Wallstreet DVD Decoder Support?

dan k

There was some software for OS X that did the decoding via software or something like that. Search for it on xlr8yourmac.com - Wall Street + DVD + OS X (or Jaguar)..

You're probably thinking of VLC, which admittedly is a nice app to have, but the wallstreets don't have the power to do software decoding of DVDs, at least any of the stock models don't - an upgraded model might.

http://www.videolan.org/

I downloaded and ran VLC, but it studdered through a movie. I followed their recommendations in the Read Me and no improvements. I upgraded to a G4 500 mhz and VLC studders!! I have a DVD decoder & 512 MB of RAM. My DVD drive was added after I put Panther on. Panther runs great, but I now understand I can't load a player and run it in Panther. Darn! DVD Player 2.7 in classic won't load. It says "That application or control panel is not supported by classic"? double darn! It says classic application for kind of application? What is going on here? So after all of this what do I do? This laptop is very good except for this!!

i dont remember if this has a dvd player, but you might want to try M Player.

Boot into OS 9 to watch DVDs.

Classic mode under OS X doesn't have direct access to hardware, which is also why most 3D accelerated programs run like cr*p in Classic.

Thanks for the suggestions, but I was in Classic and it was giving me that message. Why would my computer not recognize a classic application. I rebuilt the desktop for OS 9 and in OS X I repaired the permissions and I still got the message.

go to your boot settings and startup were the only system you are running is OS 9. do not run it in OS 9 under OS X also, you can't use VLC in OS 9, as it is not made for OS 9

Thanks for your poignant suggestion. I threw it away, turned off virus protection and re-installed it and VLC is still choppy as before with Classic not running.

Also, I booted up in Classic and Apple DVD Player on launch told me This Macintosh does not support the APple DVD Player. Error (-301)
O.K. What does -301 mean. I hope it does not mean I owe $301 to get it to work!

i think that that was a built-to-order option that the board was configed at the factory. The card was just the decoder. But i thought it need for the board to have a different video card/ memory size to do it.

Unfortunately, the "decoder" (that Mac SOLD to original Wallstreet owners and gave away for FREE (with DVD player) to Wallstreet II owners) works ONLY with ONE DVD player that was included with OS 8.6 and OS 9.0.4 (and OS 9.0 if you can find it). Any subsequent DVD players under OS 9 (including the DVD player updates installed in 9.1.1, 9.1.2, 9.2.1 and 9.2.2) rendered the player USELESS for DVD playback. As a lucky original purchaser who paid an EXTRA $600 for the DVD player (for a total of $4,995 for the 13.3 LCD-defective screen-, 250Mhz processor, 96 megs RAM, and a "big" 4 Gig hard drive--oh, I did get a case, a lock, and AppleCare with it for that price...gee, for a second, I thought I got RIPPED OFF!).

Well, in any case, you can watch DVDs quite well with the "decoder" card and there was no different motherboard or video for the DVD option. The Wallstreet II had a SLOWER system bus than the original--the original had an 86mhz system bus, while the II had a 66mhz.

If you remove the OS 9 DVD player and insert the one from OS 9.0.4, then you will be fine ONLY if you START UP from OS 9 (which is not a big deal if you're settling in to watch a movie). Better than tossing it. I have a bunch of Wallstreets in my repair shop and TONS of parts for them. Just sold 2 upgraded wallstreets for $240 a piece (10 gig hard drives, 196megs RAM, 233MhzCPU, non-defective 13.3 LCD, etc.)

I'm thinking of putting system 10 on my wallstreet. I was wonder if you could tell if there are usb to scsi adapters that will work with system 10. I've got a scsi scanner that I don't want to part with and I have vuescan. I'm hoping that I can still use the scanner under os X. I know that my scanner works under os 9.

If you put a 256M RAM module in there (or two 128s), and then use Xpostfacto, you can load OS X Panther just dandy in the Wallstreet. Did it for me ma', I built her a "FrankenBook" out of old Wallstreets (including my $5000 special) and installed the RAM and a 300 MHZ processor daughter card (cheap on ebay). Don't use a USB to SCSI adapter, try the SCSI with your adapter to hook up your scanner and then use VueScan (It worked for me). For USB, get a cheap ebay USB PCMCIA card. For the price (about $20 plus shipping) get a combination Firewire AND USB card from this guy (only works with Jaguar 10.2.3 and above). Give it a try:

http://cgi.ebay.com/PCMCIA-2-USB-2-0-2-FIREWIRE-1394a-PORTS-PC-or-MAC_W0Q
QitemZ290002127814QQihZ019QQcategoryZ74940QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Anyway, if you need anymore advice, write me directly at MacExperts@gmail.com.
Thanks,
Lazarus

If you don't have or know about the square SCSI adapters, they are here:

http://www.baucomcomputers.com/ (he has one for $14, it is called an HDI-30 to DB-25 adapter)

the whole cable instead of just the adapter is available here:

http://www.cables4computer.com/products/individualItem.asp?groupcode=I0251

Just being sure. Take care, okay?
Laz

Thank you for the advice I got my scanner to work with my lombard. How do I put os 10.4 on my wallstreet? It comes on a a DVD. If the wallstreet won't play dvd how can I upgrade? Does anyone know how well 10.4 works on wallstreet? Will IWOrk work on wallstreet?

