Apple May Increase MacBook Production by 20%
18 July 2008 08:46 EST
Chris Barylick
A recent rush in component orders hints that Apple may be increasing its MacBook unit production throughout the summer per an article in the Taiwanese newspaper Commercial Times. According to the article, Apple is reportedly ordering 20% more of the circuit boards it needs to create the MacBook units.
The news follows apparent confirmation of a redesigned MacBook Pro case and comes amid reports that both the high-end system and regular MacBooks are likely to see redesigned versions later this year. Recent speculation has stated that the upgraded notebooks are likely to use Intel's just-unveiled Centrino 2 mobile platform with a 1,066MHz system bus, better power efficiency, and more advanced integrated graphics.
Stay tuned for more news as it becomes available and let us know what you think over in the comments of forums.
Electronista
Digg This |
Post to del.icio.us |
Post to Furl
Category: MacBook
Buy from: Apple
...............................................................................................
Upcoming MacBooks May Feature LED Backlight Systems
21 May 2008 11:48 EST
Chris Barylick
Per a DigiTimes Digitimes article, Apple will apparently begin using backlight LED systems in all of its MacBooks in 2009. The article points to component maker Kenmos, which was Apple's primary supplier for LED BLU units in 2007, forecasting that it might ship up to five times the number of components they shipped last year.
The switch to backlit LED displays also dovetails into Apple's efforts to create a more eco-friendly product, as these systems typically use less power and generate a clearer image for the user.
Let us know what you make of this over in the comments or forums.
Digg This |
Post to del.icio.us |
Post to Furl
Category: MacBook
Buy from: Apple
...............................................................................................
Rumor: 2.6 GHz MacBook Promo Reference Found on Apple Web Site
12 May 2008 08:30 EST
Chris Barylick
This might be too good to be true (it probably is), but according to the guys at Engadget, the following image was found on Apple's Hot News promotional web site.
As of now, the current MacBook laptop maxes out at 2.4 GHz.
2.6 GHz would be more than welcome, even if this number is just a typo.
Let us know if you think this is real or just a typo over in the comments or forums.
Digg This |
Post to del.icio.us |
Post to Furl
Category: MacBook
Buy from: Apple
...............................................................................................
Apple Offering US$100 Discount on MacBooks Sold Through Education Division
14 April 2008 02:17 EST
Chris Barylick
It's not a free laptop, but it helps.
According to DealsOnTheWeb, Apple is knocking off US$100 MacBook notebooks sold through its educational division.
The 2.1 GHz white MacBook with one gigabyte of RAM, a 120 gigabyte hard drive and a Combo drive is priced at US$999 which the 2.4 GHz white MacBook with two gigabytes of RAM, a 160 gigabyte hard drive and a SuperDrive is priced at US$1,199 and the 2.4 GHz black MacBook with two gigabytes of RAM, a 250 gigabyte hard drive and a Superdrive is priced at US$1,399.
Shipping is free on all systems, albeit the web site doesn't mention when the offer expires.
If you've seen a similar deal in your neck of the woods, let us know over in the comments or forums.
Digg This |
Post to del.icio.us |
Post to Furl
Category: MacBook
Buy from: Apple
...............................................................................................
Apple Acknowledges Early 2008 MacBook, MacBook Pro Graphics Issue (Updated)
14 April 2008 02:02 EST
Chris Barylick
Per a serious of widespread complaints, Apple's early 2008 MacBook and MacBook Pro laptops appear to be suffering from instances of visual corruption where, in many cases, text duplicates, documents fail to scroll properly or videos and animations flicker.
According to apc, these problems appear to be most prevalent with QuickTime or Flash clips when viewed in a web browser or when the system uses its WebKit component, which has received specific attention in recent updates.
The issue itself appears to be independent of the notebooks' actual graphics hardware, given that the MacBooks and MacBook Pros use integrated Intel chips.
