The apotheosis of computing via a browser is probably the Chromebook, a range of laptops whose operating system is. A Mac (or a Linux machine, or other OS) is a. Mac OS X Hints: Most of the solutions and script snippets regarding the screen saver password protection came from the Mac OS X Hints forum. Specifically, the simple but indispensable C code for the 'notif' application was contributed to these forums in a post by Guillame O.
- The Apotheosis Of Pennsylvania
- The Apotheosis Of Lincoln
- The Apotheosis Of Washington Explained
- Apotheosis Definition Pronounce
The 'Book Review
This Week's Mac Notebook News
Compiled by Charles Moore and editedby Dan Knight - 2006.03.10
This Week's MacBook, PowerBook, and iBook News
New this week, TechRestore is offering our readers a $25discount on any PowerBook or iBook in stock. See Bargain 'Books for details.
Everyone seems to be writing about the MacBook Pro this week,and Bare Feats has benchmarked the 2.0 GHz MacBook Pro against a2.0 GHz upgraded PowerBook G4. For the most part, reviewers areimpressed with Apple's latest notebook computer - one even says thenew MagSafe connector 'withstands Simpson-scale idiocy.'
Demonstrating how the Mac is making inroads, we have three PCCards with Mac drivers in this week's news roundup, along withperhaps the smallest USB flash drive to date. All this and more inThe 'Book Review.
Marios time machine mac os. All prices are in US dollars unless otherwise noted.
General Apple and Mac desktop news is covered in The Mac News Review. iPod news is coveredin The iNews Review. News aboutApple's transition to Intel CPUs and other Intel developments iscovered in The Macintel Report.
The Apotheosis Of Pennsylvania
MacBook Pro News
Products
Bargain 'Books
MacBook Pro News
2 GHz Shootout: MacBook Pro vs. UpgradedPowerBook G4
Bare Feats' rob-ART morgan says:
'We finally got our hands on a MacBook Pro. But what's really coolis that we got our hands on a PowerBook G4 that has been upgraded to2 GHz courtesy of DayStar! So we compared the performance ofthe two 2 GHz laptops. Since the MacBook Pro has two cores, wealso tested it with one disabled (using CHUD tools) to see how a2 GHz Intel Core Solo would do against an equally clockedG4.
'In addition, we wanted to know how the new MacBook Pro comparedto an iMac Core Duo running at the same 2 GHz as well as theDual Core G5 Power Mac running at 2 GHz. So this is really a'Two Gigahertz Bonanza.'
Some findings:
- Disabling the MacBook's second core made a big difference onsome tests, none on others.
- Using matching pairs of memory makes the MacBook Pro 2.5-3.5%faster.
- Link: Shootout:MacBook Pro 2.0 GHz versus PowerBook 2.0 GHz (!)
MacBook Pro Launches OS X and Apps Faster thanPowerBook G4
ZD Net's Jason D. O'Grady reports:
'The MacBook Pro isunquestionably faster than the PowerBook G4 it replaces, but exactlyhow much depends on how you use it. Apple sells the MacBook Pro as'up to four times the horsepower of the PowerBook G4' but that'spurely based on the SPECint and SPECfp benchmarks from StandardPerformance Evaluation Corporation (SPEC). Apple's benchmarks werecompiled using the IBM compiler and a beta version of the Intelcompiler for Mac OS.
'But SPEC benchmarks don't tell the whole story. I tested oneaspect of the MacBook Pro's speed that affects me daily and is abetter barometer of real world performance: application launchtimes. I benchmarked the MacBook Pro (2.0 GHz) against a PowerBook G4 (1.5 GHz) while launching14 (native and Rosetta) applications and here are theresults….'
- Link: MacBook ProBenchmarks: Launch Times
MacBook Pro 'Has Looks and Brains'
The New York Times' David Pogue says:
'Remember the famous five stages of grief: denial, anger,bargaining, depression and acceptance? if you're a fan of theMacintosh computer, meet the five stages of switching to Apple'snew laptop: lust, anticipation, delight, dismay and waiting.
'Ordinarily, it's not really news when a computer companyintroduces a new laptop model. You don't see newspaper headlinesblaring, 'Gateway's New P32-XC5 Adds Faster Processor, Third USBPort.'
'But the new Apple MacBookPro ($2,000 and up) is a different story. Although it looksnearly identical to the company's existing 15-inch PowerBook,something radical is going on under the hood..
'Apple calls the MacBook 'the finest laptop in the world.' Intruth, a more accurate description would be 'the finest laptop inthe world, with a small serving of disappointment on theside.'
