Hardware | Mac Sage

New iMacs, iLife and iWork!

by patrick

The news from Apple is that they’re now shipping the new glossy-screened, 2.0GHz or 2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, and the 2.8GHz Intel Core 2 Extreme processor iMacs. These are impressive machines at a good price. The 20″ models are $1,999 (2.0GHz) and $1,499 (2.4GHz), and the 24″ models are $1,799 (2.4GHz) and $2,299 (2.8GHz Intel Core 2 Extreme). Take a look at these puppies at Apple’s Site.

Also shipping are iLife ‘08 and iWork ‘08. Apple has a great video overview of the new features of both of these software packages, and I recommend viewing them to see the full impact of this major software upgrade.

For iLife’08, the new features and performance enhancements of iPhoto (e.g., “Events” organization, power new editing tools) and re-designed interface for iMovie alone are worth the upgrade price ($79 retail, $39 educational). The new features of iWeb are also impressive.

In iWork’08, Pages sports a new layout mode, some new graphics tools, and some well-designed new templates. Keynote has some great new text effects and transitions, some new image-handling tools, action builds, and more. Also with iWork’08 comes a new software package called Numbers’08, Apple’s Excel killer.

Check out: iLife’08
Check out: iWork’08

iPhone Almost Here

by patrick

The iPhone hype is reaching a feverish pitch now that we’re counting the hours before the official release. Apple has posted the rateplans for the iPhone. The good news is that current AT&T customers can keep their existing plans and add the iPhone Data Plan (unlimited email and web and Visual Voicemail) for an additional $20/month. The rates seem reasonable, but I’m still having a hard time justifying the $500.00 pricetag for a phone. (I know, I know, it’s not just a phone.)

Who knows. Maybe I’ll get caught up in the frenzy and in a moment of weakness and delirium, I’ll slap down my credit card for some financial abuse.

Using Your Mac As A Wireless Router

by patrick

If you’ve recently purchased an iMac, chances are that it came with Airport wireless built in. If you have cable or DSL service, but have yet to purchase a wireless router, then you’re in luck. You can turn your iMac into a wireless router for your home or small office. Here’s how:

First, here’s a basic diagram of what is needed. 1) A cable or DSL modem, which typically provided by your internet service provider; 2) a Mac (with built-in Airport wireless) which is connected to your modem via an ethernet cable; and 3) any number of laptops which have wireless capability.

Next, you will need to configure the Mac (connected to your modem) to share it’s internet capability to wireless devices. To do this, open your System Preferences and click on Sharing.

In the Sharing Pane, click on the Internet tab to bring up Internet Sharing. In this window, you want to select Share your connection from Built-in Ethernet in the drop down menu. Then, you want to select Airport from the “To computers using:” list.

Then click on the Airport Options… button to configure some wireless security options. You don’t want to be sharing your wireless connection with the whole neighborhood.Here, enter a WEP password which will be required from the laptop wishing to join your new wireless network.

I have found this to be an excellent solution for folks who don’t have a wireless router, but would like occasional wireless access in the home or small office.

NOTE: (5-15-07) Some of you have expressed some difficulty when trying to join a non-Mac device to this wireless setup. Apparently, there are some issues around which encryption scheme you choose. Take a look at this Apple Doc for some possible answers: WireLess Encryption

iTV Cometh

by patrick

Apple announced that iTV is now shipping.

Download movies, sync wirelessly to your Mac, then watch everything on your widescreen HDTV. Cool.

But folks want to know what that USB port in the back is for. No, I mean what is it really for?

Check it here: iTV

iPhone on the Horizon

by patrick

It appears that rumors of Apple’s forthcoming cell phone are gaining credibility. While it’s not clear when the announcement from Apple will come, there are a number of sources indicating that Apple is in the process of looking for a manufacturer. One rumored manufacturer is Taiwan’s BenQ.