Compiled by Charles Moore
and edited
by Dan Knight
- 2007.01.19
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.
News & Opinion
Reviews
Apple Updates
Tech Trends
Products and Services
News & Opinion
Modbook Tablet Wins Macworld Best of Show
PR: Highlighting the stage presentation of the Best of
Show Awards at the Macworld Conference and Expo, strategic partners
Other World Computing and Axiotron, Inc. were awarded Best of Show
for the Modbook, the first ever Mac OS X tablet computer
solution.
The Best of Show award for the Modbook was accepted by Lawrence
O'Connor, CEO of Other World Computing, and Andreas Haas, President
of Axiotron. The Best of Show award for the revolutionary Modbook
solution from Axiotron and Other World Computing was presented by
Macworld Editorial Director Jason Snell and News Director Jim
Dalrymple.
The
Axiotron/OWC Modbook solution is an after-market hardware
modification solution of the Apple MacBook notebook computer,
adding true pen input, a new 13.3" wide screen LCD and an optional
Global Positioning System in a tough, satin chrome plated magnesium
top shell, while keeping all the powerful features of the MacBook
base system. With the award winning Mac OS X and its built-in
Inkwell handwriting recognition, up to 2.0 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
processor, the integrated iSight™ camera and the CD/DVD combo
drive or optional DVD SuperDrive, the slate-style Modbook is the
ultimate companion for applications and situations where a keyboard
only gets in the way.
Other winners at the Macworld awards ceremony include Adobe,
Apple, Aspyr Media, Chestnut Hill Sound, IntelliScanner, Parallels,
and NEC, before the event concluded with the Best of Show honors
for Other World Computing and Axiotron for the Modbook
solution.
On Tuesday, the public unveiling of the Modbook solution drew a
crowd of hundreds completely encircling the Other World Computing
display booth. It is believed to be the largest Macworld exhibitor
draw for a non-Apple, Inc. announcement.
The Axiotron/OWC Modbook solution is immediately available for
pre-orders through an exclusive strategic-partnership arrangement
between Axiotron and Other World Computing - all through
http://www.macsales.com/modbook.
Axiotron engineers and OWC product specialists will be
displaying the Axiotron Modbook solution for hands-on trials at the
Other World Computing booth #S2218 throughout the Macworld
Conference & Expo. During Macworld and until January 31st,
Other World Computing is offering the complete Modbook solution
base configuration plus the built-in Axiotron GPS Module at a
Special Introductory Pre-Reserve Price of $2,199.
Innovatronix announces the launching of Tronix SnapPower
Portable Power Supply For Laptops And Printers
Link: Modbook
iTablet Meets Modbook
Macmod's Anthony King reports:
"Just a few days before MacMod's Senior Staff headed over to the
2007 Macworld Expo, Other World Computing announced the Modbook. This was something we had to
see for ourselves! When we went over to take a gander, we were
pleased that we weren't the only ones in awe over the Axiotron
Modbook. This could mean that the market is ready for a Mac-based
tablet laptop! Apple must be kicking themselves right now. Let's
take a look at the Modbook a little closer and see how it compares
to its bigger brother, the iTablet."
Link: iTablet
Meets Modbook
Reviews
Apple's Entry-level Laptop a Winner
PC World's Harry McCracken reports:
"With its new MacBook,
Apple has filled out its Intel-based portable line with an
entry-level model. But this mobile Macintosh packs so many clever,
practical features into its compact case that using it never feels
like a compromise.
"At 32.8cm x 22.7cm x 2.75cm, the 2.36kg system is trim enough
to be travel-friendly, yet it packs a 13.3-inch wide-screen
display. The screen is Apple's first with a glossy surface.... A
startlingly high percentage of the pricier MacBook Pro line's
features have trickled down here. Even the basic MacBook sports an
Intel Core Duo CPU running at 1.83 GHz, an integrated iSight
Webcam, Front Row media software and a tiny remote to control it,
optical audio input and output, and 802.11g and gigabit Ethernet
networking...."
