TITLE
    PowerBook G3: Read Me
Article ID:
Created:
Modified: 		24231
11/21/97
5/6/98
TOPIC

    This article contains the Read Me document for the PowerBook G3.

DISCUSSION

    Note: Macintosh PowerBook G3 computers should not be confused with Macintosh PowerBook G3 Series computers. Though the names are similar, there are significant differences. To visually identify which type of computer you have, close the display and inspect the display case. A Macintosh PowerBook G3 has a small, six-color Apple logo on the display case. A Macintosh PowerBook G3 Series computer has a large Apple logo on the display case that is not six-colored.

    Important Information About Your Macintosh PowerBook Computer

    This document provides late-breaking news about your Macintosh PowerBook G3 series computer. You may want to print this document to keep with the user's manual for your PowerBook.


    Important Information About Using Your Modem

    If you have a software application that uses a modem connection and it does not list support for your PowerBook G3, try using the selection for the PowerBook 3400. Most modem scripts for the PowerBook 3400 will work with the PowerBook G3. Contact the vendor for that software product if you are unable to use the PowerBook 3400 selection. Known Compatible Applications: America Online, Claris Works, any terminal application using Apple Modem Tool.

    Important Information About Updating Your System Software

    The system software on your computer and on the PowerBook G3 CD are specially designed to work with Macintosh PowerBook G3 series computers. In some instances, another version of Macintosh system software may not work with your PowerBook. Some specific software versions that do not work with your computer are listed below.

    - The general release of System 8.0 is not compatible with your PowerBook. (The system software installed on your computer also has the version number 8.0, but it includes components designed only for your PowerBook model. These components are not included in the general release of System 8.0.)

    Important Information About LocalTalk and Modem Use

    If your PowerBook is connected to an AppleTalk network by a LocalTalk connection and you are using a PC Card modem or an internal modem for data connections with a serial speed setting (between your communications program and the modem) higher than 19,200 bits per second (bps), you should turn off AppleTalk in the Chooser to avoid possible data loss during connections. This problem does not occur if your computer has an Ethernet connection.

    Important Information About Using the Disk Tools Floppy Disk

    - You must first create a Disk Tools floppy disk from the disk image on your PowerBook G3 CD.

    - If you start up your PowerBook with the Disk Tools floppy disk, do not put the system to sleep (by choosing Sleep from the Special menu, closing the computer's display, or pressing the Power key and choosing Sleep in the dialog box). The Disk Tools disk does not have all system software components needed for the computer to wake from sleep. This same advice applies to any disk or PC Card that contains a copy of the System Folder provided on the Disk Tools disk.
    (If you do put the computer to sleep and cannot wake the system, use the emergency restart procedure: Hold down the Command and Control keys when you press the Power key.)

    - When the computer starts up from the Disk Tools floppy disk, the system may not recognize a PC Card that was inserted before the computer started up. If you don't see the icon for a PC Card after the startup process is complete, eject the PC Card and insert it again.

    Note: The Disk Tools floppy disk does not contain complete system software. Use this disk only as a temporary startup disk.

    Important Information About Using an External Monitor

    - If you connect an external monitor to your PowerBook G3 and it remains black, you can try the following: While holding down the Control Key, click on the Monitors Resolution Control Strip module. A list of all the supported resolutions will be shown. You can click on the appropriate resolution for your monitor and the PowerBook G3 will start displaying video on it. If you use this procedure, you will need to repeat it once you shut down or put the PowerBook to sleep. Please consult your monitor specifications in order to decide which resolution is the most appropriate.

    - When connecting an AppleVision monitor to the PowerBook, be sure to connect the monitor's ADB cable to the ADB port (on the left side of the computer, near the back panel). This connection is required by the AppleVision software.

    - For general information and instructions on using the external monitor, see these Mac OS Guide topic areas:
    - Using an External Monitor
    - Monitors (standard settings)
    - Monitors (AppleVision extras)
    - Sound (for using the sound capabilities built into an AppleVision monitor)

    To set up or change most settings for an external monitor, you use the Monitors & Sound control panel.

    Note: You may see two Guide files that contain information about monitors and sound. One of these is Mac OS Guide; it contains all the instructions related to an AppleVision monitor and your PowerBook. The second Guide is available when the Monitors & Sound control panel is open; it is Monitors & Sound Guide. This Guide contains only the instructions for using the Monitors & Sound control panel. Mac OS Guide contains the same instructions as Monitors & Sound Guide, plus general instructions for using an external monitor and all information about using other parts of the system software.

