tagliatelle
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Friday, February 1 3:35 PM EDT
If you're an Apple fan who only watches the Superbowl for the Mac ads, you can take the year off. Why? Because Apple has elected not to participate in this year's big event. As one might guess, in these times of tightened belts throughout the industry, Apple sees better ways to spend its advertising dollars.
A California attorney, Thomas Ferlauto, has filed a class-action lawsuit against Apple alleging that the company backtracked on its 1998 promises that any Apple Mac that shipped with a G3 processor or better would be first-class citizens on Mac OS X. Since the advanced operating system's release, a more Microsoft-ian reality has developed, with owners of most G3-based Macs discovering that their graphics accelerators, DVD players, and other devices are not supported and may never be. Ferlauto suggests this is planned obsolescence...and we would be forced to agree. Whatever your opinions about the lawsuit itself, it seems clear that Apple wanted to make sure that its latest Macs were the only truly first-class citizens on the operating system and delays in OS X development made that fine line drift further into the future as time went on.
Unless one owns at least a Pismo Powerbook, a Blue PowerMac G3, or a Rage128-based iMac, OS X is a dramatically inferior experience to those of us who have a fully supported machine. Given that this is a matter of Apple saving its efforts for more modern machines and not a technical issue, although we personally wouldn't want to file a lawsuit over it, Apple has not entirely delivered on its original promises. Make your opinions about this thorny issue heard here.
Now here is a perfect example of why we're so concerned about the fate of the processor upgrade market. Reader Mitch Sink doesn't appear to understand that we're talking about third-party hardware at all. In a world where Apple is increasingly seeking to become the end-all be-all digital lifestyle company where less and less third party devices are needed at all, this is a disturbing trend that may or may not be good for Apple, but is without a doubt very bad for the Mac industry at large:
From: Mitch Sink
Date: Fri, 1 Feb 2002 11:01:30 -0800
To: rumors@macosrumors.com
Subject: Huh?
Hi,
Whats the point you are trying to convey here?
On the processor upgrade front, we've heard a number of whisperings that more multiprocessor and 550MHz+ upgrades will begin filtering into the market sooner than we had hoped. Expect some big news beginning in March, and culminating by Macworld New York in July with multiprocessor G4 upgrades at up to 1GHz....
Who cares about 550MHz upgrades? All of the existing systems are this fast or faster.
Who cares about 'multiprocessor G4 upgrades at up to 1GHz....'?Ê They have already been announced.
We're glad you've been reading our site, Mitch, but we're very worried that an ever-increasing number of people like yourself don't even know that the processor modules of many Macs can be replaced with faster third-party upgrades. This upgradability has been a key reason why high-end multiplatform geeks have not given up all hope of every buying a Mac....and also a key reason why many of those same geeks still refuse to purchase one - quite simply because the box is a monolithic device that offers little capacity for customization or upgrade short of buying a whole new box.
On a very different subject, another reader inquired about Apple's long-rumored Bluetooth short-range wireless support.
From: 'CJ' xxxxx@familyproductions.net
Date: Thu Jan 31, 2002 05:17:18 PM US/Eastern
To: rumors@macosrumors.com
Subject: question
what's the deal with bluetooth? when is apple going to start integrating it into their computers?
At one time, Apple was indeed working on a chipset that would support both the next-generation 54Mbps 802.11 (AirPort) standard as well as the short-range Bluetooth wireless device connectivity technology in the same add-in card. However, since that time, the next-generation AirPort standard has been delayed by many months (resulting in the relatively anemic but still very cool AirPort Base Station 2), and Bluetooth has lost a substantial part of its momentum.
With Firewire and Bluetooth-like device connectivity protocols soon to piggyback on 802.11 for long-range, high-bandwidth wireless connections, Apple has a rapidly vanishing incentive to go ahead with what would be a costly project. Further complicated by the need for Apple to avoid distracting developers from more central technologies, it appears increasingly unlikely that Apple will ever support Bluetooth unless market circumstances change dramatically.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Your support keeps MOSR on the air. Although Sponsor perks are currently offline while we transition to a new management system, your support is vital to the future of the site. To become a Sponsor, simply click the button:
You will be registered under your PayPal address unless otherwise specified. "Suggested donation" is US $25, international readers simply click on the international button near the middle of the page linked above. Thank you for your generous support!
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Wednesday, January 30 7:35 PM EDT
A slew of readers wanted to know if their CD burners currently unsupported by Mac OS X might at last be supported by the numerous new drivers included with the forthcoming 10.1.3 update. In particular, the popular 4x4x8x QPS Que USB cd burners -- which just so happens happens to be the model we have here at MOSR -- remain unsuppported as of 10.1.2. The full host of new drivers in 10.1.3 have not yet been disclosed, but it is believed these will be among them -- however, they are not present in current builds such as 5Q28. If you have more specific information about this or any other beta software, mailto:rumors@macosrumors.com. 'Nuff said.
According to reliable Apple sources, the iBook can be expected to reach 1GHz with G3 processors before it moves to G4 chips.
On the processor upgrade front, we've heard a number of whisperings that more multiprocessor and 550MHz+ upgrades will begin filtering into the market sooner than we had hoped. Expect some big news beginning in March, and culminating by Macworld New York in July with multiprocessor G4 upgrades at up to 1GHz....
Apple has apparently been listening to customer comments that its Powerbook G4 widescreen 15.2-inch display, while the perfect size, does not offer high enough resolution. A version that offers 1600x1024 resolution has been developed, but whether it will ship depends on the high volatile flat panel market pricing trends in the coming months and consumer testing reviews of the small text that results from such high resolution on a portable-sized display.
If the revised display passes the various tests, we will either see it alongside the 800MHz upgrade this summer or in the early 2003 update. More information on this topic is expected soon, as Apple proceeds with its market research.
