Compiled by Charles Moore
and edited
by Dan Knight
- 2006.04.21
This Week's MacBook, PowerBook, and iBook News
According to a wide variety of sources, 12" and 17" PowerBooks
are in limited supply and a new 13.3" widescreen 'Book should debut
shortly. The latest twist is speculation that Apple may offer the
iBook replacement in one or two colors besides white.
This is the time of year that Apple has traditionally unveiled
new iBooks, so we expect a MacBook announcement Real Soon Now.
On the Macintel path, more and more Windows users and
dual-platform users are going with Intel Macs - especially the
MacBook Pro - as their primary computer, either using Apple's Boot
Camp or Parallels
Workstation. ExperCom is even selling MacBooks
with WinXP preinstalled.
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.
'Book Rumors
News & Opinion
Tech Tips and Info
Reviews
Products and Services
Software
Tech Trends
'Book Rumors
MacBook Pro Availability Improves, New 'Books
Imminent
Macworld UK's Jonny Evans reports:
"Apple's been working hard to meet demand for its new MacBook Pro notebooks.
"Today, the UK Apple Store has been updated to match the US
store, with a small green circle atop the MacBook Pro listing that
promises customers that their new pro notebook will ship in just
24-hours....
"Meanwhile speculation continues to grow that Apple will
announce an Intel-powered replacement for its current iBook models,
perhaps as soon as next week on the eve of the company's financial
announcement on April 19."
- Link: MacBook
Pro Availability Improves, New iBooks Imminent - Report
Asustek to Produce 13.3" 'Books for Apple
The China Economic News Service reports:
"Asustek Computer Inc., one of Taiwan's major contract
manufacturers of notebook (NB) personal computers, reportedly is
ready to swallow up Apple Computer's orders for 1.2 million Intel
processor-powered iBooks.
"Apple is expected to launch the new iBooks, the company's first
with Intel processors, sometime in the second quarter of this year.
The iBook NBs embedded with Intel processors will adopt 13.3-inch
LCD (liquid crystal display) panels....
"Since the beginning of this year, Apple has been contacting
Samsung, LPL, AU Optronics, and Chi Mei to supply the specialized
panels. AU Optronics said it would ship between 40,000 and 50,000
13.3-inch panels to Apple per month."
- Link:
Asustek Acquires New Orders from Apple
New 'Books Could Get a Splash of Color
Business 2.0 Magazine's Owen Thomas and Fortune reporter Oliver
Ryan report:
"Apple's new MacBook laptops may come in two colors besides
white, AppleInsider reports. It's been almost eight years since
Steve Jobs unwrapped the original Bondi
blue iMac - and since 2002, all of Apple's computers have been
either white or metallic....
"One hitch for Apple: Stocking multiple colors means producing
and tracking more models, a logistical feat Apple hasn't grappled
with in years. Additionally, some retailers might refuse to stock
more than one color...."
Editor's note: The first Mac
available in multiple colors was the Jan. 1999 iMac 266 (Rev. C), which shipped in 5
different colors. The last Mac available in multiple colors was the
Summer 2001 iMac (discontinued
Jan. 2002), when each iMac was available in snow/white plus one
other color, either indigo/blue or graphite/gray.
Apple is very successfully selling iPods in black and white, so
it shouldn't be too much of a stretch to deal with multiple colors
for Macs as well. dk
- Link:
New Macs Could Get a Splash of Color
Apple Readying Colored MacBooks?
The Register's Tony Smith reports:
"Apple's upcoming Intel-based iBooks - now firmly believed to
ship under the MacBook brand - may see the company once again offer
the product in a range of coloured cases not seen now four more
than four years....
"Apple's flirtation with colour
began in May 1998 when it launched the
original iMac. At the time it was only available in blue and
white, but the following January, Apple launched a range of
colours....
"So did the original iBook, announced in September
1999 and which originally shipped in curvaceous blue-and-white and
orange-and-white cases....
"The time may have come for a return to coloured cases. We'd
nominate shiny black...."
Editor's note: I second the motion. cm
- Link: Apple
Readying Multi-coloured MacBooks?
A Glossy Black MacBook Would Suit Me Just
Fine
In this week's The Road Warrior on MacOpinion:
"Scuttlebutt from the rumor mills last week was that the new
13.3 inch widescreen MacBook, which is expected to replace the
current 12" and 14" iBooks and probably the 12" PowerBook as well
soon, will come with more color choices than white. There is
probable cause to imagine that this will be the case. The latest
iPod and iPod nano come in both white and black models, and the
black version has been a sales hit. I think a black MacBook would
also do very well, and with a strong likelihood that I will
eventually by a MacBook, I might opt for a black one myself if that
option were available....
