From: jbaxter@leland.Stanford.EDU (Joel Kent Baxter)
Subject: MIDI and the IIvx (still steaming)
Organization: DSG, Stanford University, CA 94305, USA
Date: Sat, 9 Jan 93 00:07:10 GMT

Partly to blow off steam, and partly to fish for information:

In response to my question a while back (and, apparently, simultaneously and
spontaneously for other reasons), I've seen several postings about a "system
enabler" for the IIvx, from Apple, that would supposedly correct the MIDI timing
problems reported by Macweek.

Now, I don't know what a system enabler is.  None of the local Authorized Apple
Resellers did either (one guy told me that it was "kind of like a system
extension").  So I called the Apple Customer Assistance Center, and, after two
days, got through.  I was then put on hold for another fifteen minutes.  Then
a "service representative" put me on hold.  Then, Oh Joy, I got to speak with
an actual Apple Authority.  My questions were on the verge of being answered!

Well, no.  After I related my question and its background (Macweek article,
comp.music postings), most of the service rep's time was spent telling me how
ignorant I was and how my questions didn't make sense.  Granted, he may have
been correct, but it sure left a bad taste in my mouth.  I now wish that
I hadn't wasted so much courtesy and self-control on him (note that I am now
nullifying any karmic bonus received by griping about it here).  I managed to
strain out the following bits of info, of which I would appreciate some review
by the net.wise:

	1) A system enabler is part of the system software.  It is associated
	with a particular machine, so I already have all the "enablers" for
	the IIvx from the simple fact that I have system software installed
	on it.

	2) There aren't any separate system enablers.  You get the ones that
	come with the system software, und das ist alles.

	3) There are no official problems with MIDI and the IIvx, although
	Apple may be "looking into it".

	4) I should, in the future, not pay any attention to the rampant Mac
	Misinformation on "bulletin boards" (what's he calling a bulletin
	board?  Macweek?  The internet?  Who ^is^ this guy?).

I feel a little better now.  I would feel a lot better if I knew what was going
on here, of course.  Any of you who posted about the IIvx MIDI system enabler,
please email me.  What is this thing?  Do I already have it?  Can I get it
somewhere?  Especially frustrating is the fact that, if these "enablers" are
part of the system software, and (according to him) all IIvx's run on
System 7.1, then any IIvx should have the enablers that it needs and would
therefore not exhibit MIDI problems.  If the IIvx does exhibit problems, then it
doesn't have this enabler, and therefore that enabler is ^not^ a part of the
system software, and ^not^ something that I should already have.  I hope that
makes some sort of sense to someone; it sure didn't to the service rep (this
was where he threw in the "misinformation" patronization).

Thanks for your patience.  I am now bile-free.  Let me know what's up here,
even if all you have to say is "The Apple Guy was right; you're all set.  Why
did you bother him with your stupid questions?". :)



				JB

P.S.  If anyone from Apple were to respond, it would go a long way toward
repolishing my image of your company... ;)

Newsgroups: comp.music