Apple Archive

Linus Torvalds Switches to a Mac

Submitted by Joey 2005-03-09 Apple 39 Comments

Now that we've got your attention, no, Linus has not quit using Linux. He had an opportunity to get a free Dual G5 Apple, and he decided that, after all his years working on x86, the PowerPC architecture has a future, and deserves some attention. Torvalds' added justification for his switch is that he's a "technology whore."

Forbes: Is Apple The New Microsoft?

Eugenia Loli 2005-03-04 Apple 169 Comments

"This potential threat to first amendment rights and Apple's crackdown on Web sites that, in general, love the company and its products, do nothing to bolster Apple's image. In fact, the company's success of late has yielded accusations of bullying and potentially unlawful business tactics, not to mention complaints that songs purchased from its iTunes music service, the dominant digital music store, don't work with music players other than its own. To some, that might sound like its neighbor to the north," says Forbes.

Jef Raskin (1944-2005)

Submitted by Thomas 2005-02-27 Apple 42 Comments

Jef Raskin, creator of the Macintosh, died yesterday at 61. He headed the project from 1978 up to 1982, when he was forced out of Apple. Since then, he worked on several different products to introduce 'humane computing', but is still best known for his contributions to the Macintosh. Read his story here.

Linux to Mac : A switcher’s story

Submitted by Anonymous Reader 2005-02-26 Apple 97 Comments

"Mad Echidna" has posted an article about his migration from a Linux based PC to an old iMac in this article. My Take: My reply to his annoyances:

Apple CFO muses on iPod halo effect, Mac mini, more

Eugenia Loli 2005-02-26 Apple 33 Comments

Apple Chief Financial Officer Peter Oppenheimer was a featured presenter on Thursday at the Goldman Sachs Technology Investment Symposium, held at the Arizona Biltmore Resort & Spa in Phoeniz, Ariz. During the half-hour session, Oppenheimer answered questions about the iPod's "Halo" effect, the importance of the Mac mini, Apple's continued retail efforts and other issues facing the company.

Apple takes a step away from FireWire?

Eugenia Loli 2005-02-24 Apple 50 Comments

With the latest crop of iPods, Apple is no longer including a FireWire cable in the box. The music players will still work with FireWire, if a cord is purchased separately, but only a USB 2.0 cable comes with the device. The move is part of a gradual shift on Apple's part to standardize the iPod on USB, which is far more common in the Windows world. Nonetheless, some Mac owners were rankled by the move, saying that as recently as a year or two ago many Macs didn't include a USB 2.0 port. My Take: Just bought (a previous generation for cheap) iPod Mini yesterday. It's a truly nicely done product. The FW option seems better than the USB on my 2 year old Powerbook, as it has USB 1.1 instead of 2.0.

Apple community revolt over lawsuits

Guest post by ggg ulias 2005-02-22 Apple 98 Comments

There's an article up with a quote from Steve Wozniak, where he publicly chastises Apple for their lawsuits against the canadian student being sued by Apple Computer for leaking a build of 10.4, and will be donating money to the student's defense. It doesn't just stop there. Some of the biggest names in the Mac world are also listed with quotes, and the general consensus is "He made a mistake, but Apple is going too far".

While Switching to Mac Will Improve Security, It Isn’t for Everybody

Eugenia Loli 2005-02-17 Apple 101 Comments

"Over the past year, I have advised readers who are fed up with the plague of viruses and spyware on Windows PCs that one way out of the mess is to switch to Apple Computer's Macintosh. There has yet to be a report of a successful, real-world virus for the Mac's current operating system, and there is little or no known spyware for the Mac." says Mossberg.

Steve Jobs: PC makers want to license Mac OS X

Eugenia Loli 2005-02-12 Apple 196 Comments

Apple has to fight off three of the biggest PC companies, sick of the security bugs that plague Windows, wanting to license the Mac operating system. My take: Embrace it my child, don't fight it off.

Why I can’t switch to a Mac for work

Guest post by Colin Nederkoorn 2005-02-06 Apple 84 Comments

I recently wrote an article about why I cant switch to a Mac for my work. If anyone else is looking into putting their Mac in a Windows network, here are my experiences to help save you some time.

