Low End Mac Editorial Archive

May 2009

Default Folder X: An old friend rediscovered, Dan Knight, Low End Mac Reviews, 07.08. I've used Default Folder with the Classic Mac OS since 1992, but only tried the OS X version recently.
MacBook White updated, DIY Mac tablet, danger of 'Safe Sleep', $350 80 GB SSD kit, and more, The 'Book Review, 05.29. Also Apple tablet 'confirmed', 3G and lower cost MacBook Air models rumored, 500 GB bus powered hard drive, Mini DisplayPort adapters, bargain 'Books from $179 to $2,299, and more.
Women rank Apple tops, a legal Hackintosh, inside USB 3, best Mac shareware bundles, and more, Mac News Review, 05.29. Also what to do with an original Macintosh, Apple's most intriguing designs, Apple's 'buy a Mac, get an iPod touch' student promotion, and more.
New Yorker cover made on iPhone, next gen CPU for next iPhone, Frog Guitar app, and more, iNews Review, 05.29. Also possible $100 iPhone price cut, AT&T wants Palm Pre, 10 best iPhone apps, SendPhotos apps for iPhone and Macs, and more.
Eudora successors face off: Eudora 8 working well, MailForge almost ready to ship, Charles Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 05.28. Qualcom abandoned Eudora, Eudora users often have issues with latest versions of OS X, but Mozilla-based Eudora 8 and MailForge have stepped in to replace the beloved app.
Odd MacBook sleep behavior, Pismo resurrection and upgrades, end nigh for Classic Eudora? and more, Charles Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 05.27. Also the end of the road for Lombard and G4 iMac CPU upgrades.
Salvaging parts from a dead iBook, John Hatchett, Recycled Computing, 05.26. With a broken power plug, the iBook was unusable - but the RAM, hard drive, and optical drive can live on.
Hackintosh Dell Mini worth it?, smallest external notebook drive, troubleshooting your 'Book, and more, The 'Book Review, 05.26. Also Apple's 'student rugged' netbook from 1997, reviving a 'Book that won't power up, some trackpad options missing on 10.5.7, bargain 'Books from $179 to $2,290, and more.
Russian Mac clone, Macs at Walmart?, quiet mice, using ADC displays with Intel Macs, and more, Mac News Review, 05.26. Also 5 troubleshooting tools you already have, maximize your Mac mini, restore OS 9 desktop click behavior, USB device sharing with D-Link routers, and more.
1 in 4 text while driving, AT&T considers cheaper iPhone plans, allergy Alert app, and more, iNews Review, 05.26. Also iPhone Tips for Teachers site, static shock from earbuds, 6 inch USB cable for iPhone and iPods, and more.
FireWire sleep issues, Safari 3.2.3 vs. Safari 4 beta, iPhone tips for teachers, and more, Charles Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 05.20. Also a dead Pismo PowerBook, Orinoco PC Cards in AirPort base stations, iBook backlight repair, and Wegener repair experience.
Mac 'Book power management adventures, Charles W Moore, 'Book Value, 05.19. If your 'Book won't power up, shuts down while your working, or has other power issues, resetting its internal power manager may clear things up.
Could iPods become the next hearing aids?, Tim Nash, Taking Back the Market, 05.19. Baby Boomers have reached the age where hearing loss is a growing problem, and iPods don't have the stigma that hearing aids do.
Choosing my next low-end desktop Mac, John Hatchett, Recycled Computing, 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.
Zeppelins return to the sky to promote Disney-Pixar's UP, Charles Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 05.18. Although best remembered for the Hindenburg disaster, Zeppelin airships have a long and safe history, especially after switching to helium.
iBook death, Skype on iTouch, and 3G MacBook Touch rumors, John Hatchett, Recycled Computing, 05.15. The iBook G4 has reached its end, Skype is now available for the iPod touch, and indicators point to a 10" touchscreen MacBook.
OS X 10.5.7 update, Safari 3.2.3, Ubuntu vs. Leopard benchmarks, free Mac tips booklet, and more, Mac News Review, 05.15. Also Security Update 2009-002 for Tiger and Leopard, 10.5.7 performance, online image editor, Apple drops in e-commerce survey, antivirus updates, and more.
J school to require iPhone/iTouch, iPhone 3G can't take heat, World Newspapers app, and more, iNews Review, 05.15. Also AT&T blacks out SlingPlayer for iPhone, iPhone in Iraq, police scanner apps, Lotus Notes gaining iPhone support, NASCAR Ultimate, and more.
