All prices are in US dollars unless otherwise noted.
General Apple and Mac desktops is covered in The Mac News Review. iPod, iPhone, and Apple
TV news is covered in The iNews
Review.
News & Opinion
Retro 'Books
Apple Updates
Products
News & Opinion
One-on-One with the Makers of the Modbook
InformationWeek's Mitch Wagner reports:
"Axiotron's Modbook is a
modified MacBook running Mac OS X that has had its screen and keyboard
severed and replaced with the tablet screen.
"If you live all day in Adobe
Illustrator, Photoshop, or some other visual Mac app, Axiotron has its
eye on you. The company makes the long-awaited Modbook Mac tablet,
designed for designers, illustrators, and other visually creative
professionals.
"'It's for people who draw, scribble, and paint,' said Axiotron CEO
Andreas Haas. We sat down with Haas for a one-on-one interview
recently."
Link:
One-on-One with the Makers of the Only Authorized MacBook
Tablet
MacBook Air Now Shipping
PR: Apple announced on
Wednesday that MacBook
Air, the world's thinnest notebook, is now shipping. MacBook Air
measures an unprecedented 0.16" at its thinnest point, while its
maximum height of 0.76" is less than the thinnest point on competing
notebooks. Apple also announced that the new Apple TV software update,
which allows users to rent high definition movies directly from their
widescreen TVs, is not quite finished. Apple now plans to make the free
software download available to existing Apple TV customers in another
week or two.
MacBook Air has a stunning 13.3" LED-backlit widescreen display, a
full-size and backlit keyboard, a built-in iSight video camera for
video conferencing, and a spacious trackpad with multitouch gesture
support so users can pinch, rotate and swipe. MacBook Air is powered by
a 1.6 GHz or 1.8 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor with 4 MB L2
cache, and includes as standard features 2 GB of memory, an 80 GB
1.8" hard drive, and the latest 802.11n WiFi technology and Bluetooth
2.1.
The new
MacBook Air is now shipping and will be available through the Apple Store, Apple's
retail stores and Apple Authorized Resellers for a suggested retail
price of $1,799 (US), and includes: 13.3" LED-backlit glossy widescreen
display with 1280 x 800 resolution; 1.6 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor
with 4 MB L2 cache; 800 MHz frontside bus; 2 GB of 667 MHz
DDR2 SDRAM; 80 GB hard disk drive with Sudden Motion Sensor; Intel
Graphics Media Accelerator X3100; Micro-DVI port (includes Micro-DVI to
VGA and Micro-DVI to DVI Adapters); built-in iSight video camera;
built-in AirPort Extreme 802.11n wireless networking and Bluetooth
2.1+EDR; one USB 2.0 port; one headphone port; multitouch TrackPad with
support for advanced multitouch gestures including tap, scroll, pinch,
rotate and swipe; and 45 Watt MagSafe Power Adapter.
Build-to-order options and accessories for MacBook Air include the
ability to upgrade to a 1.8 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor; 64 GB solid
state drive, MacBook Air SuperDrive, Apple USB Ethernet Adapter, Apple
USB Modem, Apple MagSafe Airline Adapter, Apple Remote and the
AppleCare Protection Plan. Additional build-to-order options also
include preinstalled copies of iWork '08, Logic Express 8, Final Cut
Express 4 and Aperture 1.5.
Macworld's Comprehensive MacBook Air Review
"Compromises
limit appeal of Apple's lightest-ever laptop," says Macworld's Jason
Snell in a major review of Apple's new baby 'Book.
"The MacBook Air, Apple's latest Intel-based laptop, is the
lightest, thinnest laptop Apple has ever constructed, and according to
Apple, it's the thinnest laptop ever made. And in many ways, the story
of this laptop is the story of a series of compromises, all made in
order to fit an entire Mac in a three-pound package that's
three-quarters of an inch thick at its thickest point....
"There is no denying that the MacBook Air's thinness makes it
visually striking. But I'm not convinced of the utility of that
thinness. Other than allowing Apple to declare the Air the current
winner of the race to design the thinnest laptop, it seems that the Air
has slimmed down in the least important dimension....