Link:
Apple's Entry-level Laptop Is a Winner
Apple Updates
Mac OS X: Firmware Updates for Intel-based
Macs
An updated Apple Knowledge Base article says:
"Firmware updates for Intel-based Macintosh computers may not be
displayed automatically using Software Update. If they do not
appear in Software Update, they must be manually downloaded from
the Apple Support Downloads site.
"If you are unsure whether your computer needs a particular
update, simply download and open the update installer. The
installer will alert you if the firmware update is already
installed or not needed."
Link: Mac OS X:
Firmware Updates for Intel-based Macs
Tech Trends
Dell Launches It's First Ruggedized
Notebook
PR: Dell has introduced its Latitude ATG, a new
semi-rugged notebook designed for people working in tough
environments. New features protect the customers' system and data.
The Latitude ATG has a screen that is 1-1/2 times brighter than
other corporate notebooks. (Photo: Business Wire)
The Latitude ATG meets military standards for vibration,
humidity and altitude1 and is designed to protect against
accidental bumps, moisture, and other elements that customers
encounter working in the field.
The new system features a shock-mounted hard drive,
spill-resistant keyboard, port covers and high durability paint and
is designed to withstand challenging conditions commonly associated
with military environments, construction sites and first
responders, such as police and emergency organizations.
In response to direct customer feedback, the Latitude ATG
includes a 14.1-inch display with ambient light sensor (ALS), glass
overlay and anti-reflective coating. The LCD display is 11Ú2
times brighter than most mainstream corporate notebooks for better
viewing in sunlight. Customers working in the military, emergency
preparedness, construction and even the golf industry say seeing
the display in full daylight is an important factor in their
notebook computing experience.
"The Latitude ATG is a prime example of Dell's commitment to
customer-driven innovation," said Jeff Clarke, senior vice
president Dell Product Group. "We have heard from customers loud
and clear that a tougher, highly protective notebook with a screen
that is easy to see outdoors is necessary in many lines of work.
We're glad that we could meet that customer request with a product
distinguished by industry-leading features."
TaylorMade Golf, an existing Dell customer, has chosen the
Latitude ATG to help custom-fit golfers with clubs using its
exclusive motion analysis technology (MATT-i). With notebook
computers, TaylorMade can analyze golf swings outdoors calculating
the angle and speed they produce. TaylorMade evaluated notebooks
from several manufacturers and chose the Latitude ATG because of
its bright screen and rugged design.
"It seemed as if Dell had TaylorMade specifically in mind when
developing this product," said Ted Jaskowiak, R&D IT account
manager at TaylorMade Golf. "The screen's brightness is exactly
what we need to use in our outdoor facilities and the added rugged
features will help us protect our equipment from everyday bumps and
bruises."
As a photographer with a Navy reserve unit in Iraq, F.T. Eyre
used an older generation Dell Latitude notebook to organize
thousands of digital photos. He says with extremely sandy and hot
conditions, his notebook constantly tested the limits. The new
Latitude ATG is designed to withstand the extreme conditions Eyre
and other military personnel face on a daily basis.
"Given the fact that the older Latitude C610 performed better
than any of the other notebooks on assignment, I can only imagine
how well the new Dell Latitude ATG will perform in similar
conditions," Eyre said. "I'm excited to use the Latitude ATG in my
next assignment wherever it takes me."
Product Features
Priced from $2,499, the Latitude ATG 620 features:
- 500 NIT LCD with non-reflective coating
- 14.1-inch WXGA screen (1,280 x 800 resolution)
- Supports up to 4GB3 DDR2 SDRAM
- ATG task lights for keyboard lighting
- Shock mounted-hard drive and LCD
- Intel™ Core 2 Duo processors
- Microsoft® Windows™ Vista Capable4
- Three-year Next Business Day On-Site Service5 standard
- CompleteCare™ Accidental Damage Service6 optional
The Latitude ATG provides hard drive image compatibility with
the Latitude D620. It is also compatible with all D-family wireless
and security products as well as accessories like docks, port
replicators, and power adapters. Latitude ATG is designed with the
environment in mind including a lead-free7 motherboard and chassis.
