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News & Opinion
Upgrading the New MacBook: Memory and Storage
OWC blogger Chris S. says:
"When it comes to redesigns, the new MacBooks have the most
external changes. The case is now a Unibody design, only made of a
polycarbonate material, rather than the aluminum of the MacBook
Pros....
"Despite the outward appearances, though, when it comes to
upgrading, there's not a whole lot of difference in options between the
older MacBooks and this new one. Your main upgrades will be the memory
and the hard drive....
"We all know that the more memory you have, the better your Mac will
perform. A stock MacBook comes with 2 GB of RAM.
"If you upgrade to a full 4 GB of memory through Apple, it'll
cost you an extra $100. Getting a 4 GB set from OWC will run you
almost $30 less if you send in your Apple memory for rebate.
"Getting a bigger, faster hard drive gives you a two-fold increase.
First, a larger drive can, quite simply, hold more data. With all the
music, photos, movies and other documents we keep on our hard drives,
the more space we have, the better.
"If you go through Apple, you can expect to pay extra $150 for a 500
GB hard drive, instead of a 250 GB. By going with OWC, you can get a
similar 500 GB hard drive plus an external enclosure for the 250 GB
drive that comes with the MacBook (giving you a total of 750 GB of
storage) for a total of almost $30 less."
"With OWC . . . you can get a 7200 RPM, 320 GB drive for about
$80... a speed increase and a storage increase for less than a C-note.
For about $20 more, you can also get an external enclosure for the
stock drive...."
Link:
Upgrading the New MacBook - a Closer Look: Memory and Storage
You Can't Get a MacBook Equivalent PC Laptop for a
Lot Less Money
The Small Wave's Tom Reestman says:
"I sent a series of tweets recently inspired by two things:
"My search for a MacBook-like PC to run Windows 7.
"My realization that no such PC exists for a lot less money than a
MacBook, though everyone (including many who should know better) seems
to repeat this nonsense.
"I'm sick of these low-voltage 1.3 GHz no-power laptops being
treated as MacBook equivalents. It's BS. I'm sick of PC laptop starting
prices of ~$650 when they use old or weak processors, old WiFi, have no
Bluetooth, etc. Closest is an HP Dv3t configured similar 2 MacBook @
$900 with lots of HP giveaways. Nice, but not a lot less $$....
"Think about this: What would a MacBook cost if Apple used an older
Intel processor with just 2 MB cache (or a low-voltage Centrino or
Atom processor), slower DDR2 800 MHz memory, Intel graphics, WiFi
802.11 b/g (not n ), no Bluetooth, a weak battery, a tray CD drive,
etc.? That's exactly what PC makers do to create the low-end machines
they (and a willing press) love to tout so much. And don't even get me
started on the big, heavy, lumbering beasts touted for having 15.3"
screens even though they have the resolution of a 13.3"....
"...one thing is crystal clear: if you don't use yesterday's
technology, or drop features, or skimp on the battery, etc., it costs
money. There is no MacBook-like PC for $700."
Link:
You Can Not Get a MacBook-Equivalent PC Laptop for a Lot Less
Money
Evidence Points to New MacBook Pros on Horizon
AppleInsider's Brian Garner reports:
"After examining the configuration files included in the latest
build of OS X, a new report has discovered references to two new
MacBook Pro models."
Link:
Evidence Points to New MacBook Pros on Horizon
Quad-core MacBook Pros in Coming Weeks?
9 To 5 Mac's Seth Weintraub reports:
"An Applesana forum poster (via Applesfera) is reporting that the
new Mac OS 10.6.2 OS build 10C531 contains.... references to new
MacBook Pros:
"Separately, we've heard that Apple Store Geniuses are being trained
on new Quad-Core (possibly Core i5 and i7) processor MacBook Pros and
they expect to take delivery of the new machines at the same time that
the new high-end Core i5 and Core i7 iMacs hit stores in November. That
would probably be timed right with a 10.6.2 release."
Link: MacBook Pros to Receive
New Quad-core Processors in Coming Weeks?
Apple Punts on Lower-cost MacBook
Cnet's Brooke Crothers says:
"By not coughing up a low-cost MacBook, as some had expected, Apple
has ceded a potentially huge market to PC makers. But is this just all
part of Apple's marketing genius?
"The announcement Tuesday of the $999 white polycarbonate MacBook
was pretty ho-hum as product refreshes go (same price, same color as
before) but the implication was important: Apple is surrendering a
large, emerging laptop market to Microsoft and its coterie of PC
makers.
"Not that it's necessarily a bad strategy...."
Link: Apple Punts on
Lower-cost MacBook
Apple Drops MacBook Pro RAM, CPU Upgrade
Prices
AppleInsider Staff report:
"As Apple unleashed a number of new hardware options last week,
including the new iMacs, the hardware maker also quietly dropped the
prices of additional RAM and processor upgrades on its MacBook Pro
line."
