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b3b0p · May 25, 2003, 09:46 AM

Hello fellow Mac heads.

I am about a 6 month switcher. Had 15 inch Ti Gigabook, saw the 17 inch Gigabook and of course had to have it. So, now I am in a small dilema. I got a new job, PC is not exactly required but that is what is used. I have also had some problems at home and work with the Mac and thought that if maybe you guys could help me I might just consider keeping my 17 inch Powerbook.

I already tried to sell my 17 inch Powerbook (see marketplace forum), but the "Buy-It-Now" bidder has not contacted me. It has been about 5 days and I have emailed him 4 times. No response yet. So, I am thinking of just keeping it. Reason being is because I got this Dell D600 (P-M 1.6GHz). The plastic and crummy keyboard don't really bother me, but it just reminds me so much why I hate Windows (Partition Magic and Mandrake 9.1 are being installed on it for home use right now). For example, I had made some ISO's and copied over some of my old Music and Movie files. Then yesterday sometime they magically just disappeared. Searched hard drive for all mp3 and mov files. Nope. Gone. Boy was I pissed.

Anyway, here are a couple questions/problems I am having hopefully someone knows the answer to or can point me in the right direction:

First Question relates to home problem. I have a printer setup on our Linux Samba Domain Server, Canon S820. I want to print to it, but how? The canon website only has USB drivers (Why don't they work over network?!). Gone through and searched endless amounts on Google. Nothing.

Second question again for home and is not important but I would like to continue it but not deal killer. Can I still program for my Gameboy somehow? I thought I found a compiler/development kit a while back but can't seem to find it anymore. Any help is greatly appreciated. Again, not too important.

Third, relates to both home and work. At work we have a Windows Domain. Can i log into this with my Mac? If so how? Surely there is a way right? I have a Linux Samba Domain at home, can I log into it? I searched around and it seems I need to install NIS on it for that to work but just double checking before I totally fudge up my server.

Fourth has to do with future and might be controversal but I don't meen it to be. If Apple switches to this IBM chip that is so great, so soon after I bought this Powerbook, you know how ticked off I would be? Really Ticked Off. How soon would I have to upgrade to this before apple completely abandons me? I really planned on keeping it for about 3 years (applecare) then just donating it to my Mom as usual.

Fifth and final question. How do I lock my computer? I don't want nosy employees peeking at my work/email/porn (just kidding) while I go to the bathroom or lunch. Basically I want the Windows equivalent of "Ctrl + Alt + Delete" followed by "Enter". If not, is this a feature known to be coming (Panther perhaps)?

BTW, the 17 inch Powerbook is on my desk and since I put it up for sale I have been kinda afraid to touch it. Don't want to have anything happen to it while I sell it. Everytime I go by it or open it up I am like, "Wow! This is so awesome."

It truly is the best laptop out there. I really would like to keep it. If you can help me with the above problems or point me in the right direction, I may just keep it. Sorry it is not definitive, but the non-paying buyer never contacted me after I emailed him 4 times so I am looking at this as a sign. Pocketing $1000+ after getting a fully loaded Dell is nice too though. But I will be losing about $500+ on my Powerbook ($3299 + tax + Brenthaven bag + gas to Plano, Texas). I am afraid to do the exact calculations as I know it will be alot.

Thanks,
Chris

chabig · May 25, 2003, 09:57 AM

Chris,

I can't answer all of your questions, but I can take a stab at two of them:

Question1, network printing. I'm not absolutely sure if this will work, but you might try the free Gimp-Print. I think it will do what you want.

Question 5, screen locking. In the Screen Effects preference pane, you can set your screen saver to immediately activate when you move the cursor to a corner of the screen. You can also make the screen saver ask for your password to get back to your normal screen. I have set mine up so that moving the cursor to the lower left corner turns on my screen saver lock. When I come back to the machine, I type in my password and everything is as I left it.

Chris

b3b0p · May 25, 2003, 10:01 AM

Thanks. I will download the Gimp stuff now.

