MacNoob

Today’s release of the new Macbook Air lineup vaults the machines from “nice to have, but not enough machine to do any real computing” to “the future of laptops”.  I’m speaking more specifically about the new top of the line 13″ model.  With the processor upgrade to the Core i5 and i7 “Sandy Bridge” line and the addition of the Thunderbolt port, the two biggest knocks on the Air have been quashed.  Additionally, the keyboard is now backlit which, for me, was a total show stopper with the previous model.

It will be fun to see the reviews from the “experts” (guys with enough readers or money to get the new models early) who slammed the previous model for being too slow, too underpowered and with to few expansion options. As I examine the specs for this new mini-mighty 13″ model, I can only find one reason not to buy it: there’s too few Thunderbolt accessories to date.  As with any new peripheral interface, it will take the third party guys a while to catch up, but in the next couple of months we will have forgotten about today’s shortcomings.  So, why do I think the new Air defines the future of laptops?

1. Moving parts and portability don’t mix well. With no hard disk or DVD drive the Air is a true “solid state” machine.  The two most fragile components of a laptop are also the slowest. The SSD is so much faster than a spinning disk that even the previous generation Air with its much slower processor felt snappy and responsive and 256 gigs ain’t shabby.  DVD drives are going the way of the floppy disk. I can’t remember the last time I slid a disk into my MacBook Pro. Yep, more rugged, affordable and much faster…I’ll take it.
2. Core i5 & i7 = Plenty of muscle.  Let’s face it, a 1.4 GHz Core 2 Duo is a bit whimpy when we’re talking about modern laptops.  While they’re adequate for the $500 Best Buy specials, we Mac users have come to expect a bit more for $1000+.  While still just dual-core, these new grinders have enough beef to handle all but the most demanding number crunching, like video encoding or 3D modeling.  Virtually everything else is quite doable.
3. Thunderbolt will make all things possible. OK, maybe I’m jumping the gun a little bit, but my mind just reels when I think about all the technology a bi-directional 10 gigabit connection makes possible. I imagine it won’t be long before we see gigabit ethernet adapters, firewire hubs, external video cards and much more to go along with the already available super-fast storage devices. The old “lack of peripheral connectivity” argument no longer holds any water at all.

Any one of these improvements alone make a MacBook Air a very desireable machine, but taken together (especially in the 13″ model) the Air could become a “MacBook Pro Killer”.

One of the first entries to this blog was about the original diNovo Edge I was using with my MacBook Pro.  At the time, I proclaimed it to be the world’s greatest keyboard.  I bought the new Mac Edition of the Edge about two months ago and my opinion hasn’t changed one bit.

Aside from being the sexiest looking keyboard on the market, the Mac Edition Edge now performs Mac-specific functions right out of the box while maintaining the same dreamy tactile response and perfect key placement I’ve come to love.  Other similarities with the Windows version include:

• Bluetooth connectivity
• Touch sensitive volume slider
• Built-in touchpad with scroll
• Left & right mouse buttons
• Mute button

What sets the Mac Edition apart (besides the normal placement of the control, option and command keys) are the several pre-configured Mac-specific functions built into the function keys and other custom buttons.  Additionally, the included Logitech Control Center application that installs in System Preferences allows you to completely customize all the function keys to your liking.  I’ve stuck with the defaults because each function key has a graphic indicating what it controls.  Located at the upper right is a Front Row button that does what it says and on the upper left there is a power button you can configure to log off, sleep or power down your Mac.

The black glass key surface and aluminum palm rest make for a beautiful addition to even the most style-conscious desktop and this color scheme goes particularly well with the new iMacs.  The included charging stand matches the keyboard exactly but battery life is so long I tend to forget where I’ve put the thing.

My only complaint about the Edge is its’ glass surface is a fingerprint magnet.  Logitech provides a cleaning cloth and if you’re like me you’ll keep it handy.  Without regular cleaning, the Edge quickly looks like someone typed on it using KFC drumsticks instead of fingers.

Asking someone about their favorite keyboard is almost like asking them about their favorite color.  There’s really no correct answer and it usually comes down to personal preference.  My preference is the diNovo Edge Mac Edition even with its’ $160 price tag.  I bought mine on Amazon for $112 and they’re pretty easy to find below $130 elsewhere.

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Apple’s recent hiring of Bob Drebin has sparked a tsunami of speculation as to Apple’s intentions regarding chip design and manufacture.  AppleInsider points to LinkedIn profiles of Drebin and Wei-han Lein to support their speculation about a new, home-grown mobile processor for Apple’s iPhone and iPod Touch successors.  With last year’s purchase of PA Semi, over $25 billion in the bank and all the new hardware hotshots including Mark Papermaster, Apple seems to have all the pieces in place to mount a serious effort to design and build its own chips.  The question is: For what?