"Yes, I'll grant you, I can almost slide the MacBook Air under my
office door. But I don't believe the extra thinness is going to gain me
much working room when I'm wedged in a coach airline seat behind
someone whose seat is fully reclined. Or on my daily bus commute, when
I'm sitting in a seat so small it makes coach look like business class.
In these situations, reduced depth would be more likely to improve the
angle of my screen and keep the front of my laptop from pressing
against my chest. But in that dimension, the MacBook Air is no
different from the MacBook....
"If the story of the MacBook Air is a story about compromise, the
decision about whether the MacBook Air is a product worth having can be
answered by one question: How much are you willing to compromise?"
Link: Review:
MacBook Air
The MacBook Air Austerity Program: Lose 80 GB in
One Day
Macworld's Jason Snell reports:
"The first thing I did upon realizing that I'd be reviewing the
MacBook Air for Macworld was sigh heavily and curse my luck. Not that
I'm not lucky to get to play with the MacBook Air - I'm excited about
that. No, my sigh was one of realization. Realization that my current
MacBook was stocked with a 160 GB hard drive, a drive that was nearly
full.
"In order to fit my life into the MacBook Air, I was going to have
to remove half the data from my hard drive in less than a week.
"This is the story of my crash MacBook diet...."
Link:
The MacBook Air Austerity Program, or How to Lose 80 GB in One
Day
MacBook Air: A Little Too Pretty?
BusinessWeek's
Stephen H. Wildstrom says:
"It didn't
take long for Apple's new laptop, the MacBook Air, to set off an
intense struggle between my heart and my head. Without doubt, the Air
is the best looking and the sexiest computer ever designed. But a
computer is a tool, not an objet d'art, and there are a lot of
practical shortcomings forced by Air's minimalist design."
Link:
MacBook Air: A Little Too Pretty?
The CPU that Intel Built Just for Apple
Dr. Jon Peddie
of Jon Peddie Research reports:
"You may have wondered how it is possible that the MacBook Air is
getting a new Intel microprocessor - a processor that is so new that it
has not been available for any other product. We actually have seen
other examples of Apple being treated as a very special customer by
Intel, such as the exclusive availability of the 3.0 GHz quad-core Xeon
last year. A little investigation reveals that Intel actually did
develop a processor for Apple and its MacBook Air. And, if you are
aware of the background story, this special Apple chip makes a whole
lot of sense for both Apple and Intel....
"When Steve Jobs asked his new best friend Paul Otellini if Intel
could produce a super small yet powerful CPU for this notebook,
Otellini apparently did not hesitate. If you look into the development
Intel went through in the past two years, it becomes somewhat clear
that Otellini has changed Intel into a much more customer-centric
company again. Although he isn't part of Intel's founding team, he knew
listening to customers and telling them a simple 'we can do it' was
what had made the company great in the first place....
"What Apple ended up receiving for the MacBook Air is a custom-built
Core 2 Duo 9000 series, multi-core, multi-gigahertz, sub-25 watt chip
in very compact package. And Apple got it exclusively until this
fall...."
Link: The
CPU that Intel Built Just for Apple
Older AirPort May Cause Networking Issues with
MacBook Air
Macworld's Jim
Dalrymple reports:
"If you're waiting for your new MacBook Air to show up, there are a
few notes from Apple that may interest you before it arrives. All of
the notes, including one about older base stations, outline potential
issues and fixes with the MacBook Air....
"Another potential problem is jumpy or jerky video when using the
MacBook Air's built-in camera...."
Link: Older
AirPort May Cause Networking Issues with MacBook Air
Forget about Watching DVDs Wirelessly on Your
MBA
MacUser's
Derik DeLong says:
"One of the first questions that popped into my head was whether
there would be limitations on what Remote Disc could do when acting as
a drive for the MacBook Air. Booting isn't an issue (a feat which I
wouldn't have imagined back when AirPort debuted). However, it's
compatibility isn't perfect.
