Compiled by Charles Moore
and edited by
Dan Knight
- 2003.08.08
Except as noted, prices are in US dollars.
IOGear Launches the First Mouse with a
Memory
IOGear has
eliminated the hassles of touchpads, cumbersome mice, and bulky
external hard drives with the launch of Memory Mouse, a mini mouse
capable of storing up to 32 MB of files.
The tiny peripheral is a great tool for mobile travelers who
don't want to lug around bulky laptops and have limited space to
work. By storing PowerPoint presentations, MP3s, photos, and other
files, Memory Mouse enables users to transfer data onto any PC or
Mac at any location by simply plugging the device into a USB
port.
With 800 dpi resolution, Memory Mouse offers twice the accuracy
of standard mice, allowing greater precision for graphic design or
detailed-oriented projects. The high resolution also requires less
wrist movement to move the cursor, an advantage for travelers
working on airline tray tables or in other confined areas. Memory
Mouse features a retractable cable to avoid tangled wires, making
it simple to store.
IOGear's tool works on any surface and offers an ergonomically
contoured design for comfortable use. Memory Mouse is priced at
$49.95 (MSRP) and is available immediately from all major catalog
resellers, online resellers, and selected retail outlets.
"IOGear's latest device is a great example of how mice have
migrated from a utility peripheral to a more multipurpose and
feature-rich tool," said Miranda Su, vice president of sales and
marketing at IOGear, Inc. "Memory Mouse is a great product for
mobile workers looking to reduce their heavy load and simplify data
transfers. The mouse is much sturdier than CD-ROMs or floppy disks,
making it less of a risk to break or get scratched in a bag or
pocket."
Memory Mouse supports Windows 98, 98SE, 2000, ME, XP and Mac
OS X. The product is USB ready, Plug-n-Play, and hot
pluggable. It comes equipped with a carrying case and IOGear's
three-year limited warranty. At press time, there was no
information about the Memory Mouse on the IOGear website.
LapCop 2.0 Phones Home if Your 'Book Is
Stolen
|
Due to legal issues with a competitive product, we have been
asked to remove the following article. However, this is a news
archive, and we are retaining the article as published for
historical reasons with only a single change - the broken link has
been removed. Dan Knight, publisher, Low End Mac
|
Laptops are becoming increasingly popular, but their portability
makes them very susceptible to theft. Computer theft has reached
epidemic proportions worldwide: There were 591,000 laptops stolen
in the US in the year 2001, and according to a recent FBI report,
97% of all stolen computers are never recovered. Macintosh laptops
are especially popular among thieves, because even thieves
sometimes have good taste....
LapCop's developers are iBook and PowerBook users themselves. To
help recover your iBook or PowerBook in case it gets stolen, they
have developed LapCop, an innovative stealth software application
that secretly transmits an electronic beacon to an email address of
your choice, allowing you to track and locate your Mac anywhere in
the world.
Features:
- LapCop monitors your system.
- If your Mac is stolen, LapCop sends a stealth email to your
designated email address as soon as your lost or stolen Mac is
connected to the Internet.
- The stealth email contains all the information needed for the
local authorities to recover your Mac. As a side benefit, any other
items of your property that might have been taken at the same time
may also be recovered.
- Sends LapCop a copy of the stealth email, and they will help
you locate your stolen Mac.
New in this version:
- LapCop 2 no longer uses SMTP to send its stealth email. It now
contacts LapCop's dedicated server, which then sends out the
stealth email, making the stealth mail delivery 100% reliable.
- LapCop 2 now reports the serial number of the stolen Mac.
- IP addresses of the router are now reported as well, making it
even easier to locate the stolen Mac.
- LapCop 2 is free for registered users of LapCop.
System requirements: Mac OS X 10.2 or higher
LapCop sells for $25.
Other World Computing Introduces SuperDrive and
Combo Upgrades for PowerBook G4 Titanium
Other World Computing (OWC) has introduced
Mercury Ti and Mercury Cube slot-loading internal
SuperDrive and Combo drives available for both 15" PowerBook G4 and
Power Macintosh G4 Cube models,
respectively.
Allowing users to replace their current internal optical drive,
OWC SuperDrives provide full DVD-R/RW and CD-R/RW capabilities,
while the OWC Combo drives provide full CD-R/RW and DVD playback
capabilities. Drives are 100% compatible with all Apple software
titles, including iDVD (SuperDrive only), iTunes, and Disc
Burner.
"Out goes the stock drive and in goes the new OWC SuperDrive or
Combo drive upgrade," said Larry O'Connor, president of OWC. "Now
both Cube G4 and PowerBook G4 owners can have it all - conveniently
right inside their machine and with 100 percent Apple software
compatibility."
