Applelinks Tech Web Reader - Thursday, February 7, 2008
The Fastest Mac Ever
The Top 11 Reasons to Choose Macs over PCs
10.5: Use 4GB of RAM in older MacBook Pros?
Is Linux Really A Better OS Than Windows Or OS X?
Porting OS X to Cheaper PCs: Possible?
Jumping PC Ship For A Mac Can Be Smooth Sailing
Macs Need Security Software, Too
Apple TV for Sunday School?
The Long Slow Winter of Apple '08
iGame Radio Covers Macworld 2008, Previews Drop Point Alaska
New Google Business Software Makes It Easier To Share
Firefox 3 Beta 3 On The Way
The Fastest Mac Ever
Macworld's James Galbraith reports:
We've published our review of the standard configuration of Apple's recently revised Mac Pro line, but that's not the final chapter in the Mac Pro story.
In addition to the eight-core, 2.8GHz model we reviewed, Apple offers three other build-to-order configurations. We've already tested the 3GHz, eight-core Mac Pro and the 2.8GHz, four-core system, and we finally received the last piece of the Mac Pro puzzle—an eight-core 3.2GHz model. As you might expect, this machine, powered by a pair of 3.2GHz 4-core Xeon processors, is the fastest Mac we've tested yet.
For the full review visit here:
http://www.macworld.com/article/131971/2008/02/32ghzmacpro.html
The Top 11 Reasons to Choose Macs over PCs
Low End Mac Guest columnist Frank Fox says:
I love using Macs, but I've never found a "Top 10 Reasons" that didn't have at least a few bogus arguments. It may not be their fault if they haven't used a PC in awhile (ever?). They could be out of touch and using old excuses that no longer apply.
I've compiled 11 up-to-date reasons why Macs are better that gives up the old song and starts a new one.
11. Macs have less software choices.
10. Macs have less software installed.
9. Mac OS X is not out to punish people who install an extra copy.
8. Macs are better at pushing new standards.
7. Macs can run Windows, but PCs cannot (legitimately) run Mac OS X.
6. Steve Jobs is cool and Bill Gates is a dork.
5. Apple seems to have a plan with their product development.
4. In general, Apple has better customers.
3. Macs are both easy and hard to get rid of.
2. You buy a new Mac out of lust and a new PC because your old one is crap.
1. Macs rule.
You can check it out at:
http://lowendmac.com/myturn/0801my/top-11-reasons-to-go-mac.html
10.5: Use 4GB of RAM in older MacBook Pros?
Mac OS Hints contributor Anonymous says:
I'm surprised this one hasn't come up earlier, actually. I recently purchased a 4GB Techworks upgrade kit for my previous-generation (2.33GHz) 17" MacBook Pro. From what I'd read, due to either limitations in the Intel logic board, or limitations in the EFI firmware, I'd only be able to access 3.3GB of it.
Not so. Running 10.5.1 Leopard, after installing the RAM, I found I could address all 4GB of it. As seen in both System Profiler and Activity Monitor, I have the full 4GB available, running in dual-channel mode.
For the full report visit here:
http://www.macosxhints.com/article.php?story=2008013001563240
Is Linux Really A Better OS Than Windows Or OS X?
Mac360's Ron McElfresh says:
In an enlightened world is there such a thing as too much free speech? Take Linux founder Linus Torvalds. Please.
His latest point of view is that parts of Mac OS X are 'utter crap.' Guess what? He doesn't like Windows Vista, either. Surprised?
I suppose we could toss aside Torvalds recent remarks as 'his opinion' and recognize that he's the head of the Linux religion, which isn't making much headway on the desktop against the heathen Windows and enlightened Mac OS X.
Having been a very long time Mac user, a Windows user, and a Linux user, along with various flavors of Unix here and there, I'm willing to defend Torvalds' position against the entrenched opposition.
To read more, click here.
Porting OS X to Cheaper PCs: Possible?
OS Weekly's Brandon Watts says:
Ever since Apple's hardware made the jump to Intel processors, there's been an active community involvement in getting the Intel version of OS X to run on the standard personal computers that the majority of users have. Let's face it, Apple's hardware is nice and shiny, but despite the price drops, it's still more expensive than most of the budget options that are in the market. Adventurous users have been able to successfully install previous versions of OS X on their current computing rigs, and now that Leopard is available, the work continues for version 10.5.....
As nice as it might be to have a version of OS X sanctioned by Apple that could easily be installed on a PC, it doesn't seem as if that's very likely to happen, so the next best thing would be if Apple learned from all of these hacking efforts that there is a market for more affordable Macs, even if this means that they're not high-end.....
To read more, click here.
Jumping PC Ship For A Mac Can Be Smooth Sailing
The Star-Ledger says:
If you're in the market for a new computer, you may be entertaining a question that's pretty close to earthshaking, at least in terms of personal technology: Should you switch to the Macintosh?....