Unconfirmed rumors have implied that the issue may be related to the Leopard Graphics update, which appeared around the same time as the Mac OS X 10.5.2 update while other users have stated that the problem remains despite returning their notebooks to factory defaults.
A fix may be in the works, as other users have stated that the developer build of Mac OS X 10.5.2 can help alleviate the problem, though not entirely.
Apple has recently acknowledge the existence of the problem, but has yet to offer a fix: "Apple has received reports similar to the behavior you are describing and we are investigating those reports," a message from the company states. "Further information will come in the form of a Knowledge Base article, Software Update, or Software Release."
If you've seen this on your end or discovered a fix or workaround, please let us know over in the comments or forums.
Digg This |
Post to del.icio.us |
Post to Furl
Category: MacBook
Buy from: Apple
...............................................................................................
Apple Declares Customer to be Using Too Many Gift Cards to Purchase MacBook
12 March 2008 12:52 EST
Chris Barylick
About a year ago, the Consumerist covered the story of a customer named Charlie whom Apple refused to sell a computer to because she had "too many gift cards". After a fair amount of publicity, Apple eventually allowed Charlie to purchase her computer.
The situation seems to have resurfaced and a recent story indicates that Apple has revised their policy of allowing customers to use an unlimited number of gift cards down to six gift cards:
The new gift card FAQ reads as follows:
Can I use multiple gift cards when making a purchase?
Yes. You can use up to six cards when making a purchase at a retail Apple Store and up to four cards at the online Apple Store.
In the case of the author, who has seven gift cards totaling US$1,250, Apple still refuses to sell him a computer despite having paid US$1,250 upfront.
Attempts to get in touch with Apple have yielded a series of negative replies from the company, which may wish to look into this policy or at least return the money that's been paid in advance.
If anyone's discovered or experienced a similar situation on their own end, please let us know in the comments or forums.
Digg This |
Post to del.icio.us |
Post to Furl
Category: MacBook
Buy from: Apple
...............................................................................................
Updated: New MacBook, MacBook Pro Units Could See Appreciably Shorter Battery Life
26 February 2008 10:57 EST
Chris Barylick
Apple's long-awaited Penryn-based systems were released this morning, boasting faster clock speeds, more powerful graphics systems and multi-touch trackpads. Unfortunately, according to Italian technology web site, setteB.it, the units may lose as much of an hour or more of operating time when running from the battery.
The loss seems likely attributable to higher clock speeds (exact changes depending on the MacBook's specs), although the new MacBook now operates at 55 watts and provides 4.5 hours of runtime with AirPort functionality enabled as opposed to six on the previous model.
In the case of the 15.4" MacBook Pro, which is rated to operate at 60 watts, battery run times shrink from six hours to five hours. For the top of the line 17" MacBook Pro, which operates at 68 watts, battery run time diminishes from 5.75 hours to 4.5.
Updated: Apple has stepped forward to comment that the setteb.it web site's comments may be inaccurate as to a decrease in the battery life between the MacBook and MacBook Pro models released today and previous generations.
The company has since offered the following battery life numbers:
We'll have more information on this when the units go through a formal review and firmware updates may help lengthen battery life. In the meantime, let us know what you think over in the comments or forums.
Digg This |
Post to del.icio.us |
Post to Furl
Category: MacBook
Buy from: Apple
...............................................................................................
Apple Store Down, New MacBooks Notebooks Expected Today
26 February 2008 08:00 EST
Chris Barylick
Early Tuesday, Apple's online store went down for maintenance with the full expectation that the company will be introducing new MacBook laptops today.
The new MacBook laptops have been guessed at offering up to 2.4 GHz processors with either one or two gigabytes of RAM pre-installed. According to Macworld UK, the new units will offer a 120, 160 or 250 gigabyte hard drive.
It's still speculation until the site goes live, but if you have any thoughts or guesses, let us know in the comments or forums.
Digg This |
Post to del.icio.us |
Post to Furl
Category: MacBook
Buy from: Apple
...............................................................................................
