Compiled by Charles Moore
and edited by
Dan Knight
- 2005.12.09
PowerBook, iBook, iPod, and other portable computing is covered
in The 'Book Review. News about Apple's
transition to Intel CPUs and other Intel developments is covered in
The Macintel Report. iPod news is
covered in The iNews Review.
All prices are in US dollars unless otherwise noted.
Hardware
Software
Hardware
How Fast is the 1.42 GHz Mac mini G4 Compared
to the Power Mac G4/800 Dual?
MacReviewZone'a Ask Johnny AppleSpeed compares the Power Mac
Dual G4 800 MHz vs. Mac mini G4 1.42 GHz. The Mac mini is faster in
all but one test.
Link:
How Fast is the Power Mac Dual G4 800 MHz Compared to the Mac mini
G4 1.42 GHz
FastMac Reduces Optical Drive Upgrade Prices up
to 35%, Adds Free Panther
PR: FastMac has announced it has lowered prices on its
entire line of optical drive upgrades by as much as 35%. 32x Combo
drives now start at $49.95 and 16x Dual Layer SuperDrives at
$89.95. All optical drive purchases now include a free copy of Mac
OS 10.3 "Panther" (a $50 value). Drives are available for iMacs
(G3, G4, and G5), eMacs, G3 PowerBooks (Pismo and Lombard), G4
PowerBooks (Titanium and Aluminum), iBooks (G3 and G4), Mac minis,
G4 Cubes, and PowerMacs (G3, G4 and G5). All drives come with a 1
year warranty and 30 day money back guarantee.
"If you have a Mac chances are pretty good that one of our Super
or Combo drive upgrades will work in it" said Michael Lowdermilk,
Business Development Manager for FastMac Performance Upgrades, Inc.
"Upgrading your optical drive is a great way to get more
functionality and take advantage of the latest and greatest
applications now for up to $50 less."
Pricing starts at:
Desktops
- 32x Combo - $49.95
- 16x Dual Layer - $89.95
Laptops
- 24x Combo - $109.95
- 8x Dual Layer - $189.95
Link: FastMac
Iomega Launches MiniMax Desktop Hard Drive for
the Mac mini
PR:
Iomega Corporation has launched the perfect companion to the Apple
Mac mini computer: the exciting new Iomega MiniMax Desktop Hard
Drive in 160 GB and 250 GB* capacities. The stackable Iomega
MiniMax Drive mirrors the look of the Apple Mac mini computer and
comes with twin USB 2.0 and FireWire data hubs, bringing increased
data capacity, accessibility and flexibility to devoted users of
the Mac mini.
The new Iomega MiniMax Desktop Hard Drive is compact in design,
but packs a lot in performance, value and features. The MiniMax
Drive is just 6.5 inches square and 2 inches tall and easily stacks
with the Apple Mac mini. The MiniMax Drive is a practical upgrade
to the internal 40 GB or 80 GB native capacity of the Mac mini,
delivering up to 250 GB* in storage capacity along with a 3-port
Hi-Speed USB (USB 2.0) hub and 3-port FireWire hub. A smart power
switch allows the drive to power up and down in concert with the
Mac mini, and a specially designed active/passive cooling system
keeps the desktop virtually noiseless. Dantz Retrospect backup
software is included for hassle-free backups and data recovery for
Mac users, along with Iomega IAB Pro backup software for Windows
users.
"Iomega's new MiniMax Drive answers the need for style and
functionality that Mac mini users need today," said Brian Still,
Manager of Product and Channel Marketing, Iomega Corporation. "The
MiniMax Drive delivers an upgrade in capacity and the additional
FireWire and USB hubs that Mac users need to utilize an array of
peripherals, and it complements the features of the Mac mini
without drawing attention to itself, making a great computer even
better for organizing and protecting digital movies, photography
and music."
Users can save up to 1,000,000 photos, 4,625 hours of music, or
375 hours of video** on a single Iomega MiniMax 250 GB* drive.
Multiple Iomega MiniMax drives can also be stacked together for
even greater expansion capacity.
Product Features
- Hi-Speed USB (USB 2.0) 3-port hub;
- FireWire 1394a 3-port repeater/hub;
- Smart power switch - powers up and down in tandem with Mac
mini;
- Active/passive cooling system with thermostatically controlled
fan.