If you're an Apple fan who only watches the Superbowl for the Mac ads, you can take the year off. Why? Because Apple has elected not to participate in this year's big event. As one might guess, in these times of tightened belts throughout the industry, Apple sees better ways to spend its advertising dollars.
A California attorney, Thomas Ferlauto, has filed a class-action lawsuit against Apple alleging that the company backtracked on its 1998 promises that any Apple Mac that shipped with a G3 processor or better would be first-class citizens on Mac OS X. Since the advanced operating system's release, a more Microsoft-ian reality has developed, with owners of most G3-based Macs discovering that their graphics accelerators, DVD players, and other devices are not supported and may never be. Ferlauto suggests this is planned obsolescence...and we would be forced to agree. Whatever your opinions about the lawsuit itself, it seems clear that Apple wanted to make sure that its latest Macs were the only truly first-class citizens on the operating system and delays in OS X development made that fine line drift further into the future as time went on.
Unless one owns at least a Pismo Powerbook, a Blue PowerMac G3, or a Rage128-based iMac, OS X is a dramatically inferior experience to those of us who have a fully supported machine. Given that this is a matter of Apple saving its efforts for more modern machines and not a technical issue, although we personally wouldn't want to file a lawsuit over it, Apple has not entirely delivered on its original promises. Make your opinions about this thorny issue heard here.
Now here is a perfect example of why we're so concerned about the fate of the processor upgrade market. Reader Mitch Sink doesn't appear to understand that we're talking about third-party hardware at all. In a world where Apple is increasingly seeking to become the end-all be-all digital lifestyle company where less and less third party devices are needed at all, this is a disturbing trend that may or may not be good for Apple, but is without a doubt very bad for the Mac industry at large:
From: Mitch Sink
Date: Fri, 1 Feb 2002 11:01:30 -0800
To: rumors@macosrumors.com
Subject: Huh?
Hi,
Whats the point you are trying to convey here?
On the processor upgrade front, we've heard a number of whisperings that more multiprocessor and 550MHz+ upgrades will begin filtering into the market sooner than we had hoped. Expect some big news beginning in March, and culminating by Macworld New York in July with multiprocessor G4 upgrades at up to 1GHz....
Who cares about 550MHz upgrades? All of the existing systems are this fast or faster.
Who cares about 'multiprocessor G4 upgrades at up to 1GHz....'?Ê They have already been announced.
We're glad you've been reading our site, Mitch, but we're very worried that an ever-increasing number of people like yourself don't even know that the processor modules of many Macs can be replaced with faster third-party upgrades. This upgradability has been a key reason why high-end multiplatform geeks have not given up all hope of every buying a Mac....and also a key reason why many of those same geeks still refuse to purchase one - quite simply because the box is a monolithic device that offers little capacity for customization or upgrade short of buying a whole new box.
On a very different subject, another reader inquired about Apple's long-rumored Bluetooth short-range wireless support.
From: 'CJ' xxxxx@familyproductions.net
Date: Thu Jan 31, 2002 05:17:18 PM US/Eastern
To: rumors@macosrumors.com
Subject: question
what's the deal with bluetooth? when is apple going to start integrating it into their computers?
At one time, Apple was indeed working on a chipset that would support both the next-generation 54Mbps 802.11 (AirPort) standard as well as the short-range Bluetooth wireless device connectivity technology in the same add-in card. However, since that time, the next-generation AirPort standard has been delayed by many months (resulting in the relatively anemic but still very cool AirPort Base Station 2), and Bluetooth has lost a substantial part of its momentum.
With Firewire and Bluetooth-like device connectivity protocols soon to piggyback on 802.11 for long-range, high-bandwidth wireless connections, Apple has a rapidly vanishing incentive to go ahead with what would be a costly project. Further complicated by the need for Apple to avoid distracting developers from more central technologies, it appears increasingly unlikely that Apple will ever support Bluetooth unless market circumstances change dramatically.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Your support keeps MOSR on the air. Although Sponsor perks are currently offline while we transition to a new management system, your support is vital to the future of the site. To become a Sponsor, simply click the button:
You will be registered under your PayPal address unless otherwise specified. "Suggested donation" is US $25, international readers simply click on the international button near the middle of the page linked above. Thank you for your generous support!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Wednesday, January 30 7:35 PM EDT
A slew of readers wanted to know if their CD burners currently unsupported by Mac OS X might at last be supported by the numerous new drivers included with the forthcoming 10.1.3 update. In particular, the popular 4x4x8x QPS Que USB cd burners -- which just so happens happens to be the model we have here at MOSR -- remain unsuppported as of 10.1.2. The full host of new drivers in 10.1.3 have not yet been disclosed, but it is believed these will be among them -- however, they are not present in current builds such as 5Q28. If you have more specific information about this or any other beta software, mailto:rumors@macosrumors.com. 'Nuff said.
According to reliable Apple sources, the iBook can be expected to reach 1GHz with G3 processors before it moves to G4 chips.
On the processor upgrade front, we've heard a number of whisperings that more multiprocessor and 550MHz+ upgrades will begin filtering into the market sooner than we had hoped. Expect some big news beginning in March, and culminating by Macworld New York in July with multiprocessor G4 upgrades at up to 1GHz....
Apple has apparently been listening to customer comments that its Powerbook G4 widescreen 15.2-inch display, while the perfect size, does not offer high enough resolution. A version that offers 1600x1024 resolution has been developed, but whether it will ship depends on the high volatile flat panel market pricing trends in the coming months and consumer testing reviews of the small text that results from such high resolution on a portable-sized display.
If the revised display passes the various tests, we will either see it alongside the 800MHz upgrade this summer or in the early 2003 update. More information on this topic is expected soon, as Apple proceeds with its market research.
