Re: eMac Musings
Ken Watanabe
Charles,
I like the new eMac,
mostly for its higher-resolution screen. At some point (maybe after the
next back-to-school 
shopping season but before
Christmas shopping), Apple should definitely market a version to
consumers. All Apple needs to do is create versions with the same specs
as the LCD iMac models (other than the screen and speakers) and offer
them for the same prices. This way, most consumers will still choose
the LCD iMac as a better value, but some consumers will be happier with
the eMac for various legitimate reasons (and I'm sure Apple will be
happy with the great profit margin). Choice is good.
Thanks for the article.
- Ken Watanabe
- I agree.
Charles
eMac Musings
From: Gary Shelton
Hello,
I read your article on Low End Mac regarding the eMac vs. iLamp, er, sorry
G4 iMac. If the machines are configured as close as possible, the
difference between the eMac and the education-priced G4 iMac ends up
being $220. Admittedly, not a huge difference, though I've had to
choose between two computers models with narrower prices. I just wanted
to note that the base iMac doesn't have a combo drive, it's only CD-RW
- the $1,599 model - has to be purchased to get the combo drive.
I enjoy reading your articles when they're available...
Gary Shelton
- Hi Gary,
Thanks for the clarification. I slipped up on that CD-RW issue.
Charles
eMac Musings
From John Christie
Hi,
In regards to the uselessness of CRTs, there are two things they
still excel at. Only one of those has been met with some high end
LCDs.
In psychology the CRT is very important because of the fast
presentation times available. An LCD can have rise and fall times for
pixels in the 30 msec range (easily higher). CRTs are much much faster
and allow much more precise timing of stimulus presentation with crisp
onsets and offsets. There are other sciences in which this is also
important. Motion on an LCD is terrible and some games are awful
because of this same flaw. To give an extreme example d/l Apple's VBL
sync sample for Mac OS X from the sample code section of the
developer's website. A vertical bar is displayed being animated back
and forth horizontally across the screen (this accentuates VBL
"tearing"). If you compare the animation between a CRT and LCD the
difference is very dramatic, even to the untrained eye the LCD is very
very blurry.
Colour capabilities of LCDs are just not even close. There are some
new ones that are very expensive, that can match a CRT for most
purposes. However, the inexpensive LCDs we know and love have severe
problems with colour fidelity and range.
Many people still need CRTs. Others just can't afford LCDs.
Sincerely,
John Christie
- Hi John,
I didn't say CRTs were useless; just that I don't like 'em. ;-)
No argument on the points you raise. I'm neither a psychologist nor a
gamer, and animation is not a high priority for me. Critical color
balance isn't an issue that concerns me personally either.
As I said in the article, Apple should give consumers their
preference.
Charles
Real PowerBooks
From: Scott Brown
Hi Charles:
I read with interest your feelings about the
PB 5300. That, too, was my first
PowerBook (purchased shortly after my first Mac, a wonderful 7500 now upgraded to G3). However,
although I did enjoy the PB experience, I needed to pare down and sold
the machine.
I missed it a lot. It was fun to use, and, since it was a Mac, I was
able to do so much so fast, so easily.
Six years later (thanks to eBay), I now have a
1400c, 1400cs, PB 170, 3 180s, 3 Duos,
a 540c (broken hinge)
, the 3400c
(affectionately called "the Beast), and a bunch of desktops. My
favorite PB is the 1400: the keyboard is the best I've ever used, par
none. I enjoy the others, including the older 100 series (tank tough
and still running), but the 1400 will always hold a special place in my
heart, deep inside the bigger special place that all Macs hold.
Thanks,
Scott
- Hi Scott,
That's a nice collection. I'm negotiating the purchase of a 1400 to
replace my daughter's 5300.
However, I prefer the WallStreet keyboard to all others.
Charles
Good PB Prices
From Dan Finegan
Hi Charles
I thought you might like adding Dave Baucom (http://baucomcomputers.com) to your
weekly roundup of best used PowerBook prices. His deals are
consistently lower the other sources you mention. While I have only
made one purchase from him, he seems to be a very reputable dealer. Dan
Knight has had a link to his site for quite a while.
Thanks!
Dan Finegan
- Thanks Dan, I've added his site to the list of ones I check.
Charles
Passive cooling - 2-layer aluminum baking sheets
for $10 from Target work very well (PB Pismo 400 30/768)
From Hank
I put a 30 GB drive and 768 MB RAM in my Pismo 400, and it warmed up
a bit.
I found baking sheets - 2 layers of aluminum crimped together with
an air space, dimples in one side to spread heat evenly - make
wonderful lap protectors. The aluminum works dandy as a radiator.
They come in various sizes; all have one edge tipped slightly as a
handle, just right to wrap around front or back of the PowerBook
without interfering with cables (protects that flimsy door and the
cable plugs from being bent off).
Two of them make a fine 'sandwich' connector inside a Targus
computer bag. Pad them with a sheet of paper so they don't scuff the
black plastic case of a Pismo, that's actually got a very thin layer of
color not solid colored plastic (hmmm, a little buffing and I could
probably make a transparent Pismo!)
Aluminum is transparent to X-rays. And lighter than a slab of
marble, if you're traveling.
�
