Low End Mac Editorial Archive

September 2008

What is a low-end Mac?, Simon Royal, Mac Spectrum, 09.30. By definition, a low-end Mac is enough Mac to do what you need to do without slowing you down significantly.
Apple innovation includes exploiting existing technologies others ignore, Alan Zisman, Zis Mac, 09.30. Among other things, Apple's 'think different' innovation means taking advantage of technologies that the PC industry has ignored.
Dell's quad core workstation notebook shows where Apple's 17" MacBook Pro falls short, Charles Moore, 'Book Value, 09.30. Inch thin notebooks have their place, but some users need more power and expansion options that current MacBooks simply cannot accommodate.
Taking apart a tray-loading iMac, John Hatchett, Recycled Computing, 09.29. There are a few tricks to getting into a tray tray-loading iMac, whether it's to upgrade the computer or strip it for parts.
9 browsers for G3 and older G4 Macs compared, Simon Royal, Mac Spectrum, 09.26. The latest versions of Opera, Safari, Shiira, iCab, Radon, Firefox, Demeter, Sunrise, and Camino that run on Mac OS X 10.4 "Tiger".
Barriers to Mac adoption collapsing, run Classic Mac OS on Windows and Leopard, and more, Mac News Review, 09.26. Also RIM promises new tools for Mac users, Chrome browser likely on Mac before Linux, take control of buying a Mac, iLovePhotos public beta, and more.
$200 64 GB SSD for your 'Book, Apple steering customers away from MacBook Pro, and more, The 'Book Review, 09.26. Also how a $550 Windows notebook can cost over $1,200, netbooks may cut into MacBook sales, widescreens getting wider, bargain 'Books from $150 to $2,699, and more.
iPhone 3G power adapter recall, first look at Android phone, Newton better than iPhone, and more, iNews Review, 09.26. Also confessions of an iPhone convert, slotMusic to replace CDs?, iPhone Configuration Utility, iPDA software updated, Sony's new iPod compatible boom box, and several new apps and cases.
What's so great about a Mac? Plenty!, Charles Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 09.25. Alex Gallegos doesn't understand why anyone would choose a virus-free, just-works Mac instead of the far geekier Windows.
Perfectly personalized internet radio with Pandora and the Music Genome Project, Kev Kitchens, Kitchens Sync, 09.25. Using a database that categorizes music by its genes, Pandora Radio can serve up a great selection of music based on your favorite artist or song.
iPhone developers have no reason to complain, Frank Fox, Stop the Noiz, 09.25. Apple provides developers with a software development kit, 70% of software income, and only asks that they not undermine Apple.
Mac or Windows: Does it even matter any more?, Simon Royal, Mac Spectrum, 09.25. Today computing is all about applications and the Internet. Does it really matter whether you're using the Mac OS, Windows, or Linux?
MacBook Air makes a convert, Alan Zisman, Zis Mac, 09.24. Apple's thin, light MacBook Air makes a great field computer for someone who already has a desktop system up and running.
Taking apart a PowerBook G3 (Lombard or Pismo) battery, John Hatchett, Recycled Computing, 09.24. Step by step instructions for opening up a Lombard/Pismo battery to get to the lithium-ion cells inside.
Car seats for computing, ThinkPads vs. Mac 'books, power outages, and more, Charles Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 20.09.24. Also Time Machine and hard drive failure, more on early portable PCs, UPS for the Mac mini, IMAP and dialup, and more.
Mac nano? Brick? How small could Apple make a Mac?, Dan Knight, Mac Musings, 09.23. The iPhone and iPod touch show how small Apple can make a computer. What if Apple wanted to build a very, very small Macintosh?
SimpleTech SimpleDrive: Fast and stylish, Charles Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 09.23. With attractive design by Pininfarina, an illuminated capacity meter, and plenty of 7200 rpm storage space, SimpleDrive is a great backup drive.
Tiger vs. Leopard: Which is best for you?, Simon Royal, Mac Spectrum, 09.22. Two great versions of Mac OS X, but unless your Mac is well above the minimum spec for Leopard and has lots of RAM, stick with Tiger.
Converting a car's front seat for use around the house, Charles Moore, 'Book Value, 09.22. It started with the passenger seat from a 1987 Chrysler New Yorker and became the most comfortable seat in the house.
With 10% of the US notebook market, where will Apple go next?, Dan Knight, Mac Musings, 09.19. Apple increased its share of the North American notebook market by 60% over the past year and moved to fourth place. What can it do for an encore?
Mac notebook share up 60% in US, Apple refurbs a great deal, RIP PowerBook G4, and more, The 'Book Review, 09.19. Also speculation on next generation MacBooks, refreshing a WallStreet, running a PowerBook 5300 from flash memory, 3G modem sale booming, bargain 'Books from $150 to $2,699, and more.
