We believe in the long term value of Apple hardware. You should be able to use your Apple gear as long as it helps you remain productive and meets your needs, upgrading only as necessary. We want to help maximize the life of your Apple gear.
We believe in the long term value of Apple hardware. You should be able to use your Apple gear as long as it helps you remain productive and meets your needs, upgrading only as necessary. We want to help maximize the life of your Apple gear.
We believe in the long term value of Apple hardware. You should be able to use your Apple gear as long as it helps you remain productive and meets your needs, upgrading only as necessary. We want to help maximize the life of your Apple gear.
We believe in the long term value of Apple hardware. You should be able to use your Apple gear as long as it helps you remain productive and meets your needs, upgrading only as necessary. We want to help maximize the life of your Apple gear.
bio: "I was born on a far distant planet, which exploded when my father
found out. Making my escape in a rented spacecraft, I found my way to
Earth where I was raised by Earth parents. Trying to pretend to be a
normal Earthling; I went to school, got married, and had three
children.
"I am still waiting for my super powers to develop.
"Actually, I have led a rather ordinary life with interests in
analog photography, philosophy and using personal computers to pretend
to write a best seller while wasting time updating software, fixing
disk permissions, and the like. My first computer was an Apple IIc, and
I still own (and use) a sage
iMac G3 DV. Just recently I have been recycling a Pismo Powerbook G3 and have
been thinking about converting my record collection (kids, that's an
audio media before cassette tapes and CDs) to AAC files. Anything to
avoid writing.
"I am, of course, a promoter of using vintage computers to
accomplish simple, ordinary tasks. I blame my father, naturally. My
father lived through the Great Depression and, as a result, I lived
through it as well. Our first television was given to us - it was the
size of a washer or dryer. The screen was about as large as a big
paperback book. It had tubes (kids, they used those back in the day
when dinosaurs ruled the earth), and I thought my father was going to
have a heart attack when the man in the electronics store told me that
they no longer made vacuum tubes and that they were being replaced with
transistors. My father went out and bought a transistor television
(black and white, since 'you don't really need color, you can imagine
colors'; which served us into the 1970s when my brother just couldn't
align the picture tube anymore. My dad bought a black and white
portable.
"Long after my brother and I had left home, my father bought a color
wide-screen TV. When I discovered this while visiting, I turned to my
wife and said, 'Honey, back the van up to the door, I'm taking that
television!'"
Changes, 2012.10.16.
A new job has John Hatchett considered something of an iPad expert.
In Praise of Optical Viewfinders, 2012.07.30.
Although modern digital cameras have digital viewscreens, there's something to be said for the traditional viewfinder.
The Lion Sleeps (on My MacBook) Tonight, 2012.07.05.
Starting with a full backup, a Time Machine Backup, and an OS X 10.7 thumb drive, John Hatchett moved to Lion.
Everybody Get Skinny!, 2012.07.03.
The iPad is thin and light. So is the Retina MacBook Pro, which is almost unupgradable. Time to go back to a Power Mac?
The First Generation iPad Blues, 2012.06.27.
The original iPad has been a great tool, but to use AirPlay or iOS 6, it has to be replaced.
I Hate It When Apple's Marketing Mavens Are Right, 2012.06.25.
After years and years as a PowerBook and MacBook user, John Hatchett finds himself turning more and more to the iPad, although printing frustrates him.
Mountain Lion Obsoletes the MacBook I Just Bought, 2012.02.24.
John Hatchett just got his first Intel Mac, a preowned MacBook, in December, and now it looks like it won't be able to run OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion.
Improving Tablets: Why Not a Slider Keyboard?, 2012.02.20.
Perhaps the biggest drawback of the iPad and other tablets is lack of a buil-in physical keyboard. Many phones have slider keyboards....
Which Apple TV Is Right for You?, 2012.02.15.
If you own an older TV set, the original Apple TV may be a better choice than Apple's current unit.
Adventures in Intel Mac Land, Part 2, 2012.01.09.
One big advantage of an Intel Mac is the ability to run Google's fast and easy Chrome browser.
Adventures in Intel Mac Land, Part 1, 2012.01.06.
With its dual-core Intel processor, the MacBook rips music and video far faster than a G4 ever could.
