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OWC Tips & Deals 10/14/2004
Intro: Hello again from your friends in Woodstock. Summer seems like yesterday, and the weather yesterday was more like Summer. But with the holidays nearly upon us and the schools well into session, there's no question that we're well on our way towards Winter. How quickly this year has been going too or so it seems now. It seems to have started out slower, but it's at a breakneck speed now. Time is a constant, but the feeling is pretty real and with possible reason. Since June 22nd, our days in the Northern hemisphere have been growing shorter and shorter and will continue to do so until we hit December 21st, the shortest day of the year. And then, starting with December 22nd, the number of daylight hours starts to grow till we hit the longest day of the year, June 21st. Especially during the holiday season, when it seems like there just isn't enough time in the day, well - there probably isn't. But for that which matters, that time should always be made. And talk about timing... Last week, the rumor mill was alive talking about future iPods probably having a FM tuner for listening to the radio as well as your own stored tunes. This feature expectation derived from a certain employment ad that Apple requiring a skill set fitting this just right. FWIW, that tuner feature is the most requested by iPod users after a longer running battery. We've done our part with the longest running iPod Batteries (up to over 20 hours run time in fact) and it's good that Apple is listening when it comes to the apparent tuner feature to be added. Seems too that Virgin Electronics, who has just announced what would be an iPod Mini like device, pays attention to iPod user requests too. Their device, with 25% more storage than the current iPod Mini, already has that tuner feature incorporated and for the same $249 Apple gets ya for. Of course, you're not going to beat the refined design and ease of operation that the iPods have + rumors are now flying too of an upcoming 60GB iPod model with color screen and capabilities beyond just playing music. The evolution of the revolution continues. This is good, very good, seeing that a 'six-fold increase' in iPod unit sales helped bring Apple one of its best quarters in a long time with income beating the analyst's expectations by a good 50%. It's kinda ironic that Apple, with less than 5% of the Computer market, has been able to capture a solid 65% market share for portable music players - as a part, accountable for a huge 92% share of players sold with a hard drive. Actual Apple CPU sales weren't too spectacular, but a big part of that had to do with things like the iMac and high end G5s just not being available to ship. Apple is still a computer company and you watch those iPods stealth in and get Apple back some computer market share too. It did take a couple months to get here, but our PowerMac G5 Dual 2.5GHz did arrive and now we've had the time to get the tests run and results posted! Very snappy, but only 10-15% faster than the Dual 2.0GHz G5 despite having 25% faster processors. And talk about a cooling system, our friend and customer Bill Noll sent us a link to some great pictures of just that. You always pay more to be on the bleeding edge which is why we hope our Benchmarks Reporting System in general is there to help you decide what's right for your needs. From a few hundred dollars for tripling or better an existing system's performance or a few thousand to start again at the top. It's about showing you what to expect of what's out there. With a little luck, hopefully we'll soon be seeing our iMac G5 so that too can be added. But even before our own iMac G5/1.8GHz arrives, we have been watching feedback out there from those already in possession of theirs. The biggest point of interest has to do with the memory in these machines. Nothing all that new, in my opinion Apple is shipping these with an inadequate base memory option. That base being 256MB of non-interleaved memory which reduces the memory bus performance and in itself isn't the memory needed for OS X to really run well either. Unlike the PowerMac G5s, which all require the use of matched pairs of DDR 184 Pin PC3200 memory, the iMac allows you to go with an individual module, two different modules, or matched pair. But without a matched pair, that memory bus is slowed down and that means the G5 processor spends extra time when it could instead be processing. People pay $500 extra for the PowerMac G5/2.5GHz Dual vs. the 2.0GHz Dual for 10-15% realworld gain at base. Spend less than $190 to bump an iMac G5 up from one 256MB to 1GB of interleaved memory from OWC and you're looking at up to doubling that machines performance. And with us, you'll spend about $40 less than Apple would charge to deliver that iMac with 1GB + you'll have an Apple 256MB module as that extra added bonus. My theme on that is to make sure you adequately equip any system you buy. You have no idea how many people buy a base system and never upgrade it. They'll buy something