| Sometimes the newest, latest, faster computer is not exactly what the doctor ordered, and then what do you do? For the host of the nationally syndicated radio program "Into Tomorrow," Dave Graveline turned to his local Macintosh user group for help, and Gold Coast Mac delivered.
The user group has a long relationship with the Miami Lakes-based technology program, with its members making almost ten appearances on the program over the last three years, promoting Macintosh and the User Group experience. While in the studio, members noticed the only Macintosh in Graveline’s mostly PC setup, a first generation Power PC 6115 CD.
 While obsolete by today’s standards, the only Mac in Graveline’s control room performs a critical task. It operates a program which edits the audio for a recorded version of the show which is sent worldwide to the Armed Forces network, as well as other assignments using Dave’s vocal talents. He had purchased the system as a complete hardware and software solution, and while it had performed almost flawlessly, its age was starting to show. A failed internal battery, which put the system out of commission until it was diagnosed, had Graveline wondering what would happen if something went seriously wrong with the Mac.
The supplier of the audio editing program was little help. Their solution was to tell Graveline that the program would not run on a newer computer, and was limited to Mac OS7.5. It offered to sell him a new turnkey setup, with a price tag starting over $5000.
All Graveline really needed was a backup 6100 class computer to run the existing software if his current set-up failed. But he was having a hard time finding a suitable computer, and even had he found one, he didn’t feel Mac confident enough to move the copy protected software to a backup machine.
That’s where his long time program guests at Gold Coast Mac came in.
When they learned of Graveline’s problem, they first made sure his existing computer was operating at peak efficiency, searching back in closets for older versions of utility software that would work on his machine. Once the immediate problems were fixed, Gold Coast Mac set out to find a replacement computer, through the generosity of those people who donate used equipment for our “Mac a Difference” program. We hit pay dirt when longtime member John Blakely donated his 6100. Upon learning of the relationship between Gold Coast Mac and Graveline, Blakely agreed to allow the group to earmark it for Graveline's use.
With the computer checked out, GCMac President Dave Game set up an appointment to transfer the software at Graveline’s studios. As part of the visit, GCMac decided to test the manufacturer’s claim that the software could not run on anything other than OS7.5.
A test with OS9 failed, but OS8 worked just fine. We tested the editing software, and noticed not only improved stability, but increased responsiveness. Graveline was so pleased, he asked GCMac to set up the donated computer as his main machine, and Graveline’s staff first used it to edit the June 16th "Into Tomorrow" program. The original Mac was set aside to use as a backup.
The testing also provided indications that, despite the manufacturer’s claims, the software would work with more capable Power PC computers as well, such as a 6400 or beige G3, which both have the ADB ports needed to accept the program’s copy protection. That extra testing could open the way to Graveline eliminating a host of small SCSI dives in favor of larger, less expensive fast IDE drives which can be used in a newer Power PC.
“I really appreciated all the help the folks at Gold Coast Mac gave me,” said Graveline. “Nobody else would help me solve the program, and not only did you guys come through, you went the extra mile to actually improve things!”
Graveline learned first hand what GCMac had been telling listeners of his program for years; if you need answers, the place to turn is a user group. Gold Coast Mac was happy to use an obsolete computer to help Graveline continue to take his listeners “Into Tomorrow.”
Note: “Into Tomorrow with Dave Graveline” can be heard in South Florida every Sunday at 2 pm on WIOD 610, and at 4 pm on WJNO 1290 in West Palm Beach. The program is also available on XM Satellite radio. If you live elsewhere in the US, Check the list of Affiliate Stations for a complete schedule!
June 2002
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