• Intro: Macworld then and 2010, New Macs across the board, iPhone 3.0, and more
• Reader Specials: New Clearance/Garage Sale listings, Toniq, LCDs, & More
• Quick Tip: Old Mac Hard Drives - Your new Mac's External
• Closing
• The Fine Print

Off in a different direction - OWC was proud to sponsor the ninth annual MacBowl Macworld event and, as always, it was a blast. Since our first participation, I believe four Macworlds ago, Microsoft had been the team to beat and who our aim was focused on. This year, cheers went up and the crowd went wild (ok, a lot of our own OWC group in that crowd :)) when we the scores were called out and OWC had nipped Microsoft.While we were busy staring down Microsoft - well, congrats to the Sonic/Roxio (makers of Popcorn and the Toast burning applications) for thier victory. It's all for a good cause, nearly $15,000 was raised for education this year and a tally now of over $180,000 over it's nine year run. Beating Microsoft was a victory in itself... and we'll be back in force next year too.

Macworld 2010
Although Apple has pulled the plug, we're still hanging on. When IDG had Apple as their 'Anchor Exhibitor' it's unfortunate they just let things go vs proactively pursuing changes that they're now reactively working hard to make happen if not already gotten done. Even in better times and before Apple jumped ship, despite all the good reasons for being an exhibitor, there were a growing list of reasons to just not be.

Now, IDG has cut the cost for the booth space itself and, of even greater impact for many exhibitors, they're working on GES to reduce the various service costs. From power to internet to the basic transport of exhibitor booth and merchandise from the Dock to the booth space - GES is the only option and, in our case, GES service expenses are far greater than the raw booth space itself. What's done is done and IDG has only itself to blame, but hopefully changes will encourage a broad support for other exhibitor and give reason for attendees to be there as well.

One nice change for 2010 is that no special codes or invites are now needed to get free entry to the exhibits. You can register online now to reserve your pass for the 2010 show. This is a nice touch and pretty much required I think... and quite a turn around from the pulling teeth it took just to get the passes we needed for 2009 event customers. I've saved the very best, in my opinion, for last now too... This week it was announced that show is going to run February 9th to the 13th, a Tuesday through Saturday event. That is huge! Originally, this thing was planned for January 4th through the 8th (Mon-Friday).... As much as we have enjoyed Macworld, it's always been dreadful to go from Christmas to New Years to Expo time. Actually have some time to breath before the expo - and, it eliminates the conflict with CES as well. An important element of the Macworld show happens to be media coverage. With the exception of Macworld 2008, the show has always had less than it's fair share due to the CES overlap which has consistently resulted in a large portion of the media moving on to Las Vegas the day after, if not right after, the keynote expo opener.

I hope the Macworld 2010 is a winner and then 2011...12.. etc. You can do a lot online and all - but nothing beats the interaction possible at a show that brings so much talent, creativity, and ideas together as Macworld has historically done. Despite itself, this is the show that's had the mix of Mac Users, Developers, and Vendors alike that to me has always been a strong benefit for the Mac community at large. It's a shame that it took the loss of Apple to get IDG forced into fixing that which has been wrong, it'll be a greater shame if this show fails - unless something better steps into its place. While there is much more I can be specifically crititcal of IDG for, also have to recongnize that they have been the one pulling the event together for all the years too. There is a real challenge now with Apple out of there, but this show has always been so much more than Apple alone.

The new Macs of 2009
Had this newsletter come out on time - there'd have been but one new hardware product to really talk about. With timing being everything, be it a matter of existing inventory or just new product readiness - even a product line that was well overdue for update did not get its due at Macword Expo. While we did get completion of the 'Unibody' Macbook/MacBook Pro series at Macworld - the rest of the line up found light just a few weeks ago as March rolled in. Now it's my turn to roll on through 'em.

