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Miscellaneous Ramblings
Miscellaneous Ramblings Mailbag
The Power of Older Macs, Why Vista Only Sees 3 GB of RAM, Wangwriter Supplies, and More
Charles Moore - 2008.10.08 - Tip Jar
Popularity: 
- The Power of Older Macs
- Why 32-bit Vista Only Sees 3.12 GB of RAM
- Windows System Profile Software
- MIT HyperArchive - End of an Era
- Wangwriter Supplies
The Power of Older Macs
From Brian G. Reilly:
Hey Charles,
I'm a regular reader of Low End Mac. I just started up a blog, of which I think I might be posting entries that are relevant to the readers of LEM. I think this one in particular: http://www.pwrmac.com/2008/10/01/real-world-speed-freak/ would be of interest. In the article, I cover why upgrading RAM and hard drives are important, and I have three videos posted demonstrating the speed of my low-end Mac, a dual 1.8 Ghz G5 from 2004.
Thanks for taking the time to check it out.
Sincerely,
Brian
Hi Brian,
Thanks for the link.
Good article. I do notice that the 5400 RPM hard drive in one of my Pismo PowerBooks does give significantly better performance than the 4200 RPM drive in my other Pismo, even though the latter has slightly more RAM installed.
Charles
Why 32-bit Vista Only Sees 3.12 GB of RAM
From Matthew in response to 4 GB of RAM 'Mostly Wasted' with Vista:
Charles,
It is true that a 32-bit processor can directly address 4 gigabytes, but Windows was designed with the lower 2 gigabytes available for application programs and the upper 2 gigabytes reserved for the operating system. It shares this approach with VMS, which Dave Cutler also designed.
When computers started to push the 2 gigabyte boundary, Microsoft partially addressed this problem with the /3GB and the /PAE startup switches. This article explains why Vista says 3.12 gigabytes is free rather than the expected 4 gigabytes:
64-bit Windows doesn't suffer from this problem. A 64-bit processor can directly address up to 16 exabytes, so I don't imagine this problem with Windows will be repeated anytime soon.
It makes the memory handling of OS X look pretty good by comparison, doesn't it?
Matthew Reed
http://www.trs-80.org
Hi Matthew,
It does indeed. Thanks for the comment.
Charles
Windows System Profile Software
From John in response to PC System Profiler:
Charles,
Actually all Belarc Advisor does is it gathers its information from the local Windows installation. A better solution would be the program Everest Home Edition by Lavalys.
John
Thanks for the tip, John.
Charles
MIT HyperArchive - End of an Era
From Dan:
I'd just like to alert everyone to an obscure but important event today.
After over a decade serving the Mac community, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's HyperArchive was shut down today as part of the ongoing process of consolidating the many scattered Info-Mac mirrors to just one. The MIT HyperArchive was the first searchable mirror of the Info-Mac Archive of Mac shareware and freeware, and since 1997 has been an invaluable resource for us Mac users, both new and old alike. Links to files in the MIT mirror will now be automatically redirected to the same files in the Info-Mac Archive.
Persons wishing to search and download from the Info-Mac Archive are encouraged to use the official, database-driven version at http://www.info-mac.org/archive from now on.
Dan Palka
http://www.info-mac.org
Wangwriter Supplies
From Don Morse:
I happened across the postings about the Wangwriter and JB Royal. I worked on that project, and in the process of clearing out my house I have found a stash of ribbons of all types and a large assortment of printwheels. There is enough material there to keep one going for another lifetime. I got my daughter a surpluss Wangwriter for collage and it may even be around some where. If there is any interest in this WangWriter material please contact me before it hits the dumpster.
Best regards,
Don Morse
Note: If anyone in interested in Don's WangWriter stuff, drop me a note here at Low End Mac, and I'll forward it to him. cm
Charles Moore has been a freelance journalist since 1987 and writing for Mac websites since May 1998. His The Road Warrior column is a regular feature on MacOpinion, and he is a news editor and columnist at Applelinks.com.
Recent Miscellaneous Ramblings
- OS X More Efficient than Linux, Snow Leopard and PowerPC Macs, and Eudora Woes, 12.03. A user reports both Panther and Leopard run more smoothly and use memory more efficiently than Linux. Also thoughts on PowerPC abandonment in Snow Leopard and replacing Eudora in Leopard.
- Apple Could Buy Dell, and Linux Is No Threat to Mac OS X, 12.01. Apple has the cash to buy Dell outright, and the idea has some merit. Also, why Linux still isn't ready to displace the Mac OS.
