Mac Musings

Daniel Knight has been using Macs since 1986, sold Macs for several years, supported them for many more years, and has been publishing Low End Mac since April 1997. He's been sharing his musings on Low End Mac since July 1997.

• The Late 2012 iMac Value Equation, 2012.10.31. Thinner, lighter, faster, USB 3, improved graphics, Fusion Drive option, and no SuperDrive sum up the new iMacs.
• The 13" Retina MacBook Pro Value Equation, 2012.10.30. Take the 13" MacBook Pro, add a Retina Display, remove the SuperDrive, and drop almost a pound from its weight.
• The Late 2012 Mac mini Value Equation, 2012.10.29. The entry-level Mac mini is a nice step up, but the top-end quad-core model is a powerhouse.
• The Late 2012 iPad Value Equation, 2012.10.29. iPad mini from $329, iPad 2 from $399, and iPad 4 from $499. Where's the best value?
• Tough Choices: Droid or iPhone?, 2012.09.19. It doesn't take a genius to recognize that Android is a real alternative to iPhone, but is it settling for second best?
• iPad mini: Apple's 80% Solution, 2012.08.28. With a display just 20% smaller than today's iPad, the 8" iPad mini is going to crush top-end Android tablets.
• Thank You, Low End Mac Supporters!, 2012.08.23. A big Thank You to everyone who has helped us out this month.
• Fuzzy Retina Fonts: How Bad Are They?, 2012.08.23. The Retina Display MacBook Pro had a gorgeous screen, except that a lot of third-party apps look fuzzy.
• 1997: Microsoft Saves Apple, 2012.08.06. Desperately hurting financially, Apple was rescued by Microsoft's $150 million investment.
• Low End Mac Needs Your Help, 2012.08.02. The sluggish economy impacts all of us, and Low End Mac is really hurting this summer. Can you help?
• Low End Mac Needs a Content Management System, 2012.08.02. Low End Mac needs more automation to reach its potential. We want to use a content management system, but we need some help.
• The Rapid Rise of OS X Mountain Lion, 2012.08.01. In just a few days, Mountain Lion passed Snow Leopard on its way to displacing Lion as the king of the OS X jungle.
• Lines in the Sand: A Brief History of the Classic Mac OS, 2012.07.26. 'You could say that with each major OS version since System 6, Apple draws a line in the sand that some models cannot cross.'
• No Office 2013 for Mac? Don't Panic, 2012.07.18. Based on some headlines, you'd think Microsoft was sticking it to Mac users by making Office 2013 Windows only.
• Is Tech Really Racist?, 2012.07.05. The folks at Online IT Degree claim that tech 'seems to be' racist. Do their arguments hold water?
• A Smaller Dock Connector for iDevices? Bring It On!, 2012.06.26. The 30-pin dock connector was designed for USB 2 and FireWire; we need one designed for USB 3 and Thunderbolt.
• SSD in 2012 MacBook Air Over Twice as Fast as Last Year's, 2012.06.20. The Cult of Mac headline reads 'The SSD in the New MacBook Air Is 217% Faster than Before', but it undersells performance.
• Microsoft Surface Destined to Be a Best Seller, 2012.06.19. Although Microsoft says its Surface is going to take on the iPad, in reality it will displace netbooks, small notebooks and Ultrabooks, and home PCs.
• Will Microsoft Shoot Itself in the Foot with Its Own Brand of Tablet?, 2012.06.18. Rumor has it Microsoft will unveil its own tablet to take on the iPad - but not without offending every Windows licensee worldwide.
• The Retina MacBook Pro Value Equation, 2012.06.12. The 2012 MacBook Pro with Retina Display has an amazing screen, but how much will graphical performance suffer?
• The Mid 2012 MacBook Pro Value Equation, 2012.06.12. The 2012 MacBook Pro has some real improvements (especially USB 3), but what about close-out prices on last year's model?
• The Mid 2012 MacBook Air Value Equation, 2012.06.12. The 2012 MacBook Air has some real improvements (especially USB 3), but what about close-out prices on last year's model?
• Best Guesses About the New Macs at WWDC, 2012.06.11. Rumor has it almost every Mac will be updated at WWDC. Our guesses at some of the changes.
• Low End Mac and Mission: Small Business, 2012.06.05. Low End Mac has applied for a small business grant. Learn how it could help solidify our future.
• The Macintosh Clone Era, 2012.05.30. From early 1995 to May 1998, Apple licensed Mac clones - and nearly killed the company.
• The MacBook Legacy: 2006 to 2011, 2012.05.16. Apple's original consumer Intel-based notebook, the MacBook filled an important niche until it was phased out in 2011.
• Mac (In)security, 2012.05.02. Two-thirds of Flashback infections are for OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard. Why? And how can we make Macs more secure?
• Ebook Antitrust: Is Apple or Amazon.com in the Wrong?, 2012.04.10. The federal government has filed suit against Apple for ebook price fixing while Amazon.com is allowed to sell ebooks below cost.
• 15 Years of Low End Mac: Looking Backward and Forward, 2012.04.09. Low End Mac started when Apple's future was uncertain and G3 Macs didn't even exist.
