Re: Apple's PR Nightmare: The G4 Upgrade

[Randy Shackelford <shack@onyx.southwind.net>]

Here's a post from csm.hardware.misc about the supposed nonupgradeability of
blue/white aka ugly G3s to G4 processors. Good example of how Apple haters
jump at the first thing they can find to bash Apple, whether it turns out
to be so or not.

BTW if anyone wants to whine about how this is off topic, whine to the
people who started talking about G4 upgrades here.

In comp.sys.mac.hardware.misc Brian Lewis <blewis@cablestogo.com> wrote:
: I was working on a reply when I came across a much better one in the Apple
: support forums.

: "I think you are referring to the following rumor:
: 1) Apple releases Firmware update
: 2) After applying update, B&W G3's are no longer able to use G4 processor
: 3) Apple intentionally did this so we'd have to buy new G4's

: "Apple has intentionally disable the ability to use a G4 processor card in
: the current Blue & White G3s via its new firmware update," one source said.
: "We know this was done intentionally because the previous version of
: firmware does not have a problem with the presence of a G4 processor."

: --from "Apple Plays Dirty As G4 Problems Persist" 6/17/99
: http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/9906/apple-g4.shtml

: I think this rumor has been sufficiently disproven from some other sites:

: "Some of those G3 owners hoping for a straight shot at G4 performance were
: rattled when Apple released a new firmware update that blocked G4 upgrades.
: That's the tale that spread like wildfire over the Internet: Perfidious
: Apple was trying to protect G4 sales by blocking G4 upgrades.

: I guess a rumor can make its way around the world before the truth can get
: out of bed. The fact is, if that barrier does exist in the new firmware for
: Mac OS 8.6, it must have disappeared in the Mac OS 9 betas, unless Apple
: will break the box just before OS 9 ships. You see, it seems that some beta
: testers are also beta testing G4 upgrade cards in G3 boxes without any
: problem whatsoever.

: --from Robert Morgan's RFI Report 8/18/99
: http://macweek.zdnet.com/1999/08/15/rfiwed.html

: "For some time, it has been rumored that Apple, in its more recent Firmware
: versions for the Blue G3, has blocked users from upgrading to G4 processors.
: Until now, MOSR has withheld comment because of the potential for confusion
: this rumor creates.

: Earlier this week, a Rev. B Yosemite was upgraded with a prototype
: third-party G4 ZIF card right in front of our eyes. After some initial
: problems setting the proper bus speed timing (the card came set for a 66MHz
: bus clock, rather than the Yose's 100), the card booted perfectly at 550MHz.
: There was a small amount of instability in using the machine -- but no less
: than was experienced when using the same card in a Beige (Gossamer) G3
: minitower.

: The point here is simple: whether or not Apple has created some kind of
: firmware hack in the hopes of restricting the viability of G4 upgrades
: before it has released its own G4-based Macs, at least one third party --
: who remains anonymous at their request -- appears to have worked around it.
: MOSR has also been told that the workaround is relatively simple, and will
: most likely be discovered by other third parties soon....if they haven't
: already.

: So, Blue G3 buyers can rest easy; your machine will not be a dead-end, and
: in fact is one of the most upgradable Macs ever made. Enjoy it!

: --From MacOsRumors 8/18/99
: http://www.macosrumors.com/8-99.html

: In summary, I think it is premature to file a complaint before any
: allegations of intentional disabling of G4 upgrades can be proven. I think
: it would be prudent to wait and see if any G4 upgrade cards become available
: first, considering that the first G4 computers were only announced a few
: days ago."
-- 
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