Low End Mac Reader Specials
TypeStyler For Mac OS X is Now Shipping! Download The Free Fully Functional 60 Day Tryout at www.typestyler.com
OWC: Get the Right Memory for Your Mac Top Quality, Competitive Price, Lifetime Backed Free Expert Support + Installation Videos too! MacBook & mini 8GB, iMac 16GB, Mac Pro up to 32GB. Click here
Don't install Parallels to play poker online! Poker Mac will show you how
to download and install a native Mac poker application such as Full
Tilt Poker Mac.
Laptop Hardware Provided by TechRestore - Overnight Mac & iPod Repairs.
Compare products like desktop computers, apple laptops, apple macs, and LCD Monitors side by side! All the information and reviews to make the best purchasing decision for new mobile phones, sat nav systems, or MP3 players. The Ciao online shopping community makes searching products easy for you.
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 began writing for Mac websites in May 1998. His The Road Warrior column is a regular feature on MacOpinion, and he is a news editor and columnist at Applelinks.com. If you find his articles helpful, please consider making a donation to his tip jar.
Recent Miscellaneous Ramblings
- Soft Touch Keyboards, Wireless Mouse Options, Loving SeaMonkey 2, and More, 11.18. Also the future of browsing with PowerPC Macs and the multiple mouse input bug introduced with OS X 10.5.8.
- 4 Mac Browsers Updated Recently, 11.16. A look at the release version of Safari 4.0.4 and preview versions of Firefox 3.6, Chrome 4.0, and Opera 10.10.
- More Mighty Mouse Alternatives, Wireless Safety, Switching to ClipMenu, and More, 11.11. Also Apple's AirPort Card as the best solution for Pismo, Color It and Snow Leopard, and later revision Mac OS X install discs.
- Putting the SeaMonkey 2.0 Internet Suite Through Its Paces, 11.09. SeaMonkey is the successor to Netscape Navigator with its browser, email and news clients, and HTML editor. Version 2.0 puts it on par with Firefox 3.5.
- More in the Miscellaneous Ramblings index.
Links for the Day
- Mac of the Day: iMac Core Duo, Jan. 2006 - The first Intel-based iMacs ran at 1.83-2.0 GHz, came with 17" and 20" displays.
- Group of the Day: Mac Pro List is for those using a Mac Pro.
- November 23 in LEM history: 99: Should I buy a USB card? - 01: Can a low-end Mac be an only Mac? - Palm Desktop without a PDA - CyberDog saves the day - 05: How Consumer Reports could compare Macs fairly - Speakers for your Mac - Living with the hi-res 15" PowerBook - Birth of the PowerBook - Daystar 1.9 GHz iMac G4 upgrade - 1.92 GHz PowerBook upgrade
- Support Low End Mac
Recent Content on Low End Mac
- Apple's Tablet an End Run Beyond Netbooks, Frank Fox, Stop the Noiz, 11.20. Whatever Apple has planned will leverage existing technologies while going beyond what its competitors can offer.
- i5 iMac Benchmarked, Mac mini 'Shouldn't Be Overlooked', Twitter Client for Classic Mac OS, and More, Mac News Review, 11.20. Also why Apple leaves the low end to others, 10.6.2 fixes video playback problem in 27" iMac, 3D Leopard and Snow Leopard performance, and more.
- Apple #4 in Reliability, Apple Tablet a Gadget for All?, HP's i7 Notebook Outdoes Mac Rivals, and More, The 'Book Review, 11.20. Also Flash 10.1 improves video on Hackintosh netbooks, thin-and-light notebooks impress, Windows XP finally on the way out, and more.
- NASA Chemical Sensor for iPhone, Smartphone Death Match, iPhone Earrings, and More, Ian R Campbell, 11.20. Also mobile phone dangers, new apps, GPS solution for iPod touch, new iPod and iPhone cases, and more.
- Replacing the Hard Drive in a Clamshell iBook, John Hatchett, Recycled Computing, 11.19. Yes, it is one of the most difficult Apple notebooks to disassemble and reassemble, but a 10 GB hard drive just will not do.
