Make Your Own Screen Protector, USB Video Output, ADC Converter for non-ADC Macs, and More

Compiled by Charles Moore and edited by Dan Knight - January 18, 2002

Except as noted, prices are in US dollars.

• DIY Screen Protectors
• MyView USB Video Output Supports Rev. A iBooks
• Great Deal on FireWire PC Card Adapter from OWC
• Back Office Computer Case/Backpack/Portable Office
• Gefen Introduces Easy ADC Converter for non-ADC Macs (but It's not Cheap)
• XtremeMac Deluxe iPod Case and Accessories Set
• Bargain 'Books

DIY Screen Protectors

Reader Jeffrey Harris writes in response to last week's item about 'Book screen protectors:

Charles,

I made leather screen protectors for our PowerBooks by going to a leather shop and buying a nice soft burgundy colored scraps. Enough for 5 laptops cost me less than US$5. I cut them out with scissors in 10 minutes.

To buy the same thing from Other World computing would have been nearly $100 counting shipping and would have taken a week to get.

You might want to pass this on to other Low End Mac readers.

Cheers
Prof. Jeffrey Harris

Thanks for the tip, Jeffrey.

MyView USB Video Output Supports Rev. A iBooks

MyView is a new concept in video mirroring - a device that allows you to display your Macintosh desktop on a standard TV, NTSC or PAL monitor, or video projector without the need for a VGA connector and video scan converter. MyView mirrors your active 640 x 480 or 800 x 600 desktop sending the digital stream over the USB bus, where it is encoded to NTSC or PAL video for external display and/or recording.

Features

• Display any 640 x 480 and 800 x 600 Macintosh desktop on a TV or projector, or output to VCR for recording
• iMac and iBook compatible - does not use a VGA connector
• Eskape EchoView: for video mirroring
• Eskape VideoView: for full frame rate QuickTime movie output
• Support for both NTSC & PAL video formats
• Bus powered - no separate power supply required
• USB plug and play - setup in 5 minutes or less without opening your computer
• High quality flicker filter
• Support for both overscan and underscan output
• S-video & composite video connections

Tech specs

• System (bus) powered external USB device
• Video format support - NTSC & PAL
• Video output: Composite video and S-video
• Resolution support - 640 x 480 and 800 x 600
• Video frame rate: VideoView @ full frame rate; EchoView @ 5-15 fps (system dependent)
• USB v1.1 compliant
• Plug & Play
• FCC Class B and CE compliant
• Dimensions: 4" x 3" x 1.25"
• Weight: 6 oz
• Three-year limited warranty

System requirements

• G3 processor (or higher)
• Apple® factory USB
• Mac OS 8.5.1 or higher
• QuickTime 4.0 or higher
• Available high powered USB port
• iMac, iBook, PowerBook (with built in USB), Blue G3s, and all G4 Macs
• Available USB port (powered if Hub)
• NTSC or PAL video output device (projector, TV, monitor, VCR etc.)

Comes with

• MyView device
• 1 meter A/B USB cable
• Composite video cable
• Drivers & hardware setup guide
• Bundled software: EchoView™ Control Strip software, VideoView™ video out software and QuickTime 4.x

Great Deal on FireWire PC Card Adapter from OWC

Other World Computing offers the Newer Technology FireWire2Go PCMCIA FireWire Card for Mac & PC with a 180 Day OWC Warranty for $39.99.

Back Office Computer Case/Backpack/Portable Office

The clever design of the unique Back Office computer carrying case allows you to convert it in seconds from a comfortable, padded backpack to a single shoulder strap vertical briefcase. The pack opens to create a functional, well organized portable office, for use on your lap or on any desk top. The new configuration of this case also provides quick and easy access to the computer when traveling through security at airports without the need to open the entire pack.

• 1000 denier urethane coated ballistics nylon
• 1000 lb. test military spec webbing
• non-slip gripdeck which also provides a thermal barrier between the laptop and user
• shock absorbing EVA foam
• molded rubber handle
• military spec hardware
• all seams are edge bound
• all stress points are reinforced for increased strength
• will accommodate most large screen computers including the G4
• 2.5 lbs.
• $149.95 + shipping

Gefen Introduces Easy ADC Converter for non-ADC Macs (but It's not Cheap)

Want to connect a Cinema Display to your PowerBook? Disgruntled that Apple makes products that can't connect to each other? Gefen has a solution with their $400 ex·tend·it VGA to ADC Conversion Box.

At Macworld 2002, Gefen unveiled its latest ex·tend·it invention on the showroom floor: the ex·tend·it VGA to ADC Conversion Box. With the VGA to ADC Conversion Box, Apple's line of digital flat panel Cinema Displays may be plugged into older Macintosh computers with analog VGA monitor connectors, including PowerBook computers.

