General Apple and Mac desktop news is covered in Mac News Review. iPad, iPod, iPhone, and
Apple TV news is covered in iOS News
Review. All prices are in US dollars unless otherwise noted.
News & Opinion
Reviews
Products & Services
News & Opinion
Mac Laptops Dominate Consumer Reports
Rankings
Macworld's Lex Friedman notes that Consumer Reports really likes
Apple's laptops and has just ranked Apple MacBook Pro and MacBook Air
models the best 17", 15", 13", and 11" laptops available - essentially
a clean sweep across the board. Additionally, based on results of a
reader survey, CR also ranks AppleCare as significantly better
than any of Apple's competitors' tech support programs.
Link: Apple Laptops,
AppleCare Dominate Consumer Reports Rankings
Apple Is Not Going to Dump Intel and Switch to ARM
in MacBooks
TGDaily's Aharon Etengoff reports that Intel CEO Paul Otellini is
insisting that Apple won't be ditching x86 processors for RISC-based
chips ARM silicon in its MacBook line "any time soon."
"Apple's growth in Macs has quadrupled since they shifted to Intel.
Their market share has quadrupled since they shifted [from PowerPC] to
Intel," Etengoff cites Otellini saying earlier this week during a
company conference, adding "And that value proposition has served them
very well. [As such], I don't see their Mac line moving in any
different direction any time soon."
Editor's note: Neither does your humble editor, notwithstanding a
burst of rumor buzz recently suggesting that Apple might be fixing on
switching its MacBook families from Intel processors to ARM-based chips
of its own design like the A4 and A5 CPUs used in current iPhones and
iPads. For the reason cited by Mr. Otellini, as well as several other
good ones - technical, business, and diminished compatibility with the
dominant Windows ecosystem - I think the notion of Apple dumping Intel
for ARM in its laptops is absurdly fanciful, to put it mildly. However,
I wouldn't rule out Apple's making an ARM-based laptop running iOS to
compliment its lines of mobile handheld iDevices. cm
Link: Apple MacBook
Still Up For Grabs in x86-RISC War
Late 2010 MacBook Air: No Infrared, No Problem
Three Guys and a Podcast's E. Werner Reschke says that when he
hooked up his 2010 MacBook
Air (a recent replacement for a series of 15" MacBook Pros) to play
a Keynote presentation, he discovered to his horror that the newer
MacBook Airs no longer have an infrared sensor, it having been replaced
by second USB port.
With the presentation two hours off, what to do?
Happily, Werner discovered that there is a third-party 99¢
workaround on the App Store, and after a two minute download he had a
mui-cool remote for his keynote presentation using WiFi with
controls vastly superior to those of the old Apple Remote, so long as
an iPhone was handy to run it - so much so that he advises even if you
have an infrared sensor on your MacBook, older MacBook Air or MacBook
Pro it's well worth checking out the iPhone Keynote Remote app.
Link: MacBook Air - No
Infrared, No Problem (Keynote Remote link)
Blogger Loves His MacBook Air
The Technology Geek Blog's Thomas Fitzgerald says he had long wanted
a small and light laptop, with a vicarious partiality for Sony's
subnotebooks, but was put off by the need to switch to Windows just to
get the speed. He says he'd had originally thought his iPad would
suffice, but it proved not really good enough for what he does with
computers, i.e.: blogging and light image editing. Consequently,
Fitzgerald says he was delighted when Steve Jobs unveiled the
second-generation MacBook Air last October, and has been organizing the
economics of getting one ever since - and has finally realized that
objective.
Link: Loving My MacBook
Air
New Low Power Sandy Bridge Mobile Processors
Coming
CPU World's Gennady Shvets reports that Intel's Sandy Bridge
processor family is about to expand with the addition of new ultra-low
voltage (ULV) Core i5 and i7 processors featuring lower 17 Watt
combined Thermal Design Power, and that would presumably be perfect for
the rumored-to-be-coming MacBook Air refresh.
Link: Intel Readies Core
i5 and Core i7 ULV CPUs
Rising Interest in iPads Stings PC Sales
PR: Market Watcher and Analysis form IHS iSuppli's principal
analyst Matthew Wilkins notes that rising consumer interest in media
tablets like Apple Inc.'s iPad is taking a toll on the global PC
market, with shipments of desktops and notebooks in the first quarter
of 2011 declining compared to the same period in 2010, according to new
IHS iSuppli research. The report indicates that worldwide PC shipments
amounted to 81.3 million units in the first quarter of 2011, down 0.3%
from 81.6 million during the first quarter of 2010, with three out of
the world's top five PC makers suffering year-over-year declines in
shipments during the quarter and with No. 3-ranked PC maker Acer, which
sells a high proportion of netbook-type PCs that face a direct
competitive threat from media tablets, bearing the brunt of the
downturn, with its first-quarter shipments plunging by 20.4% to 9.2
million units, down from 11.6 million during the same period in
2010.
