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News & Opinion
How (and Why) to Upgrade Memory in Your MacBook
Pro
mac.tutsplus.com's Toby Seers has posted an illustrated tutorial
that walks you through the complete process of installing new RAM in
your MacBook Pro - from
deciding which RAM to purchase to how to tell if the installation
worked.
Upgrading your computer's RAM, especially if you have only the
usually marginal base RAM capacity the machine shipped with, is
generally regarded as offering the biggest performance boost for dollar
spent of any sort of computer hotrodding tweak.
Adding more RAM will make it possible to run more applications
simultaneously without slowdowns and stretch intervals between restarts
to clear the memory heap, as well as boosting Finder responsiveness,
especially when switching between/among applications.
Adding more RAM in a current or recent MacBook Pro is a reasonably
straightforward procedure, but Seers' tutorial is well worth a read
before proceeding to help you avoid any pitfalls or surprises.
Editor's note: I wouldn't want to try to get along with less than 4
GB of RAM, which is what I currently have in my MacBook, and I could still
use more. cm
Publisher's note: My Mac
mini (essentially a MacBook configured for a desktop case) came
with 1 GB of memory, which made it painfully slow when running almost
anything beyond a single browser. A faster hard drive helped a bit, but
going to maximum memory, 3 GB in my case, unleashed its full
potential.
We highly recommend you check system
profiles on Low End Mac as well as visiting Other World Computing's
memory page to learn how much RAM your Mac can support. In some
cases, it can support double what Apple originally specified as its
maximum. dk
Link: How to Upgrade the
RAM in Your MacBook Pro
Latest Firmware Update for 13" 2012 MacBook Pro
Fixes 6 Gb/s SSD Performance Issues
The OWC Blog says:
"When the 2012 MacBook Pros were released they found that SATA 3.0
SSDs - such as the OWC Mercury EXTREME Pro 6G and the Mercury Electra
6G - exhibited poor performance and reliability in the 13-inch model
when installed in the optical bay via an OWC Data Doubler, while the
same SSDs in the 15-inch model worked just fine.
"The report notes similarity to what happened in 2011, in which case
the 13-inch MBP models were the only ones able to handle their Mercury
6G SSDs in the optical bay at first. Eventually, though, an Apple
firmware update resolved the problems in the 15-inch and 17-inch models
in the main drive bay.
"As it turns out, the same thing happened to the 2012 models, but
Apple's EFI Update 2.9 for MacBook Pro appears to have fixed the
problem, so if you have a 13-inch 2012 MacBook Pro and want to install
an OWC 6G SSD in your optical bay via a Data Doubler, head over to
Software Update and run the EFI Updater."
Link: EFI Update 2.9
Resolves OWC 6 Gb/s SSD Performance Issues in 13-inch 2012 MacBook
Pro
MacBook Air to Hold 39% of Slim Notebook Market in
2012, Drop to 28% in 2013
DigiTimes' Aaron Lee and Adam Hwang report that Apple's hot-selling
MacBook Air is projected
to corner a global market share of 39% for slim notebooks in 2012, but
that Taiwan-based notebook makers are predicting the Air's market share
will slip to (a still more than respectable) 28% in 2013 due to
increasing sales of Ultrabooks, which are projected by Taiwan's
Topology Research Institute to account for 14.6% of total notebook
globally in 2013, up from 8% in 2012.
That, of course, doesn't necessarily mean that MacBook Air sales
volume will drop in 2013, but more likely a sales recovery in the
recently moribund PC laptop category that has thus far resulted in
Ultrabook sales much lower than Intel's projections. A rising tide
should lift all laptop-makers' boats, including Apple's.
