Compiled by Charles Moore
and edited
by Dan Knight
- 2007.06.08
This Week's MacBook, PowerBook, and iBook News
The week's big Mac news is the new MacBook Pro line, which uses
the 'Santa Rosa' chipset and runs on an 800 MHz bus. Graphics are
also improved with the move to an Nvidia GPU - Bare Feats has
benchmark results.
Lots of hard drive news: Hitachi has a rugged 250 GB notebook
drive, and Fujitsu has the first 2.5" drives to spin at 15,000 rpm!
On the solid state front, SanDisk has a 64 GB flash drive.
Searching for wireless? Three software programs covered today
can help you find and connect to free WiFi networks.
All prices are in US dollars unless otherwise noted.
General Apple and Mac desktop news is covered in The Mac News Review.
New MacBook Pro Models
News & Opinion
Reviews
Hard Drive News
Products and Services
Software
New MacBook Pro Models
Apple Releases Updated MacBook Pro Models
PR: Apple on Tuesday updated its MacBook Pro line of
notebooks with the latest Intel Core 2 Duo processors (Note that
Apple is not calling them "Santa Rosa" or "Centrino Duo"), memory
up to 4 GB, and high-speed graphics in a stunning,
lightweight, aluminum enclosure that is just one-inch thin. The new
MacBook Pro is available in 15" models with a new
mercury-free, power-efficient LED-backlit display and a 17" model with an optional
high-resolution display. All models include a built-in iSight video
camera for video conferencing on-the-go, Apple's MagSafe Power
Adapter that safely disconnects when under strain, and built-in
802.11n wireless networking for up to five times the performance
and twice the range of 802.11g.*
"With Intel Core 2 Duo performance, more memory and
state-of-the-art graphics, this MacBook Pro is a portable
powerhouse for creative and professional users," said Philip
Schiller, Apple's senior vice president of Worldwide Product
Marketing. "Apple's notebooks have always led the industry in
innovation with features like built-in 802.11 and the MagSafe Power
Adapter, and now the industry's first 15" LED-backlit display is
another step toward completely eliminating mercury from our
displays."
Every MacBook Pro model includes an Intel Core 2 Duo processor
with 4 MB of shared L2 cache, an 800 MHz frontside bus and
2 GB 667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM memory, running professional
applications like Final Cut Pro 6 and Logic Pro 7 more than 50
percent faster than the original MacBook Pro with Core Duo.
Delivering more realistic graphics for animation and gaming, every
MacBook Pro now includes the state-of-the art Nvidia GeForce 8600M
GT and is more than 50 percent faster than the original MacBook Pro
with Core Duo.**
The MacBook Pro's lightweight, aluminum enclosure is just
one-inch thin and is available in three models: 2.2 GHz and 2.4 GHz
15" MacBook Pro models, and a 2.4 GHz 17" MacBook Pro model. The
new 15" MacBook Pro models feature a brand-new, power-efficient
LED-backlit display and are the first of Apple's notebooks to
transition to LED backlighting as part of the company's effort to
eliminate the use of mercury in its products. The 17" model now
offers a new optional 1920 x 1200 high-resolution display,
providing over 30 percent more screen real estate than the standard
1680 x 1050 display.
Designed for mobile professionals, the MacBook Pro includes a
built-in iSight video camera for video conferencing on-the-go,
Apple's MagSafe Power Adapter that magnetically connects the power
cord to the MacBook Pro and safely disconnects when under strain,
and the latest generation of 802.11n wireless networking for up to
five times the performance and twice the range of 802.11g. Every
new MacBook Pro also includes built-in 10/100/1000 Base-T Gigabit
Ethernet for high-speed networking, Bluetooth 2.0+EDR (Enhanced
Data Rate), a FireWire 800 and a FireWire 400 port, a backlit
illuminated keyboard, an ExpressCard/34 expansion card slot for
expansion solutions such as 3G wireless networking, and a DVI video
output to connect up to a 30-inch Apple Cinema HD Display.
The MacBook Pro comes with iLife '06, the next generation of
Apple's award-winning suite of digital lifestyle applications
featuring iPhoto, iMovie HD, iDVD, GarageBand and iWeb. The MacBook
Pro also comes with the latest release of the world's most advanced
operating system, Mac OS X version 10.4.9 Tiger, including Safari,
Mail, iCal, iChat AV, Front Row and Photo Booth.
The new MacBook Pro models are now shipping and will be
available through the Apple Store,
Apple's retail stores, and Apple Authorized Resellers.
The 2.2 GHz, 15" MacBook Pro, for a suggested retail price of
$1,999, includes:
- 15.4" widescreen LED-backlit 1440 x 900 LCD display
- 2.2 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor
- 2 GB of 667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM, expandable to 4 GB
- 120 GB Serial ATA hard drive running at 5400 rpm, with Sudden
Motion Sensor
- a slot-load 8x SuperDrive with double-layer support
(DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW) optical drive
- Nvidia GeForce 8600M GT with 128 MB GDDR3 memory
- DVI-out port for external display (VGA-out adapter included,
Composite/S-Video out adapter sold separately)
- built-in Dual Link support for driving Apple 30-inch Cinema HD
Display
- built-in iSight video camera
- Gigabit Ethernet port
- built-in AirPort Extreme 802.11n wireless networking and
Bluetooth 2.0+EDR
- ExpressCard/34 expansion card slot
- two USB 2.0 ports, one FireWire 800 port, and one FireWire 400
port
- one audio line in and one headphone out port, each supporting
optical digital audio
- Scrolling TrackPad and illuminated keyboard
- the infrared Apple Remote
- 85 Watt Apple MagSafe Power Adapter
Differences in the 2.4 GHz 15" MacBook Pro, for a suggested
retail price of $2,499:
- 2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor
- 160 GB Serial ATA hard drive running at 5400 rpm, with Sudden
Motion Sensor
- Nvidia GeForce 8600M GT with 256 MB GDDR3 memory
Differences in the 2.4 GHz, 17" MacBook Pro, for a suggested
retail price of $2,799:
- 17" widescreen 1680 x 1050 LCD display
- 2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor
- three USB 2.0 ports, one FireWire 800 port, and one FireWire
400 port
Additional build-to-order options for the MacBook Pro include
the ability to upgrade to a 160 GB (5400 rpm), 160 GB (7200 rpm),
200 GB (4200 rpm) or a 250 GB (4200 rpm) hard drive, up to
4 GB DDR2 SDRAM, Apple MagSafe Airline Adapter, Apple USB
Modem, glossy widescreen display, 17" 1920 x 1200 high-resolution
display and the AppleCare Protection Plan. Additional
build-to-order options also include preinstalled copies of iWork
'06, Logic Express 7, Final Cut Express HD 3.5 and Aperture
1.5.
- *AirPort Extreme is based on an IEEE 802.11n draft
specification. Actual performance will vary based on range,
connection rate, site conditions, size of network and other
factors. iChat AV and video-conferencing require broadband internet
connection; fees may apply.
**Based on estimated results comparing a preproduction 2.4 GHz
Core 2 Duo MacBook Pro with a 2.16 GHz Core Duo MacBook Pro.
