Compiled by Charles Moore
and edited by
Dan Knight
- 2004.08.06
This week's PowerBook, iBook, and iPod news
Bottom Ten List: Worst of the Laptops?
PC Magazine
John C. Dvorak says:
"This week's column is in a way an exercise in futility, since
information about long-gone laptops is scarce. We need a publicly
maintained resource - such as a wiki - detailing the history some
of these old machines. I put the list in this column together
largely from the collective memory of myself and my colleagues.
Some dates are missing, and I hope readers can make contributions.
And so many machines made this list that I had to combine a few
into categories. The word 'worst' can mean a number of things
within the context of this list. It represents missteps as well as
bad machines. Let's get right to it:
- 10. Gateway Handbook (circa 1992)
- 9. Dell 320i (circa 1993
- 8. Macintosh Portable
(1989)
- 8. Category failure: Various Unix laptops
- 7. Category failure: Pad-based computers
- 6. Category failure: Ultra-small full-featured
machines
- 5. IBM ThinkPad 701C "Butterfly" (1995)
- 4. Compaq laptops with screen trackballs (circa
1994)
- 4. Category failure: Windows CE-based laptops
- 3. Apple iBook (1999)
- 2. Zenith MinisPort (1989)
- 1. The Gavilan (1983)"
No PowerBooks are on the list. John still can't get over
the "girly" clamshell
iBook
Note to John: The original PowerBook 100, like the Mac Portable,
had a lead-acid battery.
You can read John's defense of his choices online.
12" iBook Makes PCMag's Editors Choice
List
PCMag's Konstantinos
Karagiannis says:
"The Velocity Micro NoteMagix B50 Campus Edition gets you the
best bang for your buck, combining strong performance and high-end
components, not to mention reasonable weight and battery life. For
a smaller, lighter option, however, the Apple iBook G4 (12-inch) can't be beat -
especially for the price. It, too, warrants an Editors'
Choice."
Apple UK Notebook Sales Growth 'Exceeds
Industry'
Macworld UK's
Jonny Evans reports:
"UK shipment growth of Apple notebooks continue to exceed those
across the industry, analyst firm IDC confirmed last night.
"Overall, UK industry shipment growth in the second quarter was
at its highest level for almost four years.
"Figures released by the analyst company show that year-on-year
Apple's UK notebook shipments grew 41.3 per cent across consumer
and commercial markets.
"Average growth across PC manufacturers in the UK in the
notebook sector (across consumer and small-to-medium businesses)
was 24.3 per cent....
"Apple's success in the UK consumer notebook market is even more
pronounced: year-on-year shipments grew 96.4 per cent in that
sector"
SportFolio Extreme Case for 17" PowerBook
The
SportFolio Extreme laptop case offers rugged, high-tech
neoprene construction with a built-in plastic shell for impact
protection. The exterior features an easily accessible front
pocket, a back zippered pocket and a vulcanized rubber bottom and
sides for a secure grip. The case zips closed to hold its contents
securely. The all-black interior features a soft, plush fabric, and
a large pocket. A removable black shock-absorbing shoulder strap is
included. All in all a great combination of features that make this
case stand out from the crowd.
Case features:
- Extra heavy-duty plastic inserts for maximum protection!
- High-tech vulcanized neoprene front pocket
- Carrying handles
- Roomy, zippered back pocket
- Large, secure interior pocket
- Dual zippers for easy opening
- Zipper is lined to protect laptop
- Rugged 3 mm neoprene construction
- Plush-lined interior with document pocket
- Easy-grip bottom for carrying as a folio
- Padded for all-around protection
Shoulder strap features:
- Easy-grip, shock-absorbing design
- Swivel clips prevent twisting
- Adjustable length for maximum comfort
- Easily removable
Inside case dimensions:
- 16" x 10.5" x 1.25" or
- 40.64 cm x 26.67 cm x 3.17 cm
Price: $57.95
PC Mag: All the Best... Computers
PC Magazine's Gary Berline
writes:
"For years, we've asked you to tell us how the companies that
supply your tech needs are doing. This year, for our '17th Annual
Reader Satisfaction Survey', we wanted to know-and more than 8,000
of you told us-how happy you've been with computer makers. Now
we've taken that feedback and rounded up reviews of the top
products from your favorite vendors, letting you easily find the
best systems from the best manufacturers.
