Low End Mac reviews are subjective - they are the reviewer's response to software and hardware that we've worked with. If we haven't tried a product or don't think it merits a review, you won't find it reviewed here.
Beginning in April 2003, Low End Mac began using a ratings system with some product reviews. Reviewed products will receive from zero to four LEMs. The scale goes something like this:
- Buy this and you will want your money back.
- Possibly useful if you are in need of a product of this specific type, but it may not be worth the cost or effort.
- Okay, but has a few shortcomings or deficiencies.
- A solid, capable product that performs as advertised.
- Wow! A truly stellar, impressive product.
Products might receive ratings with "1/2" increments from time to time.
In keeping with the focus or this website, when rating products which are for use directly with or on a Mac, a factor in our evaluation will be how well it works with lower-end Macs and the Classic Mac OS.
Links on this page are to reviews published within the past year. Full indexes are available for:
- Hardware
- Software
- iPod Accesories
- Books
- Accessories (such as desks, notebook risers, and mousepads)
Hardware
- TruePower AC adapter for iBooks and PowerBooks is rugged, reliable, and affordable, Charles Moore, 'Book Value, 2008.08.14. Apple's track record with AC adapters is spotty, but the TruePower adapter is tough enough to survive being run over by a truck.
- 8 hour runtime realisitic with TruePower batteries for Lombard and Pismo, Charles Moore, 'Book Value, 2008.08.05. Apple's original batteries could keep you going for up to 5 hours when they were new; these high capacity replacement batteries improve that by 60%.
- Kensington Portable Power Outlet a great accessory for the road warrior, Charles Moore, 'Book Value, 2008.07.22. With three AC outlets and two USB charging ports, this compact device is a great way to have extra power outlets when you're on the go.
- SanDisk Sansa Clip MP3 player has lots of features at a sub-shuffle price, Tommy Thomas, Welcome to Macintosh, 2008.07.22. The Clip has 1-2 GB of storage, a screen, iPod-like navigation, excellent sound, an FM radio, a built-in microphone, and a price that beats the shuffle.
- SanDisk Sansa Clip a low cost alternative to iPods for Mac users, Alan Zisman, Zis Mac, 2008.07.01. There's no video or photo support, but the Sansa Clip works with MP3 files and includes an FM radio and a microphone.
- SteelSeries S&S Pro Gaming: Can a mouse pad really be worth $30?, Charles Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2008.06.23. Once you've used a SteelSeries mouse pad for a while, you'll wonder how you ever got along without it.
- Kensington Ci70 Wireless Keyboard and Mouse excellent for field and desktop use, Charles Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2008.06.09. Slim, light, and small of footprint, Kensington's wireless Ci70 mouse and keyboard are great for desktop Macs and easy to take along for use in the field.
- 13 ports in a USB 2.0 hub means never having to unplug a device, Dan Knight, 2008.03.18. If your computer doesn't have enough ports and your 4-port hub is full as well, this 13-port powered hub could be the solution to your problems.
- Boosting an old Power Mac with NewerTech's 1.8 GHz G4 upgrade, Dan Knight, 2008.02.01. Got a faithful old Power Mac that's reliable but feeling sluggish? A brain transplant well beyond the 1 GHz mark can make a world of difference.
- The best alternatives to Apple's USB keyboards, Charles Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2007.12.10. There are a lot of USB keyboards out there, even for the Mac, but these two have great keyboard action, are solidly built, and have features Apple's keyboard don't include.
- Is the SteelSeries 4D the best mousepad ever?, Charles Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2007.10.15. This large, double-sided mousepad was optimized for gamers, but it makes a fine addition to any mouse user's work area.
- External $100 Sony DVD burner likes Macs, Brian Gray, Fruitful Editing, 2007.10.10. The box and manual say nothing about Mac compatibility, but this 18x USB 2.0 DVD burner is plug-and-play (at least with Tiger).
- FastMac 8x SuperDrive and BurnAgain DVD: Fast and easy multisession disc burning, Charles Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2007.10.08. FastMac's 8x SuperDrive upgrade is remarkably fast compared with older PowerBook burners, and BurnAgain DVD makes it easy to append files to a previously burned CD or DVD.
- Slingbox lets you watch TV on your Mac or Windows PC - anywhere, Alan Zisman, Zis Mac, 2007.08.17. Slingbox transmits video from your television or DVR so you can watch it from any computer on your network - or over the Internet.
- Chillin' out with the Cool-It USB Beverage Chiller, Tommy Thomas, Welcome to Macintosh, 2007.08.15. This simple device does one thing - and does it very well. It plugs into a spare USB port and keeps your drink cold.
