General Apple and Mac desktops is covered in The Mac News Review. iPad, iPod, iPhone, and
Apple TV news is covered in The iOS News
Review. All prices are in US dollars unless otherwise noted.
News & Opinion
Products & Services
News & Opinion
Sandy Bridge Mobile Platform Reviewed, Integrated
Intel Graphics the Weakest Link
The Register's Leo Waldock profiles the performance of Intel's
second generation of Core "i" processors in their portable computer
iteration. You may have heard that on Monday Intel announced that it
had discovered a design flaw in the Cougar Point controller chipset for
Sandy Bridge processors, but that is not a problem of the actual Sandy
Bridge CPU chip itself, although it has implications for SATA devices
used with this new generation of silicon. In the process of reviewing
his whitebook sample, issues affecting storage did come to light as,
you'll discover.
Waldock says he's "mightily impressed" with Sandy Bridge's dynamic
overclocking Turbo Boost 2.0 feature, the chip's power management
features, and its minuscule power draw.
The configuration tested combined a 2.3 GHz Core i7-2820QM processor
(which can Turbo Boost all four cores to 3.1 GHz, two to 3.3 GHz, and
one to 3.4 GHz), an Intel HM67 chipset, 4 GB of DDR3-1600 RAM in
two modules that operate in dual channel mode, 64-bit Windows 7
Ultimate Edition, and a second generation 160 GB Intel X25-M SSD, which
boosts performance of every benchmark.
Waldock observes that the weakest link in this setup is the the
anemic Intel HD Graphics 3000 IGPU that is integral to the Core i7
processor.
Link: Intel 'Sandy
Bridge' Mobile Platform
Intel Chipset Fault Caused by a Single
Transistor
Hardmac's Lionel reports that the fault Intel has detected in its
Cougar Point chipsets for its new Sandy Bridge processor family
involves just one transistor of the tens of millions that this chip
contains. The transistor is part of the PLL, an internal clock
essential to the operation of four SATA ports, and there would be a
between 5% and 15% chance of performance degradation or failure in the
first three years of use.
The defect is only present in chipsets used with quad-core CPUs.
Link: Chipset Fault at
Intel: All Caused by a Single Transistor
No New MacBook Pros Until Summer Due to Intel Chip
Flaw?
ZDNet's Jason D. O'Grady says the design flaw discovered in Intel's
Cougar Point controller chipset could delay the next MacBook Pro
refresh until summer at the earliest, noting that this could be
disappointing and frustrating news for folks who've been waiting for a
new MacBook refresh before making their next system upgrade.
Intel announced Monday that it had discovered a design issue in the
recently released support chip, officially the Intel 6 Series, and has
implemented a silicon fix. Because of this flaw, the SATA ports within
the chipsets may degrade over time, potentially impacting the
performance or functionality of SATA-linked devices such as hard disk
drives and DVD drives.
Some computers have already shipped with the flawed chipset.
Link: Intel Flaw Delays
New MacBook Pros Until April, Maybe June
Intel Flaw May Delay Sandy Bridge Macs
Hardmac's Lionel notes that Intel has revealed that it's discovered
a design defect in its Cougar Point controllers to be used in machines
equipped with the new Sandy Bridge family of processors, causing
potential degradation of performance in four of the six SATA 3 ports
these controllers support. This means waiting until the end of February
(at the earliest) for a new revision of the chips and Intel recalling
all the motherboards that have been sold so far.
Lionel notes that potentially affected Mac systems would include the
27" iMacs, the next Mac Pro revision, and the anticipated spring
MacBook Pro revision, which may need to be deferred several weeks.
Link: A Delay for the
Sandy Bridge Macs Is on the Cards?
Will Sandy Bridge Flaw Delay New MacBooks?
Cnet Crave's Scott Stein says that Intel's news of a defect in first
generation Sandy Bridge controller chipsets could delay release of a
new MacBook Pro revision until later rather than sooner.
While nothing has been or will be announced by Apple until an
official unveiling of revised MacBook Pros happens, it's widely
anticipated that the next generation of Pro notebooks, including the
13" model, will be powered by Sandy Bridge silicon.
