4-core Core 2 Extreme Mobile CPU in August, 256 MB SSD Coming to MacBook Air, and More

With Intel making the Centrino 2 (a.k.a. Montevina) CPU available this week, we had expected Apple to announce new MacBook and MacBook Pro models. However, the latest word is that Intel will begin shipping its first quad-core mobile CPUs in August, which we suspect could become part of the next generation MacBook Pro (at the very least as a build-to-order option). Upgrading the MacBook now and the MacBook Pro next month would just confuse the market, so we anticipate revised notebooks in August, once the 4-core Core 2 Extreme processors ship.

On the technology front, fuel cells for notebook computers (and eventually iPods, mobile phones, and who knows what else) moved one step closer to reality with PolyFuel's demonstration of a prototype fuel cell running a ThinkPad laptop.

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.

News & Opinion

• Centrino 2 Laptop CPUs Ship, Can New MacBooks Be Far Behind?
• Intel Bringing Quad-core CPUs to Laptops Next Month?
• Intel's Quad-core Mobile Chip Coming Next Month
• 256 GB SSD MacBook Air Later This Year?
• Intel to Shrink Centrino 2 Chips for Thinner Laptops
• Comparing Prices: Mac vs. Windows Laptops
• Man Hacks Mac OS X onto MSI Wind
• Kensington Tips and Products Make Summer Travel Simpler and More Fun

Reviews

• Weighing in on Three Large Laptops
• Carry-on Computers - MacBook Air

Tech Trends

• Hot Swappable PolyFuel Prototype Notebook Computer Fuel Cell
• Seagate Introduces World's First Half-Terabyte Notebook Hard Drives

Products

• Apricorn's Rugged Aegis Mini Pocket Drive Now Available in 160 GB Capacity
• Free Adeona Service Tracks Down Lost or Stolen Laptops

Bargain 'Books

News & Opinion

Centrino 2 Laptop CPUs Ship, Can New MacBooks Be Far Behind?

PR: Intel has unveiled its new Centrino 2 (a.k.a. "Montevina") Mobile Technology with five new processors - three of which that run at just 25 Watts - plus all-new chipset and wireless products, some of which will find their way into the much-anticipated next generation of MacBooks and MacBook Pros.

Intel also has an Extreme Edition version, which it claims to be the world's highest performing dual-core mobile processor, and will also introduce eight more ultra-low voltage and the company's first-ever quad-cores for laptops within 90 days. Will there be quad-core MacBook Pros? Beats me.

Anyway, Intel says that for consumers, all of these new innovations and enhancements combine to bring "HD-on-the-Go," stunning high definition and for the first time the ability to view a typical Blu-ray movie on a single battery charge. For businesses, Intel Centrino 2 vPro Technology offers added security and manageability capabilities.

With notebook computers now outselling desktop models in the US (and soon around the world), Intel-based laptops incorporating these new features are designed to improve upon every major facet of laptop computing - increased performance, improved energy-efficiency for longer battery life, speedier and longer-range wireless connections (WiFi and later WiMax), thinner and lighter form factors, and new business-class features.

The five new Intel Core 2 Duo processors will be incorporated in close to 250 new consumer and business notebook PC products which Intel says are are on the way.

Intel has also introduced the world's highest-performing dual-core mobile CPU, the Intel Core 2 Extreme processor running at a brisk 3.06 GHz, as measured by SPECint_rate_base2006, an industry benchmark.

Rounding out a mobile-focused summer for the company, Intel said it also plans to unveil eight processors within 90 days that will include first-ever mobile quad-core products and second-generation products for ultra-thin and light notebooks. In total, Intel will bring 14 diverse new processors into the marketplace as laptop sales continue to outpace desktop PCs.

Formerly code named Montevina, Intel Centrino 2 processor technology and Intel Centrino 2 with vPro Technology improve upon every facet of a laptop's main features, including performance and battery life via new processors and chipsets, faster draft 802.11n wireless (with WiMax arriving later this year), and new business-class manageability capabilities.

