iMac owners- ARE YOU HAPPY?!!!!
Shaolin Monk Funk
Been thinking if I want to own one of these units for the hell of it but
wondering if it's really worth it- since it won't be upgradable and no pci
slots.
So are is anyone happy with theirs if yes, explain why. IF not, please
explain why?
Thanks,
bren
*WHEN REPLYING: Delete "NOsSPAM" out of my email address*
€ eerie b productions €
€ NosSPAM...@channel1.com €
€ Shaolin Monk with the FUNK! €
Brian Parry
No PCI slots? Does that mean you will never own a laptop.
I say don't get one since you can't even pict the write product for your
needs.
It's like you complaining that the motorcycle you bought doesn't have a
trunk.
=Beech=
Shaolin Monk Funk wrote in message ...
Eric Williams
Shaolin Monk Funk wrote:
>
> Been thinking if I want to own one of these units for the hell of it but
> wondering if it's really worth it- since it won't be upgradable and no pci
> slots.
>
> So are is anyone happy with theirs if yes, explain why. IF not, please
> explain why?
>
> Thanks,
> bren
>
> *WHEN REPLYING: Delete "NOsSPAM" out of my email address*
> € eerie b productions €
> € NosSPAM...@channel1.com €
> € Shaolin Monk with the FUNK! €
I am extremely happy with my iMac! I bought it to have a
low/no maintenance machine to play with at home. I manage a network of
UNIX, 95/NT, and Mac machines at work so I am quite familiar with a
range of machines and I really love coming home and using my iMac for
what it was intended for. I had it setup for internet access in minutes
and it plays all the games I have time for, and are any good.
Since I have an older 6115 Performa at home I don't even miss the floppy
or my Zip drive since it took me 2 minutes to network the two machines
together.
I would recommend it to anyone that wants a great machine to do the
things a home computer were meant to do. It would even be a great
machine in a work environment or classroom where most users need
internet access and use standard office tools daily.
Eric Williams
er...@astro.wesleyan.edu
Steve Franks
> Won't be upgradeable? How so?
> No PCI slots? Does that mean you will never own a laptop.
> I say don't get one since you can't even pict the write product for your
> needs.
I'm not exactly sure what this last sentence means, but as for the laptop
thing, the comparison to a laptop isn't really valid. Notebooks now all
have 2 CardBus (or PCMCIA) slots which are essentially the same as
expansion slots in desktops. Sure, the equipment for those slots is
more expensive, but the upgrade capability is there. The iMac does not
have these.
I would say the other real limitation to the iMac is the inability to get
anything other than the built in 15 inch monitor. Your needs may eventually
change and you'll realize that you want a 17 inch (or larger) monitor.
Unfortunately, if this happens, you'll be stuck buying a new computer as
well as the new monitor.
If you have to buy a Mac, the best deal right now is the PowerMac G3/266.
It's worth the extra money in the long run.
--
Steve Franks
sdfr...@mit.edu
Consultant
MIT Computer Connection <m...@mit.edu>
Gary Zuercher
NOSSPAM...@channel1.com (Shaolin Monk Funk) wrote:
> Been thinking if I want to own one of these units for the hell of it but
> wondering if it's really worth it- since it won't be upgradable and no pci
> slots.
>
> So are is anyone happy with theirs if yes, explain why. IF not, please
> explain why?
>
> Thanks,
> bren
Just bought my 2nd iMac: a rev. B with 96mb RAM, Epson 440 printer w/USB
cable and an Imation Superdrive for $1495 from Fry's in Fountain Valley,
CA.
As I was standing in the checkout line, the fellow behind me (buying an
H-P Pavillion) started looking at the iMac box and after discussing the
various features of each, went back and bought an iMac!
This iMac is for my wife who does light word processing, accounting and
internet browsing on it. BTW, it takes up less than 1/2 the space of her
previous desktop pc. My other iMac is used by my son who is a college
freshman. He loves it's gaming ability, the crisp monitor and the
Earthlink internet connection and uses his Epson 740 to write reports for
school.
I installed the extra RAM myself - very simple. As to the lack of slots
and upgrades...who cares? If you need those attributes, don't buy an iMac
- get a G3 desktop for a few hundred more.
--
Regards,
Gary Zuercher
http://www.chromaconcepts.com
Don Elton
a 7100/66 at home and a Powerbook 5300 for roaming. The only complaint I
have is it's a pain to recover from system freezes when they occur. You
can't force a reboot from the keyboard and the reset switch on the monitor
and keyboard seldom will recover from a locked system. The choices are to
open the access door (which sometimes will cause a USB cable to pull loose
- they don't always connect that tight) and use a straightend paperclip to
fit in a tiny hole partially obscurred by your cables to reset the machine
or just power down the system at the outlet. The outlet route is usually
less trouble. Better that they should put a reset button within reach
somewhere on the front or side of the box. Too much hiding of the reset
feature makes me have to get out of my desk and walk all the way around
the desk to the side of the computer to do the reset.
Don Elton
the handle on the bottom of the computer and the base snaps off.
Disconnect 4 cables and the main unit of the computer including the logic
board and the 2 disk drives pulls out. There are 2 ram slots and the one
you exposed will be empty. It's harder sliding the thing back in than it
was to get it out so take your time so you get things fitting correct.
Reconnect the cables and then reattach the cover.
On Sat, 5 Dec 1998, nntp.jaring.my@talk2us wrote:
> We did a review on the iMAC at http://www.shinjiru.com.my/malaysia/review/
>
> Well, we are from PC base group and are not familiar with iMAC but we did
> try and have fun with it.
> Now, the next step is to test the iMAC again using 96MB RAM. Anybody out
> there who can show us how to perform surgery on iMAC? We tried to open it
> but kinda HARD.
>
> Thanks.
>
>
>
>
Don Elton
del...@cts.com
Columbia, SC
Dan Edmunds
- I surf the net, do word processing, games, do the books, etc - A typical home
office user, so I don't think I'll miss the PCI slot. I see it filling my
needs for quite a while.
I have a superdrive ordered, because I can't get away from floppies, and I want
to be able to back up files on disks. Two birds with one stone with that
product.
I bought an Asante talk ethernet adapter to use my existing HP LaserJet 5MP
appletalk compatible printer, and that has worked out *very* well. It was very
easy to set up in 5 minutes, the printing is fast, and it includes all of the
cables (unlike a similar Farallon product). I've also used it to file share
with my old Performa 6220.
The thing my wife (and I have to admit me too) likes about the iMac is that it
is small enough so that we could put it on the smallish built-in kitchen desk
we have, which brings the computer out of it's back-room hole and into a family
area. An unexpected boon because now I can do the newsgroup thing without
upsetting family unity, or missing Monday night football, etc.