Is there anyway I can make the screensaver/password thingy come on with some sort of keystroke combo? I can picture myself accidently hitting one of those corners every so often and have it pop up on my while typeing.

Thanks,
Chris

naphtali · May 25, 2003, 10:07 AM

Originally posted by b3b0p:
Thanks. I will download the Gimp stuff now.

Is there anyway I can make the screensaver/password thingy come on with some sort of keystroke combo? I can picture myself accidently hitting one of those corners every so often and have it pop up on my while typeing.

Thanks,
Chris

Applications -> Utilities -> Keychain Access:
View -> Show Status in Menu Bar

This gives you a nice lock icon with the 'Lock Screen' option that lets you activate your screensaver with a mouse click.

b3b0p · May 25, 2003, 10:12 AM

naphtali,

That is exactly what I was looking for! Thanks. Not a key combo but close enough. Maybe better.

I now remember using gimp-print on my Linux Server. I know it prints, I just need to talk to it over a network now.

Thanks,
Chris

naphtali · May 25, 2003, 10:15 AM

Frankly, I'd keep the 17" PowerBook if I were you, cos I know just how icky and dissatisfying Windows and Linux respectively are (and since I so want but can't afford one

<- so I wouldn't mind if you mailed to me for free

)

Anyway, even if Apple adopts the IBM chip at WWDC (which appears to be the latest probable date for a debut machine), the transition to it for the PowerBook will take some time, perhaps a year or so.

[edit: look at this thread http://forums.macnn.com/showthread.p...hreadid=161943 quoting http://www.macosrumors.com/ ]... says that the PPC970 will go into the PowerBook this January... I hope so too, but who ever knows...

Also, there really is no end to waiting for the "next big thing" in the tech world; there perpetually <i>is</i> something exciting and (hopefully) revolutionary round the corner, and I honestly wouldn't have it any other way. So it's rather senseless IMHO to be waiting or even wishing for a slight standstill.

As for your Windows and Linux Samba domain, I'm quite sure you will be able to connect to the shared resources via Command+K in Finder, but am not quite sure about the proceedings or the gotchas since I have the fortune of not having to meddle with such things, so I'll leave it to someone else to answer.

Hope this helps! Stay Mac, unless you don't have enough $ (but you do, so don't switch again)!

chabig · May 25, 2003, 10:49 AM

I can picture myself accidently hitting one of those corners every so often and have it pop up on my while typeing.

That's why I use the lower left corner. It's really hard to hit that corner without trying.

Chris

makkystyle · May 25, 2003, 12:45 PM

Just press:

apple+shift+q (or click on apple in upper left corner and go to "log out")

This logs you out of the user you're in and takes you to the log in screen. This even works if you only have one user on the computer. Then you just use your regular password.

Even if you're logging out and switching to another user, the longest it has ever taken me to do the whole process is 10 seconds. Now it won't leave programs running when you do this, but that feature is rumored to be included in Panther when it is released.

jasong · May 25, 2003, 12:59 PM

Answer to the Windows Domain question. Go to Applications/Utilities and open the Directory Access app. Authenticate and the click on SMB. Put in the name of your Domain and WINS Server (if applicable) there. You are all set for domain browsing.

The PPC 970. First off, while it is very likely Apple will move to this chip, it is not an announced deal, so really who knows what is next? Second, My Pismo from 2000 still runs OS X mostly fine (not as nice as my new TiBook, but that is the way of the computer industry). Apple will continue to support the G4 chip for a couple of years still. Is your new Dell a Centrino (if you have it in your hands I am pretty sure it is not)? If not, then Intel just abandoned your computer. You pissed at them? Computers get upgraded, some computer has to be the last of its kind.

I don't know what the differences are, but I found a link for Gameboy Advance development http://www.versiontracker.com/dyn/moreinfo/macosx/14985
If that doesn't work (I don't know if Gameboy and Gameboy Advance are compatible or not), try finding a UNIX development kit and installing it on the Mac. It sounds like you are comfortable in Linux so that should be easy for you.

Anyway, it sounds like all of your issues are solvable if you want them to be. Hope you stick around, if not, maybe you'll catch up with us again in the future.

