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OWC Tips & Deals 03/24/2005
Intro: Hello again from your pals at Other World Computing! It's officially Spring - but you'd not know that in our neck of the woods. We've had more snow and colder days on average this month than we did in February. It's supposed to be up in the fifties this weekend, that'll be really nice. Perhaps the 'Spring' module will now start working to advertised spec. :) El Gato Rebates: The EyeTV 200 tuner/recorder/playback/editing FireWire device has been very popular this year. When we recently sold out of our reader special on this item, many readers e-mailed about where it went. Well, got a new special! Normally $309, Reader Special now $259 after a $30 ElGato Rebate. The high-definition version, the EyeTV 500 is now available for $297.95 after a $50 Rebate. OWC: Our award winning Mercury On-The-Go 2.5" FireWire/FireWire+USB portable line just got better pricing. 40GB 5400RPM now starts from $139.97. Price drops of $10 on select 60GB and 80GB models. The 100GB 5400RPM is now available from $299.97. On-The-Gos are high performance portable solutions that weigh less than 12 ounces and include all cables, Dantz Retrospect Backup, Intech HD Speedtools + a 1yr Warranty. Got a limited quantity deal on Apple Superdrives. These are the same as the DVR-106 Apple Genuine units we offer from $75, except they are 'New' System Pulls for just $65.99 and come with a 90 Day Warranty. Featured in our Hot Deals Blast yesterday, already over 1/3rd of them are gone. The non-System Pull New Apple DVR-106 for $75 is well stocked and it, along with our full Superdrive line including up to 16X DVD Burners can be perused via in our SuperDrive 'Upgrade Center'. Our NewerTech line of PowerBoook/iBook/iPod batteries now includes offerings with up to 29% more capacity vs. original for iBook 14" models, and up to 21% more capacity for Powerbook G4 17" Models. Powerbook G4 12" coming soon. Once the 12" model ships, that have it covered for every PowerBook and iBook model made within the past 7 Years! And better than new with the longest lasting batteries you can get. Also... The Battery page now features a super easy Battery Selector pull down. Can click on your 'Books picture or just pull down and see the batteries. PowerLogix Upgrades: Things are really starting to roll with our PowerLogix product line. It's been far more time consuming than anticipated to get the production lines going, but at last product is starting to come into good supply. The FIRST Dual G4 Upgrade for Cube G4 Models is now shipping for $639.99. This is the fastest upgrade you can currently purchase for a Cube and the only upgrade to feature the PowerLogix VRM Bypass Technology that utilizes onboard power supplies which provide clean power to the processors while reducing the load on the Apple VRM. Both the Single and Dual 7457 Cube Models run cooler than many single 7455 solutions. Shipping and in good supply are various model Single and some Dual processor PowerMac G4 AGP upgrade options. Available from $189.99 for 1.0GHz - up to Dual 1.4GHz offered, these 7455, 7457 upgrades are rock solid performers at for a competitive price. For 'Legacy' PCI PowerMac 73/75/76/85/86/95/9600 and certain Clone models, the PowerLogix PowerForce PCI G3/1GHz is now in good supply and for $239.99 is a fantastic upgrade option that lets those Legacy Macs run OS 8.6/9.X applications at warp speed + run OS X via Xpostfacto respectably as well! Zipping right along too are the ZIF G3 Upgrades up to 1.1GHz for PowerMac G3 Biege, G3 Blue & White, & G4 'Yikes' PCI Models. Priced right from $259.95, these G3s with their 1MB 1:1 On Chip L2 outperform the Sonnet G4/700 & 800MHZ ZIF models + match up with their much more expensive 1.0GHz G4 ZIF too. They also use less power and are cooler running too. We are incredibly excited to be putting PowerLogix back into gear. Excellent engineering talent producing leading designs - and now, in OWC, they've got a partner to see all that carries through in the final product as well. We further fully back and stand behind the PowerLogix 2 Year Warranty as well. Apple: Just last week read an analyst's report that was very bullish on Apple. The expectations are for Apple's Computer market share to bump up to 5% from what has been just a 3% share. Much of this gain is being attributed Windows users who are converting after their positive iPod experiences. Not surprising then that Apple is now soliciting for stories from these new iPod then Apple 'switchers'. Wonder when the wireless generation of iPods will appear? Apple not only has hired people with specialized