Low End Mac Editorial Archive

May 2005

NotePad Deluxe: A powerful, friendly information organizer, Charles W Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 05.31. "...this is such a well engineered, thoughtfully conceived, and obviously high quality product that it's worth the extra few bucks."
The first expandable Macs and portable Macs,Tom Hormby, Orchard, 05.31. 1986-89: Macs gain slots, color, speed, and portability while the last Lisas end up in a landfill.
Instant messaging and the 'always on' computer, Adam Robert Guha, Apple Archive, 05.27. The pros and cons of leaving your computer running 24/7.
Which one's broken, Low End Mac or Internet Explorer 6?, Dan Knight, Mac Musings, 05.27. Our new CSS-based site design works in every browser but one. Is anyone surprised that it's Internet Explorer?
No truly free iPod, WinAmp plugin supports iPod, TuneStage links iPod to stereo, wooden iPod cases, and more, Charles W Moore, iPod News Review, 05.27. Also iPod only MP3 player that matters, iPods for graduates, PodFreq mini, new software, and much more.
Apple battery recall, fuel cell breakthrough, $100 400 MHz WallStreet upgrade, Mac car interface, and more, Charles W Moore, The 'Book Review, 05.27. Also iBooks for education majors at U of Maine, laptop battery advice, Pepper Pad portable Web access and media player, bargain 'Books from $459 to $1,999, and more.
FireWire drive boosts mini performance, Power Mac G5 vs. Dual Xeon Dell, Macs replace Linux desktops, and more, Charles W Moore, Mac News Review, 05.27. Also Mac mini in Popular Science, Linux on the mini, PaperHub combines USB/FireWire hub with paper tray, and more.
First Mac minis in classroom a big hit, Jeff Adkins, Mac Lab Report, 05.25. They're tiny, affordable, and much more powerful than anything else in this classroom.
Of mice and keyboards, Dan Knight, Mac Musings, 05.25. There are better choices than Apple's mouse and keyboard.
The First Macs: 1984 to 1986, Michel Munger, Orchard, 05.23. The original Mac, two 512K Macs, the Mac Plus, and competition from the Apple II side.
Tiger feedback and tips, IRC channel for low end Macs, big problems with SilverKeeper, and more, Charles W Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 05.23. Positive feedback on OS X 10.4.1, a tip for using Spotlight, DiskWarrior updates, getting inside a 9500, and where to get WordPerfect for Mac for free.
iPod + washing machine = disaster, possible UK iPod tax, Xbox 360 May be iPod compatible, and more, Charles W Moore, iPod News Review, 05.20. Also second iPod manufacturer, 50 fun things to do with your iPod, Tiger compatible utilities, and much more.
Is the Mac mini as disposable as a low end PC?, Adam Robert Guha, Apple Archive, 05.20. Entry-level Windows PCs are essentially disposable commodities. Is the Mac mini any different?
Tiger disk utility warning, battery powered Mac mini, $100 education rebate, Mac satellite internet service, and more, Charles W Moore, Mac News Review, 05.20. Also DiskWarrior updated for Tiger, best Power Mac G5 boot drive, overnight power supply repair service, new mini-matching drive enclosures, and more.
Biggest and fastest notebook hard drives, best laptop for blogging, new scrolling tool, Linux on a PowerBook, and more, Charles W Moore, The 'Book Review, 05.20. Also SuperDrive upgrade for iBook G4, LapWorks laptop desk, extending AirPort, Palm's LifeDrive, forthcoming 19" Dell laptop, bargain 'Books from $30 to $1,599, and more.
Special Report: Mac OS X 10.4.1 Update, Charles W Moore, Mac News Review, 05.18. What the OS X 10.4.1 Update is supposed to fix and where to find it.
3 GHz PowerPC game console madness, Anne Onymus, Rumor Mill, 05.18. $400 game systems are going to have far more power than most Macs. How can we take advantage of that power?
Hands on: A new PowerBook with Tiger, Jeff Adkins, Mac Lab Report, 05.18. The new 15" PowerBook has some nice improvements over the titanium model, and Tiger is icing on the cake.
Tiger: Lots to like, but some annoyances as well, Alan Zisman, Mac2Windows, 05.18. Tiger seems to be faster and has some great new features, but there are a few things to watch out for as well.
Mac vs. PC metaphors, uControl for trackpad scrolling, less costly G4 for iMac A-D, SilverKeeper feedback, and more, Charles W Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 05.16. Free trackpad scrolling utility, $160 G4 upgrade for Rev. A-D iMacs, WallStreet display repair, and more on the best Mac keyboard.
2 Apple Failures: Apple III and Lisa, Tom Hormby, Orchard, 05.16. Apple's two not-so-great product lines between the Apple II line and the Macintosh.
Bigger, faster, more: Enough already!, Ted Hodges, My Turn, 05.16. Stop lusting after new hardware. Dust off your old Macs and see what they're really capable of.