Playing a DVD movie and reading a DVD data disc are very different tasks. Your WallStreet should read a DVD just fine if you have a DVD drive.

I've got a blue and white g3. I want to upgrade to 10.4 and use iwork does anyone know if iwork 06 will run on a blue and white g3 that gets 350 mhz?

I've been trying really hard to load os X on my g3 wallstreet. I've got 320 megs of ram and 233mhz of speed. My hard drive has ten gigs. The problem is it freezes when I try to load 10.2. I tried again and it said installatin successful restart computer. I got a bunch of weird lines. What can I do?

Some early G3's (this may include the Wallstreet) have a peculiarity in regard to OS You can only install OSX on the first partition of 8 GB or smaller. Try partitioning your 10 GB drive into 8 GB + 2 GB, or 6 + 4, and install OSX on the first partition.

This will, of course, require that you back up whatever data you want to keep FIRST.

Those odd lines are usually due to a bad mach file or some other startup snafu. Usually, when you install OS X on a 10Gig drive, it pretty much lands in the first third of it, but there are MANY exceptions. CWSMITH is right, the Wallstreet IS one of the computers that needs OS X on the first 8 gigs of the drive. If you have power mac or powerbook running os x and a drive enclosure for a 2.5" drive or a conversion interface to let it plug into a 3.5" IDE ribbon cable connector, you can always use iPartition to partition your drive WITHOUT erasing the data. It's not worth the price if you're only doing it once, however.

Also, when you partition, because of differences in measurement units for data, make the first one 7.75 Gigs and the other 2.25Gigs. I have TONS of Wallstreets and have worked on them since they came out. Write me if you get stuck at MacExperts@gmail.com
Lazarus

You need at LEAST a G4 processor and 500Mhz to install the iWork suite.

The best bet for you and for your computer is a completely new lease on life! My company uses a processor upgrade on B&W G3s that make them fast, compatible, and MUCH more efficient. iApps (including iWork programs) and Photoshop work many times better and faster with this processor under the hood. I hate to plug products, but these folks have been in business for many years and have an unparalleled knowledge of the processors that they manufacture and sell. Daystar Technology has a 600Mhz Machspeed G4 that is not only twice as fast in clock speed as yours now, but has the Altivex engine that further speeds things up. If that weren't enough, the much faster cache adds an additional boost that puts the real world speed in the 800Mhz+ range.

You can install one of these in 10 minutes tops, put the heatsink back on and turn it on. It has a 3 year guarantee and is relatively inexpensive at $199. Essentially, you are getting a new computer. Add some RAM as you need it or a video card or even a USB 2.0 card and install Tiger 10.4.

Check it out here:

http://daystar-store.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=92

I have lots of clients who rave about their computers now that they are upgraded. I am religious about the concept and encourage it anytime someone doesn't want to make the Intel leap yet, but needs a speedy computer.

Good luck,
Lazarus

I don't see the point in upgrading a computers processor. For $200, he could buy a 400MHz G4 or something like that and have an all around better machine.

Your comment isn't very well thought through. This processor upgrade would give him almost double the speed of a stock 400mhz, would run under a guarantee of three years, and would have a logic board that is almost identical. I have run these machines side by side with AGP Power Macs and there's no contest. The only machine it compares to in speed is the Quicksilver. Try getting one of THOSE for $200!

I see by your config that you have the best of both worlds, but not everyone can afford to do that. Work with what you HAVE and make the absolute best of it. If he wanted to go with a 466mhz G4, the price is only $129. There's a lot of "ifs" when you purchase a used machine and unless you're a tech, it can be risky, especially when you have a working computer that you can guarantee will work with a new processor. Better machine? The AGP is a plus, but unless someone is doing serious video intensive tasks, it is not much of a gain.

Be Well,
Lazarus

Have to say I have two Wallstreet Macs and I love them both. One has 10.3.9 and the other has 9.2? for the DVD module. I have listened to almost all 6 seasons of Hercules while working at work. Love the DVD on the Wallstreet!