Compiled by Charles Moore
and edited by
Dan Knight
- 2005.10.07
PowerBook, iBook, iPod, and other portable computing is covered
in The 'Book Review. News about Apple's
transition to Intel CPUs and other Intel developments is covered in
The Macintel Report. iPod news is
covered in The iNews Review.
All prices are in US dollars unless otherwise noted.
News & Opinion
Products
News & Opinion
The Silent Upgrade: Some Mac minis Faster than
Others
The week's top Mac news: Apple began shipping 1.5 GHz Mac minis
last week, but they're in boxes with exactly the same markings at
1.42 GHz models. Buyers have no way of knowing which speed they're
buying until they open the box.
eWeek's Chris Preimesberger reports:
"Apple Computer confirmed to eWEEK.com on Thursday that some Mac
Minis currently being sold may indeed be faster and more powerful
than labeled, with better processors and some improved peripheral
features than is marked on the outside of the box.
"The Mac Mini is Apple Computer Inc.'s low-end desktop computer;
models range in price from $499 to $699."
pcpro.co.uk's Simon Aughton reports:
"Apple has confirmed that some Mac minis have shipped with a
better-than-advertised spec.
"However the company would not also confirm whether the reported
specs - including 1.5 GHz processor, extra video RAM and Bluetooth
2.0 - are accurate."
Which Mac mini to Buy (and Where to Buy
It)
informit.com has published a chapter excerpted from David
Coursey's new The Mac mini Guidebook.
"This chapter is primarily for readers who have not yet
purchased a Mac mini. Yes, there are only two models to choose
from, but there are still a handful of choices to make about
specific components you should buy.
"As you read this chapter, you will learn:
- How to select the Mac mini that's right for you.
- The best place to buy a Mac mini.
"In the next few pages, I describe the two Mac mini models and
all the options available from Apple to help you decide what's best
for your needs."
Looking Back at the Mac Icons
computerarts' Mark Penfold says:
"When
Steve Jobs unveiled the first
Macintosh computer in January 1984, the smiling Mac icon,
designed by Susan Kare, that appeared as the system booted up was
the first human face to be presented to the public by a personal
computer.
"Indeed, this was the singular vision for the Macintosh, to
produce a personal computer that was both affordable and easy to
use. Kare's work on the original icon set, font family and
interface tools played a crucial role in the success of that
project.
"Kare has a background in fine art, and holds a PhD in the
subject from New York University. In fact, when old school friend
and software maestro Andy Hertzfeld first approached her to talk
about the Macintosh project, Kare had only recently resigned from a
curatorial position at San Francisco's Fine Arts Museum.
"'The advantage of working in pixels is that it's iterative,'
says Kare. 'You can consider one approach, try another and see how
something looks with one dot off or on.' And that's just how it
worked, one dot at a time on a 32 x 32 grid.
"Each of the Macintosh icons was designed on the Mac while it
was still being developed. Initially this required Kare to
calculate the hexadecimal number of any pixel she wanted to change
until Andy Hertzfeld produced an icon editor that enabled direct
access to the pixels."
USB: The Only Computing Standard That
Works
The Inquirer's Doug Mohney says:
"There's only been one standard in the PC industry that has
survived and thrived over the past decade - Universal Serial Bus,
good old USB.
"Compare USB's evolution to the headaches over DVD standards,
HD-DVD standards, and the whole wireless crowd.
"One day books will be written on the Machiavellian posturing
that continues to take place on trying to establish a 'standard'
for 802.11n while Airgo Systems rolls out second-generation
chipsets that will more than double the proposed 108 Mbps
'standard' speed this fall.
"The first USB hardware implementations started shipping in 1996
and ended up fully blessed by Microsoft by 1998/Win98. Early
implementations were slow at 12 Mbps and the device involved - not
bad if you were plugging in keyboards and low-speed devices, but
not speedy, either.
"When USB 2.0 came out in 2001 it was in a head-to-head
competition with the first-generation FireWire standard supported
by Sony and Apple. USB ran at 480 Mbps, while IEEE-1394 ran at 100
to 400 Mbps. Of course, FireWire wasn't helped by Apple and Sony
implementing slightly different versions, Apple's greed to collect
licensing fees, and the expense to implement it in hardware."
iRoaming with a Mac mini
Mini Ture_MacJournal says: My Mac mini and iPod go down to the
Southern edge of this Continent Australia a cold September of
iRoaming interesting events.
"The form of the iPod, iMac G5, and the Mac mini, in a way being
so radically different from what has gone before has 'ipso facto',
established a new generic form, a new archetype of form factor
expectation and specificity, and so we now expect form factors to
express radically new and emerging device technology in brilliant
new economic design forms."
Products
Bus-powered FireWire/USB 2.0 Enclosure Needs No
AC adapter
PR: WiebeTech's Ultra GB+ bus-powered FireWire/USB 2.0
enclosure carries huge amounts of data with no AC adapter
- Bus powered FireWire 800 (400 compatible) with a USB 2.0
port.
