In May, I posted this thread, "http://www.applefritter.com/node/7625", on the subject of flat panel rotation with MacOS X 10.4... aka "Tiger"...
Since then, I purchased an iBook and have been using it quite happily while traveling (and I am using it now, of course...).
However, about a week ago I returned to my base of operations and discovered that, after an update to 10.4.2, the screen rotation "trick" ( System Preference -> Option + "Display" ) does NOT work anymore...
I could find no reference to this change in either Apple update documentation (other than an indication that the drivers for ATI and Nvidia were updated), nor could I find any reference on the web after a cursory search...
So today I visited a local Apple Store and, lo and behold, here is what I discovered:
- MacMinis, eMacs, and PowerMacs (with ATI) are updated to 10.4.2 and the "Rotation" option now comes up "properly" (without Option key) and, when a rotation factor is selected offer a proper confirmation dialogue...
- Flat panel iMacs are at 10.4.2 still do NOT offer rotation (which always made sense because they use NVidia graphics and given their form factor, I guess...)
- Powerbooks are only updated to 10.4.1 and behave as before (meaning the Option key trick works on 15" and 17" but not on 12" PBs)
- iBooks do not work at all (but then again, I already knew that).
I am obviously disappointed but cannot complain because this was never a documented feature of iBooks. I believe I will investigate "Screen Spanning Doctor" but really prefered to avoid third party solutions...
Anybody know anything about this?
Edward
PS: I saw the iPod Nano for the first time and am really glad I didn't buy an iPod... yet; however, the Apple sales guy said it could be used as a composite video source and the spec on the Apple webpage does not show that... Anybody know the truth? (sorry to add it here, but I have to run and will almost certainly forget to ask later...).