Low End Mac Editorial Archive
December 2005
- 2005 was a good year for Apple, Mac Users, and Low End Mac, Dan Knight, Mac Musings, 12.23. It started with the Mac mini, survived the shock of the Intel announcement, and saw the greatest growth in the history of our website.
- Apple to rule notebook roost, PowerBook users most satisfied, ongoing screen problems, and more, Charles W Moore, The 'Book Review, 12.23. Also a pitch for a "cheap" laptop, Nortel to sponsor "One Laptop per Child" initiative, new PowerBooks are winners, The Laptop Stand, bargain 'Books from $319 to $1,299, and more.
- Reasons Apple is better, big mini announcement expected at Expo, a 1.7 GHz dual G4 upgrade, and more, Charles W Moore, Mac News Review, 12.23. Also few PC manufacturers excel, Apple leads the way in consumer electronics, 8 GB flash drive, 2 TB inside a Power Mac G5, and more.
- Picking a Mac mini, Consumer Reports' Mac coverage, and the power of Mac Mail, Ed Eubanks Jr, The Efficient Mac User, 12.09. Further thoughts on choosing a new mini over repairing an old iMac, how Consumer Reports could better cover the Mac, and additional tips for using Apple's Mail app.
- Microsoft, Intel, and the back ends of two horses, Dan Knight, The Lite Side, 12.23. North American railroad gauge is rooted in British tramways, which in turn were based on English wagons, which had to run in the ruts created by Roman chariots. Intel and Microsoft work the same way.
- Apple needs to offer keyboards and mice you won't want to replace, Adam Robert Guha, Apple Archive, 12.23. Apple sells several third-party mice and keyboards at its own stores. Why doesn't AppleDesign and sell a better variety itself?
- A scrounger's guide to equipping the Mac mini: Choices for the budget conscious, Hardy Menagh, Empowered, 12.22. How to add a monitor, mouse, keyboard, and stereo sound to your Mac mini for little or no money.
- 1 GB nano coming?, iPod mini hot on eBay, $10 DIY iPod stand, iDrops iPod polish, iPod workouts, and more, Charles W Moore, iPod News Review, 12.22. Also 'Godcasting' gaining followers, President Bush's iPod, new nano cases and covers, tiny all-in-one iPod speaker system, auto videos at iTMS, and more.
- Will Apple market 'Intel Inside'?; 'Napa' platform popular, but will Apple use it?; and more, Charles W Moore, The Macintel Report, 12.22. Also the pressure is on Apple to release the first Macintel hardware and NEC shows the first 'Yonah' notebook.
- 500 days at the helm: The rise and fall of Gil Amelio, Tom Hormby, Orchard, 12.21. Gil Amelio came to Apple with a reputation earned by turning around National Semiconductor. Little did he suspect that he would be turned out 500 days later.
- Fedora Core and Yellow Dog Linux: Two more good choices for Mac hardware, Leaman Crews, Plays Well with Others, 12.21. Fedora Core Linux is on the leading edge of development, but Yellow Dog Linux has better support for older Mac hardware.
- How Apple could make iBooks and PowerBooks even more attractive, Charles Webb, PowerBook Beat, 12.21. Apple's notebooks designs are aging and ready for an overhaul. Some suggestions for improvements that would help reach a wider audience.
- When did a computer's visual appearance become more important than the hardware inside?, Ted Hodges, Vintage Mac Living, 12.20. Apple's iMac played a big role in moving computers from ugly beige boxes into visual statements.
- Software that worked during my months in Iraq with my PowerBook, Joe Rivera, Mac Fallout Shelter, 12.20. Two operating systems and over a dozen programs that made life better while deployed in Iraq.
- Microsoft to drop Windows support, refocus on core markets, Jeff Adkins, The Lite Side, 11.02. Microsoft to give up on patching Windows, concentrate on Xbox and Office - even port Microsoft Office to Linux.
- Pismo screen, WallStreet keyboard problems; Amplified Bible and MacSword; sorry state of Mac OCR; and more, Charles W Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 12.19. OS X and the "one laptop per kid program", "should I wait for a 64-bit 'Book?," and more.
- The other switchers: Linux users coming to OS X, Kostas Theofilis, Mac Bastion, 12.19. Apple's "Switch" campaign may have aimed for Windows users, but a lot of Linux users are also coming to the Mac platform.
- Simple, cheap, low-end Mac backup addendum, Scott K Brown, Random Advice, 12.19. Oops, step 2 in last week's column (since fixed) wasn't quite right. Here's what it should have said.
- The best browsers for PowerPC Macs and the classic Mac OS, Nathan Thompson, Embracing Obsolescence, 12.16. Two browsers stand out from the pack: iCab 3 is modern and remains under development, and WaMCom brings Mozilla to older Macs.
