Portable Wireless Routers, First 100 GB Laptop Drive, 8 Hour Batteries, a New Palmtop, and More

Charles Moore - 2004.09.17

The week's PowerBook, iBook, and iPod news

• Wireless Routers for Road Warriors
• Hitachi 100 GB Notebook Drives Offer Advanced Feature Set
• Eight-Hour Notebook Battery Coming Soon
• MacComparisonZone: 14" G4/1.2 GHz iBook vs. 12" G4/1.33 GHz PowerBook
• iBook G4 Has a Color Tint After Using Screen Saver
• Laptops Continue to Gain on Desktops
• New QuickerTek Cable Boosts Wireless Connection Strength up to 30% for Dr Bott Wireless Antennas
• Mac Recovery Packages from WiebeTech and Prosoft
• Temperature Monitor 2.2 Displays Current CPU Temperature
• Hardware Monitor 1.2 Reads Out All Available Hardware Sensors
• OQO WinXP Palmtop to Launch October 14
• Step Toward Universal Computing
• ScotteVest Solar Powered Jacket
• Bargain 'Books

Wireless Routers for Road Warriors

PC Magazine's Craig Ellison writes:

"Techie road warriors tend to travel with lots of gadgets, but one item has eluded their carry-on size requirements: the wireless router. Previously, going untethered in a broadband-enabled hotel room or sharing the connection meant lugging along a full-size router. Not anymore. NetGear, SMC, and 3Com are each selling 802.11g-based wireless travel devices that, at about the size of a deck of cards and priced at $100 or less, are designed specifically for the mobile professional."

Editor's note: One of the three units reviewed, the 3Com, can also be used to connect an ethernet-equipped computer to a wireless network. Think older PowerBooks, iMacs, or even a Playstation 2 that you can't or don't want to run wires to.

Also, bear in mind that most third-party wireless hardware doesn't support the AppleTalk protocol. If that's important to your use, research before you buy. Apple's AirPort Express may be the only compact solution there. dk

Hitachi 100 GB Notebook Drives Offer Advanced Feature Set

Hitachi Global Storage Technologies is bringing the best combination of notebook hard-drive attributes to market in its new Travelstar 5K100 for standard notebook applications and E5K100 for more demanding data-access applications. The 100 GB (1 gigabyte = 1 billion bytes) hard drives offer the broadest capacity points, the highest shock tolerance and the lowest power consumption in their category. In addition, these new drives offer native Serial ATA (SATA) support.

Hitachi's newest 5400 rpm Travelstar products are also environmentally friendly. The drives are more than a year ahead of schedule in complying with the European Commission's RoHS directive for eliminating certain hazardous materials in the manufacturing of electronic equipment.

The leadership attributes of the Travelstar 5K100 and E5K100 help Hitachi to meet the varying needs of endusers, from consumer to enterprise. In addition to achieving industry-leading specifications for power, shock and capacity offerings, Hitachi has also maintained excellent performance, acoustics and reliability characteristics on its new drives.

"The combination of these characteristics has produced the most comprehensive offerings in the 2.5", 5400 rpm hard drive category, which gives customers tremendous value for their investment," said Bob Holleran, general manager, 2.5"/1.8" Consumer & Commercial HDDs, Hitachi Global Storage Technologies. "In the past, increased storage capacity was the primary measure of technology advancement for hard disk drives; and while capacity still matters a great deal today, it's sharing the spotlight with other attributes that address the full range of enduser requirements."

The notebook landscape is rapidly changing, and Hitachi's approach to the 2.5" hard drive is changing with it. With notebooks quickly becoming a desktop-replacement solution, Hitachi is modifying attributes of the Travelstar drives to be more like a desktop (high capacity, high performance) in some respects, and more like a notebook in others (longer battery life, better acoustics, higher shock resistance). In yet another category, miniaturization and the need for around-the-clock data access in lower transaction environments is driving the requirement for enhanced-availability products in smaller footprints, which Hitachi is addressing with the addition of the Travelstar E5K100 model at 5400 rpm.

