General Apple and Mac desktop news is
covered in The Mac News Review. iPod,
iPhone, and Apple TV news is covered in The
iNews Review.
This is the last 'Book Review of the year - Low End Mac will be
closed from Christmas through New Year's Day. We'll be back with more
MacBook, PowerBook, and iBook news in two weeks. We wish you and yours
a joyous Christmas and a blessed 2008.
All prices are in US dollars unless otherwise noted.
News & Opinion
Apple Updates
Products
News & Opinion
Impossibly Thin MacBook nano Rumored
Digital Daily's John Paczkowski says:
"In the run-up to January's Macworld Expo conference in San
Francisco, analysts are sifting the entrails of their channel checks
for portents of Apple devices to come. This morning UBS analyst Ben
Reitzes and Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster published research notes
suggesting Apple will use Macworld to debut a number of new Macs, among
them the company's smallest laptop ever.
"'Although we were anticipating an 'ultraportable' device with an
8-inch to 11-inch screen, our checks indicate the screen will likely be
11 inches to 13 inches,' Munster wrote. 'That said, we continue to
expect the 'ultraportable' MacBook to be Apple's thinnest and lightest
ever. It will likely be priced between the $1,099 consumer-level
MacBook and the $1,999 MacBook Pro.'"
Link: MacBook
Nano: Impossibly Thin (Just Like Your Wallet After Visiting the Apple
Store)
Laptops Sales Strong This Christmas
Computerworld's Sharon Gaudin reports:
"Strong laptop sales are making this a hot holiday shopping season
for PC makers, according to a report from IDC.
"In its Worldwide Quarterly PC Tracker, IDC projects that worldwide
PC shipments will increase by 16.7 per cent in the fourth quarter of
this year, bolstered by the strong laptop sales. The growth projection
is good news for manufacturers, who probably still vividly remember
slogging through a slow second half of 2006. PC growth was merely 7.9
per cent in the fourth quarter of 2006....
"The laptop share of client PCs nearly hit 45 per cent in the third
quarter and is expected to reach 50 per cent by the end of 2008, IDC
added...."
Link: Laptops
Sales Strong This Christmas
Apple Updates
MacBook, MacBook Pro Software Update 1.1
This update addresses a
responsiveness issue on MacBook and MacBook Pro notebook computers.
Some MacBook and MacBook Pro systems may occasionally experience a
temporary suspension of keyboard input which can last a minute or
longer. The Mac OS X 10.5.1 update is required before installing the
MacBook, MacBook Pro Software Update 1.1.
File Size: 979 KB
System Requirements: Mac OS X 10.5.1
Link:
MacBook, MacBook Pro Software Update 1.1
Products
Sonnet Offers MacBook Pro Users ExpressCard/34
Memory Card Reader/Writer
PR: Sonnet Technologies
announces the introduction of its new 21-in-1 Multimedia Memory Card
Reader & Writer for ExpressCard slots. This product replaces
Sonnet's popular reader-only version at the same price. ExpressCard is
the expansion slot technology of choice in today's most popular
notebook computers.
Without cables, Sonnet's 21-in-1 Multimedia Memory Card Reader &
Writer ExpressCard/34 quickly moves files between memory cards and a
notebook computer. With the ability to also write data to memory cards,
users can copy image and music files to memory cards for use in digital
picture frames and MP3 players, respectively. 
Sonnet's memory card reader & writer sits flush
in a MacBook Pro or Windows notebook's ExpressCard slot, so it can be
carried inside the computer slot even when not in use. The Sonnet
product supports the most popular memory card formats used in digital
cameras, cell phones, and other electronic devices, including Memory
Stick™, MMC (Multimedia Card), SD (Secure Digital), XD-Picture
Card™, and all their variations. The card works in ExpressCard/34
and ExpressCard/54 slots.
Multimedia Memory Card Reader & Writer ExpressCard/34
Compatibility
- MacBook Pro running Mac OS X Version 10.4 or later
- PC notebook computer with ExpressCard/34 or ExpressCard/54 slot,
running Windows Vista or XP SP2
Multimedia Memory Card Reader & Writer ExpressCard/34 (part
number MMRW-E34) became available December 17, 2007, with the suggested
retail price of $29.95.
Link: Sonnet
ExpressCard Memory Card Reader
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.
This week with Apple refurb 'Books the $1,699. 2.2 GHz 15" MacBook
Pros are back, the 2.4 GHz models have dropped by $100, and there are
three 17" MacBook Pro and three MacBook models offered. cm
- refurb 2.0 GHz Core 2 MacBook, white, 1 GB/80/Combo, $899
- refurb 2.16 GHz Core 2 MacBook, white, 1 GB/120/SD, $1,049
- refurb 2.16 GHz Core 2 MacBook, black, 1 GB/160/SD, $1,249
- 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, $2,199
- refurb 17" 2.4 GHz Core 2 MacBook Pro, 2 GB/160/SD, $2,399
- refurb hi-res 17" 2.4 GHz Core 2 MacBook Pro, 2 GB/160/SD,
$2,599
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" PowerBook G4/1 GHz, 256/60/SD, $549.99 less $25 = $524.99
- 15" PowerBook G4/1.5 GHz, 512/80/SD, $879.99 less $25 =
$854.99
- 15" 2.0 GHz Core Duo MacBook Pro, 1 GB/100/SD, $1,349.99 less $25 =
$1,324.99
iBook Christmas Specials!
- 12" iBook G3/500, 128/10/CD, $139.99
- 12" iBook G3/600, 128/15/CD, $169.99
Free ground shipping
- new MacBook 2.0 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo white, 1 GB/80/Combo,
$1,049
- 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, $1,439
- new 15" Core 2 MacBook Pro 2.4 GHz, 2 GB/200/SD, $2,969
- new 15" Core 2 MacBook Pro 2.4 GHz, 2 GB/200/SD, $3,079
- open box 2.16 GHz Core 2 MacBook, black, 1 GB/160/SD, warranty
started, $1,399
- open box 2.16 GHz Core 2 MacBook, black, 1 GB/160/SD, $1,439
- open box 15" 2.2 GHz Core 2 MacBook Pro, 2 GB/200/SD, $2,229
- open box 15" 2.33 GHz Core 2 MacBook Pro, 2 GB/120/SD, warranty
started, $2,199
- 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, warranty
started, $2,649
- 12" iBook G3/700, 128/20/CD, AP, small crack, $249
- 12" iBook G4/1.0 GHz, 512/30/Combo, $475
- 12" iBook G4/1.0 GHz, 512/30/Combo, AirPort, $509
- Add AirPort Extreme for $39
- 12" iBook G3/500, 128/10/CD, $199.95
- 12" iBook G3/500, 128/40/CD, $219.95
- 12" iBook G3/500, 256/10/CD-RW, $239.95
- 12" iBook G3/500, 256/10/Combo, $299.95
- 12" iBook G3/600, 256/20/CD, $229.95
- 12" iBook G3/800, 256/30/CD, $249.95
- Pismo PowerBook G3/400, 192/6/Zip, $249.95
- 12" iBook G4/1 GHz, 512/40/Combo, $499.95
- 14" iBook G4/1 GHz, 512/40/Combo, $549.95
- 15" PowerBook G4/550, 256/20/Combo, $529.95
For more deals on current and discontinued models, see our MacBook deals, MacBook Pro deals, 12" PowerBook G4 deals,
15" PowerBook G4
deals, 17"
PowerBook G4 deals, titanium PowerBook G4
deals, iBook G4
deals, PowerBook G3
deals, and iBook G3
deals.
