Post by: Epaminondas on May 13, 2003, 11:15:32 PM
The computer: a B&W 450 with 256 MB of RAM.
(1) Any particular pitfalls that one should consider?
(2) Any book suggestions?
The last Mac book I read was "MacOS 8.5 for Dummies" by Bob LeVitus.
I am pretty familiar with the MacOS 8.6 - now as comfortable as an old pair of shoes.
But you know - one cannot just live in the past.
Thare comes a time in every man's life when he must gird his loins - and move on.
With all the new things between MacOS 8.6 to Mac OS 9.2.2, however, you can imagine my trepidation. I figure some book-learning is probably in order, preferably specific to MacOS 9.x.x.
Amazon lists the following:
Mac OS 9.1 by Maria Langer
Mac OS 9.1 Black Book by Mark R. Bell, Debrah D. Suggs
Mac OS 9 For Dummies by Bob LeVitus
Mac OS 9: The Missing Manual by David Pogue
Mac OS 9: The Complete Reference by Gene Steinberg
The Mac OS 9 Guide by Brad Miser
Sad Macs, Bombs, and Other Disasters: And What to Do About Them by Ted Landau
Macworld Mac Secrets by David Pogue and Joseph Schorr
And I am sure that there are others.
If you had but one of these books to take with you to the deserted isle - with only your trusty Mac, a solar energy array, and a satellite Internet connection - the sea breeze, the rare prize of the occasional precious bottle of wine - of unknown vintage - washing ashore - label long faded by years in salt water - and nothing to open it with but your bare hands -
The periodic frantic waving at passing ships in futile attempt at the rescue that never comes -
And of course Friday. Faithful - uncomprehending - Friday.
The smell of sea turtle eggs cooking as morning beacons -
The activities that fill the day -
The calls of tropical birds -
And the crackling of the fire swallowed by the sea and the night - and nothing except all of the time in all of the world between you and the stars -
Which book would you choose?
Thank you,
Epaminondas
________________________________________________________________
When You Are Old
When you are old and gray and full of sleep,
And nodding by the fire, take down this book,
And slowly read, and dream of the soft look
Your eyes had once, and of their shadows deep;
How many loved your moments of glad grace,
And loved your beauty with love false or true;
But one man loved the pilgrim soul in you,
And loved the sorrows of your changing face.
And bending down beside the glowing bars
Murmur, a little sadly, how love fled
And paced upon the mountains overhead
And hid his face amid a crowd of stars.
Yeats
Post by: kps on May 13, 2003, 11:42:40 PM
I like Pogue's style...I'd reach for one of his books first...if you need it, that is.
Post by: kelly on May 14, 2003, 12:12:14 AM
Got one right here.
And then any other Pogue book.
Post by: kelly on May 14, 2003, 08:30:12 AM
More along the lines of Best Book for the Island.
Lots of great reading.
Some OS 9 Reports.
The links don't work for the Knowledgebase though.
http://www.xlr8yourmac.com/OS9/OS9feedback.html
Post by: taliesin on May 14, 2003, 09:04:40 AM
As the bloke who wrote the "disappointed" review on that page said, her repetitions are tedious, but also make for accessibility wherever you dive in. And it's not as elementary as the worst of those crits would have it.
3.5/5 on my scale.
Also it's in pictures and can be had very cheap!
If you know 8.6 as well as your shoes, it's all you need for now.
If I had that one desert island book, it certainly would not be about Macs.
for the Yeats.
Post by: Gary S on May 14, 2003, 11:08:20 AM
Post by: etaoin on May 14, 2003, 11:20:22 AM
Post by: danf63 on May 14, 2003, 05:17:58 PM
I'm running OS X on only 192 megs of ram, which isn't enough. your 256 should be okay, though.
Dan
Post by: kelly on May 14, 2003, 06:20:38 PM
At the very least. A 256 MB Stick for $33.
http://eshop.macsales.com/Catalog_Item.cfm...=OWC100SO256328
http://eshop.macsales.com/MyOWC/Upgrades.c...138&type=Memory
More would be better.
Post by: krissel on May 14, 2003, 07:33:17 PM
If 8.6 is your comfortable OS, the move to 9 is not that great. There are a few things located in different places and a few new control panels and features, but not that much to necessitate reading a book. I'll bet that within a week you will feel like it's been there all along.