Stein notes that new Sandy Bridge laptops have been expected
somewhere around the end of February [which your editor thinks was an
optimistically early projection even before the controller chip problem
news] but that should likely be revised to somewhere toward late
May/early June, which wouldn't be outside Apple's historical time
envelope for spring notebook revisions.
Link: Will Sandy Bridge
Issues Delay New Apple MacBooks?
Current MacBook Pro Models Becoming Scarce in the
Channels
TUAW's TJ Luoma advises that if you're thinking about buying a
MacBook Pro, you might want to wait a bit for a possible new revision
update, noting that MacRumors has reported that that Amazon.com is
currently showing long wait times before some of the MacBook Pro models
ship and has heard from other resellers that supplies are running
low.
Intel's revelation about a fault in its Sandy Bridge chipset will
likely postpone the release of refreshed MacBook Pros until later in
the spring than many of us had anticipated.
Link: Current MacBook
Pro Models Becoming Scarce in the Channels
Mini Notebooks Cut into Netbook Market
Engadget's Joanna Stern observes that there's a new crop of more
powerful, affordable, and highly mobile laptops she calls "notbooks",
"affordable ultraportables", or "evolved netbooks", that will, along
with tablets, ultimately cut the netbook market down to size as well as
take a noticeable chunk of the mainstream laptop market - a class of
portable computers that can provide a nice balance between primary and
mobile computing without breaking the bank.
Her definition of a notbook: Affordable, as portable as a netbook, a
bit larger than a netbook (typically 11.6" to 12"), and more powerful
than an Atom-based netbook. The 11.6" MacBook Air is a perfect
example of the category, albeit more expensive than its PC
counterparts.
Stern notes that there are a lot of users out there who want a
three-pound, inch-thick machine with useful power without having to go
over to a $1K-plus Core i3 ULV ultraportable - something mobile but
good enough for primary use.
She observes that while netbook vendors Acer, ASUS, Toshiba, and HP
are standing by their respective Atom-powered 10-inchers for the time
being - others like Sony have made it clear that netbooks are getting
the boot, with that company's 11.6" AMD Zacate VAIO YB set to hit later
the channels at around $550 and the VAIO W netbook to be
discontinued.
Stern's not suggesting that netbooks or cheap mainstream laptops
will totally perish, but more likely will will evolve into derivative
form factors like the Samsung Sliding PC 7 Series and Inspiron Mini Duo
- or even return to their roots as simply Internet connectivity
machines. The reality is that the netbook is now under fire from two
sides - ARM-tablets on the low end and affordable "notbooks" that
provide just the right amount of performance, graphics, and battery
life for a very mobile full computing experience on the high end,
neither netbooks nor cheap, chunky 15.6" laptops just don't seem as
appealing as they did two years ago.
Link: The Rise of the
'Notbook', the Fall of the Netbook?
Intel 310 Series 80 GB SSD Reviewed
The SSD Review's Les Tokar says Intel's new 310 Series 80 GB SSD
offers the punch of the X-25M in a unit 1/8th its physical size and
infers that Intel is hoping this form factor downsizing will open up a
whole new dimension to notebook configurations, with the 310 Series'
lower prices helping to boost SSDs into the sales mainstream so that
anyone can have both the power of the SSD and the storage of a hard
drive in their laptop.
Link: Intel 310 Series
80 GB SSD Review - A New Way to Look at Notebooks!
Products & Services
BookArc for Air Stand for MacBook Air
PR: Twelve South has introduced the first BookArc stand
designed exclusively for the new MacBook Air (Late 2010). This latest
addition to the BookArc family has been reengineered to firmly grip the
ultra-thin MacBook Air only.
The Arc's stylish and sturdy heavy gauge steel stand with a built-in
cable management system, making it ideal for neatniks, minimalists, and
anyone else who desires a super tidy workspace. Park your MacBook Air
in BookArc, connect it to your Apple Cinema Display, and your skinny
MacBook is now a killer desktop.
Oh So Nice Cable Management.
Since the new MacBook Air has ports on both sides, a built-in cable
manager has been incorporated into BookArc. It routes your power,
external monitor, headphones, and any other cords behind the back of
your Mac for a clean, neat workspace. Along with keeping your cables
orderly, the handy cable management system also holds your cables in
place, making it easy to get your MacBook Air in and out of BookArc.