Once again, Apple demonstrates that it knows how to please its
audience. In both desktops and notebooks, users gave the company
significantly higher overall ratings than the competition. Mac fans
on a budget will appreciate the Apple eMac (SuperDrive), an
all-in-one package that doesn't skimp on extras, but costs less
than $1,000. And anyone looking for a desktop-replacement notebook
can't help but covet the Apple PowerBook G4 (17-inch), with its
cool design and high-end features like gigabit Ethernet."
Iomega REV Drive Stores up to 90 GB of Critical
Data
For a fraction of the cost of
traditional backup systems, the
Iomega REV drive gives you removable storage with hard disk
performance that's up to 8 times faster than tape. With compact,
rugged 35 GB disks that can store up to 90 GB of compressed data
you can back up all your files, protect your system and save
everything.
Iomega REV drives allow you to back up and restore up to 8 times
faster than tape, access files in seconds with drag-and-drop, and
secure your data with password protection.
Files can be accidentally overwritten, deleted or become
corrupt. Laptops can be stolen. System hard drives can fail. But
with Iomega Automatic Backup Pro and Norton Ghost for REV Drive
software, you don't have to worry about it! Iomega Automatic Backup
Pro provides a 'set-it and forget-it' file backup solution, as well
as file encryption and compression. Norton Ghost for REV Drive
provides full system image backups and restores directly from your
REV disk for the fast and easy backup of an entire system.
Iomega REV drives are the ideal solution for small- and
medium-sized businesses and SOHO users who need a fast and reliable
back up system, as well as for desktop and large file users who
need a cost-effective and versatile backup and portable storage
system.
The Iomega REV system is designed from the ground up for
superior data integrity. Iomega REV disks deliver comparable
reliability to a sealed hard drive in a removable form factor that
costs less and is infinitely more versatile.
Features:
- FAST: Back up and recover files up to 8 times faster than
tape.
- LOW COST: Iomega REV systems are a better value compared to
traditional tape drives.
- EFFICIENT: Retrieve files in seconds, versus minutes, with
drag-and-drop (compared to linear access with tape drives).
- RELIABLE: Proven hard disk technology for ultimate
reliability.
- HIGH CAPACITY: 90 GB compressed capacity to store and share
large files, or back up an entire system on a single disk.
- EASY: No cleaning or maintenance required; appears as a
standard drive letter.
- DURABLE: Rigid disks offer virtually unlimited
rewritability.
- SECURE: Password protect confidential data and encrypt your
backups.
- EXPANDABLE: Add capacity when you need it with cost-effective
Iomega REV disks.
- FREE: Iomega Automatic Backup Pro and Norton Ghost for REV
Drive software included.
Port XTender Bridges Classic Mode and Internal
Modems
Port
XTender is a software serial port bridge between Mac OS X's
Classic environment and the internal modem that is standard
equipment on all shipping Macs.
In Mac OS X, applications which have not been updated to run
natively instead run inside the Classic environment. Although
Classic is much like a real OS 9 system, it lacks access to
low-level hardware such as the internal modem. This poses a problem
for applications such as MacAuthorize, which requires the use of a
modem but runs in Classic.
Port XTender is a software bridge that allows these applications
to use the internal modem.
You can download a demo of Port XTender for evaluation. The demo
expires August 1, 2004, but is otherwise fully functional.
The price for Port XTender is $100. Download the demo first and
make sure it works before purchasing. After purchase, you'll be
sent a license upgrade (12K compressed) by email.
Configuring AirPort Express on a Wired
Network
A new Apple
Knowledge Base Article says:
"Even though AirPort Express includes a fully-functional
wireless access point, it's totally legit to use it on a wired-only
network for its print server and music streaming features. When
setting up for a wired-only environment, you could get a bit
confused by the fact that AirPort Express Assistant refuses to hook
you up. This is because AirPort Express Assistant will only connect
wirelessly from a computer that has a wireless card. Don't worry -
you just need to use AirPort Admin Utility instead, as shown
here":
Choose the Best Bag for Your Laptop This School
Year
MacTeens' Francisco Tolmasky
says:
"So you just got that brand new PowerBook you've been saving up
for all summer (or that your parents have been saving up for) and
are getting ready to head back to school, but you still need one
more thing: a decent bag to keep it in to make sure it doesn't get
dented or scratched. Before you go brush the dust off of that tired
old Targus bag, compare it to two equally priced alternatives, the
Crumpler Wack-O-Phone and the Timbuk2 Commute Laptop Bag. Both are
designed in the messenger bag style and are currently available in
a variety of colors (selectable on their respective websites).
