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The big 'Book news this week is, of course, the 14" screen iBook introduced at Macworld
Expo, and which I was not expecting.
Actually, I've been surprised by the muted reaction to the "big
brother" iBook, which, as I contend in my The Road Warrior column on MacOpinion this week, is
essentially the up to now legendary and chimerical "Son of Pismo"
G3 PowerBook by any other name, which to my mind is pretty
significant. The new iMac, which I
like very much, is naturally the most spectacular news, but the
14.1" iBook isn't exactly small beer.
It also represents a substantial enhancement in iBook value,
giving you a 14" screen, a faster Combo drive, and a 55 Wh battery
in place of the smaller iBook's 45
Wh unit - all for the same price as the previous high-end 12.1"
screen iBook. There is value enhancement in the two 12.1" iBooks as
well.
Whether it is the iBook I would choose, were I in the market, is
another matter. The 14.1" machine is actually wider than my Pismo
PowerBook and the same thickness, so the only dimension where it is
a "subnotebook" is in depth, which is a bit less than the Pismo.
I'm partial to the compact footprint of the 12.1" iBook, while my
50+ year old eyes would appreciate the larger 14.1" screen
(resolutions are the same with either), so it would be a conundrum,
although a nice sort of one to have.
Looks like the iBook is the last of the Mohicans as far as G3
Macs are concerned. Now that the iMac has gone G4, can a G4 iBook
be far off?
The new iBook family basic specs:
The 14" iBook, weighing 5.9 pounds, has a suggested retail price
of $1,799, and includes:
14.1" (diagonal) active-matrix TFT display
256 MB SDRAM
20 GB Ultra ATA hard drive
6 hour battery life
DVD-ROM/CD-RW Combo drive
The 600 MHz iBook, weighing 4.9 pounds, has a suggested retail
price of $1,499, and includes:
12.1" (diagonal) active-matrix TFT display
128 MB SDRAM
20 GB Ultra ATA hard drive
5 hour battery life
DVD-ROM/CD-RW Combo drive
The 500 MHz iBook, weighing 4.9 pounds, has a suggested retail
price of $1,199, and includes:
Now the same convenience that is available for PowerBooks will
be available for the iBook. No more looking for that elusive cable
that fell behind your desk. Just connect
everything to the dock and leave it connected. When you come in,
just plug the iBookEndz into the side of your iBook and everything
is connected at once. iBookEndz replicates all seven connectors for
modem, ethernet, FireWire, USB, RGB (standard VGA), and AV. The
iBookEndz also has ports so you can hook your iBook directly to a
TV that has RCA inputs, eliminating the need for the customary
adapter.
iBookEndz sells for $144.95 (black) or US$159.95 (white).
Willow Design Introduces New TiBook and iBook
Slipcases at Expo
Willow
Design rolled out four new slipcases for the Titanium PowerBook
and the iBook at Macworld Expo. The slipcases are compact,
lightweight, and protective, and they give more flexibility for
carrying additional items when needed in an inexpensive
'Book-tote.
All the new slipcases feature thick half-inch foam padding, stiffening plastic panels to protect the
notebook all around, with extra high density polyethylene on the
top and bottom. The slipcases have a zippered front organizer and a
convenient back magazine pocket, plus a large zippered mesh
accessory pocket built into the protective front flap cover.
Carrying comfort is assured by a padded wrap handle plus a
contoured, a special non-slip, padded shoulder carry strap.
The reaction to the slipcases so far has been great. On
receiving his iBook Whumph! Too slipcase, Will Allen of Washington,
commented "The Whumph! is very nicely made and fits the iBook
snugly. A lot of thought has been put into it
. . . very sleek and light. It should last forever!" If
they don't, though, they are covered by Willow's lifetime guarantee
against defects in materials or craftsmanship, as are all Willow's
other cases for Apple products.
The second generation slipcases mark the start of an exciting
new year for Willow, whose president, Nigel Peck, comments, "it was
Willow customer feedback that helped us create such an exciting new
line. We've been able to incorporate the protection and quality of
the older models with a stylish new exterior and a lot more
flexibility for how much you're able to carry. It was a lot of work
to develop them but very much worth it!"
The new Titanium Two Slipcase offers a lightweight, compact,
yet flexible solution for carrying your Titanium, power supply and
cord, and some accessories. The stylish design offers excellent
protection for your TiBook whether you want to carry the slipcase
on its own, in a pack or tucked into a briefcase.
