HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.hardware
Subject: My $.02 about RAM Caches...
From: seth@physc1.byu.edu
Date: 16 Nov 92 21:58:23 -0700
Distribution: world
Organization: Brigham Young University

Hi. I wanna share a couple of things I have found about RAM caches. This is
particularly in regard to the posting by Chuck Chung entitled something like
"68040 33 MHz -> 40 MHz...", where he asked about cache cards. I don't have a
quadra, so I cannot comment specifically on that issue, BUT, I have messed
about a bit with caches. Here goes: The 68030 chip has two caches (like the
68040, but they don't work quite the same way), which are a 256 BYTE cache and
a 256 BYTE instruction cache. Now, this doesn't seem like a lot, but IT IS. I
found a control somewhere (I forgot where, but I could probably find it again
if someone wants it. it is probably to found at sumex-aim). Anyways, I found
that can turn off the caches in the 68030. I did some tests. I turned these
256 BYTE caches off, and ran Speedometer. I found out that these caches just
about DOUBLE the speed of my IIsi (still at 20 MHz...). I also have a 64 K 
external cache from Logica Research. Now, I understand that an internal cache
is faster and all, but this 64K cache still only brings my machine up maybe
25% over the performance I get with JUST the 2 internal 256 BYTE caches. Now,
if you were to draw a graph of performance enhancement versus size of cache,
you would probably see that the graph rises VERY fast at first, as you go from
having no cache at all to having ANYTHING, but then it quickly flattens out.
We see that the first 512 bytes of cache memory doubled the computer's speed,
and the next 64000 bytes could only bring it up another 25%. You can see that
the difference between a 32 K cache and a 64 K cache is not going to be that 
much, and the difference between a 64K cache and a 128 K cache even less. Now,
the 8 K worth of cache memory of the 68040 is internal cache, which is faster
(at least from what I have read; I could be wrong) than external cache. With
8 K cache, you have probably gotten a sizeable chunk of the possible increase
over 512 bytes, so I would guess that spending the $400 for the DayStar cache
may not bring much in the way of extra speed. I don't know this as a fact, but
I would definitely check out with somebody who did spend the money and has one.
If you do, by all means run Speedometer and post the results for us all to see.
I too have seen the DayStar ads, and I have to laugh when I see the line
"Up to 40% speed increase." That's what the Logica Research ad said too. Sure,
8-bit graphics performance went up 40%, and THAT IS IT. Everything else was
down around 25%. 

-- Seth Leigh
"Who dares, wins."

Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.hardware
From: wang_dj@zebra.cs.jhu.edu (David J. Wang)
Subject: TurboNet ST
Followup-To: wang_dj@server.cs.jhu.edu 
Organization: Johns Hopkins Computer Science Department, Baltimore, MD
Date: Sat, 21 Nov 1992 04:19:51 GMT


In the most recent issue of MacWorld, there is an ad for the   
"TurboNet ST", replacement for the Farallon PhoneNet connectors --
has anyone used one of these?  Is there any differnce between these
and the more expensive Farallon units?

Any experiences would be greatly appreciated

David J. Wang
wang_dj@server.cs.jhu.edu

Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.hardware
From: louis@well.sf.ca.us (Louis Jaffe)
Subject: Re: Best prices for Supra Modems? Macintosh Duo 230?
Keywords: n
Organization: Whole Earth 'Lectronic Link
Distribution: comp.sys.mac.hardware
Date: Mon, 16 Nov 1992 08:32:53 GMT

The best price on the Supra V.32bis is from Supra themselves-- if you qualify
as a BBS sysop.  $250.  LJ

Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.hardware
From: chrism@col.hp.com (Chris Magnuson)
Subject: Apple 80 Meg External Drives???
Date: Thu, 19 Nov 1992 22:14:16 GMT
Organization: HP Colorado Springs Division

	How much does Apple charge for their 80 Meg external hard drive?

	e-mail would be great.