Mac OS X 10.5.5 update, Mac sales up 30%, Ubuntu aiming for Mac OS, and more, Mac News Review, 09.19. Also USB dongle allows OS X on PCs, 1.5" digital keychain, CrossOver Chromium brings Google Chrome to OS X, free Alkitab Bible software, and more.
5 must have iPhone freebies, inside 2G touch and 4G nano, Yahoo oneConnect preview, and more, iNews Review, 09.19. Also iPhone 2.1 software released, AT&T to tie iPhone to its own television service, how to save images from Safari, 2 new speaker docks from Logitech, and lots of new apps and cases.
Apple trumps Microsoft in making the 64-bit transition transparent to users, Frank Fox, Stop the Noiz, 09.18. To use more than 4 GB of RAM under Windows, you need a 64-bit PC and the 64-bit version of Windows. On the Mac, OS X 10.4 and later already support it.
Reconfiguring and repurposing a Power Mac G4, John Hatchett, Recycled Computing, 09.18. These 1999 'Sawtooth' Power Macs would be perfect for the science lab with more RAM, bigger hard drives, and a newer version of Mac OS X.
Portable Mac as primary vs. secondary computer, looking at ThinkPad design, and more, Charles Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 09.17. Also learning from the Mac Portable, upgrading a PowerBook 5300, another free app to assure maintenance routines are run, and more.
Apple isn't an 'evil empire' like Microsoft, Frank Fox, Stop the Noiz, 09.16. The issue isn't whether you dominate a market, but whether you abuse that position to unfairly stifle competition.
Can smart phones replace laptops?, Simon Royal, Mac Spectrum, 09.16. Smart phones and mini notebooks are all the rage, but can even the iPhone replace your notebook computer?
Pure genius: Hands on with iTunes 8's Genius playlist, Kev Kitchens, Kitchens Sync, 09.16. "...the Genius playlist it created listed many other songs that I would have also enjoyed, including many I hadn't heard before."
Connect any drive to USB with the $25 XLR8 AnyDrive USB 2.0 drive adapter, Charles Moore, 'Book Value, 09.16. This handy device lets you connect a 2.5" or 3.5" IDE or SATA drive to any Mac with USB support. Windows drivers are also included.
'I invented the iPod', Dan Knight, Mac Musings, 09.15. Before CDs came to market, Kane Kramer conceived of a portable personal digital music system that anticipated the iPod and iTunes Store in many ways.
Does constant Time Machine activity compromise disk longevity?, Charles Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 09.15. Time Machine is a marquee feature of Mac OS X 10.5, but isn't all of that disk activity likely to wear our your drive prematurely?
FileMaker version history, Mike Weber, Mac Software Guide, 09.15. A historical overview of FileMaker for the Mac.
BYO $550 Mac netbook, new MacBooks rumored for October, notebook battery famine, and more, The 'Book Review, 09.12. Also MacBook Air owners have mixed results with latest update, Intel's fast and costly solid state drives, laptop docking station, bargain 'Books from $150 to $2,699, and more.
iMac price cuts and new Mac mini expected, Opera 9.6 beta released, DVD Drive-in, and more, Mac News Review, 09.12. Also Google working on Chrome browser for Macs, printing wirelessly from you PC on a Mac network, iLovePhotos includes facial recognition, and more.
Apple intros 2G iPod touch, high demand for 1G iPhone, and lots of new apps and cases, iNews Review, 09.12. New iPod touch adds shake feature and Bluetooth, best mobile phones for Mac users, Electiono '08 app, and lots of new cases and protective films for iPhones and iPod touch.
iPod nano overhauled and reviewed, in-ear Apple headphones with mic, last iPod classic, and more, iNews Review, 09.12. 4G iPod nano comes in a spectrum of colors, Apple ads microphone to new earbuds, Proporta intros a range of cases for the iPod nano, and the end of the road for the iPod classic.
In praise of rugged Mac notebooks of the past, POP3 vs. IMAP email, and buying glasses online, Charles Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 09.11. G3 PowerBooks were the high water mark for ruggedness, expandability, and reliability. Also the benefits of POP3 email for dialup users, and another article praising online eyewear.
Know your Mac's upgrade options, Phil Herlihy, The Usefulness Equation, 09.10. Any Mac can be upgraded, but it's a question of what can be upgraded - RAM, hard drive, video, CPU - and how far it can be upgraded.
The 2008 iPod value equation, Dan Knight, Mac Musings, 09.10. Apple has redesigned the iPod nano, slimmed down the iPod touch, simplified the iPod classic line, and introduced new colors for the iPod shuffle.
Microsoft pays Jerry Seinfeld $10 million to sell shoes to Bill Gates, Frank Fox, Stop the Noiz, 09.10. Some pundits berate the Microsoft ad as pointless, but it's paving the way for ads yet to come.
