2006 February | The Mac Night Owl

Archive for February, 2006

Apple’s Special Event: Reading the Tea Leaves

Saturday, February 25th, 2006

As you may have heard elsewhere, Apple plans a Special Event on February 28th. Journalists are receiving cryptic messages in their mailboxes, asking them to “Come see some fun new products from Apple.” Fun? Well, that raises lots of possibilities. But if you take “fun” as representing a consumer computer, there is one set of prospects.

If you are a regular reader of these columns, you know that I don’t truck in rumors, and I do not claim to possess any magical powers to determine what Apple Computer might be up to in the foreseeable future. At the same time, when you look over the details and consider the trends, you can come up with some reasonable conclusions.

Of course, when it comes to reasonable conclusions, Apple has a nasty habit of confounding logic and reason and surprising us. So let that be my excuse if I happen to be dead wrong about all this, although others have presented similar ideas.

First, let’s look at the sales picture, because it shows the challenges Apple is confronting. All current estimates show that MacIntels (Macs with Intel Inside) are selling quite well, thank you. Published surveys show that iMacs are moving fast, and that Apple continues to be backordered on the MacBook Pro. But where does that leave the rest of the line? Not much past the starting gate, it appears.

Consider the Mac mini and the iBook, both of which haven’t been updated in a long, long time. In fact, other than some extra memory, and the possibility that a few units shipped with somewhat faster processors, the mini is pretty much the same as the product that made its debut 13 months ago. That’s an eternity in the computer business and then some.

The iBook? Well, educational systems are going to be placing their orders for fall in the coming months, and this model is a cornerstone of Apple’s school-based initiative. It’s not that there’s anything wrong with the present iBook. In fact, it’s quite a nice laptop, except that PC laptops are getting cheaper and cheaper as processor performance heads upward.

Now consider one other factor, that Intel is about to ship single core versions of the chip that powers the new iMac and MacBook Pro. Without knowing any specific details, I don’t think you can dispute the fact that Apple has been working on its Intel-based revisions for the Mac mini and iBook for quite some time now, just waiting for the right parts to finish the job. Those parts are just about at hand, which means that MacIntel versions may indeed make their debut next week.

It would seem reasonable to assume a new iBook would become the MacBook, and that the Mac mini’s name will be unchanged.

But how does all that account for the fun factor? What if the new models also feature, say, a Front Row 2.0, which expands the possibilities of Apple’s new remote control system? The major element that separates Front Row from a Windows Media Center computer is latter’s the ability to record TV shows. Sure, that capability is already filled by third party products, such as the EyeTV line from Elgato Systems. But Apple usually has its own ideas about such things. Besides, this important feature, and other enhancements to Front Row are sorely needed to match up with what you can get today on Windows. Put a proper Apple spin on the new capabilities, and you can imagine how the MacIntel versions of the iBook and Mac mini might be configured.

Even better, since Front Row is software, it would seem sensible to be able to download an update and deliver the same capabilities to the iMac and MacBook Pro. Fascinating!

As to pricing, the Mac mini will probably continue to have a starting price of $499, but Apple is under pressure to cut the price of the iBook replacement. Consider an $899 laptop with iSight and a Front Row upgrade. Now match that up with Windows laptops, and they suddenly don’t look quite as attractive when you consider the lack of features. But the form factor of the mini clearly doesn’t allow for a Webcam provision.

Some are suggesting that Apple might just install the slowest Intel Core Duo in these models, citing only a modest increase in costs. But when it comes to the low-end of the product line, even a few dollars can mean a lot. If a Core Duo is used, it’ll only be on the higher-priced spreads.

One more aspect of the sales picture: Although iPod sales are reportedly still good, they have clearly cooled somewhat from the holiday season, which is to be expected. So there may indeed be updated iPods, perhaps a high-end model with a larger screen and enhanced video playback battery life. Some of the speculation talks of a Boom Box version of the iPod, but that’s a need that’s already filled by third parties, so I hardly see why Apple would develop an integrated product.

As I said at the outset, I may be all wrong on these possibilities. Perhaps Apple will simply extend its consumer electronics reach with an all-new product line, one that again stretches the joys of the iPod in unexpected ways. Regardless of what happens on February 28th, it’s clear the whole world will be watching.