"When we first introduced Intel Centrino back in 2003, there were very few WiFi hotspots, YouTube videos and social media didn't really exist, 'thin and light' only referred to weight goals and desktop PCs outsold notebooks by a very wide margin," said Mooly Eden, Intel corporate vice president and general manager of the company's Mobile Platforms Group. "Today, notebooks outsell desktops in the US, and we're paving the way to HD entertainment, rich online gaming, faster broadband wireless speeds and an easier and more secure way for businesses to manage, update and repair their notebook fleets."

Intel is introducing five dual core processors based on Intel's reinvented transistors (high-k metal gate formula) and advanced 45-nanometer manufacturing process. These processors come with a faster 1066 MHz front side bus and up to 6 MB of L2 cache, and three versions reduce laptop processor wattage about 30 percent, down to just 25 watts. Also featured is Deep Power Down Technology that turns off processing components such as core clocks and cache memory when the laptop is idle for greater energy savings.

Intel also unveiled its Mobile Intel 45 Express Chipset and wireless Intel WiFi Link 5000 series that is shipping to customers now, with laptops arriving later in July and August. Delivering five times the speed and twice the range of older 802.11a/g technology, the Intel WiFi Link 5000 series provides 802.11 draft-N support that delivers the fastest data rates possible today - up to 450 Mbps.

Switchable graphics, a new optional power-saving feature available on Intel Centrino 2-based notebooks, provides both integrated and discrete graphics on a single notebook, enabling users to easily switch between the two options. Switchable graphics delivers greater 3-D performance when needed while providing the option for greater power savings for the best of both worlds.

A Centrino 2 feature is "Hurry Up and Get Idle," or HUGI - a cool capability inside Centrino 2 laptops that figures out a way to add more processor power to a set of computer tasks, yet can more quickly turn off or idle unused portions of the processor to get back to a more energy-efficient state. Net-net? Processing is done faster, yet more efficiently for longer battery life.

For consumers, Intel Centrino 2 processor technology delivers the horsepower and battery life to enjoy a typical full-length, Blu-ray high-definition video on a single battery charge for the first time, plus the ability to play a variety of online games, download music or post videos faster than before.

For businesses, Intel Centrino 2 with vPro technology offers enhanced manageability and security options. This is increasingly important as companies replace desktops with notebooks and need to remotely diagnose, update and repair systems over a wireless network. Improved manageability with AMT 4.0 has also been added that provides wireless manageability during system sleep states, ongoing remote configuration capabilities, support for next-generation management standards (WS-MAN and DASH 1.0) and the ability for an employee to initiate communications to IT from outside a company's firewall.

Later this year in the United States, Intel will begin shipping its first-ever combined WiMax/WiFi module, part of the Intel WiMax/WiFi Link 5050 Series that is an optional feature for future Intel Centrino 2-based laptops. No word yet on whether Apple will pick this feature up. WiMax is a 4G, Internet protocol-based broadband wireless technology that complements WiFi networks.

WiMax also provides much wider Internet and phone voice coverage, and unlike WiFi has the ability to unwire entire cities or communities, connecting users even when they're on the move. Intel is working with service providers around the world to deploy WiMax networks, with initial US network availability starting later this year from Sprint XOHM and Clearwire.

Link: Intel

Intel Bringing Quad-core CPUs to Laptops Next Month?

Engadget's Joshua Topolsky says:

"Whispers in the hallways of George Washington CPU High School indicate that Intel is primed to release a batch of quad-core laptop processors next month. There apparently isn't a ton of info on the happening right now, though Pioneer Computers (an Australian PC maker) is currently taking orders on a system equipped with a 2.53 GHz Core 2 Extreme chip, the QX9300. Of course, one of Intel's regional marketing managers in Singapore, Sujan Kamran, says that, 'We're bringing quad-core to mobile in August,' so, uh . . . not a lot of mystery left, is there?"

Link: Intel Bringing Quad-core CPUs to Laptops Next Month?

Intel's Quad-core Mobile Chip Coming Next Month

IDG News Service's Sumner Lemon reports on Macworld.com:

"Intel will release its first quad-core processor for laptops next month, rounding out a broad update to its mobile computing platform.

"'We're bringing quad-core to mobile in August,' said Sujan Kamran, regional marketing manager for client platforms at Intel in Singapore. Kamran declined to disclose specifics of the quad-core chip, which will carry Intel's Core 2 Extreme moniker."

