Compiled by Charles Moore
and edited by
Dan Knight
- 2004.02.13
Except as noted, prices are in U.S. dollars, bold links are to
outside sites, and regular links lead to 'Book profiles on Low End
Mac.
Cheap Low-end PowerBook Memory
Reader Ed Hurtley writes:
Hi, a store in my city that specializes in computer memory is
currently having a sale on memory for older PowerBooks. I thought your
readers should know. (I have no affiliation with them other than I buy
memory from them on a regular basis.)
MemoryTime in
Portland, Oregon.
Their current special is: (listed on their website.)
- Apple PowerBook 190/190cs, 16 MB, $38
- Apple PowerBook 2300c, 16 MB, $48
- Apple PowerBook 3400, 128 MB, $78
- Apple PowerBook 5300, 48 MB, $35
- Apple PowerBook G3 Kanga, 64 MB, $52
They also carry Mac 5V EDO DIMMs, 72-pin memory, and (although their
online price list doesn't mention it) even 30-pin SIMMs. (Even 16 MB
modules, for use in upgrading that SE/30 or IIci to 128 MB of RAM!)
iBook Logic Board Failures Possibly Linked to Resin
Defects?
In "IC Failures
Linked to Resin Series?," Nikkei Electronics Asia's Motoyuki Oishi,
Motonobu Kawai, and Motohiro Shirakura report:
"'This IC isn't using EME-U encapsulation resin from Sumitomo
Bakelite, is it?' There has been a sudden flurry of such questions
posed by equipment manufacturers to IC vendors since Fujitsu Ltd. of
Japan announced defects in a personal computer (PC) internal hard disk
drive (HDD) and began free replacement.
"Originally the issue was thought to be affecting only HDDs, but
more recently similar defects have begun appearing in a range of other
equipment, including set-top boxes, PC main boards, IC test systems and
industrial machinery. The issue is developing into a major problem, and
has rapidly come to involve a host of equipment and IC
manufacturers.
"The prevailing industry position is that the primary cause of the
IC failure is the EME-U series of encapsulation resins containing red
phosphorus, developed as part the halogen-free environmental product
program at Sumitomo Bakelite Co., Ltd. of Japan. (Red phosphorus is a
reddish-brown, odorless solid, an allotrope of yellow phosphorus. The
flash point is +250 to +260° C.)."
"White Spots" on iBook G4s?
An Apple
discussions forum thread reveals that apparently some iBook G4 owners are encountering a white
spots on the display issue similar to the one that plagued early
examples of the 15" aluminum PowerBooks.
G5 PowerBook "This Year"?
Macworld UK's Jonny
Evans says, "Microprocessor experts expect Apple to release new
G5 Power Macs soon and posit the release of a G5 PowerBook 'this
year'.
"IBM has already revealed that the 970fx offers power-management
features, meaning a processor capable of speeds of 2 GHz could be
clocked down, in order that it generate less heat in use."
Apple's UK PowerBook and iBook Sales Grew
40% in Q4 2003
ITFacts
reports, "Apple Computer shipped 25% more Macs in the UK in the
Q4 2003 than the previous year, according to marketing intelligence
firm IDC. An analyst for the company believes consumer interest in
Apple's iPod portable music player helped to spotlight its Macintosh PC
and benefited sales. For the full year, Apple had a 7.5% growth giving
the company a 2.3% market share overall in the UK. Desktop shipments
declined 8% while notebook shipments of the PowerBook and iBook grew
40%."
Death of a Lombard (and Other Logic Board
Stories)
Insanely Great Mac's Remy Davison
says:
"My Lombard died last week. Actually, it'd been dying for over 6
months. First, the logic board started playing up. It would only boot
attached to a terminated SCSI bus (that was a new one to me as well).
Which meant that my trusty CD burner became an indispensable part of my
booting armory.
"Then, last week, the daughtercard died. Completely. Kaput. No, it
wasn't the infamous L2 cache failure (which leaves the processor
operable, albeit at greatly-reduced speed).
"So what? you say. Time for a new PowerBook. Or iBook. Fact is, I
was waiting for the still-mythical G5....
"Then there was the investment in the Lombard. Expansion bay drives.