The Mercury Ti and Cube SuperDrive upgrades for both 15"
PowerBook G4 and Power Mac G4 Cube models include the following
features:
- 24x Speed CD-ROM Reading
- 16x Speed CD-R Writing
- 4x Speed CD-RW Writing/Rewriting
- 8x Speed DVD-ROM Reading
- 1x Speed DVD-R Writing
- 1x Speed DVD-RW Writing/Rewriting
- Buffer Underrun Protection
- 2 MB Write Cache
The OWC Mercury Combo drives for 15" PowerBook G4 and Power Mac
G4 Cube models offer:
- 24x Speed CD-ROM Reading
- 8x Speed CD-R Writing
- 8x Speed CD-RW Writing/Rewriting
- 8x Speed DVD-ROM Reading
- Buffer Underrun Protection
- 2 MB Write Cache
OWC SuperDrives are priced from $379.95 for both the Mercury Ti
and Cube models, and both models of OWC Combo drives are priced at
$199.95. All come with step-by-step instructions for easy
installation and are available exclusively through OWC.
Further, OWC offers a trade-in rebate of $19 or $85,
respectively, for the return of a properly functioning Apple CD/DVD
or Apple CD-R/RW+DVD (Combo drive) that the new OWC drive has
replaced.
PowerBookResQ "SuperDrive" DVD-R/CD-RW Burner
Upgrade for G4 PowerBooks
The PowerBookResQ
"SuperDrive" upgrade for the 15" PowerBook G4 is a
slot-loading DVD-R/CD-RW drive designed to replace the built-in
CD-RW or DVD drive with a drive that can burn CDs as well as DVDs
that can be played in most consumer DVD players.
The PowerBookResQ SuperDrive upgrade is bootable and compatible
with Mac OS X, Mac OS 9, iDVD, iTunes, Disc Burner, Apple
DVD Player, Toast, and Retrospect. The drive reads at 24x, writes
CD-R at 16x, writes CD-RW at 8x, and writes DVD-R/RW at 1x. A one
year warranty applies.
The $399 upgrade price is based on the exchange of your
functional DVD drive. If you do not wish to exchange your original
drive, or if the original drive is defective, then there is an
additional core charge of $75.
PowerBookResQ offers a convenient upgrade solution. The $399
price includes pickup at your location, overnight delivery to our
repair center, installation within 24 hours, and return overnight
shipping to you.
In order to be compatible with the required software, your
PowerBook must be running OS 10.2.6 or OS 9.2.2.
MicroSaver Guaranteed Notebook Replacement
Security Cable
Powerful protection - a security cable with guaranteed laptop
replacement, MicroSaver Guaranteed
Notebook Replacement is the strongest security cable from
Kensington, and it's backed the industry's first replacement
guarantee. Kensington will replace up to $1,500 per laptop and up
to $10,000 per year per purchaser under its replacement guarantee
program.
Features and Benefits
- Replacement guarantee ensures replacement for locked laptop
that's stolen
- Super-strong 6' steel and Kevlar brand fiber cable encased in
cut-resistant stainless steel braided sheath for superior
protection
- Patented T-bar lock provides most secure grip on slot
- Works with security slot in 99% of laptops, flat panels, tablet
PCs, projectors, and other portable devices
- Slim-profile lock won't block computer ports, rubber bumper on
lock head protects computer from scratches
- Works with the security slot found in 99% of laptops, flat
panels, tablet PCs, projectors, and other portable devices
- Easy to use with no screws, brackets to install - no messy glue
or hardware to use
System requirements: Works with all computing equipment that
have the Security Slot. Can be used with most computing equipment
with slot adapter
Price: $67.95
more iBookScreenEnhancer Enables Extended
Desktop Mode
The AppleScript more
iBookScreenEnhancer enables Extended Desktop mode in newer
iBooks to support two non-mirrored monitors - the internal LCD and
an external monitor with up to 1920 x 1440 resolution. Be careful,
though, as this can make some 'Books unusable. Try it at your own
risk.
MadsonLine MicroAdapter Mini AC Adapter
MadsonLine
offers the MicroAdapter mini AC adapter and the PowerSet 2
(US$144), which includes the MicroAdapter and Auto/Air Adapter.
The MicroAdapter AC Adapter for PowerBook G4 (all models) &
iBook (Dual USB and later) comes with a 30 day money back guarantee
and one year warranty.
Specs.:
- Credit card size: 1.75" x 3.5" x 0.92"
- Weighs 5 oz (w/o AC cord)
- Right angle power plug saves space.
- Heavy Duty 20 wire gauge dc cord.
- Input: 100-240V AC.
- One 30" AC cord included.
