WHAT WAS NEW?: In
the second half of May 1998...WHAT WAS NEW?: In
the second half of May 1998...Sun. 31 May 1998
Is there any way to make your modem work faster?
Mmm... I do not think so. (I wish I could!) The speed of internal modem for Duo (and PB 5xx) is 14400bps and it is only one internal modem available. (PowerPort can perform 19200bps under the 'limited' circumstances though.)
I know it is annoying because I still use this 'slow' internal modem. 14400bps is not good nowadays and of course the faster the better. However, I personally do not see very much difference between my modem and other faster ones or even LAN.
I have used a 33600bps modem the other day, but I did not feel that the connection speed was that fast. (I also used my modem of course.) I do not know about much faster ones like ISDN modem though... But anyway, LAN in my lab is sometimes even slower than my modem!
So the thing is, I think, how communication traffic is crowded rather than the modem specifiction. As far as keep using an internal modem, the best we can do is to try and connect a modem to the internet when other people are sleeping! :-p
If anybody know some tips to make a Duo's internal modem perform better, please let me know!!
Sat. 30 May 1998
Yesterday, I had a meeting with my supervisors on my research progress. After nearly two hours of serious discussion, one of my supervisors asked me, 'Did you go to London to wave a flag for your Emperor?'
Well, actually Japanese Emperor and Empress have been visiting UK this week, and it is a big news here for some controversial reason. Anyway, I answered, 'Of course not! I am not interested. :-p' He said, 'Oh, that is a shame... By the way, can I ask you something?' 'Sure. What is it?' 'That small thing on Empress's head... Is it a hat? Do all Japanese women wear it?' (He was pretty serious!)
I could not stop laughing! 'Yes, it is a hat. She always wears a hat like that. But only royal women wear such a small hat.' I did not care very much about the royal fashion till then though, I now realize that sometimes it looks funny. :-)
Fri. 29 May 1998
What is this? This is one of the scenic spots in Peak District National Park -- called 'Surprise View'. Surprised? :-p I am not joking! This is true. The quality of photo is not good, so it does not look beautiful though, I like this view in fact.
To be honest, I thought it was some mistake at first because I expected 'Surprise View' must be like a paradise -- with lots of flowers, lovely birds... not like such a wild rocky view. But you know, it is amazing to see something like this nowadays.
I am attracted by these rather wild scenery than flowery view, probably because I already had enough of beautiful and flowery views before. My friend, who actually persuaded me to go there, was really disappointed at this though...
Thu. 28 May 1998
I received questions from DowJ1124. I cannot get through his email address for some reason, so here are my answers.
Q1. I have a 2300c, and need to find an Apple Power CD rom unit? Or do you know of a better unit that I can get for CD's?
A1. As for CD-ROM unit, Apple products are quite reliable. But many good CD-ROM drives are also available from other companies as you know. I cannot say which to buy. Shop around or read catalogues to find one satisfies your requirments. As long as the driver software works on your system and you have an appropriate cable, you should be able to use whatever you like. (If you run OS7.6, its CD-ROM extension (version 1-5.1.3) can recognize CD-ROM drives other than Apple's.) The choice is yours.
Q2. Also on the my back of my Duo dock 2. I have that slot...you wrote about it. Below that is, or it looks like another plug (same as the monitor plug) with a phone plug next to it??? What is it.
A2. Do you mean that your Dock has more slots (two monitor slots?) than I mention in this site? Or are you simply asking about the difference between DuoDock (above in the photo) and DuoDock2 (below)?
Anyway, as far as interface is concerned, the only one difference between them is Ethernet port which DuoDock does not have. So the port looks like another video port is an Ethernet port, and a phone plug as you say is actually a SCSI port I think.
If your DuoDock2 does not have an Ethernet port, I assume that it was originally DuoDock and then the lid was replaced with that of DuoDock2 by the previous owner so 2300c could fit in. Such an upgrade kit was available from Apple.
If, if your Dock does have different interface (e.g. with two monitor plugs), it is incredibly extremely rare! Give it to me!! :-pI hope it helps you -- DowJ1124, if you read this, please let me know!
Wed. 27 May 1998
Do you like the sound of start-up of your Mac?
You can actually download some of these sounds from here. As you know, there are various sounds depending upon the system. It is interesting to listen to different sounds. Don't you think so?
What's more... 'Crash' sounds are also available! I (and probably many of you) have never encountered such an unhappy occasion to hear it on my PowerBook though, everybody knows about these sounds. This is an opportunity to experience it! :-) Some of the 'crash' sounds are rather pretty, and others are quite scary...
Let's hope not to hear such 'crash' sounds on your PowerBook in the reality! :-p
Tue. 26 May 1998
This is Chatsworth House fronted by the River Derwent Chatsworth House is another manor house near Bakewell originally made in the late 16th Century. It is breathtaking to see such a magnificent house even from the distance. The inside of the house is decorated with the Elizabethan interior, and it also has excellent gardens.
The River Wye running through Bakewell. It is still untouched and runs elegantly. Bakewell is also famous because of delicious food! You better try 'Bakewell pudding' -- a sweet tart with egg and almond filling. I heard that his pudding was accidentally invented by mistaking ingredients. :-p
taji-san (Duo-Zone) has been injured while he was playing basketball last Sunday. His Achilles tendon was damaged, and of course he is now in hospital... Get well soon, taji-san! :-)
Mon. 25 May 1998
The big announcement from RIKIBON I gave notice of yesterday is about a new clear body for PowerBook 500 series. We made 'clear' and 'colored clear' display frames for PB500 a few months ago as you can see in the photo. This time we will make 30 of 'clear' and 'colored clear' top-cases (where the palm-rest is).
