From: (Tony Lindsey) xxltony@cts.com Subject: Mac*Chat#108/10-May-96 Mac*Chat#108/10-May-96 ====================== Welcome to Mac*Chat, the weekly electronic newsletter for everyone interested in using a Macintosh computer professionally, no matter what their situation or profession. See the end of this file for further information, including how to get a free subscription. Any [comments in brackets] are by Tony Lindsey. Highlights Of This Issue ------------------------ I explain the new commercial-based system for Mac*Chat, advise folks to upgrade to System 7.5.3, recommend upgrading America Online's software to 2.7, mention AOL's new optional pricing structure, praise Suitcase 3.0 and Conflict Catcher 3, ask for nominations for the Single Essential Utility, I warn web-page creators to think twice before posting personal pages, Joseph Schaller gives a lot of Powerbook tips, and readers tell us what it's like to live with the Panasonic PD drives. Topics: Highlights Of This Issue Editor's Notes - I'm Back! Mac*Chat Is Now Commercially-Based What A Great Bunch Of Readers! I Like System 7.5.3 Question - What's The Address For Apple's Update Newsletter? America Online Information, Part One - Upgrade Your Software! America Online Information, Part Two - Rate-Changes I Really Like Suitcase 3.0 Conflict Catcher - Very Nice! Nominate Your Favorite Utilities Technical Section Starts... Here Beware Of Web Spiders Powerbook Feedback Panasonic PD Drives Legalisms Free Subscriptions To This Newsletter Editor's Notes - I'm Back! -------------------------- By Tony Lindsey After a nice, long period of handling the needs of my clients, I'm back in the saddle again. It's great to be here! I have used the intervening time to try various programs that I didn't have time to test before (see below) and make some decisions that I can be happy with. I've decided to quit mooning around and get serious about the newsletter. No, the donations idea didn't work as well as hoped, but I've learned from it and finally got off the dime. Mac*Chat Is Now Commercially-Based ---------------------------------- By Tony Lindsey Starting today, I'm withdrawing all requests for donations. Instead, I'm shifting to a system that allows ads to appear within the text of the newsletter. I will be using a system developed by Steve Holden , who is the editor of the excellent Newton-oriented freeware newsletter called NewtNews. Here's an example from a recent issue: $-----------$------------$------------$------------$-----------$-----------$ The WriteRight Screen Enhancement is a unique clear plastic film that protects the Newton screen from scratches, reduces glare and improves the feel of writing to help handwriting recognition. WriteRights are available in packs of: 4-for $11.95, 8-for $18.95, and 12-for $24.95. Mention NewtNews and receive 10% off our 12-pack. For more info: 415-929-1002 $-----------$------------$------------$------------$-----------$-----------$ As time goes by, I will be inserting well-marked ads from solid, high-quality advertisers within Mac*Chat. Please help me make the right connections with reputable businesses. I will be happy to provide them with a price-list. Starting with this issue, Mac*Chat will be issued every week, unless announced beforehand. If you're worried that Mac*Chat's content may shift in focus as a result, you are probably right, but I'll fight it. If you've been reading Mac*Chat for any length of time, you know that I prefer to stay clean in my opinions. The trust that my clients and readers have in me is my greatest asset, and I won't do anything to jeopardize it. What A Great Bunch Of Readers! ------------------------------ By Tony Lindsey I recently issued a short note to my readers asking for your patience while I took a business sabbatical. I received a huge pile of truly wonderful "attaboy" messages, and I'm thrilled that so many folks got the message the way I meant it. Many, many thanks to the folks who sent me such wonderful letters of support. I feel like I've found my online "tribe." You're a real sweet crew. I Like System 7.5.3 ------------------- By Tony Lindsey After a month of testing and installations, I'm deeply satisfied with System 7.5.3, otherwise known as System 7.5 Update 2.0. It's a keeper, it works well, and I recommend it to people who ALREADY have System 7.5 (any version) installed. If you aren't running a PowerMac, don't rush to upgrade from System 7.1. I don't see a big pressing need for most folks. Naturally, there won't be a single nice thing said about 7.5.3 in the general media, since Apple did something right. I strongly recommend that you read the "Read me" file that comes with the update and follow the instructions for upgrading. If you're in the USA and call <800-293-6617>, ext 984. or <408-987-7000> before the end of May 1996, you can get the upgrade CD sent to you at NO cost. That CD is a solid part of MY toolbox. Question - What's The Address For Apple's Update Newsletter? ------------------------------------------------------------ By Tony Lindsey When I received