A Review of the New Apple Macbook
August 17, 2009 by admin
Filed under 13 inch macbook, featured 1
The MacBook gets full credit for being thin, light, and an extremely stylish product. But it’s not just a pretty face, because of the unibody, MacBook is also very durable. It is difficult to argue with a product that can slip so easily into your backpack or briefcase and even the keyboard is advanced.
The MacBook keyboard is solid, responsive, and comfortable. An illuminated keyboard which is a popular feature of MacBook Pro and MacBook Air, now comes standard on the 2.4GHz MacBook model. So when you are in low light settings such as airports or lecture halls, you can always see what you are typing. It is a luminous feature for anyone on the go and perfect for those of us who work late into the night wherever we may be.
The track pad doubles as a button just press down anywhere and consider it clicked. No separate button means there is 39 percent more room for your fingers to move on the surface. Now that Multi Touch gestures have come to MacBook, all the function is in your fingers. Use two fingers to scroll up and down a page. Pinch to zoom in and out. Swipe with three fingers to flip through your photo libraries. Rotate to adjust an image with your fingertips. Using the new four finger swipe gesture, swipe up or down to access Expose modes and left or right to switch between open applications. If you are coming from a right click world, you can right click with two fingers or configure a right click area on the track pad
The aluminum enclosure is integrated with a glass overlay that stretches to the edge of the notebook, providing a completely unobstructed picture. Anything you view, including the glossy wide screen display itself, is a happy experience. The LED back lit display is more power efficient. And it is mercury and arsenic free, so it’s got green credentials at least in this respect.
The NVIDIA GeForce 9400M brings up to five times faster, discrete level graphics performance to MacBook. That means high end, high speed 3D game playing power. Graphics intensive features in iPhoto and iMovie are smooth and responsive. NVIDIA performance even makes a difference as you flip through your music library with Cover Flow or use the Dashboard.
With a hard drive up to 320GB, you can load MacBook with movies, photos, and documents and take everything with you. You also have the option to upgrade to a 128GB solid state drive, which has no moving parts, for enhanced durability. With the ultrafast 8x SuperDrive, burn everything you watch, listen to, or create onto DVDs and make room for even more.
MacBook is iPod, iPhone, digital camera, and external hard drive ready. You will find two USB 2.0 ports to connect a wide variety of peripherals. The MagSafe power port gives you a trip proof connection to safeguard your system and valuable data. And you can use the Kensington lock slot to protect your MacBook, battery, and hard drive.
Inside the new MacBook is a powerful Intel Core 2 Duo processor running at speeds up to 2.4GHz. MacBook also boasts an increased 1066MHz front side bus and next generation 1066MHz DDR3 memory. That faster memory lets you quickly and easily manipulate large, complex files and keep more applications open at once. Altogether a pretty impressive outing!
Author: Sally Crown
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sally_Crown
Buying A Macbook On Ebay? Six Quick Tips To Avoid
June 10, 2009 by admin
Filed under apple macbook
Buying A Macbook On Ebay? Six Quick Tips To Avoid Being Scammed!
Buying an Apple MacBook on ebay is quite safe so long as you take care. Scammers often use laptops as bait for unsuspecting buyers because they’re a high-priced item. Happily, 99% of sellers are honest but there’s always the rogue element that you need to watch out for. Here are six tips to make your MacBook buying experience a happy one.
1) Does it look like an amazing bargain?
They do exist but be wary of really cheap offers. Check out the seller. If they have a good history but have only sold low-price items in the past and this is their first MacBook sale, double check. Many eBay accounts get hijacked every year and you might be dealing with a ‘phisher’ (someone who steals account usernames and passwords by trickery). If in doubt, use the ‘Ask seller a question’ link – your message will go through to the real seller. Sadly, if it seems too good to be true, chances are it probably is.
2) Does the seller have good feedback? Check the seller’s feedback rating. Be wary of sellers with zero or low feedback and check to see how they got it. If it’s only for $1 items they may be suspect. If they’ve sold big ticket items before then they’re much more credible.
