Intel iBooks in January with 'Big Price Cut'?, 1.92 GHz PowerBook Upgrade, SideTrack Trackpad Driver, and More

Charles Moore - 2005.11.23

This Week's PowerBook, iBook, and Notebook News

General Apple and Mac desktops is covered in The Mac News Review. iPod news is covered in iPod News Review. News about Apple's transition to Intel CPUs and other Intel developments is covered in The Macintel Report.

All prices are in US dollars unless otherwise noted.

• Apple to Intro Intel iBook 'with Big Price Cut' in January?
• $100 Laptops Will Ship Next Year
• Daystar XLR8 1.92 GHz PowerBook Upgrades Coming Soon
• SideTrack Driver for PowerBook and iBook Trackpads
• Bargain 'Books

Apple to Intro Intel iBook 'with Big Price Cut' in January?

The Register's Tony Smith says:

"Apple will announce new iBook consumer notebooks at Macworld Expo in January 2006 - just over a month from now - and they will be based on Intel processors.

"So allege 'highly reliable' sources, ThinkSecret reports, mentioning the same sources have proved correct on quite a few other occasions.

"The moles don't provide any specifics about the Intel-based iBooks beyond indicating a new, third model for the line-up - quite possibly, we'd guess, the much-rumoured widescreen edition. They also suggest Apple will significantly lower prices in a bid to win more buyers from the Windows world as the Mac Mini did on the desktop."

Link: Apple to Intro Intel iBook 'with Big Price Cut' for January Debut?

$100 Laptops Will Ship Next Year

The Associated Press's Matt Moore reports:

"A cheap laptop boasting wireless network access and a hand-crank to provide electricity are expected to start shipping in February or March to help extend technology to school-age children worldwide.

"The machines are to sell for $100, slightly less than their cost. The aim is to have governments or donors buy them and give full ownership to the children....

"MIT Media Lab Chairman Nicholas Negroponte, who unveiled the textbook-size laptop Wednesday, said he expects to sell 1 million of them to Brazil, Thailand, Egypt and Nigeria."

In related news, the project has declined an offer from Apple to provide Mac OS X for free. dk

Link: $100 Laptops Will Ship Next Year

Daystar XLR8 1.92 GHz PowerBook Upgrades Coming Soon

PR: Early PowerBook G4 Aluminums Now Running at 1.92 GHz...

Daystar announces last stages of development for the XLR8 1.92 GHz CPU Upgrade for the 15" PowerBook G4 FW800 systems

Daystar Technology, an Apple Authorized Reseller and Mac Performance Integrator, announced that it is completing development of the first XLR8 PowerBook G4 (Aluminum) CPU Upgrade. The PowerBook G4 upgrade dubbed, "XLR8 MAChSpeed PowerBook G4" is scheduled to ship next month.

No Compromise, Raw Speed.

Like the XLR8 MAChSpeed G4 Pismo, Lombard, Titainum and iMac Flat Panel CPU upgrades, the PowerBook G4 upgrade will be a full system upgrade, requiring the user to send their PowerBook to Daystar for installation. Daystar uses the latest model CPUs in order to provide perfect quality and long-term reliability.

Pricing and final specifications are expected to be announced closer to the actual product release date. Additional features include:

• xBench 1.2 Scores jump from high 20s to nearly 50, well surpassing the fastest PowerBook G4 to date.
• Factory installation via Apple Certified Technicians.
• Effortless shipping with Daystar's custom boxes and prepaid FedEx shipping options.
• Compatible with Classic and Mac OS 10.3.5 - 10.4.3.
• Includes XLR8 MAChSpeed Control for exclusive G4 performance / compatibility. All upgrades warranted at speeds sold, with Daystar's exclusive 90/720 warranty program.

"It is incredible to see the earliest PowerBook G4s, jump to lightening fast response on Tiger - faster than Apple's newest introductions", said Gary Dailey, president of Daystar. "It even runs cooler than the original 1.25 GHz CPUs."

Daystar Technology is simply a Macintosh Performance Shop. The company specializes in developing custom peformance solutions, and integrating leading XLR8 brand technologies for consumers, enterprise and creative professionals. Daystar operates as an Apple Authorized Reseller and Service center, and maintains a staff of Apple Certified Technicians. Daystar is also the designer and manufacturer of XLR8 brand products. With its history as the creator of the original Mac upgrade, the company continues to deliver the best of the best for the Apple based computing platform.

