Editorial: Thanks for the Memory By Philip Michaels, pmichaels@macworld.com
The updated PowerBook line introduced by Apple this week sports a lot of additions and features worth getting excited about — everything from faster processor speeds and hard drives to 8X SuperDrives in the high-end models. In particular, I’m looking forward to trying out the new scrolling Trackpad feature, which lets you use two fingers to quickly scroll through long documents or pan within the window.
But there’s another addition to the PowerBook line that may get lost among all the other modifications made by Apple. And that would be a shame, since this particular change could have a far-reaching effect on Mac users.
Apple finally made 512MB of RAM the standard for installed memory for every PowerBook model. Previously, only the high-end PowerBooks — the fastest 15-inch model and the 17-inch laptop — shipped with that much memory. The other three configurations had to make do with 256MB of installed RAM (unless, of course, you ordered more as part of a built-to-order option).
“Make do” is not an understatement — 256MB of RAM really delivers a noticeable performance hit, especially if you’re used to working with more memory. As Macworld has noted on multiple occassions — the most recent times being our Mac mini review and our coverage of the iMac G5’s debut, 512MB of RAM are necessary for users to enjoy the smooth, peppy performance of OS X.
Monday’s news of more installed memory seems to indicate that Apple recognizes that fact, at least when it comes to computers aimed at pro users. In addition to the PowerBook line, Power Mac desktops also ship with 512MB of RAM. The consumer products — the iMac, iBook, eMac, and Mac mini — ship with the paltry 256MB. Again, users of those products can add more memory, either through Apple or by installing an upgrade themselves. But Apple’s memory prices are noticeably higher than what other RAM merchants charge. And since a sizeable chunk of the target audience for consumer machines is not the kind that leaps at the chance to install upgrades themselves aren’t you making things unnecessarily difficult on people you’re trying to attract with appeals about ease of use? (That’s particularly true of a do-it-yourself memory upgrade for the Mac mini, which, as we’ve reported, is not an easy task at all.)
So I have this dream where, at some Apple event in the not-too-distant future, Steve Jobs takes the stage. And just as Jobs has used past speeches to declare the end of CRT monitors or pronounce OS 9 dead and buried, I’d like to see the Apple CEO announce the end to the era of shipping Macs with insufficient installed memory. In this dream, consumer-level Macs now come with 512MB of RAM standard. And, if Apple still feels the need to differentiate between its pro and consumer products, Power Macs and PowerBooks come with 1GB of installed memory.
Such a move wouldn’t come without a cost, either in the form of a smaller profit margin for Apple or a slightly higher price tag for consumers. But whatever cost boosting installed RAM incurs would be outweighed by the amount of goodwill that Apple would generate.
In the past few years, Apple has delivered a superb operating system and world-class applications. Now it needs to make available machines with the installed memory to take full advantage of both that OS and those applications right out of the box.
Apple News
Apple bumps PowerBooks to 1.67GHz, lowers price
Apple on Monday announced a modest speed bump to its line of PowerBook G4 laptops, increasing the high-end processor from 1.5GHz to 1.67GHz. That’s not all, however: The refreshed laptop line gains 512MB of standard RAM, faster graphics, faster hard drives and 8x “SuperDrives,” as well as standard 802.11g-based wireless networking, Bluetooth 2.0 and two patent-pending technologies — the scrolling TrackPad and the Sudden Motion Sensor.
Apple: Video’s future is Tiger, QuickTime 7, H.264
One of the most talked-about video codecs in the last year, H.264, will make its debut in QuickTime 7 this year when Apple ships Mac OS X Tiger. Apple says that because H.264 is a standard and has been adopted by standards organizations and many other companies the battle for the successor to the current MPEG-2 video standard is basically over.
UIUC’s 640-node Xserve cluster wins on price, speed
The new Turing Xserve Cluster at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) is the one of the latest large-scale high speed computing systems to use Apple’s Xserve G5. The director in charge of the program said the decision to use Apple hardware and software made sense based on price, performance, compatibility, efficiency and support.
Apple filing shows shift from pro to consumer Macs
Apple beats Google as brand with most impact
Pepsi to promote iTunes during SuperBowl
.Mac updates tutorials, offers free screen saver
Hardware News
The Plasticsmith intros new products for Mac mini
San Carlos, Calif.-based The Plasticsmith on Monday released a new line of accessories aimed at Mac mini owners. The company’s mini Grandstand (US$34.95) comes in acrylic or steel and offers a way to place an LCD or CRT monitor over the computer. Both versions can support up to 60 pounds and come with non-skid pads. They’re both 11 inches wide and nine inches deep, but the acrylic model is 2.5 inches high while the steel version is 2-3/8 inches high.
Casio Exilim Pro EX-P505 records stills, video
MCE ships portable Dual-Layer DVD FireWire drive
Ultimate Mac Package Systems bundle fast networking
Tritton offers 2.1 speakers for Mac mini, iBook
OWC offers new RoadTrip, 300GB drive
Canon debuts PowerShot A520 4-megapixel camera
Palm-sized Monstor Drive offers 2GB, 4GB storage
Iogear blesses MiniView KVM switch for Mac mini
Nyko Air Flo EX gamepad includes Mac drivers
Kanguru redesigns QuickSilver hard drive
Saturn hard drive kits take modular approach
Software News
Playlist: Two-way Street: Moving Music Off the iPod
When you’re in the business of writing about the iPod for fun and profit, the question most often thrown your way is: “How do I get my music off the iPod and onto my computer?” The difficulty in answering such a question is that it may be born of less-than-honorable intent, but given that I’m asked the question with such regularity, I’ve decided to point the way in the hope that it will help the virtuous among us. Those bad apples intent on stealing music will find a way to do it with or without my help.
E-On Software announces Vue 5 Infinite
Cinematize 2.02 offers more DVD extraction options
Skype voice over IP app emerges from beta
Guest PC emulates x86 computer on Mac OS X
iPodder X adds AAC format, bookmark support
Curious Labs to ship Poser 6 in the spring
BenchDesign debuts new RapidWeaver themes
mProjector converts Flash MX files to applications
World of Warcraft comes to Europe on Feb. 11th
MacPractice DDS to include aMac dental imaging
Around the Web
Napster counters iTunes with new To Go service
Microsoft Corp. has decided not to appeal a ruling by an European Union (E.U.) judge that upholds sanctions imposed on the company by the European Commission, a spokesman for the firm confirmed on Monday.
MP3.com founder to start new music venture
Apple: It May Be Too Late To Take A Bite
iPods have infiltrated Redmond
Apple cuts iPod prices in Korea
Schools make grades available online