ZDNet's Tom Steinert-Threlkeld
says: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.
ZDNet's Tom Steinert-Threlkeld
says:
"Oh, the heart goes aflutter with the idea that a netbook is coming out from Apple.
"And, some hearts might just pop a valve with the idea that it'll only cost $99.
"But, I'm not buying that this week's single line in the Boy Genius Report does in fact signal the arrival of a $99 Apple netbook...."
Link: There Is No Such Thing as a $99 Netbook. Not from Apple. Or Anyone.
The Street's
Scott Moritz says:
"Like a moth to a hot trend, Apple will fly into the netbook flame and get burned.
"The company will unveil a 10-inch touch-screen tablet computer sometime this year, say analysts. Not only does Apple want to showcase its design prowess, the company desperately needs a new hit to revitalize its computer line-up. Mac sales fell 16% from year-ago levels last month.
"No question, the tablet will dazzle Apple fans who typically don't think twice about paying upwards of $2,000 for the latest, greatest Mac. But beyond the core fan base, Apple will discover what other PC makers have known for a while: Consumers find big tablets hard to swallow....
"There's a more eye-opening index that Apple investors should probably heed. Nine of the 10 bestselling computers at Amazon as of today were netbooks. And only one sold for more than $400."
Link: Apple's Netbook Foray Will Flop
The Street's
James Rogers says:
"[Apple] is rumored to have its eye on the netbook market, a move that would signal a major change in the company's strategy.
"The iPhone maker has so far avoided mini-computers, preferring to focus its energy on feature-rich, premium-priced products like the MacBook.
"As Apple's results show, this strategy has worked....
"With a string of healthy product lines and $28 billion in cash, does Apple really need to lower its margins with netbooks?
"At least one analyst, however, claims that this may not be the case and argues that Apple must jump into netbooks.
"'I think it's crucial for them to continue to gain share,' Brian Marshall, an analyst at Broadpoint AmTech, told TheStreet.com. 'The success of Apple is in their continued share gains.'"
Link: Apple Could Find Margins in Netbooks
Silicon
Alley Insider's Dan Frommer says:
"TheStreet.com's Scott Moritz pans the not-yet-announced Apple tablet and gets the Apple blog army up in arms.
"Specifically, Moritz predicts that Apple's (AAPL) supposedly forthcoming tablet computer 'will flop.'....
"We don't know any more than Moritz about Apple's supposed tablet plans. It's possible he will be right. But Moritz forgets to mention a few important things that are in Apple's favor....
"Apple products don't generally flop. They have a track record of building popular products - and few duds."
Link: Apple's Tablet Will Flop? We'll Believe It When We See It
Retrevo's
Andrew Eisner says:
"The rumors are flying on an Apple netbook, with some reliable sources claiming confirmation of a forthcoming device, but that doesn't stop us from fantasizing about what an Apple netbook might look like. We are big netbook fans and think an Apple netbook is a great idea. Apple watchers agree that a netbook from Apple is likely, pointing to the acquisition of P.A. Semiconductor and the hiring of Mark Papermaster from IBM as signs that Apple is planning a new mobile device like a netbook."
Link: Seven Features of an Apple Netbook
SmartHouse's
David Richards reports:
"Apple is set to launch new OLED notebooks and flat panel monitors along with a new OLED iPhone claim sources at LG in Korea.
"It's also believed that a new iPhone and iPod touch due later this year will include an OLED screen made by LG who last year scored a multibillion dollar deal to manufacture display screens for Apple.
"One source that SmartHouse has spoken to claims that Apple already have working prototype of a new Netbook which will be manufactured in Taiwan with the OLED screen supplied by LG...."
Link: New Apple OLED Notebook & iPhone Confirmed by LG - Report
TidBITS' David
Blatner says:
"Someday, somewhere, somehow your computer will be gone. It will be stolen, or the hard drive will self-destruct, or it will be hit by a meteor. While the latter would at least provide you with an excellent story, having your laptop stolen, as mine was recently, just plain sucks. However, I did manage to learn a few things in the wake of disaster, and wanted to take the opportunity to share them with you here.
"Three things are lost with a computer's theft: hardware, data, and privacy. I'll let others deal with the emotional aspects of loss, and instead focus on the practical ones...."
Link: What I Learned from Having My Laptop Stolen
MacFixIt
reports:
"MacBook Pro users with models that have the ATI Radeon X1600 graphics cards* have been reporting issues such as horizontal lines of noise and other display artifacts. These issues seem primarily affect early MacBook Pro Core 2 Duo machines....
"Apple's OS X update to 10.5.6 was supposed to fix issues related to graphics on some MacBook Pro models (as described in its update details). However, many users found that the graphics problems still existed after installing the update....