	Thanks,
	chrism@col.hp.com
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.hardware
Subject: Stupid MDS Assembler!!
From: seth@physc1.byu.edu
Date: 21 Nov 92 01:29:53 -0700
Distribution: world
Organization: Brigham Young University

Damn it! I know that this is not the right place to post this, but the
bitch-and-moan usegroup has far too much bandwidth these days...
	I HATE HATE HATE HATE the Macintosh Development System assembler! I
hate it I hate it I hate it! I had to load system 6 on my hard drive, and then
whenever I need to do assembly language (for a class I am in) I have to "bless"
the system 6 folder, restart under system 6 (which I can't stand; system 7 
rules!), and then the damned Assembler etc. crashes all the time anyways and
generally screws things up enough that just to feel safe I have to restart 
every 1/2 or so, or sooner if I bomb out bigtime. This assembler was written
WAY back in the annals of Mac history. WHY doesn't anyone but Apple make a
GOOD, MODERN, STABLE Assembler?!?!?! Sorry for posting this trashy article,
but it is 1:30 AM and frankly my dears, I Don't Give a Damn!
Know what I mean, Vern?

-Seth Leigh
Organization: Queen's University at Kingston
Date: Sun, 15 Nov 1992 16:06:18 EST
From: <HARRAPR@QUCDN.QueensU.CA>
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.hardware
Subject: Quantum 40S Formatting Software?

I just sold a friend a 40 Meg SCSI drive, a Quantum 40S. He had it
professionally installed, and the dealer had problems formatting it.
Eventually he got it to work, using a commercial formatting program.

Our problem is simple - we need formatting software in case we ever
have to reformat the drive.

If anyone knows of any public domain or shareware utilities that will
format this drive (under system 7), please let me know.

Thanks

Rob Harrap
Dept. Geological Sciences
Queen's University
Kingston, Ont. Canada

Harrapr@qucdn.queensu.ca
From: drchambe@tekig5.pen.tek.com (Dennis Chamberlin)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.hardware
Subject: Re: Apple "down-graded" their mouse!
Date: 17 Nov 92 19:23:18 GMT
Reply-To: drchambe@tekig5.pen.tek.com
Organization: Tektronix, Inc., Beaverton,  OR.

In article <louislam.721806838@vincent2.iastate.edu> louislam@iastate.edu (Louis C Lam) writes:

>I'm having a problem with my ADP Mouse recently. The button feels like 
>something is blocking its way and it doesn't feel smooth (anyone know
>what's causing this?)
>
>This is actually my second mouse (the first one had the same problem and the
>Apple dealer gladly replaced mine).  The problem appeared in less that one
>month after I bought my ci and the second mouse "lasts" for 7 months. 
>
>
>So, can anyone tell me why Apple is changing the mouse, and anyone know what
>is the problem with my mouse?
>
 I suspect dirt/contamination from your mouse pad, etc. My mouse began feeling 
 a little rocky after a couple of months. Although the ball seemed fairly 
 clean, I took it apart and looked inside. Both the X and Y rollers had some 
 hair and crud wrapped around them. I removed it with some patient work 
 with tweezers, and cleaned the rollers as best I could. After reassembly, 
 I was rewarded with a mouse that felt like new.
 
 I could of used a small air jet to help blow out the debris. Also, a Qtip
 moistened with alcohol would expedite cleaning the rollers. I would also
 recommend cleaning your mouse pad frequently.
 
 If this is the problem, your new mice are just picking up additional dirt
 from your mouse pad.
From: rlr@panix.com (Richard L. Rosen)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.hardware
Subject: Taxan monitor compatibility with IIsi
Keywords: Taxan KS12R101S-U IIsi
Date: 22 Nov 92 23:53:12 GMT
Organization: RLRCLC

I have a quick question on monitor compatibility.

