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Apple Quickies Comin' At Ya

There are a few new product announcements recently: MATLAB for Mac OS X is available; fink for 10.2 is available for testing; Intuit has announced QuickBooks for Mac OS X; and PowerLogix has announced even more upgrades, including dual processor upgrades. And one user notes, "I wonder if the /. effect could drain the batteries of this Newton quickly?"

38 comments

  1. MATLAB by foobar104 · · Score: 5, Informative
    Ironically, the same day Slashdot carries this story, MathWorks announces that MATLAB 6.5 is not, in fact, compatible with Jaguar. They sent out a letter.
    As a current MATLAB on the Mac customer, we wanted to inform you that the new 10.2 (Jaguar) release of Mac OS X introduces incompatibilities that prevent MATLAB 6.5 and other applications from running correctly. The MathWorks and Apple are working together to develop a patch that will enable MATLAB to operate correctly with OS X version 10.2. We anticipate that this patch will be available in late September or early October. In the interim, we suggest that MATLAB users defer upgrading to 10.2 until this patch is available.
    1. Re:MATLAB by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Also here on their website.

    2. Re:MATLAB by odenshaw · · Score: 1

      This just shows Mathworks commitment to the mac.
      Jaguar has been out in the public now for how many weeks, and they are just now telling people that it does not work with 10.2!

    3. Re:MATLAB by Daleks · · Score: 3, Informative

      MATLAB for Mac OS X relies on Xfree86/XDarwin for graphs and other windowed elements (ugh, this is a port?). Xfree86/XDarwin was broken under Mac OS X 10.2, but there is an updated version that will work. The latest files are at:

      http://sourceforge.net/project/showfiles.php?gro up _id=18034&release_id=71056

  2. Newton Webserver by Visigothe · · Score: 3, Funny

    "I wonder if the /. effect could drain the batteries of this Newton quickly?"

    Seeing as I don't get a response, I'd say *yes*

    .

  3. But will QuickBooks work? by moosesocks · · Score: 2

    I remember purchasing a G4 about 2 years ago with the intent to run quickbooks on it, as iniuit advertised the mac version on their website.

    The mac version had last been updated in 1996 (this was the year 2000), and wasn't compatible with the windows version. Let's hope the new one's better.

    --
    -- If you try to fail and succeed, which have you done? - Uli's moose
    1. Re:But will QuickBooks work? by Otter · · Score: 3, Interesting
      Here's a fairly hostile update from TidBits. Basically, Intuit has announced a new release in 2003, but with no real info about what it will have. MYOB has taken the Mac accounting market away from them and they seem to be reacting, if not in a particularly helpful way.

      As the article notes, that's what "FUD" really means, as opposed to the way it's used here to mean "said something vaguely critical about Lunix".

    2. Re:But will QuickBooks work? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      In Canada, MYOB is *owned* by Intuit.

  4. Another piece of news (semi-related to Mac OS X) by questionlp · · Score: 3, Informative

    Apple is running a promotion that if someone buys a PowerMac G4, the person can get a free copy of Adobe InDesign 2.0 for free via mail. News.com has a blurb on this and that a Mac OS X-native version of Quark is still in the works.

  5. Slashdotting a Newton.... by Thornae · · Score: 3, Funny

    Fish.

    Barrel.

    Howitzer.

    (Yes, it's gone already. Poor little thing...)

    --
    |>
    Here be Dragons
    1. Re:Slashdotting a Newton.... by MalleusEBHC · · Score: 1

      Fish, barrel, howitzer is more your average Geocities /.'ing. This Newton was more like fish, barrel, M1 Abrams.

  6. Newton by mmarlett · · Score: 5, Informative
    "I wonder if the /. effect could drain the batteries of this Newton quickly?"

    Absolutely. And since I seem to have caught this seconds after is was posted, I'll just share what the server says ...

    Paul Filmer's Dedicated MP2100 NewtonOS Server

    This server runs on 4 AA batteries, in only 10K of heap on a 162MHz StrongARM SA-110 RISC processor, using NewtonOS Personal Data Sharing software (nHTTPd v2.043). This Apple Newton MessagePad 2100 is a multi-tasking, object oriented PDA with 4Mb of RAM and a 16Mb Flash storage card, connected via a Farallon PN895 Ethernet card. More details.

    And this is the "more details" ...

    How is this server set up/run?

