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
Tech Trends
Products
News & Opinion
Solid State Drive Prices to Dive
Cnet's
Brooke Crothers reports:
"Future versions of the MacBook Air will pack
larger-capacity but lower-cost solid-state drives, emblematic of the
next generation of flash storage that will make a quick descent from
current stratospheric pricing.
"Today, a consumer pays dearly for a solid-state drive (SSD). For
example, for only 64 GB of SSD storage on the MacBook Air, a consumer
must pay a premium of about $1,000 over the 80 GB hard disk drive
model.
"But the cost per megabyte of solid state drive storage will drop as
notebook PC makers like Apple switch to solid-state drives with
capacities above 100 GB based on multilevel cell (MLC) technology.
Adoption by notebook PC makers is expected to start in the third
quarter, according to industry sources."
Link:
Solid-State Drive Prices to Dive (Think MacBook Air)
How Warm Is Your MacBook When Running?
The Apple Core's David
Morgenstern says:
"Just as the experience of pain varies from individuals, so is our
evaluation of how hot a Mac laptop can become. Apple says they can
become 'very warm.' We can appreciate that warmth in the winter, but it
can be a pain for summer computing.
"Apple refreshed its Apple Portables: Operating temperature
technical note. It says not to worry about 'very warm' laptops. There's
nothing in the note about 'very hot.'"
Link: How 'Warm' Is
Your MacBook Operating Temperature?
Tech Trends
LCD Panel Makers Pushing 15.6" as Next Notebook
Mainstream
DigiTimes'
Rebecca Kuo and Rodney Chan report:
"LCD panel suppliers are gearing up for the promotion of 15.6-inch
16:9 aspect ratio panels as the next mainstream standard in the
notebook market. PC vendors are expected to roll out products towards
the end of the second quarter or early in the third quarter, according
to industry sources....
"PC vendors, such as Dell, Acer, Asustek Computer, Toshiba, and
Lenovo all have plans to launch 15.6-inch notebooks, forming a new
trend in the second half of the year, the sources commented."
Link: LCD Panel Makers
Pushing 15.6-Inch as Next Notebook Mainstream (subscription
required)
Will Seagate Build a Flash SSD Foundry?
The Register's
Chris Mellor reports:
"The ebullient Seagate CEO Bill Watkins has made it clear that
Seagate thinks flash solid state drives (SSDs) are interesting and
Seagate will sell them - but not yet. When Seagate does sell a
Seagate-brand SSD how will it make it? Will there be a Seagate flash
foundry?
"A customer buys a hard disk drive (HDD) array from an OEM or
channel source and the innards consist of a controller from LSI or
someone similar and disk drives from Seagate or someone else similar.
Seagate makes drives but not controllers.
"A flash SSD array or array component will consist of a flash array
controller and flash SSDs, which consist of flash chips and the
SSD-level controller, roughly equivalent to the HDD integrated circuit
board sold and supplied by Seagate as an intrinsic part of the hard
drive.
"So, logically, Seagate would sell to OEMs a flash SSD equivalent to
a HDD unit; that is to say, a bunch of flash chips and control
electronics. Will Seagate make the flash chips?"
Link:
Will Seagate Build a Flash SSD Foundry?
Acer Announces Small £199 Linux Laptop
Register Hardware's
Tony Smith reports:
"Computex Acer has launched its Eee PC wannabe, the Aspire One,
pitching the product to Brits at just £199 including VAT - even
though it's 'not a low-cost notebook', according to the company.
"The One's specs largely match those of its rivals: 1.6 GHz Intel
Atom N270 processor; 512 MB of 533 MHz DDR 2 memory with a single
SO-DIMM slot for more; and an 8.9in, 1024 x 600, 262,000-colour
LED-backlit display. There's a 0.3-megapixel webcam in the screen
bezel."
Link: Acer
Announces £199 Linux Laptop
Via Releases 'Open Source' Laptop Design
IDG News
Service's Sumner Lemon reports:
"Via Technologies released the hardware design for a low-cost laptop
with WiMax support under an open-source license on Tuesday, a move
intended to make customization easier and shorten design cycles for
system makers.
"The CAD (computer-assisted design) files for the OpenBook reference
design can be downloaded for free and made available to anyone under
the Creative Commons Attribution ShareAlike 3.0 license. The terms of
this license allow the CAD files to be freely copied, shared and
modified.
"The only requirements are that use of the design is attributed to
Via and changes made to the design can only be distributed under the
same license or one that has similar terms....