- Link: Apple Laptop Has Looks and Brains
- Link: MacBook Pro:Spectacular with a Dash of Disappointment
Ars Technica Reviews MacBook Pro
Ars Technica's Jacqui Cheng has posted a long (seven pages)review of the MacBook Pro:
'The first generation of MacBook Pros are obviously meant tobe the next step after the last model of G4 PowerBook, the 1.67 GHz G4 aluminum PowerBook thatwas announced in October of 2005, a mere three months prior to theofficial unveiling of the MacBook Pro. Alas, the low-end MacBookPro was originally meant to also be 1.67 GHz (albeit faster becauseof the dual core chip), but even with the last-minute speed bump,the MacBook Pro is near identical in dimensions to its G4predecessor in many ways. There are a few very subtledifferences.
'The MacBook Pro is 0.1 inches deeper, 0.4 inches wider, 0.1inches thinner, and exactly the same weight as the 15' AluminumPowerBook G4. An 0.4 inch width difference is a seeminglyinsignificant yet important detail to make note of, as it makessqueezing the MacBook Pro into previously-owned sleeves, bags, andaccessories made for other 15' Apple notebooks something likedesperately trying to zip up that pair of tight high school jeanswhile laying on your back and holding your breath - it maytechnically 'fit' but, it doesn't quite, if you know what Imean.
'As a proud longtime owner of a 15-inch G4 PowerBook up untilabout six months ago, I had collected a number of these accessories(not the least of which being my oh-so-trendy Timbuk2 Commuter bag,specifically made for the 15' Apple notebook and bought at an AppleRetail Store) and had kept them around in anticipation of newPowerBooks, er, MacBook Pros, around the corner. Attempting to slipmy MacBook Pro into the built-in sleeve in my Timbuk2 bag as I wasrunning off to work this morning was, to put it politely, rathersnug. I'm still not sure how I feel about this.
'Honey, that sleeve does NOT make your butt look fat!'
- Link: MacBookPro
MacBook Pro a Promising Start to Intel-PoweredApple Era
The Wall Street Journal's Walter S. Mossberg says:
'I am writing these words on a sleek, fast laptop computerpowered by an Intel processor. But unlike the vast majority ofIntel-powered laptops, this machine isn't running MicrosoftWindows. It's the latest Macintosh laptop from Apple Computer, andthe first Apple portable to run on Intel processors. Like all Applecomputers, it uses the company's excellent Mac OS X operatingsystem instead of Windows.
'The new laptop, called a MacBook Pro, is the successor toApple's PowerBook models, and at first glance, it looks just like aPowerBook. But the MacBook Pro is quite different, and not merelybecause it uses a modern, dual-core Intel chip instead of the agingG4 processor its predecessor used.
'I've been testing the MacBook Pro and comparing it to both alate-model PowerBook and a roughly similar Windows laptop, the newH-P Pavilion dv5000t. All three machines have 15-inch-wide screendisplays.
'My verdict: The MacBook Pro is better than the PowerBook andbetter than the H-P, though it has some drawbacks. It is fasterthan previous Apple laptops, but the speedup isn't as great asApple's claims suggest. At a starting price of $1,999, the same asthe PowerBook it replaces, the MacBook Pro costs more than the H-P.But in my opinion, the price premium is more than justified by itssuperior design and features.'
- Link: MacBook ProOffers Promising Start to Era of Intel-Powered Apple
MagSafe 'Withstands Simpson-scale Idiocy'
Personal Tech Pipeline's Glenn Fleishman
'Call me Homer Simpson. I stand before the apotheosis of Apple'snew computer architecture direction, a MacBook Pro containing anIntel Core Duo, and all I can say is, 'Cord goes in, cord goes out,cord goes in, cord goes out.'
'One of the MacBook Pro's many new features is MagSafe, amagnetically coupled power cord connection that can withstandpowerful yanking without taking the computer with it. Mechanicalconnections wear out; this withstands Simpson-scale idiocy.
'Fortunately, Lisa Simpson kicks in at some point, and I startreveling in the speed, design, light weight, and thin form factorof this completely overhauled computer which started shipping toconsumers in February.'
- Link: Review:Apple MacBook Pro
MacBook Availability Already Priced intoShares
'We finally got our hands on a MacBook Pro. But what's really coolis that we got our hands on a PowerBook G4 that has been upgraded to2 GHz courtesy of DayStar! So we compared the performance ofthe two 2 GHz laptops. Since the MacBook Pro has two cores, wealso tested it with one disabled (using CHUD tools) to see how a2 GHz Intel Core Solo would do against an equally clockedG4.
'In addition, we wanted to know how the new MacBook Pro comparedto an iMac Core Duo running at the same 2 GHz as well as theDual Core G5 Power Mac running at 2 GHz. So this is really a'Two Gigahertz Bonanza.'
Some findings:
- Disabling the MacBook's second core made a big difference onsome tests, none on others.