- FireWire 800-800 and 800-400 cables included.
- High capacities available.
- 7200 RPM 3.5" drives for high performance. Fast as any desktop
drive.
- FlexMount™ shock absorbers.
- Quiet, fanless operation.
- Power on LED. Access LED. Power switch.
- +12V DC in - When used, overrides bus power automatically.
- Durable aluminum case.
- World compatible AC adapter - Accepts 100-240VAC.
- Compatible with most FireWire host ports that supply bus
power.
Pricing and availability
- Ultra GB+ 800 with 120 GB 7200 RPM drive, $349.95
- Ultra GB+ 800 with 160 GB 7200 RPM drive, $379.95
- Ultra GB+ 800 with 200 GB 7200 RPM drive, $379.95
- Ultra GB+ 800 with 250 GB 7200 RPM drive, $399.95
- Ultra GB+ 800 with 500 GB 7200 RPM drive, $799.95
- Link: Ultra
GB+
OWC Updates Neptune Line with 400 GB Model,
Reduces Prices
PR: Other World Computing (OWC) has updated its Neptune
"Value Done Right" FireWire line for the second time in three
months, this time adding a 400 GB 7200 RPM model and lowering
prices on other models by as much as 8%.
The new
pricing is:
- 80 GB 7200 RPM with 2 MB data buffer, $104.99
- 160 GB 7200 RPM with 8 MB data buffer, $139.99
- 200 GB 7200 RPM with 8 MB data buffer, $164.99
- 250 GB 7200 RPM with 8 MB data buffer, $179.99
- 320 GB 7200 RPM with 8 MB data buffer, $219.99
- 400 GB 7200 RPM with 8 MB data buffer, $299.99
The drives ship with all FireWire cables, Intech HD SpeedTools
and EMC/Dantz Retrospect Backup, and are supported by a one-year
OWC warranty. Each one measures 1.5" x 9" x 5.5" and weighs less
than three pounds.
Don't let the small package fool you. These drives can handle
all your audio/video, backup or general storage needs.
"The market has been favorable for us and we went to pass along
those savings to our customers," said Larry O'Connor. "We also
strive to keep up with the needs of our customers which is why
we're always adding more options to this and all our lines of
drives."
Pocket-Sized Mobile Drive with FireWire 400,
800, and USB 2.0
PR: WiebeTech's Combo GB pocket-sized mobile drive with
FireWire 400, 800, and USB 2.0 ports
- FireWire 800, FireWire 400 and USB 2.0 ports.
- Bus powered in FireWire mode with powered FireWire ports.
- USB power adapter allows powering from host USB port - even
when attaching via FireWire! (Handy for bus powering with many
Windows computers)
- Brushed & embossed aluminum case is tough and looks
awesome.
- Tactile feel edges allow for a great grip.
- Includes FIVE different cables and adapters!
- Combo GB is bootable in FireWire mode on any Mac or properly
equipped PC.
- Plug & Play without drivers on all recent operating
systems.
Pricing and availability
- Combo GB, empty, $119.95
- Combo GB with 60 GB 5400 RPM, $249.95
- Combo GB with 80 GB 5400 RPM, $299.95
- Combo GB with 60 GB 7200 RPM, $319.95
- Combo GB with 100 GB 4200 RPM, $349.95
- Combo GB with 100 GB 5400 RPM, $369.95
- Combo GB with 120 GB 5400 RPM, $499.95
- Combo GB with 100 GB 7200 RPM, $599.95
- Link: Combo GB
FirmTek SeriTek/2eEN4 Four-Bay Hot-Swap
External eSATA Enclosure
PR: FirmTek, LLC is again pushing the price/performance
envelope with the introduction of their new external SeriTek/2eEN4
Serial ATA 4-bay enclosure. The SeriTek/2eEn4 features the latest
eSATA technology and delivers four state-of-the-art hot swappable
hard drive bays to support today's demanding media-rich
applications.
"We are raising the bar again with this storage solution by
coupling the latest advances in Serial ATA technology with
best-in-class features including new eSATA connectors, a
whisper-quiet design, 3.0 Gbps transfer rate, exclusive Heat
Management System, a true hot swappable backplane design with no
internal cabling, and the smallest footprint," said Chi Kim
Stanford, Vice President of Business Development. "We are following
through on our continuing commitment of offering the best values
and most solid products in the industry by providing the
SeriTek/2eEN4 at an affordable price."
The SeriTek/2eEN4's exclusive Heat Management System ensures
hard drives are kept cool and reliable while keeping noise to a
minimum. This is accomplished by utilizing whisper quiet fans and
special warning indicators. In the unlikely event a fan fails or
temperatures become too extreme, fan or temperature LEDs will light
and a "mute-able" audible alert will warn the user. The
SeriTek/2eEN4's sturdy anodized aluminum case gives it a look
that's as professional as its advanced features. It is compatible
with virtually every external Serial ATA host adapter on the market
and supports data transfer rates of up to 300 MBytes/sec or 3.0
Gbits/sec per drive. It easily supports the most demanding
applications like uncompressed high-definition digital video
creation & editing, computer animation, and digital
photography.