new, making the same mistake, never knowing that their old system with the right memory added could even still run circles around what they've just bought new with it's base memory config. Logically, you'd expect the base config to be fine - but unlike a vehicle that is just as well going from point A to B whether it's stripped down or loaded with options, there is a huge difference in performance comparing a base configed system to one that's configed right. Understand that the base machines are there to provide the lowest cost of entry - and schools especially will buy that base config to have as many computer seats as possible. What's sad is that the result has been a bad experience with such systems (64MB base iMac G3s running OS 9, 128MB eMac G4s running OS X - painfully slow!) that disenfranchises students and teachers alike + results in premature replacement of said systems. Reducing the number of seats by 10% and spending an extra 10% to have enough memory to run up to speed would result in far, far, far more productive and enjoyable use of those systems and save the schools a ton of money with such systems going for a lot longer too. This is more of problem since Apple took educational sales direct, before that, the educational dealers were smart about explaining what should be installed - since then though, most of Apple's own are all about the numbers game - moving units - which plays right to the political game of how many computers are there to use. There will be a lot of iMac G5s sold with that base 256MB config. They'll be faster than base systems they take the place of, but a whole lot of those iMac G5s will be themselves be replaced before a simple performance doubling memory upgrade is ever done. Well, that's a bit to get this started. Really, you're going to see a more normal schedule on our newsletter as less isn't more and more can be a whole lot less with so much time passing with so much that can be talked about. And here I go wording it up even more.... This week the Quick Tip reflects a bit, got more Music on the Mac by our Roger Adler, and delivered is the updated Reader Specials for the week. I hope there's something for everyone covered in this latest edition and, as always, I thank you for being a Tips n' Deals Reader! Some Quick Links Why are some people paying over $20/month for Dial Up Internet Access? To Get 24/7 Toll Free Tech Support and Local Numbers in all 50 states? To Have Anti-Virus and Anti-Spam filtering? Accelerated Website Access? From $8/Month - you get all of that and more from FasterMac.Net, DSL Broadband available too! Just what does OWC do with trade-ins, open box items, discontinued goods, etc.? We put 'em up on our Clearance Deals Page, visit often for the killer steals! Get the most from a Pioneer Superdrive! Increase read and write speeds, install current firmware, and more! OWC's Jamie tells you how! 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 10.3.x on Macs Apple doesn't support - OWC Supports you with OS 9 Helper and Xpostfacto! Quick Tip: Time, iPhotos, Vote As the old saying goes, there just is never enough time in the day. For some things, I think it's important to make the time. It's easy to say it's just not the right time, but you know, it might never be the right time and what might you have missed out on if the only time is now past. I am one of those that complains and is dragged arms and legs spread and holding when it comes to going away on vacation. My wife is seldom pleased by this, but once we get 'there' - I'm fine. All those important things I just couldn't step away from, well - 99% can wait and the other 1% someone else can do just fine, never seems that way until I've stepped out of that forest. For those that never have the time, I recommend to realize you may never have it again. And those that fight the fight with those that never have the time - don't take it personal, just be happy once you've gotten your better half, friend, family member, etc - to take that time away as it's always worth the effort so long as you yourself stay positive about it. About this time last year I headed off on a wilderness adventure in Teton National park with my Dad and we did the same sort of thing this year in Colorado. It was a great Father/Son trip with miles of hiking and just great taking in the outdoors time. Being away from technology brings me back around to the important things. We get so busy in our day to day that I think sometimes we forget what it's really all about. Anyway, here are some pictures that I shared from last year, and some new ones from this trip that concluded just a couple days ago. The odd picture of the group is a natural gas well - out in the middle of nowhere on a mountain. Not at all the giant mess I'd imagined. BTW, I don't think the sharing of Photos is made any easier than it has been by Apple's iPhoto Finally, it's just about time for us _all_ to vote. The only way a vote doesn't matter is if you don't vote at all. I and the OWC staff will be casting our vote and I hope you will too. I personally have long tired of party talk and I hope all of us take the time to really find out about who we are voting for. It's a responsibility and a right to vote for those we feel best suited to do the best for all concerns. Our Freedom depends on our participation in these elections and not voting just lets someone else have a bigger say in making decisions for you. Most of us like to have our say and voting is an important way. 