AirPort and Screen Problems Affecting MacBook Pro Models, Apple Stripped of Energy Star Label, and More

This Week's MacBook, PowerBook, and iBook News

All prices are in US dollars unless otherwise noted.

General Apple and Mac desktop news is covered in The Mac News Review.

News & Opinion

• Apple Acknowledges 2 Problems Affecting MacBook Pro Models
• Apple, Other Laptop Makers Stripped of Energy Star Label
• Steampunk PowerBook? More Like Clockwork PowerBook!
• The Great After Effects CS3 Smackdown: OS X vs. Windows on Macs

Reviews

• 17" Santa Rosa MacBook Pro Reviewed

Products and Services

• Floater Vertical Notebook Stand
• CoolBook Monitors MB/MBP CPU

Bargain 'Books

News & Opinion

Apple Acknowledges 2 Problems Affecting MacBook Pro Models

Hard Mac's Lionel reports:

"Apple regularly sends TechNotes to the certified Apple Repair Centers to help them in identifying problems and dealing with sometimes unhappy consumer. Two new TechNotes dedicated to the recently MacBook Pro Santa Rosa have been submitted concerning issues we have already talked about in our news. If this is not an official acknowledgment, as that information is not supposed to be released to the public, it indicates that Apple is aware about those problems and is working on it...."

The two issues relate to AirPort problems with various MacBook Pro models and a "wave-like effect" sometimes seen on the 15" Santa Rosa MacBook Pro's screen.

Link: Apple Acknowledges Two Problems Affecting MBP Santa Rosa

Apple, Other Laptop Makers Stripped of Energy Star Label

gadgetell.com's Ratish reports:

"Many desktops and laptops lose the prestigious honor of having an Energy Star label, as on July 20 the government set new guidelines. This is to encourage people to use more efficient means of power supplies, and personal computers in order to aid the world in Global Warming and environment protection. Also, for the countless other reasons why saving energy is helpful towards the nation.

"However, these new set of rigorous guidelines only qualifies 125 existing computers according to the federal government. Regardless, the guidelines do not put any limitations on the sale of the non energy label computers; they may be restricted in government offices or areas in need of lowering energy use.

"Apple lacks a single system that meets the requirement. Dell and HP follow with only a few models on the list of the qualifying computers."

Link: Apple & Other Laptop Manufacturers Stripped of Energy Star Label

Steampunk PowerBook? More Like Clockwork PowerBook!

techdigest.tv's Katherine Hannaford reports:

"Now that you know the, err, inner workings of the design aesthetics of steampunk pieces, here's hoping you will appreciate the work that's gone into this steampunk Pismo PowerBook created by Mr. Mordasky over at Mac Mod.

"Using just broken clock parts purchased on eBay, aluminium sheet metal, gloss, and a bit of bronze paint, he has designed and made all by himself the perfect black steampunk PowerBook...."

Link: Steampunk PowerBook? More Like Clockwork PowerBook!

The Great After Effects CS3 Smackdown: OS X vs. Windows on Macs

Creative Mac's Kevin Schmitt reports:

"There are many, many reasons to love Intel Macs, but the one I'm going to focus on today is Boot Camp. Being able to run a full copy of Windows natively on the exact same hardware as Mac OS X not only represents a 2-for-1 bang for your buck when it comes to buying a production rig, but also gives average Joes such as yours truly the opportunity to compare apples to apples (so to speak) when running cross-platform software. And with After Effects CS3 finally out in the wild (and in Intel Mac-native form, no less), it's time to see how well the Mac and Windows versions of AE do on identical hardware."

Link: Mac OS or Windows? The Great After Effects CS3 Smackdown [MacBook vs. PC]

Reviews

17" Santa Rosa MacBook Pro Reviewed

Creative Mac's Heath McKnight reports:

"Apple does it again with its MacBook Pro, professional laptop computers, offering ultra-bright LED displays (light emitting diodes), faster processors, a 1920 x 1200 17-inch display option for those working in high definition aspect ratios, and much more. If you're looking for a workhorse laptop, this is it!

"First off, I want to touch upon the LED displays, which are already bright and ready-to-go once you power up the system. It's also mercury-free, so if it gets cracked, you'll be all right.

"I also want to talk about the 1920 x 1200 display on the 17-inch model, which makes for working with HD resolutions much easier. It's a great asset to have, after years of knowing PC users had this option. The only real downside? Font sizes are much smaller on this 17-inch, native 1680 x 1050-resolution model, so you'll be making font sizes bigger on your Internet and Email options, if you're eyes are like mine, even corrected. A small thing when you're working with HD file sizes or large-format photos and graphics."

