Odds & Ends: Trackpad/keyboard noise; QT install error?; Intellimouse issues; RAM shortage for PB G4s?

More on Trackpad/keyboard noise Regarding yesterday's item on noise coming noise coming from an iBook Trackpad, Ken Marks replies: "I was working on a Titanium PowerBook G4 and noticed that a couple of keys on the right side of the keyboard would cause a click when depressed. I lifted up the keyboard and found a sheet of insulator that was flexing when the keys were pressed, causing a clicking sound. I adjusted the insulator and the noise stopped. Perhaps the Trackpad noise has a similar cause.

Update: Craig Hunter adds: "My Titanium PowerBook G4 made a terrible squeaking/groaning noise when any pressure was applied to the right palmrest. It drove me nuts. After several attempts to find the noise source, I determined it was coming from the rubber mounting bushings used to support the DVD drive. The bushings were rubbing against the TiBook's frame. Since the bushings are accessible from the bottom of the unit, I was able to use a few pieces of tape to eliminate the rubbing and the noise. I would not at all be surprised if the user's iBook noise was coming from a similar problem."

QuickTime 5 install error? Michael Leckman found that the QuickTime 5 Installer removed the Microspot Renderer and Lightworks Raymaker. Apparently, this is because these files had a Q3XT Type code, and were thus presumed to be obsolete QuickTime 3 files. However, these files are actually shared libraries and part of Rendering Plug-ins for use with QD3D modeling software such as Microspot's 3D World."

Intellimouse fixed? Michelle Steiner writes: "I received the new Intellimouse Explorer last Friday. It has a different part number than the old mouse that was freezing and crashing the Mac. So far, I haven't had any recurrences of the freezes or crashes. I think that this confirms that it was a hardware problem." [See previous coverage.] David Stern confirms that the replacement mouse solved the problems he was having.

Intellimouse and HP scanning software conflict? Scott Schuckert writes: "I have been having a problem with the current and prior 1.4.2 versions of the HP scanning software (see previous coverage). The symptom is a freeze as the desktop finished loading. In my case it appears to be an interaction with the Intellimouse drivers. If I disable either the ScanJet Manager or the Intellimouse driver, it works fine. Changing to USB Overdrive solves the problem as well.

RAM shortage holds up PowerBook G4 shipments? Stuart Lawson writes: "I ordered a Ti 500/30GB/1GB RAM PowerBook direct from the Apple Store on 4/30/01. The online lead-time stated that it would take 5 days to manufacture. I called Apple yesterday, 5/14/01, they stated that there was a shortage of 512MB RAM chips and that it would be at least another two weeks before my order would go into manufacturing."