Unfortunately this is available only in Japan. (Sorry!) If you have a friend who can represent you in Japan, you can join us of course. (But you must hurry up! :-p)
Sun. 24 May 1998
This is Haddon Hall near Bakewell in Peak District National Park. It is a mediaeval manor house that is one of the seats of the Dukes of Rutland. The river in front of it is the River Wye. (Sorry, the quality of photos is not good...) This old manor house is well preserved. Stone buildings are such durable!
It also has some loverly gardens. This is a small one at the entrance -- with a tree pig and a tree bird. Can you see them? British people really like gardening. I do not know why a pig and a bird... :-p
Sat. 23 May 1998
It does not matter unless you understand Japanese though, the original Duo-Zone (in Japanese) has been under construction for renewal. I heard that it would be better organized and even easier to understand for beginners. I wonder what is going to happen...
By the way, this photo is the opera house in Buxton, which is one of the major towns in Peak District National Park -- it is a very small town though. It is surprising that such a small town has an opera house. Well, this opera house is also small but pretty. They were actually showing some comedy shows instead of opera at that time, but even so, having an opera house near you is nice.
Fri. 22 May 1998
I received a question 'Which should I get, Duo or PowerBook520c?'
This is a tough decision. Both are unique and sophisticated machines. So why not get both! :-p
I mean, those people who want to have such 'old' (I do not like this expression though!) PowerBooks now must have some special feelings for PBs -- rather than their performance as a computer. So if you are one of those people, the important thing is 'not to compromise' I guess. For you, PowerBook is not just a computer to do jobs for you but something to make you really happy. If you get the very machine you like, you would love even its disadvantages and enjoy some inconvenience as well!
Having your favorite things is always enjoyable! Don't you think so? (Not just PowerBooks of course.)
Thu. 21 May 1998
Today's photo from my trip across England and Wales -- Conwy Castle, the world heritage. I am not quite sure why this is the world heritage though... Yes, it is old, big and beautiful of course. This castle surprisingly still keeps most of its original shape. I think it is worth seeing. It is also surprising that this small town has such a spectacular castle. I wonder what happened there in the past...
And, this is my PowerBook540C Belmonte with a brand-new and only one in the world red clear screen frame sitting comfortably at a hotel room in Conwy. Isn't he cute? I know some of you are laughing at me. But even so, I cannot help adoring him! :-p
Wed. 20 May 1998
'We Japanese like to miniaturize...' This is a phrase from a commercial film for 'bite size' chocolate. In this commercial, you can see some tiny things -- a TV on a finger ring, a radio in ear, a small camera... Funny, huh?
Yes, we Japanese like to miniaturize! Actually I was surprised to see things were still big (especially electronic goods) when I came here for the first time. I felt as if I had come to an ancient world. (This is too much exaggeration! :-p)
But that may be one reason why PowerBooks are so popular in Japan. Some people choose PowerBooks (or other notebook computers) simply because they do not have enough space to put them on. (In fact, my mother replaced my lovely ColorClassic I kindly set up for her with a PowerBook1400 because it was 'too big' as she said! Oh, poor my ColorClassic...)
By the way, I hired a car the other day. The receptionist then said, 'You are small like my wife!'. Well, I am not that tall though, I have never ever been told that I am small in my life before! But I was polite as a Japanese and said, 'Small is beauty!'. He agreed of course. Mmm... Am I small?
Tue. 19 May 1998
The photo is Chester Cathedral from the back which I took a couple of weeks ago. It is not too bad, is it? :-p
Why from the back not from the front? Well, because it was nicer from the back with a little distance. The view from the front was of course more spectacular though, it was too close to catch a good frame for a photo. This is always a problem in taking photos of big buildings!
And talking about photos... Remember the photos of pretty trackballs shown here a few days ago? Those photos were actually taken by Hero san. Sorry, I forgot to mention it!
Mon. 18 May 1998
Since the sad news of the death of Frank Sinatra, every TV channel has been showing special programmes paying tribute to the great singer. So I heard 'My Way' many times during the last few days.
Although 'My Way' is sometimes treated as kinda funny song because this masterpiece is popular for middle-aged people in karaoke, especially in Japan I guess, I actually find that this is really good music. And it is true that singing and even listening this song definitely makes you feel intoxicated!
I am sure that it will be sung more often in karaoke! But mind you, you should practice a lot before you sing it in public, otherwise you just might make your friends feel fed up... :-p
Sun. 17 May 1998
It has been very warm here -- around 20 degrees Celsius. You may be laughing at me though, it is warm enough for me coming from the north and I am already feeling too much! :-p
Air conditioning is not available everywhere, so I need to find somewhere to escape. One nice place is the lab with some delicate machines like computers, but I am not that hard worker to go there on the weekend. So I go to the museum on such warm days.
Believe me, you need an 'artistic moment' sometimes. (I know I should be enjoying the sunshine though...)
Sat. 16 May 1998
My friend who I took a trip with the other day sent me some photos of Liverpool. These photos proved that I was such a terrible photographer... So I show you only one tiny photo. (I think that is enough! :-p)
This is a typical view of Liverpool from a ferry boat on River Mersey. You can see three large buildings -- Royal Liver Building, Cunard Building and Port of Liverpool Building, from left to right (can't you?). All of them are historic buildings though, Royal Liver Building is particularly famous because of its two big clock towers and liver birds on the top. These clocks are the largest in UK -- a few inches larger than that of Big Ben in London, that is what I heard. It was cloudy and windy as usual...
I may show you some more photos later.