Applelinks Tech Web Reader - Tuesday, January 15, 2008
We Need More than 2 USB Ports in MacBooks
Why Apple Might Not Be Able To Get Away With It Anymore
VBA-free Office for Mac Debuts
CD Copying OK, DRM Circumvention Not OK
Office 2008 Benchmarks Preview
Office 2008 Leaves Mac Users Wanting
Apple's Confusing Stance on Open Source and Linux
Google Betting Big On Mobile Market - And Apple
Best Buy Plans to Ramp Up Apple Presence
Macworld Experts Available for Savvy Post-Keynote Commentary
WiebeTech acquired by CRU-DataPort
Baseline: Recession Will Hit IT Hard
The Mac Night Owl: Not About the Expo: Does Anyone Remember CES?
We Need More than 2 USB Ports in MacBooks
Low End Mac Dan Knight says:
It's been quite a while since I last used a notebook computer with an external keyboard. The last time was probably three years ago, when I bought a couple of refurbished 1.25 GHz eMacs so I could work on the same machine at both locations. After four years of heavy use, my 400 MHz G4 PowerBook became a field computer.....
Over the weekend I concluded that the eMac wasn't going to be fixed here; it's going to have to go in for repair. Fortunately it ran well enough in Safe Mode that I was able to use Carbon Copy Cloner to clone the internal hard drive to an external FireWire drive, which I then brought over to [my wife's] MacBook Pro.....
All of this meant that Waverly could go back to her desk and the full Logitech Cordless Elite Duo mouse and keyboard that we're both used to (much better than any USB keyboard and mouse Apple has ever made - and long discontinued). And that's where we ran into a problem. We could plug in the flash drive. We could plug in the wireless receiver for the mouse and keyboard.
But we couldn't plug in either printer, as we'd just used both USB ports.
The eMac has three USB ports, so it was possible to have the flash drive, keyboard/mouse receiver, and one of the two printers plugged in at the same time. To do that with the MacBook Pro - well, you can't without buying a hub or an ExpressCard/34 adapter with USB ports.....
Sorry, Apple, but having three USB ports isn't something only high-end pros need.
For the full commentary visit here:
http://www.lowendmac.com/musings/08mm/more-usb-ports-4-macbooks.html
[Editor's note: Dan; I feel your pain, perhaps even more intensely. I get along, barely - it takes some port shuffling - with the two USB ports on my 17" PowerBook plus a powered 4-port hub, but one thing that's holding me back from upgrading to a MacBook Pro or MacBook is the fact that there is no longer any internal modem, I'm stuck with dialup for possibly another two years, and the wretched Apple modem dongle eats up a USB port that I can't spare. At my workstation I have an external keyboard, a mouse, a foot mouse, a USB microphone and my printer to connect, which means shifting something out of the hub when I need to download something from my digital camera or thumb drive or connect my backup hard drive for Time Machine. I used to keep a left hand mouse connected as well, but that went by the wayside when (most) keyboard makers stopped including USB repeater ports in their 'boards. I can't fathom how I can get along with an external modem and just two USB ports. The 17" MacBook Pro has three, but it's soooooo expensive. CM]
Why Apple Might Not Be Able To Get Away With It Anymore
O 'Reilly.net's Jimmy Guterman says:
Part of the reason Apple has been able to, as Harris Collingwood put it so succinctly, "get away with it," with "it" being the sort of arrogance and poor customer service that would doom so many other companies, is that Apple has long been the underdog. While Microsoft enjoyed monopoly-level market share in the key operating system and office-suite markets, a smaller and quicker Apple could nibble around the edges of Redmond's dominance....
What if Apple isn't the underdog anymore? Vista hasn't made Microsoft any less vulnerable. Apple has a lock on the current-generation handheld-device market and Net Applications maintains that the Macintosh market share, once hovering around 2 percent, is now heading toward 8 percent..... And if we are moving toward a device-centric, rather than PC-centric, future, there's no question Apple is the leader. Being the leader means customers look at you differently. People expect more and settle for less......
But the biggest threat might be from Apple's most ardent supporters. Apple is famous for products and services that "think different," as its old ad slogan goes. But once something moves from the edges to the mainstream, it's not different anymore. It's the status quo. Is there anything tastemakers, in culture or technology, revolt against more than the status quo?....
For the full commentary visit here:
http://radar.oreilly.com/archives/2008/01/why_apple_might.html
VBA-free Office for Mac Debuts
The Register's Phil Manchester reports:
Microsoft is throwing developers working with mixed PC and Mac environments a curveball with the long-awaited release of Office for Macintosh 2008.
Microsoft has pressed ahead with delivering a suite that drops support for Visual Basic for Applications (VBA), overcoming long-running concerns among the grassroots.
The macro language subset of Visual Basic has been the bread and butter architecture for those tasked with building advanced formatting in Microsoft's signature Excel and Word suites.
