Compiled by Charles Moore
and edited
by Dan Knight
- 2006.03.31
This Week's MacBook, PowerBook, and iBook News
All prices are in US dollars unless otherwise noted.
General Apple and Mac desktop news is covered in The Mac News Review. iPod news is covered
in The iNews Review. News about
Apple's transition to Intel CPUs and other Intel developments is
covered in The Macintel Report.
News & Opinion
Reviews
Products and Services
Software
Tech Trends
News & Opinion
My Beef with the MacBook Pro
MacMove.com's Seth says:
"This little piece has been a long time coming. I've been
chewing things over in my mind for a while now, since just about
when Apple announced the MacBook
Pro back at MWSF, trying to decide what I think of it. I've
done a lot of research and reading, mulling this question over for
a while. And, after all of that consideration, it boils down to
this: I don't think buying a MacBook Pro is a good idea....
"For the first time since I got my Mac Plus in 1988, I'm counseling
people against buying a Mac. And I think I need to share my
reasons.
"...in the laptop market, Apple has made what I think is an
error. And I can't understand how they haven't been called out for
it.
"...with the announcement of the MacBook, Apple took a product
matrix of two brands and 5 options and reduced it to a single
machine. The way things stand now, if you want a Mac laptop, you
can have whatever you want, as long as it's the MacBook Pro....
"Still, you say, Apple is still selling the iBook! And the 12-
and 17-inch PowerBooks! There are lots and lots of machines to
choose from!
"No, I answer, shaking my head sadly. You see, those machines
are all two generations old. They all run the G4 processor. At
least with the non-Intel desktops, you can get a G5 processor. But
the laptops all run G4s . . . that was yesterday's news
more than a year ago. Why would you buy one now, knowing that Apple
has already moved on to the next next best thing?"
Editor's Note: I understand where Seth is coming from, but I
think he doth protest too much. After long and careful
deliberation, I decided to make my latest system upgrade a 17"
PowerBook G4 (refurbished) because in my estimation PowerPC native
software performance, backwards compatibility, and Classic mode
support still outweigh the speed (at least with Intel-native and
Universal Binary applications) and bleeding-edge newness of the
MacBook Pro at this point in time. The same would apply to new 12"
and 17" PowerBooks and the G4 iBooks. cm
- Link:
My Beef with the MacBook Pro
Come on Apple, Where's the MacBook?
billpalmer.net's Bill Palmer says:
"Seth over at MacMove stirred up some controversy this week when
he more or less suggested that Apple's current laptop lineup is a
mess. His whole article is worth a read, but in a nutshell he
thinks that Apple blew the whole thing up by moving the fifteen
inch PowerBook to an Intel processor while leaving the entire iBook
line (and the rest of the PowerBook line) on an aging processor in
the form of the G4. Since we all know that all of the remaining
G4-based laptops are potentially a heartbeat away from going Intel,
they're all currently a bad buy, leaving potential Mac laptop
purchasers with only one good choice (the MacBook Pro) whether it
happens to suit their needs or not.
"Truth is, I largely agree with him, and not just because he
happens to be a friend of mine. If I were buying a new Mac laptop
today, there is only one model I would look at. But while he sees
the MacBook Pro as the problem, I see it as the opposite: thank god
we finally have one good laptop model. Beats the pants off of what
we had back in 2005, when they all sucked.
"Lest someone go and get the wrong idea, let me be clear here:
by using words such as 'good' and 'sucked' to describe the various
Mac laptop models, I'm only referring to their
speed...."
Editor's note: I also appreciated Bill's comments in this column
about working on 12" 1024 x 768 displays, as I have been doing for
the past three years plus on my G3 iBook. Bill says :
- I've had to live with a twelve inch screen for the past nine
months, which has turned out to be not nearly so awkward as I had
feared. The whole experience has turned out . . . more
positively than I had thought, and so at this point I want to wait
for the 12 inch MacBook Pro (if not the 12 inch MacBook) to hit the
market, so that I can at least give it a spin in person, before
deciding which path to go down.
