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September 16th through 23rd Archives

Tuesday, September 23rd 2003 13:59 EDT

We're Back

Hurricane Isabel knocked out our power for a couple of days, but not as long as some of those that are still without power in the area. There's plenty of news today...

CompuShell PowerBook Hardcase Introduced

One of the things we've seen over the years is employees in industrial firms using their company's capabilities to make neat Macintosh accessories that are an aside to their main business. We get the impression that Integrated Products' new CompuShell is just such a product:

My name is Tom Orr. I am the President of Integrated Products, Inc. in CoeurdıAlene, Idaho.

We are introducing an innovative new product for the PowerBook and iBook called a CompuShell. This was developed out of my need to transport and use my Powerbook at different locations daily.

Unlike most cases and bags that are currently available, the CompuShell allows the user to keep their PowerBook in the case at all times and have full use of the computer. Aside from being uniquely good looking, the CompuShell provides what we call industrial grade protection as well as a comfortable ergonomic tilt, better cooling and open and go convenience. The full side access Models for the 12, 17 and new 15 will be shipping in a few weeks.

You can see more information at http://www.compushell.com

New PowerBook Shipping Reports

Here's the latest we've received:

- On Sep 17, I was told that by MacCenter in Fort Lauderdale, FL that they had pre-sold all their 15" PowerBooks. They were expecting more in a week.

- On Sep 18, I decided to cross the county line, and drove up to the Apple Store in Boca Raton, FL (20 min north of Fort Lauderdale). I was told they had sold all 15" PowerBooks, but that they were expecting more the next day. They took my name and phone number to inform me of availability the next day.

- On Sep 19, The Apple Store called me with my 15" PowerBook as promised. I went there, and bought the new 15" PowerBook 1.25 GHz. It works like a charm, so far...

---

I ordered 2 new 15" powerBooks. Both on Wednesday 9/17. Both were the high end models w/superdrive. The one with the standard 80 gig HD @4200rpm shipped the same day. The one with the 80gig HD @5400rpm is suppose to ship on Tuesday of next week.

---

I called my local Apple Store (Palo Alto, CA) yesterday afternoon, and they said that they had one 1.25Ghz 15" PowerBook left, and that they would hold it for me until the next day. I went in yesterday evening and picked up the computer. No hassle and no waiting. I asked if that was really the last one they had, and was told that they're getting them in every day, and that they sell them out every day.

WaterField Updates SleeveCases for 15" Aluminum PowerBook

WaterField wrote to let us know they're updating their 15" SleeveCase for the new 15" Aluminum PowerBook:

Just want to let you know that next week we will start shipping our new size no. 11 SleeveCase for Apple's new larger 15" AL Powerbook. The slight size increase made to the AL 15" does make a difference in how the fit works. Good thing we have our own sewing shop so we can get these turned around right away.

Developer's Note Reveals Two Tidbits About 15" Aluminum PowerBook

Readers write:

In the 15" PowerBook Aluminum developer's note, I read that the new 15" Al powerbooks have a 46 Wh battery, whereas it was 61 Wh for the Titanium that this model is replacing. Since the battery life given in the specs has not changed (4,5 hours, so they say ;-) it seems that the power consumption is lower. Nevertheless early impressions from the Apple Expo say that the 15" Al gets _very hot_. Less well ventilated, better heat conductivity of aluminium WRT titanium?

---

I was just looking thrugh the developer notes for the new PowerBooks and noticed the new 15" model (but not the new 17" model, or the older models), has a 24-bit sound system built-in.

MacResQ Announces G4 Hinge Repair Program

MacResQ sent word of a new service they've begun:

MacResQ announced today a new PowerBook G4 hinge replacement service as part of their PowerBookResQ repair program. The new service offers PowerBook G4 owners a quick and easy way to replace damaged hinges on their G4 PowerBook with PowerBookResQ's famous service and nationwide convenience.

The price for the hinge replacement is only $499.00, and includes pick-up at the customer's location in our custom PowerBox, overnight delivery to the PowerBookResQ service center, expert hinge repair, and return overnight shipping to the customer. The flat-rate price includes repair of one or both hinges as needed.

