InformationWeek Stories by Richard Hoffman

InformationWeek Stories by Richard Hoffmanhttp://www.informationweek.comInformationWeeken-usCopyright 2012, UBM LLC.2013-04-01T08:00:00ZHealth IT Priorities Put Regulations Before InnovationImplementing electronic records and meeting Meaningful Use rules are top of the list in our Health IT Priorities survey.http://www.informationweek.com/healthcare/mobile-wireless/health-it-priorities-put-regulations-bef/240151938?cid=SBX_iwk_related_news_Handhelds/PDAs_hardware   <div id="inlineGreenPromoTop"> <div class="greenBand"></div> <div class="inlineGreenPromoContent"> <a href="http://www.informationweek.com/gogreen/040113hc?k=axxe&cid=article_axxe_os"><img src="http://twimgs.com/informationweek/hc/017/smallcov.jpg" alt="InformationWeek Green - April 1, 2013" title="InformationWeek Green - April 1, 2013" align="left" class="greenIssueImage" /></a> <a href="http://www.informationweek.com/gogreen/040113hc?k=axxe&cid=article_axxe_os"><img src="http://twimgs.com/infoweek/graphics_library/misc/Green_leaf_88x88.jpg" alt="InformationWeek Green" title="InformationWeek Green" align="right" class="greenLeaf" /></a> <div class="greenPromoText"> <a href="http://www.informationweek.com/gogreen/040113hc?k=axxe&cid=article_axxe_os">Download the April 2013 issue of InformationWeek Healthcare</a>, distributed in an all-digital format (registration required). </div> </div> <div class="greenBand"></div> </div>    The tension is palpable among healthcare IT pros, given how much change is happening at once in their industry. Lynn Witherspoon, chief medical information officer at Ochsner Health System in New Orleans, sums up the challenges: "Care delivery redesign and associated reimbursement changes, ongoing Meaningful Use and healthcare reform requirements, and the difficulty of developing new cultural norms will make next year a very busy one." Another respondent to our InformationWeek <a href="http://reports.informationweek.com/abstract/105/10278/Healthcare/research-2013-healthcare-it-priorities.html?cid=pub_analyt__iwk_20130401" target="_blank">2013 Healthcare IT Priorities Survey</a> puts things more bluntly: "Most healthcare CIOs are supportive of the majority of the new functional requirements that are being forced on us. However, federal requirements are coming too many, too fast. … The rate of change is such that systems and changes are being implemented less than optimally." This furious pace of change explains why tactical and regulatory objectives dominate this year's Healthcare IT Priorities Survey, just as they did last year. More than 60% of the health IT pros who responded to our survey cite managing digital patient data and meeting regulatory requirements among their top priorities, rating each a 5 on a 1-to-5 scale.   <div class="inlineReportPromo right"> <div class="reportHeader"><a href="http://reports.informationweek.com/abstract/105/10278/Healthcare/research-2013-healthcare-it-priorities.html?cid=pub_analyt__iwk_20130401" target="_blank">2013 Healthcare IT Priorities</a> </div> <img src="http://twimgs.com/informationweek/hc/017/017HC-_CSreportcover.jpg" width="175" height="125" alt="Report Cover" title="Report Cover" class="reportCover" /> <div class="reportInfo"> Our <a href="http://reports.informationweek.com/abstract/105/10278/Healthcare/research-2013-healthcare-it-priorities.html?cid=pub_analyt__iwk_20130401" target="_blank">full report</a> includes additional survey research on health IT plans, including investments to meet Meaningful Use standards, use of collaboration tools with peers and patients, and plans to improve information security. Free with registration <center><a href="http://reports.informationweek.com/abstract/105/10278/Healthcare/research-2013-healthcare-it-priorities.html?cid=pub_analyt__iwk_20130401" target="_blank">Get This</a> And <a href="http://reports.informationweek.com/">All Our Reports</a></center> </div> </div>   The big risk here is that healthcare IT leaders are so up to their necks in alligators that they're losing sight of their initial objective to drain the swamp. This tactical mindset is understandable with regulatory deadlines looming, but it doesn't bode well for breakthroughs in the use of IT to improve healthcare. Just 15% of survey respondents say their provider has implemented a big data analytics initiative, for example, and even fewer use predictive analytics. Just 56% of respondents say the doctors in their organization interact with patients via Web portals, even as rules loom requiring healthcare providers to show that 10% of patients are accessing their medical records online. If providers don't meet that requirement, they won't be able to collect government health record subsidies. Doctor-patient videoconferencing also remains the exception. It's used by just 28% of the healthcare providers in our survey, and widely used by just 5%, despite its potential to broaden access to healthcare, add convenience and lower costs. More encouragingly, use of email with patients -- the most natural first step to building digital ties with patients -- is on the rise, up seven points from 2012 to 72%.  <center>To read the rest of the article, <a href="http://www.informationweek.com/gogreen/040113hc/?k=axxe&cid=article_axxe_os">download the April 2013 issue of InformationWeek Healthcare</a>.</center>  2013-02-07T02:02:00ZResearch: Apple Outlook Surveyhttp://reports.informationweek.com/abstract/83/9775/IT-Business-Strategy/Research:-Apple-Outlook-Survey.html?cid=SBX_iwk_related_news_Handhelds/PDAs_hardware2013-01-22T08:00:00ZClose The BYOD Security HoleA bring-your-own-device policy it a low-cost way to use Apple devices without spending a lot of money, but don’t forget security.http://www.informationweek.com/security/client/close-the-byod-security-hole/240146427?cid=SBX_iwk_related_news_Handhelds/PDAs_hardwareA bring-your-own-device policy is a low-cost way to let employees use Apple devices without a huge capital investment. But the downside is security. In a recent Virgin Media Business survey of 500 British CIOs, more than half reported network breaches from employee-owned devices accessing the network. Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, a major northern New England healthcare provider with nearly 8,500 employees, has policies and processes that let its staff use Apple devices on the network securely, without having to manage them centrally. Lessons Learned >> Know that management will be an issue. Windows PCs continue to be the medical center's only centrally purchased and supported systems, in part due to the difficulties it has had centrally managing Macs. Macs don't have full Active Directory support, among other things, says Bill Weyrick, senior manager of information systems. >> Set up a separate guest WLAN. Dartmouth-Hitchcock's first and most fundamental level of security has been to provide a guest Wi-Fi network with a completely separate IP space and service provider, and to configure business-critical apps so they can't run from that address space. This approach provides basic BYOD network access, including for patient and guest devices, without compromising network security. >> Write a policy for employee-owned devices that has teeth. Dartmouth-Hitchcock lets employees use personally owned Apple devices to access email and enterprise apps that