The week's top non-notebook story is the release of the Mac
OS X 10.5.5 update, which we cover in this week's Mac News Review.
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
Tech Trends
Products
Software
News & Opinion
Apple 4th in Notebook Shipments with 10.6% of North
American Market
While
Hewlett Packard (HP) completed Q2'08 closing a full two-year run as the
world's leading supplier of notebook PCs, NPD's DisplaySearch reports
in its latest Quarterly Notebook PC Shipment and Forecast Report that
Apple has soared from a 6.6 percent share in Q2 '07 to a 10.6 percent
share in Q2 '08, a roughly 60% increase year-over-year - and by far the
greatest increase recorded by any laptop manufacturer. Dell remained #2
with about twice Apple's sales numbers.
DisplaySearch notes that much of the growth in the notebook PC
market over the past few years was driven by consumer purchases, a
market where Apple is exceptionally strong but that Dell has had
trouble penetrating. Recent efforts by Dell indicate that they have
placed a renewed emphasis on growing this segment. Indications are that
Dell is having some success in these measures as they have grown Q/Q in
each of the past three quarters. Acer is holding steady at #3 with a
14.4% share of notebook PC shipments, although its share is down Y/Y in
both North America and EMEA despite acquiring Packard Bell and Gateway,
and Apple is moving closer to breathing down its neck so to speak.
"The data calls into question Acer's acquisition of both
Gateway/eMachines and Packard Bell. While the move immediately
prevented competitors from getting more of a foothold in the rapidly
growing US and European retail notebook PC sectors, the last few
quarters' results clearly show that Acer is struggling to integrate the
Gateway and Packard Bell brands into their portfolio. Both Gateway and
Packard Bell were losing notebook PC market share prior to their
acquisition, but the acquisition has failed to reverse, or even halt
that trend," said John Jacobs, Director of Notebook Market Research and
author of the report.
Other report highlights include
- China's accelerating economic modernization also affects the data,
as Greater China now accounts for more than 10% of notebook PC
shipments.
- The notebook PC panel market has grown vigorously, with revenues up
39% Y/Y.
- The market share of panels with the traditional 4:3 aspect ratio
dropped to less than 3% in Q2.
Table 1: North American NB PC Market Share
|
Brand
|
Q2'07
|
Q2’08
|
|
Dell
|
21.6%
|
21.9%
|
|
HP
|
21.2%
|
21.4%
|
|
Acer (incl.
Gateway & Packard Bell)
|
18.6%
|
14.4%
|
|
Apple
|
6.6%
|
10.6%
|
|
Toshiba
|
11.4%
|
9.0%
|
|
All
Others
|
20.3%
|
22.4%
|
|
Total
|
100.0%
|
100.0
|
Table 2: EMEA NB PC Market Share
|
Brand
|
Q2'07
|
Q2’08
|
|
HP
|
18.9%
|
20.5%
|
|
Acer (incl.
Gateway & Packard Bell)
|
20.9%
|
17.9%
|
|
Dell
|
11.1%
|
12.5%
|
|
Toshiba
|
9.5%
|
11.7%
|
|
Asus
|
5.6%
|
5.5%
|
|
All
Others
|
13.2%
|
14.0%
|
|
Total
|
100.0
|
100.0
|
Growth of the Portable (from 13.3" to 16.0") category, which
represents the meat of Apple's notebook lines with the MacBook and 15"
MacBook Pro was the strongest in Q2'08, surging to 88.5% share, while
Desktop Replacement Notebook PCs (those with 17.0" and larger displays)
fell to just 7.5% market share after having been close to 10% in
Q2'07.
By contrast, the Ultraportable (from 10.4" to 12.1") category shrank
in the quarter to just 4% share. The decline in share in this category
was likely a result of the plethora of Mini-Note PCs (or
"netbooks")that were introduced by almost all of the leading PC brands
in the quarter - although not Apple thus far. These Mini-Notes are
slightly smaller than Ultraportables, but have substantially lower
ASPs. While momentum within the industry seems to favor Mini-Note PCs,
this holiday season will be the first test in the WW market. Consumer
acceptance and questions regarding cannibalization of the mature
notebook PC market should be answered, DisplaySearch says. The pros and
cons of this new Mini-Note PC category as well as a full industry
outlook for the space are covered in DisplaySearch's topical report on
the Mini-Note PC market.
DisplaySearch's Quarterly Notebook PC Shipment and Forecast Report
is a comprehensive and exclusive compilation of market data from
DisplaySearch's industry sources, along with insightful analysis of the
state of the NB PC industry.
