Compiled by Charles Moore
and edited by
Dan Knight
- 2005.07.01
This Week's PowerBook, iBook, and Notebook News
General Apple and Mac desktop news is covered in The Mac News Review. iPod news is
covered in The iNews
Review. News about Apple's transition to Intel CPUs and other
Intel developments is covered in The Macintel Report.
All prices are in US dollars unless otherwise noted.
News & Opinion
Products and Services
Tech Trends
News & Opinion
Flash Memory to Replace Hard Drives in
'Books?
Macworld UK's Martyn Williams reports:
"Samsung hopes that falling prices for flash-memory chips will
mean solid-state memory can eventually replace hard-disk drives in
Apple PowerBooks and iBooks as well as other devices, a top
executive said Thursday.
"The South Korean company recently made its first step towards
this goal with the announcement of a prototype 16 GB drive based on
flash chips. Flash memory has several advantages over hard-disk
drive storage: it consumes less power, it has higher resistance to
shock, it's more reliable because there are no moving parts, it can
read and write data faster, and it's silent in operation. But
there's a major hurdle to mass-market adoption: it's much more
expensive."
Reduce Fan Noise on PowerBooks?
macosxhints.com says:
"...ever since Tiger, Apple has done the same thing to my
PowerBook (Rev A)'s fan. Apparently, Apple has chosen to kick the
fan into action on lower temperatures (it'll be cooler), but I
prefer a silent hot laptop over a loud (less) hot one. The 'hint'
is the same for 10.3, and I've been running it (on Tiger) for over
two weeks without any glitches."
[Note: I'm a devotee of silent computing, but the problem with
this workaround is that a hotter computer is likely to be a
shorter-lived computer. It isn't just a comfort issue. I suggest
using an active cooling pad like the inexpensive Targus Chillmat
instead. CM]
Free 6MP Digital Camera with PowerBook
Purchase
PowerBook Central reports:
"Purchase a new 15" or 17" PowerBook (or any Mac over $1,990) at
MacMall through July 17th, and receive a free factory-refurbished
Kodak DX7630 6.1MP Digital Camera. Offer is good after mail-in
rebate. Other optional bundles, all free after mail-in rebates,
include an extra 512 MB of RAM, a carrying case, plus an HP
printer....
Products and Services
NoMenuBar Clears System Menu to Make Space for
Menu Extras
PR: NoMenuBar is a simple application with only one menu
bar item - the application menu - so it leaves lots of space for
the right side menu bar items (like time, AirPort status, and any
other add-ons).
It will be very useful if you have a small screen (like on a
laptop) or lots of right side items.
System requirements: Mac OS X 10.1 or higher
NoMenuBar is freeware.
Commercial Campaign Reveals Truth about Laptop
Protection
PR: The manufacturer of Brenthaven high performance
computer cases has just released three commercials which go beyond
entertainment in order to make a point. "Drop your laptop in any
other case than a Brenthaven and chances are your computer will be
toast!" The campaign features Harvey Stone who raises some real
concerns when it comes to the level of protection and pain that
comes with most computer cases on the market today.
The Truth: Harvey, like so many mobile professionals, has a job
that takes him around the world and his laptop goes everywhere he
does. Being on the move means he needs a computer case that will
protect his laptop and all the vital data it stores. It needs to be
easy on his shoulders and back and built to endure all the wear
& tear that goes with traveling.
In these entertaining and informative
commercials, Harvey smiles with confidence as he shockingly drops
his computer case with his personal computer inside to demonstrate
that there is no safer place for his computer than in a Brenthaven.
And what about the pain?Östraps digging into the shoulder like
razor blades causing bleeding and blistering &endash; this is
an over exaggeration, but it gets the point across &endash;
comfort is important. Harvey demonstrates how owning a Brenthaven
provides the insurance mobile customers need to prevent pain and
discomfort when traveling locally or globally. Clearly there is no
digging, no slipping and no worries with a Brenthaven.
Harvey gives a commanding performance that makes the commercials
fun and informative. They wrap up with a compelling reason to own a
Brenthaven - Protection, Comfort and Craftsmanship; there is
no safer place than in a Brenthaven. And in the real world,
people appreciate ads that can do two things at the same time: be
amusing and say something; but don't take our word for it go to the
Brenthaven website and see all three of the commercials for
yourself or call 1-800-803-7225 to obtain copies.
ABSmini Backup System with 1.8" Hard Drive
PR: CMS Products Inc. has introduced its new sleek and
stylish 1.8" ultra-portable data backup system, the "ABSmini."
Weighing in at only four ounces, the
ABSmini is extremely lightweight and features a compact and elegant
design in anodized aluminum. This design provides a solid, rugged
housing for the 20 or 40 GB capacity drives. The high-speed USB 2.0
connection provides the perfect solution for storing, transporting,
or backing up data files, photos, music, or video. Included with
the ABSmini is CMS Products' award-winning BounceBack Express data
backup software, a carrying pouch and a USB 2.0 cable. CMS Products
provides a 3-year warranty and support via email and telephone.
"Our new 1.8" ABSmini adds another dimension to our solid line
of backup, storage and upgrade solutions," said Ken Burke,
president, CMS Products. "This new product is helping to
revolutionize data backup products with its small form factor and
our powerful BounceBack software."