don't involve medical records. Employees must have device-level authentication and let IT verify they're using a password and encrypting certain data, and allow remote wipe if the device is lost. The hospital doesn't allow Android devices because the policy-level security it's using can't monitor security status with the same level of confidence that it has with the iPhone. >> OS X is out for certificate-level authentication. Only Windows devices can be used for the most secure level of access, since Dartmouth-Hitchcock requires those devices to be certificate-authenticated and centrally managed. >> Explore thin client. Dartmouth-Hitchcock uses Citrix to securely serve mission-critical apps to both Macs and PCs, keeping patient data off the client. >> Consider outsourced support. Dartmouth-Hitchcock limits iPad use to projects funded and supported by nonstandard means, such as loaner iPads for kids in the children's hospital and devices used by the hospital's Boards of Trustees to access meeting materials. Outsourcers manage both projects. <center>Go to the main story: <a href="http://www.informationweek.com/mobility/business/why-apple-is-its-arch-frenemy/240146426">Why Apple Is IT's Arch Frenemy</a></center> <center>Continue to the sidebar: <a href="http://www.informationweek.com/hardware/handheld/apple-doesnt-rule-the-school/240146441">Apple Doesn’t Rule The School</a> 2013-01-22T08:00:00ZWhy Apple Is IT's Arch FrenemyApple devices are supported in nine out of 10 companies, our research finds, but IT needs ways to manage them more efficiently and securely.http://www.informationweek.com/mobility/business/why-apple-is-its-arch-frenemy/240146426?cid=SBX_iwk_related_news_Handhelds/PDAs_hardwareOur Apple Outlook Survey is decisive: More than 90% of the 331 IT decision-makers that we surveyed either already support iPhones and iPads or have plans to do so. Even more surprising is that more than 80% support or plan to support Mac laptops and desktops. The kind of sea change that represents can't be overstated -- not that long ago Apple's presence in the enterprise, outside of a few core markets, was negligible. But is IT really on board or just bowing to pressure from users enamored of their iDevices? Judging by the mostly negative comments from the laptop, desktop and mobile device decision-makers who responded to the InformationWeek survey, there's reason to believe IT would like nothing more than to go back to the days of top-down hardware purchasing. "Apple products are nice, but they are not really suited to the enterprise because we have no means of ensuring their security," says one respondent. "Apple is slow to release security updates for known exploits. Their products are fine for home use and small business, but they have an outdated approach to security that is not really acceptable for Fortune 500 companies." Until Apple can offer competitive management functionality, including complete integration with Active Directory, Group Policy and Exchange, "they will not be an IT enterprise 'go-to' solution," an IT director at a healthcare company says.  <div style="float:right;padding-left:10px;"> <div style="width:210px; border:1px solid #000000;"> <div style="margin:0; padding:5px; background-color:#CC0000; text-align:center; font-size:1em; color:#ffffff; font-weight:bold;"><a href="http://reports.informationweek.com/abstract/83/9775/IT-Business-Strategy/research-apple-outlook-survey.html?cid=pub_analyt__iwk_20130128" target="_blank" style="color:#ffffff;">Research: Apple Outlook Survey</a></div> <img src="http://twimgs.com/informationweek/1356/356CSreportcover.jpg" width="175" height="111" style="margin:15px;"> <div style="font-size:.9em; margin:0px 1px 0px 10px;">Our full report on <a href="http://reports.informationweek.com/abstract/83/9775/IT-Business-Strategy/research-apple-outlook-survey.html?cid=pub_analyt__iwk_20130128" target="_blank">InformationWeek's Apple Outlook Survey</a> is free with registration. <center><a href="http://reports.informationweek.com/abstract/83/9775/IT-Business-Strategy/research-apple-outlook-survey.html?cid=pub_analyt__iwk_20130128" target="_blank">Get This</a> And <a href="http://reports.informationweek.com/">All Our Reports</a></center> </div> </div> </div>  That attitude also shows up in the data center. When Apple abruptly killed its well-regarded Xserve rack-mount server line two years ago, IT pros saw it as one more bit of proof that Apple isn't a reliable enterprise partner. And not a whole lot has changed since. Our survey underscores that IT still isn't enthusiastic about having Apple gear in the data center. No surprise that 64% of the IT decision-maker respondents have no Apple servers even though Apple still sells a server OS and server configurations for its Mac Pro and Mac Mini lines. Apple appears to be "abandoning its long-term customers in an effort to jump with both feet into the mobile and tablet market, and we have had to re-evaluate our long-term plans for hardware and software accordingly," says a higher-education services coordinator. Apple's new software is "amateur" compared with previous offerings, he says, noting that Apple is changing its operating system to look and work like iOS. "It truly adds insult to injury after having gone 'against the current' championing them for so long," he says. <center><img src="http://twimgs.com/informationweek/1356/356CS_Chart2.jpg" width="500" height="491" alt="chart: What are your IT organization's top gripes with Apple products?" hspace="0" vspace="0" border="0" style="margin-bottom:7px;" /> </center> The End User End Run Perhaps knowing that it has burned bridges with IT, Apple is putting more effort into marketing to business users.The results of our survey, which also included 243 end users, suggest that Macs and iDevices are making their way into the enterprise because users -- not IT managers -- like them. Nearly half of the IT organization respondents think Apple products are too expensive for the value they provide. They rated the cost of Apple gear midway between "poor" and "fair," and their value as only "fair." End users rated Apple products between "good" and "excellent" on design, ease of use, reliability and innovation. When asked what's driving support for Apple products in their companies, respondents' top answer was "end user demand"; IT decision-makers gave that answer more than twice as frequently (65%) as the next most common answer, "ease of use" (32%). It's no coincidence that Apple's interest in data center hardware waned just as the iPhone began to surpass the Mac in both unit sales and revenue. Apple's profit margins on its desktops and laptops are the envy of the industry, but sales and profits of its consumer-focused iOS devices now dwarf those of its desktops and laptops. Macintosh sales as a percentage of total revenue have fallen below 20%, and it's quite likely that figure will dip below 15% by the fourth quarter. Nevertheless, Mac sales continue to be solid, with Apple seeing a surprising number of record-setting quarters as competitors struggle with stagnant sales. Fourth-quarter U.S. unit sales of Apple desktops and laptops grew 5.4% last year compared with 4Q 2011, according to Gartner's preliminary estimate. Total U.S. PC sales fell 2.1% in that same quarter compared with the year-ago quarter, with some competitors