Link: Intel's Quad-core Mobile Chip Coming Next Month

256 GB SSD MacBook Air Later This Year?

APC Mag's Seamus Byrne says:

"The massive SSD price drop in the MacBook Air shows Apple is clearing stock to prepare for next generation SSDs from Samsung.

"Last week Apple cut $640 from the price of the 64 GB solid state drive (SSD) option on the MacBook Air. APC has learned that a driving factor behind the move is to prepare for the next generation of NAND-based SSDs from Samsung, coming in 128 GB and 256 GB varieties at faster performance ratings than the current 64 GB model."

Link: Apple Preparing for 256 GB SSD MacBook Air Later This Year?

Intel to Shrink Centrino 2 Chips for Thinner Laptops

Macworld UK's Sumner Lemon reports:

"Intel will soon release a version of its Centrino 2 chip package for laptops that takes up less space, opening the door to more ultra-thin laptop designs like Apple's MacBook Air.

"Due in August, the Small Form Factor (SFF) version of Centrino 2 will take up less space than the version of Centrino 2 released this week. The SFF version will use the same chip-packaging technology Intel developed for the Core 2 Duo processor used in the MacBook Air, which shrinks the processor size significantly."

Link: Intel to Shrink Centrino 2 Chips for Thinner Laptops

Comparing Prices: Mac vs. Windows Laptops

PC World's James A. Martin reports on Macworld.com:

"A few weeks ago, I bought my first Apple laptop, the MacBook Air. I've never loved a laptop more. The skinny profile, the ease of carrying it around, the full-sized keyboard and screen, the slick Mac OS X Leopard operating system, the...

"Okay, enough of that. I'm not interested in writing another 'Macs are great, Windows computers are dog meat' religious conversion story. I've been using both Macs and Windows PCs for years. Each has its pros and cons.

"Instead, I'm interested in addressing the lingering concern about Macs: They're more expensive than comparable Windows machines.

"So I decided to see if this concern is valid. I didn't perform an exhaustive, detailed survey. Rather, I compared the specs and prices of three current Apple laptops - the MacBook, MacBook Air, and MacBook Pro - against their likely Windows laptop competitors. (Keep in mind computer prices and specs change often. Prices and specs mentioned in this article were accurate as of 6/20/08.) Here's what I found."

Link: Comparing Prices: Mac vs. Windows Laptops

Man Hacks Mac OS X onto MSI Wind

The Register's Tony Smith reports:

"Fancy a 10in MacBook, anyone? We've seen Mac OS X installed and run on Asus' original Eee PC, and now someone's done the same on the MSI Wind, a.k.a. the Advent 4211.

"To be fair, hardware hacker Paul O'Brien admits there's plenty of bits that don't work once Leopard's up and running....

"Paul's posted a detailed list of instructions for the process and a video guide too...."

Link: Man Hacks Mac OS X onto MSI Wind

Kensington Tips and Products Make Summer Travel Simpler and More Fun

PR: Kensington Computer Products Group offers a wide variety of products to enhance the travel experience during the busy summer season. Kensington's easy to pack, stylish and multifunction products help vacationers get the most out of their digital devices whether they are on a plane, taking an extensive road trip or simply heading out for a day at the beach.

Kensington research shows that the four most frequently used personal technology products carried around during the day are a digital camera, a flash drive, a mobile phone and an MP3 player - devices that can add both pleasure and practical support to summer travel. Research also indicates that 65% of people plan to take their notebook computer with them on vacation. To help vacationers travel lightly and securely with all those digital devices, Kensington offers the following tips:

1. Pack smart - Look for products that have a compact shape that will fit conveniently into your bag. Since so many people like to bring their notebook along, a notebook backpack style case with lots of pockets can serve double duty as your travel bag.
2. Get a "one size fits all" charger - Back up power during summer travel is a must. Look for accessories that can charge a multitude of products such as your digital camera, MP3 player, mobile phone and notebook computer.
3. Keep that notebook locked - Notebook theft takes only seconds and thieves prey on tourists. Keep your notebook secure at all times with a cable-locking system - in a café, on a train, in a hotel room.
4. Easy does it - Vacation travel often includes new surprises around every corner - so be ready to "seize the moment" for catching each special scene. Leave complicated devices at home and pack only those that are simple, plug and play, at your fingertips to capture all those split second sights and sounds.