Titanium Two Slipcase Features:
excellent protection for your Titanium afforded by 1.2 cm
(0.5") soft "gushy" foam reinforced by corrugated plastic on the
top and sides.
a clean, very lightweight and compact size.
great carrying comfort insured by a removable foam padded wrap
handle.
contoured, padded shoulder strap with a special sticky bottom
to keep it on your shoulder.
nylon web handle, quadruple reinforced with rivets, to insure
the safety of your laptop.
convenient rubber luggage feet riveted through a high density
polyethylene bottom piece to keep the Whumph! off the ground if
you're leaning it against your leg or chair in the office, on the
train or in the ballroom.
outer front organizer panel with pockets for business cards,
pens, elasticized pocket for the Apple power supply plus room for
the power cord and an ethernet cable.
flat external rear pocket especially handy for maps, magazines
or newspapers.
lifetime guarantee against defects in materials or
craftsmanship.
The new Titanium 'Slide 2 Slipcase offers a lightweight,
compact, yet flexible solution for carrying your Titanium, power
supply and cord and some accessories. The stylish design offers
excellent protection for your TiBook whether you want to carry the
slipcase on its own, in a pack or tucked into a briefcase.
Titanium 'Slide 2 Slipcase Features:
excellent protection for your Titanium afforded by 1.2 cm
(0.5") soft "gushy" foam reinforced by corrugated plastic on the
top and sides.
a clean, very lightweight and compact size.
great carrying comfort insured by a removable foam padded wrap
handle.
contoured, padded shoulder strap with a special sticky bottom
to keep it on your shoulder.
nylon web handle, quadruple reinforced with rivets, to insure
the safety of your laptop.
convenient rubber luggage feet riveted through a high density
polyethylene bottom piece to keep the Whumph! off the ground if
you're leaning it against your leg or chair in the office, on the
train or in the ballroom.
outer front organizer panel with pockets for business cards,
pens, elasticized pocket for the Apple power supply plus room for
the power cord and an ethernet cable.
flat external rear pocket especially handy for maps, magazines
or newspapers.
lifetime guarantee against defects in materials or
craftsmanship.
The new iBook 'Away To Slipcase offers a lightweight,
compact, yet flexible solution for carrying your iBook, power
supply and cord and some accessories. The stylish design offers
excellent protection for your iBook whether you want to carry the
slipcase on its own, in a pack or tucked into a briefcase.
iBook 'Away To Slipcase Features:
excellent protection for your iBook afforded by 1.2 cm (0.5")
soft "gushy" foam reinforced by corrugated plastic on the top and
sides.
a clean, very lightweight and compact size.
great carrying comfort insured by a removable foam padded wrap
handle.
contoured, padded shoulder strap with a special sticky bottom
to keep it on your shoulder.
nylon web handle, quadruple reinforced with rivets, to insure
the safety of your notebook.
convenient rubber luggage feet riveted through a high density
polyethylene bottom piece to keep the 'Away To slipcase off the
ground if you're leaning it against your leg or chair in the
office, on the train or in the ballroom.
outer front organizer panel with pockets for business cards,
pens, elasticized pocket for the Apple power supply plus room for
the power cord and an ethernet cable.
flat external rear pocket especially handy for maps, magazines
or newspapers.
lifetime guarantee against defects in materials or
craftsmanship.
The new iBook Whumph Two! Slipcase offers a lightweight,
compact yet flexible solution for carrying your iBook, power supply
and cord and some accessories. The stylish design offers excellent
protection for your iBook whether you want to carry the slipcase on
its own, in a pack or tucked into a briefcase.
"Whumph!"? What is "Whumph!"? It's the satisfying sound of being
able to jam your slipcase into your pack with just millimeters to
spare, knowing the iBook is still protected. It the soft, gentle
sound of the iBook lightly and smoothly sliding into place in your
Whumph! slipcase, nestled and nurtured by the silent, yet
protective exterior of your understated, yet, fiercely dependable
and trustworthy laptop companion. Whumph! Two even more than
one.
iBook Whumph! Slipcase Features:
excellent protection for your iBook afforded by 1.2 cm (0.5")
soft "gushy" foam reinforced by corrugated plastic on the top and
bottom plus all sides.
a clean, very lightweight and compact size.
convenient end access for those who wanting to stuff the
slipcase into and remove the iBook from top loading backpacks.
great carrying comfort insured by a removable foam padded wrap
handle with extra strength ensured by web handle being riveted
through high density polyethylene backing .
contoured, padded shoulder strap with a special sticky bottom
to keep it on your shoulder.
nylon web handle, quadruple reinforced with rivets, to insure
the safety of your laptop.
convenient rubber luggage feet riveted through a high density
polyethylene bottom piece to keep the Whumph! off the ground if
you're leaning it against your leg or chair in the office, on the
train or in the ballroom.
outer front organizer panel with pockets for business cards,
pens, elasticized pocket for the Apple power supply plus room for
the power cord and an ethernet cable.
flat external rear pocket especially handy for maps, magazines
or newspapers.
flat external rear pocket especially handy for maps, magazines
or newspapers.
lifetime guarantee against defects in materials or
craftsmanship.