- Using matching pairs of memory makes the MacBook Pro 2.5-3.5%faster.
- Link: Shootout:MacBook Pro 2.0 GHz versus PowerBook 2.0 GHz (!)
MacBook Pro Launches OS X and Apps Faster thanPowerBook G4
ZD Net's Jason D. O'Grady reports:
'The MacBook Pro isunquestionably faster than the PowerBook G4 it replaces, but exactlyhow much depends on how you use it. Apple sells the MacBook Pro as'up to four times the horsepower of the PowerBook G4' but that'spurely based on the SPECint and SPECfp benchmarks from StandardPerformance Evaluation Corporation (SPEC). Apple's benchmarks werecompiled using the IBM compiler and a beta version of the Intelcompiler for Mac OS.
'But SPEC benchmarks don't tell the whole story. I tested oneaspect of the MacBook Pro's speed that affects me daily and is abetter barometer of real world performance: application launchtimes. I benchmarked the MacBook Pro (2.0 GHz) against a PowerBook G4 (1.5 GHz) while launching14 (native and Rosetta) applications and here are theresults….'
- Link: MacBook ProBenchmarks: Launch Times
MacBook Pro 'Has Looks and Brains'
The New York Times' David Pogue says:
'Remember the famous five stages of grief: denial, anger,bargaining, depression and acceptance? if you're a fan of theMacintosh computer, meet the five stages of switching to Apple'snew laptop: lust, anticipation, delight, dismay and waiting.
'Ordinarily, it's not really news when a computer companyintroduces a new laptop model. You don't see newspaper headlinesblaring, 'Gateway's New P32-XC5 Adds Faster Processor, Third USBPort.'
'But the new Apple MacBookPro ($2,000 and up) is a different story. Although it looksnearly identical to the company's existing 15-inch PowerBook,something radical is going on under the hood..
'Apple calls the MacBook 'the finest laptop in the world.' Intruth, a more accurate description would be 'the finest laptop inthe world, with a small serving of disappointment on theside.'
- Link: Apple Laptop Has Looks and Brains
- Link: MacBook Pro:Spectacular with a Dash of Disappointment
Ars Technica Reviews MacBook Pro
Ars Technica's Jacqui Cheng has posted a long (seven pages)review of the MacBook Pro:
'The first generation of MacBook Pros are obviously meant tobe the next step after the last model of G4 PowerBook, the 1.67 GHz G4 aluminum PowerBook thatwas announced in October of 2005, a mere three months prior to theofficial unveiling of the MacBook Pro. Alas, the low-end MacBookPro was originally meant to also be 1.67 GHz (albeit faster becauseof the dual core chip), but even with the last-minute speed bump,the MacBook Pro is near identical in dimensions to its G4predecessor in many ways. There are a few very subtledifferences.
'The MacBook Pro is 0.1 inches deeper, 0.4 inches wider, 0.1inches thinner, and exactly the same weight as the 15' AluminumPowerBook G4. An 0.4 inch width difference is a seeminglyinsignificant yet important detail to make note of, as it makessqueezing the MacBook Pro into previously-owned sleeves, bags, andaccessories made for other 15' Apple notebooks something likedesperately trying to zip up that pair of tight high school jeanswhile laying on your back and holding your breath - it maytechnically 'fit' but, it doesn't quite, if you know what Imean.
'As a proud longtime owner of a 15-inch G4 PowerBook up untilabout six months ago, I had collected a number of these accessories(not the least of which being my oh-so-trendy Timbuk2 Commuter bag,specifically made for the 15' Apple notebook and bought at an AppleRetail Store) and had kept them around in anticipation of newPowerBooks, er, MacBook Pros, around the corner. Attempting to slipmy MacBook Pro into the built-in sleeve in my Timbuk2 bag as I wasrunning off to work this morning was, to put it politely, rathersnug. I'm still not sure how I feel about this.
'Honey, that sleeve does NOT make your butt look fat!'
- Link: MacBookPro
MacBook Pro a Promising Start to Intel-PoweredApple Era
The Wall Street Journal's Walter S. Mossberg says:
'I am writing these words on a sleek, fast laptop computerpowered by an Intel processor. But unlike the vast majority ofIntel-powered laptops, this machine isn't running MicrosoftWindows. It's the latest Macintosh laptop from Apple Computer, andthe first Apple portable to run on Intel processors. Like all Applecomputers, it uses the company's excellent Mac OS X operatingsystem instead of Windows.
'The new laptop, called a MacBook Pro, is the successor toApple's PowerBook models, and at first glance, it looks just like aPowerBook. But the MacBook Pro is quite different, and not merelybecause it uses a modern, dual-core Intel chip instead of the agingG4 processor its predecessor used.