    This server is a stripped Newton MP2100. (Pictures) The Newted Community asked me for an article about the server, which is here.

    The server only has packages that are necessary for serving (NPDS: nHTTPd v2.043, NPDS Watcher v1.014ac, NPDS Traq Client 2.035) or editing these webpages, and a bunch of background images for Avi's Backdrop. All of the settings for these packages and plug-ins are listed here. The server is connected to the Internet using a Farallon PN895 Ethernet card over the NSF LAN. Our connection from there to the backbone is what makes this puppy sing - any speed problems are at your end, bub.

    I originally tried to run this thing off a set of rechargeables and a solar panel, but the card drains the charge before sunrise, so I abandoned that strategy - the intent was to run it at Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station where sunlight is not a problem (well, OK, not for six out of twelve months...).

    I try to synchronize the server's Names and Dates soups with my principal MP2100's about once a week by beaming them over with SBM's SoupTransport. I am slowly (...very slowly...) collecting the names of Newton-related developers, companies and products (including signatures) and putting them in my Names Soup so that they can be searched. I am also collecting Apple parts numbers for any and all Newton products - feel free to tell me what you would like to see listed on this thing.

    The following is a list of the package names of all packages installed on this Newton device as of 9/12/02 5:34 pm:

    • HeapMagic:GNUE
    • Newton Devices
    • NIE Patch:Kallisys
    • Avi's Backdrop:AviD
    • BiggerNotes:Paul's Software
    • BugTrap:Tactile
    • ClnNotes:Tim Constantine
    • Editor:MAVON
    • Farallon Enet
    • Filmer Fecit Me
    • Freeze Utils:SAS
    • HeavenOrHell:BASUKE
    • Hilite2000:Way
    • Internet Setup
    • ISP Templates
    • LucentWaveLAN
    • LucentWaveLANa2
    • LucentWaveLANa3
    • MacInTalk
    • Monaco
    • NamesHack:MAP
    • NetTime:DTS
    • Newton Internet Enabler
    • nHTTPd
    • NIE Ethernet Module
    • NPDS Watcher:ATOW
    • NPDSTrack Client
    • OneTap Scroller
    • pCARDS:MAVON
    • pDATES:MAVON
    • pGIF Server:Kallisys
    • pHTML:MAVON
    • pPAGER:MAVON
    • RemoteCamNewt
    • SAI Prefs Cleaner:SAS
    • Serial57600:clli
    • Sound Off!
    • Soup Transport:SBM
    • SoupKitchen:ICS
    • SpeakText:NEWTON
    • TheWholeText :deepfocus
    • Wipe:MAVON
    • 2001panam
    • Analog
    • Apollo 11 footprint
    • Apollo 17 LRV
    • B-17G
    • B-17G Sentimental Journey
    • brainbaraboom
    • Concept 3051 logod
    • cooker
    • Cosmo Placard
    • Death Mask of Newton
    • eMate Flower
    • Escher
    • EXILE concept 28
    • feathers
    • Forget Me
    • Gagarin Mosaic 2
    • Glyph Basic A Font:Prism
    • Glyph Basic B Font:Prism
    • Glyph Basic C Font:Prism
    • Glyph Basic D Font:Prism
    • gromit
    • HAL9000
    • Hardtack I Oak
    • Hokusai's Great Wave
    • Hummer Half
    • IAI Logo
    • JSC's WB-57F
    • KillUpdate:Victor&Paul
    • Las Vegas in the 50's
    • linux Swirl
    • Mars by Hubble
    • Mastaba of Ity
    • Maya2 gluphs
    • Mercury
    • Minico:Scrawl
    • Mir docking
    • mir-complex
    • MP2000 Flower
    • National Science Foundation
    • NetNames.DigitlaInk
    • Newton Statue, BL St Pancras
    • NewtonID:NewtonID
    • nr. Aristoteles & Eudoxus
    • pBinary Server:Kallisys
    • pCFG:MAVON
    • pi
    • QuickPress:AVANTI
    • RibbonShredded
    • Riven Lagoon
    • SF wallpaper
    • shark.PICT
    • Sir Robert Filmer
    • St Basil's Cathedral
    • Stela of Thothmes III
    • Steve Jobs
    • Techno
    • Tintin's Snowy
    • TsPK Logo
    • Untitled
    • UnzipBMP:NewtsCape
    • urlCop
    • Venezia
    • vnc:TKnollSys
    • WTC1062
    • yuri
    • ZLib:Kallisys
    1. Re:Newton by DoktorFaust · · Score: 1

      How did he manage to install Steve Jobs on that thing?

