All prices are in US dollars unless otherwise noted.
General Apple and Mac desktops is covered in The Mac News Review. iPod, iPhone, and Apple
TV news is covered in The iNews
Review.
Tech Trends
News & Opinion
Apple Updates
Tech Trends
Intel Reveals Plans for Quad-core Laptop CPUs
Engadget's Joshua
Topolsky reports:
"It looks like your favorite lap burner will get all quad-ified this
year, thanks to the folks at Intel, and a little something we call
'enthusiast pressure.' The hot-to-the-touch CPU rumor mill claims that
we'll see the quad-core, 45nm QX9300 hit the scene after the Centrino 2
(aka Montevina) chips are launched in the second quarter of the
year...."
Editor's note: This is something Apple could use to differentiate
the MacBook Pro line from the MacBook, since GHz speed is no longer a
real factor. dk
Link:
Intel Reveals Plans for Quad-core Laptop CPUs
Intel to Launch Quad-core Notebook CPU in 3Q08
DIGITIMES' Monica
Chen reports:
"Intel is planning to launch its first quad-core CPU for notebooks,
the Core 2 Extreme QX9300, in the third quarter this year with pricing
set at a new high of US$1,038 in thousand-unit tray quantities,
according to sources at motherboard makers.
"With the market demand for top-level notebooks still below average,
Intel expects the quad-core notebook CPUs will not become standard in
the performance/mainstream notebook market until the second half of
2009, and therefore should not impact the desktop PC market, noted the
sources."
Link: Intel to Launch
Quad-core Notebook CPU in 3Q08
Intel to Shrink Nehalem Chips for Laptops
Macworld UK's Agam Shah
reports:
"Intel said Monday that its upcoming chip microarchitecture,
Nehalem, will first be targeted at servers and high-end desktops but
later will be scaled down for laptops.
"The Nehalem architecture, a substantial upgrade to Intel's current
Core 2 microarchitecture, will pack between two and eight cores, said
Pat Gelsinger, senior vice president and general manager of the digital
enterprise group at Intel, during a press briefing on Monday. He did
not talk about plans for Nehalem laptops. Intel plans to touch on the
subject at the Intel Developer Forum in Shanghai in early April, a
company spokesman said."
Link: Intel
to Shrink Nehalem Chips for Laptops
Toshiba Boosts 1.8" Hard Drives to 5400 rpm
htlounge.net's Gina Cavallaro reports:
"Although consumer electronics are getting smaller than ever, they
still don't offer the same level of performance as their larger
counterparts.
"Laptops still have some catching up to do with their desktop
counterparts, but Toshiba is helping to narrow the gap, especially for
notebooks that are particularly compact.
"Toshiba has developed a new series 1.8-inch hard drives that bumps
the standard speed from 4200rpm to a more respectable 5400rpm...."
Editor's note: This could make the MacBook Air a much perkier
performer, if Toshiba builds these drives thin enough to fit inside.
dk
Link:
5400rpm 1.8-Inch Hard Drives On Toshiba
Intel, Samsung Comment on Flash, SSD
Reliability
Cnet's Brooke
Crothers reports:
"In a recent interview, an Intel manager in the NAND products group
discussed the "physical limitations" of flash data recording and the
challenges of making solid state drives (SSDs) more reliable. Samsung
also addressed SSD durability.
"The comments from Troy Winslow, marketing manager for the NAND
Products Group at Intel, are particularly pertinent after a report was
released Monday by Avi Cohen, head of research at Avian Securities,
stating that the 'return rates of current SLC based SSDs at Dell are
running 20 percent to 30 percent due to a combination of performance
issues and failures.'"
Link:
Intel, Samsung Comment on Flash, SSD Reliability
News & Opinion
Speed Up Sleep Mode on MacBooks
Tech blogger Dan
Warne notes that MacBooks loaded with serious memory - like MacBook
Pros with more than 2 GB - can take a long while to activate these
days, since the entirety of that memory is being written to your hard
disk in the default "safe sleep." If you're almost always plugged into
a wall socket or aren't the type to run your battery down entirely,
Warne recommends a one-line Terminal hack that brings back the old
swift-moving sleep....
Link:
Speed Up Sleep Mode on MacBooks
Beer Meets MacBook: $755 Repair
PowerPage's Chris
Barylick says:
"About a week and a half ago, I was sitting at my kitchen table,
working out my taxes on my MacBook while setting up a black PowerBook
G3 to be sent to my grandmother as her first computer. Simple enough
and if you can make it easy enough to understand, you might not be
inundated by calls from a person who'll probably love you
unconditionally but is confused by her e-mail.
"With the receipts almost in order and tallied up under Quicken, I
grabbed a Corona from the fridge, took a sip, placed it on the table
and kept working....
"That's when the phone rang. Moving with all the grace of a Muppet
having a seizure, I managed to trip over the PowerBook's power cord and
knock half the Corona onto the MacBook's keyboard...."