Editor's note: Also see With 10% of the US Notebook
Market, Where Will Apple Go Next? dk
Link:
HP #1 in Notebook Shipments for 8th Straight Quarter; Acer Struggling
to Integrate Gateway and Packard Bell, DisplaySearch Reports
Apple's North American Notebook Share Jumps
60%
AppleInsider's
Katie Marsal reports:
Citing NPD DisplaySearch that Apple's meteoric rise "from 6.6
percent in the second quarter of 2007 to 10.6 percent for the
three-month period ending June - the largest jump out of all PC
manufacturers doing business in the region . . . came largely
at the expense of rivals Toshiba and Acer, both of which saw
significant declines in their share of the market during the same
12-month period. In particular, Acer saw its share fall some 22.5
percent from 18.6 percent to 14.4 percent, while Toshiba's share fell
21 percent from 11.4 percent to 9 percent."
Link:
Apple's North American Notebook Share Jumps 60 Percent
Apple Hasn't Yet Cracked Top 5 in Global Notebook
Sales
Electronista
reports:
"Apple has seen the single largest jump in notebook market share of
all top manufacturers in North America, according to the new
DisplaySearch report with its spring 2008 market share in North America
surging year-over-year from 6.6 percent to 10.6 percent, moving it up
to fourth place in the domestic market, Apple has yet to enter the top
five in world share where HP, Dell, Toshiba and ASUS complete the top
five."
"Apple's performance isn't directly explained in the study, though
the majority of its notebooks occupy the 13.3-inch to 16-inch size
category that saw the largest worldwide gains over the 12-month
period."
The market is likely to shift significantly over the summer and fall
periods with expected back-to-school and holiday shopping typically
spikes, and Apple in particular believed to be launching major
redesigns of its notebooks in the near future and, in the case of one
analyst group, is said to be planning an aggressive price point for its
entry-level models that could significantly improve its sales
performance."
Link:
Apple Still Hasn't Cracked Top Five in Global Notebook Sales
Apple Strengthens Home Share with Notebooks, 2nd
and 3rd Home PCs
PR: Apple has increased its Home notebook PC share to now
rank #4 in the home installed base. It has strengthened its position
among the socioeconomically elite, attracting the younger, more
highly-educated, and higher income households, as well as the
self-employed, according to the Apple Profile Report 2008 from
MetaFacts, Inc.
"Like the camel slipping its nose under the tent, Apple is reaching
into American households as the 2nd or 3rd Home PC," said Dan Ness,
Principal Analyst at MetaFacts. "Where Apple shines is as the 3rd PC,
ranking fifth with 8% of 3rd Home PCs, and ranking fourth in notebook
PCs, also at 8% of the installed base."
Apple home computers are used differently than Windows home PCs,
more often for web content creation, graphics, and personal activities.
Twenty-one percent of Apple Home PCs are used in public places, nearly
double the 12% of Windows Home PCs that are used in public.
"If you look around at a Starbucks or cybercafé, you might
think the whole world's gone to Apple," said Dan Ness, Principal
Analyst at MetaFacts. "Apple users are very active and use their
notebooks in more locations than Windows notebook users."
The survey also revealed strong repurchase brand loyalty. "Apple
continues to command the strongest repurchase intent of any PC brand.
More than four in five (81%) of households with Apple as their primary
Home PC plan to buy the same brand - Apple - for their next Home PC,"
said Ness.
Other findings in the Apple Profile Report 2008 include:
- Workplace Apples are dominated by 5 occupational groups: Teacher,
Artist/Designer/Performer, Management, Clerical, Consultants
- iPod penetration among Apple Households is extremely strong, and
also strong in non-Apple households yet with weaker buying plans
- The installed base of Apple Home computers are newer than the base
of Windows Home PCs
- Apple Households shop differently than non-Apple Households, more
likely to be in a Barnes & Noble, Borders, or Target, and less
often in a Wal-Mart
- Apple's retail stores are attracting many non-Apple households, a
strong positive sign for Apple
- The kind of non-Apple households shopping or buying at Apple retail
have many more kids, also a strong positive future sign for Apple
The Apple Profile Report 2008 is based on surveys with over 10,000
American adults by telephone and online as part of the Technology User
Profile 2008 Annual Edition study. Respondents were carefully selected
to be representative of all American adults and households.
The Apple Profile Report 2008 is available for immediate purchase
through the online store at MetaFacts.com.
Link: MetaFacts
(this press release is available as a PDF)
Why Apple Refurbs Are a Great Deal
Bare
Feats' rob-ART Morgan says:
"We have often recommended refurbished Apple products in articles as
well as in private emails. We decided to expand on that recommendation
with some reasons why Apple Factory Refurb is a serious alternative to
NEW.
