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Connectix unveils VPC 4.0

updated 08:15 am EST, Tue December 5, 2000

Connectix today released Virtual PC 4.0, the latest version of its popular PC emulator. VPC 4.0 features improved support for the PowerPC G4's Velocity Engine, improving the speed of emulation by nearly twice that of previous versions. Users can also dynamically allocate more memory to application, which can now run multiple PC operating systems at the same time. The software is currently available with Windows 98, either as an upgrade ($80) or as a full version ($180). DOS and Windows Me versions will begin shipping in December and January, respectively. OS Packs will be available for Windows 95, 2000, and Linux.

by MacNN Staff

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12/05, 09:08am | report spam | close Reply | delete
OS X

It's a little sad that the FAQ does not even mention OS X.

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12/05, 09:14am | report spam | close Reply | delete
not carbonized

Version 4.0 is not carbonised. That's because the carbon API's haven't been finalized yet and so connectix and many other companies are waiting for Apple to finalize carbon rather than risk carbonizing now and then having to go through several million lines of code to make some changes.

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12/05, 09:22am | report spam | close Reply | delete
I'm waiting for ME VPC

Well, the upgrade from VPC 3.0 is $80. Then, to upgrade to Windows ME from 95 is $80. Well, now we're up to $160. And we all know how much fun Windows upgrades are (and unreliable).

I'll just buy VPC 4.0 with ME pre-installed. It's only a $40 difference (and I'm sure it could be obtained for cheaper than $200 elsewhere than Connectix).

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12/05, 09:28am | report spam | close Reply | delete
You can't buy Me

Me will only available as an OS Pack, a new technology that allows users to upgrade their OS just by dragging and dropping the new OS Pack... you'll have to buy the DOS version, then Me, I believe. Or go the path you explained above.

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12/05, 09:28am | report spam | close Reply | delete
RE: I'm waiting for ME V

Your comment is worthless!

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12/05, 09:34am | report spam | close Reply | delete
WHAT??

I thought the the LAST barrier had been cleared when they it seemed that the long awaited I/O kit was supposedly delivered (all I heard on that point was that it was included on a CD that COULD be obtained after the release of the public alpha). If carbon is still not finished, then it's pointless to release X until at least 6 months have passed since developers had the information they need to transistion. Or maybe they'll force it to market long before it's ready and nobody will use it!

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12/05, 10:09am | report spam | close Reply | delete
Read MacNN again

Concerning the absence of any mention of Mac OS X in the VPC FAQ, consider this quote from the MacNN article about how developers feel about OS X:

"Another company that has stated it will deliver an OS X-native application is San Mateo, Calif.-based Connectix Corp. According to Kurt Schmucker, Connectix director of product management, the company has been working on an OS X version of the Virtual PC Windows emulator and will ship it "shortly after OS X 1.0" arrives. Still, Schmucker said, the unfinished form of Apple's product means Connectix can't finalize its own: "There are still too many variables in the public beta." "

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12/05, 11:05am | report spam | close Reply | delete
Not concerned about OSX

I'm not at all concerned about them bringing out a OSX version. I have the PB and hardly use it becasue of all the other things that doesn't work.

I would much more prefer that they improve the "classic" OS version before making a half-assed OSX version.

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12/05, 11:30am | report spam | close Reply | delete
DVD support in v4?

I tried to search the Connectrix "knowledge" base and could'nt find the info there. Anyone got the answer

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12/05, 11:33am | report spam | close Reply | delete
I agree

I feel a little ripped off - I bought VPC less than a couple months ago at great expense and even sacrificed buying the OS X beta upgrade so I could run it. Now just a couple months later, they want me to pay almost half the purchase price again for this new upgrade, which is still not even Carbonized. I think I'll pass.

While VPC 3.0.x is useful and I rely on it fairly often, I am also finding that it crashes literally every time I use it.

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12/05, 11:48am | report spam | close Reply | delete
Games?

It still can't emulate (or read or whatever it has to do) your graphics card so it can run any sort of game. This really isn't a big deal, I just find it a bit wierd. I've got a Cube and love it... i just wish I could at least try out a few of these PC games. I guess my Playstation 2 will have to do for now.....

