Compiled by Charles Moore
and edited
by Dan Knight
- 2007.04.20
This Week's MacBook, PowerBook, and iBook News
PC Magazine is calling for someone to reinvent the ultralight
notebook computer, and with flash drives and higher density
displays, the time has never been better. How about it, Apple?
Greenpeace continues to flog Apple as the least eco-friendly
computer manufacturer, yet we suspect a far lower percentage of old
Macs have made it into landfills or into Asia for stripping than
any other brand of PCs. Oh well, more free PR for Greenpeace.
On the hard drive front, Fujitsu has added a freefall sensor to
a new line of hard drives, Intel has selected Toshiba's 1.8" hard
drives (the ones found in full-sized iPods) for the next generation
of ultramobile PCs, and Samsung has joined the 200 GB notebook
drive club with a 7200 rpm offering.
For those who miss notebook handles, be sure to check out The
Fin, which gives you a more sure grip of your 'Book and also
improves airflow and cooling.
All prices are in US dollars unless otherwise noted.
General Apple and Mac desktop news is covered in The Mac News Review.
News & Opinion
Hard Drive Tech
Products and Services
News & Opinion
Time to Reinvent the Ultralight Laptop
PC Magazine's Tim Bajarin says:
"As a serious business traveler, I'm a big fan of small and
light portable computers, often referred to as ultralights. My
first portable computer was an NEC 8201, followed by the Toshiba
T1000. Over the years, I've become a connoisseur of smaller and
lighter laptops. Today, my favorites are the Toshiba Portegé
R200, the Dell XPS M1210, and the Lenovo ThinkPad X60. All run
Microsoft Windows, weigh less than 3 pounds, and have screens in
the 10- to 12-inch range. No, they don't have optical drives built
in, but nor do most other ultralights. And, frankly, I don't really
need an optical drive anymore, since I download movies and TV shows
rather than having to bring DVDs with me when I hit the road. Most
important, my ultralight laptops are completely capable of handling
the needs of a demanding mobile computer user - me."
Link: Time to
Reinvent the Laptop
Apple Least Eco-Friendly for Laptops says
Greenpeace
Notebook Review's Andrew says:
"Al Gore, who's movie 'An Inconvenient Truth' won an Oscar award
for its insightful look at global warming, sits on the Board of
Directors for Apple Computer. So why is Apple rated the bottom of
the barrel for eco-friendly products and Chinese based Lenovo
praised by Greenpeace for being a leader?
"It goes to show that not everything is intuitive or as it would
seem for this world we live in.
"Lenovo went from worst to first, while Apple has languished in
last on the enviro-friendly meter over the past 18 months. Here's
how Lenovo compares to Apple on the Greenpeace scoring bracket and
why they scored the way they did...."
More details on each company's environmental efforts, and what
Greenpeace based much of its scoring on, can be found on their
websites.
- Apple
Worst, Lenovo First for Eco-Friendly Laptops Says
Greenpeace
-
Lenovo Tops the Latest "Green Ranking" of the Technology
Industry, Greenpeace
- Apple and the
Environment, Apple
- Environmental
Report, Lenovo
-
Is Greenpeace Off the Mark on Apple?, Arik Hesseldahl, Byte of
the Apple, Businessweek. "...in truth, Greenpeace has graded Apple
based on statements, not actions."
-
Is Apple Greenpeace's Whitecoat Seal of Consumer Electronics?,
Charles W. Moore, Mac Opinion
-
Greenpeace Lies About Apple, Roughly Drafted
New MacBook in the Shop with Failed Drive
PBCentral's Noah Kravitz says:
"From the first morning I put my new 'certified reconditioned'
MacBook into use I was having
problems. iMovie was crashing. A lot. I thought I might have
isolated the problem to rendering titles over .AVI clips imported
from my wife's digital camera. Maybe that Casio .AVI importer
extension was bad, even though their website claimed stable
compatibility with Intel Macs, I thought. But then things got worse
over the weekend.
"Spinning beach balls started popping up everywhere. Safari
pages took longer and longer to load. Things in general were
slowing down. I had already run Software Update to make sure I had
the latest releases of the OS and other apps. So I started to get
worried.
"Then this past Monday morning everything seemed right for about
40 minutes. iMovie was humming along (granted I was avoiding said
Casio .AVI clips). And then everything blew up.
"The entire system slowed to a crawl. Single clicks in the
Finder took upwards of 30 seconds to register. Something was
seriously amiss and my bet was on hard drive failure....