seeing major declines. Dell's unit sales were down 16.5% for that quarter, and Acer's were down 21.6%. Apple may not be a presence in the server room, but it's surging on the enterprise client side. Forrester predicts that Apple will sell $7 billion of Macs and $11 billion of iPads to companies this year and $8 billion and $13 billion, respectively, in 2014. Apple's financial health is unparalleled, with profits rising year after year in magnitude, margin and often as a proportion of the markets where it competes. Apple's $41.9 billion profit over the last four quarters is more than twice the total of the combined profits of Acer, Asus, Dell, Hewlett-Packard, IBM, Intel and Lenovo. Apple has used part of its huge cash stockpile to build a well-oiled machine to deliver top-quality products to consumers -- your executives and other end users -- and then support those products with an attention to detail and execution that's second to none. It's no wonder that users' perception of corporate IT teams, stretched thin and tasked with everything from provisioning to patching, may suffer in comparison to stopping in at Apple's Genius Bar. Apple has made mistakes along the way, like its substandard iPhone Maps app and missteps that have led to complaints about some iPhone app developers improperly collecting users' Address Book information. But most of the data points to an extremely well-run operation. So your fleet of iDevices is unlikely to lose vendor support. That's the good news. The bad news is that Apple has little financial incentive to meet enterprise needs, where costs and complexity tend to be higher and profits lower than in the premium consumer market it dominates. Is iGear Worth The Cost? Macs running OS X tend to be more stable than their PC counterparts, with fewer critical failures, OS corruptions and kernel panics (the Mac equivalent of the dreaded Windows BSOD). Some of this stability has to do with the unique advantage Apple has in delivering both the hardware and operating system for its products, which makes for a less chaotic environment in terms of components, drivers and compatibility. The number of variables is simply much smaller, as are the variations in quality and design typically found in the Windows PC world. On the software side, Apple's Boot Camp multiboot utility and virtualization applications such as Parallels and VMware's Fusion let you run Windows on Macs, often at full speed and with excellent compatibility. Linux can similarly be run on the Mac. We've seen Apple hardware run Windows faster than some dedicated Windows machines. In addition, Macs are still less likely to be infected with malware or to need the kind of time-consuming repair or OS reinstallations that Windows devices can require. It's arguable how much of this security is due to architectural and implementation decisions versus the Mac market share being a smaller target, and there has been more Mac-directed malware in recent years. But Macs are still, proportionally, much less likely to be infected with malware than Windows-based devices. Nevertheless, Apple gear is expensive, and the company has refused to undercut its margins, maintaining that its products are worth the premium. The evidence bears out this perception: Apple's products score near the top of most reliability and customer satisfaction surveys. Of course, when the business is paying, the calculation changes. Just 11% of IT decision-makers and end users in our survey rate the value of Apple products as excellent, and where we asked them to rate Apple tablets and smartphones across 12 criteria, they said they're least impressed with product cost and upgradability. IT's Top Five Beefs Apple is frequently criticized for putting design over function. "iMac connectors on the rear of [the] machine are designed/decided by anal retentive cretins," says one IT decision-maker in our survey. "This is an ergonomic flaw that reveals a preference for form over function." Ouch. Another gripe: While, as our survey reflects, Apple is held up as a leading innovator, in reality it tends to refine existing ideas. Apple didn't invent the MP3 music player, the smartphone or the tablet computer. But it made the "breakthrough device" that took these products from niche to mass market, the Newton notwithstanding. Success makes its own argument. And don't discount the possibility that more enterprise acceptance could lead Apple to actually start listening to CIOs and making choices that benefit enterprise IT. Apple didn't invent the USB port, but it adopted it as a universal interface, without including any legacy interfaces on the original iMac, at a time when relatively few PCs used USB -- helping jump-start widespread adoption. Apple's record of "inflection point" success means, at the very least, it's worth closer attention from IT management. Whether we're talking about delivering digital music, tying an online store to a brick-and-mortar retail presence, developing a unibody laptop chassis, driving ubiquitous Wi-Fi or, of course, innovating smartphones and tablets, Apple has either been impossibly lucky or has managed to repeatedly anticipate and advance transformational technology trends. Another beef IT has with Apple is with its inadequate enterprise support. Even the top-tier support level, AppleCare OS Support Alliance, is a business hours, next-business-day-response program for anything other than Priority 1 (system or service down) issues. Apple also has programs and a registry in place for training and certification, as well as AppleCare Professional Support and Apple Service Programs that provide businesses support, though again, not always with 24/7 availability, and they don't seem to be a major priority for the company. Not surprisingly, only 32% of the IT decision-maker and 29% of the end user respondents to our survey say Apple is making an effort to improve enterprise support, and 39% of decision-makers and 27% of end-users say no such effort is under way. Another potentially expensive pain point for organizations is Mac repairs and upgrades. Apple would do more business with IT organizations if it made schematics and repair information more accessible, says Christopher Grande, president of OnSight Services, an IT consultancy. "They should change to standard screws and closures to make repairing an out-of-warranty item possible for the power user types," Grande says. "It would add great value and show that they care how long their products remain in the marketplace. When I see a 20-year-old Volvo or a 10-year-old Dell, that's a tremendous selling point." Screws aside, not all Macs have inaccessible designs. The latest Mac Pro, for instance, has a fantastic case design that makes upgrading components a breeze. The Mac Mini lets customers upgrade to 16 GB (8 GB times two slots) of RAM and add a second hard drive or SSD. But for the most part, Apple appears to be extending the sealed-unit approach it takes with its phones and tablets to its new Macs, putting a premium on cutting-edge design over upgradability. The ultrathin cross section of the latest iMac desktop is a case in point. In the most recent refresh of the line (late 2012), even the RAM in the smaller of the two units (the 21.5-inch version) is almost inaccessible. The larger (27-inch) model still has easily accessible RAM. Apple's