This Week's MacBook, PowerBook, and iBook News
All prices are in US dollars unless otherwise noted.
General Apple and Mac desktop news is covered in The Mac News Review.
News & Opinion
Reviews
Products and Services
News & Opinion
Apple Acknowledges 2 Problems Affecting MacBook
Pro Models
Hardmac's Lionel reports:
"Apple regularly sends TechNotes to the certified Apple Repair
Centers to help them in identifying problems and dealing with
sometimes unhappy consumer. Two new TechNotes dedicated to the
recently MacBook Pro Santa Rosa have been submitted concerning
issues we have already talked about in our news. If this is not an
official acknowledgment, as that information is not supposed to be
released to the public, it indicates that Apple is aware about
those problems and is working on it...."
The two issues relate to AirPort problems with various MacBook
Pro models and a "wave-like effect" sometimes seen on the 15" Santa
Rosa MacBook Pro's screen.
Link: Apple Acknowledges
Two Problems Affecting MBP Santa Rosa
Apple, Other Laptop Makers Stripped of Energy
Star Label
gadgetell.com's Ratish reports:
"Many desktops and laptops lose the prestigious honor of having
an Energy Star label, as on July 20 the government set new
guidelines. This is to encourage people to use more efficient means
of power supplies, and personal computers in order to aid the world
in Global Warming and environment protection. Also, for the
countless other reasons why saving energy is helpful towards the
nation.
"However, these new set of rigorous guidelines only qualifies
125 existing computers according to the federal government.
Regardless, the guidelines do not put any limitations on the sale
of the non energy label computers; they may be restricted in
government offices or areas in need of lowering energy use.
"Apple lacks a single system that meets the requirement. Dell
and HP follow with only a few models on the list of the qualifying
computers."
Link:
Apple & Other Laptop Manufacturers Stripped of Energy Star
Label
Steampunk PowerBook? More Like Clockwork
PowerBook!
techdigest.tv's Katherine Hannaford reports:
"Now that you know the, err, inner workings of the design
aesthetics of steampunk pieces, here's hoping you will appreciate
the work that's gone into this steampunk Pismo PowerBook created by
Mr. Mordasky over at Mac Mod.
"Using just broken clock parts purchased on
eBay, aluminium
sheet metal, gloss, and a bit of bronze paint, he has designed and
made all by himself the perfect black steampunk PowerBook...."
Link: Steampunk
PowerBook? More Like Clockwork PowerBook!
The Great After Effects CS3 Smackdown: OS X vs.
Windows on Macs
Creative Mac's Kevin Schmitt reports:
"There are many, many reasons to love Intel Macs, but the one
I'm going to focus on today is Boot Camp. Being able to run a full
copy of Windows natively on the exact same hardware as Mac
OS X not only represents a 2-for-1 bang for your buck when it
comes to buying a production rig, but also gives average Joes such
as yours truly the opportunity to compare apples to apples (so to
speak) when running cross-platform software. And with After Effects
CS3 finally out in the wild (and in Intel Mac-native form, no
less), it's time to see how well the Mac and Windows versions of AE
do on identical hardware."
Link:
Mac OS or Windows? The Great After Effects CS3 Smackdown [MacBook
vs. PC]
Reviews
17" Santa Rosa MacBook Pro Reviewed
Creative Mac's Heath McKnight reports:
"Apple does it again with its MacBook Pro, professional laptop
computers, offering ultra-bright LED displays (light emitting
diodes), faster processors, a 1920 x 1200 17-inch display option
for those working in high definition aspect ratios, and much more.
If you're looking for a workhorse laptop, this is it!
"First off, I want to touch upon the LED displays, which are
already bright and ready-to-go once you power up the system. It's
also mercury-free, so if it gets cracked, you'll be all right.
"I also want to talk about the 1920 x 1200 display on the
17-inch model, which makes for working with HD resolutions much
easier. It's a great asset to have, after years of knowing PC users
had this option. The only real downside? Font sizes are much
smaller on this 17-inch, native 1680 x 1050-resolution model, so
you'll be making font sizes bigger on your Internet and Email
options, if you're eyes are like mine, even corrected. A small
thing when you're working with HD file sizes or large-format photos
and graphics."
