May 2006
- MacTablet, MacBook mini, and
MacDock: Resurrecting the dockable 'Book, Matthew Wright, My
Turn, 05.31. Apple had a great idea with the PowerBook Duo and Duo
Dock. Here's how they could resurrect the concept for the 21st
century.
- Less is more: 12" PowerBook
still a lawyer's best friend, Andrew J Fishkin, The Mobile Mac,
05.31. Weighing all the pros and cons of the MacBook, the 12"
PowerBook G4 remains the ideal field computer for this user.
- Avoid rev 1 Mac Pro, flak on myth
busting, and mad at Low End Mac, Dan Knight, Low End Mac
Mailbag, 05.31. Expect early Mac Pro shipments to have teething
problems, flak vs. flack, kudos on myth busting, and problems
finding useful StyleWriter info on LEM.
- Myth busting: Microsoft
PlaysForSure is not 'hardware neutral', Dan Knight, Mac
Musings, 05.30. Tech journalists have an obligation to clear things
up for their readers, not act as PR flaks, obfuscate things, and
mislead their audience.
- DiskWarrior 3: The one disk
utility every Mac user should have, Charles W Moore,
Miscellaneous Ramblings, 05.30. DiskWarrior does one thing - and
does it very well. It finds and repairs directory damage, then
create a new optimized replacement directory.
- Windows growing, will eventually
require a googol of RAM, Jeff Adkins, The Lite Side, 05.30.
Based on pretty consistent trends from Windows 3.1 through Vista,
Windows will grow to require gigabytes, terabytes, petabytes, and
eventually googols of RAM.
- MacBook a sign of things to
come to MacBook Pro line, Jake Goodridge, Fresh Picked Apples,
05.26. The MacBook isn't just an incredible value compared to the
MacBook Pro, it also introduces some features sure to migrate to
the pro line.
- Album art and liner notes: An
iTunes disadvantage, Adam Robert Guha, Apple Archive, 05.26.
Some music buyers prefer to buy the CD instead of an online
download because they get the album art and liner notes that way.
How Apple could tap into that market.
- Apple nailed it: All you need
to know about the MacBook, The 'Book Review, 05.26. Reviewers
find Apple's new MacBook nearly perfect, the clever upgrade bay, a
matte screen petition, and more.
- 2 GHz PowerBook upgrade, end of
PowerBook era, 17" MacBook Pro reviews, cool Concerto table, and
more, The 'Book Review, 05.26. Also a new website for
ExpressCard info, MIT's $100 laptop, first flash-based notebook,
fix for PowerBook lower RAM slot failure, bargain 'Books from $230
to $2,199, and more.
- Turn your Mac into a PVR, Mac
mini runs Final Cut Studio slowly, Macintel as 'Vista ready' PCs,
and more, Mac News Review, 05.26. Also the mini's ceaseless
fan, Apple price drops in Canada, Seagate swallows Maxtor, dead
pixels, and more
- What's the best 'Book for my
needs: MacBook, MacBook Pro, iBook, or PowerBook?, Andrew J
Fishkin, The Mobile Mac, 05.25. You need to balance size, weight,
price, power, and processor to find just the right 'Book for your
own needs.
- The productive Mac: Tracking your
projects and doing the work, Matthew Jay, Macs to the Max,
05.25. The Mac can be a great tool for any type of project,
including collaboration and scheduling.
- Apple shuns 'superstar' PowerPC
startup, Intel Core speed bumps and price cuts, and more, The
Macintel Report, 05.25. Also MacBook puts Apple on target to meet
or beat earnings projections, guide to taking "the Macintel
plunge", Intel's new vPro chip, and startup key combos for Intel
Macs.
- Power Mac today or Intel
tomorrow?, Nvu shortcomings, and best way to sell older Mac
stuff, Dan Knight, Low End Mac Mailbag, 05.24. Thoughts on
buying a Power Mac G5 now or waiting for the Intel replacement,
problems with Nvu software, and how to get the best price when
selling old Mac stuff.
- Other stuff I'd like to sync with
my iPod, Jeff Adkins, The Lite Side, 05.24. You can already
sync your iPod to iTunes, iCal, Address Book, digicam memory
cards, and now even Nikes. What other great ideas are just around
the corner?
- MpegDec on 68030, more on DRM,
and another MP3 player for PowerPC Macs, Nathan Thompson,
Embracing Obsolescence, 05.24. Hands-on testing shows a 16 MHz LC
II isn't up to MP3s, Apple's DRM is less bad than Microsoft's, and
a look at Mint Audio, a promising but frustrating discontinued
commercial app.
- What's in your workspace?,
Ed Eubanks Jr, The Efficient Mac User, 05.23. Does your workspace
reflect the way you work today and let you work efficiently?
- Picking the right laptop in
2006, Andrew J Fishkin, The Mobile Mac, 05.23. You need to
balance size, weight, price, power, and battery life to find just
the right notebook computer for your own needs.
- The sun has set on the G4,
Ted Hodges, Vintage Mac Living, 05.23. After seven years with the
G4, Apple has discontinued the last model to use it, but that
doesn't make these machines obsolete.
- Best OS for older Macs, why OS 9
remains a player, Camino browser fast, DVD-RAM support for Macs,
and more, Charles W Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 05.22. Also
MaxiMice as a potential replacement for Scrollability, Links an
alternative to WannaBe, putting a 300 MHz CPU in a slower
WallStreet, Word 2004's Word 5.1 option, and more on Pismo modems
and Tiger.
- MacBook runs hot, SheepShaver
feedback, replacing Home Page, and another PowerBook 1400 fan,
Dan Knight, Low End Mac Mailbag, 05.22. Field reports indicate the
new MacBook runs hot, SheepShaver emulator works decently on Intel
Macs, more WYSIWYG HTML editor thoughts, and a new PowerBook 1400
user writes in.
- The good, the bad, and the ugly of
upgrading your Mac, Matthew Jay, Macs to the Max, 05.22. If
your Mac is no longer powerful enough for your current needs, an
upgrade might be a real alternative to buying a newer Mac.
- Smart design and easy drive
replacement will make the MacBook a winner, Adam Robert Guha,
Apple Archive, 05.19. Although the graphics processor is far from
state-of-the-art and the screen is very reflective, everything else
about MacBook points to it becoming a huge success.
- Glossy MacBook screen, MacBook
keyboard, fix for MacBook Pro heat problems, and more, The
'Book Review, 05.19. Also inside the MacBook, positive 17" MacBook
Pro reviews, third-party power supplies, Hitachi's notebook 'drive
of steel', bargain 'Books from $1,000 to $2,199, and more.
- Symantec says buy a Mac,
SheepShaver supports Classic on Macintel, painted minis, and
more, Mac News Review, 05.19. Also email on a Mac Plus,
firmware updates for Intel iMac and mini, $159 G4/933 MHz upgrade,
FW800/USB 2.0 to SATA bridge board, and more.
- The Aperture 1.1 update fiasco:
Stock Power Mac G5 Dual and Quad video no longer recommended, Dan
Knight, Mac Musings, 05.18. "The normal configuration of Apple's three current Power Mac models includes Nvidia GeForce 6600 graphics, the original version of Aperture supported it, but with the update it's no longer recommended."
- Life after the 400K click of
death, A. Daniel King, Online Tech Journal, 05.18. What to do
when your 400K floppy drive will no longer read and write
disks.
- Why I wish Apple were more like
Microsoft, Jamie Gruener, My Turn, 05.18. When Macs work,
they're wonderful. But when you have to troubleshoot them, Apple
leaves you on your own.
- Real claims half of iPod music
stolen, iPhone rumors, luminous cable winder, iWood cases, and
more, iPod News Review, 05.18. Also Australia and UK legalizing
ripping, flat fee "Made for iPod" program, church gives away iPods,
white leather dress for iPod Hi-Fi, stopwatch software for the
iPod, and more.
- No sub-$1,000 'Books, Core Duo
overclocked to 3.8 GHz, another Windows on Mac contender, and
more, The Macintel Report, 05.18. MacBook eliminates last $999
iBook, Intel Macs are two computers in one, Apple got Intel right,
Intel pushing Centrino 4, and more.
- 13" MacBook introduced, 15"
MacBook Pro speed bump, The 'Book Review, 05.17. The iBook
replacement has a 13.3" widescreen display, 1.83 and 2.0 GHz Core
Duo processors, extended desktop, sudden motion sensors, iSight,
Front Row with remote, and much more.
- MacBook glossy screen problems,
Classic option for Intel Macs, and more on replacing Home Page,
Dan Knight, Low End Mac Mailbag, 05.17. Reader unconvinced a glossy
laptop screen is a good idea, SheepShaver PowerPC emulator puts
Classic on Macintel, more thoughts on WYSIWYG HTML editors, and
eMac CPU upgrade possibilities.
- X11: Your window for using Unix
apps on the Mac, Leaman Crews, Plays Well with Others, 05.17.
Mac OS X is a Unix variant. X11 is the tool that lets you access
Unix applications using a graphical interface with mouse
support.
- The MacBook value equation:
Incredible value, Dan Knight, Mac Musings, 05.16. With a
widescreen display, dual-core CPU, fast bus, and $1,099 base price,
the MacBook isn't just a great value - it could gut sales of the
15" MacBook Pro.
- The PowerBook 3400: Surprisingly
useful and spry with the Classic Mac OS, Charles Webb,
PowerBook Beat, 05.16. The last PowerBook before the G3, the PB
3400 actually outperforms the "MainStreet" PowerBook G3 - and it's
generally available for under US$100.
- Old Macs are still fun to use
and productive tools, Ted Hodges, Vintage Mac Living, 05.15.
Dusting off the old Macs, turning them on, and using them again
provides a reminder of how enjoyable they were to use and how
productive they can be.
- Replacing Claris Home Page and how
Apple could slash $900 from Macintel prices, Dan Knight, Low
End Mac Mailbag, 07.08. Readers suggest Nvu, RapidWeaver, and
Sandvox as alternatives to Home Page, and how Apple could use the
Pentium D 805 to vastly reduce Mac prices.
- Is Mac OS 9 still a player?,
Charles Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 05.15. Is OS 9 still
important? Which Macs can boot into it? Where can you buy OS 9? How
do you obtain and install the available OS updates?
- Mac community loses an icon,
David G. Wood, but not his legacy, Hardy Menagh, Empowered,
05.15. David Wood's 'Resources for the Older Macintosh' was an
invaluable resource for anyone using pre-PowerPC Macs. Although
Wood has passed on, his legacy survives.
- The future of PowerPC Macs in
the Intel era, Adam Robert Guha, Apple Archive, 05.12. There
are a few reasons why you might not want to go Intel right now -
and why you may want to keep a PowerPC Mac around for years to
come.
- Setting up a 68040-based Mac
media center, Nathan Thompson, Embracing Obsolescence, 05.12.
Yes, that old '040-based Quadra or Performa just might make a
decent media center for listening to MP3s and watching videos.
- No MagSafe for car or airplane
a MacBook drawback, MBP battery glitch?, new temperature monitor,
and more, The 'Book Review, 05.12. Also low battery
unresponsiveness, CPU upgrades for 12" PowerBooks, high capacity
batteries for TiBooks and 12" 'Books, FireWire 800 for MacBook
Pro, bargain 'Books from $325 to $2,059, and more.
- Macintosh G6 clones, Apple tops
in tech support, Mac mini Core Duo upgrades, and more, Mac News
Review, 05.12. Also more on Boot Camp, 1.66 GHz Mac mini vs. 1.83
GHz iMac, Seagate's humongous 750 GB hard drive, Guest PC gets
faster, and more.
- Why I will probably buy another
Mac, Dan Knight, Mac Musings, 05.11. OSnews' "alcibiades" says
he'll probably never buy another Mac. As someone who uses a
computer to be productive, I can't see going any other way.
- The Low End Mac value
equation, Matthew Jay, My Turn, 05.11. Value usually means
picking a Mac "that's not quite cutting edge but still gets the job
done and saves money."
- iPod/iTunes could use cell
phone network, French propose less restrictive DRM law, and
more, iPod News Review, 05.11. Also the new JBL Radial iPod
speaker system, the first Bluetooth adapter for the iPod nano, and
software to convert WMA, ASF, and WMV files to formats the iPod can
use.
- Intel Core 2 Duo to ship in July,
can a Power Mac replacement be far behind?, The Macintel
Report, 05.11. Intel rebrands "Conroe" and "Merom" as Core 2 Duo,
and the debate over Apple's motivation behind Boot Camp
continues.
- Back to Kansas: A look at the
fastest, most expandable pre-G3 Power Macs, Grant Hayes,
Applesauce, 05.09. The Power Mac 8600 and 9600 used a fast 604e
chip that could give early G3 systems a real run for the
money.
- Inexplicable Cocoa ligature
problem solved, Dan Knight, Mac Musings, 05.09. My eMac was
automatically replacing "fi" and "fl" with ligatures in Cocoa
programs. A reader sent me a simple solution to this frustrating
problem.
