Unpacking a Refurbished Apple MacBook
October 31, 2006 | 44 Comments
Everyone always gets to see the latest and greatest Apple hardware in all its unpacking glory but what about those of us that go the refurbished route. It is no surprise that Apple offers some great deals when it comes to purchasing a refurbished Mac from their online store. Everyone likes to save a few bucks now and then. But what exactly are you getting when you purchase a refurbished product? You may be a little surprised when the refurbished product shows up on your doorstep, because if this is the first time you have purchased a Mac your computer won’t be arriving in that great packaging that Apple is known for. The price to pay for saving some money I guess.
Now rest assured that all Apple Certified Refurbished products are covered by Apple’s One-Year Limited Warranty. And for extended coverage, you also have the option of purchasing the AppleCare Protection Plan with your Apple Certified Refurbished product.
Basically you just don’t get the fancy box.
Apple Reconditioned Product is displayed on the side of the box.
After opening the box you will find the included accessories in an insert just inside the box. Not quite as impressive as the Non Refurbished MacBook.
After lifting out the tray you can see the MacBook securely placed in the bottom of the box.
After opening the tray you can see all of the included MacBook accessories.
After lifting out the accessory tray completely the MacBook can be seen in all its glory.
The refurbished MacBook comes completely wrapped in plastic.
Once the MacBook is completely unpacked it boots up just fine.
How to recycle an old Mac
October 31, 2006 | 1 Comment
So you have just purchased a brand new Mac. Now comes the big question. What to do with your old Macintosh? If your lucky enough to have a fairly recent Mac that you are replacing (at least a G4 or better) you will have an easier time getting rid of it.
Keep it:
Check to see if anyone in your immediate family can benefit from getting your old Macintosh. Perhaps you have a child in college that could use your old computer. Or they may know someone that does.
Sell it online:
Try sites like Craigslist, eBay, or UsedMac.ca. If your Mac is a G4 or above you should have no problem selling it on one of these sites quite quickly. Just keep in mind that Macintosh prices have really dropped in recent years so you won’t get as much as you would expect for your used Macintosh. T.U.A.W has a great article with some tips on selling your used mac online.
If you have a computer the is a little bit older than a G3 your options are a little more limited. You can of course list it for sale on the sites listed above but chances are you won’t get much at all for it.
Give it away:
An easy way to dispose of a used computer that no one will buy is to try giving it away to someone for free. Try placing an ad on either Craigslist or UsedMac.ca under the free section and you will probably find a new owner willing to come pick up your Mac in no time. You might also want to try contacting your local school board to see if they accept computer donations.
Recycle it:
If you live in the US and purchased your new computer from either an Apple retail store or the Apple online store. Apple offers a recycling program that with the purchase any qualifying Apple computer or monitor you receive free recycling of your old computer and monitor — regardless of manufacturer.
Apple also offers a free iPod recycling program, conducted through Apple’s retail stores, offers environmentally friendly disposal and a 10% discount on the purchase of a new iPod. You can also drop off your Apple product batteries at any of our US retail locations for proper disposal.
Canadian Mac users with out a should consult their with their local Macintosh reseller for recycling information.
Apple drops prices on refurbished iPod shuffle 512MB
October 31, 2006 | 4 Comments
With news that the latest generation iPod shuffle is now shipping. Apple quietly dropped the pricing on the 1st generation iPod shuffle. Now you can pickup a shuffle 512MB for $29 at the Apple online store.
Apple releases iTunes 7.0.2 update
October 31, 2006 | 1 Comment
Apple today released iTunes 7.0.2 via Software Update and standalone download. Apple says, “iTunes 7.0.2 adds support for the Second Generation iPod shuffle and addresses a variety of stability and performance issues found in iTunes 7 and 7.0.1.”
Apple’s New iPod shuffle Available Worldwide This Friday
October 31, 2006 | 2 Comments
Apple’s new iPod shuffle, the world�s smallest digital music player, will be available in Apple�s retail stores and Apple Authorized Resellers this Friday, November 3. Nearly half the size of the original, the new iPod shuffle is just half a cubic inch in volume, weighs just half an ounce and features a minimal aluminum design with a built-in clip, making it the most wearable iPod ever. The new iPod shuffle contains one gigabyte of flash memory which holds up to 240 songs, and is priced at just $79.
�With its ultra-compact design and built-in clip, the new iPod shuffle is the most wearable iPod ever,� said Greg Joswiak, Apple�s vice president of Worldwide iPod Product Marketing. � The new iPod shuffle completes our all-new lineup of iPods for this holiday season and beyond, and we hope it’s going to be a huge hit.�
The new iPod shuffle features up to 12 hours of battery life and is based on Apple�s pioneering shuffle feature which lets music fans serve up a continuous mix of their favorite songs anywhere they go. Users can enjoy their songs in a random order or simply flip a switch to listen to their songs in order, such as when listening to a new album.
Users connect the new iPod shuffle to their Mac or PC with the included dock, and iTunes� innovative AutoFill feature automatically syncs the perfect number of songs from their music library. Seamless integration with iTunes 7 and the iTunes Store (www.itunes.com) allows customers to choose from a selection of over 3.5 million songs from the world�s most popular digital music store.
With Apple�s legendary ease of use, pioneering features such as integrated podcasting support, iMix playlist sharing, seamless integration with iPod and groundbreaking personal use rights, the iTunes Store is the best way for Mac and PC users to legally discover, purchase and download music and video online.
Leopard could pounce as soon as MacWorld 07
October 30, 2006 | 9 Comments
I am not usually one for rumors here at Macsupport but I figured this one was to good to let pass by without a post. According to MacNewsWorld Apple could drop the “Leopard” bomb to coincide with the release of that other operating system called Vista. MacNewsWorld speculates, “Apple is preparing a little surprise for Microsoft at MacWorld which happens at the same time as the Consumer Electronics Show in January. While Microsoft and partners will be talking about Vista in advance of the launch of that product at CES, Apple, along with Intel, will be launching Apple’s version of the Media Center with iTV and Leopard.”
Do you think we could see Leopard as soon as MacWorld ‘07? I guess you never know until Steve says, “One more thing.”
Apple releases Boot Camp 1.1.2 beta
October 30, 2006 | Leave a Comment
Apple today released Boot Camp 1.1.2 beta which contains several updates and is intended for all new and previous Boot Camp beta users.
Apple notes Boot Camp 1.1.2 beta includes:
* Support for the latest Intel-based Macintosh computers
* Easier partitioning using presets for popular sizes
* Ability to install Windows XP on any internal disk
* Support for built-in iSight cameras
* Support for built-in microphones
* Support for the Apple USB Modem
* Trackpad scrolling and right-click support on Apple Laptops
* Improved Apple keyboard support including Delete, PrintScreen, NumLock, and ScrollLock keys
* Improved International Apple keyboard support
Updating to Boot Camp 1.1.2 beta
If you previously installed Boot Camp beta, you can easily update to Boot Camp 1.1.2 beta. You don’t need to partition your hard drive again (unless you want to change its size) or reinstall your Macintosh and Windows software or documents, but it’s very important to update the Boot Camp Assistant software, create a new Macintosh Drivers for Windows CD and install the updated software it contains on Windows XP. Complete instructions are provided in the Installation and Setup Guide included with the Boot Camp 1.1.2 beta software.
Word to the Wise
Windows running on a Mac is like Windows running on a PC. That means it’ll be subject to the same attacks that plague the Windows world. So be sure to keep it updated with the latest Microsoft Windows security fixes.
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