Apple Releases MacBook/Pro Keyboard Firmware 1.0 Update
20 February 2008 08:00 EST
Chris Barylick
Late Tuesday, Apple released its keyboard firmware update for the MacBook and MacBook Pro laptop lines. The update, an 875 kilobyte download, addresses an issue wherein the first key press may be ignored if the computer has been sitting idle. Apple has also cited that the update addresses other, unspecified issues.
Once downloaded, the update installs an update application into the Applications/Utilities folder, which will launch automatically and provide instructions to follow.
Users can download the update directly or download and install the update via Mac OS X's built-in Software Update feature.
The firmware update requires an Intel-based Mac and Mac OS X 10.5.2 or later to install and run.
If you've tried the update and seen any changes, positive or negative, let us know in the comments or forums.
Digg This |
Post to del.icio.us |
Post to Furl
Category: MacBook
Buy from: Apple
...............................................................................................
MCE Announces 8X SuperDrive for MacBook, MacBook Pro Laptops
01 February 2008 11:56 EST
Chris Barylick
On Friday, peripherals manufacturer MCE Technologies announced the release of its slot-loading 8X DVD-Recordable internal SuperDrive upgrade for Apple's MacBook and MacBook Pro laptops.
The drive, which features support for both DVD+R DL (Double Layer) and DVD-R (Dual Layer) support, is designed to easily accommodate the slender form factor of the laptops and arrives with all required tools and instructions to perform the installation.
MCE Technologies is currently retailing the drive for US$199 before shipping and handling. The drive arrives with a full year's warranty from the company and requires Mac OS X 10.4 or later to run.
If you've found a good alternative optical drive to install on your MacBook or MacBook Pro, let us know over in the comments or forums.
Digg This |
Post to del.icio.us |
Post to Furl
Category: MacBook
Buy from: Apple
...............................................................................................
Amazon.com Offering 2.2 GHz MacBook Laptop at Discount
17 December 2007 01:29 EST
Chris Barylick
Christmas is about a week away, but there are still some deals to be had.
According to the guys at MacNN, Amazon.com is currently offering Apple's 2.2 GHz laptop with one gigabyte of RAM, a 120 gigabyte hard drive and an 8x SuperDrive unit for US$1,219 after a US$75 rebate.
Additional specials can be found at the Apple Store's discount section, wherein the current one gigabyte iPod shuffle is being offered for US$79 each alongside the previous generation's four gigabyte iPod nano, which are available in red, pink and blue for US$149 each.
Previous generation eight gigabyte iPod nanos can be purchased in red and black for US$179 each and Apple's black 2.16 GHz MacBook with one gigabyte of RAM, a 160 gigabyte hard drive and 8x SuperDrive can be purchased for US$1,249.
If you've seen any good bargains out there before the holiday season, let us know in the comments or forums.
Digg This |
Post to del.icio.us |
Post to Furl
Category: MacBook
Buy from: Apple
...............................................................................................
MacBook Owners Reporting AirPort Problems with Leopard
28 November 2007 01:29 EST
Chris Barylick
You love your MacBook.
Of course, you're a bit more fond of it when the wireless system works as it's supposed to.
According to AppleInsider, MacBook owners are reporting that their wireless networking functions have become much less reliable since installing Mac OS X 10.5 ("Leopard) as well as recent updates to Mac OS X 10.4 ("Tiger"), especially in situations where the systems are running from battery power.
The problem appears to have first surface with the Mac OS X 10.4.10 system update this summer and is said to affect most models, although reports of the instance are scarce from owners of Apple's newest Santa-Rosa-based MacBook units.
In many cases, the problem seems to emerge when the laptop is disconnected from its power supply. Once the user switches over to battery power, the wireless link becomes intermittent and in many cases the network connection drops entirely when idle.
Click the jump for the full story...
Digg This |
Post to del.icio.us |
Post to Furl
Category: MacBook
Buy from: Apple
...............................................................................................