New 'Santa Rosa' MacBook Pro vs. Others for
Gaming
Bare Feats' rob-ART Morgan reports:
"We're very excited about the new MacBook Pro with the 'Santa
Rosa' chipset (faster 800 MHz frontside bus), faster GeForce 8600M
GT graphics processor, greater main memory capacity (4 GB),
and bigger 7200 rpm hard drive option (160 GB). We'll be posting a
series of test results during the next few days. We're starting
with a page comparing the 3D Gaming Speed of the 15" MacBook Pro 2.4 GHz C2D [Core 2
Duo] 'Rosa' to various other Macs....
"The new MacBook Pro with the GeForce 8600M runs 3D accelerated
games significantly faster than the previous 2.33 GHz model with the
Mobility Radeon X1600....
"However, the new MacBook Pro remains slower than the 24" iMac C2D [Core 2 Duo] with the GeForce
7600 GT and the 4-core with the Radeon X1900 XT....
"The NEW 13" MacBook 2.16 GHz
Core 2 Duo ran Quake 4 and Doom 3 so slow, we didn't bother to
test it with the other 3D games. It is unsatisfactory for 3D
Gaming.
"Why? The integrated GMA 950 graphics chip may work great for
QuickTime or DVD playback, but it is "un-optimized" for 3D
Gaming...."
Link: 3D Game
Shootout: MacBook Pro 'Santa Rosa' versus Others
New MacBook Pro: Santa Rosa Inside
Hardmac's Lionel reports:
"Following the introduction of new MacBook Pro models yesterday,
and to reply to many questions sent to us by readers, we will
summarize below what are the components of Santa-Rosa platform and
what was used and excluded by Apple....
- Chipset i965: This chipset allows the FSB to move from 667 MHz
to 800 MHz, speeding up data exchange between the CPU and the other
components....
- Core 2 Duo CPU: The Core 2 Duo CPUs powering the new MacBook Pro
are slightly different from the models found in previous revision
of MB Pro or in current MB....
- pre-drafted WiFi 802.11: Apple will have once more be a
precursor, as the previous revision was already supporting
802.11n....
- Gigabit Ethernet: Here again, it will not change much, as we
have already been integrated in Apple Pro notebook models since
years....
- Robson or Turbo Memory: Apple seems to have totally ignored
this feature of the Santa Rosa platform....
"In summary, Apple used only the most important features
available in the Santa Rosa platform (chipset and CPU). By not
integrating Turbo Memory, the new MacBook Pro models can not be
certified Santa Rosa Centrino Duo...."
Link: New
MacBook Pro: Santa Rosa Inside
Inside the New MacBook Pro: Intel's Santa Rosa
Processor
The Apple Core's Jason D. O'Grady says:
"Arguably the most significant upgrade in the the new MacBook
Pros announced yesterday is the inclusion of the new Mobile 965
chipset (a.k.a. 'Santa Rosa') from Intel. The new chip (whose
marketing name is Centrino Pro) has a number of features over the
previous silicon:
- Improved graphics
- Better wireless with support for the draft version of 802.11n
wireless networking
- Better battery life
- Turbo memory that supplements the standard hard drive with NAND
flash for faster booting.
- Automated security and IT management features that will allow
corporate system administrators to repair and protect employees'
notebooks remotely, inspecting faulty PCs or adding software
patches over wireless links.
"While the improved battery life is something to get excited
about, sadly it doesn't appear that Apple is taking advantage of
two of the most significant benefits of the new chip: Turbo memory
and Automated security."
Link: Inside the
New MBP: Intel's Santa Rosa Processor
Details on the New LED MacBook Pro
Gizmodo says:
"Apple's elves gave me more details about the Santa Rosa MacBook
Pro. Here's some stuff you don't know about the revision.
- How much battery life does the LED Backlighting save?
- Is there a full brightness warmup?
- What is the comparison in brightness, color range?
- Why no 17" with LEDs?
- Glossy and Matte finish in all screen sizes and variants?
- Does the 1920 by 1200 resolution mean Blu-ray is coming?
- Resolution has always been great at 115 pixels per inch, until
Tiger Leopard's UI scaling comes out, will the fonts be too
small?
- Hard drive configs: Which are perpendicular and what are the
max sizes?
- Any other improvements?"
Link:
Details on the New LED MacBook Pro (Interview with Apple
'Elves')
Inside the New MacBook Pro: Nvidia GeForce
8600M GT
The Apple Core's Jason D. O'Grady says:
"One of the major new features of the new MacBook Pro is the
addition of the Nvidia GeForce 8600M GT video card. This is a
switch from the ATI Mobility Radeon X1600 GPU which shipped in the
previous MBP
"The 15-inch MacBook Pro ships with the Nvidia GeForce 8600M GT
graphics processor with dual-link DVI support and 128 MB of GDDR3
SDRAM (2.2 GHz config) and 256 MB of SDRAM on the 2.4 GHz
configuration....
"The 8600M GT is a formidable video card which appears to be on
par with the ATI Mobility Radeon x1900 according to early
benchmarks."
Link: Inside the
new MBP: Nvidia GeForce 8600M GT
News & Opinion
Poll Finds One-fifth Vacation with Laptops
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from the site along with links to those articles.
We regret any inconvenience to our readers, but we will never pay
for what is considered Fair Use under copyright law. We consider brief
quotations in our news roundups to be Fair Use and a benefit to the
site that we quoted from and linked to. (We adhere to the Open Link policy, and our Fair
Use policy specifically allows quoting up to 50% or 300 words of
our original content, whichever is less.)
DIY Laptop Stand
lazymonster says:
"This [laptop stand] was made from some plexi and an Ikea paper
towel holder that I had laying around. I drilled some holes in the
stainless steel crosspiece (don't try this without a drill press
and graduated high speed bits). I counterbored 4 screws into the
plexi and bolted it together. It works and looks good. There is
some bounce due to the springiness of the thin steel. This setup
allows me to use a keyboard, tablet and maintain proper ergonomics.
I also strap a miniature bungee cord just below the keyboard,
mostly for peace of mind."
Link: DIY
Laptop Stand
Free Repair Campaign for 17" PowerBooks
PR: How can owners of defective 17" G4 1.67 GHz
PowerBooks and help Apple to instigate a Display Repair Extension
Program?
A campaigning Wiki has been launched for the hundreds
(thousands?) of owners of defective Apple 17" G4 1.67 GHz
PowerBooks afflicted by the "Bridget Riley" vertical lines display
defect.
Already paid for your own repair?
A Display Repair Extension Program will reimburse the repair
cost - so please do join in the campaign.
Incontrovertible evidence at a defect database website seems to
indicate by correlation that the defective batch of computers was
manufactured at Shanghai factory (W8) around Mar-Apr 05.
- So why are official Apple Discussions forum administrators
using censorship and censuring to suppress public discussions of
this problem?
- Why has Apple so far ignored this manufacturing defect by
failing to even announce an investigation of this problem, pending
the kind of Display Repair Extension Program that they have in
place for already for the 15 inch G4 PowerBook's "white spots"
defect?
- How can owners of afflicted PowerBooks take action to persuade
Apple to instigate a Display Repair Extension Program?