"The increasing momentum of the media tablet market, led by the
iPad, is creating a difficult environment for the PC industry," says
Wilkins. "All the attention surrounding tablets contributed to weak
consumer demand for PCs in the first quarter."
And although corporate PC demand was strong, it wasn't enough to
offset the decline in consumer sales.
"IHS believes that the jury is still out on exactly how much tablets
are cannibalizing PC sales, Wilkins comments. "However, the rising
number of tablet models on the market, along with certain high-profile
product launches during the first quarter, caused confusion among
consumers as to exactly how to view the tablet platform relative to the
PC platform. This contributed to the PC sales decline in the first
quarter."
The first-quarter decline came as somewhat of a surprise, given that
the fourth quarter represented the best period ever for global PC sales
as PC shipments hit a new quarterly record, blowing past the previous
high of 88.9 million units set in the fourth quarter of 2009. Corporate
demand had been driving growth of the market.
Despite the first-quarter weakness, iSuppli suggests that PC sales
growth should return later in the year, its current forecast predicting
that the global PC market in 2011 will expand by 8% to 373 million
units, up from 345 million in 2010. This compares to 14% growth in
2010.
Hewlett-Packard Co. continued its reign as the No. 1 PC vendor in
the first quarter of 2011, with a market share of 18.9%. The company
suffered a 2.1% decline in sales compared to the same time a year ago
because of the difficult conditions in the consumer market.
Dell continued to hold on the No. 2 position over third-ranked Acer
in the first quarter, with a market share of 12.9%. Rounding out the
Top 5 were Lenovo and Toshiba, which coincidentally were the only Top 5
PC original equipment manufacturers (OEM) to achieve growth in their
total PC shipments over those from the first quarter of 2010.
Fourth-ranked Lenovo and fifth-ranked Toshiba achieved market share
positions of 10.0% and 5.8%, respectively.
Link: Rising Consumer
Interest in iPads Stings PC Sales in Q1
Reviews
MacBook Air SSD Upgrade Provides Big Storage, Mixed
Speed Results
Macworld's James Galbraith notes that one of the tradeoffs Apple
made in building its second-generation MacBook Airs to a lower price
point was limiting the capacities of its standard and optional flash
data storage to a range between 64 GB and 256 GB, even the latter which
would not be considered adequate these days in a conventional hard
drive equipped laptop.
To the rescue and at a price, OWC offers Mercury Aura Pro Express
storage upgrades for the Late
2010 MacBook Air models in capacities ranging from 180 GB at $470
to a 480 GB model for suck-in-your-breath $1,580 - a mere $20 less than
you'd pay for a top-of-the-line 13" MacBook Air with 256 GB of flash
storage.
So are these upgrades worth the cost, especially since there are as
yet no external enclosure options for that chunk of expensive flash
memory that will be pulled to make space for them?
Something of a value-judgment, but Galbraith reports that while the
extra storage space was appreciated, performance results in Macworld
Labs testing were unexpectedly mixed.
Link: MacBook Air SSD
Upgrade Provides Big Storage, Mixed Speed Results
Products & Services
BookBook Vintage Case for MacBook Air
PR: Designed
exclusively for MacBook Air
(Late 2010) models, BookBook is a totally unique case for the
thinnest MacBook. Weighing as little as 13.5 ounces with an ultra-thin
profile, this handmade, genuine leather case offers heavy duty
protection. Two hardback covers, reinforced corners and a tough spine
offer solid impact protection. The inside of the case is lined with a
velvety soft, chocolate brown, padded interior for added
protection.
Protection from Cover to Cover
To keep your Air safe, BookBook has
two rigid, hardback covers for impact protection. A tough spine and
reinforced corners add another layer of defense. Inside the slim case,
your Mac rests between two super soft, chocolate brown, padded
cushions, which look amazing against the silver finish on MacBook.