MacBook Pro 17" - new 'Unibody verion' introduced at Macworld Expo
In January the new MacBook Pro 17" Unibody was introduced, completing the 'Unibody' line up transition. Starting from the same $2799, this next generation Macbook Pro standard features Nvidia 9600M + 9400M (two) video processors, base 320GB HD, and 2.66GHz Intel Core Duo with optional (add $300) 2.93GHz processor available. While the prior 17" model used DDR2 and is capable of supporting up to 6GB via OWC, this new 17" offically supports up to 8GB (also offered by OWC and for a bit less than Apple). Like the prior 17", still have one FireWire 800 port - but the FireWire 400 port is now gone. I'd have preferred there be that FireWire 400 port, but whereas the prior 17" had two USB ports - the Unibody 17" now has three. Just to show they do sometimes listen, unique to the 17' is a $50 option for the screen to be Antiglare. I personally think the antiglare is very much worth it, but given it's one or the other - I highly recommend comparing the two screen types at a local Apple Store/Reseller if a new 17" is in your future.

MacBook Pro 15.4" - 'Speed Bumped' on March 3rd
Still starts from $1999 for 2.4GHz, but no fanfare once so ever, what was 2.53GHz ($300 option to 2.8GHz) for $2499 has now been bumped to 2.66GHz(Option to 2.93GHz for $300). Everything else is as it was, but this speed bump is a good thing given that our testing suggested even the 2.4GHz pre-Unibody model seemed to offer advantage over that 2.53GHz. Although Apple has only offered the Unibody 15.4" solutions with up to 4GB, in addition to 4GB kits for the 2.4GHz (which is base with 2GB), we currently offer options up to 6GB. With the prior models we have confirmed that 6GB is the maximum memory allowed. Until we test and prove otherwise, we support the new speed MacBook 15.4" Unibody models to the same 6GB maximum memory. There was some question of these supporting 8GB, but the description Apple had up on their 8GB kits - which was fine when only the 17" Unibody came in 2.66GHz and 2.93GHz speeds - has been updated and no longer implies 8GB to be an after purchase option. Would have been nice.... What also would have been nice is if they quietly added that same antiglare option that's available for the 17". Oh well... none the less, it's nice to get that extra horsepower without any extra cash should a new MacBook Pro 15.4" be part of your plan.

Apple Mac mini - New Version released March 3rd
It's hard to believe that it's been since November of 2007 that the Mac mini got any kind of update. Always a capable machine, the value side of the equation had certainly declined over time as it fell further and further behind current 'equivelent' standards. For the same $599 price of admission you now get a 2.0GHz Core 2 Duo ($150 option to go to 2.26GHz) vs. 1.83GHz, nVidia 9400M Accelerated Graphics Processor that shares up to 256MB for video vs. the now ancient Intel GMA950 (used since the 2005 Mac mini G4!), 5 USB2 Ports vs. only 2, FireWire 800 Port (1) vs. FireWire 400, mini-DVI & mini-Display Port connections + support for Two displays vs. single DVI port and support for a single display, standard 8X Dual-Layer SuperDrive vs. CDRW+DVD Combo. The new Mac mini also uses DDR3 SO-DIMMs (same as the MacBook Unibody models and new iMacs), but for whatever annoying reason - it is limited to only 4GB max. Unlike the MacBook 13" and 15.4" models which will at least take advantage of and benefit from 6GB, we've found the new Mac mini will recognize 8GB - but is not able to actually use more than the first 4GB. On Apple's store site the $599 model is standard with 120GB and 1GB of memory and options to customize to up to 4GB and 320GB, a $799 'model' is listed that is exactly the same but is standard 320GB HD and 2GB of memory with option to go to 4GB. Yes, that's $200 more to get the same Mac mini except with 320GB drive and an extra 1GB. You can custom configure the '$599 model' to the same config, but they actually charge you $25 more that way.... or better yet, OWC bumps you to 500GB + 4GB of memory for less than $170 + you get to keep the original 120GB drive and 1GB memory module or save more by trading in. Anyway - the Mac mini is, in my opinion, reborn and a packed with power (while be low power 'green') in a mini size.

