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Connecting... Welcome to Connect, our column for reader email! We want to hear your thoughts and opinions about things you've read in Mac OS Journal, about Apple, your computer, Mac OS X, and so on. So let us have it people! Send email to connect@macosjournal.com or use this form.
Multiple Windows Monitors
Kurt OK, now I understand, and it doesn't surprise me. Years of being able to see the capability implemented properly in the Mac, and MS still seems to be able to screw it up. Dennis [Editor's Note: Don't forget about the recently discovered Pentium 4 bug which causes data corruption when used on a multiple monitor computer.]
Why Upgrade BBEdit?
Bill Landis There are a pile of good reasons to upgrade if you're currently using v5.x. Here's a note from the Bare Bones site:
In fact I never hesitate to get the BBEdit upgrade. It's always worthwhile and never expensive in comparison to value, unlike some other software I could mention. Oh what the heck, I'll mention it: Office 2001. But to get back on topic. I upgraded for two main reasons: I wanted the ability to syntax check my web site work against those later standards mentioned in the BB quote above, and I wanted the much improved syntax coloring, though I had to tone it down from the default colors to really be comfortable with it. Rob
Netscape 6
Susan Smith Me neither. Seems like every page did curious things, and not always the same curious things. I'll continue to use Internet Explorer from Microsoft. You can always trust MS to give you the best: that's what I always say. Dennis You and I aren't the only ones. Here's Rob Stevenson's comment: I tried it out and will wait for the bug fixes. To illustrate, in Netscape 6 go to www.hp.com and after the page loads roll your cursor over the colored boxes in the top right of the page. When I do that four of them disappear. When I do the same thing in IE 5 or Netscape Communicator 4.7, the boxes do what they're supposed to do, provide a rollover effect and remain visible [Editor's Note: The same thing often occurs on our site with rollover graphics "disappearing." Unfortunately, it looks like Netscape 6 isn't ready for prime time yet. In the meantime, I'd definitely suggest that Netscape users stick with version 4.75]. Of course, BBEdit's syntax checker reports 81 errors and 53 warnings on that page, so maybe this isn't really Netscape 6's fault! Rob
DVD Problems
Geoff Palmer You're a victim of the corporate wisdom that protects its regional properties in what to the lay observer seem like strange ways. You see, Geoff, the biggies want to continue to be able to get more money for the same product in Europe than they think they can in North America. They want to stop people doing just what you did. It's pretty easy with videotapes because of the difference between the American NTSC TV standard and the European PAL and SECAM standards; except for a few hard-to-find premium models, VCRs and TVs either work with NTSC or with one or both of the European standards. But DVDs are different, because the information is digital, not analog. DVDs can readily be played back by computers and DVD players with lots of computing power in them. Most players sold in the US only support the NTSC standard, but in Europe, most support both NTSC and PAL. However, DVDs have codes in them, just a bit different in different regions. Region 1 includes the US and Canada; Region 2 includes Europe. And DVD players have corresponding codes as well, limiting them to DVDs from one region or another. Apple's DVD players can play discs from any region, but once you put the first disc in and play it, that fixes the firmware so that only discs from that region will play from then on. You can change the region; you just put a disc from another region into the drive, and now only discs from the new region will play. But here's your problem, Geoff. This change only works five times, and then you're stuck. Your DVD drive is now permanently set, and from what you say it's set for Region 2, Europe. Lucky it's not Region 1, or only your New York discs would play, and any new ones from your side of the Atlantic wouldn't. Remedies: another copy of System 9 on another startup drive: I'm not sure, but not likely; it'd be too easy. Another DVD drive: probably. Hacks: well, I'm sure there are some out there, but I'm not into that kind of thing. [Editor's Note: There are firmware hacks available on the web. I would suggest searching for "DVD Region Manager" (the extension that makes changing regions possible on your Mac in the newsgroups (perhaps deja.com), to find the latest hacks. Remember, hacks like this can cause hardware damage if done incorrectly. You've been warned...]
A Dissatisfied Reader
W. Jacobs Hey, do you send this kind of email to everyone who bores you, or is there something about my writing that calls for your special attention? If the latter, tell me what it is, and I'll do more of it.
Send your rants and raves, questions and comments, compliments and criticisms to connect@macosjournal.com or use this form.
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Dennis:
Actually, the main reason most people don't rant and rave about multiple
monitors in Windows is because the feature is awfully implemented. Instead
of designating one monitor as the main monitor, full of menus and dialogs
while using the other as extra space. The Windows feature confuses itself
into thinking that both monitors are simply one large display. This causes
menus and dialogs to be centered between the monitors. Most users would
agree that it is too much of a hassle reading back and forth between the
monitors, so they forego the feature in Windows. 