wireless engineering skills, they also own at least one patent regarding the wireless exchange/handling of audio/video media. This is cool - a library has piloted a program for patrons to check out 'books on tape' on the iPod Shuffle instead! The MP3 Books are not only cheaper than their CD/Tape counterparts - they are also not subject to the degradation the CD/Tape products experience. **Humor** Microsoft plans to hit back with reasons why not to buy an Apple iPod. A correction to my slight 'rant' in the last newsletter about Apple's cannibalization of their own dealers.. The discount Apple provides to Students is not a flat 10%, but rather varies depending on the item. I found anywhere from 7% to 12% educational discount savings on iPod, iBook, PowerMac, iMac, and PowerBook models I checked. You only get this discount at an Apple Store with a valid Student or Teacher ID presented. Via the online store, you need only agree to their terms and advise the College or University is being attended. This discount does hurt Apple's Authorized resellers that in would have to sell below cost to match some of the prices the discount provides. It's all about Apple, Apple Direct that is... DDR Memory prices go even lower: We are now officially at an all time low for the cost of DDR memory upgrade modules. Upgrading the various DDR using G4 models, all PowerMac & iMac G5s, PowerBook G4 Aluminums, iBook G4s, and Mac minis is about as cheap as it can get. We've now got 1GB Upgrade Sets for $99.99 - 1GB, 1024MBs for under $100. One of two things happens when memory falls this low.... Either it rebounds back up or it slides lower yet. As low as the 512MB modules are right now though, very little room to drop much more. At current prices they're not covering the true cost of for operation to produce the product. Now, with all of that said, please don't yell at us if you buy now and prices drop further yet, or, you don't buy now and find prices higher later. :) Fun and/or of Interest: We all know Apple products are insanely great, and for some insanely great laughs, we direct you to Crazy Apple Rumors. :) Think today's MegaPixel digital cameras are impressive - check out the GIGAPXL Camera! Seems Macworld Expo 2005 was a great success with attendance up a solid 11% vs. 2004. 11% isn't bad - but I can't believe it wasn't more. 2005 was jam packed all four days with lines of people registering ever day too. Makes it hard to believe the 2005 numbers weren't higher or wondering if the 2004 numbers really were lower. Regardless, MW SF2005 was a huge success. Intro Closing: So there's some to get you going. Hope you'll read on to check out the 'Butler' Quick Tip by OWC's M. Chris Stevens, new updated Reader Exclusive Specials, and the latest Music on the Mac by Roger Adler. Hope this Easter Weekend finds you and yours well! Thanks for being an OWC Tips n' Deals subscriber. Brief Messages from our 'sponsors': Quick Links Just what do we do with Trade Ins, Open Box, discontinued items, etc? That's what our 'Bargains' page is for! First Come, First Served. A better Apple/Macintosh ISP at a better price - FasterMac.Net From $8 a month, get nationwide dial up or DSL just for Mac Users - that includes 24/7 1-800 support, anti-virus blocking, powerfully effective and fully customizable anti-spam tools, web space, 5 e-mail accounts, and more. You get more and pay less with FasterMac.Net. Upgrade the Mac you have or get a new one? OWC's exclusive Benchmark Reporting System helps you answer your own question. Compare various stock Macs vs. New Macs vs. Upgrades - you pick the Macs to compare and from up to 15 different tests we've completed. Use Apple OS 9.2.2 & Apple OS X on Macs Apple doesn't support because OWC does with OS 9 Helper and Xpostfacto! Quick Tip: Personal 'Butler' for OS X As great as Apple's OS X can be, there are still plenty of things that should be easier to do with it. Functions that take what feel like to many steps, etc. Also - everyone probably has some repetitive task to do which would be so nice to automate the keystrokes, etc. of. The ever Mac Faithful M. Chris Stevens, a tech may have helped you out if you ever called or e-mailed us for support, has put together a great piece on the appropriately named 'Butler' shareware application. It's what he also refers to as the 'Swiss Army Knife' of applications that will have you wondering 'how you ever got along without it'. And when you start wondering that, remember to to pay the dues to the ShareWare author that made it happen. Neither OWC, nor its employees, nor relatives of its employees(I suppose at some level we're all related) are affiliated with or