Apple iMac Graphics Firmware Update for ATI HD 2600? Maybe Not.

Monday, 28 April 2008

So Apple releases a firmware update for iMacs with ATI Radeon HD Graphics.

OK, I run Software Updater but it doesn’t register. No biggie, maybe they just haven’t rolled it to the auto-updater yet. I’ll check it out and download directly instead.

The Release Notes are pretty clear:

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Updated Apple iMac is Interesting in More Ways Than Just the Speed Bump.

Monday, 28 April 2008

[UPDATE:] Read this. It’s true Apple has chosen a processor that generates more heat, but they may not have gone all the way to the desktop line. 

A quick summary:

  • That they broke the 3GHz barrier is nice. 
  • That they now have a 512MB graphics card option is very nice. 
  • That the prices remained the same, and you get much more value, is even nicer still. 

But, to me, the biggest thing is that they made the switch from the mobile to the desktop processor line. 

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Apple Airport Express: A WiFi Hotel Room Network.

Thursday, 17 April 2008

As I mentioned in my review of the Airport Express, I bought it solely for the purpose of using Airtunes to stream my upstairs computer with my downstairs living room stereo. It does so flawlessly.

However, since I knew I as going on vacation I mentioned that I would bring the AE along and see about using it as a wireless network in my hotel room. I did just that, and here are my thoughts on it.

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Thoughts on Business Switching Windows Desktops to Linux Instead of Mac OS.

Wednesday, 16 April 2008

There’s an article on Roughly Drafted about a pilot program at IBM “designed to study the possibility of moving significant numbers of employees to the Mac platform.”

The article is a worthwhile read, and includes comments from users in the program, and what IBM’s next steps will be.

What I’m writing about is not RD’s article, or even the program itself, but rather a comment made by a user in the program:

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Quick and Dirty RIM Blackberry vs. Apple iPhone Observations.

Tuesday, 15 April 2008

The title says it all. This is not in any way, shape, or form meant to be a review. These are just some observations I gathered watching Blackberry usage last week.

On vacation I saw lots of iPhones and BBs (FYI, I don’t recall seeing a single Palm). On three occasions I sat right next to a BB user (once on a plane and twice in the airport), and it was very interesting to watch their interactions with the device. Certain things struck me:

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Psystar Mac Clone Not the Deal They Make it Out to Be.

Monday, 14 April 2008

There’s lots of talk about Psystar and their selling a cheap PC as a Mac, complete with Leopard.

That last part is important, because without Leopard it’s not a Mac anyway, and yet some articles quote the base price of $399 even though it doesn’t include the OS!

Fortune even goes so far as to ask the question:

Basically, it’s a Mac Mini with twice the memory at half the price. So what’s not to love?

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Apple Store Support: My New iPhone.

Sunday, 13 April 2008

A week ago Thursday — just one day before leaving for a week-long vacation — I noticed my iPhone was not connected to my WiFi network. The other iPhone in the house was on it, as was the iPod Touch, iMac, and MacBook, so I knew the network was fine. 

Trying to connect to the network was flaky. It took a while for Settings to even open, and then it either wouldn’t find the network, or if it did I could “join” for a split-second before it reverted back to EDGE. 

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I Am Back.

Sunday, 13 April 2008

Here’s what I learned (or confirmed) on my vacation:

  • Disney World is fine, but I have a new-found respect for Disneyland. 
  • My limit for consecutive days at amusement parks is four (and that’s pushing it). Sadly, I did five. 
  • The weather in Florida is not for me. My daughter asked how it could be so hot even though it just rained. I explained to her what humidity is.

All in all I had a good time, but I won’t be back any time soon (that was my first visit).


Apple Income From Google Referrals.

Saturday, 12 April 2008

Om Malik and John Gruber appear interested in what Apple’s pulling down from Google search referrals from Safari.

I’m not sure why this is; it’s not a lot of money for Apple’s bottom line, and I believe their primary goal with Safari is to help establish more web sites on open standards (e.g., not IE-specific).

Anyway, the reason I’m writing about this is I take exception to one thing Gruber mentions:

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Windows 7 Sometime in 2009…

Friday, 4 April 2008

Bill Gates says Windows 7 may be released “sometime in the next year”. 

Of course it will! I mean, at the very least, they’ll say it will. I wrote this before. Mind you, whether it’s actually delivered by the end of 2009 is highly debatable.

The fact is Vista stinks, and they have to wash the taste out of everyone’s mouth as soon as possible. Talking about Windows 7 is all they have, and 2009 sounds a whole lot better than 2010.