server and allow
simultaneous connections, you will need to purchase software, such as
IPNetRouter, or run a un*x derivative. It is possible to do with a
single ethernet card per computer, but the generally-preferred method
is to have the server have 2 ethernet cards...one to connect to the
DSL, and the other to connect to the network/other computer.
Just some thoughts,
Mike
Bikers don't *DO* taglines.
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 29 Apr 2000 23:36:56 -0400
From: "Chuck Reti"
Subject: installing memory in Performa 635CD
In info-Mac Digest V17 #67, [email protected] (Jenny Tenlen) writes:
>
> Hi,
>
> My school received several Performa 635CD donations, and as defacto Mac
> "expert" I've been given the task of upgrading them. All has gone well
> until I tried to install the memory upgrade I purchased for them - how to
> get the casing open! I've installed memory on my Performa 6116CD (the
> pizza box) and newer G3s with no problems - the casing comes off easily,
> with easy access to the RAM slot. But I can't seem to figure out how to
> open up the 635CD. I'm told it is very similar to the LC/Quadra/Performa
> 630. I'd like to avoid taking it to my local computer shop, where they
> charge $25 per computer to install RAM. Any help is much appreciated.
>
> Thanks!
>
> Jenny Tenlen
> [email protected]
It's quite simple to access the innards of these form factor boxes.
For quick and easy explanation check out "The Idiots Guide to Mac Cases"
website. Info on the 63xx series at
Also, while you've got the Logic board out, make sure you replace the logic
board battery (Rayovac #840 Alkaline cube). Do this to _all_ the 635's as
these batteries have limited life and when they go, the machines won't start
up. Mac battery info at
Having installed RAM and replaced the battery,
Make sure to reset the little red reset button on the logic card before
you re-insert the card, or you may have restart problems. Upon this reset,
you'll have to reset some of yourControl Panel settings.
--
Chuck Reti Detroit,MI | Member- MacGroup Detroit Mac UserGroup
[email protected] | http://www.macgroup.org
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 29 Apr 2000 10:47:48 -1000
From: Ed Cesar
Subject: Looking for Mac software to create and operate virtual robotic
I am looking for one or more programs that will enable me to create
"virtual robotic entities" that I can assign various behavioral
attributes to, like communicating with other similar "entities, " or
with a control center; movement dynamics such as, rate of speed,
medium (air, over the ground); and such physical characteristics as
form, appendages and their functions, relative size, etc.
Where might I look for such programs for the Mac? I presume many
games utilize them and some are better than others. What languages
are they programmed in and where can I learn more about that subject?
TIA,
Ed Cesar
[email protected]
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 29 Apr 2000 12:40:12 -0500
From: "Matt Burks"
Subject: New Mac user requesting help!
Hello,
I just bought my first Mac. I got a used Performa/180. This system has
32Mb of RAM with a 603e PowerPC chip in it at 180Mhz. Does anyone know
anything about this system? Mainly i want to know if Mac OS 8.5 or 8.6 will
run on it?
please reply to [email protected]
Thank you for you help,
Matt
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 30 Apr 2000 03:12:36 +0000
From: rEdmAc
Subject: OS 8.6 Universal version CD
Hi All
I know it's time for OS 9 but I really like OS 8.6's simplicity.
I am looking and willing to pay reasonable price for an OS 8.6 Universal
System CD.( North America will be great or International English version)
Please reply to my email account.
Thanks
rEdmAc
--------------------------------
--Info-Mac-Digest--
End of Info-Mac Digest
******************************