The good people at Public Access Software have released a new hardware-software device that does what many Mac users have needed for some time. The product is called MacStat and includes an LCD display and software that gives a constant real-time reading of CPU load and more. According to Public Access:
MacStat will allow you to view a variety of information about your Macintosh computer including CPU load, computer uptime (length of time since booting), total amount of free memory, the number of currently running processes and a computer efficiency rating.
Using a small Mac OS application running in the background various data is constantly and unobtrusively collected and displayed on an external LCD display unit. The MacStat LCD display unit interfaces through an unused serial port on your Macintosh and is controlled entirely via the MacStat application.
MacStat Display Features:
AppleScriptable MacStat application allowing the user to display customized information as needed instead of using the default features of the software.
Continuous Macintosh Status updates via the external LCD screen.
Easy to view large format LCD screen capable of displaying a total of 32 characters on two separate lines of text. Includes uppercase/lowercase, numbers, punctuation and special characters.
Standard Macintosh Serial Port interface utilizing the Mac OS Communications Toolbox (Serial Port expansion card-compatible)
NOTE: MacStat is not intended for use with portable Macs such as PowerBooks or computers which lack a Macintosh serial port. MacStat is not compatible with Mac OS X Server and is not intended to be used in the Blue Box at this time.
MacStat is ideally suited for networked Macs acting as servers, Macs used as terminals or for performance evaluation of specific computers that are being heavily used in a variety of computing environments.
A Linux version of the software to provide similar features is planned, but no release date is set at this time.
Pricing is set at $99.95 US for a MacStat package which includes one MacStat LCD display unit, MacStat software on floppy diskette, six foot serial cable, mounting kit and hardcopy manual.
Public Access Software is anticipating shipment of the first MacStat package in 3 to 4 weeks. The MacStat display screen is anticipated to be available in the default of "ice" (frosted crystal clear) initially with additional colors yet to be determined within 1 to 2 weeks of the first shipment.
The MacStatus display will be available primarily in the "English" language and is subject to change without prior notice.
The Mac Observer Spin: It would be very nice to see this product available as a software product only in addition to the display version. The product is primarily aimed at network admins who will love the ability to monitor the things that macStat does without having to have a monitor hooked up. Another big potential user base is the developer community who can use such a program in the course of programming, but could run it in a process window.
Nonetheless it is good top see this device enter the market for the Mac. Unix and Windows users have had this ability through software apps for many years.
Public Access Software
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