AT&T Cable finally switched all the channels and added a bunch of channels to the Concord lineup. Although it did not come as a surprise to me -- they had mailed a pamphlet saying "this is your new cable lineup starting 08/00" -- the timing was unexpected. I was expecting August 1st and when it didn't change then I forgot about it. So I come home and find out that I've taped all the wrong channels. Rather annoying.

Although I don't really care for the new channels (other than E! which I really wanted a year ago, but now I'm less enthused), it's interesting to see what gets moved around. Some of the regular cable channels are moved up to the digital cable range to entice people to buy that service, I suppose. Local channels are still accessible to basic cable subscribers. They moved KCRA (Channel 3 in Sacramento) and switched it with TBS. Only reason I can think for this move is to avoid channel surfers confusing KRON and KCRA. KRON is still next to the other regular channels, so surfers are more likely to watch NBC shows on KRON instead of KCRA. Inconvenient for me because I'd rather watch KCRA.

Which reminds me, aren't local channels supposed to be protected? I remember cable companies blacking out programming on other channels if it's the same as the local channel. I guess KRON and KCRA are not local to Concord. Makes me think that KRON got AT&T Cable to move KCRA somewhere less convenient. But I'm probably reading too much into it. Neither ClickTV nor TVGuide have the new cable lineup correct, so I guess the change caught them offguard too...

So after using iCab for three weeks, I can say that it isn't quite as great as I had first thought it was. It's a bit slow now, though maybe that's just perceived slowness because it renders in a different order than Netscape. HTTPS support is not quite correct, some sites work and other sites give an error. The iCab people blame Apple's library. I already knew InScript support was not finished, but it's amazing how many sites use scripts, some of which break in iCab. In general I still like it and use it as my primary browser, but I have to keep Netscape handy for the occassional problematic sites...

I'm waiting for Apple to announce their new PowerBooks, which could be during Seybold but could be later. Mostly because then the price of current PowerBooks will go down and maybe I can buy a refurbished PowerBook 500 for $2600 or so. The Performa 6400 is going to go away, I want a faster and more stable server, I want a faster computer to run Virtual PC. All these factors are slowly pushing me to getting another PowerBook, then I can use the old one as a server.

It's more expensive than that because I'd have to get more RAM and at least a Serial to USB adapter so I can continue using my Ricochet modem. Maybe an ADB to USB adapter so I can keep using my keyboards and mice, although buying new keyboards and mice is probably only a little more expensive.

I'm assuming that the new PowerBooks won't be a huge amount faster, due to the bad CPU yields from Motorola. Apple should buy G3 processors from IBM. They don't want to buy G4s from IBM unless IBM makes them with Altivec, which is a Motorola addition. Motorola is not really willing to lease the plans Altivec design to IBM, probably because IBM has better chip facilities and will outproduce and outquality Motorola. A G4 PowerBook would be really cool, but unlikely until the G4e which will be less power hungry. Apple has just released a software update that makes movie playback faster because now it uses the Altivec routines...