Current PowerWatch News Archive
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Thursday, January
29
- Today is the day of the Dove Brothers PowerComputing
auction. I'll post reports throughout the day about what people find and
how much stuff sells for. A reader wrote in with what he saw at yesterday's
preview:
- I was at the auction inspection today for Thursday's Power Computing
auction, and saw a couple of things that might interest your readers.
Most interesting (ignoring the fact that lots of PTP's are interesting
all by themselves) was that there are a few pallets of new power supplies.
They're going as one big lot, so I imagine some dealer somewhere will
end up with them. Hopefully, they'll turn up on the market at a reasonable
price. There are smaller numbers of power supplies scattered through several
other lots, but I couldn't tell what their condition was. Less interesting
were the several pallets of new keyboards. I'd expect those to be a glut
on the market soon. And actually more interesting than number two, was
one lot of junk that included two Stargate Riser Cards in a box marked
"Tested Good Stargate Riser Cards"
- MacInTouch has a reader report
on all the nice goodies available and notes a Austin
American-Statesman story about it too.
- Other World Computing has PowerCC
604e daughtercards back in stock at various speeds and prices (Thanks, Deal-Mac).
Monday, January 26
- Our network service provider moved offices today, taking us down for most
of the day. I apologize for the inconvenience.
- Good news! FWB Software will be bringing back support for the Phillips PCA8OSC
CD-ROM drive, which is used in many PowerCC machines! There will be an updated
posted soon! If you're using CDToolkit 3.0.1 and have this drive, be sure
to grab this! (Thanks, Dave)
- Boy do I love this one: I don't know how new this is, but on Altavista you
can now translate
web pages into five foreign languages! Ever wanted to see PowerWatch in Italian?
(No). Well, now you can! Check it out!
Friday, January 23
- Late addition: There seems to be a higher than normal number of people
forgetting their passwords for PW Views. Please write it down! I'm inundated
with mail already!
- While I still haven't gotten official confirmation from Newer
Technologies, MacCPU has been saying
for several days that the Newer 7100/8100 G3 upgrades (in 210 and 240MHz flavors)
will be fully compatible with the Power 100 and 120 systems (too bad mine
burnt out a few years ago..) Once Newer says it officially I'll update my
upgrades section.
Thursday, January 22
- For the second time since its inception, PowerTech
didn't come up this morning because of a dialog box preventing Filemaker from
loading; I have now installed Okey Dokey Pro so this won't happen anymore.
I apologize for the inconvienience. Do check out the remodeled system, though.
- I have posted DriveGuide and PowerGuide MLB to PowerFiles.
These have schematics for Power's hard drives and motherboards, respectively,
and have been pretty hard to find lately. (Thanks, Jim Stoneburner, again).
- A listing of items up for
auction has been put online, in regards to the PowerCC auction we reported
on (before anywhere else, may I add) last week. Lots of Power and Apple systems,
among other things.
Wednesday, January 21
- Late update: While learning how to use FileMaker Pro's Web Companion,
I was able to make some pretty significant changes to PowerTech:
- You now do all your searching from the PowerTech page -- for both databases.
(The hitting return thing STILL does not work). Since this change makes
the search page static, it takes some load off of my computer.
- TechTalk now displays the submission letter as the result, instead of
the oft-confusing (but funny) titles. Check it out and you'll see what
I mean.
- MacTell lowered the prices on the
PowerJolt G3 250/250/1Mb card (works in all models except PowerBase) down
to $1595.
- Another place you can look for help in getting MacOS 8.1 running smoothly
(in addition to MacInTouch, MRP, MacFixIt) is our Using
the MacOS message board.
Tuesday, January 20
- More on MacOS 8.1:
- There's a TIL article
about installing 8.1 on computers w/o an Apple CD-ROM drive. Check it
out.
Monday, January 19
- I returned from a weekend camping trip to Santa Barbara to find that my
upgrade to MacOS
8.1 (clean install) had wiped my FileMaker Pro prefs, thus making PowerTech unusable. I apologize for the screw-up.
Also, I may be trying to move PowerTech (and possibly part of the DCRP if I can Filemakerize it), to a site which
can run it 24 hours a day.
- As sites such as MacFixIt have mentioned,
FWB (makers of CDToolkit, which Power users must use for CD-ROM drive support)
has dropped support for the Phillips PCA8OSC in version 3.0.1. If you've got
this drive, you may want to give FWB a hard time to get support back in the
software, or just avoid the latest update altogether.