"We know it won't write discs already (hardly surprising considering
the lack of data reliability over a network link). Did you know though
that you won't be able to watch DVDs either?"
Link: Forget
about Watching DVDs Wirelessly on Your MBA
Inside the MacBook Air: The Solid-state Drive
Option
Macworld's Jon
L. Jacobi reports:
"When it comes to storage, the newly unveiled MacBook Air offers an
80 GB, 4,200-rpm Parallel ATA hard drive as part of its standard
configuration. However, that's not the only option - would-be MacBook
Air buyers can also order the laptop with a 64 GB solid-state drive
(SSD).
"The price for that downgrade in storage capacity: $999 on top of
the $1,799 asking price for the standard MacBook Air. So why would you
pay so much more for less? Because, for some mobile users, solid-state
storage is a compelling alternative to traditional hard drives...."
Link: Inside
the MacBook Air: The Solid-state Drive Option
Compatible SSDs for MacBook Air
Hardmac's
Lionel reports:
"Several readers asked us about compatible SSDs to be installed in
MacBook Air.
"You will need 1.8" PATA SSDs, with a 5mm thickness and featuring a
ZIF socket. As there are different sizes of ZIF, you will need the
smallest version."
Link: Compatible SSDs for
MacBook Air
MacBook Air: Making the Migration
Macworld's Jason Snell says:
"One of the oddities of the MacBook Air is, as a system without a
FireWire port, an optical drive, or an accessible hard drive, the act
of reinstalling Mac OS X and migrating your files from your old system
to this new one is more complicated than it has been in the past.
"Without FireWire there's no 'target mode,' a feature that lets you
mount a laptop's drive on another Mac as if it were an external hard
drive. It's a feature that's been around for a long time (dating back
to a SCSI version on old PowerBooks), and it's a convenient way to
migrate files on and off of laptops, but the MacBook Air just won't do
it. (And no, sadly, there's no USB equivalent.)
"But Apple has taken the MacBook Air's release as an opportunity to
upgrade its Migration Assistant - which previously focused on
transferring files via FireWire - and other software in order to make
life easier for MacBook Air users and, presumably, other Mac users via
some future software update."
Link:
MacBook Air: Making the Migration
USB EV-DO Modems Won't Fit the MacBook
Air
Engadget's
Ryan Block reports:
"Ouch, we just tested and confirmed that one of the smallest (and
thus likeliest to fit) USB EV-DO modems around, the Sprint / Novatel
U727, won't even come close to fitting in the cramped, foldaway USB
port on the MacBook Air...."
Link:
Adding Insult to Injury: USB 3G Modems Won't Fit in the MacBook
Air
Apple MacBook Review
Stuff TV
says:
"The spec tweaks might be minor, but the MacBook remains a highly
desirable and excellent value laptop for everything except hardcore
gaming
"Apple's smug 'Mac versus PC' adverts give the impression that using
a MacBook means dealing with the computing equivalent of an obnoxious,
self-satisfied slacker. Happily the reality is very different: it comes
pre-loaded with Leopard, which is indisputably easier to use than
Vista, and the ability to dual boot with Gates' OS gives it a real
leg-up compared to Windows-only laptops."
Link: Apple MacBook
Review
Retro 'Books
Cracking Open the Clamshell iBook
Cnet
Networks' TechRepublic runs a regular series called "Cracking Open" in
which it takes a look inside a variety of gadgets. CNET News.com is
publishing this excerpt.
"With an
innovative design that was meant to grab your attention, the original clamshell iBook from
Apple generated almost as much buzz in the IT world as the more recent
iPhone. In 1999, personal computer users were generally stuck with the
familiar black rectangle laptop, but the iBook came in blueberry and
orange and was shaped like a clamshell (toilet seat?). But what was the
iBook like on the inside? We find out in this TechRepublic 'Cracking
Open' gallery."
