I'm still here!: I just want to say that I'm sorry for the lag in updates lately :( With my new job doing data entry plus school and my web hosting side job, I've been extremely busy. Also my wife's mother passed away recently and things have not been the same around here. I'm playing Mr. Mom lately since my wife started working full time and is recovering from her loss. I'm not abandoning the site but it's not on the top of my list of things to do right now.

I would like to give a special thanks to JJ for holding up the forums. He's done a great job of taking over answering user questions for me since I've been away. Thanks JJ, for all your hard work! And to Rick who has added a sense of humor all his own to the forums :)

I wasn't able to add all the info I have this time so if you sent me something and I said I would post it and its not, don't worry, it should get posted on the next update :)

Update on new Sonnet Tango 2.0 with Firewire/USB2: Las time I posted that Sonnet said their new card worked just fine in the 6400/6500 but did not know if the USB2 bus was multi bus or not? They wrote back saying that the bus is not multi bus and is sharing a single bus like a hub. This is probably why it works fine on our Macs. Also it they tested it with their G3 installed as well and said they noticed no issues. In the past there have been some issues with mixing Sonnets G3 card with other cards of theirs like audio issues with the older Combo card and a G3 installed. Not sure if they tested that finicky though?

[Tom,
Yes, we have tested the Tango 2.0 in both the 6400 and the 6500 and it works fine. In fact, we tested everything again today, and it still works fine. If you have not having the same experience with the 6500, did you use the patch that needs to be installed found on the Sonnet website? Please go to:
http://www.sonnettech.com/downloads/adapter_sw.html#tangopatch

The Tango 2.0 has two ports on one USB 2.0 bus. The Tango 2.0 has been tested with the Sonnet G3 Upgrade. We always test our products together to ensure that they function as one big happy family.]

Better dust out that power supply or else!: Dave made a startling discovery recently. Dust can really build up in the power supply if not cleaned out occasionally. He sent me a link to his site showing what a really, really dusty power supply looks like. He let me repost it here on my site so I can always have it available. Thanks Dave!

Kodak CX4200 works on a 6400 with a FW/USB card: Jeff writes just to let us know that he has tried this combo and they work fine for him. Sometimes digital cameras will say they only support built in USB ports but as in this case, they will work just fine with PCI cards as well. Thanks for the info Jeff.

[I just bought a Kodak CX4200. I run OS 9.2.1. It hooks up to the 6400 through my generic USB/Firewire card through a USB port. Works great. Software works just fine. Thought some of your readers might want to know.]

Site to buy new PRAM batteries from: Phil sent me a link to OtherWorld Computings web site where they have PRAM batteries for about $10. Thanks Phil.

[Hi Thomas.

I thought this link would be useful for your readers who have had PRAM battery problems:

This battery is an exact replacement for the below listed models.
Power Macintosh and Performa 5200, 5300, 5400, 5500, 6200, 6300, 6400, and 6500 series computers
Power Macintosh 4400 series computers
Twentieth Anniversary Macintosh
Macintosh 630 Family including Quadra, LC, Performa 630 series computers
Macintosh LC 575, Performa 575, 577, 578 series computers
Macintosh 640CD Dos Compatible computer]

Texas Macman help site posts new page on PRAM info: Tom wrote to let me know he posted a new page on his help site with lots of PRAM battery info. Thanks Tom. Nice name by the way :)

[Tom,
Saw the recent comments about Mac battery problems on your site. I have created a new troubleshooting site to supplement my Mac Troubleshooting site. The site is Mac PRAM, NVRAM, CUDA & Battery Tutorial
http://www.geocities.com/texas_macman/pram.html]

French web site showing an ATX power supply in a 6400!: Francois sent me a link to a french web site that shows a 6400 owners instructions on how to install an ATX power supply. Thanks Francois. It looks like much more work then most would want to take on but if anyone tries, please let me know! Also if anyone wants to do a good French to English translation of the site, I would highly appreciate it :)

[Alec asked you about the use of a 7200/ 7500 power supply in a 6400, which reminded me of an interesting article about using an ATX power supply for the 6400. This is there, in french:
<http://www.macbidouille.com/article.php?id=115> (for an automatic translation from french to english, you may want to check <http://babelfish.altavista.com>, somehow funny, but at least understandable, should you have not been learning french). This could really be an option for those willing to give a new life to their 6400/ 6500, rather difficult to realize but well documented, and inexpensive.]

Canon USB scanner works on a 6400: Mac sends word that he got the Canon Lide 20 USB scanner working on his 6400. Thanks for the info Marc. His info may help with other USB devices that say they need built in USB ports. Most devices work in older OS's but their special software may not?

[Hi Tom,
I didn't find any informations on the site if the canon USB scanners work on our macs. I decided to buy a Lide 20 and finally it works on our 5x00/6x00. It's supposed to work only on a native USB macintosh (no additional USB card) and under OS 9.

First point : native USB: it's only a power problem. If you have a powered hub, and a USB card of course :+), the scanner will work. {Tom - I'm fairly certain that even the ports on the PCI card will work since they supply power as well. Only non-powered USB hubs might give you trouble?}

Second point : OS 9: Two elements, Canonscan Toolbox (which is necessary only for making the buttons functional) and Omnipage SE, require OS 9 for installing. You must have a partition with OS 9 for installation (or copy the elements from another mac under OS 9). Omnipage SE doesn't want to work under OS 8.6. But the scanner does. The installer puts a folder named "CanoScan Toolbox 4.1" into the folder "Applications (Mac OS 9)" of your OS 9 system folder. So you must have a folder "Applications (Mac OS 9)" in you 8.6 system folder. Put the "CanoScan Toolbox 4.1" folder everywhere you want but put an alias of this folder in the folder "Applications (Mac OS 9)" that you created. I guess the Lide 30 will work too. Best regards. Marc.]

Guide from Roxio on how to make nice VCD's: Ralph sent me a link to Roxio's web site where they have a guide on making good quality VCD's. Thanks Ralph!

[Hi Tom, hope you and your family are well. I noticed this article from Roxio about vcd production. Pass it on. R.

http://www.roxio.com/en/interest/articles/video/vcds_toastimovie.jhtml]