my 7.5.3 CD from Claris, it included a piece of paper mentioning a free newsletter from Apple, alerting its readers to all of Apple's newest software and hardware updates and drivers as they are issued. I immediately set that paper aside for the next issue of Mac*Chat, and of course I can't find it anywhere. Readers? America Online Information, Part One - Upgrade Your Software! ------------------------------------------------------------- By Tony Lindsey Good news - If you are mighty sick of America Online's Version 2.6 software and 1.0 Web Browser, your relief may have arrived. Versions 2.7 and 1.1 are now available for free downloading as one installer file (go to keyword "Upgrade"). It took me 13 minutes to download with my 28.8k modem. I'm very happy with the upgrade so far. The browser acts more like Netscape in the sense that it interprets fancier-laid-out pages than before, and I strongly suspect that the main software's bugs have been removed (almost a year late). ANYTHING has to be an improvement over the old versions. I've received well over a hundred distress calls from clients who experienced the usual problems with 2.6. I've hated to see 'em suffer. If you're expecting that this is the version that allows you to use Netscape with AOL, you're doomed to disappointment. That will be in 3.0, I believe. America Online Information, Part Two - Rate-Changes --------------------------------------------------- By Tony Lindsey Starting on July 1, 1996, AOL will offer a new payment option called the "20/20 Plan." This will mean you will be able to pay $19.95 a month for twenty hours of online time, with additional hours billed at the usual $2.95 an hour. I see this as a direct reply to the current pricing schemes at CompuServe, Prodigy and zillions of local Internet service providers. I see this payment plan as a benefit for the folks who are NOT technically-inclined, who aren't attracted to figuring out why stuff like MacPPP, Eudora and Open Transport 1.1 aren't interfacing properly. Otherwise, they would be directly connected to the Internet through a local service for US$20 a month and unlimited online time. Prices are continuing to drop all over the place. I Really Like Suitcase 3.0 -------------------------- By Tony Lindsey I've been helping clients who use the font-management utility called Suitcase for several years. I have had exposure to the newest version (3.0) because of my job, and I have to say it's the simplest darned program I've seen in a while. Suggested retail is US$69.95. If you have a bazillion fonts and swap 'em around often, I can't imagine a better way to manage them. Symantec Corporation 10201 Torre Avenue Cupertino, CA 95014 <800-277-3873/541-334-6054> [Outdated phone number removed at the request of Symantec /Info-mac archivist] If you want to add an entire family of fonts to your daily operations, you just pull down your Apple menu and select Suitcase. This opens a window containing an icon representing your "startup set." If you have a folder full of various fonts files, just drag 'em into the "startup set" icon, and then click a button named "Open." Open your program, pull down the Font menu, and there they are. Of course, there are many, many other options, but I prefer to keep it simple and fast. Using Suitcase is a nice, visual no-brainer. Get to work! Conflict Catcher - Very Nice! ----------------------------- By Tony Lindsey I recently got Conflict Catcher 3.01 as a result of the many raves I've received from my readers (see issue 103). I never thought it would do much for ME, since I'm the grizzled old Computer Consultant who can figure anything out on my own. However. I recently experienced a series of massive crashes on my Mac and had to re-start. Conflict Catcher opened a window and asked me if I wanted it to help me track down the problem. I thought "Hmmm - Why not?" and gave it permission. Within a few seconds, it pointed to SCSI Probe 4.3 as the culprit. I would never have suspected that particular control panel, but I removed it and then canceled CC's ongoing diagnosis. I haven't experienced that problem since. It can be ordered for US$69.95 from Casady & Greene 22734 Portola Drive Salinas, CA 93908-1119 <800/359-4920/408-484-9228/fax 408-484-9218> On the other hand, I was unable to get any help from CC with a new problem yesterday - I installed OmniPage 5.0 (not the new version 6.0) and my Mac stalled every time it started. CC was blissfully unaware of the problem, since the freezeup was happened during startup BEFORE CC loaded. Every time I'd start the computer, the bar moving across the startup screen would begin moving and then lock up solid. After a few hours of dinking around, I realized that System 7.5.3's Open Transport files and the HP scanner drivers (installed by OmniPage) were arm-wrestling, and as soon as I separated them the problem went away. Time to upgrade my OmniPage. None of this changes my opinion about Conflict Catcher. Nominate Your Favorite Utilities -------------------------------- By Tony Lindsey I've mentioned several favorite utilities