Apple iMac - New Versions released March 3rd
Last given a relatively minor update in April/2008, the new March 2009 iMacs are a bit more of a leap, a really substantial leap. I will do as best as I can in summary to do justice to these latest models. For starters, the 20" remains the entry level at $1199, but is now equipped with a 2.66GHz Core 2 Duo (was 2.4GHz), 2GB Memory standard (was 1GB), 320GB HD (was 250GB), and video updated to nVidia 9400M 256MB (shared) memory vs. the ATI HD 2400. That's a nice improvement - but the next price point, while still $1499, now gets you to a 24" iMac with nVidia 9400M and 4GB standard vs. pretty much the same with a 20" before. The meat of the $1499 price point update is to that bigger 24" display. The next step is to $1799 for the iMac 24" @ 2.93GHz (with available 3.06GHz option for $150) standard with 4GB of memory, 640GB hard drive, and the Nvidia GT120 Video Chipset with 256MB of dedicated GDDR3 (doesn't share from your standard installed memory. Additionally, with the 2.93GHz model, for $150 you can upgraed to the GT130 512MB (up to 4.2X faster than the GT120 according to Apple) or for $200 go to the ATI Radeon HD 4850 512MB (up to 6X Faster than the GT12 according to Apple). Providing support for a 2nd Display, all models have a mini-Display Port. Stepping things up considerably in terms of being truly viable as a performance graphics workstation, not only is there the aforementioned video options in the higher end - but all these models also now support up to 8GB - double the 4GB official limitation of the prior generation models. FireWire... well, Apple seems to have USB2 on the brain as they went from 3 USB2 Ports to 4 - but while none of the iMacs have a FireWire 400 port, all of them continue on with a FireWire 800 port. You will never hear me call the iMacs cheap, but seeing a base 24" at the prior model 20" price - there's a lot more value in today's line up + with up to 8GB memory supported, a lot more potential punch too. And hey... woah - what about the $2199 3.0GHz model? Kinda like the Mac mini, but without any price benefit, Apple's conveniently added the 3.0GHz Processor upgrade option +($150), upgrade from 640GB to 1.0TB HD (+$100), and upgrade from GT120 to GT130 (+$150) right there for ya... that $2199 'model' is identical to what you can custom build yourself off the $1799 model base. So there ya go.

Quick Common Points for all three of these models
#1 - With the exception of the Apple 24" LED Display, you will need an adapter to connect your display(s) via mini-Displayport. Be it a VGA, DVI, or Dual-Link DVI display, make sure you get the appropriate adapter... While DisplayPort is an open standard, Apple seems to have the IP cornered on the 'mini Displayport' and currently are the only option for these cables. Conveniently, the Mac mini does include a min-DVI to DVI adapter, you'll only need a the DisplayPort cable for a 2nd display or if your primary display is a 30" (standard DVI only supports resolutions up to 2048x1152 resolution vs. 2560x1600 for Dual-Link DVI).

#2 - While all of the prior models had FireWire 400 if not both FireWire 400 and 800, as the new models only provide a FireWire 800 port. Now, this is fully backwards compatible with FireWire 400 and you can continue using your FireWire 400 devices without any issue - just need to get the correct cable or adapter. Conveniently, we happen to stock a complete selection 9 to 6 and 9 to 4 pin cables as well as 9 to 6 pin port adapters. The cables of course give you the direct link path while the adapters let you continue use of existing 6 pin FireWire cables you already own. Another option of worthy consideration are the NewerTech miniStacks.Not only do these offer up to 1.5TB (soon 2TB) of plug & play storage (great for time machine, video work, applications, photos, you name it) - they both have a built in FireWire & USB2 hub which directly gives you the 6 Pin FireWire port(s) you can connect straight up to. The v3 model features FireWire 800, FireWire 400, USB2, and eSATA while the v2/2.5 provides both FireWire 400 and USB2 hub and connectivity(includes FireWire 800 to 400 cable too). The miniStack is a great play for a variety of scenarios, but now stands out especially as that one device you can connect most anything too hub + storage as a nice match to a MacBook Pro allowing the one FireWire cable 'to rule them all'. Anyway - make sure you've got your FireWire covered if your current devices and cables are FireWire 400 only.

