Macopinion

The Road Warrior MailBag - December 15, 2008

Mac Fan Finds PC Netbook Life Satisfactory
Cleaning Soiled White MacBooks, iBooks and iPods







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Mac Fan Finds PC Netbook Life Satisfactory

From Dave

Hi Charles,

I wouldn't exactly say I'm "living" with Windows, as I still use Macs both at home and at work. Most of what I use a portable computer for is the casual stuff, web surfing, email, minor photo storage and retouching - if I'm on the road. But I probably spend more time with my laptop (now a netbook) than I do with any desktop, just because that kind of stuff is more fun.

Windows really isn't so bad. It certainly isn't as good as Mac OS but it's fine for the simple stuff. The only real aggravation is dealing with security and all the resulting popups when installing software or when visiting the occasional bogus website. For browsing and emailing one doesn't really have to spend much time with the OS, so Windows is kind of invisible in that regard. I'm finding Safari to be my favorite browser in Windows, over Firefox and Chrome, simply because it has the best, most readable type rendering of them all. (I don't bother with IE.) I usually use Firefox on my Macs since text displays just fine in Firefox on a Mac.

My netbook (Samsung NC10) is plenty powerful for what I'm using and plan to use it for. A big plus is it NOT being powerful enough to create a lot of heat on my lap, where I use it most. I had to use a plexiglass platform under my MacBook to keep the heat off my legs and that's not necessary with the netbook. The last time I could say that about a Mac, was my 2001 G3 iBook. The battery life is great. I timed it recently and I got exactly six hours on the battery before it went into hibernation. Viewing angles on the screen are much better than my (late 2006) MacBook, where there was considerable lightening and darkening of the image depending on vertical angle of view.

I'm sure Apple could build and sell a great Mac netbook if they wanted to. I doubt they will at a reasonable price because like the Mac mini, it would eat into sales of their more profitable Macs. I seriously doubt Apple would ever sell a portable for much less than $1000 no matter what it cost them. And it would probably have a super glossy screen. I won't get started on my opinion of those!

It's not my intention to start bad-mouthing Apple now that I have my first Windows box. I'm still a Mac fan. But many of Apple's decisions lately are discouraging. And I don't feel the advances in design they're making justify the never-ending high prices of their computers. It makes me want to shop around.

Be well and stay warm this winter!

Kind regards,
Dave Clark

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Hi Dave;

Thanks for the netbook report, which confirms my vicarious deductions about the appeal of these machines.

In a way, you're using the netbook much the way I use my elderly Pismos. No Leopard (at least for me, my more than twice as fast PowerBook G4 with 64 MB of video RAM struggles quite enough with it for my liking), but they run cool and quiet.

I too find Apple's recent decisions, (such as leaving FireWire off the new MacBooks) frusterating, and given the price cuts on the PC side the price premium for MAcs is indeed getting hard to defend, except for the fact that the new unibodies are selling like the proverbial hotcakes.

Charles






Cleaning Soiled White MacBooks, iBooks and iPods

Dear Mr. Moore;

I wanted to let you know of a helpful solution I've found for Apple white finish products like my iBook. Although I haven't tried it on a iPod, I assume it works in much the same way.

Although I'm NOT sure how it would work on painted surfaces, but I thought I would tell you some actual experience with white plastic cleaning. For my iBook, it was developing 'frequent use' marks from my hands, although I'm a NUT about laptop cleanliness. I assume it would work similarly with iPods
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I'm sure you've heard this before, but here goes. To clean the 'palm-rest' area and area around & over the keyboard; Thoroughly moisten the Mr. Clean AE Magic Eraser and squeeze excess water out(although you have to moisten it to activate the cleaning solution, make sure the cleaning pad is damp but not dripping). Gently, clean the smudged area and the area around the keyboard and over the keys (this is why the Magic Eraser is not to be dripping). Vary the rubbing pressure according to ground-in smudge marks.

Naturally, the iBook was COMPLETELY shut-down and unplugged before rubbing
the DAMP eraser over the laptop. Once I completed this, I simply let it stand open to air-dry. Because I'm HYPER-CAUTIOUS about the friendly mix of WATER and computer components, make sure the Mac is powered off. For extreme smudge cases, follow with a paper towel and let air dry.

Thanks, your column is always a good read!
Sincerely,

Anthony

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Thanks for the kind words, tip and mini-tutorial, Anthony.

Something else that works is Kleen Glo, a Canadian "All Purpose Cleaner," product made by Alliance Mercantile Inc. http://www.alliancemercantile.com/english/pacifico/index.php that is non-toxic, non-abrasive, biodegradable, and suitable for a variety of cleaning chores including soiled plastics. It is inexpensive, doesn't contain solvents and is pretty much odorless.

You can find it online here:
http://www.hollynorth.com/store/product.php?productid=141&cat=5&page=3
and here:
http://www.janitors-warehouse.ca/

As well as at many environmental and industrial retailers in Canada and the U.S.

Charles



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