- 2 earbuds and 2 headsets for music and gaming, Charles Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2007.06.11. Colorful, good sounding earbuds, retractable earbuds, and a pair of gaming headphones that include built-in microphones.
- Silence is golden: Running your existing notebook using flash memory, Dan Knight, 2007.05.23. With a new adapter from Addonics, you can replace your laptop's IDE hard drive inexpensively and boot silently from a Compact Flash card.
- Logitech TrackMan Wheel intuitive, easy to use, Charles Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2007.04.16. Trackballs are well suited for some tasks, less well suited for others. Logitech's thumb-controlled TrackMan Wheel is quickly mastered, and its software provides lots of options.
- Allegro USB 2.0 a great way to add several USB 2.0 ports to your Power Mac, Dan Knight, 2007.03.28. You can never have too many USB ports. Whether your Power Mac has no USB 2.0 ports or too few, this $30 card is a great way to add the ports you need.
- SimpleShare's $99 250 GB NAS and print server a good value, Andrew J Fishkin, Best Tools for the Job, 2007.02.21. This 250 GB networked drive and print server is very affordable, as fast as can be expected, and has some latency when printing from Macs.
- 3 MacMice mice compared: 2 winners, 1 loser, Charles Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2007.02.19. MacMice products are well-designed and hold up well over time, but their Bluetooth mouse is poorly balanced and suffers from latency problems.
- Microsoft's sturdy, low-cost wireless keyboard ideal for typing, Andrew J Fishkin, Best Tools for the Job, 2007.01.23. If you're looking for a good keyboard for typing on, the $50 Microsoft Wireless Optical Desktop 1000 keyboard and mouse are probably the best you'll find for the money.
- More in the hardware index.
Software
- CrossOver strikes out, Frank Fox, Stop the Noiz, 2008.08.27. Running Windows apps on a Mac without paying for Windows is great in theory, but actually getting Windows software working is another story.
- Free mEdit text editor excels at handling and combining multiple documents, Charles Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2008.07.28. Most word processors are designed for office work and short documents. mEdit is designed to work with multiple documents and multi-part documents.
- Superior dithered images with HyperDither, Dan Knight, 2008.07.16. HyperDither reintroduces the dithering alogrithm intoduced by Bill Atkinson and creates better dithered images than Photoshop.
- New Iris 1.0 image editor not quite ready for prime time, Charles Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2008.07.14. Compared to Photoshop Elements 6, Pixelmator, and even the low-end Acorn, the first release of Iris doesn't seem to offer comparable value.
- Master of Orion on the Mac, Tamara Keel, Digital Fossils, 2008.07.01. The DOS version of this vintage game broke with Pentium or Windows 95, but the Mac version still runs very nicely in the Classic Mac OS.
- Opera 9.5 good enough to 'ruin you for other browsers', Charles Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2008.06.16. The reviewer has long considered Opera the best among a solid collection of Mac browsers, and the latest version makes it even better.
- Make your own custom greeting cards with Sophie's Cards, Charles Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2008.06.02. Design and mail customized greeting cards using your own words and photos - or ones that come with the software.
- Pixelmator 1.2 closing the gap with Photoshop Elements 6, Charles Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2008.05.27. Photoshop Elements 6 has raised the bar for affordable image editing software, and Pixelmator is coming closer to being able to replace it.
- Free Time Machine Editor does one thing and does it well, Alan Zisman, Zis Mac, 2008.05.12. If Time Machine's habit of backing up every hour is impacting your work flow, this free utility gives you control options that Apple didn't build into Time Machine.
- Opera 9.5 beta add innovative features, better integrates with Mac, Charles Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2008.04.28. Already a speedy browers, Opera now launches faster, has a fully searchable history, and looks more like a standard Mac app than earlier versions.
- Social networking on the Mac: net4mac shows promise, Charles Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2008.04.14. In contrast to huge social networks such as MySpace and Facebook, net4mac is limited to Mac users with OS X 10.4 and later.
- At play in the garden of OS X browsers: Safari 3.1, Opera 9.27, and iCab 4.01, Charles Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2008.04.07. "In some respects, the browser wars are over in the sense that just about all of the alternatives are now satisfyingly fast and stable...."
- At play in the garden of OS X browsers: Firefox 3 Beta 5, Charles Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2008.04.07. "I've not traditionally been much of a Firefox fan, but Beta 5 is the slickest, most polished Firefox browser ever, not to mention the fastest and prettiest."