"Color preferences are said to be an indicator of personality
characteristics, so what does your computer color preference say
about you?"
"And if you just can't wait, Color-ware Inc. has the answer
for you, offering the Apple laptops (iBook and PowerBook) in a
palette of 23 colors, as well as colored iPods and Mac minis."
- Link:
A Glossy Black MacBook Would Suit Me Just Fine
News & Opinion
Buy a MacBook Pro with Preloaded Windows
XP
The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)'s Dan Pourhadi reports:
"I am writing this at midnight, dear readers, and I can only
pray that what I'm looking at is a fever-induced hallucination and
I'm trapped in some sort of cruel nightmare triggered by
Microsoft's secret Terror Ray XP Premium Edition....
"It seems a company called
ExperCom is selling standard-specced MacBook Pros
. . . pre-loaded with Windows XP...."
- Link:
Buy a MacBook Pro with Pre-loaded Windows XP
Switching to Mac (but Not Really)
ExtremeTech's Jason Cross says:
"For the last year or so, I've been searching for just the right
notebook. My dilemma was this: I wanted something with a reasonably
fast CPU, plenty of RAM, a good optical drive, and most
importantly, an honest-to-goodness quality GPU. Those are all over
the place, but they weigh about 6.5 pounds to 7 pounds at the best.
Once you get into the 'under 6 pounds' category, you get into
graphics chips that are two generations old, or graphics chips with
very little RAM (expanded by the TurboCache or Hypermemory tech
from Nvidia or ATI), or worst of all, integrated graphics
(shudder!).
"Every now and then I would find a borderline notebook, kind of
heavy but not too bad, kind of a decent GPU but not as good as I'd
like, and I'd get gun shy with my credit card just looking at the
awful industrial design. Last weekend I finally found just the
Windows notebook I was looking for - and it's made by Apple."
- Link: Switching
to Mac (but Not Really)
Parallels Workstation Clinches Choice of
MacBook Pro
anandtech.com's Anand Lal Shimpi says:
"When I first started using a PowerBook G4 over a year ago it quickly
turned into the best experience I'd ever had with a notebook. My
biggest issues with notebooks were always related to reduced
productivity, mainly because of screen size and resolution
constraints. Despite its name, Windows does an absolutely horrid
job of managing lots of windows, something which looks to be on the
road to getting fixed in Vista but back then there was no hope in
sight. It also just so happens that when I'm getting a lot of work
done and when I happen to be my most productive, I have a ton of
windows open at once. The move to tabbed browsers alleviated some
of the problem, but for the most part it still existed. And on a
notebook, with a small lower-resolution screen and an uncomfortable
to use pointing device productivity suffered.
"My experience with OS X and the PowerBook G4 changed all of
that; window management under OS X was significantly improved
for reasons I've outlined before (Exposé, hiding vs.
minimizing windows, the zoom to fit control, etc...) and it even
addressed the issue of user input. With the large number of
keyboard shortcuts that existed for virtually everything in
OS X, I spent far less time using the trackpad and much more
time actually getting work done.
"But my PowerBook experience wasn't perfect; I opted for the 15"
model because I did want to get work done and needed the large
screen with its higher resolution. The problem was that the 15"
PowerBook weighed at least a third more than any notebook I had
used in the previous couple of years, and although initially I had
no issues going to a larger, heavier notebook it eventually became
a pain. I still wouldn't trade away the added productivity for
something smaller and lighter, but you always want what you don't
have....
"When it was finally announced that the first Intel based Macs
had booted Windows XP, there was a lot of excitement from those who
were on the fence about giving OS X a try. Had this all
happened to me back in the summer of 2004 when I first gave Apple
and OS X a try that probably would have been me showing my
excitement as well. But for almost two years now I've been living a
life happily as a dual user, so a hack that let me boot Windows on
my Mac meant nothing to me.
"Then Apple announced Boot Camp, effectively a very handy
utility to partition, boot and run Windows XP alongside OS X
on any Intel based Mac. Even more people wrote me, telling me that
they were extremely excited that this had happened and that they
wanted a review of the experience, much like I had done OS X
in the past. You see, Apple is very careful about where and when
they send review hardware, so any sort of MacBook Pro article was
going to require me going out and buying a unit myself - thus an
extensive cost benefit analysis had to be performed every step of
the way.