Look out for green ACTION boxes containing suggestions of
actions you can take, and for yellow QUESTION boxes to which you
may be able to supply answers for the benefit of other owners of
afflicted PowerBooks by editing this Wiki.
Censorship note: Some of this Wiki's content was initially
posted to the official Apple Discussions forum Apple.com >
Support > Discussions > PowerBook G4 17-inch > The
PowerBook G4 17inch Display, only for the administrators to
promptly delete it, as they have done with messages and entire
threads from scores of other folks with defective PowerBooks - see
Apple's Censorship & Censure for more info.
Link:
Free Repair Campaign for Apple 17inch PowerBooks
This Old Mac: iceBooks
TUAW's Victor Agreda, Jr.
reports:
"Remember when Apple ditched the clamshell iBooks and created the sleeker 'icebook' form factor? My wife
calls them Chicklets. Well we have 3 of them: a 500 MHz G3 from 2001 with a 10 GB drive, a
800 MHz G4 with a 60 GB drive but
a busted optical drive, and a 1.2 GHz
G4 with a 30 GB drive but working CD-R/DVD drive. The 800 MHz
machine is still my old personal machine, although between hacks
and apps and data overload it is very slow. The other two have
found new life."
Link: This Old
Mac: iceBooks
Intel Announces 'Extreme' Notebook Chip,
'Bearlake' Chipsets
ExtremeTech:
"Intel formally launched its '3-series' chipsets on Tuesday here
at Computex, adding a few surprises along the way: the addition of
two new chipsets, formally scheduled for the third quarter, and a
Core 2 Extreme processor that's slated for notebooks.
"Intel's 'Bearlake' chipsets, now known as the '3' series, come
in two flavors: the G33 and P35 series that have been shipping
since April, as well as the Q33 and Q35, two chipsets that were
formally due in the third quarter. Intel also announced the G35 and
X38 enthusiast chipsets, which are supposed to ship within ninety
days. Both of the latter chipsets, however, have made appearances
here at the Computex show."
Link: Intel
Announces 'Extreme' Notebook Chip, 'Bearlake' Chipsets
Reviews
2.16 GHz Core 2 Duo MacBook Review
CNET editor's take:
"With a few minor upgrades to processing speed, memory
allotment, hard-drive size, and wireless bandwidth, the Apple
MacBook remains a well-designed, fully featured, thin-and-light
laptop."
Link:
Apple MacBook Review (Core 2 Duo 2.16 GHz, 1 GB RAM, 160 GB
HDD, SuperDrive, black)
2 GHz and 2.16 GHz Core 2 Duo MacBooks
Show 'Impressive Speed Gains'
Macworld's Henry Norr reports:
"Since its debut in May 2006, the MacBook family has earned a
place in the pantheon of Apple's all-time greatest hits. The
sturdy, Intel-powered notebooks have been so popular with
consumers, especially students, that they've helped the company
nearly double its laptop sales over the last year and grab close to
10 percent of the U.S. retail market.
"The latest enhancements to the line aren't spectacular, but
they're sure to solidify the MacBook's status as a market leader.
All three models - still weighing in at 5.1 pounds, and still
priced at $1,099, $1,299, and $1,499 - have slightly faster
processors and higher-capacity hard drives. In addition, the
entry-level model now has twice as much standard system memory
(1 GB) and on-chip L2 cache (4 MB) as its predecessor,
bringing it up to par with its higher-priced siblings....
"The biggest winner in all this is probably the entry-level
model. In the previous generation, with only 2 MB of L2 cache
and 512 MB of RAM in the standard configuration, it felt a bit
sluggish, at least to me, in comparison to the other two models.
Now, that's no longer true. In terms of Macworld Lab's Speedmark
4.5 benchmark, the new $1,099 model's score of 192 is a jump of
13.6 percent compared with the discontinued 1.83 GHz model."
Link: MacBook
Core 2 Duo/2 GHz and 2.16 GHz - 'Impressive Speed Gains'
Hard Drive News
Hitachi Ships 250 GB Superfast, Energy
Frugal, Road Tough Laptop Hard Drive
PR: Hitachi Global Storage Technologies (Hitachi) is
announcing volume shipment of the industry's highest-performing and
lowest power-consuming laptop hard disk drive at a quarter terabyte
of capacity. The Travelstar™ 5K250 hard drive combines the
fastest application performance in PCMark testing with the best
power-efficiency of any 250 gigabyte1 (GB) 5400 RPM drive in its class. The newest
5400 RPM 2.5" hard drive from Hitachi - developed for notebook PCs,
external storage devices, gaming consoles and other mobile devices
- also features a host of category-leading features including 400G
shock protection, quiet acoustics and optional Bulk Data Encryption
for hard-drive level data security.
The Travelstar 5K250 hard drive offers 56 percent more capacity,
a 23 percent shock improvement and an 8 percent overall application
performance boost over its predecessor, the Travelstar 5K160 hard
drive. According to the PCMark05 Benchmark, the Travelstar 5K250
hard drive offers 10 to 25 percent faster application performance
than competing 5400 RPM drives.
"Today's notebook PC users are sophisticated and expect high
returns on investment. The Travelstar 5K250 with ultra-high
capacity of a quarter-terabyte enables our notebook users to create
or access multimedia files with speed, assuring enhanced
efficiency," said Campbell Kan, Vice President of Mobile Computing
Business Unit, Acer Inc. "Acer is partnering with top-tier
suppliers that help Acer accomplish its goal of designing
empowering technologies that improve people's lives at work or at
leisure."
The Hitachi Travelstar product line has maintained its position
as the world's most popular 2.5" hard drive for more than 15
years2. The 5K250 uses
perpendicular magnetic recording (PMR) technology, which builds
upon the highly successful debut of the Travelstar 5K160 hard
drives.
Hitachi will also offer an enhanced-availability version, the
E5K250, which is designed for applications needing around-the-clock
access in lower transaction environments, such as blade servers,
network routers, point-of-sale terminals and video surveillance
systems.
"The Travelstar 5K250 was built from the ground up for notebook
PC users who demand high capacity, ruggedness, speed and power
efficiency," said Shinjiro Iwata, chief marketing officer, Hitachi
Global Storage Technologies. "With all of the improvements we've
integrated into the 5K250, we are confident Hitachi will continue
to maintain its leadership position in the 2.5" hard disk drive
space."
A Quarter Terabyte & Many Extras
The Travelstar 5K250 hard drive offers, gigabyte for gigabyte,
the best combination of leadership characteristics in a 5400 RPM
2.5" hard drive:
- 250 GB of storage translates to 250 hours of video, 89 feature
length movies, 125 games or 64,500 four-minute songs;
- 10-25 percent faster application performance than competitive
5400 RPM, featuring maximum sustained data rate of 665 megabits per
second;
- 1.8W read/write power and 0.55W low power idle means longer
battery life for more "unplugged" notebook time;
- 400 G operating shock (1000 G nonoperating shock) gives your
data the best protection against bumps and rough handling.
Under Lock 'n Key
Bulk Data Encryption3 from
Hitachi is a hard-drive level data security mechanism that
essentially puts users' data under lock and key for virtually
impenetrable protection. It is offered as an option on the
Travelstar 5K250 hard drive as well as the recently announced,
Travelstar 7K200 hard drive, which is the 7200 RPM, high
performance model of the product line.