#3 - More memory can really make the difference. In fact, even before you consider buying a new Mac - make sure the Mac you've got now can't give you a whole lot more for a lot less cost than buying new. I continue to refer back to our October Newsletter for a good detail on this. That said -if you're ready for that new Mac, don't forget you can add more memory and even hard drives after the fact for a substantial savings vs. factory options. Not only that, you get to keep (or trade in for cash) your original equipment + memory you get from OWC has a lifetime warranty vs. the standard 1yr (unless you buy AppleCare) the standard system and factory memory too. Whether you're looking to upgrade a recently purchased Mac or one you've had for awhile, our online guides really make it super easy and take the guess work out what's right for the exact Mac you have. And, to top that off - our extensive and expanding library of online installation videos do show these upgrades to be as easy as we often say. Now, for the above models we have specific pages that couldn't make it easier:

From 2005 to the latest 2009 Mac mini Models - confirm what you have and see just the right hard drives, memory, and superdrive upgrades for the Mac mini you've got.

Be there iMacs G3-G4-G5 to the latest Intels in need of a boost, there be much in the way of options to point and click to.

The right memory and hard drives to upgrade any MacBook or MacBook Pro model - Unibody or 'original body'.

New Macs Continued - Mac Pro 'Nehalem' Models released March 3rd
Could really devote a lot of space to these guys to say the least. While the 2006 to 2008 Mac Pro model progression by in large kept the same system board design, these new March 2009 models pretty much 100% new inside. Before I go much further, well - the old 'Megahertz Myth' truly applies. Not only is are things well beyond processor speed of significant influence when it comes to system performance, factors beyond the processor itself are of significant impact as well. The very best processor cores still need the other pieces around them to actually get the full benefit of what potential awaits to be unleashed. If you already have a Mac Pro - you'd be amazed at what more memory and/or a hard drive stripe can do. A more powerful 'core' is always welcome, just don't look past what you might have right in front of you. It's very possible that by making a smaller investment in your existing system you may reap a performance benefit beyond that of a new system at base alone. The MacPerformanceGuide offers good how to information and performance details on memory and performance hard drive setups. The diglloyd blog, BareFeats web site, as well as OWC benchmarks page + informational blog entries also provide good information and ongoing updates on the Mac Pro generations. I am putting all of this out there as the Mac Pro has been and remains a significant investment. To get the most from that investment, a Mac Pro you already have or one of these latest models - unless you upgrade the memory, hard drives, etc within it - the true performance capability ROI in the investment will remain trapped within.

Quad-Core or Quad-Core x 2 (8-Core)?
While the 2006, 2007, and 2008 Mac Pro models have their processors on the main board and separate memory risers for the 8 expansion slots, the new Mac Pro 2009 'Nehalem' models put the processor on the same board with the memory and with the number of slots equal to the number of total cores. The 4-Core model, which starts at $2499 for 2.66GHz (add $500 for 2.93GHz) vs. $2199 for the '2008 Mac Pro' 2.8GHz Quad-Core, gives you 4 total memory slots. The 8-Core model, which starts at a whopping $3299 for 2.26GHz (add $1400 for 2.66GHz or $2600 for 2.93GHz) vs. $2799 for the 2008 model 2.8GHz 8-Core, gives you a total of 8 memory slots. The prior 2008 model topped out at 3.2GHz x 8-Core for $4399 vs. this new 2009 model coming in at $5899 for 2.93GHz x 8. Given the economy and all, it's incredible to see how expensive these new Mac Pros really are. Just looking at the Processor Core speeds, even harder to swallow without getting past that 'myth' and to the fact that these really are a quantum leap in processor performance.

Memory is an important factor as is getting the right memory. The new Mac Pro use a relatively standard DDR3 ECC Module with a not entirely common thermal equipped EEPROM requirement. That said, the 2GB DDR3 ECC Modules cost about 20% less vs. the far more specialized DDR2 FB-DIMM type that the prior Mac Pros require. The same cost benefit doesn't yet apply to the 4GB DDR3 ECC Modules.... due to current production yields and the overall supply situation, the parts for 4GB DDR3 ECC happen to cost quite a bit more. Even so our OWC memory upgrade kits offer savings of up to 70% vs. selecting via the factory. In addition to the same kits up to 32GB for the Quad Core x 2 (8-Core) Mac Pro models, we also now offer up to 16GB for the Quad-Core models - double the 8GB max available by factory option. With only 8GB, you're pretty limited.... having the option to 16GB significantly increases considerations for that 4-Core model. All of these memory options we offer have been fully tested in all of the Mac Pro models and processor variations and have our full backing. We've been first to market with the right Mac Pro memory for every Mac Pro model back to the very first 2006 model that began shipping August of that year. Having the right memory solution for these Mac Pro takes more than just being a reseller and that we are in both extensive testing that is a standard ongoing part of our quality assurance methods as well as straigth up participation and direction in the memory design and production phases.We know what works, back what works, and control how these parts our OWC label goes on get built.