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12/05, 11:55am | report spam | close Reply | delete
G4 laptops please!

Yeah Velocity Engine support is nice and all but it doesn't do much good since I'd much rather use the PC sitting next to my Mac. Having that kind of speed increase on my PowerBook however would alleviate my need to lug around a PC laptop.

A G4 laptop would sell like hotcakes. C'mon Apple, put the whip to Motorola!

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12/05, 12:31pm | report spam | close Reply | delete
MP Support

It'd be nice if they could have worked G4 MP support into this version. VPC Emulating Windows needs all the processing power it can get!

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12/05, 12:35pm | report spam | close Reply | delete
BeOS

VPC 3.0 coudn't, can 4.0 run BeOSx86?

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12/05, 01:00pm | report spam | close Reply | delete
dvd

vpc 4 FAQ's says no dvd-rom support.

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12/05, 01:24pm | report spam | close Reply | delete
Re: Carbon

The carbon spec is basically done, but there are bugs. Especially on the Mac OS X side of things (that's why a carbon version of a program, like Quicken, may work fine in OS9, but crash and burn under OSX). You also need to remember that VPC uses a lot of low-level calls, both in software and dealing with hardware. All this stuff has to be re-written from scratch, as a solid OS doesn't allow programs to talk to hardware directly.

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12/05, 02:12pm | report spam | close Reply | delete
Re: DVD support

No... they emulate a CD, so there is no direct DVD support within Windows.

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12/05, 02:32pm | report spam | close Reply | delete
Velocity Engine.....

Remember when the G4 was announced? Steve claimed it would be great for things like emulation.... Connectix quickly stated the Velocity Engine wouldnt speed up VPC.... well, looks like they changed their mind. This is a product we should have had over a year ago. I am not going to buy this with OS X just around the corner. I am going to wait for the OS X version.

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12/05, 02:33pm | report spam | close Reply | delete
MP support

I have not read anything about multi-processor support, whether in this version or the upcoming OSX version. Imagine VPC carbonized, Altvec enhanced, and MP enhanced, and running on a dual 800MHZ G4! I wonder if it would outpace some of the lower PIII's today? Now if we could only get 800Mhz G4's!

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12/05, 02:40pm | report spam | close Reply | delete
Price

The price for the DOS only version of the 4.0 upgrade
is about $80.

This seems quite high, as the complete 2.x DOS version
was about $40 and the upgrade to 3.x was $30. I was
hoping to get this, but $80 for the upgrade is currently
out of my price range.

Does anyone know if the upgrade price is a mistake?

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12/05, 03:15pm | report spam | close Reply | delete
Re : MP support

A reader wrote :
"I have not read anything about multi-processor support, whether in this version or the upcoming OSX version."

I believe that a discussion of MP support for any OS X product is moot since apps cannot see the hardware, thus the number of processors, used by the OS. With multiple processors, apps simply happen to run faster, without the need for a recompile and without them knowing. Basically, Connectix only needs to carbonize VPC to allow the app to use all the available processors under OS X.

Will VPC 5 be written in Cocoa ?

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12/05, 03:20pm | report spam | close Reply | delete
VPC 3.0.3

I use VPC 3.0.3 w/Win98 on my FW PB, and don't experience any problems with it (unbeliveable, I know)I like to play Rollercoaster Tycoon with it :)
But seriously, I am probably going to buy the 4.0 upgrade for Win98, but wouldn't go for the ME version. I found that 98 runs slower than 95, and Im sure that ME is even slower than 98....

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12/05, 03:26pm | report spam | close Reply | delete
Not 2x as fast on this G4

I bought the upgrade today and installed it onto my G4/400. If anything it seems slightly slower than vs.3, or maybe it's just that my hopes were raised unrealistically by Connectix' claim of up to 2x faster. At any rate, I see no appreciable increase in speed.

I'm very disappointed in this $80 upgrade as the other features don't interest me much.

