Spinning Out of Control

It happened summer of last year. Starting at the end of July, Thailand’s monsoon season started and they had the worst flooding in decades. Unknown to most, Thailand seems to be where the majority of computer hard drives are manufactured. Thailand’s monsoon season was devastating in the tragic number of lost lives. Property losses in key industries will also be felt for longer than originally believed. The hard drive industry will likely take a year or more to recover.

If you have been looking to get a new hard drive, either as an upgrade, backup, or repair part, you may have found that the price and availability of drives have changed dramatically. Just a year ago, hard drives were cheap and plentiful. But that has all changed due to the flooding in Thailand.

A year ago today, you could buy a new name brand OEM 1 TB (terabyte) SATA drive for $60. You could also buy 40 or them, if you wanted to. The end of 2011, the same 1 TB drive cost almost $150. Across the board, most new drives (of most any capacity) almost tripled in cost. The other problem was that retailers, online or physical store, have placed limits on the number of drives you could purchase at one time. Some drives were limited to one per customer. This is still in place today, but it is finally starting to recede. The flooding ended months ago, but the impact will likely be felt even into next year.

Hard drive production is back in place in the over 100 factories in Thailand. The online price for a single 1 TB drive is down to almost $100. The big worry is what this will do to desktop and laptop prices over the next year. PC makers like HP, Dell, Acer, and Apple buy drives by the boxcar. If their supply is strained and prices have increased, will computer prices start to increase this year? So far it doesn’t look like this has happened.

Apple is in an interesting position. They have started abandoning spinning hard drives for SSD – Solid State Drives. While these drives have less storage capacity, the speeds of SSDs have helped sell their MacBook Air line of laptops. With a new 15-inch model (not yet officially announced by Apple) rumored to be in the work, Apple doesn’t have to worry as much about lack of or pricing of spinning hard drives. HP, Dell, and other Windows PC makers live on such razor thin margins, the effect of the Thailand floods on the hard drive industry is hard to predict.

 

iPad Goes to School

On Thursday, January 19th, Apple held an event at the Guggenheim museum in New York City. As hinted in their press invitations, this event was used to announce Apple’s education initiative. This initiative is their new push towards e-textbooks.

During the hour-long presentation, Apple showed three pieces. First is a new iBooks App for the iPad. Second is a new Mac App for creating interactive e-books. And third, they showed a renewed commitment to the under utilized iTunes-U. While some briefly held their breath hoping for the famous ‘…one more thing.’, Apple didn’t announce any updated iPad.

 

2012 – What’s Ahead

So, it’s time to get back to work on the Mac Blog. Took a brief time off but it’s time to post again.

Most would say Apple had their best ever year in 2011. The good news is that they might have an even better 2012. The iPhone 4S is selling like mad and is now starting to be available globally. The Mac is making a mark for itself helping Apple move into the 3rd position in PC sales, according to research firm Gartner. Dell is 2nd and HP is 1st. Earlier in 2011, HP had announced it was thinking of getting out of the PC and tablet business but later retracted. This move did hurt their sales of PC – not a smart move. HP is ahead of Dell by less than 1 percent.

For the coming year, Apple has nothing to announce, yet. There is an event on Thursday January 19th in New York City. This is understood to be an education related event that will likely have to do with textbooks on the iPad.

Of course, most of the tech media know that there will be a new iPad and iPhone this year. There will also be updates to Mac desktops and laptops. These updates will likely only be bumps in speed gained from new Intel processors. The Mac lineup will likely not change significantly this coming year. The Apple rumor engines are starting to ramp up the RPMs. Let’s take a look at some of the more believable ones out there.

 

2011 Hits and Misses for Apple

Apple as a company can do no wrong, most of the time. They make premium products that sell at a premium price. This is sort of true, but when you look at things equally, the prices are higher but not outrageous. The desktops are higher but still competitive. The MacBook Pros are higher than say a basic Dell or HP laptop. With the upcoming onslaught of MacBook Air clones it looks like prices are going to be pretty comparable. But then hardware is only the tip of the Apple iceberg. There are the retail stores, the online store, two App stores (one for iOS and another for Mac OS), music, TV, movies, books, and recently, magazines. It’s an Apple world out there.

2011 was the year of the iPad. Even with several major players entering the fray, they all fell well short of what the iPad is and can do. Android tried to hit the market running with new tablet models from Samsung, Acer, Toshiba, and Motorola. HP tried to start something with their WebOS they acquired when they bought Palm. RIM, the makes of Blackberry phones, tried their own tablet running their own mobile OS called QNX. Both HP and RIM didn’t sell and both ended up slashing prices just to get rid of store stock.

 

12 Days of Gifts – Day 12

Homerun.  Hi, my name is Dave and I am a TV junky. There I said it. I like a variety of programming, but I don’t like (i.e. hate) reality TV. This still leaves a lot of programs to watch on both network and cable channels. I used to record shows with a VCR, but then went to a DVD recorder. Now I use my Mac.