      --

      Die Menschen verhoehnen was sie nicht verstehen. -- Goethe.
  7. geeze by Laplace · · Score: 0, Troll

    I wonder if the /. effect could drain the batteries of this Newton quickly?"

    Hah. Funny. Fuck you Slashdot.

    --
    The middle mind speaks!
  8. Fail to fail sig by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny
    If you try to fail and succeed, which have you done? - Uli's moose
    You've given a synopsis of the plot of The Producers play and movie film.
    Here's the script of the movie.
  9. /.ing == DOSing? by n-baxley · · Score: 3, Insightful

    What was the point of that last bit about the newton? We all know what the results will be, the first 3 people get in and then nada. Why bother wasting our time and the poor server's bandwidth?

    1. Re:/.ing == DOSing? by RevAaron · · Score: 2

      It just occured to you that "the Slashdot effect" is a DDoS attack? :P

      --

      Working toward a usable PDA environment in the spirit of Newton OS: Dynapad
    2. Re:/.ing == DOSing? by n-baxley · · Score: 2

      Most times it's just pointing out a useful site that might interest everyone. But in this case, it seems to server no purpose than to fry the "newton server".

  10. Quickies! by sulli · · Score: 1

    For that alone, this should be on the front page!

    --

    sulli
    RTFJ.
  11. Fink Question by addaon · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Maybe this is obvious, but I've looked for a bit and not been able to figure it out. I have a current fink install on 10.1. I want to switch to 10.2, and I'm going to do a clean install to do that... so all my fink software will be wiped. I don't mind redownloading everything at all... but is there any way to grab my current fink list of installed programs, and have fink reinstall those automatically? I managed to get the installed list through `fink list` and a bit of grepping... but that includes all the dependencies, and dependencies might have changed, so some of those installed items may not be needed any more. Also, if I pass that list to `fink install`, the first item that's unreachable will cause fink to terminate after a few retries (with the --yes) option, meaning I'll have to rerun the whole script, no? Any workarounds/ideas/people calling me dumb?

    --

    I've had this sig for three days.
    1. Re:Fink Question by Ranger+Rick · · Score: 1

      Not currently, but it's recently been discussed. Please open a feature request before someone forgets about it, it would definitely be a handy thing to have...

      --

      WWJD? JWRTFM!!!

    2. Re:Fink Question by PotPieMan · · Score: 5, Informative

      Assuming you have a list of just the package names (not the version numbers and other columns from fink list), you should be able to pass it to fink. As long as you have updated your fink.conf as described here, it should all work. If you haven't, you will definitely have problems reaching packages. Make sure you've done a fink selfupdate-cvs recently, too. (There are other reasons you might be unable to download some packages, such as the host site being down.)

      You are right, though - some of the dependencies may have changed or been removed. I would suggest that you look through the list and pick some of the bigger packages and start by installing those. You'll fill a lot of the dependencies by installing something like KDE, for example.

      You may want to check out the mailing lists for more information. A lot of the regulars know way more Fink than I do; they may have some better ideas.

    3. Re:Fink Question by PotPieMan · · Score: 1

      Speaking of people who know way more about Fink than I do... :-)

  12. Famous last words by MalleusEBHC · · Score: 3, Funny

    Our connection from there to the backbone is what makes this puppy sing - any speed problems are at your end, bub.
    I got this from the guy who copied what the site served by the Newton before it got /.'d. Funny, I don't think the speed (or lack thereof) problems I'm getting right now are on my end...

    1. Re:Famous last words by capmilk · · Score: 1

      Funny, I don't think the speed (or lack thereof) problems I'm getting right now are on my end...

      Technically, you can't have speed problems without a connection...
      Poor little Newt.

  13. Yes, nHTTPd is actually useful by RevAaron · · Score: 4, Interesting

    The Newton webserver- nHTTPd- part of the Newton Personal Data Sharing (NPDS) system has been mentioned on here a few times over the last 3 or 4 years I've been reading Slashdot.