"Summer travel is about fun, family time and capturing special moments without worrying that your digital camera or mobile phone has enough juice to last for the day or that someone is about to steal your notebook," said Christine Dumery, Director, Marketing Communications at Kensington. "Whether people are off to Pismo Beach or Portland, we have the "smart made simple" products that let everyone keep their notebooks and digital devices secure and ready to spring into use at all times."

Must Have Summer Accessories from Kensington:

• Kensington ComboSaver Combination Portable Notebook Lock: This easy-to-use combination lock has a low-profile design and self-coiling cable for easy travel to keep notebooks securely anchored. It can protect a notebook anywhere, anytime, and is available in both Steel grey and high fashion Red. (SKU K64560US Steel grey and SKU K64576US Red; SRP $24.99)
• Kensington Portable Power Outlet: Turn one outlet into five! Now you can simultaneously power and charge up to five mobile devices, including your notebook, mobile phone, PDA, iPod-just about all your essentials- from one portable wall outlet. A nifty accessory with a low profile, compact shape travels easily to conference rooms, hotels, airports, anywhere you need to work. (SKU K38032US; SRP $24.99)
• Kensington LiquidAUX Deluxe for iPhone or iPod: Don't forget to pack the product that will keep the music going all summer long! The Kensington LiquidAUX Deluxe for iPhone or iPod with its auxiliary port connection allows users to simply play tunes from their iPhone or iPod connecting directly to the car stereo for clear, crisp fidelity. Spend more time looking at the road and less time fumbling with your iPhone or iPod by using the wireless remote that lets you change tracks, play/pause your music and even answer your phone calls. No more messy cords. (SKU K33430US; SRP $99.99)
• Kensington Mini Battery Pack and Charger for iPhone and iPod: Keep your iPhone or iPod powered or charged whenever and wherever you need it. The rechargeable Kensington Mini Battery Pack and Charger for iPhone and iPod has the power you need to keep the conversations and music going throughout the day. And it's small enough to slip in a pocket or stay attached to your iPhone or iPod. (SKU K33442US; SRP $49.99)
• Kensington Ci95m Wireless Mouse with Nano Receiver: Ready, set, go! No matter where you work this summer, the ultra-portable Kensington Ci95 Wireless Mouse with Nano Receiver offers instant connectivity, so it is always ready when you are. The Ci95m Wireless Mouse with Nano Receiver is designed with a rugged, ultra-thin design that withstands whatever the road dishes out, yet travels easily and fits great in your hand. (SKU K72328US; SRP $39.99) [Editor's note: Read Charles' recent review, The Road Warrior Review - Kensington Ci95m Wireless Mouse with Nano Reciever. dk]
• Kensington Contour Traveler Notebook Backpack Just because you bring your notebook computer on vacation does not mean you have to sacrifice a great looking case. Kensington offers a variety of stylish notebook cases that protect and include key features such as an Air-Flo Contour Panel to dissipate heat and hug the body for greater comfort and carrying ease, Purpose-Built pockets for your essentials, an Organizer Grid and a detachable shoulder strap that tucks away neatly on the side when not in use. All Kensington notebook cases are exclusively endorsed by the American Chiropractic Association (ACA). (SKU K62432US; SRP $69.99)

Link: Kensington

Reviews

Weighing in on Three Large Laptops

The Boston Globe's Hiawatha Bray says:

"Laptop computers don't run on gasoline. This might explain why our cars are getting smaller, while our computers are getting bigger.

"Researchers at IDC Corp. in Framingham say Americans will buy more laptop computers this year than desktop machines. Though they're not ideal for playing games or editing videos, laptops easily meet the computing needs of most users....

"But portability matters little to some users. They want a reliable, powerful home machine that's big enough for comfortable viewing and typing, but also tucks neatly out of sight when company's coming. Computer vendors are happy to oblige....

