599 replies to this topic

[zencat]

Apple has released new iMacs and Mac Minis today. I WANT!

http://www.macrumors...d-time-capsule/

[Ambler]

Apple has released new iMacs and Mac Minis today.

Gotta be joking:

Mac Mini with 2.0GHz Intel Core 2 Duo and 2GB memory for £649.00?

My new MacBook (with essentially the same guts) cost just £200 more!

Edited by Ambler, 03 March 2009 - 06:04 PM.

[Righty007]

Anybody else excited for Mac OS 10.6 (Snow Leopard)?

[Professor Dent]

I took your advice, Prof., and am now awaiting the Amazon courier. I also found an extra £5 to spend on a USB light.

Incidentally, the best Mac accessory of all is a Steelcase Leap.

Glad to be of assistance.

I anxiously checked out the new offerings today. The 24" iMac is a great deal. I do agree on the Mac Mini being overpriced. I own a first generation model & think it's a great little machine but, if you go with the high end model, you are way too close to a MacBook. With the update to the Airport Extreme, I'm seriously looking into pulling the trigger on Time Capsule. The dual-band mode has me intrigued.

Anybody else excited for Mac OS 10.6 (Snow Leopard)?

I'm looking forward to it but it seems like it will be more of a behind the scenes/forward looking update for the OS. I remember reading that the Finder will finally be re-written in Cocoa. Still, once we get a full features list, I'm sure there will be some eye candy to entice the masses to upgrade.

[Joe Bond]

I was looking at the speed of the base line mac mini which is 2.0GHz and was wondering if this is about the same speed as a Macbook with 2.2GHz processor with the integrated Intel graphics cards as opposed to the new mini's NVidia graphics cards?

[Ambler]

Well, I got my new 2.0 MacBook. So far so good, although transferring files via a wireless network was a bit tedious compared to firewire and fitting the Crucial 4Gb memory myself was not as simple as I expected ...

Anyway, two questions for you good people:

Is it worth upgrading my steam-driven MacMini G4 from 512 Mb RAM to IGb (the maximum it can take) or should I consign it to the dustbin of history? And if I upgrade it, is it worth installing Leopard or should I stay with the old Tiger?

EDIT; just been told I should use the MacMini as a back-up HD for the MacBook.

Edited by Ambler, 09 March 2009 - 12:57 PM.

[Professor Dent]

I was looking at the speed of the base line mac mini which is 2.0GHz and was wondering if this is about the same speed as a Macbook with 2.2GHz processor with the integrated Intel graphics cards as opposed to the new mini's NVidia graphics cards?

The newer models with the NVIDIA GeForce graphics are faster than the previous Intel models but the models you quote are very close. Depending on how you use your computer, the NVIDIA graphics may or may not translate into a faster experience for you. If you are just using the internet & iTunes, it's probably a wash. I seem to remember the MacBooks coming with 2 gigs of RAM standard versus the Mini which has 1 gig of RAM. I think the extra RAM will make a bigger difference. Here is a good article talking about the value of the new Mini.

Well, I got my new 2.0 MacBook. So far so good, although transferring files via a wireless network was a bit tedious compared to firewire and fitting the Crucial 4Gb memory myself was not as simple as I expected ...

Anyway, two questions for you good people:

Is it worth upgrading my steam-driven MacMini G4 from 512 Mb RAM to IGb (the maximum it can take) or should I consign it to the dustbin of history? And if I upgrade it, is it worth installing Leopard or should I stay with the old Tiger?

Depends what you are using it for. Adding the extra RAM will give you a performance boost. I believe that model had only one memory slot so you will need to buy a 1 gig stick & not just add another 512 megs. On Leopard, my 12" Powerbook has a 1.5 GHz G4 & I have it maxed at 1.25 gigs of RAM & Lepoard runs fine on it (actually, my brother is now the proud owner of it & it is working fine for him ). I wouldn't install Lepoard unless you upgrade the RAM. I'm still using Tiger on my Mini & don't plan on upgrading it to Leopard because it works fine for what I use it for so no need to mess with it.

EDIT; just been told I should use the MacMini as a back-up HD for the MacBook.

They are referring to using it in Target Disc Mode. Unfortunately, you need a FireWire port to do this & the new MacBook doesn't have FireWire.

[Ambler]

EDIT; just been told I should use the MacMini as a back-up HD for the MacBook.

They are referring to using it in Target Disc Mode. Unfortunately, you need a FireWire port to do this & the new MacBook doesn't have FireWire.

Thanks, Prof. Actually, the lack of Firewire is proving to be a serious problem. Not only did it stop me using the Migration Assistant to move files from my MacMini to the new MacBook, but no one seems to have told Apple's support centres in India or Greece about Firewire's deletion. The inaccurate advice I've had from Apple in the last few days has been unbelievable.

I've now reverted to the MacMini as - despite successfully transferring the MacMini's sentbox - no one at apple can work out how to get my 4,000 sent email messages into the Mail application on the MacBook.

[[dark]]

Here's a very specific question. My weather widget on my dashboard is playing up and it won't let me set it to Sydney, Australia. Anytime I try to set it to that, it automatically changes it to "Sydney, FL". It was working fine up until about a week ago.