Link: MacBook Pro 17-inch 2.4 GHz Notebook Computer

Products and Services

Floater Vertical Notebook Stand

PR: If you connect your notebook computer to a large screen, at work or home, Floater is designed for you. It combines high technology with elegant styling. Close your MacBook Pro, connect a keyboard, a screen and a mouse, and you have created a perfect working environment.

The Floater is machined from a single block of aluminum, which lends it great stability and optimum cooling power by spreading the heat around.

The two small panels around your computer are of minimal height and width, but sufficient to meet the product's two requirements; to hold your computer perfectly, and to let you set it up as easily as possible.

But pictures speak louder than words, so take a look at Floater.

A machined, a floating sensation

MacBook Pro is a computer of rare beauty, and Floater is designed to complement this beauty. Floater is a combination of various parts, each one machined from a block of Aluminum. The whole structure gives a floating sensation, which belies its perfect stability.

Try to imagine the same base made of plastic or with a steel plate. This product has been created using a unique technique of metal sculpture. Every component offers the strength and solidity of metal, and the pure lines of the design give an impression of lightness.

Better than two bricks.

When we set about designing a stand for notebook computers, our biggest challenge was to design something better than two bricks, because two bricks are all you need to keep a notebook computer upright!

We wanted our stand to be easy to use, perfectly stable, and with a high cooling capacity. We also wanted it to look smart. If it didn't live up to this high level of quality, who would buy it? After all, two bricks will do...

Floater's side panels are as narrow as possible, to ensure perfect stability and an easy fit. All the parts are made of machined aluminum. The weight and strength of the metal lends the whole perfect stability. The cooling effect is between 3°C and 6°C, and the cables tuck away into the base. But that was not good enough for us. Floater was still no better than two bricks, because its design was not the one we dreamed of.

Our designs often begin with our dreams or imagination. We often imagine objects floating through the air, slightly surreal. Of course, we can't do anything about gravity, but we tried come as close as we could to our dream product, by giving it an ethereal beauty. We altered the design time and time again until we decided nothing else could be changed.

Floater is one of those rare and successful transformations of one of our dreams into a real object. As its name suggests, the impression of floating is a key design theme, as is the ideal positioning of a notebook computer next to a beautiful screen. After many prototypes, the model we introduce to you is the one we thought came the closest to our original idea.

On its Floater, the computer seems to float in the air. It is not simply carried or placed on a table. Floater has successfully recreated the atmosphere of our dreams.

As our dreams cannot be translated into words, we will go on designing and creating new objects to share with you.

When your notebook computer is on your Floater on your desk, look at it in the pale moonlight or in the light of the morning sun. We hope what you feel at that moment will be something like the dream that started it all.

The side panels are as narrow as possible to ensure perfect stability and the easiest fit. It may look unstable, but the Floater will not move. The reason for this great stability is the precision, to a tenth of a millimeter, used to calculate the right gap between the two panels so Floater and MacBook Pro fit together snugly. The inside of the panels is covered with very thin sheets of silicon that protect the computer without interfering with cooling performance.

And, since every MacBook Pro is unique, we have left 2mm room for adjustment where the panels join.

Practical design

The cutouts you see on the base of Floater are our specialty. Put your cables through the spaces and you will never have to look for them again! Once your cables are organized, they won't clutter your desk anymore, which will match the elegance of MacBook Pro and Floater.

The gap between the panels depends on the width of the central block. We are working to produce even narrower models, so this part will probably be upgraded in our future models.

Floater T2 for:

• MacBook
• MacBook Pro 15"&17"
• PowerBook 17

Whole size: w122:d270:h67mm

Weight: 1.1 kg

Materials:

• Body composition
  • Anodized aluminum alloy (Machined)
• Computer side and bottom
  • Silicon
  • Bolts
  • Stainless Steel
• Feet tips
  • Polyurethane

$305

Link: Floater Vertical Notebook Stand

CoolBook Monitors MB/MBP CPU

PR: CoolBook is a program for the MacBook and MacBook Pro computers. It lets you monitor the frequency, voltage, and temperature of the notebook.

Registered users can also change the frequency and voltage of the processor.

For test results see <http://www.coolbook.se/testing.html>

New in version 2.3:

• Added support for the new LED/"Santa Rosa" MacBook Pro.
• Updated documentation.

