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Are Macs Really Cheaper To Manage Than PCs? - Yes, A Lot Cheaper
The iPad As Your In-between Mac?
MacBook vs. HackBook: You Get What You Pay For
The Rise of Netbooks Charted
iPad: Is It A Computer?
Back to A Comfortable Place with OS X
Apple vs. HTC Will Delay iPad Competitors
Blockbuster 2010 Mac Sales Expected To Carry Into February For Apple
Oh The Horror! Why Is Microsoft Pushing The Hated Windows Ribbon For Office:Mac?
Content Sales Predicted To Near 30% Of iPad Hardware Revenue
Is the iPad's Ultra-Realistic Page-Turning Metaphor for Books Stupid?
Apple iTunes Library: Move iTunes Successfully via the Finder
Lisa Tickled Pink Hates Technology: The Social Experiment
All-In-one, Evolved
Options For Entering Accented Characters In OS X
NYT: Facebook Location Features Coming Next Month
AG Interactive Switches from Microsoft Office to Seapine Software's Test Case Management Solution


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Are Macs Really Cheaper To Manage Than PCs? - Yes, A Lot Cheaper

CIO.com's Tom Kaneshige says Macs in the enterprise aren't just cheaper to manage - they're a lot cheaper, according to a new survey released today by the Enterprise Desktop Alliance, with the caveat that Enterprise Desktop Alliance is a group of software developers who've bandied together to deploy and manage Macs in the enterprise. The group surveyed 260 IT administrators in large U.S. companies with both Macs and PCs who are involved in some degree with IT cost calculations. Enterprise Desktop Alliance members include Centrify, Absolute Software, Group Logic, Web Help Desk, and most recently IBM.

For the full report visit here:
http://bit.ly/b0FUXv

For more on the Enterprise Desktop Alliance survey, visit:
http://bit.ly/dym4pm






The iPad As Your In-between Mac?

Low End Mac's Dan Bashur notes that once again at his iPad intro event last month Steve Jobs openly dismissed netbooks as cheap notebooks made with cheap components, so it's obvious that releasing a netbook is definitely not on Apple's priority list, advising that we expect anything smaller in clamshell laptops from Apple than the 13" MacBook Air anytime soon, adding that those who own a 12" PowerBook G4 should feel privileged that they still own the ultimate portable Apple notebook with its 10.9" x 8.6" footprint.

So, with a glut of notebooks, iPods, and more already out there, do we really need an in-between device? Dan thinks you're going to want one, and while the iPad may not replace a 12" PowerBook as a fully functional ultra-compact device, it will definitely have a place in your home as the in-between Mac that can do your light duty everyday tasks that you have typically reserved for your notebook, observing that being able to do everything a typical netbook and e-reader can do and much more - and far better - from the comfort of your couch or bed with the ease of simple touching and finger gestures will definitely make the iPad something on everyone's wish list this year.

Well, maybe. Your editor remains convinced that the ideal setup for reclined computing is a small conventional laptop or netbook on a Laptop Laidback stand ( http://bit.ly/ae5OOZ ), which still gives you a real keyboard and trackpad for human interface.

For the full commentary visit here:
http://lowendmac.com/ed/bashur/10db/ipad-in-between.html






MacBook vs. HackBook: You Get What You Pay For

Low end Mac's Andrew Fishkin notes tha with the iPad launch rapidly approaching, there have been a flurry of articles about netbooks and used iBooks and PowerBooks as potential alternatives, the operative argument being: "Do you want your $300 to $500 OS X portable as small and light as possible, or do you want it to 'just work' with OS X as only a real Apple machine does?"

Observing that the dominant theme is the $300 to $500 part, Andrew thinks the common answer is that no matter what, you get what you pay for, and that if you want a new machine at that low price, it will be cheaply made, have poor ergonomics, and, of course, require Hackintoshing and will be quirky once OS X is installed.

On the other hand, the used Mac alternative will be bigger (albeit not much bigger if it's a 12" PowerBook), heavier - as in much heavier - and unless you want to add another $100 or so for a new battery, will have horrible battery life.

For the full commentary visit here:
http://lowendmac.com/fishkin/10af/get-what-you-pay-for.html






The Rise of Netbooks Charted

If you are of a mind that netbooks are just an ephemeral flash-in-the-pan fad fueled by the global economic recession, check this out:

http://gigaom.com/2010/03/09/the-rise-of-netbooks/






iPad: Is It A Computer?

Computerworld says it seems obvious to them that the upcoming Apple iPad is a computer, but many people - both Apple supporters and haters - seem to feel passionately that it's not a computer. So what is it?

