Tips on Technology By: Bill Michling

Welcome back, I hope you are having a great week………

Last week we talked about what may happen at MacWorld.

This week we will discuss what did happen at Macworld, now that I can.

Remember, this article and all past articles are available online at: ( http://www.mespn.com/techarticles ) as well as the online version of the Saipan Tribune, which you can access by clicking the banner on that same page.

** MacWorld New York

Well MacWorld New York 2000 is history, but what history was made there!

Steve Jobs keynote anounced a plethoria of new products. Lets list them in their respective catagories.

** A new mouse

The Apple Pro Mouse requires no maintenance Ð no parts to clean. It glides effortlessly over your desk, and uses a high-precision optical sensor for unparalleled accuracy. And yes the new pro mouse can be used on existing USB Macintoshes.

** A new keyboard

The new Apple Pro Keyboard has 108 keys, a built-in 2-port USB hub and a convenient flip-out foot. Unique keys let you adjust audio volume, mute the speakers, and even eject a CD or DVD disk from the slot-loading drive. The new Apple pro keyboard can be used with any existing USB Macintosh.

** Personal Desktop

Of course the personal desktop is the iMac. Steve introduced new colors for the iMac, Indigo, Ruby, Sage, a updated Graphite, and the unbeleivable Snow. All the iMacs are tranlucent. Unlike PCs, the iMac doesn1t need a noisy fan inside so it is almost totally silent. Also more storage for all models. The entry level iMac has a 7GB harddrive and a 350MHZ processor and will be available in indigo. The DV model has a 10GB harddrive and a 400MHZ processor and included Firewire and will be available in indigo and ruby. The DV+ model has a 20GB harddrive and a 450MHZ processor with DVD and will be available in indigo, ruby and sage. The top of the line iMac the DV Special Edition has a 30GB harddrive and a 500MHZ processor with DVD and 128MB ram and will be available in graphite or snow.

All of the new iMacs include the new Apple pro mouse and new Apple pro keyboard.

** Pro desktops

The pro desk tops are the Power Mac G4 computers. The entry level pro desktop includes a single 400MHZ G4 processor, 20GB harddrive, and 64MB ram. The next level includes TWO 450MHZ G4 processors, 30GB harddrive, and 128MB ram. The top of the line includes TWO 500MHZ G4 processors, 40GB harddrive, and 256MB ram. Yes you heard right, the top two models include two (2) high speed G4 processors. The top of the line can now run at over 7 gigaflops! A gigaflop is a billion operations a second.

What is really amazing to me is that all the Power Mac G4s include the following a standard:

– 56K modem

– Gigabit ethernet (1000 base T) up to 100 times faster then 10 base T

– DVD

– Apple pro mouse

– Apple pro keyboard

** Power Mac G4 Cube

The power Mac G4 cube is brand new. It is the smallest G4 desktop available today. It is small in size but big in power. There are two models of the G4 cube. The entry level, if it can be called that has a 450MHZ G4 processor with 64MB ram and a 20GB harddrive. The top of the line G4 cube has a 500MHZ G4 processor with 128MB ram and a 30GB harddrive.

The cube’s dimensions are 8″x8″x9″ and it has no noisey fan, so it is completely silent. The G4 Cube is contained in a clear case and is completly accessible for upgrades by turning it over, pushing the release handel and lifting out the core. Both Cube models include the new Apple pro mouse and Apple pro keyboard.

So who would need or use the cube? The way I see it, Apple has created the perfect consumer personal desktop, the imac. They have also created the most expandable easy access pro desktop, the Powermac G4. So now Apple has created the perfect Power Mac for the Boss. yes it is time the Boss of the company had a Mac that not only performed unbelievably well but also fits into his office along with other conversational pieces.

Of course the graphics professional who does work at home could make use of the cube. No more complaints from the wife, “get that ugly thing out of here”, or “your not putting that thing in OUR livingroom”. The new Apple G4
Cube will fit in with most any decor and will be very silent while it works hard.

** New monitors

Apple also anounced some new monitor. I will leave that up to the readers to research as the word counter says we are more than all out of space.

You can find all these products and more at:
(http://www.mespn.com/products/mespn_products_we_carry.html )

See you here and on the web next week.
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Bill Michling is a computer professional and welcomes any comments or questions you may have. Just send email to: bill@mespn.com or michling@usa.net.

You may also go to Marianas Electronics and ask help from the friendly staff there, or call them at: 234-5424, Just ask for Annie, Jun or Joseph.

For world access this Wednesday column is also on the Saipan Tribune website at: (http://www.saipantribune.com) or at the mespn.com site at: (http://mespn.com/techArticles/ ), now connected to the internet via broadband T1+………..