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From: sukenick@sci.ccny.cuny.edu (SYG)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.hardware
Subject: Re: LC comments
Message-ID: <1991Mar4.211651.6301@sci.ccny.cuny.edu>
Date: 4 Mar 91 21:16:51 GMT
References: <11745@uhccux.uhcc.Hawaii.Edu>
Organization: City College of New York - Science Computing Facility
Lines: 34

>My wife just bought a Mac IILC, and is very pleased with it. She bought
>1.  There is no power connector for the monitor on the back of the
>IILC. Because of this, we've inadvertently left the monitor on for long
>periods of time, not knowing that it was on and wasting lots of
>party hardware device to help us save electricity.

Well, if you're serious about keeping your Mac alive, and saving electricity,
you should get a surge supressor power strip. (at the very least)
The prices range anywhere from $8 and up up up.  I have one which is a console
with lighted switches for each connector in it's back, along with a master
switch. It cost $15...it's not wonderful, but it did solve some strange data
problems in the PC that it is also connected to.  Select "Power Off" in the
menu, and when all is clear, turn off the power at the strip. Otherwise,
even with the Mac II's turn off, the computer is still connected to the
line.  If there is a surge, it is better for the equipment to be completely
switched off.  At one extreme, I know of an EE who unplugs his equipment
(now thats really getting paranoid :-)) If you want a really good unit,
you can pay about $200 for a line regulator transformer with a host
of protection :-)

>3. Expensive VRAM kit. They're asking a lot of $$ for 256K of VRAM. Is
>it really that expensive? Are there any third party manufacturers with
>plans to bring out VRAM upgrade kits?

Just find out the chip #.


>4. 40MB is way too small. I'm planning to replace it with a larger
>120MB drive from APS. Apple really should have give us an option for a
>larger internal drive in the IILC.

Why replace and not add?  then you'll have 40 MB more at a price differential
of about $100 (i.e. $100 is the usual diff for an external)
Also, when you replace, you have to worry about the power supply...