Compiled by Charles Moore
and edited by
Dan Knight
- 2007.03.02
PowerBook, iBook, MacBook, and other portable computing is
covered in The 'Book Review.
All prices are in US dollars unless otherwise noted.
News & Opinion
Apple Updates
Products
iPod Accessories
Software
News & Opinion
$25 802.11g Card for PCI Power Macs
MacInstruct's Eric Buczynski says:
"When I won the eBay auction for my PowerMac G4, I was thrilled
to discover that my 'new' Mac came with an AirPort card. For those
who don't know, an AirPort card allows you to wirelessly connect to
the Internet and other networks. Since my PC downstairs was already
connected to the Internet through an ISP, all I had to do to get
wireless Internet access was purchase a wireless router for the
downstairs computer, and I was on my way! The new PowerMac G4
settled in upstairs and surfed the web wirelessly.
"But after a while, I noticed that the wireless signal strength
would be strong periodically, and not as strong at other times.
Like old-school televisions built for tuning into network TV,
wireless cards such as the Apple AirPort card have an antenna for
reception. Inside the plastic case and outside the chassis of the
G4, the antenna was wired throughout. I purchased an external
antenna that was supposed to boost the reception a bit, but after
disconnecting the original antenna and hooking up the new one, I
didn't notice better reception or faster speed."
Link: AirPort Card Alternatives:
Surfing Wirelessly (on the Cheap)
USB Drive Support for AirPort Extreme
802.11n
MacUser's Scott Silverman says:
"Apple has posted a support document to their site which
clarifies some details on the AirPort Extreme's NAS abilities. It
supports drives formatted as HFS+, FAT16, or FAT32. Unfortunately
no NTFS support, so if you were planning on using NAS with a PC
it's a no-go (unless you're willing to settle with FAT32
partitioning). Apple notes that the drive's block size must be 512
byes. Also of interest is how the AirPort Extreme shares your drive
based on its formatting...."
Link:
AirPort Extreme on USB Device Support
Apple Updates
Firmware Updates for Intel-based Macs
An updated Apple Knowledge Base article says:
"Firmware updates for Intel-based Macintosh computers may not be
displayed automatically using Software Update. If they do not
appear in Software Update, they must be manually downloaded from
the Apple Support Downloads site.
"If you are unsure whether your computer needs a particular
update, simply download and open the update installer. The
installer will alert you if the firmware update is already
installed or not needed.
"To check your computer's version string of the Boot ROM or SMC
firmware
- From the Apple menu, select About This Mac.
- Click the More Info... button.
- Under the Content header, select Hardware.
- The version information will be located in the pane on the
right...."
Link: Mac OS X:
Firmware Updates for Intel-based Macs
Products
Adtron Increases Solid State Flash Disk
Capacity
PR: Solid state flash disk manufacturer Adtron
Corporation, announces the immediate availability of its most
advanced generation of the Adtron Flashpak Family of products
including the IDE and Serial ATA (SATA) flash disk models, the
I25FB and A25FB, respectively. The products in this announcement
include the industry's highest capacity 2.5" SLC NAND flash disk
drives at 160 GBytes, only available from Adtron.
"New geometries and chip densities in SLC NAND enable Adtron to
significantly expand the capacities of its industry leading high
performance products," stated Alan Fitzgerald, Adtron Chief
Technology Officer. "In addition, the economics of these new flash
drives combined with the increased capacities in standard form
factors, greatly expand the applications among our historic flash
disk customers in the industrial and defense markets, as well as
addressing bandwidth intensive server and storage acceleration
applications in a much broader emerging market previously the
domain of HDD products".
ArrayPro Performance Engine: This new generation of Flashpak
flash disk incorporates advancements in the Adtron ArrayPro
performance engine that provides parallel access and management of
flash arrays within a single SSD. As Alan Fitzgerald describes,
"ArrayPro separates an Adtron flash disk from the low-end single
array SSDs and those that employ caching technologies that require
battery back-up and whose performance are highly application
dependent. "The Adtron products deliver sustained read/write
performance in the 70 MB/sec range, delivering the solid state
industry's best performance and far exceeding the capabilities of
rotating media (HDDs).