-- Jason

b3b0p · May 25, 2003, 01:52 PM

Thanks everyone.

That Gameboy development kit is exactly what I was looking for! And it comes with a project builder template! Woohoo! I couldn't be happier right now.

I know about "Apple + K" but was just wondering about actually logging into the domain like the windows machines do. You know you select local or the domain to log into when the computer asks you to login. Anyway, I guess as long as I can access all the shares it is no biggie there.

Still having some troubles getting printing to work. I have tried IP printing and Samba printing. Not exactly sure what the problem is. Will keep trying.

I know I could log out but was looking for something equivalent to lock. Did not want to have to close all apps when just going to the bathroom.

The Dell is from work and it is a Pentium-M (you could call it centrino if it did not have a/b/g wireless card in it). I don't know if it is me, windows, or just dell's windows install, but my powerbook feels more multitasking and quicker (except for window resizing of course). Just copying files or having something hit the hard drive in the background causes Win2k ro come to a crawl. Another computer in the house is a 866 PIII running Win2k and feels faster then that Dell.

Looks like I might actually be keeping my bigbook afterall. Maybe that guy not paying me after using "Buy-It-Now" was a sign not to sell it afterall.

I was able to convince the boss to buy an extra copy of BBEdit on Friday before we left for the weekend. Woohoo! It was not for me though. There is a graphics/web developer who could use it too that uses a TiBook. He was using Text Edit or something. I felt bad and got the boss to buy an extra copy. You know just in case

Will keep playing with printing for now. Thanks for all the help everyone.

Chris

- - e r i k - - · May 25, 2003, 02:50 PM

Yeah. I'm sure you'll find that sticking with the PowerBook will be for the best in the end. It's an amazing piece of technology.

Lateralus · May 25, 2003, 03:28 PM

Glad to hear you're staying in the Mac world.

Good to have you.

b3b0p · May 25, 2003, 04:15 PM

So here is the status (thought I would update everyone):

Printing: Still working on making it work (Canon S820). However, the printer at work works like a charm (HP2200DN) via network.

Gameboy Homebrew Development: Seems to work and compile even better then Visual Studio and windows. Amazing!

Domain Login: I think I need to setup my Linux server as NIS(?). Any other System Admins confirm this? Is this difficult? Maybe next weekend (or year).

Lock Workstation: Works like a charm. My Zelda Screensaver comes on when I click the lock. Fellow employees at work think I am such a geek. Too Cool!

Typing this on my 17 inch. Damn! The Dell keyboard and mouse suck. I mean really suck.

Back to working on printing. I must get this working.

Chris

coolmacdude · May 25, 2003, 04:53 PM

Could you set up your Linux printer with CUPS instead of Samba? Since OS X uses CUPS as its default print engine, you might have better luck with that.

geekwagon · May 25, 2003, 05:01 PM

As for the NIS stuff, Jaguar originally removed all the NIS bindings. However, in 10.2.4 I think it was, they added them back in, but now you could configure them from the Directory Access app rather than mucking about with the config files manually.

What is your goal for NIS? The problem you will run into, especially with a laptop, is that if you login as a network user, that user will not be available when you are not plugged into that network. So, you end up with multiple logins that don't share your preferences.

Windows NT/2000/XP gets around this problem by "caching" your domain authentication when you are not plugged in to the network. I have never seen a *nix like system, including OS X, that can do that, unfortunately. I am REALLY hoping that this feature will make it into 10.3 because that feature would be an absolute requirement for a lot of companies to use Powerbooks.

Personally, I kind of work around the problem in the following ways:

1. At home, I have a linux machine that runs a NIS domain that all my wired machines that don't leave the house log into. I setup users in the NIS domain with a certain username and UID. Then, on my Powerbook, I setup a user with the same name, and then go into Netinfo Manager and changed its UID to match the NIS user (you also have to then chown all the files in your PB's homedir back to yourself.)

Since I map all my drives at home via NFS, this works fine. NFS just compares the local UID with the passwd file/nis database on the server to see which user you are.