Elgato makes some of the best video devices out there, and they are all Mac based. They have small USB devices that either capture video, or have TV tuners. For a while now I have been using they amazing Elgato EyeTV 250 plus. This is a small external box that can connect to either video sources or to a cable/antenna. With it I can record TV shows to my Mac’s hard drive making it similar to a TiVo – basically a DVR box. The big difference is that I can edit out commercials and easily burn shows to a DVD.

Elgato has a new TV tuner in their lineup called the HDHomerun. Instead of connecting directly to a computer using USB, the HDHomerun connects to your home network.  This small box has only three ports – cable/antenna, Ethernet, and power. However, inside there are actually two tuners. Just install the EyeTV software on all your computers on your home network (Mac and Windows) and you can watch and record your favorite shows anywhere you are connected to you home network. It can even work with most 802.11n WiFi networks. Two tuners allow two computers to watch and record two different channels at the same time.

Recording shows can’t be any easier. The EyeTV 3 software includes one year of TVGuide online programming (after the first year it is a $19.95/yr subscription). To record a show just find it in the program guide and click the little dot, which turns red to indicate it will be recorded.

After you have recorded a show there is a basic, but decent, video editor that makes it simple to cut out the parts you don’t want, which of course could be the commercials. The EyeTV software also works seamlessly with Roxio Toast allowing you to easily archive your shows to DVD, or even Blu-Ray with the proper burning hardware.

As an added bonus, Elgato has an iOS App that allows you to watch either ‘live TV’ or shows you’ve recorded and converted. The iOS App is available from the App Store for $4.99.

If you love TV and have more than one computer in the house, the Elgato HDHomerun is a great gift. Street price is around $180.

 

12 Days of Gifts – Day 11

Windows. The reason I use a Mac is a preference for the Mac OS and Mac hardware. That doesn’t mean that I don’t own a Dell and run Windows. I believe the Mac OS has fewer security holes, though it does have them, and it is unlikely to be affected by ‘Malware’ or ‘high-jacking’. But there are times when you need to have Windows to run special software that is not available for the Mac. The good news is that any Intel Mac can run the Windows operating system.

There are two ways to run the Windows OS on a Mac. The easiest way to do it is with virtualization. There are three virtual programs out there. There is the free Virtual Box from Oracle and commercial Apps called Parallels Desktop 7 and VMWare Fusion 4. Virtualization allows you to create a ‘virtual’ PC machine where you can install practically any PC OS you’d ever want – Windows XP, Vista, 7, or even the free various Linux versions out there.

The other way is to use Apple’s technology called Boot Camp. This is included in all new Macs, it actually started back with a beta version for OS X Tiger (10.4). Boot Camp will set aside a portion of your Mac’s hard drive to install Windows Vista or 7 (some versions of Boot Camp can install XP). There are drivers for your Mac on the reinstallation discs included with your Mac.

Once you have Windows installed using Boot Camp you will now have another start up selection in the System Preferences panel. This is where you select what drive to boot from. On my Mac I have Mac OS set as the default startup drive. If I want to run Windows all I have to do is hold down the Option key while I turn on my Mac. This will bring up the ‘startup disk selection’ screen. I just select the Windows disk and it will then boot fully into Windows 7.

Since this is not virtualization, my Mac is no longer a Mac it is a full Windows PC. This method of running Windows is great when you need a full speed PC, since it doesn’t have to share resources like screen memory, RAM memory, etc. Booting fully into Windows also means that video, sound, networking, etc. is really there and not a simulation, which virtualization sort of has to do. Playing PC video games is another reason to use Boot Camp for running Windows.

No matter which method you decide to use, you will have to purchase a full copy of Windows (Windows 7 Home Premium street price around $190 but versions can be found for much less). Boot Camp is included with all new Macs. Virtual Box is a free download from www.virtualbox.org. VMWare Fusion 4 and Parallels 7 can be found as low as $40 and $50 respectively.

 

12 Days of Gifts – Day 10

Ultimate Control. I have been a big fan of the Logitech Harmony line of universal remotes. If you have one then you know what I mean. There are several Harmony models to choose from and can range in price from $50 to $350. But to say that a Harmony is just a universal remote is like saying a Porsche is just a car.

For those who have a fairly complicated home theatre system, there can be five or more remotes you have to use to watch or listen to something. The Harmony remote should replace all of them. The only time you should have to pull out the remote for a device is if you have to change some deep menu settings – things you probably only have to do once or twice a year.

The idea behind the Harmony line of remote controls is two fold – programming and usability. Most universal remotes have a huge table of codes that you have to program in to get it to work with your device – TV, VCR, DVD, receiver, etc. This can be a tedious ‘trial and error’ process.

To program a Harmony remote you connect it to your computer with a USB cable, after installing the Logitech software. The software will then walk you through an extensive, but easy to follow, setup procedure. You will need to know the make and model numbers of all the components in your home theatre and how they are interconnected. This is probably the hardest part.

Once you have the Harmony properly programmed the magic starts to happen. The best part of a Harmony remote is the function buttons. The number of function buttons varies on the model, basic ones have four and upper end remotes can have six or more. The function keys are used to perform, well, a function. It really depends on your system, but on my Harmony I have function buttons set for – Watch TV, Watch DVD, Watch Blu-Ray, Watch Netflix, and Listen to Music.