The 2.5" hard drive segment is preparing to embrace the new SATA interface to increase data throughput beyond 100 Mb/s. Already adopted by the 3.5" community, SATA is just beginning to take shape and show potential for the 2.5" segment.

Hitachi is offering native SATA support on both the Travelstar 5K100 and E5K100 to lead the transition to this new interface, which is intended to offer higher data transfer speeds and more simplified network configurations. The new SATA drives will use a compact cabling structure and smaller connectors that are designed to enhance air flow and reduce system complexity. The blade server category, for example, is expected to see the greatest benefit from SATA support on 2.5" drives.

The E5K100's smaller size and lower heat emission makes it an industrial-strength 2.5" hard drive to take on the more demanding data-access cycles typical of blade-server, Internet data center, Web hosting, server preprocessing and telephony applications. Users who require high data-availability will benefit from the E5K100's more aggressive power-on-hour attribute of 730 per month.

Whereas notebooks were once a must-have exclusively for corporate road-warriors, the mobility and wireless convenience of notebooks are increasingly appealing to today's tech savvy consumers. In this scenario, the hard drive becomes even more important as consumers - wanting to store more/better video, pictures, music, games and keeping them at arm's reach - are looking for much higher storage capacity than the 40 GB typical of average corporate notebooks. Lower drive acoustics are also more important to this audience with increased usage of notebooks for gaming and audio/video enjoyment.

Both the parallel-ATA and SATA versions of the 5K100 will begin shipping to customers in the fourth quarter in 40, 60, 80 and 100-GB capacities. The E5K100, enhanced-availability model will also ship within this year.

Technical Specifications

Travelstar 5K100 & E5K100 (PATA & SATA)

• 40/60/80/100 GB
• 9.5 mm in height
• 5,400 rpm
• 70/70/70/86 billion bits per square inch maximum areal density
• 1/2/2/2 glass disk platter(s)
• 2/3/4/4 GMR recording head(s)
• 1000 G/1 ms nonoperating shock,
• 300 G/2 ms operating shock
• 5.5 ms average latency
• 12 ms average seek time
• 0.85W active idle (PATA); 1.2 W (SATA) (not applicable for E5K100)
• 0.60W low-power idle (PATA); .85 W (SATA) (not applicable for E5K100)
• ATA-6 Ultra DMA (mode-5) 100 MB/sec maximum interface transfer rate
• 95/102/102/102 weight in grams
• 2.2/2.5/2.5/2.5 Bels typical idle acoustics
• 2.4/2.7/2.7/2.7 Bels typical operating acoustics

Eight-Hour Notebook Battery Coming Soon

The Register's Lucy Sherriff reports:

"New battery technologies have the potential to take notebook battery life beyond five hours, ultimately reaching eight hours of charge by 2010...

"Making rechargeable zinc batteries that can cope with more than around ten recharge cycles has proved a challenge for two main reasons: zinc oxide is highly soluble in alkaline electrolyte, and zinc recharges at about the same voltage that causes water to break down into hydrogen and oxygen."

MacComparisonZone: 14" G4/1.2 GHz iBook vs. 12" G4/1.33 GHz PowerBook

From MacComparisonZone:

"This Buyer's Guide compares the 14 inch G4/1.2 GHz iBook, which has the Combo optical drive, to the 12" G4/1.33 GHz PowerBook, which also has the Combo Drive."

Looks like the little PowerBook has a significant edge in performance, but you will get much more time out of the iBook battery than the PowerBook battery.

iBook G4 Has a Color Tint After Using Screen Saver

A new Apple Knowledge Base Article notes that after updating to Mac OS X 10.3.4 or later, the display's color balance may change with screen saver use. It may have a light blue tint, for example. This happens only with the iBook G4 and iBook G4 (Early 2004) models, regardless of whether screen saver was manually or automatically engaged.