"Apple Inc. has benefited more from the laptop boom than any other computer maker. Sales surged 61 percent in the first quarter of 2008, and Apple is now the nation's fourth-ranked laptop vendor. Apple's super-thin MacBook Air has attracted most of the media attention, but the company also offers a meatier 17-inch MacBook Pro. At 6.6 pounds, it's twice the weight of the MacBook Air, but . . . folded, it's just an inch thick. Apple sent the premium version, with an upgraded high-definition monitor that's excellent for movie viewing or professional graphic arts work.

"Apple being Apple, you will pay plenty - $3,400 for the machine I tried. But you will get a portable that's powerful enough to serve as a main machine and light enough for the occasional plane ride."

Link: Weighing in on Three Large Laptops

Carry-on Computers - MacBook Air

CNN Money says:

"The Air isn't as versatile as the Lenovo and may be harder to use for business because it doesn't run Windows as its primary operating system. Still, it's a solid runner-up."

Link: Carry-on Computers - MacBook Air

Tech Trends

Hot Swappable PolyFuel Prototype Notebook Computer Fuel Cell

PR: PolyFuel, Inc. has announced that it has developed the first functional version of its prototype power supply for notebook-class computers that can provide continuous nonstop runtimes with the simple hot swap of small cartridges of methanol fuel. The consumer-friendly design has been fully integrated with a representative notebook - the Lenovo T40 ThinkPad. PolyFuel developed the prototype as a technology demonstrator and proof of concept for OEM electronics manufacturers.

The prototype represents a key step towards the attainment of PolyFuel's goal to create a reference design with the size, appearance, and performance consumers require for increasingly power-hungry notebook computers. PolyFuel will demonstrate this prototype to customers and potential development partners in the coming weeks. Earlier showings of a nonfunctional version of the prototype generated strong interest among the top tier electronics OEMs in the Pacific Rim, and they are now "eager to see a functional prototype in action."

In PolyFuel's prototype, the power supply features a detachable fuel cartridge - about the size of a deck of cards - that can be swapped out while the computer continues to run. Long-distance travelers, or others needing continuous, unconnected, easily portable power for their notebooks, would simply carry spare cartridges in their pocket or purse - a someday common practice that has already been approved for commercial aircraft by the various regulatory bodies around the world.

Jim Balcom, CEO of PolyFuel, commented: "Creating a functioning prototype is a critical step toward the development of a fuel cell reference design that can outperform lithium-ion batteries, and brings closer the achievement of our ultimate objective - the widespread commercialization of portable fuel cell technology."

PolyFuel's stated strategy is to share its MEA, stack, and systems reference design technologies under simple licensing arrangements with its customers and partners, supported by the sales of its world-leading, novel fuel cell membrane materials.

PolyFuel is a leader in fuel cell technology, particularly engineered membranes, that provides significantly improved performance in both direct methanol and hydrogen fuel cells, especially for portable electronic and automotive applications. The state of the art in fuel cells is closely tied to the membrane, and PolyFuel's best in class, hydrocarbon-based membranes enable a new generation of fuel cells that for the first time can deliver on the long-awaited promise of clean, long-running, and cost-effective portable power.

Link: PolyFuel

Seagate Introduces World's First Half-Terabyte Notebook Hard Drives

PR: Seagate has unveiled the industry's first half-terabyte (500 GB) notebook hard drives to meet explosive worldwide demand for digital-content storage in home and business environments.

Seagate's new 2.5" half-terabyte 5400- and 7200-rpm drives - Momentus® 5400.6 and Momentus 7200.4 - deliver the best combination of capacity, mobility and durability for mainstream and high-performance notebook computers, external storage solutions, PCs and industrial applications requiring small form factor.

Highlighting the global growth of digital content, Seagate expects to ship its two billionth hard drive within the next five years. Earlier this year Seagate shipped its one billionth hard drive since the company's inception nearly 30 years ago.

"Organizations and consumers of all kinds worldwide continue to create, share and consume digital content at levels never before seen, giving rise to new markets, new applications and demand for desktop and notebook computers with unprecedented storage capacity, performance and reliability," said Michael Wingert, Seagate executive vice president and general manager, Personal Compute Business. "Seagate is committed to powering the next generation of computing today with the planet's fastest, highest-capacity and most reliable storage solutions."

