Category: Apple

new member of the family – MacBook

On By Rick McIn Apple, product endorsementsLeave a comment

I bought a MacBook from the Canadian Apple store.

It was a “refurbished” unit sold at discount. My cost was C$929. It retails at $1249. The full warranty applies. My refurb laptop looked brand new though the power supply and some other items had been previously opened.

It’s always a good idea to WAIT on computer purchases. Even a week or two can get you a much better deal due to Moore’s Law.

But my move was forced by an upcoming trip to Australia. I wanted to take two computers with my many photos, videos and presentations — so as to have a perfect backup in case of hardware problems with one or the other.

It’s interesting to note that my laptop purchase costs have been dropping. For the past 3 machines I paid $3000, then $2000, now $1000.

On the other hand, the life span of my laptops seems to be dropping from 3yrs to 2yrs.

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As expected, the MacBook is gorgeous. I will report back later on function.

my next phone – the Pearl?

On By Rick McIn Apple, internet, product endorsementsLeave a comment

165552.jpgApple phone? Google phone?

Or the one that is already here?

The ranks of BlackBerry-tapping customers swelled 14 per cent to more than seven million in the past three months, and should touch nearly eight million by the end of this quarter, RIM executives said yesterday. As the number of BlackBerry users increased, profit climbed 47 per cent and sales jumped 49 per cent from a year earlier, the company said.

About 875,000 new BlackBerry accounts were opened on phone networks in RIM’s third quarter ended Dec. 2, almost 10 per cent more than senior management had forecast in September. Yesterday, RIM officials set a target of another 975,000 net additions by the beginning of March.

globeandmail.com: RIM profit soars on Pearl sales

iPhoto – 250,000 Photos?

On By Rick McIn Apple, photos, product complaintsLeave a comment

I’m still looking for a solution for organizing 30,000+ photos conveniently. And having them backed up.

Warren uses ACDsee to VIEW his images. But they do not make a Mac version.

I just tried putting 20,000 photos into one iPhoto library. It’s slow. Weird things are happening. It’s crashing when I try to import some file types.

I’m just about to give up.

Suggestions?

Don’t worry about giving iPhoto 6 too many images to handle. It’s just not going to happen.

With support for up to 250,000 photos, iPhoto 6 will elate even the most prolific shutterbugs. To capture that many photos, you’d have to shoot 1,000 a month for 20 years.

Apple – iLife – iPhoto – 250,000 Photos

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I’m looking at Portfolio. And iView Media Pro.

Greenpeace says Apple not “green”

On By Rick McIn Apple, blogs, health & fitness, product complaintsLeave a comment

UPDATE:

One guy with a computer and a blog can make change.

See the reference to Canada below? You can thank RickMcCharles.com for getting that added.

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source

The error was certainly not Apple’s, I was assured by Apple.

I insisted on a free laptop for "pain and suffering" the error caused me. Will let you know when it arrives.

=== original post === Dec. 11, 2006 ===

I love the hilarious Apple spoof site posted by Greenpeace at GreenMyApple.com.

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Apple is still not feeling the love:

Environmental group Greenpeace on Wednesday issued the first quarterly update on the technology industry’s performance on environmental issues. While the group recognized many companies are improving Apple does not appear to be among them — Apple remains in last place.

“We were surprised they were in last place again,” Zeina Alhajj, campaign coordinator for Greenpeace, told Macworld. “We are hoping that by the next ranking they will be the biggest mover.”

The report ranks the 14 top manufacturers of personal computers and cell phones. …

Representatives from Apple were not immediately available for comment. …

Nokia continues to hold the top spot in the ranking for both its chemicals policy as well as disposal of electronic waste.

Apple gets low score in Greenpeace e-waste report

My own experience backs up the Greenpeace claim.

I’m trying to recycle two Apple laptops. Though Apple says they offer a program in Canada here, here and here, when I phoned their recycling partner (888-638-2761), I was informed the Apple recycling program has not come to Canada.

When directed to the recycling partner web page, there is no mention of Canada.

In the USA I could pay US$30 to ship up to 60lbs of Apple product to be properly recycled.

I emailed Apple (irecycle @apple.com) to inquire. I asked they correct the wrong information on their web pages if the program is not running in Canada. No response yet.

Perhaps the local recycling program here in Calgary is just as good, I’m not sure.

Still. Apple is usually as good as their word. They do not make mistakes on web pages.

What’s up Apple?

Apple or PC laptop?

On By Rick McIn Apple, product endorsementsLeave a comment

PC Magazine have never been known as Apple-Fanboi-types.

But the gap in price and features between Apple and Dell has shrunk so close, it’s almost a toss-up for them on which to recommend.

They go with the Dell Inspiron E1505 (Core 2 Duo) … by a slight margin.

Among budget laptops, the Apple MacBook 13-inch White (Core 2 Duo) is one of the best. It’s ideal for novice users, college students, and frequent travelers who are looking for something that’s easy on the wallet and looks absolutely fabulous. With the move to the Intel Core 2 Duos all finished, the Apple laptop line is now complete—and poised to give Windows-based laptops a real big run for their money.

Apple MacBook 13-inch White (Core 2 Duo) review by PC Magazine: Full Review

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Apple phone to flop – heresy?

On By Rick McIn Apple, product complaintsLeave a comment

… And it will largely fail.

Initially, of course, it won’t look that way at all. As with any Apple product release, it will be ushered into the world on a wave of obligatory gushing. “It’s the greatest advance in communication since cave painting,” some will proclaim. “Like Star Trek, but without the clingy Qiana shirts.”
The iPod looks like it may turn out to be a non-repeatable experience

It’s predictable. If Apple got into medical devices, people would come out of Steve Jobs’ speech proclaiming “The iBag is the easiest, most user-friendly colostomy device I’ve ever encountered.” …

The Apple phone flop | Perspectives | CNET News.com

Apple shares hit high

On By Rick McIn Apple, economicsLeave a comment

Doh!

Should have bought Apple stock back when it was tanking.

Apple’s market capital stands at over $73 billion.

Eagle-eye reader Steve points out that both Yahoo and Google say the APPL high is actually 86.40.

TUAW Moneywatch: Apple Shares hit high – The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)

latest iPhone rumour

On By Rick McIn Apple, musicLeave a comment

According to this Forbes article, Hon Hai has “secured contracts from Apple Computer for 12 mln mobile handsets that also function as music players, the Commercial Times quoted industry sources as saying.” Yes, that’s 12 million. Also, that “Apple will launch the mobile handsets in the first half of next year.”

Taiwan manufacturer gets order for Apple “iPhone” handset – The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)

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