Michael Sherlock » laptop

The XO-3: A $75 Touch Screen Tablet

Michael Sherlock — Sat, 26 Dec 2009 23:11:40 +0000

The one laptop per child (OLPC) concept was originally a $100 laptop designed for third-world countries in need of a technological infrastructure. The idea was simple: make low cost, easy to use laptops to help the children expand their horizons. Although the cost never reached the $100 price point, the computer did launch and has helped millions of users around the world. The new design, the XO-3, looks even cooler with it’s $75 projected price tag.

The concept design is slimmer than the iPhone and measures 8.5 by 11 inches, has a full color screen with a built in camera, and an 800MHz processor. It’s body is made of waterproof flexible plastic, has a multitouch screen, and is backlit. The prototypes for this device are expected to be built in 2010 with an estimated launch in 2012.

Lead by MIT professor Nicholas Negroponte’s nonprofit effort, the OLPC has a bright future. However, can we actually expect an XO-3 at the $75 price point? Speaking to Forbes, Negroponte said, “We don’t necessarily need to build it, we just need to threaten to build it.” The quote makes sense because these concepts will surely impact other manufacturers tablet designs but the future of the XO-3 clearly isn’t cut and dry.

In any case, imagine the impact this device could have. Communication between villages and towns would increase dramatically. The internet would be unlocked for people who have never been exposed to its power. Conversely, the internet we know and love could give us access to a completely new way of life. It’s simply mind blowing to consider the possibilities the XO-3, or similar device, could have on society. It may never come to fruition, but hopefully a product in this niche does make an appearance.

Why Apple Computer’s are Worth the Price

Michael Sherlock — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 20:35:04 +0000

A big topic around the web regarding macintosh computers is why pay more? I have been told so many times “I can buy or build my own machine for less then a mac” and sometimes that is true. In other instances, the hardware cost is the same as a PC from another vendor. But why not just buy the machine with the lowest cost for the hardware? Well, among other things, an Apple computer has the advantage because of the additional benefits you get with every Mac.

The Software. Mac OS X is the most complete operating system I have used in many years. It has the eye candy everyone wants but is also responsive. Apple doesn’t preinstall junk-ware from third-party manufacturers on your machine either. They simply install the functional media suite iLife, free of charge, to get you on your way.
Applecare. Let’s say you are a new user and for some reason your machine is not working correctly. Nothing is perfect all of the time but apple doesn’t put you through the annoying hoops other companies call customer service. All you have to do is call Apple and a representative will do their best to help you. Do you live by an apple store though? If so, just go to the store and a ‘genius’ will help you fix the problem. If they can’t, they will replace the faulty component and in some cases give you a completely new machine. Even on the apple website you can find hundreds of tutorials to help you with any issues you are having.
Security. With new viruses, trojans, and spyware hitting the web every day it’s imperative to keep yourself protected. Apple made this a priority and uses an operating system designed more securely from the ground up than windows could ever be. Besides that, there are only a handful of viruses for the mac platform so the chance of getting infected is extremely low. With apple releasing security patches frequently, you can rest easy at night knowing your data is protected.
Quality. Apple has been leaps and bounds above the competition when it comes to making reliable products. The new unibody design for their laptop line is extremely durable and it’s single piece of aluminum is bound to keep your laptop running for years to come. From the past though, apple machines are still chugging along today. A friend of mine uses a three year old powerbook G4 as his primary machine and it can still do everything he needs it to do. From school to work to play, you can expect your mac to keep up with your needs.
Design. Apple machines are known for their sleek look and have been trend setters for years. Companies have tried over and over again to capture the sleek look of an Apple PC but few have matched what Apple has done. Functionally, Apple first brought firewire to their notebooks many years ago and now firewire is the gold standard for connecting high-speed devices to a computer. When apple began installing iSight cameras on all of their notebooks, the competition noticed. It’s almost common now to see webcams installed on mobile computers. When apple does it, you can expect other companies to follow suit.

It’s not an issue of being biased when making a choice to buy a mac. You can run windows or linux on your apple machine but you also get the benefits that no other company besides apple can supply.

Mac OS X + Netbook?

Michael Sherlock — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 21:55:42 +0000

Mac OS X is locked to apple computers only but wouldn’t it be nice to install it on any system you wanted. How about a low cost Netbook? Well, the folks over at wired have made a video on this very subject.

I was a little surprised when I watched this video though. To actually get this to work you need an illegal copy of OS X and the video covers where to download it from. Now I wasn’t surprised how the video takes you through the entire process but to actually show and endorse illegal activity was surprising.

In any event, it is an interesting watch. I think apple will need to open OS X to all systems in order to expand but right now there are alternative ways to get OS X on any machine.

Spotlight Turns to Notebooks: Apple Event Racap

Michael Sherlock — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 20:00:38 +0000

The apple event “Spotlight Turns to Notebooks” brought an entirely new look to apple’s notebook line-up. Mostly for the better, this event revamped the macbook and macbook pro lines, updated the macbook air and announced a new monitor. However, there are some major issues in these new products that are uncharacteristic of apple.

Problems

Glossy screens only.
Prosumers need a monitor that displays colors accurately, which this glossy screen does not, and one that can be used in different lighting environments without being crippled by glare. Have a choice was good, a matte only option would be fine, but Glossy only is a problem.
Cinema Display Connectivity
Although this new display does have a 3 port usb hub built in along with an isight and speakers it is only compatible, out of the box, with the new macbook’s and macbook pro’s. For any other machine, you need an adapter which costs extra money.
Firewire 400
The macbook does not have any firewire options and the pro variety has firewire 800 only. This is a huge problem. Macbook users will no longer be able to use their external hard drives or video cameras and pro users are down a port. Come on apple, it’s just one little port but would be wonderful for many people.

Watch the keynote .

MacBook Pro

Michael Sherlock — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 02:57:37 +0000

Hey guys,
Just a quick update. I just, on Sunday, purchased a new MacBook Pro. Yes, I am finally a mac users and don’t have to worry about spyware and trojans. Life is good. Anyway, if you haven’t checked out my youtube channel I have embedded the unboxing video I made. Overall, I love my new machine. A full review, or initial impressions, post to come. For anyone using windows right now for anything but gaming, I suggest you switch.

Think Different.
-Michael