So, I wrote a novel, now what? Oh right, blog! Yep, that’s right girls and boys, I am an official winner of NaNoWriMo 2009! I hit the 50,ooo word mark today and just kept on typing. My novel is officially written, but not completely edited. I guess I can spend the rest of the month on that! For now, I am going to spend the rest of the night relaxing, but I just wanted to share the good news with all of my favorite readers. Thanks for sticking with me this month despite the lack of posting! I will be back full force with some great content very soon!
"And there you were, working on your Mac…"
So, my word count for NaNoWriMo is ahead of schedule and I’ve hit the 42,000 word mark this morning so I thought I would take a little break and show you guys one of my favorite quasi Mac related scenes in a movie. This clip is from Best in Show and, well, I can’t really describe it to you, so you will have to watch it, but I think it’s hysterical. Now that my boyfriend has a new 15″ Macbook Pro, I feel like this is us, minus the geeky braces and law degrees. Enjoy!
Mulberry for Apple.
While I have been off writing my novel for NaNoWriMo, there have been a few things that I found online I wanted to shared with you. One of these is the new Mulberry line of accessories for Apple. Here are a few of the items in the new line:
Daria Sleeve, $550
Daria mini messenger for iPhone, $250
Bayswater tote for 13″ Macbook, $1,195
As you can see, this is obviously yet another high end accessory line for Apple specific gear, and it reminds me a lot of Violet May’s line of tech accessories with their bright girlish colors and textures, but especially (or, unfortunately) in their price points. Well, at least they are pretty to look at!
MacHeist nanoBundle!
I just wanted to remind everyone that the MacHeist nanoBundle is out for download and it is free! For those of you who are not familiar, MacHeist annually gives away bundles of Mac software for either (A) a ridiculously discounted bundle price or (B) for free. This time around they went with option B, so for FREE you get 6 great pieces of Mac OS X software. This year it looks like they are going with the NaNoWriMo theme and giving out 2 word processing tools, WriteRoom, and Mariner Write, so I just had to get my bundle asap! They are also giving away ShoveBox, Twitterific, TinyGrab, and Hordes of Orcs. I really think this is a great bundle and you can’t beat the price so head on over to MacHeist.com to get yours now! By the way, Mariner Write doesn’t unlock until they reach 500,000 participants so go sign up so I can try it out! Remember their are only 5 days left so get em while they last!
New White Macbook vs. Macbook Pro
Here it is! My video comparison of the new White Macbook side by side with the Macbook Pro. If you aren’t able to watch the video, let me give you a quick written review of the specs and what makes these two models different.
New White Macbook Base Specs:
2.26 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo Processor
250 GB Hard Drive
2 GB of DDR3 Memory
New Brighter Display
Full Unibody Construction
7 Hour Battery
Multi-Touch Glass Trackpad
Total $999
Aluminum Macbook Pro Base Specs:
2.26 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo Processor
160 GB Hard Drive
2 GB of DDR3 Memory
LED Display
Full Unibody Construction
7 Hour Battery
Multi- Touch Glass Trackpad
SD Card Slot
FireWire 800
Back-lit keyboard
Battery Indicator Light
Total $1,199
Obviously, each model also includes a display port, ethernet port, two USBs, an audio in/out, Kensington Lock, and a Superdrive, so we can just ignore those specs, along with the processor, the memory, 7 hour battery and glass track pads which are the same between the two models. What we are really interested in are the components of the computer that differ. To begin with, the screen. Although they both have the same screen resolution and LED Backlit display, the Macbook Pro still has a superior quality of the screen. In the video you can see the difference between the colors on each screen and although I believe Apple has made vast improvements to the Macbook’s screen, it is still not on par with the Macbook Pro.
Now, the Macbook has a greater hard drive capacity in the base model. There is no way around this, the numbers speak for themselves. You can of course upgrade the size of the Macbook Pro’s hard drive, but this is one area where the new Macbook is superior to the Macbook Pro. However, this is really where the superiority ends, as the Macbook lacks many of the great features that make the Macbook Pro a more functional and fully equipped computer.
These Pro features include the SD card slot, FireWire 800, a back lit keyboard, and battery indicator lights. Now, for a difference of $200 you can get all these useful features, by giving up 90 GBs of hard drive space, and to me, that is worth it. When it comes to computers, space isn’t a major issue because hard drives are one of the most easily replaceable components of any computer. Apple charges you a mere $50 to equip your Macbook Pro with a 250 GB hard drive, and for not too much more, you can bring your laptop to an Apple certified repair business to have the hard drive upgraded. You also have the option of many different forms of external hard drive space that any computer owner should use to back up their files -if for no other purpose. Remember, you can always get more hard drive space, but you can’t just add an SD card slot, or a backlit display to a notebook computer.
