HARDWARE
If you have an Apple Power Mac G3, there's no easier way to fight planned obsolescence than to swap in a G4 processor from Newer Technology.
The 400-MHz G4 chip has several improvements over a G3 of the same clock speed, but the main difference is AltiVec by Motorola, a set of logic gates on the chip that makes graphics and multimedia software run extra fast. Here's the catch: Only software built for the G4 - such as Adobe's Photoshop 5.5 - can take advantage of AltiVec technology. Otherwise, the G4 won't feel leaps and bounds faster. That problem, however, will be solved with Newer's 450-MHz G4 this spring.
Keep in mind, too, that the upgrade may expose some poky parts of your system. For example, an AltiVec-enabled MP3 encoder like SoundJam may well be hampered by the excruciatingly slow DVD-ROM drives in some of Apple's G3s.
MAXpowr G4 ZIF upgrade: $799. Newer Technology: +1 (316) 943 0222, www.newertech.com.
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