Compiled by Charles Moore
and edited by
Dan Knight
- 2006.02.10
This Week's Apple and Desktop Mac News
The
Apple Store and several other vendors have run out of 17" G5 iMacs,
and the Intel Core Duo models are receiving nearly universal
accolades - along with warnings of slow Rosetta emulation and the
absence of 'Classic' mode. On that front SheepShaver, a PowerPC emulator, is now available in an
experimental Intel build that should make Classic available on
Macintel hardware. dk
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
Software
News & Opinion
Good-bye iMac G5
Ars Technica's Jacqui Cheng says:
"With stock of iMacs G5 dwindling and even selling out, the
transition to Intel for the iMac line may be coming to a close.
MacRumors is reporting that stock of 17" iMac G5s has completely
run out at retail stores and is also no longer available from the
Apple Store online. Additionally, 20" iMac G5s have been marked
down US$1699 to $1499 (a fairly significant discount, in
Apple-land) and running even cheaper out of the .edu store, which
indicates a push for Apple to finally finish clearing out its iMac
G5 inventory altogether sooner rather than later."
Link: Goodbye
iMac G5, You'll Be (Sorta) Missed
17" iMac G5 Is History
The Register's Tony Smith says:
"Apple has killed off the 17in iMac G5 - at least, the machine
is no longer available from either the UK or the US online
AppleStores, or stores throughout Europe and Asia-Pacific, though
it remains listed on the main Apple website. The move comes just
days after Apple cut the price of the 20in iMac G5 by $200 in the
States and £150 in Britain.
"It was widely assumed that the price cuts were intended to help
shift remaining stocks of the iMac G5 as Apple migrates to
Intel-based machines. The Core Duo-equipped consumer desktop -
known simply as the 'iMac' - was only launched in the second week
of January and began shipping at that time, so Apple's done pretty
well to rid itself of the 17in PowerPC-based model in a month."
Link:
iMac G5 17in R.I.P.
Intel iMac 'Very Close to Perfect'
The Boston Herald's Eric Convey says:
"Apple's iMac has been a hit since long before the latest
version came out, but some extremely important changes under the
hood pushed the newest version to the top of the Inspecting Gadgets
'things I'd like to review' list.
"The iMac is the first Mac to employ Intel chips. With the
faster speed the dual core processor brings, what was already a
good computer is now very close to perfect."
Link: Intel Chip
Nudges iMac Closer to Perfection
Classic Incompatibility, Slow Rosetta Mean Wait
on Intel iMac
The latest computer from Apple uses a powerful new processor,
but The Washington Post's Rob Pegoraro suggests it may be worth
waiting for it to be debugged.
"The extraordinary thing about Apple's new iMac is how ordinary
it is to operate. It looks, sounds and works almost exactly like
the version it replaces, to the point where many Mac users probably
couldn't pick it out of a lineup....
"Most computer companies switch processor architectures only a
little more often than human beings switch heads, and with good
reason. Apple had done it back in the mid-1990s, when it moved to
PowerPC chips - a prolonged, painful process with its own
vocabulary of system-error messages - and Microsoft has yet to
attempt it with any consumer flavor of Windows. The new iMac,
however, makes this sort of brain surgery seem Band-Aid
easy....
"But most Mac programs aren't yet available as 'universal'
Intel-PowerPC releases. In those cases, the iMac and such other
Intel-based machines as the MacBook Pro laptop due next month rely
on a layer of software called Rosetta to translate PowerPC code
into Intel instructions.
"Much of the time, Rosetta is invisible. Microsoft Office
launched only a little slower than normal, then acted exactly as it
would on a G4 or G5 Mac. The same went for a long list of other Mac
programs tested. A Hewlett- Packard printer-scanner combo worked as
usual, and I had no problem installing drivers for devices from HP
and Epson....