"For starters, Apple-certified refurbished products come with the
same one year warranty as new products....
"Apple Factory Refurbished products are even more attractive with
recent price drops on the Apple Store...."
Editor's note: I completely agree. I purchased the Mac I'm typing
this on as an Apple Certified Refurbished unit nearly three years ago,
and it hasn't missed a beat in service. Very cool. cm
Other editor's note: Ditto. I've been buying Apple refurbished since
2003, and they've been every bit as reliable as new-in-box Macs.
dk
Link: Why Factory Refurbs from Apple
Are Cool
What's Expected of the New MacBook Pro
The Mac
Observer's John Martellaro says:
"If rumors are correct, Apple will unveil new MacBooks on or about
October 14th. Computerworld's Seth Weintraub noted that a redesign is
long overdue and took some educated guesses about what the new MacBook
Pros will sport when they're released.
"Among the items Mr. Weintraub anticipates are a one piece aluminum
housing with a rounder, skinnier form factor styled like the MacBook
Air, a 16:9 LED backlit display as opposed to the 16:10 aspect ratio
that has prevailed since the intro of the 17" and 15" aluminum
PowerBooks in 2003, HDMI video out, an SSD option, and a Centrino 2
chipset with a 1066 MHz frontside bus."
Link: What's
Expected of the New MacBook Pro
Next-gen MacBook Shipments Begin Ahead of 'Sharp
Ramp'
AppleInsider's
Katie Marsal reports:
"The first shipments of Apple's next-generation 13-inch MacBooks
have left mainland China ahead of a large-scale manufacturing ramp
scheduled for later this month, according to investment bank
Citigroup.
"In a 'Company Flash' bulletin issued to clients on Monday, analyst
Rich Gardner said he expects the Cupertino-based Mac maker to introduce
its fall line of notebooks 'within weeks.'"
Link:
Next-gen MacBook Shipments Begin Ahead of 'Sharp Ramp'
Is Apple Streamlining Its Laptop Range?
Cult of Mac's
Craig Grannell says:
"Is Apple going to ditch the 'Pro' from MacBook Pro and streamline
its laptop range, leaving just a 'standard' MacBook (with different
screen sizes and minor tinkering possibilities under the hood), and the
Air for people who happily set fire to $50 dollar bills?....
"Obviously, this is idle speculation, but such streamlining would
make sense...."
Link: MacBook 'No-Pro'. Is Apple
Streamlining Its Laptop Range?
Apple Preps MacBook Upgrades and a Mysterious
'Brick'
TGDaily's
Christian Zibreg says:
"The dust from the new iPods has settled, but it appears that Apple
is already gearing up for a next round of introductions. Apparently,
the company is planning an October 14 event, during which a refreshed
notebook family and a mysterious new product code-named 'Brick' are
expected to be introduced....
"If you believe rumor site 9 to 5 Mac, there will be
a 'one more thing' moment with a new, mysterious product code-named
'Brick.' There is some chatter that this 'Brick' is actually a Mac
tablet, but we here at TG Daily believe that if that is in fact the
case, Macworld in January may be a more appropriate event to unveil a
tablet. Another rumor has it that Apple may introduce a brand-new
sub-notebook to compete with Asustek's Eee PC...."
Link: Apple
Preps MacBook Upgrades and a Mysterious 'Brick'
MacBook Air Silicon Getting Old
CNET's Brooke
Crothers says:
"The cutting-edge MacBook
Air is not so cutting edge these days. The high-profile, ultra-slim
notebook still comes with the same hardware that was offered initially
by Apple nine months ago.
"The sleek silver 3-pound notebook was announced with great fanfare
back on January 15 with configurations that sported older Merom-class
Intel low-voltage processors and a 64 GB Samsung solid state
drive....
"Apple observers claim that a notebook refresh is coming in October
and it is anticipated that updates to the Air will include larger solid
state drives and newer Intel processors.
"Whether Apple will turn away from Intel chipsets is a rumor still
in play, though Apple is expected to stick with Intel for the main
CPU...."
Link: 'Cutting Edge'
MacBook Air Silicon Getting Old
R.I.P. PowerBook G4 (2001-2008)
Breaking
Windows blogger Ken Edwards says:
"My 1 GHz PowerBook
G4 is no longer usable. It will no longer take a charge, no matter
what battery I use. I got seven good years out of it. And it was a MUCH
better system than that lemon 500 MHz PowerBook G4 I had
prior. Of course I broke the cardinal rule, I bought the first rev of
an Apple product.
"Now if my three year old Dell laptop would perform half as well as
my seven year old PowerBook did, I would be happy to use it as a laptop
replacement....
