Special Report: Troubleshooting 2005 PowerBook G4s
Special Report: Troubleshooting 2005 PowerBook G4s
- Erratic Trackpad behavior
- Oversensitive Ambient Light Sensors, solutions
- Hacking the Sudden Motion Sensor
- Kensington USB trackball issue
- Brighter screens, keyboards
- Installation and iLife on same DVD
- Developer Note for 12" model
Erratic Trackpad behavior
Apple's 2005 PowerBook G4 models are the first with new trackpads manufactured by Cypress Semiconductor, not Synaptics. Unfortunately, the new trackpads appear not only to be generally slower in scrolling, but in some cases exhibit erratic behavior.
Problems include taps and clicks not being recognized, jumpy cursor movement and more. One model of 2005 PowerBook G4 has emerged as the most susceptible to these issues based on a number of reader reports: The 1.67 GHz PowerBook G4 17".
Taps not recognized MacFixIt reader Terry Dorn reports an issue where taps on the trackpad -- when configured to act as mouse clicks -- do not work reliably:
Dorn writes:
"Purchased a new PowerBook G4 15" (2005) from local retailer about two weeks ago, and this past weekend began to notice erratic behavior from the trackpad. Namely, taps (single or double) not always recognized, and sometimes it won't come out of sleep mode by simply tapping on the trackpad. Otherwise, I love it. Looks like a trip back to the store, which is an authorized Apple reseller and thankfully they have a good repair department."
Jumpy, inconsistent behavior MacFixIt reader Ben Markens notes that drag processes can be cut short abruptly "I have noticed erratic behavior with my new 15" 1.67 GHz G4. Click and drag seems to drop prematurely on a regular basis. No problem when using a mouse."
Alan D adds "The touchpad button on my new 15" PB is very stiff and awkward to use. Many lost drags and missed clicks."
Chris notes an apparent new tracking speed scheme that allows quicker movement horizontally than vertically:
"I've noted some differences with the trackpad on my 2005 PowerBook G4 15". For me, it appears to be a little more complicated than just being slow -- it seems to depend upon which direction I'm dragging.
"From left to right, things are pretty normal, but from top to bottom, tracking speed seems to be roughly half. I can kind of see what they're going for...the screen is wider than it is tall, so you don't need as much acceleration top to bottom. However, this can be very confusing when moving from a previous machine with a trackpad that doesn't work this way, particularly when going diagonally. I find I have to constantly reposition my finger, compared to my 12" 1GHz machine where trackpad use is basically transparent for me at this point. If this is indeed a new feature, I hope they eventually include an axis ratio option in future software revisions."
"Stuck" trackpad A number of readers report that the trackpads on 2005 PowerBook G4s take a second or two to react to new movement after being inactive for an extended period of time.
MacFixIt reader Lebn writes:
"I just replaced my 800Mhz G3 iBook with a 12" PowerBook, 2005 1.5 GHz. Reading the trackpad reports of other users I was initially glad that my trackpad seemed to be free of these problems. Lately however they have started to crop up. I have not experienced the static shocks that other users have gotten, whether on AC or not. However, sometimes when I return to the PowerBook the trackpad will take a bit to respond, five seconds or so, and in bad cases even when it does respond it will only move very slowly, or jump instead of track smoothly. This is a real pain, and an issue I never saw on the iBook. Moving my fingers back and forth rapidly seems to kind of get it "unstuck", but it may just be that it takes a while. I have seen this slow/jumpy trackpad behavior more on battery power than on AC."
Kevin Pierce adds "I find that the cursor occasionally gets stuck in addition to slow response. If I switch to another application (command-tab) and back it typically frees itself (it?s not stuck in the app I switch to)."
Static interference? Some users are attributing this issue to static interference -- a scenario for which we are seeking confirmation.
Marcello Azevedo writes:
"I'm having the same issues on my PBG4 2005's track-pad, it seems to me that the track-pad is prone to static interference, it always happens to me after I walk around and try to use the track-pad. It has been consistently erratic under this scenario."
Solutions
Knowledge Base document offering temporary fix Apple has posted a Knowledge Base document (#301047) detailing the process for "resetting" the PowerBook trackpad -- which temporarily eliminates some cases of erratic behavior on 2005 models.
The process is as follows:
"Make sure you test all parts of the trackpad surface and be sure you're using just one finger. Multiple fingers could cause erratic behavior.
"Reset the trackpad by placing your entire palm directly onto the whole trackpad for 3 to 4 seconds, and then remove your hand from the trackpad in one smooth motion."
MouseZoom Some users have reported success in working around the limitations of the new trackpad using MouseZoom, a preference pane which speeds up mouse cursor movement in Mac OS X, to improve the usability of the new trackpads.
Resetting the PMU Some readers report that resetting the PowerBook PMU resolves the trackpad inconsistencies.
One reader writes:
"Called Apple about the problem with the trackpad on my 6 day old PowerBook. They had me reset the PMU and that fixed it. Note that the PMU reset procedure has changed since my old PowerBook. Now you just unplug the AC adaptor, remove the battery, hold down the power button for 5 seconds, replace the battery, and plug in the AC adaptor, then restart."
Turn off "Ignore accidental trackpad input" A handful of readers have reported that turning off the option to "Ignore accidental trackpad input" in the "Keyboard and Mouse" pane of System Preferences results in more predictable, faster trackpad behavior.
Oversensitive Ambient Light Sensors, solutions
For some 2005 PowerBook G4s, the ambient light sensor -- responsible for automatic keyboard and screen brightness adjustment -- is apparently oversensitive.