Link:
Apple Drops MacBook Pro RAM, CPU Upgrade Prices
New iMac, MacBook Evolutionary, Not
Revolutionary
WSD's Walter S. Mossberg takes a look at Apple's new Mac offerings,
noting that while both sport important improvements, they are
evolutionary, not revolutionary, and neither follows the industry trend
toward bargain-basement prices.
After testing these new computers for a few days, Mossberg says he
can recommend both, noting that they round out a full line of refreshed
Macs, but will face stiff new competition from a horde of PCs running
the new and better version of Windows.
Link:
Apple's New iMac, MacBook Evolutionary - Not Revolutionary
Reviews
Macworld Benchmarks Late 2009 MacBook
Macworld's James Galbraith reports that Macworld Labs has received
some newly designed unibody MacBooks and been putting them to the test.
The new MacBook features a 2.26 GHz Core 2 Duo processor, 2 GB of
1066 MHz DDR3 SDRAM and a 250 GB SATA hard drive, and uses LED display
backlighting.
To see how the under-the-hood changes to the MacBook have affected
performance, Macworld ran the system through a series of 19 different
tests involving the Finder and 12 third-party applications, then
compared the results to a number of reference systems finding that
compared to the system it replaces, the new 2.26 GHz MacBook was faster
than the older 2.13 GHz MacBook in every test.
Link:
Macworld MacBook (Late 2009) Benchmarks
New MacBook 'Doesn't Feel Like an Entry-Level
System'
Macworld.'s Jonathan Seff reports that the unibody makeover has
wrought a lighter, more comfortable, higher-performance MacBook with
impressive battery life, but laments the lost FireWire port; lack of an
SD Card slot and IR port, and that no video adapters are included.
Overall, Seff says that the new MacBook performs very well and
doesn't feel like an entry-level system.
Link:
Macworld Reviews 13-inch Unibody MacBook/2.26 GHz
Engadget 'Totally Underwhelmed' by New
MacBook
Engadget's Nilay Patel says:
"We'll just come out and say it: we're totally underwhelmed by the
new plastic MacBook. Hell, we were underwhelmed by the old plastic
MacBook back in June, when we reviewed the refreshed unibody MacBook
Pros - we said we were "honestly left wondering" why the $999 plastic
model continued to exist when the $1,199 13-inch Pro was obviously
superior. So when we heard the first whispers that Apple was working on
a total overhaul of its low-end MacBook, we naturally assumed that it
would either gain in features or drop in price - but neither one of
those things happened. The new plastic MacBook remains priced at $999
in its only configuration, and while it's been updated with the same
unibody construction as the Pros, it's also lost some features along
the way. So... what's going on here? Did Apple just blow a huge
opportunity to totally re-think its low-end formula, or is there more
to the MacBook than the spec sheets and price tags say? Read on to find
out."
Link: Unibody
MacBook (Late 2009) Review
Redesigned MacBook 'Solid'
AppleInsider's Prince McLean says:
"Apple's revamped new MacBook takes everything the company learned
from last year's aluminum unibody MacBook Pro redesign and applies it
to make a solid, curvy, entry level notebook that carries the same $999
price tag."
Link: First Look:
Apple's Redesigned 13-inch Unibody MacBook
Products & Services
OWC Announces Memory Upgrades Up to 8 GB for
Late 2009 MacBook
PR: Other World Computing (OWC) has announced the immediate
availability of OWC DDR3 1066 MHz Memory Upgrade Kits up to 8 GB
for the new MacBook 13" 2.26 GHz model announced by Apple last week.
OWC Memory Upgrade Kits offer new MacBook owners the advantages of
upgrade options not available from the factory and quality assurance
from a Lifetime Advance Replacement Warranty and Money Back
Guarantee.
OWC Memory Kits for Apple MacBook 13" 2.26 GHz:
- OWC 2 GB DDR3 Memory Module (1 x 2 GB memory module) -
$44.97
Replaces existing factory installed 1 GB memory for 3 GB
total. Upgrade not available as a factory option.
- OWC 4 GB DDR3 Memory Kit (2 x 2 GB matched memory
modules) - $87.99
Replaces existing factory installed 2 GB with 4 GB
total.
- OWC 4 GB DDR3 Memory Module (1 x 4 GB memory module) -
$247.99
Replaces existing factory installed 1 GB memory for 5 GB
total. Upgrade not available as a factory option.
- OWC 8 GB DDR3 Memory Kit (2 x 4 GB matched memory
modules) - $475.99
Replaces existing factory installed modules with 8 GB total.
Upgrade not available as a factory option.
