New MacBook Pros Benchmarked, Ultrahigh Performance MPG Pro Laptop, New OCZ SSDs, and More
So we can post our three news roundups (Mac News Review, The 'Book
Review, and The iNews Review) earlier, we first do a quick proofread and
link check, leaving out images. We add images later when time permits.
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General Apple and Mac desktops is covered in The Mac News Review. iPad, iPod, iPhone, and
Apple TV news is covered in The iOS News
Review. All prices are in US dollars unless otherwise noted.
News & Opinion
Products & Services
News & Opinion
Apple Overhauls MacBook Pro
Line
On Tuesday, Apple introduced new 13", 15", and 17"
MacBook Pro models. The Early 2010 models all use Nvidia GeForce
graphics, include 4 GB of RAM (8 GB max.) and have the best
battery life to date. The new models have the same weight and
dimensions as the models they replace.
At the small end, the 2010 13.3" MacBook Pro
gets a speed bump to 2.4 GHz and 2.66 GHz, 6% and 5% higher than last
year's model respectively. The 13-incher is the only MacBook Pro to use
Intel's Core 2 Duo CPU, and it's coupled with an Nvidia GeForce 320M, a
special GPU that Nvidia designed for Apple. The battery is rated at 10
hours of wireless productivity, the best Apple has ever offered.
The larger models move to Intel's i5 and i7 CPUs,
which has an integrated Intel HD graphics processor. Intel's i-series
CPUs have the ability to modify their clock speed upward by 25% or so
depending on heat and system demands, so clock speeds are not
comparable to those in older Macs. The i5 is a lot more powerful, and
the i7 adds HyperThreading to the mix, letting two cores act like four
as far as the OS is concerned.
Also new to the range is automatic graphics
switching, where the operating system can switch between the integrated
Intel HD graphics and the dedicated Nvidia GeForce GT 330M GPU, which
also has dedicated video memory.
The new 15.4" MacBook Pro
ships at 2.4, 2.53, and 2.66 GHz clock speeds, the latter an i7 CPU.
Battery life is 8-9 hours of wireless productivity. For those who need
higher resolution, there's a $100 1680 x 1050 display option. The
entry-level model sells for $100 more than last year's, but that one
didn't have Nvidia graphics. At the top end, the 2.66 GHz i7 model
retails at $100 less than last year's 2.8 GHz Core 2 Duo model.
The 17" MacBook Pro
remains Apple's largest notebook. The base configuration has a 2.53 GHz
i5 and retails at $200 less than last year's model. For power users,
there's a 2.66 GHz i7 build-to-order option. Like the 15-incher,
battery life is 8-9 hours of wireless use.
Other options across the board are larger hard drives
and solid state drives (SSDs) in 128, 256, and 512 GB capacities.
Meet the MacBook Pro's Core I5 and I7 Chips
Macworld's Roman Loyola reports:
"The new Core-based MacBook Pros have arrived, a few months after
Intel introduced the 2010 Core processors at the Consumer Electronics
Show. The new Core processors are used inside the 15" and 17" models.
And while we'll still need to run thorough tests on these new systems,
the processors that power the latest MacBook Pros could possibly usher
in a new standard in Mac laptop performance."
Link: Meet
the MacBook Pro's Core I5 and I7 Chips
The Secret Behind Apple's Automatic Graphics
Switching
Gizmodo's John Herrman reports:
"The new Intel Core i5/i7 MacBooks come with 'automatic graphics
switching technology' to instantly toggle between Intel's onboard
graphics and more powerful Nvidia hardware. Sound familiar? Well,
weirdly, it's not Nvidia's Optimus switcher - it's something entirely
new."
Link:
The Secret Behind Apple's New MacBook Graphics
Spotlight on the MacBook Pro's Improved
Graphics
Macworld's James Galbraith reports:
"The new MacBook Pros unveiled Tuesday may look identical to Apple's
previous batch of pro laptops, but there are a few notable
under-the-hood upgrades. Chief among them are the new graphics found
throughout the line that should make these MacBook Pros significantly
faster at graphics-intensive tasks, while also increasing battery
life."