Apple Stores show zero availability of Mac mini, iPod shuffle

Submitted by Bascule 2005-02-02 Apple 127 Comments

Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster said that Apple retail stores are having a very hard time keeping up with demand for the new Mac mini and iPod shuffle. Elsewhere, C|NET News.com has a two-page report on the much-anticipated PowerBook G5 and the fact that it will take a while to materialize in the market.

Apple restricting DVD region-changes – voluntarily?

Eugenia Loli 2005-02-01 Apple 78 Comments

"Apple's DVD players are subject to restrictive rules laid out by greedy Hollywood studios that don't really care if they piss off Apple's customers, since that's Apple's lookout. However, I've just discovered, to my amazement, that Apple imposes its very own restrictions on its DVD players over and above those imposed by the studios: that's right, Apple voluntarily treats its customers worse than the studios say it has to" says BoingBoing in their editorial. VLC does not seem to be a stable idea either (v0.8.x doesn't play my VCDs where v0.7.x could, and many times DVD audio and picture are out of sync).

Mac Mini: The Emperor’s New Computer

Submitted by Kate Jambor 2005-02-01 Apple 141 Comments

Technology Insider has a skeptical review of the new Mac Mini. It gives a good overview of a Windows user's impression of the Mini and Macs in general. Note: read the whole review before rushing to judgement. If you read it carefully, you might be able to discern the author's hidden adgenda. Also check out the same site's article on setting grandma up with a Linux box.

Apple: Video’s future is Tiger, QuickTime 7, H.264

Eugenia Loli 2005-02-01 Apple 61 Comments

One of the most talked-about video codecs in the last year, H.264, will make its debut in QuickTime 7 this year when Apple ships Mac OS X Tiger. One feature that makes H.264 particularly noteworthy is its ability to deliver the same quality of video as you see on a DVD, for example, at up to half the data rate. Another is H.264's ability to smoothly scale from very limited bandwidth applications like 3G cell phones all the way up to HD-quality video, and everything in between.

Faster Powerbooks Out; SideTrack Comments

Submitted by fluxin 2005-01-31 Apple 35 Comments

Apple has anounced faster Powerbooks. The 12" gets up to 1.5GHz with a 64Meg GeForce 5200 and the 15" and 17" get an upgrade to 1.67 with a Radeon 9700 with 64Meg for the 15" and 128 for the 17". They all now come with 512 MBs of RAM, a laptop-drop sensorand a scrolling trackpad. For almost a year now *Book users used SideTrack's solution for scrolling, read how this new Apple announcement affects their company. Regarding the new Powerbooks, the screen resolutions have remained the same throughout the board. Elsewhere, the WashingtonPost reviews the Mac Mini.

Top 10 Mac Failures

Guest post by Thomas Hormby 2005-01-31 Apple 59 Comments

In the survey of almost 2,000 ad executives, brand managers and academics by online magazine Brandchannel, Apple ousted search engine Google from last year's top spot as the fifth most influential brand. However, Apple was not always a success though: MLAgazine have compiled 10 of the most notable products released by Apple or its comrades that failed.

A Linux Geek Embraces Mac OS X

Eugenia Loli 2005-01-27 Apple 166 Comments

ExtremeTech's own (and OSNews reader) Jim Lynch is a long-standing Linux and occasional Windows user. He recently got a Mac for the first time, a G5. Did he like it, will he stay to the new platform?

The Mac Mini Experience

Guest post by John Yanosko 2005-01-26 Apple 78 Comments

The following is the experience of a user of Linux for the desktop who got a Mac Mini. Is he making the switch?

Anandtech.com reviews the Mac Mini

Submitted by Quake 2005-01-26 Apple 61 Comments

Anandtech has a review of the Mac Mini and Ars has a useful guide for it.

Apple Drops BTO Mac Mini Prices; iPod Shuffle Vs SanDisk Player

Eugenia Loli 2005-01-25 Apple 108 Comments

Apple has quietly cut prices on build-to-order (BTO) components for its new Mac mini. The company is now offering the Bluetooth and AirPort Extreme wireless option for US$99 (was $129), the 1GB DDR333 SDRAM upgrade for $325 (was $475), and the 80GB ultra ATA hard drive upgrade for $50 (was $80). Apple is also now listing an 8x SuperDrive option instead of the previous 4x model for the same $100 cost. Elsewhere, a Mac user reviews the iPod Shuffle ($149) vs the Sandisk MP3 player ($138, $118 with rebate), both with 1 GB of Flash memory and similar pricing but with different feature-set.