"Currently there is no official fix or solution for this issue from Apple. In some cases, Apple will issue a recall or automatic repair for known issues across a certain serial code set or a particular model. The issues surrounding the ATI Radeon X1600 graphics card have not qualified for any such program to date and Apple is treating these issues on a case-by-case basis...."
*This covers the original Core Duo MacBook Pro models, the next generation Core 2 Duo ones, and the Santa Rosa models. dk
Link: MacBook Pros with ATI Radeon X1600 Graphics Cards Still Experiencing Issues
MacFixIt
reports:
"After migrating from a previous-generation Macintosh model to a newer laptop that has some form of multitouch support in the trackpad, several people have found the two-finger scrolling doesn't appear to work....
"In most cases, various multifingered gestures seem to work just fine, with only the two-finger scrolling not functioning properly.
"This problem seems to happen only when people are migrating, and not with new hardware or when fresh system software is installed on the newer computers, which indicates the problem is a software setting and not a faulty trackpad...."
Link: 2-Finger Scrolling Not Working on New MacBooks
Fairer Platform says:
"Proper care and feeding of your Apple portable's battery can help you achieve longer run time and extend battery life. Here's a quick tutorial on calibrating your MacBook (Pro, Air)'s battery.
"You should calibrate your portable's battery about once a month or so, and the methodology for getting the job is quite simple...."
Link: How to Calibrate Your MacBook, MacBook Air, MacBook Pro Battery
MacFixIt
reports:
"Users trying to burn DVDs on MacBook Pros have reported burn errors (code 0x80020063 or 0x8002006E) that prevent them from successfully creating their DVD. Disk burning issues can often be associated with some sort of hardware malfunction. However, in this case, the issues are somewhat software related...."
Link: MacBook Pro SuperDrive Error During DVD Burning
The
Industry Standard's Paul Boutin says:
"I'm convinced the Adamo will never become an Apple-like cultural icon.
"It's slim, sleek, and sexy. Dell's new Adamo notebook is thinner by one-tenth of an inch than the fat end of a MacBook Air. It's a bit pricier, but unlike the MacBook you can get mobile broadband built in. It's definitely one of the sharpest-looking laptops ever.
"Too bad it runs Vista . . . It'll always be 'the Windows machine that's sort of like a MacBook.'"
Link: Dell's Adamo Looks Like a MacBook, but Isn't a MacBook
Macsimum News' Dennis Sellers
reports:
"Third parties have sold attachable handles for Apple laptops for some time. Now Apple may be preparing to get in the game itself with future laptops. An Apple patent (number 7508662) for a handle arrangement with integrated heat pipe has appeared at the US Patent & Trademark Office...."
Link: Apple Patent Hints at Laptop Handles
PC World's
James A. Martin says:
"In some respects, life as a laptop-carrying frequent flyer has gotten a little easier. Exhibit A: Though far from commonplace, it's not freakishly bizarre anymore to find a power port at your airplane seat - even in coach. Virgin America and American Airlines are among the most generous airlines in terms of supplying power ports to passengers.
"But it's still way too easy to run out of juice in flight, or during the course of a long day away from a wall socket. Here are some tips for keeping your laptop running as long as possible when you're on the go...."
Link: Laptop Battery Power Conservation Tips
Addresses the appearance of vertical lines or distorted graphics.
You should download and install the MacBook Pro Graphics Firmware Update 1.0 on your MacBook Pro (17-inch, Early 2009) computer. The update addresses the possibility of vertical lines or distorted graphics on the display.
Products Affected
There are two parts to this process:
Before you begin, your MacBook Pro must be plugged into a working power source, and the battery must be charged to at least 50%. Some USB and FireWire devices may prevent firmware updates from installing correctly. Disconnect nonessential devices for the best install experience.
This update requires a Macintosh-formatted disk or partition and an administrator password.
To determine if your MacBook Pro (17-inch, Early 2009) has successfully installed this update, follow these steps:
System Requirements: 17" MacBook Pro (2009)
Platform Support: Intel
Free
Link: MacBook Pro 17" Graphics Firmware Update 1.0
PR: An automated local backup
solution, IDrive Portable offers the best integration of offline and
online backups. Stylish and durable, with a sleek form factor, it's
designed to fit right into your pocket for data access on the go.
On install, commonly backed up data such as 'Documents', 'Pictures' and 'Videos' are automatically selected with a random after hours schedule which you can customize or execute immediate backup with one-click 'Backup Now' option.
You can install the application
for automatic backup of data from one or more machines. Integrate local
and online backup. Optionally add online backup with 2 GB of storage
free or avail 150 GB of storage at $4.95/month.
Locate your backed up files and folders quickly with fast search and restore with ease.
Reliable backups of your open/locked files like Outlook files (.pst),
QuickBooks, MS-Excel etc. for supported platforms.