Routine maintenance tasks still run inconsistently in Leopard, Charles Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 09.10. Apple has been trying to get routine maintenance scripts to run consistently since the release of Mac OS X 10.4, but users are still reporting problems under 10.5.4.
There's still a place for G3 Macs in the Age of Leopard, John Hatchett, Recycled Computing, 09.09. Whether it's a sage iMac or a Pismo PowerBook, G3 Macs can be very productive with Mac OS X 10.4 'Tiger'.
Bring back the Macintosh Portable, Charles Moore, 'Book Value, 09.09. Not to fault today's MacBooks, but there's something to be said for a no compromise, very expandable, portable Macintosh as well.
Antique Macs are still useful computers, Charles Moore, From the MacCave, 09.09. Charles Moore's first online article looks at the utility of compact Macs - and foreshadows his longterm affection for PowerBooks.
Joomla and WordPress highly recommended content management systems, Dan Knight, Low End Mac Mailbag, 09.09. Low End Mac share their suggestions for a powerful, friendly, WYSIWYG content management system.
Are G3 Macs still viable work machines?, Simon Royal, Mac Spectrum, 09.08. For basic tasks - writing, email, and using the Web - a G3 Mac with Mac OS X 10.4 and sufficient memory provides plenty of power.
SATA, SATA II, SATA 600, and Product Confusion Fatigue, Frank Fox, Stop the Noiz, 09.08. In addition to the original SATA specification and the current 3 Gb/s specification, SATA revision 3.0 is just around the corner.
Seashore: A free, basic image editor for Mac OS X, Charles Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 09.08. Seashore is an open source image editing program for Mac OS X that uses parts of the GIMP but also integrates will with the Mac OS.
Anticipation: New iPods now, new Macs later, Kev Kitchens, Kitchens Sync, 09.05. The season of new iPods is at hand, but new Macs may wait until 2009.
Listen to just the music with the V-Moda Vibe earbuds, Tommy Thomas, Welcome to Macintosh, 09.05. Well built, the noise reducing earbuds will let you hear all the nuances of your music without letting through background noise.
Macs gain ground in August, consumers most likely to buy Macs, LaCie USB speakers, and more, Mac News Review, 09.05. Also migrating Time Machine to a new drive and two new keyboards from Logitech.
Buy a MacBook now or wait?, MacBook touch patents, Samsung X360 takes on MBA, and more, The 'Book Review, 09.05. Also 20 years of portable Macs, data backup and preservation, universal U-Charge battery charger for Mac 'Books, bargain 'Books from $150 to $2,699, and more.
Source of iPhone 3G problems, Army uses iPods as field translators, gains with business, and more, iNews Review, 09.05. Also UK bans iPhone ad as 'misleading', iPhone password easy to bypass, GM to offer radios with USB in 2009 models, weather tracking software, and more.
Tomorrow's solid state drives and notebooks, Dan Knight, Mac Musings, 09.04. Flash drives are great but have some shortcomings. Some thoughts on building better SSDs and notebooks to use them.
Overclocking a Mac mini got me hooked on souping up Macs, Adam Geller, My First Mac, 09.04. Stories of hot rodding iBooks, G3 iMacs, and PCI Power Macs on the cheap.
Only Leopard runs routine maintenance tasks after startup or waking from sleep, Charles Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 09.04. Mac OS X 10.5 runs routine system maintenance scripts as soon as possible after starting up or waking up your Mac. Earlier versions of OS X do not do this.
Apple will not abandon optical drives, the Mac drought, purposeful Mac acquisition, and more, Dan Knight, Low End Mac Mailbag, 09.04. Also Mac OS X 10.5 on a G4-upgraded Blue & White G3 and problems using a flat panel display with a Quadra 700.
Psystar strikes back, countersues Apple, Frank Fox, Stop the Noiz, 09.03. Psystar is trying to paint Apple as a monopoly and force it to license the Mac OS.
11 Mac browsers compared, Simon Royal, Mac Spectrum, 09.03. The latest versions of Internet Explorer, Opera, Safari, Shiira, iCab, Radon, Firefox, Netscape Navigator, SeaMonkey, Flock, and Camino tested in Leopard.
Another free POP3 provider, recharging a dead PRAM battery, current Kanga value, and more, Charles Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 09.03. GMX email now available in US, Panasonic UJ-841S drive won't burn discs, restoring a dead PRAM battery in a Pismo, and thoughts on Kanga value today.
Save internet radio, USB and hard drives, hardware manufacturers vs. Linux, and more, Dan Knight, Low End Mac Mailbag, 09.03. Also Mac won't book after cleaning, newer versions of OS X improve wake from sleep, downgrading to OS 8.6, unreadable pages on Low End Mac, and more.
Upgrade options for 15" and 17" aluminum PowerBooks, Charles Moore, 'Book Value, 09.02. Memory, hard drive, optical drive, and flash card readers for 15-inch and 17-inch aluminum G4 PowerBooks.

