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Modem weirdness
Pretty cool - Faithful get the good word via iPod
Re: OS 10.3.5 and Windoze
Loves OS X Address Book
Tech support travails
May be[/url]




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Modem weirdness

From Richard Bayer

Good day, Charles,

Did you see this post at macosxhints.com from Wednesday? I am aware you have made several posts and gotten numerous responses to your Panther modem issues but I can't say I've followed the thread closely enough to know if you have tried the idea covered in the following quote.

"I was having problems with my wife's iBook internal modem. It would only connect successfully about one time in three, even though the connection sounded successful through the speaker. Furthermore, it would often drop connections once it did connect.

"Someone gave me the useful tip to try the Apple Internal Modem v.34 script instead of the v.90 script. Apparently, the v.90 standard sometimes will try to push the modem speed faster than the line is capable of handling. If you're having trouble connecting or staying connected, give v.34 a try. Go to System Preferences -> Network, then show Internal Modem, then go to the modem tab. The script is controlled by the "Modem:" pop-up menu at the top.

"Since switching to v.34, we've had a successful connection on the first try, every time, and have had no dropped connections. The modem may report a slightly slower speed with v.34, but my understanding is that v.90 reports the initial connection spped and often averages a lower speed than it actually reports, so you're not really losing much.

[robg adds: An older hint (much older!) talks about modifying the stock modem script as another means of improving connectivity.]"

Hope this is something new and it helps your connectivity disappointments.

Cheers,
Rich

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Hi Rich;

Thanks. Yes, I did see that item. MacFixIt also suggested trying a switch to the v34 modem script to address the 10.3.5 modem bug several weeks ago.

I've checked it out, and using the v34 script will sometimes restore dial-up support for a few more hours to a day or so without restarting. However, I've found that some of the the third-party Mac ARA Modem Magic scripts do an even better job, although after 4-5 days uptime in my use, modem response eventuallly craps out and a restart is obligatory.

Charles







Pretty cool - Faithful get the good word via iPod

From John M. Dennis

"SYDNEY'S inner-city St Barnabas Anglican church is converting its archived sermons to MP3 format so tech-savvy faithful can listen to them on their iPods."

This is pretty cool. I may download some of these just to listen to the services.

http://www.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4057,11201421%255E15321,00.html

Thank You,

John M. Dennis






Re: OS 10.3.5 and Windoze

From Edward Smith

Charles W. Moore wrote:

"Hi Ted;

"Is she using dial-up or broadband? The modem issue that's plagueing me in 10.3.5 is specific to modem connections.

"It may also be model ideosyncratic. I'm using a G3 iBook.

"I dial up to and log off the Internet up to a dozen or more times a day, and the bug shows up like clockwork on the third or fourth day of uptime. Works perfectly for the first few days after a reboot."

We have broadband and Airport & she runs an iMac G4 veddy fast and with a gig of RAM, though I don't know if that matters.

A little story: the other day in class I wanted to surf the net for the class .... looking at digitized images of Chaucer & other items of historical interest.

My iBook doesn't have anything other than a USB port, so I have to borrow a Windows PC from the college (which doesn't support Macs, tho my old school does). I had forgotten how bloody frustrating those poorly engineered machines are .... worked fine for 20 minutes, then began to run slower & slower, then froze completely.... the PC 3 finger salute wouldn't work at first, then I got all those bloody annoying little boxes asking me if I wanted to end the task immediately... which it ignored in any case. Finally I let the class go early unplugged the damned (literally) thing, and returned it .... probably still running.....It was a salutory reminder that the glitches of the Mac are nothing compared to the glaring deficiencies of Windoze.

Ted

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Hi Ted;

With broadband, the OS 10.3.5 modem bug would not manifest.

Thanks for the anecdote. Actually, your iBook so has an Ethernet port. Not sure what sort of network your college uses, but I'm pretty optimistic that a late-model Mac running OS X could be made to connect with it.

Charles







Loves OS X Address Book

From Dolna

Hi Charles,

Keep meaning to tell you I LOVE the Address Book that came with this computer, which I started using only after you recommended it. It's especially handy because I put whole lists in the section at the bottom called 'Notes', e.g. one heading contains names, numbers, and addresses for relatives (no need to look them up individually!)... can add info about the person, birthdays, etc.

I also have one for Kodak and put the tech help instructions there they give me over the phone, at my fingertips to refer to.

Medical one contains everyone's MSI number as well as docs, dentist, optician, etc.

Plan to do Town employees and Councillors next;

I usually add something every day!!!

-D.

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Hi Dolna;

Glad pointing you at the Address Book worked out so well.

Charles







Tech support travails

From BearyandBow

I had Comcast ask me to turn off OS X's "built in anti-virus program" because that was likely causing me trouble with my connection. I guess they thought I was using XP. Now I have to tell them I am using a Mac and that there is nothing wrong with my computer - it's their servers or their cables.






May be

From John M. Dennis

This may be a competitor that Apple has to watch out for. I would rather pay their price then what Apple is asking.

http://www.macdailynews.com/comments.php?id=P3739_0_1_0

Thank You,

John M. Dennis


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Charles W. Moore


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