"Rosetta could not, however, run demos of the games WWII Online
and Doom 3 at any acceptable speed. LimeWire, a file-sharing
program, and NeoOffice, a version of the OpenOffice suite, wouldn't
start or crashed every time. Microsoft's Virtual PC emulation
software doesn't work either. And Rosetta can't translate 'Classic'
programs written for Mac OS 9 or older versions of Apple's
operating system; Mac OS X actually stamps their icons with a
'forbidden' graphic....
"Don't even think of using an Intel-based Mac without a gigabyte
of memory on board, not the 512 MB that would suffice on other
models."
Link:
Hold Back on the iMac
Intel Puts iMac on Steroids
BusinessWeek's Stephen H. Wildstrom says:
"The real payback of the new Intel-based Mac will be down the
road when software developers have time to catch up
"The most remarkable thing about Apple Computer's newest iMac is
that, even after using it for a while, it's hard to tell just how
different it is from the identical-looking iMac G5 introduced last
fall. Don't be deceived by the similarities. Hidden in the new iMac
is a processor that will let this line of Macs grow and meet the
increasing performance demands of software."
Link:
It's iMac on Steroids
First Look at Intel iMac
Computerworld's Ken Mingis says:
"Quick Mac riddle: What looks like an iMac G5, sounds like an
iMac G5 when it starts up, and feels faster than a Power Mac
G5?
"Answer: The new Intel-based iMac that arrived recently from
Apple Computer Inc. so I could get some hands-on time with the
company's first Mactel machine - at least until those new (and
newly renamed) MacBook Pro laptops arrive later this month...
"So how does the new iMac fare in regular use? This latest
generation of Apple's all-in-one runs circles around its
predecessor - most of the time."
Link:
The Intel iMac Arrives: A First Look at Apple's New Mactel
Machine
New iMacs: Familiar Look Is Deceiving
Business Week's Stephen H. Wildstrom says:
"The most remarkable thing about Apple Computer's newest iMac is
that even after using it for a while, it's hard to tell just how
different it is from the identical-looking iMac G5 introduced last
fall. Don't be deceived by the similarities. Hidden in the new iMac
is a processor that will let this line of Macs grow and meet the
increasing performance demands of software.
"The 17-inch (US$1,299) and 20-inch ($1,699) iMacs are
all-in-one designs where the electronics are housed behind the
display. These are the first Macs to hit the market using Intel
chips - the Core Duo processors. A MacBook Pro notebook will be out
in March, with prices starting at $1,999, to replace the 15-inch
PowerBook G4....
"It's going to take software developers a while to convert their
programs, especially if they take pains to optimize the code for
performance on Intel's twin processors. For example, Microsoft has
pledged to write a new, Intel-specific version of Office for the
Mac, but it's not saying when it will be ready."
Link: New iMacs: That
Familiar Look Is Deceiving
New iMac Has Hybrid Vigor
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our original content, whichever is less.)
iMac Core Duo Keyboard Problem
Hardmac's Lionel reports:
"Some users have been facing problems with the keyboard of their
brand new iMac Core Duo. Randomly, but regularly, the keyboard
freezes, and one needs to unplug it to solve the problem; till the
next freeze."
Link: iMac Core Duo:
Keyboard Problem
Apple #1 in European Education
Macworld UK's Karen Haslam reports:
"Apple has confirmed that it's taken the number one spot in the
western European education market.
"Apple's education market share in western Europe is now 15.2
per cent, relegating Dell, with 14.7 per cent, to second place.
"Gartner analyst Isabelle Durand confirmed: 'During the fourth
quarter 2005, Apple became the number one PC vendor in the Western
European Education market. The company has continued to grow very
strongly (+22.4 per cent) and achieved a 15.2 per cent of market
share in Q4 2005.'
"Durand also confirmed that according to Gartner figures, 'Apple
market share in the UK education market during the fourth quarter
2005 was 12.5 per cent.'"
Link: Apple
Takes Top Spot in European Education
iMac Core Duo Worship
SpyMac's Kristie Masuda says:
"In the days approaching Valentine's Day, it seems it's the new
iMac that everyone loves the most...