'I've been testing the MacBook Pro and comparing it to both alate-model PowerBook and a roughly similar Windows laptop, the newH-P Pavilion dv5000t. All three machines have 15-inch-wide screendisplays.
'My verdict: The MacBook Pro is better than the PowerBook andbetter than the H-P, though it has some drawbacks. It is fasterthan previous Apple laptops, but the speedup isn't as great asApple's claims suggest. At a starting price of $1,999, the same asthe PowerBook it replaces, the MacBook Pro costs more than the H-P.But in my opinion, the price premium is more than justified by itssuperior design and features.'
- Link: MacBook ProOffers Promising Start to Era of Intel-Powered Apple
MagSafe 'Withstands Simpson-scale Idiocy'
Personal Tech Pipeline's Glenn Fleishman
'Call me Homer Simpson. I stand before the apotheosis of Apple'snew computer architecture direction, a MacBook Pro containing anIntel Core Duo, and all I can say is, 'Cord goes in, cord goes out,cord goes in, cord goes out.'
'One of the MacBook Pro's many new features is MagSafe, amagnetically coupled power cord connection that can withstandpowerful yanking without taking the computer with it. Mechanicalconnections wear out; this withstands Simpson-scale idiocy.
'Fortunately, Lisa Simpson kicks in at some point, and I startreveling in the speed, design, light weight, and thin form factorof this completely overhauled computer which started shipping toconsumers in February.'
- Link: Review:Apple MacBook Pro
MacBook Availability Already Priced intoShares
Forbes' Maya Roney reports:
'Piper Jaffray research analyst Gene Munster maintained an'outperform' rating and $103 price target on Apple Computer, butsaid there may be downside to his fiscal second-quarter Mac salesestimates due to limited MacBook Pro availability.
'We are recommending purchase of Apple shares, given thatcontroversy surrounding limited availability of the new MacBook Proappears to be priced in,' wrote the analyst in a research reportTuesday. 'Apple will ramp MacBook Pro production in the nearterm.'
- Link: Apple's MacBook Dilemma Already Priced Into Shares
Products
Hubbel Book Mount Laptop Mount
PR: The Apple notebook line is one of the best in theindustry. One of the purposes of our PowerBook 17' is to serve as adesktop replacement when it's at 'home'. However, we frequentlytake it out on jobs. Seems that when we come back, though, the deskis always cluttered where the PowerBook used to be and we have toclear away space again. So, to combat the problem, we designed theBook mount. A simple, yet totally effective and sturdy wall mountkit. Not only that, it's attractive and unobtrusive.
Since notebook computers aredesigned to be portable, a mounting kit that didn't allow you toeasily mount, unmount would be kind of pointless. The Book mountlets you simply unplug your cables and slide your Apple notebookout easily. Takes less than 10 seconds to remove the computer andtake it with you
Cables can be a bit unsightly streaming from the sides of thecomputer down along the wall. The Book mounts cable managementsystem routes the cables behind the mount into a single channel.Moreover, when your notebook isn't docked, the cables stay putmaking it easy to reconnect and get up and running quickly when youput the notebook back in. If you're using a fat DVI cable, we evenhave a channel on the MacBook and PowerBook 17' Book mounts thatlet you route that cable easily along the base of the mount.
The Book mount allows you to get at each and every video, USB,FireWire, audio, power, Ethernet, and modem port on every model. Nomatter which Apple notebook you own , the optical drive remainsaccessible when the computer is mounted. You can safely eject yourdiscs as well since the optical drive is never facing downward.
Mounts vertically or horizontally - with only two screws
The Book mount is designed so that you could mount your notebookeither horizontally or vertically. Simply use the two provided woodscrews and tap into a wall stud. You're done. The 1/4' (6.35mm)thick cast acrylic that the Book mount uses is a solid mountingsurface that will provide years of service. The tabs and stops arepositioned in such a way to provide maximum airflow around thecomputer. We've taken care to not block any airflow ports on any ofthe models.
Optional Backlight kit
Apple notebooks look cool mounted on the wall, but thebacklighting simply brings everything to a new level. Simply put,it's like having a backlit piece of art on your wall.
There is a Book mount for every current Apple notebook model.Each unit was designed for the specific model of notebook, thentested to ensure correct fit and alignment. Each Book mount isdesigned precisely for the model of Apple notebook you mount. Wethen use clear acrylic for the PowerBook 12' and 17' and MacBookPro 15'. White acrylic for the iBook 12' and 14'.
A PowerBook 17' mounted in the Book mount. Notice how little ofthe mount you actually see when the computer is docked in themount.