Likewise, 9.1 is just fine for 99.9 percent of what you will need to do. I have yet to actually need 9.2 for anything. In some cases, processor or video card upgrades need a few files from 9.2 but you can always just take those out of a 9.2 install and stick them in 9.1.
I updated my PB to 9.2 but reverted to 9.1 when it started acting flakey. I think the older the machine you are running, the more likely you will find 9.2 to give you a problem. In fact, though you don't do back that far, the preG Macs will not boot with 9.2 without a hack.
Just go for it. I would, if you can, do a clean install.
Post by: Epaminondas on May 15, 2003, 12:23:13 AM
<< If I had that one desert island book, it certainly would not be about Macs. >>
What - you'd take a PC book?
Extraordinary.
______________________________________________________________
David Pogue it is.
Thanks, All.
______________________________________________________________
Etaoin wrote:
<< 9.1 seems like a real solid 9.x version. 9.2.2 has shown some flakiness on its own. >>
Understood.
Unfortunately, technical support for my main application states that they are stable in 8.6 and 9.2.2 (you can feel them smiling and relaxed when they talk), but not in 9.1 (you can feel them tense up - sit straighter in their chairs at just the mention of 9.1 - and suddenly they are no longer your friend). I called twice - same story and same vibrations from two different technical support people. Hey - they know their application. Go figure.
As they will be discontinuing support for MacOS 8.6 within the next year or so - outrageous, you are thinking, I know, I know - I am as outraged as you - I am putting together a 9.2.2 machine in preparation for that unfortunate day. As their software does not and will not use the Altivec engine of the G4, and as speed has not been much of an issue for their application even on Old World Macs, I figure a solid G3 machine looks like the best prospect for several years. In a few years they will likely have a MacOSX application up and running, and a few years after that discontinue MacOS 9.2.2 support - Luddites! -
And I will then put together another machine designed around the specific needs of their application - plus a few years forward window - when that time comes.
This methodology has worked out pretty well over the years. It is economical, but more importantly - things run fast, solid and stable. All the bugs are long-ago worked out. Call me agoraphobic, but there are some situations in which you just do not want to be anywhere close to the cutting edge.
So - it looks like a MacOS 9.2.2 minimum install on B&W G3 450 (Rev 2) with minimum control panels, extensions, peripherals and applications and a fast hard drive(s) should be a good bet..
Possibly running a RAID 1 setup on a pair of mirrored drives this time around for data integrity: I have never done this before, but it looks like a prudent concept. Technical support at SoftRAID says this setup should work fine. I have never set up a RAID box before: to anyone out there has experience with RAID 1, I would appreciate your thoughts. No substitute for backing up, of course, but one more step in makiing the data a little more secure.
A major purpose of obtaining a good reference book for MacOS 9.x.x is to learn which control panels and extensions I can disable in order to pull off a minimum install and still make everything work. I guess a copy of Conflict Catcher and a copy of Extension Overload will be helpful for the weeding process, as well. Been a while since I've done this - just need to get back into the groove.
I don't forsee any problems.
Thanks, All,
Epaminondas
________________________________________________________
An Irish Airman foresees his Death
I know that I shall meet my fate
Somewhere among the clouds above;
Those that I fight I do not hate
Those that I guard I do not love;
My country is Kiltartan Cross,
My countrymen Kiltartan’s poor,
No likely end could bring them loss
Or leave them happier than before.
Nor law, nor duty bade me fight,
Nor public man, nor cheering crowds,
A lonely impulse of delight
Drove to this tumult in the clouds;
I balanced all, brought all to mind,
The years to come seemed waste of breath,
A waste of breath the years behind
In balance with this life, this death.
Yeats
Post by: Gregg on May 15, 2003, 07:11:59 AM
Post by: taliesin on May 18, 2003, 02:12:13 PM
And a Yeats I like...
Good point made by several there.
Why 9.2.x unless you're planning on OS X?
9.1 is fine, stable, nice to use.
QUOTE
What - you'd take a PC book?
Extraordinary.
Extraordinary.
Would it be even more extraordinary to rule a computer book out altogether?
Post by: Bill on May 18, 2003, 02:27:19 PM
I'm in Jag most of the time now days anyways ... so ...
Post by: kelly on May 18, 2003, 03:06:21 PM
Just the only one from that list.
Sad to say though. If it was only one Book...
I just might choose Mac Secrets.
I've been reading it off and on for several years.