2. At work I have to play on a mixed Windows/Unix network. The Unix part is no problem, I just made my accounts at home have the same name and UID as the account that I use at work.

The windows part is harder though. Right now, I am just entering passwords manually as I connect to shares. However, there are various programs out there that are supposed to help with this (Thursby Dave, ADmit Mac, etc.) but I haven't tried any yet.

Hope this helps a bit. Let me know if you do decide to set up a NIS server, it is pretty easy. If you only need to connect to the one server though it would be easier just to put the account in the local passwd file.

geekwagon · May 25, 2003, 05:04 PM

Originally posted by coolmacdude:
Could you set up your Linux printer with CUPS instead of Samba? Since OS X uses CUPS as its default print engine, you might have better luck with that.

This would be a much better option. I think I read on MacWindows.com that SMB printing has been broken for the last few point releases. Even if it can be made to work, I think even lpd would be beter.

b3b0p · May 25, 2003, 05:08 PM

You know, I think it is using cups but being shared via Samba. Really not sure. I better check. I am no Linux Guru but I get myself around it.

Thanks,
Chris

coolmacdude · May 25, 2003, 06:56 PM

Originally posted by b3b0p:
You know, I think it is using cups but being shared via Samba.

If its using CUPS try adding it through the CUPS interface, go to http://localhost:631/printers

BkueKanoodle · May 25, 2003, 08:17 PM

This might b e the answer to your printing and Domain issues. I'm going to try it in the office tomorrow.

http://www.admitmac.com/product-description/

Hope this helps

b3b0p · May 25, 2003, 10:16 PM

Originally posted by coolmacdude:
If its using CUPS try adding it through the CUPS interface, go to http://localhost:631/printers

Wow! I never knew about this. This thing is great. Thanks!

Chris

b3b0p · May 26, 2003, 09:59 AM

There was no goal with NIS or the domain. I was just playing around with it. After setting up a windows domain with samba at home, it makes sharing files/printers so much easier. Forgot about the caching part. So use to windows it never occured to me.

Well, I finally got printing to work last night. You guys are going to laugh, but the problem was so easy. Someone in our household thought it would be funny to unplug the printer from the server. So I plugged it in and it worked. The Gimp-Print drivers for my printer aren't that great. They print kinda grainy. Atleast it prints though. I am sure it will get better over time.

Think I have just about everything working. Thanks for all the helpful input and links.

Chris

MacNStein · May 26, 2003, 10:50 AM

Originally posted by b3b0p:
Well, I finally got printing to work last night. You guys are going to laugh, but the problem was so easy. Someone in our household thought it would be funny to unplug the printer from the server. So I plugged it in and it worked. The Gimp-Print drivers for my printer aren't that great. They print kinda grainy. Atleast it prints though. I am sure it will get better over time.

Think I have just about everything working. Thanks for all the helpful input and links.

Chris

I had the same issue with my Stylus 640 (it's a parallel & serial only printer so I use a Belkin Parallel to USB cable). It wasn't horrible, but it was most obvious in fleshtones. However, the graininess disappeared with the newest drivers. Now if only the damned thing weren't so slow... A buddy gave me a couple cases of 640 cartridges (both color and black) so I guess I'm gonna just run it until it dies or the "well" runs dry.

cambro · May 26, 2003, 11:48 AM

Originally posted by b3b0p:
Someone in our household thought it would be funny to unplug the printer from the server. So I plugged it in and it worked.

D'OH!!!!

Dude, I think you are making the right choice staying on board! Also, even if Apple goes 970 soon (damn I hope they do!!!), they won't be leaving the G4 behind anytime soon. Sure, the 970 will be a big step forward, but that won't mean a big step backward for the G4 (on a absolute scale anyway...).

ae86_16v · May 26, 2003, 12:20 PM

Chris,

Congratulations on keeping it. You made a excellent choice.