receive(or have received) compensation from the author of the application featured in this Quick Tip. See past Quick Tip topics online in the Quick Tip Archive Great Buys and Featured Exclusive Specials for OWC E-Mail Subscribers: Find all the deals reserved just for Readers on your Tips n' Deals Exclusive Specials Page. What follows next is just a sampling of this week's highlights. Memory Specials & Price Trend Report: 3/24/2005 update: DDR Memory is at an all time low today. Just when we thought it wouldn't go lower, it did - and significantly in just the last 24 hours after being relatively stable for the prior week. If history repeats itself, we're near or at bottom which means prices are likely to head up. Or - is it a new market where memory will just keep on falling, a commodity no more? I do know that the current prices don't do much to cover the real cost of this product - the multi-billion dollar plants that make this memory. Memory is always a bargain for the added performance it can make in your system - right now DDR memory is the best bargain in history. For iMac G5, PowerMac G4 Mirrored Drive Door, Mac mini, eMac G4 1.25GHz: 512MB PC3200/2700/2100 184 Pin DDR DIM Module now $54.50 For Mac Mini & eMac G4/1.25GHz, eMac 1.0GHz 'Education Model': 1GB(1 x 1024MB) PC2700 DDR 184 Pin Module - $139.00 For all PowerMac G5 Models, iMac G5: 1GB Matched Pair (2x512MB) PC3200 DDR 184 Pin - $99.99 2GB Matched Pair (2x1GB) PC3200 DDR 184 Pin - 299.00 For PowerBook G4 'Aluminum' 15"/17" Models, iBook G4, iMac G4 1.0GHz+: 512MB PC2700/2100 DDR SO-DIMM 200 Pin Module - $67.50 1GB PC2700/2100 DDR SO-DIMM 200 Pin Module - $195.00 *also for all 12" AL PowerBook* SPECIAL - For PowerBook G4 Aluminum 12/15/17" - 1.5GHz & 1.67GHz, iBook G4 1.2/1.33GHz ONLY! 1GB PC2700/2100 DDR SO-DIMM 200 Pin Module - $179.00 For PowerMac G4 Sawtooth/AGP Graphics, Gigabit Ethernet, Digital Audio, QuickSilver; eMac G4; iMac G3 350-700MHz Models: 256MB PC133 CL3/PC100 CL2 168 Pin SDRam DIMM Module - $35.00 512MB PC133 CL3/PC100 CL2 168 Pin SDRam DIMM Module - $79.00 For PowerMac G3 'Beige', G3 Blue & White, G4 'Yikes' PCI Models: 256MB PC100 CL2/PC66 168 Pin SDRam DIMM Module - $25.00 Visit our Mac Memory Section to browse the full selection of memory we offer and/or use our online memory guide to get the right memory for the Mac(s) you have. Internal Hard Drive Deals For PowerBooks & iBooks: 80GB 5400RPM 8MB Buffer Hitachi 5K800 Notebook HD $149.00 100GB 5400RPM 8MB Buffer Seagate Momentus Notebook HD $225.00 For PowerMac G3/G4, iMac G4, eMac G4:* 400GB 7200RPM 8MB Buffer Hitachi 7K400 3.5" ATA/6 HD $299.00 300GB 7200RPM 8MB Buffer Seagate 7200.8 3.5" ATA/6 HD $219.00 *Speedtools HiCap Software or PCI ATA Contoller needed for Pre-2002 models. For PowerMac G5, iMac G5: 400GB 7200RPM 8MB Buffer Hitachi 7K400 3.5" SATA/150 HD $309.00 300GB 7200RPM 8MB Buffer Seagate 7200.8 3.5" SATA/150 $225.00 Get a Faster Superdrive for Reading/Writing DVDs & CDs Put a new SuperDrive in your Mac, or replace one you already have with something faster! Burn DVDs & CDs with Apple's iDVD, iPhoto, iTunes Internal for For G3/G4/G5 PowerMac, eMac G4, iMac G4 Models: Apple Genuine DVR-106 4X DVD Superdrives - $75.00 Pioneer DVR-A07XLA 8X DVD Superdrives - $77.99 Pioneer DVR-109D/BK 16X DVD SuperDrives with Dual Layer(8.5GB) - $82.99 Special Value Bundles with Software & Media available from links above too! Get up to 8X Burn Speeds for Mac mini, PowerBook G4, iMac G5, Cube G4 from $159.95 Plug and Play FireWire/USB2 External for up to 16X DVD Burn Speeds too - From $129.99! El Gato Eye200 TV/DVR Deal Watch TV, Digitally Record, Edit, and playback at will - all on your Mac with this great FireWire Solution! Normally $309.00, $289 for Readers And... another $30 Rebate from now till June makes the net just $259.00! Watch TV, Digitally Record, Edit, and Playback with an internal PCI Card. Compatible with PowerMac G4 and G5, Miglia Alchemy TV DVR, with remote control - $125.00 Import Audio/Video & Playback through with plug & play FireWire device - ADS Pyro A/V FireWire Device for most any A/V Source - $149.00 FireWire Hot Deals 60GB 4200RPM OWC Mercury On-The-Go, Reader Special $150.00 80GB 7200RPM OWC Neptune FireWire 400 Solution, Special $109.00 200GB 7200RPM OWC Mercury Elite 800 Pro 800/400 Solution, Special $225.00 OWC Mercury Elite Oxford911+ 3.5" FireWire 400 Enclosure Kit - $65.00 Upgrade to the latest Apple Cat - OS X Panther 10.3.x for just $49.00! Get the full Apple Panther 10.3.x DVD Installation Set for just $49.00 Save $10 when you purchase this Panther DVD Set and any model OWC Mercury Extreme G4. Checkout online or give your rep coupon code 'EXTREME103' Processor Upgrades Mercury G4 Extreme for all PowerMac G4 AGP Graphics/Sawtooth, Gigabit Ethernet, Digital Audio, and Quicksilver models. 