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On Friday afternoon, Apple re-released a hopefully bug-fixed Mac OS X 10.2.8 update, after pulling the original 10.2.8 release about 10 days earlier due to serious bugs reported by users. The question now is whether to take a chance that the bugs have been successfully squashed and install 10.2.8, or wait for Mac OS 10.3 Panther which has reportedly gone Golden master and can therefore be expected to debut soon. Two versions of the update installer are available. Mac OS X 10.2.8 Update updates Mac OS X 10.2.6 and 10.2.7 to the later version. The Mac OS X 10.2.8 Update (Combo) updates Mac OS X 10.2, 10.2.1, 10.2.2, 10.2.3, 10.2.4, 10.2.5, 10.2.6, or 10.2.7 to version 10.2.8. Some in the know suggest that using the Combo updater is the best policy even if you don't absolutely require it. These updates work only with PowerPC G3- and G4-based desktop and portable computers, including Power Macintosh G3, Power Mac G4, PowerBook G3, PowerBook G4, iMac, eMac, and iBook. It does not work with Power Mac G5 computers.
Standard Updater:
Combo Updater:
Standalone Installers are available from Apple Featured Software:
Enhancements in the Mac OS X 10.2.8 Update include:
New in the G5 updater:
For detailed information on this Update, visit this website:
Apple has also posted a Knowledge Base article addressing the Mac OS X 10.2.8: Can't Connect via Ethernet After Installing Update pertaining to the original 10.2.8 release. The article notes:
You cannot access the Internet or local network resources after updating to version 10.2.8.
Your computer's IP address is in the 169.254.x.x range.
Products affected
Note: The built-in Gigabit Ethernet ports on the affected computers can automatically switch between 10BASE-T, 100BASE-T, and 1000BASE-T speeds to match the network they are on.
Apple has released new versions of Mac OS X 10.2.8 that resolve or prevent this issue. If you have already used a workaround to get the affected computer back on the Internet, follow these steps for the update:
Software update will present the correct version of the 10.2.8 update for your computer. Follow the onscreen prompts to install it.
If your computer cannot connect to the Internet, you may be able to use one of the workarounds below.
If you are affected by this issue but cannot use any of the workarounds, please contact AppleCare in your region for assistance.
These workarounds present several different ways to resolve the issue. The first workaround describes using a different computer to get the software. If you have a 10/100Base-T Ethernet hub, the second and third workarounds can connect the affected computer to the Internet to get the update. If you have an extra PCI Ethernet card or AirPort Card, either could also be used to connect the affected computer to the Internet. Performing an Archive and Install can also resolve the issue.
Possible workarounds:
1. Go to another computer, download an installer, then burn the installer onto CD for transport to the affected computer. Standalone installers are available from Apple Software Downloads.
2. If the affected computer connects to a cable or DSL modem with a 10BASE-T port: Do not connect the computer directly to the modem. Instead, connect the computer and the modem to the same 10/100BASE-T hub. This should allow the affected computer to access the Internet.
3. If the affected computer is on a local area network (LAN): If you can connect the computer directly to a 10/100BASE-T or 100BASE-T hub, you should do that. If you don't have that option, place a 10/100BASE-T hub between your computer and your normal 10BASE-T connection. This should allow the affected computer to access the Internet.
4. If a wireless network is available, use an AirPort Card to connect the affected computer to the Internet.
5. If you have a third-party Ethernet PCI card, install it in the affected computer in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions. Change the computer's settings in Network preferences to use this card.
6. If you don't have access to the hardware items mentioned above, you can perform an Archive and Install from your Mac OS X 10.2 Installation disc. After reinstalling, use the Software Update feature of System Preferences to update to Mac OS X 10.2.8. For more information, see technical document 107120, "Mac OS X 10.2: About the Archive and Install Feature".
This update includes an updated Ethernet driver for 450MHz and 500MHz dual processor Power Mac G4 desktop systems and an update to the battery status menu.
For more information, visit:
Personally, I'm going to continue holding back to see how this update fix pans out. Besides the issues Apple claims to have addressed in the revised 10.2.8 update, there have also been reports of a number of other troubles experienced after installing the original 10.2.8 release. Version 10.2.6 is working great for me, and I may just wait for Panther. It's virtually certain now that Version 10.2.8 will be the last of the Jaguars, however, so if it turns out to have been really fixed, users who are not planning to be early Panther adopters my want to update. 10.2.8 possible problem N.U.M. and Mac OS X 10.2.8... Save Dialogues in OS X Library naming From Dave Clark Charles, Thanks for the great explanation of Services. That's way cool! I was interested to see that there are apparently no such Services for Appleworks. I'm going to have to check out the free suite of Services from Devon Technology. I think I'll be quickly hooked on this "new" feature, thanks to you.
