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Monday, February 27th 2006
No New iBooks Tomorrow?
With Apple holding a mysterious special event tomorrow at the Cupertino campus, some speculation suggested that Intel iBooks could be announced. While updated Mac minis, iPods, or even a new product called the iPod Boombox have all been mentioned, it now looks like Intel iBooks will have to wait a little longer. With any luck, it won't take Apple too much longer to announce the new iBooks.
Wireless Reception in MacBook Pro
The PowerPage is reporting that among the improvements in the MacBook Pro is better AirPort reception than in the previous PowerBooks. As PowerBook AirPort reception has been a sore spot for some owners in recent years, we imagine this will come as a welcome change to many.
New MacBook Pro Owner? Send Your Story
While we wait for our own MacBook Pro to arrive, we welcome anyone who has already taken to delivery to send in their own report of anything they like, dislike, or found surprising in their new laptop. Write us at editor (at) pbzone.com and let us know what you think of your MacBook Pro!
Thursday, February 23rd 2006
MacBook Pro Notes
AppleInsider has an article taking a closer look at the newly-arrived MacBook Pros. Details on the potential for future processor upgrades, wireless networking, MagSafe, and the SuperDrive are among the topics they look at. If you simply must know everything about the MacBook Pro, this is worth a look.
15-inch PowerBooks Removed from Apple Store
With the MacBook Pros finally reaching their new homes, Apple has removed the 15-inch PowerBook from their online store. The 12-inch and 17-inch models are still currently available, but it's clear that Apple is wanting to make a clean break as they transition to Intel processors. If you need a 15-inch PowerBook, though, they're still readily available from many online retailers, and Apple still offers refurbished units at a heavily discounted price.
Tuesday, February 21st 2006
MacBook Pros Now Shipping
Word is trickling in from the earliest buyers of MacBook Pros that they've received shipping confirmation from Apple. While the units won't be arriving for a couple days yet, there are certainly a lot of excited future owners anxiously tracking their computers as they make way across land and ocean. As these initial orders are fulfilled, we should also soon see the presence of MacBook Pros in retail locations. For those of you wanting to try out a unit in person before dropping $2000, it's worth checking with your local Apple store to see when they'll have stock.
17-inch MacBook Pros Coming Soon?
We know a lot of you are waiting for either a larger or smaller Intel-based portable from Apple before upgrading to a newer computer, and it looks like those of you hankering for a 17-inch model will soon be in luck. AppleInsider is reporting that the 17-inch MBP will be released sometime around Apple's Worldwide Developer's Conference, an annual event which takes place in June.
Thursday, February 16th 2006
Apple Upgrades MacBook Pros Prior to Shipping
Apple's MacBook Pro line has received its first update without ever seeing its first customer. For reaons not-yet clear, Apple has increased the clock speed of the MacBook Pros, the base model receiving a boost to 1.83 GHz and the higher model coming in at 2.0 GHz. For those of you with orders already waiting to be processed, the upgrade will take place seamlessly. Additionally, if you really want to be at the top of the line, for $300 you can choose to upgrade your MBP to a 2.16 GHz processor.
This upgrade could have repercussions down the line, as it potentially frees Apple up to use dual core processors in the iBook line. The 1.67 GHz dual core processor is the slowest offered by Intel, which would have forced Apple to use a single core processor in the iBooks to differentiate the two lines. Now, though, AppleInsider speculates that the iBook line could make use of the 1.67 GHz dual core processor.
Daystar Offers 2 GHz PowerBook Upgrade
For those of you with certain models of the G4 Aluminum PowerBooks, Daystar now offers an upgrade running at either 1.92 GHz or 2.0 GHz. While not compatible with any of the 12-inch PowerBooks, for those of you looking to hold off a move to Intel, but in need of a performance upgrade, Daystar has you covered. For a base price of $500, Daystar will upgrade your PowerBook for you, leaving you with the fastest PPC PowerBook out there.
Tuesday, February 14th 2006
Bloggers Debate Value of MacBook Pro
Over on ZDNet's blogs, George Ou touts the value of Dell's Core Duo laptop offerings over the MacBook Pro, concluding that the MBP is approximately $1000 more expensive for a lesser computer. We had many issues with the treatment the MBP (or any Apple hardware, for that matter) as being merely the sum of its specs, and then found that Dan Frakes at Macworld wrote a brilliant response, showing that the Dell might not really be more computer for the money. Even without dwelling upon the software differences that make Apple users willing to pay a premium, Frakes shows these two laptops really aren't as equivalent as they look at first glance.
Monday, February 13th 2006
Henrico Renews iBook Contract with Apple
Henrico schools, frequently in the news for their large student iBook program, have chosen to renew their contract with Apple. The deal, worth $16 million over four years, begins upon the completion of the current four-year contract on June 30. Apple will be providing 12,675 iBooks to Henrico middle school students.
Friday, February 10th 2006
Apple Updates MacBook Pro Ship Dates
Just a quick note that if you check The Apple Store, the shipping time is listed as 3-4 weeks. While 3-4 weeks would put the shipping date a little later than expected initially, those who placed the earliest preorders should be receiving their MacBook Pros in about two weeks. For those people waiting to see more of the MBPs before making their own purchase, your patience could mean a longer wait, as is the usual gamble.