"What was already a good computer is now very close to
perfect.
"Praise for Apple's recently released Intel-based iMac has been
prevalent around the Web this week....
"With article titles such as 'Apple's Intel-based iMac is a
Winner', 'It's iMac on Steroids' and 'iMac running on Intel is
speedy', the iMac is not short of exaltation."
Link: iMac
Worship
MacFixIt 2005 'Year of Fixes' Archive CD Now
Available
PR: Last year, we introduced a new product: a CD-ROM
archive of troubleshooting info published during the previous year
on MacFixIt. Truth be told, we didn't really know how it would be
received, but we knew we would find out pretty quickly. The
response was quite clear: almost everyone who saw it wanted one,
and expressed a lot of enthusiasm for the idea of us making this a
regular product.
So we produced another one this year, and made it available as a
premium to subscribers to the VersionTracker Pro/MacFixIt Pro
Bundle. Now that that promotion is over, we are going to sell the
remaining stock of CDs; they will go fast, so get your order in
now.
Here's the deal: A Year of Fixes: the 2005 MacFixIt Archive
CD-ROM, sells for $19.95 + shipping and handling ($2.95 for U.S.
addresses, slightly higher for international addresses), and is
available only through our websites. Click the blue button above
(or the one below) to purchase.
The CD-ROM installs an Apple Help File on your system containing
the best troubleshooting information from 2005, including:
- All of the Special Reports
- All of the Troubleshooting Reports
- All of the Tutorials and Mini-Tutorials
- All of the Late-Breakers and Odds & Ends
In addition, the CD-ROM contains installers for some of the most
useful shareware/freeware troubleshooting apps from last year:
Link: MacFixIt 2005 'Year of
Fixes' Archive CD Now Available
Products
Kanguru QuickSilver High Speed SATA/USB
2.0 Hard Drive
PR: The Kanguru
QuickSilver features the latest in external hard drive technology
with cutting edge SATA connectivity for the fastest throughput. The
QuickSilver can take on your most demanding data transfer tasks
with ease! Video streaming, photo editing and production,
large-scale database access, the QuickSilver can do it all! As an
added feature it also comes equipped with USB 2.0 for quick and
easy connectivity to PCs and Macs without SATA ports.
Key Features
- Various Capacity drive
- USB 2.0 & eSATA Combo Interface
- Supports SATA 1.5 Gb/s
- Newly Designed Alloy case allows for better heat
dissipation
- Vibrant Blue Kanguru LED
- Can be setup Horizontally or Vertically
- User friendly setup
- Lightweight and Durable Design
- Plug and Play compatible
- Hot swappable
- Custom Carrying Case
- Windows 98/98SE/ME/2000/XP & Mac OS 10.2 and later
compatible
Package Includes
- 1 - Kanguru QuickSilver
- 1 - USB 2.0 Cable
- 1 - eSATA Cable
- 1 - Base Station
- 1 - eSATA External Port
- 1 - AC Power Supply (required)
- 1 - Driver and Manual CD
- 1 - User registration form
Price: $139.95
Link: Kanguru
QuickSilver High Speed SATA/USB 2.0 Hard Drive
Plextor Hard Drive Offers Print Server,
FTP, Back-up, and Security
PR: Plextor Corp., a leading developer and manufacturer
of high-performance digital media equipment, today announced the
PX-EH family of Network Attached Storage (NAS) devices. Available
in two capacities - 250 GB and 400 GB - the external hard disk
drives (HDD) are designed to allow multiple users to share data
with fast performance assured by a high-speed processor and
UltraDMA 133 HDD technology.
The Plextor PX-EH series of NAS devices are designed for
professionals and small businesses that require extra data storage
capacity and easy backup capability. In addition to providing
instantly accessible shared storage across the network, the devices
include a print server that can share a USB-connected printer.
Other built-in functions include an automated backup scheduler,
administrative security, and the ability to configure the device as
a dedicated FTP server. Throughput for FTP transfers is a fast 94.5
Mbps, compared to 60-85 Mbps for comparable products.