Any ideas?

[Blofeld's Cat]

Not a Mac owner (but will be when I current PC has a meltdown), but reinstalling the widget may solve the problem?

BTW, do Macs even use the same type of electrons as PCs?

[Jose]

Here's a very specific question. My weather widget on my dashboard is playing up and it won't let me set it to Sydney, Australia. Anytime I try to set it to that, it automatically changes it to "Sydney, FL". It was working fine up until about a week ago.

Any ideas?

Hmm. I just tried it by typing in "Sydney, Australia" and it worked fine with me. It then validated the location and gave me a list of Sydneys. I picked the first one (it said "Sydney, Australia (New Wales)" and it gave me the weather. It worked fine. Sometimes these macs get very particular (in my experience anyway). If typing it out doesn't work, I would say to remove the widget from the dashboard, then wait a bit, then add it to the dashboard again. I hope that helps.


Anyone seen the new iPod shuffles?

[Righty007]

Here's a very specific question. My weather widget on my dashboard is playing up and it won't let me set it to Sydney, Australia. Anytime I try to set it to that, it automatically changes it to "Sydney, FL". It was working fine up until about a week ago.

Any ideas?

Hmm. I just tried it by typing in "Sydney, Australia" and it worked fine with me. It then validated the location and gave me a list of Sydneys. I picked the first one (it said "Sydney, Australia (New Wales)" and it gave me the weather. It worked fine. Sometimes these macs get very particular (in my experience anyway). If typing it out doesn't work, I would say to remove the widget from the dashboard, then wait a bit, then add it to the dashboard again. I hope that helps.


Anyone seen the new iPod shuffles?

Yeah, I saw that. Very nifty. Now lonely people have something to talk to.

[[dark]]

Here's a very specific question. My weather widget on my dashboard is playing up and it won't let me set it to Sydney, Australia. Anytime I try to set it to that, it automatically changes it to "Sydney, FL". It was working fine up until about a week ago.

Any ideas?

Hmm. I just tried it by typing in "Sydney, Australia" and it worked fine with me. It then validated the location and gave me a list of Sydneys. I picked the first one (it said "Sydney, Australia (New Wales)" and it gave me the weather. It worked fine. Sometimes these macs get very particular (in my experience anyway). If typing it out doesn't work, I would say to remove the widget from the dashboard, then wait a bit, then add it to the dashboard again. I hope that helps.

Weird. It's working now. Didn't do anything any differently, but it's there. Thanks for your help!

[Professor Dent]

BTW, do Macs even use the same type of electrons as PCs?

Yes but they look a lot cooler & naturally cost slightly more than they PC counterparts.

[darkpath]

Here's a very specific question. My weather widget on my dashboard is playing up and it won't let me set it to Sydney, Australia. Anytime I try to set it to that, it automatically changes it to "Sydney, FL". It was working fine up until about a week ago.

Any ideas?

The widget is essentially a front end for a web site lookup, so either the .plist (preference file in ~/Library/Preferences) had some garbage data (it happens and the quick fix is to trash the file then reconfigure the application or restore from a known good backup) had something stuck in it or the back-end web site was glitching. As the issue apparently righted itself without any corrective action on your part, I'm inclined to believe it was the latter.

[bondrules]

New Get-a-Mac ADS (4/19/2009)

[Joe Bond]

New Get-a-Mac ADS (4/19/2009)

Yea I saw one on TV the other day were the PC guy says good stuff about PC's and the legal fine print gets longer and longer with every statement he says until the entire screen is covered in it and I thought is was funny. I guess they are trying to combat Microsoft's recent ads which I thought were kinda of stupid since each person who was given the money would decide on getting an HP computer and they would also mention that they were not cool enough to have a Mac which I viewed that as an indirect compliment toward apple.

The newer models with the NVIDIA GeForce graphics are faster than the previous Intel models but the models you quote are very close. Depending on how you use your computer, the NVIDIA graphics may or may not translate into a faster experience for you. If you are just using the internet & iTunes, it's probably a wash. I seem to remember the MacBooks coming with 2 gigs of RAM standard versus the Mini which has 1 gig of RAM. I think the extra RAM will make a bigger difference. Here is a good article talking about the value of the new Mini.

I decided against getting the macmini but I want to replace my old iBook G4 and was wondering Professor if the baseline 2.0 GHz White Macbook would be as fast as the other Macbook I mentioned when it comes to encoding videos using a application like Handbrake and do you think the aluminum 2.0 GHz Macbook is faster than the base line and if there is a speed jump is it worth the extra money because I am willing to go for a mid level Macbook if the DDR3 setup is faster than the DDR2 plus I really like the look of it and I have heard its pretty quiet, doesn't get hot that much and has better batter life which if this is true would be other reasons why I would be willing to get the unibody model.

