publisher@mymac.com or editor@mymac.com

G4 a reality?

So a dream has come true. Is it true Apple will release a new CPU called the G4 as MacAddict stated in their January issue? I guess the Vpower accelerator card is music to my ears as I've only had my 6500 one year. Can you tell my how to realign the heads on my Zip disk drive? It's clicking away sometimes like it can't see the disk. Don't you love it when that happens?

James pjwcreative@earthlink.net

James,
Stop using that Zip disk with your Zip drive right now! When it starts clicking like that, it might mean your Zip drive has a problem requiring replacement or repair. The problem is called the "Click of Death," and Iomega has recognized it as an issue with many of their Zip drives. It's not a normal situation and the vast majority of Zips are performing well and as designed. However, it has happened to me, as well as thousands of other Zip drive owners at one time or another. Iomega, Apple and other sources have cited the "Click of Death" as being caused by the Zip Drive not finding the proper directory on the Zip disk, by the head banging against the headstop in the drive or the heads on the drive becoming misaligned which can cause disks to become bad, which in turn, can affect other Zip drives.

As for the G4, yes, they are coming...

I was looking at my email today. Reread your message. It appears you may have saved my Zip drive- thanks.I'll pick up a blank Zip soon.... when the roads are cleared of snow. It's 8 below out there.

James pjwcreative@earthlink.net

Toll Free

The older Macs came with lifetime toll free support, I can't believe they did away with this and want to charge money now. Has anyone on the staff realized this change with Apple? Just curious about others opinions on the subject!

Mindy Scheer MScheer@worldnet.att.net

Mindy, this change went into effect over a year ago. Mac users did raise their voices in protest but to no avail. Apple justified it as being "an industry standard." Read Mick O'Neil's Mac Factor column in this issue for some more comments on Apple's support program.

StarCraft Requirements

In your article "First Look: StarCraft Mac", you forgot to mention the system requirements for StarCraft. I hope they release a FAT version. I mean a version where I can play it on a 68k or PowerMac. It's funny, since you wrote that you tested it using OS 7.5.5, because in the article http://www.blizzardgames.com/lib/coverage/press/mac-starcraft-upd1.shtml > described that you need OS 7.6 or higher. (If you could run it in 7.5.5, I hope they will give 68k support)

By the way, as they delayed the release of StarCraft, do you think they will release it together with Brood Wars? And when they will release the game?

Edoardo Keyvan Perez Izadi ekeyvan@yahoo.com

Folder Bolt Pro

I figured you would be able to help me out on this question I have. What happened to Kent-Marsh, Ltd., makers of Folder Bolt Pro? I have a copy and wanted to upgrade, but I can't find the company and I don't know if they have gone out of business or were bought out.

I wanted to use Folder Bolt Pro on Mac OS 8 and Windoze95. If they are out of business, are there any other products you would recommend?

Thank you so much for you help and for publishing your very useful e-magazine.

Sincerely,

Bill Abel webmaster@lewiscommunications.com

Bill,
As near as I can determine, Kent-Marsh, Ltd is now called Citadel Technology http://www.citadel.com From looking at their website, they still have the software available. http://www.citadel.com/products/fbmac.html But as for compatibility with Mac OS 8.0, I didn't notice that specifically.

Books to Read

John-
I'd like to add one more book to your list: It's called "There are no children there", written by the WSJ guy (Kozlowski, I think) who wrote about the controversy over Southbend, IN/St. Joseph, MI (black/white). At any rate, this book is about the Robert Taylor Homes, and the kids who live in them. The book gets its title from a parent's comment: There are no children here, they've seen too much. These housing developments (Chicago Housing Authority) are more often than not war zones, where kids learn to 'duck and cover' from bullets, rather than the atomic bomb. Where they huddle in the hallways to avoid snipers, rather than tornadoes, and where all too many don't live to adulthood, or if they do, do so, because they've joined a gang or performed other criminal activity to keep from being killed by their so-called peers. It's an excellent, thought-provoking, but horrifically true book. I lived in Chicago for 20 plus years, I used to walk through Cabrini-Green (another CHA unit) to and from work (this was in the 70's), never realizing how bad it really was (but back in the 70's, it wasn't as bad as it is today). CHA has been accused of warehousing the blacks and poor... they did, with the high-rise, low-income 'miracle solution' housing.

Gina Saikin gesaikin@sqc.com

G3 6500 Upgrade Revisited

Man, was I glad to read that article! I bought my 6500/250 in Sept 97, and Best Buy told me it was 'processor upgradeable'. I should have studied a little bit more before buying because it wasn't long before I started seeing G3 upgrades for every Mac except the 6500. I got my 6500 for multitrack digital audio. This computer is fast with the 603e (IMHO) but I was afraid I wouldn't be able to work with a new audio interface I'm buying (MOTU 2408), but with that G3 upgrade, I don't think I'll have to worry. I went to http://www.vimagestore.com and found out they are also planning on releasing a G3/325 card for the 6500 next February, so I might hold out for that. I sure am glad I don't have to reinvest in a new PowerMac. Thanks.

Jeremy Mitchell jerm@vcn.com

Web Hits from Wintel

Thanks. I was one of those PC users who hit your website. I was at work playing with the new LAN connection to see how fast LAN is compared to a 56k modem. I'm amazed!!! :-) ... but it has to be a PC at work. :-( My MacIIvx at work is still up and running, but it's been disconnected from the network. I downloaded your ezine, saved it to an ejectable disk, put the disk into the Mac, unzipped it, and enjoyed your articles. I printed out one article about the geekster definitions of what the new blue G3 does, and gave it to a co-worker who is in the market for a new MAC. One of these days he might know the difference between RAM and ROM...

Keep up the good work.

JJTiger1@aol.com

SOTM Thanks

I just wanted to offer humble thanks for the selection of my site as one of your December "sites of the month," and for the additional traffic it's generating. Sometimes it's hard to tell for sure if a site (especially a support-related one) is doing the intended job, so your selection is very gratifying. Thanks again and happy holidays.

Matthew Glidden
Webmaster, Three Macs & a Printer
A guide to constructing and maintaining Macintosh networks
http://come.to/three.macs
http://weber.u.washington.edu/~manos/network/index.html

Be sure to drop us a note with any thoughts, corrections, or problems you may have. We all love to hear from you, and we do need to fill this page every month! (Remember to let us know if you'd prefer to not have your email address printed.) So write in!

Tim Robertson is the Publisher of My Mac, and unless otherwise noted answers all the email on this page.

Tim Robertson
publisher@mymac.com
Russ Walkowich
editor@mymac.com