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On this page you will find the story of a Mac lover turned Mac tolerator, who is rapidly approaching Mac hater. It involves the so-called internal Geoport Express 28.8 kbps modem that comes with the Macintosh Performa 6360 (this problem has also been reported by owners of the 6400 and 6500 models). In summary (see Daria's website for a more detailed explanation of the problem), the Geoport in question is commonly referred to as a "software" modem because it simulates the workings of an actual hardware modem using software and the computer's CPU. The Geoport does not have its own processor so it must use the computer's processor to perform its tasks, resulting in a significant decrease in the computer's performance.
Performance.
It's ironic that the word from which the Performa takes its name would be the problem. Well maybe it's not the modem, right? The simplest way to test this theory would be to run some benchmark tests, say MacBench® 4.0 by Ziff-Davis, and see what effect the Geoport has on the Performa's performance. Maybe we could also remove the internal modem and try an external 28.8 hardware modem, say a Global Village Teleport Platinum.
The image that follows summarizes the results of the 3 tests (Processor, Floating Point, and Disk) I ran using MacBench 4.0 and two different modems, the internal 28.8 kbps Geoport Express "software" modem and the external 28.8 kbps Global Village Teleport Platinum hardware modem. When the computer was offline, the difference in performance was negligible. But when the computer was online ... well, see for yourself.
To read a more detailed description of the test conditions, click here.
You'll notice that when the computer is offline (yellow and purple), there isn't a significant difference in performance. When the computer was online, however, the computer performed significantly better with the external Teleport Platinum hardware modem than with the internal Geoport Express "software" modem (blue and pink).
Well maybe this is just an endorsement of the Teleport Platinum modem. It is, but it is also a serious condemnation of the internal Geoport Express "software" modem. Notice the striking difference in CPU performance between the offline and online Geoport results (purple and pink). When the Geoport is connected to the Internet, the CPU on the Performa 6360 operates at less than half the speed it does when it is not connected. It essence, this 160 MHz computer becomes an 80 MHz computer when you connect to the Internet!!
What's most insulting about this whole thing is that a computer's performance does not have to suffer greatly just because it's connected to the Internet. Look at the small difference in CPU performance between the offline and online Teleport results (yellow and blue). This shows that the performance loss caused by the Geoport does not have to happen. A computer can be connected to the Internet and still perform close to specs. I consider this damning evidence that the internal Geoport Express "software" modem does in fact seriously degrade the Performa 6360's CPU performance. [My results are supported by the benchmark results of other Performa owners.]
I explained all this to several Apple Customer Service and Technical Support representatives, with varying degrees of success. I created this web page to inform people of the potential problems they may experience when using the Performa / Geoport combination and to warn them about the possible misinformation they may receive from Apple Customer Service and Technical Support. Obviously, this problem should have been addressed during research and development of the unit, but it wasn't. I would like Apple to take responsibility for a product that is not worthy of their name and reputation because if they don't it soon will be.
If you feel like you didn't get what you paid for and want to request a refund from Apple, click here.
Please send questions or comments to me.
98.04.23
Stan at Geoprob1@aol.com has organized a letter writing campaign to try to resolve this issue with Apple once and for all. For more information visit his site.
98.04.02
Recently I was contacted by Paul, a Performa owner who lives in Australia. He would like to speak to other Australian Performa owners about devising a strategy to get satisfaction from Apple Australia on this issue. Anyone interested can email him at gonzo@polyester.com.au.
98.03.08
Since first creating this page I have received many, many responses from Performa owners. Most were positive - people thanking me for helping to explain a loss in performance that has been driving them crazy; people empathizing with me and sharing their Apple Customer Service experiences; people expressing relief in learning that they are not alone in their frustration with how poorly Apple is handling this issue. But I've also received a couple of protests from Apple groupies who are angry that I've used their deity's name in vain. So let me say this for the record:
Nothing on this site is intentionally misleading or exaggerated. Wherever possible I have used hard data and detailed descriptions to support my opinions. Yes, I said "opinions." Don't mistake honest criticism and emotion for slanderous rhetoric.
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