recent laptops -- the MacBook Air and the newest MacBook Pros -- have a sealed-unit design. Apple now solders the RAM to the motherboard and has made key components such as the hard drive or SSD, battery and screen much less accessible. Repair site iFixit gave the new 15-inch Retina MacBook Pro its lowest possible rating, one out of 10 points, for upgradability and access based on factors such as nonstandard pentalobe screws, soldered-in RAM, proprietary flash memory SSD, glued-in battery modules and a fused display assembly. At least one third-party vendor has released MacBook Pro-compatible SSD modules for the Retina MacBook Pro, so there's the possibility of boosting internal storage. But in general, post-purchase upgrades for new Apple devices are limited. If your desktops and laptops are on a two- to three-year replacement life cycle, Apple's approach might be a non-issue, but if you replace your hardware less frequently, consider either maxing out the devices at the time of purchase or choosing another option. And that brings us to what might just infuriate IT pros the most: While Apple clearly is an influential innovator, it's a relatively inflexible one, which makes dealing with the company and its products, frankly, risky. Apple has thrived on creating disruptive products and services -- to paraphrase a famous ad campaign, by thinking (and acting) differently. What that really means is that it's fond of changing the rules and upsetting the board rather than playing within established markets and systems. One example is Apple's arm-twisting of AT&T and other telecom carriers to change their business models to accommodate the iPhone. Another example is the heavily curated walled-garden App Store model for iOS apps. Apple thrives when it can step in as the first mover, or at least the first successful mover, and deliver premium products perceived as different and better. It hasn't done well long term in markets for commoditized products and during periods when it hasn't been able to make its distinctive characteristics clear. In short, Apple courts relentless change, not the slow, incremental change more in tune with a corporate environment. CIOs place a premium on consistency and reliability. High availability and stability are much more important in corporate tech environments than new features or even usability. Enterprise IT is about managing chaos and eliminating surprise -- reliability over delighting end users. This is not to say Apple products aren't reliable; they are. It's a more fundamental difference. Whereas Apple is intensely focused on the individual user experience, enterprise IT, by nature, is focused at the aggregate, collective level. What's Next? Based on our survey results, IT has little choice but to gamely move ahead with Apple products. While only 11% of IT decision-maker respondents say their companies spend more than 20% of their IT budgets on Apple products and only 23% spend more than 10%, that number may creep up. Asked to look ahead 18 months, 16% predict that their companies will spend more than 20% of their IT budgets on Apple gear, and 31% estimate they will spend more than 10%. The possibility that nearly one-third of companies would even consider spending more than 10% of their IT budgets on Apple products would have been considered ludicrous even a few years ago. CIOs must be deliberate and realistic about when and how they support Macs and iOS devices. Apple, for its part, can take advantage of its momentum in the consumer market to build strong ties with IT pros by investing in enterprise-class functionality and services. If it doesn't, there may well be a "reverse halo effect," where management difficulties with and operational failures of its products in the workplace tarnish the brand. Does Apple care? We'll see. <center>Continue to the sidebars: <a href="http://www.informationweek.com/hardware/handheld/apple-doesnt-rule-the-school/240146441">Apple Doesn’t Rule The School</a>, <a href="http://www.informationweek.com/security/client/close-the-byod-security-hole/240146427">Close The BYOD Security Hole</a> </center>2013-01-22T08:00:00ZApple Doesn't Rule The SchoolEducation is one of Apple's traditional markets, but the company's gear isn't always a perfect fit.http://www.informationweek.com/hardware/handheld/apple-doesnt-rule-the-school/240146441?cid=SBX_iwk_related_news_Handhelds/PDAs_hardwareFairfax County Public Schools is a Northern Virginia mega-district, the 11th largest in the United States, with enrollment of more than 180,000 and about 120,000 computers. Like many K-12 districts, at one time it had a significant number of Macs, but in the 1990s moved to single-platform Windows support. Education is one of Apple's traditional markets, but for a big district, the company's gear isn't always adequate. FCPS makes extensive use of central management and application distribution tools, which often don't support Mac devices, says technical architect Jim Siegl. FCPS does, however, support a bring-your-own-device policy. Lessons Learned >> Formalize BYOD. The district tacitly accepted BYOD for years, but recently IT decided to promote the program, which provides support and VPN access for Mac and Windows PCs, and network connectivity for tablets and smartphones. >> Standardize the gear. For district-purchased smartphones, FCPS is transitioning this year from Research In Motion's BlackBerry to the iPhone. Apple's iPad is the tablet of choice. The district evaluated Android tablets but decided supporting multiple platforms wasn't worth the cost. >> Use caution when considering tablets as PC replacements. FCPS has about 3,500 iPads deployed, Siegl says, and barriers to more widespread adoption include: Lack of Flash support: K-12 textbooks published for tablets require Flash, and third-party tools that emulate or translate Flash content for iPads bypass the school system's mandated content filters, so aren't usable. AirPrint and AirPlay: "People still want to print, and the appeal of being able to project from a handheld device is obvious," Siegl says. However, Bonjour, the multicast protocol these Apple services use, doesn't play well with large, complex multisite/multi-VLAN networks, he says, and complex workarounds aren't worth it. Management: It's better than it once was, Siegl says, due to improvements Apple has made in profiles, mobile device management integration, Apple Configurator and application distribution. But the Volume Purchase Program only covers a handful of countries besides the United States, and Configurator is designed for small-scale operations, not the more centrally managed setup the district has. <center>Go to the main story: <a href="http://www.informationweek.com/mobility/business/why-apple-is-its-arch-frenemy/240146426">Why Apple Is IT's Arch Frenemy</a></center> <center>Go to the sidebar: <a href="http://www.informationweek.com/security/client/close-the-byod-security-hole/240146427">Close The BYOD Security Hole</a></center> 2012-11-13T00:12:00ZResearch: 2012 State of IT Outsourcinghttp://reports.informationweek.com/abstract/13/9076/Outsourcing-Services/research-2012-state-of-it-outsourcing.html?cid=SBX_iwk_related_news_Handhelds/PDAs_hardware2008-07-29T08:22:00ZApple Buyer's Guide: From MacBook Air To XServeWe've tested the Mac Pro, MacBook, MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, the