Life beyond Low End Mac, 05.16. When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.
Xbox 360 specs put Power Mac G5 to shame, Dan Knight, Mac Musings, 05.13. It just doesn't seem fair that a gaming system can have a triple-core PowerPC processor running at 3.2 GHz.
Which older Macs are good candidates for Tiger?, Adam Robert Guha, Apple Archive, 05.13. Should you even consider putting OS X 10.4 on a beige G3, tray-loading iMac, clamshell iBook, or PowerBook G3?
Tiger on an iBook, PowerBook wish list, higher capacity battery for 12" PowerBook G4, fastest laptop drive ever, and more, Charles W Moore, The 'Book Review, 05.13. Also PowerLogix upgrades Tiger-friendly, LapCop 'Book recovery, widescreen notebooks to become the norm, bargain 'Books from $280 to $1,599, and more.
Apple ends DIY repairs, does Mac mini kill the used Mac market?, USB drive kit matches Mac mini, and more, Charles W Moore, Mac News Review, 05.13. Also buy a mini or upgrade your Cube, purple Mac mini drive and case mod, Mac mini carputer, 8x dual-layer SuperDrive upgrade for mini, and more.
4 GB iPod mini top choice, iStain theft deterrent, Graphic Cling for iPod, iPod field guide to bird songs, and more, Charles W Moore, iPod News Review, 05.13. Also iPod history, iPod heat, car gizmos, cooking with iPod, perfect iPod bag, bluetooth headphones, waterproof housing, and much more.
The used Power Mac G4 value equation, Mark T Hooker, My Turn, 05.11. The Mac mini completely changes the used Power Mac G4 value equation.
Benchmarking Tiger vs. Panther, Dan Knight, Mac Musings, 05.11. While Macworld is revising their benchmarks for Tiger, other sites are comparing performance of OS X 10.3 and 10.4.
Mac OS X freeware I wouldn't want to be without, and free tech support for OS X, Beverly Woods, Acoustic Mac, 05.11. Four very useful free OS X utilities and a free source for OS X tech support.
Origin of the Apple I and Apple II computers, Tom Hormby, Orchard, 05.09. From the first behemoth computers to the Apple II+, the computer that drove the personal computer revolution.
SilverKeeper: The quintessential free backup utility?, Charles W Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 05.09. LaCie's SilverKeeper is free, and it might be all the backup software you need.
Seven years of iMacs: The more things change...., Dan Knight, Mac Musings, 05.06. Introduced seven years ago as Apple's entry-level computer, the iMac has changed quite a bit over the years.
Tiger: Not yet for me, but bound to draw attention of Windows users, Adam Robert Guha, Apple Archive, 05.06. The old G3 Macs don't have DVD drives, so Tiger will have to wait, but it should tempt Windows users.
Tiger tips; legacy PowerBooks; PowerBook decay; FlashPoint Share Drive for car, camera, and computer; bargain 'Books; and more, Charles W Moore, The 'Book Review, 05.06. Also Daystar upgrades Tiger compatible, PowerBook reviews, QuickerTek antennas for new PowerBooks, bargain 'Books from $500 to $1,750, and more.
Tiger migration guide, AppleTalk change in OS X 10.4, gorgeous wood iMac G5 kiosk, tiny Zipper Pro hard drive, and more, Charles W Moore, Mac News Review, 05.06. Also Tiger on the Mac mini, OWC and Daystar Upgrades 10.4 Compatible, Mac mini makes converts, XtraDrive turns flash cards into flash drives, and more.
iPod compatible car stereo, Hebrew iPod flap, hub doubles as iPod shuffle dock, sync email with MailToPod, hemp cases, and more, Charles W Moore, iPod News Review, 05.05. Also iPods and Bluetooth headphones, iPod coffee table, TuneJuice extra power, RoadTrip!+ charges iPod while you listen in your car, and much more.
After seven years, is the WallStreet PowerBook obsolete?, Dan Knight, Mac Musings, 05.04. Is the seven-year-old PowerBook G3 Series still useful or ready for retirement?
The 2005 eMac and iMac value equation, Dan Knight, Mac Musings, 05.03. The new eMacs and iMacs are faster, but are the close-out 2004 models better buys?
iMac G5/2.0 GHz, 05.03. 200 MHz speed bump, better video, twice as much video RAM, and a dual-layer SuperDrive.
eMac 1.42 GHz, 05.03. A bit faster, twice as much video memory, and a dual-layer SuperDrive.
Mac minis for the classroom despite 'no new Macs' policy, Jeff Adkins, Mac Lab Report, 05.03. The Mac mini is small, affordable, and powerful enough, but it took one more important argument to get them in the classroom.
The Microsoft/Apple religious wars revisited, Charles W Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 05.02. Umberto Eco's decade-old observations on Macs vs. Windows PCs captures some essential truths, remains relevant.