- Link: Hubbel BookMount Laptop Mount
PowerBook Connect a No-Surgery, WirelessSignal Booster for AirPort-Equipped PowerBooks
PR: The PowerBook Connect is the easiest way to getincreased wireless performance without disassembling yourPowerBook. It sets up simply using a web browser. Once setup, noextra steps or hardware are required. PowerBook Connect is only$199.95, and while supplies last customers will get their choice ofa PowerBook Handle for their 12, 15 or 17 inch AL PowerBook.
PowerBook Connect allows AirPort and AirPort Extreme-enabledPowerBooks and desktops increased wireless range without opening upthe computer or attaching to the internal AirPort cards. PowerBookConnect preserves your AppleCare contract. It requires power butcan get that power either from USB, AC adapter or using an internalbattery model ($229.95 ). It does not have to attach to thePowerBook either. It can simply sit on the desk, next to thecomputer. No cables or other cumbersome connections.
PowerBook Connect is between the internal AirPort card and theaccess point (commonly an AirPort Base Station). It ampllifies thewireless signals going in and out of the computer. You connect todifferent networks just like you always do - no extravagantprocedures to memorize.
What are the differences between and Apple AirPort Express andthe PowerBook Connect? Although they do some of the same things,they work differently. AirPort Express cannot perform this well duein part to the smaller buffer inside the AirPort Express whichslows performance. It can only be powered from AC power - limitingmobility and changing networks requires a lot of extra work.PowerBook Connect eliminates all of these limitations. Also, withthe PowerBook Connect you can attach external antennas, unlike theAirPort Express where you don't have to have access to the RF portconnector. The PowerBook Connect generates 4-5 times more RF outputand has a more sensitive receiver than the AirPort Express. ThePowerBook Connect works on all 802.11b/g systems, Mac orWindows.
So how can you get five times the normal range with that tinylittle antenna? That little antenna has 200 milliwatts of RF power- the rating that wireless products are measured by. Your PowerBookhas about 30 milliwatts of RF power packed into that sleekPowerBook case. Not very impressive. Going from 30 to 200milliwatts is what gives you that extra range and speed. Impressthose nerds in the airport the next time you fly when you whip outyour little PowerBook Connect and start really hammering thewireless network in the terminal building. You'll give thoseWindows guys wireless networking envy.
Want more options? How about using the PowerBook Connect withyour Apple PowerBook Pismo, Wallstreet, titanium, aluminum 12, 15and 17-inch models and even the brand new MacBook Pro Intellaptops. You can even use it with the new dual-core iMacs too. Notonly can you connect to most PowerBooks, but you can also chooseany access point for your wireless connection.
You also can use any popular wireless network hardware includeaccess points from LinkSys, Belkin, dLink and of course, AppleAirPort and AirPort Extreme Base Stations. That means just aboutany 802.11b or 802.11g networks and your Mac OS X or lateroperating system. You can even move your PowerBook Connect fromyour PowerBook to any other WiFi ready computer - Mac orWindows.
QuickerTek's new PowerBook Connect combines a more powerful 2dBiantenna than came in your stock PowerBook, with a new design thatdoes not require installation inside the PowerBook. You don't haveto open the computer and work with the innards. And let's say thatdown the road you want even more power, you can add one ofQuickerTek's antennas for even greater wireless performance!
QuickerTek has been a recognized leading innovator of antennasand RF products for Apple Power Macintosh, iMac, PowerBook and soonfor MacBook Pro computers. QuickerTek products can be purchasedonline and from authorized dealers.
- Link: PowerBookConnect
Petito, the Ultra Fast and Small USB 2.0Flash Drive
PR: Designed primarily for mobileprofessionals, Petito is a reliable, exceptionally high-speed and ahigh-capacity flash drive, featuring up to 30 MB/s (200x) datatransfer rate and containing up to 1 GB data storage.Measuring at just 1.65' x 0.8', not only is Petito ideal fortransporting data, digital images, and presentations, it is alsoperfect for you to carry on your keychain, mobile phone, or for youto wear as your necklace. ATP will exhibit the Petito as well asits latest products at the upcoming CeBIT tradeshow in Hannover,Germany (Booth location: Hall 26 Stand C67 Booth 9) from March 9 to15.
'With a wide-ranging choice of flash drives out in the markettoday, Petito distinguishes itself with its stylish and compactdesign,' said Danny Lin, ATP VP of Sales and Marketing. 'Do not bemislead by its size, though, because at up to 30MB/s transfer rateand 1GB, Petito will exceed your expectations with its performancesin terms of speed and capacity.'
Built with ATP's distinctive System-In-Package (SIP) technology,Petito comes with superior quality and durability, an attributeshared by all ATP memory products. Complete encapsulation providesPetito with ample protection from water, shock, dust, and ESD.Another unique feature of Petito is its increased security,allowing users to create a password for a better dataprotection.