Previously, data on a hard drive could be protected either
through software-based encryption or a system-level password.
However, hard-drive level encryption provides a higher level of
benefit than both these options by offering better performance than
software-based encryption and a higher level of security than
system password protection.
In Bulk Data Encryption, data is scrambled using a key as it is
being written to the disk and then descrambled with the key as it
is retrieved. Thus, data encryption at the hard-drive level is
generally considered a more sophisticated approach to securing
users' data.
Another benefit to hard-drive level security is the data-erasing
process. Today, hard drives must either be physically destroyed or
the existing data must be written over and over before it can be
safely discarded without fear of data piracy or identity theft.
Bulk Data Encryption makes data-erasing unnecessary. By simply
deleting the encryption key, the data on the hard drive is rendered
unreadable and, thus, safe from prying eyes.
With the rise in notebook theft and the relative ease in which
software-based password security can be compromised, Hitachi's Bulk
Data Encryption is an essential component for on-the-go notebook
users.
- 1 GB = one billion bytes, accessible capacity may be less
- IBM entered the 2.5" hard drive business in January 1991 and
maintained the number one share position until selling the business
to Hitachi in 2003; Hitachi has since defended this leadership
share position
- Encryption technology has no impact on the storage capacity of
the hard drive
Hitachi Global Storage Technologies trademarks are authorized
for use in countries and jurisdictions in which Hitachi Global
Storage Technologies has the right to use, market, and advertise
the brands. The Travelstar trademark is authorized for use in the
Americas, EMEA, and the following Asia-Pacific countries and
jurisdictions: Australia, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore,
South Korea, and Taiwan. Please contact Hitachi Global Storage
Technologies for further information. Other company, product and
service names may be trademarks or service marks of others.
Technical Specifications - Travelstar 5K250 & E5K250
80/120/160/250 GB
- 9.5 mm in height
- 5400 RPM
- 205 billion bits per square inch maximum areal density
- 1/1/2/2 glass disk platter (s)
- 2/2/3/4 TMR recording head(s)
- 1000 G/1ms nonoperating shock
- 400 G/2ms operating shock
- 5.5 ms average latency
- 11 ms average read time
- 0.8 W active idle (not applicable to E5K250)
- 0.55 W low-power idle (not applicable to E5K250)
- Serial ATA 1.5 Gb/s, 1.5 Gb/s encrypted, 3 Gb/s; Serial ATA 3
Gb/s (E5K250)
- 95/95/102/102 grams in weight
- 2.4 Bels typical idle acoustics
- 2.6 Bels typical operational acoustics
Link: Hitachi GST
Fujitsu Updates Lineup of Enterprise
Hard Drives - First 2.5" Drive Running at 15,000 RPM
PR: Fujitsu Limited has announced that it has updated its
lineup of hard disk drives (HDDs) for enterprise
applications1. The new product
line includes 2.5'' drives running at 15,000 rpm which support the
mainstream Serial Attached SCSI (SAS)2 interface and Serial ATA3 interface, providing a one-stop solution to
meet an increasingly diverse array of market needs.
Enterprise customers are looking for HDDs that deliver better
I/O performance4, lower heat
levels, lower power consumption, more sophisticated processing
performance, and higher reliability. With its new line of 2.5''
drives running at 15,000 rpm and 2.5'' drives supporting the SATA
interface, Fujitsu can meet all of these needs.
Supporting SAS and other traditional interfaces, the new lineup
includes the MBB2 series of 2.5'' drives running at 10,000 rpm, as
well as Fujitsu's first 2.5'' drives running at 15,000 rpm, the
MBC2 series, and the MBA3 series of 3.5'' drives running at 15,000
rpm. Each of these series boasts best-in-class specifications and
are ideal for server and storage implementations.
Fujitsu is also introducing the MHW2 BK series of 7,200 rpm
2.5'' drives that are SATA compatible and designed for 24-hour
continuous operation. Available in capacities up to 120
GB5, they are Fujitsu's first
SATA-compatible HDDs that also include built-in functions designed
to minimize the adverse effects of Rotational Vibration6.
Notes
- For enterprise applications: For use in high-reliability,
high-performance server and storage systems for mission-critical
business applications.
- Serial Attached SCSI (SAS): A new serial interface for SCSI
capable in the future of higher data-transfer speeds than the
parallel interface. Systems configured with SAS drives can also
incorporate SATA drives.
- Serial ATA (SATA): The Serial Advanced Technology Attachment
(SATA) interface is one of the ATA standards for connecting a
computer to a hard disk drive or other storage device. Each device
has a 1:1 signal path to the host, transmitting data serially (one
bit at a time). Therefore, high-speed data transfer without
interference or noise is possible. This interface is also capable
of handling even faster data transfers.
- I/O performance: Input/output performance for the server or
storage system as a whole
- 120 GB: 1 gigabyte is equivalent to 1,000,000,000 bytes. Usable
storage capacity is actually less than this figure. Actual storage
capacity may vary depending on the environment and formatting of
the customer's system.
- Rotational Vibration: Rotational Vibration can occur when
multiple drive mechanisms are mounted in a single chassis.
- RoHS directive: Restriction of the use of certain Hazardous
Substances in electrical and electronic equipment: A directive
issued by the European Union on February 13, 2003 that has set
legal regulations for hazardous substances in electrical and
electronic equipment to minimize risk to the environment and people
in member countries. Based on the directive, as of July 1, 2006,
the amount of lead, hexavalent chromium, mercury, cadmium,
polybrominated biphenyls (PBB) and polybrominated diphenyl ether
(PBDE) is regulated in electrical and electronic equipment intended
for Europe.
