The Phillips Files #7 -- What iGot - The Review!
by R.P. Phillips

What iGot =

G3/450-BTO:

• 6GB ATA hard drive
• 192MB RAM
• Rage 128 Graphics card
• 32X CD-ROM
• SCSI card
• 56K internal modem
• 10/100 Ethernet

Extras:

• Imation SuperDisk
• MacAlly iKey extended keyboard
• Entrega USB to Serial adapter
• Contour Design Uni-Trap Mouse w/5 "flavored" buttons
• MacAlly iHub 4 port USB hub

Outstanding! With only 1 exception; when the FAXstf software is installed and active it causes the entire computer to freeze when ever you try to use the internet with either Netscape 4.6.1, Internet Exploiter 5, and/or ICQ 1.7.2 !

With the bad news out of the way - let's talk about what it can do [now that they'll be "on sale"]. The time it took to "open" a 3.5 MB graphics file was too fast for me to time [less than a second] compared to almost 26 seconds with my old computer [PowerMac 7100/80?-with tampered logic board by previous owner].

I had the same problems "timing" the text file "opening" and "save as" with a new title. This G3 is just too fast for me to properly time it with the size files and simple graphics I have. While the old 7100 took 30-45 seconds for my largest "files" and maybe an extremely "long" minute for the "giant" Adobe PhotoDeluxe collage file - this G3 had it done before I could measure and entire second.

I really thought this "timing" and "comparing" was going to be a lot easier. I do believe I gained a bit more respect for those who do these comparisons on a regular basis.

So, with all the problems I had trying to "time" and "compare" specific actions, I did the only thing I could. I went to SETI. The SETI@Home project to be more precise. I had tried it before and it was almost a career move waiting for one task to be completed. The old 7100 took 16 days 3 hours 11 minutes 28.1 seconds to complete one task. I had the enjoyment of having the program itself time this. Then I compared the time it took the G3/450 to do one task; a remarkable 10 hours 40 minutes 35.0 seconds; or 37.2 times faster than the old PowerMac 7100 - "WOW"!!!! Now that's speed!! I am thrilled with the results and equally thrilled I finally found a "measurable" task. It makes me think I should go back and ask for a 3,720% raise instead a 1700% raise for the "expected" increase in speed ["Oh, Mr. Norton"]!!

No real review would be complete unless I mention the attachments - peripherals I got to go with this "Super Fast" Mac.

I've heard comments regarding the "Imation SuperDisk" and how slowly it works. It's the oddest thing; it is just as fast if not faster when I "save" files to a old 1.4 MB floppy than my old internal floppy. The difference is the average time of ten tries on my old machine for the same 746k folder and the average of ten tries on the "Imation SuperDisk" came out to be less than a second - with a margin of error of about +/- 2 seconds. So needless to say, I am perfectly pleased with it.

MacAlly iKey - extended Keyboard. What can I say about a "keyboard"? I definitely prefer its size over the "included" little iMac keyboard. The tactile action is great. It feels and works wonderfully. About the only thing I might even consider doing to it to "make it a bit cooler" would be to put some type of dim "back lighting" within the translucent keyboard casing. Other than that, and even without that; This is a great and wonderful "extra" I would suggest to anyone interested in buying a new Macintosh and would suggest to Apple Inc. that it become either standard, an extra at the Apple Store or at least a BTO option.

Contour Design Uni-Trap Mouse w/5 "flavored" buttons. Humm. Another great idea that Apple Inc. should consider. Granted, all this is - is a plastic covering for the mouse Apple includes with your computer; but what a difference it makes. I took a "kiddie mouse", perfect for little hands, and within seconds converted it to a wonderfully functional adult sized mouse. It makes the old mouse fit perfectly to my hand and works just as well as any mouse I've every used.

As for the Entrega USB to Serial adapter & the MacAlly iHub 4 port USB hub I really can't say too much. I don't have my printer hooked up to the Serial adapter yet [waiting on the 2 ink cartridges to replace the "empties"] and I've never done USB before, so other that saying the MacAlly iHub "is working just fine" and "looks somewhat like a cool tech-head's mini Christmas tree sitting in the shadow of the minitower" I really can't properly judge nor compare it to other USB Hub products. One little note to Entrega USB to Serial Adapter maker - "make the CD easier to find - more visible. My 3 year old found it in the discarded box before I even knew there was one.

For those of you with good eyes and and excellent observational skills, yes, that is a "Lime" telephone and "Lime" caller id box to the right of the computer. They are just a couple of the "flavored" items being sold these days. These two items were purchased at our "almost local" Target store.

All in all - this is a marvelous machine!! There would have been a lot more "bragging" and "boasting" if it wasn't for the fact that the G4 computers came out the day after I got this one. but for 24 hours [give or take a couple minutes] I was the happiest computer owner in the world. I am still perfectly pleased with the computer I got - but now the "bragging rights" go to the owners of the new G4/500 Computers. Lest I forget the new recipients of the beloved iBook, they too get to do a lot of bragging about their personal portables.

Some final comments:

I was really "pissed" about the G4 coming out the 24 hours after receiving my G3. I made this fact "well known" during "hours" of complaining. I did contact Apple and Club Mac and was "offered" specific options to ease my anger. I did settle for probably a lot less than I could have but more than I should have - with "some" incentives from ClubMac to keep the G3 and avoid the major "hassle" and problems of returning a perfectly good G3 so I could wait on a G4. Although I disagreed with some of the reasons and excuses I was given, overall their representative was basically correct in the summation; It really won't be worth the time and trouble for what I use the computer for.

Maybe Apple should "better" schedule the release of their products - these "big" announcements and surprises are aggravating to those who "buy" the old style just before the "new" machines are introduced. It isn't like the new models of cars coming out - everyone knows when to expect them; but I checked before "confirming" the order for this G3 & the only information I could find on what was expected from Seybold was an anticipated "bump" to the iMac's speed [which didn't happen]. Either make these releases "less of a surprise" or start offering "rebates" and/or "compensation packages" to those who purchase the instantly outdated machine [instantly as in less than about a week or two]. With my G3 being "outdated" 1 day after I got it and before I even had it "set-up" [all my software loaded and configured the way I want], I am awaiting Apple's compensation and/or personal, formal response.

R.P. Phillips -- Homepage
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