iMac, the Mac Mini, and the XServe. There's not a bad Apple among the bunch, and some are truly superb. We'll help you choose one that's right for you.http://www.informationweek.com/news/206902894?cid=SBX_iwk_related_news_Handhelds/PDAs_hardwareThis story originally appeared March 22, 2008. Maybe that most recent e-mail virus was the last straw. Maybe you've been longing for a computer that "just works" and that you actually look forward to using. Maybe Microsoft Vista finally just sent you right around the bend. Perhaps it was that "Mac guy" on the commercials. Or maybe you are the "Mac guy." <table width="185" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="5" border="0" align="right"> <tr BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF"> <td ALIGN="center" VALIGN="middle"> <A HREF="http://www.informationweek.com/galleries/showImage.jhtml?galleryID=153&imageID=1&articleID=206902894" TARGET="_blank"><IMG SRC="http://twimgs.com/infoweek/galleries/automated/153/1macpro_hero_tn.jpg" WIDTH="175" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" BORDER="0"></A> </td> <td ALIGN="center" VALIGN="middle" BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" ROWSPAN="2"> </td></tr><tr><td width="175" class="artCaption" align="center"><img src="http://twimgs.com/infoweek/spacer.gif" width="175" height="4" hspace="0" vspace="0" border="0"> The Mac Pro is as fast and powerful as it looks.</td></tr><tr BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF"><td width="185" class="artCaption" align="center"><A HREF="http://www.informationweek.com/galleries/showImage.jhtml?galleryID=153&articleID=206902894" target="_blank">(click for image gallery)</A></td></tr></table> For whatever reason, you've decided to buy a new computer from Apple and want a little help sorting out the different models. Well, you're in luck, because perhaps more than at any other time, Apple's product lineup is clear, logical, and targeted at distinct types of users and uses. The entire product line is one of the strongest Apple's ever had. Without hyperbole, it may be the best overall line of computers anyone has had, ever -- there's not a bad Apple among the bunch, and some are truly superb. Plus, if you're a PC guy or gal contemplating making the switch to the Mac world, the good news is that, if you have to, you can still use Windows on just about any new Mac. Parallel's Desktop for Mac, VMWare's Fusion virtualizer products, and Apple's own included Boot Camp dual-boot enabler all allow Windows to run at native or near-native speed on your Mac. So, these days, your choice doesn't have to be either-or, it can be both. From design to function, from form to performance, you pretty much can't go wrong with anything Apple is currently selling. We've tested them all in our labs over the past months, and they're just that good. Read on and we'll help you choose the right one. <DIV STYLE="margin-bottom: 3.5em;"><DIV STYLE="border: solid 1px; border-color: #000000; background-color: #184DC6; padding: 4px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 115%; font-weight: bold; color: White; text-align: center; float:left;">1</DIV><DIV STYLE="border-top: solid 1px; border-top-color: #000000; border-right: solid 1px; border-right-color: #000000; border-bottom: solid 1px; border-bottom-color: #000000; background-color: #ffdc97; padding: 4px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 115%; font-weight: bold; color: #000000; text-align: center; float:left;">Mac Pro</DIV></DIV> Pro is the label for this powerful beast, and a Pro it is, in capacity, capability, and price. If you are serious about your work, whether it is graphics, programming, video, number-crunching, or just about anything else, the Mac Pro will chew it up and spit it out. The aluminum industrial design that has been a part of the last several versions of the Pro is both sleek and efficient. Under the hood, the Mac Pro proves it's not just all show, with what is still one of the most accessible, best-designed desktop chassis ever built. Four full-size expansion slots give the capability to add to your monster -- two are PCI-Express 2.0 (one of these is double wide to handle wide high-performance graphics cards), and two are the slower PCI Express variety. Four easily accessible 3.5-inch drive bays hold high-speed SATA or SAS drives up to 4 TB. Quad-core Intel Xeon processors (up to 3.2 GHz) do the heavy lifting, and a 12-MB L2 cache per processor, a 6-MB cache shared between each pair of cores, and dual 64-bit, 1,600-MHz frontside buses make sure the powerful CPUs rarely sit idle. Up to 32 GB of 800-MHz DDR2 dual in-line memory modules provide about as much RAM as most folks will ever need. A huge array of ports provide virtually every connectivity option under the sun: the back of the Mac Pro holds both optical and analog audio in and out jacks, FireWire 400 and FireWire 800 ports, three USB 2.0 ports, and two gigabit Ethernet ports. Easy-access front ports -- another FireWire 400 and FireWire 800, two more USB 2.0, and a headphone jack -- make it convenient to attach peripherals such as video cameras. Graphics options include one or more ATI Radeon HD 2600 XT or Nvidia GeForce 8800 GT cards, but the Nvidia Quadro FX 5600 will provide world-class capability (at pro prices, adding $2,850 to the cost). The bottom line is that you can trick up the Mac Pro to do anything you want it to do, so long as you have the cash. A base model costs a reasonable $2,799, given the capabilities, and you can customize the Pro all the way up to five figures with options.<DIV STYLE="margin-bottom: 3.5em;"><DIV STYLE="border: solid 1px; border-color: #000000; background-color: #184DC6; padding: 4px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 115%; font-weight: bold; color: White; text-align: center; float:left;">2</DIV><DIV STYLE="border-top: solid 1px; border-top-color: #000000; border-right: solid 1px; border-right-color: #000000; border-bottom: solid 1px;border-bottom-color: #000000; background-color: #ffdc97; padding: 4px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 115%; font-weight: bold; color: #000000; text-align: center; float:left;">MacBook Pro </DIV></DIV> <table width="185" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="5" border="0" align="right"><tr BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF"><td ALIGN="center" VALIGN="middle"><A HREF="http://www.informationweek.com/galleries/showImage.jhtml?galleryID=153&imageID=2&articleID=206902894" TARGET="_blank"><IMG SRC="http://twimgs.com/infoweek/galleries/automated/153/2_08mbp_fam_tn.jpg" WIDTH="175" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" BORDER="0"></A> </td><td ALIGN="center" VALIGN="middle" BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" ROWSPAN="2"> </td></tr><tr><td width="175" class="artCaption" align="center"><img src="http://twimgs.com/infoweek/spacer.gif" width="175" height="4" hspace="0" vspace="0" border="0"> The MacBook Pro, available in 15-inch and 17-inch screens, gives you high-end capability in a portable size.