2009 Macs and Peripherals :: General...

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2009 Macs and Peripherals :: General...
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2009 Macs and Peripherals :: General...
I have just taken delivery of an Epson R1900 Photo printer (Staples had a ''Deal'' on them that was simply too good to be missed). It is probably because there is a new model in the pipeline, but, for for the little that I paid, who cares!



It needs to be stated that the R1900 is for printing Photographs and you will probably need another printer in addition to it for output from Vector programs such as Illustrator. (I still have my trusty Epson 1270 for that.)



I am printing 16-bit ProPhoto RGB images through Photoshop CS4 (with Photoshop managing colors using the down-loadable Epson Premium profiles) and the smoothness of tones, lack of banding and incredible image detail in the results are outstanding.



Unfortunately it is only CS4 on a Mac that lets you print at 16 bits that technology is not available to Windows-users at this time but if you have CS4 on a Mac and a printer like the R1900, do try printing ProPhoto RGB with 16-bits.

Ann - How is the color and brightness matching?

It's spot-on from the first print!



I have my monitor (which is a wide-spectrum NEC 2690) calibrated for 130 cd/m2 and the output from the printer is a dead-ringer with the rendering in Photoshop's soft proofing using the Premium paper profiles.

I lost this thread again. Guess there must have been more problems and it had to be closed again. Thanks Buko for starting it back up.



I have a new question concerning Apple TV. Whenever we are using my husband's MacBook Pro, if we use the remote on the Apple TV, whatever happens on the TV takes over what happens on the laptop. I've been over and over the settings but I can't get it to stop.



Does anyone know what is going on and what to do to stop it?

That is the new Apple product called the iSchizo.

If you only have one remote (ATV only), disable the IR function in the MacBook Pro's Security preference pane.



If you have two remotes (one for ATV and one for the laptop), you need to pair each one for the specific use.



http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?path=Mac/10.5/en/8993.html

Phil, You are the best! Disabling IR was the secret. Thank you for saving my sanity.

New challenge. I think Time Capsule is broken.



I set up Time Capsule for the first time today. It began backing up everything on the laptop. I left the laptop for a while and when I came back it had gone to sleep. I then wasn't sure if the backup was frozen or still working so I cancelled it. It wouldn't cancel so I force quit. I then decided to erase the disk because I didn't want all the user files included in the back up. I made the mistake of writing to zeros. At this point it took forever and again I force quit. I thought it had frozen. Now the Time Capsule disk will not show up on at all when I attempt to set it up. There is an orange light blinking.



I'm at the Apple Website trying to find answers. I thought I'd post just in case it helps speed up the answer. In the meantime I'm still researching.

Linda:



Hopefully someone knows the answer I am just sorry that I don't know anything about TimeCapsule.



Did it come with a CD and its own software? Can you re-install that if it exists?

Hi Ann,



I've just sent an email off to my Apple sales person asking him what to do. I have a feeling it's damaged.



It did come with a CD and it's own software. I'll give it a try tomorrow but I'm pretty sure the hardware has developed a problem.



Thanks so much for your concern and willingness to help. I'll keep you posted.

See if this helps:

http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=8646605%26amp;#8646605



There are more threads on the subject in that Discussion area if you do a search under ''orange light''.

Thank you Ann. I'm working on it now.

Another challenge added to the mix. The previous password I used for Airport no longer seems to work.

I would start again from the beginning (possibly with a new user's account) and re-install the software from scratch from the original CDs for both Airport and for Time Machine.

%26gt; I would start again from the beginning (possibly with a new user's account) and re-install the software from scratch from the original CDs for both Airport and for Time Machine.



I had installed the software from the disk that came with Time Capsule which seemed to include Airport Utilities. I'll create a new user folder and start over.



A little progress on Time Capsule - I hooked it up to my G5 using an Ethernet cable. I then used the reset button as suggested in the Apple link Ann provided. I was able to connect to the disk and erase it again.

Looking happier?



:)

%26gt; Looking happier?



Yes on this one. Thanks Ann.