[bondrules]

Yea I saw one on TV the other day were the PC guy says good stuff about PC's and the legal fine print gets longer and longer with every statement he says until the entire screen is covered in it and I thought is was funny. I guess they are trying to combat Microsoft's recent ads which I thought were kinda of stupid since each person who was given the money would decide on getting an HP computer and they would also mention that they were not cool enough to have a Mac which I viewed that as an indirect compliment toward apple.

yeah, basically M$ says there are no cheap macs under 1,500. We already knew that. I wonder how those Brainiacs can come up with such astute reseach.

Apple is not really interested in that segment of low margins. Selling cheap PC's has M$ and the regular PC packagers like Dell & HP struggling to make a profit.

[Solex Agitator]

Does everyone have the newish Global Bond application for their iPhone?

[Joe Bond]

Does everyone have the newish Global Bond application for their iPhone?

For some reason it won't work for the 1G ipod touch which is what I have.

[Arbogast777]

HELP!!!

Long story short... this morning I discovered that somebody in China used PayPal to transfer everything out of my bank account to them (because I'm an idiot, my PayPal password and e-mail password were the same). I'm pretty sure it's a case of password theft, but to put my mind at ease does anybody know of a way I can scan my iMac for spyware to make sure somebody hasn't been tracking what I've been doing?

Also, I know Macs are supposed to not be as susceptible to such things as PC's - am I right?

Thanks very much in advance!

Edited by Arbogast777, 27 April 2009 - 05:15 PM.

[Righty007]

HELP!!!

Long story short... this morning I discovered that somebody in China used PayPal to transfer everything out of my bank account to them (because I'm an idiot, my PayPal password and e-mail password were the same). I'm pretty sure it's a case of password theft, but to put my mind at ease does anybody know of a way I can scan my iMac for spyware to make sure somebody hasn't been tracking what I've been doing?

Also, I know Macs are supposed to not be as susceptible to such things as PC's - am I right?

Thanks very much in advance!

Have you contacted your bank to verify that the funds were actually transfered? I get "fake" Paypal SPAM all the time in my inbox.

[Arbogast777]

Hi Righty,

Yeah, I actually caught it this morning when I logged into my bank account to do a transfer and noticed it was a weeeee bit light on balance :-) That's when I saw the transfer to a Chinese company. The other thing that stinks is PayPal is refunding the money to my PayPal account, which I then have to transfer to my bank account, so we're talking 3-4 days for me to get cash.

[BlackFire]

What is this???



When? What is it? How much?? I want!

[Righty007]

What is this???



When? What is it? How much?? I want!

It's an application for the iPhone and iPod touch. It'll only cost a dollar or two but you need to own an iPhone or iPod touch first.

[BlackFire]

Really?? is it available???

I own an iPod touch 2G and the last Bond-related app I downloaded was "Global Bond"

Maybe it's not available in my country.

[Righty007]

Really?? is it available???

I own an iPod touch 2G and the last Bond-related app I downloaded was "Global Bond"

Maybe it's not available in my country.

That screencap you posted said it's COMING SOON so I don't think it's out yet. The only 007 app in the iTunes Store (U.S.) right now is the "Global Bond" one.

[BlackFire]

Really?? is it available???

I own an iPod touch 2G and the last Bond-related app I downloaded was "Global Bond"

Maybe it's not available in my country.

That screencap you posted said it's COMING SOON so I don't think it's out yet. The only 007 app in the iTunes Store (U.S.) right now is the "Global Bond" one.

That's right.

But it impress me that no website has info about this incoming app. hope it's something really useful, cool, stylish and free lol.

[Professor Dent]

I decided against getting the macmini but I want to replace my old iBook G4 and was wondering Professor if the baseline 2.0 GHz White Macbook would be as fast as the other Macbook I mentioned when it comes to encoding videos using a application like Handbrake and do you think the aluminum 2.0 GHz Macbook is faster than the base line and if there is a speed jump is it worth the extra money because I am willing to go for a mid level Macbook if the DDR3 setup is faster than the DDR2 plus I really like the look of it and I have heard its pretty quiet, doesn't get hot that much and has better batter life which if this is true would be other reasons why I would be willing to get the unibody model.

The white MacBooks are a good deal in the Apple world. Handbrake is more processor intensive than memory intensive so the bump to the entry level unibody model won't get you much of anything on the encoding end. Even if you move to the 2.4 GHz model, that extra 0.4 GHz will save you maybe 5 minutes or so off of the encode time of a two hour movie. If that is the only reason you were thinking of upgrading to the unibody model, doesn't seem worth it to me. Now, that LED based display & bigger hard drive in the unibody model would be reasons that I would upgrade. TheAppleBlog has some discussion on the white MacBook here.

On the recent Microsoft "PC's are cheap" commercials, here is a funny spoof of those commercials that I came across.

The Global Bond app is neat but free is the right price for it. The QOS iPhone app has been listed on the 007.com homepage for a few months now. I hope it's still in the works.

[darkpath]

If MPEG4 encoding rate is a major concern, then I'd suggest considering an Elgato Turbo H264. It looks like a USB thumb drive and includes a hardware H264 encoder. A colleague of mine uses one and recommends them highly.

One advantage of the older white MacBook is that the mouse button is quieter. Some people, myself included, find the mouse click on the new trackpad distracting.