Low End Mac Editorial Archive
July 2008
- Keeping secrets is a good thing, Frank Fox, Stop the Noiz, 07.31. If Apple didn't keep secrets, it would be like a quarterback announcing the next play so the opposing team could hear and plan for it.
- Non-Intel Mac rumors, G5 iMac power supply failure, Leopard on a 700 MHz eMac, and more, Dan Knight, Low End Mac Mailbag, 07.31. Also no 8 GB partition problem for clamshell iBooks, presentations in ClarisWorks, and watching DVDs on an upgraded Power Mac 7600.
- 'That's not a computer', CT Hildreth, My Turn, 07.30. Salvaging a broken PowerBook by turning it into a desktop computer.
- Mac LC III still a most useful machine, Jeff Gaskill, My First Mac, 07.30. A love affair that will last as long as they make Macs began with a used LC III in 1997, and it's still being used today.
- A use for bad RAM, WiFi security for OS 9, Steve Jobs' health, and more, Charles W Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 07.30. Also tricking out your notebook, Belkin's portable power hub with USB, and upgrading to Mac OS X 10.2.
- Tricking out your notebook for superior desktop duty, Charles W Moore, 'Book Value, 07.29. For desktop use, you don't need to be limited by the built-in trackpad, keyboard, and display or a notebook's compromised ergonomics.
- Apple's retail stores think different about retailing, Kev Kitchens, Kitchens Sync, 07.29. Easy to spot employees, helpful information, handheld sale terminals, comprehensive receipts, and online rebate processing make buying from Apple a fun experience.
- The last MDD Power Mac, Windows death spiral, thoughts on improving keyboard design, and more, Dan Knight, Low End Mac Mailbag, 07.29. Also restoring a ticking Duo Dock, Compact Flash as a Solid State Drive, Psystar's legal troubles, and bargains galore.
- Free mEdit text editor excels at handling and combining multiple documents, Charles W Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 07.28. Most word processors are designed for office work and short documents. mEdit is designed to work with multiple documents and multi-part documents.
- Bumps in the road for G3 Macs, John Hatchett, Recycled Computing, 07.28. MobileMe wouldn't sync with the Pismo, and Skype's software refused to install, but both problems were solved.
- Macs are where I want to be, Simon Royal, Tech Spectrum, 07.28. From his first exposure to the Mac in 2001, Simon Royal has been hooked by the 'better alternative' to Windows.
- Is Windows XP better than Mac OS X 10.4 'Tiger'?, Carl Nygren, Classic Macs in the Intel Age, 07.28. Vista is a bust, and Leopard won't run on G3 Macs. How do legacy G3 and G4 Macs with Tiger compare with a fairly modern 2 GHz PC running Windows XP?
- New 'Books soon, 'product transition' rumors includes tablet, fan control software, and more, The 'Book Review, 07.25. Also Apple limiting shipments to Best Buy, possible price cuts, TruePower battery reviewed, a clever new notebook stand, bargain 'Books from $150 to $2,699, and more.
- Mac malware count reaches 3, desktop PCs making a comeback, Mac mini in the living room, and more, Mac News Review, 07.25. Also the 'second coming of Apple' threatens Microsoft, McCain and Obama are Mac users, standing up for Steve Jobs, Apple and Acer tied for #3 in US market, and more.
- Undocumented iPhone 2.0 features, free SMS from iPhone, first iPhone antivirus, and more, iNews Review, 07.25. Also 5 things to do with your old iPhone, why the iPod touch remains viable in Canada, Fandora's Box coming to the iPhone, new iPhone cases, and more.
- Could a minitower Mac be Apple's 'transitional product'?, Frank Fox, Stop the Noiz, 07.24. The Mac mini has been on the market for 3-1/2 years, and some owners are ready to move on to something more flexible and powerful.
- The compressed air keyboard repair, Charles W Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 07.24. If your keyboard isn't working as well as it once did, blasting under the keys with compressed air may be the cure.
- The Old Mac blues, Tamara Keel, Digital Fossils, 07.23. Intel Macs are tempting, but the Power Mac 7100 will be not one more iota obsolete tomorrow than it is today.
- Toward a better computer keyboard, Dan Knight, Mac Musings, 07.23. Today's standard computer keyboards have obsolete keys, poorly placed ones (Caps Lock), and aren't designed for the way we work today.