Dave Clark
Hi Dave;
Delighted to be of "service." ;-)
As I noted in the column, some but not all Carbon applications support Services. As I understand it, adding services support to a Carbon app. presents some formidable challenges, but Tom Bender has managed to do it with Tex Edit Plus Tex Edit Plus, so why not Apple's AppleWorks team. In Appleworks 6 on my iBook, the Services menu shows up, but nothing responds.
Charles From: Katherine Sears-Lent Dear Charles, I am not certain, but, since I downloaded 10.2.8, I noticed that my track pad setting (on my PowerBook G4 1GHz) stopped it’s double tap drag. I went to the pref pane thinking 10.2.8 reset to default. GUESS WHAT!?!?!
In the Keyboard & Mouse pref pane, there should be four tabs, (Keyboard, Bluetooth, Keyboard access and either Track pad or Mouse, depending if you are on a desktop or laptop). Mine had Trackpad. NOW IT IS MOUSE!!! HELLOOOO!!!??? So naturally, the Double Tap Drag feature is gone. It is as if it seems to think that I am on a desktop as far as this pref pane is concerned. However, the energy saver pane still shows settings for battery settings, which would indicate a notebook. WEIRD!!
Also worth noting, we both have noticed the shorter battery life, which I have read about.
PS- that is the last time I run an OS Update w/o waiting to read the fallout reports!
Hi Kathrine;
That's an OS 10.2.8 problem I hadn't heard reported before. As you're no doubt aware, Apple has now released a "fixed" version of the 10.2.8 updater. I expect that runing that on your PowerBook is worth a shot. Incidentally, it is recommended by some tech-savvy folks that you should always run the standalone combo updater for OS X upgrades even if you don't absolutely require it to update your existing system.
And yes; my personal policy is to wait until the dust is well-setted before running system software upgrades on any mission-critical machine.
Charles Martin Step Hi Charles, I think you might want to post this as a caution to everyone who uses Norton Utilities for Mac v8.0. You cannot boot up the computer from the NUM CD once you install Mac OS X 10.2.8. Even just getting the computer to recognize the CD at all failed the first time, and took about 10 minutes the second, with lots of racket from the CD-ROM drive trying to figure out what to do with it. So in short, if you rely on NUM, don't update your OS yet. By the way, I'm using a G4 PB 800 DVI. The older G4's are note listed on Symantec's web page because they didn't ship with OS X 10.2.7 or higher, but obviously, any older computer which has the OS upgraded to higher than 10.2.6 is going to have the same problems. Keep up the good work, and keep me in mind if you ever do decide to get rid of that 'one button mouse' ;-) Regards, Martin Step
Thanks for the report, Martin. I'm still using old Norton Disk Doctor 6.0, for which I have to boot into OS 9, but it seems to work reliably for me. Can't say about OS 10.2.8 compatibility. Have you tried SubRosaSoft's Disk Guardian? You can read my review here:
Thanks for reading.
Charles
From Patrick Taw Hi Charles, I just recently noticed that the browse or save dialogues are really bad. I say this because i recently made several disc images (3) and they all had long names. The only difference in the name between the images was the final character which was a number. When i opened Disc copy and browsed for my file, I saw that the column where the files were held were so narrow that only half of the title was showing. Luckily, I knew that the names were ordered according to the final character number so I could guess which file is which. I wish there was a way to tell apple about our little gripes. Do you know of such forums to tell Apple? Thanks.
Hi Patrick;
That's a commonly voiced complaint about OS X.
You can find links to Apple's various feedback forums here:
Charles From Melvin D Krewall Charles, Since OS X is a UNIX OS, many of the naming conventions have been passed down for the last 30 years from the UNIX heritage. Library is one such convention. It is entirely likely that the Library path names are hard coded or hard linked and renaming them System Library, etc, would break many parts of the system. If you're someone like me who is familiar with UNIX, it did not seem strange, but I'm sure for many Mac users who have used nothing else, it does seem confusing. You summed up the subject quite nicely, however.
Regards,
Hi Mel;
Good point. I expect that you're right.
Charles
The OS X Odyssey archives may be accessed here: Note: Letters to Moore's Mailbag may or may not be published at the editor's discretion. Correspondents' email addresses will NOT be published unless the correspondent specifically requests publication. Letters may be edited for length and/or context. Opinions expressed in postings to Moore's MailBag are those of the respective correspondents and not necessarily shared or endorsed by the Editor and/or Applelinks management. If you would prefer that your message not appear in Moore's Mailbag, we would still like to hear from you. Just clearly mark your message "NOT FOR PUBLICATION," and it will not be published. CM
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