Link:
Spotlight on the MacBook Pro's Improved Graphics
Bare Feats' Preliminary Analysis of the New MacBook
Pro
Bare Feats' rob-ART Morgan has posted a customarily erudite and
analytical first take on the new MacBook Pros, outlining what's new and
what isn't. He concludes that this is a desirable processor upgrade for
those who use their MacBook Pro as a desktop surrogate but still wishes
the 15" model had an ExpressCard/34 slot.
Link: Preliminary Analysis of the New
MacBook Pro Quad-Cores (Kinda Sorta)
15" MacBook Pro i7 Benchmarked: 50% Faster!
Gizmodo's Jason Chen reports that the new 17" and 15" MacBook Pros
with Core i5/i7 processors are fast, fast, fast, estimating them to be
about 50% faster than the preceding Core 2 Duo models
Chen's article contains benchmarks showing exactly how much faster
the Core "i" chips are. The 2.66 GHz i7 outperforms the 2.8 GHz Core 2
Duo by 50% using Geekbench.
Link:
MacBook Pro 15-inch Core i7 Benchmarked: It's So Fast
Benchmarks Show Core i7 MacBook Pros Offer 50%
Speed Boost
AppleInsider's Slash Lane reports that preliminary benchmark tests
with Apple's new 15-inch Intel Core i7 MacBook Pro shows the notebook's
CPU has gained a 50% performance boost over its Core 2 Duo
predecessor.
Link:
Benchmarks Show Core i7 MacBook Pros Offer 50% Speed Boost
Nvidia 320M GPU Made Especially for New 13" MacBook
Pro
AppleInsider's Neil Hughes reports that while the GeForce GT 330M
featured in the new 15" and 17" MacBook Pros is an off-the-shelf
component also used in competing notebook PCs, the new Nvidia 320M
integrated graphics chipset used in the new 13" MacBook Pro (which
still has Core 2 Duo processors rather than the 32nm technology Intel
Core "i" family silicon) is a custom unit created just for Apple.
Link:
Nvidia 320M GPU Made Especially for Apple's New 13-Inch MacBook
Pro
Steve Jobs on 13" MacBook Pro's Retention of Intel
Core 2 Duo Processors
MacRumors' Eric Slivka reports that some observers have questioned
why Apple did not include more substantial CPU upgrade in the new 13"
MacBook Pro models, citing a fan who emailed Steve Jobs about the
decision, receiving a reply that Apple chose to focus on the graphics
performance and combine it with outstanding battery life instead of
opting for the alternative of merely a small increase in CPU speed,
arguing that we will see a greater performance boost from the speedier
(claimed to be as much as 80% faster) graphics.
Link:
Steve Jobs on 13-Inch MacBook Pro's Retention of Intel Core 2 Duo
Processors
Hackintosh Friendly Dell Mini 10v
Discontinued
TUAW's TJ Luoma reports:
"The Dell Mini 10v, choice of netbook hackintosh owners everywhere,
has apparently been discontinued as of a week ago."
Dell will be releasing a successor to the 10v using Intel's Pine
Trail Atom CPU. How Hackintosh-able it will be remains to be seen.
Link:
Hackintosh-Friendly Dell Mini 10v Discontinued
iPad: Can It Replace My Laptop?
Macsimum News' Dennis Sellers winds up a four-part review of
the iPad by revisiting his theory that
the device might possibly replace both his iPod touch and his MacBook,
noting that while it will replace the iPod touch, the laptop not so
much. He's still optimistic about the forthcoming release of iPhone
OS 4, with the caveat that he's not a road warrior, does most of
his computing on an iMac, and uses portables only as ancillaries to his
desktop rig.
To wit, Sellers cautions that If you do a lot of work - or any heavy
duty work - on your laptop, don't plan on trading your MacBook or
MacBook Pro in for an iPad.