Link: Cracking Open the
iBook G3
Repairing an iBook G4's Retro Internal
Circuits
Hardmac's
Lionel reports:
"In the era of MacBooks, MacBook Pro's and MacBook Air's, an iBook
looks like a dinosaur. However, if it still works, that machine will
still be useful for some purposes.
"Reboutte, a member of our fora, decided to repair a broken iBook - apparently a wire had come loose, and
made a short circuit."
Link: Repairing an iBook's
Retro Internal Circuits
Apple Updates
MacBook Air Developer Note
Apple's introduction to the
MacBook Air Developer Note says:
"This developer note gives a technical description of the Intel Core
2 Duo MacBook Air computer introduced in January 2008. The purpose of
this note is to provide information about the computer's internal
design, input-output features, and expansion capabilities to help
developers design products compatible with the MacBook Air.
"The MacBook Air is designed for portability and a completely
wireless experience. One of the reasons why the design is so thin, is
that it does not include an optical drive. To load software, the
MacBook Air can access the optical drive of another Mac or PC using the
Remote Disc feature. For complete instructions on using Remote Disc,
refer to the MacBook Air User Guide that shipped with the computer.
"The system requirements for using Remote Disc with the MacBook Air
are Mac OS 10.4.10 or later or the latest version of Windows XP or
Vista."
Link:
MacBook Air Developer Note
MacBook Air: About the Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard
Installation Media
A new Apple Knowledge Base
article says:
"The Mac OS X 10.5 installation media that shipped with your MacBook
Air is designed for use on this computer only and not intended for any
other computer.
"The installer prevents this software from being installed on other
Macintosh computers. Furthermore, other Mac OS X 10.5 installation
media should not be used when restoring the system software on your
MacBook Air."
Link: MacBook Air:
About the Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard Installation Media
MacBook (13" Mid 2007) User Guide
Get to know the ins and outs of
your MacBook.
- Discussions forums - Seek help from other MacBook users.
- Software Update - Having issues? First update your software.
- Downloads
- Manuals
- Specifications
- Get Started
- Portables Fast Start: New User's Guide
- How to
- Install memory in your MacBook
- Identify a MacBook (13" Late 2007)
- Remove or install the battery
- Maximize your Notebook battery charge
- Tips for inserting discs into the disc drive
- Startup key combinations for Intel Macs
- Clean the plastics on your Mac
- Disconnect the MagSafe power adapter
- Use your MacBook with the display closed and a Bluetooth keyboard
or mouse
- About
- Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard installation disk for MacBook (Late
2007)
- Firmware updates for Intel-based Macs
- External ports and connectors
- MagSafe Airline Power Adapter is not compatible with automobile
power ports
- Care, Use and Safety information
- Reducing cable strain on your MagSafe power adapter
- User Discussions - Troubleshooting
- If you need information about fixing an issue, try these Apple
articles.
- Resetting the Power Management Unit (SMC)
- My MacBook shuts down intermittently
- Battery not recognized after being fully drained
- Battery not recognized or "X" icon appears on menu bar
- My MacBook that won't turn on
- Runaway applications can shorten battery runtime
- Troubleshooting the CD or DVD disc drive
- My trackpad is behaving unexpectedly
- About white MacBooks' palmrest area
- MacBook may run warm because rear vent is blocked
- Operating temperatures for Apple Notebooks
- Processor speed reduced when battery is removed while operating
from an A/C adaptor
Link: MacBook
(13" Mid 2007) User Guide
Products
FastMac's High Capacity Replacement Battery
for 17" MacBook Pro
PR: FastMac has announced the first and only high capacity,
extended life battery upgrade for Apple's 17" MacBook Pro computer. The
new 71 Watt hr. battery, which is compatible with all models of the 17"
MacBook Pro, uses Lithium-Polymer cells (with integrated charge
indicator LEDs) that are manufactured to the highest quality standards
and utilize TruePower technology to provide a safe computing
experience. With this offering, FastMac rounds out its line of battery
upgrades to include ALL models of MacBook and MacBook Pro computers,
thereby becoming the only company, besides Apple, to offer a full line
of batteries for Apple's newest portables. FastMac's TruePower battery
for the MacBook Pro 17" is scheduled to ship within 10 days and is
available for pre-order from www.fastmac.com for a special introductory
price of $99.95. Each battery carries a 1-year warranty and a 30-day
money back guarantee.