The ex·tend·it VGA to ADC Conversion Box connects traditional analog video cards to ADC compliant LCD digital monitors. The VGA to ADC Conversion Box, enables users to connect laptops or other legacy computers that are equipped with HD-15 video connections only. The device has the DVI to ADC Conversion Box built in. The VGA to ADC Conversion Box also enables Apple PowerBook and iBook users to connect their laptop to the new family of Apple's flat panel displays.

Since their introduction, Apple's Cinema Displays have only been able to connect to Macintosh computers with ADC connectors, which have just recently become available. If a user wanted to plug a Cinema Display into an older Macintosh, it would not have been possible. In response, Gefen produced a solution to the problem: the original ex·tend·it DVI to ADC Conversion Box, which debuted at Macworld San Francisco in 2001 and enables an older Macintosh computer to connect to the digital Cinema Display provided the computer has a graphic card with DVI connector. The DVI connector is either built-in to the computer or may be inserted via an additional PCI graphics card.

With the VGA to ADC Conversion Box, Gefen has gone one step further. Now, Macintosh users can connect a Cinema Display to a legacy computer equipped with analog VGA connectors. The VGA to ADC Conversion Box is a simple to implement solution that installs in minutes. An Apple Cinema Display is plugged into the ADC output on the Conversion Box; the computer's VGA cable is plugged into the input on the Conversion Box. Once connected and powered, the Conversion Box converts the signal within the box from VGA to ADC. During this transition, pixel representation remains fully intact with no visible difference in appearance and no loss of image quality. In fact, the Conversion Box supports three distinct resolution settings modeled after the three Apple flat panel displays. Simply connect the supplied VGA (M-F) cable to the input side of the VGA to ADC Conversion Box. Three different resolution settings are supported including 1024 x 768, 1280 x 1024, and 1600x1024.

Like others in the ex·tend·it line, the VGA to ADC Conversion Box is designed to help computer users bridge the gap between their old and new computer systems. Conversely, there's an ex·tend·it solution for those users who wish to connect a new Macintosh computer to an analog VGA monitor. Gefen's ex·tend·it DVI to VGA Conversion Box works in reverse, enabling users to plug an older VGA monitor into a newer Macintosh computer equipped with a ADC digital connector. It converts digital signals to analog in an external Box that comes equipped with its own power supply and cables.

Gefen's ex·tend·it Conversion Box solutions are currently the only ones on the market in which the transition takes place externally. "Any Macintosh computer with the old VGA hookup - even those without a digital graphics card - can now connect to a digital Apple Cinema Display," explained Hagai Gefen, President, Gefen Inc. "Plus, it's an external solution with everything taking place inside the Box, so the solution and the conversions do not tax the computer's busy processors."

The VGA to ADC Conversion Box for connecting a legacy computer to an Apple Cinema Display retails for $399. The DVI to ADC Conversion Box for connecting a DVI-compliant computer to an Apple Cinema Display is available to order and is currently priced at $199. The DVI to VGA Conversion Box for connecting a newer Macintosh computer to an older VGA monitor is currently available to order and is priced at $399.. Interested parties may order online at Gefen.com or through one of Gefen's international dealers.

XtremeMac Deluxe iPod Case And Accessories Set

Encase your iPod in style and safety with XtremeMac's Deluxe iPod Case and Earbud Pouch. Choose from a multitude of colors and materials. Recharge your iPod on the road with the XtremeMac Premium iPod Car Charger. With the complete iPod Clip Set, you can securely carry your iPod anywhere.

Set includes:

• Deluxe iPod Case
• Clip-on Earbud Pouch
• Xtra-Secure Belt Clip Deluxe iPod Case
• Clip-on Earbud Pouch
• Xtra-Secure Belt Clip
• Swivel Mount
• Flexible Auto Mount
• Full-Featured Neck Lanyard Deluxe iPod Case
• Clip-on Earbud Pouch
• Xtra-Secure Belt Clip
• Swivel Mount
• Flexible Auto Mount
• Full-Featured Neck Lanyard
• Premium iPod Car Charger

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.

MacSolutions

• PowerBook 3400C/180, 16 MB/1 GB/CD, $400
• PowerBook G3/233, 32 MB/2 GB/CD/12.1" Passive, $600
• PowerBook G3/300, 32 MB/8 GB/CD/14.1" TFT, $800

Best price I've seen on a 300 MHz WallStreet!