Sellers notes that while it's okay for responding to email and
posting short blips on Facebook, the iPad's virtual keyboard is not up
to the task of production typing work, and while the optional
$70 iPad Keyboard Dock or a Bluetooth keyboard are adequate
workarounds, they're awkward to lug around in carrying bags, and the
current lack of support for multitasking is a major pain in the nether
regions, so he's not ready to give up his laptop yet for that reason
alone. While he has no trouble recommending the iPad as a Mac
companion, he doesn't recommend it as a Mac replacement.
Link:
iPad: Can It Replace My Laptop?
Will the iPad Replace the MacBook Air?
Cnet's David Carnoy reports that a sales rep at an Apple store in
New York informed him that the iPad is replacing the MacBook Air. Carnoy adds that the
opinion was clearly the rep's and not policy from Apple, but says that
she spoke with such conviction that he inferred it must be based in
some sort of fact.
When Carnoy argued that the iPad doesn't support a real computer OS
like OS X, the rep agreed that is a shortcoming, but said she tells
customers they shouldn't buy the Air as their primary computer anyway -
it being better suited as secondary computer, more for traveling.
Link: Will the iPad
Replace the MacBook Air?
Products & Services
OWC and Diglloyd Offer Ultrahigh Performance MPG
Pro Laptop
PR: An ordinary MacBook Pro, or is it? On-the-go
professionals need laptops that will hold up to field use and provide
ideal performance. The MPG Pro Laptop is a ultra high performance
portable system configured for speed and/or reliability, pre-tested and
ready-to-use.
Diglloyd MacPerformanceGuide.com (MPG), a leading resource on Mac
configuration and performance optimization, and hardware vendor Other
World Computing (OWC) announce a new Mac laptop upgrade service, the
MPG Pro Laptop - a premium laptop upgrade service based on research at
Mac Performance Guide.
Using dual internal drives (solid state and/or hard drive), the options
open up to the ultimate in speed, or mirrored reliability, and various
other combinations of speed and capacity.
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Laptop users have special needs: Reliability in the field is
paramount, and performance must be high to support work in the field
for demanding photography or HD video capture or editing. The MPG Pro
Laptop encapsulates that approach: it leverages the hardware expansion
capabilities of Apple's superbly engineered MacBook Pro together with
optimal configuration to provide the best possible experience, based on
the research presented at Mac Performance Guide. Configurations reflect
feedback from hundreds of professional photographers and media
professionals, ranging from wedding to sports to stock photography to
landscape to service bureaus.
All configurations are fully assembled, properly configured,
rigorously pre-tested, and ready-to-use right out of the box (users
will need to install their own specific software applications).
The MPG Pro Laptop is especially well suited for photography and
similar media, but is valuable in any demanding professional
environment.
Following on the heels of the MPG Photo Workstation, the MPG Pro
Laptop upgrades any recent model MacBook Pro to 8 GB of memory and
dual internal drives, offering any of the following combinations:
Dual 100 GB or 200 GB enterprise-grade solid state drives, for a 200
GB or 400 GB capacity offering approximately 4 times the drive
performance compared to a conventional hard drive.
OR
One 100 GB or 200 GB solid state drive paired with a 500 GB 7200
hard drive, allowing internal Time Machine backup capability and/or
additional data storage.
OR
Dual 500 GB 7200 rpm hard drives as a RAID-0 mirror, so that either
drive can fail without loss of functionality.
In perhaps an industry first, each MPG Pro Laptop ships only after a
rigorous 8-hour burn-in test to ferret out any weak components before
the customer receives it.
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Here's how our research applies to the MPG Pro Laptop that OWC will
build you:
- Memory - based on our research, we've found that demanding
applications like Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom need at least 8 GB
memory. We specify top-quality, cost-effective RAM modules.
- Solid state drives - the boot (system) drive we specify is a
reliable and ultrafast enterprise-grade solid state drive (SSD) that
makes your applications launch almost instantly.
- Fast virtual memory - the right solid state drive means that if
memory does get low, the virtual memory performance is markedly higher
than with a hard drive.
