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Gizmodo
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Gifts for Angry, Rant-Prone Apple Haters [Giftguide]
Motorola Droid: Sure, Matt may have called the Droid "the second best smartphone you can buy," the best being the iPhone 3GS, but Apple haters will find plenty to love about the Droid—and plenty to loathe about the iPhone. I won't rehash our review (or Verizon's intimidating "Droid Does" a...
Wednesday, Nov 11
Sometimes We Unintentionally Endorse Bad Companies, Like MacPadd [Broken]
When we reviewed the MacPadd, the anodized aluminum mousepad designed to match a MacBook Pro, we were highly complimentary of the product. And while we still stand by the product, we have to disown the company selling it.
Tuesday, Nov 10
Remainders - Things We Didn't Post (and Why) [Remainders]
Apple Stomps Over Nokia to Become Most Profitable Phone-Maker in US...Windows Mobile 7 Is on Track for an Early 2010 Release to OEMs...Bing Videos Aggregates Hulu, YouTube, ABC and More...Non-Apple Companies to Support Mini DisplayPort Soon...
Monday, Nov 9
Reminder: Your Unibody MacBook's Trackpad Is Magical [Btw]
Even though this free app doesn't really do anything except display exactly what your trackpad is sensing, it's still spectacular. Even with all ten fingers moving in different directions, inputs seem to be monitored just as precisely as with a single finger. I have no idea how you're supp...
Tuesday, Nov 3
Disposable Laptop Works Better as a Metaphor Than as an Actual Product [Concepts]
But if you think about it, we're heading toward this kind of design anyway: flimsy, dirt-cheap netbooks seem to have a short intended lifespan, and hell, even my polycarbonate MacBook felt like it was beginning to disintegrate after about two years of heavy use. It may not have been cardbo...
Tuesday, Oct 27
Phil Schiller: No More Apple Products This Year [Update: Apple Called] [Apple]
This time we got official word in the last one-on-one media briefing from Apple, in which they told Brian about the new iMac 27, the new Unibody MacBook, and new Magic Mouse. We were talking casually about about it, and he mentioned something that Phil Schiller told him: There are not going t...
Monday, Oct 26
Mac OS 10.6.2 Leaks New Core i5/i7 MacBook Pros? [Rumor]
Of course, this appears to be confirmation of the obvious, that Apple will be updating their MacBook Pro line to include Core i5/i7 chips following the white MacBook's Pro-level spec bump last week. (Apple will need to adopt these new chipsets to stay competitive.) Now we just need an answe...
Mac OS 10.6.2 Leaks New Core i5/i7 MacBook Pros? [Rumor]
It'd be the most obvious leak in history, but the 10C531 build of OS 10.6.2 references the "MacBook Pro 6.1 and the MacBook Pro 6.1b." All current MacBook Pros are strictly "5" status. Of course,...
Saturday, Oct 24
Week In Review: Apple, Microsoft, Nook and More—It Was Nuts [Roundup]
Apple: • Apple iMac Review: 27 Inches and Less Chin • Unibody Apple MacBook Review • Apple Magic Mouse Review • Time Capsule and Airport Extreme Grow New Antennas to Get Faster and Stronger • Mac Mini Updates: Faster Processors, More Memory, and a Dual Hard Disk Server
How To: Hackintosh a Dell Mini 10v Into the Ultimate Snow Leopard Netbook [How To]
You've got yourself a fully-functioning, beautifully small Snow Leopard netbook, which'll do 90% of what a 13-inch MacBook can, at 70% the size and about 25% of the cost. Mine's close to perfect: With an extended battery, I'm pushing 7 hours of battery life with Wi-Fi, which makes my MacBo...
30 Rock 's Emphatically Branded Windows Computer Is Confusing [TV]
At first glance I thought it was a black MacBook with a Windows logo pasted over the Apple, but that's not it—the case is too shiny and angular, looking more like a slick Lenovo or something. 30 Rock has been very obvious in its love of Apple products in the past, with Liz and Jack always using iP...