"I will sure miss my PowerBook....
"Computers sure don't last long enough any more."
Editor's note: No they don't, Ken. cm
Link: R.I.P.
PowerBook G4 (2001-2008)
Refreshing a WallStreet PowerBook
This Old Mac's
Holden Scott says:
"Simple, fresh, back to basics and back to work. No overly excessive
GUI distractions, just the pureness and quickness of OS 9 on the black
shark.
"Ah, back to when things were still somewhat simple, the OS 8
and 9 days. It was 1998, and the PowerBook WallStreet was a
radical departure from the previous PowerBooks that preceded it
. . . With two hot swappable drive bays, the WallStreet could
house two batteries for double the power on the road. With an optional
PCMCIA DVD decoder card, along with the DVD-ROM drive, DVD playback
became possible under OS 9. However, since OS X's DVD player did
not support the DVD decoder card, DVD playback is restricted to
OS 9 and earlier. Add a beautiful keyboard, two PC card slots,
which can house USB, FireWire, wireless cards, and the like, with
legacy ports, the WallStreet bridges the old with the new....
"So, what is under the hood of my upgraded, refreshed
WallStreet?"
Link:
Refreshing a PowerBook WallStreet
Flash Drive in a PowerBook 5300ce
This Old Mac's
Holden Scott says:
"Well, after some messing around, I finally managed to get a SanDisk
Ultra II 4 GB CF card into my PowerBook 5300ce with the requisite
CF-IDE adapter. Fast and total silence Read on if you want to do
likewise.
"After
reading Dan Knight's 'Silence is
Golden' (LEM), I decided to follow suit and install a Compact Flash
card (CF card) in place of the old, 1.1 GB, noisy, spinny hard drive
that was in my PowerBook 5300ce.
"As Dan refers to in his article, the Addonics Dual IDE-CF card
adapter is a small adapter chip that houses up to 2 CF cards. It
actually looks like a RAM chip holder, where there is one slot for a CF
card on the top, and another on the bottom. 'Simply' slide the CF Card
into the desired slot, and plug the Addonics adapter into the 44 PIN
Hard Drive connector on the main board of the computer, and you are off
to the races."
Link:
Late Night PowerBook 5300ce: Flash Hard Drive
Tech Trends
2.5" Hard Drives to hit 1 TB in 2010
The Register's
Chris Mellor reports:
"Western Digital (WD) and Fujitsu will likely have 1 TB
2.5-inch disk drives available by early 2010 according to industry
sources.
"WD has just announced that it has started volume shipping its 500
GB 2.5-inch Scorpio Blue drive, a notebook drive with 250 GB per
platter and a 5,400 rpm spin speed. Seagate expects to ship its half
terabyte 2.5-incher before the end of the year."
Link:
Western Digital's 2.5-inch to Hit 1 TB by Early 2010
3G Modems for Laptops Booming
IDG News
Service's Stephen Lawson reports:
"Fast cellular modems for laptops are flying out the door as
business users hit the road and tire of looking for Wi-Fi hotspots, an
ABI Research analyst said Friday.
"Unit sales of the modems grew about 300 percent from 2006 to 2007,
and annual revenue should surpass $22 billion by 2013, according to
analyst Dan Shey, who wrote a report on the trend released Friday.
That's up from $3 billion in 2007.
"'Growth has been phenomenal,' Shey said in an interview. Falling
prices for devices and services is one factor, he noted. The hottest
type of laptop modem for 3G (third-generation) and 3.5G connectivity is
the USB (Universal Serial Bus) dongle, Shey said. Internal Mini-PCI
modems as well as cards that slide into PC Card slots are also
available."
Link: 3G Modems
for Laptops Booming
HP Launches 'Green' Wal-Mart Notebook
PC Magazine
reports:
"Along with the release of the HP Pavilion HDX 18, HP has announced
its smaller cousin, the HDX 16, as well as a quite respectable (and
eco-friendly) 15-inch exclusive Wal-Mart laptop."
"...HP is strengthening its partnership with Wal-Mart by launching
the HP Pavilion dv6929wm-b, which will be sold exclusively at the
retail giant. With your purchase, you'll receive a messenger bag made
of recycled fibers. The HP Protect Messenger bag is eco-friendly,
reducing a standard laptop's packaging waste by 97 percent."
Link: HP Launches
16-inch Media Center, 'Green' Wal-Mart Laptop
Products
WD Scorpio Blue 500 GB SATA/EIDE Notebook Hard
Drives Shipping
PR: With available SATA or EIDE interfaces, and available in
a variety of capacities up to 500 GB, 3 Gb/s, 8 MB Cache, 5400 RPM, WD
Scorpio Blue drives offer high-performance, low power consumption, and
cool operation, perfect for notebooks and other portable devices. Pick
the drive that suits your needs with the confidence in knowing that all
WD Scorpio Blue drives are built to the highest standards of quality
and reliability.