What can you do when this happens?

Open Displays preferences, click Color, then click on the name of your desired color profile (even if it's already selected).

If this keeps happening but you don't want to keep resetting the color profile, set the "Start screen saver" slider to Never in Desktop & Screen Saver preferences. Consider using Energy Saver's display sleep feature instead.

Laptops Continue to Gain on Desktops

The Dallas Morning News' Crayton Harrison reports:

"An icon of American computing is fading into the background.

"Even as manufacturers ship millions of traditional desktops, the familiar arrangement of box-plus-monitor is being challenged as never before.

"Laptop shipments are growing at double the rate of desktops, and they may grab the lead by as soon as 2007....

"Even those who are content with a table-bound PC are looking for style and design as much as for power and performance. They're being courted with back-to-the-past, all-in-one models such as Apple Computer Inc.'s latest iMac."

New QuickerTek Cable Boosts Wireless Connection Strength up to 30% for Dr Bott Wireless Antennas

QuickerTek, developers of PowerBook and Power Mac antennas and external antennas for both the graphite, snow and Extreme AirPort Base Stations, are shipping a new cable that when added to any wireless Base Station from Dr Bott, boosts signal strength by up to 30%. Dr Bott antennas were formerly not capable of working with all Apple AirPort Base Stations. This new wireless antenna is $34.95 at QuickerTek dealers.

This QuickerTek cable upgrade was designed to enhance the original design and to allow the Dr Bott ExtendAir Direct Antenna and Omni Antennas to work with all Apple AirPort Base Stations. These antennas in their stock form cannot work with all AirPort Base Station models. This cable adds complete AirPort compatibility, to include the Graphite, Snow as well as both AirPort Extreme Base Stations. The Dr Bott antenna owner can use this product and the included instructions to further enhance the power of the Dr Bott product. Additional Dr Bott enhancement instructions have been on the QuickerTek website for some months now and have been recently upgraded to version 2.

This is a user-installable kit that requires a soldering iron. Customers who do not want to perform the installation themselves, can send their antenna to QuickerTek for $25 installation (plus shipping) and get 24 hour turnaround.

"Once again QuickerTek has leveraged its resources to bring added functionality to wireless Mac users. While the Dr Bott antennas are good products, the use of our cable and/or modification instructions make them a more complete solution in the expanding wireless networking environment," said Rick Estes, president, QuickerTek. "Some have asked us, 'why do this for competitive products?' and we say, 'why the heck not'?! We will continue to make wireless networking products for Mac users, including enhancements for competitive products," Estes continued.

QuickerTek is the recognized leading innovator of antennas for Apple products. Popular products include the Titanium PowerBook antennas as well as AirPort antennas for Graphite, Snow and AirPort Extreme Base Stations and most Power Mac G4 and G5 models; and the now-shipping Carbon fiber PowerBook handles.

Mac Recovery Packages from WiebeTech and Prosoft

WiebeTech DriveDocks teamed with award winning Data Rescue™ software from Prosoft Engineering. The quickest route to data recovery from corrupted notebook or laptop drives for Mac OS X users.

• All Mac Recovery products include Prosoft's Data Rescue software (personal user version)
• Simply connect your corrupted drive to a WiebeTech drive dock, connect it to your computer via FireWire, and allow Data Rescue to perform recovery procedures.

For 3.5" IDE drives:

• Mac Recovery ComboDock: FireWire 800/USB2 Docking Device for 3.5" hard drives
• Mac Recovery FireWire DriveDock: FireWire Docking Device for 3.5" hard drives

For 2.5" notebook drives:

• Mac Recovery Notebook DriveDock: Bus powered Docking Device for mounting notebook drives over FireWire

To prevent possible data loss Data Rescue should be used prior to using any repair utility. Because no data recovery software can work in all situations, the recovery success of Data Rescue will depend upon the condition of the drive and data structure. Data Rescue can be used as an emergency CD as long as the host computer is operational.

