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OWC Tips & Deals 07/2/2005
Intro: Happy 4th of July Weekend! As those of us in the US prepare to celebrate for the birth of our nation, I am proud to share news of the birth of my first son! My wife gave birth to 'little Larry' this past Sunday, June the 26th and I couldn't be more proud or happy. You know something like this is life changing, but until that moment - just no idea how much. Words could never fully express the joy. When I was a kid, have memories of my Dad being up early for the train and going with Mom to pick him up in the evening at the Woodstock train station. That changed when I was about six years old when he started his own business, but none the less - I really appreciate the balance that is possible today. When needed, working from home still lets the work get done while being there when you're needed. And in the first week or so after birth, it's more than just being there to help with diapers - it's a life changing event and just being there can be super important - especially in this day where both parents don't necessarily live close to family to have the help of that sort. Just wanted to share... And in that spirit of balance, will get on with our regularly scheduled 'programming. :) Cast your Vote! The names suggested have now been narrowed to a list of 10. We appreciate the suggestions and now hope you'll take a moment to cast your vote! With voting open since the 30th, have some early results with Pismo, Widget, and Lisa off to early leads in this run off. See the picture and cast your vote for the name to be given to this year's 'OWC' Working Class Dog. Processor Upgrades With change in the air, I personally think there is ever more incentive to consider upgrading vs. replacing. People are regularly blown away with the improvement to performance attainable with even the 'lower end'. Looking at our Mercury Extreme line of G4 Singles - from under $200 you can upgrade a G4/350MHz or faster PowerMac G4 to up to 1.5GHz and just taking 350 or 400MHz to 1GHz makes it a brand new machine! Now - to get a bit more speed - PowerLogix and OWC are teamed up to give the Power to Perform with the latest additions to the PowerForce47 G4 Single and Dual line. Starting from only $359 for G4/1.8GHz, get that PowerMac G4 AGP Graphics/Sawtooth, Gigabit Ethernet, Digital Audio, Quicksilver or G4 Cube right up to speed. These upgrades are easy to install, ever more economical for more MHz or GHz, and let you move ahead with all the software and hardware you've accumulated to this point. These upgrades not only work 100% with all the latest Apple OS versions (and even with OS 9.x too), but also enable compatibility with newer Apps to that require that extra speed a new processor upgrade delivers. What's more? The aforementioned OWC Mercury Extremes and PowerLogix PowerForce47s are both covered by a 3 year warranty backed by Other World Computing and come with a 30 Day 100% Money Back guarantee. Once you experience the 'New Mac' feel thesee upgrades create, there's no going back. Needless to say, few ever do come back. Take the OWC upgrade challenge! :) Special through July 15th - Use coupon Code 'POWERUP' to get $10 off ANY OWC or PowerLogix Single G4 or G3, $25 off any PowerLogix 7447 single or dual CPU Upgrade card. Just enter the coupon code when you check out or give to your sales rep when ordering by phone. Apple Intel vs. IBM - will be the hot topic for a long time to come. There is no debate when it comes to IBM _not_ delivering the G5(aka PPC970) 3.0GHz a year ago Jobs had originally promised for Summer 2004 at WWDC 2003. At the same time - current and future G5s for desktops and even Freescale/Motorla G4s for notebooks continue to provide better performance options compared to what Intel's got going. Further, it seems Apple could be shipping a G5 @ 3.0GHz right now. And while G5s no doubt are still going to get faster, IBM has also made it clear they could have gotten Apple into a mobile G5 within the not too distant future as well. Maybe this was a look right, dodge left move.... Processor performance concerns is a reason people will buy(or hold off buying for) - but, perhaps that's just a convenient justification cover with the real reason being a longer term strategic move with the end goal being to capture windows users first with something that can run windows, but also eventually transitioning to Mac as it will be so much easier porting existing 'Wintel' apps to the new 'MacTel' OS X platform vs. writing for PowerPC. Hmmm. Some additional material on the subject. Finally - looks like