Is there a Gigabit Ethernet card that works with MacOS 9?

There are a number of PCI cards that make it easy to add Gigabit Ethernet capabilities to non-Gigabit equipped Power Macintosh G3 or Power Macintosh G4 models capable of running MacOS X 10.2 "Jaguar" or higher. For example, site-sponsor Operator Headgap Systems offers a MacOS X 10.2 (and higher) compatible Gigabit Ethernet card complete with Mac drivers on CD-ROM for easy installation.

Tracking down a Gigabit Ethernet card with MacOS 9 drivers is a bit more of a challenge. However, as first reported by the always excellent XLR8YourMac, a reader noted that cards based on the Realtek 8169S 1000 MB (Gigabit) chipset would work with MacOS 9 drivers provided by Realtek (although the company actually selling the card would not mention that the card was compatible with MacOS 9 or provide drivers by default).

Realtek once required those interested in MacOS 9 to request drivers by e-mail, but now has added the drivers to the company website for direct download. MacOS X 10.2 "Jaguar" and MacOS X 10.4 "Tiger" drivers also are offered at no cost.

Although other cards that use the same Realtek chipset should work, the same reader discovered that the TRENDnet TEG-PCITXR Gigabit PCI card worked "perfectly" in MacOS 9 with the Realtek MacOS 9 drivers.

As TRENDnet does not distribute the MacOS 9 drivers, the company only lists the card as compatible with "Windows 98/ME/NT4/2000/XP, Linux Kernel 2.2.x/2.4.x, [and] Netware 5.x/6.x."

The TRENDnet TEG-PCITXR is available new from Amazon.com and other resellers for less than US$20 shipped.

Is there a way to use a third-party "AirPort" (802.11b) PC card with a Mac notebook running MacOS 9?

Certainly. Although some third-party wireless cards may have their own MacOS 9 drivers, IOXperts sells a driver that makes it possible to use dozens of third-party wireless (802.11b) cards with a PowerBook 2400, PowerBook 3400, PowerBook G3, or PowerBook G4 capable of booting MacOS 9. The Mac notebook must have PC card slots, so MacOS 9 capable iBook models are not compatible.

The driver costs US$19.95 and a free trial is available to ensure that the driver works properly with your PC card prior to purchase. A MacOS X driver also is available to expand the number of available wireless options for MacOS X capable systems.