Apple Offers Mac Mini Test Drive

No Comments »August 31st, 2005

Apple is offering a special thirty-day money back guarantee on its popular Mac Mini system, allowing anyone to “test drive” a Mac…worry free. If you don’t like the Mini, you can return it at the end of the 30 day trial period for a full refund. How about that?

This is another smart move by Apple. As cheap as the Mini is, there are still those who fear the unknown. Many PC users I speak with that are Mac curious always voice the same concern…”What if I don’t like it?” This should resolve one more hurdle. Of course, once the new Intel-Macs start arriving, the entire Mac vs. Windows argument will be gone forever, as those systems will be able to dual boot both operating systems.

iBook Stampede

Comments OffAugust 16th, 2005

There were several minor injuries and one person was taken to a hospital with a leg injury, fire Battalion Chief Steve Wood said during a 1 p.m. news conference. In all, 17 people were treated, the majority for heat- or diabetic-related problems, he said. Thousands of Henrico County residents and/or taxpayers stood in a half-mile-long line as dawn broke while others waited in cars parked nearby or milled about not far from the entrance to RIR. One official estimate put the crowd at 5,500. Other observers estimated more than twice that. Many had come prepared with books, snacks, umbrellas and chairs. The first car arrived at 1:30 a.m. By 6:30 vehicles were backed up on Laburnum Avenue about a half mile to Carolina Avenue.

A few years ago Apple struck a rather large deal with the Henrico County school district in Virginia to provide iBooks to all Middle-school students. The district decided to sell off 1,500 of these aging iBooks at a blowout price of just $50 per unit. The people you see in the photo were waiting in line to buy them as soon at the gates opened. The line was more than a half mile long!

By the way…is that Dale Coffing in the foreground?

My iPod is Dead! Noooooooooooo!

Comments OffAugust 11th, 2005

How do I compare thee to a summer’s day, with the smell of week-old road kill laying on the side of a highway? This morning, as I attempted to get my necessary gadgets in sync for another busy day, I noticed something strange about my iPod Photo; it won’t turn on! When I dock it with my Mac, it won’t launch iTunes. Plugging it into a wall outlet for charging has no effect. The bloody thing simply will not turn on. I even tried the ultimate quick-fix solution; swearing at it. Still nothing.

And this from a device that is less than three months old! I haven’t a clue as to the cause or solution to the problem. It was working fine last night, showing no signs of sudden infant death syndrome. Now comes the grim prospect of returning my pristine iPod to Apple, and being sent a scratched up refurbished unit. If that happens, the next iPod will go on eBay and will be the last such product from Apple I will ever own.

Needless to say, I am not a happy iPodder right now. Goodbye iPod, hello Zen Micro?

Apple Introduces “Mighty Mouse”

Comments OffAugust 2nd, 2005

Apple introudces its first multi-button mouse…”Mighty Mouse” that is. Odd rodent superhero references aside, this is a major departure from Apple’s defiance to multi-button mice. The company has long argued that a single-button mouse is easier for consumers to understand and manipulate.

Mighty Mouse retails for $49 and is currently available from Apple’s online store.