- IBM Model F: A Great Old Keyboard with an Outdated Layout, Tommy Thomas, Welcome to Macintosh, 11.19. Although it used a different technology than the revered IBM Model M keyboard, the Model F was a great keyboard in its own right.
- More links in our archive.
Recent Deals
- Best eMac Deals, 11.18. Used 1 GHz Combo, $100; SuperDrive, $269; 1.25 GHz Combo, $119; SD, $319; 1.42 GHz Combo, $289; SD, $498.
- Best Mac OS X 10.6 and Mac Box Set Deals, 11.18. "Snow Leopard", single user, $25; 5 users, $45; Mac Box Set, single user, $139; 5 users, $180; Server, $414. Shipping included.
- Best Xserve Deals, 11.18. Used 1 GHz dual G4, $649; 2.3 dual G5, $795; 3.0 4-core Xeon, $1,899; refurb 2.26 4-core, $2,499; new, $2,888; refurb 8-core, $2,999; new, $3,449; more.
- Best 15" MacBook Pro Deals, 11.17. Used 1.83 GHz, $750; 2.16, $800; 2.33, $900; refurb 2.4, $1,299; 2.53, $1,449; 2.66, $1,699; 2.8, $1,899; new 2.53, $1,579; 2.66, $1,799; more.
- Best Power Mac G4 and AGP Video Card Deals, 11.17. Used 400 MHz, $50; 933 MHz, $80; 500 dual, $60; 867 dual, $90; 1 GHz dual, $150; 1.25 GHz dual, $225; 1.42 GHz, $499.
- Best Mac OS X 10.5 Deals, 11.17. "Leopard" upgrade, $80; single user license, $135; 5 users, $173; Mac Box Set, 5 users, $230; Server, 10 users, $340; unlimited, $850. Shipping included.
- Best Mac mini Deals, 11.16. Used 1.42 GHz G4 mini, $379; 1.66 GHz Core Solo, $419; 2.0 Core 2, $450; new 2.26 GHz nVidia, $580; 2.53 GHz, $769; Server, $990.
- Best iBook G4 Deals, 11.16. Used 12" 1.07 GHz Combo, $210; 1.33 GHz, $298; 14" 1.33 GHz, $398; 1.42 GHz, $479; SuperDrive, $498.
- Best iPod shuffle Deals, 11.16. Used 1 GB, $35; 4 GB, $65; refurb 1 GB, $39; 2 GB, $59; new 2 GB, $55, 4 GB, $75. New and refurb prices include shipping.
- More deals in our archive.
About LEM | Support | Usage | Privacy | Contacts
Navigation
Used Mac Dealers
Apple History
Video Cards
Email Lists
Favorite Sites
MacSurfer
MacMinute
MacInTouch
MyAppleMenu
InfoMac
Macs Only!
The Mac Observer
Accelerate Your Mac
RetroMacCast
PB Central
MacWindows
The Vintage Mac
Museum
DealMac
DealsOnTheWeb
Mac2Sell
ramseeker
Mac Driver Museum
JAG's House
System
6 Heaven
System 7 Today
the pickle's Low-End
Mac FAQ
Abandonware
Petition
Mac vs. PC Info
Affiliates
The Apple
Store
Mac
Connection
B&H
MacMall
TechRestore
ExperCom
Crucial
Memory
batteries.com
Advertise
MacMinute
MacInTouch
MyAppleMenu
InfoMac
Macs Only!
The Mac Observer
Accelerate Your Mac
RetroMacCast
PB Central
MacWindows
The Vintage Mac
Museum
DealMac
DealsOnTheWeb
Mac2Sell
ramseeker
Mac Driver Museum
JAG's House
System 6 Heaven
System 7 Today
the pickle's Low-End
Mac FAQ
Abandonware
Petition
Mac vs. PC Info
Mac Connection
B&H
MacMall
TechRestore
ExperCom
Crucial Memory
batteries.com
