Moore’s MailBag - Wednesday, October 3, 2007
Please Help re Mac Laptops - My Pismo died
Trouble With Socks 1.0.2 OS X Maintenance And Optimization Software
Something to keep an eye on
Old Version for Mac Downloads - OldApps.com
Please Help re Mac Laptops - My Pismo died
From Sonja
Hello - I don't know if it is too presumptuous to write to you - so I'm sorry if it is. I've been reading your articles on and off for years and as a Pismo owner always felt bolstered by your defense of that great computer.
My question is straightforward but probably difficult to answer. My Pismo quit on me - The Mac Store tells me its the logic board - I don't believe them and after talking to the guys at Accelerate Your Mac, am considering trying to save it by shippng to them and investing in a G4 upgrade. They tell me it's rarely the logic board and it's probably a bad connection, faulty ram, or some card??? I did panic and bought a logic board on eBay yesterday.
But I'm reconsidering the cost, value ratio - the video card isn't upgradeable (although the AccelerateYourMac guy said they might take another swing at trying to figure out if they can find a way to change that - but that wouldn't help me now).
So - I think I need another laptop and I want a Mac. I know there is nothing that I'm going to love as much as my Pismo - but of what is out there what would you recommend?
I've been looking on eBay - is there any place to get a good Mac at a reasonable pric online? I'm in Canada.
I'm sorry this is so long - but I'm hoping you will consider replying. Thank-you for any help you might be willing to give.
Sonja
Hi Sonja;
Yes indeed; a dilemma. These old Pismos are already more than twice the age of the usual laptop computer turnover, and still for the most part giving tremendous service. Cold comfort, however, when yours is not.
Diagnosing a problem like this can be a challenge even hands-on, let alone from afar, and it could be a variety of things. Pismo mobos are pretty robust, so that would be well down my list. My first guess would be a bad PMu battery, especially if it's never been replaced.
First the easy stuff. Do you know where the reset button is on the back? It's a small white pushbutton with a sideways triangel logo just inboard of the modem port. pop out the battery, unplug the power adapter, press the reset button for a few seconds. Let the rig sit for a couple of minutes, then repower and see if it will start.
If that gets it started, to check that the PMU battery is good. Set your date, disable auto date setting, pop the main battery (eject it), shut down and disconnect the power adapter. Wait 20 minutes. Power the machine up and boot. If the date is lnow incorrect, you have a PMU battery issue.
To test for bad RAM, if you have RAM in both the upper and lower slots, try removing the upper module and booting with just the stick in the lower module.
It could also conceivably be a bad procressor. I had a processor fail suddenly in a WallStreet PowerBook a few years back, although that's very unusual.
If none of the ministrations outlined above work, your cheapest option might be be to pick up another Pismo and use your current one for a parts mule. Wegener Media got a batch of Pismos in last spring, and still has some in stock. I bought one, and it is in immaculate condition with a perfect screen and looks like it has hardly been used, although I can't guarantee that they are all like that.
Wegeners might also be amenable to selling you one "bare-bones", as it were, at a discount if you wanted to swap in your battery, optical drive, RAM, and even your hard drive and processor card from the old Pismo, which could make it a really inexpensive solution.
Prices start at $299.99 for a 400 Mhz unit (128/6GB).
More info here:
http://www.wegenermedia.com/pismo4.htm
The PowerBook Guy also has some used Pismos listed.
PowerBook G3 400Mhz Pismo with 192MB Memory, 6GB Drive, Zip Drive, 14-inch LCD - $299.95
For more information, visit:
http://www.powerbookguy.com/xcart/catalog/index.html
However, the old Pismos, wonderful as they are, have a lot of years on them now. I anticipate using the two I have for several years yet (that's why I bought a second one), but as you note the video support is a bad bottleneck, they will not be supported by OS 10,5 Leopard, and their best years realistically, are behind them.
There are some great deals available on refurbished Aluminum PowerBooks, and they are my picks these days for best value in a low-end Mac laptop.
TechRestore has a nice selection. I bought a 17" PowerBook from them a couple of years ago, and it's been excellent.
By the waym TechRestore is offering a $25 discount to Applelinks/MacOpinion readers off any PowerBook or iBook in stock. Just enter the code CWM during checkout when ordering online. The coupon code is valid through 2007.12.31
For more information, visit:
http://www.techrestore.com/
However, be sure to consider a new or Apple Certified Refurbished MacBook. MacIntel is the real future, and the prices on refurbs. are very attractive, plau the ACR units have the same warranty and AppleCare eligibility as new Macs.
Right now, the Apple Store Canada has Refurbished MacBooks starting at $1,049.00 (2.0GHz Intel Core 2 Duo - White), and that includes free shipping. Scroll down to the link at the bottom of the right-hand column on the Apple Store homepage. http://www.apple.ca
Hope this helps, and don't hesitate if you have any more questions.
Charles
Trouble With Socks 1.0.2 OS X Maintenance And Optimization Software
From Ian
I would caution anyone considering buying this software because when a problem arises with it, the developer stops responding to support requests. After I ran the new version of SOCKS, it wiped out my Mac's ability to use keychains properly. Requests to the developer on how to fix the problem created by SOCKS have been ignored. It still isn't working properly and I have no idea how to fix it.
Hi Ian
Thanks for the heads-up.
I hope there's an easier fix, but it may be neccessary to do a clean system reinstall to clear this problem.
Charles
Re: Trouble With Socks 1.0.2 OS X Maintenance And Optimization Software
From: Ian
Thank you for the suggestion.
What makes this particularly infuriating is that almost nobody who uses freeware or shareware pays for it. I am a fee paying customer and he refuses to respond to me. If your suggestion that I may have to do a clean install is true, I think he is hiding from the fact that either he doesn't know the fix or that his software caused a problem that requires such a serious, time intensive fix.
Ian
Hi Ian;
I agree.
Even for shareware, it's shoddy service not to respond to queries on a technical issue like this, especially from someone who actually paid the shareware fee.
Unfortunately, it's a practical impossibility to vet out press release material in anticipation of problems like this, which is one distinction between product news and product reviews.
A less drastic swipe at a fix than a clean system install would be to try and find every bit of stuff the program has installed (eg: preferences, application support bits, and so forth), trash the works and restart.
Something else that sometimes works is just re-running the latest Mac OS X version update installer (preferably combo), which doesn't mess with your settings.
Also, try running the full set of system maintenance routines with another utility like OnyX (free and good).
Charles
Re: Trouble With Socks 1.0.2 OS X Maintenance And Optimization Software
From Ian
Hi Charles,
Thank you for all of this!
BTW, I know it's impossible for you to vet everything so I have no issue with your news report.
Ian
Something to keep an eye on
From John M. Dennis
Here is a project to keep your eye on as with all the emails you get any thing that could help I am sure would be greatly appreciated.
http://chandlerproject.org/
Looks interesting, John. A good PIM has been a quest for some Mac users.
Thanks for the link.
Charles
Old Version for Mac Downloads - OldApps.com
From Eric Matthieu
Hi Charles,
I just discovered this site, and wondered if you knew about it...
http://mac.oldapps.com/
Eric
Hi Eric;
I do now.
Thanks; looks like a useful resource.
Charles
***
Charles W. Moore
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