The ABSmini 20 GB is priced at $179; the ABSmini 40 GB is priced
at $259. The ABSmini is available from CMS Products, through
distributors TechData and Ingram Micro, and through various
resellers.
Buffalo Technology's USB 2.0 Portable Hard
Drive
PR: Buffalo Technology, a global leader in the design,
development and manufacturing of wired and wireless networking,
storage and memory solutions today announced it has expanded its
award-winning line of storage solutions to include the USB 2.0
External Portable Hard Drive with Bus Power Booster, available in
capacities of 40 GB (HD-PH40U2/BST) and 80 GB (HD-PH80U2/BST).
Buffalo's new compact storage device is designed
to give mobile PC and Macintosh users the convenience of storing
vital data while traveling. Users can quickly and easily access and
store files, digital images, music, etc.
"Portable storage has become popular, but the issue of
unreliability due to power issues remains. It is essential that
mobile users have a solution that not only offers them reliability,
but also allows them to free-up limited hard drive space on their
notebook," stated Morikazu Sano, vice president of product
marketing and public relations. "Buffalo always endeavors to
provide its customers with solutions that address their needs. With
our new Portable Hard Drive, we are offering on-the-go customers
the ultimate in storage mobility - simple, lightweight, compact and
affordable."
The Buffalo USB 2.0 External Portable Hard Drive with Bus Power
Booster is Windows and Mac compatible and supports USB 2.0 and 1.1.
The product offers a 5400 rpm High Speed Drive and includes a Bus
Power Booster. This feature provides stable power delivery to the
drive even on older laptops, which often lack reliable power
delivery over USB, resulting in poor performance or drive failure.
The hard drive comes preformatted for immediate use and includes
Buffalo's Auto-Installation technology so there is no need for
installation CDs.
Its silent operation and compact design make the USB 2.0
External Portable Hard Drive with Bus Power Booster the ideal
mobile storage solution.
Backed by a limited one-year warranty and toll-free 24/7
technical support, the USB 2.0 External Portable Hard Drive with
Bus Power Booster is immediately available at estimated street
prices of $149 for the 40 GB (HD-PH40U2/BST) and $199 for the 80 GB
(HD-PH80U2/BST).
Tech Trends
Mobile PC Extended Battery Life Working Group
Offers Fuel Cell Advice
The Register's Tony Smith reports:
"The Intel-backed Mobile PC Extended Battery Life Working Group
has published guidelines for vendors keen to create fuel cells to
power portable PCs.
"The document is intended to provide fuel-cell developers will
[sic] details of the devices their products will have to power,
whether the cells will sit inside the devices in place of regular
rechargeable batteries, or operate as an alternative to an external
AC adaptor. Essentially, it defines the problem the fuel cell
developers have to solve....
"The Group sees the development of fuel cells for notebooks as
particularly challenging. Batteries are well able to provide
laptops with as much or as little power as they need, catering for
the 'bursty' nature of notebook energy demand. Fuel cells, by
contrast, were conceived to supply a continual, steady level of
power."
Fujitsu Pushes Hard Drive Limits
Researchers are working on technology that could offer seven
times as much storage.
IDG News Service's Martyn Williams reports:
"Researchers in Japan have reported success in an advanced
data-storage technology that could help yield hard drives with
capacities of seven times or more than today's most advanced drives
in as soon as five years.
"Their work is a refinement of perpendicular storage technology,
a method of data storage that is only just beginning to come into
commercial use in hard drives.
"Drive makers are switching to perpendicular storage because it
allows much more data to be stored on a disk. This is because the
magnetic particles on which data is stored stand perpendicular to
the disk's surface and so more of them can be packed onto the disk
than in the current longitudinal recording method in which they lay
flat."
Bargain 'Books
Bargain 'Books are used unless otherwise indicated. New and
refurbished units have a one-year Apple warranty and are eligible
for AppleCare.
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 (VGA) and
G4/667 (DVI), the titanium vs.
aluminum 15" PowerBook G4 at 1 GHz, and 1.25 GHz to 1.5 GHz
15" PowerBooks.
This Week's 'Book Deals
- refurb 12" iBook G4/1
GHz, 256/30/Combo, $799
- refurb 12" iBook G4/1.2
GHz, 256/30/CD-ROM, $799
- refurb 12" PowerBook G4/1.33
GHz, 256/60/SuperDrive, AirPort Extreme, $1,299
- refurb 17" PowerBook G4/1.67
GHz, 512/100/SuperDrive, AirPort Extreme, Bluetooth 2.0,
$2,299
- new 12" iBook G4/1 GHz,
256/40/CD-ROM, Airport Extreme, $779
- new 12" iBook G4/1 GHz,
256/40/CD-ROM, Airport Extreme, PC2100 SO DIMM 1 GB DDR 266,
Kensington Saddlebag Case Black with Brown trim, $999
- new 15" PowerBook G4/1.5
GHz, 512/80/SuperDrive, $2,099
- new 15" PowerBook G4/1.5
GHz, 512/80/Combo, Airport Extreme, Bluetooth, 1 GB iPod
shuffle, $2,145
- new 17" PowerBook G4/1.5
GHz, 512/80/SuperDrive, Airport Extreme, $2,299
For more deals on current or recently discontinued models, see
our Best PowerBook G4 Deals,
Best iBook G4 Deals, Best PowerBook G3 Deals, and Best iBook G3 Deals.
