Merrill Lynch analyst Steven Milunovich raised many of his unit estimates Tuesday on a handfull of Apple Computer products, pointing to better than expected demand and supplier component availability. In a research comment to clients, Mr. Milunovich said demand for Mac laptops is strong. “We are raising our December laptop numbers from 500,000 to 600,000,”…
Mac
First on TMO - Google Clarifies CEO Comment on Mac Desktop Search; Reuters' Errors
Did he say it or did he not? He did not, according to a Google spokesman. We’re talking about comments reportedly made by Google, Inc. Chief Executive Officer Eric Schmidt last Friday in which a Reuters reporter claims he said the search engine company would definitely release a Mac version of its Google Desktop indexing…
Just a Thought - Mac Users Won't Give Away Root
Worms and viruses have been featured a lot in the news of late. Of course, that’s nothing new, but what is new is the types of virus-related stories that are appearing: The Bagel virus — this one a variation of the original theme — is spreading, stories from IT security experts warning of a new…
Just a Thought - A Mac in Every PC
Preface: I work in a place where mentioning Macs makes people crinkle their noses as if someone had just out-gassed after eating egg salad. The arguments for their Mac aversion are as tired as their expressions; most opinions are hold-overs from the days of Apple’s single digit OSes. When I set about explaining that OS…
QuickBooks Pro 2005 For Mac Ships
< A href="http://www.intuit.com/">Intuit has announced a new version of QuickBooks for the Mac, QuickBooks Pro 2005. QuickBooks is Intuitis very popular accounting solution, and the new version includes many improvements and enhancements. Intuit also stressed that QuickBooks Pro 2005 can share data more easily with Windows users of QuickBooks. The company stressed what it calls…
Jef Raskin: "Little Difference Between Using a Mac and Windows"
Jef Raskin is as rascally today as he was more than 20 years ago when he fought to get his idea for a new computer through Apple’s management. That computer was the Macintosh, if not the Macintosh that was eventually brought to market, for Steve Jobs took over Mr. Raskin’s project, and effectively pushed him…
Dr. Mac: Rants & Raves - iMac G5 Review: The Director's Cut
My other column, Dr. Mac, runs every Tuesday in the Houston Chronicle. Writing for the newspaper is a lot different from writing for The Mac Observer (TMO). The newspaper column is the same length-roughly 500 words-every week; TMO columns can be as long or as short as the subject requires. Newspaper columns don’t have screen…
iPontificate: I Want My gMac!
I recently started working for a new client in the publishing industry. My job is to help the IT manager, who is versed in the ways of Windows, keep about ten Macs running smoothly in the company’s production area. Now, the IT manager is a good guy, and to protect his identity I will refer…
Fortune Recommends iMac G5, Disses Windows Security
Fortune magazine’s Peter Lewis is the latest to talk up Apple’s new iMac G5. In a review titled “Apple All-In-One Is One For Almost All,” Mr. Lewis offers the now-familiar praise for the iMac G5’s design, looks, display, speed, etc. He also criticizes the 64 MB video card Apple included in the unit as “paltry,”…
Microsoft Issues Security Warning & Update For Mac Office
Microsoft has issued a critical security warning, as well as accompanying updates, for Mac Office v.X and Mac Office 2001. The most recent version of Mac Office (Office 2004) is not affected. The security flaw is specifically found in Excel, and could allow someone to execute code that would allow them to gain complete control…
Apple, Thai Government Agree on Cheaper Mac Poject
Apple Computer has agreed with the Government of Thailand to sell Macs below market price in an initiative to get more personal computers in the hands of the nation’s people, the English language newspaper The Nation reported Wednesday. The offer will reportedly begin later this month for an undetermined period as part of a government…
CTO of Infoworld Embraces PowerBook, Can't Quite Ditch ThinkPad
Chad Dickerson, the CTO of Inforworld, has been spent the last year managing his magazine’s IT infrastructure from a PowerBook. In an article for his magazine, he says that he has embraced his PowerBook, though he can’t quite ditch his IBM ThinkPad. While he has been able to use Mac OS X to work in…