- Record Mac sales, $1 billion profit, and a future product transition, Dan Knight, Mac Musings, 07.22. Apple reports sales of nearly 2.5 million Macs in the past quarter, along with highest ever profits for the June quarter. And it hints at a product transition that will impact margins.
- The Mac's growing market presence, Dan Knight, Mac Musings, 07.22. Apple has always been a significant player in the personal computer industry, and it's growing sales at a remarkable rate.
- Kensington Portable Power Outlet a great accessory for the road warrior, Charles Moore, 'Book Value, 07.22. With three AC outlets and two USB charging ports, this compact device is a great way to have extra power outlets when you're on the go.
- SanDisk Sansa Clip MP3 player has lots of features at a sub-shuffle price, Tommy Thomas, Welcome to Macintosh, 07.22. The Clip has 1-2 GB of storage, a screen, iPod-like navigation, excellent sound, an FM radio, a built-in microphone, and a price that beats the shuffle.
- The Apple vs. Psystar letters, Frank Fox, Stop the Noiz, 07.22. Readers weigh in on trademark law, the End User License Agreement, the right of first sale, contract law, locking software to hardware, and other issues.
- Free VirtualBox for Mac now a virtual contender, Alan Zisman, Mac2Windows, 07.21. A year ago, the Mac version of VirtualBox lacked some essential features. Over the past year, it's grown into a very useful tool.
- New MacBook models for the back-to-school buying season?, Charles W Moore, 'Book Value, 07.21. Intel's new Centrino 2 platform plus the long time since MacBook and MacBook Pro updates makes new Mac notebooks almost a certainty before school resumes.
- Apple finally sues Psystar, Macs #3 PC brand in US, first 1.5 GB hard drives, and more, Mac News Review, 07.21. Also keyboard vs. mouse, Livescribe Audio Pen coming to Mac, decline of PowerPC Macs, new Belkin wireless router supports USB drive for backup and storage, and more.
- Apple gave Psystar enough rope to hang itself, Frank Fox, Stop the Noiz, 07.18. By not filing suit against Psystar immediately, Apple allowed the company to do enough to give Apple an air-tight case.
- 4-core Core 2 Extreme mobile CPU in August, 256 MB SSD coming to MacBook Air, and more, The 'Book Review, 07.18. Also Centrino 2 shipping, OS X running on tiny MSI Wind notebook, fuel cell notebooks one step closer, free laptop tracking service, bargain 'Books from $150 to $2,649, and more.
- Google's 'really good' iPhone app, 10 alternatives to the iPhone, Car Care app, and more, iNews Review, 07.18. Also iPhone 2.0 gives new life to original iPhone, free and low-cost apps, 3G 'tough to kill', inside the iPhone 3G, accessories for the iPhone 3G, and much more.
- PowerBook Duo and DuoDock problems, no TPM on most Intel Macs, iTunes for Linux, and more, Dan Knight, Low End Mac Mailbag, 07.17. Also a Mac mini that displays some Web images in grayscale, vintage Mac desktop patterns, where to sell a used Mac, dithered images, and more.
- The Windows death spiral, Dan Knight, Mac Musings, 07.16. Sure, Vista user share is growing, but it's not enough to offset defections to Macs and Linux. This is the beginning of the end for Windows.
- Vista is not 'leaving Macs in the dust', Frank Fox, Stop the Noiz, 07.16. Now that Windows XP has been officially discontinued, Vista sales are surging. Mac sales are growing too.
- Superior dithered images with HyperDither, Dan Knight, Low End Mac Reviews, 07.16. HyperDither reintroduces the dithering alogrithm intoduced by Bill Atkinson and creates better dithered images than Photoshop.
- Buying glasses online, iCab on G3 iMacs, USB adapter for WallStreet, long term support, and more, Charles Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 07.16. Also whether a 1.67 GHz PowerBook is a sensible choice, midrange or top-end the best value, Opera can change the way you work on the Web, and more.
- Bringing a 233 MHz iMac into the Mac OS X age, Carl Nygren, Classic Macs in the Intel Age, 07.15. Upgraded with 128 MB additional RAM and a larger hard drive, the iMacs was ready for Mac OS X 10.2 'Jaguar' - and runs it very nicely.
- Apple is 'enterprise ready', whatever that means, Frank Fox, Stop the Noiz, 07.15. The term 'enterprise' can mean anything from a one-person business using a computer to a multinational conglomerate.