- MacFixIt also mentions this note,
which Power users should pay close attention to while upgrading to HFS+:
- "The March issue of Macworld has an
article on HFS+ by Henry Bortman. It's worth reading. Of special note
is the description of a problem that can occur if you don't have an Apple
CD-ROM drive (such as with a Mac clone): "Because the Mac OS 8.1
CD doesn't include drivers for non-Apple CD-ROM drives, you won't be able
to boot your Mac clone from the CD. Instead, you'll need two external
hard drives to convert to HFS+: one to back up your data, and another
on which to install Mac OS 8.1 and then reboot." Separate cartridges
(such as Jaz cartridges) should also work."
- Power Computing is having an auction of all their stuff (through Dove Brothers)
at their Austin HQ on January 29th. More details are available on their auction
page. Power machines will be available, so if you're in the area, you
may be able to pick up some good deals. (Thanks, Bill Fergerson)
- Finally, DecisionOne will be open on Saturdays for the next several weeks,
so that may be your best time to call. [Ed. Note: there was a typo on the
date for this weekends special D-1 hours. I just copied and pasted what I
was sent, and didn't proofread it. Whoops.]
Friday, January 16
- DecisionOne passes on this note:
- "For your convenience if you have called Power Computing Software
Support Group and have a Power Computing Case Number, and have not been
able to get through to our Hardware Support Group, the Power Computing
Hardware Support Group will be open Saturday 1-16-98. The hours will be
8:00 AM to 4:00 PM Central time. Please have your Power Computing Case
Number and your system serial number available, and we will do our best
to process your call."
Wednesday, January 14
- I'd like to think of today as our "Grand Reopening" Day. Our new
design is done, and I have some nice, new features to tell you about:
- The News section (you are here) will continue to have info on new products
that are pertinent to Power Computing owners; Upgrades and good deals
will usually be the news. I may do a little editorial about Apple in general
once in a while too.
- The Upgrades section has been revamped
and updated. I need your reviews
on upgrades, especially G3!
- PowerWatch Views is now referred to as the Message
Boards. Here we have forums for all kind of issues, and more are being
added all the time! We have over 6,600 registered users, so you'll always
get your question answered!
- Our newest, and most exciting addition is PowerTech.
You may remember this as an outdated set of fixes for common problems.
Well, no more! Now, PowerTech features two of PowerComputing's technical
support databases: TechTalk, and PowerSource. I think you'll find both
very useful. Of course, only through your comments
can it improve!
- I've also updated our DecisionOne report
-- it's pretty huge now! Your reports are working! DecisionOne
is actively monitoring our site--so if you have issues, we can help let
DecisionOne know about them!
- Of course, we still have some old favorites: PowerLinks
to other sites of interest, PowerFiles to
download, our Systems section with
reviews and info of each Power system, and the ever popular About
PowerWatch section.
- Update: Many users have asked about Newer Tech's G3 upgrade that
may work in the Power 100 and 120. I'm still looking into this, and will report
back soon.
- I get a whole lot of mail asking about upgrading the VRAM on PowerCenter
Pro systems. From what I could find, the video card design is proprietary,
and Power isn't allowed to sell them because of the buyout agreement. My best
advice is to hunt down a new card: the ixMicro
and ATI lines seem to be very good. Update:
According to someone in the know, the cards were never supposed to be upgradable;
I guess you just swapped the 2Mb card for a 4Mb card.
- One PowerCenter user who had a dead power supply (a problem which I hear
about more than I should, probably) wrote that Area Electronics Systems at
714-993-0300 has replacement Power supplies. For his machine, he asked for
the Seasonic SS-250GPX, whose cost is $39.00. Be sure to check which one you
need before you order the wrong one, of course.
- Finally, as widely reported yesterday everywhere else, former Power President
and COO Joel Kocher has been tapped to hold the same position (plus a seat
on the board) at Micron Electronics.
- PowerWatch needs advertisers! Rates are the lowest ever--click here for more.
Tuesday, January 13
- AllMac has genuine new PowerCC 603e daughtercard upgrades for the PowerBase:
200MHz for $79, 240MHz for $99. Call them at 1-800-WE-FIX-MACS.
- I think I've fixed the bugs in the new design.. let me know if you
see any more.. tomorrow we'll be having our grand reopening! Our DecisionOne
report should be updated by then, too.
Monday, January
12
- Well, PowerWatch has now completed its third major redesign. I hope
to be fully completed by Wednesday, where hopefully we can get some good
traffic back to the site from publicity. If you see anything strange, e-mail me. Thanks to Evan Doll for
his great design!
Sunday, January
11
- Psst... I posted a cool Disneyland
Trip Report today..
- I have removed my little 49ers message.. I'm a bit embarassed actually
that they lost so bad...