Friday, Oct 23
The Today Show Helps Microsoft Launch Windows 7 On a MacBook Pro [Windows 7]
On the other hand, Maybe Ballmer noticed and didn't care. In the spot he discusses hardware diversity and this sort of proves his point. After all, you can run Windows 7 on a Mac. It's an amusing gaffe, but beyond that, the clip is interesting because it touches on Windows 7, the image battle bet...
The Today Show Helps Microsoft Launch Windows 7 On a MacBook Pro [Windows 7]
Good thing Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer didn't turn around during his spot on The Today Show. Clearly, someone at NBC either really loves Macs or can't tell the difference between a MacBook and a PC....
Win7 Laptop Battlemodo: Thin and Lights For Under $800
Meanwhile, your average Atom netbook can't play a 1080p clip without stuttering, not can it multitask as smoothly. However, no UL system can reach the performance of a Core 2 Duo with discrete graphics. By way of comparison a 15.4 inch Acer Aspire with a 2.0 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor and dis...
Thursday, Oct 22
Apple iMac Review: 27 Inches and Less Chin
Ports: The back of the case has a Mini DisplayPort, 4 USB 2.0 ports, power plug (the machine's only wire), Firewire 800, minijack/optical input and output, and Gigabit Ethernet. There's Bluetooth 2.1 EDR wireless with which the mouse and keyboard interface, and 802.11 N Wi-Fi. Although the e...
How to Survive Boot Camp (and Run Win 7 on a Mac) [How To]
After that, you should run Windows Update to grab the latest goods from Microsoft, and I'd suggest, especially if you're running a unibody MacBook (or Pro) going to Nvidia's site and downloading their latest Windows 7 drivers for your graphics card (the 9M series for unibody MacBook Pro...
iMac Teardown Reveals What Apple Hides Behind Its Logo [Apple]
The new iMac uses the Apple logo on the back for a very specific purpose. Can you guess? Hint: It's one of the few parts of the body that's plastic. The Apple logo integrates the AirPort antenna. Metal impedes wireless signals, which is one reason the plastic white MacBook has historically had...
Wednesday, Oct 21
Mint Studio Multi-Room Wireless Speaker/iPod Dock Review [Review]
It also still supports line-in and still acts like an iPod/iPhone dock, and works fine in those respects too. With the low price and improved featureset, I think the Mint Studio is a pretty good buy for people who want cheap multi-room audio that can also function as an iPod dock. [Mint]
Unibody Apple MacBook Review
Benchmarks and Battery Life Comparing the 13-inch aluminum unibody MacBook of 2008 to the 13-inch aluminum unibody MacBook Pro to the 13-inch MacBook now shows that there really isn't a big difference between the three models. The small discrepancies fall inside the margin of error, an...
Apple Magic Mouse Review
The Magic Mouse is undoubtedly the best mouse Apple's made in years. They've taken their knowledge in trackpad finger gestures and one-piece manufacturing and made this delicate, yet sturdy, bridge-shaped mouse. The question is how it compares to other mice.
Tuesday, Oct 20
10 Things You Need to Know About Apple's New Stuff [Roundups]
7. Jobs' Polycarbonate MacBook Must Have Slipped Off His Lap Not only is Apple keeping the white MacBook around, they've added a non-slip rubber bottom in what may be the most aggressive design change since May 16, 2006, when the model original launched.
Monday, Oct 19
New Unibody LED MacBook: All the Details and Hands-On Impressions [Apple]
The new MacBook features a unibody, polycarbonate enclosure that makes it lighter and more durable. The new design includes a unique non-skid bottom surface and at just 4.7 pounds, the sleek MacBook slides easily into a backpack or briefcase. MacBook comes standard with a bright, LED-bac...
