Computer Upgrade

1. In a rare turn of events, the computer I ordered became obsolete before I even received it, because Apple no longer ships my particular model. Instead they have replaced it with an even faster model, at no extra cost. Sweet as! Looks like my shiny new MacBook Pro 1.83Ghz will start shipping next week, which means I can now go and get some sleep :)

UPDATE: Damnit! A speed bump I got, but now it won’t ship until the 28th Feb. I fucking ordered 10hrs after the keynote! I never wait 7 weeks for anything!

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iPod resuffle

1. Minor resuffling of the iPod line, with the introduction of a 1Gb iPod nano at $219(au) and a price drop on the iPod shuffle.

MobileNow?

1. Does anyone else think it’s strange timing for Apple to jump into a totally new business when they are in the middle of a massive platform transition?

In a moment of weakness…

1. …I ordered one.

Ha!

1. Ha! What did I say? New MacBookPro, same form factor as a 15in PowerBook G4, same price as a 15in PowerBook G4.  Intel iBooks (MacBook?) nowhere to be seen.  On a different note, if the 1.67Ghz Core Duo is being used in the new MacBook Pros, maybe Apple will be using the single core chips in the iBook replacements… meaning I might as well break my credit card and buy the MBP (MBP… hasn’t got the ring of PB, does it?) now.  It is a really nice machine, and with the remote and iSight and all that built in it would be perfect for me in Japan.

Things of screws and delicate metals

1. Well I suppose it had to happen sometime, but the hard drive on my PowerBook said it’s last hurrah two days ago. I had noticed that my computer had been running slower and slower over the last few months, but though nothing of it since it was about time for a clean install anyway. Then it slowed to a total crawl. And then it stopped booting. Then, if it could get any worse, it started making a noise like what you get when you stick a pen in a moving fan blade. Which is usually a pretty bad sign.

2. Luckily, I managed to rescue all my files, thanks to a little calm (it seems the days of my breaking things that are already broken are over, which is just as well I suppose) and ingenuity, and a kick arse program. Of course, if I had lost my photos, the scream would echo worldwide. That, fortunately, is on a seperate drive.

3. This still put me in a bit of a dilemma — do I buy a new computer now, or repair this one? I don’t want to spend $3000 on a new PowerBook just yet, so close to MacWorld in January, but I will be buying one in the next couple of months so it’s not worth spending lots on this one. Which is when I discovered a brilliant site called PBFixit which gives you detailed instructions on how to take apart any Macintosh computer, accompanied by excellent photos. So a short trip to the local computer store for a new hard drive and an hour of mucking about and it’s like I have an all new computer.

4. So all’s well that ends well. And because you’ve all been very good boys and girls, you get a treat.

5. Enjoy :)

More Apple speculation

1. Now I’m confused… Paul Murphy over at ZD Net argues that if we see an Apple laptop powered by Intel it would be an iBook, not a PowerBook. But then he argues that an Intel CPU is too expensive to put into an iBook on current pricing. He then suggests that Apple could use the low-power G5 or the Dual Core G4 next year, and release Intel powered machines in 2007.

2. Huh?

3. While there isn’t really any hard benchmark data, but the smart money would be on the Pentium-M being faster than a G4 chip. So, why would Apple make a cheap laptop faster than an expensive one? PowerBook sales would evaporate if the iBook was faster: those who want the power without the ‘Pro’ features would just save the cash and buy the iBook, and those who need the ‘Pro’ features would wait knowing Apple can’t be too far behind with an Intel PowerBook.

4. Apple knows this too, and you can see that by looking at their desktop line. Top of the heap is a Quad Core (2 Dual Core processors) PowerMac with the rest of the line being the same cutting edge Dual Core G5s, the iMac line has features unique to that line alone. Intel sure has processors that competes at that level, but it also has a bunch that can’t, so that rumor of an Intel Mac mini works well because they can ditch the ancient G4 without cannibalising sales of their other lines. The same can’t be said for Apple’s portable lines. Even the slowest of Pentium-M processors should be competitive with the G4, so Apple has to update from the top down.

5. (And even if the Intel processor is slower — which it can’t be, otherwise what’s the point? — the perception is the opposite, and you would have the same problem as if it was faster.)

6. Also, if the CPU is so much more expensive, wouldn’t it make more sense to put it in a machine that has a higher margin? Or at least a line that Apple could raise prices on? PowerBook prices have dropped significantly since I bought my first generation 12in PowerBook, but I am under no illusions that it will stay that way when a whole new PowerBook line is released. That said, Apple couldn’t raise prices too much, since it will be directly comparable to other laptops using the same processor.

7. The clever thing about Murphy’s column is that he could very well be right with regards to when MacTel laptops will be released (or rather that it won’t be next year), but it most certainly won’t be because of his reasons.

Laser etched Powerbook!

1. From Digg: Dude! This is soooo awesome! Twenty thousand big ones for the laser cutter, another three for a 17in PowerBook, but using it to engrave a woodcut of a Tarsier (I’ve seen one :) is priceless!<br/><br/>read more | digg story

iTMS arrives down under. Finally!

1. Well we only waited two and a half years. iTMS has arrived, and after getting over the sticker shock ($1.69 a song, $16.99 for most albums and $3.39 for video) I was pleasantly surprised — I’m gonna lose a bit of money here. I get access to some relatively obscure American bands that was otherwise a pain to import CDs for, and there are some good Oz rock exclusives, like Spiderbait doing an exclusive live recording for iTMS. I can’t complain about half priced albums, but it doesn’t feel as though they priced it to compete with pirates. I’d love to see what Apple’s margins are here, and I have a feeling the major labels are doing very well.

Get me a bit of that pie!

1. With the excitement bubbling over the Apple Media Event on October 12th the rumour mill has been crankin’ its little mill off, with rumors of almost everything being introduced — iPod video (well who knows, they switched to Intel didn’t they?), Dual Core PowerMacs (about time), updated PowerBooks (ABOUT TIME!), Airport Extreme with video out (again, ABOUT TIME!). My prediction for October 12th is that it will be one of or a combination of these things: iTunes Movie Store, possibly in conjunction with an iPod video and/or Airport Extreme Video, Dual Core PowerMac to be introduced and lastly, the first of the Intel PowerBooks. Yeah baby, black ultra thin Intel powered PowerBook so I can play games and work on the one machine. Wooo-ha!

2. (Disclaimer: I’m totally full of shit. Those were total guesses and bear no relation to anything remotely close to being evidence. But, this is supposed to be the Year of HD, and what better way to start the run to the holiday season than with an iTunes Movie Store and an iPod video?)

3. (Hot damn I’d laugh if I got any of that right. You read it here first.)

UPDATE: Well I wasn’t that far off. iPod that does video, iTMS that sells TV episodes (for a very reasonable $1.99 per episode). But, two things bother me — it’s very particular about the video spec, it has to be under 786kb/s and 320×240, it has to be H.264 or quicktime compatible, which practically rules out the TV I record on my PVR unless I re-encode it. This may include all the videos I’ve taken with my digital camera, that would suck if I had to re-encode to see it on the iPod. Secondly, the 30GB iPod has only 2 hours battery life when playing video, with the 60GB marginally better at 3 hours. That is teh suck.