The article also notes that Taiwan-based Quanta Computer and Foxconn
Electronics (Hon Hai Precision Industry) are Apple's subcontractors for
assembly of MacBook Air and MacBook Pro laptops, currently representing
80% and 20%, respectively of the total MacBook shipment volume, but
that another Taiwan-based ODM - Pegatron - is negotiating to produce
the MacBook Air and has undertaken trial production in 2012, with
insider sources speculating that Pegatron may obtain orders for 18% of
MacBook production, mostly MacBook Airs, in 2013.
Link: MacBook Air Set to
Attain 39% of Global Slim Notebook Market in 2012, 28% in 2013, Say
Taiwan ODMs (subscription required)
Apple Warns Retina Display MacBook Pro Users
Against Palm Rest Covers
A new Apple Knowledge Base article says that leaving palm rest
covers or other material on the palm rest surface of the Retina Display MacBook
Pro could result in damage to the display when you close it.
The memo notes that in order to enable thin design, the clearance
between the display and the palm rest area is engineered to tight
tolerances. Palm rest covers add thickness that may interfere with the
designed resting position of the display, and best practice is to keep
the palm rest clear of any material.
Interestingly, this recalls an issue with the radically slimmed-down
Lombard and Pismo editions of the PowerBook
G3 on the cusp of Y2K, which were plagued with marks on the screen from
too-close proximity of the keyboard to the display when the 'Books were
closed.
Link: MacBook Pro
(Retina, Mid 2012): Do Not Use Palm Rest Covers
Reviews
The Register Reviews 13" MacBook Air
The Register's Andrew Orlowski notes that prior to the MacBook Air's
debut in 2008, sub-3 lb. notebooks you could comfortably pick up with
one hand (primarily netbooks) had been seriously compromised
performance-wise. The original
Air was a paradigm-changer, although that wasn't immediately
obvious, and Orlowski deems the 13" Air, first unveiled just shy of two
years ago, the first Mac to be both seriously portable at under 3 lb.
and have a decent display featuring 1440 x 900 resolution -
characteristics that makes it "a strong candidate to be the nicest
laptop" he's ever used.
The third iteration of
the MBA 13-incher got a healthy speed boost with the same Intel Ivy
Bridge CPUs found in the latest Ultrabooks - plus USB 3.0 at last, but
otherwise virtually identical to the model it superseded.
Orlowski notes that with the OS X 10.8.2 Mountain Lion update,
gentle use with the screen at one-half or one-third brightness yields
in excess of seven hours battery life.
On the downside, he notes the unavailability of a matte display
option and no Gigabit Ethernet port, and that Apple's kludgy workaround
- a USB-to-Ethernet dongle - is 10/100, not Gigabit. To get Gigabit
Ethernet, you'll need to cough up for the Thunderbolt adapter.
Then there's Apple's inflated memory upgrade prices at about three
times the going rate, and the limited storage capacities of the
available SSD storage drives.
Link:
Apple MacBook Air 13in Review
Tech Trends
Ultrabook Sales Forecast Slashed as Pricing and
Marketing Disappoint
PR: Amid high pricing and a lack of effective marketing to
draw consumers' attention away from other hot-selling mobile gadgets,
global Ultrabook shipments are falling short of expectations in 2012,
prompting market research firm IHS to cut its near-term forecast for
the next-generation notebooks.
An estimated 10.3 million Ultrabooks will ship worldwide in 2012,
according to an IHS iSuppli Compute Platforms Topical Report from
information and analytics provider IHS. That's down from the previous
forecast issued earlier this year of 22 million units. In the newly
adjusted forecast for 2012, more than half of the shipments for the
year are expected to come in the fourth quarter.
Along with the revised figures for 2012, shipments have also been
modified for the next year, projected to rise to 44 million in 2013,
down from the older outlook of 61 million.
The figure below presents the IHS forecast for Ultrabook shipments
in 2012 and 2013.