Tuesday, Sep 29
HP Envy 13 Review: The MacBook Imitated, Not Duplicated
Internal Power The HP Envy 13's 2.13GHz Intel Core 2 Duo Processor (along with 3GB of RAM) doesn't quite have as much as power as the MacBook Pro's 2.26GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, but it still keeps up with everyday tasks. When running Firefox with over 10 tabs open, iTunes and TweetDeck the system sho...
Wednesday, Jul 29
Kanex Mini DisplayPort Adapter With Audio Review: Someone Finally Gets It Right [Review]
It's quite easy to use. The USB and Mini DisplayPort goes into the MacBook Pro (or Mac Mini), and the other end takes an HDMI cable. Your Mac should automatically detect the new display, but you have to manually switch the audio output to the USB audio device. If you're planning on using a new Mac...
Thursday, Jul 2
Cheap, Thin Laptops Suffering From Cheapness, Thinness [Notebooks]
Early production units being built in plastic, with the bottom case being plastic, are cracking...So, to get that really thin form factor that they're after, they're probably going to have to go with a metal case. The obvious issue here is that they can't go with a metal case, or else they'll al...
Friday, Jun 26
Opinion: Is the New Macbook Air Actually Slower Than the Last One? [Apple]
Sluggishness was a consistent gripe with two prior versions of the MacBook Air, especially compared to the rest of the MacBook line. The latest version has speedier processor options, but according to recent benchmarks, might have gotten slower. Huh?
Thursday, Jun 11
MacBook Pro 2009 Review [MacBook Pro]
Apple did two things simultaneously that are usually contradictory; they lowered the price of their entire MacBook Pro line while at the same time bumping up the specs. The 15-inch version now starts at $1699 and caps out at $2299, down from $1999 and $2499. What's even nicer is that the 13-i...
Tuesday, Jun 9
HyperMac External MacBook Battery Review [Review]
Unlike the Powergorilla, the HyperMac actually is capable of charging the Pro (there's a MacBook Air style charger as well). That means you can use this as a portable charging station as well as a constantly-tethered power supply. But you pay for that in terms of lugging around a heavy ass bl...
Friday, May 29
MSI X340 Review (The Unemployed Man's Macbook Air) [Laptops]
It's impossible not to be at least a little impressed with the MacBook Air, but who can spend $2,000 on that laptop? The solution? The MSI X340, a $900 MacBook Air. And it's a great idea...in theory... Extremely light and thin form Runs Vista adequately Short battery life
Thursday, May 28
Opinion: 13-Inch Unibody MacBook Screen Quietly Upgraded [Apple]
Although the photo is not that good, you can notice the difference here. On the left you have the older screen. According to these users, the new machines have a wider view angle and better blacks. The unibody Macbook 13 had an LG Philips screen, but it looks like the latest boxes are coming out o...
Tuesday, May 26
The Asus Eee Seashell Review (The Netbook Is Back) [Review]
The keyboard is extremely satisfying to use. It's satisfyingly clicky and each key is easy to find with your fingers. A convenient button controls Wi-Fi/Bluetooth combinations to reserve power, while another button turns off the trackpad when not in use.
Monday, May 25
Lenovo U350 Is Pretty Thin, Pretty Light, and Pretty Cheap [Laptops]
Processor: Intel ultra low voltage CPUs and small form factor chipsets: Intel® Core 2 Solo SU3500 (1.4G, 800 MHz, 3 MB), Intel® Pentium® SU2700 (1.3G, 800 MHz, 2 MB), and Intel® Celeron 723 (1.2G, 800 MHz, 1MB) processors. Mobile Intel® GS40 and GS45 Express Chipset.
Tuesday, May 19
iLynx USB/Firewire Hub Review [Lightning Review]
The Gadget: The iLynx, a wedge-shaped USB and Firewire hub that provides four USB 2 ports and two Firewire 400 ports. Its most distinguishing feature is that it matches MacBook Pros. It comes with both a USB extension cord in case your machine (MacBook Pro or iMac) is slightly further away fr...
