Macking 143

Save Your Updates
When updating your OS, it's best to go to Apple's web site and download the disk image (.dmg) of the Combo updater because it's more stable and less likely to produce a failed installation. Be sure to save the updater, and any other disk images or installers you download, in the Installers folder in the Applications folder. If you don't already have one, create one.
Some people are having trouble with the beta version of Safari 3.0 from Apple, and a few problems have been solved by reapplying the Combo Updater. Note that there is also a Delta Updater available; that is the one Software Update uses if you are updating from 10.4.8. The Combo is required for all older versions, but overall, it's best to use the Combo.
The new Safari has a much-improved Reset Safari option. In older versions, it's all or nothing. Now, you have a field of checkboxes and you can choose not to clear your saved names and passwords, remove all cookies, clear history and others.

Router Troubles
I have had a couple of clients who were not able to connect to their wireless network lately. At first I thought it was caused by the 10.4.10 update, which had accumulated similar reports on the Mac blogs, but reverting did not fix things in one case. Very odd behavior, too. Could easily connect to a computer-to-computer network, an iMac sitting right next to the MacBook could connect just fine, and my own older MacBook could too.
Turned out the culprit in one case was an old Netgear router. Replace it with an Apple AirPort Extreme and not only did it work, it worked wonderfully. Before (when it worked) it connected at only 11 Mbps where mine connected at 54. Now it connects at 130 because the Extreme supports the new, faster speeds. That beats wired Ethernet through the same router (100 Mbps)!
Neither Netgear nor Linksys really want Mac business anyway, so there really is a good reason to pay the premium for the Apple router. It just works, and is well supported by Apple.

10.4.10 and 10.4.11
For the first time Apple abandoned the normal update numbering scheme and added a fifth digit to the upgrade. This can cause trouble on some OSX Server networks (it thinks you are running 10.4.1) but that isn't the reason I withdrew my endorsement for this update. Too many reports of connection problems similar to the one noted above, plus odd glitches when playing sound or DVD files. Hopefully the already-announced 10.4.11 update will fix the problems without introducing new ones. The wait for October, release month for 10.5 (Leopard) is still on track. I will be an early adopter (so you don't have to) and will be reporting on how well it works.
Leopard will install on G4 Macs (no G3s) but it's been reported that some of the features will not work at all; others will work only on the fastest MDD models and last of the G4 PowerBooks. Leopard really wants a G5 or an Intel Mac.

iPhone
Every carbon-based life form in this sector of the galaxy is blogging their heads off about this so tell you what - since I am not getting one, I won't say a thing about it. If you have questions, just open your window and cock your ear. (Or visit Macintouch and check the reader reports. It's both a nightmare and a rainbow. Best of luck.
I just wish I had some Apple stock.

Short Column
I am moving this month and just have not had the time to produce a full-on column. Sorry about that; I'll have it in gear next month and there should be plenty of news to report.

No Microsoft products were used in the production of this column.

email mp at moonmac dot com. (I took out the mailto link because that's how the spammers find me.)