Link:
MacBook Pro 17-inch 2.4 GHz Notebook Computer
Products and Services
Floater Vertical Notebook Stand
PR: If you connect your notebook computer to a
large screen, at work or home, Floater is designed for you. It
combines high technology with elegant styling. Close your MacBook
Pro, connect a keyboard, a screen and a mouse, and you have created
a perfect working environment.
The Floater is machined from a single block of aluminum, which
lends it great stability and optimum cooling power by spreading the
heat around.
The two small panels around your computer are of minimal height
and width, but sufficient to meet the product's two requirements;
to hold your computer perfectly, and to let you set it up as easily
as possible.
But pictures speak louder than words, so take a look at
Floater.
A machined, a floating sensation
MacBook Pro is a computer of rare beauty, and Floater is
designed to complement this beauty. Floater is a combination of
various parts, each one machined from a block of Aluminum. The
whole structure gives a floating sensation, which belies its
perfect stability.
Try to imagine the same base made of plastic or with a steel
plate. This product has been created using a unique technique of
metal sculpture. Every component offers the strength and solidity
of metal, and the pure lines of the design give an impression of
lightness.
Better than two bricks.
When we set about designing a stand for notebook computers, our
biggest challenge was to design something better than two bricks,
because two bricks are all you need to keep a notebook computer
upright!
We wanted our stand to be easy to use, perfectly stable, and
with a high cooling capacity. We also wanted it to look smart. If
it didn't live up to this high level of quality, who would buy it?
After all, two bricks will do...
Floater's side panels are as narrow as possible, to ensure
perfect stability and an easy fit. All the parts are made of
machined aluminum. The weight and strength of the metal lends the
whole perfect stability. The cooling effect is between 3°C and
6°C, and the cables tuck away into the base. But that was not
good enough for us. Floater was still no better than two bricks,
because its design was not the one we dreamed of.
Our designs often begin with our dreams or imagination. We often
imagine objects floating through the air, slightly surreal. Of
course, we can't do anything about gravity, but we tried come as
close as we could to our dream product, by giving it an ethereal
beauty. We altered the design time and time again until we decided
nothing else could be changed.
Floater is one of those rare and successful transformations of
one of our dreams into a real object. As its name suggests, the
impression of floating is a key design theme, as is the ideal
positioning of a notebook computer next to a beautiful screen.
After many prototypes, the model we introduce to you is the one we
thought came the closest to our original idea.
On its Floater, the computer seems to float in the air. It is
not simply carried or placed on a table. Floater has successfully
recreated the atmosphere of our dreams.
As our dreams cannot be translated into words, we will go on
designing and creating new objects to share with you.
When your notebook computer is on your Floater on your desk,
look at it in the pale moonlight or in the light of the morning
sun. We hope what you feel at that moment will be something like
the dream that started it all.
The side panels are as narrow as possible to ensure perfect
stability and the easiest fit. It may look unstable, but the
Floater will not move. The reason for this great stability is the
precision, to a tenth of a millimeter, used to calculate the right
gap between the two panels so Floater and MacBook Pro fit together
snugly. The inside of the panels is covered with very thin sheets
of silicon that protect the computer without interfering with
cooling performance.
And, since every MacBook Pro is unique, we have left 2mm room
for adjustment where the panels join.
Practical design
The cutouts you see on the base of Floater are our specialty.
Put your cables through the spaces and you will never have to look
for them again! Once your cables are organized, they won't clutter
your desk anymore, which will match the elegance of MacBook Pro and
Floater.
The gap between the panels depends on the width of the central
block. We are working to produce even narrower models, so this part
will probably be upgraded in our future models.
Floater T2 for:
- MacBook
- MacBook Pro 15"&17"
- PowerBook 17
Whole size: w122:d270:h67mm
Weight: 1.1 kg
Materials:
- Body composition
- Anodized aluminum alloy (Machined)
- Computer side and bottom
- Silicon
- Bolts
- Stainless Steel
- Feet tips
$305
Link: Floater
Vertical Notebook Stand
CoolBook Monitors MB/MBP CPU
PR: CoolBook is a program for the MacBook and MacBook Pro
computers. It lets you monitor the frequency, voltage, and
temperature of the notebook.