Jeff and Sam
My wife and I love our iMac. I've been using various Macs and PC over
the years; starting with an LCII, then an LC630 and now the iMac at
home. I have a 9600 200/MP at work where I do all my heavy
design/multimedia work, so I don't really need the ability to transfer
large files/etc (although I'm waiting for my USB zip--hard to get yet in
eastern Canada).
Honestly, aside from a slightly weird time installing RAM (compared to
my 9600, anyway) the iMac is a great machine. It's fast enough to run
almost all of the games I'm interested in, it works great with all my
mulitmedia development apps, and I have good access to the internet. I
didn't but it for expandibility (none of the Macs I've had have been
very expandable. By the time I've needed to expand in the past, it has
been a better option to buy new anyway: better processor, more standard
features, etc.
The iMac is also great for building web pages as well, which is one of
the main reasons we got it.
I love it, solid machine, good price, perfect for my home needs.
jeff white
information designer
Shaolin Monk Funk wrote:
>
> Been thinking if I want to own one of these units for the hell of it but
> wondering if it's really worth it- since it won't be upgradable and no pci
> slots.
>
> So are is anyone happy with theirs if yes, explain why. IF not, please
> explain why?
>
> Thanks,
> bren
>
Shaolin Monk Funk
> Won't be upgradeable? How so?
> No PCI slots? Does that mean you will never own a laptop.
> I say don't get one since you can't even pict the write product for your
> needs.
> It's like you complaining that the motorcycle you bought doesn't have a
> trunk.
>
> =Beech=
You are not understanding me- I'm just trying to hear peoples opinions of
the iMac- I know what I need and can use- I've been dealing with macs for
8 years. I'm curious of any horror stories or positive ones.
relax,
bren
> Shaolin Monk Funk wrote in message ...
> >
Gordon Mulcaster
groups
comp.sys.mac.misc,comp.sys.mac.graphics,comp.sys.mac.wanted,comp.sys.mac
hardware.misc, Don Elton writes:
> You can't force a reboot from the keyboard and the reset switch on
> the monitor and keyboard seldom will recover from a locked system.
On the B model (6 MB video RAM, OS 8.5, Rage Pro chipset) the "power"
button on the front acts like a reset switch, and the keyboard reset
works.
--
... of course that's just my opinion. I could be wrong."
-- Dennis Miller
gordonm(at)portal.ca
nntp.jaring.my@talk2us
Gary Zuercher
Elton <del...@cbbs.scsn.net> wrote:
> I've had an iMac for about a month and use it as my office machine. I have
> a 7100/66 at home and a Powerbook 5300 for roaming. The only complaint I
> have is it's a pain to recover from system freezes when they occur. You
> can't force a reboot from the keyboard and the reset switch on the monitor
> and keyboard seldom will recover from a locked system. The choices are to
> open the access door (which sometimes will cause a USB cable to pull loose
> - they don't always connect that tight) and use a straightend paperclip to
> fit in a tiny hole partially obscurred by your cables to reset the machine
> or just power down the system at the outlet. The outlet route is usually
> less trouble. Better that they should put a reset button within reach
> somewhere on the front or side of the box. Too much hiding of the reset
> feature makes me have to get out of my desk and walk all the way around
> the desk to the side of the computer to do the reset.
I agree although the Rev. B's allow the normal keyboard restart
(command+control+power key). A hard freeze still requires the dreaded
paper clip reboot.
Mark C. Spaeth
: Just bought my 2nd iMac: a rev. B with 96mb RAM, Epson 440 printer w/USB
: cable and an Imation Superdrive for $1495 from Fry's in Fountain Valley,
: CA.
:
: This iMac is for my wife who does light word processing, accounting and
: internet browsing on it. BTW, it takes up less than 1/2 the space of her
: previous desktop pc.
$1495 for light word processing, accounting, and net browsing?
Geez... sounds like that the first problem with an imac...
--
Mark Spaeth msp...@mtl.mit.edu
60 Vassar St., #39-629 msp...@mit.edu
Cambridge, MA 02139
(617) 253-0719 http://spaeth.ne.mediaone.net/~mspaeth
Nick Scott
(Mark C. Spaeth) wrote:
> Gary Zuercher (ga...@chromaconcepts.com) wrote:
>
> : Just bought my 2nd iMac: a rev. B with 96mb RAM, Epson 440 printer w/USB
> : cable and an Imation Superdrive for $1495 from Fry's in Fountain Valley,
> : CA.
> :
> : This iMac is for my wife who does light word processing, accounting and
> : internet browsing on it. BTW, it takes up less than 1/2 the space of her
> : previous desktop pc.
>
> $1495 for light word processing, accounting, and net browsing?
> Geez... sounds like that the first problem with an imac...
In my area you can get the iMac with a scanner,printer and SuperDrive
for $1450. Where can you get a 400mhz PC that's equal in quality with a
15" monitor and all the above for that price? The iMac has been compared
in speed to the 400 mhz PII.
--
Nick Scott
http://www.abraxis.com/nscott
Blake Patterson
>
> Won't be upgradeable? How so?
> No PCI slots? Does that mean you will never own a laptop.
> I say don't get one since you can't even pict the write product for your
> needs.
> It's like you complaining that the motorcycle you bought doesn't have a
> trunk.
>
> =Beech=
Dude, back off on the caffeine!
bp
=-------- ---- -- - - - - - -
=-Blake Patterson -- bl...@blakespot.com -- http://www.blakespot.com
=------Blake's PC to Macintosh Page----Blake's Nino Info Page------=
- - - - - - - -- ---- -------------=
Blake Patterson
>
> I've had an iMac for about a month and use it as my office machine. I have
> a 7100/66 at home and a Powerbook 5300 for roaming. The only complaint I
> have is it's a pain to recover from system freezes when they occur. You
> can't force a reboot from the keyboard and the reset switch on the monitor
> and keyboard seldom will recover from a locked system. The choices are to
> open the access door (which sometimes will cause a USB cable to pull loose
> - they don't always connect that tight) and use a straightend paperclip to
> fit in a tiny hole partially obscurred by your cables to reset the machine
> or just power down the system at the outlet. The outlet route is usually
> less trouble. Better that they should put a reset button within reach
> somewhere on the front or side of the box. Too much hiding of the reset
> feature makes me have to get out of my desk and walk all the way around
> the desk to the side of the computer to do the reset.
Don't feed the USB cables through the round, blue hole on the access
panel, feed them through the two squarish cutaways lower on the door,
near where it hinges with the unit. The hole was meant for your finger
to use to open the panel, the cables were meant to feed through the
squarish cutaways below. That should help with the cables being pulled
out when you open the door!
bp
--
Jerry Goldstein
> Gary Zuercher (ga...@chromaconcepts.com) wrote:
>
> : Just bought my 2nd iMac: a rev. B with 96mb RAM, Epson 440 printer w/USB
> : cable and an Imation Superdrive for $1495 from Fry's in Fountain Valley,
> : CA.
