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Cena Martin · 02:08 AM

I had made my decision. yes, power mac G4, the HUMMER!!
loved that 22" screen, slobered over it, but that is out of my reach. it cost more that the power mac G4.
I live in rural usa (thank you god), but i have been waiting for isdn for over two years now, no DSL (but have put in a request for a tect to look at the possiblity of running it to me, and will be advised on their evauluation the end of the week.
soo....i checked with earthlink about the satellite.....does not
connect for macs. I hate to pay this much money for a vehicle that you can drive on a state hwy, but can't get it on the intersate.
total confussed and will probably look at a dell...anyone else in this delimia. it would be different if you didn't know you were crawling around the world in a phone dial-up modem....tears!

raskol · Oct 15, 2002, 01:29 AM

You need to repost this with an appropriate subject. Nobody who knows anything about your problem will even see this post. Use a title like "Help no broadband!" or something like that. Maybe someone with same problem will see the post. Personally if you can't get something to work for you I would be amazed. You don't need support you just need an ethernet connection.

Scotttheking · Oct 15, 2002, 02:07 AM

I'm editing your subject so that it has something to do with the post, then transferring it to networking.

I don't see why it would be OS dependent though, I'd recommend calling earthlink again and asking in more detail. They are good with supporting macs.

--Scott

Cena Martin · Oct 15, 2002, 09:19 AM

Originally posted by Scotttheking:
I'm editing your subject so that it has something to do with the post, then transferring it to networking.

I don't see why it would be OS dependent though, I'd recommend calling earthlink again and asking in more detail. They are good with supporting macs.

--Scott

Cena Martin · Oct 15, 2002, 09:37 AM

Originally posted by Cena Martin:

i am inexperienced with posting and this is my first time to participate in a posting board.
i have spent most of the entire last two days with Earthlink and Apple.
the broadband satellite is not compatiable with macintosh only windows. they offer no predicted information at all. It does not make sense to my brain to "rig" this expensive purchase to "MAKE" it work. My motto is if you HAVE to make something WORK it is rarely worth it and means alot of TROUBLE in the future!
i am going to investigate Dell offers today. Sad Mac user
seeking and willing to listen to any advise for Smalltown USA.

cena

ghporter · Oct 15, 2002, 09:50 AM

Earthlink's web page points out that their service only supports PCs. This is probably due to their use of a USB connected gateway box, rather than an ethernet box. For some reason most network-oriented USB products seem to be aimed at PCs, not Macs, so the drivers needed for a Mac OS to use the hardware just aren't there.

CatOne · Oct 15, 2002, 03:23 PM

Originally posted by GHPorter:
Earthlink's web page points out that their service only supports PCs. This is probably due to their use of a USB connected gateway box, rather than an ethernet box. For some reason most network-oriented USB products seem to be aimed at PCs, not Macs, so the drivers needed for a Mac OS to use the hardware just aren't there.

Hmmm... my Earthlink DSL uses a standard DSL modem... no USB at all. I saw a friend got one of those and I was pretty confused by it. I'm sure you could ask for the Ethernet version -- then it shouldn't matter whether or not they support the Mac as Earthlink uses PPPoE which is supported on the Mac and they're none the wiser.

Of course this is for DSL -- though I'd assume Satellite would be similar.

aaanorton · Oct 15, 2002, 03:49 PM

Originally posted by CatOne:

Of course this is for DSL -- though I'd assume Satellite would be similar.

It's not... There was a lot of news about this on Mac sites when Earthlink announced their satelite service. Apple's official ISP does not support Macs on their satelite service. Funny, huh?
As I remember, it was was driver related. It seems to me that EL is contracting the satelite stuff from somebody and they're like "Mac who now?". It's probably gonna be like this a while...