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: 10/14/2004 update: Although we've got some PC100/133 SDRam deals that fly in the face of this, the memory market as a whole is seeing some serious demand and with that, price increases. As we contract for the best parts a little bit ahead of the game, unless something changes - our current prices won't be staying so low for very long. More memory makes just about any system faster if you don't have enough already, if you need it - now might be a good time to do it to it. 256MB SDRam for all PowerMac G3 Models and PowerMac G4 'Yikes PCI $31.99 256MB PC133 CL3/PC100 CL2 SDRam for PowerMac G4s AGP Models 350-1GHz & Cube $33.00 Or, top things off with 512MB Modules at $87.50 1GB PC3200 DDR Upgrade Kit (2x512MB) for all PowerMac G5 & iMac G5 Models $187.50 This is almost $40 less than Apple charges to bump 256MB to 1GB alone. Really hungry for memory? 2GB PC3200 Kits (2x1GB Module) special $425.00 1GB Module for PowerBook G4 AL 12/15/17"; iMac G4/1.0GHz+, iBook G4s $239.00 Get a 1GB from OWC vs. what Apple charges to add just 512MB! Mac 128MB 5V 168 Pin 60NS Dimms for 7300-9600 Models & Clones, $15.75 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. Listen good, listen longer with longest lasting iPod Battery + FM NewerTech internal battery for 1st and 2nd Generation Apple iPods: 1600mAh version, 30% 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 Get the iPod going on the road with the NewerTech 'RoadTrip!' FM Transmitter: The cost is only $19.99, but this product really works, and works well. Some of you have been frustrated by products that either don't sound good, are complicated to use, or both. The RoadTrip! is plug and play simple & it really sounds great! Just doing our part to get you a better product that comes with a better price as well. And - when you buy the RoadTrip! and one of our 2100mAh batteries on the same order - get and extra $10 with coupon code 'HIGHROAD'. Belkin 802.11B WireLess Feature Special With hundreds of these now departed from our warehouse, there are just a couple hundred left before this deal itself will depart. If you're wanting to put your Mac on a Wireless network, it's hard to go wrong with the $19.00, Belkin 802.11b USB Wireless Adapter deal we've got right now. Works with any Mac running Apple OS 9.2.x or OS X 10.2.x & later (or even PC with windows) connected with either built in USB or a USB add on card. Very small, very light - good for home or even portable for on the road. This is another one of those killer OWC Real Deals. Logitech RF Wireless Mouse, Mouse + KB Special Logitech RF Wireless 2 Button USB Mouse w/Scroll Wheel, only $12.99! I've now been using mine for nearly two months on the same batteries and it's got the 'OWC Larry Endorsement'. Logitech makes a fine mouse - smooth operation, and flawless wireless response. Highly accurate like a good corded mouse, except the freedom of cordless. I personally don't need a Wireless Keyboard - but for those that do, well, you can't beat our deal on the Logitech Freedom Wireless Keyboard at just $23.95. And that would be a great deal if it was just for the keyboard alone... But $23.95 actually gets you that Logitech Wireless Keyboard with Logitech Wireless Mouse too! Just plug and play via built-in USB or USB via an add on card. Freedom! Get a Superdrive from $57.99, read/write CDs & DVDs Looking to get creating both DVDs and CDs? Our latest deal in the door are for Genuine Apple Rom/Apple Logo Pioneer DVR-105 4X DVD-R + CDRW SuperDrives at $57.99 We've got Apple DVR-106s from $79.99 and Pioneer DVR-108s from $97.95 too. Check out these later drives and bundles too. Power Backup for when the Power is Out Tripplite 525VA 6-Outlet Uninterruptible Power Supply/Surge Suppressor just $39.00 Peace of mind doesn't get much cheaper than this. The Best prices for Apple OS X EVER! Apple OS X 10.1.x Full Install Set $5.75 Apple OS X 10.2.x 'Jaguar' Full, stand alone, Installer Set $27.50 Apple OS X 10.2.x 'Jaguar' with Apple iLife '2003' Bundle $33.00 Have Apple OS X 10.2.x already? Get Apple 10.3.x 'Panther' Update $60.00 Apple OS X 10.3.x 'Panther' Full Install CD Set $75.00 That's just a small sample of the many deals you'll find on your Tips 'n Deals Reader Specials Page, check it out! Music on the Mac 10/14 - Different Bias'es' & the Fast Track Greetings from www.macsales.com/music This week, first we will "take a peak" at 3 similar products from BIAS. Peak 4, Peak DV4 and Peak LE4. All 3 are stereo audio editors. Peak 4 is the popular and very full featured version for the Mac OS that has been around for years. It continues to improve with each new release. Peak 4 offers