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Reviews

mac.column.ted: The First Coming of iPhone

[Published Friday, June 22nd]

Ted Landau June 2007

[For full coverage of the iPhone, see our sister site iPhone Atlas]

With the expected arrival of iPhone next week, the media frenzy surrounding the device has escalated to such heights that I got vertigo just reading about it. I can't recall the last time (if ever) that there has been such intense speculation about the likely success or failure of a product that isn't even out yet. Adding further to the hyperbole are the warnings about how much Apple has riding on the outcome. Based on the tone of … Read more

mac.column.ted: An Alternative FAQ for Apple TV

Ted Landau April 2007

If you have questions about Apple's new Apple TV, there's already a wealth of answers on the Web. Considering that the device has only been available for a few days, that's pretty impressive. Such is life in the fast-paced world of the Internet. For this column, I sought to come up with some "alternative" information that had not yet been widely covered, if at all—and combine it with some personal comments. The result is the following FAQ collection:

Q. How exactly would you categorize an Apple TV? Is it a … Read more

mac.column.ted: Second Look: The new AirPort Extreme Base Station

[Posted Monday, March 12th]

Ted Landau March 2007

Last month, I offered a "first look" at Apple's new AirPort Extreme Base Station. It was written after only a couple of days experience with the new device. Such articles have their value, especially for those who are considering an immediate purchase and want the instant feedback that has become the modus operandi on the Web.

Still, there is remains a useful place for less hurried more deliberate analyses. With this in mind, this month's column takes a second look the new AirPort Base Station, providing results from … Read more

mac.column.ted: First Look: The new AirPort Extreme Base Station

Ted Landau February 2007

My new AirPort Extreme Base Station arrived the other day. As you probably know, its most significant feature is support for the (as-yet-unfinished) 802.11n protocol, which allows for much faster wireless transmission speeds and a wider reception range. This speed increase may be especially welcome if you plan on getting an Apple TV (due out later this month), which similarly supports the 802.11n protocol.

The new Base Station also sports three local Ethernet ports (compared to the lone such port on the older Extreme model) as well as the capability to add a USB … Read more

mac.column.ted: The iPhone: Second thoughts

Ted Landau January 2007

As I exited the keynote address at last week's Macworld Expo, images of the iPhone were dancing in my head. If Apple had set up a booth just outside the hall for selling the device, I would have signed on the dotted line without a moment's hesitation. Fully aware of Steve Jobs' persuasive powers, my defensive shields had been set to full strength prior to going into the keynote. But the device itself was so amazing, more than living up to its pre-Expo hype, that it shattered my shields with ease. I was not … Read more

mac.column.ted: The trouble with creating bootable drives and discs [Part 2]

Ted Landau December 2006

In last month's column, I described the hurdles that Mac OS X puts in your way when you try to create a bootable disc, especially a custom bootable CD, DVD or flash drive. I offered various solutions but omitted coverage of one critical category: a custom bootable disc that you can make yourself (that is, without having to purchase any specialized third-party software) and from which you can launch your preferred selection of utilities. That's the entire subject of this month's column.

Create a custom bootable CD or DVD

Here are the step-by-step &… Read more

mac.column.ted: The trouble with creating bootable drives and discs [Part 1]

Ted LandauNovember 2006

I harbor no nostalgia for Mac OS 9. Aside from a couple of old games, I never even think about using OS 9 anymore. With one exception...I long for OS 9's simplicity in creating bootable drives and discs.

How simple was it? For hard drives, it was as simple as dragging a System Folder from one drive to another. Actually, it was even simpler than that. You could usually get by with just copying the System and Finder files that resided inside the System Folder. The rest of the System Folder was desirable but optional. … Read more

mac.column.ted: Make the Most of Your AirPort Network

Posted Wednesday, September 6th

Ted Landau September 2006

A wireless network, especially one set up with an Apple AirPort Base Station, combined with broadband Internet access is a surefire recipe for computer joy. For starters, there is the obvious benefit of the speedy 24/7 online access. If you have more than one Mac in your home, perhaps you have discovered the added joy of sharing data among your connected Macs, such as via iTunes Music Sharing or even via the Finder. But all of that just scratches the surface of what you can do. Ignoring these features is a … Read more

mac.column.ted: A "Small" Mac OS X Leopard Wish List

Ted Landau July 2006

Apple will offer its first peek at Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard) at its WordWide Developers Conference (WWDC) next month. This means it's already too late to expect Apple to add new features beyond the ones already slated. Still, going on the assumption of "better late than never," I've put together a list of improvements that I would like to see in the updated OS. The concept is similar to what other writers have done over the years, although this is the first time I am giving it a whirl.

To … Read more