3) Is the seller genuine? Avoid auctions where the seller asks you to use a freebie email address because they’re “having problems with their email”. Lots of eBay accounts get hijacked by phishers who con people out of their account details and then use them to list dud deals. Payment is usually required through a non-eBay-approved channel. When in doubt, contact them through eBay’s ‘Ask seller a question’ facility – your message will go through to the real account owner
4) Is the photo of the actual item, or generic? Generic photos are another scam give-away. Most genuine sellers provide pictures of the actual item for sale.
5) Is the original receipt available? Genuine sellers will be able to provide the original receipt. This is useful to prove ownership and also in case of hardware issues if the MacBook is still in warranty.
6) How is payment to be made? Stay away from deals that have non-standard payment requirements. Pay by credit card or use PayPal as they provide another layer of protection in the event of a deal going wrong.
To sum up) Don’t bid on impulse or be tempted by an amazing deal. When in doubt, use the ‘Ask seller a question’ link. Do your homework before you bid and you won’t be tricked.
By: Peter Strudwick
Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com
Apple Aluminum Unibody Macbooks
May 26, 2009 by admin
Filed under macbook review
Apple Aluminum Unibody Macbooks
It’s been almost six months since the introduction of Apple’s Aluminum Unibody Macbooks and things seem to be looking well for this new generation of Apple notebooks. People are talking about them, checking them out at the Apple retail stores. Walk into a local Starbucks and you’ll probably see an increased number of people using Unibody Macbooks. Even in this precarious state in the economy, people are still willing to buy Apple Macbooks because they want change and they know Macbooks are good computers.
There are several place to purchase Unibody Macbooks. You can purchase them at your local computer electronic stores. They’re found at Best Buy’s and Fry’s Electronics. You can also find them at the various Apple retail stores, often located inside your local shopping malls. You can also buy them online through reputable and authorized Apple resellers such as MacMall and Mac Connection or through Apple themselves at Apple’s online store.
One word of caution, for those that are looking to purchase a refurbished model of these Unibody Macbooks. It’s probably a safer bet to purchase them as Apple Certified Refurbished through Apple’s online store. Apple Certified Refurbished Macbooks are cancelled or returned Macbooks that have been tested and repackaged by Apple to be sold again.
There’s plenty to choose from on Apple’s Special Deals section where the list of Apple’s refurbished Macbooks can be found. There’s no more black Macbooks anymore, only a handful of white Macbooks, and a good number of Unibody Macbooks available. These refurbished Macbooks are sold at a discounted price.
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By Joe Stephens |
The All New Macbook Pro
May 5, 2009 by admin
Filed under macbook review
The All New Macbook Pro
A new generation of Apple notebooks has arrived. This time, however, the ‘new generation’ tag doesn’t just refer to upgrades – it heralds outstanding changes to design and technology.
Design
To construct the casing for a standard laptop, you need a lot of different parts. In the process, you increase the weight, the size, and the potential for problems. To address these points, Apple set itself the challenge of building the casing from just one part.
This goal may have appeared far-fetched at first, but Apple was convinced the effort was worth the trouble. The result is the new MacBook’s unibody, a casing created from just one piece of solid aluminium.
The unibody has transformed the look of the MacBook. More than ever, it gives the impression of a sophisticated and brilliantly engineered laptop. The unibody also feels incredibly robust. Furthermore, the use of aluminium helps the new MacBook weigh in at 0.23 kg (0.5 pounds) less than the previous model, and shave 0.34 cm (0.13 inches) from its height.
Different manufacturing techniques
Moulding such a casing, as you would with plastic, is a thing of the past. Instead, Apple makes the unibody by milling it with computer numerical control (CNC) machines.
These machines are some of the most accurate manufacturing tools on the planet. Apple has grasped their potential and employed them to the fullest extent. The sleep indicator light on the new MacBook, for example, appears to shine from behind the aluminium. Apple has achieved this by thinning the metal and drilling tiny holes through it.