System requirements:

• Core Duo MacBook Pro and MacBook.
• Some support for iMac and Mac mini.

System support: Intel

$10 Shareware

Link: CoolBook

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.

Apple Certified

One new high-end 15" MacBook Pro and a wider selection of MacBook models at the Apple Store refurbished page this week.

• refurb 1.83 GHz Core Duo MacBook, white, 512/60/Combo, $799
• refurb 1.83 GHz Core 2 MacBook, white, 512/60/Combo, $849
• refurb 2.0 GHz Core 2 MacBook, white, 1 GB/80/Combo, $949
• refurb 2.16 GHz Core 2 MacBook, white, 1 GB/120/SD, $1,099
• refurb 2.16 GHz Core 2 MacBook, black, 1 GB/160/SD, $1,299
• refurb 15" 2.33 GHz Core 2 MacBook Pro, 2 GB/120/SD, $1,899
• refurb 15" 2.4 GHz Core 2 MacBook Pro, 2 GB/160/SD, $2,199
• refurb 17" 2.33 GHz Core 2 MacBook Pro, 2 GB/160/SD, $2,199

TechRestore is offering a $25 discount to 'Book Review readers off any PowerBook or iBook in stock. Just enter the code CWM during checkout when ordering online. The coupon code is valid from now through 2007.12.31.

• 12" iBook G3/700, 256/20/Combo, $469.99 less $25 = $444.99
• 12" iBook G4/1.2 GHz, 256/30/Combo, $549.99 less $25 = $524.99
• 14" iBook G4/1.33 GHz, 512/40/Combo, APX, $649.99 less $25 = $624.99
• 15" PowerBook G4/1.25 GHz, 1 GB/60/SD, one RAM slot, $699.99 less $25 = $674.99
• 17" PowerBook G4/1.33 GHz, 512/80/SD, $1,099.99 less $25 = $1,074.99
• 17" PowerBook G4/1.5 GHz, 512/80/SD, $1,149.99 less $25 = $1,124.99
• 17" PowerBook G4/1.67 GHz, 512/100/SD, APX, BT, $1,399.99 less $25 = $1,374.99

• 12" iBook G3/500, 192/10/CD, $199
• 12" iBook G3/600, 256/20/CD, $219
• 12" iBook G3/700, 256/20/Combo, $299
• 12" iBook G3/800, 256/30/CD, $289
• 12" iBook G4 1.0 GHz, 512/30/Combo, AirPort, $515
• 12" iBook G4 1.2 GHz, 512/30/Combo, AirPort, $559
• 15" PowerBook G4/867, 512/40/SD, $579
• Add Airport for $70

• 12" iBook G4/1 GHz, 768/30/Combo, $549
• 12" iBook G4/1.2 GHz, 512/30/Combo, AirPort, $599
• 14" iBook G4/1.2 GHz, 768/60/Combo, AirPort, $649
• 15" PowerBook G4/1 GHz, 256/60/SD, APX, $849
• 15" PowerBook G4/1.33/GHz, 512/60/Combo, $799
• 17" PowerBook G4/1/GHz, 512/60/SD, AirPort, $759

The PowerBook Guy

• 12" clamshell iBook G3/300, blueberry, 64/3/CD, $169.95
• 12" clamshell iBook G3/366, Key lime, 128/10/CD, $289.95
• 12" iBook G3/500, 128/10/CD, $219.95
• 12" iBook G3/600, 128/20/CD, $239.95
• 12" iBook G3/700, 256/20/Combo, $369.95
• 14" iBook G4/1 GHz, 512/40/Combo, AP, $599.95
• 15" PowerBook G4/1.67 GHz, 512/100/SD, APX, BT, $1099.95

• 12" iBook G3/500, 192/10/CD, $284.95
• 12" iBook G3/700, 256/20/CD, $379.95

• 12" clamshell iBook G3/300, 64/3/CD, OS 9, $129.99
• 12" clamshell iBook G3/300, 256/3/CD, OS X 10.3, $189.99

• 12" iBook G3/500, 128/10/CD, OS X, $209
• 12" iBook G3/500, 128/30/CD, OS X, $279
• 12" iBook G3/600, 128/30/CD, OS X, $329

For more deals on current or recently discontinued models, see our MacBook deals, 15" MacBook Pro deals, 17" MacBook Pro deals, 12" PowerBook G4 deals, 15" and 17" PowerBook G4 deals, titanium PowerBook G4 deals, iBook G4 deals, PowerBook G3 deals, and iBook G3 deals.