- Office 2008 a mixed bag for Mac users, Alan Zisman, Zis Mac, 2008.04.02. Office 2008 is more convetional than the Windows version and runs smoothly on Intel Macs, but it's slower than 2004 on PowerPC Macs.
- Interarchy 9: Smooth, fast, and reliable, Charles Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2008.03.17. Interarchy was already a powerful program - far more than an FTP client - and the changes in version 9 make it even better.
- FastMac 8x SuperDrive and BurnAgain DVD: Fast and easy multisession disc burning, Charles Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2007.10.08. FastMac's 8x SuperDrive upgrade is remarkably fast compared with older PowerBook burners, and BurnAgain DVD makes it easy to append files to a previously burned CD or DVD.
- iWeb a great tool for quickly creating an attractive website, Jeff Adkins, Mac Lab Report, 2007.09.11. Apple's iWeb software isn't just easy to use, it also integrates nicely with .mac and other programs in the iLife bundle.
- Adium: One instant messenger to rule them all, Leo Titus LeBron V, Collection Spotlight, 2007.08.22. Adium can replace all of your Instant Messenger clients with a single program and handle all of your threads in a single tabbed window.
- KompoZer 0.7.7: Getting Closer to a Replacement for Claris Home Page, Dan Knight, Mac Musings, 2007.08.22. KompoZer is a free, open source WYSIWYG webpage editor that has some rough edges but works well enough for full-time use.
- VMware Fusion a good alternative for fusing Windows with OS X, Alan Zisman, Mac2Windows, 2007.08.20. Fusion has a few advantages over Parallels, including multiprocessor support, the ability to work with 64-bit operating systems, and less drag on the system when you're using Mac apps.
- Name Munger 1.5 makes renaming files even easier, Dan Knight, 2007.08.17. Web servers may have problems with uppercase characters, spaces, and certain characters. Name Munger (for Mac and Windows) can quickly and easily fix those problems.
- A great, free OS X text editor? Look no further than TextWrangler, Dan Knight, 2007.08.07. BBEdit may have everything anyone could imagine needing in a text editor, but TextWrangler may have all the tools you really need - and it's free.
- TextSoap 4.5: Powerful text cleaning tools, Dan Knight, 2007.08.06. If you have to clean up text - smarten or dumb down quotes, remove or add line feeds, prepare text for use on the Web - TextSoap may offer all the tools you need.
- iText: Solid, lightweight, free word processing for the Classic Mac OS, OS X, and Windows, Tommy Thomas, Welcome to Macintosh, 2007.08.03. If you want a fast, easy-to-use word processor that's consistent across platforms, look no further than iText.
- Better screen captures in OS X with free Screenshot Helper, Low End Mac Reviews, 2007.08.03. Mac screenshots tend to have a lot of clutter in the background. Screenshot Helper puts a tablecloth over your busy desktop for cleaner captures.
- Quickly fix ill formed file names with Name Munger, Dan Knight, 2007.08.02. Web servers can have problems with uppercase characters, spaces, and reserved characters. Name Munger (for Mac and Windows) can quickly fix those problems.
- Bible-Discovery: Powerful but sluggish Bible study software, Charles Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2007.07.30. As a Java application, Bible-Discovery isn't fast or Mac-like, but it is a powerful tool for studying the Bible in Greek, Hebrew, and several English translations.
- Shiira 2.2 an even stronger contender for best Mac OS X browser, Charles Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2007.07.24. Shiira incorporates elements from many other browsers, has developed a unique interface, and could be a serious challenger to Opera as the Mac's best browser.
- Parallels 3 narrows the gap between Virtualized Windows and using Boot Camp, Alan Zisman, Mac2Windows, 2007.06.13. The newest version of Parallels Desktop adds graphics acceleration, new tools, and easier Windows installation than Microsoft offers.
- Bean: Free word processor is fast and lean and looks great, Charles Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 05.29. Bean is a great tool for basic word processing, but it doesn't support the kind of high-end features some users may depend upon.
- FileMaker Pro 8.5 well worth checking out, Charles Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2007.04.16. If you're considering investing in a database program, FileMaker Pro 8.5 is definitely worth looking over.
- Thunderbird 2.0: A simple, powerful, free email client, Michel Munger, Macinthoughts, 2007.04.25. Mozilla Thunderbird doesn't suffer from feature bloat like most commercial email programs. It puts the focus on doing what you need efficiently.