- Outputs: 24V at 45 Watts continuous.
One Year Warranty
SleepLess 1.3.1 Prevents Sleep Without
Changing System Settings
SleepLess is
used to prevent your Mac from going to sleep without changing
system settings. It updates the system activity timer once per some
interval.
Features:
- no Dock icon
- small floating palette
- one click activation/deactivation
New in this version:
Fixed:
- button image is updated properly
- some English phrases changed
- status bar menu item feature disabled in 10.1.x
New FireWire 2.5 FireWire/USB2 Combo
Enclosure For Everyone
FireWire Depot has introduced a new series of 2.5" FireWire/USB2
combo enclosures, the FireXpressPS.
In keeping with the recent enclosure designs offered to
customers over the past two years, the FireXpressPS is an ultra
slim 9.5 mm brushed metal hard drive enclosure offering both
FireWire 1394a and USB2 connectors. USB2 is backward compatible
with USB1.1. The FireXpressPS will accept any 9.5 mm hard drive (10
- 80 GB, not included with kit).
If you are looking for external storage for your laptop or
desktop computer but not sure if you want to go with USB for its
popularity or FireWire for it's universal speed advantage, the
FireXpressPS supports the best of both worlds in a new ultra
compact form factor.
This external 2.5" ATA hard disk drive conversion kit provides
the USB 2.0 and FireWire interfaces to connect to Macs, PCs, and
Linux machines (check your Linux distribution for SBP2 drivers).
The data stored on the hard drive is fully accessible with either
interface, and does not require special partitions. With maximum
transfer rates of 400 Mb/s on FireWire and 480 Mb/s for USB2, you
are guaranteed superior performance with any system.
The enclosure kit includes a premium IEEE 1394 cable, USB cable,
software, vinyl carrying pouch, USB and PS/2 DC adapter, and the
famous "FireCable" universal FireWire power supply for $99.99
(FXU2-EB-25S model only.)
Medea Ships FireFly FireWire Storage
Solutions
Medea Corporation has
begun shipping FireFly, an innovative FireWire-based storage
solution for content creation applications.
"FireFly is the first FireWire storage solution to feature a
docking station and removable disk modules that also operate as
stand-alone FireWire drives," said Roger Mabon, Vice President of
Channel Marketing at Medea. "With FireFly, one disk module can be
left secure in the docking station while the other module is used
to create content while 'on-the-fly'. When the module is replaced
in the docking station, content can be automatically synchronized
to provide a backup copy of the user's valuable data."
FireFly is a modular FireWire storage solution designed for
today's storage-intensive applications, including digital audio and
video editing, DVD authoring, digital imaging, and desktop
publishing. The system features a FireWire port on the front of the
docking station for easy connection of DV camcorders.
FireFly is available in capacities up to 500 GB (two 250 GB
modules) and can be either striped (RAID 0) for performance,
mirrored (RAID 1) for data protection, or formatted as two
independent FireWire drives.
Setting up FireFly as independent drives enables the user to
leave one disk module with its content secure in the docking
station while creating content on the go with a laptop or on a
remote workstation with the other module. When the user returns the
"mobile" module to the docking station, the content can be
synchronized (using included software) to the other module for data
security and peace of mind.
FireFly supports the leading Mac OS and Windows content creation
applications, including:
- Adobe Premiere, Photoshop, Encore DVD, Audition
- Apple Final Cut Express/Pro, DVD Studio Pro
- Avid Xpress DV
- Digidesign Pro Tools
- Pinnacle Edition, Nuendo
- Sonic Foundry Vegas
- Sonic Solutions DVDit!
FireFly is available in 240, 400, and 500 GB capacities with
North American pricing of $699, $999, and $1,299, respectively.
FireFly is available now from Medea's authorized dealers and
mail-order vendors.
New FireWire800 1394b Cables for
Everyone
FireWire Depot has
introduced a new series of FireWire800 1394b cables.
Until now, the only cables that have been available for users
were the 2 meter (6') 9-9 pin, 9-6 pin, and 9-4 pin cables. Now you
have a greater choice and selection in FireWire800 1394b cables
including 9-9 pin 18 cm (approx 7"), 9-9 pin 0.5 meter (1.5'), 9-9
pin 3 meter (9'), 9-9 pin 4.5 meter (approx 15'), and 9-9 pin 9
meter (approx 30'). Also available will be a 9-6 pin (1394b to
1394a) 9 meter cable. Prices range from $21.99 to $49.99.
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).
Get a free Fellowes Security cable with these refurbs, plus, if
you buy them with an Apple display, get a free scanner
For more deals on current or recently discontinued models, see
our Best PowerBook G4 Deals
and Best iBook Deals.