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12/05, 03:29pm | report spam | close Reply | delete
Too Expencive

$80? Connectix can keep it. I bought 2.x then the 3.0 upgrade for $49 I think it was (same as 2.x). Now they want MORE for the "upgrade" than the original product? Who charges more for upgrades than the original? And $180 for the full version!! Crazy. You can almost buy a REAL PC for that. Connectix may have some smart programmers but they just lost a customer.

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12/05, 03:37pm | report spam | close Reply | delete
Higher prices?

Maybe they're trying to cover for all those people who pirate their software, and there's a lot of them. Jerks... (the pirates, not Connectix)

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12/05, 03:48pm | report spam | close Reply | delete
Speed tests?

Ok, so that's one person who has it and said there's no noticeable speed increase. I'd be interested in upgrading only if there IS a significant speed increase. Any other data points out there?

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12/05, 03:53pm | report spam | close Reply | delete
WinME in VPC 3.x

I've installed WinME in VPC and its slightly faster than Win98 about the speed of Win95 but DOS support is very much ripped out of it. Downside is no AppleTalk network support, limited networking etc. If I were going to get VPC4+Win98 I'd run Lite98 and it'll speed up the overall performace like WinMe gives.

In my opinion I'm skipping VPC 4 upgrade, if it ain't carbonized or not even OS X safe yet they shouldn't release it because it'll be quickly replaced within 2-3months later. Bad move for Connectix, I bet they'll release VPC 4.5 and charge for a OS X support to future OS X users..... if MS can pull it with WinME who knows how many will try it :(

I just bought a Voodoo 3 3000 for my PC workstation, so its already $90 spent and I'll be replacing my iMac 333 in mid 2000 with a G4, like they say wrong time to begin a transition :
(once I get a G4 I'm planning to flash the bios on the PC voodoo3 to work on my Mac hopefully)

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12/05, 03:55pm | report spam | close Reply | delete
MP support

I wrote them today and they responded. No intention on supporting MP Macs under Mac OS 9. They are planning to take advantage of MP Macs with Mac OS X.

I installed the upgrade on my G4 dual 500 and the speed increase is well worth the price, not to mention the better interface, tools and dynamic hard drive set up. I'm just disappointed they did not take advantage of dual processors.

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12/05, 03:59pm | report spam | close Reply | delete
The best new feature...

The best new feature of VPC is that it can finally support drives larger than 2Gb.

And no, it doesn't support BeOS.

John

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12/05, 04:02pm | report spam | close Reply | delete
Speed Impressions

I have 4 hard disks set up: Win98, WinME, WinNT, Win2000.

WinNT *leapt* in speed compared to VPC 3.0.3 (and it now has an "additions" file that allows for drag-and-drop that 3.0.3 didn't have.)

The speed increase for the other 3 OSes are slightly noticable, but not "2x" speed over 3.0.3

I'm running a G4/450 (single processor).

From a "computer administrator" standpoint, there's enough in 4.0 worth the $80.

FWIW.

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12/05, 04:15pm | report spam | close Reply | delete
pricy

Raising the price to "cover for" unlicenced use wouldn't make a lot of sense. If people who genuinely use it (not trivially play around with it) aren't paying, it's because they find it too expensive. Raising the price will pretty obviously raise the proportion of people who won't pay. This is not primarily a moral or legal issue to most people, but an economic one. The moral/legal argument is just too weak, like it or not.

Get it straight - software prices are made up on the spot. If they raised the price, it's because they think you'll still pay it. If you don't, they'll lower the price until you do. There is no real cost for each new copy (just a fixed development cost that's already paid). There is no "covering for" unlicenced use, because unlicenced use *incurs no cost*.

It is pricy, as the subject says, but it's also a pretty damn impressive chunk of software, and if you need what it does then it's without peer.
The problem Connectix will have is that the price of a cheapo PC (which will nonetheless outperform VPC, albeit less reliably) has dropped to the point where an emulator isn't worth more than $100 any more. Particularly for people who can afford a G4 in the first place.

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12/05, 04:25pm | report spam | close Reply | delete
Games on Win95/98

To the person who's running Rollercoaster Tycoon -- does VPC's graphics performance get in the way of playing? I read through the FAQ, and Connectix says that VPC 4.0 takes advantage of Altivec, which will help some video applications, but my experience is that DirectX apps are almost unusable. I've loaded other games (Parker Bros. card games, Disc Golf) and the horrendous graphics speed kept me from spending a lot of time with it. (but if RT is fine, maybe I'll go get it!)