"But the straw that broke the cost benefit analysis model's back
was the announcement of Parallels'
Virtual Machine 2.1 beta. The beta would let you run Windows XP
under OS X in a virtual machine with support for Intel's
Virtualization Technology (VT). After that announcement I knew
there was no avoiding it, an article had to be done; not only on
the MacBook Pro but on Boot Camp and Parallels' solution.
"What follows is that article."
- Link: Apple's MacBook
Pro: Using it as a Mac and a PC
John Manzione's First MacBook Pro
Impressions
MacNet's John Manzione says:
"I had no intention of buying an Intel Mac until the
transition to the new chips was complete, in every way. I didn't
want to run software in emulation, I didn't want to go through what
I went through a few times before, so I would wait it out. Then
came Boot Camp, and suddenly I had the urge...
"I was, until yesterday, firmly in the camp that was not
particularly happy with Apple's decision to move to Intel
processors. It wasn't that I was unhappy with Intel, and who
doesn't want faster computers? It was this whole 'transition'
thing. I've been a Mac user long enough to experience the PowerPC
transition, the move to OS X, and now Intel. I just wanted a few
years of stability. So I figured I'd sit this one out for as long
as I could....
"All in all, what you gain with a MacBook Pro over a PowerBook, for the
same money, is the built in iSight camera, Front Row with a remote
control, a safe [power] adapter, and 2 latches instead of one. And,
of course, the ability to run Windows natively. The MacBook Pro is
a great value for the money....
"I was very fortunate in the timing of purchasing the MacBook
Pro. I received [it] yesterday, about an hour before I was notified
that Aperture 1.1 came out. (Not to mention an email I received
last night from Apple alerting me to the fact that I will be
getting a $200 e-credit to use at the Apple store . . .
Apple lowered the price of Aperture to $299, I paid $499)
. . . Aperture 1.1 on a MacBook Pro is, like we say in
New England "Wicked Fast". There are not a lot of Aperture users
yet, but if you are one of them you'll be happy to know that the
speed increase in Aperture alone, and the added speed of a
2 GHz Core Duo Aperture will feel like a completely new
application. If you use a lot of photographs in your work, and
shoot in RAW the appearance of Aperture now, as a universal app,
gives us 'some' relief over having to use Photoshop and Camera
Raw....
"So, to be honest, if Boot Camp had not arrived on the scene I
would still be using, and happily using at that, my dual layer
PowerBook 15". I would have moved to the Intel processor in time,
but not until CS3 was released, at the least. But, combining the
release of Aperture 1.1 and Boot Camp, I think I did the right
thing. I don't use video conferencing despite the fact that I have
a couple of iSights sitting around, so the iSight that comes with
the MacBook, while nice, is no biggie for me. (Although it might be
for you). The remote control and Front Row is very useful, and fun
to use."
- Link: MacBook Pro - John
Manzione's First Impressions and Comparisons
MacBook Pro GPU Underclocked
The Register's Tony Smith reports:
"Apple appears to have underclocked the ATI Radeon Mobility
X1600 graphics chip in its MacBook
Pro laptop. According to one online report, the GPU's core runs
35 per cent slower than the clock speed recommended by ATI. The
memory clock is 41 per cent below par.
"The speed differential was spotted by a poster on
French-language site MacBidouille, the site reports.
The correspondent ran ATI's ATI Tools utility - version 0.25, a
beta release - running under Windows XP. The software revealed his
MacBook Pro's X1600 was clocked at 310 MHz and the memory at 278
MHz (556 MHz effective)."
- Link:
MacBook Pro GPU Underclocked, Report Claims
Tech Tips and Info
MacBook Pro Firmware Update 1.0.1
"This update is for MacBook Pro computers with Intel processors
only. It now runs on localized systems that use languages that read
right to left.
"File Size: 2.8 MB
"System Requirements
- Mac OS X 10.4.5 or later
- MacBook Pro (early 2006)"
- Link: MacBook
Pro (early 2006) Firmware Update 1.0.1
- Download:
MacBook Pro (early 2006) Firmware Update 1.0.1
Reviews
Aperture 1.1 Better, Faster on a
PowerBook G4
oreillynet.com's Derrick Story reports:
"Aperture 1.1 was available this morning via Software Update on
my PowerBook G4. I've been using Aperture on a PowerBook from the
beginning, and have been waiting for the 1.1 release to provide
better performance when working with big RAW files. That day is
here. I downloaded the update and went to work.