Price

• Mac Recovery FireWire DriveDock, 149.95
• Mac Recovery Notebook DriveDock, 149.95
• Mac Recovery ComboDock, 199.95

Temperature Monitor 2.2 Displays Current CPU Temperature

Temperature Monitor is an application to read out all available temperature sensors in Macintosh computers. The program can display and visualize measured values in a large variety of fashions. The application supports the following operations on the measured readings:

• display in a default window
• display in a floating window
• tabular display in an overview window
• display in the menu-bar
• display of a maximum of two readings in the Dock
• graphical display of short-term and long-term history curves
• speech output of readings
• export to text files

Moreover, the application can display additional technical information about your computer. Among other information this includes:

• Processor type
• Processor and bus frequencies
• Manufacturing information

Of course the application can read out the data only if your computer is equipped with the necessary sensors, and if Mac OS X can access them without needing third-party device drivers. Beginning in summer 2002, Apple has begun to massively drive forward the use of monitoring probes in the PowerMac series, the Xserve series, and in portable computers. Some models are equipped with 38 and more sensors. But Temperature and Hardware Monitor can detect sensors on many older systems as well if they are available.

We try to detect all sensors on as many Macintosh computer types as possible. However, a prediction which sensors are available in which models is not possible, because Apple very often releases "silent product updates", where the hardware equipments of some models are changed but the names are not (specifications are "subject to change without notice"). The particular graphics card and hard disk configuration used is also important because these parts can include independent sensors, too.

Please note that Apple does not support an official or standardized way of reading out sensor data in Mac OS X (the only exception is the Server Monitor application for the Xserve series). Moreover, there is no documentation or other technical note about the individual function of the sensors.

System requirements: Mac OS X 10.2.5 or higher

Temperature Monitor is freeware

Hardware Monitor 1.2 Reads Out All Available Hardware Sensors

Hardware Monitor is an application to read out all available hardware sensors in Macintosh computers. The program can display and visualize measured values in a large variety of fashions. It can also store and export readings. The application Temperature Monitor is available for free, but is limited to accessing temperature sensors only. The application Hardware Monitor is commercial shareware, but can access additional sensors if your computer is equipped with them. This includes the following sensor types:

• Battery sensors on portable computers
• Voltage sensors
• Current (amperage) sensors
• Fan speed sensors
• Sensors for pulse-width controlled fans
• Power and load sensors

Moreover, the applications can display additional technical information about your computer. Among other information this includes:

• Processor type
• Processor and bus frequencies
• Manufacturing information

Of course the applications can read out the data only if your computer is equipped with the necessary sensors, and if Mac OS X can access them without needing third-party device drivers. Beginning in summer 2002, Apple has begun to massively drive forward the use of monitoring probes in the PowerMac series, the Xserve series, and in portable computers. Some models are equipped with 38 and more sensors. But Temperature and Hardware Monitor can detect sensors on many older systems as well if they are available.

We try to detect all sensors on as many Macintosh computer types as possible. However, a prediction which sensors are available in which models is not possible, because Apple very often releases "silent product updates", where the hardware equipments of some models are changed but the names are not (specifications are "subject to change without notice"). The particular graphics card and hard disk configuration used is also important because these parts can include independent sensors, too.

Please note that Apple does not support an official or standardized way of reading out sensor data in Mac OS X (the only exception is the Server Monitor application for the Xserve series). Moreover, there is no documentation or other technical note about the individual function of the sensors.

System requirements: Mac OS X 10.2.5 or higher

Hardware Monitor is €7 shareware.

OQO WinXP Palmtop to Launch October 14

The OQO model 01 ultra personal computer (µPC) is a fully functional Windows XP computer. The OQO has a 1 GHz processor, a 20 GB hard drive, 256 MB of RAM, a color transflective display, and integrated wireless, as well as Fire Wire and USB ports. It is powerful enough to run complex applications.