While VBA is still supported in the current Windows version of Office for the PC (Office 2007), the lack of an equivalent in the latest Mac version will make it harder for enterprises to maintain compatibility between Mac and PC Office applications, and make the job of developing for separate platforms using the same IT staff just that little bit harder.
For the full report visit here:
http://www.regdeveloper.co.uk/2008/01/14/office_mac_08_vba/
CD Copying OK, DRM Circumvention Not OK
The Register's Andrew Orlowski reports:
Circumventing DRM to make copies for personal use will remain illegal for consumers, under copyright reform proposals floated by the UK government today....
The government proposes relaxing copyright enforcement for research and education purposes, to enable distance learning and whiteboard tuition. A related proposal will allow libraries to make a copy for archive purposes where the copyright holder can't be found....
Copyright law should also recognise that consumers can legitimately make copies of copyright material they've already bought, the government proposes.
For the full report visit here:
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/01/08/copyright_reform/
Office 2008 Benchmarks Preview
MacTech Magazine's Neil Ticktin reports:
If you are a Microsoft Office user on the Mac, there's likely a question on your mind about the new version ... Microsoft Office 2008 for Mac. As you may remember, MacTech did extensive benchmarking on Microsoft Office 2004 for Mac, running under Rosetta, when the Intel Macs first came out.
But Office 2008 is "Universal," meaning that it's designed to take advantage of the Intel processor, while still being compatible with PowerPC based machines. The big question, therefore, is "How fast is the new Office 2008?"
To answer that question, we put Office 2008 through its paces on both Tiger and Leopard (Mac OS X 10.4.11 and Mac OS X 10.5.1 to be specific). With over 2500 tests, we looked at Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Entourage as well as the graphics library resources that are shared across all of Microsoft Office for Mac.
For the full report visit here:
http://www.mactech.com/articles/mactech/Vol.24/24.03/Office2008Benchmark/
Office 2008 Leaves Mac Users Wanting
eWeek's Tiffany Maleshefski reports:
While Microsoft's productivity suite for OS X is faster and more usable, the puzzling absence of full Exchange support detracts from Office 2008's basic mandate for providing Windows-world compatibility for the Mac.
Ever since Microsoft launched Office 2004 for Mac, users have loudly demanded full Exchange support from the suite's e-mail client, Entourage - a reasonable request considering that the suite's reason for being boils down to enabling users of Apple's computers to interface as seamlessly as possible with the wider Windows world.
And yet, after four years of development, Microsoft's Office 2008 for Mac still sports an e-mail client that's crippled compared to its Windows-based sibling....
For the full report visit here:
http://www.eweek.com/c/a/Enterprise-Apps/Office-2008-Leaves-Mac-Users-Wanting/
Apple's Confusing Stance on Open Source and Linux
madpenguin's madadmin says:
Sometimes beginner Linux users are pretty naive.
Why are we still having this question surface? Apple already zapped the valid question in response. So why in the world would someone want to support a product(s) designed by a company that disapproves of Linux usage this much? I must be missing something. So for those of you with better understanding on this topic, why are you choosing to support Apple and their products, while also supporting Linux? Consider this - I have no idea where Steve Jobs stands on all of this, but his once business partner has made his views crystal clear as far as I'm concerned. Woz, I love you to death, but you are apparently misunderstanding open source, the GPL, as something that is not business-friendly. Companies like Red Hat, Novell and IBM might disagree with you. Think about it.
For the full commentary visit here:
http://www.madpenguin.org/cms/?m=show&id=8102
Google Betting Big On Mobile Market - And Apple
News.com's Elinor Mills reports:
On Christmas Day thousands of people opened up boxes with something cool and functional inside and wasted no time logging onto Google.com through their brand new iPhones.
As a result of those gifts, the number of global queries to Google's search site from iPhones surpassed the number of queries from people using market-leading Symbian-based phones for the first time. Google calls it the "Christmas cross-over."
That is huge given the fact that the number of iPhone units shipped is tiny compared to the number of Symbian-based phones out there. The cross-over only lasted a few days or so, but it shows the impact the iPhone is having on the telecommunications industry and provides a glimpse into its future market potential for the Web.
For the full report click here.
Best Buy Plans to Ramp Up Apple Presence
Dealerscope's Stephen Silver reports:
Best Buy is planning to significantly expand its partnership with Apple this year, with Mac computers in nearly twice as many stores. That's according to an analyst with UBS who interviewed company executives, as reported by CNET.
For the full report visit here:
http://www.dealerscope.com/story/story.bsp?sid=87260&var=story
Macworld Experts Available for Savvy Post-Keynote Commentary
[ Press Release ]
Macworld announces the availability of its uniquely qualified Mac, iPod, iPhone, and industry experts for media interviews and commentary prior to and during Macworld Conference & Expo 2008 in San Francisco.
Macworld's editors offer unparalleled expertise on Apple's entertainment and core computing industries, plus Apple's competitive position in general, and can immediately provide exceptional analysis of Steve Jobs' keynote address on Tuesday, January 15.