Consensus among pundits points to the afore-mentioned mobile processor and that may be true, but I think they have something else up their sleeve.  Looking closely at Mr. Papermaster’s hardware group, one finds a ton of engineers (some say over 100) with graphic chip design and manufacturing backgrounds.  I’m starting to believe Apple has a desire to make its own graphics hardware.  Here’s why…

1. OpenCL technology (that leverages GPU capabilities) built into Snow Leopard promises to take OS X performance to the next level once application development catches up to the standard.  This just feels like something Apple would leverage by controlling the hardware and API completely.
2. Intel and Nvidia sue each other so frequently their lawyers have their own parking spots at the courthouse.  Apple has clearly staked its foreseeable [Mac]hardware designs on Intel and everyone seems to agree, that was the correct move.  If the squabbling gets nastier, Apple may have to distance itself from Nvidia to avoid getting caught in the middle.
3. AMD (owners of ATI) has to be reeling from the exodus en masse of their key engineering people.  I don’t think their graphics product pipeline has run empty yet, but with so many ex-employees now in Cupertino, ATI no longer seems like the kind of company Apple would need to partner with.
4. If ATI and NVidia are both undesirable, that leaves…NOBODY! (Yes, I know Intel makes graphics chipsets, but Apple’s last hardware refresh ditched them altogether.  The divorce is final.) Apple clearly hopes to make OpenCL a differentiator between OS X and Windows.  Given its history of tight (and closed) coupling of OS X to its hardware, Apple may not wish to bet the farm on any technology they don’t own outright.

Any of these reasons, taken separately, don’t amount to much, but together they make a strong argument for both the means and motive for Apple to build their own graphics hardware.  Couple that with a $25 billion bankroll and there’s no doubt they could if they wanted to.  Now it’s just a question of Apple’s desire and few ever seem to guess that right.

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The biggest differences between buying Macs and PCs is selection and price.  Apple uses a completely different business model than Microsoft in that Apple is a completely self-contained product.  If you want to run OS X [legally] then you have to buy a genuine Apple computer.  Finding significant discounts on new Apples is virtually unheard of.  Even sites like CDW and MacMall who pride themselves on lower prices rarely discount Macs more than 5 or 6 percent.  When you consider Apple ships all their systems for free, the deal usually winds up being a wash.  If you’re looking to save some money on a relatively new Apple then you only have one choice: the “Special Deals” section of the Apple on-line store.

When I say “relatively new” I mean you can get a factory refurbished Mac that’s usually a model from a few months ago with the same warranty and benefits you’d get buying a brand new Mac at your local Apple store.  Discounts on these machines can be as much as 25%!  Being the penny-pincher that I am, I just bought a 24” iMac from the “Special Deals” store for $1199.  Equipped as follows:

• 2.8 GHz Core 2 Duo
• 320 GB 7200 HDD
• 2 GB RAM (800 MHz)
• 1066 MHz Front-side Bus

This machine is one generation removed from the newest iMac, but certainly plenty of machine for my needs.

The purchasing experience couldn’t have been more pleasant.  I went to the site, found what I wanted, added it to my shopping cart and put it on my credit card.  Since the basic ground shipping was free, I had it overnighted for only $36 more (I’m the impatient type).  I also wanted to max out the system memory [from 2 to 4 GB] so OWC was happy to sell me the 4 gig kit for $39.  Both boxes arrived the next day.

The iMac arrived in a plain white box with a handle just like a new machine from the Apple store minus the pretty graphics.  Unboxing this refurbished machine was just like opening up a brand new one.  All the protective film was in place and the keyboard and mouse were brand new as were the OS X DVDs.  Before I even removed the protective film, I swapped out the memory so when I turned the machine on for the first time it would boot up with 4 gigs.

Because this was a refurbished machine, I really gave it the “white glove” treatment before turning it on.  I used a flashlight to carefully inspect the case and, more importantly, the screen and aluminum bezel.  If there ever was a blemish on this computer either I didn’t find it or Apple removed it.  Its’ physical condition was perfect.

Next, I powered up the machine and went through the OS X initial configuration.  My only disappointment was finding the OS X version at 10.5.4.  Not a huge deal, just more downloading required.  Before starting all that though I checked every port on the machine to make sure they were all in working order.  No problems there either.

I spent the next eight hours updating and installing software and copying documents from my MacBook Pro.  It’s amazing how much stuff I collected in just a few months.  I synched with MobileMe and now everything I need is on the new machine.  All in all, this was almost exactly like a new buying experience and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend the “Special Deals” section of the Apple on-line store to anyone looking to save a few bucks on a “like new” Mac.

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Being a longtime IT professional and Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer, the last thing I expected to happen to me was to fall in love with a Mac.  As a matter of fact, I’ve been wrestling with computers for so long I didn’t think there was a machine in this world capable of stirring my emotions again.  If you’ve read this blog at all you’ll know that [as of 19 months ago] I’m a “switcher”.  I used to detest the term.  I really thought it was a none-too-flattering label that long-time Mac users pinned on us noobs.  Now I wear the moniker proudly.  To me it says that, even while I was late to the Apple party I at least had the good sense to show up.  After more than a year and a half I’m not sure it still applies, but whatever you call me I’m a Mac guy now.

