Low End Mac Editorial Archive

December 2008

Apple and Microsoft: Best friends forever?, Frank Fox, Stop the Noiz, 12.24. Shocked that Microsoft has an iPhone app? Microsoft has been working with Apple nearly forever.
Apple hopes for 2009, Ed Eubanks Jr, The Efficient Mac User, 12.24. Things I'd like to see Apple do in the coming year.
Unbuntu Linux and Boot camp make it easy to create a triple boot Mac, Alan Zisman, Mac2Windows, 12.24. Boot Camp makes it easy to install Windows on Intel Macs, and Ubuntu now makes it easy to install Linux to a virtual Windows drive.
Evidence of next iMac and Mac mini with Nvidia graphics, consumer Macs ready for business, and more, Mac News Review, 12.24. Also the beginning of the end for the iMac?, OS X 10.5.6 speeds up graphic performance, the Ultimate Guide to Mac OS X, and more.
More Walmart iPhone evidence, iPhone users prefer WiFi, SimCity for the iPhone, and more, iNews Review, 12.24. Also iPhone 3G dukes it out with BlackBerry Storm, food software and 'Live TV' for the iPhone and iPod touch, chocolate bar case for iPhone 3G, and more.
OS X on netbook guide, fast Intel X25-M SSD benchmarked, Woz joins Axiotron board, and more, The 'Book Review, 12.24. Also multi-touch trackpad update for Boot Camp, Nvidia's 'Intel-thrashing' netbook GPU, Toshiba launches first 512 GB SSD, bargain 'Books from $170 to $2,299, and more.
Why DisplayPort is the video connector for the future, Frank Fox, Stop the Noiz, 12.23. DisplayPort supports multiple displays, combines audio and video on one cable, and costs nothing to use.
The iPod touch will outsell the iPhone, Tim Nash, Taking Back the Market, 12.23. Analysts predicted weak iPod sales, but the iPod touch is taking off. Here's why it's a great alternative to the iPhone for a lot of people.
Notebooks and blackouts, Charles W Moore, 'Book Value, 12.23. When the power goes out, a notebook computer with long-lasting batteries lets you keep working for hours and hours.
New MacBook trackpad takes some getting used to, Alan Zisman, Zis Mac, 12.22. The large glass trackpad is a joy to use in many ways, but it can be frustrating for longtime notebook users and has issues with Boot Camp.
Pixelmator 1.3.2 gains some cool enhancements, Charles W Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 12.22. "Pixelmator works so well now that I've been finding myself using it more and more instead of Photoshop Elements 6."
Practical iMac G3 applications and upgrades, Dan Knight, Mac Musings, 20.12.22. Used G3 iMacs are going for a song these days, but are they worth spending money on, let along upgrading?
Using a different kind of keynote address to drive Apple retail sales, Tim Nash, Taking Back the Market, 12.19. Apple won't be exhibiting at Macworld after January 2009, but it could harness the power of a Steve Jobs keynote in a different way.
iPhone economics, iPhone at Walmart Dec. 28?, Christmas iPhone apps, and more, iNews Review, 12.19. Also how the iPhone changed the mobile industry, Television app for iPhone, aluminum case for 2G iPod touch, and more.
Macs #1 in reliability and support, why Apple can't stop the clones, Apple mudflaps, and more, Mac News Review, 12.19. Also new Mac mini expected at Macworld Expo, 10 ways Windows is better, cleaning the Mighty Mouse trackball, ecofont saves ink, and more.
4 GB RAM problem persists after firmware update, TriBook concept MacBook, DIY Mac netbook, and more, The 'Book Review, 12.19. Also using third-party monitors with 'Late 2008' MacBooks, MacMagSaver protects MagSafe cord, $25 802.11g USB adapter, bargain 'Books from $500 to $2,299, and more.
Picking up a used Power Mac G3 or G4: Is it worth it?, Dan Knight, Mac Musings, 12.18. In some cases, shipping can cost more than the computer itself. Where are the best values?
Love my MacBook Pro, excellent upgrade advice, unexpected Opera 10 Alpha behavior, and more, Charles Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 12.18. Also Firefox 2 and 3 as processor hogs, almost no chance of Snow Leopard for PowerPC Macs, and Eudora withrawal woes.