Wednesday, February 8th 2006
Reader Mail Answered: The Case of the Narcoleptic PowerBook
A couple weeks back we received this email from a reader:
I have a Powerbook G4 15 inch...and lately the machine has been putting itself to sleep right in the middle of me typing or surfing the net or doing other various activities. Then, to make things even more annoying, it is often VERY difficult to wake back up. Maybe I'm not doing a good job of searching, but I haven't uncovered anything quite like it out there...any chance you know of similar issues and/or fixes?
Our initial suggestion was to check the latching mechanism, thinking the machine might incorrectly think it was open or closed. Several readers wrote in with a variety of suggestions, too. Among the more unexpected possible solutions, one reader wrote in saying he had similar symptoms with his PowerBook that multiple repairs were unable to alleviate, but which disappeared after a hard drive replacement. Most of the other suggestions surrounded possible battery issues. Readers suggested making sure the battery connection is sound and reconditioning the battery, as well as resetting the power manager. If all else fails, trying a replacement battery to see if that's the source of the problem is a good next step.
The 12-inch G4 PowerBook Remembered
PBZone-favorite Charles W. Moore has a new Road Warrior column up at MacOpinion, this time featuring a touching tribute to the 12-inch Aluminum PowerBook G4. As we here at the PowerBook Zone mourn the loss of our own 12-inch AlBook, it seemed a perfect fit.
Monday, February 6th 2006
Apple Files Patent: Touchscreens on the Way?
Apple has filed for a patent on a new touchscreen. The abstract reads:
Methods and systems for processing touch inputs are disclosed. The invention in one respect includes reading data from a multipoint sensing device such as a multipoint touch screen where the data pertains to touch input with respect to the multipoint sensing device, and identifying at least one multipoint gesture based on the data from the multipoint sensing device.
Of course, a touchscreen could be used in iMacs, a PDA, cell phone, or any number of other applications, but as we see tablet functionality more frequently integrated into laptops, it would come as no surprise to see an iBook or MacBook Pro sporting the technology.
Reader Mail: Upgrading a Titanium PowerBook
Reader Micah sent in this question:
I have a PowerBook Ti which I've recently upgraded (RAM, 100GBHD, and a New 8x DVD-R/RW (etc...) drive). I really don't want to purchase a new system yet, but I'm finding that I need more power in my PowerBook.I was wondering if it is currently possible to upgrade this to a 1.5 or 1.67GHz processor, and if an upgrade to a ATI Mobility Radeon 9700 graphics card with 128MB memory is possible as well.
If you've increased the ram, upgraded the optical drive, and improved the capacity and speed of your hard drive, then you're well on your way to getting the best possible performance out of your Titanium PowerBook. Efficient upgrading is all about recognizing bottlenecks. On a very fast computer with a gigabyte of RAM, a slow hard drive might be a better upgrade then adding even more RAM, for instance.
In the case of the Titanium PowerBook, upgrading the graphics card is not really an option, as is typical with laptops. A processor upgarde, on the other hand, is possible. For $500, you can buy a 1.2 GHz G4 processor upgrade from Sonnet, including installation. Doing the math, though, the economics of such a comprehensive computer upgrade (CPU, RAM, HD, optical drive) don't always make sense. Those upgrades probably total somewhere around $1000, enough for a used PowerBook, a new iBook or halfway to a MacBook Pro. Everyone must determine their own needs and financial resources, but if you're essentially turning your laptop into an entirely new machine, it's often better to just buy a new machine.
Friday, February 3rd 2006
Portables Outsell Desktops in 2005
We've been hearing more reports about laptop sales overtaking desktop sales, and now News.com is reporting that retail computer sales in 2005 favored laptops. While hardly a commanding lead with 50.9% of retail sales vs 49.1% for desktops, it's still quite an impressive statistic. Of course, these numbers do not include corporate sales or other significant customers, and the US market is only 9% of the worldwide market, but the numbers testify to the decreasing prices and increasing performance to be found in portable packages.
Thursday, February 2nd 2006
NewerTech Introduces New Polish Kit
While the iBook case is known for its durability in the hands of the most demanding users (and buttery fingers), there's no denying that the case inevitably shows quite a few scratches from regular wear and tear. To help remedy this problem, Newer Technology has released the new Clean and Polish Kit. While Newer is better known for processor upgrades and other hardware, the $18 kit looks pretty slick, featuring two different solutions for removing different types of scratches, with a polish to seal in the good looks of the case. Don't forget to buff out those scratches on your iPod from sharing space with your keys, too.
Mac Pro Online Offers Unique PowerBook and iBook Case
We received an email pointing us to a unique case in sizes suitable for all PowerBooks and iBooks. Taking the 'Book' in iBook, PowerBook, and MacBook Pro quite seriously, the HardCover Case functions almost like a hardback book or binder surrounding your laptop, giving it protection both form superficial scratches and serious falls without compromising portability. While really more like a hard sleeve, we think this looks like a pretty sophisticated accessory for business users, and the built-in storage options are nice. If you're interested in the HardCover Case, it runs $30 with discounts for larger orders, and there are even options to have a company logo added to it.
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