FastMac's
TruePower line of battery upgrades replaces the computer's original
battery with a larger capacity and longer lasting advanced power cell
battery that utilizes TruePower technology. This technology
incorporates sensors in the integrated circuit inside the battery that
detect undesirable levels of swelling or a short circuit that will
power off the battery in certain extreme conditions.
"As a replacement, or a spare, our batteries not only last longer
than Apple's original, they are also $30 cheaper," said Michael
Lowdermilk, Business Development Manager for FastMac Performance
Upgrades, Inc.
FastMac's line of TruePower batteries for laptops are engineered
using the highest quality, high-capacity Lithium Ion or Polymer cells,
keeping safety in mind at all times. FastMac utilizes custom form
factors and materials to achieve a superior fit and finish, matching
the original battery whilst increasing capacity. Each battery is
individually tested and includes safety features to protect against
overcharge, overheating, short circuits and power surges. All TruePower
batteries carry at least a 1 year warranty and in some cases, a 2 year
warranty. FastMac's TruePower line includes battery upgrades for all
iPods & all Apple portables released since 1997, including the
world's longest lasting PowerBook battery with up to 68% more capacity
than the original. FastMac is also first to market a replacement
battery for all of Apple's latest MacBook & MacBook Pro
portables.
TruePower is the name of an innovative new technology designed to
extend the life of ordinary Lithium Ion cells, commonly used in most
rechargeable batteries. More than 4 years in development, this patented
technology allows tiny ceramic particles (each less than a millionth of
a millimeter in size) to be integrated into the molecular structure of
the chemical binding agent found inside each Lithium Ion battery. These
particles then link-in with each other & a proprietary energy
management circuit to create an extremely dense and highly conductive
layer on the surface of a capacitor-enhanced battery pack. This
combination delivers the power necessary to satisfy the pulse demands
placed on most batteries, whilst ensuring the protection of the Lithium
cell matrix. These results in battery packs that can be recharged many
more times as well as yielding longer run times per charge. Whereas
ordinary battery packs start losing their power within a few months,
TruePower-enhanced battery packs continue giving consistent power for
long periods, allowing OEMs to offer warranties of 2 years or more.
More information about TruePower is available via the website:
http://www.fastmac.com/truepower.php
FastMac's battery upgrades utilize TruePower technology- a patented
material & energy management circuit that is designed to protect
the battery's internal lithium crystal matrix from damage caused by
power spikes. These spikes occur when the computer demands a sudden
high current peak- for example, to turn on the backlight or to load the
next data sectors. Over time, these power spikes decrease capacity,
runtime and battery life, eventually rendering the power cells
unusable. Through the use of TruePower technology, the energy
management circuit is able to smooth out the power spikes and lower the
rate of decay. This protects the battery and leads to a longer
lifecycle. Not only does this extend the usability of the computer, it
also helps the environment by curbing the depletion of chemicals and
plastic materials used in battery products and reducing the number of
waste batteries sent to landfills. More information about FastMac's
battery upgrades is available via the website.
This battery is compatible with any 17" MacBook Pro
Price: $99.95
Link:
High Capacity MacBook Pro Replacement Battery
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.
PowerBook, iBook, and MacBook profiles linked in our Portable Mac Index.