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The Night Owl Review: Logitech S 530 Cordless Desktop Keyboard and Mouse

Saturday, February 25th, 2006

Night Owl Rating:

There are lots and lots of keyboard and mouse combos that’ll operate on your Mac, but most were really designed for Windows, and you often feel that the makers made them Mac compatible mostly to throw us all a bone or two. But the fact that the Mac mini ships without input devices, and the growth of Mac sales in general, has apparently encouraged some companies to try to build special products for the platform.

In the past, I’ve heaped praise on keyboards from Matias, such as the tactilepro, a modern rendition of the original Apple Extended Keyboard, and the USB 2.0 keyboard. I’m also a huge fan of the original Logitech MX1000 Laser Cordless Mouse. Up till now, I wasn’t quite as pleased with the touch and other design elements of Logitech’s keyboards, but that’s poised to change with the company’s $99.99 Cordless Desktop S 530 Laser for Mac.

Did I say laser? Yes, the stylish keyboard and mouse combo includes a neat silver and white sculpted laser mouse that puts the Apple Mighty Mouse to shame. The keyboard itself sports a silver band at the top and bottom, and uses low-profile key switches similar to those you find on a high-quality laptop, though the touch is somewhat better than the one on a PowerBook or (based on my brief encounter) the MacBook Pro.

Comfort is enhanced by the built-in and non-removable palm rest. Unlike a product that also used laptop-based key switches from Kensington, the Logitech S 530 is a full-sized keyboard with a reasonable amount of separation between the standard keys, navigation keys, and the numeric keypad. There is also a full complement of F keys at the top, though they are reduced to narrow rectangles. A set of 15 small media keys adorn the sides, and they come programmed for standard Mac functions, such as running iTunes and launching iPhoto. Additional keys invoke such functions as Tiger’s Spotlight feature, your browser’s home page and your favorite email software. There’s even a separate Eject key, and, as a unique touch, a rocker switch for vertical scrolling, and a Back button for the browser.

The laser mouse, configured as with most devices of this sort, for right-handers, has side buttons for volume levels and browser navigation. The clicking scroll wheel can, like the Mighty Mouse, also be used for horizontal scrolling, but it operates far more effectively, with superior comfort in nearly all respects. You can also double-click on the wheel to invoke open an item, but you have to exert a little more pressure to activate the switch than I prefer.

You can use the supplied Logitech Control Center software to remap the various buttons to your taste and configure the speed of the various scrolling functions. If you don’t install the software, you’re stuck with the standard keys and mouse buttons.

Aside from the laser mouse, the technology isn’t terribly advanced. The S 530 uses standard batteries, though it promises superior power management to extend the lifecycle for up to six months. I haven’t, however, used the products long enough to gauge how long batteries survive in heavy use, but the level indicators on the keyboard and mouse are designed to flash when you have 10 days to replace the batteries. A USB-based mini-receiver picks up the signals, and there’s a desktop insert that supposedly enhances the the sensitivity to maximize its useful range. You might wish for Bluetooth, but the wireless receiver should be sufficient to handle the signal for any normal distance. I moved the keyboard back about six feet, for example, and it seemed to function acceptably.

As keyboards go, the feel is excellent; soft, smooth, accurate, snappy, without any of the languid character that afflicts some of these devices. I found myself growing used to it quickly, although folks who prefer to flex their finger muscles as they pound away on a keyboard may be disappointed. My only quibbles are the tiny media keys, which seemed designed for fingers far more petite than mine. My digits, by the way, are long and relatively thin, good for piano playing, but not terribly useful for dribbling basketballs. I expect you will encounter difficulties with those extra keys if your fingers are relatively thick.

Mouse motion is superb and precise. In fact, I had to slow down tracking speed somewhat because the cursor runs so fast. The laser mouse’s shape is similar to the MX1000, although somewhat narrower. The extra buttons fall comfortably to my hand, which isn’t always a given for such products.

As with most of its devices, Logitech offers a five-year limited warranty on the S 530, but it seems to be built solidly enough that you shouldn’t have to worry about breakdowns. All in all, I’m quite impressed with the Mac version of the Logitech Cordless Desktop. Microsoft is prepping its own Mac-oriented mouse and keyboard combo for a summer release, but right now the S 530 is the one to beat.

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