> :
> : This iMac is for my wife who does light word processing, accounting and
> : internet browsing on it. BTW, it takes up less than 1/2 the space of her
> : previous desktop pc.
>
> $1495 for light word processing, accounting, and net browsing?
> Geez... sounds like that the first problem with an imac...
Certainly sounds like that's a problem for you. IMHO, you'd be happier
with a cheaper Billy Gates' powered machine. Go for it.
TopCat
like the *expandibility* through the hi-speed USB ports. I definitely do
NOT miss the floppy drive. Having purchased a zip drive on earlier
systems, I have resorted to burning my own CD's for back up purposes thru
my networked powerbook 1400c (upgraded to a 250 mhz G3 from newer
technologies.) Yeah..it takes a little longer to burn the CD's, but I
reduce my media costs to about a dollar per CD. Contrast this to zip
disks which cost about $12.00 / 100MB-disk at Wal-Mart prices.
Perhaps Rev C of the iMAC will have a CD-RW drive or have a slot to swap
out the existing CD ROM.
art
>> I've had an iMac for about a month and use it as my office machine. I have
>> a 7100/66 at home and a Powerbook 5300 for roaming. The only complaint I
>> have is it's a pain to recover from system freezes when they occur. You
>> can't force a reboot from the keyboard and the reset switch on the monitor
>> and keyboard seldom will recover from a locked system. The choices are to
>> open the access door (which sometimes will cause a USB cable to pull loose
>> - they don't always connect that tight) and use a straightend paperclip to
>> fit in a tiny hole partially obscurred by your cables to reset the machine
>> or just power down the system at the outlet. The outlet route is usually
>> less trouble. Better that they should put a reset button within reach
>> somewhere on the front or side of the box. Too much hiding of the reset
>> feature makes me have to get out of my desk and walk all the way around
>> the desk to the side of the computer to do the reset.
>I agree although the Rev. B's allow the normal keyboard restart
>(command+control+power key). A hard freeze still requires the dreaded
>paper clip reboot.
Command control power works on a rev A as long as it's not locked up. You
should be able to hit the power button on the front of a rev b machine to reboot
it in a hard freeze. Does this actually work?
Robert
Gordon Mulcaster
comp.sys.mac.misc,mit.bboard,comp.sys.mac.graphics,comp.sys.mac.wanted,c
omp.sys.mac.hardware.misc, TopCat writes:
> I like the *expandibility* through the hi-speed USB ports.
USB, at 12 Mbps (mega-bits per second) is a low-speed, or at best,
mid-speed, port.
SCSI currently starts at 40 Mbps and tops out at 640 Mbps. The next
version will do 1280 Mbps. Firewire tops out at 400 Mbps (if I recall
correctly) and there are faster versions proposed.
Shaolin Monk Funk
<6B524D634DA1B582.6CD72440...@library-proxy.airnews.net>,
j...@pacificnet.net (Jerry Goldstein) wrote:
Bill Gates, yuuuuchk!
Mac will make you happy- aPC will just frustrate you with it's rigid
labeling. I tried both and prefer the mac system over windows anyday!
Peace,
Sunweb
and some JPEGs from the net and putting them into QuarkXpress for a
small, humorous book on family history. Some of the pictures after
playing with them in PhotoShop have jagged edges because of the pixels.
Is there a way to reduce the pixel size to get a smoother edge? Is
there another option to accomplish this with Photoshop? Is there
another software? My preference is to stay with PhotoShop.
Please remove the capital NO from dragnfly to email me. Thanks.
John
dragn...@rea-alp.com
Paul Kerin
<snip>
>The only complaint I
>have is it's a pain to recover from system freezes when they occur. You
>can't force a reboot from the keyboard
Why, why, why, do Apple do this? I mean, what possible manufacturing
advantage can they gain from not providing this all-too often required
facility?. I only have to restart my Mac maybe 2 or three times a month,
but if Apple think I am crawling under my desk to pull the plug on the
bloody thing, forget it.
We are in an age of technology. The iMac is supposed to be super-hi-
tech. Tell me, do they include some knee-protectors and a paper-clip in
the box? :-)
I suppose that new iMac owners will discover this minor inconvenience in
time. They are unlikely to have been informed of it prior to purchase. I
just read a review of the iMac in the Daily Express which says (twice)
that it doesn't have a CD-Rom drive. Whoever is in charge of UK
publicity at Apple needs to spend less time in the wine bar celebrating
their 'success'.
--
Paul Kerin
Steve Thomas
<Pa...@macsandrelax.demon.co.uk> wrote:
>In article <Pine.LNX.3.96.981204...@cbbs.scsn.net>, Don
>Elton <del...@cbbs.scsn.net> writes
><snip>
>>The only complaint I
>>have is it's a pain to recover from system freezes when they occur. You
>>can't force a reboot from the keyboard
><snip>
>
>Why, why, why, do Apple do this? I mean, what possible manufacturing
>advantage can they gain from not providing this all-too often required
>facility?. I only have to restart my Mac maybe 2 or three times a month,
>but if Apple think I am crawling under my desk to pull the plug on the
>bloody thing, forget it.
>
As I understand it, it was forced by the adoption of the USB standard. On
the old ADB system the <ctrl> <command> <power> key combination accessed
a hardwired connection to the reset. Apple couldn't do this with USB without
breaking the standard. SO, it had to be emulated in software. And there are
just some freezes that break the emulation.
Cordially,
Steven Thomas
Automation Services
--
Steve Thomas | Automation Services | Us hungry,...
The Orcish Librarian | Central Kansas Library System| need food,...
www.ckls.org/~sthomas/| 1409 Williams | Lots of books...
stevet@midusa,net Hme | Great Bend, KS 67530-4090 |
sth...@ckls.org Wrk | | Hmmm...
Steve Hix
<Pa...@macsandrelax.demon.co.uk> wrote:
> In article <Pine.LNX.3.96.981204...@cbbs.scsn.net>, Don
> Elton <del...@cbbs.scsn.net> writes
> <snip>
> >The only complaint I
> >have is it's a pain to recover from system freezes when they occur. You
> >can't force a reboot from the keyboard
> <snip>
>
> Why, why, why, do Apple do this? I mean, what possible manufacturing
> advantage can they gain from not providing this all-too often required
> facility?. I only have to restart my Mac maybe 2 or three times a month,
> but if Apple think I am crawling under my desk to pull the plug on the
> bloody thing, forget it.
Just make sure you've got a Rev. B iMac and you won't have to.
--
Do not argue with the forces of nature,
for you are small, insignificant,
and biodegradable.
Don Elton
programmer's switch on the box instead of hidden behind the paperclip
hole.