Measuring just 4.9 inches long, 3.4 inches wide, .9 inches thick, and weighing only 14 ounces, the OQO can fit in a pocket or purse and go with you anywhere. For easy typing and cursor control it has a complete "Blackberry-style" thumb keyboard with TrackStik and mouse buttons as well as digital pen and thumbwheel. It is a device for people who previously had to choose between the bulk and awkwardness of a laptop and the limited capability of a PDA.

With the OQO docking cable, it can easily connect to projectors and Ethernet. Placed in the desktop docking station it is a desktop computer, allowing you to connect with one simple motion to a variety of peripherals, including full-size keyboards, printers, scanners, and high-resolution monitors. It shifts easily from one mode to the other with no data synchronization required.

With an OQO you can move throughout your day and enjoy constant access to all your information and Windows XP programs. You can use the same computer for high-powered applications at work, sending email at home, listening to music on a train, or watching a movie on an airplane. It may be the only computer you need.

OQO specifications

• 1 GHz Transmeta processor
• 20 GB hard drive (shock-mounted)
• 256 MB DDR RAM
• Dimensions: 4.9" x 3.4" x .9"
• Weight: 14 oz.
• 800 x 480 W-VGA 5" transflective display (indoor/outdoor readable)
• 3D accelerated graphics with 8 MB video RAM
• QWERTY thumb keyboard with mouse buttons and TrackStik
• 802.11b wireless
• Bluetooth wireless
• 4-pin FireWire (1394)
• USB 1.1
• 3.5 mm stereo headphone jack
• Microphone
• Digital pen
• Removable lithium polymer battery
• Battery life up to three hours, depending on usage
• OQO docking cable includes:
• 3D accelerated 1280 x 1024 VGA video output
• Additional USB
• Additional FireWire (1394)
• Ethernet
• DC power
• Audio out

additional features

• Active hard drive protection that safely parks hard drive heads upon detecting freefall
• Screen that slides on rack and pinion mechanism to reveal thumb keyboard
• Shift, control, function and alt keys that have smart-lock with LED indicators
• Thumbwheel allows for traditional scrolling as well as enhanced features
• Ambient light sensor that automatically adjusts backlight to appropriate level
• External antenna connector for 802.11b (in addition to built-in diversity antennas)

The OQO model 01 has a unique modular design that allows it to adapt to a user's varying needs.

• Standalone the OQO is a powerful computer capable of running your most complex Windows applications. With the screen slid open, the thumb keyboard, mouse buttons and Track Stick allow for easy data input. With the screen closed, the OQO can be used tablet-style, with the digital pen and scrollwheel enabling easy navigation. Peripherals, such as standard full-size keyboards or mice, can be connected to the OQO using the FireWire or USB ports, or via Bluetooth.
• Connected to the OQO docking cable, the OQO's functionality is extended to include video, Ethernet, audio line out, as well as additional USB and Fire Wire ports. With the docking cable the OQO can be connected to video projectors, external monitors, and local area networks.
• Sitting in its desktop stand with docking cable, the OQO functions as a desktop PC. In this configuration, the user can easily connect to a variety of peripherals including an external monitor, standard keyboard, printer, DVD drive, scanner, disk drive, or digital camera. With patented one touch soft eject, users can quickly remove the OQO from the desktop stand and take it with them wherever they go.

This thing is way cool. If it wasn't a Windows box, I would be seriously smitten. I wonder if it will run Linux?

The OQO model 01 will be available for purchase from the web store in the fall of 2004. <http://www.oqo.com/store/>

Step Toward Universal Computing

Wired's Leander Kahney reports:

"A Silicon Valley startup claims to have cracked one of most elusive goals of the software industry: a near-universal emulator that allows software developed for one platform to run on any other, with almost no performance hit.

