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OWC Tips n' Deals December 30th, 2009
In this issue:
Greetings from Snowy Woodstock & Happy New Year!
Yet another calendar year is about to conclude and, along with that, most businesses conclude another tax year as well. While it's been a difficult year for many businesses, should yours still be working on those last minute purchases for tax deductibility purposes, our team is here late today and tomorrow too to make sure your orders are processed for the 2009 year claim validity. We will be closed for New Year's Day, but our normal hours and 24/7 support will resume on Saturday, January 2nd, 2010. A Happy New Year with wishes for Health and Prosperity to you and yours from all of us at Other World Computing. I'd suspect many are looking well forward to a fresh new year and I hope 2010 brings all good that is sought. Have a Safe New Year's Eve and holiday weekend as well! Thanks for being with us in 2009 and, in little more than a day away, we're looking forward to the brand new year. Apple Tablet / Apple Event January 26th, 2010
It's official, at least officially leaked - by Apple... On January 26th, Apple has a special press event scheduled to introduce a new Apple Tablet product. Assuming the leaks are not a huge misdirection / disinformation campaign to distract from something else entirely unbelievable - Apple's second attempt at a successful Tablet product will soon be revealed. Second you say? The Apple Newton, first introduced nearly 17 Years ago, was the ahead of its time product that counts as the first. With respect to the success of the multi-touch iPhone and iPods - the new Apple Tablet, referred to as some as simply a super sized iPhone, I have every expectation will find more success than its predecessor. The rumors speculate screen size anywhere from 7" to 12" and even possibly two different display size models. Nothing I've seen gives any suggestion that there is pen support and certainly not pressure sensitivity. Such is good news for Axiotron (Modbook Tablet) and Wacom (Wacom tablets). A touch product is very different in application and use vs. pen digitizer based products, so you have a complimentary solution from Apple vs. one that competes with or even would obsolete these 3rd party solutions. Technically, when speaking of Tablet Macs - after the 26th you'll have both an Apple and an Axiotron option to address the applications of your need. :) The event is rumored also to put a focus on Apple's iTunes store and new deals for Network TV distribution via subscription. Currently, with iTunes, you pay for each show or movie you wish to watch. Rumor has it that that Apple is going to launch a subscription based service with on-demand access at a flat rate. For Christmas, some friends gave me a Blu-Ray player and a 1 year subscription to the $8.99 level of Netflix. I really enjoy the detail that Blu-Ray offers (more of Apple & Blu-Ray below...) - and was amazed by the awesome integration of Netflix, YouTube, BlockBuster, and Internet Radio on that same Blu-Ray player. Unlike Blockbuster (and Apple right now), Netflix gives you free access (included with even the basic, lowend subscription level) to a broad selection of movies and TV series via their on-demand internet accessible service. Not all the most recent, but I've enjoyed watching some 2007/08 shows that I'd wanted to and missed before - with just a quick click of of the controller and wirelessly in home to internet router. The way I see it - if Apple finally adds Blu-Ray support + subscription service, they'll have it all. Put a Mac mini with a Blu-Ray player next to your TV and you'll be able to enjoy the latest in hi-def, download from iTunes on demand, watch shows/movies on whatever Apple subscription available, and/or watch your on-demand from Netflix (Netflix supports viewing on Mac too), record HD 'over the air' local broadcasts (with EyeTV), you name it - a digital media solution at its best thanks to Apple's great OS and applications. Currently - you can do all that, including the iTunes store, on a Windows PC as Windows DOES and HAS LONG supported Blu-Ray playback.... I can only guess that Apple hoped to sway their own customers away from Blu-Ray... Let the customer decide and with the choice I think more will use Apple's product. I am looking forward to the 26th... Perhaps that's when they will announce Blu-Ray support, among the other things. Until they do, honestly, my recommendation is not for going with the Apple TV / Apple iTunes media solution. The event may also deliver some updates to the Macs as well. There are 12-core processors out there that could step up the Mac Pro another notch. The iMacs went to quad-core i5/i7, wouldn't be surprising to see quad-core MacBook Pro options come out. And.. Perhaps we'll see all the Macs have new Blu-Ray optical options too. It's way long overdue and if not now, perhaps never. Right now can read Blu-Ray discs, can burn Blu-Ray discs with the likes of Toast, can even burn standard playable Blu-Ray video discs using Toast.... But to play a Blu-Ray video on your Mac, need to switch over and boot into Windows. I'll now bite my tongue. One other general commentary is the overall direction seeing with Apple's products. Six years ago we had Macs that started under $1500 that had excellent expandability and upgradability options. Today you have to spend well over $2000 for a Mac Pro to keep your options open. USB 3.0 is looking incredibly promising and is already supported