30 Day Money Back + 3 Year OWC Warranty Extreme @ 1.2GHz, $289.00 Extreme @ 1.4GHz, $379.00 Extreme @ 1.5GHz, $439.00 PowerLogix PowerForce55 G4 Upgrade for all PowerMac G4 AGP Graphics/Sawtooth & Gigabit Ethernet Models. Reliable, low cost speed bump with 2 Year PowerLogix/OWC Warranty + 30 Day Money Back! PF55 @ 1.0GHz, $189.00 Video Card Deals The best prices ever are now available for ATI 9000/9200/9600/9800/x800 MacEdition Video Cards. The full line is now in stock and starting from $99.00. Listen to your iPod on the Road from $9.99 NewerTech RoadTrip! FM Transmitter really works - and works GREAT. Doesn't cost a lot, but it delivers clean, dynamic audio that smokes products costing 3-5 times as much! Instead of lowering the price, we might have been better to increase it - as a lot of you have a hard time believing something so cheap really works. Well, it really works! RoadTrip! FM 87.9MHZ and 107.7MHz in stock for $14.99 While they last - Discontinued RoadTrip! FM 87.7MHz is $9.99 You can still save when you purchase any RoadTrip FM! and one of our NewerTech Batteries using coupon code 'HighRoad' too. Save $5 with purchase of 3G 850mAh or 1G/2G 1800mAh, $10 with 1G/2G 2100mAh. Power Up your iPod, PowerBook, or iBook with NuPower! NewerTech internal battery for 1st and 2nd Generation Apple iPods: 1800mAh version, 46% more capacity - $29.95; 2100mAh for over 70% more $39.95 NewerTech internal battery for 3rd Generation Apple iPods: 850mAh version with over 30% More capacity vs. Apple's - $25.99 From $119.99, check out the longest lasting NuPower Batteries by Newertech four your PowerBook or iBook too! As much as 50% more capacity vs. others. You'll find more great deals, updated regularly on your Tips 'n Deals Reader Specials Page, check it out! Music on the Mac 3/24 - iGuitar Keeps Rocking Greetings from www.macsales.com/music We now have our first selection of Brian Moore Guitars iGuitars in stock. We are excited to bring these fine instruments to you at very affordable prices. These guitars were mentioned in these pages several weeks ago and I would just like to highlight their features here now that they are ready to roll (or is it rock&roll)! They are beautiful guitars with mahogany bodies with maple tops. This combination of woods is similar to the combination used on the ever popular Gibson Les Paul. This gives the player "phat tone" but with added clarity from the maple top. This is a time tested approach that sounds fantastic. The built-in RMC piezo bridge pickup is an additional output that gives you an "acoustic guitar" sound and, of course, the 13 pin midi output can be plugged into your computer via a Roland GI-20 13pin midi/USB interface (sold separately). There are many innovative touches in the design of this guitar, from the arched, contoured body to the input jack location. These are fine guitars and I endorse and play them proudly myself. I urge you to visit our site and view and listen to these guitars there. I am sure you will want one when you hear what it can do. It's time for guitar players to stake their place in the digital audio revolution and the iGuitar is your express ticket. I have received some requests from as far away as the Netherlands for an outline of how I used all of the features of the iGuitar to record my CD. Let me detail it here for you. It is helpful to think of the iGuitar as several different tools in one package. It is a conventional (and incredible) guitar with "magnetic" pickups like on any electric guitar. You can use it plugged into your computer via an audio interface with "instrument" input to record your guitar parts. It is well suited to use with the guitar amp simulations found in GarageBand! Additionally, there is a separate output for the signal that comes from the built-in RMC piezo bridge pickup. This signal can also be recorded via input into an audio interface and yields a very useable "acoustic" guitar tone! The third stream of sound coming from the guitar is from the 13pin midi output. To use this signal, you need to plug from the guitar midi output into a Roland GI-20 13pin midi/USB interface (sold separately-about $250). This signal can "play" all of the virtual instrument sounds that come with GarageBand and many other applications such as Reason. Imagine being able to play drums, bass, piano, strings, organ, synth...all from your guitar! I used these capabilities extensively on my "thegaragealbum" CD released in January at MacWorld Expo. I urge you to visit