Vista can offer comparable performance and reliability to Mac OS X, Andrew J Fishkin, Best Tools for the Job, 12.17. Windows PCs are usually hobbled with inefficient antimalware apps and crapware. Remove them, and Vista can hold its own against Mac OS X.
The Psystar drama continues, Frank Fox, Stop the Noiz, 12.17. A look at what is at stake for Apple's reputation and bottom line if Psystar and others are allowed to sell Macintosh clones.
Why Macs cost more than Dells, leaving the Mac for Dell and Ubuntu, and using both platforms, Charles Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 12.17. Readers weigh in on what Apple would have to do to compete with Dell on price, the joys of Ubuntu on an Inspiron, and Dell on the go with a Mac at home.
50 million OS X users and counting, Tim Nash, Taking Back the Market, 12.16. When you add up all the Mac users, the iPhone users, and the iPod touch users, there could easily be 50 million OS X users by year-end.
The 'better safe than sorry' guide to installing Mac OS X updates, Charles W Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 12.16. Most users encounter no problems using Software Update, but some preflight work and using the Combo updater means far less chance of trouble.
Leopard on an 867 MHz G4 trounces Vista on a 2 GHz Core Duo notebook, Simon Royal, Tech Spectrum, 12.16. Apple makes sure that each version of OS X runs well on the minimum supported hardware, while PCs well above minimum spec struggle under Microsoft's latest version of Windows.
MacBook, MacBook Pro, and MacBook Air teething problems and firmware updates, The 'Book Review, 12.16. Also Apple notebooks strong in weak market, CoolBook controls CPU frequency and voltage for cooler running, Logitech's new Comfort lapdesk, bargain 'Books from $500 to $2,299, and more.
The 1 GHz Pismo, the fastest G3 notebook ever, Charles W Moore, 'Book Value, 12.15. Apple never shipped a G3 faster than 900 MHz, but the PowerLogix BlueChip upgrade could bring the Pismo PowerBook to 1 GHz.
How Steve Jobs would save Microsoft from itself, Frank Fox, Stop the Noiz, 12.12. Steve Jobs brought focus back to Apple and would do the same if he ran Microsoft. Let's be grateful that he is running Apple.
Lowdown on Macs and malware, OpenCL spec released, first secure USB Flash Drive for Macs, and more, Mac News Review, 12.12. Also Mac OS 9 still in productive use, OpeniMac clone from Argentina, MacUpdate's $50 holiday software bundle, a hard drive giveaway, and more.
iPhone at Walmart soon?, best way to unlock iPhone, file storage for iPhone, and more, iNews Review, 12.12. Also half of iPod owners could face hearing loss, anti-radiation chip for mobile phones, Santa software, battery doubles iPhone 3G life, and more.
iMac Rev. B nightmares, thousands vs. millions of colors performance, and unsupported Leopard, Dan Knight, Low End Mac Mailbag, 12.11. Problems restoring a Rev. B iMac, color depth and graphics performance, and more unsupported Leopard reports.
The best alternatives to Apple's USB keyboards, Charles W Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 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.
Keeping those old Macs useful, David Passell, My Turn, 12.10. Long a fan of old Macs, the author oversees a computer recycling project that can repurpose most older Macs.
8 GB partition issue impacts OS 9, RAM for G3 iMacs, success with Open Firmware hack, and more, Dan Knight, Low End Mac Mailbag, 12.10. Partitions over 8 GB can cause problems in the classic Mac OS, more unsupported Leopard reports, another vote against the iPhone, and millions vs. thousands of colors.
Bringing G3 iMacs and other G3 Macs into the Tiger Age, Dan Knight, Mac Daniel, 12.07. Tips on hard drives, memory, WiFi, and getting Mac OS X 10.4 installed on G3 iMacs and other older G3 Macs.
Why I can't buy an iPhone, and what I did about it, John Hatchett, My Turn, 12.07. Thanks to Apple's exclusive iPhone deal with AT&T and no local AT&T wireless coverage, the author had to find a different solution.
iPods, notebooks, and other modern electronics more readily replaced than repaired, Adam Robert Guha, Apple Archive, 12.07. Whether it's an intermittent failure or a broken display cable, more often than not it's cheaper to replace a broken electronics device than repair it.
Working with vintage Macs, Adam Rosen, Adam's Apple, 12.07. Tips for dealing with dead PRAM batteries, failed drives, connecting monitors, networking, swapping out parts, and more.