Dual-Channel, Triple-Channel memory bus
The fun never stops... whereas the prior systems effectively had a dual-channel memory configuration, these new models will do dual, or triple channel access (even can do single channel) depending on what sets of memory you have installed. Really entertaining is that you've either got 4-slots or 8-slots where the best memory performance bandwidth is going to be with either 3 modules or 6 modules installed. Total memory bandwidth doesn't necessarily mean better real-world application performance(scroll down on that page). Where total memory bandwidth should make the greatest difference is where every core is getting fully utilized. In that scenario, memory bandwidth could be the bottleneck while each of the cores is cranking on processes at full speed. That said, it would seem that even current applications such as Adobe After Affects, which will spawn instances to use every available core, reach peak performance - regardless of dual-channel or triple channel memory access - once there is adequate memory for the process running and without any difference thereafter attributable to that memory bandwidth. The standard 'rule' continues to apply from all the results I've seen - having more memory as needed for the applications and jobs you're running trumps having less memory just to have the optimal memory bandwidth configuration. That said, Apple's factory options for the 8-Core jump from 8 x 2GB to 8 x 4GB installed.... oddly skipping an optimal 6 x 4GB (24GB) configuration option. Maybe the future will bring us a 9-slot 8-core model and save a headache or two... I don't think so much the dual-channel will ever be a hold back on the Quad-Core x 1 models, but there could come applications and or changes in OS 10.6 whereby having a triple-channel config could very well benefit certain applications (if not all). I'd hate it if I had one of these 8-Core beasts and had an application mix that gave me reason to sometimes run with 6 memory modules and other times run with 8... yep - things are a little fuzzy to say the least.

Something brand new and super cool with these new Mac Pros is the new memory utility application which auto-launches after new memory is added. If the installation instructions made sense and you've got the modules in the slots arranged for best performance - upon first startup after that upgrade a dialogue appears on your finder desktop saying all is as recommended. Should the memory not be quite in the best slot arrangement, not only does it say so - but it also provides a clear instruction showing where memory modules are now and what slots you should instead move them to. It just doesn't get any easier than that!

Video Card Options
Be it a Quad Core x 1 or Quad Core x 2 (8-Core) system you may be looking at, both have the same video card options. Standard equipment is 1 x Nvidia GT120 with 512MB of dedicated GDDR3 video ram. You can add up to 3 additional GT120s (going to 4 of them uses all 4 PCIe slots of course...) at $150 per card or take the option to upgrade to a single Radeon 4870 for even higher performance. While there is not a factory option to have 4870 + GT120, the GT120 cards are available separately for $149 each, actually $1 less than per additional factory installed. Both the GT120 and the 4870 cards support up to two 30" displays and have one actual Dual-Link DVI port + a mini-DisplayPort. Unless you buy that 24" Apple LED display, having a 2nd display with anything else will need the appropriate mini-Display port to X cable solution that Apple offers. Conversely, if you want to use two Apple 24" LED Displays - the only means to do so is by having a 2nd video card as only one mini-Displayport per card and no option to adapter DVI to DisplayPort. One other interesting consideration - for anyone lucky enough to be running two 30" Dual-Link displays (Apple Cinema 30", Dell UltraSharp 30", NEC 30", etc), you're likely better off with adding that 2nd GT120 Card for $149/150 vs. spending the $99 for the needed Dual-Link to mini-DisplayPort cable adapter. Probably overall better video performance too not driving the two off one card as well.

