So you got your new MacBook (gorgeous isn’t it?) and you really want to carry it with you everywhere. You could throw it into a large, super protective notebook case. The problem is, but that would just weigh you down after Apple was kind enough to shave half a pound from it. You could carry it in a highly protective laptop sleeve, such as the one that I use from Waterfield. It works great and offers a fair amount of protection.

But what if you want to carry a work briefcase and don’t feel like having two different cases? What if you just want to keep your MacBook’s beautiful aluminum body scratch free in the lightest and thinnest way possible? Enter Waterfield’s new Suede Jacket Sleeve.

As Waterfield describes it-

It doesn’t get any thinner than this! The suede jacket sleeve helps prevent scratches and dings on your Mac and the custom sizing plus stretch memory of the ultra suede ensures assigned fit… This elegant, low-profile sleeve slips easily into a briefcase, messenger bag or backpack and helps protect your laptop from the minor bumps and bruises of daily use.

The new suede jacket sleeves are shipping and mine arrived earlier today. It’s typical Waterfield –

Continue Reading

Unless you’re living under a rock, you’ve probably heard that Apple announced several new models and refreshes of their popular line of MacBook, MacBook Pro and MacBook Air computers. The MacBook seems the most changed with new aluminum casing and beefier video and storage specifications. Turns out all the hype about “carving a laptop from a brick of aluminum” was interesting speculation. Apple is indeed using the manufacturing process that they used to make the MacBook Air so slim - but there doesn’t seem to be any magic aluminum carving potion beyond sharing the same manufacturing process. So far as I’ve seen, these laptops are not Apple’s much ballyhooed margin buster as evidenced by the chorus of complaints about the lack of an expected sub $800 model.

New MacBook’s Announced:
$1299. 13.3″ Glossy Display, 2.0GHz, 2GB RAM, NVIDIA GeForce 9400M, 160GB HD
$1599. 13.3″ Glossy Display, 2.4GHz, 2GB RAM, NVIDIA GeForce 9400M, 250GB HD.

New MacBook Pros Announced:
$1999. 15.4″ Glossy Display, 2.4GHz, 2GB RAM, NVIDIA 9400M + 9600M, 250GB HD.
$2499. 15.4″ Glossy Display, 2.53GHz, 4GB RAM, NVIDIA 9400M + 9600M, 320GB HD.

Visit Slashgear for one of the first unboxing videos of the new MacBook and MacBook Pro

There’s been a big push by Microsoft to get everyone to cross over to the 64bit version of Vista. Are you and your hardware ready for it?

I’ve got a MacBook Pro. I purchased the notebook in December of 2006. It’s the low end unit, with a 2.16 GHz C2D processor, 4GB of RAM (yes, Leopard will see and use all 4GB of RAM, despite what you might think, or are told), and a 120GB hard drive. It’s not a bad unit; and has treated me well in the almost 20 months that I’ve been using it.

Continue Reading

I tote two different laptops between locations these days, switching them out (or sometimes bringing both) depending upon what my needs will be once I’ve arrived. For the most part, I’ve been content to slip my MacBook Air into a bag, a sleeve, or the Agent 18 shell that Dan recently forwarded to me, but I hadn’t yet found a similar slim and protective MacBook Pro shell. Bear in mind, the type of transport I usually do involves grabbing my laptop, throwing it into my Louis Vuitton Alto tote (along with a couple days’ worth of clothing), and then driving to my destination (and back). This is what I do days when I am traveling as lightly as possible, and I don’t want to bring a full-sized laptop bag.

When I first saw the DecoCases EcoDesign Case for MacBook Pro, I couldn’t help but be reminded of the hard-shell aluminum cases I have long enjoyed on my PDAs. I’d never really thought about using something similar on a laptop, but I would soon have the opportunity to see if I’d like it…

Continue Reading

Here’s a cool tip for those of you looking to “ugly up” your MacBook Pro and erase 80% of the resale value in one step. Enthusiast Russell Davies purchased some blackboard type paint and coated the entire top of his MacBook Pro. He’s now created a convenient way to take notes (in chalk) without having to open the MBP. Note To Russell: They’ve already invented a better solution to your problem - and it doesn’t require carrying a MacBook Pro - it’s called pencil and paper. Biggest benefit? About 5 lbs 4oz less weight to carry. You also won’t lose the resale on the MacBook Pro and there’s none of that annoying chalk smear to deal with.

Link: Russell Davies - BlackBoardPro via: TUAW

When I arrived at the conference area to grab breakfast before entering, Tim McAfee was there to greet us, handing out REDFLY t-shirts. I was hoping for a medium, but some of the other guys had already beat me to them; he made it up to me by giving me two larges. Ha! After getting set up and then eating my food, I settled in with the others to listen to the first presentation on the Microsoft Zune.

Creative Strategies Presentation

Ben from Creative Strategies started a two hour discussion with the question “How is technology going to better integrate and improve people’s lives.” He gave a quick overview of the personal computing experience over the past couple decades, and about how many of the systems we had bought were basically versions of the current enterprise models. In the last few years, the trend has become about choices - colors, configurations, various sizes, making the whole experience more optimized and personal for each individual.

CS’s view of the Digital Future is that “No device is an island,” meaning that all of your information will be synced with all of your devices, in all of your locations. I’m ready for that…

Continue Reading

As I sit here typing this on my MacBook Pro at Starbucks, I feel at the peak of my productiveness. Why do you ask? Well I’m easily distracted, and am a shocking procrastinator. I can put off stuff for as long as possible, then race to get it done at the last possible minute.

At home, the TV is a big distraction. Lost, NCIS, Star Trek, Top Gear, Two and a Half Men, and a host of other shows are all sitting there on my Media Center PC, just waiting for me to press the green button on the remote to start up a distraction.

On the train to university, things improve dramatically. No TV and nobody I know to distract me from getting work done. But the times I’m on the train, I’m usually tired from work (on the way in) or tired from uni (on the way home), so that often mellows to an iPod listening session.

It’s only when I’m at the coffee shop that I feel like I can really get some work done. The atmosphere is perfect, a nice ambience of soft chatter, soothing music, plenty of natural light, and the sweet nectar of a skin Venti Cafe Latte just a sip away. Armed with my Novatel HSDPA Data Card and the Battery Geek external battery, I can work for hours. Perfect.

Continue Reading