On Sun, 6 Dec 1998, Steve Thomas wrote:
> In article <x$T$3SAvBv...@macsandrelax.demon.co.uk>, Paul Kerin
> <Pa...@macsandrelax.demon.co.uk> wrote:
>
> >In article <Pine.LNX.3.96.981204...@cbbs.scsn.net>, Don
> >Elton <del...@cbbs.scsn.net> writes
> ><snip>
> >>The only complaint I
> >>have is it's a pain to recover from system freezes when they occur. You
> >>can't force a reboot from the keyboard
> ><snip>
> >
> >Why, why, why, do Apple do this? I mean, what possible manufacturing
> >advantage can they gain from not providing this all-too often required
> >facility?. I only have to restart my Mac maybe 2 or three times a month,
> >but if Apple think I am crawling under my desk to pull the plug on the
> >bloody thing, forget it.
> >
> As I understand it, it was forced by the adoption of the USB standard. On
> the old ADB system the <ctrl> <command> <power> key combination accessed
> a hardwired connection to the reset. Apple couldn't do this with USB without
> breaking the standard. SO, it had to be emulated in software. And there are
> just some freezes that break the emulation.
>
> Cordially,
>
> Steven Thomas
> Automation Services
>
> --
> Steve Thomas | Automation Services | Us hungry,...
> The Orcish Librarian | Central Kansas Library System| need food,...
> www.ckls.org/~sthomas/| 1409 Williams | Lots of books...
> stevet@midusa,net Hme | Great Bend, KS 67530-4090 |
> sth...@ckls.org Wrk | | Hmmm...
>
Don Elton
Steve
Remember that internal monitors have high voltages too.
You don't want an eight-year-old getting into that at all.
Apple has made a very (thoughtfully) sturdy machine once again.
(Most 128K Apples still hold their own).
Steve Thomas
Elton <del...@cbbs.scsn.net> wrote:
>You can live without a keyboard reboot if they'd just put a real reset/aka
>programmer's switch on the box instead of hidden behind the paperclip
>hole.
>
I'll certainly grant your point there. Iwas just stating my understanding
of why the keyboard command didn't work. Which was what I took to
be the original question.
Steve Franks
> In article <74bif8$q...@senator-bedfellow.MIT.EDU>, msp...@mtl.mit.edu
> (Mark C. Spaeth) wrote:
>
> >
> > $1495 for light word processing, accounting, and net browsing?
> > Geez... sounds like that the first problem with an imac...
>
> Certainly sounds like that's a problem for you. IMHO, you'd be happier
> with a cheaper Billy Gates' powered machine. Go for it.
I think Mark's point is that if you want a machine just for the most
basic of uses, you can get stuff a lot cheaper that $1500, whether
it's a PC or a Mac. You could probably get a PMac 7600 nowadays for
$500 or under. And with that you can have a real (17" or bigger)
monitor which is much better for web browsing and word processing.
Or you can get a new PC for $800, run Linux for free, and get
WordPerfect.
:)
--
Steve Franks
sdfr...@mit.edu
Consultant
MIT Computer Connection <m...@mit.edu>
John Christie
sma...@envisionet.net (Steve) wrote:
> Easy to get into an iMac?
> Remember that internal monitors have high voltages too.
Well, unlike past all in one Macs the iMac protects you from that.
Getting into the monitor electronics and the MB are two separate tasks and
one can reach the entire set of digital components (essentially computer)
wihout ever exposing the high voltage. The internal design is just about
more modular than in the past and the modules are much more insulated from
one another.
--
You aren't free if you CAN choose - only if you DO choose.
All you are is the decisions you make.
Remove "*" and ohnny (i.e. jc@) to make nice, polite
academic related replies via email.
David Yeh
> I think Mark's point is that if you want a machine just for the most
> basic of uses, you can get stuff a lot cheaper that $1500, whether
> it's a PC or a Mac. You could probably get a PMac 7600 nowadays for
> $500 or under. And with that you can have a real (17" or bigger)
> monitor which is much better for web browsing and word processing.
You'll want a G3 if you want to run OS X though, which will be a good
thing for light and power users alike, assuming it is delivered.
-dave
Mark London
->> with a cheaper Billy Gates' powered machine. Go for it.
->I think Mark's point is that if you want a machine just for the most
->basic of uses, you can get stuff a lot cheaper that $1500, whether
->it's a PC or a Mac. You could probably get a PMac 7600 nowadays for
->$500 or under. And with that you can have a real (17" or bigger)
->monitor which is much better for web browsing and word processing.
->Or you can get a new PC for $800, run Linux for free, and get
->WordPerfect.
But it also included a printer and a Superdrive. And sorry, you can't get a
7600 for $500. If you can find one, let me know.
> Just bought my 2nd iMac: a rev. B with 96mb RAM, Epson 440 printer w/USB
> cable and an Imation Superdrive for $1495
Mark London
M...@PSFC.MIT.EDU
Jerry Kindall
> ->> Certainly sounds like that's a problem for you. IMHO, you'd be happier
> ->> with a cheaper Billy Gates' powered machine. Go for it.
> ->I think Mark's point is that if you want a machine just for the most
> ->basic of uses, you can get stuff a lot cheaper that $1500, whether
> ->it's a PC or a Mac. You could probably get a PMac 7600 nowadays for
> ->$500 or under. And with that you can have a real (17" or bigger)
> ->monitor which is much better for web browsing and word processing.
> ->Or you can get a new PC for $800, run Linux for free, and get
> ->WordPerfect.
>
> But it also included a printer and a Superdrive. And sorry, you can't get a
> 7600 for $500. If you can find one, let me know.
I sure wouldn't expect to get much more than that for my 7500, assuming I
put the 601 daughtercard back in. Maybe a 7600 is worth $600, then.
--
Jerry Kindall mailto:kin...@mail.manual.com Technical Writing
Manual Labor http://www.manual.com We wrote the book!
tse_di
NOSSPAM...@channel1.com (Shaolin Monk Funk) wrote:
> In article <qgM92.25412$aF1....@typhoon-sf.snfc21.pbi.net>, "Brian
> Parry" <brian...@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
> > Won't be upgradeable? How so?
> > No PCI slots? Does that mean you will never own a laptop.
> > I say don't get one since you can't even pict the write product for your
> > needs.
> > It's like you complaining that the motorcycle you bought doesn't have a
> > trunk.
> >
> > =Beech=
>
> You are not understanding me- I'm just trying to hear peoples opinions of
> the iMac- I know what I need and can use- I've been dealing with macs for
> 8 years. I'm curious of any horror stories or positive ones.
The imacs that I deal with people are very happy with. People seem to to
like most the speed, the form factor and lack of wires. I have not
personally run into any horror stories (out of a dozen or so iMacs I have
dealt with). I have seen some people run into problems after installing
old software that replaces system components (like quicktime) with older
versions or installs problematic extensions (like ObjectSupportLib). I
haven't seen any hardware issues.