Refurb Santa Rosa 15" MacBook Pros are back this week, in my
estimation a better value than the older 2.33 MHz Core 2 Duo models
that are offered for $200 more. The higher-spec. 15-incher has never
seemed to me to be much of a deal. Also, $100 price drops on a couple
of the 17" models and MacBooks. cm
- refurb 2.0 GHz Core 2 MacBook, white, 1 GB/80/Combo, $899
- refurb 2.0 GHz Santa Rosa MacBook, white, 1 GB/80/Combo, $949
- refurb 2.0 GHz Core 2 MacBook, white, 1 GB/80/SD, $1,049
- refurb 2.16 GHz Core 2 MacBook, black, 1 GB/160/SD, $1,249
- refurb 2.2 GHz Core 2 MacBook, white, 1 GB/120/SD, $1,099
- refurb 2.2 GHz Core 2 MacBook, black, 1 GB/160/SD, $1,299
- refurb 15" 2.2 GHz Core 2 MacBook Pro, 2 GB/120/SD, $1,699
- refurb 15" 2.33 GHz Core 2 MacBook Pro, 2 GB/120/SD, $1,899
- refurb 15" 2.4 GHz Core 2 MacBook Pro, 2 GB/160/SD, $2,099
- refurb 17" 2.33 GHz Core 2 MacBook Pro, 2 GB/160/SD, $2,099
- refurb 17" 2.4 GHz Core 2 MacBook Pro, 2 GB/160/SD, $2,299
- refurb hi-res 17" 2.4 GHz Core 2 MacBook Pro, 2 GB/160/SD,
$2,499
- 15" PowerBook G4/400, 256/20/DVD, $499.99
- 17" PowerBook G4/1 GHz, 512/60/SD, $999.99
- 15" 1.83 GHz MacBook Pro , 512/80/SD, $1,179.99
- 15" 2.0 GHz MacBook Pro, 512/80/SD, $1,239.99
- 15" 2.16 GHz MacBook Pro, 1 GB/100/SD, $1,399.99
- 17" 2.16 GHz Core Duo MacBook Pro, 1 GB/120/SD, $1,499.99
- 17" 2.16 GHz Core Duo MacBook Pro, 1 GB/160/SD, $1,529.99
- 17" 2.16 GHz Core Duo MacBook Pro, 1 GB/200/SD, $1,619.99
- 12" iBook G4/800, 640/30/Combo, $399
- 12" iBook G4/800, 640/30/Combo, APX, $439
- Add AirPort Extreme for $39
- 1.83 GHz MacBook, white, 1 GB/80/Combo, $879
- 2.16 GHz Core 2 MacBook, black, 1 GB/160/SD, $1,259
- open box 15" 2.33 GHz MacBook Pro, 2 GB/120/SD, $1,799
- open box 17" 2.4 GHz MacBook Pro, 2 GB/160//SD, $2,549
- MacBook 2.0 GHz Core 2, white, 1 GB/80/Combo, $1,049
- MacBook 2.16 GHz Core 2, black, 1 GB/160/SD, $1,439
- open box 2.16 GHz Core 2 MacBook, white, 1 GB/120/SD, warranty
started $1,199
- open box 2.16 GHz Core 2 MacBook, white, 1 GB/120/SD, $1,229
- open box 2.16 GHz Core 2 MacBook, black, 1 GB/160/SD, $1,379
- open box 15" 2.2 GHz Core 2 MacBook Pro, 2 GB/200/SD, $2,229
- open box 17" 2.33 GHz Core 2 MacBook Pro, 2 GB/160/SD, $2,599
- open box 17" 2.4 GHz Core 2 MacBook Pro, 2 GB/160/SD, $2,599
- 17" 2.4 GHz Core 2 MacBook Pro, 2 GB/200/SD, $2,969
- 17" 2.4 GHz Core 2 MacBook Pro, 2 GB/200/SD, $3,079
- 12" iBook G3/500, 128/10/CD, $199.95
- 12" iBook G3/600, 128/20/CD, $179.95
- 12" iBook G3/600, 128/20/CD, $219.95
- 12" iBook G3/700, 256/20/CD, $229.95
- 12" iBook G3/800, 256/30/CD, $269.95
- 12" iBook G4/800, 640/40/Combo, $469.95
- 12" iBook G4/1 GHz, 768/40/Combo, $519.95
- 14" iBook G3/900, 256/40/Combo, $379.95
- 15" PowerBook G4/1.67 GHz, 1 GB/120/SD, APX, $1,299.95
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.
