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Workaday $300 Mac Laptop - Is This A Viable Strategy?
Laurence writes:
I want to replace my failing old Mini with a new refurbished one. My wife wants me to get a Mac laptop up to $800.
Could I get an old Mac laptop for under $300 that would serve me on the road for e-mail, webbing and writing reviews, reports and articles ?
Thanks for your help, and for sharing your adventures,
Laurence
Hi Laurence;
The short answer to your question is yes. By shopping around a bit you should be able to find a serviceable older Mac laptop for under $300 that will perform fine for the sort of use you describe.
For example, Wegener Media can put you in a refurbished 1.33 GHz G4 iBook for G4 iBook (512mb/40/combo/Airport & Bluetooth installed with a 60 day warranty and s tandard shipping for $249.99. I would spend the other 50 bucks on uipgrading the RAM. I used a G3 iBook for my main production workhorse for more than three years, and liked it, but I will add that the iBook does not have a sterling reputation for long-term reliability, as opposed to, say, the 10 year old Pismo PowerBook I'm currently typing this reply on, still in daily service and as relaible as the proverbial anvil. If you can find one, Pismos remain a high water mark in many respects for Apple laptops, and still can run OS 10.4 very nicely.
Wegeners offer used/refurbished Pismos in a variety of configurations starting at $219.00 for a G3 400 MHz on up to a G4/550 MHz, with 1 GB RAM, 40gb HDD, and s Combo drive $469.98.
For more info, see:
http://www.wegenermedia.com/pismo4.htm
Wegeners will also sell you a 13.3 MacBook CoreDuo 1.83ghz (512mbRAM60gbHDD, comboDriveAirPort&Bluetooth) for $499.99, and 300 Mhz G3 clamshell iBooks (very rugged) in Blueberry or Tangerine for just $179.00.
Wegeners say that these systems have been refurbished and tested with 100+ point inspection, RAM burn-in, and all Apple Hardware Test processes.
You can check these out at:
http://www.wegenermedia.com/
However, it's also possible to find excellent deals on used Mac laptops on eBay (et al.) or in local classifieds, yard sales and so forth.
In this price range, you should also consider whether a new PC netbook would be adequate for your needs, although of course it won't be a Mac!
Hope this is some help.
Charles
Goldtouch Go! Laptop Travel Keyboard
Hi Charles,
I read your review of the Goldtouch Go! Laptop Travel Keyboard and noticed you mentioned the close proximity of the CAPS Lock key. I tried the original Goldtouch Apple Compatible Keyboard and had to return it because the CAPS Lock was immediately adjacent to the "A" key.
However, in looking at the Goldtouch Go! Laptop Travel Keyboard, it looks like CAPS Lock is pushed farther away from the "A" key. Can you confirm that from your earlier experience with the full size Goldrouch keyboard?
If the two keys are separated enough, this might work for me.
I also notice the Go Travel keyboard doesn't have an FN key in the lower right-side row with the Alt and Control keys. What key does it use as a modifier in lieu of the FN key? I use my FN all the time.
I loved the key travel and almost silent operation of the original Goldtouch Mac keyboard. I was hoping this one might have improved upon the original's quirks.
I tried the Kensington Slim keyboard quite a while ago, but it just felt a bit cramped to me and the key travel was somewhat short, like the new Apple keyboards. As you said, keyboards are a personal choice for everybody, and I'm just exceptionally picky.
Cheers,
Cathy
Hi Cathy;
Unfortunately, both GoldTouch 'boards are afflicted with this caps lock intrusion into finger space. The accompanying photo may illustrete this better than the one in the article did.
A consequence of the split keypads, I guess.
Having no fn key is not unusual for freestanding keyboards that have a numerical keypad.
On the GoldTouch Go you switch to keypad function with the Num Lock key, but are out of luck as far as other fn functions go.
If you like a somewhat longer travel than the SlimType's, you might look into Logitech's DiNovo Keyboard For Mac, which I find feels a lot like the original GoldTouch, with its longer key travel. It looks great, too!
My most recent review is here:
http://lowendmac.com/misc/10mr/dinovo-mac-edition.html
Charles
DiNovo Edge Keyboard for Mac
From Cathy
I have been looking at those on Amazon.com. The price has been inching down to where it recently dropped under $100 for the diNovo Edge for Mac, and is $64 and change for the diNovo keyboard for Mac. I don't need the number pad so I had been looking at the diNovo Edge.
As an aside, I recently read these Mac keyboards, and in fact, all but one Mac-compatible keyboard, have been discontinued by Logitech. I called the company to confirm that and was advised it's true; Logitech only sells one Mac-compatible keyboard now, a (giant) gaming model.