Apple Investigating MacBook Hard Drive Concerns
28 November 2007 08:30 EST
Chris Barylick
Following up on assorted complaints that the MacBook laptop may contain hard drive issues, Apple yesterday stated that the company is looking into the problem.
According to Macworld UK, UK-based Retrodata has reported that the Seagate 2.5" hard drive containing firmware revision 7.01 has been known to cause potential data loss.
"The read/write heads appear to fail mechanically, quickly causing deep scratches to the platter surface, and rendering the drives practically unrecoverable," the company reported. The hard drive's firmware revision can be checked in Mac OS X's System Profiler application.
In many cases, it's difficult to pinpoint specific hard drives with design flaws due to the high volume of faulty disks encountered.
"Damage to magnetic platters are a normal type of failure for laptops," said Alkas Ali, a director for data recovery firm DiskEng. "This can be caused by temperature related issues or if the read/write head oscillates." However he conceded that if the read/write heads are detaching from the arm, that is a design flaw.
He also warned that you would need to see several hundred or several thousand drives with this problem to know for sure there is a design flaw.
Stay tuned for further news on this issue as it becomes available and if you've seen the problem on your end, let us know in the comments or forums.
Digg This |
Post to del.icio.us |
Post to Furl
Category: MacBook
Buy from: Apple
...............................................................................................
Apple to Incorporate Custom Security Features for MacBooks Sold to School Districts
09 November 2007 02:35 EST
Chris Barylick
Ok, this just came off as interesting. According to KansasCity.com, Apple, which just landed substantial contracts with the Kansas City and southwest Louisiana school districts, is apparently customizing the MacBooks to meet various security requirements for each of the school districts.
To wit: each of the Kansas City MacBooks will contain a sticker "clearly identifying them as the property of the Kansas City, Kan., public schools... [which] will not come off without virtually destroying the laptop." The laptops will also contain a GPS tracker and "a remote device to destroy the hard drive" if stolen.
Cool, if 007-esque stuff and it'd be interesting to see these features be made available to the average MacBook buyer.
Let us know what you think over in the comments or forums.
Digg This |
Post to del.icio.us |
Post to Furl
Category: MacBook
Buy from: Apple
...............................................................................................
Santa Rosa-based MacBooks Proving Faster Than Expected
07 November 2007 07:59 EST
Chris Barylick
Even if the newly-released MacBook gains didn't seem earth-shattering, especially with modest numerical gains in clock speed, the guys over at Primate Labs are reporting significantly faster test scores than the previous generation of MacBooks.
The new units, which incorporate a Santa Rosa chipset, returned memory performance results almost 15% faster and stream performance (which is heavily memory reliant) was boosted almost 25%. Overall performance went up about 10% and improvements could be seen via an updated 800 MHz system bus and the new, faster GMA X3100 integrated graphics system, which adds improved hardware 3D acceleration to the previous GMA 950 video chipset used in old MacBook models.
The new MacBooks retail from US$1,099.00 for a 2.0 GHz unit to US$1,299.00 for a 2.2 GHz unit to US$1,499.00 for a 2.2 GHz unit with a larger hard drive and SuperDrive installed.
If you've tried the new MacBooks and have any feedback about them, let us know over in the comments or forums.
Digg This |
Post to del.icio.us |
Post to Furl
Category: MacBook
Buy from: Apple
...............................................................................................
New MacBook's Larger Vent and Updated Keyboard
05 November 2007 09:05 EST
Jason D. O'Grady
A new Apple support document (306843) How to visually identify a MacBook (13-inch Late 2007) explains how to identify the newly released MacBooks. There are two key differences that are the only way to tell the new MacBook from its predecessors without popping the battery and peeking at the sticker in the battery bay.
The first difference is the new keyboard functionality. Silk-screened on the function keys are new shortcuts to Exposé, Dashboard and media controls for things like rewind, play and fast forward. The changes bring the new MacBook keyboard in line with the new Apple USB and wireless (aluminum) keyboards.