Friday, January
9
- This note comes in from DecisionOne:
- For your convenience, DecisionOne's Power Computing Hardware Support
Group will be open for business this Saturday (January 10) from 8:00 am
through 4:00 pm central time. Please have your Power Computing Case Number
and your system serial number available.
- Please do keep those DecisionOne
reports coming in!
- Thanks to the small group of readers who came to chat last night!
Thursday, January
8
- Well, everyone's been asking, and it looks like I've got good news:
From what I can gather (and also stated by MacCPU), the Newer Technologies
MAXpowr 7100/8100 G3 card should work in the Power 100/120 system. I'm
going to get official confirmation-- but this is great news for a machine
many thought was obsolete.
- Don't forget to check out PowerTech!
Remodeling will be done soon!
Wednesday, January
7
- I'd like to get some updates on how DecisionOne is doing, so we can
update our special report. Your
comments are heard by D-1, so it can only help.
- Hey! I haven't heard a word from anybody about our new PowerTech
section! Get with it! Update: Whoops. I set my computer to start up
automatically this morning, but a Quicktime 3.0b expiration message prevented
Filemaker from running. Try again. Sorry, I'm dumb.
- Power Computing will be having a shareholder meeting on January 26th
to vote on the sale of "substantially all of their assets" to
Apple, according to a Reuters
report.
- PowerWatch Views is currently being remodeled to reflect our new look;
Things may look strange at times.
- Chat has been postponed until Thursday at 7pm Pacific time. See you
there!
Tuesday, January
6
- Ahh, MacWorld is here again. I remember the show last year very well.
After my friend and I finally made it in, we headed straight for the Power
booth. We watched Mike Rosenfelt yell until he was beyond hoarse. We got
a backstage tour and saw all kinds of cool stuff. I got to meet tons of
Power employees and left with posters and t-shirt; My friend won a 286
in the trivia contest. Well, those days are over, and I'm stuck in school
again. Luckily, we have MacInTouch
and MacOS Rumors to keep us up-to-date
on developments at the show.
- But I am here to bring you an exciting announcement right here at PowerWatch.
Yes, our PowerSource and TechTalk databases are ready to be beta tested!
Not only can you play with them and give me feedback, but you can
also see our new look in action. If all goes well, later next week the
whole site will be updated! These two databases are hosted on my Mac here
at school, so the hours are kind of funky (in fact, there aren't really
any hours-- the later in the day, the better). These two information sources
are the stars of our new PowerTech section!
Monday, January
5
- Upgrade mania has struck! Lots of new upgrades, so here goes:
- PowerLogix has released 5
new G3 cards to complement their existing PowerForce G3 line. These work
across the PCI-based PowerComputing line, including PowerBase. They will
reportedly show a 400MHz model as well, at MacWorld (wow).
- PowerForce G3 233/512K $799
- PowerForce G3 250/125/1Mb $999
- PowerForce G3 266/177/1Mb $1199
- PowerForce G3 275/183/1Mb $1299
- PowerForce G3 300/300/1Mb $2599 (acc'd to MacWeek)
- Meanwhile, Newer Technology
introduced two 275MHz G3 models. These don't work in Powerbases, but Newer
does have $1000 model that does (I believe it's a 250MHz model). They have
a $150 mail in rebate for previous MAXpowr owners.
- MAXpowr G3 275/275/1Mb $1999
- MAXpowr G3 275/183/1MB $1549
- Finally, MacTell Corporation
has a number of PowerJolt
G3 upgrades ranging from 233MHz ($899) to 300MHz ($2595). They claim compatibility
across the upgradable line, except for Powerbases.
- I've added another user report as well as DecisionOne's official response
to our DecisionOne special report.
- We will be going forward with Evan Doll's PowerWatch designs.
Look for the new design to debut with PowerSource, TechTalk, and a newly
revised Upgrades section, sometime next week.
Friday, January
2
- Other World Computing has a variety of genuine Power daughtercards
starting at $195 for 200MHz. There are also 225MHz and 250MHz cards, at
$259 and $299 respectively. Be sure to read their page
to make sure it will work in your machine. PowerCenter users who have the
"Catalyst Plus" logic board should have no trouble running at
faster bus speeds. If you do order it from them, be sure to let them know
where you heard about this!
- The third version of PowerWatch 98 (heh heh) is now online
for preview. Comments are appreciated! Thanks to Evan Doll for his artistic
contributions!
- In other news, I have acquired FileMaker Pro 4.0 and already have PowerSource
working. We could have both PowerCC databases up by the end of next week!
- We have a new advertising policy and lower rates! You can now advertise
for as little as $150 per month! See our advertising
page for more!
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