Almost-new main battery ($130). New PRAM battery (not at all cheap at
$40). RAM. The 12 mm 30 GB hard drive I might not be able to take with
me... Then there's the new keyboard I bought (more $$$) when I killed
it with coffee.....
"This Lombard was a December 1999 build... Now, barely 3 years after
purchase - and barely 4 years after it was built - it was toast.
"This is not your father's Mac. I've certainly seen plenty of Macs
die in my time, mostly through owner abuse. But not one of my own Macs
has died...[until now]
"A couple of years ago, I wrote an piece called Has Apple Quality
Control Bitten the Dust? Given the less-than-isolated cases of iBook
logic board failure, an issue Charles Moore at MacOpinion has written
of extensively, there is some evidence that Mac quality - for so long
taken for granted - has finally gone out to lunch. And it's never come
back."
Remy eventually decided to resurrect his Lombard, with a replacement
case, display, logic board, and 400 MHz processor into which he swapped
his modem, keyboard, hard drive, expansion bays, battery, PRAM battery,
and RAM.
"Reply to Charles" Column Launched on PowerBook
ReadMe
PowerBook ReadMe's Ryan Vetter says, "On another note, I have
started a new section on http://www.pbreadme.com called Reply to Charles.
I will be, periodically, writing articles in response to your articles,
offering opinions here and there and other little tidbits. I have
already posted the first Reply to Charles Moore's The Road Warrior
Article: Pismo
Withdrawal."
Willow Design Announces Closure, Final Close Out
Sale
I was saddened to learn that the Canadian manufacturer of some of
the coolest and most innovative cases, backpacks, and covers for Apple
computers, Willow Design - which has been producing laptop, notebook
and larger computer carrying cases since 1988 - has announced that it
has started a final close out
sale of all its cases and dust covers before closing its doors
on February 29th. The closure has been a very difficult but necessary
decision for the company, based on the economics of offshore
competition.
We have featured many Willow Cases here in The 'Book Review over the past several
years.
"All Willow cases are hand sewn in small batches by individual
seamstresses. This has guaranteed superb quality, but this has been an
expensive way to make the cases. With increased competition of offshore
made cases produced at labor rates of 22¢ - 30¢ per hour, we
found we just couldn't compete," commented Willow Design president
Nigel Peck.
The only two options were to either decrease the quality of the
cases or shift production offshore as well - neither of which option
was acceptable. "So we decided to just stop making the cases instead,"
said Peck.
"Stopping production was a very difficult decision as we have always
been very proud of the cases we make and have really cherished the
wonderful communication we've had with Willow case users around the
world," said Peck. "Missing that feedback and interaction is going to
be the hardest part of giving up the business - we want to express our
thanks to everyone who we've met over the years."
The sale includes all Willow products so it gives the Mac community
one last chance to get the quality, protection and durability of a
Willow case at a substantial savings.
The Willow Final Close Out Sale is Effective to Feb 28, 2004. Case
models & colors are subject to availability, and all sales are
final. This sale is your last chance to get the quality, protection,
and durability of Willow cases at huge savings. I have several Willow
cases and can attest that they are superb. The list of what's available
will be reduced as they run out of colors and models.
Laptop Hard Drives to Reach 300 GB by 2007?
IDG News Service's David
Legard reports:
"The standard desktop PC of 2007 will have a hard disk drive with
capacity between 500 GB and 600 GB, according to Mark Geenen, managing
director of research company TrendFocus Inc.
"Notebook computers will be fitted with 300 GB drives and small
drives which can be used in mobile phones and PDAs (personal digital
assistants) will be able to store around 20 GB, Geenen said.
"Speaking at a briefing organized by the International Disk Drive
Equipment and Materials Association (IDEMA) here Monday, Geenen said
there were no serious competitors to current hard disk technology for
cost-effective data storage."
Windows Watch
Vulcan Mini-PC Micro-Notebook
The Mini-PC is a concept from
Microsoft cofounder Paul Allen's Vulcan, Inc. designed to deliver
desktop-power computing to mobile professionals and consumers in a form
factor that can be carried effortlessly everywhere.
