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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I really want to set up my new game room entertainment center with a Mac Mini, but the value just isn’t there.  I want the iTunes integration, the slick Front Row interface and above all, OS X, but the Mini’s hardware falls way short of other PC offerings.  In fact, its hard to even consider the Mac Mini when designing a media center.  With its relatively tiny hard drive, low memory and lack of Blu-ray and HDMI support, the Mini is only viable if you’re a completely apologetic, Jobs-worshiping fanboy.  Cupertino would have me buy an AppleTV, but that ain’t gonna happen either!  Neither box is anywhere near cost-effective, especially when compared to offerings from Dell.

I’m not asking for a lot.  I need a sub-$1000 internet connected media hub that can stream media from my other computers, download content from the internet and play DVD and Blu-ray disks, all while connected to my HDMI-switching AV receiver.  It would also be nice if the machine looked like it belonged on the shelf of my entertainment center.  On the PC side there are literally dozens of machines that fit the bill, but woefully, Apple makes it difficult to justify using anything in their lineup.  If I were absolutely picky about the capabilities I just listed, a Mac is almost out of the question unless I want to drop three Gs on a Mac Pro .  If not, then I’m left trying make a Mini work.  In either case, I’ll have to find another Blu-ray solution.

Lets say I can’t possibly stand using Windows and decide on the Mac Mini.  Here’s what I would need to make it do almost what I want and how much it would cost:

• Mac Mini (2.0 Core 2 Duo, 2 GB, 160 GB HDD, Wireless KB + Mouse): $1053
• Add a DVI to HDMI adapter: $30
• Add an External HDD:  $100
• Add a 3.5 mm stereo to RCA adapter: $10
• Add a Blu-Ray player: $200 (maybe optimistic)

• Total for a Mac Mini Setup: $1393

With just a little shopping I was able to find a Dell Studio Hybrid machine with better specs for just over half of that price.  The Dell looks like this:

• 2.1 Ghz Core 2 Duo
• 4 GB Ram
• HDMI out
• 320 GB HDD
• Blu-ray ROM + CD/DVD burner
• Optical audio out
• Vista Home Premium (Windows Media Center incl.)

• Total for a Dell Studio Hybrid:  $749

As I mentioned, I really want OS X, but not at a $644 premium.  On top of that, choosing the Mac would mean giving up Dolby Digital sound also.  Arguably, the real comparison should be made between Windows Media Center and Front Row, since that is what will be running 95% of the time.  I might even wind up using XBMC.  It is a really slick open source Media Center package and available for either platform (and Linux).

So, decisions, decisions…

I guess I’ll go with the Dell!  Duh!  You think?

The really bewildering part about all this is the number of lemming-like Apple cultists who would still rather use the Mini, even at twice the price!  Call me a crazy conspiracy theorist, but Jobs must be broadcasting some sort of mind control from Cupertino that a certain portion of the populous is susceptible to.   How else can you explain Apple EVER selling a Mini given this huge price discrepancy?  Maybe I’m naive, but I just don’t get it.  I’ve been using OS X for a year now and I really like it, but not enough to pay almost double for it.  In this particular instance, “I’m a PC”.

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My nine-year-old daughter has been bugging me for a laptop for months.  She coyly asked her mother and I if Santa Claus could afford a Macbook.  She really loves my Macbook Pro and wants the freedom of a portable machine.  Her room is adorned with more computer hardware than most people twice (or three times) her age, but every time I get up from the sofa for more than a minute or two I find her tapping away on my laptop which usually sits on the coffee table.  My cookie folder is filled with Nick and Disney crap all the time.  If someone didn’t know me better, a casual inspection of my Mac’s browsing history would indicate I’m some sort of “Chester the Molester”. She needs her own laptop!

The wife and I discussed getting her a laptop and I said that I really wanted her to have a Mac.  When I mentioned the price of $1000 however, she looked at me like I was nuts.  I guess I am nuts, but I still want our daughter to be a “chip off the old block”, as it were, and fostering her techno-lust fits nicely into that agenda.  OK, on to plan B…

So, with my buying criteria promptly adjusted, I focused on the sub $750 category.  I want my daughter to have something cool and portable.  Lots of laptops in my price range fit the latter criteria but most are butt-ugly, chunky or both.  When it comes to cool factor, the possibility list gets pared significantly.  If there is one thing Asus has accomplished, it has wowed the geek world with this new form factor.  So much so that we’re beginning to see copy cat offerings from the likes of Dell and Acer.  There’s even a light bulb company (Sylvania) manufacturing a netbook!

The $479 (street price) Eee PC 1000H model comes pretty loaded and the newest version packs a 160GB hard drive.  Plenty of punch for my 9-year-old’s surfing and chatting.  The one big drawback to all of these sub-notebooks is the lack of a CD/DVD drive.  My daughter is a movie freak and I know I’ll be burning up my Macbook ripping DVDs until she has a decent catalog of her movies stored.  There’s always the external drive option, but my daughter has a hard enough time keeping up with her power cord, much less a bunch of peripherals.

Dell Studio

If I choose the normal laptop route, it looks like I’ll need to shop the refurb shelves to keep the price in the $500 range.  Dell’s XPS 1330 can be had for around that price and comes with a bigger display, CD/DVD burner and same 160GB hard disk, but the real difference is the processor.  I know battery life will suffer, but the 1330′s 1.66 GHz Core 2 Duo will run circles around the 1.6 GHz Atom plant of the Eee.  I think you could probably run Spore on the Dell quite nicely and that sort of “future proofs” the machine.  Well, as much as you can with any computer.  It’s sort of like buying shoes for a kid who’s feet grow three sizes every year.  I know the Eee is just her size. It will do almost everything she wants to do and the battery will last almost all [school] day. But what about next year?

I’m hoping all the manufacturers will start their holiday specials early.  Sometimes, if you stick to your guns you can buy a real bargain.  Dell has perfected the “bait and switch” technique though, so I’ll have to be careful.  They’ll advertise a $500 box that looks pretty complete and then trade you up to another [higher priced] model or nickel-and-dime you to death with add-ons.  Before you can spit, your $500 machine is closer to $900.  That’s one check mark in the Eee’s favor.  Every place I’v seen the Eee for sale sells just that, the Eee, period.  Dealing with Dell and other on-line retailers is an exercise in saying NO if you want a real bargain.  Even the Dell Outlet web site won’t let you buy a PC without first navigating through several pages of option questions.

All said and done, I don’t know what the hell to do.  Any constructive suggestions would be welcome.  I guess the main reason I’m struggling with this is because I really want to get her a Macbook.  I guess hoping Apple will have a big holiday special is just a pipe dream.  A $1000 Macbook has the same hardware as a $600 Acer with one exception, the Apple logo.  Apple charges what they do because they can.  The company’s market share is growing at a rate other PC makers only dream about and at the expense of everybody else in the game.  I can’t think of a single reason for them to change their pricing except that, if they would my daughter would grow up using a Mac instead of a Windows machine.  I wonder if my quandary is unique?

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