The expansion issue should be considered though especially if you have a
lot of existing equipment or plan to add a lot of stuff or need more than
USB speed throughput. There are adaptors that will allow you to connect
most thing but the cost of adaptors adds up and a cheap G3 or older
machine might make more sense in that situation.
The reboot situation has been fixed with the rev B ones. (I don't know why
apple did this). For people with Rev A models there is a little plastic
piece that is the eqivalent of the programmers swich on the old compacts
that snaps into the paperclip holes and gives you a reset button (just
like the old programmers switch).
As far as the cost goes if all you need is light word processing and
internet access you might do better with an older/slower machine. You
probably are not doing anything that would actually use the speed of an
iMac (or a PII for that matter).
Alexander Perry
I have an idea. Lets just bitch and bitch and bitch about every little
thing that we personally don't like about the iMac. Then, perhaps people
won't buy it. Then Apple will have financial problems again and people
will stop making software for Macintosh. Then we will really have things
to whine about. Sounds like a plan to me!
Zeke
Fact 1: Lots of computer "experts" bitch about the iMac.
Fact 2: The iMac is selling more than other Macs...more than other PCs,
even (at CompUSA anyway), and to people that haven't bought a computer
before.
Conclusion: Picky computer geeks do NOT form the majority of the potential
computer-buying public. The public wants computers the same way they want
their cars, video games, sneakers, and other household items: Simple.
Cool-looking. Ready to go when you get it home. The only way to keep the
market growing is to appeal to MOST of the people...not the computer
geeks! Apple gets it.
signed, a computer geek who likes his beige Mac box full of slots
In article <sp-m-09129...@ts3-15.eden.spacestar.net>, sp...@usa.net
Wreford Miller
exterminated from a new product).
I'm using it to replace a nice tired Pentium 100 with millenium neurosis,
so picked up Virtual PC for it too. The iMac runs Win95 at _subjectively_
about the same speed as that P100, actually a little better (with minimal
RAM). It's just another computer on the network, only it's inside the
iMac. Neat parlour trick. And goodbye Y2K hardware grief.
Since it's a client workstation that it's replacing, there are no
peripheral/USB issues for us; printing by ethernet, backups by server.
Took the proverbial 17 minutes to get it settled in to our LAN and PPP
setup. So factor that in to the total cost, and it gets cheaper.
The mouse is a physiotherapist's nightmare. RSI anyone? As a key interface
device, the form should follow function, not fashion. What a cockup.
Otherwise, a good mix of features/components/performance. It should feel
responsive for the next few years of bloatware. Feels like it was made to
run Offal, er, Office 98, and even the web browsers seem peppy, almost
wintel-like.
Wanna bet that that translucent case looks pretty sad and opaque after 2.5
years of sitting by a window?
____________________________
wre...@radiant.net
http://web.radiant.net/wreford
kee...@accesscom.com
wre...@radiant.net (Wreford Miller) wrote:
>Feels like it was made to
>run Offal, er, Office 98
So LOL.
Mark C. Spaeth
: oooo, let's see.
:
: Fact 1: Lots of computer "experts" bitch about the iMac.
As I took a hacksaw and a dremel to a skinny mac yesterday...
(yes, it did have all the signatures molded into the plastic on
the inside back of the case, in case you were wondering), it made
me wonder...
Has anyone made an iMacquarium yet?
That's at least look cool...
--
Mark Spaeth msp...@mtl.mit.edu
60 Vassar St., #39-629 msp...@mit.edu
Cambridge, MA 02139
(617) 253-0719 http://spaeth.ne.mediaone.net/~mspaeth
Rick Phillips
> Gary Zuercher (ga...@chromaconcepts.com) wrote:
>
> : Just bought my 2nd iMac: a rev. B with 96mb RAM, Epson 440 printer w/USB
> : cable and an Imation Superdrive for $1495 from Fry's in Fountain Valley,
> : CA.
> :
> : This iMac is for my wife who does light word processing, accounting and
> : internet browsing on it. BTW, it takes up less than 1/2 the space of her
> : previous desktop pc.
>
> $1495 for light word processing, accounting, and net browsing?
> Geez... sounds like that the first problem with an imac...
The above was obviously written by a "justdon'tgetit".
Well...no...$1495 is an incredible bargain when you look at the REAL cost
of operating a PEE CEE!
Sorry couldn't resist :)
Rick Phillips
<6B524D634DA1B582.6CD72440...@library-proxy.airnews.net>,
j...@pacificnet.net (Jerry Goldstein) wrote:
> In article <74bif8$q...@senator-bedfellow.MIT.EDU>, msp...@mtl.mit.edu
> (Mark C. Spaeth) wrote:
>
> > Gary Zuercher (ga...@chromaconcepts.com) wrote:
> >
> > : Just bought my 2nd iMac: a rev. B with 96mb RAM, Epson 440 printer w/USB
> > : cable and an Imation Superdrive for $1495 from Fry's in Fountain Valley,
> > : CA.
> > :
> > : This iMac is for my wife who does light word processing, accounting and
> > : internet browsing on it. BTW, it takes up less than 1/2 the space of her
> > : previous desktop pc.
> >
> > $1495 for light word processing, accounting, and net browsing?
> > Geez... sounds like that the first problem with an imac...
>
> Certainly sounds like that's a problem for you. IMHO, you'd be happier
> with a cheaper Billy Gates' powered machine. Go for it.
Where do these guys come from? If they hate the Mac so much why are they
always lurking around?
Rick Phillips
Mark! Hey Mark!...Learn to spell... Then someone might take you seriously :)
In article <74om85$i...@senator-bedfellow.MIT.EDU>, msp...@mtl.mit.edu
(Mark C. Spaeth) wrote:
> Zeke (so...@nospam.net) wrote:
> : oooo, let's see.
> :
> : Fact 1: Lots of computer "experts" bitch about the iMac.
>
> As I took a hacksaw and a dremel to a skinny mac yesterday...
> (yes, it did have all the signatures molded into the plastic on
> the inside back of the case, in case you were wondering), it made
> me wonder...
>
> Has anyone made an iMacquarium yet?
>
> That's at least look cool...
>
Mark C. Spaeth
: Where do these guys come from? If they hate the Mac so much why are they
: always lurking around?
If you were bright enough to look at the newsgroups line, you'd see
mit.bboard in the crosspost spam list... I'm not lurking in your newsgroup,
merely responding to the spam posts in mine...
Stephen Marriott
: : Just bought my 2nd iMac: a rev. B with 96mb RAM, Epson 440 printer w/USB
: : cable and an Imation Superdrive for $1495 from Fry's in Fountain Valley,
: : CA.
: :
: : This iMac is for my wife who does light word processing, accounting and
: : internet browsing on it. BTW, it takes up less than 1/2 the space of her
: : previous desktop pc.
: $1495 for light word processing, accounting, and net browsing?
: Geez... sounds like that the first problem with an imac...