will have an Apple iTunes/Motorola/Cingular phone! When talk of an iTunes phone first started, didn't really think about the implications to the mobile service providers. Makes sense that a serious hurdle to the iTunes phones was getting that mobile carrier agreement in place. Opening their airwaves to Apple's iTunes basically replaces a revenue stream they could (or already do) have themselves. Seems the deal is now inked and should see phones in the not too distant future... Wonder if you'll be able to stream or better download as needed from home with one? Who knows, might have a reason to switch back to Cingular. :) Of Interest and/or for Fun: Jamie, OWC's product support guru, was on vacation for about two weeks last month. As with prior away time, he did not return empty handed. Armed with a Canon Rebel EOS 6.3MP camera, he's now back with a load of FANTASTIC photos now online for your viewing pleasure. From Mount Rushmore to the Quad Cities Air Show, from Buffalos to Prairie Dogs, The Oregon Trail to inside Jewel Cave - great quality photos you're sure to enjoy. :) Intro Closing: It's time for me to run. Still ahead is our Quick Tip 'rerun' on sharing those great photos from iPhoto, updated Reader Exclusive Specials, and new Music on the Mac by Roger Adler. Enjoy the Fireworks and have safe, enjoyable 4th of July! Brief Messages from our 'sponsors': Quick Links The clearance/bargain bin is always being updated with one of a kinds, trade-ins, open-box 'new' returns & more! First come, first served - these deals turn over fast! Why buy a new Mac, when a simple processor upgrade can make the Mac you have now like New again? Make an informed decision using OWC's exclusive Benchmark Reporting System that lets you compare the old, the upgraded and the 'new'. Use Apple OS 9.2.2 & Apple OS X on Macs Apple doesn't support because OWC does with OS 9 Helper and Xpostfacto! **Tiger support in Beta now!** Internet Access from FasterMac.Net, ISP just for Apple/Macs! 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 www.FasterMac.net Quick Tip: Shoot, iPhoto, Share Until you do it, it's all like magic... But if you're using iPhoto 4 or 5 and want to get those photos online - it's as easy as 1-2-3. Far more challenging to take the good photos you want than to post them afterwards. Last year Jamie put this illustrated quick tip together demonstrating the ease of use with iPhoto 4 while also noting the improvements from the prior iphoto 1/2 versions. Although iPhoto 5 is out, the steps to publish remain the same. Some of the product links are dated - but the information and advise that matters as on target today as when first put on line. Learn how easy it is, and, a bonus, more of Jamie's photo library is linked through this tip too. Enjoy! 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 the latest highlights. Processor Upgrades Deals From now and until July 15th - use coupon code 'POWERUP' and save $10 on any OWC Mercury Extreme G4 Upgrade, $10 on any PowerLogix Single G3 or G4 Processor Upgrade, or $25 on any PowerLogix 7447 Processor Upgrade! OWC Mercury Extreme G4 Upgrades for most PowerMac G4 Models 1.0GHz to 1.5GHz starting from $195, $185 after coupon code. PowerLogix G4 Upgrades for PowerMac G4s & G4 Cube 1.0GHz - $169 after coupon, 1.8GHz $334 after coupon PowerLogix G3 ZIF Upgrade, 1.0GHz for $209 after coupon PowerLogix G3/1.0GHz for 7300-9600 Macs, $219 after coupon FireWire Hot Deals Compucable 3.5" FireWire+USB2 Combo Kit for up to 128GB Drives - $29.00 Century USB 2.0/1.1 Kits for 2.5"/3.5"/5.25" Hard Drives $15.99-$19.99 OWC Mercury Elite Oxford911+ 3.5" FireWire 400 Enclosure Kit - $65.00 ADS Pyro FireWire 400 Enclosure Kit Retail Box w/Speedtools, Cables $39.00 ADS Pyro FireWire 800 Enclosure Kit Retail Box w/Speedtools, Cables $75.00 **NEW** OWC Mercury Elite-Aluminum 250GB 7200RPM 8MB Solution - $229.00 **NEW** 500GB 7200RPM OWC Mercury Elite-Aluminum Dual Drive FW800 RAID - $399.00 See the full line online. Video Cards make everything faster! ATI Radeon 9600 Apple OEM w/64MB VRAM - $99 for G5, $119 for _some_ G4s **Supply is running short on this special 9600 video card deal!