If you've always used Microsoft Windows rather than the Macintosh, the decision may seem as momentous as switching political parties or deciding to root for the Yankees rather than the Mets....
I see fewer hurdles and a lot more benefits to switching. If you plan to buy a new computer, do yourself a favor and at least consider buying a Macintosh.
Though switching isn't for everyone, it's a lot easier now for a number of reasons....
To read more, click here.
Macs Need Security Software, Too
PCMag's Lance Ulanoff says:
Mac users need security software, too. Oh, I know: Mac lovers will respond to this statement by puffing up their chests, raising their chins and sniffing, "Ha, my Mac always has been and always will be virus free. I don't need no stinking security software."
Ah, but you do, folks. You really do.
For the full commentary visit here:
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2256494,00.asp
Apple TV for Sunday School?
Church Media says:
We were talking about installing a traditional closed circuit video system for our Youth Ministry to push out announcements, photos, and videos to our 5-6 classes each Sunday. We would hook up the closed circuit to the existing tv's in the classrooms and a few new tv's in the hall. We would broadcast the same content to all locations.
Then, we wondered... what if we installed an Apple TV in each location and allowed each class to pull content that was relevant to them. They could watch it whenever was convenient for the class and just watch the announcements or videos that were relevant to them.
To read more, click here.
The Long Slow Winter of Apple '08
PCCentral's Noah Kravitz says:
Welcome to The Recession
MacWorld 2008 wasn't the home run Apple Fanboys or Wall Street was hoping for. The economy is somewhere between "slowing" and "tanking" and belts everywhere are starting to tighten. El Steveo even sent a missive out to employees and shareholders asking them to sit tight and weather the storm despite shares in AAPL having dropped more than 35% from their late December flirtation with the $200 mark.
So what's the trendiest tech company - and one of the hottest brands, period - on the plane to do in the face of such economic adversity? Take the tortoise's path: Slow and steady wins the race. Jobs reminded us during his MWSF Keynote that 2008 is 52 weeks long, hinting at many, may new Apple products to come long after the buzz/disappointment of MacBook Air had faded....
The rumor mill is a titter with possible release dates for revamped MacBook Pro notebooks, which is both exciting and something of a no-brainer given the current models' ripe old age of eight months and the debut of multitouch trackpads on the Air. Fashionistas seem pretty happy with Air, while most "hardcore computer users" I've talked to are either disappointed at the lack of a true 12" PowerBook G4 replacement or eagerly anticipating a MB Pro with multitouch.
For the full commentary visit here:
http://www.pbcentral.com/columns/hildreth_kravitz/6feb08.shtml
iGame Radio Covers Macworld 2008, Previews Drop Point Alaska
[Press Release]
iGame Radio, the original Mac game podcast, features a buffet of Macworld 2008 gaming coverage. Host Omaha Sternberg interviews big and not-so-big names in the Mac gaming community and gives her take on how Macworld, and Apple, views Mac games. Plus, a review of Eschalon: Book 1, and a preview of Drop Point Alaska. Listeners can catch the podcasts at iGameRadio.com.
Every year, the Apple faithful travel to San Francisco to hear the blessed Steve Jobs speak about what Apple has in store for them. But what about Mac games? Omaha gives her take on the Mac Games Pavilion, on Jobs' continued lack of coverage of games in his keynote, and the general support for Mac gaming by Mac peripheral businesses.
Omaha also has interviews by industry giants Aspyr Media, Freeverse Software, and Feral Interactive, as well as others, such as Shure, CodeWeavers, Harman, and CCP (the publishers of EVE Online).
Plus, a review of traditional CRPG Eschalon: Book 1, published just recently by Basilisk Games. Eschalon: Book 1 is the first in a series of three games planned in the Eschalon universe. Also, a special preview of Drop Point Alaska, the MacSoft snowboard game exclusive for the Mac.
Omaha will also offer Mac gaming news, commentary, and a selection of music from popular Mac games.
These episodes are available as a basic or enhanced podcast or streaming MP3 on iGameRadio.com, where listeners will also find archives of past broadcasts. QuickTime 5 and above, or iTunes 4.9 or other MP3 enabled software (such as iPodderX), are required for access to the podcasts and MP3 stream. Listeners can also subscribe to the enhanced podcast through the iTunes Music Store, and other popular podcast portal sites.
You can check it out at:
http://www.igameradio.com/
New Google Business Software Makes It Easier To Share
The Associated Press reports:
Google Inc. is introducing an online business software package designed to make it easier for people in the same organization to share documents and information.
For the full report click here.
Firefox 3 Beta 3 On The Way
ZNet's Paula Rooney reports:
The targeted release date for Firefox 3 Beta 3 is now February 11 and follow on Beta 4 is "tentatively" scheduled for February 26, according to Firefox meeting notes posted on Mozilla.org Tuesday.
With that, it appears Firefox 3 will be released in early 2008 as planned, although no exact date has been announced.
For the full report visit here:
http://blogs.zdnet.com/open-source/?p=1982
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