- The Facebook: A great way for students to connect, Adam Robert Guha, Apple Archive, 12.16. The Facebook makes it easier to get in touch with other students, find those with shared interests, and form study groups.
- Woz slams Apple for 'worst software', FireWire not dead but on life support, 'I Love My Mac' song, and more, Charles W Moore, Mac News Review, 12.16. Also the iMac G5 as a business computer, Samsung's fast graphics memory, using restore discs, Mac mini mounts, and more.
- Intel down on AMD-powered $100 laptop, iBook keyboard devolution, widescreen iBook coming?, and more, Charles W Moore, The 'Book Review, 12.09. Also Quanta to build $100 laptop, PowerBook speed comparison, small EX-Reach keyboard, bargain 'Books from $419 to $1,799, and more.
- Yes, you can get a 'free' Mac mini - but is it worth the hassles?, Hardy Menagh, Empowered, 12.15. You've seen the offers for free iPods, Palms, gift cards, and Mac minis. What's the catch?
- Podcast 'word of the year', nano among best of 2005, 8 GB in an iPod mini, A Christmas Carol for free, and more, Charles W Moore, iPod News Review, 12.15. Also Creative's latest attempt at an "iPod killer", PocketDock giveaway, new iPod cases and covers, iPod guitar lessons, sync lyrics with music, and much more.
- Yonah to launch in January, new Macs to follow?, widescreen iBook rumors, and more, Charles Moore, The Macintel Report, 12.15. Also a Macintel transition special report, Apple shines for Intel, new CPU technology from Intel and AMD, and more.
- Getting Ubuntu Linux up and running on a PowerPC Mac, Leaman Crews, Plays Well with Others, 12.14. Ubuntu may be the easiest Linux to install on your Mac. It only requires you burn one CD and have an Internet connection.
- OS X is holding back the Mac, Dan Knight, Mac Musings, 12.14. As nice as Mac OS X is, Apple's choice of the Mach microkernel makes it slower than it could be.
- iChat with iSight makes for pretty good video conferencing, Jeff Adkins, Mac Lab Report, 12.14. It's not perfect yet, but Apple has given us video chat with high enough quality that it's practical.
- Configuring a PowerBook for months in Iraq without Internet access, Joe Rivera, Mac Fallout Shelter, 12.13. "What do you need to keep yourself entertained and be able to work for months without Internet access? A Mac."
- Radius Rocket: Far more than a Mac accelerator, Tyler Sable, Classic Restorations, 2005.12.13. The unique Radius Rocket has amazing capabilities but challenges the user to take full advantage of them. Here are three modern options.
- Simple, cheap, low-end Mac backup: Do it or else, Scott K Brown, Random Advice, 12.12. It's not a question of if you'll lose your important data, only when. Be prepared - backup regularly.
- Why you should use Mac OS 7.6 to get the most out of vintage Macs, Thomas Ahart, The Productive Mac, 12.12. Although you may be able to run OS 8 or 9 on your old Mac, you'll generally find better performance using Mac OS 7.6.
- Textpander 1.2: A powerful, free text macro utility, Charles W Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 12.05. Macro utilities can make you more efficient and productive, and the latest version of Textpander brings it head-to-head with TypeIt4Me.
- The 'Pismo' PowerBook is a great value and handles Tiger nicely, Charles Webb, PowerBook Beat, 12.09. If you're looking for an affordable PowerBook with FireWire that works comfortably in OS X, the 'Pismo' PowerBook might be just what you need.
- Making Mac Mail work for you, Ed Eubanks Jr, The Efficient Mac User, 12.09. With a few extras, the free Mail application Apple gives you with Mac OS X could be all the email software you need.
- Smooth sailing or choppy seas for Apple's Intel transition?, Adam Robert Guha, Apple Archive, 12.09. Apple's transitions to a PowerPC Mac OS and to OS X have been less then smooth. Can we expect the move to Intel Macs to be any better?
- Negative synergy: Godaddy redirect problematic with Safari, Jeff Adkins, Mac Lab Report, 12.09. Godaddy's redirect service works well with almost any browser, but a lot of Safari users are finding that it doesn't work for them.
- Sub-$900 iBooks?, new PowerBooks 'picture perfect', PatchSleep enables deep sleep on 'Books, and more, Charles W Moore, The 'Book Review, 12.09. Also OS X and 'Books easier on the eyes, filter provides laptop display privacy, LED backlighting shows promise, 10" plastic SVGA display, bargain 'Books from $350 to $1,799, and more.
- Mac mini vs G4/800 dual, completely washable mice, PatchBurn enables unsupported burners, and more, Charles W Moore, Mac News Review, 12.09. Also FastMac cuts drive prices, Iomega's MiniMax drive, 1W AirPort transceiver, SteerMouse driver, Zeta OS comes to US, and more.