- RAID - The optional addition of a second internal SSD opens up
possibilities for redundancy (mirroring), or doubled speed and
capacity. You can choose lightning-fast read/write performance so your
loading, saving and copying of files is super-efficient. Or you can
specify RAID mirroring to provide the ultimate in data redundancy (dual
enterprise grade SSDs). Or you can choose a separate boot drive and
data drive, for the desired capacity.
- Quiet operation - use of a solid state drive means no hard drive
noise, a boon for applications where sound is being recorded. Or simply
pleasant in a quiet office.
The MPG Pro Laptop targets Photoshop and Lightroom users,
professional photographers, graphic designers, and audio/video
producers. Performance gains with large Photoshop files are dramatic
with with the SSD configurations. See: http://bit.ly/cj9yyv
"The MPG Pro Laptop will reset your expectations of what a laptop
can deliver, it's a personality transplant!," explains
MacPerformanceGuide author and researcher Lloyd Chambers. "The MPG Pro
Laptop setup maximizes the ability of the new Core i7 processor to run
full throttle."
After your laptop is configured by OWC, it is stress-tested under
conditions well in excess of most normal use. The CPUs, memory, hard
drives and cooling system are run at peak load for hours, exposing
nearly any reliability issue or faulty component. Your system must pass
the stress test, or it doesn't ship.
All CPU cores are run at peak load, accessing all memory
continuously, placing a high heat load on the CPUs, memory, and cooling
systems. This procedure ferrets out marginal components. (You'll
probably never use the machine that hard on your own.)
Hard drives are filled to near-capacity to force bad blocks to be
mapped out ahead of time, and for glitches to reveal themselves. (The
drives are then erased to empty after testing, ready for your use).
Hard drives and SSDs are tested to verify that they deliver the
expected level of performance.
External drives you order are similarly tested.
Nothing is perfect, hardware can and does fail with use, power
spikes, etc., but these measures are a pragmatic step to reduce initial
hardware problems to an absolute minimum.
Optional consulting is also available directly from Mac Performance
Guide author Lloyd Chambers to walk customers through choosing the
right configuration and backup strategy based on their particular
needs.
The MacBook Pro you upgrade can be either a new MacBook Pro or an
existing recent-model MacBook Pro. The April 2010 MacBook Pro Core i7
model is suggested for the highest performance.
Pricing
All prices below are approximate, and exclusive of shipping, tax,
and optional extras.
- You supply the MacBook Pro of your choice (screen size and type and
speed, etc.). Goal: extreme speed
- Approximate cost: $399 labor + $1930 parts (dual SSD, bracket,
memory)
- Dual solid state drives of the same capacity, configured as a
single volume (RAID-0 stripe).
- Approximate cost: $399 labor + $1600 parts (dual SSD, bracket,
memory)
- One 100 GB SSD for the Boot drive and one 200 GB SSD for data.
- Approximate cost: $399 labor + $1320 parts (dual SSD, bracket,
memory)
- One 200 GB SSD for the Boot drive and one 500 GB HDD for internal
backup.
- Approximate cost: $399 labor + $710 parts (dual SSD, bracket,
memory)
Link: MPG Pro Laptop
OWC Announces Memory and Storage Upgrades for New
MacBook Pros
PR: Other World Computing (OWC) announces OWC DDR3 1066 MHz
Memory Upgrades up to 8 GB and internal 2.5" hard drive upgrades
up to 1 TB for the new 13", 15", and 17" MacBook Pro models. OWC
Memory and internal drive upgrades offer owners of the newest MacBook
Pro models savings of up to 46% versus factory installed options, as
well as upgrade options not available from the factory.
owcapr2010.jpg
Full product and ordering information for OWC Memory, internal hard
drive upgrades, and other accessories for the new MacBook Pro models,
as well as existing MacBook and MacBook Pro models introduced since
2006, is available online.
OWC Memory Upgrades for MacBook Pro 13", 15", and 17" models:
- OWC 4 GB DDR3 1066 MHz Memory Module - $159.99 (with factory
module trade-in rebate)
- Replaces an existing 2 GB factory installed module for
6 GB of total memory.
- Not available as factory memory upgrade option
- OWC 8 GB DDR3 1066 MHz Memory Kit (2 x 4 GB matched
memory modules) - $315.99
- With factory modules trade-in rebate, $84 lower cost than factory
installed 8 GB memory upgrade.
