Except as noted, prices are in US dollars.
Pixinator 1.0 LCD Screen Pixel Tester
Eric Bailey's Pixinator is
a simple tool to aid in identifying dead or stuck pixels in an LCD
screen. It was created for those of us who can't stand having a stuck
pixel in the middle of our workspace.
Features
- Simultaneous testing of all attached displays
- Intuitive interface, including several keyboard shortcuts
- All functions available while viewing the onscreen manual
- Instantaneous switching or smooth fading between background
colors
- Black background to help identify stuck pixels
- Red, Green, and Blue backgrounds to help identify dead pixels
- White background to help identify both pixel defects
- Small file size
When should you use it?
When buying an LCD screen. You'll want to make sure the screen is as
defect-free as possible. When purchasing used, make sure the seller has
checked the screen for defects and has an appropriate return policy.
When purchasing new, it's best to find a retailer with a
no-questions-asked open-box return policy, so that you can return the
screen if problems are found. If there is an open-box return fee, it's
might be time to compare the cost of returning it with reselling the
screen yourself.
When selling an LCD screen. Most buyers will want to know whether
the screen has any pixel problems, and Pixinator will aid you in fully
disclosing the condition of the display. You'll see the greatest return
if your screen is defect-free or if the problematic pixels are close to
the bottom or right edges of the display, out of most users'
workspaces.
When problematic pixels develop over time on an LCD screen.
Sometimes you can fix the pixel or deal with it. Otherwise, it might be
time to sell!
When you simply feel like checking up on your screen. If you find
your display to be stuck-pixel-free, you'll have the satisfaction of
knowing it!
There is no surefire way to fix a dead or stuck pixel. Some have had
luck gently rubbing the area of the pixel, possibly applying light
pressure to both the front and back of the screen. You're mileage may
very, and try at your own risk.
Alternatively, you could consult the display manufacturer to see if
they will replace the screen. Usually, manufacturer's guidelines state
that several problematic pixels must be present in a given area before
the screen will be replaced. See below for a list of customer relations
numbers.
Or, you could just deal with it. A dead green pixel in the lower
right hand corner of the display - almost invisible in everyday use -
is much more manageable than a stuck red pixel in the middle of your
preferred Web browsing or typing area, but you might be able to train
yourself to ignore both. Some people aren't bothered by problematic
pixels.
If none of these solutions work for you, as stated above, it might
be time to replace the screen.
Pixinator was designed to be as straightforward, small, and portable
a utility as possible. At 48k, it is several hundred k smaller than
similar products. Pixinator does away with useless features such as
patterns or the ability to test any color and annoyances like
registration screens or pop up windows. Plus, Pixinator is a bit more
fun, allowing fading between colors in addition to immediate color
switching. Nevertheless, sometimes another product may fit the
bill:
Pixel problems arise from manufacturing defects and can manifest
themselves right out of the factory or over time. Each pixel in an LCD
screen is composed of Red, Green, and Blue sub-pixels. Any one, or even
all of those sub-pixels can short out, either never turning on - a dead
pixel, or always staying on - a stuck pixel.
System requirements:
- Mac OS X
- Tested on 10.2.3, should run on any version
- If a Developer Preview of 1.4.1 is installed, make sure to run from
Java 1.3.1
- Fading performance subject to processor speed
Pixinator is freeware.
XPower Mobile Plug 75 Inverter
Provide your laptop or other device the power it needs while you're
"on the go!" Insert the XPower Mobile
Plug 75 
into the lighter socket in your vehicle and plug in any
electric equipment that draws up to 75 watts (maximum 5 minutes) or 60
watts or less (continuous) AC power. Ideal for using laptops and other
electronic devices in mobile applications.
- Height: 1.7 in / 4.2 cm
- Length: 4.8 in / 12.1 cm
- Width: 2.5 in / 6.3 cm
- Weight: 4.96 oz / .14 kg
Price: $29.95
CoolMac Keyboard
The CoolMac
Keyboard is the 
world's
most flexible keyboard, in more ways than one. This silicone-cast
keyboard is completely rollable and liquid resistant, making it perfect
for travel or harsh conditions. Type quietly without the clicking of
regular bulky keyboards! USB interface. Ice White.
Price: $59.99
Other World Computing Pushes CD-RW Envelope with
Mercury Pro 52x-speed FireWire Solutions
Other World Computing has
introduced two new external FireWire CD-RW drives that operate at 52x
speeds and allow users to burn CDs in less than 90 seconds.