Editor's Note: Did you know that Apple charges a $755 flat rate for
repairing spill-releated damage? Further observation: This incident
reveals a big downside to the MacBook's (and MacBook Air's) unorthodox,
integrated keyboard design. The conventional keyboard in a MacBook Pro
would be easily replacable for a lot less than $755!.
cm
Link:
The Dumbest Thing I've Ever Done: Corona Meets MacBook
MacBook Air: Gorgeous, Expensive, and
Exasperating
"'Gorgeous, expensive and exasperating in equal
measure, and yet still desirable despite its myriad faults,' is how
Australia's PC Authority sums up the MacBook Air.
"Before you've even laid eyes on the MacBook Air, the very process
of extricating it from its packaging frustrates and excites in a way
that few technology purchases can . . . the MacBook Air is a
simply stunning example of fine design....
"The MacBook Air's skinny frame requires pretty serious compromises
when it comes to components, however...."
Link: Apple MacBook
Air: Gorgeous, Expensive and Exasperating
Microsoft Losing Ground with Portable Computer
Users?
InformationWeek's Dave Methvin says:
"Hey, what is going on here? In Thursday's list of Amazon's
best-selling portable computers, only seven out of the top 25 run
Windows! As you might expect, Apple takes a lot of the spots, but it's
not just MacBooks. The Linux-based Asus Eee PCs and Nokia tablets are
grabbing high positions in the list. That's a lot of computers that
aren't paying tribute to Microsoft.
"Let's come back to earth for a moment, though. Direct vendors like
Dell, and sales through corporate channels, aren't represented in
Amazon 's ranking. The recent market share data shows that although
Apple's share of the market is growing faster than any other
manufacturer, Microsoft OEMs rule the roost. Still, it's a thing that
makes you go, 'Hmmm.' There are some disturbing signs here."
Link:
Is Microsoft Losing Ground with Portable Computer Users?
Apple Updates AirPort Express with 802.11n
PR: Apple has
updated its AirPort Express mobile base station with 802.11n to deliver
up to five times the performance and twice the range of the previous
model*. Priced at just $99, AirPort Express is the world's smallest
802.11n-based mobile base station. It can be plugged directly into the
wall for wireless Internet connectivity and USB printing at home or
easily brought on the road for wireless freedom wherever there is an
Internet connection. AirPort Express features AirTunes™, which
works seamlessly with iTunes to give users a simple and inexpensive way
to wirelessly stream iTunes music from a PC or Mac to any room in the
house.
"Apple is leading the way with a broad range of innovative 802.11n
base stations for almost any wireless networking need," said Philip
Schiller, Apple's senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing.
"From the small and portable AirPort Express, to AirPort Extreme for
workgroups of up to 50 users and the new Time Capsule for automated
backups, Apple customers now have more great ways to extend their
wireless networks with 802.11n."
AirPort Express features a single-piece, compact design weighing
just 6.7 ounces, providing maximum portability. AirPort Express offers
both PC and Mac users the ability to share a single DSL or cable
broadband connection with up to 10 simultaneous users. Users can also
share a printer wirelessly that is connected to the USB port. Apple's
AirPort Utility software provides easy step-by-step instructions for
setting up and configuring AirPort Express; and with its advanced
security features, AirPort Express safeguards data on networked
computers with support for WiFi Protected Access (WPA/WPA2), 128-bit
WEP encryption and a built-in firewall. Apple now includes 802.11n as
standard in its entire line of AirPort base stations and Mac notebooks
as well as iMac, Apple TV and Time Capsule™.
AirPort Express includes a built-in combination digital and analog
audio connector allowing users to connect to a home stereo or powered
speakers. iTunes automatically detects remote speakers and displays
them in a simple popup list for the user to select. Once the remote
speakers are selected, AirTunes wirelessly streams iTunes music from
the computer to the AirPort Express base station. Multiple AirPort
Express base stations can be set up around a home, each connected to a
set of powered speakers for a whole-home music experience. AirPort
Express can also extend the range of an existing AirPort Extreme
wireless network.
AirPort Express is available immediately through the Apple Store, Apple's
retail stores, and Apple Authorized Resellers for a suggested retail
price of $99.
*AirPort Express 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.
Link: AirPort Express
Apple Updates
Security Update 2008-002 for Leopard and
Tiger
PR: Apple Security
Updater 2008-002 is recommended for all users and improves the security
of Mac OS X. Previous security updates have been incorporated into this
security update.
Security Update 2008-002 v1.0
Security Update 2008-002 is recommended for all users and improves
the security of Mac OS X. Previous security updates have been
incorporated into this security update.
Security Update 2008-002 v1.0 Server
Security Update 2008-002 is recommended for all servers and improves
the security of Mac OS X. Previous security updates have been
incorporated into this security update.
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.