FWIW, we bought an iMac w/ 128MB RAM for the Apple Expo (CDT show in London)
and it was great for demonstrating CINEMA 4D Go.
Also the unit is very portable... Great for our exhibition work.
--
Stephen Marriott - ste...@hisoft.co.uk
HiSOFT SYSTEMS, The Old School, Greenfield, Bedford, MK45 5DE, UK
Tel: +44 1525 718181 Fax: +44 1525 713716 Freecall: 0500 223 660
http://www.hisoft.co.uk/ http://www.cinema4d.com/
Frank
Stephen Rea
> Easy to get into an iMac?
> Remember that internal monitors have high voltages too.
> You don't want an eight-year-old getting into that at all.
> Apple has made a very (thoughtfully) sturdy machine once again.
> (Most 128K Apples still hold their own).
The monitor is in a completely seperate compartment, and you never get
near it. The motherboard can be easily slid out to access all the
components.
--
Stephen Rea
Mac System Engineer America Online SoundBytes Radio
Jessi Group, Inc. Mac Forum Consultant www.soundbytes.org
716-624-1920 AFC Rea WXXI-AM Rochester, NY
Ferguson
(tse_di) wrote:
>The imacs that I deal with people are very happy with. People seem to to
>like most the speed, the form factor and lack of wires. I have not
>personally run into any horror stories (out of a dozen or so iMacs I have
>dealt with). I have seen some people run into problems after installing
>old software that replaces system components (like quicktime) with older
>versions or installs problematic extensions (like ObjectSupportLib). I
>haven't seen any hardware issues.
My iMac has been a great machine... until I loaded the UMAX 1220U scanner
drivers and accompanying software. One of the software installers loaded
the old ColorSync drivers, even though the current 8.5.1 ones were
installed. Major mistake there!
A very studied and minimal install of their software would probably work
OK. As is, if you go with their default install, it'll put a lot of poorly
created software on your drive that looks like it was ported from Windows.
Only these seem important or useful:
OmniPage Limited Edition
ImageFolio Browser
Presto! ImageFolio for Mac
UMAX VistaScan 3.1
UMAX VistaScan DA 3.1
Otherwise, I've really enjoyed the system.
BTW, I'm the Office Automation supervisor for our factory where we support
about 500 Macs, and am one of the top Mac techs. at Motorola. I'd gladly
replace all our Macs with iMacs. It's a great box.
Greg
Ferguson
dfp...@garnet.acns.fsu.edu (Rick Phillips) wrote:
>Where do these guys come from? If they hate the Mac so much why are they
>always lurking around?
Two words: Mac envy.
They buy the biggest PC they can to compensate for shortcomings in other
aspects of their lives. :-)
Greg
Ferguson
>USB, at 12 Mbps (mega-bits per second) is a low-speed, or at best,
>mid-speed, port.
I made that comment to one of our engineer/sales-reps the other day, who
works with the USB design groups.
He reminded me that at 12Mbps, USB is faster than standard ethernet, and
so has sufficient bandwidth to handle scanners and drives for the "normal"
users. It's fast enough that it could handle a good video signal. USB
monitors are a possibility, where the actual video would be passed over
the USB wire. And, audio over USB is coming, if not actually here.
I thought it was interesting how our perception of "fast" changes. We used
to think 10BaseT was fast. :-)
Greg
Chris Simmons
> >USB, at 12 Mbps (mega-bits per second) is a low-speed, or at best,
> >mid-speed, port.
>
> I made that comment to one of our engineer/sales-reps the other day, who
> works with the USB design groups.
>
> He reminded me that at 12Mbps, USB is faster than standard ethernet, and
> so has sufficient bandwidth to handle scanners and drives for the "normal"
> users. It's fast enough that it could handle a good video signal. USB
> monitors are a possibility, where the actual video would be passed over
> the USB wire. And, audio over USB is coming, if not actually here.
There are two flavors of USB, 1.5Mbps and 12Mbps. USB is a Master-Slave
connection (your computer as master, all USB devices connected as slaves)
I don't think USB has enough bandwidth to drive a digital monitor 75hz
vertical refresh by 1024x768 = 56.25Mbps for a monochrome picture.
(monitors with built-in USB hubs are already being produced.)
But, 1394 (Firewire) starts at 100Mbps and goes up from there (I think
Lucent just announced a 400Mbps phi chip) and it's isochronous(sp?, you
can allocate dedicated bandwidth to traffic across firewire; I think I
read somewhere that someone was working on isochronous drivers for USB
also.) 1394 is already the default standard in digital video (DV). 1394
is slated as the next interface for digital audio (connecting all future
stereo equipment together and replacing MIDI.) 1394 is a peer-to-peer
connection. (meaning, I can connect two digital camera together and copy
a digital video tape without a computer controlling the transfer.)
Fibre Channel starts at 100MBps (800Mbps).
--Chris
Gordon Mulcaster
of groups
comp.sys.mac.misc,mit.bboard,comp.sys.mac.graphics,comp.sys.mac.wanted,c
omp.sys.mac.hardware.misc, Ferguson writes:
> In article <98120514...@my.sig.com>, s...@my.sig.com wrote:
>
> >USB, at 12 Mbps (mega-bits per second) is a low-speed, or at best,
> >mid-speed, port.
>
> I made that comment to one of our engineer/sales-reps the other day,
> who works with the USB design groups.
Let's his bias show a little too, eh?
> He reminded me that at 12Mbps, USB is faster than standard ethernet,
> and so has sufficient bandwidth to handle scanners and drives for
> the "normal" users.
Sorry but 100 base-T (100 mega-bits per second) is the current standard.
Gigabit ethernet is now the fast version (1,000 Mega-bits per second).
10 Mega-bit ethernet is only kept around for legacy compatibility. USB
works out to 1.5 Mega-Bytes per second, are you willing to trade in your
16 Mega-Byte per second UDMA hard drive for a 1.5 Mega-Byte per second
USB one? Didn't think so...
> It's fast enough that it could handle a good video signal.
Hmmm, DV video is 40 Mega-bits per second (and up). Note: DV cameras
often have firewire ports, not USB ports.
> USB monitors are a possibility, where the actual video would be
> passed over the USB wire.
Hmmm, 640 v. x 480 h. x 24 bit colour x 60 Hz = 442,368,000 bits per
second or 422 Mega-bits per second. 8 bit colour drops that to 140
Mega-bits per second. I'll leave calculating 1600 x 1200 x 24 x 75 as an
exercise for the reader...
And I'll leave your engineer/sales-reps friend to enjoy his 640 x 480
black and white USB monitor operating at a blistering 41 Hz.
> And, audio over USB is coming, if not actually here.
Audio would work just fine, as long as latency isn't a problem. Audio
doesn't need a high speed bus.
> I thought it was interesting how our perception of "fast" changes.
