PowerBook G4 Trade-Ins, iFlex, Silent Night, Bargain 'Books, and More

Charles Moore - 2004.01.06

Except as noted, prices are in US dollars, bold links are to outside sites, and regular links lead to 'Book profiles on Low End Mac.

• Apple Offering PowerBook G4 Trade-in Program
• SnowSeal iBook Sleeve
• TiStick Sleeve
• MacMice Flexible iSight Holder for PowerBooks and iBooks
• Silent Night 1.1 Fixes 12" PowerBook G4 Fan Noise
• iBook G4: Customer-Installable Parts Procedures

Windows Watch

• HP to Launch 15.4" Laptops at Record Low Prices This Month
• Dell to Phase Out Latitude X300, D400 Notebooks, Outsource New 12.1" Model to Samsung

Bargain 'Books

Think Secret's Publisher and Editor in Chief Nick dePlume reports:

"Apple is giving customers the option of trading in their PowerBook G4 laptops for credit toward the purchase of the latest 15" and 17" notebooks..."

dePlume says that:

"Apple confirmed that US-based owners of the original and 'Gigabit Ethernet' G4 PowerBooks will be able to participate in the upgrade program through March 27, 2004. In communications with dealers, Apple described the trade-in as a 'pilot program.'

"To participate in the program, customers will need to contact AppleCare directly, at 800-275-2273."

A memo released to Apple Authorized resellers and posted by PowerPage reads:

"From December 19, 2003 to March 27, 2004, Apple is offering owners of original PowerBook G4 and the PowerBook G4 (Gigabit Ethernet) computers the opportunity to trade in qualifying units for a credit toward the purchase of the current PowerBook G4 (15" FW 800) or PowerBook G4 (17").

"Because this is a pilot program, it is currently available only to those customers within the United States.

"Note: To take advantage of this limited time offer, customers must contact Apple directly at 800-275-2273.

"Most owners of the original PowerBook G4 and PowerBook G4 (Gigabit Ethernet) are eligible. Please mention the availability of this program during any contact with customers who own these products.

"Generally speaking, the best time to introduce the program is at the outset of the customer's contact with your establishment. As always, use your best judgment as to the most appropriate moment to mention the program.

"Exceptions: PowerBook G4 and PowerBook G4 (Gigabit Ethernet) computers that have been dropped, have cracked displays, have had liquid spilled into them, or have been otherwise accidentally damaged are not eligible for this program.

"Please discuss these conditions of ineligibility with your customers and clearly communicate that any units exhibiting these symptoms will be rejected.

"Eligible Products
The following PowerBook G4 products are eligible for the upgrade program:

• PowerBook G4 400/500 MHz
• PowerBook G4 (Gigabit Ethernet) 550/667 MHz

"More Information: Interested customers or customers with additional questions should be directed to Apple at 800-275-2273."

SnowSeal iBook Sleeve

SnowSeal is designed to protect the Snow iBook from the elements and almost anything else that might cross your path. SnowSeal is constructed of durable, weatherproof Antron-Cordura "Police Cloth", cushioned with full-surround padding and sealed with a hidden, water-repellent zipper. Clear outer pocket for individual effect, plus six more and a clip-on pouch. Includes contoured, padded shoulder strap. Seal it and sling it with you wherever you are. For the 12" and 14" Snow iBook.

TiStick Sleeve

TiStick is the place to locate your G4 TiBook on the journey between destinations- from one island of connected resources to the next, TiStick carries the tools. TiStick is constructed of durable, weatherproof Antron-Cordura "Police Cloth", cushioned with full-surround padding and sealed with a hidden, water-repellent zipper. Clear outer pocket for individual effect, plus six more and a clip-on pouch. Includes contoured, padded shoulder strap. TiStick it and go! For 12", 15" and 17" PowerBook G4.

MacMice Flexible iSight Holder for PowerBooks and iBooks

MacMice Workspace Products Co. has announced its new iFlex flexible mount for using Apple's iSight webcam with any model of FireWire equipped PowerBook or iBook.

The iFlex is an 18" long flexible metal tubing housing with a shielded 6-conductor FireWire cable inside. It is terminated at both ends into a clear male 6-pin FireWire 400 connector. One end is plugged into the FireWire port on a PowerBook or iBook, and the other end is plugged into the FireWire port under an iSight webcam. iFlex is flexible enough to locate an iSight in any desired position relative to a PowerBook or iBook display, and it is stiff enough to then securely hold the iSight where it is placed.

The iFlex is priced at $19.99, will ship starting January 8, 2004, and is available for prepaid preorder from the MacMice Workspace Products Co. website.

