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Bus Powered Devices With USB 2.0 PCMCIA Adapter Cards
GIMP Isn't Going To Work For Me...
Ford Racing 2 Version 1.1 Motor Racing Game For OS X
Resolving dSLR Sensor Cleaning Chores?
Is The Logitech diNovo Edge Really The "World's Most Advanced Keyboard?"
Bus Powered Devices With USB 2.0 PCMCIA Adapter Cards
From Bob
Hi Charles,
You discussed one of these a couple of years ago as the answer to those with USB 1.1. As one who hopes to purchase an iPhone or itouch iPod to use with my G4 Powerbook 17" AL OS 10.4.11, I truly appreciate your earlier Applelinks entry.
The only thing is that I've since learned that a power supply is necessary to use with a PCMCIA card because the card bus will not supply the power to run the device (iPod or iPhone) as a normal USB port would. Hence, the device won't get consistently recognized, sync with the computer's itunes program, or allow it to be charged.
OK, with all this in mind I've tried to find the appropriate AC power adapter.
The problem is I can't get a definitive answer from ANYONE...including tech support people at the companies that manufacture or sell these things. Any recommendations? You seem like just the guy to have this covered. I sure hope so.
Thanks,
Bob
Hi Bob;
I can't guarantee it because I've never tried it hands-on, but I *think* the workaround might be to use a self-powered USB hub (ie: one with its own power supply) in conjunction with the USB 2 PC CardBus adapter when you need bus power for a device.
You might find this article helpful as well. It's from early 2007, but most of the info should still be relevant.
You can check it out here.
http://www.macopinion.com/index.php/site/more/usb_20_for_older_cardbus_powerbooks/
Charles
GIMP Isn't Going To Work For Me...
From Kevin Shaffer
GIMP Photo Manipulation Software ... not really ready for Mac OS X?
Though I have not tried it (or most photo or image manipulation software) the GIMP photo manipulation software is free, complex and busy, by the looks of it. So busy it would be easier to stick to real chemical photography for the amount of time required to sit at the computer to reconstruct images!
Anyway, I was curious and found a few things about GIMP's foto manip s/w:
http://www.gimp.org/macintosh/TiBookMacGIMP.jpg
{ GIMP - for Mac OS X - requires stuff* most Mac users don't want to install }
In addition to Mac OS X, the following is a list of what you will need* to run GIMP on your Macintosh:
(*)X Windowing Layer
GIMP uses a separate windowing layer, the X11 windowing protocol, on Mac OS X, which must be installed first. The XDarwin project provides this functionality. Apple used to provide their own version of this windowing layer, based on XFree86. Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard) now ships with an X11.app based on the X.Org 7.2 release.
(* )Graphics libraries and toolkits
Unlike most GNU/Linux distributions, Mac OS X does not come with the open source libraries upon which GIMP is built. These are typically installed along with GIMP, but can be installed separately. If you want to compile GIMP from source, we suggest that you use MacPorts or fink to install the libraries it depends on.
GIMP - for Mac OS X:
http://www.gimp.org/macintosh/
gimp photo editing software - google search:
http://tinyurl.com/5k8fom
gimp photo manipulation - rotation, geometric correction, healing, cropping:
http://tinyurl.com/5vds3e
[ Looks to me: I don't want to use GIMP - for Mac OS X. -- I don't want to build up the X11 libraries and other tools Mac OS X does not come with. ]
(Oh, if you want images to auto-rotate on your web page, this place claims to have something you can put into your page to do so... not sure what they get for payment from using their intellectual property):
http://www.isitebuild.com/image-rotator.htm
Best regards,
Kevin
Hi Kevin;
If you want a lot of the functionality of the GIMP without the bloat, complexity and hassle of mucking around with X11, try Seashore. It's free, quite powerful, works well, and I think you might like it.
You can check it out at:
http://seashore.sourceforge.net/
Charles
Ford Racing 2 Version 1.1 Motor Racing Game For OS X
From fakesteveballmer
All games run badly on Macs! Get real people!