Both OWC Memory upgrades can be found at http://bit.ly/5Zcbw
OWC Internal 2.5" Hard Drive Options up to 1.0 TB for MacBook Pro
13", 15", and 17" models:
* Save up to 46% ($70 lower cost) when upgrading from a base Apple
factory installed drive to comparable models from OWC. Additionally,
increase performance and/or internal storage capacity with hard drive
options and "DIY"
Upgrade Kits available in 5400 RPM, 7200 RPM, and SSD models with
capacities up to 1 TB:
https://eshop.macsales.com/shop/hard-drives/2.5-Notebook/
* Priced nearly the same as just a factory drive upgrade alone, OWC
"DIY" Kits come complete with an internal hard drive upgrade plus a
toolkit, enclosure, and free on-line install video so the existing
factory drive can be utilized as additional external storage: http://bit.ly/4Mjd4y
Additional savings are also available for customers who take
advantage of OWC's trade-in programs, which provides up to $30.00 cash
back per 2 GB Apple factory standard MacBook Pro memory module and
up to $50 cash back for the Apple factory standard hard drive. With the
trade-in, the final cost of OWC's 8 GB MacBook Pro Upgrade Kit is
$315.99 . . . a savings of $84 compared to the factory
installed upgrade cost.
Link: MacBook and MacBook
Pro Upgrades
OCZ Technology Announces Vertex 2 and Agility 2
Solid State Drives
PR: OCZ Technology Group, Inc. a leader in innovative,
ultrahigh performance and high reliability memory and flash-based
storage as an alternative to hard disk drives (HDDs), has unveiled the
Vertex 2 and Agility 2 SATA II 2.5" Solid State Drive (SSD) Series.
These are new enthusiast-class SSDs designed for consumers who are
seeking unprecedented speed and reliability with the goal of enhancing
both their daily computing experience and long-term productivity.
agility2.jpg
"OCZ's original Vertex Series of solid state drives have become a
top seller due to the product's exceptional performance and
reliability," says Ryan Petersen, CEO of OCZ Technology Group. "The new
Vertex 2 and Agility 2 SSD lines continue that tradition by
incorporating the latest controller and firmware technology. They are
an excellent solution for customers who are looking for improved
transfer rates and best-in-class input/output per second (IOPS) for a
wide range of uses, ranging from entertainment to workstation and tier
2 storage applications. Additionally, this new product line highlights
our continuing determination to be the market leader in the high
reliability memory and flash-based storage market."
Building on the features that distinguished their highly acclaimed
predecessors, the Vertex 2 and Agility 2 incorporate a cutting-edge new
controller design that delivers superior performance across the board.
As the higher-end option, the Vertex 2 excels in 4 KB random
writes up to 50,000 IOPS and features transfer rates up to 285 MB/s
read and 275 MB/s write. For the value-conscious enthusiast, Agility 2
provides similar performance at a lower price point and delivers
identical read/write rates and 4 KB random writes up to 10,000
IOPS.
Vertex2_seethru.jpg
OCZ Vertex 2 and Agility 2 SSDs not only provide a faster, more
responsive PC experience, but also promote cooler, quieter and more
energy-efficient conditions compared to traditional mechanical hard
drives. Built with SATA 3 Gb/s, the drives easily integrate into
today's mobile and desktop platforms and feature TRIM support for
Windows 7 systems. Available in 50 GB, 100 GB, 200 GB, and 400 GB
capacities*, Vertex 2 and Agility 2 will begin shipping in the next few
weeks through OCZ's extensive global channel. Both series come backed
by a three-year warranty and OCZ's dedicated technical support for
ultimate peace of mind.