"Many people will comment on the new color values readout that's
available in the HUD and the Digital Loupe. Nice addition, but the
three truly important changes are improved RAW decoding, faster
performance on a PowerBook G4, and UB compatibility on the new
MacBook Pro. After just a morning of testing, Apple appears to
deliver on all three counts."
- Link:
Aperture 1.1 on a PowerBook G4
Products and Services
Marware's Protection Pack for MacBook Pro
PR: The Protection Pack consists of a Wrist Rest and a
Keyboard Cover. The wrist rest is a slip of PVC leather designed to
prevent scratches and provide a smooth, padded work surface.
The non-permanent special adhesive allows for effortless
complete and clean removal. The dual-purpose Keyboard Cover is made
of microfiber, the same material used for lens cloths. Perfect for
protection against impurity transfer and for use as a screen
cleaner.
$19.95
- Link: Marware's
Protection Pack for MacBook Pro
Targus Debuts Women's Radiance
Totes
PR: Targus Inc., maker of the world's best-selling
notebook cases and accessories, introduces the ladies Radiance Tote
- a sleek option for women looking for notebook protection while
traveling to work or between meetings. Designed to fit notebook
computers with screen sizes up to 15-inches, the Radiance Tote is
offered in three vibrant colors - Pink Petal, Sage, and Chocolate
Brown - with stylish accents and space for plenty of personal
accessories.
"The Radiance Tote differs from
standard notebook case designs due to its feminine look and feel,"
said Michael Greco, director, U.S. product marketing, for Targus.
"Featuring styles and colors that give the appearance of a
fashionable purse, the Radiance line offers the functionality of a
notebook case with ample storage for business accessories and
personal items."
Constructed of durable microfiber, the Radiance Tote features
hardware accents to prevent wear and tear on the handles and a
padded notebook section for extra protection. Storage options
include an internal zippered side pocket, pen/pencil loops, a
business card/ID holder and additional card slots, a compartment
for a PDA or MP3 player and a removable zippered pouch for personal
items.
Although structurally identical on the inside, each color of the
Radiance Totes provides a thoroughly unique exterior look. The Pink
Petal tote is constructed of pink microfiber and complemented by
embossed pink faux crocodile PVC near the base and on the handles.
The Sage tote features light green microfiber with a complementary
pale green embossed faux crocodile PVC near the base and on the
handles. The Chocolate Brown tote is made from a brown colored
microfiber and accented with smooth black PVC material near the
base and on the handles.
The Petal Pink (Model
#TLT026US) and Sage (Model #TLT027US) colored totes measure 15.25"
x 4.25" x 14.5" and weigh 2.16 lbs., while the Brown tote (Model
#TLT023US) measures 15.25" x 4.125" x 14" and weighs just 1.96 lbs.
All three totes come with a limited lifetime warranty and will be
available at the end of April. MSRP is $39.99.
- Link: Targus
Software
coconutBattery Laptop Battery
Monitor
PR: coconutBattery v2.x is completely rewritten
. . . preferences menu . . . Dashboard widget
. . . more languages(coming soon) . . . many
groundbreaking new features are planned for the next versions
. . . and it's still freeware(but donations are more than
welcome)
coconutBattery is a tool that reads out the data of your
notebook-battery (iBook/PowerBook). It gives you live feedback,
what's going on in your battery (not only a snapshot like other
tools).
It shows the current charge of your battery as well as the
current maximum capacity related to its original. If coconutBattery
detects that you have connected the wrong charger (i.e. an
iBbook-charger plugged in a PowerBook) it will warn you!
That's a cool feature!
Of course you are able to save the current maximum capacity of
your battery - with just one click! coconutBattery uses Apple's new
and really powerful technology named "CoreData" to realize
that.
Finally coconutBattery calculates the age of your Mac exactly!
So you can derive the age of your battery. And last but not least:
coconutBattery is Universal Binary (you can run it on Intel-Macs! -
cool!) and it is complete localizable!
Many localizations are ready to start but still need some bug
fixes.
If you want to help translating coconutBattery to your language,
just write me an email - but you should wait these few days until I
know what localizations needs a update.
By the way: The really really cool and absolutely
coconut-flavoured icon was created by http://www.afterglow.ie -
really good job! Check out the webpage.
New in version 2.3:
- Universal binary for MacBook Pro
New in version 2.2:
- widget bug fixes and improvements,
- new localizations (Finnish, Spanish, French, German),
- minor bug fixes
New: in version 2.1:
- much cooler widget - Chinese localization - minor
improvements
New in version 2.0:
- completely rewritten, added a dashboard widget, preferences
menu for custom values and much much more!