"These new 52-speed CD-RW solutions are further proof of our
commitment at Other World Computing to continually bring the best and
fastest solutions to market with exceptional value in mind," said Larry
O'Connor, president of OWC. "We continue to try and push the
technological envelope. We introduced our first 48-speed CD-RWs in
November - the Mercury Pro 48x12x48 - and enhanced them in December by
pushing the capabilities to 48x24x48. Now we've brought our first two
52-speed CD-RW drives to market. As with all of our Mercury Pro
solutions, the Mercury Pro 52x24x52x CD-RW FireWire external solutions
offer true 'plug & play' technology and make CD creation easier
than ever."
The new 52x-speed Mercury Pro drives are compatible with both
Macintosh and Windows-based systems with FireWire or USB support, and
feature Lite-On SMART-BURN technology. Each drive ships with 25 pieces
of CD-R media, one piece of CD-RW media, Roxio Toast Lite 5.2.x and all
connecting cables.
The Mercury Pro 52X CD-RWs write to industry standard 550 MB (63
min.), 650 MB (74 min.) and 700 MB (80 min.) discs, respectively, and
are capable of over-burn writes of up to 99 minutes. This functionality
gives users the ability to manage large back-up jobs, archive data,
make music CDs that are playable in any standard CD player, or create,
edit and rewrite a variety of data formats to the discs many times
over.
The Mercury Pro 52X CD-RW FireWire external solution is available
now for $159.99 (USD). The FireWire/USB 2.0/1.1 version of the Mercury
Pro 52X CD-RW solution is available for $179.99. The Mercury Pro
48x24x48 CD-RW FireWire external solutions are also available at prices
starting at $139.99. All three CD-RW solutions are available
exclusively through OWC.
Willow Announces New Expandable Mac
Slipcases
Willow Design has
announced a
new line of slipcases for the Titanium, 12", and 14" iBooks.
The new slipcases are based on the
excellent protection of its previous Macintosh slipcase lines, but add
more space for accessories.
Users were generally very happy with Willow's past slipcases but
often requested the option to carry more. "To meet their needs, we've
designed the new line to feature a slightly thicker front pocket for
accessories and then added a flat rear pocket which can bellow out to
add a couple of inches of space when needed", explains president Nigel
Peck.
Other features added to the slipcases include a handy externally
accessed keychain clip and flap to make home and office commuting
easier plus a change or small accessory pocket in the lid which is
easily got at while the slipcase is on your shoulder.
Slipcases for the new 12" and 17" PowerBooks are in production and
should be available within the next couple of weeks. All the slipcases
feature Willow's lifetime guarantee, as do their other 30 cases devoted
to Apple
The Kootenay 15" Titanium slipcase offers a lightweight, compact,
yet flexible solution for carrying your 15" PowerBook, power supply and
cord, and some accessories. The stylish design offers excellent
protection for your Titanium in a compact and expandable case.
Pricing: $125 Cdn., $84 U.S.
iShuttle iBook Case
The water-resistant and durable iShuttle iBook
Case for the clamshell iBooks comes in five delectable colors:
blueberry, 
tangerine, graphite, lime, and
indigo.
- Made of a semi-hard, water resistant EVA material
- Padded computer compartment with Velcro securing straps and
adjustable / detachable padded divider
- Interior file pocket
- Holders for pens/pencils, business cards, floppy and Zip disks, and
CDs.
- Adjustable/detachable strap with anti-slip pad
- Ergonomic, comfort grip handle
- Dual pulling, self-healing zippers
- All metal hardware
Price: $98
Willow Eastern Large Display Carry Case for 14"
iBook & Pismo/Lombard G3 PowerBook
The Eastern Large
Display Case offers a lightweight, compact, highly protective
solution for carrying the many 
of the large screen laptops plus accessories. The case offers
superb protection for all your gear with separate compartments for
accessories in the lower level and extra space in the front zippered
pocket.
Eastern Large Display Features:
- fits many of the large display laptops such as the 14" iBook.
- excellent protection for your laptop afforded by 1.2 cm (0.5")
foam, reinforced by corrugated plastic on the front, back and lid plus
4 mm (1/8") hardboard on the case bottom.
- extra protection afforded by cross directional corrugated plastic
internal separation dividers.
- up to four separate compartments for your laptop, adapter and
accessories.
- disc and CD-ROM pockets on the laptop compartment lid.