The author observes that for most people, computer means PC - able to run a real operating system, connect to peripherals, etc., so the iPad isn't a PC - just a huge iPod... unless you think the iPod is a computer, but contends that the iPad is a computer, as are the iPhone and iPod, even the iPod Nano. They store, retrieve and process data, they're electronic, aand they're programmable, albeit a very simple, easy to use, and relatively inflexible computer, compared with a Mac, Windows, or Linux PC, but still a computer and says that rguing otherwise is silly.

For the full commentary visit here:
http://blogs.computerworld.com/15716/apples_ipad_computer






Back to A Comfortable Place with OS X

Still with Low End Mac, Simon Royal says he's been out of the Mac world for a few months, having decided after ten years as a dedicated Mac fan that because most of what he does is based online, it didn't matter what OS he used, and as long as it supported the preferred browser he could use any OS he liked on a low-end PC running Windows XP, Puppy Linux, CrunchBang, or Xubuntu.

So why did Simon return to Mac? Hardware was a big factor he says, as did the Mac's superiority in navigating around your system, noting that the Finder in OS X is a dream to use, which cannot be said for Explorer in Windows. He observes that Nautilus - the GNOME file manager in Ubuntu - or Thunar, the Xfe file manager in Xubuntu - both now have more in common with Mac OS X than they do Windows, which I why Ubuntu/Xubuntu would be his second choice of operating system. He missed the the simple approach of OS X and the whole "it just works" feel of the Mac.

However, perhaps the clincher was the hassle of keeping Windows secure from viruses and malware, which just isn't such a big issue with Mac or Linux.

Consequently, with a 500 MHz G3 iBook he's happy again running OS X and back in his comfortable place.

For the full commentary visit here:
http://lowendmac.com/ed/royal/10sr/back-to-mac.html






Apple vs. HTC Will Delay iPad Competitors

Low End Mac's Tim Nash notes that Apple has invested billions in bringing the iPad to market, with the PA Semi acquisition costing $278 million and associated running costs for nearly two years and buying an ARM development license, plus a $500 million investment in LG is for IPS screens, which are only currently used in iMacs and the iPad. The iPad hardware and related iPhone OS extensions have also taken a fair sized bite from Apple's R&D budget - $1.3 billion in the 2009 fiscal year, and costs of the time of top Apple executives.

Consequently, Nash says, Apple has chosen to hobble competition via the preemptive route by filing suit against HTC over 20-some patents related to the iPhone OS. Unlike Google, Samsung, or LG, HTC isn't a key Apple component supplier and so is unable to retaliate by delaying supplies of key software, memory, chips, or screens.

For the full report visit here:
http://lowendmac.com/nash/10tn/apple-vs-htc.html






Blockbuster 2010 Mac Sales Expected To Carry Into February For Apple

Appleinsider's Neil Hughes reports:

A slow start to Mac sales in early 2009 will work to Apple's advantage, potentially making strong 2010 sales seem even more impressive with numbers reflecting huge year-over-year growth, according to a new analysis.

For the full report visit here:
http://bit.ly/9Rg19a






Oh The Horror! Why Is Microsoft Pushing The Hated Windows Ribbon For Office:Mac?

ZNet blogger David Morgenstern says:

Last month, the Microsoft Macintosh Business Unit announced Office:Mac 2011 and posted some screen shots of its future user interface. I finally got around to looking at them. Sorry to say, the productivity-killing Ribbon introduced with Office 2007 on Windows will make its way to the Mac. Sigh. But the silver lining is that we will get to keep our menus.

For the full commentary visit here:
http://blogs.zdnet.com/Apple/?p=6222






Content Sales Predicted To Near 30% Of iPad Hardware Revenue

Appleinsider's Neil Hughes reports:

The sale of applications, e-books, newspapers and magazines for the iPad is predicted to equal nearly 30 percent of the revenue Apple will earn from selling the hardware by the end of 2011

.

For the full report visit here:
http://tinyurl.com/y8z7hrl






Is the iPad's Ultra-Realistic Page-Turning Metaphor for Books Stupid?

Gizmodo's Matt Buchanan says Craig Mod, a deadtree book designer, delivers the most considered explication of how new the model of "books" on the iPad actually is. Simply put, it allows 1:1 digital versions of books and their form. Matt says he got quite a bit from the article, but not that the page turning metaphor is stupid.

To read more, click here.
http://bit.ly/bEfb2i






Apple iTunes Library: Move iTunes Successfully via the Finder

FolioVision's Alec notes that for reasons unknown, Apple makes it really difficult to move around one's iTunes library.