in this issue, and now I'd like to hear from you. Tell me about your favorite extensions, control panels or software utilities. They need to fit within the following criteria: - Broad appeal for the general publi - Compatibility with every Mac and version of the System - Low coefficient of crashability. Another way to think of it: If you had to eliminate all but ONE utility, what would it be? Technical Section Starts... Here -------------------------------- Beware Of Web Spiders --------------------- By Tony Lindsey No, this isn't a problem ranking with computer viruses or the like, but it's worth knowing if you are regularly creating web pages. A long time ago, when I first started creating my own web pages, I designed a web page as a test and uploaded it onto my site. I never created any links to it, and never told anybody about it. It contained very personal information and a picture of me that wasn't something I'd like my friends to see. I forgot to delete it, and never thought of it until several local friends commented on having seen it. I was mortified, and deleted the page and picture as soon as I got home. As far as I can guess, here's what happened: The various web-searching sites such as Yahoo, Web-Crawler and Excite all have software programs running 24 hours a day, scouring the Internet for new sites to add to their indexes (indices?). These are called web spiders, and they found mine (ALL of them) and added them to their online form of "Yellow Pages." I kept wondering why I was getting lots of similar pictures e-mailed to me by total strangers! You may keep this little story in mind for your own web pages. Powerbook Feedback ------------------ By: Joseph Schaller, Professional Member of the Macintosh Consultants Network [I'll be placing "???" wherever I wish somebody would tell me where to locate a particular item... I'll post the info in upcoming issues.] My two cents worth on PowerBooks 1. Ric Ford's Macintouch column has been tracking some great deals on PowerBooks: MacSale has a 5300 (grayscale with 8/500) for $1099. 2. Check this out: I heard Apple is taking the Focus Enhancements combo ethernet/modem internal card [???] (thereby freeing your PCMCIA slot) on the road with them as "best of breed". Apparently "one of a kind" too; I don't think anybody else is currently making such a device for 5300's. I would especially appreciate it if I wanted to use one of the cheap $49 40 Meg hard drive PC cards. [???] 3. When I sold my 140 (and bought a 270c/280c), I had already put a bigger faster hard drive in the 140. Since I wasn't going to get "my money back" on this drive, and I found someone who did not need it (typing only), before I sold the machine, I put the original back in. I bought (for $29 - $75) one of those small cases (barely bigger than the 2.5" drive; [???] consists of the case, one double-sexed DB25, and a tiny plug/cable from the ADB to drive power), put the extra drive in there, and now have an extra quarter Gig drive on the road with me. When I want to use it, I attach the drive directly thru an APS SCSI-Boy (SCSI-30 to DB25) and it stands up behind the screen. 4. Since I agree with your other writers about having "reinstall" software on hand, I carry on that same external hard drive ShrinkWrap'ped images of my modem installer, ARA installer, Norton, CP DiskTools, even System 7.5.1. (You need a lot of memory to do a complete system install this way, tho; partials or custom installs usually don't use all disks, however.) These disk images "mount" in memory, as if I had numerous floppy drives. Not only is this more convenient than carrying all the floppies, but it's immensely faster and works much better than the internal floppy on my 280c (I can't get the disks in). (ShrinkWrap is such a useful tool, I do most of my installations on my 8500 this way too; and I do the same thing at my clients' sites, since they can usually be counted on to misplace the original floppies. Reinstallation fixes a LOT of problems. And I use the 8500 for ShrinkWrap'ping disks onto my Duo.) The external drive also holds archived copies of the QuickTake pictures I take on the road. This serves either as a backup until I get home, or as a place to move excess inventory. 5. Yes, there are cigarette lighter devices for the PowerBooks, for about $75-$90, but a better choice (I think) is one of the $50 inverters popping up all over the place (CostCo, Damark catalog) [???]. These guys also plug into your cigarette lighter, but since they have an AC outlet they: 1) will work with anything, 2) will not change when you go from an all-in-one to a duo (different voltages, so nothing you had for the one will work for the other), 3) can power more than one device at a time (e.g., a CD player too). 6. The PB 100 is a GREAT writing device, especially if used with a RAMdisk or with WriteNow (which was $39) [???]