I'm pretty sure IBM still does this. As does ADC, the tape library people. They provide a client with a BIG tape library (think larger than rack sized) and then sell the tape slots in 100 unit bundles. Need to expand your backup capacity? No need to get new library hardware, just pay to activate the next bank of 100 tape slots oh and once you are 70% in use they will offer to send you out another box at no additional charge. (since they can be linked)
Dave
Interestingly enough another company known for doing this is Pioneer. Maybe not recently, but they did it back in the 80s whith Laser Disc players. Some models had time base correctors, slow mo, and freeeze frame functions that you paid extra for. Cheaper models seemed to not have these features, but wait! If you took a remote from the expensive model and used it on the cheap model - Voila! - all the special features worked! Pioneer used the same chip sets across their model line but didn't give you access to them on the cheap ones. Amusungly people found that they could get a learning remote and copy the commands from the full function remote. All you needed was a friend with the expensive player who was willing to let you copy the commands.
DLT is a high-density tape format that can, easily, hold 9Gb. It comes in lots of different flavours but the drives are usually SCSI and cost quite a lot ($1000?) the tapes are around $50(+?) each but are very reliable and durable.
Based on the DVD Studio Pro announcement, perhaps the G5 surprise is: "Surprise, you can play the HD-on-a-standard-DVD in Tiger's DVD player!" since it requires a G5 processor.
We still can't rule out the possibility, I suppose, of the "secret Tiger feature" being increased G5 optimization or multithreading for every application.
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Originally posted by DaveGee
I'm pretty sure IBM still does this. As does ADC, the tape library people. They provide a client with a BIG tape library (think larger than rack sized) and then sell the tape slots in 100 unit bundles. Need to expand your backup capacity? No need to get new library hardware, just pay to activate the next bank of 100 tape slots oh and once you are 70% in use they will offer to send you out another box at no additional charge. (since they can be linked)
Dave
Interestingly enough another company known for doing this is Pioneer. Maybe not recently, but they did it back in the 80s whith Laser Disc players. Some models had time base correctors, slow mo, and freeeze frame functions that you paid extra for. Cheaper models seemed to not have these features, but wait! If you took a remote from the expensive model and used it on the cheap model - Voila! - all the special features worked! Pioneer used the same chip sets across their model line but didn't give you access to them on the cheap ones. Amusungly people found that they could get a learning remote and copy the commands from the full function remote. All you needed was a friend with the expensive player who was willing to let you copy the commands.
Sort of a caveman firmware hack so to speak.
IBM still sells computers with stuff disabled, but these days they tell the customers about it; it's called Capacity Upgrade on Demand.
Under Requirements:
"Double-layer recorder and doublelayer media for writing finished projects to double-layer discs"
"DLT drive for transporting projects on tape to a replicator (recommended for DVD-9 projects)"
Not sure if this means that PowerMac's will get DL enable with 10.4, but makes it sound like future PowerMac's will definately have DL support
What does DLT stand for?
What does DLT stand for?
DLT is a high-density tape format that can, easily, hold 9Gb. It comes in lots of different flavours but the drives are usually SCSI and cost quite a lot ($1000?) the tapes are around $50(+?) each but are very reliable and durable.
No reports of Tiger unlocking the crippled firmware either.