Blackbird MacBook, 2012.01.03.
The PowerBook G4 is dead. Time to go with a black 13.3" MacBook and enter the Mac's Intel Age.
iOS 5: Some Wins, Some Losses, 2011.11.08.
After updating his iPad and iPod touch to iOS 5, John Hatchett finds some nice features and some drawbacks.
A Saab Story, 2011.10.12.
Reliable technology doesn't just include Apple products. Saab has made some pretty impressive cars over the years.
Carrying On Steve Jobs' Vision, 2011.10.06.
Steve Jobs had a vision to liberate people from IT dictators and human tyrants by freeing us to think outside their constraints.
A Cloud of My Own, 2011.09.20.
With Apple changing MobileMe to iCloud, it makes sense to set up your own cloud server, such as Pogoplug.
Who Still Buys CDs?, 2011.09.14.
CDs not only provide a physical copy of your music, they also include cover art and liner notes.
PowerBook a Perfect Cabin Computer, 2011.09.01.
The cabin has electricity and a phone line, so an old PowerBook with a built-in modem is a sensible solution.
A Belated Defense of the iPad, 2011.08.16.
The iPad can't really replace a laptop, but it does make it possible to work where you can't use a laptop.
The Times They Are a-Changin', 2011.08.04.
OS X 10.7 Lion changes everything. Am I ready to leave my PowerPC software behind?
R.I.P. Borders, 2011.08.02.
Sure, you can buy on the Internet, but bookstores have books to leaf through, people, coffee shops, and free WiFi.
New Browsing for older Macs, 2011.08.01.
If your old G3, G4,or G5 Mac is feeling slow on the Internet and you're running OS X 10.4 or 10.5, TenFourFox will perk things up.
More Cloudy Thinking, 2011.06.29.
Apple's iCloud may be free, but you have to buy apps for your Macs and iDevices. On the other hand, Google's apps are truly free.
Clouds from Both Sides, 2011.06.15.
iOS 5, OS X 10.7 Lion, and iCloud sound great, but Apple is leaving another generation of Mac users behind.
New Life for Old Lenses, 2011.06.07.
With an adapter, Olympus 4/3 cameras can use lenses designed for old Olympus OM film cameras.
Introduction to Camera Lenses, 2011.04.13.
Interchangeable lens cameras allow you to choose from a range of sharp lenses including a fast normal, a range of wide-angles and telephotos, and macros for close-up work.
The iPad May Change Your Laptop Upgrade Plans, 2011.04.08.
With a keyboard case, the iPad can become your low-end laptop, and that could have you looking at a larger notebook for Mac work.
How to Choose Your Next Camera, 2011.04.07.
As with computers, you have to determine your needs and find the model that best meets your needs.
It's Time to Buy Apple Stock, 2011.04.06.
The iPad really is for everyone. Also, falling in love with the Olympus EP-2.
Pages and Photoshop Express on the iPad, 2011.04.01.
Pages for the iPad works well but seems to be missing features. Photoshop Express is great for simple image manipulation.
USB Card Reader Works with iPad, 2011.03.30.
The USB card reader makes it easy to import images from the memory cards used in most digital cameras.
Are CDs and DVDs Necessary Anymore?, 2011.03.28.
The iMac eliminated built-in floppies. Is it time for optical drives to follow the same path?
Using Your iPad as a Writing Tool, 2011.03.22.
The onscreen keyboard is adequate for short notes, but a real keyboard is better. Notes is an okay word processor, but there are better options.
My New iPad: First Impressions, 2011.03.17.
A longtime iPod touch user gets his first iPad, migrates his data, and looks at the differences between the two devices.
My First Car Was a 1966 Volkwagen Van, 2011.03.16.
Talk of VW's new Bulli minivan brings back memories of John Hatchett's first vehicle, a 1966 VW panel van.
Awaiting My First iPad, 2011.03.14.
A longtime Mac and iPod touch user decides the iPad 2 announcement makes this the perfect time to buy an iPad.
4G iPod touch a Big Step Forward, 2011.02.03.
Over the holidays, John Hatchett replaced his first generation iPod touch with Apple's latest and greatest version.
