As the Apple Turns: Scene 761: Jazzed Up For USB (6/9/98)

Jazzed Up For USB (6/9/98)

Yesterday's bit on USB provoked a lot of reaction, and almost all of it was positive. People seem pretty excited about Apple moving to a new standard and leaving ADB and standard serial behind. In particular, it really opens the doors to a whole new level of peripheral availability, since USB is a standard on the Wintel side already. A peripherals manufacturer no longer needs to create a whole separate ADB version of its new joystick if it wants to sell into the Mac market, for example; it's just a matter of software and support.

The bottom line on the whole USB migration thing is that it should go pretty darn smoothly for us Mac users. If you have a new Mac and legacy peripherals, you can buy products from Newer Technology that will give your USB-equipped iMac older-style serial and ADB ports. If you've got a legacy (though fairly-recent and PCI-based) Mac and new USB peripherals, you can add USB to your system for under $100 with Keyspan's recently-announced card. Heck, just today ADS Technologies announced their own PCI card that provides two USB ports for only $49. It really should be a pretty easy migration.

Of course, if you want to read about the kinds of headaches even a simple plug-and-play architecture like USB can cause on the Wintel side of the fence, you might want to take a look at Connectix's USB troubleshooting page. Adjusting jumpers on the motherboard? Enabling USB in the BIOS? We sincerely hope that stuff like that isn't in store for us here in Mac-land-- and we're fairly confident it isn't. ;-)

SceneLink (761)

And Now For A Word From Our Sponsors

Mash-ups and original music by AtAT's former Intern and Goddess-in-Training

The above scene was taken from the 6/9/98 episode:

June 9, 1998: AtAT's faithful viewers never disappoint; the casting suggestions for the Apple miniseries are coming in fast and furious. Meanwhile, Apple divests itself from the Santa Clara real estate market, and USB should be pretty trouble-free (especially since you've got a Mac)...

Other scenes from that episode:

759: Casting Call Free-For-All (6/9/98) Well, just as we expected, yesterday's idle suggestion that HBO should consider casting Anthony Edwards to play Steve Jobs in the upcoming "history of Apple" miniseries elicited a virtual avalanche of email...
760: Century 21 They Ain't (6/9/98) While the press paints an ever-rosier picture of Apple's future, you just know somebody's going to leap on this bit of news for contrast, so we figure we'll go first. In a move that some may construe as further evidence that Apple just keeps cutting and cutting to make a profit, Apple is pulling out of the real estate market...

Or view the entire episode as originally broadcast...


	As an Amazon Associate, AtAT earns from qualifying purchases


	DISCLAIMER: AtAT was not a news site any more than Inside Edition was a "real" news show. We made Dawson's Creek look like 60 Minutes. We engaged in rampant guesswork, wild speculation, and pure fabrication for the entertainment of our viewers. Sure, everything here was "inspired by actual events," but so was Amityville II: The Possession. So lighten up. Site best viewed with a sense of humor. AtAT is not responsible for lost or stolen articles. Keep hands inside car at all times. The drinking of beverages while watching AtAT is strongly discouraged; AtAT is not responsible for damage, discomfort, or staining caused by spit-takes or "nosers." Everything you see here that isn't attributed to other parties is copyright ©,1997-2024 J. Miller and may not be reproduced or rebroadcast without his explicit consent (or possibly the express written consent of Major League Baseball, but we doubt it).