Small Dog Electronics

• PowerBook G4/400, 128/10 GB/DVD, new, $1,569
• PowerBook G4/400, 128/10 GB/DVD, refurbished, $1,529
• iBook G3/500, 128/10 GB/Combo, new, $1,279
• iBook G3/500, 128/10 GB/CD-RW, refurbished, $1,199

L.A. Computer

• PowerBook G4/667, 256 MB/30 GB/DVD, new, $2,579

Expercom.com

• PowerBook G4/500, 256/20 GB/DVD, factory refurbished, 1 year warranty, $1,849
• PowerBook G4/400, 128/10 GB/DVD, new, $1,689
• PowerBook G4/400, 128/10 GB/DVD, $1,669

Recent 'Book Reviews

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• More in the .

Links for the Day

• Mac of the Day: 17" iMac G4/800 MHz, July 2002 - The iMac 'grows up' with a 17" 1440 x 900 display.
• Group of the Day: MichiMac is our list for Mac users in Michigan.
  
• December 3 in LEM history: 01: The future of low-end Macs - Internet charges and Low End Mac - 02: A smooth switch with Move2Mac - 04: Upgrading from Mac OS 9 to 10.3 - PC malware: The best reasons to use a Mac - No sympathy for bashing Macs in schools - 'Book fragility - 07: Switching to Mac tripled my productivity - Leopard on a G3 iMac (with a G4 upgrade)

Recent Content on Low End Mac

• OS X More Efficient than Linux, Snow Leopard and PowerPC Macs, and Eudora Woes, Charles W. Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 12.03. A user reports both Panther and Leopard run more smoothly and use memory more efficiently than Linux. Also thoughts on PowerPC abandonment in Snow Leopard and replacing Eudora in Leopard.
• The Leopard Experience at 867 MHz, Simon Royal, Mac Spectrum, 12.02. Mac OS X 10.5 requires an 867 MHz G4 with 512 MB of memory, but is performance really acceptable on a minimum spec system?
• A Used 17" PowerBook as a Budget Notebook Alternative, Charles W. Moore, 'Book Value, 12.02. Sure, you can buy a refurbished 13.3" MacBook for under $900, but you could also have an expansive, feature laden 17" PowerBook in the same price range.
• The Very Best Macs: Sometimes Apple Just Nails It, Andrew J Fishkin, Best Tools for the Job, 12.01. Apple has produced lots of good Macs, a few dogs, and some 'best of breed' models that stand apart from the pack.
• Apple Could Buy Dell, and Linux Is No Threat to Mac OS X, Charles W. Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 12.01. Apple has the cash to buy Dell outright, and the idea has some merit. Also, why Linux still isn't ready to displace the Mac OS.
• More links in our archive.

Recent Deals

• Best PowerBook G3 Deals, 12.03. Used 14" WallStreet G3/266 MHz, $90; Lombard G3/400 MHz, $150; Pismo G3/400 MHz, $300; 500 MHz, $350.
• Best 17" PowerBook G4 Deals, 12.03. Used 1.5 GHz, $685; 1.67 GHz, $699.
• Best Intel iMac Deals, 12.03. Used 17" 1.83 GHz, $550; 20" 2.0, $650; refurb 20" 2.4, $999; 2.66, $1,299; 24" 2.8, $1,549; 3.06, $1,899; rebates and free shipping on new.
• Best Mac OS X 10.4 'Tiger' Deals, 12.02. DVD upgrade from 10.3, $75; full version, $129; family pack, $200; 10-user Server, $350; unlimited users, $400.
• Best iMac G5 Deals, 12.02. Used 17" 1.6 GHz Combo, $400; 1.8 SuperDrive, $450; 1.9 iSight, $599; 20" 1.8 GHz, $500; 2.0, $600; 2.1 iSight, $700. Shipping additional.
• Best 17" MacBook Pro Deals, 12.02. Used 2.16 GHz Core Duo, $1,330; 2.33 Core 2, $1,499; close-out, 2.4, $1,800 after rebate; new 2.5, $2,000 a/r; new hi-res, $2,499 a/r; refurb 2.6, $2,399.
• Best iPod nano Deals, 12.01. Refurb 3G/4 GB, $79; new, $105; refurb 8 GB, $99; new, $115; 3G/8 GB, $134; 16 GB, $174. Prices include ground shipping.
• Best 12" PowerBook G4 Deals, 12.01. Used 1.5 GHz SuperDrive, $481/C$599 plus shipping.
• Best Mac Pro Deals, 12.01. Used 3.0 GHz 4-core, $2,102; new 2.66 GHz 4-core, $1,949 after rebate; 2.8 4-core, $2,099 a/r; 8-core, $2,515 a/r; 3.0 $3,320 a/r; 3.2, $4,099 a/r.
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Go to the 'Book Review index.