The tech person with whom I spoke said he understood Logitech was cutting back on its Mac products because of licensing issues with Apple. That sounds a bit odd to me because there are tons of companies making third-party accessories for the Mac platform. Presumably, all of them have licensed those products, as did Logitech in the past, so I don't know what's really going on with Logitech now.
I certainly hope their mice remain Mac-compatible because Logitech mice are my favorites. I'm using a VX Revolution mouse now.
Hi Cathy;
Yes, I'm afraid that the still available DiNovos for Mac are now all remaindered stock, hence the price drops. I'm trying to recall if the Edge has an fn key. You might want to confirm that. There is actually not a great deal of difference in overall size between the two 'boards because the Edge has wider margins and all the multimedia stuff.
I'm interested in the info you got from the Loigitech rep. I knew that they had been cutting back on Mac product, especially keyboards, and I wouldn't doubt that there could be some sort of licensing issue in dispute, as Apple is aggressively marketing its own keyboards, and seems to be increasingly oriented toward locked-down systems (ergo: the iPhone and iPad).
Frankly, as much as I love the Mac OS and admire the elegance of Apple's hardware, I bridle strongly at this trend. I've never much been a fan Apple's application software since day one (with a few exceptions, such as the late, lamented Hypercard), and have rarely used them, preferring third-party solutions. Ditto for Apple peripherals. They've never used a mouse that I liked (save for the maligned "hockey-puck" USB mouse which I've found makes an excellent foot mouse!), and their best keyboards have been so-so at most. My current favorite mouse is the Logitech V-550, and lately I've been using an iRocks Illuminated Keyboard, which is a clone in form factor and feel of the Kensington SlimType, but with backlit keys.
If Apple continues shutting out third-party options (I've pretty much given up hope that they'll ever license the MagSafe AC adapter technology to third parties that will make a decently rugged alternative), they may eventually drive me reluctantly toward Linux, which is where I'm probably a better philosophical fit.
For more riffing of mine on this topic see:
http://bit.ly/au87xE
Claire Wolfe's excellent "Linux: This time, it really IS time" is worth a look as well here:
http://bit.ly/aJJoVR
Charles
iMac Has Developed Background Noise
From Dolna
Just this morning I noticed an annoying high pitched background noise noise coming from my iMac. Actually it's more a foreground than background noise for me because I find it impossible to ignore. It's a bit like a refrigerator noise we had in the distant past, but this is more annoying because I have to sit close to the noise. I shut my computer completely down this morning and the noise stopped. Now it's been on all day and the noise has come back. It's not related to the volume because I turned the sound all the way down and it made no difference.
My husband says that it sounds like a hard drive spinning and he wasn't too concerned. Anyway I don't like this noise. And it didn't exist before this morning unless my hearing improved overnight. Have you heard of similar occurrences?
If it's still noisy in the morning I'll phone Apple tech help.
Thanks.
D.
Hi Dolna;
There are really only two possible candidates I can think of offhand for a noise like that - hard drive going bad (make sure you have all your data backed up) or one of the cooling fans malfunctioning.
If it happens when the machine is first started up from cold, it's likely not a cooling fan.
Hard drives can last seemingly forever or die precipitously. I one time had one (a Fujitsu, which is a reputable brand) completely fail with less than 50 hours on it and another one, a brand new Seagate Barracuda, never worked properly.
Happily, it should be under warranty as I think your computer is less than a year old.
Charles
Addressing Various Noises That May Come From Your Mac
MacFixIt's Topher Kessler notes that at times you may notice odd sounds coming from your computer. These can be anything from clicks to buzzes, to small squeaks that happen either continuously, intermittently, or in response to various tasks you may be performing on the system. Most of the time these noises are harmless; however, there are times when you should consider addressing them.
You can check it out at:
http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-13727_7-10454576-263.html?tag=mncol;title
CSV Converter
From Max
Are you aware of a good csv to Vcard converter? Looking for one that is flexible enough to map out all the csv headers in the Vcard.
Thanks,
Max
Hi Max;
I have no personal experience with this, but here are some solutions to check out:
http://labs.brotherli.ch/vcfconvert/
http://bit.ly/arRU5d
http://www.brothersoft.com/downloads/csv-to-vcard-converter.html
http://www.versiontracker.com/dyn/moreinfo/macosx/30136
http://www.fileguru.com/apps/mac_csv_to_vcard_converter
http://www.jauhari.net/converting-csv-to-vcf-on-the-fly.jsp
http://www.plaxo.com/
http://www.antoniolore.net/projects.php
Happy hunting, and let me know if this has been of any help.
Charles
Element iPhone Stand For iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad - Applelinks Review
Located at:
http://bit.ly/9uA3hS
igiz says:
Another stand that is highly recommended by iLounge isJust Mobile iPhone 1G and 3G Xtand Deluxe Workplace Stand Holder:
http://bit.ly/aZzrBg
Than ks igiz.
CM
Charles W. Moore
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