Certified Compatible Plus Additional Savings Available
OWC Memory Upgrades are fully tested and certified for compatibility
with the Apple model they are designed for and as such, come backed by
a Lifetime Replacement Warranty. Additional money savings are available
for customers who take advantage of OWC's rebate programs for Apple
factory standard memory modules and factory installed hard drives. With
the rebate, OWC's 4 GB Memory Kit for the new MacBook 13" is a
full 18% lower cost than the same size factory installed upgrade while
a 500 GB 5400 RPM hard drive from OWC is a full 53% lower cost than the
same capacity/speed spec drive upgrade offered by the factory.
Memory & Hard Drive Upgrades for All MacBook and MacBook
Pros
OWC Memory Upgrades from 2 GB to 8 GB are also available
for existing MacBook and MacBook Pro models priced staring at $44.99.
In addition, OWC also offers MacBook and MacBook Pro owners a full
selection of 5400 RPM and 7200 RPM internal hard drive options in
capacities up to 1 TB to upgrade/replace their factory stock
drives. Hard drive upgrade prices start at $65.99 for a 320 GB 5400 RPM
drive while the performance-minded 500 GB 7200 RPM drive upgrade is
priced at $134.99. OWC's free online video installation guides make it
quick and easy for anyone to upgrade their memory, hard drive, or
both.
OWC memory upgrades are available from 16 MB up to 32 GB for nearly
every current and past Apple notebook and desktop computer manufactured
during the past twenty years, including Mac Pro Xeon, iMac, PowerMac,
Xserve, iBook, and PowerBook computers. By maintaining an active
state-of-the-art test lab, OWC can ensure its memory upgrades offer the
highest product quality and reliability and backs them with a Lifetime
Advance Replacement Warranty and Money Back Guarantee.
OWC's independent memory benchmarks testing on a wide variety of Mac
computers consistently demonstrates having more memory provides higher
real-world performance. OWC memory performance gains are even more
apparent when using memory intensive applications, such as audio/video,
photo, 3D modeling, gaming and other applications, where OWC memory
upgrades offer the best performance for the investment.
Link:
MacBook and MacBook Pro Memory
TrayStation Riser Laptop Stand
PR: TrayStation is unlike any laptop riser that you may
have seen, or used before. In a unique combination design, TrayStation,
as riser consists of 2 parts: A steel base Station and acrylic
Tray.
Starting with the Station, it's of sturdy heavy steel
construction with a wide footprint; bent at a particular angle to
provide maximum stability. The Station is powder coated in aluminum
color, aims to blend itself in with your Mac setup. It provides a 6"
lift from the desk, bringing your laptop screen to a more ergonomic
height, easing stress to your eyes and back.
At
the bottom of the Station, there are 4 non-skid feet, protecting your
the surface of your furniture. There are 4 latches at the top of the
Station which lock and secure the Tray in place. Once in place, the
Tray won't rock, or slide off.
The Tray is all about smart design. To be used as a cooler, on or
off of the Station, the Tray is crafted from 5mm clear acrylic. It is
very lightweight, durable, and elegant.
To help reducing the build up heat from your laptop during use, the
Tray is designed to minimize contact with hot surface underneath the
laptop. A gap between the Tray and laptop creates a "heat relief
channel". This channel helps ventilating hot air, cooling and improving
performance of your laptop.
The TrayStation supports all Mac laptops old and new models. The
Tray is designed to be used with or without the Station. No matter
where or how you use you laptop, on the kitchen counter, or in bed, or
on your lap, the Tray should provide a comfortable cooling support for
your machine.
Features
- Cooler and Riser In One
- 6" Lift from desk, provides more ergonomic height
- Heavy steel construction base Station, powder coated in aluminum
color
- Detachable Tray use as Cooler
- 5mm clear acrylic, durable, and lightweight more portability
- Better ventilation design: Heat relief channel
- Tray can be purchased separately
Dimensions:
- Station: 9.25"(W) x 7"(D) x 4"(H)
- Tray: 13"(W) x 9.5"(D) x 1.5"(H)
Package includes:
- Steel Station
- Acrylic Tray
Price: $54.99
- One Extra Tray [Add $25.00]
- Two Extra Trays (Save 10%) [Add $45.00]
Availability: Shipping November 2nd, 2009
Link:
TrayStation Riser Laptop Stand
Get High Speed 802.11a Wireless on All USB Macs
Easy Plug and Play USB Operation
PR: QuickerTek, specialist in power and wireless Apple
products, announces a new USB device that adds high speed 802.11a
wireless to any Mac with USB. The 802.11a standard is the highest speed
wireless available anywhere, working with 5.8 GHz speed wireless
equipment. At just under $100, this easy-to-use USB wireless speed
booster works with any speed wireless network.