Just moving the library to another hard drive will result in all the files being disconnected, and unlike with Aperture or Final Cut Pro, there is no automated path fix. If you want to correct the paths you have to do it file by file.

However, there is a workaround which requires getting your hands dirty but indicates just how easy it would be for Apple to get it right.

For the full report visit here:
http://foliovision.com/2010/03/09/moving-apple-itunes-library-via-finder






Lisa Tickled Pink Hates Technology: The Social Experiment

geeknewscentral.com's Jeffrey Powers says:

If you by chanced checked out "This Week in Tech", you watched as Leo Laporte talked with Kevin Rose, John Dvorak and Clayton Morris talk about events in tech. I had the show on live as I was working on other projects as they did something that was not only interesting, but also shows how someone can turn from a nobody to a social mediate. Someone who didn't even expect to become one.

They were talking about how Conan O'Brien had announced he was following a random person. They decided that this group could do the same thing. Therefore, Kevin Rose got onto twitter and looked for someone that only had 2-3 tweets. But what he found was the perfect twitter account.

To read more, click here.
http://bit.ly/aTEm2C






All-In-one, Evolved

The Boston Globe's John M. Guilfoil says the latest compact all-in-one (AIO) desktop systems have enough computing power to make you think twice about buying a traditional tower PC, noting that lately, it s not so much about what you can do with a PC, but how you can do it.

Noting that AIOs have been around since the early days of personal computers. (Remember those tiny Macintosh Plus computers with the black and white screens?), the convenience of an all-in-one computer now matches their ability to edit audio and video and watch perfect high-definition video.

Giulfoil reviews three PC AIOs but for some reason didn't include an iMac, which is still the quintessential AIO.

You can check it out at:
http://www.boston.com/business/technology/articles/2010/03/07/all_in_one_evolved/






Options For Entering Accented Characters In OS X

MacFixIt's Topher Kessler says:

Easy access to diacritical marks is often required when typing, especially when composing content in European languages and others that use them. On the Mac, the default method for accessing these marks with the US keyboard layout is to hold the "Option" key, followed by pressing a vowel that represents a specific accent character and then pressing the target letter's key; however, this may take time to get accustomed to. Therefore, for many US users the easiest way to use accents is to open the keyboard viewer pallet, and then press and hold the "Option" key to see available accent marks.

To read more, click here.
http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-13727_7-10465872-263.html?tag=mncol;title






NYT: Facebook Location Features Coming Next Month

TechCrunch's Jason Kincaid reports:

Facebook is finally going to enter the location game at this April's f8 conference, according to a report this morning on the NYT's Bits blog. And they're looking to take Google head on.

You can check it out at:
http://tinyurl.com/ydslm68






AG Interactive Switches from Microsoft Office to Seapine Software's Test Case Management Solution

[Press Release]

Seapine Software, a leading global provider of quality-centric application lifecycle management (ALM) solutions, announced today that AG Interactive, the e-card and interactive division of social expressions producer American Greetings Corporation, has selected Seapine s TestTrack TCM to manage its test cases, improve team collaboration, and provide visibility into testing activities and project progress.

The QA group at AG Interactive is responsible for testing over 10 unique websites including AmericanGreetings.com, BlueMountain.com, Egreetings.com, PhotoWorks.com, AGKidZone.com, and Webshots.com. Seapine s TestTrack TCM will replace the use of Microsoft Excel spreadsheets to manage the organization s test cases. TestTrack TCM gives the group comprehensive capabilities to manage all phases of its software testing process, including test case creation, scheduling, execution, measurement, and reporting. It also allows the group to easily assign test cases to QA analysts and provides visibility into project progress without having to perform difficult and tedious calculations in spreadsheets.

"We plan to manage our larger project testing and smoke tests with Seapine s TestTrack TCM," said Todd Rosenthal, Quality Assurance Team Lead, AG Interactive. "Not only will it be a repository for our test plans, but we ll also use it to run test cases and perform more complex reporting."

With testing activities dispersed over three continents, AG Interactive will use TestTrack TCM s communication features to keep distributed team members in the US, India, and Romania informed of each other's tasks and progress. TestTrack TCM s communication features include RSS feeds and comprehensive email support, such as email notifications, email conversation tracking, and URL access, to improve team collaboration.

"Seapine s TestTrack TCM has everything our QA organization needs to facilitate our daily testing routine, all in a professionally refined package," adds Rosenthal. "We have been very pleased with the product and Seapine as our solutions provider."

To learn more about Seapine s ALM solutions, visit:
http://www.seapine.com/tttcm.html

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