Hands-On Review: iMac OST Switch

Power Support Price: Available from Macs Only! here for $8.75

December 19, 1998 (Rev. April 6, 1999)

Pros: Inexpensive, easy to install, works fine.

Cons: None

Rating: Excellent, 4.8 out of 5 Exclamation Points: ! ! ! ! !

Brought to you by Macs Only! Copyright 1998 by Bill Fox

The OST (oh-su-to) Switch from Power Support (shown at right), a Japanese Company, is just what we Rev.A iMac owners have needed. No longer will we have to pull the power plug or stick a straightened paperclip into the reset switch or programmer's interrupt switch holes in the iMac's port compartment to restart after a freeze or to install a firmware update. The OST fits into the switch holes and allows one to easily press the switches. Rev.B iMac's have their front power on switch converted to a reset switch but still may want an OST to easily press the programmer's interrupt switch to do a firmware update.

What you get

The OST switch is shown in the two close ups at left and right. It is a small polycarbonate plastic device with two buttons whose stalks fit into the reset switch and programmer's interrupt switch holes. It is held in place by a strip of adhesive material shown on the photo at right.

Installation

The port compartment of the iMac prior to installation of the OST is shown at left. The OST goes in between the ethernet port and the modem port with the two button stalks fitted into the two holes. The OST is installed in the photo at right. Also shown, for those wondering, is an iPort from Griffin Technology with a video and serial port that Macs Only! reviewed here.

Conclusions

The OST Switch is great. It is inexpensive and easy to install. I used it while installing the iMac Firmware Update 1.0 and the iMac Update 1.1. No longer do I have to pull the power plug or rotate my iMac to see into the port compartment to push the reset switch with a straightened paperclip. The OST's buttons are easily felt by routing the modem cable out under the rear part of the port compartment door and the others out under the front.

Okay, so how do you get one? I'm lucky to have been sent some samples by Kazutoshi Otani for this review and the contest on 12/19/98. Power Support is in the process of setting up distribution in the US. Watch Macs Only! for an announcement of where you can get an OST in the near future. I will also revise this review with a contact for ordering the OST at that time.

[Update: Macs Only! is the exclusive distributor of the OST Switch, called iMac Buttons(tm), in North America with shipping to Latin America and Europe. Order your iMac Buttons(tm) here.]

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