Key Features
- Dimensions: 9.4mm x 17.6mm x 36.3mm (D x W x L)
- Weight: less than 8g
- Up to 30 MB/s data transfer rate, fully compatible with USBspecification version 2.0 and 1.1
- Powered by USB bus - no external power is required
- Durable solid-state storage - 10 years data retention
- Hot Plug & Play - enable you to install and uninstallPetito anytime
- Security application - allow you to create a uniquepassword
Petito is available in a variety of colors and capacitiesranging from 256 MB to 1 GB. Gold and silver Petito areavailable immediately, while dark blue and titanium Petito will beavailable later in April. For more detailed product information,visit:
- Link: PetitoUSB 2.0 Flash Drive
PowerAid 'Universal Battery' a Must HaveDevice
PR: US Modular, a designer and manufacturer of personalmemory, power, and storage products, announced today that thecompany is bringing to market a universal portable battery that hasthe power to run any notebook computer or DC-powered device - allfrom one unit. The PowerAid by US Modular runs on lithium-iontechnology to keep the unit lightweight but still provides thehighest level of electrochemical potential and energy content.
'The PowerAid was designed after a long business trip where Ifound myself constantly untangling power cords for presentationsand when my cell phone went dead, which carries all my files; Iknew that US Modular could produce a better way to power-up,' saidUS Modular CEO Nick Payzant. 'The PowerAid will be the first ofmany advancements in battery technology that we hope to producethis year.'
The PowerAid adapter kit includes 10 connectors to fit mostlaptops, as well as an automotive accessories style adapter topower cell phones, PDAs, laptops and other devices while on theroad. With the PowerAid, worry and disappointment are alleviated.Small and sleek in design, the PowerAid weighs in at 8 ounces andis the size of a wallet. The product, first aimed at executives, isthe perfect option for anyone who needs power while on the go.
Features:
- Lithium-Ion powered
- Includes AC charger, USB cable and adapter kit
- Adapter kit features 10 UL-approved connectors
- Special adapter to power cell phones and other devices withautomotive accessory style (cigarette lighter) chargers
- Incorrect: Output power: 45Wh (Watt Hours)
- Output voltage: 16V,19V selectable
- Incorrect: capacity: 3000mAh
- LED power level indicator
- Charging voltage: 16.8V
- Charging time: 5 to 6 hours with AC charger
- 100% OEM Compatible
Priced at $99 MSRP, the PowerAid will begin shipping the firstweek of April.
- Link: US Modular
Sewell USB 2.0 PC Card Adapter has MacSupport
PR: The Sewell USB 2.0PCMCIA Card is a quick, easy way to add USB 2.0 ports to yourPowerBook. Just plug the card in and you are ready to go.
This is a solution for using any USB devices with your laptop.It will work with all USB devices, and up to 480 Mbps with USB 2.0devices.
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Simply plug the card into your laptop, install the necessarysoftware (included) and you are ready to go
Specifications:
- USB Versions: Compliant with USB 2.0 and USB 1.1
- PCMCIA: Standard Type II, 32-bit CardBus
- Ports: 2 external
System Requirements:
- Windows 98 SE, ME, 2000, or XP or Mac OS 10.1 and higherPentium 233 MHz or faster
- 32 MB RAM or more
- Available PCMCIA Slot
Price: $29.95
- Link: Sewell USB 2.0 PCMCIACard
Black Box USB 2.0 PCMCIA Card Compatible withOS X
The Black Box USB 2.0 PCMCIA cardlets you add 2 USB 2.0 ports to your existing laptop. The cardinstalls instantly and is fully plug and play compatible. It alsooffers something that most PCMCIA adapter cards don't: the BlackBox seal of quality.
Price: $79.95
Specifications
- 480 Mbps top transfer speed
- USB 1.1 backwards compatible
- 2 USB 2.0 Ports
- Plug and Play capability
- Compatible with Windows 98/SE/Me/2000/XP and Mac OS X
- Link: Black BoxUSB 2.0 PCMCIA Card
Combo USB 2.0/FireWire PCMCIA Card withMac Driver
New fromUnixtar:
- Compliant with USB 2.0 Spec.
Supports high-speed (480 Mbps), full-speed (12 Mbps) and low-speed(1.5 Mbps) data - Compliant IEEE 1394-1995 Standard and 1394a Supplement V2.0
Data transfer rate 100/200/400 Mbps - One USB A Type downstream and One IEEE1394 downstream port
- Standard PCMCIA type II compliance
- Plug-n-Play compatible
- Link: USB2.0 & 1394 (FireWire) Combo PCMCIA Carbus
- Link: OS Xdriver download
Bargain 'Books
Bargain 'Books are used unless otherwise indicated. New andrefurbished units have a one-year Apple warranty and are eligiblefor AppleCare.