500 MHz iBook keeps going, iBook video repair, a WiFi card that costs less than AirPort, and more, Charles Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 05.13. Also Dell's alternative to the 12" PowerBook, WiFi hotspot insecurity, and feedback from a Eudora fan.
Mac-using troubadour launches comeback CD, music industry software, Charles W Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 05.12. Nova Scotian Max MacDonald works for a company that produces software for festival and artist management and has released a new CD of Cape Breton music.
IBM Model M: The One True Keyboard, Tommy Thomas, Welcome to Macintosh, 05.12. Many consider the IBM Model M keyboard the finest computer keyboard ever made. Here's why.
12", 4 pound Averatech N2700 exactly what Apple should be building, Charles Moore, 'Book Value, 05.11. This lightweight laptop has the power of the MacBook, the footprint of the 12" PowerBook, and a $699 price tag.
The AC Power Adapter Blues, John Hatchett, Recycled Computing, 05.11. Between cell phones, notebook computers, and other devices, we're going to bury the world in power adapters.
SSD RAID in MacBook Pro, MacBooks sweep Consumer Reports, new SSD drives from Imation, and more, The 'Book Review, 05.11. Also OS X on the Dell Mini 9, MagSafe unsafe?, netbook vs. notebook performance, 8x SuperDrive for older MacBooks, bargain 'Books from $170 to $2,200, and more.
6 lessons from a lost iPhone, DIY solar iPod/iPhone charger, Grakl social messaging app, and more, iNews Review, 05.11. Also Apple changes wet iPhone replacement policy, iPhone 3.0 takes better photos, Bento available for iPhone/iPod touch, Apple tops among smartphone users, and more.
Macs tracking swine flu, 6 quick Mac OS fixes, iMac EFI Firmware Update 1.4, and more, Mac News Review, 05.08. Also Right Zoom maximizes windows, GeForce GTX 285 coming to Mac, APC backup batteries incompatible with Intel Macs running OS X 10.5.4 and later, vertical mice, and more
12 year old PowerBook 2400c Apple's first crossover notebook?, Charles W Moore, 'Book Value, 05.08. Built by IBM Japan, the PowerBook 2400c remains the smallest footprint notebook that Apple has ever produced, comparable in size to today's 12" netbooks.
Lombard, the forgotten PowerBook, Simon Royal, Tech Spectrum, 05.06. Sitting between the legendary WallStreet and the widely known Pismo, Lombard provides great value and handles OS X nicely.
WiFi hotspot insecurity, iBook longevity, and WallStreet value, Charles W Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 05.06. The dangers of WiFi hotspots, reliability of the 500 MHz iceBook, and the value of a used WallStreet PowerBook.
Are crossover notebooks the next wave?, Charles W Moore, 'Book Value, 05.05. The netbook market has grown, but netbook makers are now moving to larger, more fully featured, still small-and-light models.
Too many options when choosing a PC, too few when buying a Mac, Frank Fox, Stop the Noiz, 05.05. So many brands and models on the Windows side, not even counting building your own, or a very limited number of Mac models that might not meet your needs.
11 years later, WallStreet PowerBook still productive, Charles W Moore, 'Book Value, 05.04. Introduced on May 4, 1998, the PowerBook G3 Series had lots of power and a curvaceous new design that lasted until the Titanium PowerBook arrived in 2001.
DOS nostalgia: Looking back at early computer experiences, Larry Stotler, Linux on the Low End, 05.04. TRS-80s, the Tandy 1000HX, Radio Shack's Color Computer, Hercules card, 1200 bps modems, hard cards, and other 20-year-old technology.
iPhone vs. netbook for typing, Disney World on the iPhone, Star Trek iPhone case mod, and more, iNews Review, 05.04. Also musician dumps instruments for iPhone, Nationwide accident app, bedtime stories app, wood iPhone case, and more.
Looking back at the Dual USB iBook on its eighth birthday, Charles W Moore, 'Book Value, 05.01. Introduced on May 1, 2001, the white iBook had a fresh new design that endured until it was replaced by the MacBook five years later.
Ubuntu 9 'as slick as' OS X?, 8 reasons to go Mac, Startup drive repair tips, ExpanDrive 2, and more, Mac News Review, 05.01. Also how to avoid Terminal, Mac mini media center worth it?, Freestyles adjustable Mac keyboard, Roller Mouse Free, and more.
iPhone not a netbook, OS X on Dell netbook, USB 2.0 external display adapter, and more, The 'Book Review, 05.01. Also jump in laptop spending plans, $49,000 lost notebook value, USB ports too close on MacBook Pro, bargain 'Books from $170 to $2,580, and more.