Detroit Free Press: iMac Top Choice For Anyone Considering New Computer
T he Detroit Free Press has published a review of Appleis new iMac G5 that calls it the "top recommendation for anyone considering a new computer." The reviewer, Mike Wendland, lists the usual things he likes about the iMac — its looks, design, lack of wires, elegance, etc. — and he also sounds the now-familiar…
From the Editor - Walt Mossberg: Not A Macaholic
On Thursday morning, we covered Walt Mossberg’s latest column for the Wall Street Journal, which included positive comments about the Mac platform, and the iMac G5 in particular. In the TMO Spin for that piece, I made a joke about Mr. Mossberg being a Macaholic. Mr. Mossberg wrote to me last night to explain that…
Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell Ships for Mac
A spyr Media has announced that Tom Clancyis Splinter Cell is shipping for Mac OS X. Tom Clancyis Splinter Cell is part of the Tom Clancy Rainbow Six first person shooter (FPS) franchise, but this game is a 3rd person "steal action game." The title was originally released for Windows in 2002, and this release…
Apple Launches PowerBook "White Spot" Repair Program
A pple has launched a repair program for PowerBooks with "white spot" problems. The problem occurs in what Apple says is a "limited number" of PowerBooks that have white spots that show up on their displays. The program is called the "15-inch PowerBook G4 Display Repair Extension Program," and it allows users afflicted with this…
DV Dailies - Sweet Pea Releases USB Deck Control Cables For Mac
Sweet Pea Communications is shipping the VTR Link-Mac cable for Macintosh users. The VTR Link-Mac provides the control of a professional VTR deck via USB serial ports. The cables support RS-422 deck control applications and the Sony BVW-22 Betacam deck. According to Sweet Pea Communications: VTR Control Cables for PC and Macintosh: PC to VTR:…
Top Five Most Popular Computers At Amazon Are Macs
A pple is burning up the charts at Amazon. Observer EveTommy noted in the forums that the Top 5 most popular computers at the online retailing giant were all Macintoshes, with the Top 3 being the not-yet shipping iMac G5. Additionally, nine of the Top 20 most popular computers are also Macs. The current Top…
Default Folder X, MacMagic, A Better Finder Rename
St. Clair Softwareis Eddy Award-winning Default Folder X has gotten an update to version 1.9.5. The new version of the Open and Save dialog enhancing software adds new keyboard shortcuts, better tracking of recently used folders, and more. Default Folder X 1.9.5 is US$34.95 shareware, and is a free update to users of an earlier…
macXware Releases Four New Font Collections
macXware (a division of Summitsoft Corporation) announced today the release of their long awaited font collections for personal and commercial projects. The four new collections each feature 150 OpenType fonts for commercial use in either Classic, Refined, Designer or Creative styles, and include a 10-computer license to use the fonts in a variety of for-profit,…
Apple Expo - Attendees Mixed if iMac G5 is The Complete Solution
PARIS, FRANCE – Attendees at Apple Expo in Paris are impressed at the look of the new iMac G5, but mixed on whether it’s the right solution for their needs. An unscientific sampling of people mainly from Europe showed the wide variety of needs and desires of Mac users. "I like it’s look," said Edmond…
Apple Expo - Apple's Boger: iMac G5 "Has No Comparison"
PARIS, FRANCE – Despite Apple knowing consumers will make comparisons of the new iMac G5 to its Windows counterparts, the Mac maker feels its not as simple as comparing apples to oranges, because as one company executive said Wednesday, “there is no comparison.” Apple’s director of worldwide product marketing told The Mac Observer, “This product…
David Coursey (Mostly) Positive On New iMac G5
David Coursey has weighed in with his opinions on Apple’s new iMac G5. Mr. Coursey is a one-time critic of the Mac who Switched back to the platform two years ago. In his newest column at eWeek, Mr. Coursey offers a mostly positive view of the new iMac, though he also has a couple of…
Apple Denies Major G5 iMac Push at iPod Users
P ARIS, FRANCE – Despite Appleis efforts to show the fine lines and design traits between the iPod and the new iMac G5, Apple executives are denying any official marketing campaign is afoot to entice iPod users to buy the new slim line Mac. In announcing the new iMac G5 Tuesday, Apple touted the similarities…