What video card option is will serve you best is going to depend on your application set. Definitely check the details with those graphics intensive apps to see just how the options will potentially benefit. Current feedback with Photoshop suggests no recognized benefit to the Radeon 4870 vs. the GT120. This could also vary depending on plug-ins being used, etc - it's worth the time to really check out what the software makers have to say concerning whether or not an advantage is offered with video beyond the base option. Also remember, while it may not offer a benefit today - OS 10.6, future updates to an application, or both could change to get more benefit from the presence of a higher performance video card processor. Another consideration for that, however, is your option at any time to upgrade your video card should such benefit materialize while conserving the budget for those enhancements of immediate benefit in the mean time. Finally, for those who notice every noise your system makes - while both video cards are quiet, the 4870 noticeably louder... quieter than previous ATI video cards for the Mac Pro - but the GT120 is the quieter card option.

Hard Drive Options
This is about the easiest part... The trays are slightly different, so won't be able to use the same trays from/for prior Mac Pro models - but still the same setup. Factory standard base is a single 640GB drive with $100 option to upgrade it to a 1TB, options to add additional 640GB drives for $200 per bay or 1TB for $300 per bay. There's nothing special about the drives Apple is factory installing. For those costs I'd expect Enterprise Class, but no - just standard Serial ATA. No matter how you configure - all four bays include the trays. Adding your own drives is unbelievably easy (kudos to Apple for this on all the Mac Pros) and we've got 1TB drives from under $100 straight up (vs. $100 even for that 640GB to 1TB bay one option) and up to 2TB drives now in stock. Even the top tier Enterprise class 1TB drives start from $154.99 for the most mission critical storage requirements. The OWC Mac Pro hard drives page shows you the available internal bay drive options as well as external solutions and SATA expansion as well.

Optical Drive Bays
Serial ATA Optical bays are now standard, replacing the IDE/ATAPI bays of the prior. The standard factory drive provides up to 18X burning and we'll soon have low cost options for replacing that or adding to the 2nd bay a faster straight up SuperDrive. Immediately available are Serial ATA Blu-Ray options from $114.99 ready to plug and play into either bay. From Blu-Ray read-only w/DVD-CD burn to the full on up to 8X Blu-Ray burning along too with DVD/CD burn capabilities - these guys go right into the bay in about 2 minutes (or less) installation time. While you can read data from Blu-Ray discs... while you can burn Blu-Ray Data and even full on video with the support of applications such as Toast Titanium and Adobe Premiere - Apple still has not released official support for Blu-Ray. Bottom line is that still can't watch Blu-Ray videos on your Mac. When it comes to the professional applications where these Blu-Ray videos come into play, it can be a bit of an inconvenience. Maybe June at the WWDC. Windows has been able to do it for a long time now... and heck, Microsoft had been a backer in the HD-DVD camp. Errrr.

Breaking down the rest...
I honestly don't know where to start. Probably the best place is Apple's own marketing detail comparing the prior-generation processor architecture to the new 'Nehalem' design. It's the Megahertz Myth redux - fast cores are great, cores that run more efficient beat faster cores all the same.

These new machines are incredible and also incredibly expensive. Where the Mac Pro might have been required before, it's not a bad idea to take a look at the iMac - with 8GB of memory, it's very viable for what might have required a Mac Pro for productivity before. Where there be no substitute for pure processing horsepower, the Quad-Core x 2 (8-core) is the ticket... and then the Quad-Core somewhere in between. When there is a job to do, it's about the ROI these new systems offer. Where time is money, the latest Mac Pro certainly buy that time.

OWC has a Blog!
And one day this entire newsletter may just become a part there of. There is an amazing amount of interesting stuff that a blog can be an a+ outlet for. There is an amazing amount of things going on right here at OWC with just a fraction of these things making it into our various newsletters. Best of all - we've got a full team of talented Mac heads here who will more and more use this blog to share their daily bits. Instant gratification and little delay when it comes to putting out that latest tid bit. Best of all, not only to you get to hear from us more 'real-time' - but it's an opportunity to interact and comment/add your own part to the story too.

One of the most active postings has to do with the new 2009 Mac Pro Video cards and using them in prior Mac Pro models. We may have started the ball rolling with some initial testing, but readers like you picked that ball up and ran with it - adding greater details and broader experiences we all get to draw from.