Each model comes with an Apple one-year warranty, and ground
shipping is free. Changes this week are the addition of a 2.6 GHz Core
2 Duo 15" MacBook Pro for $1,849 (my 2 cents: go for the 2.2 GHz Santa
Rosa unit for fifty bucks less and get the LCD backlight), and a 2.33
GHz 17" MacBook Pro for $1,899. cm
- refurb 2.0 GHz Core 2 MacBook, white, 1 GB/80/Combo, $849
- refurb 2.2 GHz Core 2 MacBook, white, 1 GB/120/SD, $999
- refurb 15" 2.2 GHz Core 2 MacBook Pro, 2 GB/120/SD, $1,449
- refurb 15" 2.4 GHz Core 2 MacBook Pro, 2 GB/160/SD, $1,649
- refurb 15" 2.6 GHz Core 2 MacBook Pro, 2 GB/160/SD, $1,849
- refurb 17" 2.33 GHz Core 2 MacBook Pro, 2 GB/160/SD, $1,899
- refurb 17" 2.4 GHz Core 2 MacBook Pro, 2 GB/160/SD, $2,149
- refurb 17" 2.4 GHz hi-res Core 2 MacBook Pro, 2 GB/160/SD,
$2,349
- refurb 17" 2.6 GHz Core 2 MacBook Pro, 2 GB/160/SD, $2,349
- 12" iBook G3/700, 256/20/Combo, $419.99
- 15" PowerBook G4/667 (VGA), 256/30/Combo, $619.99
- 15" PowerBook G4/1.5 GHz, 512/80/SD, $879.99
- 15" PowerBook G4/1.67 GHz, 512/80/SD, $949.99
- 17" PowerBook G4/1 GHz, 512/60/SD, $999.99
- 12" iBook G3/500, 128/10/CD, $169.99
- 12" iBook G3/800, 128/30/CD, $299.99
- 12" PowerBook G4/867, 256/40/Combo, $589.99
- 15" PowerBook G4/867, 256/30/Combo, $549.99
- 15" Titanium PowerBook G4/1 GHz, 256/60/Combo, $699.99
- 15" 1.83ghz MacBook Pro, 512/80/SD, $1,179.99
- 15" 2.0 GHz MacBook Pro, 512/80/SD, $1,239.99
- 15" 2.16ghz MacBook Pro, 1 GB/100/SD, $1,399.99
- 17" 2.16ghz MacBook, 1 GB/120/SD, $1,499.99
- 17" 2.16ghz MacBook, 1 GB/160/SD, $1,529.99
- 17" 2.16ghz MacBook, 1 GB/200/SD, $1,619.99
- 12" iBook G4/800, 640/30/Combo, $399
- 12" iBook G4/800, 640/30/Combo, APX, $438
- 12" iBook G4 1.07 GHz, 640/30/Combo, APX, $539
- 12" iBook G4 1.2 GHz, 512/30/Combo, APX, $600
- 2.1
GHz Core 2 MacBook, white, 1 GB/120/Combo, $1,094 less $75 mail-in
rebate = $1,019
- 15"
2.2 GHz Core 2 MacBook Pro, 2 GB/120/SD, $1,674.99 less $150 mail-in
rebate = $1,524.99
- 17"
2.4 GHz Core 2 MacBook Pro, 2 GB/160/SD, $2,399 less $150 =
$2,249
- open box 2.0 GHz Core 2 MacBook, white, 1/80/Combo, $929
- open box 2.16 GHz Core 2 MacBook, white, 1/120/SD, warranty started,
$1,099
- open box 2.16 GHz Core 2 MacBook, black, 1/160/SD, warranty started,
$1,129
- open box 2.16 GHz Core 2 MacBook, white, 1/120/SD, $1,179
- open box 2.2 GHz Core 2 MacBook, black, 1 GB/160/SD, $1,149
- open box 15" 2.16 GHz Core 2 MacBook Pro, 2 GB/120/SD, $1,599
- open box 17" 2.33 GHz Core 2 MacBook Pro, 2 GB/160/SD, $2,288
- open box 17" 2.4 GHz Core 2 MacBook Pro, 2 GB/160/SD, warranty
started, $2,439
- 17" 2.6 GHz Core 2 MacBook Pro, 2 GB/160/SD, $2,699
- clamshell iBook G3/300, Blueberry, 64/3/CD, $149.95
- clamshell iBook G3/300, Tangerine, 64/3/CD, $169.95
- clamshell iBook G3/366 SE, Graphite, 128/10/CD, $199.95
- clamshell iBook G3/366, Key Lime, 192/10/CD, $259.95
- 12" iBook G3/500, 256/10/Combo, $279.95
- 12" iBook G3/600, 256/20/Combo, $319.95
- 12" iBook G3/800, 256/30/CD, $249.95
- 14" iBook G3/700 MHz, 640/30/CD, Screen Spot, $299
For more deals on current or recently discontinued models, see our
best MacBook deals,
MacBook Air deals,
15" MacBook Pro
deals, 17" MacBook
Pro deals, 12"
PowerBook G4 deals, 15" PowerBook G4 deals,
17" PowerBook G4
deals, titanium
PowerBook G4 deals, iBook G4 deals, PowerBook G3 deals, and
iBook G3 deals.
