Except as noted, prices are in US dollars, bold links are to
outside sites, and regular links lead to 'Book profiles on Low End
Mac.
MCE Ships Expansion Bay DVD/CDRW Combo Drive, DVD
Decoder Card for WallStreet PowerBook G3 Series
One of the relatively few shortcomings of the formidable WallStreet and PDQ G3 Series PowerBooks has
been the rarity of Apple DVD kits for these models and the
unavailability of a CD-RW expansion bay drive. Additionally, the stock
20x CD-ROM module is not the most robust or versatile, and it refuses
to read CD-RW disks.
However, there is now a solution for all of these deficiencies.
MCE Technologies has
added a DVD/CD-RW combo drive for the WallStreet/PDQ to their
Xcarét Pro line of expansion bay devices, along with a
separately available DVD Decoder CardBus Card, required in order to
decode and playback DVD movies for customers who do not already own
one.
The Xcarét Pro DVD/CDRW Combo Drive and the DVD Decoder
CardBus Card are designed for the Apple PowerBook G3 Series
(WallStreet), which includes the 300, 292, 266, 250, and 233 MHz
models. The DVD Decoder CardBus Card is also designed for use with
Apple PowerBook G3 Series
(Bronze/Lombard) 333 MHz machines that do not have built-in DVD
decoder hardware.
The Xcarét Pro DVD/CDRW Combo Drive writes to CD-R media at
4x, to CD-RW media at 4x, reads DVDs at 6x, and reads CD-ROMs at 24x.
Both items are limited editions and are available in limited quantities
for a limited time.
"Since the release of our Xcarét Pro 2000 Expansion Bay
DVD/CDRW Combo Drive for the Lombard and Pismo PowerBooks a short time
ago, we've received numerous requests from Wall Street owners for the
same product but for their machines," said Arnold Ramirez, President of
MCE Technologies. "We are happy for the opportunity now to fulfill
those requests as well as to support a machine with such a large and
devoted following."
The MCE Xcarét Pro Expansion Bay DVD/CDRW Combo Drive is
designed to fit into the right-side expansion bay slot of the
WallStreet. It gives users the ability to write data to recordable and
rewritable CDs anywhere they can use their PowerBook. In addition, the
device will read prerecorded CD-ROMs at 24x speeds. The device will
ship with Roxio Toast CD-recording software.
As with all PowerBook expansion bay devices, the MCE Xcarét
Pro Expansion Bay DVD/CDRW Combo Drive is truly portable in that it
requires no external power since all power is supplied by the
PowerBook.
The MCE DVD Decoder CardBus Card is an MPEG-2 decoder card designed
for the lower PC Card slot of the WallStreet well as the PC Card slot
of 333 MHz Lombard machines which do not have MPEG-2 decoding hardware
built in. The DVD Decoder CardBus Card decodes MPEG-2 video data found
on commercial DVDs and transmits the decoded video data to the
PowerBook's LCD display at 30 fps full screen, full motion.
The MCE Xcarét Pro Expansion Bay DVD/CDRW Combo Drive retails
for $449. This price includes the drive, Roxio Toast CD-recording
software, owner's manual, one CD-R and one CD-RW media, and the MCE
Xbay expansion bay device protective carrying case. Drives are
compatible with Mac OS 8.6 through Mac OS X as well as Apple's
iTunes and Disc Burner software. The DVD Decoder CardBus Card retails
for $99.
MCE Ships FireBay FireWire Expansion Bay Docking
Station
Also new from MCE is
FireBay, a FireWire Expansion Bay Docking Station for expansion bay
modules designed to fit the Pismo and Lombard PowerBooks. When plugged
into the MCE FireBay, PowerBook expansion bay devices such as hard
disks, CD/DVD-ROMs, CD-RWs, etc. become high speed, portable, FireWire
devices usable on any Mac, PowerBook, or PC with a FireWire port.
"PowerBook expansion bay devices, previously usable only in the
expansion bay slot of PowerBooks, are very capable devices on the
cutting edge of miniaturization and technology," said Arnold Ramirez,
President, MCE Technologies, LLC. "Our latest product, the FireBay,
allows them to be used as high-speed, portable FireWire devices that
can connect to any Mac or PC with FireWire ports."
The MCE FireBay is a small FireWire expansion bay into which a
PowerBook expansion bay device is inserted. The FireBay gives PowerBook
users the ability to use their expansion bay devices as an external
FireWire device, and connect it to any machine, PowerBook, Mac, or PC,
with a FireWire port. In addition, expansion bay devices can, for the
first time, be used simultaneously instead of just one at a time and
only in the PowerBook's single expansion bay. With the MCE FireBay one
now has the ability to easily install software to an expansion bay hard
drive from CD-ROM, as well as the ability to make CD to CD copies on
the PowerBook using CD-RW and CD/DVD-ROM expansion bay devices
simultaneously. Depending on the particular expansion bay device in
use, the FireBay can be either bus-powered, or powered by an optional
AC adapter.
