Apple updates MacBook Pros

The time has come and my beloved MacBook Pro is already old. Apple updated its MacBook Pro lineup today with the long anticipated Arrandale processors, Core i5 and i7. However, the 13" MacBook Pros keep the Core 2 Duos, making me not to feel so bad, with modest speed increases and 10 hours  of battery life (instead of 7). Apple now also offers a 512GB SSD as a $1300 build-to-order option as well.

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My G Drive HDD finally arrived - first impressions

Back in February, I posted some nice stuff for your Mac, including an external HDD with FireWire 800 connectivity by G-Technologies. All this time, I was patiently waiting for it to arrive and yesterday, I got it on my hands.

If you really want to get a good external HDD with FireWire connectivity, then you definitely have to do some research as it's not easy, let alone having an eSata port as well. The G Drive offers great flexibility by providing 1x eSata, 2x FireWire 800 and 1x USB 2.0 ports. Also, it spins at 7200 rpm with up to 32 MB cache!

Although I didn't have much time to play with it and run speed tests, I will do so in the next few days, the G Drive looks the part by mimicking Apple's styling and the quality of the aluminium case feels good.

The kit contains a universal AC power supply, 1.6 m eSATA cable, 1.8 m FireWire 800 cable, 1.8 m FireWire 400 cable, 0.6 m USB 2.0 cable and a CD manual.

+

Interface flexibility

Slick design looking right at home with the rest of my Mac equipment

White LED indicating if the drive is powered up and when the drive is being accessed

Spinning at 7200 rpm

Formatted as Mac OS Extended, allowing to be used straight from the box as a Time Machine volume

-

No vertical stand

READ MORE - My G Drive HDD finally arrived - first impressions

First details about the upcoming Apple MacBook Pro 2010 emerge

Many of us thought that 27th February would be the date when the new MacBook Pro would be revealed, but it ended up to be iPad's solo debut. The next day, I went with relief to buy my Mac (earlier post) knowing though, that the inevitable will happen. Soon it will be replaced.

Anyway, a screenshot showing memory modules for the MacBook Pro 2010 is a proof that suppliers are getting ready... and where there's smoke, there's fire. The memory frequency has been raised from 1066 MHz to 1333 MHz.

In therms of new applications, expect Apple to reveal iLife '10 (I suppose that the new MacBook Pros will ship with the '10 version) and iWork '10.

Source: ThesMaC via we want Apple Greece

READ MORE - First details about the upcoming Apple MacBook Pro 2010 emerge

Short review of my Apple MacBook Pro & Magic Mouse

I have my lovely MacBook Pro for almost a month now and although I am sure that there are still many features to discover and learn, I am going to write a short review.

It was back in 2000, when I first saw the iBook and I immediately wanted one. Since I wasn't much into computers back then, I tried to find out what was so special about Apple computers, but at the end, due to the fact that I needed to run engineering software, I didn't buy it. I could have used an emulator, but a solution like this wasn't adequate for running CAD & FEA software.

Anyway, since then I bought three laptops and one desktop pc, all with Windows OS, but in the meantime, since I couldn't stand the awful OS, I was also using Linux for my daily tasks. Now, since I am not working with FEA software anymore (bad choices in life...), I finally got my first Apple product, a top-spec 13.3" MacBook Pro. Needless to say that I couldn't resist buying the Magic Mouse as well.

When I first opened the box I was simply amazed. We are talking about serious quality here. Everything appears to be well thought out and simplicity is something you immediately start appreciating. Anyway, to cut a long story short, I have summarized below the pros and cons.

Apple MacBook Pro 13.3" (mid-2009 edition, 2.53GHz MB991LL/A)

+

built-in stereo speakers

LED-backlit widescreen

backlit keyboard

aluminium unibody enclosure

amazing small perforations created by laser drill

battery life + adaptive charging

battery charge indicator even when the laptop is switched off

MagSafe power port (meaning that the power connector is held in place magnetically) 

performance (it's fast!!!)

spotlight search functionality

cover flow view in Finder

dock appearance and magnification 

ease of program installation

you press the "shut down" button and after 2-3 seconds it's dead

... and many more amazing features that cannot be described... you have to use a Mac to understand

-

rather strange management of the photos by iPhoto. Picasa works much better for me
monthly installments on my credit card 

Apple Magic Mouse

+ 
multi-touch surface feels so good

scroll in any direction with one finger
functionality using MagicPrefs, such as customised taps etc.

"slow down when you're moving slow" kind of thing

-

rather small in size for my hand

mouse pointer speed was seriously slow, but using MouseZoom things got better

no carrying pouch
occasionally it loses connectivity *

* according to an article, this is related to the design of the MacBook Pro: "Unfortunately, the problem seems to be endemic to the design of the Mac Pro itself. It appears that the Mac Pro�s Bluetooth antenna is hidden on the underbelly of the machine, under a plastic cover. According to Mac site HardMac, this causes the Mac Pro to have much spottier Bluetooth reception than other computers with better placed Bluetooth antennas, and the Magic Mouse is particularly fussy about it."

Verdict

It worths every penny!!!

What's next?

An iPad of course, in order to replace my iPaq ;-)

READ MORE - Short review of my Apple MacBook Pro & Magic Mouse

LG W2363V monitor: A nice alternative to Apple's LED Cinema Display

An Apple LED Cinema Diplay is the top pick, especially if you own a Mac, but there are also some other nice alternatives, which are of course much cheaper. One nice monitor is LG's W2363V 23" monitor, having a lot of nice features, such as: 

• 70,000:1 Digital Fine Contrast Ratio (DFC)
• Thru Light, which is similar to an equalizer system, displays the energy of visuals and sound with lighting to maximize the sensation of the entertainment experience
• 1920 x 1080 Resolution
• SRS TruSurround HD
• 2x HDMI inputs, DVI-D input 

 The cost of LG W2363V is around �250, a bargain compared to Apple's Cinema Display costing around �895.

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Some nice stuff for your MacBook Pro

Since my second biggest passion, besides cars, is Apple computers and almost three weeks ago I got a brand new MacBook Pro 13.3", I thought it would be nice to let you know about a couple of nice things you can buy for your Mac.

The first thing is a nice protective cover to protect it from scratches (sadly, mine already has one...). Visiting my nearest Apple Store, I came across with a LaCie coat, which is spot on.

Second thing you may want to buy is an external HDD with FireWire 800 connectivity. It wasn't easy to find a good one, but at the end I came across with G-Drive by G-Technology. The specific one offers great flexibility by providing eSata, FireWire 800 and USB 2.0 ports. Also, it spins at 7200 rpm with up to 32 MB cache!

READ MORE - Some nice stuff for your MacBook Pro