** ATI Radeon 9800 Apple OEM w/128MB VRAM - $199.00 for G5s Only LIMITED SUPPLY SPECIAL! ATI Radeon 9800 Special Mac Edition with 256MB for G5 Only $279.00 Full Retail Version - Special Purchase, Special Price Visit our Video Card Section with all the AGP and PCI Video card options. Internal Hard Drive Deals For PowerBooks & iBooks: 80GB 5400RPM 8MB Buffer Hitachi 5K800 Notebook HD $139.99 100GB 5400RPM 8MB Buffer Toshiba 2.5" w/16MB Buffer $195.00 For PowerMac G3/G4, iMac G4, eMac G4:* 400GB 7200RPM 8MB Buffer Hitachi 7K400 3.5" ATA/6 HD $279.00 300GB 7200RPM 8MB Buffer Seagate 7200.8 3.5" ATA/6 HD $185.00 250GB 7200RPM 8MB Buffer Seagate 7200.8 3.5" ATA/6 HD $129.00 *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 $279.00 300GB 7200RPM 8MB Buffer Seagate 7200.8 3.5" SATA/150 $190.00 Memory Specials & Price Trend Report: July 2nd, 2005: Most indications now supports a rise in memory prices - but it's not really happened. Honestly - right now things look like they will likely just coast along for the next few weeks without any substantial upward move. The best time to buy memory is when you need it. Even if prices go up, it's still worth it then... And buying before you need it can be wasteful for other reasons even if prices do go up. No matter what - memory is one of the best dollar for dollar investments you can make to improve system performance - most especially so if you are starting from 512MB or less to begin with. For all PowerMac G5 Models, iMac G5: 1GB Matched Pair (2x512MB) PC3200 DDR 184 Pin - $95.00 2GB Matched Pair (2x1GB) PC3200 DDR 184 Pin - 199.00 1GB PC3200 DDR Module for iMac G5 Only (PowerMac G5 requires Pairs!) $109.99 For iMac G5, PowerMac G4 Mirrored Drive Door, Mac mini, eMac G4 1.25GHz: 512MB PC3200/2700/2100 184 Pin DDR DIM Module now $48.00 For Mac Mini, eMac G4/1.25-1.4GHz, and eMac 1.0GHz 'Education Model': 1GB(1 x 1024MB) PC2700 DDR 184 Pin Module - $99.00 For All PowerBook G4 'Aluminum' 12/15/17"; iBook G4; iMac G4/1.0 & 1.25GHz: 512MB PC2700/2100 DDR SO-DIMM 200 Pin Module - $50.00 1GB PC2700/2100 DDR SO-DIMM 200 Pin Module - $129.00 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 - $29.00 512MB PC133 CL3/PC100 CL2 168 Pin SDRam DIMM Module - $79.00 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. Apple OS X Deals Apple's OS X 'Tiger' 10.4 Retail Box Version for $99, or Get the full Apple Panther 10.3.x DVD Installation Set for just $49.00 ProSoft Drive Genius Special ProSoft Drive Genius is the superior utility that Optimizes, Diagnoses, Scans, Clones, Rebuilds, Partitions your storage device & more! **Just reviewed in MacAddict July/2005 Issue 'AWESOME 5 out of 5'** Normal Retail - $99. OWC Exclusive, get Drive Genius for just $65.00! If your upgrading to Tiger - order Drive Genius and Apple's new OS X 10.4 Tiger on the same order to save an extra $10 using coupon code 'GENIUS4' at checkout! Cut the Cord, Wireless = Freedom Great deal in on Logitech's awesome 'Click' RF Wireless 3 Button w/scroll wheel Optical Mouse. Reader Special Price - $23.00. Compatible with any Mac or PC with an available USB Port - Plug & Play. Also available - Logitech USB Wireless Keyboard with Mouse(not optical..) combo for $24.99 SuperDrive Upgrades to Read & Write DVDs/CDs Fast 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 - $59.99 Pioneer DVR-109D/BK 16X DVD SuperDrives with Dual Layer(8.5GB) - $67.99 For an even better deal, choose from one of the four 'Value Bundle' offers Get up to 8X Burn Speeds for Mac mini, PowerBook G4, iMac G5, Cube G4 from $149.95 Plug & Play External Superdrives with up to 16X DVD Burn Speeds with OWC FireWire & USB2 Solutions which include all cables, Media, burning software and Dantz Retrospect Backup 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, $287 for Readers And... another $30 Rebate from now till June 30th makes the net just $257.00! 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 - $119.00 Import Audio/Video & Playback through with plug & play FireWire device - ADS Pyro A/V FireWire Device for most any A/V Source - $149.00 FM Transmitters for iPod, etc - That Work! Forget about complicated products that often don't even sound good, the NewerTech RoadTrip! Models are simple plug and play solutions with CLEAN, CLEAR, Great sounding dynamic Stereo sound at a great price too! Original NewerTech RoadTrip! 87.9MHz or 107.7MHZ version - $14.99 Listen to Apple iPod, PowerBook, iBook-anything with a headphone jack. NEW NewerTech RoadTrip!