Some friends of mine are about to buy a IIsi.  They have a monitor, a Taxan
KS12R102S-U that seems to have video (composite) input and RGB input
(switchable).  The video input is RCA, the RGB is an 8-pin plug.

Can this monitor be used with the IIsi they're planning to buy?  Is it just a
matter of a special cable (and if so, how readily obtainable would such a cable
be?) or would it be something more complex?

Please e-mail answers to me here (rlr@panix.com) if possible.  Thanx.
-- 
"Digging in the dirt, stay with me I need support		
 Digging in the dirt, find the places I got hurt		Rich Rosen
 Open up the places I got hurt..."				rlr@panix.com
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.hardware
From: sasdtm@stthomas.unx.sas.com (Donald T. Major)
Subject: Re: MONO IIsi
Originator: sasdtm@stthomas.unx.sas.com
Date: Wed, 18 Nov 1992 16:09:39 GMT
Organization: SAS Institute Inc.


Mac IIsi and ci both produce stereo output--TO THE EARPHONE JACK (or
more properly, the headphone jack).  With the exception of the IIsi (and
maybe some newer machines), sounds played through the built-in speaker
on sound chip equipped machines play the left channel only.  The IIsi is
(or at least was--I haven't kept up on some of the more recent machines)
unique in that it actually plays BOTH left and right channels through
the built-in speaker (it actually mixes the two together).  But
regardless of the Mac, playing the sound THROUGH THE BUILT-IN SPEAKER is
mono.

 ..
dtm

-- 
Donald Major       SAS Institute Inc.  "Cicely, let's fling something!"
sasdtm@unx.sas.com SAS Campus Drive                 - Northern Exposure
(919) 677-8000     Cary, NC 27513-2414
From: owen@astro.washington.edu (Russell Owen)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.hardware
Subject: Re: Recommendations for DAT drives
Date: 19 Nov 92 18:05:56 GMT
Article-I.D.: rowen.owen-191192095640
Followup-To: comp.sys.mac.hardware
Distribution: usa
Organization: University of Washington

In article <1992Nov18.184507.12792@eos.arc.nasa.gov>,
dencisco@eos.arc.nasa.gov (David Paul Encisco) wrote:
> Does anyone have any opinions, problems, or
> raves regarding DAT drives?...

We've had lots of trouble with our two APS DAT drives. One has gone back 4
times (their tech support is responsive, I'll give them that), and the
drives can't reliably read each other's tapes. Some of the problems appear
to be in the archive python units themselves, though suppose it could be
poor power supplies, I just don't know. Other problems stem from APS's
rotten fans. I personally will not buy another item from APS, and I'm going
to wait to hear from other users of  archive python DAT drives before I buy
another of those from anybody. Our units are fast, but we need reliability
more than speed!

If you can live with slower speed, try an HP or Wang unit from TriStar
Electronics ($1150 and $1250 respectively, including box and power supply).
Only 1 year warrenty, but with 24 hour advance shipment of replacement.
Their market is DEC and Sun computers, so they can't include the proper
SCSI cable, but such cables are readily available since most Mac hard drive
companies use them. Also you'll have to buy the software (e.g. Dantz'
Retrospect) separately.

There are many companies similar to TriStar offering similar prices (though
not all offer the 24 hour advance shipment of replacement). Look in any DEC
or Sun magazine. TriStar Electronics can be reached at 800-843-4009 (New
Jersey)

Russell Owen
owen@astro.washington.edu

Russell Owen
owen@astro.washington.edu
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.hardware
From: martin@cs.curtin.edu.au (Martin Dougiamas)
Subject: Re: Plugging in floppy on PB100 while asleep. Will it do damage?
Organization: Curtin University of Technology
Date: Tue, 17 Nov 1992 11:27:29 GMT

Douglas_J._Kiang@fourd.com writes:

>With that out of the way, I would recommend shutting down the PowerBook 100
>before plugging or unplugging the floppy drive, for the simple reason that the
>floppy won't be recognized until you restart anyway, so why not just shut it
>down, plug the floppy in, and restart.