About LEM Support Usage Privacy Contact

Low End Mac is an independent publication and has not been authorized, sponsored, or otherwise approved by Apple Inc. Entire Low End Mac website copyright ©1997-2012 by Cobweb Publishing, Inc. unless otherwise noted. All rights reserved. Apple, the Apple logo, Macintosh, iPad iPhone, iMac, iPod, MacBook, MagSafe, Mac Pro, Apple TV, and AirPort are registered trademarks of Apple Inc. Additional company and product names may be trademarks or registered trademarks and are hereby acknowledged.
Advice is presented in good faith, but what works for one may not work for all. Please report errors to .
LINKS: We allow and encourage links to any public page as long as the linked page does not appear within a frame that prevents bookmarking it.
Email may be published at our discretion unless marked "not for publication"; email addresses will not be published without permission, and we will encrypt them in hopes of avoiding spammers. Letters may be edited for length, context, and to match house style.
PRIVACY: We don't collect personal information unless you explicitly provide it. For more details, see our Terms of Use.

Custom Search

Follow Low End Mac on Twitter
Join Low End Mac on Facebook

Low End Mac Reader Specials

TypeStyler 11 is now in the Mac App Store!! -- Special Introductory Price of $59.95!! -- To Buy From The Mac App Store Click Here Now!! Or buy direct from Strider Software.

Don't install Parallels to play poker online! Poker Mac will show you how to download and install a native Mac poker and Mac Casino applications in minutes.

Affiliates

Amazon.com
The Apple Store
The iTunes Store
PC Connection Express
GainSaver
Parallels Desktop for Mac
eBay