Low End Mac Editorial Archive
January 2009
- 6 worst Apple products ever, Mac growth slowing?, chip choice delays next iMac, and more, Mac News Review, 01.30. Also your oldest working Mac, Mac performance comparison, font control in Leopard, free iWorkServices removal tool, and more.
- Apple's notebook shift, loose hinge on Unibody MacBook Pro, MBP video issues, and more, The 'Book Review, 01.30. Also glossy displays too reflective, an SSD tailored for the MacBook Air, the netbook 'problem', beautiful Unibody MacBook, bargain 'Books from $170 to $2,299, and more.
- Use 1G iPhone without a service plan, $22.5 million iPod nano scratch settlement, and more, iNews Review, 01.30. Also Apple patents auto-volume for iPhone ringtones, Cooliris makes sharing photos easy, Palringo adds distance calculation, and more.
- Wikipedia: The Missing Manual available as book and wiki, Charles W Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 01.29. If you're at all interested in contributing to Wikipedia, this book should teach you everything you need to know.
- Reset an unknown admin password, cheap dialup on the road, $999 MacBook updated, and more, Charles Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 01.28. Also a Pismo that won't enter Target Disk Mode and connecting a PowerBook 170 to the Internet.
- Golden Apples: The 25 best Macs to date, Michelle Klein-Häss, Geek Speak, 01.27. The best Macs from 1984 through 2009, including a couple that aren't technically Macs.
- Today's Macs: Many descendants from a common ancestor, Dan Knight, Mac Musings, 01.27. The Macintosh legacy as it shows itself in notebooks, consumer desktops, and pro models.
- Eudora 8 beta 5 making progress, not quite ready for prime time, Charles W Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 01.27. "Eudora 8 is making gradual progress, and in a pinch I think I could use it, although not happily at this point...."
- Plastic or aluminum: What's the better MacBook now?, Charles W Moore, 'Book Value, 01.26. Last week Apple updated the polycarbonate MacBook with the same graphics processor as the Unibody MacBook. Which is more compelling?
- StealthMac: 2 hardware solutions for Mac OS X on Windows PCs, Anne Onymus, Rumor Mill, 01.26. Apple has been working on hardware to put a Mac inside a Windows PC for over a decade. The latest developments, according to our MacMole.
- 25 years: The Macintosh legacy, Tommy Thomas, Welcome to Macintosh, 01.23. On January 24, 1984, the world said hello to a new kind of computer that reshaped the personal computer industry.
- $999 MacBook goes Nvidia, MacBook sales up 34%, MacBooks overpriced (or not), and more, The 'Book Review, 01.23. Also 15" MacBook Air rumors, Apple dual-link DVI adapter incompatible with non-Apple monitors, MatteBook upgrade for 15" MacBook Pro, bargain 'Books from $170 to $2,299, and more.
- End for the iMac?, Nvidia Mac mini rumored, best Mac ever, a Mac White House, and more, Mac News Review, 01.23. Also Opera comes out on top in browser comparison, three things OS X should learn from the Classic Mac OS, another Eudora 8 beta, and more.
- iLounge Pavilion planned for CES, Apple says no to iPhone nano, Sanctuary charging station, and more, iNews Review, 01.23. Also iPhone and gloves don't mix, new apps for the iPhone and iPod touch, handsfree iPod viewing while traveling, and more.
- The Nvidia MacBook White value equation, Dan Knight, Mac Musings, 01.22. Moving the MacBook White to GeForce 9400M graphics and doubling memory while retaining FireWire and Mini DVI make this a hands-down winner.
- Why Mac desktop sales are on the decline, Dan Knight, Mac Musings, 01.22. Apple believes that desktops are unimportant, and by not offering updated models regularly, it makes them unimportant to potential buyers.
- How should The Italian Job have ended?, Charles W Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 01.22. The original Italian Job had great chase scenes, lots of auto carnage, and featured a computer. How should it have ended?
- Succeeding Steve Jobs at Apple: The Moneyball approach, Tim Nash, Taking Back the Market, 01.21. Steve Jobs saved Apple and has a great team in place. It may never be necessary for him to come back as CEO.
- iPod touch and Pismo: Perfect Together, John Hatchett, Recycled Computing, 01.21. With a USB 2.0 card and Tiger, a 9-year-old Pismo PowerBook works beautifully with a new iPod touch.
- Camino pros and cons, notebook video reliability, overheating since 10.5.4, and more, Charles Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 01.21. Also the joy of a 'Big Al' PowerBook, Unibody MacBook Pro a work of art, recycling an iMac for a cat, 64-bit PowerPC support, and password needed to install software.
- The value of the overlooked $999 2.1 GHz MacBook White, Charles W Moore, 'Book Value, 01.20. The Unibody MacBook has been getting most of the press, but the $999 MacBook White with its SuperDrive and proven design provides great value.