"I signed up for the earliest available Genius Bar appointment I
could make at the Walnut Creek, CA Apple Store - 5:40 p.m. on
Wednesday - and packed the MacBook back into its box. When the
Geniuses (Genii?) tried to reinstall OS X from their FireWire
boot drive, Disk Utilities registered my new computer's hard drive
as 'Failed' in big red letters. Totally dead.
"The Geniuses were nice about it, and told me that if they had a
matching drive in stock they could do a quick swap right there and
send me home with a 'good as new' machine. No such luck. I should
have my MacBook back in 4-6 more business days ('Hopefully a lot
less,' said one Genius, 'but that's the official
estimate')...."
Link: Broken
in Four Days: My New MacBook's in the Shop
Intel Takes the Wraps Off of Santa Rosa
ExtremeTech' Loyd Case says:
"Santa Rosa is the latest iteration of Intel's Centrino
platform, and consists of core logic, networking and updated Merom
CPUs, which will start arriving in laptop PCs late Spring. The new
chipset is the mobile version of Intel's G965 core logic, with
enhancements added for improved power management, particularly of
the graphics core."
Link: Intel
Takes the Wraps Off of Santa Rosa
Hard Drive Tech
Fujitsu Protects Hard Drives from Fall
PC World's Manek Dubash reports:
"Fujitsu Europe is offering the optional fitting of its latest
hard drive series MHW2xxxBH with a freefall sensor (FFS). Laptop
makers including Lenovo [and, of course, Apple's Sudden Motion
Sensor cm] have built similar protection in their computers,
but Fujitsu has integrated it in the drive itself.
"According to Fujitsu, the sensor uses the time between being
dropped and hitting something to protect the hard drive against
head crashes. The new technology is primarily targeted at mobile
users so, if a notebook falls off a table during flight turbulence,
the sensor is activated and protects the hard drive from potential
data loss or damage.
"According to Fujitsu, it uses ramp load technology to move the
read/write head from the magnetic medium onto the ramp while the
drive is in freefall, thus preventing the head from striking the
medium. Once the heads are on the ramp, both they and the medium
itself are protected from an impact and the danger of a head crash
is reduced."
Link:
Fujitsu Protects Hard Drives from Fall
Toshiba 1.8" Hard Drives Provide Robust Storage
for Next-Generation Ultra Mobile PC
PR: Toshiba Storage Device Division (SDD), the industry
pioneer in mobile storage products, has announced collaboration
with Intel Corporation to provide a family of 1.8-inch hard disk
drive (hard drive) solutions for the newest-generation Ultra Mobile
PC (UMPC) and MID (Mobile Internet Device) platform architecture,
which made its debut today at the Intel Developer Forum (IDF) 2007
Conference in Beijing, China. Toshiba's 1.8-inch hard drives
provide the small footprint, high capacity, low power and
ruggedness needed to deliver the UMPC experience using Intel's new
Intel® Ultra Mobile Platform 2007.
Available in 30 GB, 4 GB, 60 GB, 80 GB, and 100 GB
capacities, Toshiba's 1.8-inch hard drives deliver the storage
capacity and responsiveness necessary to support the new platform's
advanced computing capabilities while meeting the longer battery
life, durability and small footprint requirements of the mobile
environment. The Intel® Ultra Mobile Platform 2007 represents a
significant step in the creation of a new category of connected
mobile devices that support the full range of PC functionality
including a seamless Internet experience, location adaptability and
anytime connectivity for wireless email, instant messenger chat and
VOIP.
"Toshiba's dedication to the advancement of 1.8-inch form factor
storage solutions is realized in the new UMPC and MID platforms,"
said Robert DeLine, Director of Marketing of the Ultra Mobility
Group at Intel Corporation. "These storage solutions, combined with
Intel's high-performance, energy efficient processor and chipset,
are well-suited for the demanding consumer."
As the first company to successfully market the 1.8-inch hard
drive form factor, Toshiba commands over 75 percent market share in
the category according to IDC and has shipped more than 40 million
1.8-inch hard drives since introduction in 2000.
"Toshiba's continued technology leadership in mobile hard drives
has enabled us to offer a robust storage solution for Intel's
next-generation UMPC and MID platforms," said Maciek Brzeski, vice
president of marketing at Toshiba Storage Device Division. "Storage
is a key factor in propelling the UMPC platform forward. Thanks to
our introduction of perpendicular magnetic recording two years ago,
we have greatly advanced the storage capacity of 1.8-inch hard
drives to provide a meaningful solution for the mobile computing
arena."