Our OWC Blog is still developing in terms of the categories and regularity, but new stuff is posted now multiple times a week if not every day - and across a variety of topics. Something for everyone and hope you'll check it out.

Apple iPhone & iPod Touch v3.0 Software update preview
Finally Cut and Paste on the iPhone! Go sideways for typing e-mail responses. Better power saving measures while handling incoming communication notifications. The tip of the iceberg. Funny having just mentioned our Blog... OWC's Ilene just published a nice run down on v3.0 with additional links via that very Blog.

The latest Reader Specials + New Clearance deals
As a general rule, we're always working hard to have the most competitive prices site wide on the products we back and support. At the same time, always working harder yet to deliver that something extra to our long term newsletter readers. First notice of a clearance sale is another benefit...

While supplies last, there are currently over 172 clearance/garage sale listed product and over 100 of which have just been made available within the last 3-4 days. This is the first notice we've provided and even so, it's clear that customers have this page book marked and check this page even without notice. 1GB/2GB/4GB memory and kits starting from $10, 3.5" Hard Drive deals, over 41 different external hard drive enclosure options from $22.50, and just a ton more to check out. Clearance items are for online purchase only and first come first served.... If there's a goodie that fits the bill, hesitate and it may just be gone. :)

Be it the crazy economic times or all these new Macs all at once, it's really easy to have your head spinning. A solution? Brain Toniq is a drink I've now enjoyed for going on two years.The 'Antidote to Head Fog', this product has a good taste and offers a nice boost without resorting to caffeine or stimulants such as ginseng. One guy at OWC who needs a coffee (or a few coffees) to get his motor running even noted this drink not only more than substituted for that daily grind, but also didn't include the nose dive that comes as the coffee caffeine boost comes to an end. Although it retails for $2.49 a can - with our inside track (one of OWC's customers actually behind this fine beverage) - we've got this all natural goodness available down as low as $1.65 per. This drink is also now being offered and stocked by Whole Foods, but not for that awesome of a price. :)

Data Robotics 'Drobo' FireWire 800/USB2 Data-Redundant 4-Bay storage solution now from $429.99. Also, turn your Drobo into Network Attached Storage with DroboShare for $179.99. Right now, when you buy both - instantly save an additional $50 too.

Dell LCDs from 20" to 30" OWC Tested and stocked by OWC for Macs. 24" Special $239, 23" with Web Cam and USB2 Hub $279. More Reader Dell LCD Deals.

Check out our latest feature deals with the online version of our most recent Hot Deals Blast e-mail update.

Don't miss any of the extra special discounted offers, regularly updated and found on the exclusive Reader Specials page.

Quick Links
Online Installation Videos, PDF Docs, FAQ & more in OWC Tech Center:
From installing memory to ipod batteries, installing processor upgrades to Optical and Hard Disk Drives - you'll find help in the OWC Tech center. Tips on setting up hard drives, creating raids, proper memory handling, network setup, basic trouble shooting, and just a whole lot more. We're always adding new information, videos, etc - a wealth of information we're happy to share!

There's lots of things you might pay someone to do for ya... with a little help from our Tech Center, you may learn and find out first hand how easy a lot things can be done right at home.

Check out our Quick Tips Archive, Hardware/Software Review articles, and more - all in the OWC Product Reviews and Editorial center.

For Fun and of Interest
This MacBook definitely took one for the team. In a MacBook vs. Mack Truck collision the bicyclist escaped without injury, although its white light still aglow - the Macbook itself clearly has seen it's final days.

The iPhone has been a clear winner for Apple and something ahead of the game with many competitors playing catch up. It's not any one feature, but the entire product and it's the feature set so well integrated and provided by Apple's iPhone that's set it a part here and around the world.... except, apparently, in Japan. You have to read to the bottom of the article to see the 'editor's corrections/updates' to then find out perhaps it's not quite what Wired originally portrayed. Although they stand behind the original article conclusions, the iPhone is doing better than you'd have initially read into with this article and never mind the other news sites that took just a blurb of the original before the updates. In any event, if there's one country where portable technology is ahead of the curve - that would be Japan. It's only by virtue of the strong functionality of the iPhone that it's stood a chance at all in that marketplace with far more advanced - as well as more complicated to use - mobile products to chose from.