</td></tr><tr BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF"><td width="185" class="artCaption" align="center"><A HREF="http://www.informationweek.com/galleries/showImage.jhtml?galleryID=153&articleID=206902894" target="_blank">(click for image gallery)</A></td></tr></table> For a laptop that provides high-end features and power, and is a true desktop replacement for power users, the MacBook Pro delivers the goods. Both the 15-inch and 17-inch models are fully fitted with expansion ports (USB 2.0, FireWire 400 and 800, DVI video, optical/analog audio in and out, and ExpressCard), and the latest version includes up to 4 Gbytes of 667-MHz RAM and an Intel Core 2 Duo CPU at up to 2.6-Ghz speeds. 802.11n wireless capability plus Gigabit Ethernet provides external connectivity and the Nvidia GeForce 8600M graphics card provides very solid, if not blazing, performance while still being relatively frugal on power. We've seen MacBook Pros used as portable multimedia production stations, and they can do just about anything a desktop can do, in a well-designed and portable package. All that power doesn't come particularly cheap -- the 15-inch starts at $1,999 and the 17-inch begins at $2,799, so if budget is your top concern and you don't need the full capacity of the Pro, Apple has provided the MacBook to meet your needs. <DIV STYLE="margin-bottom: 3.5em;"><DIV STYLE="border: solid 1px; border-color: #000000; background-color: #184DC6; padding: 4px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 115%; font-weight: bold; color: White; text-align: center; float:left;">3</DIV><DIV STYLE="border-top: solid 1px; border-top-color: #000000; border-right: solid 1px; border-right-color: #000000; border-bottom: solid 1px; border-bottom-color: #000000; background-color: #ffdc97; padding: 4px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 115%; font-weight: bold; color: #000000; text-align: center; float:left;">MacBook</DIV></DIV> The MacBook is positioned as Apple's "consumer" laptop, but it is also an economical business laptop for those who don't need the full capabilities, or price, of the MacBook Pro. Eschewing the brushed aluminum of Pro for a clean black or white chassis, and downsizing from a 15-inch or 17-inch screen to a crisp and well-lit 13.3-inch screen, the MacBook is smaller and ligher, and uses an integrated graphics processor instead of the more powerful, but also more expensive, Nvidia graphics card in the Pro. You can still get up to 4 GB of RAM and the hard drive options go all the way up to 250 GB, but the starting price of the basic MacBook, at $1,099, is about half that of the lowest-priced MacBook Pro. Both laptops use an Intel Core 2 Duo CPU with the processor speed of the MacBook being a notch or two slower than the Pro, at 2.1 GHz or 2.4 GHz. Apple has positioned the MacBook as an affordable all-around laptop and it delivers on the promise, giving good performance at a budget price. As small and light as the MacBook is, Apple has another option for those for whom even 5 pounds is a couple of pounds too many. <DIV STYLE="margin-bottom: 3.5em;"><DIV STYLE="border: solid 1px; border-color: #000000; background-color: #184DC6; padding: 4px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 115%; font-weight: bold; color: White; text-align: center; float:left;">4</DIV><DIV STYLE="border-top: solid 1px; border-top-color: #000000; border-right: solid 1px; border-right-color: #000000; border-bottom: solid 1px;border-bottom-color: #000000; background-color: #ffdc97; padding: 4px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 115%; font-weight: bold; color: #000000; text-align: center; float:left;">MacBook Air</DIV></DIV> The MacBook Air is a study in compromises. If you want one of the lightest, smallest, most mobile full-featured laptops available, the Air is the one you want, and fair warning, when you hold one in your hands, it's very hard to resist the allure. Sure, it currently has the highest "wow, cool" factor and geek-envy quotient out there (and the Air plus an iPhone is the obvious digerati's choice), but the real reason you'd want one is maximum portability -- the combination of light weight, sleek design, and capability is genuinely amazing.The processor isn't as fast as much of the rest of the Mac line, but it's fast enough, a true Intel Core 2 Duo processor, running at either 1.6 GHz or 1.8 GHz, and it sips power like a miser. Included memory is good at 2 GB of 667-MHz DDR2 SDRAM standard, but there is no capacity for further expansion. The 13.3-inch glossy screen is absolutely brilliant, and the backlit full-sized keyboard and multitouch gesture-supporting trackpad are usable even in cramped quarters. <table width="185" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="5" border="0" align="right"><tr BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF"><td ALIGN="center" VALIGN="middle"><A HREF="http://www.informationweek.com/galleries/showImage.jhtml?galleryID=153&imageID=5&articleID=206902894" TARGET="_blank"><IMG SRC="http://twimgs.com/infoweek/galleries/automated/153/5_07imac_iphoto_tn.jpg" WIDTH="175" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" BORDER="0"></A> </td><td ALIGN="center" VALIGN="middle" BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" ROWSPAN="2"> </td></tr><tr><td width="175" class="artCaption" align="center"><img src="http://twimgs.com/infoweek/spacer.gif" width="175" height="4" hspace="0" vspace="0" border="0"> The stylish iMac desktop has a clutter-free all-in-one design.</td></tr><tr BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF"><td width="185" class="artCaption" align="center"><A HREF="http://www.informationweek.com/galleries/showImage.jhtml?galleryID=153&articleID=206902894" target="_blank">(click for image gallery)</A></td></tr></table> The battery life is good, but the nonremovable battery is perhaps the most questionable design feature in the Air -- you can't carry an extra battery for extended off-power use, and to replace it eventually you'll have to send the unit back to Apple. But it truly does fit in a manila envelope (varies between 0.76 inches and an amazing 0.16 inches thick), weighs almost nothing (3 pounds), and is small enough to use even in a normal coach airline seat. You'll definitely want to spring for the optional external optical Superdrive (add $99 to the $1,799 starting price), as well as the USB 2.0 to Ethernet adapter ($29), since the Air has neither included. The hard drive option (80 GB) is fairly small by usual laptop standards, and the optional 64-GB solid-state drive which, along with a faster processor, takes the Air to a stratospheric $3,038, is clearly only for those who really need it or for whom price is no object. In short, the Air does not make as good a desktop replacement as either the MacBook or MacBook Pro, but for pure portability, the Air truly is on top of the world. <DIV STYLE="margin-bottom: 3.5em;"><DIV STYLE="border: solid 1px; border-color: #000000; background-color: #184DC6; padding: 4px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 115%; font-weight: bold; color: White; text-align: center; float:left;">5</DIV><DIV STYLE="border-top: solid 1px; border-top-color: #000000; border-right: solid 1px; border-right-color: #000000; border-bottom: solid 1px; border-bottom-color: #000000; background-color: #ffdc97; padding: 4px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 115%; font-weight: bold; color: #000000; text-align: center; float:left;">iMac</DIV></DIV> The new iMac looks like nothing more than a sleek Apple LCD monitor, but amazingly Apple fit the rest of the computer into the well-designed all-in-one case as well. Both the 20-inch screen model (starting at $1,199) and the higher-end 24-inch variety (starting at $1,799) are good, solid, all-around performers, providing everything a desktop user could want in one compact package, without the sprawl of clutter and wires a typical desktop offers. With maximum 4 GB of 667-MHz SDRAM, up to a 1-TB hard drive, an 8x SuperDrive (CD/DVD burner), built-in camera, and bundled iLife software suite, the iMac provides just about everything an individual or family could need in a desktop package, minus the mess, and at a reasonable price point.