Not always true... what about the situation where you boot with the 
floppy in, then remove it and replace it without shutting down in
between?  The floppy drive is still recognised.

My friend and I have done this when transferring things between our
100's by floppy when we only had the one floppy drive.

We booted both machines with the floppy in place, and then swapped
the drive from machine to machine as required.  So the question remains:

Will this harm the PowerBook 100?
Will this harm the PowerBook floppy drive?
Does it matter if the machines are sleeping or not?

Martin
--
,--------------------------------------------------------------.      _ .
| All the deserts I could irrigate      Martin Dougiamas.      |   _r| Ll\
| All the poor I could emancipate    martin@cs.curtin.edu.au   |  |  |    \
| But that's not what interests me      Curtin University      |  \  |_   /
| I'm interested in apathy          Perth, Western Australia  -+-> x~  `-'
`=== This Is Serious, Mum ====================================='        V
From: nick+@pitt.edu (Nick C De Mello)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.hardware
Subject: Re: How Long are people waiting?
Date: 20 Nov 92 04:47:47 GMT
Organization: University of Pittsburgh

In article <lgnvt3INNic6@lion.cs.utexas.edu> benkei@cs.utexas.edu (William Kent Richards) writes:
>In article <18348.2B08ED4D@zeus.ieee.org> John.Espinoza@f1009.n124.z1.ieee.org (John Espinoza) writes:
>
>>Better ask your store if he's in Apple's "educational channel" -> read
>>this as meaning lowest priority.  Schools often order only small #'s of
>
>What's interesting to me is that some people have claimed to have already
>gotten Duos, and maybe Vx's too, from campus stores.
>
>Any ideas why some schools can get them and some can't?

  I've noticed that all the folks who said they got Duo's from academic
sources were in Southern California: UCSD, UCLA, USC etc.  Might
be that the first load that went out just happened to go to that 
location, and they haven't made up the next batch yet...

                                      -- Nick


-- 
   _/   _/  _/  _/_/_/   _/   _/  Sea Shells to C shells,  Waikiki to
  _/_/ _/  _/  _/   _/  _/_/_/     the Internet, a wave, is a wave...
 _/ _/_/  _/  _/       _/ _/                     
_/   _/  _/   _/_/_/  _/   _/  CompSrv: 71232,766 * I-Net: Nick+@pitt.edu
Organization: Penn State University
Date: Wed, 18 Nov 1992 08:58:45 EST
From: <GTE@psuvm.psu.edu>
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.hardware
Subject: Radius

Is anyone experiencing trouble getting Radius Pivot monitors.  We have a couple
on order for several weeks.  I tried to get them elsewhere, but few places
seem to carry them any more.

       - Bob Gould
         r1gnuc@engr.psu.edu or gte@psuvm.psu.edu
         Penn State U.
         Radiation Science & Engineering Center
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.hardware
From: heyes@dadev.cebaf.gov (Graham Heyes)
Subject: SIMM technical info needed...
Organization: Continuous Electron Beam Accelerator Facility
Distribution: comp.sys.mac.hardware
Date: Wed, 18 Nov 1992 19:30:48 GMT

After upgrading a Mac I have a few SIMMs floating about
with no home to go to. I also have a one-off (non-Mac) 
system design which calls for 1Mbyte of dynamic RAM.

Putting two and two together I quickly realised that 
SIMM sockets retail for about $6 so wouldn't it be 
neat to re-use the old SIMMS. I have the Mac family 
hardware guide so I know the pinouts for all the SIMMs
used in different Macs. What I haven't got is any other
info about the SIMMS other than they are 1Mbyte each
and they came out of a Mac Plus. 

what I would like to know is the standard electrical
characteristics, refresh rates and timing, that sort
of thing.

