Compiled by Charles Moore
and edited by
Dan Knight
- 2004.01.06
Except as noted, prices are in US dollars, bold links are to
outside sites, and regular links lead to 'Book profiles on Low End
Mac.
Apple Offering PowerBook G4 Trade-in
ProgramThink Secret's Publisher and Editor in Chief Nick
dePlume reports:
"Apple is giving customers the option of trading in their
PowerBook G4 laptops for credit toward the purchase of the latest 15"
and 17" notebooks..."
dePlume says that:
"Apple confirmed that US-based owners of the original and 'Gigabit
Ethernet' G4 PowerBooks will be able to participate in the upgrade
program through March 27, 2004. In communications with dealers, Apple
described the trade-in as a 'pilot program.'
"To participate in the program, customers will need to contact
AppleCare directly, at 800-275-2273."
A memo released to Apple Authorized resellers and posted
by PowerPage reads:
"From December 19, 2003 to March 27, 2004, Apple is offering
owners of original PowerBook G4 and
the PowerBook G4 (Gigabit
Ethernet) computers the opportunity to trade in qualifying units
for a credit toward the purchase of the current PowerBook G4 (15" FW
800) or PowerBook G4 (17").
"Because this is a pilot program, it is currently available only
to those customers within the United States.
"Note: To take advantage of this limited time offer, customers
must contact Apple directly at 800-275-2273.
"Most owners of the original PowerBook G4 and PowerBook G4
(Gigabit Ethernet) are eligible. Please mention the availability of
this program during any contact with customers who own these
products.
"Generally
speaking, the best time to introduce the program is at the outset of
the customer's contact with your establishment. As always, use your
best judgment as to the most appropriate moment to mention the
program.
"Exceptions: PowerBook G4 and PowerBook G4 (Gigabit Ethernet)
computers that have been dropped, have cracked displays, have had
liquid spilled into them, or have been otherwise accidentally damaged
are not eligible for this program.
"Please discuss these conditions of ineligibility with your
customers and clearly communicate that any units exhibiting these
symptoms will be rejected.
"Eligible Products
The following PowerBook G4 products are eligible for the upgrade
program:
- PowerBook G4 400/500 MHz
- PowerBook G4 (Gigabit Ethernet) 550/667 MHz
"More Information: Interested customers or customers with
additional questions should be directed to Apple at
800-275-2273."
SnowSeal
iBook Sleeve
SnowSeal
is designed to protect the Snow iBook from the elements and almost
anything else that might cross your path. SnowSeal is constructed of
durable, weatherproof Antron-Cordura "Police Cloth", cushioned with
full-surround padding and sealed with a hidden, water-repellent
zipper. Clear outer pocket for individual effect, plus six more and a
clip-on pouch. Includes contoured, padded shoulder strap. Seal it and
sling it with you wherever you are. For the 12" and 14" Snow
iBook.
TiStick
Sleeve
TiStick
is the place to locate your G4 TiBook on the journey between
destinations- from one island of connected resources to the next,
TiStick carries the tools. TiStick is constructed of durable,
weatherproof Antron-Cordura "Police Cloth", cushioned with
full-surround padding and sealed with a hidden, water-repellent
zipper. Clear outer pocket for individual effect, plus six more and a
clip-on pouch. Includes contoured, padded shoulder strap. TiStick it
and go! For 12", 15" and 17" PowerBook G4.
MacMice Flexible iSight Holder for PowerBooks and
iBooks
MacMice Workspace Products
Co. has announced its new iFlex flexible mount for using
Apple's iSight webcam with any model of FireWire equipped PowerBook
or iBook.
The
iFlex is an 18" long flexible metal tubing housing with a shielded
6-conductor FireWire cable inside. It is terminated at both ends into
a clear male 6-pin FireWire 400 connector. One end is plugged into
the FireWire port on a PowerBook or iBook, and the other end is
plugged into the FireWire port under an iSight webcam. iFlex is
flexible enough to locate an iSight in any desired position relative
to a PowerBook or iBook display, and it is stiff enough to then
securely hold the iSight where it is placed.
The iFlex is priced at $19.99, will ship starting January 8, 2004,
and is available for prepaid preorder from the MacMice Workspace
Products Co. website.
Silent Night 1.1 Fixes 12" PowerBook G4 Fan
Noise
After the Mac OS X 10.3.2 update, the 12" PowerBooks fans were
made to come on at a much lower temperature. Before the update, the
fans would come on when the topside CPU temperature reached 148°
F and they would turn off after the fans had cooled the system down
to 138° F. After the update, the fans come on at 125° F,
and turn off after cooling the system down to around 116° F.