Registered users can also change the frequency and voltage of
the processor.
For test results see <http://www.coolbook.se/testing.html>
New in version 2.3:
- Added support for the new LED/"Santa Rosa" MacBook Pro.
- Updated documentation.
System requirements:
- Core Duo MacBook Pro and MacBook.
- Some support for iMac and Mac mini.
System support: Intel
$10 Shareware
Link: CoolBook
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.
One new high-end 15" MacBook Pro and a wider selection of
MacBook models at the Apple Store refurbished page this week.
- refurb 1.83 GHz Core Duo MacBook, white, 512/60/Combo,
$799
- refurb 1.83 GHz Core 2 MacBook, white, 512/60/Combo, $849
- refurb 2.0 GHz Core 2 MacBook, white, 1 GB/80/Combo, $949
- refurb 2.16 GHz Core 2 MacBook, white, 1 GB/120/SD, $1,099
- refurb 2.16 GHz Core 2 MacBook, black, 1 GB/160/SD, $1,299
- 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, $2,199
- refurb 17" 2.33 GHz Core 2 MacBook Pro, 2 GB/160/SD, $2,199
TechRestore is offering a $25 discount to 'Book Review readers
off any PowerBook or iBook in stock. Just enter the code CWM during
checkout when ordering online. The coupon code is valid from now
through 2007.12.31.
- 12" iBook G3/700, 256/20/Combo, $469.99 less $25 = $444.99
- 12" iBook G4/1.2 GHz, 256/30/Combo, $549.99 less $25 =
$524.99
- 14" iBook G4/1.33 GHz, 512/40/Combo, APX, $649.99 less $25 =
$624.99
- 15" PowerBook G4/1.25 GHz, 1 GB/60/SD, one RAM slot, $699.99
less $25 = $674.99
- 17" PowerBook G4/1.33 GHz, 512/80/SD, $1,099.99 less $25 =
$1,074.99
- 17" PowerBook G4/1.5 GHz, 512/80/SD, $1,149.99 less $25 =
$1,124.99
- 17" PowerBook G4/1.67 GHz, 512/100/SD, APX, BT, $1,399.99 less
$25 = $1,374.99
- 12" iBook G3/500, 192/10/CD, $199
- 12" iBook G3/600, 256/20/CD, $219
- 12" iBook G3/700, 256/20/Combo, $299
- 12" iBook G3/800, 256/30/CD, $289
- 12" iBook G4 1.0 GHz, 512/30/Combo, AirPort, $515
- 12" iBook G4 1.2 GHz, 512/30/Combo, AirPort, $559
- 15" PowerBook G4/867, 512/40/SD, $579
- Add Airport for $70
- 12" iBook G4/1 GHz, 768/30/Combo, $549
- 12" iBook G4/1.2 GHz, 512/30/Combo, AirPort, $599
- 14" iBook G4/1.2 GHz, 768/60/Combo, AirPort, $649
- 15" PowerBook G4/1 GHz, 256/60/SD, APX, $849
- 15" PowerBook G4/1.33/GHz, 512/60/Combo, $799
- 17" PowerBook G4/1/GHz, 512/60/SD, AirPort, $759
- 12" clamshell iBook G3/300, blueberry, 64/3/CD, $169.95
- 12" clamshell iBook G3/366, Key lime, 128/10/CD, $289.95
- 12" iBook G3/500, 128/10/CD, $219.95
- 12" iBook G3/600, 128/20/CD, $239.95
- 12" iBook G3/700, 256/20/Combo, $369.95
- 14" iBook G4/1 GHz, 512/40/Combo, AP, $599.95
- 15" PowerBook G4/1.67 GHz, 512/100/SD, APX, BT, $1099.95
- 12" iBook G3/500, 192/10/CD, $284.95
- 12" iBook G3/700, 256/20/CD, $379.95
- 12" clamshell iBook G3/300, 64/3/CD, OS 9, $129.99
- 12" clamshell iBook G3/300, 256/3/CD, OS X 10.3, $189.99
- 12" iBook G3/500, 128/10/CD, OS X, $209
- 12" iBook G3/500, 128/30/CD, OS X, $279
- 12" iBook G3/600, 128/30/CD, OS X, $329
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.