$999 MacBook Air Can Cost $1,399, 2010.10.22.
Tempted by that $999 11.6" MacBook Air? More RAM, a bigger drive, and a faster CPU quickly bump the price higher.
Pismo Pink Screen of Death: Time to Rethink Things, 2010.09.30.
The solution to pink screen: Find a replacement screen. The alternative: Use an external display, keyboard, and mouse with Closed Lid Mode.
Bringing Back the Pismo, 2010.09.23.
Rather than let a perfectly good iSub go to waste simply because it won't work with Leopard, John Hatchett pulled out the old Pismo for use with Tiger and iTunes 9.
I've Got the PowerPC Blues, 2010.09.16.
With new software dropping G3 support or designed only for Intel CPUs, the handwriting is on the wall: PowerPC fans will be left behind.
Walking in the Clouds: Google vs. MobileMe, 2010.09.15.
Apple's $99 per year MobileMe service syncs Macs and iOS devices to the cloud, but Google offers competitive services for free.
Perfect Notebook Accessories, 2010.05.26.
A great field bag for carrying your stuff, and a simple, inexpensive cooling stand for your laptop.
Leopard on a 12" PowerBook, 2010.04.19.
The 12-incher was upgraded with 1 GB of RAM, Mac OS X 10.5 installed, and then user profiles were migrated from the Pismo.
No Money Down: The Resurrected PowerBook, 2010.03.23.
The 12" PowerBook had a dead screen and damaged case, but thanks to donor parts it's now working as it should.
Taking Apart the 12" PowerBook, 2010.03.17.
There are a lot of steps involved in disassembling a 12" PowerBook. Proceed with caution.
The Apple Patient, 2010.03.15.
The used 12" PowerBook has a dead screen, missing key, damaged case, and minimal memory, but it does work.
Apple's Almost Netbook, 2010.03.08.
No, Apple didn't really make a netbook, but the 12" PowerBook G4 certainly came close - and with far less compromises than a real netbook.
iPad Perfect for Handheld Computing, 2010.02.05.
You can hold the iPad in one hand and operate it with the other, giving it real advantages over a laptop computer.
The iPad Changes the Mobile Game, 2010.01.29.
The iPad goes beyond Apple's Newton and iPod touch legacy to create a new and compelling mobile platform.
Through a Scanner, Darkly Indeed, 2010.01.08.
Got an old scanner that won't play nice with your Mac? Two scanning software solutions to keep the scanner usable.
Market Strategy: Apple vs. Microsoft, 2009.12.15.
Apple takes a vertical approach to integrating hardware, software, and operating system. Microsoft takes a horizontal approach to dominating the PC industry.
To Hackintosh or Not to Hackintosh?, 2009.12.03.
Apple doesn't make a netbook, and it would be so cool to have 'Leopard' on one. But is it morally right to put OS X on a Dell?
Replacing the Hard Drive in a Clamshell iBook, 2009.11.19.
Yes, it is one of the most difficult Apple notebooks to disassemble and reassemble, but a 10 GB hard drive just will not do.
Macintosh Remote Control with Chicken of the VNC, 2009.10.06.
Sometimes you want to or need to control another Mac remotely. The free Chicken of the VNC program is a great tool for doing exactly that.
Windows Woes: A Lesson from Boot Camp, 2009.09.21.
Getting Windows installed, running, and activated is more work than this Mac user bargained for. Learn from his mistakes.
Yes, iTunes 9 Will (Mostly) Run on G3 Macs, 2009.09.16.
Apple says iTunes 9 requires a 1 GHz G4 for standard video, but many iTunes features work just fine on a 500 MHz G3 Mac.
Blue Clamshell iBook Ready for Action, 2009.09.03.
Introduced nine years ago, the first iBook with FireWire is sturdy, a decent performer, and looks like no other laptop.
Salvaging Parts from a Dead iBook, 2009.05.26.
With a broken power plug, the iBook was unusable - but the RAM, hard drive, and optical drive can live on.
Choosing My Next Low-end Desktop Mac, 2009.05.19.
The recently deceased iBook G4 was going to take up desktop duty. Now the options are a G4 iMac, 17" PowerBook, Power Mac G4, and Power Mac G5.
