Alan Kim writes: << Did is specifically say "Mac" on the package ? Wasn't aware it could be had that cheap. Thanks for the info. Mind telling me where you got this ? >>
You don't need "Mac" on the package for a USB 1.1 PCI card for the SuperMac models. Absolutely NOT required. Here's a URL to bring up a search for "USB PCI" on ebay: <http://search.ebay.com/search/search.dll?query=usb+pci&ht=1&sosortproperty=1&from=R10&BasicSearch=++> Just about any USB card that supports the "Open Host Controller Interface" (OHCI) should work. You can probably find one for $10-15, or even less. I have a 4-port USB 1.1 card in my s900, and a cheapo 2-port USB 1.1 card in my 9600. Both work fine with the standard Apple USB card support 1.4.1 update, which can be found here (Warning: direct download link, clicking should initiate a software download): <http://apple.doit.wisc.edu/Apple_Support_Area/System_Software_Updates/USB/USB_Card_Support_1.4.1.sit> Once you have this, you can run the installer, or, if that doesn't work, just use the "Tomeviewer" utility to "extract" the extensions from the included tome and dump them into your extensions folder, lock, stock, and barrel. One thing I _would_ recommend is that you buy a card that has the USB connector "slots" running parallel with the card, not "across" it. I have heard of clearance problems with some of the cards that have the connections running at a 90-degree angle to the card itself. I would suggest a 2-port card over a 4-port card, from my own experience. I found that when I connected an Onkyo SE-U55 external USB soundcard to the 4-port USB card in my s900, it wouldn't work, and actually _disabled_ the port in question until a reboot. I believe this was because the SE-U55 was attempting to draw too much "bus power" from the port to which it was connected. However, it works fine with the 2-port card in my 9600. A possible alternative would be to buy a powered hub (I found one for $17 at newegg.com) and use that for bus power, instead. I would also suggest an upgrade to OS 9.1 for anyone wanting the most out of USB and Firewire. An important reason is that 9.1 supports audio-out and -in through the USB port. I regularly use this to record Internet streaming audio from the Mac, through the USB port to my external USB soundcard, then through a digital/optical connection into my minidisc deck. iTunes works great for this, with the available "radio stations". I believe Other World Computing has a 9.1 install CD that will work with ANY PCI-based Mac provided it has a g3 or g4 CPU installed for all of $39. Try this link: <http://eshop.macsales.com/Item_MailList.cfm?ID=5913&Item=APLOS91CD> Although you didn't mention Firewire, here is an ebay link that will bring up available Firewire PCI cards: <http://search.ebay.com/search/search.dll?cgiurl=http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/&MfcISAPICommand=GetResult&SortProperty=MetaEndSort&ht=1&from=R7&ebaytag1=ebayreg&query=firewire+pci&CATEGORY0=160> For Firewire, look for a card that has 3 external ports, and possibly 1 internal port (the latter not required). If possible, look for a card that has the internal "power connector" (4-pin connector). With this, you plug in an extra hard drive power connector, and it provides a more robust source of "Firewire bus power" to the card than the PCI bus does. It should be mentioned that -- for the s900 and j700 -- you are probably better off buying SEPARATE, cheap, generic USB and Firewire cards rather than a "combo" card, due to the fact that combo cards may not work properly in the lower 4 slots of the SuperMacs. It might even be possible to find a PC that has been "junked" and extract USB and Firewire cards for nothing. They'd probably work with the appropriate Apple extensions! - John -- SuperMacs is sponsored by <http://lowendmac.com/> and... Small Dog Electronics http://www.smalldog.com | Refurbished Drives | Service & Replacement Parts [EMAIL PROTECTED] | & CDRWs on Sale! | Support Low End Mac <http://lowendmac.com/lists/support.html> SuperMacs list info: <http://lowendmac.com/supermacs/list.shtml> --> AOL users, remove "mailto:"; Send list messages to: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To unsubscribe, email: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> For digest mode, email: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subscription questions: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Archive: <http://www.mail-archive.com/supermacs%40mail.maclaunch.com/> --------------------------------------------------------------- >The Think Different Store http://www.ThinkDifferentStore.com ---------------------------------------------------------------