• Griping About the New iPad, 2012.04.03. There are about a dozen common complaints about the new iPad. How many of them hold water?
• Miscellaneous Updates, 2012.03.27. Tips on troubleshooting, a memory surprise, replacing Home Page, accomodating Retina displays, RAM disks, and more.
• The Mac's Calculators: From Jobsian Simplicity to Eye Candy, 2012.03.21. From the purity of the original Mac calculator designed by Steve Jobs to today's overly designed Calculator app and widget.
• Snow Leopard and OS X 10.7 Lion Backlash, 2012.03.05. While OS X and Lion are gaining market share, OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard is also making a bit of a comeback.
• A 14" MacBook Air Just for Asia? Why Not!, 2012.02.29. Rumor has it Apple is contemplating a 14" MacBook Air just for the Asian market. All things considered, this seems very plausible.
• Software Compatibility: It All Depends, 2012.02.23. From the early days of the Mac to the present, software dependencies move us forward while leaving older Macs behind.
• Too Many Macs Left Behind by OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion, 2012.02.17. The OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion developer preview is out, and millions of Macs won't be able to run it.
• Kill Caps Lock, but Leave the Rest of My Keyboard Alone (Mostly), 2012.02.03. It's too easy to hit Caps Lock by accident, but why change a keyboard layout that billions of users are comfortable with?
• Is This RIM's Macintosh Moment?, 2012.01.25. In 1996, Apple was in dire straits, but Steve Jobs redefined the company. Now it's do or die time for RIM.
• Saying Good-bye to Inkjet Printers, 2012.01.18. Apple has discontinued its $100 printer rebates, but even a free inkjet printer is false economy.
• Monitors: Bigger Isn't Always Better, 2012.01.17. Megawide cinematic displays are all the rage, but sometimes you want a monitor that's taller, not wider.
• The iPad Is a PC, 2012.01.13. Although tablets are a different kind of computer, they are definitely a type of PC.
• USB 3: Time for Apple to Make the Right Choice, 2012.01.10. Thunderbolt is great, but the PC world is embracing USB 3. Time for Apple to support USB 3, especially on iDevices.
• It's All About the Upgrades, 2012.01.09. Whether you're dealing with an old PowerPC Mac or a modern Intel machine, too little memory and a small, slow hard drive can limit performance.
• When Is Your PowerPC Mac Too Old?, 2011.12.08. Apple abandoned PowerPC Macs with OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard in mid 2009. How much longer will they remain useful?
• Firefox to Drop Leopard Support. So What?, 2011.12.02. Firefox is likely to drop support for OS X 10.5 Leopard next year, but will it really matter?
• $70 Discovery Wonderwall Projector May Disappoint, 2011.11.23. This video projector sounds like a steal, but you may end up with a lot less than you expected.
• Firefox, Chrome, and Version Number Bloat, 2011.11.09. Firefox 8, Chrome 15, Internet Explorer 8, Safari 5 - have version numbers become meaningless?
• Death of the Mac Pro? I Think Not, 2011.11.01. The week began with rumors that Apple is considering ditching the Mac Pro. I don't think that's going to happen.
• iOS 5: The Missing Features, 2011.10.31. Even at version 5, Apple's iOS lacks some basics we take for granted on traditional desktop and notebook PCs - and most competing tablets.
• The Late 2011 MacBook Pro Value Equation, 2011.10.25. Faster CPUs, bigger hard drives, improved graphics - but how do they compare to close-out pricing of Early 2011 models?
• Everyone Wins with Today's iPhone Announcements, 2011.10.04. The iPhone 4S is a step forward, but the real news is the free iPhone 3GS and the $99 iPhone 4.
• The Beginning of the End for Netflix, 2011.09.20. Spinning off its disk-by-mail service to a completely separate company is the dumbest thing Netflix has ever done.
• Android Is the New Windows, 2011.08.04. Sure, Android is growing market share, but its going to result in the same low price death spiral we see in the PC world.
• Death and Rebirth of a Power Mac G4, 2011.07.28. One week ago, a power outage killed my production Power Mac. A week later, it's running again. The story behind it.
• The 2011 MacBook Air Value Equation, 2011.07.27. The i5 CPU doubles processing power, Thunderbolt provides more expansion options than ever, and the backlit keyboard is back.
• The 2011 Mac mini Value Equation, 2011.07.27. The i5 CPU doubles its processing power, Thunderbolt provides more expansion options than ever, and Apple has reduced its price.
• Lost Apple Designs from the 1980s, 2011.07.19. One early Mac prototype looked like a cube, a notebook concept was know as a MacBook, and the Bashful tablet predated Newton.
• Four Weeks an iPhone User, 2011.07.15. Although iOS is OS X under the hood, the iPhone experience is very different from using a Mac.
• Why I Expect the Next iPhone by Mid September, 2011.06.08. Apple consistently releases new iPhones and iOS versions at the same time, and the new iPhone has to be out before the next iPod touch.