- Hooked on Macs, new and old, Simon Royal, My First Mac, 07.15. Starting with an old Quadra in 2001, Royal left behind Windows and began acquiring his own stable of Macs.
- You have to be able to see the screen: Buying prescription specs online, Charles Moore, 'Book Value, 07.15. Computing can be a challenge if you're far- or nearsighted, and you can save a bundle by ordering your eyeglasses online.
- How to upgrade your eMac without cracking the case, Jason Packer, Macs in the Enterprise, 07.14. Some people like to replace the components inside their computers, but with FireWire and USB 2.0, Apple has made it easy to upgrade using external drives.
- High schoolers are students too, Kev Kitchens, Kitchens Sync, 07.14. Apple is missing out on a great opportunity by not offering education pricing to high school students.
- New Iris 1.0 image editor not quite ready for prime time, Charles W Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 07.14. Compared to Photoshop Elements 6, Pixelmator, and even the low-end Acorn, the first release of Iris doesn't seem to offer comparable value.
- Snow Leopard and TPM, OS and application commonality, two cents on Linux for Macs, and more, Dan Knight, Low End Mac Mailbag, 07.14. Also Apple shouldn't charge $10 for new iPhone/iPod touch OS, Fedora Core 9 recommended, other VHS to Mac options, and vintage Macs everywhere.
- Macs: Better by design, Tamara Keel, Digital Fossils, 07.11. From the beginning, Macs have stood apart from other computers with their attractive and intelligent design.
- Upgrading your eMac for better gaming and hi-res video performance, Carl Nygren, Classic Macs in the Intel Age, 07.11. This eMac started out with too little RAM and not enough hard drive space. With several upgrades, it plays games quite well and handles HD video content nicely.
- Opera trumps Safari, flashed video cards for Macs, hacking Leopard for G3 Power Macs, and more, Dan Knight, Low End Mac Mailbag, 07.11. Also expectations for future MacBooks, more power than expected from a CPU upgrade, ADB and QuickCams, Snow Leopard and PowerPC, and more.
- Migrating to the iPhone 3G, spotty 3G coverage from AT&T, Google Talk for the iPhone, and more, iNews Review, 07.11. Also the iPhone tsunami, true cost of the iPhone, iPod shuffle on last legs?, cassette case for iPods, charging options, and much more.
- MacBooks cheaper than PC laptops, SSD power draw debated, MacBook Air showdowns, and more, The 'Book Review, 07.11. Also Samsung fires up 128 GB SSD, next gen MacBook Pro design, drawbacks of MagSafe, 7200 rpm vs. 5400 rpm drive benchmarks, bargain 'Books from $150 to $2,649, and more.
- Vista drives hack to Mac, back to Opera, Take Control of Backup, Odysseus public beta, and more, Mac News Review, 07.11. Also power management for Macs, 10 tips to extend your computer's life, PDF now an ISO standard, Flock 1.2.3 browser, and SlimKey Stand with built-in USB 2.0 hub.
- Microsoft: Vista problems are everyone else's fault, Frank Fox, Stop the Noiz, 07.10. Tired of Apple's 'Get a Mac' campaign and widespread disdain for Vista, Microsoft is developing a 'Don't Blame Vista' campaign to point the finger anywhere else.
- Hasta la Vista, hello again eMac, Charles Webb, The Webb Chronicles, 07.10. After fighting system slowdowns in Vista on a new Core 2 Duo Dell for 3 months, it was time to dig out the old eMac an become productive again.
- Debian recommended for older Macs, stunned by no G5 in Snow Leopard, and unsupported Leopard, Dan Knight, Low End Mac Mailbag, 07.10. Linux on PowerBooks, Linux desktop alternatives, disappointment that Snow Leopard will be Intel only, and unsupported Leopard on a dual 800 MHz G4.
- Low end photography in the digital age, John Hatchett, Recycled Computing, 07.09. "If you can repurpose older computers, you can certainly use older cameras in a new universe."
- Low End Mac's Compleat Guide to the iBook G4, Charles W Moore, 'Book Value, 07.09. Replacing the G3 iBook in October 2003, the iBook G4 was and remains a value leader until it was replaced by the MacBook in 2006.
- Hacked Leopard on G3 Power Macs, flash memory tips, a smelly MacBook Pro keyboard, and more, Dan Knight, Low End Mac Mailbag, 07.09. Also moving files between a modern Mac and an eMate, Snow Leopard and PowerPC Macs, getting an iMac up and running, old QuickCam won't work with TiBook, and more.
