MacBook nano Rumored, Laptop Sales Strong for Holidays, MacBook Software Update 1.1, and More

General Apple and Mac desktop news is covered in The Mac News Review. iPod, iPhone, and Apple TV news is covered in The iNews Review.

This is the last 'Book Review of the year - Low End Mac will be closed from Christmas through New Year's Day. We'll be back with more MacBook, PowerBook, and iBook news in two weeks. We wish you and yours a joyous Christmas and a blessed 2008.

All prices are in US dollars unless otherwise noted.

News & Opinion

• Impossibly Thin MacBook nano Rumored
• Laptops Sales Strong This Christmas

Apple Updates

• MacBook, MacBook Pro Software Update 1.1

Products

• Sonnet Offers MacBook Pro Users ExpressCard/34 Memory Card Reader/Writer

Bargain 'Books

News & Opinion

Impossibly Thin MacBook nano Rumored

Digital Daily's John Paczkowski says:

"In the run-up to January's Macworld Expo conference in San Francisco, analysts are sifting the entrails of their channel checks for portents of Apple devices to come. This morning UBS analyst Ben Reitzes and Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster published research notes suggesting Apple will use Macworld to debut a number of new Macs, among them the company's smallest laptop ever.

"'Although we were anticipating an 'ultraportable' device with an 8-inch to 11-inch screen, our checks indicate the screen will likely be 11 inches to 13 inches,' Munster wrote. 'That said, we continue to expect the 'ultraportable' MacBook to be Apple's thinnest and lightest ever. It will likely be priced between the $1,099 consumer-level MacBook and the $1,999 MacBook Pro.'"

Link: MacBook Nano: Impossibly Thin (Just Like Your Wallet After Visiting the Apple Store)

Laptops Sales Strong This Christmas

Computerworld's Sharon Gaudin reports:

"Strong laptop sales are making this a hot holiday shopping season for PC makers, according to a report from IDC.

"In its Worldwide Quarterly PC Tracker, IDC projects that worldwide PC shipments will increase by 16.7 per cent in the fourth quarter of this year, bolstered by the strong laptop sales. The growth projection is good news for manufacturers, who probably still vividly remember slogging through a slow second half of 2006. PC growth was merely 7.9 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2006....

"The laptop share of client PCs nearly hit 45 per cent in the third quarter and is expected to reach 50 per cent by the end of 2008, IDC added...."

Link: Laptops Sales Strong This Christmas

Apple Updates

MacBook, MacBook Pro Software Update 1.1

This update addresses a responsiveness issue on MacBook and MacBook Pro notebook computers. Some MacBook and MacBook Pro systems may occasionally experience a temporary suspension of keyboard input which can last a minute or longer. The Mac OS X 10.5.1 update is required before installing the MacBook, MacBook Pro Software Update 1.1.

File Size: 979 KB

System Requirements: Mac OS X 10.5.1

Link: MacBook, MacBook Pro Software Update 1.1

Products

Sonnet Offers MacBook Pro Users ExpressCard/34 Memory Card Reader/Writer

PR: Sonnet Technologies announces the introduction of its new 21-in-1 Multimedia Memory Card Reader & Writer for ExpressCard slots. This product replaces Sonnet's popular reader-only version at the same price. ExpressCard is the expansion slot technology of choice in today's most popular notebook computers.

Without cables, Sonnet's 21-in-1 Multimedia Memory Card Reader & Writer ExpressCard/34 quickly moves files between memory cards and a notebook computer. With the ability to also write data to memory cards, users can copy image and music files to memory cards for use in digital picture frames and MP3 players, respectively. Sonnet's memory card reader & writer sits flush in a MacBook Pro or Windows notebook's ExpressCard slot, so it can be carried inside the computer slot even when not in use. The Sonnet product supports the most popular memory card formats used in digital cameras, cell phones, and other electronic devices, including Memory Stickô, MMC (Multimedia Card), SD (Secure Digital), XD-Picture Cardô, and all their variations. The card works in ExpressCard/34 and ExpressCard/54 slots.

Multimedia Memory Card Reader & Writer ExpressCard/34 Compatibility

• MacBook Pro running Mac OS X Version 10.4 or later
• PC notebook computer with ExpressCard/34 or ExpressCard/54 slot, running Windows Vista or XP SP2

Multimedia Memory Card Reader & Writer ExpressCard/34 (part number MMRW-E34) became available December 17, 2007, with the suggested retail price of $29.95.