- Steve Jobs' Health: MYOB, Frank Fox, Stop the Noiz, 01.19. We have laws to protect personal medical information. Wahy can't we just leave Steve Jobs alone?
- Camino, Firefox, and Opera reconsidered, Charles W Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 01.19. Camino 1.6.6 seemed promising, but increasing sluggishness and lockups meant going back to Firefox, Netscape Navigator 9, and Opera.
- Was the Macintosh IIci the best Mac ever?, Dan Knight, Mac Musings, 01.19. Introduced in 1989, the Mac IIci was fast, had integrated video, included 3 expansion slots, and could be upgraded in myriad ways.
- The misunderstood Macintosh Portable, Dan Knight, Mac Musings, 01.19. Often ridiculed for its nearly 16 lb. weight, people forget that the Mac Portable wasn't designed to be a laptop computer.
- Palm Prē to challenge iPhone, NSC seeks to ban mobile use while driving, mic for iPod nano, and more, iNews Review, 01.16. Also Apple's future is the iPod touch, beware high phone bills when traveling, new browsers for the iPhone, and more."
- 8 hour battery changes everything, Apple sweeps InfoWorld tech awards, tiny OQO handheld, and more, The 'Book Review, 01.16. Also SSD prices vary a lot, Macs in politics, OLPC cuts staff, antiglare film for glossy 'Books, bargain 'Books from $170 to $2,299, and more.
- USB 3.0 will kill FireWire and eSATA, Apple IQ test, former MacUser editor goes Linux, and more, Mac News Review, 01.16. Also post-Expo Apple event likely, Apple IQ test, prospects for Macworld without Apple and for Apple at CES, new email client, and more.
- Do G4 Macs have what it takes to remain useful in a multicore world?, Simon Royal, Tech Spectrum, 01.15. With dual-core Intel CPUs running beyond 2 GHz, is any G4 Mac a practical choice?
- OS robustness, Mac reliability, and the upgrade cycle, Charles W Moore, 'Book Value, 01.15. This user has no compelling reason to upgrade from his 5- to 9-year-old PowerBooks, yet he finds the Intel 'Books alluring.
- Estimating the impact of tiered pricing on iTunes Store profits, Frank Fox, Stop the Noiz, 01.15. Neither Apple nor the recording industry have shared a lot of details, but educated guesses point to tiered pricing being good for both parties.
- Apple announces Mac OS X licensing, Anne Onymus, Rumor Mill, 01.14. Apple decided it would rather switch policies than fight Pystar and others. OS X licensing program could change Psystar's future.
- Psystar spews more nonsense in its bid to commoditize the Mac, Dan Knight, Mac Musings, 01.14. Psystar claims it has a right to install and resell OS X on computers because it legally purchased copies. That violation of copyright could eventually ruin the Macintosh.
- Overheating PowerBook, 7200 rpm in a G3 iMac, getting online during blackouts, and more, Charles Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 01.14. PowerPC support in iLife 09 a pleasant surprise, no overheating issues with 7200 rpm drive in an iMac, and dialup access as a good backup plan for power failures.
- MSI X320 a cheap MacBook Air copycat, Frank Fox, Stop the Noiz, 01.13. The new slim 13" notebook has more ports than the MBA and copies its design, but it's thicker, heavier, and runs slower.
- Apple Retail visit numbers are dropping, Tim Nash, Taking Back the Market, 01.13. Foot traffic is down everywhere, but Apple is uniquely positioned to build its numbers.
- 2 compact portable USB 2.0 hubs, Charles W Moore, 'Book Value, 01.12. Compact hubs from Targus and Proporta make a great complement to your notebook computer. Each accepts a third-party AC adapter to provide bus power.
- AppleTalk, LocalTalk, and PhoneNet, Adam Rosen, Adam's Apple, 01.13. Apple's first networking protocol was AppleTalk, which used LocalTalk cabling or, later on, PhoneNet.
- The road ahead: Snow Leopard, Windows 7, and Mac OS X 10.7, Simon Royal, Tech Spectrum, 01.12. With 'Snow Leopard' expected to be a minor upgrade to 'Leopard', don't expect significant changes until Mac OSX 10.7, which should arrive a bit after Windows 7.
- Software should come with a fresh date, Frank Fox, Stop the Noiz, 01.09. Sooner or later, some hardware or OS update will probably break a program you own. Software vendors should be up front about how long they'll support it.
- Hooked on classic Macs, Tommy Thomas, Welcome to Macintosh, 01.09. Tommy Thomas is back with a renewed focus on Macs that can run the 'classic' Mac OS.
- BYO $240 Hackintosh, HyperCard resurrection, USB 3.0 10x as fast, SlimBlade trackball, and more, Mac News Review, 01.09. Also the brilliance of the Macworld keynote, businesses embracing Macs, Picasa for Mac available, Toast Titanium 10 ships, and more.