Link:
Vertex 2
Link:
Agility 2
CMS 2.5" Laptop Hard Drives at Deep Discount
Prices
PR: CMS offers a wide variety of 2.5" hard drive upgrade
solutions for laptops with a serial ATA (SATA) hard drive or
parallel/IDE (PATA) hard drive. If you would like to replace or upgrade
your laptop hard drive with a drive pre-fitted to a caddy or mounting
bracket designed specifically for your laptop, check out their Upgrade
Finder for your model. If CMS does not stock custom upgrade solutions
for your model, you usually always have the option of reusing the caddy
from your old hard drive and can upgrade using one of their bare drive
upgrades below. All CMS laptop upgrade solutions include a three year
warranty.
5400 RPM SATA Laptop Hard Drives
- 320 GB SATA 2.5" Hard Disk Drive: Price: $160. Sale Price $96
- 500 GB SATA 2.5" Hard Disk Drive: Price: $193. Sale Price $116
- 640 GB SATA 2.5" Hard Disk Drive: Price: $180. Sale Price
$139.95
- 250G SATA 2.5" Hard Disk Drive: Price: $147. Sale Price $86
- 160 GB SATA 2.5" Hard Disk Drive: Price: $129. Sale Price $81
7200 RPM SATA Laptop Hard Drives
- 320 GB SATA 2.5" Hard Disk Drive 7200 RPM: Price: $167. Sale Price
$151
- 250 GB SATA 2.5" Hard Disk Drive 7200 RPM: Price: $153. Sale Price
$92
Products for Apple Universal Upgrades' MacBook Notebooks
Bare Drive Upgrades 7200 RPM SATA
- 160 GB SATA 2.5" Hard Disk Drive 7200 RPM
- 250 GB SATA 2.5" Hard Disk Drive 7200 RPM
- 320 GB SATA 2.5" Hard Disk Drive 7200 RPM
Bare Drive Upgrades 5400 RPM SATA
- SATA2.5-640 640 GB SATA 2.5" Hard Disk Drive
- SATA2.5-320 320 GB SATA 2.5" Hard Disk Drive
- SATA2.5-500 500 GB SATA 2.5" Hard Disk Drive
- SATA2.5-120 120 GB SATA 2.5" Hard Disk Drive
- SATA2.5-160 160 GB SATA 2.5" Hard Disk Drive
- SATA2.5-250 250G SATA 2.5" Hard Disk Drive
Easy-Plug-Easy-Go Hard Drive Upgrades
CMS Easy-Plug-Easy-Go upgrades include a laptop hard drive
pre-mounted to a caddy designed for your specific model laptop. These
upgrades are designed and fully tested for compatibility with the
original manufacturer's specifications and fit. Check our Upgrade
Finder below for your model. If you can not locate the hard drive
upgrade for your laptop, please let us know. We would be happy to
research your upgrade options.
EasyBundle Hard Drive Upgrades
If CMS does not offer an Easy-Plug-Easy-Go solution for your laptop,
you may also find our EasyBundle Upgrade kits a suitable option. Our
EasyBundle Upgrade kit contains a laptop hard drive and a data transfer
kit, everything you need to make use of your existing drive and caddy.
Simply plug the new hard drive into the included data transfer
enclosure, run our BounceBack Transfer software, migrating everything
onto your new hard drive, then plug it into your laptop. Simple!
Link: CMS
Laptop Hard Drives
Untwist Systems Announces New Options for the
Hudzee Internal Hard Drive Case
PR: Untwist Systems, LLC, a leading New York City systems
integrator and reseller, has announced the immediate availability of
their 3.5" Hudzee hard drive cases in three new colors, and a special
Hudzee that supports 2.5" hard drives.
hudzee2.jpg
Untwist will be displaying the Hudzee Hard Drive Cases in booth
SL10312 at the 2010 National Association of Broadcasters show from
April 10-15, 2010 in Las Vegas, NV.
hudzeedrive.jpg
The Hudzee Hard Drive Case is an innovative product used to safely
secure bare internal hard drives. The Hudzee Hard Drive Case is built
from special antistatic materials and features a sturdy safety latch.