+ FM Transmitter and iPod Charger - $27.95 For all iPods with a Dock Connector - 3G, 4G, Photo & mini Get any 'iPodLounge Recommended Buy' RoadTrip! model along with one of NewerTech's iPod High-Capacity Replacement Batteries and save up to $10 with coupon code 'HIGHROAD'. Be sure to use it at check out to save $10 with the 2100mAh 1st/2nd Gen battery or save $5 with any other NewerTech iPod battery. PowerBook & iBook Batteries that run longer, last longer! NewerTech iBook and PowerBook batteries are the longest lasting, longest running standard type batteries you can buy! Built in the USA using only the very best cells from Japan and Canada, these batteries are built to last. Apple just did a recall of 128,000 of their own batteries, which are built overseas - maybe even more reason to consider NewerTech! NewerTech NuPower batteries, with up to 50% more capacity vs. Apple's original stock, are available for iBook G3 & G4, PowerBook G3s WallStreet/Lombard/FireWire models, and all PowerBook G4 Models. You'll find more great deals, updated regularly on your Tips 'n Deals Reader Specials Page, check it out! Music on the Mac 7/2/2005 - Key Rig for Live Variety Greetings from www.macsales.com/music Imagine being able to have all your keyboard sounds for live use in one easy to use virtual rack for under $100. M-Audio has done it again with their new "Key Rig" software. This virtual rack of 4 sound modules covers all the basic categories that most keyboard players use in a live setting. (and it certainly can be used in a studio setting too) There are 4 modules. Module SP-1 covers piano sounds, from grands, Rhodes, Wurlitzers to clavinet...it's all there. These are great sounding recreations of the classic sounds of the last 50 years. In a word - "authentic" Module MS-2 is a polyphonic Synth with presets that can be easily tweaked, customized and saved as new presets. Of course, the Master/Midi section of the software lets you assign midi channel numbers to sounds and you can layer and split sounds easily too! A typical way you might use this capability is to have a bass sound on the lower half of your keyboard (perhaps upright bass) and then have a Hammond organ and Rhodes piano layered on the top half...play some "walking bass" with your left hand while comping or soloing with your right. Keyboard players do this all the time but with this software it's a snap to select a previously created preset and JAM! Module MB-3 is the aforementioned Hammond organ with Leslie speaker sound that is absolutely required by any keyboard player playing contemporary music. The "electro mechanical" sound of this combination is often emulated and this one sounds just like the original (but weighs hundreds of pounds less! ) It even lets you add "tube overdrive" for a real rock&roll distortion sound-this is one "screamin B3" The fourth module is called GM-4. As you might guess, this is a General Midi module that delivers 128 GM sounds and a General Midi drum kit. These sounds are mapped to industry standard categories and GM compatible standard midi files play easily from your host sequencer. You can use this general assortment of instrument sounds to help create your own backing tracks too! In depth info on General Midi is available here. This versatile software works Stand-alone with your computer or with a midi sequencer such as Logic, Pro Tools, Ableton Live and Cubase. I can see that it would be very easy to take your laptop and a mid sized keyboard like a M-Audio Keystation 49e, along with this software to a gig and have all your "sounds" covered. ( this is also a very light weight option that is easy on your back) A keyboard player I work with is looking forward to using this on our frequent out of town gigs. He can just take his laptop (which he brings already anyway) and use a midi keyboard provided in each city. Key Rig is a unique product who's time has come and it sounds great too! Check it out - you can now subscribe to my new 'PodCast' "Rock Your Computer". Check out 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! And... Check out Roger's Commercial CD Album at www.thegaragealbum.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. 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: As I've often remarked or otherwise implied - change is a good thing. And for my wife and I, we're just at the beginning of a road that sure to be anything but dull. It's not to say that life wasn't exciting before, but it's certainly at a whole new level with the 'baby on board'. It's still at that surreal point right now. Like my wife said - they let us take him home, he's ours. Strange comment you say given that she was the one that gave birth (and I was there too)? It's seems unreal - like a really great dream you don't want to wake from... But you know it's for real, and the baby does his part by waking you and/or keeping you away from sleep just to sure. Words just can't express. Many of you reading this are parents, no doubt, so been there and done that. Anyway.... :) Thanks being a subscriber and reading more than just the deals section. Hope you and yours have a safe and most enjoyable 4th of July. Thanks again! :) :) 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 |