Daystar currently distributes/resells Apple, XLR8, Giga Designs, My InternetPC and a variety of leading brand products via its store front and web store.

Daystar offers a wide array of Apple performance products. It also sells and services Apple products via its store-front in Buford, Georgia.

Additional information on Daystar Technology and XLR8 can be found via the Daystar website.

Link: Daystar

SideTrack Driver for PowerBook and iBook Trackpads

PR: SideTrack 1.3 includes support for the new USB trackpad hardware found in the 2005 PowerBooks and iBooks including the latest October 2005 models.

SideTrack is a replacement driver for Apple PowerBook and iBook trackpads. With SideTrack installed your standard trackpad becomes a powerful multi-button scrolling mouse.

Leave your external mouse at home and take full control over your trackpad:

• Vertical scrolling at left or right edge of pad.
• Horizontal scrolling at top or bottom edge of pad.
• Map hardware button to left or right click.
• Map trackpad taps to no action, left click, left click drag (with or without drag lock), or right click.
• Map trackpad corner taps to mouse buttons 1-6 or simulated keystrokes.
• Extensive control over accidental input filtering.

SideTrack is multiuser aware and fully compatible with MacOS X fast user switching (FUS). Every user on your PowerBook can have different settings depending on their needs.

SideTrack supports most G3 and all G4 model PowerBooks and iBooks.

New in version 1.3:

• [FEATURE] Support October 2005 PowerBook models.
• [BUG] Allow greater range in tap threshold slider and make strictest setting more strict.
• [BUG] Reduce debug logging.
• [BUG] Reduce accessibility polling (no periodic disk access).

Requirements: Mac OS X 10.2 or later.

SideTrack is shareware. Unregistered copies of SideTrack will periodically remind you to register. Registered users receive technical support and free upgrades.

SideTrack registration is $15. Turn your trackpad into a powerful multibutton mouse for less than the cost of a quality external mouse!

Link: SideTrack

Bargain 'Books

Bargain 'Books are used unless otherwise indicated. New and refurbished units have a one-year Apple warranty and are eligible for AppleCare.

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 (VGA) and G4/667 (DVI), the titanium vs. aluminum 15" PowerBook G4 at 1 GHz, and 1.25 GHz to 1.5 GHz 15" PowerBooks.

• 12" PowerBook G4 /1 GHz, 256/40/Combo, $799.99
• Upgrade to Super Drive, $129.99 with purchase of machine
• Add 512 MB RAM, $49.99 with purchase of machine
• Add 1 GB RAM, $189.99 with purchase of machine
• Add AirPort Extreme card, $39.99 with purchase of machine
• Upgrade to 80 GB hard drive, $119.99 with purchase of machine

Special Deals: Apple Certified

• refurb 12" PowerBook G4/1.33 GHz, 256/60/Combo, APX, 1,099
• refurb 12" PowerBook G4/1.5 GHz, 512/60/Combo, APX, BT, $1,199
• refurb 12" PowerBook G4/1.33 GHz, 256/60/SuperDrive, APX, $1,149
• refurb 15" PowerBook G4/1 GHz, 256/60/Combo, $1,299
• refurb 15" PowerBook G4/1.33 GHz, 256/60/Combo, APX, $1,299
• refurb 15" PowerBook G4/1.67 GHz, 512/80/SuperDrive, , APX, BT, $1,599
• refurb 17" PowerBook G4/1.5 GHz, 512/80/SuperDrive, APX, $1,799

The PowerBook Guy

• 12" iBook G3/800 MHz, 256/30/CD, $329.95
• 12" iBook G3/600 MHz, 256/20/Combo, $429.95
• 12" iBook G4/1 GHz, 256/30/CD, $549.95
• 12" iBook G4/1 GHz, 256/30/Combo, $649.95

• 15" Powerbook G4/867 MHz, 256/40GB/Combo, $899

For more deals on current or recently discontinued models, see our best aluminum PowerBook G4 deals, best titanium PowerBook G4 deals, best iBook G4 deals, best PowerBook G3 deals, and best iBook G3 deals.