<DIV STYLE="margin-bottom: 3.5em;"><DIV STYLE="border: solid 1px; border-color: #000000; background-color: #184DC6; padding: 4px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 115%; font-weight: bold; color: White; text-align: center; float:left;">6</DIV><DIV STYLE="border-top: solid 1px; border-top-color: #000000; border-right: solid 1px; border-right-color: #000000; border-bottom: solid 1px; border-bottom-color: #000000; background-color: #ffdc97; padding: 4px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 115%; font-weight: bold; color: #000000; text-align: center; float:left;">MacMini</DIV></DIV> <table width="185" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="5" border="0" align="right"><tr BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF"><td ALIGN="center" VALIGN="middle"><A HREF="http://www.informationweek.com/galleries/showImage.jhtml?galleryID=153&imageID=7&articleID=206902894" TARGET="_blank"><IMG SRC="http://twimgs.com/infoweek/galleries/automated/153/7_08xserve_rack_tn.jpg" WIDTH="175" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" BORDER="0"></A> </td><td ALIGN="center" VALIGN="middle" BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" ROWSPAN="2"> </td></tr><tr><td width="175" class="artCaption" align="center"><img src="http://twimgs.com/infoweek/spacer.gif" width="175" height="4" hspace="0" vspace="0" border="0"> Apple's rack-mounted XServe offers good value for the server-side world.</td></tr><tr BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF"><td width="185" class="artCaption" align="center"><A HREF="http://www.informationweek.com/galleries/showImage.jhtml?galleryID=153&articleID=206902894" target="_blank">(click for image gallery)</A></td></tr></table> The Mac Mini gets little press these days, even from Apple, but it is still the least expensive Mac you can buy, starting at $599 (albeit with no display, keyboard, or mouse, all purchased separately). Just slightly larger than Apple's Airport Extreme wireless access point, at 6.5-by-6.5-by-2 inches deep, the Mini looks more like an accessory than an entire computer, but it includes all the normal features and connectivity options you'd expect. It's no speed demon compared with the rest of Apple's lineup, but it runs the same Intel Core 2 Duo CPU (1.83 or 2.0 GHz), has a minimum of 1 GB of RAM standard, and comes bundled with Apple's iLife software suite. If you need a basic computer without high-end speed or blazing graphics capability, or a very small, portable computer-in-a-box, especially if you already have a keyboard, mouse, and monitor, the Mini is by far the cheapest way to enter the Mac world. <DIV STYLE="margin-bottom: 3.5em;"><DIV STYLE="border: solid 1px; border-color: #000000; background-color: #184DC6; padding: 4px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 115%; font-weight: bold; color: White; text-align: center; float:left;">7</DIV><DIV STYLE="border-top: solid 1px; border-top-color: #000000; border-right: solid 1px; border-right-color: #000000; border-bottom: solid 1px; border-bottom-color: #000000; background-color: #ffdc97; padding: 4px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 115%; font-weight: bold; color: #000000; text-align: center; float:left;">XServe</DIV></DIV> Most people, when they think Apple, don't think of corporate and enterprise server rooms, but in recent years, there have been a surprising number number of mission-critical government systems built on Apple's XServe and XServe RAID platform, in part due to Apple's high performance for low cost, as well as lack of vulnerability to most widely circulated Windows-based malware and other security risks. Apple's XServe is still a value leader, if not quite as ground-breaking as it was at introduction, and it offers true enterprise-level capability and features in a standard rack-mountable format. The XServe comes with one or two quad-core Intel Xeon processors running at 2.8 or 3.0 GHz, up to 32 GB of 800-MHz DDR2, and RAID options. It also offers the kind of remote manageability and redundancy necessary in any true server-room product -- options for dual power supplies, RAID options, lights-out management, remote access and management via VNC or the Apple Remote Desktop 3 package, as well as the ability to run either headless or with an ATI Radeon X1300 graphics adapter. And the real kicker here, compared with similar Windows-based servers, is the low cost of the Mac OS X Server license; for unlimited clients it's an absolute steal, and without having to hassle with complex licensing agreements. One low price, no license wrangling. That's music to an administrator's ears. Apple's long-term focus on the large enterprise, never its core market outside of scientific, media production, and education arenas, has always been somewhat meandering. So it was no huge surprise to see Apple's XServe RAID product, a price/performance leader when it was first introduced, quietly discontinued in mid-February 2008. Those needing mass storage solutions for server-class situations are directed to a similarly capable, but rather more expensive, product called the VTrak E-Class from third-party vendor Promise.2007-01-05T13:38:00ZReview: Apple's Xserve Gives Enterprises An AlternativeThe Xserve rackmount server offers solid performance and broad standards support at an excellent price.http://www.informationweek.com/news/196801446?cid=SBX_iwk_related_news_Handhelds/PDAs_hardwareApple's new Xserve rackmount server is an outstanding example of thoughtful design, attention to detail, and excellent performance at a reasonable price. It offers redundant power supplies, lights-out management, and the ability to run Windows and other operating systems as well as OS X, making the Xserve an appealing, capable, and flexible option. <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="224" align="left"> <tr><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF" align="left"><a href="http://twimgs.com/informationweek/reviews/xserve_rack.