We are surrounded by and benefit from incredible technologies - be it computers, or mobile devices, as well as advances in medicine and general longevity. Seems easy to forget how amazing a time we we live in. An interesting and entertaining video clip out of a Conan O'Brien show. Always important to remember what's important in life and spend our energy focused on those things vs. complaining about the more trivial. Certainly, as a society, relearning the virtue of patience could make a real difference. Just to take a moment and smell the roses, priceless.

A video taste of the Macworld Expo Community + about at the 5 minute mark, check out OWC's audio rig at Macworld with Chris (Our RAID guy) on the drums and Rick (our Audio Expert) on Guitar. :)

I'm sure it's all sorted out now and these things fixed... but one thing for sure, can always count on Microsoft for that killer bug. Going back to December 31st, 2008 - Zunes around the world collectively called it quits. Again, old news - but just never gets old when it comes to Microsoft stuff crapping out in mass, even if only until the next bug fix comes out.

Apple has one off month and Ballmer(Microsoft) goes at it again. It was the first month in a while that Apple's Mac unit sales lost ground as a percentage vs. the Windows side of the equation... so Ballmer proclaimed that people were no longer to pay that premium just to have that Apple logo. This said more to suggest, it's just another computer and that logo was all you were paying for. I'll be interested to see just how March shaped up now that Apple has finally gotten its line up properly refreshed. Macs aren't just another PC. Even in the best of times, people wait for the latest and greatest if such is expected around the corner. In more challenging times, if such items are still on the to be acquired list - no different. In any event - even the MacBook 17" introduced at Macworld didn't start shipping till the last week of February. New iMacs, Mac Pros, and especially Mac mini had been expected at Macworld Expo. As they were not released at the January show, plenty of people continued waiting until they would be. Forget a staggered roll out, they rolled them all out on March 3rd. If the kind of upgrades we're now shipping in mass is any indication, there had been quite a large number of patient people just waiting for that day.

Intro Closing:
I really should have covered a lot more in this edition. A lot happens in three months. The solution is to get our next newsletter out with the latest yet ahead as well as additional coverage past - in a bit shorter time. Lost time that needs to be made up, get that average issue distribution back to par. It's not for any lack of effort, just various unplanned 'interruptions left many an incomplete start that just no longer worked when the time and energy was there to complete. FWIW, this is the first week in a couple months I feel back to normal and 'bug free' again - and the same with my wife and kids as well....

It's been quite a year for various 'bugs' and I do believe my family, I, and the OWC team at large have had our fair share of them recently. In general - it definitely seems that his season has been particularly on the nasty side. Should just make us all stronger. Although there is definitely benefit to my son attending preschool, I have no doubt that a good bit of what's done the family rounds had its source via that preschool germ factory. Class was out last week for spring break - I sure hope there's nothing new to be brought home with class now resumed.

And wow indeed.... The clocks have been reset (if your region does the Day Light Savings time bit) and the weather is warming, Spring is upon us. My kids do the love Winter and the snow though. We actually got several inches this past weekend and, well, we definitely had a blast making the best of that snow on Sunday.

When you get right on down to it - those little ones are what it's all about. All the cool technology in the world doesn't hold a candle to the blessing they are (despite some moments) day in and day out. The moments go so fast. Larry, my son, will be 4 in less than 3 months. Julia, my first daughter just turned 2. Devin, our youngest - she's already 8 months and is crawling. God willing, there will be another addition to the clan at some point. As much as I look forward to the day when all of them (Larry so far) are done with diapers - I suppose need be careful what one wishes for as the clock doesn't turn back. We live in amazing times and benefit from various innovations hardly believable a decade or so ago. Imaginable, but beyond imagination with respect to the extraordinary becoming just part of the ordinary in terms of daily lifestyle. That said, the things that actually matter transcend all of that - with or without all this ever evolving technology, family is where the heart is.

That's enough of that for now. Will be back real soon with the next round up. Always the best to you and yours and thanks for reading!

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