The Iomega MiniMax USB 2.0/FireWire Desktop Hard Drive is
compatible with Microsoft Windows 2000/XP Home or Professional;
Macintosh G3 or greater (blue and white G3 only), iMac or Mac mini
computer with built-in USB connection and Mac OS 10.2 or above.
The new Iomega MiniMax USB 2.0/FireWire Desktop Hard Drive is
now shipping in 160 GB capacity model for $199.95 and 250 GB
capacity model for $249.95. (All prices are U.S. suggested retail.)
The Iomega MiniMax Drive is available online from Iomega and at
other select online and Web retailers.
Link: Iomega
High Powered Transceiver Blasts Out Long
Distance Wireless for AirPort Base Stations
PR: QuickerTek announces a 1,000 milliwatt (1 Watt) Plug
N Play Transceiver for Apple AirPort Base Stations. Attaching to
the external antenna port on the Base Station, this Transceiver
offers the FCC's maximum allowable wireless signal strength. At
only $450, the PNP Base Station Transceiver the perfect solution
for difficult wireless areas where only maximum RF power will
do.
The Plug N Play 1 Watt Transceiver can be mounted inside or
outside - ideal when the wireless signal must reach out from one
building to another building. While the RF power is more than
impressive, this product can be installed and in use by any
ordinary Mac user. A waterproof 7dBi omni directional antenna is
part of package too - making the products truly "plug and
play".
The AirPort Base Station does not not need to be opened to
connect the PNP Transceiver, so high speed 802.11/b/g WiFi is
finally within the reach of every Mac user. It works with all
AirPort supported Mac OS versions and requires no software
drivers.
Rick Estes, president, QuickerTek said, "This product
complements the only indoor 500 milliwatt Transceiver - ours - and
is just as easy to install and use. It comes with all the cables,
connectors and AC power supply to be up and running in only 10
minutes. Tim Allen of Tool Time television show fame would find the
extreme power of this Transceiver completely adequate," he
joked.
Plug N Play Base Station Transceiver
Part #: 1WXCVR-PnP
SRP: $450
Compatibility: Apple AirPort Base Stations with external antenna
ports Antenna: 7dBi omni directional included
Power: AC power adapter included
Cables: low-loss coax cables included
Link: QuickerTek
Unotron Introduces Completely Washable Computer
Mice
PR: Unotron, manufacturer and marketer of high quality,
washable data input and security devices, today announced the
introduction of its SpillSeal protected, to IP66 and NEMA 4X
standards, washable corded optical mouse product line. Available
with or without scroll wheel in standard or overmolded rubberized
finish, the new washable mice can be purchased in gray or
black.
The newly patented Unotron ScrollSeal Washable Optical 3-button
Mouse and Unotron SteriMax Washable Optical 3-button Mouse
complement Unotron's SpillSeal corded and wireless computer
keyboards and receivers, as well as its SmartRest SRC5 Smartcard
Readers and external SAC2 Standalone Smartcard Readers.
"Unotron has transformed the industry with the introduction of
affordable data input and security technologies that can be
completely disinfected because of its patented SpillSeal(R)
protection which halts the spread of infection - a major concern
for hospitals, schools, government, business offices, as well
individual consumers," says Unotron Director Joseph H. Carabello.
"Unotron has forged new ground with its removable scroll wheel
design and high-performance overmolded rubberized surface, which
satisfy the most stringent disinfectant requirements."
According to Carabello, Unotron's pioneering mice design
configurations and materials allow these patented products to be
easily washed, immersed and disinfected by commercial-grade
detergents and antibacterial agents while providing users with
comfort, control and reliability.
SpillSeal washable mice are manufactured and assembled to
support restrictive cleaning/disinfection procedures without any
detrimental effect to the exterior or the products' internal
components.
Link: Unotron
Software
PatchBurn 4 Enables Unsupported Burners in
Tiger
PR: PatchBurn is a tool to patch existing CD/DVD-drivers
(under Mac OS X 10.2.x) or to generate and install new device
profiles (under Mac OS 10.3.x and later)
It allows many otherwise unsupported burners to be used directly
with Mac OS X, iTunes, and DiscBurner.
PatchBurn 3 and 4 are just normal maintenance releases. If you
already installed PatchBurn 3 or 4, there is no need to download
and install the new version.
There is something new - a tool called PatchSleep. This tool
enables the so called Safe Sleep mode on many older PowerBooks and
iBooks. Try it. It's free.