The other visual difference is an updated, larger rear vent. The new MacBooks have a significantly wider spacing between the vent fins. This change should allow the new MacBooks to cool more efficiently.
Previous MacBook Vent:
Digg This |
Post to del.icio.us |
Post to Furl
Category: MacBook
Buy from: Apple
...............................................................................................
Intel Mobile CPUs May Be in Short Supply This Holiday Season
31 October 2007 10:20 EST
Chris Barylick
The MacBook you're thinking of leaving under the tree for a friend of family member may be a little harder to come by this holiday season as Taiwan manufacturer Asustek Computer publicly complained about a lack of Intel's central processing units for laptops due to high demand.
The company also stated that it didn't expect this problem to affect its sales.
According to Macworld UK, Asustek president Jerry Shen has complained that Intel isn't meeting demand for its mobile product. Asustek currently manufactures both its own brand of computers as well as others, including Apple's.
Over the past year, strong demand for laptop computers has led to a shortage of LCD screens and laptop hard drives, a change that has created complaints among laptop manufacturers.
Laptop sales historically tend to be higher from September to December between back to school purchases, hype around new operating systems and the holiday shopping season. Some companies expect this market to grow by 30% next year, a trend that can lead to critical parts being in short supply.
"Our relationship with Intel is good so we don't have a big problem, but if it wasn't so good, our troubles might be worse," said Shen.
If you've seen anything backordered on your end or have an opinion on this, let us know in the comments or forums.
Digg This |
Post to del.icio.us |
Post to Furl
Category: MacBook
Buy from: Apple
...............................................................................................
Leopard Graphics Drivers Hint at New MacBook Features
29 October 2007 07:51 EST
Chris Barylick
Apple may have given away more than it meant to with its release of the Mac OS X 10.5 "Leopard" operating system. According to MacNN, the company may be planning a near-term update of its 13" MacBooks as well as its Mac mini computers.
A set of drivers discovered by users includes full support for the Intel GMA X3100 integrated graphics chipset, which is built into notebook mainboards on Santa Rosa-equipped machines. Apple is currently using the Santa Rosa architecture for its MacBook Pro laptops line but also integrates these machines with dedicated NVIDIA graphics chipsets, leaving the MacBook line with Intel's slower and lower-cost offerings.
The drivers, which are dated from October 11th on, suggest that Apple may have been finalizing a final version of the drivers only days before Mac OS X 10.5 was released to manufacturing. Apple has historically refrained from including drivers for unreleased hardware in its operating system updates .
Click the jump for the full story...
Digg This |
Post to del.icio.us |
Post to Furl
Category: MacBook
Buy from: Apple
...............................................................................................
MacBooks Experiencing Bluetooth Problems
02 October 2007 09:23 EST
Jason D. O'Grady
flowolf writes in with news that Apple seems to be having difficulty getting to grips with a Bluetooth problem on MacBooks. Bluetooth goes unavailable intermittently from what users are assuming is a hardware problem, and while it's out the machines won't stay in sleep mode. Complaints started last spring on the Apple forum, which is still quite active. Many people have had to send their MacBooks for repair more than once without a satisfactory resolution.Slashdot: MacBooks Experiencing Bluetooth Problems
Digg This |
Post to del.icio.us |
Post to Furl
Category: MacBook
Buy from: Apple
...............................................................................................
Melting MacBook Documented via Picture Gallery
15 May 2007 08:05 EST
Chris Barylick
A forum post over to the German MacUser.de web site has documented an instance in which a German MacBook owner left his laptop unattended as it played a DVD of "Scary Movie" and returned to discover that the heat from the laptop had actually melted some of its plastic.
A full gallery has been posted over at AppleDefects.com and an article over there describes the unit's heat buildup and lack of adequate cooling:
"MacBook's are well documented to produce tremendous amounts of heat. Our AppleDefects MacBook easily reaches and sustains processor temperatures of 95 degrees celcius (203 farenheit) when running under load, with absolutely zero cooldown despite the tiny fan blasting. The super-heated air that is produced is then blown out the small back port. You’d never want to use our particular MacBook on your lap without a thick book or some other protective pad, the heat produced is scolding - but so far not hot enough to physically melt the machine itself. It should be noted Apple doesn't recommend using laptops on your lap, as we have reported on in the past."
