News Archive for: Tuesday Feb. 19th, 2008 (later added items first)
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Apple posts MacBook/MacBook Pro Keyboard Firmware Update
"MacBook, MacBook Pro Keyboard Firmware Update 1.0
This MacBook and MacBook Pro firmware update addresses an issue where the first key press may be ignored if the computer has been sitting idle. It also addresses some other issues.
For more details, see About the MacBook, MacBook Pro Keyboard Firmware Update 1.0.
System Requirements: Mac OS X 10.5.2 or later"

I don't own a Macbook/Pro but have seen complaints on this in the past. A reader said this update seems to have helped:

"I just wanted to sound in on this update, as I have been experiencing the "ignore first key press after idling for a while"-issue on my SR MBP ever since I got it last year. I've applied the Update and so far haven't seen any more response problems from the keyboard, so I guess it did fix a problem for me.
-Bensch"
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Apple drops Xserve RAID for Promise VTrack E-Class RAID
From a reader mail:

" Xserve RAID
Just writing incase you haven't caught it yet:
Apple drops Xserve RAID in lieu of Promise Technologies' VTrack E-Class RAID.
http://www.apple.com/server/storage/
http://www.promise.com/apple/
cheers,Rob D."

Earlier today I posted info on Apple Introducing Xsan 2.

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Hitachi rebates on OWC/NT/Hitachi drive/solutions end soon
(from site sponsor OWC)

"Valid until 2/27/2008, customers can get $20 per drive / up to $40 per solution (limit 5 internal drives, limit 5 single drive OWC/NT solutions, Limit of 2 OWC/NT dual-drive solutions - up to $280 in total rebates possible) on select Hitachi 750GB drives and OWC/NewerTech solutions using Hitachi Drives. And these are the new 750GB offers:
Get $20 back on up to 5 (per household) internal Hitachi 750GB Hard Drives
  • 750GB Deskstar7K1000 7200RPM SATA I/II 32MB Cache 3yr Warranty $159.99*
  • 750GB UltraStar A7K1000 7200RPM SATA I/II 32MB Cache 5yr Warranty $192.99*
    *Price after $20 Rebate - available through 2/27/2008
    Today is also the last day to receive up to $120 rebate on select 1TB OWC solutions featuring Hitachi 1.0TB Drives. See all rebate eligible products here: http://eshop.macsales.com/search/Hitachi+Rebate.

    Get $20 back on up to 5 (per household) Select OWC/NewerTech 750GB Models:
  • 750GB OWC Mercury Elite-AL Pro FW800/400/USB2/eSATA Solution - $279.99*
  • 750GB NT MiniStack v3 FW800/400/USB2/eSATA + FW/USB2 Hub Solution - $287.99*
    *Price after $20 Rebate - available through 2/27/2008

    Get $40 back on up to 2 (per household) NewerTech Guardian MAXimus Mirror:
  • 750GB NT Guardian MAXimus FW800/400+USB2 Redundant RAID-1 Mirror - $529.99**
    **Price after $20 Rebate - available through 2/27/2008

    Get $40 back on up to 2 (per household) on Elite-AL Performance RAID:
  • 1.5TB OWC Mercury Elite-AL Pro FW800/400+USB2 Performance RAID - $479.99**
    **Price after $20 Rebate - available through 2/27/2008

    A couple other things worth highlighting:
  • Samsung F1 750GB 7200RPM 32MB Cache SATA II Drives now in stock - $150.00 for XLR8yourMac Readers (noted earlier today below - these are fast/very dense platter drives as noted in Oliver's tests of the 1TB model.-Mike)
  • New SuperDrive options now in stock from $29.99, got a SuperDrive for pretty much every Mac
  • Hitachi 5K250 250GB 5400RPM SATA Notebook HD is now down to $135.00 for XLR8yourMac Readers
  • WD Scorpio 320GB 5400RPM SATA NoteBook HD now at $185.00 for XLR8yourMac Readers
    And I think this is a really great laptop stand deal: VidPro Laptop Workstation Stand - It's a stand with built in Powered USB 2.0 Hub + Media Reader. We got a special buy on these to offer at $34.99.
    Best Regards,
    Lawrence R. O'Connor
    Other World Computing"
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    Nvidia Beta CUDA SDK/ToolKit Download for OS X
    I saw a post w/download link on this last week in Apple's OpenGL developer mail-list and bookmarked the D/L page but forgot to post it.

