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TransIntl.com: Maximize iBook w/ 128 MB SDRAM DIMM ...$299; 10.1 GB IDE drive...$349
Sony USB CD-RW ....$349; 9.1 Gb Ultra SCSI 7200; 7 ms ...$279

Thursday, February 3rd 2000 00:01 CST @300

Just Where the Hell is Pismo?

Well, nobody's more sick of that question than us. Pismo, Apple's next PowerBook is done. The hardware is complete, according to sources. However, certain elements of its software support (software DVD decoding, for example) are not yet fully ready to ship. Pismo relies on support built into Mac OS 9.0.1 (Minuet) .

There are a few opportunities coming up for a Pismo release. All of these dates are on our future page. The only one that's scheduled is MacWorld Tokyo in two weeks. However, we are highly skeptical that Apple will introduce this product overseas.

However, due to the fact that no good opportunity other than an Apple Event-type news conference is coming up, Apple may be forced to introduce Pismo at MWT. Keep in mind that Pismo is not supposed to be earth-shattering, but a further refinement of an already great product, the PowerBook G3 Series.

AirPort 1.1: First Impressions

We here at the PBZone installed AirPort 1.1 and are quite pleased with the software base station functionality. Other readers have installed the new software as well.

Reader John Richey has a very detailed report with screenshots of all the new features.

Along with introduction of the new software came a slew of updated and new Tech Info Library articles:

• AirPort 1.1: Updating Base Station Firmware
• AirPort 1.1: Third Party Wireless Software and Network Password
• AirPort Setup Assistant: Steps to Complete Before Base Station Setup
• AirPort 1.1: Turning On Access Control
• AirPort Admin Utility 1.1: Accessing the Configure Base Station Window
• AirPort: Using Computer to Computer Mode
• AirPort: Avoid Running Different Versions of Software

The last article is especially important: all clients of a software base station should also upgrade to version 1.1 of the AirPort software.

USB ORBs Shipping

A reader writes:

I ordered a USB ORB Drive back in October 1999 from Cyberian Outpost. Just received my order today February 2, 2000 via Airborne Express. I hope it works as well as the SCSI ORB drive I have. Just thought you might want to pass on the information to your readers. Cheers.

Another PB Bag Choice

Many readers concerns with what they use to carry their PowerBook revolve around how much the bag says "steal me" to would-be PowerBook pilferers. Reader Niels Clausen-Stuck, hailing from Denmark, sent in what he uses:

I was looking quite a long time for a bag that didn't tell anybody that there would be a valuable portable computer inside - go ahead - just take it.

The statesman from North Face can contain a computer sleeve where the PowerBook G3 goes in quite tight, and still offers a lot space for other material.

I bought mine in Copenhagen and I'm very pleased. You can buy it online here:

http://www.ebags.com/search/index.cfm?Fuseaction=/old?u=http%3A%2F%2Fpbzone.com%2Fsearching%26launchedFromBox%3Dy&y=1999 es&leftbox=yes&categoryname=&keywordz=north+face+statesman

I thought that it might be useful information for other people looking for a different type of PB bag.

I was at a local electronic parts supply house here in Boston (You-Do-It Electronics) yesterday and saw this bombproof case from Pelican Products. Here's the link (http://www.pelican.com/medcases.htm )& it's the #1470. Pelican is a longtime manufacturer of extremely heavy duty, waterproof cases for underwater gear, electronics and sensitive equipment. It comes in black only and scratches would only enhance its beauty in my book. Oh, it was only $139.

Tuesday, February 1st 2000 16:01 CST @959

AirPort 1.1 Released

We were waiting for this to come in before we updated today: AirPort 1.1 has been released. The main improvements include the addition of roaming between basestations, better base station status reports, the ability for an AirPort-equipped Mac to act as a software base station, and improved security.

iMac Upgrades Start Popping Up

Though there are no official announcements on NewerTech's site, it appears Insanely-Great already has a review up of the unit, obviously having been seeded to them under a NDA contract. Keep in mind this iMac upgrade will be exactly like the Wallstreet and Lombard upgrades, since the first generation iMacs were so architecturally similar.

Monday, January 31st 2000 16:01 CST @959

More on Newer's Rumored PB Upgrades

After Apple Insider broke the story on Friday, we bounced the idea of Newer's upgrades for Wallstreet and Lombard machines off a few industry sources.

