My experience with Tiger/new Powerbook 15", 1.67 ghz

Question

Apple proclaims "Mac OS X v10.4 Tiger. The world’s most advanced operating system."
Well, that hasn't been the case in my experience.
I bought a new 15 Powerbook HR, 1.67 ghz, 1.5 gb ram, 80gb hd on 11/4/05 (from MacMall). At this point I have about 20gb free.
Problems I have noticed with it/OSX.(Most have been fixed by an archive and install done a few weeks ago.) Here's my trial by fire.
In chronological order
- trackpad lags
- many icons not correct after using Migration Assistant.
- some icons open up the wrong applications
- window resize button on Finder, and some app windows, doesn't open window to full screen. Also doesn't open window so that scroll bars disappear.
- dragging a file up or down a window in list view doesn't always make the window scroll up or down when I go up or down to the top or bottom edges. When they do move, it races. Smooth scrolling has no effect.
- CDr recorded on a machine with OSX 10.3.9 shows up as a recordable CD!
- screen dims when I disconnect power supply
-Network option from the Go menu does nothing.
- Doing a Get Info on a html file has Internet Explorer as the app to open when the files have Mozilla icons
- icon for some apps have wrong application logo on them
- screen dims and brightens rapidly, disconcertingly in low light. I turn off the ambient light adjustment on the monitors control panel. This is poorly implemented. Having the keys light up is nice though.
- can't reset F7 key to take pictures of screen. (I eventually am able to do it.)
- the clicker gives me a sharp pain in my arm from the second day of use. This has gotten better now but I was worried I might be getting carpal tunnel/repetitive stress injury. (This happened when I got my new Powerbook Firewire too, eventually going away.) The clickers are too stiff when new.
- I call Applecare. They don't have my registration information I gave them when I signed up on the web. We reset the Power Manger.
- Quicktime movies have no sound. I later throw out the LAME stuff (Component and Framework) and get sound back.
- I go to Genius at Apple Store. They tell me I am using a non-native resolution, that is why I am having screen dimming. (Wrong. It was the ambient light control.) They also say whatever software I have installed is likely to be causing most of the other problems.
- I get Finder freeze #1
- Preview does not animate gifs. It did with 10.3.9.
-System sounds do not work. Upon reboot they do. Flakey.
- some finder windows are not opening up with the item count in list view.
-desktop gets rearranged
-occasionally keyboard turns letters into numbers as if number lock is on. It isn't. The it will stop working altogether. Rebooting cures this. (Happens twice before I call AppleCare.)
- call AppleCare. They have my old address when I bought the Powerbook! I get registered again.I cannot install GarageBand, which I threw out thinking I didn't need it, because the install DVDs that came with my machine have an error reading the software only package. They will send me a new install disk #1.
- scrolling is not smooth, races.
- I notice the memory door has 3 out of the 4 screws loose. I tighten them. The battery door feels a little loose too but that is unfixable.
- keyboard doesn't respond #3
- I call AppleCare. They have the wrong address still in their database!
-eject DVD does not work. (It works all other times.)
- system freeze #2
- kernal panic #1
- Call AppleCare. My TechTool Deluxe CD will not boot. I ask for a replacement. (I can't believe they are still using TechTool Deluxe. I remember what a hassle it was trying to get a working disc with my Powerbook Firewire.
- keyboard types wrong characters #4
-Print preview does not work. (it does all other times.)
-Preference for video capture program (BTV) is not remembered
- audio is only heard when BTV is running (since fixed.)
- system freeze #3
- keyboard stops working #5
- I call Apple Care. We zap P-ram 3X.
- file sizes incorrect in list view. Have to open window a second time to get correct info.
- install DVD #1 arrives. It is defective.
- system freeze #4
- I update to 10.4.4. I hope this will cure the problems. Nope.
- Help doesn't work.
- Battery firmware update process works but isn't smooth. It crashes "unexpectedly" as I check to make sure it is really done. (It kept telling me I needed to do it.)
- Help works.
- boot takes forever after 10.4.4 update.
- battery firmware update wants to run again.
- file size is wrong in finder list view windows.
- keyboard stops working #6
- fan stops yet processor is still VERY busy as I am calibrating battery. Charge is about 5%.
- I quit IMovie, It then says it quit "unexpectedly". (This happens with other apps still.)
- I have to use power key to wake it from sleep, as I calibrate battery.
- keyboard problem #7
- system freeze # 5
- text editing in iDVD is very buggy. Cursor is impossible to see against background with many themes. There is no way to increase cursor size.
- AppleCare says they have sent TechTool Deluxe CD. I haven't gotten it yet.
- I receive install disk #1. 2 actually. I install software bundle only. It works! I also reinstall CPU help files. Help still doesn't work.
- I archive and install. (It installs 10.4.2 so I update to 10.4.4), Help doesn't work.
- Help works without my having done anything. OK.
- I repair a gazillion permissions. (funny how when you install the system software the permissions then need to be repaired. You would think the system would know to set the permissions correctly upon installation.
- I notice the order of the right hand menu items has changed (clock, keyboard setup, OS 9 icon...)
- file sizes wrong in list view
- BTV has audio loop at times. (See thread on Topic "New Powerbook Audio Stutter / Looping / Echo problem in Using your PowerBook G4 15-inch Aluminum forum.)
- keyboard problem #8
- keyboard problem #9
- I call AppleCare. TechTool Deluxe CD has still not arrived. We discuss other problems. I get hung up on.
-keyboard problem #10
- I go to Apple Store. Talk to the genius. He tells me the system software is "a house of cards", adding other software can cause unpredictable results. He zaps P-ram 3x, does something in open firmware. Recommends a clean install. I think about it and later decide not to.
- I lose system sounds after I install USBVison video capture driver for Tiger. I eventually get it back.
- I repair LOTS of permissions.
- The fan starts to make bad noise.
- system freeze $6
- I do a Get Info on a file I making with BTV. The OS tells me it is 11GB. I stop the recording and then I check again. It says it is 1.5 gb.
-iChat won't open. It starts, according to Activity Monitor, runs for about two seconds and then disappears.
- Network, under the Go menu, does nothing.
- I call AppleCare.
- I notice cursor disappears in Firefox.
- Yahoo IM icon keeps getting moved. All the icons it is next to are spaced about the same but this one keeps getting moved.
- I Stuff some stuff. The fan keeps running, it is still hot after I am finished. I have to reboot to get things back to normal.
- Some icons for PING files on my desktop have changed from having Preview icons to Quicktime icons. I use Get Info to change them back from Picture Viewer (OS 9!)
- the fan comes on with only my normal apps running (Eudora, Firefox, Yahoo IM)
Ok, that is about all up 'til now. I still haven't gotten my TechTool Deluxe CD but need to give that a few more days. I now have 8 install DVDs. (Another install #1 came yesterday, making a total of 6 #1, and 2 #2s) The address on the invoices are finally correct, most had the wrong town but the right zip code which I had corrected many times.
The problems that are still recurring are the keyboard problem, applications still sometimes crash "unexpectedly" even though I am quitting them, the file sizes are not right the first time around in finder list view windows. Most everything else was cured by the archive and install. Little weirdnesses still crop up though. I am not sure if the echo problem has been fixed. (Mac OS) Help is still slow to appear.
Thanks for bearing with me. I do hope things get smoother in the future. I have been using Macs for about 10 years now, starting with a used SE and 7.something, going to a refurbished LC 580 and 7.5.5, a new Powerbook Firewire and 9.2.2. I have also used 10.3.9 which seemed to be a lot more stable than 10.4.
Cheers,
John L