. Have fun w/ your new Mac!!!

parsec_kadets · May 26, 2003, 01:16 PM

Originally posted by b3b0p:
Well, I finally got printing to work last night. You guys are going to laugh, but the problem was so easy. Someone in our household thought it would be funny to unplug the printer from the server. So I plugged it in and it worked. The Gimp-Print drivers for my printer aren't that great. They print kinda grainy. Atleast it prints though. I am sure it will get better over time.

Think I have just about everything working. Thanks for all the helpful input and links.

Chris

If your print quality is really that poor you can print the round about way. That is, print a PDF and transfer that over to a computer with good drivers. Then just print the PDF. Not quite as convienient as printing straight from your PB, but it works.

hldan · May 26, 2003, 02:23 PM

Originally posted by b3b0p:
Hello fellow Mac heads.

I am about a 6 month switcher. Had 15 inch Ti Gigabook, saw the 17 inch Gigabook and of course had to have it. So, now I am in a small dilema. I got a new job, PC is not exactly required but that is what is used. I have also had some problems at home and work with the Mac and thought that if maybe you guys could help me I might just consider keeping my 17 inch Powerbook.

I already tried to sell my 17 inch Powerbook (see marketplace forum), but the "Buy-It-Now" bidder has not contacted me. It has been about 5 days and I have emailed him 4 times. No response yet. So, I am thinking of just keeping it. Reason being is because I got this Dell D600 (P-M 1.6GHz). The plastic and crummy keyboard don't really bother me, but it just reminds me so much why I hate Windows (Partition Magic and Mandrake 9.1 are being installed on it for home use right now). For example, I had made some ISO's and copied over some of my old Music and Movie files. Then yesterday sometime they magically just disappeared. Searched hard drive for all mp3 and mov files. Nope. Gone. Boy was I pissed.

Anyway, here are a couple questions/problems I am having hopefully someone knows the answer to or can point me in the right direction:

First Question relates to home problem. I have a printer setup on our Linux Samba Domain Server, Canon S820. I want to print to it, but how? The canon website only has USB drivers (Why don't they work over network?!). Gone through and searched endless amounts on Google. Nothing.

Second question again for home and is not important but I would like to continue it but not deal killer. Can I still program for my Gameboy somehow? I thought I found a compiler/development kit a while back but can't seem to find it anymore. Any help is greatly appreciated. Again, not too important.

Third, relates to both home and work. At work we have a Windows Domain. Can i log into this with my Mac? If so how? Surely there is a way right? I have a Linux Samba Domain at home, can I log into it? I searched around and it seems I need to install NIS on it for that to work but just double checking before I totally fudge up my server.

Fourth has to do with future and might be controversal but I don't meen it to be. If Apple switches to this IBM chip that is so great, so soon after I bought this Powerbook, you know how ticked off I would be? Really Ticked Off. How soon would I have to upgrade to this before apple completely abandons me? I really planned on keeping it for about 3 years (applecare) then just donating it to my Mom as usual.

Fifth and final question. How do I lock my computer? I don't want nosy employees peeking at my work/email/porn (just kidding) while I go to the bathroom or lunch. Basically I want the Windows equivalent of "Ctrl + Alt + Delete" followed by "Enter". If not, is this a feature known to be coming (Panther perhaps)?

BTW, the 17 inch Powerbook is on my desk and since I put it up for sale I have been kinda afraid to touch it. Don't want to have anything happen to it while I sell it. Everytime I go by it or open it up I am like, "Wow! This is so awesome."

It truly is the best laptop out there. I really would like to keep it. If you can help me with the above problems or point me in the right direction, I may just keep it. Sorry it is not definitive, but the non-paying buyer never contacted me after I emailed him 4 times so I am looking at this as a sign. Pocketing $1000+ after getting a fully loaded Dell is nice too though. But I will be losing about $500+ on my Powerbook ($3299 + tax + Brenthaven bag + gas to Plano, Texas). I am afraid to do the exact calculations as I know it will be alot.

Thanks,
Chris

I know it's painfully late since everyone here has given some awesome help for you but it would really be a good idea to install Virtual PC 6 with Windows 2000 Professional on your 17" Powerbook and make sure that you have a GiG of Ram installed. That's the configuration that I have on my 17" PB and Windows 2000 runs very smoothly. To further optimize performance run the Windows update and install the recomended Service Packs and Windows 2000 will run even faster.

