mac

MacBook Air major annoyance--when sleep doesn't mean sleep

My one major pet peeve with the MacBook Air is that no matter what I do, it seems that this machine never goes fully to sleep. Somehow the battery is being drained (albeit at a slower rate) when I set the computer to "sleep" or when I close the lid.

This has become an incredible annoyance as my main purpose for this laptop was to be able to use it on the fly. Lately I've found that I have run the whole battery out in about 8 hours with less than one hour of actual usage. At … Read more

Buzz Out Loud 694: Know your zombies

It's zombie-preparedness day, and may we suggest you also prepare yourself for a barrage of rumors of the eBay and Blu-ray variety. Also, today, Amazon reaches right inside Molly's brain and launches shopping via text-message (hello, impulse purchase heaven!), and one listener defends the sacred honor of the Chevy Nova. Listen now: Download today's podcast EPISODE 694

Voicemail - Dark Zombie Preparedness Day!

Judge to RIAA: You can’t sue over songs ‘made available’ via P2P http://www.news.com/8301-13578_3-9908353-38.html

eBay’s power sell: Skype to Google? http://www.news.com/8301-13577_3-9908959-36.html

Amazon launches … Read more

Macs: They're not for everyone

Yesterday, Computerworld brought us 5 reasons to ditch the Mac and return to PCs (tip o' the antlers to John Gruber via e-mail). And, sadly, they weren't April foolin' us.

Listen, then, Mac user to the tale of one "Mac fan" who switched... back! (Please shoot the Macalope now.)

So while Apple's sales continue to grow, Keanini decided to buck the trend, and gave up on his most recent Apple machine, an Intel dual-core based MacBook Pro.

That seems like kind of a waste since he could have just used Boot Camp to run Windows on … Read more

Ubuntu Linux: Unhackable. The Mac? Safari proves its Achilles Heel

A recent contest pitted Mac OS X, Windows Vista, and Ubuntu Linux against each other in terms of security. It took all of two days to hack the Mac (via a web browser exploit). Ubuntu Linux? Three days into the contest, it still hadn't been hacked.

It's very possible that the Mac was the first targeted because everyone wanted the prize: A spiffy new MacBook Air. But that's not the point. Using Firefox may well have resolved the problem, rather than sticking with Apple's Safari browser.

No, the point is that no one could hack Linux.… Read more

Five things I love/hate about the iPhone

I've had my iPhone for a week now and am amazed by how much it has changed the way I use a mobile device. My Blackberry was all work: I used it for email and to read stories on Arsenal. (Yes, that counts as work these days.) The iPhone is much different. There is so much to do with it. I find that I use it far more, but for less drudgery and more fun.

A bit like how I use my Mac.

I thought I'd compile a list of the five best things about the iPhone, and the five worst. It's not a perfect device by any means. It's interesting to see that some of the iPhone's greatest strengths pave the way for its greatest weaknesses.

But first, the good:

The typing on the iPhone is lightning fast. I never would have guessed this, but it's true. I was pretty fast on my Blackberry 8700 and then 8800, but I'm at least 25 percent faster on the iPhone. I worried about the lack of tactile feedback, but the iPhone gives visual feedback (the key you're about to hit enlarges to meet your finger) which is arguably superior. In addition, it's very, very smart about correcting misspellings. Often I'll keep typing, even when I know I made a mistake, because I know the iPhone's software will correct my mistake for me. It usually does.… Read more

This week in laptops

More tiny laptops, broken OLPCs, and a factory inferno causes a battery shortage. This week's summary is presented in headline format, a favorite of rushed editors worldwide. (Everyone loves a list, right?)

Second-gen Eee PC will have touch screen, GPS HP readying its own cheap mini-notebook? Taiwanese company introduces Eee PC-branded accessories First Intel netbook identified as 2go PC VIA Technologies preps an x86 chip for small notebooks How much will netbooks disrupt the PC market? Photos of a follow-up to the Classmate PC? OLPC keyboards apparently not childproof Dell announces sub-$1,000 Blu-ray laptop ...and finds a retail partner in India … Read more

Insider Secrets: Run Windows on a Mac

Watch the video on CNET TV, then come back here for the written recap.

We've shown you how to run Windows on a Mac using BootCamp under Tiger. But Boot Camp is included in OS X Leopard. And it's a little smoother.

First gather the things you need. One Mac with OS X Leopard installed. One copy of your OS X Leopard disk. And a copy of Windows XP or Vista, which you have legally purchased.

If you're not on a laptop, make sure you have a USB keyboard. And then: Back up your data!!

Good--now you'… Read more

Prediction: Apple will eventually dominate the tech industry

So you've probably been told by numerous Apple zealots that their favorite company is the greatest in the world. And while they're all wrong for believing it, their company will eventually become the most dominant in the tech industry. Sorry to break it to you, but it's true.

So why will that happen? Believe it or not, it's not the stretch some may think it is. Let's face it -- Microsoft dominated the industry for years through sheer power and control along with a little business know-how thrown in. And although some like to believe that Bill Gates and company walked in one day and took the industry over, it didn't happen that way. Instead, it took years and a slew of deals to propel Microsoft to the top -- something Apple is working on now.

Now I know what you're saying -- "will this be an Apple fanboy rant about the wonders of Steve Jobs?" Hardly. The fact of the matter is Apple is poised to become the most powerful company in technology and along the way it'll definitely court its share of individuals who will despise its every move. And let's face it -- a company doesn't become the most dominant by being the nicest on the block.… Read more

Of course Mac users enjoy Macs!

Of course silly Mac users are going to flog a study that shows that they, themselves, are five times more likely to say they're "very satisfied" with their operating system than Vista users.

Now, any idiot can see the problem with surveying people who've already admitted to using the Mac.

They're Mac users! They've already drank the Kool Aid! They drank it all up! And possibly drank yours!

Their responses simply can't be trusted because they've already fallen victim to Steve Jobs' voodoo powers.

Hel-loooo?!

Ha-ha! Silly Mac users!