Upgrading to Intel mac.

[Sedge]

Yes, I'm getting *really* close to upgrading to a Intel Mac from my old Powerbook G4, which is completely maxed out with memory and still limping along quite well, considering.

I still grumble that Mac ever left behind RISC processors, but that's a different topic.

Now, I was planning on walking in to my local Mac store, and buying an aluminum MacBook 13" with the 2.4Ghz processor and 4 GB of memory. Then, probably upgrading the hard drive to at least 500 G, perhaps 750. However, discussions here and elsewhere have brought up some potentially major concerns:

1. NVidia chipset: Has this been resolved, or not? Apparently there were a lot of problems out of the gate with this, which is unfortunate, as I generally like NVidia products, more so that Intel. I want to know that I'm not buying a major problem off the shelf.

2. new mini-DisplayPort - this is a potential issue, perhaps less so if I wasn't so cheap (karaoke is my hobby, not my profession - I do host shows, but probably less than 15 a year at this point) - From what I understand, I can no longer buy an adapter that will output composite anaolg video (yellow RCA round jack) - and that really sucks, as that is what I currently do, and that is what my little 13" TV that I use for the singer's display has available. I've priced out an alternative, which would be the mini-DisplayPort to VGA adapter, then a box that switches between two VGA inputs (kJams and a VocoPro disc player that comes in handy when someone brings up their own disc), then a box that splits the VGA output from the switch box to two VGA outputs, one to a flat panel monitor (I have a couple sitting around) and one to the overhead big screen (I think it's a plasma 40" or so, but it does have a VGA input on the pack), then the miles of VGA cable needed to hook all this up, probably a 10', 2 6', and 2 20'. As I have the 6' cables and a flat panel, this still totals out to an additional $150-$200 bucks, just to get the equivalent of what I already have running with the powerbook, a composite/svideo video switch box, a y-cable for the outputs, and some long RCA cables, and a mini-DVI? to composite adapter. (and the old 13" TV). Is that really money well spent? It certainly is a buzzkill, that Apple couldn't make another $30 adapter to resolve the situation.

3. new SuperDrive, or whatever they call it now. The good - the optical drive is a standard slot, and easy to get to, so swapping a different optical drive is an option. The bad - the Matshita drive it comes with is not CDG friendly, apparently. So, looking down the barrel of another $150-$200 upgrade, likely. Firewire is no more on this MacBook, so getting a firewire LightScribe burner isn't an option - the other option is to run a USB 2.0 LightScribe burner, but it's probably not too much different cost-wise to just replace the internal optical drive.

4. No Firewire - this means I'll see no performance increase over my current USB 2.0 solution - I have a Seagate USB 2.0 500G external drive on which resides all the music, including the kJams folder - and this has served me well, except data transfer speeds could be better. Perhaps the additional performance of the new lappy will make this a moot point, and tossing the music back on an upgraded internal hard drive is a possible solution too - still a bummer, though. And I admit I'm a litte jittery on this point, because I'm dealt with internal hard drive failure already, twice in the last year, on this powerbook. Hence partially why the external drive - that and space, as my music collection runs about 125G, and I've got another 100+ gigs of regular iTunes music, which leaves very little room on the largest drive that this Powerbook can handle (250G WD, biggest PATA 2.5 drive available)

So, what I suppose I am looking for here is user testimonials of how you all have resolved these issues for yourselves. I'm not going to toss down $2000 for something I should hold off 6 months to a year to buy.

Thanks in advance,
Sedge
Elite Performance Entertainment
http://sites.google.com/a/avineoinc.com/epe/

[Brendan]

From what I understand, I can no longer buy an adapter that will output composite anaolg video (yellow RCA round jack)

I use a mini DV to video adapter for my system(it has "s" video and yellow video cable) You can use either one. I bought it at the aple store, im sure they still sell them.

[DJKarlos]

Addressing a few of your questions...

2. new mini-DisplayPort

This seems to remain an issue. I've looked into this quite a bit. The only real option seems to be this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aa1C7YLFWmw

Note: this is not my video, but all roads I've found lead to this. As far as I've figured out, the mini-display port outputs a digital signal, which means you need a real video converter (vs. a simple adapter) to convert the digital stream to analog for s-video/composite. I was hoping for a simple mini-display port to s-video/composite adapter for my monitors. I haven't jumped into this yet, but it looks like screen spanning and everything works once you get these adapters hooked (though it's not a clean solution). (I'm actually new to computer-based karaoke but planning the full switch.)

3. new SuperDrive

I have a new MacBook (not Pro) and it reads and writes CD+G discs!! KJams put up that warning window that it might not work... and I told the software to try it and it's worked for me. I would try that before getting an external drive.

4. No Firewire

Yes, that stinks. I still have external drives and a video camera that needs Firewire. But I was planning on keeping my iMac G5 anyway.

Hope that helps.

[Sedge]

I use a mini DV to video adapter for my system(it has "s" video and yellow video cable)

As do I, or similar, with my PB. I think mine is technically mini-vga or something, but I know these exist, just NOT for the mini-DisplayPort - which is NOT the same as mini-DV.