For some users, the screen's auto-brightness is so sensitive that very subtle changes in light are triggering the feature. For example, Eric Jasso writes, "The screen twitches as the shade from the tree near my window moves!" and Fred Brunner notes, "The screen dims almost instantaneously from something like someone leaning over your shoulder to look at the screen and blocking some ambient light." Phil Geller notes that simply moving his hands around the keyboard causes immediate changes in screen brightness; this wasn't the case before the update.
Many readers have become so frustrated by this issue that they've resorted to completely disabling the feature -- this "fixes" the problem, but then forces them to do without what had previously been a useful feature.
Potential SolutionMacFixIt reader Nick Wirz has recently discovered a solution for the constantly adjusting brightness problem which involves using the shareware tool Pacifist to extract and install an older version of a kernel extension that interacts with the ambient light sensor to make adjustments.
The process is as follows:
- Download Pacifist
- Search for the file "AppleLMUController.kext"
- Use Pacifist to open the install package of your original Mac OS X 10.3.x installation CD (the one that shipped with your 2005 PowerBook)
- Using Pacifist, locate search for the older version of the same file, "AppleLMUController.kext," in the installer package and extract it.
- Replace the "AppleLMUController.kext" file on your current installation with the version provided on the Mac OS X installation DVD. (You will be asked for your administrator password)
- Restart the PowerBooks
Nick describes another problem where the ambient light sensor is not recognized at all:
"This has a couple of symptoms: Normally when working in a bright environment and attempting to turn on the keyboard lights, a small 'prohibited' sign appears underneath an on-screen feedback. When the ambient light sensor is not found however, nothing at all happens when you press the control keys for the backlight. Also, the checkboxes "Automatically adjust brightness as ambient light changes" in the 'Displays' preferences as well as 'Illuminate Keyboard in low light conditions' in the 'Keyboard & Mouse' preferences are missing. This can happen, for example, if you clone your OS from your PowerBook to a non-portable Mac and then back, or if you 'upgrade' to a PowerBook from a G4 for example, by just cloning the system."In many cases, the age-old workaround of re-applying the most recent Mac OS X combo updater (10.3.8) resolves this issue.
Hacking the Sudden Motion Sensor
A few innovative users have posted hacks for re-purposing the sudden motion sensor in Apple's 2005 PowerBook G4s.
Amit Singh has provided details of how the motion sensor works, as well as links to software like AMSVisualizer, which displays a 3D image of a PowerBook that shifts dependent on movement of the system.
Kensington USB trackball issue
There is a connectivity issue with some external, USB trackballs manufactured by Kensington when used in conjunction with Apple's 2005 PowerBook G4 systems.
Some users have been able to overcome this problem by using the shareware utility USB Overdrive as an alternative driver:
"One of the replies mentioned getting USB Overdrive to use instead. I downloaded it and started it. The second (!) that it loaded, the MouseWorks icon appeared in the menu bar. A dropdown from that took me to the MouseWorks preferences where I could finally program the buttons. The gamble was deciding to remove the USB Overdrive program and see if I would then lose the connection to MouseWorks."
Brighter screens, keyboards
Several readers note that both the screens, and the backlit keyboards are brighter on the new PowerBook models.
While lamenting the slow trackpad speed, Thom Deevers notes the more intense screen and keyboard lighting:
"I own a 1.25 GHz (previous generation) PowerBook and just purchased the 1.5 GHz (new generation) PowerBook. The trackpad speed is noticeably slower. If I didn?t have previous experience with it though, it would be no big deal. I do prefer the faster tracking of the old model."
"I have also placed two PowerBooks (old and new) next to each other and the new PowerBook's screen is a lot brighter; and I mean a lot! The keyboard lighting is also a lot brighter. I prefer the brighter screen and keyboard but at night in dim light the display on the 1.5 is a tad on the too-bright side."
Installation and iLife on same DVD
MacFixIt reader Jason notes that the new PowerBooks ship with OS X 10.3.7 build 7T62.
Jason also notes that both Mac OS X 10.3.7 and iLife '05 are included on a single DVD with the new machines:
"The Mac OS X Install Disc 1 is a 6.69 GB DVD. It includes all of the iLife '05 applications, which can be installed by running the Install Bundled Software Only Application. (It's not a separate DVD, as is the case with the Mac mini.) The Mac OS 9 install disk includes a new installer that let you select which language version of Mac OS 9 you want to install. When installing the English version of Classic you end up version 1.8.3, build 168.9, Sep 20 2004 15:55:50. The version number matches that on my PowerMac G5 2X1.8GHz."
Developer Note for 12" model
Apple has posted a Developer Note for the PowerBook G4" (2005) running at 1.5 GHz.
Of particular note is a section describing the new SMS (sudden-motion-sensor) hard drive protection mechanism:
"The Sudden Motion Sensor (SMS) helps to detect an accidental drop or fall by sensing a change in position and accelerated movement of the 12-inch PowerBook G4. In the event of a drop, the Mobile Motion Module instantly parks the hard drive heads to help lessen the risk of damage to the hard drive on impact. When the Mobile Motion Module senses that the PowerBook position is once again stable, it unlocks the hard drive heads and the system is up and running within seconds."
Problems with Kensington Trackball One MacFixIt reader reports a connectivity issue with an external, USB trackball manufactured by Kensington.
He writes:
"Got my new PowerBook G4 (2005) 17" this morning. I cannot get my Kensington trackball to see the MouseWorks extension which is clearly installed and visible inside the Extensions folder inside /System/Library. The control panel says that the extension is either not installed or not running. The USB connection is good as the cursor moves. But I cannot program the buttons. The same trackball and software and system has worked perfectly (with other Macs). Kensington said to install a previous version of the software but that didn't work either."
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