The Apple II's floppy drive seemed fast after using the Commodore PET's
cassette drive. Doesn't mean I would want to use one today.
> We used to think 10BaseT was fast. :-)
It was. It isn't.
For the following; remember that USB is 1.5 MBps (Mega-Bytes per second)
100 base-T ethernet: 12.5 MBps
gigabit ethernet: 125.0 MBps
SCSI - 1: 5.0 MBps
SCSI - 2: 10.0 MBps
Fast or Wide SCSI - 2: 20.0 MBps
Ultra SCSI: 40.0 MBps
Ultra-2 SCSI: 80.0 MBps
Fire Wire: 50.0 MBps
160 Ultra SCSI: 160.0 MBps
USB: 1.5 MBps
Even SCSI - 1, which is considered old and slow, is over three times
faster than USB. USB will be great for keyboards, mice, joysticks and
zip drives -- but don't let anyone tell you it's fast.
--
... of course that's just my opinion. I could be wrong."
-- Dennis Miller
gordonm(at)portal.ca
Ray Sanders
First USB has two speeds 1.5Mbps and 12Mbps. The 12Mbps requires
shielded cables, whereas the 1.5Mbps can be used with less expensive cables.
(fast) USB may be faster than 10b-T, but not 100b-T.
Roland currently sells the UA-100 Audio Canvas which has USB interface
to the PC (but not iMac for lack of drivers). It handles both MIDI and
digital audio streams (in & out). In addition, Roland has the MA150U
Micro Monitor speakers which use USB streaming for audio out from the PC.
Ray Sanders
rsanders at gate dot net
Ferguson wrote:
>
> In article <98120514...@my.sig.com>, s...@my.sig.com wrote:
>
> >USB, at 12 Mbps (mega-bits per second) is a low-speed, or at best,
> >mid-speed, port.
>
> I made that comment to one of our engineer/sales-reps the other day, who
> works with the USB design groups.
>
> He reminded me that at 12Mbps, USB is faster than standard ethernet, and
> so has sufficient bandwidth to handle scanners and drives for the "normal"
> users. It's fast enough that it could handle a good video signal. USB
> monitors are a possibility, where the actual video would be passed over
> the USB wire. And, audio over USB is coming, if not actually here.
>
> I thought it was interesting how our perception of "fast" changes. We used
> to think 10BaseT was fast. :-)
>
> Greg
Mark C. Spaeth
: BTW, I'm the Office Automation supervisor for our factory where we support
: about 500 Macs, and am one of the top Mac techs. at Motorola. I'd gladly
: replace all our Macs with iMacs. It's a great box.
Since you're dropping company names, when I was working for motorola
(cellular subscriber sector) PCs ran the factory, and only a few managers
were still using macs... all of the engineers had x86 or sparcs.
If motorola hadn't made the 680x0 series, I don't think they would have
had many macs to begin with...
John Christie
(Mark C. Spaeth) wrote:
> If motorola hadn't made the 680x0 series, I don't think they would have
> had many macs to begin with...
You say that as if you are unaware that they also make the PPC in the
current Macintosh computers.
Mark C. Spaeth
: In article <759l9l$6...@senator-bedfellow.MIT.EDU>, msp...@mtl.mit.edu
: (Mark C. Spaeth) wrote:
: > If motorola hadn't made the 680x0 series, I don't think they would have
: > had many macs to begin with...
:
: You say that as if you are unaware that they also make the PPC in the
: current Macintosh computers.
I'm quite aware of who makes PPCs, I'm just making the point that at
the current time, they (at least the division I worked for) primarily
uses intel and sparc...
Matthew Pritzker
>
> In article <gferguson-151...@ip230.phoenix8.az.pub-ip.psi.net>
> of groups
> comp.sys.mac.misc,mit.bboard,comp.sys.mac.graphics,comp.sys.mac.wanted,c
> omp.sys.mac.hardware.misc, Ferguson writes:
>
> >
> > >USB, at 12 Mbps (mega-bits per second) is a low-speed, or at best,
> > >mid-speed, port.
> >
> > I made that comment to one of our engineer/sales-reps the other day,
> > who works with the USB design groups.
>
>
> > and so has sufficient bandwidth to handle scanners and drives for
> > the "normal" users.
>
> Gigabit ethernet is now the fast version (1,000 Mega-bits per second).
> 10 Mega-bit ethernet is only kept around for legacy compatibility.
What a wonderful world you must live in, where 10baseT connections exist
only for compatibility. Here in my dreary world, 100baseT is reserved
for the campus backbone and a few select number-crunching CPUs. The
common folk must view the internet in a limited fashion from Macs and
Xterms on 10baseT (or worse yet, 10base2). ;-)
--
--------------------
Matthew Pritzker Graduate Research Assistant
mpri...@iucf.indiana.edu IU Physics Dept.
GG
version one!
Ray Sanders wrote in message <3678211F...@gate.net>...
>Keep a couple of points in mind about USB....
>
> First USB has two speeds 1.5Mbps and 12Mbps. The 12Mbps requires
>shielded cables, whereas the 1.5Mbps can be used with less expensive
cables.
>
> (fast) USB may be faster than 10b-T, but not 100b-T.
>
> Roland currently sells the UA-100 Audio Canvas which has USB interface
>to the PC (but not iMac for lack of drivers). It handles both MIDI and
>digital audio streams (in & out). In addition, Roland has the MA150U
>Micro Monitor speakers which use USB streaming for audio out from the PC.
>
>Ray Sanders
>rsanders at gate dot net
>
>Ferguson wrote:
>>
>>
>> >USB, at 12 Mbps (mega-bits per second) is a low-speed, or at best,
>> >mid-speed, port.
>>
>> I made that comment to one of our engineer/sales-reps the other day, who
>> works with the USB design groups.
>>
>> so has sufficient bandwidth to handle scanners and drives for the
"normal"
GG
magus
gfer...@earthlink.net (Ferguson) wrote:
Which I think brings up an interesting point.
This year the JC Penney's catalog had 3-4 different models of kids
computers. You know, those little plastic machines that have games on
them, etc... Most are about $150-$200.
I wonder if many people realize that they can usually find old Mac
Powerbooks for that price. At one time www.macresq.com was selling PB
180's and below (any 1xx model) for $200. (I think they're all gone now.)
Wouldn't it make sense to buy a young child an ACTUAL computer if they
want to give him/her a head start? :D
Now, here's another point... If you buy an old powerbook the child will be
using almost exactly the same interface as the new models of the same
machine.
How much more do you all think it would cost to buy an old PC notebook
that will do that?
--
"We're here to enforce the law for the landlords, businessmen, and [alumnus that donate more than $10,000] to [Iowa State University]...Students need to realize this before they bitch and waste our time." --paraphrased comment made by Ames Police Officer--
Gordon Mulcaster
comp.sys.mac.misc,mit.bboard,comp.sys.mac.graphics,comp.sys.mac.wanted,c
omp.sys.mac.hardware.misc, Matthew Pritzker writes:
> What a wonderful world you must live in, where 10baseT
> connections exist only for compatibility. Here in my dreary
> world, 100baseT is reserved for the campus backbone and a few
> select number-crunching CPUs.