It is RoHS8 compliant and designed to be energy efficient in
multiple customer environments. For more information on Latitude
ATG visit:
Link: Latitude ATG
Products and Services
SnapPower, the Next Best Thing to a Wall
Outlet
PR: If
you're an event photographer and keeping your laptop and printer's
batteries charged can be a challenge, look no further, here's the
one-stop solution to having the power you need anytime, anywhere
with Tronix SnapPower.
Share photos in an instant, Tronix SnapPower is designed to work
with Sony's SnapLab UP-CR10L that supplies power to print high
volume of 450 pictures for 4x6 sizes and 350 pictures for every 5x7
size. It is a real advantage to event photographers in covering
important events such as proms, weddings, sports and concerts
etc.
You may certainly want to have it on whatever, whenever and
wherever you may wish to print your pictures in snap.
Go get
your laptops and printers have its perfect double, the Tronix
SnapPower is the portable power source you've been waiting for. It
is now available for worldwide shipping for only $390 plus $60 flat
rate shipping cost. (Available in two models: 120Vdc and
230Vdc).
The Innovatronix SnapPower, in both 120VDC and 230VDC versions,
will ship in October 2006 for $390 + $60 shipping, direct from the
company in the Philippines.
Link:
SnapPower
Seagate Introduces World's Fastest 2.5" Hard
Drive
PR: Seagate Technology has introduced the world's fastest
hard drive - the Savvio 15K drive, the new 15K-rpm addition to the
Savvio family of 2.5-inch Serial Attached SCSI (SAS) enterprise
drive solutions. The Savvio 15K drive provides the highest hard
drive performance density and reliability while ensuring ultra-low
power consumption, reducing thermal loads in data centers. With its
combination of benefits that were created for modern storage
systems, the Savvio 15K drive is well-suited for a broad range of
mainstream enterprise applications in both large enterprise data
centers and small, medium businesses, that lowers overall system
Total Cost of Ownership (TCO).
"Seagate is committed to delivering solutions that will meet the
needs of today's demanding IT environment, and no product
demonstrates this better than the Savvio 15K drive," said Sherman
Black, senior vice president and general manager, Seagate
Enterprise Compute Business. "The development of the 2.5-inch
Enterprise form factor represented a new way of thinking. Now, with
the added number of performance and capacity choices offered, many
of the leading enterprise system makers are transitioning from
3.5-inch to 2.5-inch form factor enterprise solutions."
The Savvio 15K drive was recently validated as the world's
fastest drive within the latest HP ProLiant family of servers. HP
ProLiant servers with 15K Savvio drives are shipping in volume and
are leading the transition of small form factor drives in
mainstream enterprise environments.
"The Seagate Savvio 15K drives running in HP ProLiant servers
and storage devices delivered record-breaking benchmarks at nearly
50 percent lower cost-per-transaction," said Paul Perez, vice
president, Storage, Networks and Infrastructure, HP. "The
performance, reliability and power consumption benefits of
deploying 2.5-inch Small Form Factor 15K drives are clear, and HP
continues to drive the industry transition to them as the principal
storage platform inside the HP ProLiant and BladeSystem
solutions."
The Savvio 15K drive's unique combination of features including
its 70 percent smaller size, lower power consumption (30 percent
lower than any other 15K drive), industry's fastest seek time and
the industry's highest reliability, make it the ideal storage
solution for all server platforms. Designed from the ground up to
meet the demanding requirements of enterprise applications, Savvio
achieves the highest reliability rating ever with a 1.6 million
hour Mean Time Between Failure (MTBF).