I do still own a bevy of Windows machines and am quite proficient with them, but I’ve sworn they will be the last.  Why, you ask?  Well, I just happen to have compiled a list…

1. OS X and the MACH/BSD kernel beneath it make for one hell of a fine operating system. It is stable, secure, responsive and a real pleasure to work with.  Its ease-of-use is well touted, and all the problems I had with it early on were mostly my fault.  You see, the biggest hurdles I had to overcome to be proficient with it were in my head.  I was continually over-thinking it.  Once I realized the engineering behind OS X is largely focused on ease-of-use then the UI became natural and fluid.  In short, I had to quit thinking like a Windows dope.
2. Sometimes, less is better. Because Windows has been so dominant for so long, there are literally thousands of applications available for any given task.  Finding the right one for me was often an exercise in searching for the proverbial needle in a haystack.  On the Mac, most everything you need is included or available for less than a hundred bucks.  Simply adding iWork to the standard offerings is all most people will ever need (I write this blog using Pages).  Unlike Apple, Microsoft doesn’t include much “out of the box” functionality with Windows and most of their consumer productivity offerings are total crap.  If you need quality applications from Mr. Softie prepare to spend $200+.
3. The creeps haven’t targeted us yet. Maybe it’s because Macs comprise less than five percent of personal computers worldwide, but so far the very organized world of bug writers have mostly ignored our platform.  I’d like to credit OS X’s superior security model but the reality is [as this year’s Pwn2Own competition exemplified] all platforms are exploitable.  For now though, I’m really enjoying the absence of antivirus and anti-spyware apps bogging down my system with never-ending sweeps and updates.
4. All my “i” gadgets work better with my Mac. My iPod, iPod Touch and iPhone are all designed to work with OS X and Windows.  It’s pretty apparent the iPod never really took off until Apple released the Windows version of iTunes thus multiplying the available user base fifty fold.  That’s how I got started with Apple as did countless thousands of others.  When I moved my iPod from my Windows machine to my Mac I discovered how seamless the original integrated environment could be.  The “halo effect” generated by my first iPod has expanded to the extent that I have completely abandoned the Windows world and publicly declared that I will no longer purchase anything but Macs.
5. Apple design is second to none. I currently own a 17” Macbook Pro that I purchased from Apple in October 2007, just as soon as I could get one with Leopard (OS X 10.5).  Although it’s a previous generation model, it is the most beautiful piece of hardware I’ve ever owned.  My first iPod was a fifth-gen 30 GB video model (Q4 2006) and I’ve expanded my collection to include both first and second-gen iPod Touches and a 3G iPhone.  Each is an example of first class industrial design and tower above their competition in both physical design as well as user experience.  Of course, they’re not perfect, but they absolutely blow away everything in their respective categories.  In short, Jonathan Ive is the man.  I am absolutely drooling over the new “unibody” 17” Macbook Pro, but I have decided to wait for Intel’s “Nehalem” processor which will be a step change up in performance.  If things go according to script, that should happen sometime this year.

Mainly because of reason #3 (above), I’m hesitant to be too loud with my Mac evangelism but sometimes it’s just too irresistible (and Windows bigots often make it very easy).  Some of my co-workers have caught on and preempt me.  I’ll walk in on a conversation about the latest worm, spyware threat or BSOD incident and get told to, “…get that smirk off your face!”  I’m really not trying to be a smart-ass most of the time, but often the best answer to someone’s computer problem truly is “Get a Mac.”

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Being a die hard Firefox fan, I never thought I’d ever say this:  Safari 4 is the browser for me.  Like I mentioned previously, Foxmarks is the “must have” add-in I use to keep my bookmarks and logins synchronized across all my machines.  Now that it works with Safari 4, the major roadblock to switching is no more.  Additionally, 1Password and Evernote work with the new beta just as well as they did with Safari 3.  I had a dozen or so add-ins installed in Firefox and really thought I’d miss them more than I do.  Obviously, they weren’t that important.  Beyond that, I find Safari works great with almost every site I visit on a regular basis (except Microsoft’s MSDN, naturally).  I do have the occasional misfire when trying to upload a photo to Facebook, but so far that’s been about it.

I spend over half my day within a browser environment and that’s when Safari’s speed really starts to shine.  Web services like Pixlr, GMail and others are noticeably faster than they are in Firefox and Google Gears seems to have adapted quite nicely.  In addition to its’ speed, Safari renders fonts and graphics beautifully.  After a month of steady use, I notice a definite loss of sharpness when I go back to Firefox.  Safari is just prettier.

As far as I’m concerned, the ball is back in Mozilla’s court.  They’re going to have to do something very, very good to unseat Safari as my default browser.

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