Wednesday, May 6
Opinion: Consumer Reports Gives Apple Top Scores, But Can We Trust Their Results? [Traditional Journalism]
Laptop Magazine finds several flaws with Consumer Reports' findings, the most important of which is a total lack of transparency: How in the world did they arrive at these ratings? For example, the MacBook Air shows a performance rating of "Good," but what does that mean? The Air isn't ex...
Thursday, Apr 9
Dell Adamo Full Review: Macho Outside, Sissy Inside [Review]
Performance Our test system was a beefed-up, $2600 Adamo, featuring a 1.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor (3MB L2 cache), 4GB RAM (800MHz), 128GB SSD and integrated 3G. $2000 only buys you a 1.2GHz processor and 2GB of RAM, but you still get the 128GB SSD.
Thursday, Mar 5
Mac Mini 2009 Review [Review]
The good news is, the new Mac Mini is a worthy little beast. In spite of its seemingly wimpy 2.0GHz dual-core processor, it keeps up with most of the basic stuff you can throw at it. The internal redesign of the Mac Mini is really about coupling that Core 2 Duo with Nvidia integrated graphics, and...
Thursday, Feb 26
The 17-Inch MacBook Pro Review
By Mark Wilson , 4:20 PM on Thu Feb 26 2009, 6759 views While Apple grandly updated their notebook line to the new unibody design, the 17-inch MacBook Pro, Apple's granddaddy of mobile computing, was left behind. Now, the 17-inch model joins its ...
The 17-Inch MacBook Pro Review
The model we tested was fully loaded, with a 2.93GHz processor, 8GB RAM and 256GB SSD. Assuming screen at half brightness, Wi-Fi on, light browsing, light word processing (so no Bluetooth but otherwise a standard configuration). 8 hours on integrated graphics, 7 hours with more beefy disc...
Monday, Dec 22
Mimo UM-750 7-inch USB Display Lightning Review
The Gadget: The previously Korea-only 7-inch plug-and-play Mimo display, which hooks up via any USB 2.0 port. The resolution is a not-too-shabby 800x480, and higher versions, like this UM-750 also has a webcam and touchscreen. Touchscreen feature works alright, but is finicky under Win...
Tuesday, Dec 16
MacBook Air 2nd Gen Review
To recap: the latest MacBook Air has the same display as before (one step up from the standard MacBook displays since the Air is somewhat of a "Pro" machine), the same form factor and the same exact feel as the one released in early 2008. On the inside, however, Apple increased both the solid s...
Thursday, Dec 11
Patch: MacBook Firmware Update Doesn't Fix Cranky RAM Problems
It looks like the MacBook update released yesterday doesn't fix everything we wanted it to. JkOnTheRun reports it still freezes and hangs with the full 4GB installed. But at least sleep seems fixed. [jkOnTheRun]
Wednesday, Dec 10
Patch: New MacBooks Get Another Firmware Update To Fix Problems
Apple has released firmware updates (two apiece actually) for the MacBook, MacBook Pro, and MacBook Air. As usual, "stability fixes" are the only details—but hopefully it fixes all the problems we've been seeing. Down with Beta Culture, but Hurray for Software updates. [Apple]
Monday, Nov 24
Powergorilla Portable Laptop and Device Charger Lightning Review [Review]
The Verdict: It works pretty perfeclty. In our tests, the Powergorilla gave our MacBook Pro an extra 2.5 hours of battery life in everyday blogging usage (Wi-Fi on, lots of app open). That's on top of whatever the internal battery already supplies. The unit doesn't come with a MagSafe adapter...
Sunday, Nov 16
Patch: <b>MacBook</b>: <b>Apple</b> Releases Firmware Fix for <b>MacBook Trackpad</b> Seizures
Hot off of software update is a firmware fix for those glitchy trackpads in the new MacBooks that would completely.
Thursday, Oct 30
Opinion: MacBook vs MacBook Pro: Hardcore Graphics Death Match
The takeaway from these charts is that yes, there really is a difference between the MacBook and MacBook Pro in terms of graphical capability. The two benchmarks we used before, GeekBench and XBench, do a poor job of utilizing the graphics card. Whether that's because the benchmarks are tw...