The Industry Shift to the 2.5-inch Enterprise Standard
The move to small form factor enterprise disk drives was driven
by data center requirements for greater storage performance density
while focusing on lowering power consumption and cooling costs.
Seagate pioneered the 2.5-inch platform as the solution to these
challenges and formally announced this move in May of 2003 with the
support of HP, IBM, Intel, Microsoft and others. The inclusion of
the 15K-rpm model to the Savvio family of drives marks it as a
mainstream offering.
"The trend in IT is to scale down the physical size of
components while scaling up capacity and performance," said John
Rydning, IDC's research manager for hard disk drives. "Seagate's
first generation 2.5-inch 15K-rpm HDD is fitting with this trend,
delivering fast I/O performance in a small package to meet the
needs of demanding server applications."
Savvio Drive Technical Details
The 15K-rpm Savvio disc drive offers a number of advantages over
15K-rpm 3.5-inch drives including: size (70% smaller), weight (1.12
lbs less), power (30% lower), drive seek time (12% faster than any
other drive) and reliability (1.6 million hour MTBF). These
advantages translate into system level benefits never before seen
in a 15K-rpm drive.
The Savvio 15K drive was built to accommodate a wide range of
applications, from grueling, rapid-fire data access brought forth
in transactional environments to everyday e-mail/collaboration. The
combination of high performance and reliability enables the use of
20% fewer Savvio 15K drives within a system to gain the necessary
transaction performance, which ultimately means lower TCO.
Savvio Drive Availability
The Seagate Savvio 10K and 15K families of drives are shipping
today. Savvio 10K.2 and 15K drives are currently available through
several leading OEM customers. The Savvio 10K.2 drive will launch
in the Distribution Channel this quarter as a replacement product
for Savvio 10K.1 and as a transition path from Cheetah 10K.7
drives. The Savvio 10K.2 drive provides the highest capacity
choices to the family with up to 146GB, while the Savvio 15K.1
drive is ideal for the most transaction-intensive applications.
HP is first to qualify and ship systems with Savvio 15K drives.
Savvio 15K drives ship in the SAS interface at 36GB and 73GB
capacities, the ideal sizes to meet the IOPS-intensive performance
requirements of enterprise server environments.
Editor's note: Because of its cost, Savvio probably isn't going
to make its way into many notebooks. dk
Link: Seagate
Verbatim Launches Ultra-Compact 12 GB Store 'n'
Go USB Drive
PR: Verbatim Corporation has unveiled its newest Store
'n' Go USB Drive based on 1" hard drive technology with up to 12 GB
of storage in a unit slightly larger than a standard USB flash
drive. Designed to enable users to carry volumes of data, video and
audio in a single portable unit; the new 12 GB Store 'n' Go USB
will have a projected street price of $179. Verbatim will show the
ultra-slim device for the first time this week at its CES Booth in
the South Hall, #4/36249.
The new Store 'n' Go Drive makes it convenient for users to keep
vital information such as emails, photos, personal calendars,
presentations and video files available at all times. The sleek USB
storage device comes pre-loaded with Mobile Launchpad, a utility
for downloading applications that can be run directly from the
Verbatim USB Drive. Mobile Launchpad also allows users to have
complete access to personal files and data without loading the
content on a guest system. For quick and immediate access, the
drives can also be used in the familiar drag 'n' drop mode.
Providing a true portable working environment with a flip-out
USB connector and USB extension cable, the unit is highly compact
and delivers high performance, low power consumption and superior
reliability. With the device, users can carry and access up to 12
hours of MPEG-1 video, about 6,000 300-DPI photos, 6 hours of
DVD-quality video or tens of thousands of personal or business
documents.
The tremendous capacity, combined with Mobile Launchpad, makes
it convenient for users to store mobile applications on the Store
'n' Go USB Drive, ready to use wherever they go. Many applications
specifically designed to enhance the portable experience are
available for download online. Programs include mobile photo
databases, ID/Password management tools, and applications which use
the drive to log in from any computer and make Internet phone calls
or have online chats.