Unlike many other ultraportable computers, the Mini-PC is a complete
PC with sufficient internal storage, processing power, and display
resolution to effectively run Microsoft Windows XP and its
applications. This solution eliminates tedious data synchronization
common to less capable PDA devices while retaining familiar PC support
mechanisms used by corporate IT staff.
Wireless connectivity allows users to collaborate with customers and
colleagues reducing response time and achieving higher productivity
when away from the office. Web access, email, instant messaging, and
access to corporate applications and data is as simple as with a
desktop computer.
Users no longer need to compromise between portability and
functionality, the Mini-PC provides access to all standard PC
applications and is expandable via standard interfaces, expansion ports
and an available docking station.
Highlights
- Truly portable PC weighing about 1 lb.
- Runs Microsoft Windows XP and applications
- Integrated state-of-the-art wireless connectivity
- Optimized battery-life allows full day use
- Perfect for mobile professionals and consumers
Mini-PC Unit Specifications:
- Processor: x86 compatible
- Memory: 256 MB
- Mass Storage: 10-30 GByte 1.8" Hard Drive
- Large Internal Display: 5.8" (15 cm) LCD with 800 x 480
resolution
- Keyboard: Standard laptop keyboard with hot keys for most used
applications (email, contacts, calendar, etc.)
- External Display: Supports external VGA with standard
resolutions
- Expansion: Integrated 802.11b/WiFi wireless
- Supports USB 2.0
- Possible expansion options:
- 2.5G Wireless Data: GPRS or 1xRTT (CDMA)
- Bluetooth
- 1394
- Software Support: Microsoft Windows XP and Office BIOS with full
power savings modes
- Entertainment: Full MPEG1, MPEG2, and MPEG4 support
- Standard AC97 with microphone and speaker phone
It's not a Mac, but it's pretty cool, and it could make a nice
little Linux laptop.
Sony Vaio X505: The World's Smallest
Notebook Computer
PowerPage's
Jason D. O'Grady says:
"I had almost the same reaction to the Sony X505 ultra notebook as I
did with the original 505 five years ago - Oh my God! The machine
itself looks like a razor-blade, and at only 1.7 pounds it's easy to
see why the X505 is worthy of your lust. The Sony X505 is the only PC
notebook that I would buy if I had to carry one around on a daily
basis, it's combination of Industrial design and raw sex appeal are
second to none.
- Intel Centrino 1 GHz processor
- 10.4" TFT LCD, 1024 x 768 pixels (XGA)
- 20 GB HDD
- 512 MB RAM
- CardBus PC card slot
- Windows XP Professional
"The X505 is so thin that the motherboard is only about two inches
square. It occupies a tiny space just above the keyboard between the
hard drive (left) and the PC card slot (right). Sony built a custom
motherboard to get the CPU and hard drive in the right position for
cooling.
"The X505 measures 10.07 x 8.19 inches (256 x 208 mm), and slopes
from .38 in/9.7 mm thick in the front to .86 in/21.9 mm in the back.
About half the thickness of Apple's thinnest notebook computer. The
X505 weighs a paltry 1.73 pounds (785g) to 1.82 pounds (825g) depending
on the model."
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) and the titanium
vs. aluminum 15" PowerBook G4 at 1 GHz.
- new 12" iBook G3/800,
128/30/CD-ROM, AirPort, $799
- new 12" iBook G3/800,
256/30/CD-ROM, LaCie FireWire Pocket CD-RW, InCase Small Laptop Sleeve
Soft-Tech, $999 (specially configured build to order machine)
- new 14" iBook G3/900,
384/40/Combo, $1,069
- new 12" PowerBook G4/1 GHz,
256/40/Combo, Apple Bluetooth Wireless Mouse, 256 MB Macally USB Flash
Drive USB 2.0, $1,759
- refurbished 15" PowerBook G4/500,
384/20/DVD, 60 day guarantee, $969.99
- Upgrade to 1 GB of RAM, $189.99
- Add 512 MB of RAM, $99.99
- Add an AirPort Wireless card, $54.50 installed
For more deals on current or recently discontinued models, see our
Best PowerBook G4 Deals and
Best iBook Deals.