System requirements:
- Mac OS 10.4.3 (Tiger)
- An Apple-Notebook (PowerBook or iBook)
System requirements: Mac OS X 10.4.3 or later.
Free
- Link: coconutBattery
UnPlugged: Fast, Simple, Invisible Power
Connection Monitor
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 UnPlugged option click on the notification or hit the
quit button in the alert panel when Growl is not installed
- unplugged will show the battery status every couple of percents
that the battery looses capacity, you can change this in the
prefpane.
- you can also specify applications where you don't want to see
this kind of notifications (e.g. keynote, when doing a
presentation)
New in version 1.4:
- added a prefpane to control unplugged
- starting unplugged when it is already running shows the current
status of the battery
System requirements: Mac OS X 10.3.9 or later.
System support: PPC/Intel
Free
- Link: UnPlugged
Tech Trends
Laptops with Flash Memory Instead of
Hard Drives Coming
technologyreview.com's Kate Greene reports:
"Flash memory storage, traditionally used in cell phones,
digital cameras, and MP3 players, is finding its way onto the
laptop. Last October, Intel unveiled a hybrid technology in which
flash is used with a conventional magnetic hard drive to increase
battery life. Then, last month at the CeBIT, a technology show in
Hannover, Germany, Samsung Semiconductor displayed a laptop in
which 32 gigabytes of flash completely replaces the hard drive.
"Now, as storage densities rise and prices fall for flash
technology, many industry experts expect that it's only a matter of
time before it becomes common in laptops.
"There are numerous advantages to putting flash memory into
laptops. The technology is based on transistors and has a design
similar to microprocessors, making flash memory chips more compact
and lighter than magnetic hard disks - which could lead to
featherweight laptops.
"Additionally, flash has no moving parts...."
The drawback: Flash memory isn't nearly as cheap as hard
drives.
- Link:
Laptops That Use Flash Chips Instead of a Magnetic Hard Disk for
Memory Are Coming
Asus Lamborghini 'Supernote' Spec Not So
Super?
The Register's Tony Smith reports:
"Asus has finally revealed what lies under the hood of its
Lamborghini-branded notebook, the VX1. Unfortunately, the laptop is
unlikely to impress anyone expecting the computing equivalent of
the performance cars it's named after. It's also more expensive
than Asus has hinted in the past.
"According to Asus, the VX1 - dubbed the 'supernote' - will
contain a 2 GHz T2500 processor - alas not a top-of-the-line Core
Duo .... 1 GB of 667 MHz DDR 2 SDRAM, a 120 GB hard drive and
a dual-layer DVD±R/RW optical unit.
"The display, as expected, is a 15in screen, with a 1,400 x
1,050 resolution....
"Asus said the VX1 will retail in Europe for
€2,700...."
- Link:
Asus Lamborghini 'Supernote' Spec Not So Super?
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.
- used 12" iBook G3/500, 256/15/CD, $325
- used 12" iBook G3/700, 256/20/CD, $385
- refurb 12" PowerBook G4/1 GHz, 256/40/Combo, $899
- Upgrade to SuperDrive (available only with machine),
$129.99
- Upgrade to 8x +/- Super Drive (available only with machine
purchase), $159.99
- Add 512 MB RAM (available only with machine), $49.99
- Add 1 GB RAM (available only with machine), $189.99
- 1 year extended service warranty (w/purchase of machine),
$99.99
- used 12" iBook G3/800, 256/30/Combo, $499.95
- used 15" PowerBook G4/500, 256/30/DVD, $549.95
- used 15" PowerBook G4/1.67 GHz, 512/80/SD, APX, $1399.95
- news MacBook Pro 1.83 GHz, 512/80/SD, extra 1 GB,
$1,999
- Add Windows XP to your MacBook Pro preloaded, $199
- refurb 12" PowerBook G4/1.5 GHz, /512/60/Combo, APX, BT 2.0,
$1,099
- refurb 15" MacBook Pro 1.83 GHz, 512/80/SuperDrive, $1,699
- refurb 15" MacBook Pro 2.0 GHz, 1024/100 GB/SuperDrive,
$2,199
- refurb 15" MacBook Pro 2.16 GHz, 1024/100/SuperDrive,
$2,399
- refurb 17" PowerBook G4/1.5 GHz, 512/80/SuperDrive, APX,
$1,699
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.