- Leopard best OS for G4 PowerBooks, support expectations from Apple, back to Opera, and more, Charles Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 07.09. Leopard features worth a little performance compromise, depreciation and the best value Macs, voice dication software for PowerPC Macs, and more.
- Safari 3.1 Is the best browser for Macs and for Windows, Carl Nygren, Classic Macs in the Intel Age, 07.08. Apple's Safari browser is fast, lightweight, and compatible with pretty much any website that doesn't require users to run Windows and Internet Explorer 5.5 or later.
- Time Machine can now backup to a shared hard drive, Alan Zisman, Zis Mac, 07.08. Earlier versions of Leopard didn't seem to allow backup to a shared drive on another Mac, but the 10.5.4 update allows it.
- More air: Expectations for future MacBook and MacBook Pro models, Dan Knight, Mac Musings, 07.08. Next generation 'Books are expected to include Intel's next generation Montevino processor, but wireless power and wireless USB could give Apple a leg up on the competition.
- Turn your old Mac into a web server with Linux, Apache, MySQL, and PHP, Jason Packer, Macs in the Enterprise, 07.09. Step-by-step instructions for installing and configuring Linux, Apache, MySQL, and PHP on an older Mac.
- Macintosh reliability improving since the shift to Intel, Kev Kitchens, Kitchens Sync, 07.07. For a while in the G3 and G4 era, Apple was plagued with logic board failures and analog board problems, but they seem to be a thing of the past.
- 1.8 GHz, SSD MacBook Air price cuts; Samsung vs. Hitachi notebook drives; Centrino 2 preorders; and more, The 'Book Review, 07.07. Also MacBook shipments up 61% over Q1 2007, Apple notebook redesign rumored, Santa Rosa MacBook Pro video failure, Mopar in-vehicle wireless Internet, bargain 'Books from $150 to $2,749, and more.
- iPhone 3G service more costly in States, outrageous in Canada, and more, iNews Review, 07.07. Also long fingernails and the iPhone, future iPhone may include keyboard and Intel Atom CPU, voice control for iPods, Ringtons Studio for the iPhone, and more.
- Wouldn't life be great with an iSlate?, John Hatchett, Recycled Computing, 07.04. PDAs and smartphones are too small for some tasks, full-fledged Tablet PCs are overkill, and ebook readers are too limited. Apple has the tech to own this niche.
- Mac Pro overclocking, Windependence with Darwine, Blu-ray for Macs, and more, Mac News Review, 07.04. Also more on running Leopard on non-Apple hardware, Ubuntu on a Mac mini, the first autofocus webcam with Zeiss optics for Macs, and more.
- The Macintosh Portable started a notebook revolution, Carl Nygren, Classic Macs in the Intel Age, 07.03. Before Apple introduced the Mac Portable, notebook computers were text-based and ran MS-DOS. Ever since, graphical interfaces have been the norm for laptops.
- Depreciation game a gamble, best OS for 12" PowerBook, Opera 9.5 fast with unique features, and more, Charles W Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 07.02. The depreciation game requires educated guesses, Tiger the best OS for a 12" PowerBook, why Opera rocks, and a Mac using sci-fi writer who loves the free market.
- Turn your old Mac into a website server with free open source software, Jason Packer, Macs in the Enterprise, 07.02. By installing Linux without a GUI, your old Mac can dedicate all of its resources to running Apache, MySQL, and PHP.
- The Mac Future: Snow Leopard, MobileMe, and the iPhone/iPod touch, John Hatchett, Recycled Computing, 07.01. Apple will leave the PowerPC behind with OS X 10.6 while expanding the Mac's presence on the Internet and in your hand.
- Master of Orion on the Mac, Tamara Keel, Digital Fossils, 07.01. The DOS version of this vintage game broke with Pentium or Windows 95, but the Mac version still runs very nicely in the Classic Mac OS.
- SanDisk Sansa Clip a low cost alternative to iPods for Mac users, Alan Zisman, Zis Mac, 07.01. There's no video or photo support, but the Sansa Clip works with MP3 files and includes an FM radio and a microphone.
- Low End Mac's Compleat Guide to the Dual USB iBook G3, Charles W Moore, 'Book Value, 07.01. From a 500 MHz model introduced in May 2001 through 12" and 14" 900 MHz G3 iBooks rolled out in April 2003, these iBooks offered unprecedented value.
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