- Photoshop Elements 4.0 and
Lightroom Beta show Adobe still does well by Mac users, Alan
Zisman, Low End Mac Reviews, 05.09. Adobe's Photoshop Elements 4.0
provides "85% of Photoshop's power for 15% of its cost" and the
Mac-only Lightroom beta looks very promising.
- Getting the Mac digital
jukebox up and running, Nathan Thompson, Embracing
Obsolescence, 05.08. Connecting your PowerPC Mac to your stereo and
remote control options for running a headless digital audio
jukebox.
- Setting up a NuBus Power Mac as a
digital recording studio, Tyler Sable, Classic Restorations,
05.08. Take a Power Mac 7100 or 8100, add a Digidesign AudioMedia
II card and a fast hard drive, and you've got the core of a
powerful, low-cost digital recording studio.
- Flexible eWheelie stand improves
notebook use at your desk, Charles W Moore, Miscellaneous
Ramblings, 05.08. With a unique wheeled design, the eWheelie Laptop
Stand lets you roll your 'Book to the side when you need to use your
desk for other things.
- Mac mini Hacks & Mods for
Dummies, Hardy Menagh, Empowered, 05.05. This volume provides a
lot of useful information, but those with Intel minis or
speed-bumped G4 minis will realize the book is already dated.
- The sad state of today's music:
Rap brings out the worst, Ted Hodges, Vintage Mac Living,
05.05. iPod's let you listen to the music you like privately. Why
is it that so many rap fans feel the need to crank it up and force
their music on everyone?
- Front Row, Apple's digital hub,
needs TV support, Adam Robert Guha, Apple Archive, 05.05. Apple
pioneered the digital hub, but they are missing the boat when it
comes to recording and viewing TV programs.
- Anticipating the non-Pro
MacBook, Paulo Rodrigues, Apple Outsider, 05.05. What features
is the widely anticipated 13" widescreen Intel-powered iBook
replacment expected to have?
- OS X safer than Windows, Macs
fuel academic turnaround, potential restore from backup problems,
and more, Mac News Review, 05.05. Also future monitors may look
back, new DisplayPort standard, Apple Keyboard Update for Macintel,
750 GB miniStack, Mac mini coverage, an iMac review, and a
multi-channel digital audio PCIe card for the last gen Power
Macs.
- MacBook Pro whining and
overheating, 80 GB drive failure in 1.5 GHz PowerBooks, Pismo G4
price drop, and more, The 'Book Review, 05.05. Also problems
with MacBook Pro batteries, MacBook Pro firmware update,
transceiver doubles MacBook WiFi range, Temperature Monitor
updated, bargain 'Books from $230 to $1,849, and more.
- Apple's WallStreet
PowerBook G3 at 8 years old, Charles W Moore, Miscellaneous
Ramblings, 05.04. Probably the most flexible, expandable PowerBook
ever, the G3 Series offered desktop performance to go - and today
it's a good deal on the used market. Also, the WallStreet CPU
Upgrade Guide.
- Apple's new ads: Spokespeople for
other operating systems, Jeff Adkins, The Lite Side, 05.04.
Apple's new ads pit a Mac user against a Windows XP user, but what
about all of those other operating systems?
- iPod use mostly illegal in UK,
unlicensed iPod accessory crack down, a color change iPod case, and
more, iPod News Review, 05.04. Also the return of iPod booting,
next gen iPod speculation, iPod Fast Start, iPod trade-up service,
portable apps to run from your iPod, and more.
- Apple embraces Dark Side, Book
Camp kicks butt, Intel 90% dual-core by year end, and more, The
Macintel Report, 05.04. More thoughts on Windows on Macs, Parallels
Workstation reaches Beta 6, and Intel plans new CPU architecture
every two years.
- Cocoa ligature behavior can
drive you crazy, Dan Knight, Mac Musings, 05.03. The Mac OS is
inexplicably and automatically replacing "fi" and "fl" with
ligatures on one of my Macs, and I can't make it stop.
- Pismo modem issues, best Mac
keyboard, Pismo processor upgrade value, and more, Charles
Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 05.01. Also swapping screens
between Lombard and Pismo, more on Frankenpismo, PRAM reset may
resurrrect dead Lombard, and more on the dead Lombard.
- DRM increasingly restricts
what you can do with your CDs, DVDs, and downloaded tunes,
Nathan Thompson, Embracing Obsolescence, 05.01. "The more media is
a hassle to transfer from device to device, the better the
opportunity the various corporations have to sell consumers the
same product over and over."
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