• Mac OS X 10.7 Lion Brings Back Useful Features from Apple's 1983 Lisa, 2011.06.07. As I read about Resume, Auto Save, and Versions, one thought kept coming to my mind: Lisa lives!
• Why FireWire Failed and Thunderbolt Won't, 2011.05.24. FireWire failed because USB 2.0 was good enough and Apple made some mistakes. That won't happen with Thunderbolt.
• Mac Panic, 2011.05.11. My wife was not happy. She'd double-clicked her Excel budget spreadsheet, but everything looked different after installing Snow Leopard.
• 6 Years with Tiger, 2011.04.29. Introduced on April 29, 2005, Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger has a great legacy and remains the last and best choice for many PowerPC Mac users.
• Mouse Design: 1963 to 1983, 2011.04.29. Invented in 1963, the mouse became a standard input device with the 1981 Xerox Star and Apple's 1983 Lisa.
• Creating a Workstation That Meets Your Needs, 2011.04.26. Whatever your hardware setup, you may find that something other than a traditional desk best suits your workflow.
• Working Around a Glitch in Teleport, 2011.04.25. Due to a glitch in the Teleport System Preference, you lose the modifier keys on a Tiger slave when using a Snow Leopard host.
• My First Intel Mac, 2011.04.05. Low End Mac headquarters has its first Intel Mac, a 2007 Mac mini running Snow Leopard. Initial impressions and future plans.
• Thunderbolt Delivers on a Promise Made with the First Macintosh, 2011.03.10. Apple promised a high speed serial expansion bus with the Macintosh 128K, but Thunderbolt is the first technology to fully deliver on that promise - and more.
• Steve Jobs, the Wow Factor, and Apple's Stellar Growth, 2011.03.09. From the Apple II through the first Mac and on to today's products, Apple has grown by showing people new things they can do.
• The Early 2011 15" and 17" MacBook Pro Value Equation, 2011.03.03. The new quad-core i7 models have a lot to offer, but how do they compare with close-out and refurb 2010 models?
• The Early 2011 13" MacBook Pro Value Equation, 2011.03.03. The new i5 and i7 models have a lot to offer, but how do they compare with close-out and refurb 2010 models?
• First 2011 MacBook Pro Benchmarks: How Much Better?, 2011.03.01. The first benchmark results are in from Primate Labs and Macworld Labs. How do the new MacBook Pros compare to last year's models?
• Time to Wave PowerPC Good-bye?, 2011.02.23. Is it time to wave good-bye to your reliable old PowerPC Macs, or do they still have a lot of life left in them?
• Too Much Focus Means Too Few Mac Expansion Options, 2011.02.16. From too many models in the 1990s to too few at the turn of the millennium, Apple is still missing some niches.
• MacBook Pro: Five Years of Goodness, 2011.02.15. Apple's first Intel notebook shipped five years ago and showed that the new Intel Macs were up to pro standards.
• Chinese Greens Would Rather Point the Finger at Apple than at Their Own Countrymen, 2011.01.21. Criticizing Apple is a great way to draw a lot of attention to your cause, but in this case the problem stems from Chinese greed and poor Chinese oversight.
• 25th Anniversary of the Macintosh Plus, 2011.01.17. 25 years ago, the Mac Plus changed the Macintosh from a closed box into an expandable computer system.
• 8 Years with Mac OS X, 2011.01.13. Until January 2003, I continued to use the Classic Mac OS, but after a week with OS X 10.2.3 Jaguar, I made the switch.
• CDMA iPhone 4 Opens New Markets for Apple, 2011.01.12. It's not just for Verizon, the top US wirleess carrier. Other CDMA carriers around the world can now embrace the iPhone as well.
• Low End Macs and the Mac App Store, 2011.01.10. The Mac App Store is a great idea moving forward, but at present it leaves a majority of Mac users behind.
• SSDs for Legacy Macs: Three Cheers for OWC!, 2011.01.06. OWC has announced SSDs for PowerBooks, iBooks, G4 Mac minis, as well as pre-G5 iMacs, eMacs, and Power Macs.
• Does 'Bad Grammar' Have Anything to Do with Apple's Success?, 2011.01.04. A couple pundits have recently called bad grammar a key to Apple's success. The sad thing is, they're all wrong about the grammar.

More Mac Musings in the archive: 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010

Guest Editorials

• Color Classics on eBay, Bill Brown, 2001.07.09. Observations on Color Classic sales on eBay, along with some good general advice.

Interviews with Dan Knight

• Dan Knight, founder of Low End Mac, Tommy Thomas, Welcome to Macintosh, 2007.08.08. A talk with Dan Knight, who started Low End Mac over 10 years ago.
• Interview: Daniel Knight, Low End Mac, Muzamil Akram, ATPM, 2001.09.11. "If anything, the importance of good writing . . . will be a stronger asset in the 21st century than it was in the last decades of the 20th century."
• Interview with Dan Knight, Ian Sidle, MacWrite.com, 2001.03.13
• Low End Mac's Dan Knight, MacMilitia, 2000.01.14
• Dan Knight, publisher and webmaster, Low End Mac, Mac Daily, 1999.11.10