I agree, and I say this as one who is newly enjoying the
luxurious expanses of a 17" screen on my recently purchased 17"
PowerBook. The extra room is great, but I wouldn't find it any real
hardship to go back to using the iBook's 12" monitor. cm
- Link:
Come on Apple, Where's the MacBook?
How Not Getting Fired for Losing Your
Laptop
eWeek' s Eric Lundquist writes:
"The most important rule:
"1. You will get fired for losing your data, but you will not
get fired for losing your laptop. Well, maybe you will get fired
for losing your laptop; I don't know your company's policies. But I
do know I have never heard about a company being forced to make a
public announcement because an employee lost a laptop. I have read
lots of stories about companies being forced to announce they lost
customer data."
- Link: Lundquist's
Guide to Not Getting Fired for Losing Your Laptop
Reviews
Macworld Tests the 2.16 GHz MacBook Pro
Macworld's James Galbraith reports:
"Macworld has already had its say on both the 1.83 GHz and 2 GHz
MacBook Pro laptops. But as
impressive as those models are, neither the 1.83 GHz configuration
nor the 2.0 GHz version can lay claim to being the fastest MacBook
Pro. That honor goes to the built-to-order MacBook Core Duo/2.16
GHz.
"It took awhile, but our shiny new, MacBook Pro 2.16 Core Duo
with speedy internal hard drive has arrived and the test results
show that these more expensive upgrades definitely pay off in terms
of performance. Whether the increased speed is worth your extra
dollars depends on who you are and what you do."
- Link:
Testing the 2.16 GHz MacBook Pro
MacBook Pro Packs Plenty of Power
Sydney Morning Herald's Garry Barker says:
"Once upon a time, about when they pulled Moses out of those
bulrushes and set him on his successful career with the Israelites,
I had a petrolhead friend of the female persuasion who had an XJ6
Jaguar that she felt needed a boost in the engine room.
"An admirer - not, I hasten to add, myself; I was merely an
awestruck spectator of Boadicea reincarnated - worked for one of
those body shops that turn out of their back doors rather more cars
than they take in at the front. Among his 'overs' the bloke had a
Chrysler V8 of six or seven litres that, just for her, he installed
beneath the Jag's bonnet.
"The result was spectacular. Even now, years later, if the lady
ever came back from wherever it was she fled to, the highway cops
would still be looking for her.
"If you think about the new Intel-equipped MacBook Pro (and, yes, I am getting
used to the name), it is not very different from that Jaguar. It
has been given a quite different, and more powerful engine, an
Intel Core Duo chip - two processors on the same block of silicon -
but has retained its design elegance and beauty."
- Link:
The Beast Within
PC World Looks at 'Apple's Sleek Intel-based
Laptop'
PC World's Narasu Rebbapragada reports:
"Equipped with a 2-GHz Intel Core Duo Processor, Apple's
MacBook Pro looks great,
runs great, and has some fine new capabilities. But it lacks
several features, and it has the same performance issues as the
Intel-Based iMac.
"The MacBook Pro is a joy to use. At 1440 by 900 pixels, the
screen is sharp and bright. It comes with a built-in Webcam, Front
Row media-playing software, and an infrared remote control. The
unit handles basic productivity tasks with aplomb, and Apple
applications run very fast.
"That said, our $2499 shipping unit lacks standard PC notebook
options such as an S-video port, a modem, and a PC Card slot (its
ExpressCard slot isn't PC Card-compatible). Its DVD write speed is
only 4x, and it can't yet burn double-layer media. The laptop also
lacks a FireWire 800 port."
- Link: Apple's
Sleek Intel-based Laptop
Products and Services
Belkin Flip Lets You Use 1 Monitor, Keyboard,
Mouse to Control Your Laptop and Desktop
PR: Belkin's Flip helps relieve laptop users from small
displays and cramped keyboards while saving valuable desktop
space
Belkin's
new Flip lets you share one monitor, keyboard, and mouse between
two computers, allowing business professionals to now bring home
their work laptop and easily plug it into their home setup. By
simply pressing a small, stylish remote, you can easily switch from
one computer to the next. The remote stays on your desk while the
base and cables remain hidden for a cleaner desktop. Flip will ship
in North America in early April.