The AC Power Adapter Blues, 2009.05.11.
Between cell phones, notebook computers, and other devices, we're going to bury the world in power adapters.
The iBook Can't Replace the Hard Drive Blues, 2009.04.28.
Replacing the hard drive in a Pismo PowerBook or polycarbonate MacBook is easy. But those iBooks are another thing entirely.
What's More Practical, a Netbook or an iPod touch?, 2009.02.12.
While the netbook has a larger screen and a real keyboard, those things make it much less likely to be taken everywhere than an iPod touch or iPhone.
Using New Tech with Old Tech, 2009.02.05.
Yes, you can use a 2000 iMac, a Pismo, a G4 iBook, an iPod touch, and several new MacBooks together quite nicely.
iPod touch and Pismo: Perfect Together, 2009.01.21.
With a USB 2.0 card and Tiger, a 9-year-old Pismo PowerBook works beautifully with a new iPod touch.
Old Macs in the New Economy, 2008.11.25.
"We are the kings of making our computers last, last, and last some more."
Backing Up Your G3 PowerBook Quickly and Easily, 2008.10.27.
Who needs Leopard and Time Machine? With an expansion bay hard drive and the right software, you can have a bootable clone ready for use.
Taking Apart a Tray-Loading iMac, 2008.09.29.
There are a few tricks to getting into a tray tray-loading iMac, whether it's to upgrade the computer or strip it for parts.
Reconfiguring and Repurposing a Power Mac G4, 2008.09.18.
These 1999 'Sawtooth' Power Macs would be perfect for the science lab with more RAM, bigger hard drives, and a newer version of Mac OS X.
iPod touch or Cowon A3: What's a Mac User to Choose?, 2008.08.25.
For Internet access and integration with the Mac, the iPod touch is the way to go. But for media recording and playback, the Cowon has it all over the iPod.
Bumps in the road for G3 Macs, 2008.07.28.
MobileMe wouldn't synch with the Pismo, and Skype's software refused to install, but both problems were solved.
Wouldn't life be great with an iSlate?, 2008.07.04.
PDAs and smartphones are too small for some tasks, full-fledged Tablet PCs are overkill, and ebook readers are too limited. Apple has the tech to own this niche.
A very Pismo Christmas in April, 2008.04.30.
Everyone maintaining a vintage Mac should have a parts donor, and sometimes the parts machine may have upgrades for your old Mac.
The Mac vs. PC debate, 2008.03.06.
The debate has been raging since 1984, and the simple truth is that both types of computers do the same kind of thing, just a bit differently.
Power your recycled laptop with a rebuilt battery, 2008.02.20.
Old notebook computers usually mean old batteries that may be dead or on their last legs. You can buy a replacement battery, or you can have your old battery rebuilt.
Recycle old computers by repurposing them, not retiring them, 2008.02.15.
Old computers, especially Macs, may have a lot of life in them when we're done using them. What if we reused them for those who otherwise would have no acces to computers?
Could a wireless dock be in the MacBook Air's future?, 2008.02.11.
The MacBook Air is too limited in terms of connectivity, but what if Apple thought outside the box and created a MacBook Dock that connected by WiFi?
This old Pismo, 2008.01.08.
Tips on upgrading a used Pismo for better performance under Mac OS X.
It all started with an Apple IIc, 2007.12.19.
The first computer was an Apple IIc, followed by some MS-DOS computers - and then discovery of the Macintosh.
The Swiss Army knife of notebook Macs, 2007.12.06.
The 2000 Pismo was the high point of PowerBook design and flexibility with a great keyboard, expandsion bays, two PC Card slots, and a wonderful curvaceous design.
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Welcome Image and Text
We believe in the long term value of Apple hardware. You should be able to use your Apple gear as long as it helps you remain productive and meets your needs, upgrading only as necessary. We want to help maximize the life of your Apple gear.
We believe in the long term value of Apple hardware. You should be able to use your Apple gear as long as it helps you remain productive and meets your needs, upgrading only as necessary. We want to help maximize the life of your Apple gear.
We believe in the long term value of Apple hardware. You should be able to use your Apple gear as long as it helps you remain productive and meets your needs, upgrading only as necessary. We want to help maximize the life of your Apple gear.