Any Mac that runs Mac OS X 10.4 through 10.6 can use this new
wireless speed booster. It's as easy as plugging into the USB part and
provides up to 300 megabits per second wireless performance. It also
provides immediate access to all Apple Base Stations, including the
graphite and the latest dual-band Extreme. Another benefit of 802.11a
wireless is an increase of range over previous wireless network
standards.
Any of the
older PowerBooks, the Pismo, iBooks and desktops [which had no previous
wireless upgrade possibilities] are all candidates for this new
wireless network speed improvement. Users also gain all of the benefits
of WEP 64/128 bit, WPA and WPA2 wireless security.
This product is compatible with the following:
- any Apple Mac or laptop with USB port
- Mac OS X 10.4 through 10.6
- Any Apple AirPort Base Station
This new 802.11a USB wireless upgrade also supports prior wireless
networking standards - so connection to any speed network is possible.
Ideal for those mobile users who are never sure what speed network
awaits them at their next destination. It is both small and
lightweight, so there's no penalty for high speed wireless. Tossing
this USB 802.11a booster into a laptop bag provides the confidence to
connect to any wireless situation.
Wireless Support:
- 802.11a
- 5.8 GHz 802.11n
- 2.4 GHz 802.11n
- 802.11b
- 802.11g
Who needs 802.11a wireless speeds? Users who have previously avoided
downloading videos and/or streaming audio, can now stop flinching when
a website "download" button is clicked.
802.11a USB Wireless Booster sells for $99.95
Like most QuickerTek products, the new 802.11a USB Booster is backed
with a one-year warranty on parts and labor.
Link: 802.11a
USB Wireless Upgrade
Waterfield Designs Introduces the Muzetto, an
Urban Man Bag for the Mobile Age
PR:
Waterfield Designs, a leader in custom laptop sleeves and designer bags
and cases for digital-minded professionals, announces the Muzetto bag
for men. Designed to complement men's clothing, it features distressed,
dark brown leather with a choice of six color accents.
The Muzetto is available in two sizes for daily or travel use: the
Personal size for carrying essentials and the Laptop size that fits up
to a 13 inch laptop and accessories. All Waterfield Designs bags are
made in the USA.
"With celebrities like David Beckham, Robert
Downey Jr. and Brad Pitt toting man bags, there has been a huge
increase in demand and popularity of bags for men," notes Gary
Waterfield, company founder. "In today's fast-paced world, there is an
ever-increasing need to carry around gadgets and essentials far too
many to stuff into pockets. The Muzetto offers a man peace of mind that
his necessities are safely stowed, while enhancing virtually anything
he selects to wear. The textured leather has a certain masculine
worldly look as if it has stories to tell and that makes life
interesting."
The Muzetto is a lightweight,
vertical bag with an adjustable strap. Every detail is engineered with
look and functionality in mind. The bag includes one main compartment,
a back pocket, an under-flap pocket, and a zippered interior pocket,
thus men can designate a place for each item. A gold liner lights up
the interior making contents easy to differentiate. The flap length and
angled sides add to its svelte look. To reduce shoulder and back
fatigue, a removable, shoulder pad with a gripping underside keeps the
strap firmly in place, and lowered D-ring strap attachments on the
Laptop Size bag keep the load balanced.
Options include a choice of six color accents and two sizes to suit
your daily or travel needs: the Personal size for caring necessities
including a wallet, cellphone, digital camera, MP3 player and
sunglasses; and the Laptop size for up to a 13 inch laptop plus more.
Used with a Waterfield Designs SleeveCase, the Laptop size is TSA
checkpoint friendly. Both sizes are small enough to provide
unrestricted motion yet large enough to stow essentials and digital
gear. The bag hangs naturally against the body, and its clean, refined
look complements any outfit casual jeans to a dressier blazer.
The Muzetto
- Personal Size $179
- Dimensions: 10.5 x 8.5 .
- Colors: Distressed brown cowhide leather with color accents in
black, copper, pine, grass, flame, or pearl.
- Laptop Size $ 239
- Dimensions: 14" x 11".
- Colors: Distressed brown cowhide leather with color accents in
black, copper, pine, grass, flame or pearl.
Prices: $179 to $259
Waterfield Designs manufactures custom-fitted, high-quality cases
and bags for a full-range of laptop computers, cameras, and other
digital gear. All products are manufactured to exacting standards in
San Francisco.
Link: Muzetto
Bargain 'Books
For deals on current and discontinued 'Books, see our 13" MacBook and MacBook Pro,
MacBook Air, 13" MacBook Pro, 15" MacBook Pro, 17" MacBook Pro, 12" PowerBook G4, 15" PowerBook G4, 17" PowerBook G4, titanium PowerBook G4,
iBook G4, PowerBook G3, and iBook G3 deals.
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