Supported expansion bay devices include: Hard drives, CD-ROM/DVD
drives, CD-RW drives, CD-RW/DVD Combo drives, and SuperDisk/Floppy
drives.
Of particular interest to multimedia authors is the ability now to
capture digital video on location using their PowerBook and expansion
bay hard drive, and then later simply inserting the expansion bay hard
drive into the MCE FireBay connected to their PowerMac G4 desktop
machine for final editing and rendering.
The MCE FireBay can be used as a single, stand-alone unit or
multiple FireBays can be stacked on top of each other. In addition to a
standard FireWire port on the rear, each MCE FireBay has a topside
FireWire port which connects to a port underneath each unit when
stacked, thereby eliminating the need for extra cables.
The MCE FireBay FireWire Expansion Bay carries a retail price of
$169 and ships with FireWire driver software, FireWire cable, and
owner's manual.
New Madsonline PowerBook and
iBook Cases
iBook Saver 2 for iBook (Dual USB)
- Handmade in Germany for the iBook (Dual USB)
- 4 mm neoprene provides protection from light impacts and
scratches.
- Felt-lined zippers for added scratch protection.
- Comfortable and sturdy nylon handles.
- Two mounting plates for Accessory Savers.
- Can also be used as an inner for most carrying cases.
- Available in black only.
Price: $58
G4 Saver for 
PowerBook G4
- Handmade in Germany for the PowerBook G4
- 4 mm neoprene provides protection from light impacts and
scratches.
- Felt-lined zippers for added scratch protection.
- Comfortable and sturdy nylon handles.
- Two mounting plates for Accessory Savers.
- Can also be used as an inner for most carrying cases.
- Available in black only.
Price: $58
G3 Productivity Case
- Expandable gusseted front pocket.
- Pocket for paper,
magazines, pens, airline tickets, PDAs etc.
- Made with tough Ballistics nylon - will not scuff or pick up lint.
(Available in black only)
- Comfortable reinforced leather handle and leather shoulder
strap.
- Pockets for CD or DVD drive. Extra pocket for CDs.
- Large pockets for your AC adapter and cords.
- Slip pocket for paper or a magazine
- 1/4" closed cell foam to provide the best protection.
- Top and bottom reinforced with mylar.
- 30 day money back, lifetime warranty on materials and
workmanship.
- PowerBook can be used while in the case.
Price: ballistic nylon $99, black leather $150
Leather Slimline G3 Case
- Made with glove tanned leather.
- Comfortable reinforced leather handle and shoulder strap.
- Pockets for CD or DVD drive. Extra pocket for CDs.
- Large pockets for your AC adapter and cords.
- Slip pocket for paper or a magazine
- 1/4" closed cell foam to provide the best protection.
- Top and bottom reinforced with mylar.
- PowerBook can be used while in the case.
- 30 day money back, lifetime warranty on materials and
workmanship.
Price: black leather $150, Nubuck tan $150
Brenthaven Titanium 1 Case
Brenthaven's
Titanium 1 case includes a dual-action computer protection sleeve that
safeguards your PowerBook and an acetal rod handle system and contoured
shoulder strap for comfort. At 3.9 lbs., the Titanium 1 doesn't add a
whole lot of weight to the TiBook.
Constructed of black military grade Ballistic nylon fabric, the
Titanium 1 features an organizer compartment and quick-access pockets
to provide storage for peripherals and accessories. The second
compartment houses the removable computer sleeve, an accordion file and
customized pockets for TiBook's AC adaptor and cable, spare batteries,
and disks.
Specifications
- Constructed of black military grade, ballistic nylon fabric
- 2 compartment design: one for the computer, hardware accessories
and accordion file; the other with an organizer panel and quick access
pockets
- Removable, dual-action computer protection sleeve
- 4 computer hardware pockets, 3 media pockets, 3 quick access
pockets for TiBook's AC adaptor and cable, spare batteries, and
disks.
- Wheelie strap for attaching to wheeled luggage
- Fully padded, ergonomically shaped 1.5" molded shoulder strap
- Lifetime guarantee
- Case volume: 1414 Cubic Inches
- Case weight: 3.9 lbs.
Price: $149
Bargain 'Books
This Week's Best PowerBook Deals
- PowerBook G3/333, 64/4
GB/CD/56K/14.1" Lombard, $1,099, used
- PowerBook G3/292,
64/8 GB/CD/FD/14.1" WallStreet, $1,099, used
- PowerBook G3/400, 64/6
GB/DVD/56K/14.1" Lombard, $1,299, used
- PowerBook G3/500,
128/12 GB/DVD/56K/14.1" Pismo, $1,699, used
- PowerBook G4/500,
512/20 GB/DVD/56K/FireWire, factory refurbished, 1 year Apple factory
warranty, $2,689 (these were due to arrive October 7)
- PowerBook G4/400,
128/10/DVD/56K/15.2" TFT/reconditioned, $1,799 (on back order)
This is the best price I've seen on a used or reconditioned TiBook;
hope they get more in.
These units include a 180 day warranty.