Details Make This Product a Bestseller
BookBook is made with genuine leather and is
hand distressed so no two are exactly alike. Designer cornices on the
top of the case add a visual cue to ensure you always open BookBook
right-side up. Use BookBook as a traditional sleeve or use the two soft
elastic bands to steady your Mac while you work with it resting inside
the case. Dual zippers, with leather pulls, let you charge your Air
while its safely stored inside BookBook.
Doubles as a Stealthy Mystery Novel
One of the coolest features of BookBook is the fact that it
disguises your MacBook Air, making it look like a vintage book. Tucked
safely inside BookBook, your Mac is kept out of sight, even while
sitting in your dorm room, coffee shop or anywhere else you take your
Mac. Along with protecting your Air from the rigor of the road,
BookBook helps keep it away from wandering eyes.
BookBook sells for $79.99
Free Ground Shipping available in the Continental United States.
Key features:
- Handmade, one-of-a-kind leather case protects MacBook Air with
style
- Vintage book design disguises MacBook Air for stealthy
security
- Unique case designed exclusively for 11 and 13" MacBook Air (late
2010)
There are two versions of BookBook for the late 2010 MacBook Air.
One for the 11" and one for the 13" is designed to work with either the
11" or 13".
Link: BookBook for
Air
Acme Made Zipper-Free Laptop Sleeves for MacBook
Air
PR: With its recent partnership with Apple stores including
Apple.com, Acme Made is creating new Designed Protection for the
MacBook, MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, iPad, and iPhone, alongside
accessories for all manner of laptops, eReaders, digital cameras and
smartphones.
Acme Made MacBook Air Skinny Sleeve
Acme Made has introduced a new sophisticated sleeve for the latest
suite of lightweight, high-performance/high design laptops in Apple's
MacBook family. Available in Apple stores and at Apple.com, the Skinny
Sleeve offers customers exacting fit and protection for the MacBook
Air. With a tailored, clean design and executed with top of the line
materials, the new Skinny Sleeve is designed to please MacBook
owners.
The Acme Made MacBook Air Skinny Sleeve, was created with
bespoke-inspired craftsmanship to offer a stylish accessory with
top-tier materials and a sleek, innovative closure system that will
help ensure the longevity of the MacBook Air.
Design-minded peers, the Acme Made MacBook Air Skinny Sleeve
embraces and accentuates the same qualities that are admired in the
MacBook Air: the nothing-there profile, a build that blurs the line
between practicality and luxury coupled with lightweight, best-in-class
performance. Acme Made's forward-thinking design will surely protect
MacBook customer's investment with dual-sided protective inserts,
richly textured StretchShell cover and zipper-less (read: no scratch)
closure.
"The Skinny Sleeve MBA, with its clean lines and commonsense
closure, is an example of great design blended with a stylish aesthetic
that Acme Made does best," says Kirk Thornby, Founder & SVP
Marketing.
Top-of-the-line protection mindfully executed for the MacBook, the
Skinny Sleeve embodies the precision, practicality and A-list aesthetic
behind Acme Made's motto: Designed Protection.
Link: The
Skinny Sleeve MBA
CarbonLook Case for MacBook Air 11" and 13"
PR: CarbonLook for MacBook Air is a set of protective
snap-on covers fitting the top and bottom of MacBook Air 11" and 13"
models. The outer carbon material reflects light to give different
shades of lightness and darkness. Made from tough polycarbonate with a
carbon pattern synthetic leather exterior, CarbonLook protects MacBook
Air from light bumps and scratches.
CarbonLook for MacBook Air includes two pieces. The top piece snaps
onto the MacBook Air's lid and has a beautiful carbon fiber pattern.
The bottom piece is solid black and includes four rubber feet to
prevent MacBook Air from slipping on flat surfaces.
With the case on, all ports on both sides of MacBook Air- including
the MagSafe, USB ports, and headphone jack are unobstructed and fully
accessible.
This case is suitable for:
- MacBook Air (11", Late 2010)
- MacBook Air (13", Late 2010)
Specifications:
- 11" model
- Size: 303(W) x 194(H) x 4.5(D)mm (top piece)
- Size: 304(W) x 194(H) x 105(D)mm (bottom piece)
- Weight: approximately 260g
- 13" model
- Size: 326(W) x 229(H) x 6(D)mm (top piece)
- Size: 325(W) x 229(H) x 105(D)mm (bottom piece)
- Weight: approximately 360g
- Color: Carbon Black
$42.99
Links: 11.6" CarbonLook for MacBook
Air, 13" CarbonLook for MacBook
Air
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.