There are two different versions of WallStreet running at 233MHz, the cacheless MainStreetversion and the later Series IIwith a level 2 cache. It's not always possible to determine fromthe vendor's listing which is being offered, so we've includedlinks within this paragraph to the two models. The same goes forthe PowerBook G4/667 (VGA) andG4/667 (DVI), the titanium vs.aluminum 15' PowerBook G4 at 1 GHz, and 1.25 GHz to 1.5 GHz 15'PowerBooks.
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PowerBook and iBook profiles linked in our Portable Mac Index.
TechRestore
I'm pleased to announce that TechRestore is offering a $25discount to The 'Book Reviewreaders off any PowerBook or iBook in stock. Just enter the codeCWM during checkout when ordering online. The coupon code is validfrom now through 2007.112.31.
- used 15' PowerBook G4/1.25 GHz, 512/80/Combo, BT,$1,349.99
- used 17' PowerBook G4/1 GHz, 512/60/SuperDrive, APX,$1,279.99
Wegener Media
- PowerBook 1400cs, 16/775MB/floppy, new battery, AC, $99.99
- PowerBook 5300cs/100 MHz,8/775 MB/floppy, $49.99
- Apple Newton eMate 300
Get the original while you can! Wegeners just acquired a qty ofthese little babies at auction. Includes ONLY the machine, stylus,the battery, and a power pack. The software is installed, and isavailable elsewhere for download. These have the standard, PC Cardslot, etc. - a very cool web/email/communications tool, at adirt-cheap price. Units are guaranteed working for 30 days.Batteries are included, but Wegeners can't guarantee the longevity.- eMate complete with power pack - $59.99
- eMate complete NO power pack - $39.99
- NEW eMate battery (Just in-new OEM batt's) - $21.99
- Extra eMate charger/power pack - $19.99
Apple Store
- refurb 12' iBook G4/1.2 GHz, 256/30/Combo, APX, $719
- refurb 14' iBook G4/1.33 GHz, 256/60/Combo, APX, $899
- refurb 12' PowerBook G4/1.5 GHz, 512/80/SuperDrive, APX, BT2.0, $1,199
- refurb 17' PowerBook G4/1.5 GHz, 512/80/SuperDrive, APX,$1,699
Baucom Computers
- used 12' iBook G3/600, 256/20/CD, $390
- used 15' PowerBook G4/667, 256/20/Combo, $625
- extra 512 MB, add $89
For more deals on current or recently discontinued models, seeour best 15' MacBook Pro deals,our best 17' MacBook Pro deals,12' PowerBook G4 deals, 15' aluminum PowerBook G4 deals, 17' PowerBook G4 deals, titanium PowerBook G4 deals, iBook G4 deals, PowerBook G3 deals, and iBook G3 deals.
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Tuesday, 7 February 2017Good piece by Dr. Drang, pondering why iPad owners seemingly are slow to upgrade older iPads for new ones:
What's surprising to me is how slow iPad software has advanced inthe seven years since its introduction. I've always thought of theiPad as the apotheosis of Steve Jobs's conception of what acomputer should be, what the Mac would have been in 1984 if thehardware were available. But think of what the Mac could do whenit was seven years old:
You could write real Macintosh programs on it, both withthird-party development software like THINK (née Lightspeed) Cand Pascal and Apple's Macintosh Programmer's Workshop.You may not care about writing native apps, but the ability todo so brings with it a lot of other abilities you do care about,like the bringing together of documents from multiple sources.
You had a mature multi-tasking environment in theMultiFinder that worked with essentially every applicationthat ran on the Mac.
You (and all your applications) had access to a realhierarchical file system.
You had what many people still consider the best personalsoftware development kit in HyperCard.
Drang's list is very much programming-centric, which is an area where the iPad is particularly weak compared to where the Mac was in 1991. It's a good point — serious general-purpose personal computing platforms should be self-sufficient, by which I mean that you should be able to write software for the platform on the platform itself.
In the very earliest years of the Mac, you needed to write Mac apps using a Lisa; MPW 1.0 shipped in 1986, when the Mac was only two years old. In other words, from 1984 to 1986, the Lisa was to the Mac as the Mac now is to the iPad. It makes sense that making the Mac self-sufficient would have been a higher priority for Apple in the 1980s than it is today for the iPad. The Lisa was a failed platform; requiring developers to buy one in order to create apps for the Mac was a multi-thousand-dollar shit sandwich. And, it was obvious that the Mac should be self-hosting. Conceptually, based on how the system worked and was designed, there was no question that there needed to be a way to write Mac software on the Mac itself.