"The OpenBook is based on Via's 1.6 GHz C7-M processor and VX800
chipset. The design includes an 8.9-inch screen with a resolution of
1,024 pixels by 600 pixels and calls for a hard disk with a capacity of
80G bytes or more"
Link: Via Releases
Laptop Design as Open Source
AMD Targets Puma 'Centrino Beater' at Consumers,
Small Business
The Register's
Kelly Fiveash reports:
"AMD launched its long-awaited Puma laptop platform this morning
into an unexpectedly open market after Intel was forced to delay its
refreshed Centrino 2 ['Montevina'] platform.
"Puma is built around AMD's Turion X2 Ultra Dual-Core Mobile
processor but the vendor has put HD at the centre of its pitch. Puma
features integrated ATI Radeon HD 3200 Graphics and supports DirextX10.
It will also offer other discrete ATI Radeon graphics set-ups. Part of
the pitch is its ability to run both the built-in and discrete graphics
set-ups in tandem."
Link: AMD
Targets Puma 'Centrino Beater' at Consumers, SMEs
AMD Shakes PC Notebook Status Quo
InfoWorld's
Tom Yager says:
"At the logic level, MacBook, the benchmark for
success in mainstream notebooks, is unremarkable - indistinguishable
from every PC notebook built on Intel Core 2 and its chipset-integrated
graphics. Why, then, can't anyone with the same parts list emulate
Apple's growth in an otherwise stagnant notebook market? Because Apple
painstakingly hand-optimized its OS for a tiny variety of hardware
architectures, presently Intel Core 2, while Microsoft wrote Vista to
run on absolutely everything. No PC notebook maker can take the
proprietary route that Apple plays to such advantage.
"Microsoft can't crank out proprietary cuts of Vista for each
notebook vendor's choice of suppliers. The best hope is a hardware
architecture that's optimized for Vista. Not only that, but optimized
for 64-bit Vista running on a battery. That radical objective drove
AMD's design for the total notebook platform nicknamed Puma, and now
dubbed, temporarily I hope, AMD's Next Generation Notebook Platform.
This platform's Turion X2 Ultra 64 CPU is not cut from the common cloth
of adapted desktop platforms like Core 2 that rely on machinations of
the OS to balance performance with battery life...."
Link:
AMD Shakes PC Notebook Status Quo
Products
Western Digital Scorpio Mobile 7200 RPM Hard Drives
Reach 300 GB
PR: Designed with
top-of-the-line notebook computers in mind, Western Digital's high
performance Scorpio hard drive delivers the capacity and speed needed
to supercharge a notebook PC without compromising battery life or quiet
acoustics. Features like these also make this drive an outstanding
option for compact desktops, external hard drives, gaming systems, and
blade servers.
Key Features:
- Desktop-class performance for notebook computers - With 7200 RPM
spin speed, 16 MB cache, and capacities up to 320 GB, these drives
enable you to have the best of both worlds: the capacity and
performance of a desktop PC with the convenience and portability of a
notebook.
- Massive capacity - WD's 320 GB 2.5" drives offer huge capacity for
space-hungry operating systems, with plenty of room left over for
photos, music, and video.
- Low power consumption - With technologies like IntelliSeek, which
calculates optimum seek speeds to lower power consumption and
SecurePark, which reduces power by parking the heads during low power
idle mode, this drive delivers 5400 RPM-equivalent power consumption in
a 7200 RPM drive.
Quiet - In a notebook drive,
silence is golden. WD's exclusive WhisperDrive combines
state-of-the-art seeking algorithms to yield one of the quietest 2.5"
hard drives on the market.- Reliable and rugged - WD's ShockGuard technology protects the drive
mechanics and platter surfaces from shocks during shipping and handling
and in daily operation.
WD's SecurePark parks the recording heads off the disk surface
during spin up, spin down and when the drive is off. This ensures the
recording head never touches the disk surface resulting in improved
long term reliability due to less head wear and improved shock
tolerance.
- Free-fall sensor = As an added layer of protection, if the drive
(or the system it's in) is dropped while in use, WD's free-fall sensor
detects that the drive is falling and, in less than 200 milliseconds,
parks the head to help prevent damage and data loss.
Capacities: 320 GB, 250 GB, 160 GB, 120 GB, 80 GB
320 gigabyte capacity street price about $249.