"Whether it's for business, school or entertainment, people want
to have their content and data with them without carrying their
computer everywhere they go," said Ron Hanafin, Verbatim Product
Marketing Manager. "Our new Store 'n' Go Drive is a convenient
solution for creating this portable working environment, where
people can have access to applications and information with ease
and style."
A stand-out in both design innovation and durability, the
hot-pluggable 12 GB Store 'n' Go Drive has a polymer enclosure to
provide shock resistance to the hard disc inside. With gently
rounded corners, the slender case fits comfortably in the hand.
When moving between different locations, the drive can be placed in
its designer travel wallet and slipped into your pocket, purse,
attaché, or backpack.
Using the rugged swing-out USB connector, the hot-pluggable
Store 'n' Go Drives can be easily moved from computer to computer
without having to shut down or reboot the system. For added
convenience and usage flexibility, Verbatim also provides a USB
extension cable to make it easy to connect to a personal or guest
computer. When connected to a computer, the blue center area of the
drive lights up, showing the drive is connected and powered. The
area blinks when information is being transferred between drive and
computer.
The drive's compact size makes it easy for students to carry
research and class project files from school to home. Consumers can
plug the device into a friend's or family member's computer and
instantly share slideshows of family photos, vacation videos and
personal MP3 selections. Busy executives who are constantly
on-the-go can use a Store 'n' Go USB Drive to keep the latest
company presentations, customer and partner contact information,
databases, spreadsheets and key business files with them at all
times, without having to carry their notebook systems. And, with
the convenience of being able to carry diagnostic/repair,
configuration and application files in their pocket, Verbatim's
Store 'n' Go USB Drive is also a compelling storage solution for IT
personnel and service technicians.
Weighing just 1 oz., the Verbatim Store 'n' Go USB Drive
measures a mere 1.38" x 0.38" x 2.8". The drive is fully compatible
with Windows 98SE, ME, 2000, XP, CE 3.0 and higher; Mac OS 9, X,
and higher; Linux 2.40 and higher systems. Mobile Launchpad is
compatible with 98SE, ME, 2000, XP and higher systems.
The Verbatim 12 GB Store 'n' Go USB Drives will be available
this month through authorized Verbatim retailers with an
approximate street price of $179. The complete package includes a
travel wallet, USB extension cable and a quick start user's
guide.
Link: Store 'n' Go USB Drives
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, iBook, and MacBook profiles linked in our Portable Mac Index.
New this week: Core 2 Duo MacBook Pro and MacBooks; price drops
on some Core Duo MacBooks
- refurb 1.83 GHz Core Duo MacBook, white, 512/60/Combo,
$799
- refurb 2.0 GHz Core Duo MacBook, white, 512/60/SD, $899
- refurb 2.0 GHz Core Duo MacBook, white, 1 GB/80/SD, $949
- refurb 2.0 GHz Core Duo MacBook, black, 1 GB/80/SD, $999
- refurb 2.0 GHz Core 2 MacBook, white, 1 GB/80/SD, $1,099
- refurb 2.0 GHz Core 2 MacBook, black, 1 GB/80/SD, $1,299
- refurb 15" 1.83 GHz Core Duo MacBook Pro, 512/80/SD,
$1,299
- refurb 15" 2.0 GHz Core Duo MacBook Pro, 512/80/SD, $1,349
- refurb 15" 2.33 GHz Core 2 MacBook Pro, 2 GB/120/SD, $1,999
- refurb 15" 2.16 GHz Core Duo MacBook Pro, 1 GB/100/SD, ,
$1,499
- refurb 17" 2.16 GHz Core Duo MacBook Pro, 1 GB/120/SD,
$1,999
- refurb 17" PowerBook G4/1.67 GHz, 512/100/SD, $1,599
- 12" PowerBook G4/1 GHz, 256/40/Combo, BT, $649
- 15" PowerBook G4/1.25 GHz, 512/80/SD, APX, BT, $899
TechRestore is offering 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.