Friday, Oct 17
The Truth About the Apple Tax [Finaciapocolypse]
In the case of Macs vs PCs, you could argue that customer support, the Leopard OS and design elements such as the new unibody construction and glass trackpads are what make up the Apple Tax. The only problem with this logic is that, among Apple computers, the tax can swing wildly.
Opinion: The Truth About the Apple Tax
Strictly speaking, the best value right now are the last-gen MacBook Pros—they're so cheap they essentially negate the Apple tax, and destroy the new ones in performance-to-dollar ratio. The older, discounted black MacBook is also a decent alternative to the new "cheap" MacBook model.
Tuesday, Oct 14
MacBook Post-Mortem Rumor Review: Hindsight is 20/20 [Apple]
Apple's 'Brick' is a Revolutionary Aluminum Manufacturing Process? (9to5Mac): TRUE As we pointed out, this one was not a huge stretch, considering the MacBook Air and iMac have used aspects of this manufacturing process already.
New MacBooks Get Glass Trackpads 4-finger Multitouch, No Buttons, and No LCD
The new smooth glass Multi-Touch trackpad on the MacBook and 15-inch MacBook Pro gives users almost 40 percent more tracking area than before, making it even easier to use Multi-Touch gestures like pinch, rotate and swipe. New gestures allow users to activate Exposé® or switch between a...
Sunday, Oct 12
Patch: MacBook and MacBook Pro Repair Document Leaked, Confirms "Late 2008" Update [Leaked Documents]
In case you needed more, here's a proof that seems to completely confirm that—as expected—both the MacBook and MacBook Pro will be updated this Tuesday at the Apple MacBook 2008 event in Cupertino, where heads may be rolling after a PDF document referring to the "MacBook/MacBook Pro (La...
Monday, Oct 6
Voodoo Envy 133 Review (Verdict: Plenty Thin, Plenty Pricey)
It also has a pseudo-multi-touch "pinch" feature like on a MacBook Air (or an iPhone), but instead of a smooth flow, I noticed it was kinda jerky. It could still come in handy, but to be honest, I am not sure how handy the Air's multi-touch is at this point. I consider all of this proof of concept f...
Tuesday, Sep 30
Oncore 6-Bay MacBook and iBook Charger Lightning Review [Lightning Review]
The Gadget: Oncore's 6-Bay MacBook or iBook battery charger that really only charges three batteries at one time because it's a cluster of charging bays and not six individual chargers. Once the first battery in a single charging bay is full it will switch charging to the other battery whi...
Saturday, Aug 23
Patch: Apple Issues Software Update for MacBook Air, Fixes Video Playback and Processor Idling Issues
TUAW reports that Apple released a software update for its MacBook Air last night, which is said to fix issues with video playback and processor idling. But more importantly, Apple warned against running apps that modify processor performance (TUAW lists CoolBook), as the update does n...
Thursday, Jul 24
Lightning Review: Timbuk2 MacBook Air 'Steve Sleeve'
The Verdict: Let me preface this by saying THE THING COSTS FIFTY DOLLARS. Yes, it's constructed in typical Timbuk2 fashion — which is to say, well — and it would sufficiently protect your Air from scratches, but it costs FIFTY DOLLARS. Ridiculous pricing aside, it's made from a durable mate...
Tuesday, Jul 1
Lightning Review: Moshi Zefyr MacBook Notebook Cooler
The Gadget: The Moshi Zefyr, which is a collapsible USB-powered notebook cooler for the MacBook and MacBook Air (MacBook Pro version coming soon). The USB slot is pass-through, which lets you plug in another USB device so as to break even, and the whole thing can collapse into itself for ea...