AV PowerBooks: Is This What Apple Needs?
Insanely Great Mac's Remy Davison
says:
"Digitimes notes that Dell and Asustek will launch 'AV'
notebooks shortly to compete with Toshiba's range of Qosmio
portables, The new notebooks will feature 'TV and audio'
functionality, as well as DVD recording.
"The question is whether Apple needs to match this in its
PowerBook line. Desktop Media Center PCs have become increasingly
popular in recent quarters, reportedly having some impact on the
sales of notebooks.
"No PCMCIA/CardBus TV solution for the PowerBook exists to my
knowledge, although EyeTV and other USB solutions abound. Although
an Apple-developed internal or CardBus TV card may not be a
deal-clincher, it would add considerably to the PowerBook's already
formidable array of multimedia support. With FireWire DV and DVD
burning, plus DVDSP, iMovie and iDVD, Apple already leads the
industry in many respects."
Diskology, Inc. adds Laptop Adapters to
Disk Jockey Product Line
Diskology, Inc. added
two laptop adapters to their product lineup. The adapters, known
simply as "Fred" and "Steve" allow users to attach 2.5" IDE laptop
drives to the Disk Jockey IDE hard disk cloning / diagnostic tool.
By using the laptop adapters users can transfer data between laptop
drives at high speeds, copy data from a laptop drive to a standard
3.5" desktop IDE hard disk drive or from a 3.5" hard disk drive to
a laptop drive. By using Diskology's recently released serial-ATA
(SATA) adapter as well, users can transfer data from a laptop drive
to a SATA drive and vice-versa.
"During the first few months of the Disk Jockey's availability
we received hundreds of requests from people who wanted to copy
data to and from laptop hard disk drives using the Disk Jockey,"
said Tony Overbay, President and CEO of Diskology, Inc. "We've gone
to great lengths to provide our customers with two options of
laptop adapters based on their technical expertise, comfort level
and budget."
The Disk Jockey is a Swiss Army Knife of a hard disk copy /
backup / diagnostic tool. The Disk Jockey can be used on either a
Windows or Macintosh computer or as a stand-alone device. The Disk
Jockey mounts IDE hard disk drives via USB 2.0 and FireWire as well
as mirrors, spans, copies, compares, tests and erases hard disk
drives using either a 1-pass or a 3-pass erase per the National
Security Administration (NSA) guidelines. Testimonials on how the
Disk Jockey is being used by IT and MIS departments, as well as a
variety of other computer professionals and hobbyists can be found
on the Diskology website. The Disk Jockey recently received a 5 out
of 6 star rating from PC Test Pro as well as a 4 mouse rating from
MacUser UK.
"Fred" is the less expensive of the two laptop adapters and is
described on the Diskology web site as being designed for the
person "who likes wires and boards and things on your tech bench
(to impress colleagues and hopefully impress the geeky guy/gal in
the office, too)." Fred is essentially a board with a connector on
one side for the Disk Jockey, a connector on the other side for the
laptop hard disk drive. Fred carries an SRP of $10.
"Steve" carries an SRP of $35 and actually resembles a drive
sled. With "Steve" the laptop drive is inserted into the sled and
the sled then connected to the Disk Jockey.
"Fred and Steve were actually the products code names," said
Overbay. "We used them so much that we really had a hard time
changing them to anything else so for now, they have stuck."
The Disk Jockey is available for a suggested retail price of
$329 directly from Diskology or it can be found at more aggressive
prices from Diskology resellers worldwide.
Intego's WiFi Locator Can Find Wireless
Hotspots in Less Than a Second
Intego, the Macintosh
security specialist, has announced the launch of the WiFi Locator,
a pocket-sized device to find wireless AirPort and WiFi networks.
With the Intego WiFi Locator, the world's smallest WiFi hotspot
finder, users can find available AirPort and AirPort Extreme
(802.11b and 802.11 g) networks to get wireless Internet access for
their AirPort-equipped PowerBook or iBook, WiFi-equipped laptop
running Windows, Unix or Linux, or WiFi-equipped PDA or phone. The
Intego WiFi Locator is small, discreet and easy to use, and finds
available wireless hotspots in less than one second.
"Wireless networking has become
commonplace", said Laurent Marteau, CEO, Intego, "and as many
people know, hotspots abound. But the problem is finding hotspots
when you need Internet access in a hurry. The Intego WiFi Locator
is the smallest, fastest device for doing this."