This version will expire at 06/01/2006
System requirements: Mac OS X 10.4 or later
Link: PatchBurn
Papyrus Office 11, Affordable Alternative to
Microsoft Office
PR: Looking for a less expensive, less-bloated, less
Microsoftian alternative to MS Office? Papyrus Office 11
incorporates a first-rate word-processor with integrated
spreadsheet capabilities, and a relational database including an
intuitive user interface for instantaneous searches. For many
users, Papyrus should prove a perfectly satisfactory alternative to
the Microsoft behemoth. The latest version 11.27 upgrade was
released this month.
Papyrus has been around in a German language Windows version (as
well as TOS and OS/2 Warp variants) for twelve years, as its
version XI (eleven) number attests. Consequently, it is mature
software, Now ported to an English language OS X version and ready
to confront the colossus of production software on the Mac
platform.
The developers' stated philosophy with Papyrus is to make your
work as simple as possible by providing carefully selected,
powerful features in a ergonomic package, avoiding useless bells
and whistles. "Adding 'more' can quickly become 'too much' - except
for those people who earn money on bulky and slow Office-Software
(generally, people who offer training seminars or sell expensive
new computers)."
Papyrus features:
- Word-processing with everything you need,
- Desktop publishing suitable for professional applications,
- Embedded spreadsheets with over 100 calculation functions,
- Relational databases with a powerful search engine, suitable
for a complete range from simple address databases, to multimedia
applications, or complex inventory systems.
- You can even install (or copy) Papyrus onto a USB-Stick (or
other memory card), for mobile use on visiting computers.
System requirements:
- Papyrus Office for Mac is completely compatible with Mac OS X
10.2 or newer (Jaguar, Panther, and Tiger).
Papyrus Prices
Papyrus Office 11 (English) - Word processing, spreadsheet,
desktop publishing, and relational database software, including
online help and English-language example files, shipment via
Internet download; for Windows 9x-XP, Mac OS X sells for $99.
Crossgrade or Student orders (check conditions o Website) are
entitled to a discount of $20. A downloadable demo of the program
is free. (Prices are in US-$ for all customers living outside the
EU, only European residents pay in Euros. This serves to balance
out the European sales tax.)
Papyrus Office is shipped via Internet download. Users receive a
license key via e-mail, including instructions on how to download
the complete package from our Internet server.
SteerMouse Driver for Mighty Mouse and Other
Mice
PR: SteerMouse supports USB and Bluetooth mice. It will
even work with mice designed for Windows PCs. You can customize
your mouse freely even if there is no Macintosh's driver.
SteerMouse has convenient and unique functions that Apple's
driver does not include. SteerMouse makes the best use of the
Mighty Mouse.
- You can assign various functions, such as a shortcut keys and
"snap to" cursor movement, which moves the cursor to the dialog
box's default button, etc....
- You can customize the scroll ball.
- You can adjust the cursor's speed and acceleration. (Apple's
driver allows you to adjust only the cursor's acceleration)
- You can customize Mighty Mouse in each application.
SteerMouse supports the Tilt Wheel.
- You can assign horizontal scrolling, a vertical scrolling or
shortcut keys. In addition, you can adjust the scrolling speed and
acceleration.
SteerMouse supports up to a maximum of 8 buttons.
- SteerMouse allows using extension buttons of any multibutton
mouse. You can make the best use of a button which previously did
not work on Mac.
SteerMouse allows adjusting of the cursor's speed and
acceleration.
- You can adjust the cursor's speed and acceleration. (Apple's
driver allows you to adjust only the cursor's acceleration) By
adjusting both the speed and acceleration, you can customize the
best setting that fits the movement of your own hand.
SteerMouse moves the cursor automatically.
- When a window or dialog box is activated, SteerMouse moves the
cursor to a specific location on the screen: the default button;
the cancel button; the close button; etc... You never lose sight of
the cursor's position, because the cursor does animated
movement.
SteerMouse has a lot of convenient and unique functions, and
customizes your mouse greatly.
- Shortcut key input - Assign shortcut keys. It is possible to
allocate shortcut keys based on the rotation of the scroll ball and
wheel.
- Cursor movement - Move the cursor to a specific location, such
as the default button and the close button, etc. You never lose
sight of the cursor's position, because the cursor does animated
movement.
- Scroll - Scroll vertically or horizontally. You can adjust the
scrolling speed and acceleration.