[Sedge]

As far as I've figured out, the mini-display port outputs a digital signal, which means you need a real video converter (vs. a simple adapter) to convert the digital stream to analog for s-video/composite.

Yeah, without watching that video first, I was already looking at the same adapter that guy was pricing, but as a way to split the VGA signal to both the monitor and the big screen. It is an option, but the pricing makes it pretty comparable to switching completely to VGA. In this case, I would need Miniport to VGA adapter, then VGA to composite converter box (which costs about the same as the switch and splitter boxes together) - so in this case, the question becomes whether to convert to VGA or not - and I'd almost favor VGA if the cost was about the same, as then I could pitch the 13" TV I have to use as a monitor, that if not plugged in for over a week, demands to do a channel scan and find a usable analog channel before even allowing me to flip it to composite in. With analog air signals being stripped out, this leaves analog cable signals, which are also being phased out - so, buy a digital converter box to save a $35 pawn shop TV, or convert to a 19" flat panel? I suppose I digress a bit, but I really see converting to VGA as winning out here.

I have a new MacBook (not Pro) and it reads and writes CD+G discs!!

How new? unibody aluminum? bought after they supposedly fixed the problems with NVidia chipset? Perhaps the best question, what model is the optical drive? (You can get this info from System Profiler).
I went to the local Mac Store last week and confirmed that their display model was using a Matshita drive, which are, in my experience, the least likely to read or heaven forbid, write CDGs. I didn't write down the bloody model number, but I seem to remember it being 760 or 780, something like that (of course with some letters in front of it)

Hope that helps.

Actually, it does. Thanks!

[DJKarlos]

...I really see converting to VGA as winning out here.

I've been hacking at this in my head. For my setup at least, that's the way I'm leaning. Though I'm not real excited about buying all those adapters.

How new? unibody aluminum? bought after they supposedly fixed the problems with NVidia chipset?

Yes, I've got the unibody aluminum MacBook, 2.4Ghz. Got it in early February (this year). I didn't really follow the NVidia chipset issue, so not sure when that compares in the timeline.

Here's the drive info:

HL-DT-ST DVDRW GS21N:

Firmware Revision: SA15
Interconnect: ATAPI
Burn Support: Yes (Apple Shipping Drive)
Cache: 2048 KB
Reads DVD: Yes
CD-Write: -R, -RW
DVD-Write: -R, -R DL, -RW, +R, +R DL, +RW
Write Strategies: CD-TAO, CD-SAO, CD-Raw, DVD-DAO
Media:
Type: CD-ROM
Blank: No
Erasable: No
Overwritable: No
Appendable: No

It appears to be an LG from a quick Google search, but I'm not certain about that.

As a complete aside, I've got an HP DVD 840 external lightscribe drive for my iMac that reads and writes CD+G's. It's not even listed as supported for the Mac much less CD+G discs. It shows up as model 840d on my system. I bring it up only because it was $99 new and anyone who needs one could probably pick one up on eBay for <$40.

[Sedge]

Good info on the exact drive, definitely NOT the drive I spec'd in the display model at the store. Good on reporting the HP lightscribe drive too - I assume that's a USB 2.0 drive.

[DJKarlos]

Good on reporting the HP lightscribe drive too - I assume that's a USB 2.0 drive.

Yes, it is USB 2.0. I was really happy it worked... I had read on the KJams wiki that LightScribe drive's work pretty well... and I lucked out.

Another update on using my new MacBook - I got the mini-display port to VGA adapter and a cheap VGA splitter. It works great on a monitor and an LCD projector. I haven't taken it "on the road" yet. I'm still getting my rhythm with KJams and computer based KJ-ing (vs. disc-based). (BTW, I'm loving Kjams so far, and I'll report how things go for me.)

One more food for thought, I recently got a big old VGA monitor for free. Someone was pitching it out... everyone's moving to flat panels as they upgrade. So, if anyone needs a karaoke monitor, be on the lookout for those old ones (friends, businesses, Craigslist) ... you might find one free/cheap and save it from a landfill.

[studio54]

The NVIDIA issue: google Nvidia Apple Chip
there is lots of info there, and some/all may be relevant to users of this forum
RE Nvidia chip issues

Apple support issued a document, (check it out for yourself- of course they did not make a big publicity issue out of this!)
the specific models affected were all made between May 2007 and September 2008, and include all 15- and 17-inch models equipped with NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT graphics processors. As with other laptops, the problem shows itself in the form of distorted or scrambled video, or a complete absence of video on the screen or external display. If your MacBook Pro falls into that lot, and the problem occurs within two years of your original purchase date, Apple says it'll repair it free of charge, even if it's out of warranty. It's also issuing refunds to folks that have already paid to get their MacBook Pro repaired.

http://www.insanely-great.com/news.php?id=9767

http://cultofmac.com/nvidia-chip-instab ... -pros/9343

http://news.cnet.com/8301-13579_3-10191334-37.html

So please do your own research-all the info is out there on the web- we don't need to clutter this forum with further rehash on this
but hopefully it is a help for those struggling in the dark.

ps The first series powerbooks ade between May 2007 and September 2008, and include all 15- and 17-inch models equipped with NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT graphics processors are very problematic- lots of other problems- with this issue as well.

now back to kjams issues!

[dave]