They're certainly for real: Announcement is scheduled for mid-February. Here's how it's going to work for PowerBooks most likely: You'll send in your PowerBook to Newer (They're located in Kansas), they'll take your daughtercard out and change its processor with one that's faster, up to the current fastest G3, the copper 500 MHz units from IBM, which will also be used in the forthcoming Pismo PowerBook.

Prices? Well, it might be expensive, but will certainly be a good value versus buying a whole new PowerBook. Seeing as that bare processor 500 MHz upgrades for desktop system ZIF sockets cost in the neighborhood of $700, expect to pay a little more than that for the research and development as well as the installation costs from Newer.

Here's the catch: Newer has to have a good supply of daughtercards from actual PowerBooks. They can't order them from Apple or have them made by a third party because the unlicensable Mac OS ROMs are placed on the daughtercard. Thus, Newer's usual problems shipping a new product are further exacerbated by the fact that they must somehow build up a good supply of daughtercards to swap into the PowerBooks.

This is certainly exciting. We've been waiting for quite some time for an announcement of this sort. There are well over 500,000 Wallstreet and Lombard class PowerBooks out there, so this is quite an untapped market for Newer to explore. We'll stay very close to this story as it develops....

Friday, January 28th 2000 00:01 CST @333

AppleInsider: Newer Working on PowerBook G3 Series Upgrades

In this article published today, AppleInsider asserts that Newer Technology, one of the oldest Macintosh upgrade sellers, has been hard at work on a line of iMac and PowerBook G3 Series upgrades.

Previously, the architecture of the two similar machines, which placed the necessary Mac OS ROMs that Apple would not license on the daughterboard prevented 3rd parties from producing any upgrades.

However, from AI's article, it seems Newer has a quite simple solution to this problem: They'll take the old daughtercard with the ROMs and the processor and simply upgrade the processor on it. They hope to make it a user-installable solution for iMacs and you might have to send your PowerBook into Newer to get your portable upgraded.

Overall, this is quite an exciting prospect for the PowerBook world, but The PowerBook Zone suggests you don't hold your breath: even if the report is true and Newer is ready to ship these products, the company is notorious for having massive delays. Huge demand for the product coupled with Newer's inability to ship could have these upgrades backordered for months.

Still Waiting on Pismo

Yes, Pismo is still not here. The latest is that the software development of "Minuet," AKA Mac OS 9.0.1, which has essential support for Pismo built-in, is delaying the introduction of the new machines. We still anticipate introduction sometime in the next month. For more information on Pismo, visit our page on the subject.

Also, as a side note, all of our subpages have been updated with the newest page design and the latest information.

Sturdy PowerBook Cases

We love reader submitted email. Send us some.

I thought you might find this interesting, perhaps others will as well.

Even BEFORE I purchased my Powerbook G3 series (WallStreet), I determined it WOULD NOT reside in some mamby-pamby psuedo case. It's beyond me why someone would even think - for a moment - of carrying such a highly valuable piece of equipment around in such things as they do. As far as I'm concerned, they might as well be carrying it around in a paper sack.

That's why I invested in a StarCase. Because I am a musician (among other things), I am familiar with the rigorous conditions that delicate musical instruments, and electronics must endure when touring on the road. I determined that my valuable electronic do-it-all machine (my precious PowerBook G3) deserved the best, and purchased a CarryStar briefcase to carry it in. Each unit (case) manufactured by StarCase is individually serial numbered, and they will custom manufacture a case for individual specifications.

Often, among friends and close others, I laughingly refer to my case as "bombproof" because it certainly looks all the part of "Mr. Secret Agent Man" with its' metal reinforced corners and edges. And, because I'm no small framed man, when I'm asked about the sturdiness and strength of my case I place it flat on any surface (usually the floor) and stand on it. That demonstration is usually followed by silence... theirs.

Finally, a piece de resistance... I was (unfortunately) involved in a heavy truck wreck at the dead of midnight in a remote, southern, rural Georgia town this past November. I had my Powerbook with me in it's StarCase. When I crawled (I considered using it to break the windshield) out of the overturned truck's cab (25 ton payload), I carried my case with me and it accompanied me to the hospital as well. It was not even scratched. I felt as if I was the "Secret Agent Man" carrying that thing around walking around in the midst of such tragedy! (Thank goodness I can laugh about it now!)

Perhaps others may find that StarCase fills the bill of their needs as I have!

AirPort 1.1 Due Monday

The next time you read PBZone on Monday, AirPort software version 1.1 should be out on Apple's servers. We'll have a link to the much-improved software as soon as possible on Monday.