"Transitive Corp. of Los Gatos, California, claims its QuickTransit software allows applications to run 'transparently' on multiple hardware platforms, including Macs, PCs, and numerous servers and mainframes...

"For example, Wiederhold said QuickTransit will allow the next-generation Xbox (which will have a Mac-like PowerPC chip) to run first-generation Xbox software (which was written for an Intel chip).

"In demonstrations to press and analysts, the company has shown a graphically demanding game - a Linux version of Quake III - running on an Apple PowerBook...."

ScotteVest Solar Powered Jacket

ScotteVest Inc., maker of Technology Enabled Clothing, and Global Solar Energy, developer and manufacturer of flexible solar cells, announced that the first solar-powered jacket designed to carry, connect, and charge portable devices will be available in time for the holidays.

The solar panels are attached to SeV's signature jacket, Version Three.0 Finetex, an all-weather jacket with removable sleeves and over 30 hidden pockets. The jacket features SeV's patent-pending Personal Area Network (PAN), which conceals wires associated with power sources and earbuds.

Global Solar's PowerFlex solar panels consist of unique flexible thin-film photovoltaic material made from copper indium gallium diselenide (CIGS) sun-absorbing material placed onto a thin stainless steel substrate. The panels convert sunlight into electricity that charges a hidden battery pack about the size of a deck of cards. The battery pack in turn can charge any device compatible with Universal Serial Bus (USB) chargers, including cell phones, PDAs, Game Boys, MP3 players, and other mobile devices.

The solar panels are removable and can be used separately from the jackets. Typical charge times in direct sunlight range from two to three hours, although direct sunlight is not required. The jacket's battery can begin powering devices almost immediately after the solar panels are exposed to sunlight. Once the battery is fully charged, the panels can be removed and portable electronic devices can tap into the stored power. When attached, the solar panels compliment the jacket's stylish, futuristic design.

Global Solar's CIGS technology is a high-efficiency, ultra-lightweight personal solar power solution that has proven itself in numerous applications, ranging from marine to desert environments for the military and others. It is a highly durable and the highest performance flexible solar cell available in the market, ideally suited for mobile applications. Combined with integrated charge control and optional battery/charger systems, it provides the conveniences of backup and always on, on-demand small scale solar electrical power.

Consumers can preorder solar-powered SeV's for $425 at http://www.scottevest.com or by calling 866-909-8378. The jackets are currently available in black, and more options will be available in the future. SeV also plans to offer a kit to retrofit some earlier SeV models with Global Solar's technology.

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.

• PowerBook WallStreet G3/233, 128/2/CD-ROM, $275
• PowerBook Pismo G3/400, 192/6/DVD, $495

Wegener Media

• PowerBook Pismo G3/400, 128/10/DVD, $499.99
• PowerBook Pismo G3/500, 128/10/DVD, $559.99
• G4/550 MHz upgrade card (with purchase of Pismo), $229

• store refurb 12" PowerBook G4/867, 640/40/SuperDrive, 90-day warranty, Macally Screen Protector, $1,249.

• 17" PowerBook G4/1.5 GHz, 512/80/SuperDrive, AirPort Extreme, free USB watch (after rebate), $2,599

• 14" iBook G3/700, 128/30/Combo, $749.99

Apple Store - (near bottom of page)

• refurb 12" iBook G4/1 GHz, 256/30/CD-ROM, $849
• refurb 12" iBook G4/1 GHz, 256/30/Combo, $949
• refurb 12" PowerBook G4/1.33 GHz, 256/60/Combo/AirPort Extreme, $1,349
• refurb 12" PowerBook G4/1.33 GHz, 256/60/SuperDrive, AirPort Extreme, $1,549

For more deals on current or recently discontinued models, see our Week's Best PowerBook G4 Deals, Week's Best iBook G4 Deals, and Week's Best iBook G3 Deals.