"There once was a time when everyone knew the 'Dude
you're getting a Dell' slogan. Nowadays no one can remember a tag line
for a new PC product, including for any single ultrabook," says Craig
Stice, senior principal analyst for compute platforms at IHS. "So far,
the PC industry has failed to create the kind of buzz and excitement
among consumers that is required to propel ultrabooks into the
mainstream. This is especially a problem amid all the hype surrounding
media tablets and smartphones. When combined with other factors,
including prohibitively high pricing, this means that ultrabook sales
will not meet expectations in 2012."
Even so, challenges stemming from the nebulous marketing and
unappealing price surrounding the ultrabook can be overcome, IHS
predicts, paving the way for shipments to rise by more than 300% in
2013. Growth is also expected to continue for the foreseeable future,
with shipments expanding to 95 million units by 2016. This will drive
long-term growth for devices used in ultrabooks, including motion
sensors.
Ultra-Priced Ultrabooks?
Beyond the marketing shortcomings, Ultrabooks need to get more
systems down to the $600 price range in order to hit the volume level
needed to enter the mainstream, down from prices at the $1,000 level
now. If Ultrabooks using the new Windows 8 operating system come close
to the $600-$700 range next year, while adding in an attractive new
consumer feature such as touchscreen, a good chance exists for strong
sales in 2013. If not - and Ultrabooks stay at the $1,000 level - their
sales will continue to struggle in 2013 as they must compete against
lower-priced options, such as tablets and smartphones.
"With the economy languishing, ultrabook sellers may have trouble
finding buyers at the current pricing,especially with fierce
competition from new mobile computing gadgets such as the iPhone 5,
Kindle Fire HD and forthcoming Microsoft Surface," Stice says.
Another factor causing IHS to reduce the forecast is Intel's
increasingly stringent set of definitions for Ultrabooks. Based on
these designations, many notebooks once called Ultrabooks now are being
classified as ultrathins.
Wait Till Next Year
While Intel Corp. hasn't given up on Ultrabooks in 2012, the
microprocessor giant at its Intel Developer Forum (IDF) this month
turned its attention to next year, when it believes that everything
will come together with the mid-2013 introduction of the company's new
microprocessor - dubbed Haswell. Intel described 2013 as a
once-in-a-decade opportunity for companies to reinvent the PC, with its
new Haswell microprocessor catalyzing the Ultrabook revolution.
Haswell, Intel's fourth-generation core microprocessor family, will
offer better performance with lower power consumption. Because of these
attributes, Haswell will serve as the main core microprocessor for
Ultrabooks. The microprocessor will provide Intel Identity Protection
Technology to improve security, and will also support multiple displays
and high-definition 4K monitors with DisplayPort 1.2.
New Features Are Coming, but Will They Spark Interest?
Beyond the ultrathin and ultralight form factor, Intel at IDF
focused on new consumer-friendly features to enhance the attraction of
Ultrabooks.
The focus at several briefings centered on touchscreen technology in
Ultrabooks, in conjunction with the Windows 8 launch in October. Intel
at IDF claimed there are 40 Ultrabook designs in progress with
touchscreens.
The company also provided a survey showing that when consumers are
given a choice, touch was chosen as a desired feature 80% of the
time.
Intel highlighted convertible form factors for Ultrabooks, calling
them the best of both worlds. These notebooks with detachable screens
work as a traditional clamshell mobile PCs, but they can also be
converted into tablets by pulling the screen off the keyboard.
Other prominent new features being incorporated into the
next-generation Ultrabooks are voice recognition; security features;
multiple sensors including GPS, accelerometers and gyroscopes; and
hand-gesture recognition, an attractive option for the gaming
market.
iSuppli provides comprehensive Home & Consumer Electronics
portal at IHS iSuppli offers the latest broadband industry trends, with
in-depth broadband research analysis.
Link:
Dude, You're Not Getting an Ultrabook
Lots of $699 Ultrabooks Expected in 2013
DigiTimes' Aaron Lee and Adam Hwang report that PC vendors are
expected to offer an array of entry-level Ultrabook or ultra-like
sub-$699 laptop models for sale as shipment volume generators,
alongside high-end Ultrabook models selling for $1,000-plus in a bid to
maintain profitability in 2013, according to sources at Taiwan-based
supply chain makers.