This is the first Mac that I have had that has the power to run VPC with the feel of a real PC. It's impoertant to know that VPC is optimized for Windows 2000 Professional. No other version of Windows will run as fast without being somewhat sluggish.
This way you can have the best of both worlds without losing your 17" beauty.

DekuDekuplex · 04:11 PM

I also have a 17-inch PowerBook, and would like to use that Zelda screensaver. Where can I obtain it?

Also, I just discovered that the Gameboy Advance software development kit (see http://www.versiontracker.com/dyn/moreinfo/macosx/14985 ) is C-based. Does anybody know of a similar Java- or functional programming language (e.g., Haskell or Scheme)-based kit?

DekuDekuplex

Originally posted by b3b0p:
So here is the status (thought I would update everyone):

Printing: Still working on making it work (Canon S820). However, the printer at work works like a charm (HP2200DN) via network.

Gameboy Homebrew Development: Seems to work and compile even better then Visual Studio and windows. Amazing!

Domain Login: I think I need to setup my Linux server as NIS(?). Any other System Admins confirm this? Is this difficult? Maybe next weekend (or year).

Lock Workstation: Works like a charm. My Zelda Screensaver comes on when I click the lock. Fellow employees at work think I am such a geek. Too Cool!

Typing this on my 17 inch. Damn! The Dell keyboard and mouse suck. I mean really suck.

Back to working on printing. I must get this working.

Chris

DekuDekuplex · May 27, 2003, 03:42 PM

How about the performance of Virtual PC 6 with Windows XP Professional (which I may eventually purchase for a self-study Scheme programming project) on a 17-inch PowerBook, vs. with Windows 2000 Professional?

How much would 512 MB RAM vs. 1 GB RAM affect performance?

DekuDekuplex

Originally posted by hldan:
I know it's painfully late since everyone here has given some awesome help for you but it would really be a good idea to install Virtual PC 6 with Windows 2000 Professional on your 17" Powerbook and make sure that you have a GiG of Ram installed. That's the configuration that I have on my 17" PB and Windows 2000 runs very smoothly. To further optimize performance run the Windows update and install the recomended Service Packs and Windows 2000 will run even faster.

This is the first Mac that I have had that has the power to run VPC with the feel of a real PC. It's impoertant to know that VPC is optimized for Windows 2000 Professional. No other version of Windows will run as fast without being somewhat sluggish.
This way you can have the best of both worlds without losing your 17" beauty.

coolmacdude · May 28, 2003, 04:10 PM

Originally posted by DekuDekuplex:
which I may eventually purchase for a self-study Scheme programming project

Why would you need Windows to run Scheme when there is a perfectly good Mac OS X version?

DekuDekuplex · May 28, 2003, 05:39 PM

Originally posted by coolmacdude:
Why would you need Windows to run Scheme when there is a perfectly good Mac OS X version?

Good question!

The particular version of Scheme that I need to run is MIT Scheme, preferably the current release, which is 7.7.1 (see http://www.swiss.ai.mit.edu/projects/scheme/mit/ ). Currently, this version seems to be available for BSD UNIX (of which Darwin, the version included in MacOS X 10.2 Jaguar, is a variety) only with a Pentium processor.

I need MIT Scheme in order to ensure 100% compatibility with the following textbook (aka the "Wizard Book"), used in a core introductory computer science course at MIT, which I am using for self-study (see http://search.barnesandnoble.com/boo...1530&itm=1 for a brief description):

Abelson, Harold; Sussman, Julie; Sussman, Gerald Jay. _Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs_. Second Edition. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press (August 1996). ISBN 0262011530.

This textbook assumes use of the MIT Scheme interpreter. Use of any other interpreter can lead to results inconsistent with those in the textbook on some of the examples/exercises.

