Hidden features in OS X 10.3 calculator

Mac OS X Panther (10.3.2)

Hidden capabilities in the Panther Calculator

Norman Palardy

* Navigate to where the Calculator is installed (likely the Applications folder.)
* Control click the application and select 'Show Package Contents.'
* Navigate to Contents/Resources in the Calculator Contents. In this folder you will find:
ExpressionSheet.calcview
Graphing-2D.calcview
Hexadecimal.calcview
* Move these to the Contents/Plugins folder

Start the calculator and behold; 2d graphing, an expression worksheet mode, and a hexadecimal calculator with boolean operations.

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Still not as neat as the little known OS 9 graphic calculator, but impressive nonetheless.

Apple's quality control problems: the bright side (iBook fiasco)

The Register:Dead iBook owners take protest to MacWorld show

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One of the best reasons to buy Apple products is that your fellow consumers are savvy, demanding, and vengeful. Apple has the same quality control issues that curse the entire consumer hardware/software industry, but Apple can be held accountable. (BTW, in my personal experience Microsoft's software quality control is now superb, much better than Apple's.)

There are some advantages to buying a brand, especially a brand with a demanding community. I think Porsche may have learned similar lessons in the 1980s. The article has links to the Blackcider site that's managing the potential litigation.

Apple still has many things they can do to turn this from a potential disaster into a postive for the company. They can learn from recalls in the auto industry.

Apple LaserWriter Select 360 Printer Cartridges: DEC DecLaser 3500M (LN14X-AA)

Amazon.com -zShops: DEC DecLaser 3500M (LN14X-AA) (1 Toner Cartridge Per Case) (4,500 Page Yield)

DEC DecLaser 3500M (LN14X-AA) (1 Toner Cartridge Per Case) (4,500 Page Yield)
Price: $76.99 s&h fee $5.50
Description: DEC DecLaser 3500M (LN14X-AA) ($76.99 Each) 1 Compatible Toner Cartridge Per Case (4,500 Page Yield).

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I ordered an Apple LaserWriter Select 360 printer cartridge, part number M1960G/A, from an Amazon.com "z-shop". The vendor I dealt with corresponded under the name "Image Enterprises". The email was all UPPER CASE and rather loosely formatted. I imagine a one person shop.

Whatever lies behind the moniker the service was very good. They were unable to locate an Apple manufactured cartridge; I wasn't surprised as I knew the last supplies were all but gone. They offered me, instead, a DECLaser cartridge.

It turns out that the DECLaser 3500 series cartridge, part number LN14X-AA, appears to be completely identical to my original Apple manufactured cartridge.

[F/U 2/10/04 -- from usenet, which is back and better than ever ...

Xerox Laserprinter 4505 = DEC DecLaser 3500M (LN14X-AA) = Apple LaserWriter Select 360 printer cartridge, part number M1960G/A ?

Hmm. That's an interesting equation for LW 360 owners. Putting that equation into Google gave me this URL:

http://www.inkcarts.com/Merchant3/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=M1960G/A-R&Category_Code=2110&Product_Count=2

And this list of equivalent products

Apple Select 360 - Fuji / Xerox 5/10
OEM Part Number: M1960G/A
Compatible M1960G/A Laser Cartridge Guaranteed to meet or exceed OEM standards Fits the Following Printers:
Apple LaserWriter Select 300
Apple LaserWriter Select 310
Apple LaserWriter Select 360
Apple LaserWriter Select 610
DEC DecLaser 3500m
DEC DecLaser 3500n
DEC LN14
GCC Elite 600
GCC Elite 600et
Star Micronics LS-5
Star Micronics LS-5EX
Star Micronics LS-5TT
Xerox 4505
Xerox 4505ps
Xerox 4510
Xerox 4510ps

Looks like it was a Fuji-Xerox engine initially.

MacFixIt - iBook screen problems: Injured wires, logic board failure

MacFixIt - iBook screen problems: Injured wires, logic board failure

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Superb summary of the iBook design flaws. It looks like Apple outsourced too much of the design. Some argue Apple should lose its Quality certification -- not sure what that means.

iBook design defects: how to avoid them (Macintouch)

MacInTouch Home Page

David Shanahan offered some important tips for avoiding trouble with iBooks.

I recently had the video die on my 800 MHz G3 iBook for the first time when it was almost out of warranty. It was fixed, though apparently because of the high demand for iBook logic boards it took three weeks to get it back. So far it's working fine but based on others' experience this is unlikely to last.

I started reading the Apple support forums on the subject of video failures in iBooks while I was waiting for mine to be repaired. It seems there are two basic flaws in the white (Dual USB) iBooks (both 12' and 14' models) which Apple seem to be studiously ignoring despite complaints about them being widespread for over a year now:

1. The hinge design is faulty. Backlight, video and power cables pass through the hinge from the logic board to the screen and the holes are too small for the cable assemblies resulting in stress and friction on the cables each time the screen is opened or closed. Eventually one or more of the cables either break or the insulation wears through resulting in a short and the backlight/video fails. This is often accompanied by fuzzy lines on the screen or users finding that the screen fails when tilted at certain angles and works at others. If your video works fine when you plug the iBook into an external monitor then this is most likely your problem. There are links in the Apple support forums to a site describing in detail how to disassemble your iBook and replace such broken cables, though you'd want to be pretty confident to try this as it will of couse void any warrenty you have left.

2. The video chip on the motherboard comes loose when its solder gives way leading to video failures, usually with no warning. This may be triggered by flexing of the case putting strain on the chip until it eventually comes loose (some have suggested never picking up your iBook by the left-hand side alone as this is where the video chip is). If after a video failure you plug in an external monitor and it doesn't work this is most likely your problem and you need a new logic board. Some people have tried pressing down hard on the left-hand side of the case just below the option key to the left of the track pad and managed to get video back temporarily (apparently this reseats the video chip). Others have reported some success sticking rubber bands/thin foam insulation on the underside of the shielding over the video chip to protect it from flexing/pressure from the case. Seems like the case really needs to be reinforced to stop it flexing like this and/or the location and soldering of the video chip changed.

These problems appear to be common with every model of white iBook from the original 500 MHz up to at least the 900 MHz G3s. The new G4 iBooks may have the same problem(s) but they're so new it's probably too soon to tell for sure (the hinge design has apparently not changed). [...]

P.S. I'd advise readers to avoid buying 2nd hand white iBooks - many people seem to be selling theirs after the 2nd/3rd/4th logic board replacement and buying something else (not always another Apple product of couse, which has got to hurt Apple if they continue to ignore these problems).

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In short:
1. Open and close an iBook as infrequently as possible, move it with both hands. In short, treat it like it's made of glass.
2. Apple should admit the problem and provide an out-of-warrantee solution.
3. Apple is not completely censoring these discussions on the Apple support forums.

iPod Battery FAQ

iPod Battery FAQ

Welcome to NodeDB.com - The Wireless Node Database Project

Welcome to NodeDB.com - The Wireless Node Database ProjectYet another view of Montreal accesss poitns.