Cool Mac Gear

G5 Cluster Vaults Apple Into The Computing Elite

The Register's Ashlee Vance says:

"With some help from Virginia Tech, Apple has managed to join the ranks of the high-performance computing elite, as the 'Big Mac' cluster is set to capture the title of the world's third fastest supercomputer.

"The cluster made up of 2,200 G5 processors has reached 10.28 teraflops. This places it behind the 5,120 processor Earth Simulator system - 35.9 teraflops - and the 8,160 processor ASCI Q system - 13.8 teraflops. The results for the Mac G5 cluster, which was built at Virginia Tech, are appearing just as the maintainers of the top 500 list prepare to announce their latest high-performance computing results....

"Apple has been chided in recent years for falling behind Intel and AMD in PC processor performance. But its new relationship with IBM to use the Power PC 970 - aka G5 - processor has vaulted Apple to superstar status in the technical computing realm."

For the full report, visit:
http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/61/33780.html

Classroom Comeback for Apple?

A Businessweek Special Report: "The Future Of The PC" says:

"On Oct. 15, Apple Computer reported what, at first glance, appeared to be another disappointment in the education market. In its fourth fiscal quarter, ended Sept. 27, Mac sales to schools fell 15% vs. a year earlier. Chief Financial Officer Fred Anderson conceded that Apple, which booked revenues of $1.7 billion for the quarter, had experienced widespread weakness in the K-12 marketplace because of the "reluctance of school districts to spend their budgets, given the uncertain funding environment."

That seemed to be further evidence of Apple's continuing slide in education, where Dell Computer's onslaught has relegated Apple, the former market leader, to No. 2....

"Yet, a closer look at the situation shows that Apple may be on the verge of a revival in a sector that accounted for 11 million PC sales worldwide in 2002, according to tech tracker IDC. While its overall education sales were down in the quarter, Apple reported that sales to colleges and universities were the best in seven years....

"Moreover, an October survey by education technology tracker Quality Education Data (QED), a unit of Scholastic Corp., predicted that over the next 12 months Macs should account for 30% of PCs purchased by K-12 school districts across the country vs. Dell's 37%, as administrators opt to buy more laptops. That would be up nine points from fiscal 2003 and would be the highest figure for Apple in four years."

For the full report, visit here.

Wal-Mart To Launch Online Music Store

The New York Post's Tim Arango reports that:

"Wal-Mart, the world's largest retailer, has told the music industry it expects to unveil an online music store this month, The Post has learned.

"The company is still finalizing deals with the five major music companies and has told music industry executives it could launch the service by Nov. 15. If it doesn't meet that date, the company hopes to launch the service by Thanksgiving, sources say....

"...It is unclear what Wal-Mart's pricing strategy will be for music downloads...."

For the full report, visit:
http://www.nypost.com/business/9969.htm

New PowerBook *Almost* Perfect - Coursey

AnchorDesk Executive Editor David Coursey says:

"Apple's new 15-inch G4 PowerBook is very nearly the perfect laptop. The main problem I have with it is that near-perfection comes at a hefty price: $2,600 for the top-of-the-line model or $2,000 for the stripped-down machine."

Well, there's also the mediocre battery life, the infamous "white spots" showing upo on many 15" AlBook screens, the uncomfoortable amount of heat the machine transfers to your lap, Coursey notes.

"This is beginning to sound like one of those, 'Well, besides that, Mrs. Lincoln, did you enjoy the performance?' jokes. But it isn't. Apple users have come to accept high prices--although this machine compares favorably with high-end PC laptops. They also accept the occasional new model problems and so-so battery life while watching DVDs. I am not sure if the asbestos lap mats have started shipping...."

For the full review, visit here.
http://reviews-zdnet.com.com/AnchorDesk/4520-7296_16-5102125.html

Apple Updates Its Message To FireWire 800 Users With Update Links

Apple's special message for Firewire 800 disk drive users now reads:

Apple has identified an issue with external FireWire hard drives using the Oxford 922 bridge chip-set with firmware version 1.02 that can result in the loss of data stored on the disk drive. Apple is working with Oxford Semiconductor and affected drive manufacturers to resolve this issue which resides in the Oxford 922 chip-set.