When it comes down to it, the difference between the Macbook and the Macbook Pro base models is $200, and you certainly get your money’s worth for the difference, especially if you are someone, who like me, values those added features and would prefer them to a $200 savings. Of course, another major factor in the decision between the two machines is the difference between white plastic and aluminum, and although I am not going to discuss that difference because to me it will always come down to personal taste, I just wanted to remind my readers that this is a machine that you will probably have for some time and you should like the way it looks just as much as you like the way it works. So, if you love the way the white Macbook looks and can’t stand the Aluminum, I think you have already made your choice, because no amount of extra features will turn one unibody into another 😉
NaNoWriMo 2009
I just wanted to let everyone know I am an official participant in NaNoWriMo 2009. If your not familiar with the annual event, I will explain. For the past 11 years, November has been National Novel Writing Month, where people from around the globe attempt in write 50,000 words of a novel in 30 days. I have been interested in participating in the event for a few years now, but I have either forgotten about it or was too late/busy to join. This year, however, I am official! You can visit my “Author Page” here and follow my progress online. If you too are participating, feel free to add me as a writing buddy- so far I have none 😉
On the advice of the dedicated writer/bloggers over at Macworld who are also participating in NaNoWriMo, I have decided to download and use the writing program Scrivener, which is offering an extended trial of the software for those participating in the event. I downloaded it yesterday and started playing around with it, so I suppose after this month is up I will have a good review of the program for you guys. Best part is, Literature and Latte (the developers) are offering 20% discounts on the program for those who participate in NaNoWriMo and 50% discounts for those who win (winning means hitting the 50k word mark)! Hopefully, if things go well, I will have my own copy of Scrivener half off come December!
On a blog related note, I am expecting this to sorta take over my life for the next month, so chances are posts will be scarce, but I will try my best to get you guys some great content to hold you over until December! As always, thanks for your support- I really do appreciate all you each do to help me make this blog a success.
I’m not going to say “goodbye” because I do not intent to leave you for a month, but I do wish you a Happy Halloween, and while I’m at it a Happy Thanksgiving in advance!
New White Macbook Out of the Box!
For my Weekly Tech Roundup I decided to give a review of Apple’s new White Macbook and discuss the rest of the updates that were announced on Tuesday. In the video I discuss some of the things I like about the new Macbook and some of the things it lacks.
To begin, I really love the new shape of the machine. I am a big fan of the unibody and I am very glad they were able to bring it to the polycarbonate Macbook with such style. If you have ever used one of Apple’s unibody Macbooks/Pros before, you know that they are so solid and lightweight at the same time- a feeling one wouldn’t normally get with any other notebook computer. The unibody gives the computer a sleek silhouette with very few visible screws and now with the non-removable 7-hour battery the notebook looks so flush with just a few breaks for ports and the superdrive. I also like the fact that the unibody allows the high gloss polycarbonate to cover the hand rest as well, so there should be no issues with yellow or oily hand rests from now on. In that same area, the Macbook now has a full glass trackpad with all the multi touch functionality of the Pros and a bright LED backlit display comparable to the Pros as well. One final touch I am obsessed with is the full rubber bottom of the Macbook, which to me is an amazing incorporation into the design, as we all know the polycarbonate is prone to scratches and nothing attracts them more then the bottom of the notebook.
Now, a few things missing from this machine that really draw it apart from the Macbook Pro line are the lack of an SD slot, lack of Firewire, and lack of a battery indicator light. Perhaps the first two are not big surprises as it looks as though Apple was trying to remove Firewire from their low end consumer driven Macbook, setting it apart from the high performance Macbook Pros. Again the SD slot missing from the design isn’t a big surprise as it seems as though Apple is drawing a clear line in the sand between the Macbooks and the Pros. However, I am shocked that there is no battery indicator light on these new Macbooks, especially since they also use the new 7-hour built in battery. I am not sure if it was a conflict with the design or the materials, but there certainly is plenty of white space on the sides of the machine where Apple could have put an indicator. My guess is that the polycarbonate might be difficult to work with and a series of pin-sized holes may have been difficult to achieve without compromising the solidity of the unibody enclosure. Again, just a guess that has no real basis in any sort of knowledge of polycarbonate!
There was one final thing I wanted to touch on in regard to not just the new Macbooks, but the new updates as a whole. I was quite surprised that Apple did not hold an official press and media event around the announcement of the new products. I guess we can speculate the reason for the lack of an official announcement, like the health of Steve Jobs, but I think that this level of secrecy around announcements might become more of a trend for Apple. Usually, when they make small adjustments to specs or pricing, we don’t hear anything big directly from Apple, but this recent update did bring some pretty new changes to their computer and accessory lineup that you would assume they would want to celebrate. So why not yell it from the rooftops? Well, I think for one, the ever spinning rumor mill of suspected and impending Apple products puts a dark cloud over the Apple events that usually leaves people feeling cheated or underwhelmed. Even with this update, we knew something was coming, and although many rumors of an updated Macbook, iMac and Mac Mini did come true, some fans are still waiting out that Apple Tablet that may never arrive. The pressure of an event also inevitably causes Apple stock to fall- I assume because of the build up leading to the event and the broken hearts that are left when every desire or rumor isn’t fulfilled. It is most likely our fault as obsessive consumers that demand so much from Apple and their products, that we end up ruining it for ourselves. But then again, if it weren’t for the obsessive consumers Apple would have no one to try to impress!