. WriteNow is fast, slick, easy, and does the important things you need for writing. If that's your use, then fire up WriteNow, put it to sleep instead of shutting down, and you'll be happy as a clam. You'll also be throwing away almost half the weight, compared to your 520. It has the same advantage/disadvantage as the 200 series: you don't carry the floppy drive around when you don't need it. (By the way, I have one for sale if anybody's interested.) 7. I agree that sometimes not having a floppy drive on a Duo can be a disadvantage. Why, I've had three occasions over two and a half years where I needed one. In the mean time, I make do very nicely with a combination of 1) docking to my main machine for large installations, 2) localtalking via infrared (see later) or PhoneNet or QuickTake cable for file transfers and printing and backup, 3) ethernetting thru Dayna's SCSIport [???] when I need speed on a network, 4) downloading what I need via modem, and 5) using ShrinkWrap for small installations. The Microdock is the way to go. My machine has never touched a regular dock. 8. Finally, you asked me to write you about the infrared transceivers I was using at the Macintosh Consultants Network Conference. For general connections between my Duo and my network or other computers, I have used the Photonics "Cooperative" Localtalk infrared transceivers for about a year and a half. [??? I've seen this when Joseph gave me a demo, and it's very, very nice - Can anybody tell me where to get 'em?] These are battery- or AC- or Powerbook-powered square flats about 2" that connect directly to the serial port. I saw them advertised for less than $75 apiece recently (with Marathon thrown in!). Think of them as a PhoneNet connector with no wires. That's how the computer sees them. No software drivers, no extensions. Each model can be used as Localtalk-in/out on the computer or a "computerless" node on the Localtalk wiring with the addition of an equal-sized connector/power box. (If you power it with 3 AA batteries, it will contribute its power to the battery in your PowerBook, too.) I have one plugged into the outer-two telephone wiring in the living room which thus connects me to every other computer in the house. Unlike direct-beaming meter-range types that are being built in to PowerBooks, PC's and Newtons (with different standards), this one does NOT require line-of-sight, but reflects off the ceiling (or does line-of sight too) and has a range of anywhere within a medium sized room, rather than feet. They can see "around" you when you walk "between" them; you can move around freely; if you somehow make them drop out briefly during a transfer, Localtalk's robustness makes them pick up the traffic again without a hitch as soon as they can see each other's light (seems like about a minute before Localtalk times out). You can have a gang of them in the room, and all of you can connect to each other and the network. I haven't tried it yet, but I wonder why you couldn't beam one out a window to a neighboring building, given a reasonable range and path. I have had zero trouble with them. Although it's not built-in, and some people see that as a downside, I see that as meaning it will go with me to any machine. It can see further and doesn't require me to point my computer at someone else's. Since it doesn't understand any of the other standards, it can, depending on your point of view: (Yay!) coexist with them, or (Boo!) not talk to them. It doesn't use radio waves, so it can be used on a plane (Photonics makes a faster version for PC's that does radio, but I remember it as $750 a pop; Dayna and Digital Ocean make radio devices for Macs, but we're talking real money there.) Plus, I'm ON THE NETWORK (multiple Macs, PC's, printers!, shareable modems), not beaming between machines. With no software to install, I can hand you one and we can be instantly communicating. Panasonic PD Drives ------------------- [In issue #107, I asked about the PD drives, which appear like a good deal for someone who wants to create their own 640-meg CD-like disks at low cost. I received many responses. I won't bother to say much about Panasonic's Web site, since it has no useful information about the PD drive...] ---- By Jeffrey Kraus I've been using the PD drives for several weeks (one unit is by Toray, and two units from APS) and have been very happy with them. They are really easy to use and set up. The positive points are the low cost of the media and compatibility with CDs. So far the only negative point is that the driver is not compatible with Apple's AppleCD Audio Player. [I've had the same problem with many other non-Apple drives] ----- By: Greg Lane I have not used one of the drives, but I'd like to caution you about referring to them as "writeable CD's". IMO, a "writeable CD" is a disc that can be used in any standard CD-ROM drive--like the discs that are used with the Pinnacle Micro RCD5040 or the Sony Spressa. The Panasonic PD Drive (or the Toray Phasewriter) can read standard CD-ROM discs, but the discs that it writes to are actually a special media that can only be used in that type of drive. I do think the drives look attractive, for the right application, just don't expect to be able to share the discs with all your associates. ---- By