Low End Mac Editorial Archive

September 2009

'Snow Leopard' MacBook insomnia, webmail vs. desktop email, penny a minute dial-up, and more, Charles Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 09.30. Also death of a G3 iMac, end of Flash 9 support on the Internet, Pismo Target Disk Mode failure, and sanitizing keyboards.
Blu-ray playback in Mac OS X: Will it ever happen?, Dan Bashur, Apple, Tech, and Gaming, 09.30. Today's Macs have the power to support Blu-ray, but not the software. And as far as PowerPC Macs are concerned, we'll probably never see Blu-ray playback.
Goldtouch Go! Travel Keyboard: Ergonomics for the road warrior, Charles W Moore, 'Book Value, 09.14. Ergonomic keyboards designed for mobile use are few and far between. This one from Goldtouch is compact, solidly built, and very flexible.
2 Macs, 2 operating systems, 1 mouse, 1 keyboard, Dan Knight, Mac Musings, 09.29. We've made the move to 'Leopard' at Low End Mac headquarters, but we also need 'Tiger' and Classic Mode. Teleport makes it easy to use two Macs side-by-side.
Why the 20" iMac is perfect for home or school, John Hatchett, Recycled Computing, 09.29. The aluminum iMac has plenty of power and screen space, yet it's small enough and light enough to tote from place to place.
Automount OS X home directories using OpenLDAP and Linux, Keith Winston, Linux to Mac, 09.28. It's possible to get an OS X Mac to automatically mount a Linux server using OpenLDAP. The tricky part is finding all the steps needed to make it work.
Free ToyViewer image editor gets major update, Charles W Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 09.28. ToyViewer 5 is the first version designed for Snow Leopard, but the Tiger and Leopard versions seem to suffer in the process.
The best sub-$1,000 Mac notebooks for gamers, Dan Bashur, Apple, Tech, and Gaming, 09.25. We have a tie for the best Mac gaming notebook below $1,000, and also four 'Books that almost made the cut.
5 best sub-$1,000 Mac notebooks for gamers, Dan Bashur, Apple, Tech, and Gaming, 09.25. Good Mac 'Books for gaming start below $300 and cover the G3, G4, and Intel eras.
iPod era ending?, case reduces cellphone radiation, free app allows free calls, and more, iNews Review, 09.25. Also Mariner Calc 2.0, Laridian PocketBible, Earn-O-Meter, Pantone, Peter Rabbit, and other apps, a microcell from AT&T, and more.
Extended coverage for MacBook Air hinge, Mac Portable Retrospective, iBook as netbook, and more, The 'Book Review, 09.25. Also building a Pismo from 3 dead ones, upgrading RAM, buyers interested in Apple tablet, first USB 3.0 ExpressCard adapter, bargain 'Books from $179 to $2,294, and more.
New iMacs and MacBooks soon?, Blu-ray on Macs, looking back at Lisa and Mac Plus, and more, Mac News Review, 09.25. Also 'Snow Leopard' sales data, using FreeHand and AppleWorks with Snow Leopard, affordable Pentax K-x DSLR even comes in red, and more.
Second class software: Now it's Windows' turn, Frank Fox, Stop the Noiz, 09.24. After 20-some years where the Mac version lagged behind the Windows one, if it even existed, the shoe is now on the other foot.
The welcome to wireless broadband letters, Charles W Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 09.23. Charles received a bunch of "welcome to broadband" emails in response to "Charles Moore Finally Gets Broadband!"
Do you trust your email to the Cloud?, Charles W Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 09.22. Webmail is great if you want to access it from more than one computer, but regular email clients have advantages of their own.
5 sub-$100 apps for when iPhoto isn't quite enough, Charles W Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 09.21. iPhoto is great for downloading, organizing, and simple photo tweaks, but sometimes you need a helper app with more powerful tools. These range from free to $90.
Windows woes: A lesson from Boot Camp, John Hatchett, Recycled Computing, 09.21. Getting Windows installed, running, and activated is more work than this Mac user bargained for. Learn from his mistakes.
4 reasons not to go Snow Leopard yet, new iMacs and MacBook soon?, Macs in school, and more, Mac News Review, 09.18. Also Tiger users can go directly to Snow Leopard, HP drivers for OS X 10.6, cheap alternative to iPhoto, new external WD drives for Macs, and more.
Buying MacBook memory, 6 easy 'Book repairs, Taiwan ramps up for Apple tablet, and more, The 'Book Review, 09.18. Also dead MacBook Pro display update, airplane power may not be enough for some MacBook Pro models, premium Windows notebooks, bargain 'Books from $179 to $1,999, and more.
Disconnect iPod safely, extract DVD audio, iPhone 3.1.1 bug, first iPhone keyboard, and more, iNews Review, 09.18. Also Zune HD teardown, solar iPhone charger, new cases for new iPods, and more.
Creative's Vado pocket camcorders now work with Macs, Alan Zisman, Zis Mac, 09.16. Until now, Creative's Vado camcorders didn't play nice with Macs. With the release of Vado Central for Mac, that has finally changed.
Creative's Vado Pocket Camcorders Now Work with Macs
Yes, iTunes 9 will (mostly) run on G3 Macs, John Hatchett, Recycled Computing, 09.16. Apple says iTunes 9 requires a 1 GHz G4 for standard video, but many iTunes features work just fine on a 500 MHz G3 Mac.
Multiple input bug in OS X 10.5.8, where to buy a cheap USB 2 CardBus card, and more, Charles W Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 09.16. Also input bug exists in 10.6, WallStreet has white and multicolor Apple logos, and printing from an old PowerBook.
Apple vs. Microsoft on open source software, Frank Fox, Stop the Noiz, 09.15. While both Microsoft and Apple are involved with open source software, each brings a very different viewpoint to the table.