Come into the light of Vista!
Hi Fake Steve;
Not sure a comment like that merits a serious response, but a couple of observations:
1. Ford Racing 2 runs very nicely on my semi-ancient 1.33 GHz PowerBook G4. It must really scream on a modern INtel Mac.
2. Ford Racing 2 won't run on Vista at all - it's a Mac-only program.
CM
Re: Ford Racing 2 Version 1.1 Motor Racing Game For OS X
From fakesteveballmer
1. Serious games come out on PC's first and only!
2. Open GL is inferior to activeX
3. We are the VAST majority! Therefore whatever I say is true.
4. If I made you guys an offer you would drop the Mac and work for me without negotiation in a heartbeat! Thereafter you would swear that 1,2,and 3 are gospel truth.
5. Never make "observations about my comments, just accept them! It makes you look more intelligent!
Hi again Fake Steve;
Ah but I'm not a serious gamer. Indeed I couldn't with a straight face call myself a gamer at all. I just like cars, Macs, and I found this game is a means to combine the interests in an entertaining way.
Incidentally, if Vista is so hot, howcum after a year and three quarters on the market it still has only 25% of the total Windows market, while antidiluvian XP has hung on to the other three-quarters?
Meanwhile, Apple's share of the OS market has just shy of doubled since May, '06 and the iPhone had a whopping 58% share increase in the past month.
see:
http://marketshare.hitslink.com/report.aspx?qprid=8
CM
Resolving dSLR Sensor Cleaning Chores?
From Kevin Shaffer
Hi Charles:
I've been getting around to cleaning the sensor in a Nikon D70 dSLR that was previously owned prior to my experience with it; and find a few of the chores and potential activities required to achieve a satisfactory outcome, almost daunting.
The famous "rocket blower" by Giotto is on small part of a potential plan of action, so long as the dust has not been welded to the sensor face through humidity exposure. The dry dust can be blown right off, or out, of the sensor chamber.
Another tool I have recently become aware of is a means to illuminate, magnify and see dust on the sensor without the need to try and make test images under various light using
the camera's f/22 lens setting. This is only good if adequate light is available; and some experimentation is required in less than ideal illumination to get a good image for the pre-
and post- test sensor dust status.
This new or better idea is not inexpensive, but an owner and avid user of removable lens system DSLRs and also film cameras, could find the tool worth more than the price.
BriteVue Sensor Loupe 7X
http://www.visibledust.com/products3.php?pid=602
Instructions:
http://www.visibledust.com/instructions.php?pid=602
Price: $89.95 CAD| $89.95 USD*| 65.01*| ( * approximate price )
So, between the 'wet-clean' methods and tools available, which sorta scare me a little, since the sensor can't get wet and the cover glass is not moisture-tight; and the tools one has to buy in order to handle dry dust incursions, the extras one could have on-hand to be on top of these
aspects of maintenance can add up to a few hundred dollars extra cost, a small learning curve, & time, to dSLR ownership.
{The process makes me appreciate the Panasonic Lumix DSC-FZ series camera with attached non-removable Leica zoom; it seems to just work well, and reliably provides good results. Almost a Mac.}
This gadget from VisibleDust.com appears to be a good idea; though it is currently out of my budget!
Do you have any experiences with dust inside your digital camera?
Best regards,
Kevin
Hi Kevin;
Thanks for the helpful tutorial on DSLR sensor cleaning.
My digital cameras are both pretty primitive point and shoot models, so thus far no issues with dust, which is good because you can't get at the insides for cleaning.
I need a new camera.....
Charles
Is The Logitech diNovo Edge Really The "World's Most Advanced Keyboard?"
From fakesteveballmer
Works better with Vista though!
Hi again Fake Steve;
I can't speak to that. I haven't used it with Vista.
Incidentally, have you actually tried the diNovo Edge with OS X?
CM
***
Charles W. Moore
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CM
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