The Hudzee is designed to cushion bare internal hard drives in a
pressure-free, stable environment, and makes protection and
organization easy.
hudzeered.jpg
The Hudzee can be stored on a shelf vertically, or stacked
horizontally; and with the inclusion of a convenient clear plastic
title window, the Hudzee provides consumers and businesses with a
low-cost method of organizing and cataloging their library of internal
drives, assuring peace of mind and promoting industry best
practices.
hudzeecol.jpg
The 3.5" Hudzee Cases are available in Red, Green, Blue, and Black.
The new colors are designed for easier organization and classification
of hard-drive storage media. The new 2.5" Hudzee Cases, utilizing a
special antistatic insert, is designed to securely hold 2.5" hard
drives and is available in White only.
hudzeebeige.jpg
"The tapeless workflow is upon us, and video tape is dead. By using
bare internal hard drives, the Broadcast, Production, Digital Film, and
Post industries can save a significant amount of money by not having to
pay for the added expense of external drive solutions." said Todd
Brous, president of Untwist Systems. "Computer tape is great for
long-term backups, and will be around for a very long time. However, it
is not always the right tool for the job. Our Hudzee Hard Drive Cases
continue to help revolutionize our client's media storage
pipelines."
For more information about the Hudzee, call 1-315-219-4463 or visit
the Hudzee website.
Link: Hudzee
Karvt Wooden MacBook Skins
PR: Karvt skins are personally hand-crafted and offer
customers a simple and effective way to completely remodel their
computer. These skins are made of 100% real authentic wood that use a
professional grade 3M backing adhesive that sticks perfectly to your
notebook
Karvt is owned by Mac enthusiasts, Kurt Barbee and Sean Herman. Sean
is a designer by trade but also a scratch deejay and skateboarder at
heart. He's traveled the world making music with some of biggest and
best performing artists around such as the Godfather of soul, James
Brown and Grammy Award Winning artists Arrested Development. His love
of all things design, coupled with his constant monitoring of "all
things fresh", have led him to become a "go to" guy when someone seeks
the services of a multidisciplinary designer. Kurt is someone who has
always been a huge fan of technology and has been inspired by the DIY
attitude of the indie rock, punk and gig-poster subcultures. Kurt's
interest in computers and art finally merged a couple years ago when he
started his own laser engraving company, which specialized in
collaborating with artists from all over the world to extend their work
in the new, exciting medium of "laser engraving". These two decided to
take their unique skill sets and produce a tangible product that
employed aspects of beautiful design along with cutting edge
technology.
karvt.jpg
They say because their Mac protects their livelihoods, whatever they
may be - career, hobby, leisure-whatever it is, it's in the Mac. Our
Mac takes on our personality and its hard drive supplements our memory.
These pieces of hardware come together and create a partner who not
only listens but makes things more convenient for our daily lives. We
constantly put our personalities into our computers, why not put some
of that person on the outside? Why not feed our Macs superficial
craving for attention? Why not show some personality on the outside of
the computer? Lets face it, we love our Macs. Plain and simple, we are
cooler then the "other" laptop owners. Why not rub it in their face
that they have plastic skins... and we have organic, durable, wooden
ones.
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How It Works
Karvt skins are personally hand-crafted and offer customers a simple
and effective way to completely remodel their computer. These skins are
made of 100% real authentic wood that use a professional grade 3M
backing adhesive that sticks perfectly to your notebook.
karvt3.jpg
How to Apply
- Step 1. Remove Backing.
- Step 2. Center the Apple.
- Step 3. Slap it on.
No seriously. Those are the directions. No more bubbles with cheesy
vinyl sticker skins. Enjoy.
The Karvt skins come in Bamboo, cherry, maple, pine and walnut -
available stained or unstained,and are backed with 3M adhesive for easy
stick-on. They all sell for $35, except for the "Artists Series" that
uses laser etching to add a layer of design to the wood and which sell
for $50.
woodskins.jpg
10% off all Preorders
If you are interested Karvt skins this would be a great time to get
your order in as they will be giving 10% off to everyone who preorders
using the code PREORDER in checkout!.