- Flip, PS/2 (F1DF102P) - $49.99
- Flip, PS/2 with Audio (F1DG102P) - $59.99
- Flip, USB with Audio (F1DG102U) - $59.99
According to a Forrester Research Report in February 2005,
approximately 73% of laptop owners owned at least two computers.
With two computers, people are seeking methods to keep their
desktops free of extra peripherals and cables. They also want a
more comfortable way to use their work laptop when they bring it
home. Flip solves both problems by giving access to both computers
without the added peripheral bulk and by enabling connection of
your laptop to your home computer devices easily.
By allowing you to connect your old and new home computers, you
can easily access files and programs using the same monitor,
keyboard, and mouse. Flip also offers the added feature of letting
you share one set of speakers between computers(a). Flip fully
supports any combination of PC and Mac desktop and notebook
computers for use in any home or work environment.
Benefits
- Connects instantly to notebook computers
- Supports high video resolutions up to 2048x1536
- Features a 2-color LED that indicates which computer Flip is
accessing
- Comes with a Belkin 3-Year Warranty
(a) Available for models F1DG102P and F1DG102U
You can view and purchase them on the Belkin website, as well as
through a network of major distributors, resellers, and
superstores.
- Link: Belkin Flip
3G Card for Macs Provides 384 Kbps
Wireless
Tech Digest reports:
"Good news for Mac owners. Vodafone has made its 3G data connect
card available for Apple users. [Editor's note: This is a PC Card;
it is not compatible with the new MacBook Pro.]
"According to the company the dashboard (or the interface of the
card) is now compatible with Macs and Apple users will be able to
surf the web remotely at speed of up to 384 kbps.
"The company thinks that Mac users are an ideal target group for
the 3G card. Bill Morrow, CEO Vodafone UK, said, 'Users of Apple
Macs have a rich variety of working habits that we believe are
ideally suited to the 3G environment. From business people through
to designers and photographers - all of these professional
communities have sub-groups, characterized by heavy and frequent
mobile data use, that are devoted to the Mac.'"
- Link: 3G Card for
Macs
Mac Users Get Vodafone 3G Data Access
The Register's Tony Smith reports:
"Vodafone UK has begun offering Mac OS X drivers for its 3G
Mobile Connect Card, enabling PC Card adaptor-equipped PowerBook
owners to connect to the Internet at (potentially) broadband speeds
when they're miles away from the nearest Wi-Fi hotspot.
"Vodafone 3G Mobile Connect CardVodafone's 3G card is made by
Belgian data card specialist Option, which has had Mac OS X drivers
in the pipeline for some time, along with Linux code. Since Option
currently offers its 3G cards only through network operators, such
as Vodafone, it only makes said drivers available through those
partners - and even then, they have to ask for them."
- Link: Mac
Users Get Vodafone 3G Data Access
D-Link's $45 USB Bluetooth 2.0 Adapter
PR: This small and lightweight USB adapter
enables non-Bluetooth equipped computers to take advantage of the
plethora of emerging wireless Bluetooth peripherals and devices.
Bluetooth is a short-range wireless connectivity protocol which
allows several devices to reliably network, or connect to your
computer simultaneously.
Cutting-edge Bluetooth wireless connectivity lets you finally
cut all the cable clutter in and around your workspace.
Keyboards, mice, printers, cell
phones, PDA's and speakers are just a few of the many types of
Bluetooth devices now widely available.
Weighing in at a luggage-friendly 6 grams, this USB Bluetooth
Adapter won't add to your load, and internal status LED's allow you
to monitor connection status at a glance.
Easy Setup: Connecting the DBT-120 is simple - no drivers needed
for Mac OS X, just plug in and go.