To get started, customers simply call 1-866-Mac-Repair or visit: http://www.macresq.com/store/detail.php?prodID=P009742

Thursday, September 18th 2003 03:00 EDT

Hurricanes Love Us

Back when PBZone was published from Baton Rouge, LA, we had publishing delayed by hurricanes or tropical storms at least three times. With last month's move to Washington, DC, one would think that our hurricane-avoiding days were over.

However, that does not appear to be the case as Hurricane Isabel looks like it's going to take down the region's power system later today and possibly on Thursday as well. Expect our next update on Monday.

In the meantime, we need shipping reports on all of the new PowerBook models, especially on those that were purchased at Apple retail stores. If you've got a report, send it in to info@pbzone.com.

Better iPod Mount

The iPod mounted in the VW Beetle isn't the smoothest looking install--and it requires a tape adapter. A reader sent a link to an iPod mounted nicely in a European Smart car here. It's a QuickTime VR file and shows the iPod mounted without any wires...looks pretty cool to us.

Downtown SF Apple Store

We put off posting this reader's email until after the new PowerBooks were released, so we could devote all the news page to those developments. But reader Ronald noticed something new in San Francisco:

I guess I was vaguely aware that there was a new Apple store planned or under construction in San Francisco, but had forgotten about it as I live in SoCal. I came across an article about the store today (http://www.ifoapplestore.com/san_fran/sf_store_map.html), and discovered that it is being built just a couple of blocks from the Moscone Center where the January Macworld Expo is held each year. It is apparently right at the Powell Street Bart Station where I exit the Bay Area Rapid Transit train to get to the show. Location, location, location.

WaterField Designs Protects Your iSight with New Case

Another story that got lost in the hype leading up to the new PowerBooks was this clever new case from WaterField Designs for the Apple iSight webcam. As far as we know, it's the only case designed especially for the iSight's dimensions and to keep all the camera's accessories in one place:

The new WaterField Designs iSight Case incorporates the company's signature black ballistic fabric for durability and an eye-catching Indium trim for style. Measuring at a compact 6" long x 3" high x 1" wide, the internal padded liner cushions the video camera and its accessories from minor mishaps. The WaterField iSight Case also includes a locking zipper to keep the contents from spilling out, and a corner pull tab for convenient access. With all the iSight components safely tucked into the Case, it's easier to transport.

Wednesday, September 17th 2003 15:15 EDT

The Uneventful Release

Usually after a PowerBook release, there's issues about ship times, nagging questions about features dropped, adapters needed for new I/O technologies, or other things.

This time around, there is none of that. The 12" machines, which are listed as 5-7 days, are the most delayed of the bunch, a far cry from the months of waiting that sometimes occured in the past. Apple dropped no features when updating the 15" PowerBook that would require adapters and for a time yesterday that brand new model was listed as shipping "same business day," though we suspect intense demand is the cause of the new "3-5 day" waiting time on the Apple Store for the 15" model.

Nobody was surprised by this update to the 15" model. Perhaps the bump to 1.33 GHz on the top end--and not just 1.25 GHz--could be called the only "surprise" of the keynote along with the new wireless Bluetooth accessories. We can certainly tell that yesterday's news was in line with everyone's expectations because we received very low email traffic compared to the number of people who visited the page yesterday. Everyone was probably busy selling their 15" first generation G4 that they had been holding onto until today.

For those that got too impatient and ordered a PowerBook within the last week, we're told that all unfilled PowerBook orders were upgraded to the new models--please drop us a line at info@pbzone.com if your order didn't get upgraded.

15" PowerBook Speed Compared

We guess the guys at Bare Feats went to an Apple retail store and either borrowed or bought a 15 and 17" PowerBook because they have speed comparisons up already. The bottom line is the missing L3 cache doesn't appear to hurt performance and the 17" machine wins most of the tests with the 15" close behind.