Specifically, the problem is that, according to the relevant UNIX installation Web page ( http://www.swiss.ai.mit.edu/projects...er_2.html#SEC2 ), installation is performed as follows:

--
To install the software in `/usr/local', do the following

cd /usr/local
rm -f bin/scheme bin/bchscheme
rm -rf lib/mit-scheme
gzip -cd scheme-7.7.1-ix86-gnu-linux.tar.gz | tar xvf -
--

See the "ix86" in the above filename? This signifies that the file is a Pentium version.

I can't find a non-Pentium version of this file.

Ergo, it seems that I'm stuck with Windoze.

Please advise ASAP if there is a "perfectly good Mac OS X version" of MIT Scheme 7.7.1.

DekuDekuplex

ibookuser2 · May 28, 2003, 11:09 PM

Do they have the source code downloadable? If they have the source, you should be able to compile for pretty much any processor...

You will need the Developer Tools to do so, though...

b3b0p · May 29, 2003, 09:52 AM

Sorry have not been back in a while. Saw this thread still near the top. Quite surprised. Thanks for all the feedback and support.

I had the Dell D600 all holiday weekend. Here are some brief thoughts on it:

I had that Dell D600 Latitude with the Pentium-M over the weekend. Let just say it is one POS laptop. That sucker would get hotter then hell. It felt slower then molasses, for example when copying files, the whole computer would come to screaching halt. In OS X I could do like 10 different things and nothing would slow down. The mouse sucks big time. I hated trackpads, and in fact bought a $4500 IBM Thinkpad 3 to 4 years ago just for the keyboard and mouse because I hated trackpads. But the Powerbook trackpad works perfect and have no problems using it.

The Dell cost around ~$2600 maybe more (1.6 GHz, 40GB, 512MB RAM, a/b/g wireless, Radeon 9000 32MB, 14.1" screen with 1400x1050 resolution, Win2K Pro, CD-RW/DVD-ROM). I would not pay more then $1500-$1800 for it that is for sure. Oh, and it deleted my 7GB worth of music and movies I transfered over the wireless network (that took a looooooooooong time). Not sure if it was Windows or someother program on the computer, but boy was I ticked. Did a search *.mp3 on the whole drive (took forever) and nothing came back.

The only PC Notebook I would even consider is the Thinkpad A31P or T40 series. But both in the configuration I want are nearly $4000 (slightly less, but more then the Powerbook for sure). I found out all the other thinkpad models (not sure about X series) are out sourced. I know for sure that ACER makes the R series and that is the reason it only has 1 year warranty. Sorry, a bit off topic but kinda an FYI if you did not know or maybe considering a thinkpad. I know I was. And was very interested in the R series until I found that out.

Not to bash the Dell, but it is not worth its price to me. It is quite usable (reminder: buy your own copy of windows to install on it. Dell's restore sucks.) but at the price they got for it I consider it a piece of junk. Now, if it was $1500 or maybe $1800, I maybe more pleased with the finished product. Now it is my understanding the Inspiron Models are even built worse. If that is the case, thank god I did not order that 8500. It was the one I was going to get if I sold my Powerbook (because compared to the Thinkpad, it was much cheaper with loads of features. Obviously for a reason).

Now to answer the questions:

Zelda Screensaver Link: http://zelda.com/gcn/index.jsp

You will have to wait for the bloody flash movie to get to the main menu. Then in lower right there is a downloads link. I think you can figure it out from there.

Gameboy Dev Kit:

I believe somewhere out there (try http://www.devrs.com/gba/ to get started or http://gbadev.org) there is a Java Virtual Machine for the Gameboy. It has been a few months (like 9+) since I was into the homebrew GBA development, but I believe the GBA uses a very popular ARM processor. Which has lots of documentation available for it. Can't remember the exact model, but I think it was made by TI (texas instruments). Again off of memory so I can't confirm. There is literally tons of options for the Gameboy if you really want to get into it. I was just hoping for a kit like I was used to using in Windows. Like The one supplied in a link in a previous post above. Which even comes with project builder template and PKG installer. Very nice.

Oh boy that was long. So sorry.

