Is there any reason JZ couldn't use any 85+ watt power inverter with the regular charger that plugs into the wall? I think the specialized ones are designed to charge with DC power.

---

You may be right, Ginger. I should check our box of miscellaneous cables and chargers and adapters to see what we've already got. But if we can get a radio adapter, I think we can make do - we'll have our laptop and Emmett's, both fully charged, which should have enough power for at least two movies. Between those, the iPod, and possibly even interacting with each other and noticing the passing landscape outside, we should be fine until we get to the cheap motel halfway up. Recharge overnight, then on to Portland, and Bob's your uncle. Or something.

Aw, meara, thanks, but we're leaving Thursday morning.

---

JZ, I've got a transmitter you can use.

---

Offtopic, but - JZ, I hope you guys know about the Shell station on the North side of Ashland that has an enormous selection of esoteric sodas (and also some crazy deal where if you pay with coins of a certain vintage your gas is ridiculously cheap, but I'm afraid I don't remember the year)

t /natter

I've charged a laptop using an inverter plugged into my car and nothing was destroyed, fwtw.

---

In our '00 Ford Focus we have several times on long trips run a ca. 2005 MacBook using the simple $30 Radio Shack inverter that plugs into the cigarette lighter. As far as I can tell this was in no way related to the car dropping a cylinder head and dying, and the MacBook is still running just fine.

---

A Closer Look at the Verizon-Google Internet Proposal [link]

---

Bonnie, might want to Google your model of G5 Mac, It might have a "coin" cell type battery for newer models:

[link]

Snooping around a bit it looks like a standard CR2032 3v battery. If so, you can pick one up for under a buck, many places, or pay $30 for a Gen-u-ine official replacement.

---

According to this article, there is a yet another way in which the iPhone had an advantage over the competition.

[link]

---

Thanks Daniel!

I'm going to look into a new battery today. I think you may be right on. The box tries to start but can't maintain the glow...so far more likely to be the battery than the memory.

---

It has come to pass that Daniel was absolutely right. With a new battery, the old G5 tower booted up, slowly but surely.

The NEW problem is, the login name and password are long forgotten, as I assumed I'd be recycling this unit.

I found this description or bypassing the login on a G4 laptop.

Would the same process apply to my tower?

Turn on the iBook G4 and hold down "Command" and "S" on the keyboard as the computer starts up. Keep holding them down until you see text on the screen.

Step 2

Type "/sbin/fsck --y/sbin/mount --uw /sh /etc/rc" at the first prompt. Press the "Return" key.

Step 3

Type "passwd [username]" at the next prompt, replacing "Username" with the user name whose password you want to change. Remove the brackets when you type it in. Press "Return."

Step 4

Enter the new password twice. Hit the "Return" key.

Step 5

Type "Reboot" and press "Return" when you finish entering the new password for your account.

Step 6

Enter the new password at the login screen and you will be able to get onto the iBook Mac computer.

Or is there a better way?

---