Link: Karvt Wooden MacBook
Skins
Incase Nylon Sleeve Plus for 13" MacBook
PR: Constructed of custom-made lightweight, weather resistant
nylon, the Nylon Sleeve Plus features large exterior pockets, two
internal mesh compartments, and a breakaway accessory clip for maximum
durability, storage and organization. The ergonomic shoulder strap and
retractable tuck away handles offer carrying comfort, while the plush
faux-fur lined interior and reinforced padding provide optimum notebook
protection.
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Features:
- Optimum notebook protection
- Custom weather resistant nylon construction
- Ultra plush faux-fur lined interior
- 7mm cushioned interior padding
- Double-stitched, concealable nylon handles
- Removable, padded shoulder strap
- Exterior magazine pocket with Velcro closure
- Two covered expandable exterior pockets with topographic print
lining
- Two mesh utility sub-pockets with elastic tops for sturdy storage
of small items
- Breakaway accessory clip
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Compatibility
- White unibody MacBook
- Aluminum unibody MacBook
- White MacBook
- 13" MacBook Pro
Colors: Burgundy, Muted Cyan, Red, Gray, Chocolate, Black
Interior Dimensions: 12.78 x 8.92 x 1.08 inches
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$59.95
Link: Incase
Nylon Sleeve Plus for 13" MacBook
XChange UK and ThePowerXChange.com Announce
ThermaPAK Laptop Cooling Pads and Bags
XChange UK and ThePowerXChange.com, the sources for extended
technology worldwide are pleased to announce the availability of the
new ThermaPAK laptop cooling pads and bags. ThermaPAK is the ultimate
laptop cooler for dissipating notebook computer heat. The patented
HeatShift Technology draws heat away from a computer using the laws of
thermal dynamics and energy conversion.
A device that transfers heat by conduction AND convection provides
the maximum amount of heat exchange. Conduction is heat transferred
directly from one object to another by physically touching. Convection
is heat transferred by the movement of liquid molecules from warmer
areas to cooler ones. HeatShift Technology pads utilise both conduction
and convection to cool a laptop, and the user's lap! The unipocket
design used in the HeatShift Technology ensures maximum heat
distribution from the notebook computer. Its design also creates air
channels beneath the computer for proper ventilation and air
passage.
ThermaPAK's patented HeatShift Technology is the culmination of
nearly a decade in researching thermal dynamics. At the core of
HeatShift Technology is a unique blend of phase changing material (PCM)
created by research and development engineers. This formula has proved
successful in cooling laptops by up to 6°C (11°F), with the
following benefits:
- Requires No Refrigeration
- Requires No Laptop Power (which extends battery life) - Mobile and
easy to carry (approved for airport security) - Can be used for
notebooks of all brands sizes - Performance comparable to USB fans
- Available in 13", 15" and 17" laptop models - Also available for
netbooks
- Completely portable, rolling up and fitting easily into any laptop
carrying bag.
When a laptop cooler featuring HeatShift Technology is placed under
any notebook computer, the crystals inside are in a solid state. As the
underside of the laptop begins to warm up, this heat is transferred to
the HeatShift Technology device. This transferal of heat gradually
changes the PCM crystals into a liquid. ThermaPAK's pad grooves channel
air under the laptop, and use the second law of thermodynamics (which
states that heat will tend to flow from hot areas to cold ones to reach
equilibrium) to draw heat from the laptop. Lab results, as well as
those of independent reviewers, have seen temperature decreases of up
to 6°C (11°F). After the laptop begins to cool, the HeatShift
Technology device changes back to a solid crystal - ready for the next
use.
HeatShift Bag
The ThermaPAK Memory Foam Laptop HeatShift Bag is an effective
solution to keep a laptop cool, protected, and mobile. The laptop bag
is made of high density visco-elastic memory foam to protect a laptop
from dings and scratches. Within the bag is a removable pad that uses
ThermaPAK's patented HeatShift Technology to dissipate heat away from a
laptop computer. The ThermaPAK laptop and netbook cooling pads and bags
are available now through XChange UK and ThePowerXChange.com
worldwide.
Link: XChange
UK
Link: ThePowerXChange.com
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For deals on current and discontinued 'Books, see our 13" MacBook and MacBook Pro,
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