    Most of the time, I imagine that people see NPDS as a novelty, like running Apache on WinCE. And to some who run it, it is just a novelty. However, unlike some Htttpd for CE, NPDS actually manages to be useful. It serves your Dates, Names, Todo and Notes data, accessing the object-oriented database that makes up the Newton system for data storage. Of course, it can also serve regular HTML pages. I've actually seen a couple organizations that were using a Newton as a drop-in solution to managing contacts and meeting schedules. Incredible!

    I suppose someone could write a C++ CGI that access the WinCE DBs for the analogous data on a WinCE/PocketPC device, but then you're stuck doing it in C++, which if a major pain in the ass compared to NewtonScript. Does anyone know of NSBasic (started on the Newton, of course :P) or a similar RAD language for the PocketPC can access the internal WinCE dbs?

    In other news, someone is getting me a 2100 in exchange for attempting to develop a Squeak VM for the Newton! I recently had to sell my super-nice Newton 2100u setup, and I've missed my Newt a great deal. I guess it's one of those things where you don't understand it unless you've had a Newt yourself... but in my switch attempt to an iPAQ and more recently a Jornada 720, I've been left wanting in a lot of respects, and really can't wait to get my Newton back!

    --

    Working toward a usable PDA environment in the spirit of Newton OS: Dynapad
  14. I hope the Fink users are patient by Wesley+Felter · · Score: 3, Informative

    Since there are no binaries for unstable packages, prepare to spend several days building all the prereqs for any major app.

    Why post binaries on SourceForge when you could force 1,000 people to compile them instead? :-(

  15. mmm..the Newton by nuckin+futs · · Score: 1, Funny

    running as a server... imagine a Beowulf Cluster of those... :D

  16. OCTAVE broken too by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative

    Octave, the gnu free Matlab is broken too in 10.2
    bummer, I wonder if its for the same reason. I note that XFREE86 seems to work fine for me in 10.2 (fink version).

    1. Re:OCTAVE broken too by Reverberant · · Score: 1

      I think this is likely caused by the new gcc compilier in 10.2

      My Octave install (form Fink) broke when I upgraded from 10.2. I downloaded the source files and recomplied, and now everything works fine.

  17. New Powerlogix Dual G4 CPU -- not a great deal by jay_in_pa · · Score: 2, Interesting

    The PowerForce Dual G4 Series 100 at 800MHz will cost US$799; the 1GHz model runs $1,119. The PowerForce Dual G4 Series 133 at 867MHz and 1GHZ cost the same, respectively. PowerLogix anticipates their availability within 2 to 3 weeks.

    When you consider you can get a brand-new 867 MHz Dual G4 with all the other good things that come a long, like DDR RAM, bigger faster hard drive, etc, and then sell your olrder G4 for probably more than the difference (depending on how it is equipped), you'd be better off buying a new one and selling your old one. (Just MHO)

  18. newton server by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Newtons never die.....they just get fresh batteries

    Own one and you'll understand

    - Rosetta

  19. But... whats up with the quoted price of InDesign by zatchmo · · Score: 1

    However, what's up with the price on apple's site? Apple lists for $699, but Adobe lists for $399. Are they trying to make this sound like a better deal than it really is? hmmm

  20. Re:But... whats up with the quoted price of InDesi by questionlp · · Score: 1
    Although a price tag of $399 is listed on that page, but it is for a different piece of software called GoLive. Adobe is selling the full version of the software (at this page) for $699, which is the value Apple marked on their site and mail-in voucher.

    Of course, you can probably find the software a bit cheaper through places like macmall.com, CDW or Insight. But if you are already in a market for a new Mac, free is still much better than $699 :)

  21. MATLAB 6.5 does in fact work (partially) on 10.2 by coult · · Score: 2, Informative

    matlab actually will run under 10.2. What won't run is the graphical desktop interface, but the old-style terminal window interface will run just fine (just do "matlab -nojvm"). Take a look at my posting on macmerc.com for more info.

    --

    All is Number -Pythagoras.

  22. Who gives a flying fu** by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Intuit gave QB4 customers the finger long before OS X even had a name. If it's a hit, I'll be surprized. But we'll have to wait until 2003 to find out. How funny to preannounce something after the way they've treated former users.

  23. Re:MATLAB 6.5 does in fact work (partially) on 10. by Onnimikki · · Score: 1

    Does anyone know if the ODE solvers (ode23, etc) work with this version of Matlab?

    Thanks!

    Onnimikki