Toshiba will showcase its 1.8-inch hard drives for the new
Intel® Ultra Mobile Platform 2007 at the Intel Developer Forum
in Beijing, China, April 17-18. The event provides developers,
suppliers and OEM partners with a forum to evaluate new
technologies and their potential applications.
Link: Toshiba
Storage
Toshiba Introduces World's First 200 GB
Portable Hard Drive
PR: Toshiba Storage Device Division (SDD) has introduced
a 200 GB 2.5-inch USB 2.0 portable external hard drive capable of
storing up to 57,000 digital photos, 52,000 MP3 music files, 88 DVD
videos, or 23 high-definition videos. The 200 GB portable external
hard drive delivers the highest capacity of any backup solution in
the compact 2.5-inch hard drive class.
Highlighting the need to preserve and protect digital libraries
with its easy-to-use backup solution, the company is sponsoring the
"Toshiba Most Prized Digital Memories Sweepstakes" featuring a
chance to win a Toshiba Digital Lifestyle Prize Pack that includes
a Toshiba Satellite notebook and Toshiba gigabeat music player. To
enter, consumers can visit
www.digitalmemories.toshibastorage.com.
Available in 200 GB, 160 GB, 120 GB, and 100 GB capacities,
Toshiba's new personal storage line offers consumers convenient and
simple options for preserving and transporting treasured digital
files.
"Each year, consumers are generating thousands of digital
content files that represent cherished memories, beloved
entertainment content and important family and business
information, yet the notion of preserving this information with a
backup solution is just beginning to take hold," said Maciek
Brzeski, vice president of marketing, Toshiba SDD. "We have
addressed a critical need for preserving digital memories for years
to come with a high-capacity, easy-to-use solution that takes the
mystery and worry out of data backup."
Consumer-Friendly Setup and Operation
Toshiba's USB 2.0 portable external hard drives come bundled
with the award-winning NTI Shadow™ software. The click-free,
switch-free and button-free backup solution enables users to simply
connect the drive, set the backup parameters and enjoy peace of
mind in knowing critical and cherished digital information is
protected. This easy-to-use solution is ideal for any home or small
business.
Built with Portability and Reliability in Mind
Toshiba's USB 2.0 portable external hard drives have been
designed with convenience and portability in mind. Leveraging its
years of experience in designing mobile hard disk drives for
notebooks, digital audio players and other handheld devices,
Toshiba has incorporated a special patent-pending shock mount
system to provide extra protection against normal wear and
tear.
In addition, the drives' ventilated and sleek black aluminum
housing makes them stylish complements to other digital devices and
helps dissipate heat more efficiently than similar products on the
market. Other features of these eco-conscious, RoHS compatible
drives include:
- Compatibility with both Windows and Mac operating systems
- A convenient four-foot USB cable to enable users to easily plug
in to any laptop or desktop PC and access their stored files
- USB Hi-Speed Certification for use of the drive in any USB port
configuration
- A fingerprint and scratch-resistant black aluminum housing
Toshiba's new USB 2.0 portable external hard drives are
available at www.toshibadirect.com and through other major
retailers and online outlets. For a complete list, please visit
www.wheretobuy.toshibastorage.com. Manufacturer suggested retail
prices (MSRP) are:
- 200 GB: $229.99
- 160 GB: $179.99
- 120 GB: $149.99
- 100 GB: $129.99
Toshiba USB 2.0 Portable External Hard Drive
- Capacities 100 GB, 120 GB, 160 GB, 200 GB
- Dimensions 0.94" (H) x 3.5" (W) x 5.6" (L) 23.65mm (H) x 88.0mm
(W) x 142.08mm (L)
- Interface USB 2.0; (USB 1.1 Compatible)
- System requirements:
- Microsoft Windows 2000/XP/Vista
- Macintosh OS X 10.3.9 or later
- Available USB 2.0 Port
- CD-ROM Drive (for software)
- USB 1.1 requires 2 USB Ports
Link: Toshiba
Storage
Samsung SP2004C 200 GB 7200 RPM Notebook Hard
Drive
PR: Superior performance and high capacity combine to
give you truly magical graphics and audio visual performance.
Samsung's P120 Series allows you to store more movies and music
titles on your PC and dramatically increases the range and quality
of your PC experience.
- 200 GB
- 7200 RPM
- 8 MB Buffer Memory
- SATA Interface
High-capacity hard drive to Increase Productivity for
Professionals
Typically, 10 gigabytes is required to produce a new catalogue
for backup files. When several persons are working together, it is
more efficient and convenient to keep the backup files on the hard
drive rather than on other media, such as CD-RW media and floppy
disks. Therefore, the capacity of the hard drive can directly
affect the productivity levels of graphic arts professionals, such
as graphic designers.