No one is arguing that there should be a way to develop Apple TV apps on an Apple TV, or even more preposterously, to develop Apple Watch apps on an Apple Watch. Those aren't general-purpose personal computing platforms. Nor do I think there's much reason to want Apple to enable the creation of iPhone apps from an iPhone. It is surely technically feasible, and conceptually iOS could handle it from a UI perspective. But as a practical matter, the displays are simply too small to make it worth the effort. The only imaginable scenario in which I can imagine a developer using an iPhone to create iPhone software is if the iPhone is the only computing device they own.1
The iPad, on the other hand, clearly could be a platform which would be perfectly suitable for developing iPad apps. I'm not so sure it should be, though. Or that it should be any higher a priority for Apple than it already is (Swift Playgrounds shows they're moving in this direction, albeit slowly.) The Mac needed its own development tools because the Lisa was going away; the iPad doesn't need its own development tools because the Mac remains a thriving platform with a bright future.
But put software development aside. I think the bigger problem for the iPad is that there are few productivity tasks, period, where iPad is hardware-constrained. Aldus PageMaker shipped for the Mac in 1985. By 1987 or 1988, it was easy to argue that the Mac was, hands-down, the best platform the world had ever seen for graphic designers and visual artists. By 1991 — seven years after the original Mac — I think it was inarguable. And the improvements in Mac software during those years drove demand for improved hardware. Photoshop, Illustrator, Freehand (R.I.P.), QuarkXpress — those apps pushed the limits of Mac hardware in those days.
That's just not true for iPad. The iPad is a terrific platform for casual use. I think it's better than a MacBook for reading and watching video. It's great for casual gaming. I know plenty of people who much prefer the iPad as a tool for writing. Not because iPad writing apps are more powerful, but rather because they're simpler, less distracting, and easier to focus upon. None of those are compelling reasons to upgrade an older iPad for a newer more powerful one. In fact, those are all good explanations for why owners of older iPads (especially starting around 2012's iPad 4) see no reason to upgrade.
Apple Pencil changes this. An iPad Pro with Apple Pencil is the best portable drawing platform in the world. But you don't even have to try it to know that there's not much appeal if you don't do some sort of drawing or sketching. And most people never draw anything.2
I don't think there's anything inherently wrong with the iPad being a platform where people buy one and use it for 5 or 6 years before thinking about replacing it. But if Apple wants it to be a platform where people are tempted to replace them more frequently, I think the software story needs to change. For that to happen, the iPad experience needs to be less like a big iPhone, and more like a touch-based Mac.
The fact that that doesn't seem to be Apple's goal for the iPad is the reason why I, unlike many others, continue to feel confident about the future of the Mac.
Apotheosis Definition Pronounce
Luminosity (itch) mac os. This piece on Mac doomsayers I wrote for Macworld in December of 2010 — when the iPad was less than a year old — feels like it could have been written yesterday. Here's what I wrote then:
At typical companies, 'legacy' technology is something you figureout how to carry forward. At Apple, legacy technology is somethingyou figure out how to get rid of. The question isn't whether iOShas a brighter future than the Mac. There is no doubt: it does.The question is whether the Mac has become 'legacy'. Is the Macslowing iOS down or in any way holding it back?
I say no. In fact, quite the opposite. For one thing, Mac OS Xdevelopment has been slowed by the engineering resources Apple hasshifted to iOS, not the other way around. Apple came right out andadmitted as much, when Mac OS X 10.5 was delayed back in 2007. Thecompany's explanation: It had to shift key engineering resourcesto help the original iPhone ship on time.
The bigger reason, though, is that the existence and continuinggrowth of the Mac allows iOS to get away with doing less. Thecentral conceit of the iPad is that it's a portable computer thatdoes less — and because it does less, what it does do, it doesbetter, more simply, and more elegantly. Apple can only beginphasing out the Mac if and when iOS expands to allow us to doeverything we can do on the Mac. It's the heaviness of the Macthat allows iOS to remain light.
When I say that iOS has no baggage, that's not because there isno baggage. It's because the Mac is there to carry it. Long term— say, ten years out — well, all good things must come to anend. But in the short term, Mac OS X has an essential role in aniOS world: serving as the platform for complex,resource-intensive tasks.
Here we are, six years later, and the Mac's role in the iOS world is only slightly less essential now than it was then.
I'm aware that having a smartphone as one's only computing device is actually common in Asia, and for people with low incomes around the world. I don't think there's much, if any, demand from any of those people to be able to use their iPhones to develop iPhone apps. ↩︎
You can argue that most people in the early 1990s never did any graphic design, either. To which I'd say, yes, exactly. That's why Apple typically sold fewer than 1 million Macs per quarter back then — often far fewer. Mac sales peaked (in that era) at 4.5 million units for the entire year of 1995. I think iPads with Apple Pencils are a similar niche today, with an appeal measured in millions of units per year, but not tens of millions. ↩︎︎
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