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12/05, 04:46pm | report spam | close Reply | delete
vpc and osx

the "carbon" issue is really kinda a phantom problem. While i understand why they woudl want to use carbon for the x port but they could have very well dones vpc in cocoa. As i understand cocoa isnt as much of a "moving target" as ppl complain carbon is.

Mr Lint

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12/05, 04:47pm | report spam | close Reply | delete
I'm gonna wait

I'm gonna wait 'till the next version upgrade comes out. I'm not gonna be paying out more money for an upgrade so soon after having purchased the product, regardless of it's specs (and especially if it doesn't run on OS X)

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12/05, 04:56pm | report spam | close Reply | delete
Lite 98?

If I were going to get VPC4+Win98 I'd run Lite98 and it'll speed up the overall performace like WinMe gives.

What the heck is lite98??

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12/05, 05:17pm | report spam | close Reply | delete
Rollercoaster Tycoon

I run RCT on a DP450 512MB RAM with VPC 3 - no problems...

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12/05, 05:18pm | report spam | close Reply | delete
Games...YDKJ...

I've been playing You Don't Know Jack 5 (which, unlike all the other games in the series, is PC-only) under VPC 3.0.? on a G4/450. It's a bit chunky, but surprisingly playable. It uses DirectX.

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12/05, 05:43pm | report spam | close Reply | delete
Voodoo 2 Card

I just downloaded it - yes it is faster - but them seemed to have removed 3dfx support. I'm currently in the process of requesting an immediate refund.

It's already sad enough that they dont even mention OSX in any of the manuals, FAQs, or info sheets and its also even sadder that they are removing features as fast as they are adding them.

Without the 3dfx support - yes it is impossible to play many games in VPC now..... what a bunch of morons.

darkgamorck@home.com

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12/05, 05:54pm | report spam | close Reply | delete
BeOS

It's not that VPC can't do be, it's that the BeOS has no support for the video card that VPC emulates. You can run it in grayscale mode, but grayscale (or safe) is itself emulating a video card, so performance under VPC is PAINFUL (emulation on top of emulation).

Also, for Altivec support, I believe that Connectix said that it would require a major rewrite... not that it wouldn't work.

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12/05, 06:05pm | report spam | close Reply | delete
Mac OS X

I seem to remember Connectix making the point that they do serious low level stuff in assembly. I doubt that cocoa would do the trick for them.

As for the cost, I doubt that they just make it up. There are all sorts of factors involved: cost of the OS license from M$, box, marketing, programmer salaries, etc. $180 isn't too bad for what it is.

My guess is that for OS X, most manufacturers will not offer 'upgrades'. I'm betting that they will release new versions instead... and if we're lucky, we'll be offered a 'cross-grade' price.

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12/05, 06:49pm | report spam | close Reply | delete
Re: Mac OS X

I think many people aren't complaining about the main price as much as they're complaining about the upgrade cost. $80 is too much for those of us who just bought the full program (and therefore already own a Windows license), especially since there seem to be no reliable reports that this version adds any desirable features. Seems like they added everything except the features people really wanted.

I am aware that programming Virtual PC is difficult. That's why I already paid so much for it just a short time ago.

What's this about Windows ME not supporting DOS? Does that mean you can't use Sun's Java compiler with it?

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12/05, 07:08pm | report spam | close Reply | delete
Lite98 = 98Lite

To the person that asked : Lite98 is (I'm assuming) the dyslexic naming of 98Lite by Shane Brooks that allows you to remove the IE coupling of Win98 and WinME, and even IE itself. The Pro version (US$25 shareware) allows for a lot more modifications, such as allowing many items to be install/uninstall items (DirectX, Task Manager, and many others). The de-coupling itself I find causes about a 10% increase in overall speed, and being able to put the Win95 Explorer Shell over the Win98 engine apparently can make a 20% increase. I've used it on various Win98 and Win98SE set ups on both real PCs and in VirtualPC. I find it more stable than regular set ups, as I don't use the items that don't rely on MS HTML libraries (Office, etc). Check it out at www.98lite.net.