Cena Martin · Oct 15, 2002, 06:34 PM

i agree, especially since they offer no expected date it will be available. I love using earthlink. the reason i chose EL was when i purchased my first ibook, earthlink was endorsed and recommended by apple. I have had excellent service from both.
it appears to me that this seems to be a financial issue. one of the parties is not in agreement with the other. I want speed....faster downloads on the net. this dial up is like watching paint dry.!

so..... any advise about products from dell? customer support is extremely important to me for obvious reasons. thanks for giving me your opinions.and if anyone else sees a resolution that i do not, please post back. thanks all,
i must CREEP and CRAWL to my next destination.
cena

msuper69 · Oct 15, 2002, 06:42 PM

You could get an older PC on the cheap, hook the satellite connection to it and then share the connection with the Mac.

It's not an ideal solution but it would work.

raskol · Oct 15, 2002, 06:58 PM

As far a customer support from Dell. Good luck.

Be prepared to have to call multiple times to find someone who knows what they are talking about. If you need service or parts be prepared to know exactly what you need and spend hours finding someone who will let you have it. Living where you do I doubt you will be able to get decent on-site service either. They now seem to use proprietary motherboards. i.e. you can't upgrade motherboard down the road because it doesn't use industry standard parts. I would never recommend a PC as a home computer. I would rather do what msuper69 suggested. That way you have two computers and get to use a Mac!

fulmer · Oct 15, 2002, 08:10 PM

Originally posted by aaanorton:

Apple's official ISP does not support Macs on their satelite service. Funny, huh?
As I remember, it was was driver related. It seems to me that EL is contracting the satelite stuff from somebody and they're like "Mac who now?". It's probably gonna be like this a while...

yeah, the sat service is provided by DIRECWAY (directv) and absolutely does not work with Macs.

This sucks a lot. However, it's possible to share the connection from a PC running something like windows 2000 or xp.

Scotttheking · Oct 15, 2002, 11:04 PM

STAY AWAY FROM DELL

If you really have to have satellite above everything else, stay far far away from dell desktops.
Stay away from anything with Pentium4 on it.

Or, you could get the mac, keep using the modem, and wait for high speed.
It took me 3 years to get DSL in my neighborhood from when it was announced in my area.

BTW, sorry that the thread title didn't change.
I changed it, not sure why it didn't stay.

fulmer · Oct 15, 2002, 11:45 PM

Originally posted by Scotttheking:
STAY AWAY FROM DELL

Or, you could get the mac, keep using the modem, and wait for high speed.
It took me 3 years to get DSL in my neighborhood from when it was announced in my area.

I'll be waiting 10 years to get cable or dsl out here in my area.

crap, it's more like

ghporter · Oct 16, 2002, 01:50 PM

Originally posted by Scotttheking:
STAY AWAY FROM DELL

If you really have to have satellite above everything else, stay far far away from dell desktops.
Stay away from anything with Pentium4 on it.

I'm curious why you specify both Dell and Pentium4 computers. In my dealings with Dell I've been both pleased and impressed with their focus on customer satisfaction. I can't think of anything about the P4 processor that makes it specifically unsuited for any modern app.

Cena Martin · Oct 16, 2002, 02:42 PM

Originally posted by GHPorter:
I'm curious why you specify both Dell and Pentium4 computers. In my dealings with Dell I've been both pleased and impressed with their focus on customer satisfaction. I can't think of anything about the P4 processor that makes it specifically unsuited for any modern app.

thanks glenn, would you mind telling me more about your Dell experience. I am interested in your opinion of Dell and Apple products.

*(i realize the internect connecting issue is a personal issue for me and not Apple's or Dell's).

one great thing i notice with Dell is you have a 30 day time period to return the product if you are not satisfied. i have never used windows. Windows may be very foreign to me.

Apple seems elementry in the fact that you POINT, CLICK, POINT, CLICK and
it can't be any easier or reliable.

BUT....... with apple
when you order and receive the computer, IT IS YOURS, no returns! the risk when i purchased my first ibook was not that bad, but with the PowerMac G-4 it is alot more money.

Scotttheking · Oct 20, 2002, 03:06 PM

Two things.

First, if you are buying a machine and you have not tried it or are not totally confident in what you are buying, it is probably a bad idea to get it.
Also, if the machine does not work, you can have it repaired.

Second, I talked with some guys at Earthlink that I know, and they said stay far far away from the satellite service. And that is from any company, since it is all the same service. They said in about five years it should be decent enough to use, but that it is horrible right now.