Tuesday, September 16th 2003 04:39 EDT

05:58 EDT--"Year of the PowerBook" Explodes into Overdrive with New 12/15/17 Machines up to 1.33 GHz

At today's Apple Expo Paris keynote, Steve Jobs called 2003 the "year of the notebook" for Apple, a proclamation first made at Macworld San Francisco as the 12 and 17" PowerBooks were introduced. Since Jobs noted that 42% of all Apple machines sold are notebooks, compared to an industry average of about 25%, Apple has refreshed each of its PowerBook models, including freshened 12 and 17" models and a brand new aluminum 15" PowerBook.

Without further ado, here's the details of each of the 5 models available:

12"-Ships 5-7 Days

15"-Available Today

17"-Available Today

12.1-inch TFT Display Combo Drive 1024x768 resolution 1GHz PowerPC G4 512K L2 cache 256MB DDR266 SDRAM 40GB Ultra ATA/100 NVIDIA GeForce FX Go 5200 (32MB DDR) Full size keyboard 10/100BASE-T Ethernet FireWire 400 AirPort Extreme Ready Mini-DVI out $1,599.00	12.1-inch TFT Display SuperDrive 1024x768 resolution 1GHz PowerPC G4 512K L2 cache 256MB DDR266 SDRAM 40GB Ultra ATA/100 NVIDIA GeForce FX Go 5200 (32MB DDR) Full size keyboard 10/100BASE-T Ethernet FireWire 400 AirPort Extreme Ready Mini-DVI out $1,799.00
15.2-inch TFT Display Combo Drive 1280x854 resolution 1GHz PowerPC G4 512K L2 cache 256MB DDR333 SDRAM 60GB Ultra ATA/100 ATI Mobility Radeon 9600 (64MB DDR) Full size keyboard Gigabit Ethernet FireWire 400 & 800 AirPort Extreme Ready DVI & S-Video out $1,999.00	15.2-inch TFT Display SuperDrive 1280x854 resolution 1.25GHz PowerPC G4 512K L2 cache 512MB DDR333 SDRAM 80GB Ultra ATA/100 ATI Mobility Radeon 9600 (64MB DDR) Backlit keyboard Gigabit Ethernet FireWire 400 & 800 AirPort Extreme built-in DVI & S-Video out $2,599.00
17-inch TFT Display SuperDrive 1440x900 resolution 1.33GHz PowerPC G4 512K L2 cache 512MB DDR333 SDRAM 80GB Ultra ATA/100 ATI Mobility Radeon 9600 (64MB DDR) Backlit Keyboard Gigabit Ethernet FireWire 400 & 800 AirPort Extreme built-in DVI & S-Video out $2,999.00

• The 15 and 17" PowerBooks have the option of a 4200 or 5400 rpm 80 GB drives when ordering. The 5400 rpm drive is $125 extra.
• Note the 17" PowerBook is now $300 cheaper.
• All three models use the G4 7457 chip.
• The 12" model now includes a DVI port.
• The SuperDrive is now officially rated to burn at "2x"
• On the $1999 15" PowerBook, the backlit keyboard is a Build to Order option at $70. No such option exists for the 12" model.
• Each comes preinstalled with Jaguar 10.2.7.
• Each model has an audio line-in jack and a built-in microphone. The 12 and 15" PowerBooks have two stereo speakers with the "midrange enhancing third speaker." The 17" model has two stereo speakers.
• The $1999 15" model does not include the backlit keyboard or AirPort card while the $2599 model includes both.
• The PDF data sheets have been posted: 12, 15, and 17.
• If you notice additional quirks about the new machines, please send them in to info@pbzone.com.

In a logical step for the company as it continues to embrace Bluetooth wireless connectivity throughout its product line, Apple introduced both a wireless keyboard and mouse as a surprise "one more thing" at the end of Steve Jobs' keynote.

04:39 EDT--Burning the Midnight Oil as the Keynote Begins

Live coverage of the keynote can be found at MacCentral's website. Unfortunately PBZone's newsgathering budget doesn't quite permit us to send a correspondent to Paris. However, if you're already in Paris and you'd like to send in reports, please drop us a line here. No mention of PowerBooks yet in the keynote but we're keeping a close eye on it. Also, as an aside, we're finding many of the Macintosh news sites unreachable or difficult to load.