SeriTek/2eEN4 Key Features and Benefits
- Attractive, durable design with a professional appearance
- Brushed & anodized extruded aluminum case for maximum
rigidity and heat dissipation
- Supports up to four 3.5" hard disk drives; original style
Serial ATA drives plus the latest 3 Gbps Serial ATA
drives
- Provides physical lock and key security for each hard
drive
- Features Kensington Security Slot to secure chassis
- Built-in server-class universal power supply for maximum
reliability
- Supports host adapter, operating system, and software-based
RAID or JBOD configurations
- Heat Management System: Two quiet fans combined with
fan/temperature status, fault LEDs and mute-able alarm
- Enclosure Power Status LED; power and activity LEDs for each
hard drive
- Easy to set up: Only 3 steps to integrate each hard drive
- Easy to operate: Simply unlock the latch, & use the handle
to add or remove drives
- Easy to transport: Compact and portable
- Hot-swappable, plug-and-play flexibility in switching
drives
- Hot-swap drive trays are interchangeable with FirmTek's two-bay
SeriTek/1EN2 enclosure
- Designed as a native Serial ATA solution; no Parallel
ATA/USB/FireWire to Serial ATA bridge chips that might impact
performance and reliability
- Features the newly defined eSATA external connectors and 300
Mbytes/sec or 3.0 Gbits/sec data transfer rate per drive
- Enclosure's hot-swap backplane design, connectors, and external
shielded cables are designed to minimize electrostatic discharge
and electromagnetic emissions, providing the most secure
environment for your data
- Includes four fully shielded external eSATA cables
- Platform independent; compatible with all Macintosh and PC
computers running Mac OS X, Windows, and Linux
- Works with original style shielded SATA-I or the latest eSATA
ports (original style shielded SATA-I to eSATA data cables
available separately)
- Ideal for multimedia-intensive applications: high-definition
audio/video capture and editing, graphics manipulation and high-end
digital publishing
FirmTek's SeriTek/2eEN4 Serial ATA enclosure is available now
for the estimated retail price of $499.95.
LaCie Big Disk Compact 1 TB Hi-Speed USB 2.0 Hard Drive
PR: LaCie introduces an affordable and easy-to-use
Hi-Speed USB 2.0 hard drive: LaCie Big Disk Hi-Speed USB 2.0
packing up to 1 TB into a sturdy aluminum d2 case. With USB
connectivity and no software to configure, LaCie Big Disk Hi-Speed
USB 2.0 is the ultimate combination of convenience, capacity and
affordability per gigabyte. Drives ship standard with LaCie's new
One Click Backup Software for PC and Mac.
- Packs up to 1 TB of storage in a tough aluminum case
- The latest in cooling technology
- Use it anywhere: no software needed, universal USB
connectivity
The Big Disk Hi-Speed USB 2.0's portability and versatility make
it easy to use at any workstation. This low-cost alternative is
ideal for backing up several workstations or handling space-hungry
applications. No need to configure any software--just hook it up to
a universal USB port on any PC or Mac and start swapping images,
large files or office documents right away.
"There isn't a drive on the market that can offer the
affordability, design, versatility, convenience and performance of
the LaCie Big Disk Hi-Speed USB 2.0," says Olivier Mirloup, LaCie
Senior Product Manager. "This drive is the highest quality, easiest
to use product in its price range."
Big Disk Hi-Speed USB 2.0 500 GB and 600 GB models are fan-free
for ultra-quiet operation, while the 1 TB model includes new
Smart Fan technology that automatically cools the drive when
needed. Drives are protected by LaCie's d2 aluminum alloy case
design that helps dissipates heat by drawing it away from the
internal disk, prolonging the life of the drive. Features:
- Up to 1 TB of storage capacity
- Convenient plug-and-play, no software or drives to
configure
- Hi-Speed USB 2.0 interface for PC and Mac
- Ultra-quiet, fanless operation (500 GB/600 GB models)
- Can be stacked, rack-mounted or stood upright
- Automatic Smart Fan quiet cooling control (1 TB model)
- Free 1-Click Backup Software for PC/Mac
LaCie Big Disk Hi-Speed USB 2.0 is available end of October at
the retail prices below via LaCie's specialized dealer network.
Price: $929
Now accepting preorders. This product will ship in late October
2005.
Big Disk Hi-Speed USB 2.0 comes with all necessary cables and
includes a one-year limited warranty in the US and a two-year
limited warranty in Europe.
Desktop Mac
Deals
Low End Mac updates the following price trackers every two
weeks:
For deals on laptops, see our Best
Aluminum PowerBook G4 Deals, Best
Titanium PowerBook G4 Deals, Best
iBook G4 Deals, and Best White iBook
G3 Deals. For deals on iPods, see our Best iPod Deals.