Erasure Data Security: Beyond its leading performance this "next
generation" solid state flash disk drive family will address a
broad range of Data Security requirements meeting the needs of
commercial enterprises and addressing the most stringent Military
and Intelligence Standards defined. The Adtron Erasure Data
Security Suite includes access control features and offers
unparalleled, high speed data elimination including clear and
sanitize functions at the most trusted levels defined today.
Shipments have begun in February 2007 with both commercial and
industrial temperature models.
Link: Adtron
Machine Washable Medical Grade Keyboard and
Mouse
PR: Seal Shield Corporation has announced that it
will be introducing the first products in a complete family of
infection control solutions at the 2007 HIMSS show in New Orleans,
LA; February 26-March 1. Notably, Seal Shield™ will be
unveiling the company's signature products, the Seal Shield Medical
Grade Washable Keyboard and Mouse. According to the company, the
Seal Shield Keyboard and Mouse are the first ever to be fully
submersible and dishwasher safe.
Seal Shield's products have been developed in response to the
demand from healthcare organizations for disinfectant solutions to
combat the spread of cross contamination infections. This year over
2 million patients will contract an infection while seeking
treatment in a US hospital. Of those, close to 100,000 people will
die, making hospital acquired infections a top 10 killer of
Americans. Complicating this epidemic, a strain of antibiotic
resistant staph infections, MRSA, has emerged in hospitals
worldwide.
The recent rise in hospital acquired infections, and the lack of
an effective treatment for MRSA, has prompted healthcare providers
to reexamine their cleaning protocols in an effort to reduce cross
contaminations. In response to the demand from major hospitals,
Seal Shield(TM) has developed a family of common computer input
devices which can be disinfected and washed in order to prevent the
spread of bacterial infection.
Recent studies have shown the computer keyboard and mouse to be
a major source of cross contamination infections. According to Dr.
Daniel LePera, "Bacteria that reside in the upper mouth or
respiratory tract can travel to an in-office computer keyboard and
survive as long as 24 hours. Viruses can live on them for one hour
or more."
Previous attempts to properly clean and disinfect keyboards have
proven ineffective due to the keyboard's electronic circuitry.
Existing solutions have either been cost prohibitive or unreliable.
Even so called "spill proof" or "washable" keyboards have been
shown to be ineffective. Although those products may be water
resistant to a point, they are not fully submersible and not
dishwasher safe.
"The
Seal Shield Medical Grade Washable Keyboard and Mouse are the only
solutions which are fully submersible and dishwasher safe. Our
products have been designed for healthcare, but are aggressively
priced for the mass market," states Bradley Whitchurch, Chief
Executive Officer at Seal Shield. "Seal Shield Medical Grade
washable input devices, combined with effective cleaning protocols,
represent a proven and economical solution for reducing hospital
infection rates."
Seal Shield will introduce the Seal Shield family of Medical
Grade Washable Keyboards and Mice at the 2007 HIMSS show in New
Orleans on February 26th, Booth 1510. The company will demonstrate
the products as part of a new line of complete Infection Control
Solutions developed specifically for the healthcare market.