Link: Western
Digital Scorpio Mobile 7200 RPM Hard Drives
ExperCom Offers Solid State Drives for MacBook,
MacBook Pro
PR: ExperCom offers three ways to upgrade to a solid
state drive in your MacBook or MacBook Pro:
- Preconfigured Solid State Drive MacBook and MacBook Pro:
preconfigured Mac laptops that come to you with a SSD already
installed, with all of the same software that comes with a new Mac
laptop loaded and ready to go. The hard drive, removed during
installation, is also included with your new Mac:
- MacBook Pro 15.4" 2.4 GHz/2 GB/120 GB
SSD/SuperDrive/AirPort/Bluetooth - $2649
- MacBook White 13.3" 2.2 GHz/2 GB/60 GB
SSD/SuperDrive/AirPort/Bluetooth - $1649
- Add a Solid State Drive upgrade to any new Mac laptop: You can
choose any configuration MacBook Pro or MacBook , and have ExperCom
install an SSD before delivering your new Mac laptop. The hard drive,
removed during installation, is also included with your new Mac.*
- 60 GB SSD Upgrade (buy with MacBook or MacBook Pro) - $550
- 120 GB SSD Upgrade (buy with MacBook or MacBook Pro) - $850
- Have ExperCom replace the drive in a Mac laptop you already own:
ExperCom will replace your hard drive with a Solid State Drive*,
transfer your data to the new SSD, and ship back your Mac laptop to
you. The hard drive, removed during installation, is also included with
your Mac that is returned to you.
- 60 GB Solid State Drive (SSD) - Upgrade your Mac Laptop - $599
- 120 GB Solid State Drive (SSD) - Upgrade your Mac Laptop -
$899
SSD vs. Hard Drive (click for full-size image)
SSD Advantages
- Reliability: No moving parts means the risk of mechanical failure
is extremely rare. You'll enjoy greater durability and improved
resistance to data loss in the event of an accidental drop. Also, there
is no noise and less heat is generated.
- Faster Access Time: Solid state drives can access data more quickly
than standard hard drives, so you'll enjoy a boost in performance when
starting up your computer and opening files and applications. ExperCom
is using the Super Talent SSD with a maximum read speed of 120 MB/s and
a maximum write speed of 40 MB/s.
- Less Power Draw: Solid state drives require less power to operate,
potentially increasing battery life.
SSD Disadvantages
- Cost: Solid state drives cost more per gigabyte than standard hard
dives.
- Capacity: Solid state drives have smaller capacities than standard
hard dives.
- Slower Write Times: The write times for solid state drives are
typically slower than standard hard drives.
Link: ExperCom
Solid State Drives for MacBook and MacBook Pro
LaCie d2 USB 2.0 & FireWire Blu-ray
Drive
PR: The
professional choice for Blu-ray recording: Easily save 50 GB of digital
data on 1 disc, BD (Blu-ray)/DVD/CD writer in one drive.
Durable d2 design; quiet operation
Burn up to 4 hours of HD video on a Blu-ray disc without quality
loss and then share it with your customers or send your high-quality
master for replication.
New
Blu-ray technology allows you to archive large amounts of data, audio
asset libraries, raw video shoots, image files or complete multimedia
projects on long lasting BD media - at a low cost per GB. Easily back
up as much as 10 DVDs worth of important files at a fast throughput of
18 MB/s.
Backward compatible with CD/DVD media, it also offers a compelling
interactive multimedia experience when playing back your BD-ROMs.
Bundled with full-featured, easy-to-use software, including packet
writing and backup applications, it's the LaCie Blu-ray burning
solution for intensive professional use.
$689.99
Link: LaCie d2
Blu-ray Drive USB 2.0 & FireWire
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.
Amazon.com
New this week; MacBook Airs! - and some high-end 17" MacBook Pros.
Each model comes with an Apple one-year warranty, and ground shipping
is free.