Momentus 5400.6 and Momentus 7200.4 hard drives are the fourth generation of Seagate's laptop family to use PMR. The Momentus 5400.6, a 5400-rpm drive, combines a powerful Serial ATA 3 Gb/second interface and capacities ranging from 120 GB to 500 GB with an 8 MB cache.

The Momentus 7200.4 hard drive, with its 7200-rpm spin speed and a Serial ATA 3 GB/second interface, delivers true desktop performance. The power-efficient 7200-rpm drive maximizes battery life and comes in capacities ranging from 250 GB to 500 GB with a 16 MB cache.

Both Momentus drives are built tough enough to withstand up to 1,000 Gs of nonoperating shock and 350 Gs of operating shock to protect drive data, making the drives ideal for systems that are subject to rough handling or high levels of vibration. For added robustness in mobile environments, the Momentus 5400.6 and 7200.4 are offered with G-Force Protection, a free-fall sensor technology that helps prevent drive damage and data loss upon impact if a laptop PC is dropped. The sensor works by detecting any changes in acceleration equal to the force of gravity and parks the heads off the disc to prevent contact with the platter in a free fall of as little as 8 inches and within 3/10ths of a second.

Seagate's new Momentus drives are lean on power consumption, allowing notebook users to work longer between battery charges, and are virtually inaudible thanks to Seagate's innovative SoftSonic™ fluid-dynamic bearing motors and QuietStep™ ramp load technology.

All Momentus drives are backed by Seagate's leading five-year warranty.

Momentus 5400.6 and 7200.4 hard drives are to begin shipping in Q4 calendar 2008.

Link: Seagate

Products

Apricorn's Rugged Aegis Mini Pocket Drive Now Available in 160 GB Capacity

PR: Apricorn, has announced the 160 GB capacity enhancement for the Aegis Mini, a pocket sized, ultra-portable 1.8" external drive with USB 2.0 or FireWire connection.

Highlights

Apricorn's tiny portable drive, the Aegis Mini, is now available in 80 GB, 120 GB and 160 GB capacities. Smaller than a deck of cards and weighing in at a mere 3.7 oz, the pocket-sized Aegis Mini has enough capacity to store your entire collection of photos, music and videos - up to 40,000 songs or 200 hours of video.

The Aegis Mini's robust, compact design centers around a 16-point omnidirectional shock-mounted 1.8" hard drive and comes with a padded neoprene travel pouch, protecting the drive from the rigors of travel. With extremely low power demands, the Aegis Mini is bus powered certified, ensuring that the drive powers on all notebooks. Pair this with your choice of a convenient integrated USB 2.0 or FireWire cable, which wraps neatly around the Mini when not in use, and you have the perfect notebook storage companion.

The Aegis Mini is compatible with both PC and Apple systems, and comes bundled with Apricorn's Data Protection Suite, a complete software package offering backup and synchronization.

Data Protection Software Suite includes:

Macintosh

• ShirtPocket SuperDuper!
• Qdea Synchronize! X
• Apricorn Encrypter

Windows

• Apricorn EZ Gig II Backup & Disaster Recovery Software
• Microsoft Sync Toy
• Apricorn SMART-ER - Internal Hard Drive Error Reporting Software
• Package Contents
• Aegis Mini with integrated USB 2.0 or FireWire cable
• 1-meter extension cable
• Neoprene travel pouch
• Data Protection Suite software CD
• Quick Start Guide

System Requirements

Hardware:

• Apple G3 or later,
• Pentium II CPU,
• 128 MB RAM, available powered USB or FireWire port (depending on model),
• CD-ROM or CD-R/RW drive

Software:

• Mac OS X 10.x or later
• Windows 2000, XP, and Vista;

Warranty

• 1 year limited

MSRP

• USB 2.0 interface: $169 (80 GB), $229 (120 GB), $259 (160 GB)
• FireWire interface: $179 (80 GB), $239 (120 GB), $269 (160 GB)

Apricorn's Aegis Mini is currently available in the US, Canada, and online.