- MacBook keyboard among best ever, glass trackpad less than intuitive, TiBook desktop mod, and more, The 'Book Review, 01.09. Also $179 to change battery in 17in MacBook Pro, argument for an Apple netbook, MacBook Air SuperDrive hacked for any Mac, bargain 'Books from $170 to $2,299, and more.
- iPhone reaches Vermont, 15 iPhone tips, Apple's iGlove, first editable office app for iPhone, and more, iNews Review, 01.09. Also WebEx collaboration on the iPhone 3G, hands-free visor kit from Kensington, portable iPod and iPhone power, new cases from Speck, and more.
- Surprise, average broadband throughput is lower than maximum throughput, Dan Knight, Mac Musings, 01.08. If a service is advertised as 8 Mbps maximum, it shouldn't surprise anyone that the average speed is below that number.
- Waterfield first with SleeveCase for new 17" Unibody MacBook Pro, Charles Moore, 'Book Value, 1.08. Waterfield has a reputation for top quality bags at appropriate prices, and it's already designed a sleeve for the new 17" Unibody MacBook Pro.
- Heat management for 'Books and the last Mac to run OS 9.1, Phil Herlihy, The Usefulness Equation, 01.08. Tips on keeping a first-gen MacBook Air from throttling back with CoolBook, using G4FanControl with a G4 PowerBook, and the fastest Mac that can boot Mac OS 9.1.
- The 17" Unibody MacBook Pro value equation, Dan Knight, Mac Musings, 01.07. The new model is a bit faster, a bit smaller, a bit lighter, and has an incredible 8-hour battery life.
- How netbooks impact Microsoft and Apple, Tim Nash, Taking Back the Market, 01.07. Netbooks are keeping Windows XP alive, which may slow adoption of Windows 7, and perceived value keeps the Mac market share growing at the expense of Windows.
- Blackouts and Web access, death of a Kanga, the future of PowerPC Macs, and more, Charles W Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 01.07. Also another email client suggestion and whether a G3 iMac can handle a 7200 rpm hard drive without overheating.
- Apple's half-baked support for DisplayPort, Frank Fox, Stop the Noiz, 01.06. The DisplayPort specification supports audio, so why does Apple use USB to route sound to the LED Cinema Display?
- Adventures with an overheating PowerBook, the 10.5.6 update, and other things, Charles Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 01.06. After three years of reliable service, the PowerBook began to run so hot that the fan was almost always on. What was causing the problem, and what would fix it?
- No, an overgrown iPod touch is not a netbook, Dan Knight, Mac Musings, 01.06. BlackBerry pretends its Storm is a netbook, but a netbook needs to be big enough for a typable keyboard.
- Intel's quad-core mobile CPU, prevent OS X 10.5.6 crashes, 'netbook' name under fire, and more, The 'Book Review, 01.05. Also the Age of the Notebook, build a cardboard laptop stand, MacBook reviews, bargain 'Books from $170 to $2,299, and more.
- 9.6% Mac market share, Quanta to supply new iMac, new Mac mini a go, Macintosh at 25, and more, Mac News Review, 01.05. Also what's missing from Apple's product line?, unattended online backup with MyOtherDrive, first USB 3.0 storage solutions, Find Any File, and more.
- Large form iPod coming?, touch screens a 'huge mistake', EarBud Yo-Yo, and more, iNews Review, 01.05. Also iPhone now at Walmart, iPhone trounces BlackBerry Storm for satisfaction, iPod video conversion software for Mac, and more.
- Steve Jobs must die, Frank Fox, Stop the Noiz, 01.02. Steve Jobs has held the role of Savior of Apple for a dozen years. It's time to let others take public leadership roles.
- Happy birthday, Macintosh, Dan Knight, Mac Musings, 01.02. January 2009 marks the 25th anniversary of the Macintosh. Here's how Low End Mac plans to celebrate the event.
Editorial Archives
2009 Dec., Nov.,
Oct., Sept., Aug., July, June, May, Apr., Mar., Feb., Jan.
2008 Dec., Nov.,
Oct., Sept., Aug., July, June, May, Apr., Mar., Feb., Jan.
2007 Dec., Nov.,
Oct., Sept., Aug., July, June, May, Apr., Mar., Feb., Jan.
2006 Dec., Nov.,
Oct., Sept., Aug., July, June, May, Apr., Mar., Feb., Jan.
2005 Dec., Nov.,
Oct., Sept., Aug., July, June, May, Apr., Mar., Feb., Jan.
2004 Dec., Nov.,
Oct., Sept., Aug., July, June, May, Apr., Mar., Feb., Jan.
2003 Dec., Nov.,
Oct., Sept., Aug., July, June, May, Apr., Mar., Feb., Jan.
2002 Dec., Nov.,
Oct., Sept., Aug., July, June, May, Apr., Mar., Feb., Jan.
2001 Nov.-Dec., Sept.-Oct, July-Aug.,
April-June, Jan.-Mar.
2000 Sept.-Dec., May-Aug., Jan.-March
1999 July-Dec., Jan.-June, 1998,
1997