Interface:
- SATA 3 Gb/s
- SATA 1.5 Gb/s
- EIDE
Capacities: 80, 120, 160, 250, 320, 400, 500 GB
To make drive selection simple, all our 5400 RPM WD Scorpio drives
are now marketed under one umbrella called WD Scorpio Blue. Built to
Western Digital's awarding winning quality standards, these drives are
available in a full range of performance features.
Key Features
• Massive capacity - Whether they are in an external drive
or a notebook computer, WD Scorpio Blue SATA drives are available in
capacities up to 500 GB and offer the most available capacity for
space-hungry operating systems, with plenty of room left over for
photos, music, and video.
- Quiet - In a notebook drive, silence is golden. WD's exclusive
WhisperDrive combines state-of-the-art seeking algorithms to yield one
of the quietest 2.5-inch hard drives on the market. These algorithms
also optimize the way a drive seeks for data, which significantly
improves power consumption. So now silence (and longer battery life) is
golden.
- Reliable and rugged - WD's ShockGuard technology protects the drive
mechanics and platter surfaces from shocks. WD's SecurePark™
parks the recording heads off the disk surface during spin up, spin
don, and when the drive is off. This ensures the recording head never
touches the disk surface resulting in improved long-term reliability
due to less head wear, and improved non-operational shock
tolerance.
- Fast and efficient - With 5400 RPM spin speed and 12 ms access time
and up to 3 Gb/s SATA interface speed, even the most demanding customer
will appreciate the performance achieved by WD Scorpio Blue
drives.
- Tested for compatibility - WD performs tests on hundreds of systems
and a multitude of platforms in our FIT Lab and Mobile Compatibility
Lab to give customers confidence that WD drives will work in their
systems.
Western Digital (WD) on Friday announced that the Scorpio Blue 500
GB 2.5-inch hard drive is now shipping at a MSRP of $219.99.
Link: WD Scorpio
Blue Hard Drives
Iomega's Ultra-Thin eGo Helium Delivers 320 GB of
Storage for the MacBook Air
PR: Iomega has announced the new Iomega eGo Helium portable
hard drive USB 2.0 320 GB, a perfect match for the style and
incremental storage needs of Apple's revolutionary MacBook Air
notebook.
On display this week at the Apple Expo trade show in Paris, the new
eGo Helium portable drive brings the MacBook Air notebook's aesthetic
to Iomega's wildly popular eGo portable hard drive. In addition to the
drive's portable storage, the eGo Helium also harnesses the benefits of
cloud computing with Mozy online backup service, giving users
incredible value and security for securely storing, protecting and
accessing important files.
Cool Hardware
The tapered 320 GB eGo Helium portable hard drive echoes the stylish
lines of the streamlined MacBook Air laptop, enclosing a
state-of-the-art 2.5-inch portable hard drive in an anodized aluminum
shell to create a package that is a mere 0.63 inches thick (16 mm) and
weighs only 7 ounces (200 grams). Formatted with Apple's HFS+ file
system, the 320 GB hard drive sports Iomega's Drop Guard design feature
that protects the drive from drops of up to 51 inches (1.3 meters) onto
industrial carpeting-40 percent above the industry average for portable
hard drives. The eGo Helium receives power from the USB port so there's
no power supply to carry around. And with space for up to 1,280,000
photos, over 5,920 hours of music or 480 hours of video**, the 320 GB
eGo Helium drive gives new meaning to stylish portable storage.
"Iomega's eGo portable hard drives have garnered tremendous
attention in the beige world of external storage by offering consumers
a choice of several different vibrant colors as well as a camouflage
print and genuine leather," said Peter Wharton, vice president of
marketing, Iomega Corporation. "The eGo Helium extends that strong
commitment to delivering style with substance. What makes eGo Helium
such an effective piece of industrial design is the way it dresses up a
highly functional 320 GB hard drive device into a durable and sleek
package with plenty of storage capability, making it an easy-to-use
'eye-catcher' that's small enough to go anywhere."
Key Software
Iomega offers two Mac OS X backup software applications with the eGo
Helium portable hard drive as free downloads for added data safety: EMC
Retrospect Express for Macintosh 6.1 software, and MozyHome online
backup software (2 GB free; unlimited online storage for
$4.95/month). Retrospect Express protects a single Macintosh desktop or
notebook computer by backing up to internal and external hard drives,
NAS devices, CD/DVDs and removable drives such as Iomega's REV Backup
Drive. MozyHome online backup service provides online storage for
backing up selected folders or files to world-class EMC data
centers.