Lee and Hwang note that the high-end ultrabooks will feature
aluminum unibody or carbon-fiber chassis, SSDs, lithium polymer
batteries, and Windows 8 touchscreens, while the lower-end models will
use fiberglass-reinforced plastic or metal-plastic hybrid chassis, slim
hard drives or hybrid drives, conventional batteries, and non-touch
screens in order to minimize production costs to keep retail prices at
or below $699.
Link: Many US$699
Ultrabook Models to Be Available in 2013, Say Taiwan Makers
(subscription required)
Products & Services
Matrox Graphics: Transform Your Laptop or Desktop
into a Triple-Monitor Platform
PR: Matrox Graphics Inc. have announced the Matrox
TripleHead2Go Digital SE external multi-monitor adapter, which expands
your system's single-video output into an immersive triple-monitor
setup so that you see and do more.
This new Graphics eXpansion Module (GXM) connects to a compatible
system's DisplayPort or Mini DisplayPort video output or Thunderbolt
port and lets you add three external DVI monitors, each with maximum
resolutions of either 1920 x 1080 @ 50 Hz (PC) or 1360 x 768 @ 60 Hz
(Mac).
New High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection (HDCP) compliance
meanwhile enables the playback of copy-protected content, such as
Blu-ray discs, across all three monitors.
Compatible with a wide range of GPUs running under Mac or
Windows, TripleHead2Go Digital SE yields a cost-effective multi-monitor
platform for office, trading, digital signage, CAD, ProAV, houses of
worship, content-creation, and simulation-training applications.
"We're pleased to expand our TripleHead2Go product line," says
Caroline Injoyan, Business Development Manager, Matrox Graphics Inc.
"TripleHead2Go Digital SE features improved usability for our
customers, offering a simple and easy way to add three displays to a
notebook or desktop PC. TripleHead2Go Digital SE is a versatile product
that delivers an excellent multi-monitor setup from basic office
applications to high-end 3D simulation and training environments its
unique design leverages the GPU performance of the system to deliver
uncompressed graphics and video across all three displays a true
multi-display solution."
Additionally, accompanying Matrox PowerDesk desktop management
software (available for Windows and Macs) lets you optimize your
multi-monitor experience through the customization of where and how
applications open up among a vast array of other settings. Bezel
Management, one of PowerDesk's many features available under Microsoft
Windows, compensates for the gap in an image resulting from the bezels
of adjacent monitors. TripleHead2Go Digital SE consequently delivers
captivating digital signage, immersive simulation, and expansive gaming
across multiple monitors.
Multi-GXM support, another feature designed to maximize your
workspace, enables two TripleHead2Go Digital SE's to be connected to
one system under Windows. Users can then operate up to six external
monitors at once and create visually stunning video wall setups or
multiscreen presentations, further illustrating the TripleHead2Go
Digital SEs value and versatility as a key building block of your next
ProAV installation.
Features
- Lets you connect up to three monitors to the single DisplayPort or
Mini DisplayPort video output, or Thunderbolt port, of your system
- Creates a stretched desktop with a maximum resolution of 5760 x
1080 (3x 1920 x 1080) across three displays or 3840 x 1200 (2 x 1920 x
1200) across two
- Uses your system's existing GPU to deliver a solid platform for
office, 3D design, multimedia and digital signage applications
- Open an application on each display or span one across multiple
screens
- HDCP compliance for protected content playback
- Works with displays and projectors
- Experience Surround Gaming by expanding supported 3D games across
three monitors to achieve a much wider in-game field of view
- Matrox Bezel Management compensates for monitor bezel gaps to bring
realism to gaming and digital signage (Available under Windows
only)
- Quick and easy to install - there's no need to open the computer
case or insert components
- Spans taskbar across monitors for easy access to all your open
applications
- Runs in clone mode and shows the same content on all displays
- Includes Matrox PowerDesk software to easily manage your desktop
configuration
- External device that won't void your system warranty
- Expand your Windows desktop further by connecting a second
TripleHead2Go Digital SE to your graphics hardware to support up to six
monitors at a time
- PC and Mac compatible
The new Matrox TripleHead2Go Digital SE will be available as of
November 2012 at the MSRP of $279 for purchase from authorized Matrox
resellers worldwide or, in North America and Europe, directly from Matrox.