Wireless Deceiver.
One of the hot new tech items on the market right now is the PowerMat wireless charger, however, with all the buzz and press around this innovative new device, I find that many have been fooled into thinking more of this gadget than necessary. Undoubtedly, the item is unique and innovative as it is now possible to charge all your gadgets without having to plug them into the wall. A socked saver for sure, however, what actually differentiates the PowerMat from other charging stations out on the market? Well, really only one thing- the lack of a wire directly from the charging area to the device.
Let’s break down the PowerMat into its working parts. First of all, we have a mat, powered by a single wire to an outlet. The mat functions as a base station where the devices must be left in order to charge. Then we have the wireless receiver called the Powercube (above). This little box has a wire that connects directly to the device you are looking to charge, and with a collection of interchangeable tips, one cube can act as a receiver for multiple different devices, but only one at a time.
Okay, so you still need to plug your device into the receiver, and keep it stored on the mat itself in order to charge it- unless you buy one of the optional battery door receivers (above) made for either a Blackberry or an iPhone- in which case you have to attach something directly to the device and then leave it to charge on the mat. I don’t want to take away from the innovation of a consumer device with the ability to charge an array of devices without a direct connection from the power source to the device, but it really isn’t that different from the traditional charging station. You still plug or attach something to the device that needs charging, and you still need to leave it at one location while it does so, and for the price tag of the power mat ($99.99) which can charge up to 3 devices at a time, plus the cost of 2 extra Powercubes ($29.99 each) and/or the optional device specific battery door chargers ($29.99- $39.99) you are looking at a cost of at least $159.97. Let’s compare that to a more traditional but no less innovative wired charging station like Bluelounge’s Refresh charging station (below) that costs $89.99, can charge at least 3 devices at once, and also has a variety of tip heads to choose from for different devices.
Let’s break down the PowerMat into its working parts. First of all, we have a mat, powered by a single wire to an outlet. The mat functions as a base station where the devices must be left in order to charge. Then we have the wireless receiver called the Powercube (above). This little box has a wire that connects directly to the device you are looking to charge, and with a collection of interchangeable tips, one cube can act as a receiver for multiple different devices, but only one at a time.
Okay, so you still need to plug your device into the receiver, and keep it stored on the mat itself in order to charge it- unless you buy one of the optional battery door receivers (above) made for either a Blackberry or an iPhone- in which case you have to attach something directly to the device and then leave it to charge on the mat. I don’t want to take away from the innovation of a consumer device with the ability to charge an array of devices without a direct connection from the power source to the device, but it really isn’t that different from the traditional charging station. You still plug or attach something to the device that needs charging, and you still need to leave it at one location while it does so, and for the price tag of the power mat ($99.99) which can charge up to 3 devices at a time, plus the cost of 2 extra Powercubes ($29.99 each) and/or the optional device specific battery door chargers ($29.99- $39.99) you are looking at a cost of at least $159.97. Let’s compare that to a more traditional but no less innovative wired charging station like Bluelounge’s Refresh charging station (below) that costs $89.99, can charge at least 3 devices at once, and also has a variety of tip heads to choose from for different devices.
Let’s be honest with ourselves right now, we were all temporarily deceived by the seemingly futuristic simplicity of the PowerMat, but unless we can innovate to the point of simply leaving a device on a mat to pick up a charge, I am not spending $50 per device to charge them when I can get a great charging station for under $100 or just get a surge protector for $20 and use the free wires that come with the device!
Use Your Fingers.
It might not actually be magic, but Apple’s new Magic Mouse certainly has powers that far surpass the lot of ordinary muggles… err, I mean mice.
This tail-less wonder might look like a futuristic spaceship from it’s photographs, but it’s sleek design and smooth surface are the basis for it’s multi-touch capabilities.
From the unmarked smooth shell you can left and right-click, scroll 360 degrees, and swipe, features designed to wonder and amaze! This one certainly leaves other mice in the blind.
{On my to-buy list at $69}
Perfection. Simplified.
Just when you thought the perfect form of white polycarbonate couldn’t get any better, Apple had to go and redesign the Macbook, and the rest of us are left picking our jaws off the floor.
The new white Macbook, still at the $999 price-point seems even more ethereal than it’s predecessor. A new shapely round unibody enclosure, a thinner screen, brighter display, glass multi-touch trackpad and an amazing 7 hour battery life gives this little brother of the Macbook Pro line even more of a family resemblance.
So, what will you get for the baseline model? A 2.26 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 2 GB of memory and a 250 GB hard drive. I am certainly in love with the design and configuration offered, but sill disappointed that Apple couldn’t manage to lower the price on their cheapest model.
You’re still undoubtedly getting the best bang for your buck with Apple’s latest laptop creation, but I know many will be disappointed with their seemingly immovable price tag.