Backup of your mapped drives and USB drives, even in the Log-off mode.
Sync your IDrive Portable
data with your PC data.
Supports character sets of most major languages.
Backups of your files and folders even when you log-off or the computer is in the Hibernate mode.
Receive email notification on completion of the scheduled backups.
One-click option to backup critical data with options to customize the data selected for backup and its schedule; backup data from multiple computers to a single drive.
IDrive Portable drive is shipped via United States Postal Service (USPS) to your doorstep, absolutely free
Link: IDrive Portable
PR: IDrive for Mac is a
user-friendly, secure and reliable online backup application that
performs automated online backup of your files and folders.
The application safeguards your critical data. The graphical interface is coupled with powerful scheduling and logging features.
Integrates with Mac OS X, making access to your IDrive account on Mac as easy as opening a Finder window. Just drag-n-drop the files/folders that you need to backup or restore. While IDrive for Mac application is optimized for best performance, for a quick look and easy drag-n-drop, the Finder Plugin is a useful tool.
Makes data restore from Mac OS X to the Windows platform easy. The key features include quick search to easily locate backed up files, Snapshots for historical view of data and logs for details on the restore operations. more
System Requirements
Pricing structure for business use varies from personal use.
Get 2 GB of full featured Online Backup for free. Features include Automatic Backup, True Archiving, Versioning, Continuous Backup, Mapped Drive Backup and Web-based Backup Management.
Go to www.idrive.com and create an account. Get 2 GB of storage for free and see how you like it. Store your photos, documents and other important data
Or if you're ready for the big leagues, go ahead and get 150 GB for $4.95/month. Then you can backup all your important files.
Get 2 GB of online backup space absolutely free. Create and manage multiple accounts. Available is 150 GB of storage space at just $4.95/month or $49.50/year - for Personal use and 50 GB at $9.95/month or $99.50/year - for Business.
Link: IDrive for Mac
PR: The Rivet Horizontal Sleeve guarantees a
perfect fit for your MacBook 13", with its slim and unique design that
allows you to carry your laptop safely in any briefcase, bag or
backpack. The Rivet Sleeve's high quality materials and soft
construction provide comfort and protection.
Features:
Specifications
Fits Apple MacBook 13" and MacBook Air
Price: $34.90
Link: Rivet Horizontal Sleeve for MacBook
PR: The Rivet Vertical Sleeve guarantees a
perfect fit for your MacBook 15". Its slim and unique design allows you
to carry your laptop safely in any briefcase, bag or backpack. The
Rivet Sleeve's high quality materials and soft construction provide
comfort and protection.
Features
Specifications
Fits 15" MacBook Pro
Price: $39.90
Link: Rivet Vertical Sleeve for 15" MacBook Pro
PR: As a 13" Apple aluminum
MacBook owner I can affirm from daily observation that it is a thing of
beauty, which makes the thought of it getting scratched, scuffed, or
dented painful to contemplate. Something this nice deserves the very
best in protection to keep it that way, and Proporta's new Impact
Protective Crystal Case for the 13" unibody MacBook 13" is crafted to
the exact dimensions and specifications of the unibody, superimposing a
scratch resistant shell that adds almost no bulk or weight, but
provides a barrier layer of protection against knocks, impact damage,
and any other surprises that life on the road or even closer to home
might have in store.
Shatterproof and shock-absorbent, the Impact Protective Crystal Case is tough, and incorporates clever cutouts that give you access to the 'Book's ports and controls, so that you under normal circumstances should not have to remove your MacBook from the case. The Crystal Case is available in three translucent colors - charcoal, red or clear, and its stylish design means that your MacBook will still look sleek and sharp and you may find its polycarbonate has a more congenial tactile feel and offers a more secure grip (without skin oils and hand grime soiling the computer's pristine surface) than the MacBook's bare anodized aluminum.
Offering all round protection and a smart, stylish finish, using the Proporta Impact Protective Crystal Case is an attractive way to keep your MacBook safe and sound.
Key Features:
The Impact Protective Crystal Case sells for $43.95.
Link: Proporta Impact Protective Crystal Case for MacBook
Bargain 'Books are used unless otherwise indicated. New and refurbished units have a one-year Apple warranty and are eligible for AppleCare. Models are listed by size and CPU speed. Unibody models listed separately from others.
PowerBook, iBook, and MacBook profiles linked in our Portable Mac Index.
A good selection of old-school MacBooks this week, plus a full slate of refurb Unibodies,save for the 17-incher.
- G3 iBooks - 15" Titanium PowerBook -
15" Aluminum
PowerBook - MacBook - 15" MacBook Pro
For more deals on current and discontinued 'Books, see our MacBook, MacBook Air , 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 iPod
touch, iPod
classic, iPod nano,
and iPod shuffle
deals. 