ATA (IDE) Hard Drives

I'm trying to breathe a little life into my aging Performa 6320CD. I understand that the hard discs installed in most Performas are actually IDE drives. I've been entertaining the possibility of replacing the original 1.3GB drive with something like a Maxtor 15GB or 20GB drive. The cost of these drives are but a fraction of an authentic Apple drive, hence the attraction. I recall reading about some third party software that might allow me to format and use the Maxtor drive as a replacement, but don't know where to look. If you have any ideas, let me know. Thank you for your attention.

--Nate-- TornatoRKR@aol.com

FWB software's "Hard Disk Tool Kit" http://www.fwb.com will do it.

WA of the Mac

I just read your article and enjoyed it. I also identified with what you were saying. I still own the following Mac's; LISA (Mac-XL), Mac IIx, Mac SE-30, Performa 600CD and my current machine a 450 mHz G4.

Believe it or not, I still "crank-up" the older machines on certain occasions to enjoy the memory of those simpler days. Each Mac holds a special place in my heart, almost like when I hear certain songs on the radio that bring back memories of growing up. I don't think I'll ever get rid of any of them.

My Performa 600 (1992), MacOS 7.5.5, is still being used and currently has 3,600 hours of uninterrupted operation. It has about 8,200 hours with no major crashes or service requirements. My kids spend most of the time on this machine, which says a lot about the stability and durability of this machine. I use it for most of my routine mundane work. Like you, I've kept this machine on a lean diet of software, control panels and extensions and have found it keeps the Mac happy and healthy.

My new toy, the G4, MacOS 9.04, is reserved for graphics, web development, databases and software testing (I'm a beta tester for some programs). It's fast, mean and fun ... but there's something missing, I have an empty feeling using it. I don't know why, but I feel like it's just a machine, just like the Windozer I use at work. Thankfully I have my trusted friends back home that can fill that void.

Larry Holyoke Larry.Holyoke@METROKC.GOV

New Scientist

I've enjoyed reading "New Scientist" for many years, and was glad to see your article mentioning it to a wider audience.

It might be noted, however, that "New Scientist" is considered by many practicing scientists as entertainment - not to be taken too seriously. In its attempt to capture attention with weekly cutting-edge new revelations it also is highly prone to inaccuracies, misquotes and exaggerations. The reader needs a strong critical filter to weed out the latest health studies (which often are from insignificant test samples), instrument developments (which often are just untested proposals) and science breakthroughs (which often are based on theories that are just plane foolish).

In its defense, it does contain much excellent information and is very clearly written, as you have noted. Personally, I also enjoy its (nutty) European viewpoint on some issues.

Bob Corsaro Corsaro@NRL.Navy.mil

Buy a Mac?

I am a PC junkie. I know nothing about Macs. I am heading off to college in the fall and am condering buying a Mac. What does a Mac have that a PC does not and are Macs user friendly??

Interested Mac costomer

Well, Interested, yours is a loaded question. It all depends on what it is your wanting to get out of the time you spend sitting in front of your computer. Macs have always been, shall we say, much more of a "personal" computer than any Windows PC ever made. A Macintosh can help bring out a creativity in you that a Windows PC cannot, because the Mac makes you feel as if you and the machine are one, a symbiont of man and machine.

What can it "do" that a PC cannot? Nothing and everything.

Are Macs user friendly? It goes beyond simple easy-to-use computing. It is a radically different approach, a means to remove constraints between what you want to do, and how you do it.

Buy a Mac. You will never regret it. Or don't. And if you don't, don't worry. You will never know what your missing, and as they say, ignorance is bliss.