Compiled by Charles Moore
and edited by
Dan Knight
- 2006.08.18
This week, PC World's editors proclaimed the Apple II the
greatest PC of all time, and the Mac Plus barely trailed it in the
#4 position. Apple also came out in the top spot in another area
this week with the #1 rating for customer satisfaction among PC
brands.
Anand Tech calls the Mac Pro "everything the Power Mac G5 should
have been", and Apple has already released a pair of security
patches for the just-released computer.
On the accessory front, we have a pair of new mounts for the Mac
mini, a USB keyboard with an iPod dock, RAM for the Mac Pro, and a
wireless system for connecting your iPod to your home stereo.
PowerBook, iBook, MacBook, and other portable computing is covered
in The 'Book Review.
All prices are in US dollars unless otherwise noted.
News & Opinion
Tips
Products
iPod Accessories
Software
News & Opinion
Apple II the Greatest PC of All Time (Mac Plus
#4)
The editors of PC World say:
"The IBM PC is 25. And here
are the top PCs ever, from machines you owned and loved to systems
you've never heard of.
- Number 1 - Apple II
(1977)
"The Apple II wasn't the first personal computer, or the most
advanced one, or even the best-selling model of its age. But in
many ways it was The Machine That Changed Everything. On all four
of our criteria - Innovation, Impact, Industrial Design, and
Intangibles - it was such a huge winner that it ended up as our
Greatest PC of All Time.
![The Original Macintosh]()
"Honorable Mention:
Link:
The 25 Greatest PCs of All Time
Apple #1 in PC Consumer Satisfaction
CNET News.com's Tom Krazit reports:
"A study released Tuesday by the University of Michigan shows
that overall satisfaction increased by 4.1 percent on Michigan's
American Customer Satisfaction Index to a rating of 77, the highest
achieved by the industry since 1994. But customers still rate PCs
lower than several other consumer product categories, including
cars and appliances.
"Apple Computer led the pack among computer individual vendors
with a rating of 83, a 2.5 percent improvement over last year's
score. Dell, under siege all year for its customer service
problems, rebounded from 2005, improving its score by 5.4 percent
to 78."
Link:
Apple Highest in PC Consumer Satisfaction
Classic Gone with Nary a Whisper
O'Reilly.net's Chris Adamson says:
"With the Intel switch finished, Apple no longer sells a machine
capable of running pre-2001 Mac software. 17 years of executable
Mac history gone. Does anyone care?"
"Of the really important apps I used in Classic, most have been
Carbonized (Graphic Converter, Quicken, Mariner Write, etc.), so
even if they're not Universal Binaries, Rosetta can do an
on-the-fly recompile into x86 and they run. And a few others got
Carbonized, but I moved on (goodbye, Internet Explorer, hello
Safari and later Shiira).
"And if it were really important to run Classic-only software,
wouldn't we hear more news about emulating old Macs on the new
ones? It wasn't worth Apple's time, but just as there were Mac Plus emulators for the PPC, it's
got to be worth someone's time to write a PPC emulator for the
Intel Mac . . . right?"
Link:
Classic Goes Out with Nary a Whisper
Mac Pro 'Everything the Power Mac G5 Should
Have Been'
AnandTech's Anand Lal Shimpi reports:
"The Mac Pro is pretty much
everything the Power Mac G5 should
have been. It's cooler, quieter, faster, has more expansion and it
gives you more for your value than the older systems ever
could.
"If you were happy with your Power Mac G5, then you'll
definitely be happy with the Mac Pro. And if you're a heavy
multitasker, you will quickly be spoiled by the four very high
performance cores that have found their way into the familiar
looking chassis."
Link: Apple's
Mac Pro - A True Power Mac Successor
Security Patches for Mac Pro
eWeek's Scott Ferguson reports:
"Apple Computer on Aug. 9 issued two security patches for its
new Mac Pro, the Intel-based
desktop that had just been unveiled at the Worldwide Developers
Conference in San Francisco.
"The two patches fix two serious code execution vulnerabilities
in the Mac Pro.
"The Cupertino, Calif.-based computer maker issued the security
update for the Mac Pro and the Mac OS X Server v10.4.7."
Link: Apple Issues
Two Security Patches for New Mac Pro
Comparably Equipped Dell Precision Twice the
Price of Mac Pro
PC Advisor's Simon Jary reports:
"A fundamental reason behind the commercial success of Windows
PCs over Apple's Mac has been the wide price gap between the two
platforms. Apple computers always cost more than PCs, so most
people save money by buying into Windows.
"Right? Wrong. Today's Macs are often cheaper than their Dell
equivalents. And the new Mac Pro is ridiculously cheaper than the
Dell Precision 690 workstation.
"I configured a Dell Precision 690 to match the tech specs of
Apple's base Mac Pro. In fact, I even paid to add more RAM to the
Mac to exactly match the Dell.
"And the saving was still £2,046! Enough for me to add a
second DVD-R drive and Apple's iLife suite of creative apps, and
still be less than half price."