Computer users running the Windows XP or Vista operating systems can
reformat the eGo Helium drive to NTFS for use with Windows only, or the
drive can be formatted as Fat 32 for use with both Macs and Windows
PCs. Customers running Windows XP or Vista can also download Retrospect
Express HD 2.5 for Windows with MozyHome integration, which gives users
the convenience of shared setup information and the ability to send
backups to either nearline storage (an external hard drive or network
drive), online storage (the Internet), or both.
Compatibility
The Iomega eGo Helium Portable Hard Drive USB 2.0 320 GB is
compatible with Mac OS X 10.1.5 or above and with Microsoft Windows
2000 Professional, Windows XP, and Windows Vista. MozyHome software is
available for Mac OS X 10.4 and above, along with Windows XP and
Windows Vista. EMC Retrospect software is available for both Windows
and Mac OS X operating systems.
The Iomega eGo Helium Portable Hard Drive USB 2.0 320 GB will be
available worldwide in October for $149.99 from online retailers, VARs,
resellers, and select retailers, as well as at iomega.com.
Link:
Iomega eGo Helium
Sonnet Pro Dual CompactFlash Adapter
ExpressCard/34 for MacBook Pro
PR: Sonnet Technologies today announced the Pro
Dual CompactFlash (CF) Adapter ExpressCard/34, which enables digital
photographers to transfer files concurrently from two CF memory cards
to a MacBook Pro computer on-location or in the field, studio, or
office. The ability to transfer data from two cards concurrently,
rather than swapping them out of the adapter, makes for a significantly
more convenient and efficient workflow. The Sonnet adapter uses the 2.5
Gbps PCI Express interface incorporated into ExpressCard slots, so it
delivers performance superior to adapters that depend on the
ExpressCard slot's USB 2.0 interface.
"The Pro Dual CompactFlash Adapter ExpressCard/34 saves precious
time for professional photographers, allowing them to transfer content
quickly," said Robert Farnsworth, CEO of Sonnet Technologies. "Media
professionals today are expected to produce results quickly, whether
working remotely or in the studio. This newest adapter also allows the
photographer to swap a pair of cards and get back to shooting while the
cards' photos are being imported."
Sonnet's unique dual-slot CF memory card adapter accepts two Type I
(flash memory) cards or a combination of one Type I and one Type II
(hard drive) card. The high-performance Sonnet dual CF card adapter
supports UDMA6 transfer modes with sustained data transfers up to 133
MB/sec. The Sonnet adapter supports at full speed the fastest available
CF memory cards and future CF cards up to 886x, making it a superior
alternative to USB readers. Its compact size allows it to fit into a
gear bag.
The Pro Dual CompactFlash Adapter ExpressCard/34 is compatible with
MacBook Pro systems running Mac OS Version 10.5 or higher. The adapter
will be shipping in October 2008 at a suggested retail price of
$99.95.
Link: Pro Dual
CompactFlash Adapter ExpressCard/34
Sonnet ExpressCard 34 2-Port eSATA Host
Controller
PR: Sonnet Technologies has announced the Tempo SATA Pro
ExpressCard/34, a two-port SATA host controller that delivers the
highest available throughput performance to notebook users. Ideal for
video capture and editing in the field, studio, or office, this newest
Tempo SATA card supports sustained data throughput of up to 200 MB/sec,
140 percent as fast as Sonnet's standard-performance Tempo SATA card
(and other popular two-port eSATA adapters) for notebook computers.
With this exceptional throughput, the Tempo SATA Pro ExpressCard/34
supports more simultaneous video streams during playback, and enables
faster file transfers for content of any kind.
"As media professionals increasingly turn to on-location
capture and editing of video content, they require high-performance
storage systems with the speed to support larger files and a greater
number of video streams," said Robert Farnsworth, CEO of Sonnet
Technologies. "The Tempo SATA Pro ExpressCard/34 adapter addresses this
demand for speed, setting the new standard for host controller
performance in mobile storage applications."
Based on Sonnet's acclaimed Tempo SATA E4P SATA host controller for
desktop computers, Tempo SATA Pro ExpressCard/34 enables users to
connect from one to 10 SATA hard drives to any compatible notebook
computer with an ExpressCard/34 or ExpressCard/54 slot. The new Tempo
card is a perfect match for demanding, high-performance editing
applications. When used in combination with storage systems featuring
two or more drives, the Sonnet card delivers significant gains in read
and write data transfer speeds, with remarkably higher throughput than
FireWire, USB, and even earlier-generation eSATA ExpressCard
adapters.