- Another Way to Run WeatherBug, Aspire One Runs OS X, 17" MacBook Pro Hi-res Display, and More, 11.25. Also finding that 'just right' notebook computer, car, or truck.
- 3 WeatherBug Options for Apple Users, 11.19. Have instant access to current local weather conditions with a Dashboard widget, iPhone app, or Firefox plugin.
- More in the Miscellaneous Ramblings index.
Links for the Day
- Mac of the Day: 'Mirror Drive Door' Power Mac G4, Aug. 2002 - Dual CPUs from 867 MHz to 1.25 GHz on the most powerful Mac to boot OS 9.
- Group of the Day: Panther List is for anyone using Mac OS X 10.3.
- December 5 in LEM history: 00: Get organized on your Mac - 01: Living in a Windows world - 02: Small Apple dealers make a difference - The balanced Mac life - 03: Repairing an old Mac worth the price? - 05: Offbeat Mac games - Guest PC - MacSword: A free Bible program - 06: Apple II clones - 'Just right' notebook design - 07: Info-Mac reloaded - Old Macs practical, not just nostalgic - From the familiarity of Windows to the power of Mac
Recent Content on Low End Mac
- Watching DVDs from Different Regions on Your Mac, Andrew J Fishkin, Best Tools for the Job, 12.04. Hardware and software solutions for watching DVDs intended for a different region.
- Targus Velos Messenger Case: Versatile, Attractive, and Modestly Priced, Charles W. Moore, 'Book Value, 12.04. The Velos Messenger Case is solidly built, had pockets for lots of extras, and could even handle a second 15" notebook computer.
- How Apple Retail Can Profit from the Recession, Tim Nash, Taking Back the Market, 12.04. "Apple has a larger cash mountain than any of its competitors in retail, and with the right kind of investments will come out of the recession stronger than ever."
- The Leopard Experience at 867 MHz, Simon Royal, Mac Spectrum, 12.02. Mac OS X 10.5 requires an 867 MHz G4 with 512 MB of memory, but is performance really acceptable on a minimum spec system?
- A Used 17" PowerBook as a Budget Notebook Alternative, Charles W. Moore, 'Book Value, 12.02. Sure, you can buy a refurbished 13.3" MacBook for under $900, but you could also have an expansive, feature laden 17" PowerBook in the same price range.
- More links in our archive.
Recent Deals
- Best eMac Deals, 12.04. Used 700 MHz CD, $100; Combo, $120; 800 CD, $160; 1 GHz Combo, $215; SuperDrive, $260; 1.25 Combo, $244; SD, $300; 1.42 Combo, $275; SD, $400.
- Best iPod shuffle Deals, 12.04. Refurb 1 GB '07, $39 shipped; new, $40; '08, $45; refurb 2 GB '07, $59 shipped; new, $58; '08, $65.
- Best iBook G4 Deals, 12.04. Used 12" 800 MHz Combo, $300; 1.2 GHz, $389; 1.33, $4491.33 GHz, $395; SuperDrive, $649; 1.42 GHz Combo, $599; SD, $669.
- Best PowerBook G3 Deals, 12.03. Used 14" WallStreet G3/266 MHz, $90; Lombard G3/400 MHz, $150; Pismo G3/400 MHz, $300; 500 MHz, $350.
- Best 17" PowerBook G4 Deals, 12.03. Used 1.5 GHz, $685; 1.67 GHz, $699.
- Best Intel iMac Deals, 12.03. Used 17" 1.83 GHz, $550; 20" 2.0, $650; refurb 20" 2.4, $999; 2.66, $1,299; 24" 2.8, $1,549; 3.06, $1,899; rebates and free shipping on new.
- Best Mac OS X 10.4 'Tiger' Deals, 12.02. DVD upgrade from 10.3, $75; full version, $129; family pack, $200; 10-user Server, $350; unlimited users, $400.
- Best iMac G5 Deals, 12.02. Used 17" 1.6 GHz Combo, $400; 1.8 SuperDrive, $450; 1.9 iSight, $599; 20" 1.8 GHz, $500; 2.0, $600; 2.1 iSight, $700. Shipping additional.
- Best 17" MacBook Pro Deals, 12.02. Used 2.16 GHz Core Duo, $1,330; 2.33 Core 2, $1,499; close-out, 2.4, $1,800 after rebate; new 2.5, $2,000 a/r; new hi-res, $2,499 a/r; refurb 2.6, $2,399.
- More deals in our archive.
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