The 12" PowerBook Rev. A operates at around 125-130° F with
normal tasks (browsing the Web, chatting, and checking your email).
Apple's products are one of style and aesthetics. Having a whirring
fan takes away from that. This installer will bring your PowerBook
back to the silence it once had.
The Silent
Night installer replaces the AppleADM103x.kext and the
AppleADT746x.kext with previous versions that keep the fan at it's
original settings. This installer has only been tested with a
PowerBook Rev. A, and there have been no known side effects. Use at
your own risk though, as this was put together by a nonprofessional.
If it does alleviate your problem, enjoy the silence.
This installer will allow the topside CPU temperature to raise
above levels Apple deemed appropriate with the release of 10.3.2. Why
they decided to lower those levels after 11 months is unknown. If you
would like to take the risk of doing this, do so at your own
discretion.
New in this version:
- There is now an install package and an uninstall package. By
double-clicking on the uninstall package, it will fully revert
your system to the way it was after you upgraded to the 10.3.2
upgrade.
- There were permissions errors that were affecting some
people's installation of Silent Night. Those permissions errors
were corrected. (Thanks Nevyn (nCoder))
- Allows installation on the root volume only.
- Added a Warning Section to the ReadMe so you know what you are
getting into at what seems to be the request of many people.
- Upgrade Procedure
- Support email address
System requirements:
- PowerBook G4 12" Rev. A
- Has not been tested on other PowerBooks
- Mac OS X 10.3.2 only (any build number)
Silent Night is freeware.
iBook G4: Customer-Installable Parts
Procedures
Apple has posted a Knowledge
base article and PDF document outlining customer-installable
parts for the iBook G4 and iBook G4 (14").
Replacement Part Instructions
- AirPort Card
- Battery
- Keyboard
- Memory
Windows Watch
With this week's installment of The
'Book Review, we're adding Windows Watch, a section of our weekly
report that will focus on developments in the world of Windows
portables.
HP to Launch 15.4" Laptops at Record Low Prices
This Month
DigiTimes' David
Tzeng and Steve Shen report:
"Hewlett-Packard (HP) will launch three new 15.4" notebooks for
the entry-level consumer market early next year, said sources at
Taiwanese notebook makers. The move is expected to raise customer
expectations in this market to 15.4" models....
"The Presario R3000T and Pavilion zv5000 will bring the price of
15.4" models to a new low and take aim at Dell's 15.4" Inspiron 8600
model, which has a price tag starting at US$1,349, the sources
said.
Dell to Phase Out Latitude X300, D400 Notebooks,
Outsource New 12.1" Model to Samsung
Also from DigiTimes' David
Tzeng and Steve Shen:
"Dell plans to phase out its 12.1" Latitude D400 and X300
notebooks and launch a single replacement for worldwide sales
outsourced to Samsung Electronics, according to sources at Taiwan's
notebook makers...
"Samsung was able to win the order because it has access to secure
supplies of key components like TFT LCDs and memory chips, the
sources noted....
"Dell is not terminating its cooperation with Wistron. Instead,
Dell will start outsourcing a 15" low-priced notebook model as well
as a 15.4" widescreen notebook model to the Taiwan-based
company."
Bargain 'Books
There are two different versions of WallStreet running at 233 MHz,
the cacheless MainStreet
version and the later Series
II with a level 2 cache. It's not always possible to determine
from the vendor's listing which is being offered, so we've included
links within this paragraph to the two models. The same goes for the
PowerBook G4/667 (Gigabit
Ethernet/2001) and G4/667
(DVI).
Add 1 GB of RAM. $179.99. Add 512 MB of RAM, $99.99. Add a
reconditioned Targus carrying bag, $9.99.
- new 12" iBook G4/800,
256/30/Combo, Kensington Astro Pack Gray, $1,119
- new 12" PowerBook G4/867,
256/40/Combo, includes InCase Small Laptop Sleeve Soft-Tech Nylon
and Postworx Speed Ball Detachable Feet for Laptop, $1,235
- 14" iBook 900, 256
/40/Combo. free Panther CD and free deluxe leather carrying case
(after mail-in rebate). $999
For more deals on current or recently discontinued models, see our
Best PowerBook G4 Deals
and Best iBook Deals.