Daniel Walker I haven't used one either, but I've heard legends of varying quality from manufacturer to manufacturer and even from production lot to production lot from the same manufacturer. The result is that some disks may not read reliably on any reader but the writer that burned them while other disks burned on the same writer can be read anywhere. ---- By Morton G. Butler PD-CD 640meg drive works great ....... Several months ago (Dec95) I found a discount house selling the Panasonic LF-1000. I ordered 2 units & 6 extra disks. The extra disks arrived in three days with a back order note for the drives of three weeks. In five weeks, or late Jan96 they arrived. The drives were external at $650 each & the disks were $60 each. I installed one on my mac & the other on an IBM, both work fine. Installation problems: 1) SCSI device number can be anything but you must leave the next lower number open, so the audio disk has a place to mount. I choose to use scsi#4 for my PD-HD, & number 3 was in use. Suddenly #3 did not work. After running a SCSI analyser program, I found that the above was required. Looked in the manual & it did not really explain that. 2) The unit comes with a special formatting disk & all disks must be formatted with it. I am just not used to a special program to do formatting. 3) The unit has its own driver to run the audio disks. After I place a audio disk in it & close the door, it loads the program & opens the player window, but it can't find the disk til I choose the correct SCSI number. Once it shows *no disk*, I go to the menu bar & pull down the device choice & choose the number. Getting used to any new device and its quirks ..... is normal. By the way the separate IBM manual had more and better explanations for the IBM side. I understand that Compaq Computer is now offering on this unit as an option. Legalisms and Information ------------------------- Copyright 1989-1996 Tony Lindsey. The contents of Mac*Chat may not be republished, either in whole or in part, without the express permission of the editor. Small excerpts of Mac*Chat may be reproduced for personal use, or by nonprofit groups (such as Mac User Groups) if full credit is given, including this notice, how to subscribe, and how to make donations. Please contact the editor for any publication requests. This newsletter is intended purely as entertainment and free information. No profit has been made in return for publication of any of these opinions. Time passes, so accuracy may diminish. Publication, product, and company names may be registered trademarks of their companies. ----- This file is formatted as setext, which can be read on any text reader. I'd enjoy hearing your feedback and suggestions. Unfortunately, due to the massive numbers of messages I get every day, I can't guarantee a personal reply. Send all such messages to: Tony Lindsey 3401-A55 Adams Avenue San Diego, CA 92116-2429 Tips from readers are gratefully accepted. Please write them in a user-friendly way, and if you are mentioning an Internet site, please include a paragraph explaining why others should visit it. Mac*Chat back-issues may be found within any Info-Mac ftp archive at /info-mac/per/chat - For example: and read with any Web browser at Current issues may be found on the comp.sys.mac.digests newsgroup. GETTING A FREE SUBSCRIPTION, STEP ONE: -------------------------------------- This will cause Mac*Chat to be e-mailed to you automatically, every week (unless I'm on vacation or just too darned busy): FIRST, turn off your e-mail program's "automatic signature" feature, if it has one. Extra e-mail addresses in the end of your message can create a "Subscription From Hell," with unpredictable, hard-to-fix problems. ----- THEN, send an e-mail message to the following address: listserv@vm.temple.edu The Subject line on this message is ignored, so it can say anything. In the body of the message, include the following line: SUBSCRIBE MACCHAT Your full name As an example: SUBSCRIBE MACCHAT Juliana Tarlton. GETTING A FREE SUBSCRIPTION, STEP TWO: -------------------------------------- In order to protect people from being unwillingly subscribed to Mac*Chat, a message will arrive in your e-mail, asking for a one-word response to verify that you DO want to subscribe. Here's the response you should send: OK Notice that it's all-capitals, and nothing but those two characters. If you follow these instructions, you will receive a nice long message explaining acceptance of your subscription, how to end it (if desired) and general mailing-list info. KEEP THAT MESSAGE! It'll tell you how to un-subscribe when that day comes. WHAT DO YOU DO IF YOU HAVE SUBSCRIPTION PROBLEMS? ------------------------------------------------- Please contact Shrimmy, who handles such things for me. His e-mail address is shrim@thunder.ocis.temple.edu ============== ____ ================================================== Tony Lindsey \ _/__ Free, weekly e-mailed Mac-oriented newsletter Mac*Chat Editor \X / ================= \/ =================================================