The Plextor PX-EH Network Attached Storage devices are
compatible with both Microsoft Windows and Apple Macintosh
operating systems. Users enjoy silent operation thanks to the
heat-releasing aluminum case and convection cooling design, which
eliminates the need for a noisy fan. Set up is easy for customers
with a DHCP server - just connect to the network and power up the
unit.
"As a leader in the data storage market, Plextor's mission is to
help users secure and make the most of their valuable data," said
Pete Schwartz, Vice President of Marketing and Business
Development. "Plextor has now expanded its product lineup to
include professional network hard disk drives. This product line
extension complements our award-winning family of optical disk
drives and gives our customers more choices for data storage
applications."
The Plextor PX-EH Network Attached Storage device family is
shipping to distributors in North and South America on March 1st.
The PX-EH25, with 250 GB capacity, has a Manufacturer's Suggested
Retail Price (MSRP) of $299. The PX-EH40L, with 400 GB capacity,
has a MSRP of $449. All retail packages include two-year full
warranty and unlimited toll-free technical support.
Link: Plextor
Software
SheepShaver PowerPC Emulator Brings
Classic to Intel Macs
PR: SheepShaver is an Open Source PowerPC MacOS run-time
environment. That is, it enables you to run PowerPC Classic MacOS
software on your computer, even if you are using a different
operating system. However, you still need a copy of Mac OS and a
Power Macintosh ROM image to use this program. SheepShaver is
distributed under the terms of the GNU General Public License
(GPL).
If you are using a PowerPC-based system, applications will run
at native speeds (i.e. without any emulation involved). On other
systems, SheepShaver provides the first PowerPC G4 emulator, though
without MMU, to enable the execution of MacOS Classic. Performance
with the current CPU emulator using basic just-in-time (JIT)
translation techniques is roughly 1/8-th of native speeds.
The following platforms are currently supported: Linux (i386,
ppc, x86_64), MacOS X (i386, ppc), Darwin, NetBSD 2.0, FreeBSD 5.3
and Windows for x86. Please note that I am pretty careless of the
Windows version since I am not a Windows developer. You are
heartily invited to join the effort!
FLASH: Port to MacOS X for Intel
An experimental port to Mac OS X 10.4.4 for Intel is now
available. Please see the file README.html included in the
distribution for details.
Features:
- SheepShaver runs Mac OS 7.5.2 thru Mac OS 9.0.4
- PowerPC G4 emulation on non-PowerPC platforms, direct execution
otherwise
- Basic but portable JIT engine (x86, x86_64, mips)
- Copy and paste of text between Mac OS and the host OS
- File exchange with the host OS via a Unix icon on the Mac
desktop
- Color video display with support for run-time resolution
switching
- Run-time depth switching from 1 bpp to current host depth
settings
- Native QuickDraw 2D acceleration for BitBlt and FillRect
operations
- CD-quality stereo sound output
- Networking: SheepShaver supports Internet and LAN networking
via Ethernet and PPP with all Open Transport compatible MacOS
applications
If you are using a PowerPC-based system, applications will run
at native speeds (i.e., without any emulation involved). On other
systems, SheepShaver provides the first PowerPC G4 emulator, though
without MMU, to enable the execution of Mac OS Classic. Performance
with the current CPU emulator using basic just-in-time (JIT)
translation techniques is roughly 1/8-th of native speeds.
The following platforms are currently supported: Linux (i386,
ppc, x86_64), MacOS X (i386, ppc), Darwin, NetBSD 2.0, FreeBSD 5.3
and Windows for x86. Please note that I am pretty careless of the
Windows version since I am not a Windows developer. You are
heartily invited to join the effort!
System requirements: Mac OS X 10.2.8 or later.
System support: PPC, Intel support in testing
SheepShaver is free.
Link: SheepShaver
Desktop Mac
Deals
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deals, 12" PowerBook G4
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