- Mailsmith a simple, powerful, spam fighting alternative to Apple Mail, Steve Watkins, The Practical Mac, 2007.04.23. Mailsmith is bundled with SpamSieve, integrates with Address Book, and has very flexible scripting tools combined with elegant simplicity.
- CrossOver: Run Windows apps on Intel Macs without Windows, Alan Zisman, Mac2Windows, 2007.02.28. If you need to run Windows apps on your Intel Mac once in a while, CrossOver may be the least expensive way to do so since it eliminates the need to buy a copy of Windows.
- Use your Bluetooth phone to control your Mac? Maybe, Jeff Adkins, Mac Lab Report, 2007.02.27. Salling Clicker software turns many Bluetooth phones into remote controls for Bluetooth-equipped Macs.
- Opera the best browser for the Mac, Charles Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2007.02.26. "In my opinion, Opera is still the best all-round general surfing browser for Mac OS X, and Safari has a long way to go to even come close to matching it."
- Tex-Edit Plus: Powerful styled text editing for OS X and the Classic Mac OS, Charles Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2007.02.05. Whether you're looking for a powerful text editor or a simple, flexible word processor, Tex-Edit Plus could be exactly the tool you need.
- Lineform: A familiar, friendly, affordable illustration program for OS X, Joshua Coventry, Cortland, 2007.01.29. This $80 illustration program could be all a lot of Mac users need.
- A tale of two betas: VMware Fusion vs. Parallels Desktop, Alan Zisman, Mac2Windows, 2007.01.23. Parallels Desktop has displaced Boot Camp as the choice of savvy Macintel users. Can VMware compete with the entrenched upstart?
- Shiira 2.0b2 browser: Neat features, but not ready for prime time, Charles Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2007.01.08. Shiira is a small, fast, free browser based on Safari WebKit that includes some very useful new features.
- More in the software index.
iPod Accessories
- Charge your iPod with Griffin's $30 PowerBlock, Tommy Thomas, Welcome to Macintosh, 2007.08.08. Griffin's PowerBlock is a well designed, simple power brick especially made for charging your iPod.
- Core Case: Solid protection for your iPod, Tommy Thomas, Welcome to Macintosh, 2007.07.31. Solid aluminum construction, a soft liner, dock port protection, and a screw-free design make the Core Case a winner.
- Hat trick: 3 top quality iPod accessories from Matias, Tommy Thomas, Welcome to Macintosh, 2007.06.14. A look at Matias' aluminum Armor for iPod nano, slim USB power adapter, and 100-year belt clip.
- 2 earbuds and 2 headsets for music and gaming, Charles Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2007.06.11. Colorful, good sounding earbuds, retractable earbuds, and a pair of gaming headphones that include built-in microphones.
- Griffin TuneBuds 'a vast improvement' over Apple's earbuds, Tommy Thomas, Welcome to Macintosh, 2007.03.23. Where Apple's earphones lack bass, the TuneBuds provide plenty. A great replacement for the iPod's earbuds at just $30.
- Tripping the light fantastic with Griffin's disko iPod case, Tommy Thomas, Welcome to Macintosh, 2007.03.07. Griffin's disko nano case not only protects your iPod nano - it gives you a light show as well.
- More in the iPod accesories index.
Books
- iPod 'Missing Manual' grows but drops coverage of older iPods, Charles Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2008.08.18. The 6th edition of iPod: The Missing Manual has extensive coverage of all the current iPod models, but at the cost of dropping coverage of all earlier models.
- Social networking on the Mac: net4mac shows promise, Charles Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2008.04.14. In contrast to huge social networks such as MySpace and Facebook, net4mac is limited to Mac users with OS X 10.4 and later.
- FaceBook: The Missing Manual a very useful resource, Charles Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2008.04.15. There is so much to Facebook that you almost need a book to take full advantage of it. This is that book.
- Get more out of Leopard and Vista with these helpful volumes, Alan Zisman, Zis Mac, 2008.03.31. Today's operating systems come with minimal printed documentation. These books will help you get a lot more out of Mac OS X 10.5 and Windows Vista.
- Discover the power of iWork with The Missing Manual, Charles Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2007.08.06. Since not much has changed between iWork '05 and iWork '06, the 2005 edition should be plenty to get any iWork user up to speed quickly.
- More in the book review index.
Accessories
- Laptop Laidback computer stand, Charles Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2003.07.28. When you don't have a desk or table to work at, the Laptop Laidback could be your perfect solution.
- Contour Design UniTray, 7/29/00.
- Contour UniRiser, 12/10/1999
- Ambassador Desk, 3/30/1999
- More in the accessories index.
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