Thanks,
Chris

DekuDekuplex · May 29, 2003, 08:23 PM

Originally posted by ibookuser2:
Do they have the source code downloadable? If they have the source, you should be able to compile for pretty much any processor...

You will need the Developer Tools to do so, though...

The equivalent task is easier said than done.

The Windows ix86 binary executable of the MIT Scheme interpreter doesn't just install the interpreter, but also installs Windows registry entries and menu shortcuts. I'm not familiar with the Linux/BSD Unix versions, but I assume that these provide equivalent GUI functionality. However, Aqua's GUI API is different from that of Linux/standard BSD UNIX.

In order to provide the same GUI functionality in Aqua as in, say, Windows, it would be necessary to figure out how to invoke the Aqua GUI API.

I would prefer to have this GUI functionality.

It would probably take a nontrivial amount of time to figure out this procedure.

DekuDekuplex

jasong · May 29, 2003, 11:55 PM

Disclaimer: I have no idea what I am talking about.

Aqua shouldn't be a factor here. You would install the Unix version and use the X-11 windowing interface. There are lots of nice programs for using X-11 apps on OS X. Also, I wouldn't say the presense of iX86 in the filename means it is intel only. One of the Unix windowing kits is called XFree86 (as in Intel x86) and it runs on OS X.

Like I said, I don't really know what I am talking about, but it might work.

-- Jason

seanyepez · May 30, 2003, 12:34 AM

Have you sold your 15-inch PowerBook yet? Would you be willing to trade me your 17-inch PowerBook for my 1-gigahertz, 15-inch PowerBook and some cash?

hldan · May 30, 2003, 01:33 AM

Originally posted by DekuDekuplex:
How about the performance of Virtual PC 6 with Windows XP Professional (which I may eventually purchase for a self-study Scheme programming project) on a 17-inch PowerBook, vs. with Windows 2000 Professional?

How much would 512 MB RAM vs. 1 GB RAM affect performance?

DekuDekuplex

Answer to the question about using Win XP with VPC6 on the PB 17? It runs well but a little herky jerky if you don't turn off the eye candy. If the eye candy is off then XP runs better. Speed is not too much of a problem but Win 2000 is still much faster and smoother and the best performance will be achieved by maxing out your ram to 1GIG as you will need to allocate 512 MB of ram for VPC alone to achieve the best performance of Windows.

quadgrande · May 30, 2003, 06:23 AM

Also, I wouldn't say the presense of iX86 in the filename means it is intel only. One of the Unix windowing kits is called XFree86 (as in Intel x86) and it runs on OS X.

Actually, in this case, x86 in the filename means the source code was compiled for the x86, or Intel (AMD) platform.

In addition, XFree86 isn't a windowing kit per se, it is an X11 Server. A windowing kit would be something llike TWM, or Enlightenment. It was originally the OpenSource X11 Server for Linux/x86, hence its name.

The source for MIT scheme version 7.6.1 appears to be available. You could compile it. You'll need the developer tools and Apple's X11 Server.

http://www.swiss.ai.mit.edu/projects...6.1-src.tar.gz

There's also no reason you can't run Virtual PC. I run XP Home, and it is fine for basic tasks. I check Outlook Webmail, and use RDC to connect to a Project server with it.

juanpacolopez · May 30, 2003, 11:31 AM

Originally posted by quadgrande:
There's also no reason you can't run Virtual PC. I run XP Home, and it is fine for basic tasks. I check Outlook Webmail, and use RDC to connect to a Project server with it.

Why use VirtualPC for RDC? RDC for OSX is the only piece of Microsoft Mac software that's actually worth a damn IMO...

Microsoft Remote Desktop for Mac 1.01

I like the OSX version of RDC better than the windows to tell the truth. I use it at work every single day (I'm a systems admin in an all windows environment... but I've managed to use my mac for work almost exclusively so far thanks to this little beauty).

Thanks,

Alex

quadgrande · May 30, 2003, 03:57 PM

Why use VirtualPC for RDC?

I get an error that the version of RDC I'm using is not supported when I try to use the mac version.

The version in XP Home works in Virtual PC. Alas.