SilentSeek
Samsung set out to minimize the data seeking noise that has
always irritated users, we have developed and applied
SilentSeek™ technology, which makes the movement of the head
actuator much smoother. While
other competing technologies, such as the AAM option, cause
performance degradation to lower the noise level, Samsung's
SilentSeek™ technology causes virtually no degradation in
performance.
Serial ATA
The parallel interface, Ultra ATA/100, in most of today's
desktop storage systems is now facing its limit. The parallel ATA
interface has been in use as the standard legacy storage device for
individual users for over 17 years. However, with the continuous
increase in data transfer rate, the need for totally new interface
has arisen. Samsung has adopted the new interface, Serial ATA, in
its P80 S-ATA product, and will continue to launch products with
Serial ATA interface for years to come.
The benefits of the Serial ATA
The Serial ATA is an inside-the-box storage interface with high
cost-performance ratio.
- Low pin count
Serial ATA has two pairs of lines, i.e. 4 lines (7 lines including
ground connections). Each pair controls respective signals, one
from controller to device and the other from device to controller,
sending only 1 bit at a time. Therefore, there is no signal skew
caused by signal timing restraints as is found in parallel
ATA.
- Low voltage
Serial ATA boasts a low voltage of 0.5V, one-tenths of that of the
5V parallel ATA. The low voltage reduces electromagnetic
interference and power consumption rate during data transmission.
Low power consumption is especially suitable for mobile
products.
- Easier installation
Serial ATA eliminates the need for a master/slave jumper by
connecting hosts to individual devices in a point-to-point fashion.
This enables users to use thin cables of 1 meter in length,
providing more flexibility in contrast to parallel ATA. This
feature improves airflow in the system and provides design
flexibility with the chassis of slim PCs. The simplified cables
eventually lead to simple connectors. The figure below shows that
Serial ATA is comprised of a data cable and a power cable. The
connector at the end of the thin, red data cable has seven pins,
four controlling signal lines and three controlling ground
connections. One additional line of 3.3V has been added to the
power cable of 12V and 5V lines, to comprise five lines. This 3.3V
line provides power directly when the voltage in the hard drive
circuit drops. As shown in the lower right figure, the previous ATA
connector was relatively large, with 40 pins, while Serial ATA
offers slimmer connectors suitable for the 2.5" hard drive used in
laptop PCs. Since the connector is designed with a common standard
for both 3.5" and 2.5" drives, the same power connector can be used
on both 3.5" and 2.5" form factor products, allowing simpler PC
system design with further cost reduction.
- High data transfer rate
Serial ATA 1.0, with its cable noise tolerance and serial transfer
features, supports bandwidth of 1.5 Gbit/s which provides 10%
faster data transfer rate; up to 150 MB/s compared to ATA-133. The
simplified data transfer protocol of Serial ATA minimizes time
delay in command process.
- Hot-plug capability
The Hot-plug capability is an essential feature required at a RAID
system. Serial ATA Hot-swap enables restoration of the system and
recovery of previous functions without interruption. This feature
allows the drive to be utilized in servers.
- Improved data reliability
Although Cyclic Redundancy Checking capability exists in P-ATA,
Serial ATA has improved its capability to protect data, thus
enhancing data reliability.
NoiseGuard
Samsung has developed and applied NoiseGuard™ technology
that is a combined technology to eliminate each noise source or to
minimize energy transmission. First, modification of the spindle
motor's design minimizes the noise source. In addition, the cover
is designed to optimize the flow of air. The Damper utilizes
vibration absorbing
material, installed on the area of highest density, which
maximizes the transmission of energy to the outside.
ImpacGuard
ImpacGuard™, Samsung's patented technology, is designed to
prevent any head actuator vibration during a nonoperating
environment, which reduces the possibility of collision between the
head and the disk even further. Besides, hard drive parts can also
fail due to corrosion or contamination. Samsung analyzed and
eliminated these kinds of problems, at the source, and in advance,
by applying the best failure analysis technology adapted from our
experience in the semi- conductor business. For example, the
microscopic pin holes on the disk surface causes corrosion, which
then causes one type of hardware failure. Samsung analyzed this
fact to solve the problem in cooperation with our disk component
suppliers.