Link: Sonnet ExpressCard Memory Card Reader

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.

This week with Apple refurb 'Books the $1,699. 2.2 GHz 15" MacBook Pros are back, the 2.4 GHz models have dropped by $100, and there are three 17" MacBook Pro and three MacBook models offered. cm

• refurb 2.0 GHz Core2 MacBook, white, 1 GB/80/Combo, $899
• refurb 2.16 GHz Core2 MacBook, white, 1 GB/120/SD, $1,049
• refurb 2.16 GHz Core2 MacBook, black, 1 GB/160/SD, $1,249
• refurb 15" 2.2 GHz Core2 MacBook Pro, 2 GB/120/SD, $1,699
• refurb 15" 2.33 GHz Core2 MacBook Pro, 2 GB/120/SD, $1,899
• refurb 15" 2.4 GHz Core2 MacBook Pro, 2 GB/160/SD, $2,099
• refurb 17" 2.33 GHz Core2 MacBook Pro, 2 GB/160/SD, $2,199
• refurb 17" 2.4 GHz Core2 MacBook Pro, 2 GB/160/SD, $2,399
• refurb hi-res 17" 2.4 GHz Core2 MacBook Pro, 2 GB/160/SD, $2,599

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" PowerBook G4/1 GHz, 256/60/SD, $549.99 less $25 = $524.99
• 15" PowerBook G4/1.5 GHz, 512/80/SD, $879.99 less $25 = $854.99
• 15" 2.0 GHz Core Duo MacBook Pro, 1 GB/100/SD, $1,349.99 less $25 = $1,324.99

iBook Christmas Specials!

• 12" iBook G3/500, 128/10/CD, $139.99
• 12" iBook G3/600, 128/15/CD, $169.99

Free ground shipping

• new MacBook 2.0 GHz Intel Core2 Duo white, 1 GB/80/Combo, $1,049
• open box 2.16 GHz Core2 MacBook, white, 1 GB/120/SD, warranty started, $1,199
• open box 2.16 GHz Core2 MacBook, white, 1 GB/120/SD, $1,229
• open box 2.16 GHz Core2 MacBook, black, 1 GB/160/SD, $1,439
• new 15" Core2 MacBook Pro 2.4 GHz, 2 GB/200/SD, $2,969
• new 15" Core2 MacBook Pro 2.4 GHz, 2 GB/200/SD, $3,079
• open box 2.16 GHz Core2 MacBook, black, 1 GB/160/SD, warranty started, $1,399
• open box 2.16 GHz Core2 MacBook, black, 1 GB/160/SD, $1,439
• open box 15" 2.2 GHz Core2 MacBook Pro, 2 GB/200/SD, $2,229
• open box 15" 2.33 GHz Core2 MacBook Pro, 2 GB/120/SD, warranty started, $2,199
• open box 17" 2.33 GHz Core2 MacBook Pro, 2 GB/160/SD, $2,599
• open box 17" 2.4 GHz Core2 MacBook Pro, 2 GB/160/SD, warranty started, $2,649

• 12" iBook G3/700, 128/20/CD, AP, small crack, $249

• 12" iBook G4/1.0 GHz, 512/30/Combo, $475
• 12" iBook G4/1.0 GHz, 512/30/Combo, AirPort, $509
• Add AirPort Extreme for $39

• 12" iBook G3/500, 128/10/CD, $199.95
• 12" iBook G3/500, 128/40/CD, $219.95
• 12" iBook G3/500, 256/10/CD-RW, $239.95
• 12" iBook G3/500, 256/10/Combo, $299.95
• 12" iBook G3/600, 256/20/CD, $229.95
• 12" iBook G3/800, 256/30/CD, $249.95
• Pismo PowerBook G3/400, 192/6/Zip, $249.95
• 12" iBook G4/1 GHz, 512/40/Combo, $499.95
• 14" iBook G4/1 GHz, 512/40/Combo, $549.95
• 15" PowerBook G4/550, 256/20/Combo, $529.95

For more deals on current and discontinued models, see our MacBook deals, 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.