Available colours: black, charcoal, navy, teal, purple, eroyal,
mauve
Pricing (all four models): $98 Cdn./$65 U.S.
Griffin Technology Introduces PowerPod Auto
Adapter at Macworld
The PowerPod auto adapter allows you to take your iPod
on the road and listen to great music without ever having to charge
its batteries. The PowerPod not only keeps your iPod running but
also charges your iPod's batteries so you'll never go anywhere
without a fully charged iPod.
Features:
attractively designed and durable
status LED
fused and filtered to protect your iPod
includes a detachable 4 foot cable
fits into any 12V accessory outlet or car lighter jack
designed specifically for the iPod
MSRP of $19.50
two year warranty
Other World Computing Introduces Laptop
Screen Protector at Macworld
At Macworld, Other
World Computing officially launched a line of Laptop Screen
Protectors (LSPs) designed to prevent damage to laptop monitors
while the laptops are closed.
Made from top-grain cowhide, LSPs are made to fit across a
laptop's keyboard to prevent the keyboard and buttons on the base
of the laptop from coming in contact with, and leaving skin oils or
permanent marks and indentations on, the laptop screen or LCD
(liquid crystal display).
"Apple PowerBooks and other laptops, including some
Windows-based machines, have had serious problems with the
keyboards or buttons on the base of the laptop coming in contact
with the laptop screens," said Larry O'Connor, president and chief
executive officer of Other World Computing.
"The results are marks - sometimes permanent - on the LCD
screen. We have been troubled with this problem for years, and
recently developed a simple, yet effective solution. OWC's Laptop
Screen Protectors fit nicely between the keyboard and the screen,
providing a soft, protective barrier that eliminates unwanted
contact when the laptop is closed."
The company has initially produced three sizes of the LSP,
including 4" x 11", which was custom made for the Macintosh iBook
Dual USB; 5" x 11.5", which fits over most standard laptop
keyboards; and 8.5" x 12.75", which was designed to fit over the
entire keyboard and palm-rest area of the Apple PowerBook G4
Titanium.
"As laptops continue to get thinner and lighter, we are
confident a product like the Laptop Screen Protector will prove to
be a 'must have' accessory for laptop owners," O'Connor said.
The LSPs from OWC do not require any after-purchase treatment
and are designed not to shed or leave lint in-between the keys.
Pricing for the LSPs begins at $14.95.
Bargain 'Books
There are two different versions of WallStreet running at 233
MHz, the cacheless MainStreet
version and the later Series II
with a level 2 cache. It's not always possible to determine from
the vendor's listing which is being offered, so we've included
links within this paragraph to the two models.
PowerMax claims to have the largest selection of PowerBooks and
iBooks in the country, and they're celebrating it with sale prices
on the over 100 preowned G3 PowerBooks and iBooks in stock at
prices starting at under $600.
PowerBook G3/233 WallStreet, 32/2 GB/CD/13.3", $599 (first
WallStreet I've seen under $600)
Mac of the Day: PowerBook 170, Oct. 1991 - At 25 MHz, the PB 170 was at the top of the original PowerBook line.
List of the Day: The iPhone List Low End Mac's forum for discussing and supporting Apple's iPhone.
August 30 in LEM history: 99: The truth about USB speed - 00: Could Eazel kill the Mac? - Mac OS 8.1 on a IIci and LC III - 01: Beyond MHz and GHz - Getting a handle on email - Thanks for the IBM PC, Dad - Apple's anniversaries - 02: Mac OS X v10.2 - iBook video out - 04: Things that freak out my students - 06: Nvu and SeaMonkey can't replace Home Page - 07: DVD-RAM support
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your desk. Just connect
everything to the dock and leave it connected. When you come in,
just plug the iBookEndz into the side of your iBook and everything
is connected at once. iBookEndz replicates all seven connectors for
modem, ethernet, FireWire, USB, RGB (standard VGA), and AV. The
iBookEndz also has ports so you can hook your iBook directly to a
TV that has RCA inputs, eliminating the need for the customary
adapter.
foam padding, stiffening plastic panels to protect the
notebook all around, with extra high density polyethylene on the
top and bottom. The slipcases have a zippered front organizer and a
convenient back magazine pocket, plus a large zippered mesh
accessory pocket built into the protective front flap cover.
Carrying comfort is assured by a padded wrap handle plus a
contoured, a special non-slip, padded shoulder carry strap.
thought has been put into it
. . . very sleek and light. It should last forever!" If
they don't, though, they are covered by Willow's lifetime guarantee
against defects in materials or craftsmanship, as are all Willow's
other cases for Apple products.