Features:
- Adds full Bluetooth support to older computers - USB port
required (Requires Mac OS X 10.2.8 or higher)
- Small and lightweight - perfect for on the go use.
- BT Class II - Supports standard HID profile: keyboard, mice,
trackballs, pens, tablets, etc.
- Also supports networking - including file transfer and dialup,
serial port, info sync and headsets.
- 10 Meter free space range - control your computer or
peripherals from across the room!
- Frequency Hopping Spread Spectrum technology minimizes
interference from other devices.
- Radio Class: Bluetooth II
- Frequency: 2.4 - 2.48 GHz
- Rx sensitivity: -80 dBm
- Antenna: Internal Omni Dipole
- Range: 10 meters
- Data Rate: 1.0 Mbps
- Profiles supported: HID, Serial port
- Network and file transfer
- Information sync, headset
- Platforms: Mac OS X, Linux, Windows
- Dimensions: 46 x 18 x 9mm
- Weight: 6g
- Price: $44.95
- Link: RadTech
DBT-120 USB Bluetooth Adapter
Software
Use One Keyboard and Mouse to Control
Several Macs with teleport
PR: teleport is a simple utility to let you use one mouse
and keyboard to control several of your Macs. It works on Panther
and Tiger (sorry, no more Jaguar support).
Simply reach the edge of your screen, and your mouse teleports
to your other Mac! The pasteboard can even be synchronized between
the computers.
Important note: There was an issue in teleport pr3 where the
"Share this Mac" checkbox was not working. Please update to
teleport pr3.7.
teleport is currently a Preview Release.
Known issues
- No encryption of transfers
- Right modifiers do not work
- Keyboard mapping problems
- Fast user switching issues
New in version 0.9.7 (pr3.7)
- added autocheck version checkbox to disable autocheck at
login
- added ports customization (see forum for hidden defaults)
- disabled shutdown/restart dialog when controlling
- fixed clicks in hot borders
- fixed universal binary build
- fixed persistence of trusted hosts in controlled host
System requirements: Mac OS X 10.3 or later.
System support: PPC/Intel
teleport is freeware. You can freely distribute it without
modification.
- Link: teleport
UnPlugged Notifies You When Your 'Book
Becomes Unplugged
PR: UnPlugged is an application to notify when the power
cord of the Mac is unplugged or plugged in. Notifications are done
using Growl - or with a Alertwindow when Growl is not
installed.
This App is done with Cocoa and doesn't use as much RAM and CPU
usage as the other tools available.
Usage Hints:
- to quit option-click the notification, or when you're not using
Growl hit the quit button in the Alertpanel
- to see the notification disconnect or reconnect your power
cord
New in version 1.2:
- Linked to 10.3.9 as well so it should work there, too.
Please report if it works or not
System requirements: Mac OS X 10.3.9 or later.
System support: PPC/Intel
Free
- Link: UnPlugged
ChargerChecker Notifies User When
Charger Is Disconnected
PR: Onscreen notification when your laptop's charger is
connected or disconnected
With the release of the MacBook Pro, Apple also introduced a
brand new power adapter that uses the MagSafe connector. While this
innovative new feature can save your laptop from being jerked off
the table by a careless passerby, many people have complained that
their power adapter becomes unplugged inadvertently without them
ever knowing it. This can be a huge problem when you pull your
laptop out in the airport to put the finishing touches on your
upcoming presentation only to find that it was mistakenly unplugged
and the battery is completely dead.
ChargerChecker is a small app that works in conjunction with
Growl to give you an onscreen notification when your laptop's
charger is connected or disconnected. After installing Growl use
the Accounts pane in your System Preferences to add ChargerChecker
to your login items and never worry about a discharged battery
again.
New in version 0.2:
- Improved CPU load
- Now with Optional Audible Alerts
- Improved Installation Process
System requirements:
- Mac OS X 10.4 or later, Apple Laptop (the Intel based ones
especially, because of the magnetic power connection)
- Growl installed.