In the interim, Apple recommends that you do not use these drives. To stop using the drive, you should unmount or eject the disk drive before doing anything else. Please check this web page for further updates.

Update 11/4/2003:
Apple and Oxford Semiconductor have confirmed that firmware version 1.05 resolves the data loss issue experienced by some FW800 users. FireWire disk drive manufacturers have begun posting firmware updates:

Lacie
Macpower
Century Global
Other World Computing
Firewire Direct
Firewire Depot
Wiebetech
Ezquest
Glyph Only use the updater provided by the maker of your drive and follow the installation instructions carefully. If your drive manufacturer is not listed, contact them for more information.

For live links to updaters and more info, visit:
http://www.apple.com/macosx/firewire800specialmessage.html

Running Jaguar From One Partition And Panther On The Other

O'Reilly.net's Derrick Story says:

"As much as I like Panther, and indeed I do, I'm still not ready to jump in with both feet. My rule is to wait for the 10.3.1 update before I completely convert.

"Even though there may be some wisdom in this approach, it turns my life into a geek version of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. I have a partitioned drive on my 667 TiBook, running Jaguar by day from one partition and Panther at night on the other...."

For more:
http://www.oreillynet.com/pub/wlg/3948

Southern California MacFair 2003 returns November 14-16

Southern California MacFair 2003 (http://www.macfair.org) returns to Cerritos College in Norwalk, CA for three huge days, Friday-Sunday, November 14-16. Over 30 exhibitors, 24 seminars and 14 workshops are scheduled.

As a valued client of Edition.net, we are able to offer you discounted admission to the Southern California MacFair 2003(http://www.macfair.org). We are proud to be participating at this event and look forward to seeing you.

Over 30 exhibitors are participating including Aladdin Systems, Microsoft, MYOB, Apple Shop at CompUSA, Provue Development, Micromat, MacAlly, Prosoft Engineering, MovieWorks, MacSupportExperts.com, MCE Technologies, LA Computer Company, SmartSound, Kano Technology and many more.

In addition, over 24 informative presentation seminars are scheduled including three special presentations by Adobe Systems showcasing their new Creative Suite and demonstrations of the new Photoshop CS and InDesign CS. There are also planned seminars on the latest enhancements in Final Cut Pro and DVD Studio Pro. There will be presentations on database development, small business solutions, web design, audio production and overviews of the new Mac 10.3 Panther operating system.

New this year is world class hands-on and classroom training
workshops in state of the art Mac labs. Some of the top instructors in the world will be teaching at this years event including award winning educator Lynda Weinman of lynda.com who will be holding hands-on Dreamweaver and Flash workshops. In addition, Adobe Certified Expert, Beverly Houwing will be giving hands-on training in Photoshop and InDesign, Avery Z. Chipka will have classes on Mac OS X Panther Server and Client. Award winning DVD producer/ author Bruce Nazarian will lead an all day workshop in DVD Studio Pro 2 and award winning editor David Barrett will have be giving a Final Cut Pro 4 hands-on workshop. There will also be hands-on training in Movieworks, iPhoto, Audio Production and more. The full and half day classes with these world renowned instructors is very reasonably priced at between $59-$99 per workshop. Due to limited Macintosh stations in each lab, space is very limited, advance registration is encouraged.

The largest Macintosh show in the southwestern US is centrally located for all southern California residents at Cerritos College - just a short drive from all major California freeways. Hands-on workshops and classes are scheduled Friday-Sunday November 14-16. The vendor expo and presentation seminars are Saturday and Sunday November 15-16
from 10am-5pm.