Link:
Dell Precision Twice the Price of Mac Pro
Tips
Mac Pro DIY Manuals Posted
Apple has posted the following Do It Yourself manuals for
Mac Pro users:
- Mac Pro PCI Express/Graphics Card DIY Replacement
Instructions
- Mac Pro Optical Drive DIY Replacement Instructions
- Mac Pro Access Panel DIY Replacement Instructions
- Mac Pro Battery DIY Replacement Instructions
- Mac Pro Radeon X1900 XT and Quadro FX4500 DIY Replacement
Instructions
- Mac Pro Hard Drive DIY Replacement Instructions
- Mac Pro Hard Drive Carrier DIY Replacement Instructions
- Mac Pro Memory (FB-DIMM) DIY Replacement Instructions
- Mac Pro Memory Riser Card DIY Replacement Instructions
- Mac Pro Optical Drive Carrier DIY Replacement Instructions
Link: Apple Mac Pro
DIY Manuals
Products
Stand By Mi Mac mini Mount and USB 2.0 Hub
PR: Gorgeously designed to accommodate your Mac mini. One
look and you know it was made for Mac mini specifically. It does
not matter if you put an Apple display or any other brand monitor
on this baby, it will make your setup looks sharp and
beautiful.
A front mount, self powered USB 2.0 hub finally!! Yes, you no
longer need to reach to the back for the USB port hooking up your
iPod, or any USB external devices.
Contents:
- Stand By Mi with USB 2.0 hub
- Power adapter.
- USB cable at the right length to reach your Mac mini.
Specification:
- Dimension: W(11") L(9") H(3.3")
- Maximum weight supported: 60 lb.
- Type of Hub: USB 2.0
- Number of ports: 4
- Hub power adapter: Input 100-240V 50/60 Hz 0.3A Output: DC 5V
1A
Price: $44.99
Estimated ship date: First week of September 2006
Link: Stand By Mi
Mac mini Mount and USB 2.0 Hub
Hang With Mi Under Desk Rack Mount for Mac
mini
PR: Your beautiful Mac mini finally has something to hang
out with. Hang With Mi is a specially designed rack to mount your
Mac mini under your desk.
No room on your desk ? No problem. Hang With Mi will keep your
Mac mini conveniently out of your way. Tucking underneath your
desk, Hang With Mi allows maximum airflow that your Mac mini
required to perform at optimum level
A front mount, self powered USB 2.0 hub finally!! Yes, you no
longer need to reach to the back for the USB port hooking up your
iPod, or any USB external devices. Don't get caught under your desk
for the wrong reason!!
Contents:
- Hang With Mi with USB 2.0 hub
- Power adapter.
- USB cable at the right length to reach you Mac mini.
- Four mounting screws
Specification:
- Dimension: W(6.8") L(6.5") H(3.4")
- Minimum desk thickness required: 1"
- Type of Hub: USB 2.0
- Number of ports: 4
- Hub power adapter: Input 100-240V 50/60 Hz 0.3A Output: DC 5V
1A
Price: $39.99
Estimated ship date: First week of September 2006
Link: Hang With Mi
Under Desk Rack Mount for Mac mini
Ramjet Memory Upgrades for Mac Pro
PR: Overview: The powerful new Mac Pro continues the changeover from
PowerPC to Intel based processors, with two of the top line Intel
Xeon Dual-Core processors. The Mac Pro also uses a new type of
memory called an ECC DDR2-667 FB-DIMM. This new RAM includes a
feature called ECC (Error Correction Code), which uses an extra
parity bit to detect and correct some types of memory errors. As a
result the Mac Pro has the fastest and most stable form of memory
ever used in an Apple computer.
Heat Spreaders: Ramjet follows a more robust thermal
specification for the Mac Pro FB-DIMMs to provide more efficient
cooling. This allows for the same reduced fan speed and system
acoustics as the Apple original modules. FB-DIMMs made by many
other manufacturers do not include a sufficient heat sink. These
cheaper FB-DIMMs may increase fan noise, or drop down to a lower
speed to avoid overheating during memory intensive tasks.
Matched Sets: To take full advantage of the 256-bit memory bus,
modules should be installed as a matched quad (4x modules at a
time). You may install a matched pair, but with a performance
penalty. The Ramjet kits below contain pairs of quads of identical
matched FB-DIMMs. The matched pair of 512 MB FB-DIMMs (1 GB
kit) can be installed along side the Apple original 1 GB (2 x
512 MB FB-DIMMs) to create a 256-bit quad.
- 1 GB ECC FB-DIMM kit for Mac Pro (2x 512) $275
- 2 GB ECC FB-DIMM kit for Mac Pro (4x 512) $549
- 2 GB ECC FB-DIMM kit for Mac Pro (2x 1 GB) $450
- 4 GB ECC FB-DIMM kit for Mac Pro (4x 1 GB) $899
- 8 GB Kit Coming Soon
Link: Mac Pro Memory at Ramjet
iPod Accessories
ProType Multimedia Keyboard with
Integrated iPod Dock
PR: The world's most intelligent keyboard.