The Tempo SATA Pro ExpressCard/34 is compatible with MacBook Pro
systems running Mac OS 10.5 and 10.4, as well as with notebooks running
Windows Vista and Windows XP SP2. The Sonnet card will be available in
October 2008 at a suggested retail price of $299.95.
Link: Tempo SATA Pro
ExpressCard/34
MacBook Pro ExpressCard 802.11n Offers Wireless
Options
PR: QuickerTek announces the extension of its ExpressCard
MacBook Pro products to include a new version which comes with an
external antenna - further increasing speed and range. It's ideal for
those MacBook Pro users who do not have internal AirPort wireless
cards. The new ExpressCard with antenna is available for $199.95.
The latest ExpressCard features a
powerful external antenna with 5dBi of RF power. Because it is external
to the MacBook Pro case, it can be placed for optimum signal strength
and speed. The antenna itself easily clips to the MacBook Pro case when
open, but is also easy to transport. While the MacBook Pro case is
stylish, it severely restricts wireless performance.
The stock MacBook Pro has 30 milliwatts of wireless RF power. This
ExpressCard has 300 milliwatts of RF power. Additional power is needed
to penetrate walls, office equipment and floors (upstairs and
downstairs) where 25% of signal strength is lost at each barrier.
Users of this new ExpressCard have all the wireless compatibility,
speed and range that 802.11a, 802.11b and 802.11g. That broad range of
wireless means that wireless connections can be made at the highest
speeds. It is now easier to travel and be confident that maximum
wireless speeds are within reach.
The previous ExpressCard offers 802.11b/g/n wireless. Triple
external antennas guarantee an improvement in wireless performance for
$149.95. Triple antennas provide the highest speed MIMO specification
wireless performance. Virtually any wireless network running
802.11b/g/n equipment in the 2.4 GHz spectrum is available.
All QuickerTek ExpressCards work with all Apple AirPort Base
Stations including the 802.11n AirPort Extreme. And the ExpressCard
slot design also makes it ideal for those users who must have a
removable wireless card - often government agencies and other
organizations where security is under tight controls.
The QuickerTek ExpressCard supports all standard security
protocols including WPA, WPA2-64bit Personal and 128bit WEP, so you can
login anywhere you have password access. It also supports Mac OS 10.4
and Leopard (10.5) including Sleep Mode, so users do not sacrifice
functionality to get better performance.
Three QuickerTek ExpressCard options
- Our original card has its own driver and works with Apple AirPort
wireless card installed; 802.11b/g/n; $149.95
- 34mm ExpressCard that uses Apple drivers with the Apple AirPort
card removed; 802.11b/g/n; $149.95
- 34mm ExpressCard with 5dBi external antenna; 802.11a/b/g; 300mbs
speed and 300milliwatt RF power; $199.95
Like most QuickerTek products, the ExpressCards is backed with a
one-year warranty on parts and labor.
Link: ExpressCard
802.11n
Software
FunctionFlip Toggles Function Keys on
MacBooks
PR: FunctionFlip individually controls your MacBook or
MacBook Pro's function keys, turning special keys back to regular
F-keys, or vice-versa
FunctionFlip individually controls your MacBook or MacBook Pro's
function keys, turning special keys back to regular F-keys, or
vice-versa. As of version 1.2, FunctionFlip is a preference pane.
You'll find it in the "Other" category in System Preferences.
FunctionFlip's purpose is simply to disable the special features -
rewind, play, mute, etc. - on the function keys. For example, if you
"flip" F7, F8, and F9, those keys will revert back to normal F keys -
without affecting the other functions. Press the fn key with the
special key to get the special function back. That is, the "special"
and "normal" functions are flipped.
To assign a custom shortcuts to your reclaimed keys, use a program
like Quicksilver or Keyboard Maestro.
New in version 1.2:
- FunctionFlip is now a System Preferences pane.
System requirements: Mac OS X 10.5 or later
Please note: FunctionFlip only works on Macintosh laptops with the
"new model" keyboard.
As of version 1.1, FunctionFlip supports all MacBooks and MacBooks
Pro, as well as recent Apple external keyboards.
FunctionFlip requires that "Enable access for assistive devices" be
checked on the Universal Access pane in System Preferences.
System Support: PPC/Intel
Free
Link: FunctionFlip
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.