- an outer front pocket organizer panel for pens, pencils, checkbook
etc.
- a zippered external front and back pocket which will fit 2.0 cm
(0.8") of letter sized file folders or other gear each.
- a zippered flat front paper pocket.
- a convenient flat pocket on the back suitable for maps or
magazines
- luggage feet riveted through the hardboard bottom of the case which
actually keep it up and off the ground.
- secure thickly padded briefcase style handle with web anchors
quadruple stitched and additionally reinforced by quadruple rivets
through high density polyethylene underneath the fabric top panel.
- contoured, thickly padded shoulder strap with heavy duty snap hooks
for secure carrying.
- lifetime guarantee against defects in materials or
craftsmanship.
Available colors: black, charcoal, navy, teal, purple
Price: $124 Cdn, $83 U.S.
iCase12Plus
iCase12 Plus provides an additional side bag for documents and
items as well as an ergonomically 
curved and molded
Deluxe carrying strap
The side bag offers 3 inside pockets, pen holders and a separate
zippered outside pocket.
The inside pockets hold accessories like external FireWire drives
such as the ultra portable CD-RW drives from VST.
The side bag clips onto iCase12 and is removed as easily as it is
mounted. Leave the side bag at home for lighter traveling at any
time!
To make things even lighter you could detach the side bag, fill it
with bare essentials, stick the clips onto the velcroed pads on the
back and take off with the side bag alone!
The new carrying strap is ergonomically formed, very wide and
especially well padded for utmost carrying comfort. It attaches to the
lid of the case to provide balanced load even with a fully packed side
bag.
The base model iCase12 is equipped with all that it takes to add the
carrying strap and the side bag to upgrade to an iCase12Plus in a blink
when you find the need for it.
Price: $419
Bargain 'Books
There are two different versions of WallStreet running at 233 MHz,
the cacheless MainStreet version and the
later Series II with
a level 2 cache. It's not always possible to determine from the
vendor's listing which is being offered, so we've included links within
this paragraph to the two models. The same goes for the PowerBook G4/667 (Gigabit
Ethernet/2001) and G4/667 (DVI).
- iBook 800 12",
640/30/Combo, Radeon Mobility 7500 w/ 32 MB RAM, OS X 10.2, 3 year
AppleCare, 10 GB iPod, $1,940
- iBook 800 14",
640/30/Combo, Radeon Mobility 7500 w/ 32 MB RAM, OS X 10.2, 3 year
AppleCare, 10 GB iPod, $2,240
- PowerBook
G4/867, 768/40/Combo, Radeon Mobility 9000 w/ 32 MB RAM, OS X 10.2,
3 year AppleCare, Microsoft Office v.X, $2,847
- PowerBook
G4/1 GHz, 768/60/SuperDrive, AirPort card, Radeon Mobility
9000 w/ 64 MB RAM, OS X 10.2,3 year AppleCare, $3,248
These units have plenty of power for word processing, email, the
Web, etc. Check email, do your surfing, all 
from
the portable comfort of wherever you want to be.
Get it with built-in ethernet, and you've got a Web-ready unit for
pocket change!!
Machines are refurbished and include a 30 day guarantee. Or, buy an
extended one year warranty, exclusive with this machine, for $40
extra.
- PowerBook 5300cs/100, 8/775
MB, 10.4" color LCD, floppy, battery, AC adapter, $69
- internal ethernet/video card with 1 MB VRAM expansion, $20
with PowerBook purchase.
- 16 MB RAM Expansion, $20
- refurbished iBook 800
14", 256/30/Combo, Kensington Mouse in a Box, CD Cyclone FlashKey
USB 128 MB, $1,449
- new PowerBook G4/667, 256/30/Combo, 32 MB VRAM, Griffin iCurve
laptop stand, Apple Pro USB Keyboard and USB Mouse (white), $2,099
- refurbished iBook
700 12", 128/20/Combo, $1,079
- new iBook 700
12", 128/20/Combo, Airport, $1,159
- refurbished iBook 700
14", 256/30/Combo, $1,295
- new PowerBook G4/667, 256/30 GB/Combo, 32 MB VRAM, $1,899
- PowerBook Pismo
G3/400, 128/6 GB/DVD, FireWire, $929.95
- PowerBook WallStreet G3/233, 96/2 GB/CD, 14.1", $679.95
For more deals, see our Best PowerBook G4
Deals and Best
iBook Deals.