Answer 1

If it was me I would backup to DVD/ External HD if you have and erase / reinstall OSX.
Update all and once you are finished without the user folder / any of your files on torture the Pbook to see if this happens again.
This likely will be able to give you an idea about hardware or software problems.
If all is well , likely not then copy "COPY" over from the backup you "ONLY COPY" documents, music, Photo's, desktop stuff and also place programs back in Applications folder.
The reason for the above is that in the /user/"you"/library folder it stores the settings for Icon's, prefferences to programs and some other useless stuff + E-mails for either Mac Mail and or Microrubish Entorture "entourage" depending on what you have or used also Itunes prefs.
Once this is copied leave the "/user/you/library" stuff alone and see how it runs.
App's/programs will ask to have it's preferences set again as if /when you have installed it for the first time.
Likely most of the issues if software was in the/becuase of the settings in "/user/you/library".
If this solves a lot of problems the go with care and copy the "E-MAIL +/OR ENTORUTE/ENTOURAGE + ITUNES" to the same place as where they came from but obviously in /user/you/library/ subfolders etc. same subfolders.
For Entorture search for a file called "database" as this holds all the e-mail for entourage and by copying it, when you next open Entorture it will pick-up all emails + adresses etc like it was never moved also in the same spot as it was in the new instalation / subfolders etc..
If all this fails and you as close to what I reccomended here, there is then still some issues then likely it is hardware related.
How do I know this : Had for 5 times in 365 days had my Pbook in for repair so I have had to about 120+ times had to reinstall OSX 10.3.9 and/or Tiger.
I hope this helps as for hardware I am buying Alienware or Extreme as they can upgrade the cpuvideobasically all else except the motherboard " amd opteron 64 dualcore + Nvidia fx quadro 1400 + 1 or 2 hd's + 1/2 dvd's etc. etc. $2500"