User group Newsletter Editors: Utilize this content in your newsletter -- PLEASE ... reference The User Group Network _ / _ UG Network Channel _ / _ NEWS_/ _ Info Manager The Info Manager is looking for your rumors and tidbits... give him a post! ...or subscribe... see subscription notes below Info Manager - 0003.10 - 500 MHz G4; MacTCP; New Apple Motherboards?; Virtual Playstation for Windows; OfficeMax & Gateway **** 500 MHz G4 Macosrumors.com is reporting that "there is substantial truth to rumors that IBM has been able to produce shippable quantities of PowerPC 7400(G4)s at 550, 600, and 650MHz -- but cannot sell them to Apple because of the terms of the contract which allows IBM to produce G4s with Motorola's Altivec technology." This would mean that it will be harder than ever to convince people that the G4 at 500 MHz is just as fast as the 1 GHz processor that AMD just released. Come on guys, act like the partners you are suppose to be. (Note: Macosrumors.com, is just that rumors. Many have proved founded over the last couple of years, but perhaps just as many have been proven in error. So always take these things with a grain of salt.) **** Apple's web site MacTCP no longer will access Apple's web site. You mush use OpenTransport. While that shouldn't be a burden to most, some people running older Macs with OS 7.1 might find that it is now time to upgrade. Others will need to switch to OT 1.1.1. or higher. **** New Mac logicboards? Mac User in the UK is reporting that "Apple is planning a major upgrade to the UMA (Universal Motherboard Architecture) at the heart of its complete range of Macs, which US sources suggest will produce a significant forward leap in system level performance. According to unconfirmed reports from sources close to Apple US, the forthcoming UMA 2 motherboard will adopt the 4x AGP graphics bus specification which is already appearing on many PCs at the higher end. Currently the PowerMac G4s only support 2x AGP graphics accelerator cards, which has prompted some PC games developers to criticize the Mac for again falling behind PCs in 3D performance." August would seem like the time for a bump in performance since MacWorld Expo is in New York in late July. Especially if you consider that it will take a few weeks for any products announced at Expo to make it to the UK. **** Virtual PlayStation Well, while the rest of the world is watching Sony's new Playstation 2 (being called PS2), Connectix shipped its Windows version of the Virtual Playstation. While Bleem has been available for sometime as a Windows only product, I believe that gamers will find VPS to be an easier to use product. Meanwhile thanks to last months court decision we can all play Playstation games on our Mac and PCs that have enough power. **** OfficeMax/Gateway OfficeMax is shutting down its PC business and turning the departments over to Gateway. For the next five years Gateway employees will be selling computers in 950 OfficeMax stores. The changes should start showing up later this month. Gee, maybe Apple should place its own employees in the CompUSA stores. Bet it would make a difference. And CompUSA probably wouldn't make any less money if Apple paid them rental for the space. Really is an interesting concept. **** Quote of the Week: "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world. Indeed it is the only thing that ever has." -----Margaret Mead **** Web site of the Week: How about a web site for those who want to be handy around the house, but when it comes to doing the work have two left thumbs. At learn2.com you can learn to build, repair, decorate, and make yourself useful around the house. http://www.learn2.com. This site doesn't have classes, but has step by step ways to do most anything. A similar site is <http://www.doityourself.com> this one comes with a bulletin board that is a forum for Do-It-Yourselfers. This one doesn't have computer help. BTW - If anyone know where I can find the web site for Sherman On the Mount, the '80s strip about a positive thinking friar. Please let me know. pau **** Don't forget Any suggestions for topics and reports of rumors are always welcome. Please me know at the address below. Thanks ... the Info Manager invites you to use all or part of his column in your user group newsletter. Please let him know at rumormangr@aol.com and if possible send an electronic copy for the old scrapbook. Subscribe to Rumors@lists.user-groups.net DIGEST VERSION: rumors-digest@lists.user-groups.net (recommended) rumors-on@lists.user-groups.net for more information go to: http://www.user-groups.net/ugcommunity/subscribe.html The Info Manager is a veteran of the UGN (AOL User Groups Forum) and User Group Network. He's been a supporter and volunteer on many, many UGNet and User Group Academy projects. As a long time user group member, he's served as volunteer from Honolulu to Boston and many points in between. Currently working with the Apple Corp of Dallas, the Dallas Mac Pack, Cowtown MUG of Ft. Worth and TUMS (the Tulsa Users of Macintosh Society) doing newsletter articles and the monthly CD-ROM Update. UG Network Channel _ / _ NEWS _ / _ UG Library _ / _ UG Bookshelf To Advertise or become a sponsor -- Contact Jennifer -- Press Releases for publication -- should be directed to: UGNN News Desk at: UGNN News Desk. Article Reprints -- User Group Network Affiliates may reprint articles as long as full credit is given. Other Non-profit or non-commercial publications should contact us. The UGNN cannot guarantee accuracy or timeliness of articles. Many have been forwarded to us by field correspondents, or press release services. All care is taken to assure the accuracy of URLs and email addresses. 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