Charles Moore finally gets broadband!, Charles W Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 09.15. Moore lives in rural Nova Scotia and has been posting to the Mac Web over slow dialup since 1997. Broadband has finally reached his area.
Apple and gaming: Today's reality and tomorrow's dream, Dan Bashur, Apple, Tech, and Gaming, 09.15. By creating a way to play iPhone/iTouch games on Macs and/or Apple TV, Apple could become a dominant player in portable and home-based gaming.
Retro clamshell iBook case returns for modern 'Books, Charles W Moore, 'Book Value, 09.14. Originally designed for the clamshell iBook, the Classic Case from MacCase is back - and just right for 12in and 13in iBooks, PowerBooks, and MacBooks.
Kodachrome, the Olympus Pen, and the new 'Digital Pen', John Hatchett, Recycled Computing, 09.14. Kodachrome was the gold standard in slide films, and Olympus Pen SLRs were a great way to shoot it. The new Olympus E-P1 harks back to that legacy.
OpenCL or DirectX, which is the better technology?, Frank Fox, Stop the Noiz, 09.11. Microsoft has been honing Windows-only DirectX for years now. Does OpenCL even compete?
Boot Camp audio failure, resurrecting MacBook's integrated keypad, new Fin stand, and more, The 'Book Review, 09.11. Also Dell releases thin laptops, 640 GB Spinpoint notebook drive, 24 hour hard drive replacement service, bargain 'Books from $179 to $2,698, and more.
iPod nano Gains videocam, iPod touch drops to $199, iPod shuffle now in color, and more, iNews Review, 09.11. Also 5G iPod nano teardown, watch iPhone video on your TV, swine flu apps, remote control your Mac, work with Office 2007 files, and more.
Snow Leopard 10.6.1 update, security update for Tiger and Leopard, iTunes 9, and more, Mac News Review, 09.11. Also features lost in OS X 10.6, iMac firmware update, Snow Leopard saves energy, build your own OS X 10.6 Hackintosh, and more.
5 best desktop Macs for gaming for under $1,000, Dan Bashur, Apple, Tech, and Gaming, 09.10. You can have a decently configured gaming Mac for as little as $300 - and the ultimate for under $700.
The best desktop Mac for gaming and 3 runners up, Dan Bashur, Apple, Tech, and Gaming, 09.10. The ultimate desktop gaming Mac for under $700 plus three low-end budget contenders.
Cheap USB 2 CardBus solution, OS 9 and Kanga, mobile Mac value, and more, Charles W Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 09.09. Also a look at several options for using an old LocalTalk printer with a Mac running Mac OS X 10.6 'Snow Leopard'.
Microsoft vs. Linux, Dan Knight, Mac Musings, 09.09. Although Linux has just 1% of the market, Microsoft perceives it as a great threat. Why doesn't Redmond see Linux as an opportunity?
OS X 10.5.8 update provides incentive to get 10.6, Charles W Moore, 'Book Value, 09.08. Installing the 10.5.8 update was unproblematic, but one old bug reared its ugly head. Maybe 'Snow Leopard' will fix it....
100 apps incompatible with 'Snow Leopard', Mac mini and SuperDrive firmware updates, and more, Mac News Review, 09.04. Also August market share changes, retrieving a stuck disc, anti-malware in Snow Leopard, USB 3.0 certification begins, and more.
Wake on demand in 'Snow Leopard', extended repair policy for MacBook Air hinges, big drives, and more, The 'Book Review, 09.04. Also Windows 7 great on a MacBook Pro, gScreen preparing dual display notebook, free OS X 10.6 deal from QuickerTek, bargain 'Books from $179 to $2,294, and more.
Sept. 9 iPod event, Whoopi and the iPhone, FoodGauge helps with nutrition, eco-driving, and more, iNews Review, 09.04. Also Apple expected to go with multiple carriers in 2010, solar charging case for iPod touch, Vonage coming to the iPhone, and more.
Blue clamshell iBook ready for action, John Hatchett, Recycled Computing, 09.03. Introduced nine years ago, the first iBook with FireWire is sturdy, a decent performer, and looks like no other laptop.
Competing visions: Apple, AT&T, Google, the FCC, and Google Voice, Tim Nash, Taking Back the Market, 09.03. Apple wants to sell hardware, Google wants to sell advertising, and AT&T wants to sell you minutes. Some conflict is inevitable.
Windows 7: MIcrosoft still copying Apple's cats, Frank Fox, Stop the Noiz, 09.03. Microsoft has been copying Mac features since Windows 1.0, and Windows 7 will be no exception to this copycat behavior.
'Snow Leopard' vs. LocalTalk, new vs. close-out MacBook value, and more, Charles W Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 09.02. Also LC III usability in the 21st Century, Pismo upgrades, and more on Pismo FireWire Disk Mode problems.
Why is it called Windows 7?, Dan Knight, Mac Musings, 09.02. Ever since Windows 1.0 shipped in November 1985, Microsoft has maintained a consistent version numbering scheme. XP was 5.1, Vista 6.0, and 7 comes next.
PowerBook 180 reincarnated, Leo Titus LeBron V, Collection Spotlight, 09.01. The dead PB 180 had once been king of the PowerBook line. Thanks to a PowerBook 165 and some part swaps, it was brought back to life.
Affordable, ultralight 13" laptop case perfect for MacBooks, Charles W Moore, 'Book Value, 09.01. Thin and light $40 notebook sleeve fits MacBook, 13" MacBook Pro, and MacBook Air like a glove.
'Snow Leopard' isn't just an upgrade, Frank Fox, Stop the Noiz, 09.01. Apple is using Mac OS X 10.6 as a tool for selling new Macintosh hardware, since most older Macs can't support all of its features.