I replied via email earlier, but wanted to add this... School is not the
real world.
Rick
> In article <367920...@indiana.edu> of groups
>
> > What a wonderful world you must live in, where 10baseT
> > connections exist only for compatibility. Here in my dreary
> > world, 100baseT is reserved for the campus backbone and a few
> > select number-crunching CPUs.
>
> I replied via email earlier, but wanted to add this... School is not the
> real world.
.. and I suppose teachers and students are not real people?
--
Remove nojunk from my email address to reply by email.
Matt Woody
better than PC whatever they say that is).
Alexander Perry wrote:
> I have an idea. Lets just bitch and bitch and bitch about every little
> thing that we personally don't like about the iMac. Then, perhaps people
> won't buy it. Then Apple will have financial problems again and people
> will stop making software for Macintosh. Then we will really have things
> to whine about. Sounds like a plan to me!
--
Matt TIG
email to: wood...@geocities.com
Web Page at: http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Haven/1901/
Matthew Pritzker
>
> Gordon Mulcaster <s...@my.sig.com> wrote:
>
> > In article <367920...@indiana.edu> of groups
>
> >
> > > What a wonderful world you must live in, where 10baseT
> > > connections exist only for compatibility. Here in my dreary
> > > world, 100baseT is reserved for the campus backbone and a few
> > > select number-crunching CPUs.
> >
> > I replied via email earlier, but wanted to add this... School is not the
> > real world.
>
> .. and I suppose teachers and students are not real people?
Having worked in the real world, and then returned to school, I think I
can safely say that yes, teachers and students are not real, but rather
hypothetical "perfect" people;-)
Satch
(Rick) wrote:
> Gordon Mulcaster <s...@my.sig.com> wrote:
> > In article <367920...@indiana.edu> of groups
> > > What a wonderful world you must live in, where 10baseT
> > > connections exist only for compatibility. Here in my dreary
> > > world, 100baseT is reserved for the campus backbone and a few
> > > select number-crunching CPUs.
> >
> > I replied via email earlier, but wanted to add this... School is not the
> > real world.
>
> .. and I suppose teachers and students are not real people?
Schools are an interesting case. They don't generate any revenue against
which network upgrades (such as moving to 100BaseT within a subnet) can be
charged and a return on investment calculated. They, however, indirectly
generate revenue for buinesses that businesses don't factor into their
profit-and-loss.
"Dreary world" is correct -- unless you happen to be going to one of the
computer-science schools where state-of-the-art networks are necessary to
conduct cutting-edge research. In the case of these schools, ROI *can* be
calculated by the amount of grant money awards due in whole or in part to
the infrastructure quality.
My pair-o-pennies(tm)
--
Stephen Satchell
Opinions expressed here are my PERSONAL opinions
Gordon Mulcaster
> Gordon Mulcaster <s...@my.sig.com> wrote:
>
> > I replied via email earlier, but wanted to add this... School is
> > not the real world.
>
> .. and I suppose teachers and students are not real people?
Schools and governments are worlds unto themselves. School does not
operate the same as business, neither does government. Your point that
100 base-T is not the norm because your school only uses it for their
backbone is not applicable. In the "real world" if you are buying a new
PC or upgrading one, you put a 100 base-T card in it because it's only a
few bucks more than a 10 base-T one. Then when you need to add a new hub
you add a 100-base-T one and move everyone with a 100-base-T card to it.
The company I work for is in the process of moving into a new building
and it is being outfitted with 100 base-T hubs which auto-switch to 10
base-T for compatibility with older hardware. We have also wired with
Cat-6 cable for the future addition of giga-bit ethernet. I doubt we've
bought a 10 base-T card in the last 18 months. The backbones (I believe)
are giga-bit ethernet transmitted over fiber.
Your school, like most schools, is five to ten years behind the
technology curve.
John Siple
* computers. You know, those little plastic machines that have games on
* them, etc... Most are about $150-$200.
*
* I wonder if many people realize that they can usually find old Mac
* Powerbooks for that price. At one time www.macresq.com was selling PB
* 180's and below (any 1xx model) for $200. (I think they're all gone now.)
*
* Wouldn't it make sense to buy a young child an ACTUAL computer if they
* want to give him/her a head start? :D
*
* Now, here's another point... If you buy an old powerbook the child will be
* using almost exactly the same interface as the new models of the same
* machine.
*
* How much more do you all think it would cost to buy an old PC notebook
* that will do that?
You are absolutely right. I found a pile of SE/30s for $10 each and added
a little RAM and OS 7.5.3 and now each of my three kids has a computer
that is small enough to fit on a desk, fast enough to search through a
dictionary, and could actually be used to surf if I wanted my kids
surfing. The really great thing about the older machines is that they
aren't so very good for playing games, which is largely a wase of time for
kids anyway, and the old guys keep them from wandering through internet
sites they shouldn't be visiting.
So I have these $2000 computers on my kids' desks and I just have to laugh
at the crap they sell in toy stores.
The old beasts are very, very cool.
John
Lupine
(magus) wrote:
> In article <gferguson-151...@ip230.phoenix8.az.pub-ip.psi.net>,
> gfer...@earthlink.net (Ferguson) wrote:
>
> > In article <dfp5138-1112...@dial320.acns.fsu.edu>,
> > dfp...@garnet.acns.fsu.edu (Rick Phillips) wrote:
> >
> > >Where do these guys come from? If they hate the Mac so much why are they
> > >always lurking around?
> >
> > Two words: Mac envy.
> >
> > They buy the biggest PC they can to compensate for shortcomings in other
> > aspects of their lives. :-)
>
> Which I think brings up an interesting point.
>
> This year the JC Penney's catalog had 3-4 different models of kids
> computers. You know, those little plastic machines that have games on
> them, etc... Most are about $150-$200.
>
> I wonder if many people realize that they can usually find old Mac
> Powerbooks for that price. At one time www.macresq.com was selling PB
> 180's and below (any 1xx model) for $200. (I think they're all gone now.)
>
> Wouldn't it make sense to buy a young child an ACTUAL computer if they
> want to give him/her a head start? :D
>
> Now, here's another point... If you buy an old powerbook the child will be
> using almost exactly the same interface as the new models of the same
> machine.
>
> How much more do you all think it would cost to buy an old PC notebook
> that will do that?
About the same ballpark, as a friend recently got an old P-133 Winbook for
~$250 a month or so ago. He prefers to use "disposable" computers for
travel; as he knows that invariably they'll get damaged, lost, stolen
etc.. and he just needs it for email, basic wordprocessing etc.