- Click - You can assign click, double-click or modifier click,
etc...
- Switch Application - Display the process screen for switching
applications.
SteerMouse is customizable in each application.
You can configure your mouse with different groups of settings
for different applications. Find the best setting that's right for
you.
SteerMouse is shareware. A single user license costs $20.
15 days trial.
Link: Steermouse
Data Rescue II Data Recovery Software
PR: Prosoft's data recovery software for the Mac platform
has just gotten better with the new and improved Data Rescue
II.
Do you have a corrupt hard drive or one that no longer mounts?
Are other tools failing to even recognize your bad drive?
Data Rescue II is the best data recovery utility on the market
for recovering files from a problem hard drive. Other utilities can
cause more damage to your hard drive and files by trying to 'fix'
the problem, instead of focusing on recovering your files.
An optional emergency bootable CD is also available.
New in version 1.0.1:
- The Demo mode has been enhanced in this version to allow a
larger file (5 MB instead of 500 KB) to be recovered.
- The activation dialog now allows demo mode without a customer
name first.
- When choosing a sound to play at the end of recovery or
scanning, a "preview" of the sound is now played.
- The popup path menu in the recovery window now displays the
correct path, even when the path contains repeated folder
names.
- Enable/disable of some user buttons and controls is
improved.
- New file types supported for the Deleted Files and Thorough
Scan modes: Stuffit .sit and .sitx files
- Some cases in which the program would appear to freeze
following launch in the presence of bad disks, have been
improved.
- A bug which caused the default size limit for TIFF files to be
erroneously set too small (10 MB) has been fixed. Note: Users of
previous versions will need to reset that limit in order to find
larger TIFF files.
- A bug which could cause a few files to be accidentally missed
during a scan, has been fixed.
- An issue with finding Entourage database files has been
fixed.
System requirements: Mac OS 10.1.5 or later.
- $99 Demoware
- Data Rescue II Mac OS 10.2.4 and up, $99
- Data Rescue Classic Mac OS 8.6 to 9.x, $89
Link: Data
Rescue
Zeta Operating System Now Available in US
Zeta doesn't run on the Mac, but it's descended from BeOS, an
operating system that was developed for PowerPC hardware and
briefly supported on Apple hardware. Be Inc. was almost purchased
by Apple for their next generation OS, but in the end they went
with Steve Jobs' NeXT. dk
PR: Purplus Inc., a leading online retailer of computer
software and long-time BeOS reseller, has entered into agreement
with yellowTAB GmbH of Germany and is an authorized reseller of
Zeta OS in the United States.
Be Inc. originally developed the operating system under the name
BeOS, which was acquired by yellowTAB. After an extensive redesign,
yellowTAB has met their goal of producing a faster, leaner, and
more streamlined operating system that maximizes the use of
hardware on today's PCs. Much like the Mac was the best for desktop
graphics in the 80s - Zeta is now the best OS for audio and video
production today.
Completely compatible with the Internet, you can set up your
connection in a few clicks. Email, chat, instant messaging, and
online shopping is simple and user-friendly. Virtually devoid of
any possibility of viruses, it is an excellent alternative to other
more vulnerable operating systems and software for the
Internet.
Zeta OS is the ideal alternative to Windows as it is an
easy-to-use and powerful operating system. yellowTAB states they
"do not intend to compete with Microsoft, but rather aim to offer
an alternative for users wishing to run a second operating system."
Zeta can be installed on a Windows system and it will manage both
operating systems with the Zeta Bootmanager.
Minimal Requirements:
- Pentium 200 MHz (or Cyrix, Athlon, Via...)
- 32 MB RAM
- 600 MB Hard Disk Space
- 8 MB Video Memory
- bootable CD-ROM Drive
- Mouse, Keyboard, 14" Color Monitor
Recommended Hardware
- Intel Pentium III 1 GHz (Celeron, AMD Athlon Duron/XP)
- 256 MB RAM
- 4 GB Hard Disk Space
- 32 MB Video Memory
- Sound card
- CD/DVD Drive
- Mouse, Keyboard, 17" Color Monitor
Pricing and Availability
- Zeta R1 Deluxe $98.75 Now Shipping
- Zeta R1 Deluxe - Academic $78.75 Now Shipping
Link: Purplus
Software
Desktop Mac
Deals
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iBook G4 Deals, and Best White iBook
G3 Deals. For deals on iPods, see our Best iPod Deals.