Link: Apricorn Aegis Mini

Free Adeona Service Tracks Down Lost or Stolen Laptops

PR: Adeona is the first Open Source system for tracking the location of your lost or stolen laptop that does not rely on a proprietary, central service. This means that you can install Adeona on your laptop and go - there's no need to rely on a single third party. What's more, Adeona addresses a critical privacy goal different from existing commercial offerings. It is privacy-preserving. This means that no one besides the owner (or an agent of the owner's choosing) can use Adeona to track a laptop. Unlike other systems, users of Adeona can rest assured that no one can abuse the system in order to track where they use their laptop.

Adeona is designed to use the Open Source OpenDHT distributed storage service to store location updates sent by a small software client installed on an owner's laptop. The client continually monitors the current location of the laptop, gathering information (such as IP addresses and local network topology) that can be used to identify its current location. The client then uses strong cryptographic mechanisms to not only encrypt the location data, but also ensure that the ciphertexts stored within OpenDHT are anonymous and unlinkable. At the same time, it is easy for an owner to retrieve location information.

How do I use it?

Using Adeona only requires downloading and installing a small software client. Adeona is free to use.

Why Adeona?

With the growing ubiquity of, and user reliance on, mobile computing devices (laptops, PDAs, smart phones, etc.), loss or theft of a device is increasingly likely, disruptive, and costly. Internet-based tracking systems provide a method for mitigating this risk. These tracking systems send, over the Internet, updates regarding the current location of the device to a remotely administered repository. If the device is lost or stolen, but maintains Internet connectivity and unmodified software, the tracking system can keep tabs on the current whereabouts of the device. This data could prove invaluable when the appropriate authorities attempt to recover the device.

Unfortunately, with current proprietary tracking systems users sacrifice location privacy. Indeed, even while the device is still in the rightful owner's possession, the tracking system is keeping tabs on the locations it (and its owner) visit. Even worse, with some commercial products, even outsiders (parties not affiliated with the tracking provider) can "piggyback" on the tracking system's Internet traffic to uncover a mobile device user's private information and/or locations visited.

Adeona has three main properties:

Private: Adeona uses state-of-the-art cryptographic mechanisms to ensure that the owner is the only party that can use the system to reveal the locations visited by a device.

Reliable: Adeona uses a community-based remote storage facility, ensuring retrievability of recent location updates.

Open source and free: Adeona's software is licensed under GPLv2. While your locations are secret, the tracking system's design is not.

The Mac OS X version also has an option to capture pictures of the laptop user or thief using the built-in iSight camera and the freeware tool isightcapture. Like your location information, these images are privacy-protected so that only the laptop owner (or an agent of the owner's choosing) can access them.

Link: Adeona

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.

MacBook Airs are back on the ACR site this week with price reductions, 15' MacBook Pros are back too, and there are both 2.33 GHz and 2.4 GHz 17-inchers for $1,899 as well as three MacBooks. Each model comes with an Apple one-year warranty, and ground shipping is free.

• refurb 1.6 GHz MacBook Air, 2 GB/80, $1,499
• refurb 1.8 GHz MacBook Air, 2 GB/64 SSD, $2,299
• refurb 2.1 GHz Penryn MacBook, white, 1 GB/120/Combo, $949
• refurb 2.4 GHz Penryn MacBook, white, 2 GB/160/SD, $1,099
• refurb 2.4 GHz Penryn MacBook, black, 2 GB/250/SD, $1,299
• refurb 15" 2.4 GHz Santa Rosa MacBook Pro, 2 GB/200/SD, $1,699
• refurb 15" 2.5 GHz Penryn MacBook Pro, 2 GB/250/SD, $2,149
• refurb 15" 2.6 GHz Santa Rosa MacBook Pro, 2 GB/200/SD, $2,399
• refurb 17" 2.4 GHz Santa Rosa MacBook Pro, 2 GB/160/SD, $1,899
• refurb 17" hi-res 2.4 GHz Santa Rosa MacBook Pro, 2 GB/160/SD, $2,299
• refurb 17" 2.5 GHz Penryn MacBook Pro, 2 GB/250/SD, $2,349
• refurb 17" hi-res 2.6 GHz Santa Rosa MacBook Pro, 2 GB/250/SD, $2,499
• refurb 17" 2.6 GHz Penryn MacBook Pro, 2 GB/250/SD, $2,649