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12/05, 11:54pm | report spam | close Reply | delete
VPC vs. Real PC

I've noticed a lot of comments re: "why use VPC when a real PC is almost as inexpensive".

Couple reasons, but the biggest one is DESK SPACE! I can buy a

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12/06, 12:48am | report spam | close Reply | delete
Upgrade price

Why are people complaining about the price also complaining that there seems to be nothing new in the product. Here's an idea. Don't upgrade! If what you have runs fine, you don't need any of the new features (like support for the newer OS or running multiple OSes at one time) then keep what you have. No one puts a gun to your head, people. And how many of you really need to run multiple OSes at the SAME time! I barely have enough memory to run one copy. I own VPC 2.x, OS 8.6, Appleworks 5, Quicken 98 (a freebie update from Intuit as they had to cover their asses on Y2K) and Claris emailer 2.1. I upgrade stuff when the price/performance/features all make sense. Stop your whining and spend your money on something else!

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12/06, 12:48am | report spam | close Reply | delete
Upgrade price

Why are people complaining about the price also complaining that there seems to be nothing new in the product. Here's an idea. Don't upgrade! If what you have runs fine, you don't need any of the new features (like support for the newer OS or running multiple OSes at one time) then keep what you have. No one puts a gun to your head, people. And how many of you really need to run multiple OSes at the SAME time! I barely have enough memory to run one copy. I own VPC 2.x, OS 8.6, Appleworks 5, Quicken 98 (a freebie update from Intuit as they had to cover their asses on Y2K) and Claris emailer 2.1. I upgrade stuff when the price/performance/features all make sense. Stop your whining and spend your money on something else!

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12/06, 05:34am | report spam | close Reply | delete
Overall Speed of 4.0

On my machine (G4 450 single proc), no serious speed improvement is noticeable, on the contrary - video seems to be slowed down (test with SOLITAIRE - card movement at the end of the game). Rather disappointing I am afraid...
Michael

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12/06, 05:37am | report spam | close Reply | delete
"dynamical" RAM allocat

Well you can, after all reallocate memory w/o leaving the application, but you have to reset the concerned Windows as well as before (which is not very surprising).
Michael

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12/06, 02:20pm | report spam | close Reply | delete
USB support

Cardscan says their business card scanner works with VP 3.0.3.
I can't get it to work with either 3.0.3 or 4.

Any clues?

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12/06, 03:16pm | report spam | close Reply | delete
No new features?!

1) Faster performance - they claim up to 2x, however most of that speed increase seems to be in Win2K and other 32bit OSes. FWIW, Win 95 is lightning fast now.
2) Boots from CDs - about time
3) Supports drives beyond 2gb - woohoo!
4) Supports multiple virtual machines at once
5) Supports up to 512mb ram
6) Supports up to a three button mouse, including scroll wheel
7) The VPC 'PC List'

I'd hardly call that, 'no new features'. No features that you care about perhaps, but not 'no new features.'

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12/09, 12:42am | report spam | close Reply | delete
Auto HD Resizing

The feature nobody has mentioned yet is that VPC4 will vary the size of your hard drive container on the fly. I find this a great feature--No longer will I have to set aside wasted (from the Mac point of view) space inside a drive container to make sure I don't run out of PC space. My days of creating new drive containers just to adjust their size is over. Whew! Thanks Connectix!
Oh, on the speed issue, I'm only running a beige G3 and I do see a speed increase. It's not 2x, but that was only claimed for G4's anyway. I've not run benchmarks, but I'd guess the increase is between 25-50%.
-Kurt

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Connectix unveils VPC 4.0

updated 08:15 am EST, Tue December 5, 2000

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OS X

not carbonized

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RE: I'm waiting for ME V

WHAT??

Read MacNN again

Not concerned about OSX

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I agree

Games?

G4 laptops please!

MP Support

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dvd

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Too Expencive

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Mac OS X

Re: Mac OS X

Lite98 = 98Lite

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Upgrade price

Upgrade price

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"dynamical" RAM allocat

USB support

No new features?!

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