Environmental standards
The new MacBook will last for years, but it’s good to know the aluminium unibody is recyclable. This reflects the seriousness with which Apple views its environmental responsibility. The company has applied stringent standards to every aspect of the new MacBook, insisting that manufacturing techniques go hand in hand with the most demanding eco principles.
Brominated flame retardants (BFRs) are absent from all the internal components of the new MacBook; none of the internal cables have PVC; the glass of the screen doesn’t contain any arsenic; and the display behind it is mercury-free. The new MacBook is setting a benchmark for the complete removal of toxins from computers.
In terms of energy efficiency, the new MacBook has a double victory to celebrate. Not only does it meet Energy Star requirements as previously, it has also acquired an EPEAT gold rating. EPEAT is the foremost environmental evaluation system for desktops, laptops, and monitors. To obtain a gold rating is a significant achievement.
Other features
Further outstanding features of the new MacBook are the trackpad, the screen, and the Mini DisplayPort. The trackpad immediately catches the eye because it’s almost 40% larger than before. When you start to use it, you also appreciate its extra functions. The trackpad now has full Multi-Touch capability that includes pinching to zoom in and out; three and four finger swiping; creating a right click area for shortcuts; and using any part of the trackpad’s surface as a button.
The new MacBook’s screen has changed to a thinner LED backlit display that provides full brightness the moment the MacBook comes on. A frameless glass front complements this and makes the widescreen appear larger than its 13.3 inches.
A Mini DisplayPort replaces the Mini DVI and FireWire 400 ports. The Mini DisplayPort provides an easy, plug-and-play connection for an Apple LED Cinema Display, and can show images on both the MacBook and the Cinema Display at the same time. Mini DisplayPort adaptors for VGA, DVI and dual-link DVI connections are available should you need them.
The 2.4GHz MacBook also has another bonus. It now boasts the illuminated keyboard so admired on the MacBook Pro and MacBook Air.
Technology
The new aluminium MacBook is available in two models, the 2.0GHz and the 2.4GHz. Both processors use Intel Core 2 Duo technology with 3MB on-chip shared L2 cache.
The standard models of the previous generation were 2.1GHz and 2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duos with the same L2 cache. Both new versions, however, have a 1066MHz system bus, compared to 800MHz. In addition, 2GB of memory is now a standard feature (with the capacity to accept 4GB if you prefer). The hard drives are 160GB Serial ATA at 5,400 rpm for the 2.0GHz, and 250GB for the 2.4GHz. You can increase storage to 320GB or 350GB, and there’s an option of a 128GB solid-state drive.
As for the optical drive, the new MacBooks no longer offer a Combo. Apple has passed this over in favour of the superior 8x slot-loading SuperDrive on both models.
Graphics
The features and technology of the new MacBook all deserve your attention, but one in particular is creating both interest and excitement.
The old MacBook had an Intel GMA X3100 graphics processor with 144MB of DDR2 SDRAM shared with the main memory. The new MacBook has an integrated processor that provides up to five times better performance. This graphics powerhouse, the NVIDIA GeForce 9400M, is the result of development work between Apple and NVIDIA. It has 256MB of DDR3 SDRAM, and contains 16 parallel processing cores. The result is 3D images that are fast, responsive, and more detailed. The MacBook is now a highly desirable laptop for game players.
Battery
With all these extras to cope with, particularly the graphics processor, you might expect the MacBook’s battery to suffer. On the contrary: the official life of the battery has increased from four and a half to five hours.
Apple has accomplished this by keeping the principle of energy efficiency to the forefront of its thinking. From the MacBook’s screen to the NVIDIA GeForce 9400M processor, the design has incorporated the lowest energy use possible.
Innovation
The developments the MacBook represents are profound. This is a laptop that introduces impressive design, manufacturing, performance, and environmental innovations. It also throws down a gauntlet for other companies to pick up if they choose. In the meantime, the MacBook remains exceptional.
By: Luke Scott
Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com