Specifications: the MBA3 Series
- Form factor: 3.5"
- Capacity:1 73.5 GB 147.0 GB
300.0 GB
- Interface: Serial Attached SCSI, Ultra 320 SCSI (U320 SCSI),
Fibre Channel 4 Gb/s (FC)
- Rotational speed: 15,000 rpm
- Avg. seek time (typ.): 3.4 ms (read); 3.9 ms (write)
- Data transfer rate: Max 300 MB/s (SAS)
- Max 320 MB/s (U320 SCSI)
- Max 400 Mb/s (FC)
- Buffer size:
- 16 MB (SAS, FC)
- 8 MB (U320 SCSI )
- Shock tolerance: Operating
- Nonoperating: 65 G (2 ms) 250 G (2 ms)
- Power supply: + 5 V ± 5%; +12 V ± 5%
- Power consumption: Idle (typ.) 12.8 W (SAS, U320 SCSI)
- 13.4 W (FC)
- Acoustics Idle (typ.): 3.6 bels or less
- Dimensions (H x W x L): 25.4 x 101.6 x 146 mm
- Weight: 800 g or less
Specifications: the MBB2 Series
- Form factor: 2.5"
- Capacity:1 73.5 GB 147.0
GB
- Interface: Serial Attached SCSI
- Rotational speed: 10,025 rpm
- Avg. seek time (typ.): 4.0 ms (read); 4.5 ms (write)
- Data transfer rate: Max 300 MB/s
- Buffer size: 16 MB
- Shock tolerance: Operating
- Nonoperating: 100 G (1 ms) 400 G (1 ms)
- Power supply: + 5 V ± 5%; +12 V ± 5%
- Power consumption: Idle (typ.) 4.7 W
- Acoustics Idle: (typ.) 2.9 bels or less
- Dimensions (H x W x L): 15 x 69.85 x 100.45 mm
- Weight: 220 g or less
Specifications: the MBC2 Series
- Form factor 2.5"
- Capacity:1 36.7 GB 73.5
GB
- Interface: Serial Attached SCSI
- Rotational speed: 15,000 rpm
- Avg. seek time (typ.): 3.0 ms (read); 3.5 ms (write)
- Data transfer rate: Max 300 MB/s
- Buffer size: 16 MB
- Shock tolerance: Operating
- Nonoperating: 100 G (1 ms) 400 G (1 ms)
- Power supply: + 5 V ± 5%; +12 V ± 5%
- Power consumption: Idle (typ.) 5.3 W
- Acoustics Idle (typ.): 3.2 bels or less
- Dimensions (H x W x L): 15 x 69.85 x 100.45 mm
- Weight: 220 g or less
Specifications: the MHW2 BK Series
- Form factor: 2.5"
- Capacity:2 60 GB 80 GB 120
GB
- Interface Serial: ATA 3.0 Gb/s
- Rotational speed: 7,200 rpm
- Avg. seek time (typ.): 10.5ms (read); 12.5 ms (write)
- Data transfer rate: Max 300 MB/s
- Buffer size: 8 MB
- Shock tolerance: Operating
- Nonoperating: 300 G (2 ms) 900 G (1 ms)
- Power supply: + 5 V ± 5%
- Power consumption: R/W (typ.)
- Idle (typ.)
- Standby (typ.)
- 2.1 W (1.5 Gb/s) / 2.3 W (3.0 Gb/s)
- 0.80 W (in slumber mode)
- 0.13 W (in slumber mode)
- Acoustics Idle (typ.): 2.5 bels or less
- Dimensions (H x W x L): 9.5 x 70 x 100 mm
- Weight: 116 g or less
- 1 gigabyte is equivalent to 1,000,000,000 bytes. Usable storage
capacity is actually less than this figure. Actual storage capacity
may vary depending on the environment and formatting of the
customer's system.
- This device supports the Serial ATA 3.0 Gb/s standard, and can
also be used in environments with the Serial ATA 1.5 Gb/s
interface.
Pricing to be announced
Link: Fujitsu
Products and Services
SanDisk Launches 64 GB Solid State
Drives for Notebook PCs
PR: Reaching for the "sweet spot" of memory storage
for laptop computers, SanDisk Corporation has expanded its line of
solid state drive (SSD) products with the introduction of a
64-gigabyte (GB)1 SSD aimed at
both enterprise users and early adopter consumers such as gamers.
SanDisk 1.8" UATA 5000 and 2.5" SATA 5000 SSD products, which
already are available in a 32 GB capacity, are compatible as
drop-in replacements for hard disk drives in most mainstream
notebook computers.
The announcement was made at Computex Taipei 2007, where SanDisk
is showcasing its comprehensive line of storage products for use in
industrial and system-level embedded applications. SanDisk's new 64
GB SSD will be on display in Hall 1 in Booths C1000, 1002 and C1004
along with other SanDisk OEM embedded flash storage products such
as iNAND™ and mDOC H3.
"Laptop manufacturers have requested more memory capacity for
systems that use the Microsoft Vista platform, which can require a
number of preloaded accessories and security suites," said Doreet
Oren, SanDisk director of SSD product marketing. "Also, there is
interest in developing laptops for gaming, and the SSD is
well-suited for the performance and memory requirements of those
users. Thus, by offering greater capacities on our SSD products, we
are making our products more appealing to a wider customer
base."
Compared to conventional hard drives still found in most
notebook computers, SanDisk SSDs offer key benefits to computer
manufacturers and their customers:
Durability and reliability.
SanDisk SSDs deliver 2 million hours mean time between failures
(MTBF)2, approximately six times
more than notebook hard disks. With no moving parts, SanDisk SSDs
are also much less likely to fail when a notebook computer is
dropped or exposed to extreme temperatures.
High performance.
With no moving parts, the flash-based SSD starts working almost
immediately to achieve far better access speeds than a conventional
hard disk drive. For example, in notebook computers, data moves to
and from an SSD more than 100 times faster than data moving to and
from a hard disk. SanDisk SSDs offer a sustained read rate of 67
megabytes (MB) per second3 and a
random read rate of 7,000 inputs/outputs per second (IOPS) for a
512-byte transfer4. As a result,
notebooks equipped with a 2.5" SanDisk SSD can boot Microsoft
Windows Vista Enterprise in as little as 30 seconds5 and access files at an average speed of 0.11
milliseconds6. A notebook using a
hard disk requires an average 48 seconds to boot and an average 17
milliseconds to access files.
Low power consumption.
Compared to a typical hard disk drive, which consumes 1.9
watts7 during active operation,
SanDisk SSDs consume 1.0 watt (0.5 watts for 1.8") while active and
as little as 0.4 watts (0.2 watts for 1.8") while idle. This
difference in power efficiency is particularly important in
extending battery life for road warriors, enabling them to remain
productive while in transit.
Gartner projects global consumption of SSDs in consumer and
business notebooks to leap from about 4 million units in 2007 to 32
million units in 20108.
SanDisk SSD products are available now to manufacturers. The
company plans to offer 64 GB engineering samples in the third
quarter, with mass production planned to commence prior to the end
of the year.
SanDisk is the original inventor of flash storage cards and is
the world's largest supplier of flash data storage card products,
using its patented, high-density flash memory and controller
technology. SanDisk is headquartered in Milpitas, California, and
has operations worldwide, with more than half its sales outside the
U.S.
- 1 megabyte (MB) = 1 million bytes; 1 gigabyte (GB) = 1 billion
bytes.
- MTBF is calculated based on Parts Stress Method of Telcordia
SR-332
- H2BENCH 3.6: average access time = average seek time + average
latency time
- IOMETER 2003.12.16
- Stopwatch test performed internally at SanDisk; notebook
computer (Intel Core 2 Processor T7200, 2.00 GHz, 997 MHz, 1.0 GB
RAM DDR2-533 SDRAM); Microsoft Windows Vista
- H2BENCH 3.6: average access time = average seek time + average
latency time
- MobileMark 2005; notebook computer (Intel Core Duo Processor
ULV U2500), 1.20 GHz, 533 MHz, 1.0 GB, DDR2-533 SDRAM
- According to "Dataquest Insight: Expect PCs to Impact the NAND
Flash Market after 2008," 15 December 2006, page 21-22.
Link: SanDisk SSD
Solid State Drives
SanDisk Introduces 2 Secure USB Flash
Drives for Business
PR: SanDisk Corporation has introduced Cruzer
Professional and Cruzer Enterprise, two USB flash drives that
deliver strong security and state-of-the-art speed to business
users.
Cruzer Professional is primarily for individuals and small
businesses who want to protect crucial data while also making it
easy to share selected files. Cruzer Enterprise is primarily for
medium and large organizations that require mandatory policy
enforcement, central management and regulatory compliance.