    "Hi Mike, NVIDIA has released a first beta version of CUDA (Compute Unified Device Architecture) for OSX. Below you find the download link and the heise-online news article which showed up with the information first.
    http://www.heise.de/newsticker/meldung/103684
    (in German - here's a rough google english translation-Mike)
    http://www.nvidia.com/object/cuda_get.html#macos
    CUDA works with the GeForce 8800 GT, Quadro FX 5600 and the mobile GeForce 8600M GT with 256MB (in the MacBook Pro) and needs OSX 10.5.2.
    Regards, Christian V."
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    Scanners with OS X Leopard Feedback/Tips page updated
    I've updated the page of Scanners with OS X Leopard - Feedback, Tips/Tricks with 3 more Epson 2450 user reports. Included is a reminder for Intel-based Mac owners using Epson Scan 2.77 and running Photoshop CS3 (universal) on a tip posted there back on Jan 9th - i.e. running PS CS3 in Rosetta mode. (For Epson scan to work inside CS3 on Intel-based Macs.)
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    Samsung F1 750GB SATA HD on site specials page
    Just a FYI that site sponsor OWC has added the Samsung F1 750GB/32MB cache model ($150) to the site specials page.
    The next SATA Hard drive I buy with likely be an F1, as Oliver noted very impressive performance of the Samsung F1 1TB model (very dense platters - only 3 platters for 1TB) in his recent Comparison of three 1TB SATA Hard Drives.
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    Express34 Card Reports page updated
    I've updated the page of MacBook Pro owner reports on Express34 cards with another Sonnet eSATA Expresscard report (this time using 10.5.2) and a follow-up from a SIIG eSATA II Expresscard owner with notes on some versions of the card not being compatible with later OS X versions. (See post for notes on different card models.)
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    More Apple TV 2.0 Update Feedback
    I've added another reader's (long) notes on the Apple TV 2.0 update (a first-time owner) to the page of Apple TV User Reports/Tips, etc.. (Includes his notes on streaming, movie rentals, resolution, networking, etc.)
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    Apple announces Xsan 2
    (from Apple's news page)

    " Introducing Xsan 2
    Apple today introduced Xsan 2, the first major upgrade to its easy-to-use, high-performance, enterprise-class Storage Area Network (SAN) file system for Mac OS X. Xsan 2 combines enhanced performance with Apple's legendary ease of use, allowing even first-time users to set up and quickly deploy a SAN. It introduces MultiSAN, which allows users on a single workstation to access multiple SANs at the same time. Fully integrated with Mac OS X Leopard and Mac OS X Server Leopard, Xsan is also now qualified to work with third-party RAID storage."
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    iPod Shuffle 1GB now $49, new 2GB model for $69
    From Apple's news page today:

    "1GB iPod shuffle now $49; 2GB model, just $69
    It's the world's most wearable music player, and the 1GB iPod shuffle - just $49 - is now the most affordable iPod ever. It also has a new 2GB sibling that costs just $69 and allows customers to wear even more music on their sleeves. Or belts. Or lapels. While the 1GB iPod shuffle is available immediately, the 2GB will be available later this month. Both models come in five colors - silver, blue, green, purple and a (PRODUCT) RED special edition) - weigh just half an ounce, and are just half a cubic inch in volume."
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    Other News/Articles, Mac Software Updates

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    Recent Articles and Reviews
    Listing/links to recent articles and reviews you may have missed.
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