Publisher's note: Matrox makes several different TripleHead2Go
models as well as a range of DualHead2Go adapters. In addition to
MacBooks, they also support iMacs, Mac minis, and Mac Pros.
dk
Link: TripleHead2Go
Digital SE
HDMI Version of Matrox DS1 Thunderbolt Docking
Station for MacBook Pro and Air
PR: Today's MacBooks are powerful enough to satisfy the
computing needs of most corporate users, but their cumbersome
connectivity is inconvenient, and their small screens and keyboards
make them uncomfortable to use in the office all day.
The new Matrox DS1 docking
station addresses that.
Matrox have introduced the Matrox DS1 series of Thunderbolt docking
stations that brings the productivity benefits of a desktop computer to
MacBook Pro and MacBook Air users. From a single Thunderbolt
connection, users can add multiple peripherals including either a large
DVI or an HDMI display, a full-size keyboard, and a mouse. Matrox DS1
adds gigabit Ethernet access to laptops that don't have a built-in
gigabit Ethernet port, transferring data 18 times faster than WiFi and
offloading data traffic from the corporate WiFi network.
Matrox DS1 gives you the most from your Thunderbolt port by letting
you add a large display, a full size keyboard, a mouse, a wired
network, and many other peripherals using a single cable. In an
instant, you enjoy all the productivity benefits of a desktop computer,
saving time every day by being enabled to come and go without
disconnecting and reconnecting all your devices. One Thunderbolt
connection does it all, taming the cable tangle cluttering your desktop
and saving wear-and-tear on your laptop. Enjoy the productivity
benefits and superior comfort of an affordable full-size display.
Choose Matrox DS1/DVI for use with DVI displays or Matrox DS1/HDMI for
use with HDMI displays with embedded audio.
One SuperSpeed USB 3.0 port
is located on the front of the unit, plus two two additional USB 2.0
ports let you connect anything else you need - a full-size keyboard and
mouse, printer, scanner, storage, smart phone, optical drive, camera,
flash drive, and other peripherals. A microphone input, and a
speaker/headphone output are also provided. With its solid aluminum
construction and space-saving design, Matrox DS1 harmonized nicely with
Apple's aluminum design motif, and is ideal for office, dorm, or home
use.
"In response to the feedback we received after our original
announcement of Matrox DS1 in June, we will now be offering two
versions, one for use with DVI monitors and another for HDMI displays,"
says Charles Amyot, product manager at Matrox. "MacBook Pro and MacBook
Air users can now come and go without disconnecting and reconnecting
all their peripherals, tame the cables cluttering their desks, and save
wear-and-tear on their laptops. One Thunderbolt connection to Matrox
DS1 does it all."
Matrox DS1 is the last device in your Thunderbolt chain.
Conveniently positioning your Thunderbolt storage with pass-through
between your laptop and your DS1 lets you easily remove just your
laptop, or your laptop plus storage, with a single disconnection.
Priced at $249 (219, 169) not including local taxes and delivery,
Matrox DS1/DVI and Matrox DS1/HDMI will be available through a
worldwide network of authorized dealers in December 2012.
Link: Thunderbolt Docking
Station for MacBook Pro and MacBook Air
Pelican ProGear Sport Backpack Line
PR: Pelican Products, Inc., specialist in the design and
manufacture of advanced lighting systems and high-performance
protective case solutions, has announced the introduction of Pelican
ProGear Sport Backpacks as the newest additions to its
newly-established consumer products line, Pelican ProGear.
