Hardware

Newest: Time Capsule

Apple, Hardware 0 Comment

Time CapsuleAs I wrote about back in January, the stand-out item in the first Macworld of 2008 was, for me, the Time Capsule: a storage appliance combined with a wireless 802.11n router, including with network ports for tethered connections and a USB port for printers, external storage or other devices. Sounds like a pretty cool little kit, so I bought a 1 terabyte model.

Yesterday it arrived and I took it home to install it. Having had many a router in the last 15 years or so, I was expecting problems when setting it up.

None.

I installed the Time Capsule Utility software, plugged in the power, connected to the modem and after three clicks through the connection utility, it worked. No extended calls to my ISP or flipping through manuals, it just worked.

Wireless access is flowing nicely through my home now. What about the backup part?

I opened the Time Machine preferences, activated Time Machine and told it to start backing up immediately. It did.

That’s about it. I’m impressed at how easy it was to set up, and the easy backup it offered to the Macs in my house.

I haven’t had a chance to evaluate performance, especially in the wireless area, but I’ll take a look at that over the next few weeks.

The iMac has landed

Apple, Finnegan, Hardware 1 Comment

After trotting the globe with stops in Shanghai, Anchorage, Memphis, Mississauga and Vancouver, the iMac has found it’s way home. FedEx even called me to say it was on it’s way and delivered it just minutes before the noon cutoff.

Sadly, I cannot play with it until I finish teaching my class tonight, so alone it sits in my house, still dressed in it’s international packaging.

Until then, it’s under the watchful eye of my vicious guard dog: Finnegan.

Coming soon: the unpacking.

Apple Delivery

Apple, Hardware 2 Comments

Update: My order details

Update #2: Track the iMac

After submitting my iMac order, I got confirmation almost immediately that it was being processed – as expected. This is 2006 after all, and online transactions are pretty common these days.

About 10 minutes later, I got a shipping confirmation that my order was being put together and would be on it’s way to my computer desk. Again, fairly common – no big surprizes yet.

What amazed me was the turnaround. Just 2 weeks after the announcement of the 24″ iMac and with a highly customized order like mine, they are targeting this Friday as my shipped date. That seems pretty quick to me, but maybe I’m just happy it’s going to be here sooner than I thought it would.

Switch update

Apple, Hardware 0 Comment

Since I posted about selecting a 20″ iMac for my next computer purchase after years of PC servitude, I have done a considerable amount of research into the complete iMac lineup. I discovered that for graphic intensive work (like editing videos, working with Photoshop, Illustrator… things I do frequently), the nVidia GeForce 7600 GT that comes in the 24″ iMac is a much better graphics processor unit than the ATI Radeon 1600 that comes in the 20″ I was considering.

In short, it means I’ve changed my order: I’m getting the monster 24″ iMac!

As if I needed any more encouragement, I answered my ringing phone this afternoon to find an Apple rep on the other end. I had saved my cart details yesterday, and he was calling to see if he could assist me in any way. After talking about my requirements, he managed to find some savings I could leverage and my purchase is now going to be just a little cheaper. Excellent!

My order has been submitted. I’ll report progress as events warrant.

I’m switching

Apple, Hardware 1 Comment

It’s a little late for Apple’s Switch campaign, but I’ve finally decided to toss my PC in favour of a brand new iMac.

Years ago, I started as an Apple user with my Apple ][ clone (APCO) that I got in the early 80′s after having a couple other proto-PC’s like a VIC 20 and a TRS-80.

Since then, I used a few Mac’s courtesay of roommates who were flush enough to afford Mac’s Mac II’s and a Centris. After leaving the relative comfort of Mac-owning roommates, I was forced to switch to a PC when my new job required that I have one at home. My Apple days came to an abrupt and sad end.

Fast forward 10 years and Apple has moved from the Motorola to Intel chipset, making PC Applications (running under Boot Camp or Parallels) possible. Now my work requirements can co-exist happily with my creative endeavours, including the hours of video I have shot with my new-ish video camera.

Once the rusty wheels of accounting get cranking at my work and a short delay for shipping, an attractive 20″ iMac will grace my desk!