- Integrated iPod dock
- 10 programmable hot keys for storing macros and keystrokes
- Media Center keys to control media programs like iTunes
- Normal keys can be programmed to act as other keystrokes
- Line-out for audio peripherals
- Two USB Ports for convenient peripheral plug-ins
- Ergonomic Design
- Gold-plated USB connector for maximum conductivity
Link:
ProType Multimedia Keyboard
Zoom iHiFi Plays iPod on a Stereo
Wirelessly
PR: Zoom Technologies, Inc. today announced that it
began shipping its new iHiFi™ line of wireless products for
playing a stereo remotely from an iPod, MP3 player, computer sound
card, or other audio device. Zoom's iHiFi line now includes a
Bluetooth receiver that attaches to a stereo or powered speakers, a
line of Bluetooth transmitters for iPods and other audio devices,
and Combo products that pair the iHiFi receiver with an iHiFi
transmitter.
The complete Combo solution retails for approximately $99. The
iHiFi line includes Transmitters custom-designed for various iPods,
and also includes a Universal Transmitter designed to work with any
iPod or other audio source that has a headphone jack. With iHiFi
wireless, an iPod can be used as a powerful remote for control of
song selection, playlist and volume at a range of up to 70 feet
from the iHiFi receiver.
iHiFi Bluetooth wireless technology provides excellent
range and high fidelity sound, and is far less susceptible to
interference and static than FM wireless approaches. iHiFi allows
people to dance, socialize, work or relax with high-quality audio,
but without the isolation, discomfort and interference of headsets.
Connected to powered speakers, iHiFi provides an inexpensive
portable music system for the garage, deck, kitchen or wherever
someone wants to enjoy his or her favorite sounds.
The Model 4353 Universal Transmitter includes a battery that can
be recharged from a computer's USB port or from an iHiFi Receiver
power cube. Some other iHiFi Transmitters, including model 4350 for
the iPod mini and model 4354 for the iPod 3G and 4G, are
custom-designed to fit particular iPods and to draw their power
from the iPod. The Model 4360 iHiFi Receiver plugs into standard
input jacks on an audio system or powered speakers, and its power
cube plugs into an AC outlet. The Model 4360 iHiFi Receiver works
with all iHiFi Transmitters and with Zoom Bluetooth adapters
supporting A2DP profiles, including USB Class 1 Bluetooth Model
4310BF, USB Class 2 Bluetooth Model 4320AF, and PC Card Class 1
Bluetooth Model 4312AF.
Link: Zoom iHiFi
Software
Bible-Discovery Bible Studying
Software
PR: Bible-Discovery is complex Bible
studying software.
The following items are included in the current version:
Several Bible translations
- English translation by King James (KJV).
- Original Bible in Greek (TR - Textus Receptus 1550/1894).
- Original Bible in Hebrew (WLC - Westminster Leningrad
Codex).
- Hungarian translation by Gaspar Karoli.
- Other Bible translations can be downloaded from our home page
and can be used after installation.
Dictionaries.
- Digital Ancient Hebrew-English dictionary.
- Digital Ancient Greek-English dictionary.
Tools for helping to understand the texts in original
language.
- Strong's numbers for the original Greek (TR) Bible. (Strong's
number: etyma of the words in the original text sorted
alphabetically, numbered)
- Strong's numbers for the English Bible translated by King
James.
- The original Greek/Hebrew lexical meanings of the words can be
checked by clicking them.
- LXX - Greek Old Testament: Septuagint with Strong's
Numbers.
Other features
- Bookmarks can be organized into categories. Verse lists can be
compiled by topics.
- Complex, quick search feature. The program can be used as a
concordance. The search results are showed in 1 second (1 GHz
CPU).
- Customizable font size and colour. Visually impaired users can
customize the display of the text.
- The original Bible in Greek, readable phonetically.
- The original Bible in Hebrew, readable phonetically.
- Bible translations can be imported from text files.
- Parallel and comparative Bible read feature.
- Runs on Windows, Linux, Mac OS, Solaris.
- User interface in English, Hungarian.
The following parts, modules are planned to be added within 1
year:
- Chronological read feature.
- Several Bible translations.
- Quick bookmarks to complement the categorizable bookmark
system.
- Protestant cross-reference system.
- Several other cross-reference systems.
- Add your own comments to Testaments, chapters, verses.
- Bible quiz (game).
- Projector module for speeches and performances, even for
praises and songs.
- User interface in German, Slovak, Czech, Romanian etc.
- Maps of Bible scenes.
Several copyrighted dictionaries, Bible translations and Bible
tools, which can be installed as separate plug-ins and can be
purchased after the trial period expired.
The feature rich program engine is totally free. However, the
extension plugin with the Greek and Hebrew dictionaries is a
shareware product. You can support the development by purchasing
this plugin.
System requirements: Windows, Linux, Solaris, Mac OS
Link: Bible-Discovery Complex Bible
Studying Software
Desktop Mac
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