PowerBook Cooling Tip, Battery Deal for Legacy PowerBooks, New TiPaint Color, and More

Compiled by Charles Moore and edited by Dan Knight - 2002.04.19

Except as noted, prices are in US dollars.

• PowerBook Cooling Tip
• TwoFer Battery Deal for Legacy PowerBooks
• TiPaint.com Releases New G4 Touchup Paint Color
• E. Carr Backpack from Willow Design
• Tom Bihn Brain Bag
• Bargain 'Books

PowerBook Cooling Tip

The author of an experiment in passive cooling says:

I know that pastry chefs and ice cream parlors use marble slabs to keep their ingredients cool, so I wondered if I could use the same trick.

I had a black marble cheese "board" laying around that wasn't used much. I took it to work and ran my TiBook on top of it with the handle up as well as down. Even while running the software above and doing other things, the fan would only go as high as the first setting - if I had the handle up. However, If I ran it with the handle down, it acted much the same as if I were running it without the marble.

While not portable, it makes the TiBook cooler and my office quieter. Perhaps an ideal implementation of this idea would be a marble or granite "wedge" to lay the PowerBook on.

TwoFer Battery Deal for Legacy PowerBooks

MegaMacs is offering a buy one, get one free clearance sale on batteries for the PowerBook 3400, 5300, and 190.

This is a close-out special. When you purchase one you get one free (for web orders only).

TiPaint.com Releases New G4 Touchup Paint Color

Three weeks after the launch of it's PowerBook G4 paint touchup kit, TiPaint.com has released a new color kit and lowered its prices.

TiPaint now offers the original "Light Silver" colored kit for the outer bezel of the PowerBook G4, and the new "Titanium" colored kit for the case itself.

The individual touchup kits now sell for $12.95 each, and a combo kit containing both colors sells for $19.95.

E. Carr Backpack from Willow Design

Canada's Willow has been producing laptop, notebook and larger computer carrying cases since 1988, and from the start has had a close relationship with Apple products. Willow's first case was for the Mac SE with extended keyboard and since then they have produced cases for the range of Apple computers including the Apple II GS series, ImageWriters, StyleWriters, Mac IIci series, Performas, Power Macs, and, of course, all the different PowerBook and iBook models.

Willow is the only manufacturer to make a range of cases to protect all the current range of Apple products, including desktop machines and monitors, backed up by a 100% satisfaction guarantee and a lifetime guarantee against defects in materials and craftsmanship.

The E. Carr Backpack is Willow's most compact backpack briefcase designed for those with shorter backs or those who want to carry the smallest possible load. E. Carr carries your laptop and accessories, up to three inches of letter sized paperwork and features our convenient outer organizer pocket system.

E. Carr features

• elegant design, equally at home on the street or in the boardroom
• increased personal security by making your case not look like a briefcase or laptop case
• superb laptop protection through a centrally protected location surrounded by thick, single piece foam padding on the back, sides and bottom
• front protection is assured by three separate levels of foam layers
• easy storage of adapters, cables, etc. with convenient Velcro™ secured, fold-down accessory divider/pocket system
• extreme carrying comfort with contoured, padded shoulder straps
• removable sternum strap for increased stability and comfort with additional doubling of shoulder strap material for extreme durability
• contoured pack back and bottom which will not allow anything to dig into your back, especially in your low back area
• additional thickly padded removable wrap handle for extra comfort in briefcase or vertical handle carrying mode
• .090 thickness of high density polyethylene reinforcement underneath the web handles with quadruple rivet reinforcing for even greater strength and durability
• a thickly padded traditional single shoulder carrying strap when you want to look more cosmopolitan
• room in the paperwork compartment for a six centimeter (2") depth of letter sized file folders or other items plus a centimeter (0.5") of legal sized file folders.
• lots of organizer pockets in the outer pocket and throughout the case
• convenient shoulder strap flap to hide away shoulder straps which can double as an easy to get to newspaper or magazine pocket
• security pocket on back panel hidden under shoulder strap flap
• convenient shallow outer zippered pocket for airline tickets, change or other items you want fast access to

Available Colours: Charcoal Navy Teal

Price: $128 U.S./$198 Cdn.

Tom Bihn Brain Bag

The Tom Bihn Brain Bag is made to accommodate a Brain Cell (formerly the Lap Dog) computer case (essential to protect your computer - purchased separately). An on-your-back student or business organizer, the Brain Bag consists of two main compartments plus four external pockets.

The small top pocket on the back is perfect for a wallet and has an inside snap-hook for keys. The two vertical back pockets are large enough for water bottles or even a small thermos; inside both pockets are pen/pencil organizers. The left pocket has an outside flat mesh pocket for brochures, plane tickets or even a small U-Lock. Between the pockets are two lash straps for umbrella or rain coat.

Both main compartments have snaps that accept the optional laptop computer case (Brain Cell), so you can carry your computer or your books against your back, as you like. You can actually carry two Brain Cells, and therefore two laptops in the Brain Bag. Side compression straps compress the bag when it is not full and stabilize the load. Quality leather palm pad on 2" webbing handles, contoured shoulder straps with sternum strap, 2" waist strap. The back is made of Dri-Lex Aero-Spacer mesh and is padded with 3/8", high quality, closed-cell foam.

Available in solid black or black with sapphire blue, crimson red, or plum purple.

• 1000 denier Cordura and #9 & #10 YKK Zippers
• Main compartment zippers are now lockable for security (locks not included)
• Overall dimensions: 18 x 14 x 9" (450 x 350 x 230 mm)
• Weight: about 3 lbs (1.3 kg)
• 2200 cu. in. (36 liters)
• To carry a computer, add a Brain Cell

Brain Bag by Tom Bihn sells for $130. Add a Brain Cell for $50.

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.

MacResQ

• PowerBook G3/266 WallStreet, 64/4 GB/20x CD/56k//14.1" TFT - $679.99
• PowerBook G3/400 Lombard, 64/6 GB/DVD/SCSI/56k/14.1 - $979.99

Power Max

Buy 10 refurbished iBooks from Power Max and get one more of the same or lesser value free. Get your purchasing department rolling or call all your friends and neighbors, (While supplies last, and free bags not included...)

• iBook 500, 64/10 GB/CD, $939
• iBook 500, 128/15 GB/CD, $999
• iBook 500, 128/10 GB/DVD, $1,099
• iBook 600, 128/15 GB/DVD, $1,169
• iBook 600, 128/20 GB/Combo Drive, $1,349

If you would rather a new iBook, check out all nine configurations Power Max has in stock and get 128 MB of RAM free plus a free Lexmark inkjet printer (after using rebate coupon).

ExperCom

• iBook 600, 128/15 GB/DVD/12.1" factory refurbished, $1,099

Small Dog Electronics

• PowerBook G4/667, 768 MB RAM, extra MCE Transport Pro 40 GB FW & USB Portable Hard Drive, refurbished, $2,899
• iBook 500, 128/10 GB/DVD+CD-RW Combo Mac, refurbished, $1,179
• iBook 500, 64/10/CD-ROM, refurbished, $889

For Canadian Readers

The prices listed belowe are in Canadian dollars.

CPUsed

• PowerBook G3/250 Kanga, 96/3 GB/CD/Floppy/12", $999
• PowerBook 3400/180, 48/1.3/Floppy/33.6k, $749

MacOutpost

• PowerBook G3/266, 128/4 GB/CD/14.1", used with 30 day warranty, $1,199.99
• PowerBook G3/300, 64/8 GB/CD/14.1", used with 30 day warranty, $1,299.99