    - The PowerBook G3 will only support the Portrait and Two Page Grayscale Displays in 256 Colors/Grays mode.

    Important Information About Using a Microphone

    - To avoid getting feedback when you use a PlainTalk microphone, be sure that the microphone is at least 1 foot away from the computer.

    - To avoid feedback when recording with the internal microphone, be sure that the Listen option is turned off in the Monitors & Sound control panel. Follow these steps:
    1. Open the Monitors & Sound control panel.
    2. Click the Sound button.
    3. In the Sound Recording Input section of the control panel, choose
    Internal Mic from the pop-up menu.
    4. Click to remove the X from the Listen box.

    Important Information About Using the QuickTake Camera

    For best results, use the QuickTake Image Access control panel to look at images in the camera and transfer them to your Macintosh. This method is faster and more reliable than using the PhotoFlash program.

    Important Information About Viewing MPEG Images

    When using QuickTime to play MPEG movies with either MoviePlayer or Apple Video Player, you may want to change one or more settings to achieve optimum playback.
    - reset the disk cache to at least 1 megabyte (MB) in the Memory control panel;
    - turn off virtual memory in the Memory control panel;
    - hide the Control Strip, using the Control Strip control panel, if you cannot set the disk cache to 1 MB.
    Changing the disk cache should permit optimum playback.
    - To reset the disk cache and turn off virtual memory, follow these steps:
    1. Open the Memory control panel.
    2. Use the arrows at the upper-right section of the control panel to set the disk cache to 1 MB or more.
    3. Click the Off button in the Virtual Memory section of the control panel.
    4. Restart the computer.
    - To hide the Control Strip, follow these steps:
    1. Open the Control Strip control panel.
    2. Click the Hide button.

    Important Information About Using Infrared Communication

    - When the IrDA method of infrared (IR) communication is selected in the AppleTalk control panel and AppleTalk is on, the computer will not go to sleep automatically.

    - If TCP/IP is configured for "Infrared Port (IrDA)", leave the "Load only when needed"
    flag checked. This is the default, but can be changed in the TCP/IP control panel
    in advanced user-modes.

    -The speed of IrDA (1 Mbit) is significantly less than most Ethernet networks (10 mbit). Lan access boxes used to provide IR access to Ethernets do not have the ability to buffer arbitrarily large amounts of data between the two speeds. There is the potential for packet-loss when a large burst of Ethernet traffic is destined for IR. One way for this to happen is with the Chooser when there are a large number of servers or devices responding.

    Important Information About the CD Drive and Waking From Sleep

    There is a period of time when waking from sleep that the CD drive will allow you to manually eject a mounted CD using the button on the drive tray. This will cause unexpected behavior. Pushing the CD tray back in will correct the situation.

    Note Pad Is Installed

    Another Read Me document may indicate that the Note Pad software (in the Apple menu) is not installed. The Note Pad is installed on your PowerBook.

    FreePPP

    If you plan to connect to the Internet via PPP, use the Open Transport/PPP (OT/PPP) software that is already installed on your PowerBook computer. FreePPP is currently incompatible with the installed America Online (AOL) link extension that is also installed on your computer. America Online is working on an update to the AOL link extension. See the "Connecting to the Internet" topic area of Mac OS Guide for instructions on using the OT/PPP software.

    Tips

    Getting Optimal Performance From Your PowerBook

    To get even better performance from your PowerBook, open the Memory Control Panel and click on the Defaults button. This will set your disk cache to the optimal size for the amount of RAM you have installed.

    Reinstalling System Software from the System Backup Folder or the PowerBook G3 CD

    If you experience problems with your System Folder or other system software on your computer's hard disk, you can reinstall the system software from the files on the PowerBook G3 CD that came with your computer. See the file "CD-Important Information" on the CD for instructions. (You can use the CD to restore system software only or all the software that was installed on your hard disk at the factory.)


    If you can't start up the computer as usual, use the Disk Tools floppy disk (You must first create a Disk Tools floppy disk from the disk image on your PowerBook G3 CD.) or the PowerBook G3 CD that came with your computer to start up. (You can start up from the CD by holding down the C key after you press the Power key.) Then use one of the options above to reinstall the system software.

    Note: If you need to re-install your system software, boot from your PowerBook G3 CD and install using the Mac OS Installler.

    Note: Be sure to disconnect any serial printers before booting from the PowerBook G3 CD.

Document Information
Product Area: Computers
Category: PowerBook
Sub Category: PowerBook G3
Keywords: kpbook

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