If anyone has any technical  information on SIMMs in 
general and the SIMMs used in the macintosh in
particular please mail me.

	thanks
		Graham Heyes.
From: mathew@unixg.ubc.ca (Mathew B Englander)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.hardware
Subject: PowerBook Internal Modems
Date: 22 Nov 1992 02:53:53 GMT
Organization: University of British Columbia, Vancouver, B.C., Canada
Distribution: world
NNTP-Posting-Host: unixg.ubc.ca

Can anyone report on the new PSI PowerModem IV (14.4 Kbps data and
fax)?

In general which is better, Global Village's PowerPort line or
PSI's PowerModem line?

I have a PB140.

Mathew Englander.
From: 128a-3fq@e260-4c.berkeley.edu (Bob C. Lee)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.hardware
Subject: Re: Storage for backups...floptical, tape:  insights
Date: 23 Nov 1992 23:30:32 GMT
Organization: University of California, Berkeley
NNTP-Posting-Host: e260-4c.berkeley.edu

In article <1992Nov19.210238.19839@rtsg.mot.com> wolfmc@rtsg.mot.com (Michael Wolf) writes:
>I would like a low cost somewhat fast backup method.
>
>How are the 21M Flopticals?  This months MacWorld goes over tape drives, but
>not floptical storage, any one have any experience they'd like to share?
>
>Thanks
>
>MJW


	Hmm...  IMHO, $30/21mb doesn't sound economical to me.  If you want
	to just back up data, go for a tape drive.  TEAC drives are not bad.
	DAT drives are ridiculously expensive.

	Come to think of it.  You wanted a "fast" backup method. So, get a
	Syquest or Bernoulli drive.


	G'day,

	...B.o.b...
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.hardware
From: nodine@lcs.mit.edu (Mark H. Nodine)
Subject: Re: PowerBooks: How Tough Are They?
Organization: MIT Laboratory for Computer Science
Date: Tue, 17 Nov 1992 16:14:45 GMT

Last April, I had to pick up and move in a hurry.  
Unfortunately, I forgot to make sure that my briefcase
was locked, which it wasn't.  My PowerBook 140 fell
out of the briefcase, breaking the screen.  They
wanted $800 to fix it -- I'm still working with a
broken screen.

Don't feel compelled to repeat this experiment to
see if it works for you...

	--Mark
From: hades@coos.dartmouth.edu (Hades)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.hardware
Subject: Re: Farewell to the Mac? (not flame)
Date: 18 Nov 92 21:49:39 GMT
Reply-To: hades@Dartmouth.Edu
Organization: Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH
Disclaimer: Personally, I really don't care who you think I speak for.
Moderator: Rec.Arts.Comics.Info

terjer@ifi.unit.no (Terje Rydland) writes:

>model03@kuhub.cc.ukans.edu (John Deke) writes:
>> Do you think the Mac will be phased out?

>The Mac is mainly software. Apple has a very good System w/the best GUI
>in the market. This will not be phased out. We will see improvements
>though (QuickDraw GX, OCE, Casper, multitasking etc).

    Well, the Mac is a whole lot more than "mainly software", but that
software is a significant portion of the Mac. It is also very closely
integrated with the M680x0 family of CISC chips, which makes it
difficult to "port" to other platforms. Although portions of it have
been, like QuickTime for Windows.

>This will run on faster machines (RISC instead of CISC).  At some point
>the CISC (680x0) based machines will not be able to run the latest
>improvements (like Casper f.inst.).

    This just ins't true. In fact, all of the improvements you mention
above are slated to be run on the current line '040 macs, and also on
the new line of '060 macs that will be introduced in the next couple of
years. And the idea that an '040 or '060 can't run Casper is ludicrous.
Casper is being developed for the Mac, not the PowerPC. They are
differnet things.