thegragealbum.com to hear sample clips of my efforts. I also suggest you buy the CD and then download the GarageBand tracks for the songs so you can see and learn from my efforts as far as sounds, effects, instruments used, special mixing techniques used, etc. I used an OWC processor upgrade , RAM and FireWire drive too in order to get the most out of GarageBand. Amazing power in a portable creative platform...technology can be great!! I am proud of the results and hope you will be entertained and enlightened too! A big thank you to all of the people who showed up at Apple NMA last Wednesday night for their enthusiasm for my presentation and my CD! Please mark your calendars for Sunday April 3 (this is a change of date-please note). I will be doing more in my series of monthly presentations at the Apple North Michigan Avenue store in Chicago on GarageBand, the iGuitar, my CD made with GarageBand called "the garage album" and more. I will be on the John Lennon Educational Tour Bus there on Sunday April 3rd! The bus is a rolling recording studio and very cool. My CD is available at thegragealbum.com where you can also download the GarageBand tracks for each song and find out about the fantastic OWC Mercury Extreme Firewire drive, OWC Processor upgrade and OWC RAM used when creating the album. We encourage you to visit our Mac Music/Audio Forum for all your musical needs and to share your questions and info with all! Also, visit our website to view all of Roger's other OWC Music on the Mac articles online! About our Music Guru: Roger Adler is a 4 time EMMY nominated composer/producer/performer. You may have heard his music in his role as Music Director for the A&E TV Series "The BEST of COMIC RELIEF" starring Robin Williams, Billy Crystal and Whoopi Goldberg. He also appeared in and played on the soundtrack for the hit movie "GROUNDHOG DAY" starring Bill Murray and Andi MacDowell. He is the Music Director for the popular TV Series "WILD CHICAGO" now in it's 15th season on WTTW in Chicago. In 2001, he traveled to Antwerp, Belgium to produce and perform in the annual meeting for Philips Electronics. He recently composed and performed two TV commercials for WRANGLER JEANS, currently airing on ESPN. Closing: March has been a very productive month! The multitude of projects that we started in January and February are actually getting done and that's a great feeling. Makes it a lot of fun to be here at OWC, and having a lot of fun at home too. Preparing for our own 'next generation' there. Our future son's room has been painted, got the furniture together - just about keeping up getting things checked off the to do list as more items get added on. But you know, the joy of seeing the fruits of those labors make it easy to keep going right down that never ending list. Life would be dull if there was nothing left to do. Between OWC and what's 'cooking in the oven' due this July, I for one know the next few months and until well beyond, should be anything but. :) We've got things moving well on all fronts and looking forward with you to the rest of what ought be an interesting 2005. Thanks for being a Tips n' Deals Subscriber and hope you have a Great Easter Weekend We Support our Troops The 'fine print': Contact Information+ ++++++++++++++++++++ Sales: sales@macsales.com or 800-275-4576, International 815-338-8685 Customer Service: custserv@macsales.com or 800-275-4576 / 815-338-8685 Tech Support: Online Tech Center or 815-338-8685 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! Other World Computing div. of New Concepts Development Corp. 1004 Courtaulds Drive Woodstock, IL 60098 815-338-8685 This is an free subscribed E-Mail Newsletter that can be joined via or website. This e-mail is only received if you have joined our list. Notification is e-mailed to your address when you join as well as if you choose to cancel, which you may do at anytime, no hard feelings. :) To change, remove, or add an e-mail address for our newsletter, you can visit our online subscriber page anytime. If you'd just like to unsubscribe, that can also quickly be done with the link at the end of this e-mail. Prices & availability subject to change without notice. New specials go up and old specials updated everyday. We Apologize for typographical errors. This e-mail may be freely distributed in its original form, complete and without any modification, alteration, insertion, or anything else that would make this different from the original intent. If you would like to 'reprint' just a portion you may make a request by e-mail to: larry@macsales.com. All Rights Reserved, Copyright 2000-2005, Other World Computing - Since 1988 |