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Mathematica response delay traced to Shared Library Manager

When using Mathematica v.3.0 or 3.0.1, Xah Lee reports getting delays of several seconds between pressing Enter or Shift-Return and seeing any response. "No highlight appears on the cell bracket, no disk activity occurs, nothing. After the first delay, further evaluations occur quickly, as expected." Wolfram Research confirmed this adding: "This shows up regardless of the OS version. Our developers are aware of this behavior. It has been traced to the Shared Library Manager extension. Unfortunately, disabling this extension also disables AppleTalk."

Adobe Acrobat problems

Joe Gillespie writes that "After installing the latest Adobe Acrobat 3.0.1, the new Acrobat Exchange would no longer launch but just hung the machine. By switching off all my extensions, I tracked the culprit down to ATM Deluxe. Adobe has confirmed this to me today and suggested I revert to the regular ATM." Based on other readers' reports, this conflict may underlie some problems with Acrobat Reader as well.

This reminds me of previous problems, reported here awhile back, that led to the temporary withdrawal of this software. Apparently, some problems still remain.

Silverlining driver updates: La Cie responds

La Cie has written in regard to the item about Silverlining updates, posted here last time. While acknowledging that some problems exist, they contend that these problems are less widespread than the item may have suggested. They write: "We have had only a handful of reports thus far."

They add: "We have every intention of isolating these problems and taking the appropriate steps to correct product deficiencies. But sometimes the problems are caused by other areas of the Mac which have nothing to do with the Silverlining driver."

They strongly encourage you to report problems directly … Read more

DiskEssentials: update glitch; new components coming

Following up on out report from last time, several readers (including Greg Penetrante, Miles Baskett and Bob Patterson) have reported a similar problem with updating DiskEssentials from version 1.04 to 1.06: they get an "unrecoverable error in patching Code resource" when trying to apply the update to DiskRX.

Update: Kelly Leopard, of Total Recall, assures me that the update that is now on their web site will work correctly.

Bob Patterson also reports having received the following note from Total Recall: "DiskEssentials also has a few new features coming soon. We are adding DiskMinder and … Read more

Sleeper 3.0 and Mac OS 8 problems with XClaim VR and IDE CD-ROM drives;
Sleeper 3.0.1, coming soon, will fix it all

XClaim VR black screen Reader Mike recently had a problem where his monitor screen went completely black when connected to his ATI XClaim VR card. Interestingly, it only happened after upgrading to OS 8 and using Sleeper 3.0 to do an auto-shutdown of his Mac. He wrote to Jon Gotow (author of Sleeper) for any advice. Jon explained that the XClaim VR card grabs the monitor gamma settings when shutting down, and since Sleeper has set the screen to dim before it shuts the system down, that is the setting the card saves. Then, upon restart, it restores the … Read more

Post-Week-End Updates

File Buddy 4.3 is out. So is Font Manager 3.7.3. And what would an update list be without a new version of CopyThru (3.1)? Descriptions of these programs are in the Download Library.

Rumor has it that much anticipated Speed Doubler 8 will be out this week. Watch the Connectix web site for an official announcement.

Myrmidon 2.0 is a major upgrade to Terry Morse's fine program for converting a document from any application into a Web page - with just one click. "Thanks to its exclusive Wizzy-Web technology, Myrmidon creates a Web … Read more

Quake and modem port glitches

A reader reports that Quake v1.08.2 caused the Chooser to shift his printer to the modem port. On a likely related note, another reader could not get Quake to recognize the internal modem on his 3400; it kept saying the modem ports was in use.

New Mac newsletter Tracy Valleau, editor of Mac Hot Tips Weekly for Mac Home Journal, has begun a new monthly email-only newsletter aimed at the average Macintosh user. Billed as "Master your Mac for a Buck" the publication costs $1 per issue. Check out his web site for more info and … Read more

Power3D card and AppleVision glitch

Frank Danella writes: "The new Power3D card from Techworks works beautifully except that it disables the custom adjustment features of the AppleVision 1710 monitor. The Monitors and Sound Control Panel gets abbreviated to the basic functions and the computer thinks it's now connected to an ordinary VGA monitor. TechWorks tech support confirmed this and added '...there's nothing you can do about it except use a switchbox.'"

Odds & Ends

Battery info One of the most frequently asked questions at MacFixIt is: "Where do I go to find out how to change my Mac's internal battery?" For starters, go to the Macintosh Logic Board Battery Information page. We have listed this link before, but because this issue comes up so often, I am also adding it to the MacFixIt Links page.

Update: Several readers have pointed out that GURU offers similar information, including part numbers for specific brands.

Energy Saver and 8600/300: a follow-up Regarding the Energy Saver problem reported last time for the Power Mac … Read more