Earlier today , Micromat declare TechTool Protogo , a $ 135 Mac atomic number 76 X coating that turns an old FireWire - compatible iPod into a bootable troubleshooting equipment for PowerPC or Intel Macs capable of running Mac OS X 10.4 or afterwards .
Those who have followed along here for the last farsighted while sympathize thatcreating a bootable iPodis , for the most part , no cock-a-hoop stack . FireWire iPods — from the original iPod on up through the 4 G iPod and everything in between — have been able to bring up a Mac . Just attach the iPod to your Mac via the FireWire cable television , take it as the destination for the OS X installer , add the OS , rush from the iPod , install any utility you care on it , and troubleshoot your attached Mac like there ’s no tomorrow .
Protogo ’s system requirementsspecifically bespeak an external FireWire devicebut iPod booting is potential with a 5 G iPod and an Intel Mac as well . MyPlaylistarticle from last class , The Return of iPod Booting , explains how it ’s done ( and no , unfortunately it ’s not nearly as easy to do as install OS 10 on a FireWire iPod ) .
Given that booting from an iPod is n’t rocket engine scientific discipline , what ’s the advantage of using something like Protogo ? First of all , if you do n’t already own Micromat ’s TechTool Pro 4 , TechTool Classic , and DiskStudio , Protogo gives them to you for $ 64 off the retail price ( purchased severally from Micromatthe TechTool Pro 4 & Classic bundle runs $ 150 and DiskStudio cost $ 49 ) .
Secondly , Protogo appears to offer a smart installer — one able of creating either a minimum install of OS X or OS ten installs that are far more full featured . And it permit you make custom visibility for instal just the tools you desire . And , from the looks of the screenshot , it can not only make disjoined divider for installing multiple versions of the Mac OS ( OS X and OS 9 ) , but it gives you a belief of how much space the various install pick will consume — helpful when you ’re installing to a low - electrical capacity gimmick such as an iPod miniskirt .
Although I ’m pretty well set when it comes to the iPod - as - troubleshooter — I have plenty of mellow - capacity , FireWire - capable iPods and loads of troubleshooting tools ( let in those from Micromat)—I’m interested in seeing Protogo in natural process at next calendar week ’s Macworld Expo . When I consist hands on it I ’ll lease you know how it die .