Seal Shield Keyboard Features
- Machine washable
- Seal Shield electronic waterproofing process (Patent
Pending)
- First fully submersible, true type keyboard
- Natural look and feel with full travel keys
- Silent Touch keys reduce work place noise pollution
- Gold USB connector resists corrosion, improves connection and
performance
- Clean Cap USB Cover (Patent Pending)
- Laser-etched keys will not fade from washing
- Extended cord length optimized for medical carts
- Retractable feet reduce risk of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
- Designed to NEMA 4X / IP68 specifications
- 1 year limited warranty
Seal Shield Infection Control Desktop Combo Kit:
- Seal Shield Medical Grade Washable Keyboard
- Medical Grade Washable Mouse
- Medical Grade Washable Antibacterial Mouse Pad
- Medical Grade Disinfectant Wipes (Sample 10 Pack)
- Clean Cap x 2
- 1 x USB - PS/2 Converter
- 1 Year Warranty
Seal Shield Protects Against:
- Water
- Solvents
- Salt Water
- Disinfectants
- Humidity
- Abrasives
- Dust
- Corrosives
- Dirt
- Sand
- Shock
- Alkaline
- Alcohol
- Bleach
- Acid
- Temperature Extremes
Specifications
- Compatibility: Fully compatible with IBM/AT and PS/2
- Keyboard Size: 460mm x 165mm x 32mm
- Cable Length: 2.0 m
- Key Layout: 107/108 (English)
- Key Switch : Membrane key switch with tactile feedback
- Keycaps Type: Laser etched
- Life Cycle: 10 million strokes
- Power Data: Input power: +5v dc 10% low power consumption
- Switch Force: 55gf 10gf
- EMI: FCC Class B, CE
- Connector: USB Gold, PS/2 adapter included
Seal
Shield Medical Grade Washable Scroll Mouse
Fully submersible, washable, optical scroll mouse with Seal
Scroll page grabber.
Seal Shield Washable Scroll Mouse Features
- Completely sealed, washable and waterproof. IP-68
- Resistant to chemicals and disinfectants
- Seal Scroll page grabber (Patent Pending)
- Clean Cap washable USB cover (Patent Pending)
- Precision optics with 800 dpi resolution
- Ergonomic design and Seal Skin Comfort Grip silicon reduce the
risk of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Link: Seal Shield Machine
Washable Medical Grade Keyboard Combo
TransIntl Reduces Price on miniXpress825
Portable Drives
PR: Portable, rugged, and stylish cases are made
with Aluminum assuring durability and excellent heat
dissipation
miniXpress - its portable, rugged, and stylish cases are made
with Aluminum assuring durability and excellent heat dissipation.
Equipped with an Anti Shock mechanism and a Triple interface
(800/F400/USB) making the miniXpress an ideal and versatile answer
for portable external storage.
Utilizing the latest SATA to FireWire Hot pluggable and Bus
powered technology features allow the FireWire drives to be Plugged
or Unplugged with out turning-off or restarting the computer. The
drive mounts automatically when plugged into the FireWire Port of
the computer.
miniXpress portable FireWire Hard Disk Drive
- Ports: 2 x FW800, 1 x FW400 1 x USB 2.0
- Chip set: Oxford 924DSB
- Drive: 9.5mm SATA drive
- Performance: Up to 800 megabits/sec
- Dimensions: 147mm x 80mm x 21mm
- Weight: 5 oz
- In the box: FireWire drive,1 x F800, 1 x F400 1 x USB Cable,
Power adapter, Backup & disk utility software
- Warranty: One (1) Year
Link:
miniXpress portable FireWire Hard Disk Drive
Noise Reducing Server Rack Pre-Order
Begins
PR: GizMac Accessories, designer and manufacturer of the
XRackPro2 server rack enclosure cabinets for noise reduction,
begins pre-order of new model. GizMac has started accepting
pre-orders for the soon to be released 6U XRackPro2 model. The new
6U size server rack will join the current 25U, 12U and 4U XRackPro2
models in the battle to reduce noise from loud equipment. The
upcoming 6U model is expected to reduce noise by up to 80%, as with
the current XRackPro2 server rack line. "This new 6U size XRackPro2
provides the right amount of space for a small combination of
computers, RAID systems, switches, battery backup, etc." says Ken
Vitto, Director of Marketing for GizMac Accessories, "Apple, Linux,
SGI, Sun, Windows and other rackmount equipment will benefit from
this new 6U XRackPro2." Noise reduction engineering of the
XRackPro2 server rack allows computer, audio / video and other
systems to be placed in areas that require low noise. Post
production for film, video and audio editing; television, cable and
radio broadcasting; medical offices, business offices, schools or
any other environment that requires low noise will benefit from a
XRackPro rack. The 6U XRackPro2 is available for pre-order now,
pricing is $749.99 US retail and it is expected to be shipping by
mid March. Additional XRackPro information can be found on the
website or by calling the corporate headquarters at (800)
475-1677.