all of the usual features you would expect such as the ability to edit volume, crossfade from one file to another, Normalize, remove DC offset, repair clicks and pops, cut and paste audio, burn a CD of the file directly from Peak, etc. It also has a "guess tempo" feature which analyses a file to find its tempo. In addition, something called Impulseverb is now included. This type of reverb is achieved by sending a short impulse or sound into an acoustic space such as a hallway or cathedral and then capturing the sonic footprint of that space. That "footprint" is then used to create a reverb preset that sounds amazingly like that "real" space. In layperson's terms, these are great and realistic sounding reverberations. Peak 4 now supports the Apple Audio Units (AU) plug-in format as well as VST plug-ins. There are 5 plug-in inserts available with the ability to have both VST and AU plug-ins at the same time. All of this is really for the high-end editor and is wonderfully powerful. Perhaps you don't need all of these features. That is where Peak DV and Peak LE come into play. Both are "lite" versions of Peak. Neither one has the above mentioned Impulseverb and they have less plug-ins available including only one effects insert. Peak DV supports the import of Quicktime video and DV video as you might guess. You can "hear and see" how your music track works with video. Peak LE is similar but does not have the video capability. Peak 4 sells for about $365 , with Peak DV around $148 and LE for around $75. It would be wise to choose carefully because of the extreme price differences involved. For many people, Peak DV or LE would be adequate. MANY professional composers, sound designers, engineers and producers continue to rely on Peak 4 as an important tool. I also noted that Bias has Updates on their site ( www.bias-inc.com ) for these products that are typically free to registered users. It is wise to keep up with the latest releases and enhanced features that come with them. -------- By the time this news reaches you, M-Audio will be shipping a great new product called the Fast Track USB. This is an audio interface with instrument input and a mic preamp. The real news here is not that it works great and has the quality we have come to expect from M-Audio, but rather the fact that you get it all for under $100.00. This is THE perfect companion piece for GarageBand users because it gives you a real instrument input at the right signal level and a real mic preamp with XLR (pro standard) input, both with level controls. There is, of course, a headphone output and stereo rca main outputs with level controls too. As an added bonus, you also get GT Player Express software. We haven't received a copy for evaluation yet but look for info here very soon!. It's described as software emulation of "stomp boxes" (effects boxes that guitar players use) and also a file player that can play audio tracks and even slow down a track without changing pitch. As a guitar player, I'm sure this will be hours of fun for me. This is a perfect tool for musicians who are trying to figure out the hot "licks" of their favorite players. Slow down the section you are trying to figure out and get it all down to the last detail. Try doing that with a tape recorder! Of course, it's USB Bus powered and USB Class compliant for easy plug and play operation under Mac OX 10.3.5. This looks like another price/value winner for M-Audio and ultimately you, the customer! Don't miss the article on GarageBand by Roger Adler in the Sept/Oct issue of Mac Design Magazine - on newsstands now! **** Roger Adler will be presenting a seminar on GarageBand at the Apple store on North Michigan Ave/Chicago on Tues. Oct. 19 at 6 PM. You are all invited and it is FREE! Hope to see some of our readers there! 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 travelled 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: Last newsletter I pointed out one spelling error, in jest made an 'error' that wasn't spelling, and then missed a clear grammar mistake as well. Tells me I shouldn't quit my day job. And if I ever had a doubt about people reading and noting these little details, the over a thousand e-mails pointing them out certainly took them away. Just checking, just a test, right.... :) We've got a lot of great stuff coming up and the OWC team and I will make sure we get that info out over the wire for you and everyone to benefit. Knowledge is power and it's our goal to get as much good info out there as possible. Having that info helps you get more from the Apple you've got and that is exactly what our primary goal here is all about. Thanks for being a Tips n' Deals subscriber and have a great weekend and beyond! And remember that so long as we can't turn back the clock, remember that each tick-tock is more than a moment, it's a gift. Never know when that piano might drop out of the sky and bring your clock to a stop. Make for the best and enjoy each moment to the fullest. 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 2000-2004, Other World Computing - Since 1988 |