Looks like this thread will be popping again. Lot's going on here.



Ann was the first to hear the news that my husband's MBP is now mine. After working with it since Christmas he also had lots of problems (must run in the family). I was helping him, and thought it must have been because he's been away from the Mac for so long. He finally got fed up and told me he would rather I take it and he will get a PC that will work better with his business related network.



I know this sounds like a good thing for me, and I'm sure I will feel that way eventually... but honestly I didn't need a laptop. My older G4 Powerbook is really solid and everything I need for a laptop. If I were putting the money into something for myself I would have bought an iMac.



That said, I plan to make good use of the newly acquired MBP, and at least attempt to do with it what I planned to do with an iMac. Use it as a backup computer for client jobs while I do a complete wipe and reinstall on my G5. Also will attempt to use the MBP with the TV for showing client photos.



Now, here's the thing. After using my husband's MBP for one day I see that it really does have issues. It often won't log out and in, and it often won't restart without turning it off and on. Other glitches as well, but could be user related.



So... I am wiping the MBP clean and reinstalling all software first thing. This is something I would prefer to do anyway, and usually do when I buy a new computer.



I always appreciate the wisdom and knowledge that is shared in this forum. I've thanked you all many times, but I just want to thank you again. It's just nice to know you are here, even if you don't have all the answers... but even better when you do. ;-)

Just reset the password on Time Capsule. It was working. I then shut down and rebooted. Now the password is not working on that either. I wonder what is going on with these passwords. Is it possible that someone is hacking my wireless network?

Partition Question for those who might know: Should I partition the MBP for Photoshop Cache? or any other reason? If so, what would be ideal?



Added Note: 320 GB HD and 4 GB RAM.

No, don't partition it.



Attach a separate external FWD for Photoshop's Scratch.

Ann,



I can use an external FWD when I'm at my desk, but not when I take the laptop elsewhere. Is there any advantage to having a little scratch space set aside on the same drive?



I also read somewhere that some users partition their drive for Time Capsule files. This sounds like a possible way to speed up backups.

I'm going to experiment on partitioning the MBP. 150GB Main - OS %26amp; Apps; 50GB Scratch; 100GB Files. If it doesn't work well I'll just redo it again.



Most files will be stored on and edited from the external 1TB RAID drive.

A partition for Photoshop scratch on your boot drive doesn't help at all and will actually just slow you down because each drive has only one set of heads and they can't read/write to two different partitions at the same time.



Also that Drive is pretty small and I don't think you would want to fill it with Time Capsule files.

%26gt; A partition for Photoshop scratch on your boot drive doesn't help at all and will actually just slow you down because each drive has only one set of heads and they can't read/write to two different partitions at the same time.



Oh well. Maybe I should repartition then.



%26gt; Also that Drive is pretty small and I don't think you would want to fill it with Time Capsule files.



Maybe I should clarify - This is the partition I would store files which would be backed up to the Time Capsule. I read that others do this to keep backup files separate from system and application files.



I cannot figure out why Airport works on my old laptop with the same password I've had since I bought it, but on the new setup it rejects my password. This one problem has taken up a good part of my day today and yesterday trying to resolve it. Even after reinstalling the OS on the new MBP Airport rejects my password.

Not sure why, but Airport just started working with the password. Maybe it just took me griping about it in Post #24 to get it to cooperate.

Now the airport password is not working again. I am totally perplexed. Airport is now live, but when I go into the settings and am asked for my PW again it is rejected.

I have never used Airport, but can you not go in to its Prefs as an Admin.; enter your existing password and then change it?



Or does it need separate passwords from each separate computer User?

%26gt;This is the partition I would store files which would be backed up to the Time Capsule. I read that others do this to keep backup files separate from system and application files.%26gt;



I don't see the point in doing that because if the drive does go bad, you won't be able to get to EITHER partition anyway!



If you want to Back-up, burn the files to a DVD or to a small portable external HD.

I must not be communicating very well. The files that are created on the laptop get backed up to the new 1TB Time Capsule drive.