• 15" 2.4 GHz Santa Rosa MacBook Pro, 2 GB/200/SD, matte screen $1,749 after $150 rebate

• open box 1.6 GHz MacBook Air, 2 GB/80, $1,499.99

- Clamshell iBook - Pismo - 12" PowerBook - 15" Titanium PowerBook - 15" Aluminum PowerBook - 17" PowerBook - 15" MacBook Pro - 17" MacBook Pro

• 300 MHz clamshell iBook, blueberry or tangerine, $199.99
• 12" PowerBook G4/867 MHz, 256/40/Combo, $469.99
• 12" PowerBook G4/1 GHz, 256/40/Combo, $509.99
• 14" Pismo PowerBook G3/400, 128/6/DVD, $299.99
• 14" Pismo PowerBook G3/400, 128/6/DVD, $349.99
• 15" PowerBook G4/867 MHz, 256/30/Combo, $549.99
• 15" titanium PowerBook G4/1 GHz, 256/60/Combo, $699.99
• 15" aluminum PowerBook G4/1 GHz, 256/60/Combo, $599.99
• 15" PowerBook G4/1.25 GHz, DVI, 256/60/Combo, $629.99
• 15" PowerBook G4/1.33 GHz, 256/60/Combo, $679.99
• 15" PowerBook G4/1.5 GHz, 512/80/Combo, $699.99
• 15" PowerBook G4/1.5 GHz, 512/80/Combo, $709.99
• 15" PowerBook G4/1.67 GHz, 1 GB/80/SD, APX, $739.99
• 15" hi-res PowerBook G4/1.67 GHz, 512/80/SD, APX, $799.99

• 12" iBook G4/800 MHz, 640/30/Combo, $325
• 15" PowerBook G4/1.5 GHz, 1 GB/80/Combo, APX, $719
• 15" PowerBook G4/1.67 GHz, 1 GB/80/Combo, APX, $785
• 15" 2.1 GHz Core Duo MacBook Pro, 512/80/SD, APX, $1,129

• open box 1.6 GHz MacBook Air, 2 GB/80, $1,699
• open box 2.1 GHz Core 2 MacBook, white, 1 GB/120/SD, $1,049
• open box 2.4 GHz Core 2 MacBook, white, 2 GB/160/SD, $1,249
• open box 2.4 GHz Core 2 MacBook, black, 2 GB/250/SD, $1,449
• open box 15" 2.4 GHz Core 2 MacBook Pro, 2/200/SD, warranty started, $1,849
• open box 15" 2.5 GHz Core 2 MacBook Pro, 2/250/SD, APX, $2,399
• refurb 17" 2.4 GHz Core 2 MacBook Pro, 2 GB/160/SD, $1,988
• open box 17" 2.4 GHz Santa Rosa MacBook Pro, 2 GB/160/SD, $2,188
• open box 17" 2.4 GHz Penryn MacBook Pro, 2 GB/160/SD, warranty started, $2,199
• open box 17" 2.5 GHz Core 2 MacBook Pro, 2/250/SD, APX, $2649
• open box 17" 2.6 GHz Core 2 MacBook Pro, 2 GB/160/SD, $2,649

• 12" iBook G3/500, 192/10/DVD, $249.95
• 12" iBook G3/600, 128/10/CD, $229.95
• 12" iBook G4/1 GHz, 512/40/Combo, $499.95
• 12" iBook G4/1.33 GHz, 512/40/Combo, APX, AppleCare, $599.95
• 12" PowerBook G4/1.33 GHz, 768/80/Combo, APX, $799.95
• Pismo PowerBook G3/400, 192/6/Zip, $269.95
• 15" PowerBook G4/1.5 GHz, 1 GB/80/Combo, APX, $999.95
• 15" 2.16 GHz Core 2 MacBook Pro, 1 GB/120/SD, $1,499.95

• Lombard PowerBook G3/400, 128/6/DVD, battery in unknown condition, $150

• 12" iBook G3/600, 128/20/CD, OS X 10.2, working battery, $279.99
• 12" iBook G4/1 GHz, 512/30/CD, APX, OS X 10.4, stop theft tags on the cover, $449.99

For more deals on current or recently discontinued models, see our 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.