The regular admission price at the door for both days is $20 (cash only). Parking is free on Saturday and Sunday. Complete detailed information and advance online registration is available at:
http://www.macfair.org

New Forums, Staff, And IPod Contest At MacShareWare.net

MacShareware.net, the first software listing service focused on the fusion of software developers and users, announces its expansion with the addition of MacShareware.net: Forums (http://www.macshareware.net/modules.php?name=Forums). The discussion forums are designed so that participants can set the direction and involve the whole Macintosh community, including new users and seasoned developers. "We want to make MacShareware.net a place where Mac people from all over the world must stop every day," said Ricardo Batista, Founder of MacShareware.net.

MacShareware.net launched this month with the goal "to provide valid and accurate product reviews, while at the same time, supply developers with the information they need to improve their products," said Ricardo Batista. User reviews are screened for content before posting to avoid ratings abuse. MacShareware.net's mission is to provide comprehensive services and build a community focused on the mutual interests of Macintosh users and software developers in an easy to navigate and quick loading site.

The site launch contest requires registration so that participants can enter to win a 20 GB iPod. The contest closes on November 15th, so users should register now. Site registration includes forum registration.

MacShareware.net has also added Fred Light of Nashua, NH as Web developer and Administrator. Fred has a 25-year history of providing services to small business, including web design, marketing, and promotion to realtors, food services, and nonprofit organizations. Fred's history is uniquely suited to MacShareware.net's mission.

MacShareware.net presently offers the Macintosh collective:
• Free user registration (with spam protected email listings).
• PG-rated discussion forums where Macintosh developers can interact to help produce the next generation of great software or solve those pesky Macintosh and network problems.
• The only software resource clearly notated for Mac OS compatibility, language of choice, and download information.
• Staff screened user software reviews to ensure useful honest and constructive comments for users and developers alike.
• Developer feedback links from within the developer's own web site back to MacShareware.net.
• Users are invited to write software reviews and add software listings.

Commercial developers are welcome to upload evaluation software and demos. To list a product or for more information, visit:
http://macshareware.net/

Mac Night Owl: Is Apple's Quality Control Going Down the Tubes?

The same, worse, or what?

Here's the URL for today's commentary:

http://www.macnightowl.com/index.htm#tubes

The Omni Group Receives Mac OS X Innovators Award, Announces Special Pricing for OmniOutliner

The Omni Group has been awarded first place, US category, in the Mac OS X Innovators Contest announced at last week's O'Reilly Mac OS X Conference. The award went to OmniOutliner, The Omni Group's premier outlining and note-taking application.

Sponsored by Apple Developer Connection (ADC), the Mac OS X Innovators Contest rewards innovative Mac OS X applications, plug-ins, user interface widgets, or other creative original software. Entries are judged on innovation, ease of use, adherence to the Mac OS X Human Interface Guidelines, and use of Mac OS X technologies.

"I'm particularly excited about the fact that all of our winners have involved their users in the development of these terrific apps,” said Derrick Story, MacDevCenter managing editor. “Each one of them has done a great job of listening to the people who've embraced their applications, and then incorporating that feedback and making their software even better."

To commemorate the award, The Omni Group is offering reduced pricing on OmniOutliner from November 5 - 12, 2003. Visit:
https://store.omnigroup.com
to save $10 on your purchase during this time (educational pricing also available).

Nova Scotians Bilked By Email Scams

The Halifax Daily News' Richard Dooley reports that:

"Internet con artists bilked at least [Can]$200,000 out of Nova Scotians between Labour Day and just after [Canadian] Thanksgiving, and there’s little chance the fraud artists will be caught or the money recovered.

"The Royal Canadian Mounted Police Commercial Crime section is going public with the scams to help prevent similar frauds, and to discover if there are more victims who haven’t yet reported the crimes to police.

"But trying to catch the culprits may be an exercise in futility, with criminals spread around the globe using a variety of aliases, fake addresses and sites providing anonymous e-mail addresses."

For the full report, visit here.
http://www.hfxnews.ca/

Charles W. Moore

Cool Mac Gear