Silent Night 1.1 Fixes 12" PowerBook G4 Fan Noise

After the Mac OS X 10.3.2 update, the 12" PowerBooks fans were made to come on at a much lower temperature. Before the update, the fans would come on when the topside CPU temperature reached 148° F and they would turn off after the fans had cooled the system down to 138° F. After the update, the fans come on at 125° F, and turn off after cooling the system down to around 116° F.

The 12" PowerBook Rev. A operates at around 125-130° F with normal tasks (browsing the Web, chatting, and checking your email). Apple's products are one of style and aesthetics. Having a whirring fan takes away from that. This installer will bring your PowerBook back to the silence it once had.

The Silent Night installer replaces the AppleADM103x.kext and the AppleADT746x.kext with previous versions that keep the fan at it's original settings. This installer has only been tested with a PowerBook Rev. A, and there have been no known side effects. Use at your own risk though, as this was put together by a nonprofessional. If it does alleviate your problem, enjoy the silence.

This installer will allow the topside CPU temperature to raise above levels Apple deemed appropriate with the release of 10.3.2. Why they decided to lower those levels after 11 months is unknown. If you would like to take the risk of doing this, do so at your own discretion.

New in this version:

• There is now an install package and an uninstall package. By double-clicking on the uninstall package, it will fully revert your system to the way it was after you upgraded to the 10.3.2 upgrade.
• There were permissions errors that were affecting some people's installation of Silent Night. Those permissions errors were corrected. (Thanks Nevyn (nCoder))
• Allows installation on the root volume only.
• Added a Warning Section to the ReadMe so you know what you are getting into at what seems to be the request of many people.
• Upgrade Procedure
• Support email address

System requirements:

• PowerBook G4 12" Rev. A
• Has not been tested on other PowerBooks
• Mac OS X 10.3.2 only (any build number)

Silent Night is freeware.

iBook G4: Customer-Installable Parts Procedures

Apple has posted a Knowledge base article and PDF document outlining customer-installable parts for the iBook G4 and iBook G4 (14").

Replacement Part Instructions

• AirPort Card
• Battery
• Keyboard
• Memory

Windows Watch

With this week's installment of The 'Book Review, we're adding Windows Watch, a section of our weekly report that will focus on developments in the world of Windows portables.

HP to Launch 15.4" Laptops at Record Low Prices This Month

DigiTimes' David Tzeng and Steve Shen report:

"Hewlett-Packard (HP) will launch three new 15.4" notebooks for the entry-level consumer market early next year, said sources at Taiwanese notebook makers. The move is expected to raise customer expectations in this market to 15.4" models....

"The Presario R3000T and Pavilion zv5000 will bring the price of 15.4" models to a new low and take aim at Dell's 15.4" Inspiron 8600 model, which has a price tag starting at US$1,349, the sources said.

Dell to Phase Out Latitude X300, D400 Notebooks, Outsource New 12.1" Model to Samsung

Also from DigiTimes' David Tzeng and Steve Shen:

"Dell plans to phase out its 12.1" Latitude D400 and X300 notebooks and launch a single replacement for worldwide sales outsourced to Samsung Electronics, according to sources at Taiwan's notebook makers...

"Samsung was able to win the order because it has access to secure supplies of key components like TFT LCDs and memory chips, the sources noted....

"Dell is not terminating its cooperation with Wistron. Instead, Dell will start outsourcing a 15" low-priced notebook model as well as a 15.4" widescreen notebook model to the Taiwan-based company."

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).

Wegener Media

• PowerBook Pismo G3/500, 128/10/DVD, $849.99

Add 1 GB of RAM. $179.99. Add 512 MB of RAM, $99.99. Add a reconditioned Targus carrying bag, $9.99.

Baucom Computers

• PowerBook G4/500, 256/20 GB/DVD, $929
• PowerBook Pismo G3/500, 256/12/DVD, $665

Small Dog Electronics

• new 12" iBook G4/800, 256/30/Combo, Kensington Astro Pack Gray, $1,119
• new 12" PowerBook G4/867, 256/40/Combo, includes InCase Small Laptop Sleeve Soft-Tech Nylon and Postworx Speed Ball Detachable Feet for Laptop, $1,235

MacResQ

• PowerBook G4/400, 256/10/DVD, $949.99

MacConnection

• 14" iBook 900, 256 /40/Combo. free Panther CD and free deluxe leather carrying case (after mail-in rebate). $999

ExperCom

• refurb 12" iBook 700, 128/20/Combo, $749

For more deals on current or recently discontinued models, see our Week's Best PowerBook G4 Deals and Week's Best iBook Deals.