Friday, Apr 25
Opinion: Wacom New Touchscreen Perfect for Fabled Tablet MacBook
We will have to wait to May 20, when it will be presented at the International Society for Information Display Exhibition, to see how it looks like. Press Release: New human interface solution to debut at the Society for Information Display exhibition
Monday, Mar 3
Axiotron ModBook Review (Verdict: A Touchscreen MacBook Done Right)
• It's essentially a MacBook. They've taken a Core 2 Duo MacBook with Leopard, replaced the standard screen with a Wacom Penabled Digitizer and even stuck a GPS inside. • The screen is bright, but matte (not glossy like the new MacBook Pro models), so images are a bit fuzzier than my MacBook Pr...
Thursday, Feb 28
New Macbook Pro Review (Verdict: Penryn + LEDs = Efficiency)
Screen One thing to note though is that the LED matte screen on the version we got was less bright than the glossy screen on the MacBook Air. This might be the matte vs. glossy difference, or it might be that the MacBook Air's screen is just brighter.
Wednesday, Feb 27
5 Takes On the Lenovo ThinkPad X300 [Roundup]
Like the MacBook Air, the X300's wider dimensions allow not only for a bigger screen but also for a full-size keyboard, and who better to take advantage of this than the makers of the ThinkPad keyboard. It's arguably the best typing experience on a laptop keyboard, better than the Air's ove...
Thursday, Jan 24
MacBook Air Review [Apple]
Apple's full Keyboard and LCD Screen give the Air a footprint larger than that of the competition. Counterintuitive, but it works. That nagging feeling you get when you have to tuck into a few hours of work into a subnote's tiny interfaces are gone, so I'd have no hesitation using the Air for 8...
Our MacBook Air Review Matrix
The so-called "four horsemen" of Apple product reviews have weighed in on the near weightless MacBook Air. You may have seen our post on it last night. You may have even caught one or two of the reviews. But only now can you sit back and enjoy the best quotes from all four reviews in a handy easy-to...
Wednesday, Jan 23
First MacBook Air Reviews Trickle In
Baig also notes that this is the weakest Core 2 Duo in the entire Mac lineup, which means you won't be using this for video editing. He knocks points off for the sacrifices, such as the internal optical drive, the scant 80GB hard disk space, the one USB port, lack of FireWire, and the average ba...
Where Is David Pogue's MacBook Air Review?
Wednesday night around this time, we like to check in with our favorite columnists. Tonight we expected MacBook Air reviews from Walt Mossberg at WSJ, Ed Baig at USA Today, Steven Levy at Newsweek and of course, David Pogue at the venerable New York Times. Only, when I refreshed my browser at...
Tuesday, Jan 22
Opinion: EcoModo - The Best of TreeHugger
Greenpeace may have a thing about Macs, and TreeHugger recognizes that they are not perfect (but getting a lot better) but they sure know how to design a beautiful machine and system. Still, how green is their slick new MacBook Air? After review, we agree with Bruce Nussbaum of Business Wee...
Wednesday, Aug 8
Review: Lightning Round: Newertech MacBook/MacBook Pro Battery Charger
The Gadget: Newertech's MacBook and MacBook Pro Battery Charging Station, which let you charge and condition laptop batteries without having to swap out the one in your laptop. The Catch: The Price: $149 for all types of Mac laptops (MacBook, MacBook Pro 15/17, PowerBooks, iBooks)
Saturday, Jun 23
Opinion: 7 Takes on the Santa Rosa MacBook Pros
CNET Perhaps the biggest improvement in the revamped MacBook Pro is in battery life. ... we got an impressive 3 hours and 35 minutes with our DVD battery drain test—that's 36 minutes more than the non-LED version of the MacBook Pro...[and] you can expect longer life from casual Web surfing and typ...
Thursday, May 24
Review: Smart AC 120v/USB Inverter For the Car
I had it charging a Sony Ericsson by USB cable, and also powering up the monster 85 watt MacBook Pro powerbrick while both devices were active. But not at the same time. The USB cable didn't want to charge the phone while the MacBook was gulping down juice. The inverter also hummed away, like an o...