Say good-bye to cables falling from the desk to the floor every time
you unplug them from your MacBook Air.
One Size Fits Both.
Whether you have an 11" or 13" MacBook Air (Late 2010 models),
BookArc has you covered. Both sizes of this new sliver of genius from
Apple have the same profile, so either will fit snugly and securely in
BookArc for MacBook Air. A soft, cushiony insert firmly grips your Mac
for a secure fit. Silicone foot pads on the bottom of BookArc keep your
work surface free of marks or scratches.
Want to Speed Up You MacBook Air? Try a BookArc - Really
BookArc for MacBook Air is more than a cleverly designed stand for
your Mac. If you work with an external monitor, BookArc can actually
improve the performance of MacBook Air. How? When you work with two
monitors, your Mac's video memory is split between the two, but when
you work with your MacBook closed, your Mac only has to power the
external display. You will notice an increase in speed, especially when
working in Photoshop, Aperture, iPhoto, and other graphics-intensive
apps. So can a notebook stand really speed up your MacBook? If it's a
BookArc, the answer is yes.
BookArc for MacBook Air will sell for $39.99. Preorders are being
accepted, with free shipping offered for a limited time.
Link: BookArc for MacBook
Air
Mercury Aura Pro Express SSD Earns 'Best of Show'
and 'Best Mac Hardware' Honors at Macworld 2011
PR: Other World Computing (OWC) announces that it received
two major awards at Macworld Expo 2011, the annual Macintosh exposition
and conference that concluded this past weekend in San Francisco. Out
of a field of more than 230 exhibitors and thousands of exhibited
products, the OWC Mercury Aura Pro Express SSD was named one of 10
Macworld Expo 2011 "Best of Show" products by Macworld Magazine as well
as earning "Best Mac Hardware" honors by MacLife Magazine.
Bests Thousands of Products to Win Macworld 'Best of Show'
Macworld Senior Editor Roman Loyola called the OWC Mercury Aura Pro
Express SSD a "very attractive option" for the new MacBook Air and
praised OWC's free online installation guides as 
"very helpful" at the
presentation ceremony held Jan. 28 on the Macworld Live stage. OWC
Marketing & PR Manager Grant Dahlke demonstrated the OWC Mercury
Aura Pro SSD to the live ceremony audience with a side-by-side real
world comparison of booting the OS and loading multiple applications.
"This is the future of storage," said Dahlke.
Named 'Best Mac Hardware' by MacLife Magazine
The Mercury Aura Pro Express was also awarded the 2011 Macworld Expo
"Best Mac Hardware" award by MacLife, a top-rated Apple products print
and online news site. MacLife Reviews Editor Ray Aguilera described the
Mercury Aura Pro Express as "an SSD upgrade kit for your MacBook Air
with 180 GB to 360 GB of ultra fast SSD love."
In addition to the Mercury Aura Pro Express, the OWC Aura Pro line
includes the OWC Mercury Aura Pro MBA for MacBook Air 2008/2009 models
and the OWC Mercury Aura Pro 1.8", the first and fastest SandForce
processor based SSD available for netbooks, subnotebook, and other
computers that utilize an internal 1.8" sized SATA drive.
"It is gratifying to receive recognition for the Mercury Aura Pro
Express SSD from the two biggest Mac oriented media titles," said Larry
O'Connor, Founder and CEO, Other World Computing. "We strive everyday
at OWC to develop cutting edge products our customers can install
themselves to get the highest level of performance and reliability from
their technology investment."
More Speed, Capacity, and Options Than Factory SSD
The introduction of the OWC Mercury Aura Pro line of SSDs at the
2011 Consumer Electronics Show established OWC as the most
comprehensive US manufacturer of industry leading SandForce processor
based SSDs available today. With peak data rates of 275 MB/s and
capacities up to 360 GB, the Mercury Aura Pro Express offers up to 22%
higher speed and up to 3x higher capacity than factory installed
SSDs.
OWC SSDs Offered for Most Macs over Last Decade
In addition to the Mercury Aura Pro SSD line, OWC Mercury Pro SSDs
are available for nearly every Mac made over the last decade:
- OWC Mercury Legacy Pro, the first and fastest SandForce processor
based IDE/ATA SSD available for pre-Intel PowerPC based Mac notebooks,
PCs, and other notebook/laptop computers.