When people are on the road, whether for business or pleasure,
they may still need Internet access to check e-mail, send or
receive files, or surf the web. With an AirPort-equipped PowerBook
or iBook, WiFi-equipped laptop running Windows, Unix or Linux, or
WiFi-equipped PDA or phone, they can tap into hotspots in many
public areas such as hotels, restaurants, coffee shops, airports
and more.
But to connect to a wireless hotspot, they first need to find
it. Some hotspots are marked, especially in airports and coffee
shops, but others are not indicated. These may be wireless
connections offered intentionally by businesses, or simply open
base stations that anyone can connect to.
Intego's WiFi Locator zeroes in on wireless network hotspots in
a jiffy. One press of the button on this pocket-sized device, and
its LEDs indicate whether there is a wireless network close enough
to access and how strong its signal is.
The Intego WiFi Locator is ideal for finding networks in all
kinds of locations:
- In hotels: finds the optimal location for wireless Internet
access in hotel rooms,
- in lounges or in conference rooms In airports: finds hotspots
in the airport, so travellers can check and send urgent e-mails,
and browse the web,
- before boarding their plane In restaurants and coffee shops:
finds which one has the best signal even before users sit down
- At home: finds the best location for a wireless AirPort base
station, or the best place to access it
- At the office: finds the best place to put a PowerBook or iBook
to get network access - for network administrators, the Intego WiFi
Locator helps find the best place to set up base stations, or
detect unauthorized base stations in companies where security
policies prohibit the use of wireless devices In the street: finds
unmarked wireless hotspots inside buildings and stores
Intego WiFi Locator features:
- Finds wireless hotspots in any location
- Finds AirPort and AirPort Extreme (802.11b and 802.11g) WiFi
hotspots
- Four bright LEDs show the reception level: the more LEDs stay
lit, the stronger the signal No more starting up a laptop to find a
WiFi signal Directional orientation: if a user finds a hotspot,
they can turn in different directions to find the best
reception
- Finds the best location to sit in a lounge or restaurant for
optimal Internet access
- Finds the best place at home or in an office to set up an
AirPort base station
- Finds AirPort Express base stations, if a user has forgotten
where they are
- Intego WiFi Locator doesn't get confused by telephones, baby
monitors or microwave ovens, and doesn't interfere with such
devices
- Batteries included: start using it right away
Product specifications:
- Compatibility: AirPort and AirPort Extreme (802.11b and
802.11g) Range: finds networks up to 300 ft away
- Signal strength indicator: 4 steps with 4 LEDs Detection time:
less than 1/2 second
- Antenna type: internal dipole
- User replaceable batteries: 2 x CR2032
- Operating voltage: 2.7 V nominal
- Power consumption:
- Scanning: 20 mA
- Locked on signal: 9 mA
Operating conditions:
- Operating temperature: 0° to 50° C
- Storage temperature: -20° to 75° C
- Frequency range: 2.4 GHz - 2.462 GHz
Pricing (plus shipping, handling and any applicable sales tax):
United States, $29.95; Europe, €29.95; UK, £19.95;
Japan, ¥3995
HP Unveils Linux-based Centrino
Laptop
ZDNet UK's Munir Kotadia
reports:
"HP will unveil a new Centrino laptop that comes preloaded with
SuSE Linux at the LinuxWorld Conference San Francisco on Tuesday,
ZDNet UK has learned.
Details of the notebook leaked early when the company mistakenly
published details of the notebook on its Web site.
"The HP Compaq Business Notebook nx5000, which starts at $1199
(£650) in the US, comes with either an Intel Pentium M or
Celeron processor, between 256 MB and 2 GB of DDR SDRAM and a
15-inch display that can handle a screen resolution of up to 1600 x
1200 at 100 Hz."
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)
and the titanium vs. aluminum 15" PowerBook G4 at 1 GHz.
- new 12" iBook G3/800,
128/30/CD-ROM, Sonnet Piccolo 256 MB USB Flash Drive, $838
- new 12" PowerBook G4/1 GHz,
256/40/SuperDrive, $1,399
- refurb 15" PowerBook G4/867,
256/40/Combo, Ogio Jackpack Redline Messenger Bag, iSkin ProTouch
PB Sonic Blue Keyboard protection, $1,399
For more deals on current or recently discontinued models, see
our Best PowerBook G4 Deals,
Best iBook G4 Deals, and Best iBook G3 Deals.