>This doesn't mean that the old Macs will be unusable.  System 7.1 is
>constructed so that to add functionality you just drop a new extension
>on the System folder (like QuickDraw GX etc)

    What about System 8 and the new MicroKernal that is being developed?
If Macs are going to be phased out, then why would Apple spend so much
time and money on developing new system software for them. The system
software for the PowerPC is being developed by Taligent.

>> If so, how? Like the Apple II?

>Don't know what they did to the Apple II.  I think that the new machines
>will be just faster Macs, but maybe with another name (some people - or
>firms - will not buy Macs because they have been told again and again
>that the Mac is a toy).  Maybe they will keep the CISC Macs for home-use
>(low-cost) and primarily market the new machines for universities and
>firms that needs the power of the RISC chips.

    PowerPC machines will not be Macs, they will be PowerPCs. This has
been stated more than once. The current target for the RISC based
machines is the workstation market currently dominated by Sun, but there
will continue to be a need for business level PCs for quite some time,
and as long as that need exists, I expect there will be Macs to be
purchaced.

--
-Brian V. Hughes
	"You're built too low! The fast ones go right over your head."
					   --Foghorn Leghorn
From: putzolu@toadflax.cs.ucdavis.edu (David Putzolu)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.hardware
Subject: Re: Farewell to the Mac? (not flame)
Date: 22 Nov 92 02:50:59 GMT
Organization: Department of Computer Science, University of California, Davis

In article <trimble.722112979@ph-meter.beckman.uiuc.edu> trimble@ph-meter.beckman.uiuc.edu (Chris Trimble) writes:
>model03@kuhub.cc.ukans.edu (John Deke) writes:
>  Furthermore, Apple does to the Mac owners what they've done to
>  Apple // owners about 5 times as often. Every 6 months Apple outdates
>  the models of 6 months ago. Just look at the line right now! Why should
>  anyone buy a Quadra 700 with the 800 coming out in January? Why should
>  anyone buy a IIvx with the Centris (whatever) coming out in January?
>  This kind of anticipation game is what has kept me from buying a Mac for
>  so long.

Would you prefer that Apple only came out with new computers once every
three years? The only result of this would be Apple closing its doors
and declaring bankruptcy. Apple is simply implementing new
technologies and responding to the market quickly. Notice that Apple,
for the first time in history, is selling more Mac's the IBM is
selling PCs. This is a sign. A good one.

>>	Is this good or not?
>
>  No. It isn't. I think Apple should try to build a line that can stand
>  the test of time as well as your //e (and mine :) did. The //e was 
>  completely useable up until about 2 or 3 years ago, which is still 8 or
>  maybe 9 years after it came on the market! 
>
>  Apple : build computers that are AHEAD of their time, like the ol' days.

Apple still does, and did. NuBus is the standard expansion slot
on the Mac, and has been since what, 1988? EISA still isn't the
standard in the PeeCee world. Apple has had SCSI since the Mac Plus,
from what, 1986? What about 24 bit video? Stereo sound? 8 bit sound
input? Adb bus? True VRAM driven video? NuBus '90? Multiple I/O
busses? 

The people who are stuck in the "must-have-the-newest-machine"
attitude need to wake up and smell the coffee. With the rapid
advances being made in computer technology there is no way that
a company that wants to stay successful can have a new product
introduction cycle of anything slower than at least one a year,
particularly at the high end.

>Chris Trimble 	  | "Spalding, this calls for the Billy Bahroul"  - Ted Knight
>chris1@uiuc.edu   | "Ar-oo-gull-ah, it's a vege-et-a-ble"        - Steve Martin

| David M. A. Putzolu               | putzolu@cs.ucdavis.edu               |
| Senior, CS & Psych, U.C. Davis    | op disclaimer(opinion : ptr mine)    |
| "Put your hand on the TV screen and repeat after me: I do hereby promise |
| only to watch the Ren & Stimpy show,  to make underleg noises during the |
| good scenes,  to wear unwashed lederhosen  every single day  of the rest |
| of my life! That's it! You are in our secret club!"                      |