"Macworld's experts are independent minded and intelligent about this market," said Jason Snell, Macworld VP/editorial director. "Unlike other tech analysts, we spend our time focusing on Apple's products and strategy, and that gives us a unique perspective on a company that continues to captivate the public's interest."
What: Exclusive availability to press for pre- and post-keynote analysis of Apple's news and developments presented during the Steve Jobs' keynote address at the 2008 Macworld Conference & Expo.
Who: Jason Snell, VP/Editorial Director; Jim Dalrymple, Macworld.com News Editor; Chris Breen, Senior Editor and iPod expert; Dan Miller, Executive Editor; Dan Frakes, Senior Editor, and Kelly Turner, Senior Editor, Features. Individual's areas of expertise can be found at: http://www.macworld.com/contact.html
When: Now for pre-Macworld Expo predictions and Tuesday, January 15, 2008, immediately following Steve Jobs' keynote address.
Where: Macworld Conference & Expo, Moscone Convention Center, 747 Howard Street, San Francisco, CA. Immediate post-keynote availability will be at the base of the exiting escalator. General show availability can be arranged on-site, however advanced arrangements are encouraged and can be requested at 415-978-3168 or (cell) 917- 885-1044 or via email to:
Why: The incredible popularity of the iPod, iPhone, and Mac has catapulted Apple into a powerful position as the technology-trendsetter. The iPod, iPhone, and Mac markets are growing far beyond analysts' predictions, and Apple's iconoclastic strategy has frustrated those industry-watchers who don't focus on Apple. To help you produce an insightful story about the day's developments, we can provide proven expertise in this unique market.
WiebeTech acquired by CRU-DataPort
[ Press Release ]
WiebeTech, a premier developer of computer storage and forensic solutions, has been purchased by CRU-DataPort of Vancouver , Washington , a global leader in data security and data mobility products.
"We are pleased to add WiebeTech employees and their highly respected product line to our organization. WiebeTech will become a fully supported brand of CRU-DataPort," said Randal Barber, president & CEO of CRU-DataPort. "We believe their innovative products, combined with the channel-centric operations of CRU-DataPort, will provide great synergy to enhance the development of WiebeTech products. WiebeTech's creative use of technology, as demonstrated in the new Drive eRazer data security product, will also be used to add new features in our popular DataPort and Data Express product lines."
James Wiebe, president & CEO of WiebeTech LLC said, "We believe this corporate sale is in the best possible interest of WiebeTech customers. CRU-DataPort is an excellent match, because they provide us with a depth of resources that will allow the company to even more intensely focus on providing innovative solutions for customers. Customers and resellers will find the same commitment to customer service. Online purchasing as well as reseller and distributor channels will remain the same, but will be enhanced by the channel resources of CRU-DataPort."
Wiebe has joined CRU-DataPort as vice president of product development and will continue to provide creative product solutions for all CRU-DataPort products, including the WiebeTech product line. Operations for the WiebeTech brand of products will remain in Wichita , Kansas .
Veber Partners, an investment banking firm in Portland , Oregon , was the exclusive financial advisor for CRU-DataPort during this transaction.
WiebeTech was founded in July 2000 by James Wiebe and has focused on marketing high performance, highly portable storage solutions for consumer and government markets. WiebeTech is credited with fueling the burgeoning storage market with high-quality, high capacity storage solutions in the smallest packages possible. WiebeTech has led product development in the storage solution marketplace, introducing the extremely popular FireWire DriveDock product line, multi-bay storage units and the new "trayless" TrayFree bays and RAID systems, which include an advanced hardware controller. In addition, WiebeTech offers computer forensic devices which are a critical tool used by criminal investigators in the collection of suspect data.
CRU-DataPort, founded in 1986, is a pioneer in data security and data mobility devices. The company's DataPort and Data Express brands of removable hard drive enclosures are the de facto standard for physical data security and safe data transporting in government, education and business markets. CRU-DataPort products are also widely used in media rich data environments including audio/video production, digital cinema, video security capture, and disk-to-disk backup and archiving applications. Backed by the industry's leading warranties and connector ratings, CRU-DataPort products are available through major distributors, PC manufacturers and resellers throughout the US and abroad.
Veber Partners, LLC was founded in 1994 and is one of the premier private investment banking firms in the Pacific Northwest. It focuses on mergers and acquisitions, private placements, fairness opinions, valuations and other financial advisory services. Veber Partners also acts as a merchant bank buying profitable companies as a principal. More information can be found at:
http://www.veber.com
Baseline: Recession Will Hit IT Hard
Survey finds that technology pros worry about losing jobs, infrastructure investments if the economy stalls-if it hasn't already.
To read more, click here.
The Mac Night Owl: Not About the Expo: Does Anyone Remember CES?
Over the past week, you may have read a number of stories covering the latest Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. But did any single product or concept truly stand out? Think about it.
For the full commentary visit here:
http://macnightowl.com/2008/01/14/not-about-the-expo-does-anyone-remember-ces/
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