- refurb 2.1 GHz Penryn MacBook, white, 1 GB/120/Combo, $949
- refurb 2.2 GHz Core 2 MacBook, white, 1 GB/120/SD, $999
- refurb 1.6 GHz MacBook Air, 2 GB/80, $1,549
- refurb 1.8 GHz MacBook Air, 2 GB/64 SSD, $2,699
- 2.4 GHz Core 2 MacBook, white, 2/160/SD, $1,099
- 2.4 GHz Core 2 MacBook, black, 2/250/SD, $1,299
- refurb 15" 2.4 GHz Santa Rosa MacBook Pro, 2 GB/160/SD, $1,699
- refurb 15" 2.5 GHz Penryn MacBook Pro, 2 GB/250/SD, $2,149
- refurb 17" 2.4 GHz Santa Rosa MacBook Pro, 2 GB/160/SD, $2,099
- refurb 17" 2.4 GHz hi-res Santa Rosa MacBook Pro, 2 GB/160/SD,
$2,299
- refurb 17" 2.5 GHz Penryn MacBook Pro, 2 GB/250/SD, $2,399
- refurb 17" hi-res 2.6 GHz Penryn MacBook Pro, 2 GB/200/SD,
$2,749
- 12" iBook G3/700, 256/20/Combo, $419.99
- 15" PowerBook G4/667 (VGA), 256/30/Combo, $599.99
- 1.6 GHz MacBook Air, 2 GB/80, $1,699.99
- 15" 2.16 GHz Core Duo MacBook Pro, 1 GB/120/SD, $1,399.99
- Pismo PowerBook G3/400, 128/6/DVD, $299.99
- Pismo PowerBook G3/400, 256/40/DVD, $399.99
- Pismo PowerBook G3/400, 256/60/DVD, $419.99
- Pismo PowerBook G3/500, 128/6/DVD, $349.99
- Pismo PowerBook G3/500, 256/40/DVD, $439.99
- Pismo PowerBook G3/500, 256/60/DVD, $449.99
- 12" PowerBook G4/867 MHz, 256/40/Combo, $469.99
- 12" PowerBook G4/1 GHz, 256/40/Combo, $509.99
- 15" titanium PowerBook G4/867 MHz, 256/30/Combo, $549.99
- 15" titanium PowerBook G4/1 GHz, 256/60/Combo, $699.99
- 15" aluminum PowerBook G4/1 GHz, 256/60/Combo, $599.99
- 15" aluminum PowerBook G4/1.25 GHz, 256/60/Combo, $629.99
- 15" aluminum PowerBook G4/1.33 GHz, 256/60/Combo, $679.99
- 15" aluminum PowerBook G4/1.5 GHz, 512/80/Combo, $699.99
- 15" aluminum PowerBook G4/1.67 GHz, 1 GB/80/SD, $739.99
- 15" hi-res PowerBook G4/1.67 GHz, 512/80/SD, $799.99
- 15" PowerBook G4/1.5 GHz, 1 GB/80/Combo, APX, $689
- 15" PowerBook G4/1.67 GHz, 1 GB/80/Combo, APX, $799
- 15" 2.0 GHz Core Duo MacBook Pro, 512/80/SD, APX, $1,129
- open box 1.6 GHz MacBook Air, 2 GB/80, $1,749
- open box 2.1 GHz Core 2 MacBook, white, 1 GB/120/SD, $1,049
- open box 2.16 GHz Core 2 MacBook, white, 2 GB/120/SD, warranty
started, $1,049
- open box 2.2 GHz Core 2 MacBook, black, 2 GB/160/SD, $1,249
- open box 2.4 GHz Core 2 MacBook, white, 2 GB/160/SD, $1,249
- open box 2.4 GHz Core 2 MacBook, black, 2 GB/250/SD, $1,449
- 15" 2.4 GHz Core 2 MacBook Pro, warranty started, 2/160/SD,
$1,799
- 15" 2.4 GHz Core 2 MacBook Pro, warranty started, 2/200/SD,
$1,949
- open box 17" 2.33 GHz Core 2 MacBook Pro, 2 GB/160/SD, $2,288
- refurb 17" 2.4 GHz Core 2 MacBook Pro, 2 GB/160/SD, warranty
started, $2,049
- open box 17" 2.4 GHz Core 2 MacBook Pro, 2 GB/160/SD, warranty
started, $2,349
- 17" 2.4 GHz Core 2 MacBook Pro, 2 GB/160/SD, $2,449
- open box 17" 2.5 GHz Core 2 MacBook Pro, 2 GB/160/SD, $2,688
- 17" 2.6 GHz Core 2 MacBook Pro, 2 GB/160/SD, $2,699
- Blueberry clamshell iBook G3/300 MHz, 64/3/CD, $179.95
- Tangerine clamshell iBook G3/300 MHz, 64/3/CD, $199.95
- 12" iBook G3/500, 192/10/DVD, $249.95
- 12" iBook G3/600, 128/20/CD, $229.95
- 12" iBook G3/600, 256/30/CD, $289.95
- Pismo PowerBook G3/400, 192/6/Zip, $269.95
- 15" 2.16 GHz Core 2 MacBook Pro, 1 GB/120/SD, $1,599.95
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.