Link: XRackPro
Software
TechTool Protogo
PR: TechTool Protogo is a Mac OS X application that lets
a Macintosh user easily turn an old iPod, a flash drive, or other
similar device into a bootable diagnostic tool that contains
several of Micromat's utilities. Users may also install other
utilities if desired. This device can then be used to boot, check,
maintain and repair Macintosh computers. It allows a customer to
create a tool similar to Micromat's TechTool Protege on a device
they already own.
Lorene Romero, a local Macintosh expert and president of NCMUG
was given an advanced copy of the program to test. She was
impressed with the feature set and said, "This will allow me to use
my iPod to repair my Mac and others on the road. I also like the
fact that it allows me to create configuration profiles specific to
my needs. What a great concept."
TechTool Protogo ships on a DVD that includes the Protogo
configuration application, as well as Micromat's TechTool Pro
Classic (for Mac OS 9 systems and below), TechTool Pro 4
(for Mac OS X), and DiskStudio. Protogo includes several
profiles for standard system/utility configurations, making it easy
to set up a device for specific needs. One can also create and save
custom profiles that include third-party utilities as well. The
standard profiles included with the program range from a minimal
bootable system with TechTool Pro 4 and DiskStudio, to a
full-blown Mac OS X installation including a Finder, Classic,
and multiple utility programs.
With Protogo, it is possible to create a portable diagnostic
device that can:
- Boot most Macintosh computers
- Diagnose and repair hard drive problems
- Test major hardware components
- Find viruses*
- Find system conflicts*
- Optimize and defragment hard drive volumes
- Rebuild volume directories
- Recover data from damaged volumes
- Repartition hard drives without losing data
- Boot different Mac OS versions from different partitions
- Run a variety of utilities
- And much more...
New in version 1.0.3:
- Added ability to use iPod as a music player.
- Added a Stop button to TechTool Protogo device creation.
- Added application drag and drop to the Profile configuration
window.
- Added Check for Update feature.
- Updated TechTool Protogo Help file.
- Enabled application to launch from the TechTool Protogo
DVD.
- Added French, German, Italian and Japanese localization.
System requirements:
- Mac OS X 10.4 or later.
- DVD-ROM drive.
- 2 GB or larger target device, like an older iPod or other
external media device.
System support: PPC/Intel
$135
Link:
TechTool Protogo
Apogee Announces Mac OS X FireWire Driver
Version for Ensemble
PR: Apogee Electronics Corporation has announced the
release of a new version of the FireWire Audio Driver for Ensemble,
Apogee's multichannel, digital audio interface designed
specifically for use with Apple Macintosh computers. With this
release, the Beta test period for the driver is now concluded.
This FireWire Audio driver supports a single Ensemble used with
any G4, G5 or Intel-based Macintosh in conjunction with OS X v.
10.4.8 or later, providing consistent sample accurate performance
at all sampling rates. This version also features enhanced
stability on supported Macintosh computers and resolves the few
remaining issues associated with previous versions of the beta
driver.
"We are pleased to announce the release of a new Mac OS X
FireWire Driver Version for Ensemble, thus bringing beta testing to
a close," says Betty Bennett, Cofounder and CEO of Apogee
Electronics. "This driver will allow our users to achieve the full
benefits of Ensemble's sonic quality, flexibility and integration,
without compromise."
The new FireWire Driver Version for Ensemble is available
immediately via Apogee's Ensemble Updater software.
Link: Apogee
Desktop Mac
Deals
Low End Mac updates the following price trackers monthly:
For deals on current and discontinued 'Books, see our 13" MacBook and MacBook Pro,
MacBook Air, 13" MacBook Pro, 15" MacBook Pro, 17" MacBook Pro, 12" PowerBook G4, 15" PowerBook G4, 17" PowerBook G4, titanium PowerBook G4,
iBook G4, PowerBook G3, and iBook G3 deals.
We also track iPad,
iPhone, iPod touch, iPod classic, iPod nano, and iPod shuffle deals.