"All Pelican ProGear products are built especially for the digital
protection and extreme performance needs of everyone from the average
consumer to the adventure-seekers, and the new Sport Backpacks are no
exception," says Lyndon Faulkner, President and CEO of Pelican
Products, Inc. "Each bag is created with the same Pelican-tough DNA as
found in our products used by the military. We are incorporating this
professional protection into our consumer goods."
Following the success of its initial backpack line - the Pelican
ProGear Urban Backpacks - under the new consumer brand, the new Pelican
ProGear Sport Backpacks also encompass either a Pelican hard case or
rigid compartment to fit and protect personal electronics and
belongings.
The integrated crushproof Pelican case in the Elite models features
the same military-grade attributes as Pelicans classic case products
(including a watertight O-ring seal with automatic pressure
equalization valve), and is designed to safeguard laptops, MacBook
computers, netbooks, e-readers, tablets, keyboards and other
accessories. Also included with Elite models is a set of four adhesive,
memory foam buffers, which secure the laptop or tablet for safe
travel.
The new Pelican ProGear Sport Backpacks are offered to consumers in
a range of colors (black, orange and green) and lightweight styles. The
collection appeals to an active demographic with light ripstop nylon
and a slimmer case design that favors Ultrabooks.
Pelican ProGear Sport Backpack models include:
S100 Elite Laptop
Backpack
Protects all 15-inch laptops and 17-inch Apple products with a
built-in, watertight, crushproof Pelican case. The S100 Elite Laptop
Backpack also features bottom-expanding sling storage in addition to
its top-loading TSA-ready main storage compartment. Other features
include a rigid front plate and ergonomic ventilated back panel for
tablet device protection - MSRP: $269.95.
S140 Elite Tablet
Backpack
An integrated watertight and crushproof Pelican case safeguards
tablets, notebooks and small netbooks, while also fitting most tablet
keyboards. It also features a rigid front plate, ergonomic ventilated
back panel and SureGrip soft rubber handle. Additional features include
top-loading TSA-ready main storage compartment as well as a padded
lumbar storage cavity - MSRP: $239.95.
S105 Laptop
Backpack
Shielding 15-inch and 17-inch laptops and Apple products, the
impact-protective frame provides 360-degree protection allowing the
S105 to be lightweight, yet still provide superior performance.
Additional features include a rigid front plate, integrated laptop
sleeve and ergonomic design with deep-ventilated channel back panel
MSRP: $139.95.
S145 Tablet
Backpack
Includes an impact-protected tablet sleeve with rigid front plate
offering an additional storage option to the 21-liter main storage
unit. The S145 also features an ergonomic, fast-access/top-load design
with deep-ventilated channel back panel MSRP: $109.95.
The S100 Elite Laptop Backpack, S140 Elite Tablet Backpack, S105
Laptop Backpack and S145 Tablet Backpack are available
PelicanProGear.com.
Additional available product lines include the Pelican ProGear Urban
Backpacks, Pelican ProGear Digital Protection (Micro Case Series and
Hardback Series), Pelican ProGear 9420 LED Work Light / 9420 XL,
Pelican ProGear Sport Wallet, Pelican ProGear Lighting, and the Pelican
ProGear Elite Coolers.
The Pelican ProGear brand includes new, rugged, protective consumer
products designed to allow users to transport and protect all that they
value, regardless of environmental conditions.
Link: Pelican
ProGear
Bargain 'Books
For deals on current and discontinued 'Books, see our 13" MacBook and MacBook Pro,
MacBook Air, 13" MacBook Pro, 15" MacBook Pro, 17" MacBook Pro, 12" PowerBook G4, 15" PowerBook G4, 17" PowerBook G4, titanium PowerBook G4,
iBook G4, PowerBook G3, and iBook G3 deals.
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