While there may not be any guaranteed means of preventing heat buildup on your MacBook (I love mine, but it does get toasty), several temperature monitoring programs such as CoolBook are available.
If you've seen anything similar in your own experience or discovered a better setup for letting the laptop function with better circulation, let us know.
Digg This |
Post to del.icio.us |
Post to Furl
Category: MacBook
Buy from: Apple
...............................................................................................
Analyst: Apple may use flash memory for notebooks
08 March 2007 11:30 EST
Jason D. O'Grady
Apple Inc. may sell zippy notebook computers later this year that use the same type of fast memory as music players and digital cameras, driving down prices of hard-disk drives, an analyst said on Thursday.
The maker of the popular iPod music player and Macintosh computers hopes to introduce so-called flash memory in small computers known as subnotebooks in the second half of 2007, Shaw Wu, an analyst at American Technology Research who has a "buy" rating on Apple shares and does not own any stock, said in investor notes on Wednesday and Thursday.
Tech&Sci : Technology : Reuters.com
technorati tags:flash, notebooks, apple
Digg This |
Post to del.icio.us |
Post to Furl
Category: MacBook
Buy from: Apple
...............................................................................................
Apple to Ship 300,000 MacBooks in November
30 November 2006 07:47 EST
Chris Barylick
Apple may be doing better than expected with its recently released version of its Intel Core 2 Duo-based laptop, according to a report from Chinese publication Commercial Times. The report cites that 300,000 MacBooks will likely be sold in November alone according to build orders provided to Taiwanese manufacturing partner Asustek. Apple could easily ship 1,000,000 MacBooks for the December quarter at this rate.
The report also added that Asustek's shipments dropped for October since Apple was in the process of transitioning the MacBook to the faster Core 2 Duo processor.
Analysts have predicted that Apple will ship between 1.6 and 1.8 million MacBooks for the December quarter according to AppleInsider.
Digg This |
Post to del.icio.us |
Post to Furl
Category: MacBook
Buy from: Apple
...............................................................................................
Mac Sales On the Rise at Penn State
29 November 2006 08:23 EST
Chris Barylick
Mac sales seem to be on the rise at Pennsylvania State University where the Penn State Computer Store saw a significant jump in its sales of Macintosh computers this past summer as opposed to its summer 2005 sales, according to Robin Anderson, communications director of the university's information and technology services.
A recent study, conducted by Student Monitor, a research organization that studies college student consumer trends, found that 13% of college students planning to purchase laptops have opted for a Maintosh, placing the brand second behind Dell.
Eric Weil, managing partner of Student Monitor, expressed that he felt the numbers showed a noteworthy change.
"It's probably up two or three [percentage] points in just a year," he said. "That's a significant increase."
Martin also expressed that he thought the popularity of the iPod had boosted Apple's image on campus.
Digg This |
Post to del.icio.us |
Post to Furl
Category: MacBook
Buy from: Apple
...............................................................................................
MacBook Users Reporting Trouble with External Keyboards/Mice
28 November 2006 10:53 EST
Chris Barylick
According to a recent post on MacFixIt.com, some users have reported troubles using external keyboards and mice with their MacBooks after waking the laptops up from safe sleep. The issue is sometimes accompanied by reports of underpowered USB ports.
Some users have reported successful fixes in disabling the option "Allow Bluetooth Devices to Wake this computer" in Mac OS X's Bluetooth pane of the System Preferences menu.
Others have found a more technical fix to disable Safe Sleep in general by entering the following command in the Terminal program:
sudo pmset -a hibernatemode 0
Stay tuned for more on the story as it develops and if you have and ideas, fixes or workarounds, be sure to post them as comments.