- Entourage, the best overall email software on the market, Michel Munger, iBasics, 12.08. Microsoft's email client is easy to use, integrates with Office, is sluggish, and can only be purchased as part of Office.
- Innovative Macintosh System 1.0, Andrew Conachey, Classic Mac Nostalgia, 12.08. The first Mac OS brought a graphical user interface to the masses, and a lot of it looks familiar to long-time Mac users.
- Oboe puts your iTunes on the Internet, first iPod compatible bed, unleash iPod's extended capabilities, and more, Charles W Moore, iPod News Review, 12.08. Also iPod diluting Apple's focus on the Mac, Carleton University offers courses through iTunes, Sonnet iPod battery review, compact AC charger from Griffith, free online video service, and much more.
- January Macintel debut or not, PowerPC and Linux in Apple's future?, Intel's 8-core CPU plans, and more, Charles W Moore, The Macintel Report, 12.08. Also how Apple could combat OS X hacking, Yonah performance preview, Intel's codename plans end Pentium, and more.
- Two browsers, an email client, and a 68k Mac, Nathan Thompson, Embracing Obsolescence, 12.07. WannaBe, iCab, and SweetMail - programs that let your vintage Mac work with the modern Web and current email services.
- Thoughts on two-fingered scrolling, Mighty Mouse, and optical mice, Jeff Adkins, Mac Lab Report, 12.07. A tip about two-fingered scrolling, pros and cons of Apple's Mighty Mouse, and the end of gunked up mechanical mice.
- Using Linux to give an aging Mac more zip, Leaman Crews, Plays Well with Others, 12.07. Older Power Macs and newer versions of OS X can be a sluggish combination. Linux can perk up your old Power Mac and still let you use a graphical interface.
- 10 things new classic Mac owners should know, Paul Brierley, The 'Book Beat, 12.06. New to compact Macs? Ten things you really should know before get too confused.
- Lombard: A great $400 field computer, Joe Rivera, Mac Fallout Shelter, 12.06. Rugged, reliable, and feature-laden, this G3 PowerBook also fully supports OS X and is available at decent prices.
- The Joy of Six: Apple's fast, svelte, reliable, and still usable System 6, Tyler Sable, Classic Restorations, 12.06. System 6 was small enough to run quickly from an 800K floppy yet powerful enough to support 2 GB partitions, 24-bit video, and the Internet.
- 4 offbeat Mac games, John Martorana, That Old Mac Magic, 12.05. A look at Apeiron, Meat Gone Mad, Postman Pat, and Pocket Tanks - four unusual games for Macs new or old.
- Guest PC: A more affordable way to put Windows on your Mac, Alan Zisman, Mac2Windows, 12.05. If you need to run Windows now and then and don't want to buy a Windows computer, Guest PC will let you run Windows on your Mac, albeit slowly.
- MacSword 1.2: A solid free Bible program made even better, Charles W Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 12.05. This free, open source Bible research and study program keeps improving. This time around the search function is vastly improved.
- Firefox 1.5: Getting better all the time, Adam Robert Guha, Apple Archive, 12.02. Whether you use Macs or Windows, there's a faster, modern, and customizable alternative in Firefox.
- 15" PB screen woes, Intel laptops and iBook price cuts in January?, NEC's drive-free laptop, and more, Charles W Moore, The 'Book Review, 12.02. Also debating upgrades, time to retire PowerBook, Newer Tech's battery rebate and recycling program, laptop drive comparison, bargain 'Books from $320 to $1,799, and more.
- 10 things new Macs users should know, first display designed for Mac mini, classic Mac emulator improved, and more, Charles W Moore, Mac News Review, 12.02. Also iMac with iSight 'a new gold standard', a Linux user's take on OS X, LaCie Brick drive looks like building blocks, Guest PC updated, and more.
- The PowerBook 190: Still a great little laptop, Caleb Cupples, My Turn, 12.01. The PowerBook 190 is relatively small, relatively light, fast enough, and cheap enough to carry everywhere.
- Eudora, the Mac's most powerful email client, Michel Munger, iBasics, 12.01. If you're looking for lots of power and don't mind an unconventional interface, give Eudora a try.
- Holiday iPod demand may outstrip supply, knit your own iPod mittens, iPod Book updated, kids' stories, and more, Charles W Moore, iPod News Review, 12.01. Also Navio cloning Apple's FairPlay DRM, Neuros updates recorder for iPod, iWriter iPod notes utility, and PopTune wrapper for video iPod.
- Intro to OS virtualization, flash-based Macs rumored, end of media drives, Intel invests in flash memory, and more, Charles W Moore, The Macintel Report, 12.01. Also BBEdit ready for Macintels, will Apple rush Macintels to market?, and the road ahead for Intel's P4, Celeron, and Centrino.
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