Link:
SP2004C Hard Disk Drive
Products and Services
The Fin
Portable Computer Handle/Stand
PR: The Fin Portable Computer Handle/Stand is designed to
work exclusively with the following Apple notebook models:
- MacBook 13"
- MacBook Pro 15" and 17"
- PowerBook G4 12': 15" and 17"
Features:
- Elegant one piece, patent-pending design
- Manufactured from durable, aircraft grade aluminum
- Natural aluminum finish to match MacBook Pro and PowerBook G4s,
powder coated black or white to match MacBooks
- Places notebook on an ergonomic typing angle
- Increases airflow under laptop and dissipates heat
- Easy installation and removal
- The FIN for an Apple MacBook Black Notebook
- The FIN for an Apple MacBook White Notebook
- The FIN for an Apple MacBook Pro 15" Notebook
- The FIN for an Apple MacBook Pro 17" Notebook
- The FIN for an Apple PowerBook G4 12" Notebook
- The FIN for an Apple PowerBook G4 15" Notebook
- The FIN for an Apple PowerBook G4 17" Notebook
All models $29.95
Link: The
Fin
RhinoSkin MacBook Hardcase
PR:
Durable ABS hardcase protection designed specifically for your new
MacBook
- Proper ventilation provided on all sides and bottom as well as
neoprene padding to prevent scratches
- Openings provide access to CD/DVD drive, data ports, charger
jacks and all other functions while inside the case
- Double-hinge cover design flips underneath to provide raised
angle for easy typing and visibility
- Detachable accessory box holds AC charger, cables and still has
room for other items
- Removable backpack straps included
Link: RhinoSkin (link not
working at publication)
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.
- refurb 15" 2.16 GHz Core Duo MacBook Pro, 1 GB/100/SuperDrive,
$1,499.00
- refurb 15" 2.16 GHz Core 2 MacBook Pro, 1 GB/120/SuperDrive,
$1,599.00
- refurb 15" 2.33 GHz Core 2 MacBook Pro, 2 GB/120/SuperDrive,
$1,999.00
- refurb 17" 2.16 GHz Core Duo MacBook Pro, 1 GB/120/SuperDrive,
$1,999.00
- refurb 17" 2.33 GHz Core 2 MacBook Pro, 2 GB/160/SuperDrive,
$2,299.00
- 15" PowerBook G4/867, 256/60/Combo, $599.99
- 15" PowerBook G4/1 GHz, 256/60/Combo, $679.99
- Upgrade to a SuperDrive for $79.99 installed
- Upgrade to a 8x SuperDrive for $139.99 installed
- 12" iBook G3/800, 256/30/CD, $329
- 14" iBook G3/900, 256/40/Combo, $409
- Add AirPort for $75
- 12" iBook G4/1.2 GHz, 256/40/Combo, $529.00
- 12" iBook G3/900, 640/60/Combo, AP, $549
- 12" iBook G4/1 GHz, 256/30/CD, APX, scratches, $479
- 15" PowerBook G4/1 GHz, 512/80/SD, APX, $849
- 17" PowerBook G4/1.33 GHz, 512/80/SD, APX, BT, $1,099
- Apple refurb 15" PowerBook G4/1.33 GHz, 256/60/Combo, APX,
$999
- Apple refurb 15" PowerBook G4/1.5 GHz, 512/80/Combo, APX,
$1,049
- Apple refurb 17" PowerBook G4/1.67 GHz, 512/120/SD, APX, BT,
$1,288
- 12" iBook G3/500, 192/10/CD, $284.95
- 12" iBook G3/600, 128/20/CD, case, $324.95
- 12" iBook G3/700, 256/20/CD, $379.95
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, $399.99 less $25 = $374.99
- 15" PowerBook G4/500, 256/20/Combo, $549.99 less $25 =
$524.99
- 15" PowerBook G4/550, 256/20/Combo, $599.99 less $25 =
$574.99
- 15" 2 GHz Core Duo MacBook Pro, 512/80/SD, $1,499.99 less $25 =
$1,474.99
- 12" clamshell iBook G3/300, blueberry, 64/3/CD, $169.95
- 12" iBook G3/500, 128/10/CD, $199.95
- 14" PowerBook Pismo G3/400, 256/20/DVD, $379.95
- 14" PowerBook Pismo G3/500, 256/20/DVD, $399.95
- 15" PowerBook G4/667, 256/20/DVD, $529.95
- Apple Emate 300 PDA, Touch Screen in great working shape,
$69.99
- 12" iBook G3/300, 128/3/CD, OS X 10.2 installed, tested battery
and power cord, $259.99
- 12" iBook G3/600, 128/20/CD, OS X 10.2, working battery and
power cord, $299.99
Computer Geeks
- 12" iBook G4/1 GHz, 512/30/CD, APX, $449
- 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.