- OWC Mercury Extreme Pro Legacy Edition, the first and fastest
SandForce processor based IDE/ATA SSD available for pre-Intel PowerPC
based Macs, PCs, and other desktop/tower computers.
- OWC Mercury Extreme Pro SSD: Ultra high performance 2.5" SATA SSD
for demanding portable and desktop tower use.
- OWC Mercury Extreme Pro RE SSD: "RE" RAID-Ready Enhanced
performance with 28% over-provisioning for data centers, network
operation centers, and dedicated RAID installations.
Doesn't Slow Down with Use Like Ordinary SSDs
Ordinary SSDs offer fast read/write performance during first initial
uses, but then experience significant write speed degradation over
repeated usage. Independent simulation
tests by leading drive performance experts confirm OWC Mercury Pro
brand SSD's ultra-efficient Block Management & Wear Leveling
technologies are able to eliminate virtually any reduction in data
transfer speeds over heavy long term usage of the drive and without
dependency on less than effective OS TRIM management.
Up to 100x Greater Data Protection
Utilizing SandForce DuraClass technology, the OWC Mercury Pro SSD
line is able to provide up to 100x higher data protection than provided
by ordinary SSDs as well as leading enterprise class hard disk drives.
By combining the highest level of Error Correction Code (ECC) and
SandForce RAISE (Redundant Array of Independent Silicon Elements)
technology along with 7% over provisioning, the Mercury Pro SSD
provides RAID-like data protection and reliability without loss of
transfer speed due to parity.
Link: OWC Mercury
Aura Pro Express
Speck Brings New Covers, Sleeves for the New
MacBook Air 11" and 13"
PR:
The new MacBook Air is the lightest, slimmest MacBook yet so keeping it
protected is essential. Protection specialist Speck has introduced a
suite of exciting products designed to help MacBook Air owners
safeguard their investment from the bumps and dings of everyday
life.
From snug neoprene sleeves to ultra-thin lightweight hard-shell
covers, Speck's new cases for MacBook Air 11" and 13" all feature its
trademark fashion-meets-function designs.
PixelSleeve Air - Flexible Padded Protection That's Off the
Grid
Offered in two sizes, the PixelSleeve Air for either the
MacBook Air 11" or 13" is slim, stylish, formfitting and plenty
protective.
Featuring Speck's trademark, eye-catching, pixel-pattern design,
it's made with a stretchy neoprene exterior and a soft micro-fleece
inner lining to keep your notebook safe.
With its unique low-profile design, the PixelSleeve Air is also
airport security checkpoint-friendly. Available in February in
Aubergine, Peacock and Black for $34.95 MSRP.
Link: PixelSleeve
Air
SeeThru and SeeThru Satin - Ultra-Thin and Lightweight Hard Shell
Cases for MacBook Air
The new thinner and lighter SeeThru and SeeThru Satin for the
new MacBook Air are two-piece form-fit hard shell cases that
personalize and protect your MacBook Air from everyday scrapes and
scratches. The new designs feature built-in rubberized stabilizer feet
with patent-pending anti-tilt extensions that keep the MacBook Air in
place when opening and closing the screen. Precise engineering allows
the screen to fully open, offers complete access to all ports/battery
check function and is easy to attach and remove. The sleek SeeThru and
SeeThru Satin MacBook Air cases offer protection without adding bulk
while still creating a durable layer of scratch and scuff resistance
when sliding in and out of sleeves, bags and backpacks. SeeThru Satin
provides the same hard shell protection as the translucent SeeThru, but
also features a frosted soft-touch outer finish for added grip and
comfort.
The SeeThru Case for MacBook Air 11" or 13" is on sale now in Clear
for $49.95 MSRP with the additional colors of Cobalt and Raspberry
available in March.
SeeThru Satin Case for MacBook Air 11" or 13" is on sale now in
Black for $49.95 MSRP with the additional colors of Clementine and
Aubergine available in March.
Link: Speck
Cases for MacBook Air 11" or 13"
Bargain 'Books
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.