Weak AirPort Extreme, Open Firmware hack, deleting old Systems, and spacing problems in Pages, Dan Knight, Low End Mac Mailbag, 12.07. Fixing a weak signal in AirPort Extreme, thoughts on the Open Firmware Leopard install hack, when it's safe to delete an old System, and line spacing issues in Pages.
MacBook Pro 'absolutely flies', not just for pros; mobile 'Penryn' to debut in January; and more, The 'Book Review, 12.07. Also 8 steps to buying a MacBook, MacBook nano "short of a sure thing" at Macworld Expo, more LED backlighting expected from Apple, Hitachi vs. Seagate 7200 rpm drives, bargain 'Books from $200 to $2,688, and more.
Mac hits 6.8% share on Net, Intel iMac screen problems, Classic on Leopard, and more, Mac News Review, 12.07. Also adding hierarchical menus to the Leopard Dock, speeding up Leopard with less colors, a new OS X email client, and Parallels Premium Edition.
Faking out the Leopard installer with Open Firmware, Dylan McDermond, Unsupported Leopard, 12.06. You don't have to hack the installer to make the Mac OS X 10.5 installer run on sub-867 MHz G4 Macs by using this simple Open Firmware trick.
The Swiss Army knife of notebook Macs, John Hatchett, My Turn, 12.06. The 2000 Pismo was the high point of PowerBook design and flexibility with a great keyboard, expandsion bays, two PC Card slots, and a wonderful curvaceous design.
AT&T's $39 iPhone exchange fee, Juice Pack double's iPhone time, unlocked iPhones, and more, iNews Review, 12.06. Also PC Magazine finds iPhone 'full of contradictions', using the iPhone in Canada, color earphones, iPhoneDrive updated, translation software, and more.
Fast, compact, light, quiet, cool, long battery life, large screen, affordable: You can't have it all, Andrew J Fishkin, Best Tools for the Job, 12.05. Notebook design involves trade-offs. Small, light, and quiet means a smaller screen, lower capacity batteries, and a slower, cooler running CPU.
Info-Mac reloaded, Rick Lawson, Pioneers in Mac Development, 12.05. The oldest online Mac community and software archive is back after a two-year hiatus.
Old Macs are practical, not just nostalgic, Chris Kilner, My First Mac, 2007.12.05. 10 Macs, five monitors, and two printers off for recycling, but still a dozen Macs at home for fun, nostalgia, and troubleshooting.
From the familiarity of Windows to the power of Mac, why 867 MHz for Leopard, and more, Dan Knight, Low End Mac Mailbag, 12.05. Also the DAV connector on the Power Mac 8600, really old Mac System software, Aperture and vampire video, using an ImageWriter printer with USB, and more.
Why we acquire Macs, John Carlson, My Turn, 12.04. Mac users are an odd breed - we tend to buy new computers without ever tossing out our old Macs.
An indigo iBook: My first modern notebook Mac, Tommy Thomas, Welcome to Macintosh, 12.04. The clamshell iBook majors in ruggedness, has a handle to increase portability, and can even run OS X (slowly) with just 128 MB of RAM.
MacBook replaces PowerBook: The name grows on you, Trevor Wale, One More Thing, 12.04. A PowerBook by any other name would be as sweet, but it took a while to get comfortable with the new MacBook name.
Mac approaching 25th birthday, OS 8 on Performa 630, Mac Classics in use 24/7, and more, Dan Knight, Low End Mac Mailbag, 12.04. Also more thoughts on vampire video, realigning the Road Apple label, the fate of DropStuff, and an unidentified cable in a Power Mac 8600.
Switching to Mac tripled my productivity, Ted Bragg, My First Mac, 12.03. Tired of losing work and tech support, Bragg bought an iMac, switched to Mac versions of his apps, and tripled his output the first year.
Leopard on a G3 iMac (with a G4 upgrade), flashed video card problems, the cheapest G4 Mac, and More, Dan Knight, Low End Mac Mailbag, 12.03. More unsupported Leopard reports point to the importance of a good video card, success on a CRT iMac with a G4/550 upgrade, and whether Sawtooth or Quicksilver is a better buy.
Cooler laptops, a G4 recording studio, a fast Unicode text editor, and phantom email, Charles Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 12.03. Quieter, cooler running notebooks, a Power Mac G4-based recording studio using Mac OS 9, a fast text editor with great Unicode support, and phantom email in Mail in OS X 10.3.9.