- 12" iBook G3/700, 256/20/Combo, $429.99
- 12" iBook G3/800, 256/30/CD, $399.99
- 12" iBook G3/800, 256/20/Combo, $429.99
- 14" iBook G3/700, 256/30/Combo, $499.99
- PowerBook Pismo G3/400, 256/20 (new)/DVD, $379.95
- PowerBook Pismo G3/500, 256/20 (new)/DVD, $429.95
- 12" iBook G3/600, 128/20/CD, $239.95
- 12" iBook G3/700, 256/20/CD, $269.95
- 12" iBook G3/800, 256/30/CD, $299.95
- 12" iBook G3/700, 256/20/Combo, $379.95
- 12" iBook G4/1 GHz, 512/30/CD, Minor Case Defect, $379.95
- 12" iBook G4/1 GHz with 512/30/CD, $429.95
- 12" iBook G4/1 GHz with 512/30/Combo, 12-inch LCD $529.95
- 12" iBook G4/1.2 GHz with 512/30/CD, $479.95
- 12" iBook G4/1.2 GHz with 512/30/Combo, $579.95
- 12" iBook G4/1.33 GHz with 512/40/Combo, APX, BT, $629.95
- 15" PowerBook G4/400, 256/10/DVD, $499.95
- 12" PowerBook G4/867, 256/40/Combo, Mac OS X, $599.99
- 12" iBook G3 500, 256/10/CD, $265
- 12" iBook G3 600, 256/20/Combo, $305
- 12" iBook G3 700, 256/20/Combo, $345
- 12" iBook G3 800, 256/30/CD, $379
- 14" iBook G3 700, 256/20/Combo, $375
- 14" iBook G3 900, 256/40/Combo, $475
- 15" PowerBook G4/667, 256/30/Combo, $625
- 15" PowerBook G4/1 GHz, 256/60/SD, Broken Left Hinge, $749
- Add AirPort for $75
$50 rebate on Power Max MP3 Sunglasses with the purchase of any
new or refurbished Mac.
- refurb 14" iBook G4/1 GHz, 256/40/Combo, OS X 10.4, $879
- refurb 14" iBook G4/1.33 GHz, 256/60/Combo, $949
- refurb 15" PowerBook G4/1.5 GHz, 512/80/Combo, $1,149
- refurb 15" PowerBook G4/1.67 GHz, 512/80/SD, $1,349
- refurb 17" PowerBook G4/1.67 GHz, 512/100/SD, $1,649
- Apple Emate 300 PDA - Touch Screen in great working shape -
$59.99
Computer Geeks
- 12" iBook G4/1 GHz, 512/30/CD, AirPort, OS X, $519.99
- 12" iBook G4/1 GHz, 512/30/CD, AirPort, OS X, $529.99
- 12" iBook G4/1.2 GHz, 512/30/CD, AirPort, OS X, $579.99
- 12" iBook G4/1.33 GHz, 512/40/Combo, AirPort, OS X,
$749.99
- 12" iBook G3/500, 128/10/CD, OS X, $209
- 12" iBook G3/500, 128/30/CD, OS X, $279
- 12" iBook G3/600, 128/30/CD, OS X, $329
For deals on current and discontinued 'Books, see our 13" MacBook and MacBook Pro,
MacBook Air, 13" MacBook Pro, 15" MacBook Pro, 17" MacBook Pro, 12" PowerBook G4, 15" PowerBook G4, 17" PowerBook G4, titanium PowerBook G4,
iBook G4, PowerBook G3, and iBook G3 deals.
We also track iPad,
iPhone, iPod touch, iPod classic, iPod nano, and iPod shuffle deals.