I've removed the one partition but created another 30GB partition just in case I need to run Windows in the future.

Sure.



But they could be in a separate Folder couldn't they they don't need to be on a separate partition?

%26gt; But they could be in a separate Folder couldn't they they don't need to be on a separate partition?



If you want to run Windows, from what I understand you have to have a separate partition.

I didn't know that you were trying to run Windows from the same machine?



That is a very small HD to share between two separate operating Systems plus separate Applications and run Photoshop on it as well.

Linda-



Just listen to the original advice not to partition.

So much for testing websites with Windows then. This laptop will probably not serve my purposes. I may try to sell it, unless Apple will allow me to turn it in for something else, which I doubt. I'm disappointed that my husband couldn't use it but I don't fault him for it. It's just one of those things.



Is it true that CS3 will not run well on Leopard?

%26gt;Is it true that CS3 will not run well on Leopard?



If you are serious about such a
software question that has been discussed ad nauseam you should probably start another thread rather than adding it here on this
hardware thread.

%26gt; If you are serious about such a software question that has been discussed ad nauseam you should probably start another thread rather than adding it here on this hardware thread.



Never mind. Point taken. I won't need to start another thread for that question. I do apologize for my endless questions, and for messing up this thread with so many posts. I do get carried away.

Linda:



If you want to test Web sites from a Windows machine in the way that the average viewer, with a non-color managed browser on a non-calibrated screen, might see them; all that you need is the cheapest box from Costco!



Regarding CS3 on Leopard: Snow Leopard is due within the next few weeks; and you have CS4 anyway.



:)

%26gt; If you want to test Web sites from a Windows machine in the way that the average viewer, with a non-color managed browser on a non-calibrated screen, might see them; all that you need is the cheapest box from Costco!



I won't even buy the cheap ones from Costco. My customers give me their old PC's if I need one.... My kind of price for a PC. All you need is the basic machine with IE installed to view websites.



%26gt; Snow Leopard is due within the next few weeks; and you have CS4 anyway.



Is it better than Leopard? Anyone beta tested?

%26gt; Snow Leopard is due within the next few weeks;



You know this how? I suppose you might be basing it on the infamous ''OSX release schedule slide'' that inadvertently listed SL's release in Q1 2009, but there's been nothing official from Apple. It could be 6 months before it's released --- or tomorrow. ;)



Linda-

Running Windows on the Macbook Pro is perfectly doable. There's no need to manually partition the drive before hand ''in case'' you want to install Windows. The Boot Camp software allows you to partition the drive at any time (on-the-fly) without harm to your Mac data. Prior backup recommended of course, but it works very well.



http://www.apple.com/macosx/features/bootcamp.html



If the laptop was your only machine, I'd agree with Ann that a cheap PC would be the way to go, as you'd have to constantly reboot back and forth between the Mac and Windows installs, but that's not the case. Again, this is perfectly doable.



The 320GB drive is actually quite spacious for a laptop drive - the largest available being 500GB. As long as you're not go to use it as your main machine and load every possible software available or store huge files, I think you have plenty of room. You could easily get by with 15 - 20GB partition for a simple install of Windows XP.



-phil

%26gt; but there's been nothing official from Apple.



Of course there hasn't: Apple never makes an announcement before software is ready to ship but there has been plenty of discussion of ''Q1 2009'' and we are only weeks away from the end of March.



Anyway, some of us are lucky enough to be running Tiger 10.4.11 so are not waiting with bated breath for the birth of the next Apple kitten.



:)



-----

Linda:



If CS4 is running slowly on your G5 on OSX 10.4.11; go to your Preferences/Caches/Adobe Photoshop CS4 and trash the entire contents of that folder.

%26gt; Regarding CS3 on Leopard: Snow Leopard is due within the next few weeks; and you have CS4 anyway.



Ann, I hope you're right. I discovered that some of the OS problems went away when I reinstalled Leopard without all the updates. Hopefully Snow Leopard will be better.