What really happens when you push one of these function keys is all part of the magic. On my system when I press the ‘Watch TV’ button it goes through these steps: turn on TV, turn on receiver, set receiver to TV input, turn on cable box, set TV to HDMI input 2. With just one button, the Harmony remote performs the same functions that would of taken three remotes and a whole lot of buttons being pressed. The idea behind all this is that anyone in your house doesn’t have to know how your system is connected – like which device is plugged into what HDMI port on the TV and what input the receiver needs to hear the audio from the cable box. Someone visiting your home won’t know all these things and the Harmony eliminates the confusion.

There are two Harmony remotes that I recommend. The best deal is on the Harmony 650. It can control up to five pieces of equipment and has a nice color touch screen. If you have more than five components to control then take a look at the Harmony One. The Harmony One also has a color screen but can control up to 15 devices and uses a rechargeable battery. The 650 is a bargain this holiday season with a street price around $55. The Harmony One with battery and charging cradle is priced around $140.

 

12 Days of Gifts – Day 9

Moving Pictures. Apple’s mobile devices are great for taking your media files with you. This means that you can listen to your music or watch your videos practically anywhere. Originally, an iOS device – iPod, iPhone, iPad, or Touch – played video media on the device only. Late model iOS devices do have the option to output video – with the proper cables and adapters, plus a wireless way.

There are two ways to get video out of an iOS device. Some older model iPods have a special cable that connects to the headphone jack that has the standard red, white, and yellow audio/video connectors (composite video). This cable allows the device to be connected to a standard-def television, monitor, or projector.

Later model iOS devices use the Apple 30-pin dock connector. Depending on your model, this could be the standard composite video, HDMI, and even VGA. Check the Apple site for compatibility. The latest Touch/iPhone/iPad2 have the widest choices in outputting video.

With the proper cables and/or adapters, the iPad2’s screen can be mirrored to an HDTV, projector, or computer monitor. This is great for presentations, training, or even just movie night.

So today’s gift is a video output cable for iOS. This can be the Apple Digital AV Adapter, Apple Composite Cable, or Apple VGA Adapter ($29-$39).

 

12 Days of Gifts – Day 8

The Key To It All. The latest Macs, except for the mini, come with a great wireless, via Bluetooth, keyboard. The standard model is the compact one without the numeric keypad. It is possible, when you order a Mac from the online Apple Store, to specify different keyboards and even choose between the Magic Mouse and Magic Trackpad. But the keyboard is truly a personal preference device.

I do like the new aluminum Mac keyboard, especially since it’s Bluetooth. However, it is a bit too thin for me – I admit that I have pretty large hands. My favorite keyboard of all time is the old Mac ADB Extended Keyboard. It was huge, heavy, and in an ugly beige, but it had the best keys. Of course an ADB (Apple Desktop Bus) keyboard won’t work on any modern Mac.

I have found a new keyboard that I love. My previous keyboard was the Microsoft Digital Media Pro Keyboard (DMPK). This model works great on the Mac, there is even a System Preference module to control it. The DMPK has lots of extra buttons that control iTunes and volume. There are special buttons for My Documents, My Pictures, My Music, Mail, Web/Home, Messenger, Calculator, Log Off, and Sleep. There are even five customizable ‘Favorites’ keys.

While my old Microsoft keyboard was great, my new keyboard is even better. I’ve switched to the Saitek Cyborg V5. This is considered a gaming keyboard, which means that it’s pretty heavy duty, but the main feature I love is the red backlit keys.

 

12 Days of Gifts – Day 7

Super Sounds. Depending on which Mac you own, you may already have good speakers. Late model iMacs have decent speakers built in. Even if you have an iMac, you might want to sweeten the sounds coming out of your Mac (or even iPod/iPhone/iPad or other portable devices). The problem is that there are hundreds of speaker systems to choose from. Here are two different systems to choose from for you mini, iMac, Pro, or MacBook/Air/Pro laptop.

Multimedia speakers come in all shapes, sizes, and configurations. The basic configuration is two speakers – what we call stereo sound. You can add a subwoofer for ultra-low bass output, which is called a 2.1 system – 2 main speakers and the ‘dot one’ is the subwoofer. You can go even further and get 5.1 and 7.1 systems. Most Macs are really not set up for surround output so I usually don’t recommend these systems.

One of the best sounding multimedia stereo speakers is the Creative Labs GigaWorks T40 Series II. These are designed for desktop use, but can also be used with a small flat panel HDTV. They are also not the cheapest stereo speaker kit you can buy, but the sound they produce is amazing. If you want thumpy bass, get a 2.1 system, but for clean, clear, rich sounding music, the GigaWorks T40 Series II are well worth their street price ($120).

If you like to game or watch movies on your Mac, then having a subwoofer is an essential piece. If you like lots of bass in your music then a subwoofer is a no-brainer. The Logitech Z623 is a THX certified 2.1 speaker system with 200 watts (RMS) of power so you can hear and feel your music or movies. Pricing is around $150.