Changes from last week are that the $2,099 MacBook Air is sold out,
but the $1,649 15" MacBook Pro is back. 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 2.4 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/160/SD, $1,649
- 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, $1,999
- refurb 15" 2.6 GHz Penryn MacBook Pro, 2 GB/200/SD, $2,299
- refurb 17" 2.4 GHz Santa Rosa MacBook Pro, 2 GB/160/SD, $1,899
- refurb 17" 2.5 GHz Penryn MacBook Pro, 2 GB/250/SD, $2,299
- refurb 17" 2.5 GHz hi-res Penryn MacBook Pro, 2 GB/250/SD,
$2,499
- refurb 17" hi-res 2.6 GHz Santa Rosa MacBook Pro, 2 GB/250/SD,
$2,499
- refurb 17" 2.6 GHz Santa Rosa MacBook Pro, 2 GB/200/SD, $2,649
- refurb 17" 2.6 GHz hi-res Penryn MacBook Pro, 2 GB/250/SD,
$2,699
- 15" 2.2 GHz Core 2 MacBook Pro, 2 GB/120/SD, $1,399.99
- 15" 2.4 GHz Core 2 MacBook Pro, 2 GB/160/SD, $1,598.99
- 15'' 2.4 GHz Core 2 MacBook Pro, 2 GB/200/SD, $1,799.98
- 15'' 2.4 GHz Core 2 MacBook Pro, 2 GB/200/SD, $1,814.99
- 1.6 GHz MacBook Air, 2 GB/80, $1,499.99
- 1.83 GHz Core Duo MacBook, white, 512/60/Combo, 60 day warranty,
$699.99
- 1.83 GHz Core 2 MacBook, white, 512/80/SD, 60 day warranty,
$759.99
- 2.0 GHz Core Duo MacBook, white, 512/60/Combo, 60 day warranty,
$729.99
- 2.0 GHz Core Duo MacBook, black, 512/80/SD, 60 day warranty,
$779.99
- 2.0 GHz Core 2 MacBook, white, 1 GB/80/SD, 60 day warranty,
$799.99
- 2.0 GHz Core 2 MacBook, black, 1 GB/120/SD, 60 day warranty,
$829.99
- 15" PowerBook G4/1.25 GHz, 256/60/Combo, $599.99
- 15" PowerBook G4/1.33 GHz, 256/60/Combo, $639.99
- 15" PowerBook G4/1.5 GHz, 1 GB/80/Combo, $679.99
- 15" PowerBook G4/1.67 GHz, 1 GB/80/SD, $729.99
- 15" hi-res PowerBook G4/1.67 GHz, 512/80/SD $799.99
- 12" PowerBook G4/1 GHz, 256/40/Combo, $699.95
- 12" PowerBook G4/1.33 GHz, 512/60/DVD, $849.95
- 12" PowerBook G4/1.5 GHz, 256 RAM, 60/Combo, $849.95
- 15" PowerBook G4/1.25 GHz, 512/60/SD, $949.95
- 15" PowerBook G4/1.33 GHz, 512/60/SD, $999.95
- 15" PowerBook G4/1.5 GHz, 512/80/Combo, 1 year warranty,
$894.95
- 15" PowerBook G4/1.5 GHz, 512/80/SD, $929.95
- 15" PowerBook G4/1.67 GHz, 1 GB/80/SD, $1,199.95
- 17" PowerBook G4/1 GHz, 512/60/SD, $1,109.95
- 17" PowerBook G4/1.67 GHz, 512/120/Combo, 1 year warranty,
$1,089.95
-
Lombard PowerBook G3/400, 128/6/DVD, $150
- 1.83 GHz Core Duo MacBook, 1 GB/60/Combo, $699
- 2.0 GHz Core Duo MacBook, 1 GB/80/Combo, $799
- 2.0 GHz Core Duo MacBook, 1 GB/80/SD, $825
- 2.16 GHz Core Duo 15" MacBook Pro, 1 GB/100/SD, $1,099
- 2.16 GHz Core Duo 17" MacBook Pro, 1 GB/100/SD, $1,199
- 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 2.1 GHz Core 2 MacBook, white, 1 GB/120/Combo, warranty
started, $999
- open box 2.1 GHz Core 2 MacBook, white, 1 GB/120/Combo, $1,039
- open box 17" 2.4 GHz Core 2 MacBook Pro, 2 GB/160/SD, warranty
started, $1,899
- 12" iBook G4/1 GHz, 512/30/Combo, $499.95
- 12" iBook G4/1.33 GHz, 768/40/Combo, AP, AppleCare, $599.95
- 15" PowerBook G4/667 MHz DVI, 256/30/Combo, $499.95
- 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, APX, $1,599.95
- 12" iBook G3/600 MHz, 128/20/CD, OS X 10.2, $279.99
- 12" iBook G4/1 GHz, 512/30/CD, APX, OS X 10.4, $449.99
For more deals on current or 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.