%26gt; Linda-



%26gt; Running Windows on the Macbook Pro is perfectly doable. There's no need to manually partition the drive before hand ''in case'' you want to install Windows. The Boot Camp software allows you to partition the drive at any time (on-the-fly) without harm to your Mac data. Prior backup recommended of course, but it works very well.



%26gt; http://www.apple.com/macosx/features/bootcamp.html



%26gt; If the laptop was your only machine, I'd agree with Ann that a cheap PC would be the way to go, as you'd have to constantly reboot back and forth between the Mac and Windows installs, but that's not the case. Again, this is perfectly doable.



%26gt; The 320GB drive is actually quite spacious for a laptop drive - the largest available being 500GB. As long as you're not go to use it as your main machine and load every possible software available or store huge files, I think you have plenty of room. You could easily get by with 15 - 20GB partition for a simple install of Windows XP.



Thank you Phil. This helps.



I contacted my Apple store to see if there would be a chance I could return the MBP for the new 17'' model with antiglare screen. This would be much more practical for my uses. Answer was no of course. I knew that would be the case but thought it wouldn't hurt to ask.

Missed your post Ann...



%26gt; If CS4 is running slowly on your G5 on OSX 10.4.11; go to your Preferences/Caches/Adobe Photoshop CS4 and trash the entire contents of that folder.



Thank you. I'll try it.

From various sources, I hear that Snow Leopard is
Mac-Intel only. If this is true, I'd expect to see the prices of second-hand G5s drop soon after Snow Leopard is released.

G5 costs deserve to be low. The only folks for whom they are appropriate
new purchases are those intending to keep running
legacy apps or essential
legacy hardware and that also suffice with
legacy cards. A limited (non-zero) number of users satisfy that combined description.



As regards new purchases, all new users, all users of only non-legacy apps and all users with strong performance needs are much better off with some flavor of MacIntel.



From dictionary.com:
legacy: of or pertaining to old or outdated computer hardware, software, or data that, while still functional, does not work well with up-to-date systems.

Except that my CS4 Suite works brilliantly and flawlessly (including using OpenGL) in OSX 10.4.11 on my G5 with it's new flashed-for-Mac video card, a new NEC 2690 monitor and a new two-days-old Epson Printer.



which is not what a lot of MacIntel/OSX 10.5.6 or Windows Users seem to be saying on these Forums.



8/

Ann,



Occasionally, as an exercise in keeping my brain active, I run Photoshop 7.0.1 in native Mac OS 9.2. I'm always amazed at what it can do in cases where I have no need of ACR. Also, it runs extremely fast on my machine running native OS 9.2, noticeably faster than the same application on the same machine under any version of OS X.



Buying my dual bootable machine has turned out to be a perfect decision. I cannot fathom buying a machine that doesn't at least run Classic.

Ann, have you tried looking at side by sides of the same RAW of ProPhoto, a98, and sRGB with perceptual and relative, and 2.2 and 1.8 on your WG monitor?

And what do you see? How do they print?

I am running the NEC 1290 monitor at 130 cd/m2; D65; Gamma 2.2.



I am processing my digital camera RAW files (and my scanned Tiffs!) through Bridge-hosted ACR 5.2 with ProPhoto RGB settings.



I open the 16-bit ProPhoto RGB files directly into Photoshop CS4 and print to my new Epson R1900 using Epson's special ''Premium ICC Profiles (which are downloadable from their site) normally using Relative Colorimetric.



The resulting prints are a perfect match to the Soft Proof View in Photoshop.



For more about this amazing little printer, you might be interested in this thread:

http://www.adobeforums.com/webx/.59b7adfd/



Staples had an incredible special deal on the R1900s last week and I was lucky enough to snag one. They are now out of stock there but I understand that B%26amp;H have a similar deal; and Epson themselves are offering a $150 rebate.



Adobe RGB and sRGB JPEGs also preview perfectly on this monitor and, provided that I embed sRGB Profiles in my sRGB JPEGs (which I always do now) they look fine in both Safari and Firefox.



Other peoples web sites, with non-profile-embedded photographs, are a different matter!