System support: PPC/Intel
Free
- Link:
ChargerChecker
Power Check Alerts 'Book Users when
Switching between Battery, AC
PR: Power Check provides audible and visual alerts to
iBook and PowerBook users when changing from battery to AC power or
visa versa. It depends on Growl and Play Sound.
New in version 0.4: All new config setup during first time the
application is run. Now stores preferences. User selectable audible
alert.
System requirements:
- Mac OS X 10.3.9 or later
- Growl
- Play Sound
System support: PPC/Intel
Free
- Link: Power Check
Tech Trends
Intel Promotes 'Common Building Blocks'
for Notebooks
The Register's Tony Smith reports:
"Intel wants notebook component makers to agree to a series of
connectivity standards to simplify the swapping of parts.
"Earlier this month, the chip giant launched what it calls the
Interchangeability Initiative to promote the idea....
"The Interchangeability Initiative focuses on seven key
components, which Intel believes can be based on category-common
interconnects - or 'common building blocks'. Hard drives,
keyboards, optical units, displays, batteries, power adaptors and
chassis can all be standardised to allow system builders to add in
whatever parts they prefer."
- Link:
Intel Touts Standards for Notebook Part Swaps
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.
PowerBook and iBook profiles linked in our Portable Mac Index.
- refurb 12" PowerBook G4/1.5 GHz, 512/60/Combo, APX, BT 2.0,
$1,099
- refurb 12" PowerBook G4/1.5 GHz, 512/80/SuperDrive, APX, BT
2.0, $1,199
- refurb 15" PowerBook G4/1.5 GHz, 512/80/Combo, APX, BT 2.0,
$1,399
- refurb 15" PowerBook G4/1.67 GHz, 512/80/SuperDrive, APX, BT
2.0, $1,549
- refurb 15" MacBook Pro 1.83 GHz, 512/80/SuperDrive, $1,699
- refurb 15" MacBook Pro 2.0 GHz, 1024/100/SuperDrive,
$2,199
TechRestore offers a $25 discount to 'Book Review readers off
any PowerBook or iBook in stock. Just enter the code CWM during
checkout when ordering online. The coupon code is valid from now
through 2007.12.31.
- used 12" iBook G3/700, 256/20/Combo, $499.99
- used 17" PowerBook G4/1 GHz, 512/60/SuperDrive, APX,
$1,279.99
- used 17" PowerBook G4/1.33 GHz, 512/80/SuperDrive, APX, BT,
$1,499.99
- 12" PowerBook Kanga G3/250, 96/2, 33.6 modem, ethernet,
floppy/12.1" - $229.95
- 14" PowerBook WallStreet G3/292, 128/6/CD, $249.95
- 14" PowerBook WallStreet G3/266, 128/6/CD, $229.95
- 14" PowerBook Lombard G3/333, 128/3/CD, $329.95
- 14" PowerBook Lombard G3/400, 128/10/DVD, $379.95
- 14" PowerBook Pismo G3/400, 128/10/DVD, $399.95
- 14" PowerBook Pismo G3/500, 256/20/DVD, $499.95
- 15" PowerBook G4/667 VGA, 256/20/Combo, $625
- 15" PowerBook G4/667 DVI, 256/20/Combo, $645
- 15" PowerBook G4/800, 256/20/Combo, $729
- extra 512 MB, add $89
- PowerBook Lombard G3/333, 128/4/CD, $319.99
- PowerBook Lombard G3/400, 128/4/CD, $369.99
- G4 processor upgrade special (valid only with machine
purchase). Upgrade installed & setup at time of purchase,
$179.99
- Upgrade to a 20 GB hard drive (valid only with machine
purchase), $49.99
- PowerBook 1400cs, 16/775 MB/floppy, new battery, AC,
$99.99
For more deals on current or recently discontinued models, see
our best 15" MacBook Pro deals,
our best 17" MacBook Pro deals,
12" PowerBook G4 deals, 15" aluminum PowerBook G4 deals, 17" PowerBook G4 deals, titanium PowerBook G4 deals, iBook G4 deals, PowerBook G3 deals, and iBook G3 deals.