"USB flash drives offer an inexpensive and convenient way to
carry large amounts of digital information in a pocket or purse,
yet without proper security these benefits become a huge threat to
businesses of all sizes," said Yariv Fishman, product manager for
enterprise solutions in the USB business unit at SanDisk. "Cruzer
Professional and Cruzer Enterprise are business tools, from a
trusted leader in USB flash drives, which help ensure confidential
data remains confidential - even if the drives themselves are lost
or stolen."
Cruzer Professional and Cruzer Enterprise offer password
protection and virtually ironclad data security through
hardware-based 256-bit AES encryption. Hardware-based encryption is
much more reliable than the software-based security used in most
consumer USB flash drives with password protection, because
software-based protection relies on the host computer - which can
be compromised by spyware and other threats -- to perform security
operations. Cruzer Professional and Cruzer Enterprise are true
plug-and-play devices, requiring no software installation on a host
computer, so the drives will connect instantly to any computer
running a modern version of Microsoft Windows.
Cruzer Professional and Cruzer Enterprise are also very fast,
with read speeds of 24 megabytes (MB) per second and write speeds
of 20 MB/sec1. This reduces
waiting time, which is particularly noticeable when moving large
files such as business presentations and video productions.
Cruzer Professional Delivers Security and Sharing
Cruzer Professional lets the owner establish a secure,
password-protected "Privacy Zone" that can occupy anywhere from one
percent to 100 percent of the drive's total capacity. The area
outside the Privacy Zone is unprotected and is therefore open to
any user. Here's how this can work: A sales executive heading out
for a trip puts confidential business plans in the Privacy Zone of
a Cruzer Professional, and a product presentation in the public
area. Arriving at a client's office, the executive hands the Cruzer
Professional to the client and allows the client to transfer the
presentation - without worrying the client might accidentally or
deliberately copy confidential files.
Cruzer Enterprise Makes Security The Rule, Not The
Exception
Cruzer Enterprise features mandatory password protection for the
entire drive, so all files are encrypted if the drive is lost or
stolen. Mandatory encryption, as well as a set-up process that
requires users to create complex passwords, make Cruzer Enterprise
the USB flash drive of choice for organizations with high security
requirements, such as public companies subject to the accounting
laws, or healthcare providers falling under privacy
regulations.
Because Cruzer Enterprise doesn't require installation of
drivers or establishing administrative right on any host computer,
deployment is as simple as putting the drive into the hands of the
user. Cruzer Enterprise is also compatible with many leading
enterprise security solutions that enforce policies on usage of
removable storage devices.
For larger organizations seeking more functionality, as well as
more efficient management of secure USB flash drives, SanDisk is
introducing Cruzer Enterprise CMC (Central Management &
Control) server software. Cruzer Enterprise CMC supports password
recovery and renewal through the network, remote termination of
lost drives, central back-up and restore, as well as central usage
tracking and auditing. CMC is available now, with pricing
information provided on request to enterprise clients.
Cruzer Professional and Cruzer Enterprise are both available now
in the United States. They are expected to be available in Europe
in July, and in Asia later this year. Cruzer Professional and
Cruzer Enterprise are compatible with Windows 2000, Windows XP,
Windows Vista and Windows Server 2003.
Cruzer Professional comes in three capacities, with
manufacturer's suggested retail prices (MSRPs) as follows: 1
gigabyte2 (GB) for $54.99,
2 GB for $94.99 and 4 GB for $144.99. Cruzer Enterprise
comes in the same three capacities, with MSRPs as follows:
1 GB for $74.99, 2 GB for $124.99 and 4 GB for
$184.99.
SanDisk is the original inventor of flash storage cards and is
the world's largest supplier of flash data storage card products,
using its patented, high-density flash memory and controller
technology. SanDisk is headquartered in Milpitas, California, and
has operations worldwide, with more than half its sales outside the
U.S.
- Based on SanDisk internal testing; performance may be lower
depending upon host device. 1 megabyte (MB) = 1 million bytes.
- 1 gigabyte (GB) = 1 billion bytes.
Link: SanDisk
5 New Corporate Traveler Notebook Cases
From Targus
PR: Targus Inc., maker of the world's top-selling
notebook computer cases and accessories, today announced five new
Corporate Traveler Notebook Cases, which are designed with the
frequent business traveler in mind. The new top-loading cases
feature Targus' patented SafePort Air Cushion System for maximum
notebook protection. The cases are lightweight and offer plenty of
storage options for accessories, chargers or hard copy files.
All of the cases are black in color and made of highly durable
ballistic nylon, which prevents scratches and abrasions. The new
Corporate Traveler cases also include Targus' exclusively patented
Equalizer II shoulder strap, which is made of a flexible, clinging
material for better weight distribution and a non-slip technology
so it doesn't slide off your shoulder. The freestanding carrying
cases are designed to fit notebooks with screen sizes up to 15.4"
and are featured in multiple styles providing customers with many
options.
"We understand the unique needs of the frequent business
traveler and design products that directly address those needs,"
said Michael Greco, director, product marketing, Targus. "These new
cases offer top of the line protection, comfort, ergonomics,
durability and functionality making them the ideal companion for
the busy professional."
"Business travel tends to be hectic, especially when going
through airport security. Business travelers need notebook cases
that offer a high level of convenience, protection and durability,"
stated John Samborski, president of Ace Computers. "Targus has
always been an innovator when it comes to developing products that
fit its customers' various needs. The new Corporate Traveler
Notebook cases are robust yet lightweight and provide everything
the business traveler requires, which ultimately keeps Targus at
the forefront of the corporate notebook carrying case game."
Corporate Traveler (Model # CUCT02A)
The Corporate Traveler features a removable sleeve for
additional protection and adjustable cushions inside of the case to
protect the computer from drop damage while providing a snug fit
for smaller size notebook computers. For added convenience, the
carrying case includes a zip-down workstation with business card
holder, three pen loops, multiple accessory compartments, five
scratch resistant CD/DVD sleeves and a zippered mesh pocket for
easy retrieval of items. It is designed with leather wrapped nylon
handles so it can be hand-carried, and also has a padded shoulder
strap with non-slip coating so it can be worn over the shoulder.
The Corporate Traveler measures 17" X 14.5" X 7", is 3.88 pounds
and has an estimated street price of $89.99.
Corporate Traveler Vertical Roller (Model # CUCT02R)
The Corporate Traveler Vertical Roller is lightweight and
includes a zip-down workstation with business card holder, three
pen loops, key clip, multiple accessory compartments, five scratch
resistant CD/DVD sleeves and a zippered mesh pocket for additional
storage. The carrying case also has a separate file section to help
keep documents organized and protected while in transit. Travelers
will appreciate the two removable accessory pouches that provide
additional storage for power cords, adapters and other accessories.
Unique to this model, its longer, curved 41" dual trolley handle is
designed for equal weight distribution to help prevent strain and
easy transport. It also provides foot clearance for taller users.
The case measures 18" x 14.5" x 8", weighs 6.44 pounds and has an
estimated street price of $129.99.