with Windows PCs. We expect to see that in several months (who knows, maybe a jan 26th surprise) on Macs.... And while it should cost under $40 to add USB3 to any Mac Pro Model as well as any MacBook Pro Model that is pre-June/2009, there is no option to add to other MacBooks, iMacs, or Mac minis. And - since June/2009 - the only Apple models with expansion slots are the Macbook Pro 17" and the Mac Pros. In the very least Apple could have maintained the Express34 slot on the MacBook Pros and should have had one on all the iMacs as well.... Even $400 PC Laptops have this basic slot. But, for all of you with an Apple model which has no expansion slot at all, if you want that USB3 Super Speed or whatever else crosses the horizon - the only way is to buy a whole new system. The iPhone and iPods are another interesting example. Although Apple moved to internal batteries on the Unibody Macbook/MacBook Pros over the past year - these are pretty easy to swap none the less. At the same time, with each new iPod generation and the iPhones, it's gotten far more difficult to replace something so simple as the battery and is now really a professional service job. We offer the service for under $60 and Apple charges well over $80 for this battery replacement.... How many people do you think that go to Apple for a battery instead upgrade to new iPhone for the $99 or $199 instead? Apple has made strides in green manufacturing and green packaging. In terms of their product strategy, it's all about green for their coffers IMHO. It's a push to see products as disposable and to shorten the new purchase upgrade cycle. I say this as an opinion and further suggest that Apple will get away with it as long as they can. Apple makes some of the best hardware and software on the planet.... At the same time, while the norm out there is for user accessible/swappable batteries and expansion slot support - Apple has clearly limited their customers for business gain. I hope Apple can go a different direction in the near future and not continue this business model element. At some point, customers may force the issue.... But the voices of dissent are very few with the focus on Apple's otherwise great and exceptional products we all do love and enjoy using. And... if nothing else, they'll be those new Apple items and updates to talk about at Macworld Expo in February... the first that doesn't have Apple participating. Apple Bumped the Mac Pro Quad-Core to 3.33GHz, We bump them to 32GB of Ram
As noted in our last newsletter, the Mac Pro now is available with a 3.33GHz Quad-Core Processor. Although we've supported all Quad-Core models to 16GB (and 8-Core Nehlem models to 32GB + all 2006-2008 mdoels to 32GB as well) since the 2009 models came out, Apple at the same time made 16GB support now official for all 2009 Quad-Cores. When 8GB was tops in March, we doubled with the first Mac Pro 2009 Quad-Core 16GB Kits.... and now... We're doubling it again having introduced and begun shipping the first 32GB kits (8GB x 4) for 2009 Quad-Core Mac Pro Models. Even if you don't need 32GB, by upgrading memory and/or hard drives with OWC - we can save you quite a bit vs. the factory, in addition to those options not even offered by the factory + with much longer standard warranty coverages too Reader Special Deals and Holiday Deal Highlights
As one of our readers, you can always find your 'special reserve' via the Reader Loyalty Specials page. Just by hitting this page or clicking to our site one of our newsletters 'secret encoded' links, it's all set up so you'll get the reader special pricing no matter how you come across the items via our site. In addition to your exclusive offers, we're also in the final days of the free holiday shipping and special item offers. In addition to OWC/NewerTech brand offers, substantial savings also negotiated with a wide variety of manufacturers allowing nearly 200 iteme to be featured with great savings through December 31st (or while supply lasts). We're in last days before these offers with our suppliers expire, so - might be worth a last lookover. :) First Notice: Well over 200 diffferent Clearance/Garage Sale items now listed, over 150 just added today! First come, first served - these deals typically go really quick: Quick Links
Online Installation Videos, PDF Docs, FAQ & more in OWC Tech Center: Check out our take on the latest Apple News, learn new Tips & Tricks with your Mac, give us your feedback 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.
FasterMac.Net - Great Prices for Great Mac Knowledgeable Internet Access & Solutions, nationwide For Fun and of Interest
Entertaining and effective - Apple's Get a Mac advertising campaign comes in #3 for best of Decade marketing. HP Computers accussed of racism!(tongue in cheek, but true defect/glitch). If you think your employer takes security seriously - you've not read about the Apple Gestapo
Happy New Year!
Thanks for listening and reading our newsletter in 2009 and looking forward to keeping them fresh and rolling in the 2010 year. Wishes for a safe, happy, healthy, and prosperous New Year's to you and yours! Sincerely, — OWC Larry Contact Information
Please feel free to e-mail any comments or suggestions to: suggestions@macsales.com You may ALWAYS reply to our OWC Tips and Deals e-mail at owc@macsales.com with any questions or comments as well - PLEASE change the subject to reflect your e-mail question/comment to ensure a speedy reply! The 'fine print'
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