15.4" Ultra-Lite Corporate Traveler (Model # CUCT02UA15)
Weighing in at a slight three pounds, the 15.4" Ultra-Lite
Corporate Traveler comes with an enhanced zip-down workstation with
business card holder, three pen loops, key clip, multiple accessory
compartments and a dedicated file section to help organize
documents while on the go. It is constructed of durable ballistic
nylon and includes leather wrapped nylon handles and a padded
ergonomic shoulder strap with non-slip coding for dual carrying
options. The product measures 17.25" x 14" x 5.75" and has an
estimated street price of $79.99.
Leather Corporate Traveler (Model # CUCT02UAL)
The Leather Corporate Traveler is uniquely designed to fit 14"
widescreen notebooks and notebooks with extended batteries. The
case is constructed of quality leather and provides adjustable
cushions inside of the case to protect the computer from drop
damage while providing a snug fit for smaller sized notebooks. It
includes a completely redesigned zip-down workstation similar to
the Corporate Traveler, and can be carried by hand via the leather
wrapped nylon handles or over the shoulder using the padded
ergonomic strap. The case measures 16.5" x 13.5" x 5.75", weighs
3.19 pounds and has an estimated street price of $99.99.
14" Ultra-Lite Corporate Traveler (Model # CUCT02UA14)
Weighing less than three pounds, the 14" Ultra-Lite Corporate
Traveler is extremely lightweight yet durable enough to withstand
the wear and tear of everyday travel. It has the same user-friendly
features as its 15.4" counterpart and is constructed of durable
ballistic nylon. Like the 15.4" version, it can also be carried by
hand via the leather wrapped nylon handles or over the shoulder
using the padded ergonomic strap. The case measures 16.5" x 13.5" x
5.75" and has an estimated street price of $79.99.
All of the Targus Corporate Traveler products are offered with a
limited lifetime warranty.
Link: Targus
Software
WiFind Wireless Network Locator
PR: WiFind shows you if wireless networks are locked or
unlocked and their signal strength - right in the AirPort menu.
It's a tiny lightweight plugin for OS X that makes connecting to
reliable wireless networks quicker and easier. Whether you're at
home, the office or at your favorite cafe - WiFind will help you
locate a signal and start browsing.
$8 demoware
Link: WiFind
JiWire WiFi Hotspot Finder
PR: The JiWire WiFi Hotspot Finder dashboard widget for
Mac OS X Tiger helps you get lightning-fast access to JiWire's
complete global hotspot database, plus includes a built-in WiFi
network detector to help you locate and connect to immediately
available networks.
With their comprehensive directory of more than 140,000 WiFi
hotspots in 131 countries, JiWire makes it easy to find free and
paid locations anywhere in the world where you can connect with
your AirPort-equipped PowerBook, MacBook or MacBook Pro.
JiWire's Hotspot Finder opens in network-detector mode showing
available networks as blue links, and the network you're connected
to in black.
To select a network, just click on it. To access JiWire's full
hotspot directory, click on the WiFi Hotspot Directory button.
To search for WiFi hotspots, simply follow these steps:
- Select a country
- Enter as much address information as you have
- Click Search Now
The more specific your search criteria, the more exact your
search results will be. You can even search on a partial zip or
postal code, such as 941 for San Francisco or SE1 for London.
JiWire helps you locate free and paid WiFi hotspot networks,
secure your wireless Internet connections, and learn how to use
WiFi products and wireless broadband services.
Link: JiWire
Download the widget
Devicescape Automatically Connects to
Free WiFi Hotspots
PR: With Devicescape, Mac laptop users can now
automatically connect to any WiFi hotspots and municipal networks
without having to click through log in screens or re-enter user
names and passwords.
"We're continuing to deliver on our promise to provide
effortless WiFi connections from any device," said Dave Fraser, CEO
of Devicescape. "Our Devicescape service is the perfect complement
to Apple's philosophy of simplicity, ease of use, and always
putting the needs of the consumer first. Now with Devicescape on
your Mac laptop, getting connected at hotspots and on municipal
networks is simply automatic. It can't get any easier than
that."
The Devicescape software for Mac OS X is available as a download
from the Devicescape website.
The software and the service are currently free. Once the
software is installed, the user simply sets up an account and
enters their user names and passwords for any network subscriptions
they own. Users can also opt to accept access to free networks. In
addition, if a users' favorite network isn't among the hundreds of
thousands of hotspots that Devicescape already works with, users
can request new networks with a simple web-based form. Once set up
- connecting to hotspots and WiFi networks is automatic and
requires no user interaction.
Currently, Devicescape supports more than 60 public networks
including the world's largest commercial carriers such as T-Mobile
and British Telecomm Openzone, as well as free and municipal
networks such as Google Mountain View, and university networks such
as the AirBears Network at UC Berkeley. In addition to Mac OS X,
Devicescape's service supports PCs with Microsoft Vista and Windows
XP, Windows Mobile 5 Smartphones, the Nokia 770 and N800 Web
tablets and the Linksys WIP 300 VoIP phone - with many more
planned.
Headquartered in San Bruno, Calif., the company is privately
held and venture-backed by Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers,
Enterprise Partners Venture Capital, JAFCO Ventures, August Capital
and Applied Materials.
Link: Devicescape
Download
Devicescape
Manual Fan Control for PowerBook G4 with
G4FanControl
PR: G4FanControl is a small utility that can be used to
specify a certain minimum temperature limit that much be reached
before the fans on a PowerBook G4 laptop start up (note: Apple sets
the default temperature limit to 60° on these units)
The G4FanControl utility is run out of Mac OS X's Terminal
program and users need to be logged in as root.
Default temperature limits will be restored by Mac OS X in the
event of a reboot.
Open the terminal and change the working directory to the
directory that contains G4FanControl and type:
andrea$ sudo ./G4FanControl 20
New in version 0.4
- Independent temperature limit control for each sensor
- New temperature sensors limits range: min: 20 - max: 100
- Fixed the problems with some iBook and PowerBook models
- Added a single-line formatted output (to easy control from
external applications, like GUI)
Currently Tested Platforms: PowerBook G4 1.5 GHz - Mac OS X
10.4.9
System requirements: PowerBook G4.
System support: PPC
Free
Link:
G4FanControl
MiniBatteryLogger 1.7.6
PR: Put your Battery under control
MiniBatteryLogger is a Cocoa application designed to monitor
your laptop battery and log all the relevant power events.
The chart view shows the graph of charge and amperage over time,
with customizable colors and indicators for relevant power events.
Every change in power properties is logged to file with time and
date of occurrence, and it's listed in the detailed log view.
The Battery Inspector tells you all the details about your
battery: charge, capacity (actual, maximum and original), amperage,
voltage, cycle count. It also reports the estimated times to empty
and to full charge.
Share your battery data among MiniBatteryLogger users and
compare your battery against the others. MiniBatteryLogger is
interfaced to a shared battery data archive that can also be
accessed by a Web interface.
The application also notifies you about cord connections and
disconnections, begin and end of charge with Growl notifications. A
customizable threshold lets you be informed when the battery charge
decreases under a given amount.
New in version 1.7.6:
- Sessions are now deleted in place instead of after unloading to
prevent accidental loss of sessions.
- Added Battery Recall Assistant to track recalled
batteries.
- Fixed garbled split view resizing in Statistics view.
- Battery Status view now correctly changes after the monitored
battery is changed.
- Fixed occasional crashes when attempting to load corrupted
saved sessions from disk.
System requirements: MiniBatteryLogger requires Mac OS X 10.3.9
"Panther" or later notebook computer
System Support: PPC/Intel
$19 Shareware
Link: MiniBatteryLogger
Access Your Mac from Anywhere in the
World with LogMeIn Free
We're repeating this here from Mac News Review, as we think it
will be of great interest to notebook users who may want to access
home or work computers in the field. dk
PR: Beginning immediately, Apple Macintosh users can
remotely access their computers using any other computer, including
a Windows PC, for free.
The preview release of LogMeIn Free for Mac <https://secure.logmein.com/products/mac/>
is the first remote access service that allows people to remotely
access and control their Apple Macintosh computers from any
Internet-connected device, including Windows, Macs, Linux PCs as
well as many handheld devices. For example: A user can sit at a PC
in New York and access a Mac in San Francisco - including all
software applications on the remote Mac. Customers can also connect
from a Mac to a PC and, of course, from a Mac to a Mac.
"LogMeIn certainly follows the Mac-mantra of being simple to use
and we are thrilled that Mac owners will now have the same ability
to access their digital lives as our PC users," said Michael Simon,
CEO, LogMeIn, Inc. "This further extends our position as the
leading provider of remote access products and builds on LogMeIn's
commitment to providing a platform on which businesses and
individuals can connect, work with and support all their digital
assets."
"As the mobile workforce increases, so does the need for them to
be able to access their work PC as well as personal PC from
wherever they may be," says Stacy Sudan, Research Analyst in IDC's
Mobile Enterprise Software program. "LogMeIn's support of Macintosh
is significant because it allows mobile workers (and consumers) to
be able to access all of their systems from anywhere."
With millions of users worldwide, LogMeIn's simple and secure
remote connectivity services have become the most widely used means
to connect to remote devices. LogMeIn's patent pending technology
ensures fast, SSL-secured connections through the company's
datacenters - no need for users to manually configure ports on
routers and firewalls. To achieve maximum performance, connections
are shifted to a secure peer-to-peer link as soon as possible.
LogMeIn Free is a free service that provides fast, secure, and
easy access to a remote computer from virtually any web-enabled PC
or Pocket PC with a high-speed Internet connection. Users obtain
on-demand access to their work and home computers - viewing
desktops, files and network resources - regardless of where they
are. Many users world wide use LogMeIn Free as both a professional
and personal remote computer support tool.
The fully functional preview of LogMeIn Free for the Mac is
available now at https://secure.logmein.com/products/mac/.
Because LogMeIn continually updates its services, end users will be
assured of always having the most up-to-date version available
automatically. LogMeIn will introduce additional products for the
Mac in the coming months. LogMeIn Free for the Mac is not a trial
version of a paid product - it is available free of charge.
Editor's note: This could be one way to have access to the
Classic Mac OS on an Intel Mac using Classic Mode on a remote OS X
PowerPC Mac. It's not fast, but it works. Note that the free
version doesn't allow file transfer between machines or local
printing from the remote computer. dk
Link: LogMeIn
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.
Special Deals: Apple
Certified 
With the release of upgraded "Revision C" 15" and 17" MacBook Pro models this
week, the value profile of refurbished earlier units has shifted
somewhat. So far, prices haven't budged downward from last week's,
which makes the choice between new and refurbished a bit more of a
head-scratcher. cm
- refurb 1.83 GHz Core 2 MacBook, white, 512/60/Combo, $849
- refurb 2.0 GHz Core 2 MacBook, white, 1 GB/80/SD, $999
- refurb 2.0 GHz Core 2 MacBook, black, 1 GB/120/SD, $1,049
- refurb 15" 2.16 GHz Core 2 MacBook Pro, 1 GB/120/SD, $1,599
- refurb 15" 2.33 GHz Core 2 MacBook Pro, 2 GB/120/SD, $1,999
- refurb 17" 2.33 GHz Core 2 MacBook Pro, 2 GB/160/SD, $2,299
- 12" iBook G3/500, 10/128/CD, $199.99
- 12" iBook G3/600, 15/128/CD, $249.99
- 12" iBook G3/700, 20/128/Combo, $329.99
- 12" iBook G3/800, 30/256/Combo, $399.99
- 12" iBook G3/900, 40/256/Combo, $489.99
- 14" iBook G3/600, 20/256/Combo, 359.99
- 14" iBook G3/800, 30/256/Combo, $469.99
- 14" iBook G3/900, 40/256/Combo, $499.99
- 12" PowerBook G4/867, 256/40/Combo, $599.99
- 14" iBook G4 /1.33 GHz, 256/60/Combo, APX, $699
- 14" iBook G4 /1.33 GHz, 512/60/SD, APX, 749
- 15" PowerBook G4/550, 512/20/Combo, Scratch/Dent, $399
- 15" PowerBook G4/800, 256/30/Combo, No Ethernet, $449
- 15" PowerBook G4/867, 512/40/Combo, $599
- 12" clamshell iBook G3/366, indigo, 256/6/CD, $179
- 15" PowerBook G4/867, 512/60/SD, $675
- Add AirPort for $75
- 17" PowerBook G4/1.0 GHz, 512/60/SD, APX, $959
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 G4/1.33 GHz, 512/40/Combo, $799.99 less $25 =
$774.99
- 14" iBook G4/1.42 GHz, 512/60/SD, APX, $869.99 less $25 =
$844.99
- 15" PowerBook G4/400, 256/20/DVD, $549.99 less $25 =
$524.99
- 15" PowerBook G4/1.25 GHz, 512/80/SD, $899.99 less $25 =
$874.99
- 15" PowerBook G4/1.5 GHz, 512/80/SD, $999.99 less $25 =
$974.99
- 17" PowerBook G4/1 GHz, 512/60/SD, $999.99 less $25 =
$974.99
- 17" PowerBook G4/1.5 GHz, 512/80/SD, $1,149.99 less $25 =
$1,124.99
- 12" clamshell iBook G3/300, blueberry, 64/3/CD, $169.95
- 12" clamshell iBook G3/366, Key lime, 128/10/CD, $319.95
- 12" iBook G3/500, 128/10/CD, $219.95
- 12" iBook G3/500, 128/40/CD-RW, $299.95
- 12" iBook G3/600, 128/20/CD, $249.95
- 12" iBook G3/500, 256/20/Combo, $349.95
- 12" iBook G4/1 GHz, 512/30/CD, AP, $479.95
- 12" iBook G4/1 GHz, 512/30/Combo, AP, $579.95
- 14" Pismo PowerBook G3/400, 256/20/DVD,$379.95
- 15" PowerBook G4/500, 256/20/DVD, $449.99
- 14" PowerBook G4/1.67 GHz, 512/80/SD, APX, BT, AppleCare,
$1,099.95
- 12" iBook G3/500, 192/10/CD, $284.95
- 12" iBook G3/600, 128/20/CD, $324.95
- 12" iBook G3/700, 256/20/CD, $379.95
- 12" clamshell iBook G3/300, blueberry, 32/3/CD, $289.95
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.