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://twimgs.com/informationweek/reviews/xserve_rack1.jpg" border="0"></a> <img src="http://img.cmpnet.com/cmpnet/blank.gif" height="4" border="0"> Apple's new Xserve rackmount server is well-designed -- and doesn't look bad, either. Click image to enlarge. </td> </tr></table> I tested a system that came loaded with two dual-core, 64-bit 3.0-GHz <a href="http://www.intel.com/cd/channel/reseller/asmo-na/eng/products/server/processors/5100/feature/index.htm" target="xserve">Intel Xeon 5100</a> Woodcrest CPUs, 4 Gbytes of DDR2 FB-DIMM memory (the maximum is 32 Gbytes), 2.2 terabytes of storage split across three front-swappable 750-Gbyte 7,200 RPM <a href="http://www.techweb.com/encyclopedia/defineterm.jhtml?term=SATA">SATA</a> drive modules, a double-layer CD/DVD <a href="http://www.techweb.com/encyclopedia/defineterm.jhtml?term=SuperDrive">SuperDrive</a>, and an <a href=" http://ati.amd.com/products/RadeonX1300/index.html" target="_xserve">ATI Radeon X1300</a> graphics card. This configuration came in at an impressive $8,500, which compares favorably against similar server products. For those who need the fastest possible drives (at a higher cost per megabyte), the Xserve also can be ordered with one or more 15,000 RPM SAS drives. The base Xserve configuration, with two 2.0 GHz CPUs, 1 Gbyte of RAM, a single 80-Gbyte SATA drive, and an X1300 graphics card (the graphics card can be removed with a small price credit) costs $2,999. Again, not the cheapest <a href="http://www.techweb.com/encyclopedia/defineterm.jhtml?term=U">1U</a> server you can possibly buy, but a solid value for the feature set, particularly noting one huge advantage of Apple servers over Windows the standard inclusion of an unlimited-client version of OS X Server. This means no client license hassles, and no extra cost.  <table bgcolor="#FFFFFF" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tr bgcolor="#2A4379"><td><img src="http://img.cmpnet.com/cmpnet/blank.gif" width="10"></td> <td><img src="http://img.cmpnet.com/cmpnet/blank.gif" height="3" border="0"> Apple Remote Desktop 3 <img src="http://img.cmpnet.com/cmpnet/blank.gif" height="3" border="0"> <td> <td><img src="http://img.cmpnet.com/cmpnet/blank.gif" width="10"></td></tr> <tr bgcolor="#F4F4DE"><td><img src="http://img.cmpnet.com/cmpnet/blank.gif" width="10"></td> <td><img src="http://img.cmpnet.com/cmpnet/blank.gif" height="10" border="0"> While testing the Xserve, I also tried out <a href="http://www.apple.com/remotedesktop/" target="xserve">Apple Remote Desktop 3</a>, a remote system management tool, and ran it through its paces. The experience is crisp and quick you don't feel like you're wading in molasses. The administrator can select a range of video quality options while monitoring remote systems, dropping to gray scale, for instance, to save bandwidth, but in my tests, this was never necessary, even when monitoring systems over slow 802.11b connections. Software updates, asset management and reporting, system configuration, remote monitoring and control, live two-way help-desk support, and application usage reports were simple and quick. There's even the capability to use Apple's powerful Spotlight search feature across managed systems, giving enterprise managers the ability to remotely search for particular pieces of critical information across the entire network of client systems. I can easily imagine that feature alone being worth more than the cost of ARD3. One of the few major shortcomings with Remote Desktop 3 is the simple fact that, by design, it only works with Macs. As a company trying to sell Macs, Apple certainly isn't in the business of writing software for PCs (other than iTunes), for much the same reason that Microsoft's <a href="http://www.microsoft.com/smserver/default.mspx" target="xserve">Systems Management Server</a> doesn't manage Mac and Linux workstations. The problem here crops up when Apple starts to sell Macs which can run Windows, using Apple's own Boot Camp utility. When an Apple system is booted into Windows, it drops off the map as far as Remote Desktop 3 is concerned, and that's a problem. Perhaps a future version will at least be able to see and grab inventory information from Macs which are running Windows. Apple Remote Desktop3 costs $299 for a version that handles up to 10 managed systems, and $499 for a version that handles unlimited managed systems. <img src="http://img.cmpnet.com/cmpnet/blank.gif" height="7" border="0"> <td> <td><img src="http://img.cmpnet.com/cmpnet/blank.gif" width="10"></td></tr> </table>  Uncluttered But Feature-Filled The back of the Xserve is uncluttered, with all the necessary ports <a href="http://www.techweb.com/encyclopedia/defineterm.jhtml?term=D%2Dsubconnectors">DB9</a> serial port, mini-<a href="http://www.techweb.com/encyclopedia/defineterm.jhtml?term=DVI">DVI</a> socket, two Gigabit Ethernet ports (supporting IEEE 802.3ad link aggregation and failover), two Firewire 800 ports, and a pair of USB ports between the hot-swappable redundant power supplies and a pair of x8 <a href="http://www.techweb.com/encyclopedia/defineterm.jhtml;?term=PCI+Express">PCI Express</a> expansion slots (one of which can support legacy PCI-X cards). The front of the unit includes an easily removable trio of drive modules, each with its own hard disk status and activity indicators; the power button; enclosure lock; and the slot-loading SuperDrive. Well-placed front indicator lights show Ethernet link status and CPU activity, giving a quick visual indicator of system status. <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="400" align="center"> <tr><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF" align="center"><a href="http://twimgs.com/informationweek/reviews/xserve_front.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://twimgs.com/informationweek/reviews/xserve_front1.jpg" border="0"></a> <img src="http://img.cmpnet.com/cmpnet/blank.gif" height="4" border="0"> The front of the Xserver offers a quick visual indicator of system status. Click image to enlarge. </td> </tr></table> The Xserve is a piece of cake to insert and remove from a rack; opening and working inside the chassis couldn't be easier. As a big fan of elegant design, I was pleased to note that the interior layout of the Xserve is a great example of the proper marriage of form and function: there are no interior cables snaking around, the layout is clean and uncluttered, and components are all easily accessible. Like most current Apple products, it looks good as well. I'll take function over form any day, but it's nice to get both. In terms of noise levels, as well as heat output and power consumption, the Xserve is a good server-room citizen the ambient noise, primarily from the power supply fans, was reasonable and quieter than many rack-mounted servers. And speaking of heat (the enemy of all computers), the Xserve was a cool customer, thanks to an efficient airflow design facilitated by a bank of seven microprocessor-controlled fans. With an ambient air temperature in my lab of roughly 70 degrees F, internal CPU core and heat sink temperatures ranged between 98.6 and 110 degrees F, depending on system load. The hot spot seemed to be at the memory modules, with temperatures averaging between 120 and 130 degrees F, but airflow out the back measured a steady 105 degrees. Certainly the Intel CPUs in the current generation of Apple servers produce far less heat than the previous generation of G5-based Xserves. To save space on the back of the chassis, the Xserve has a mini-DVI connector for video output; a mini-DVI to VGA adaptor is included. However, since most monitors and indeed all of the monitors Apple itself sells come with full-sized DVI inputs, it seems like false economy not to include a mini-DVI to DVI adapter, forcing users to purchase that cable separately. For a part that retails for less than $20, this is a small thing, but uncharacteristic for a company that goes to such great lengths to sweat the details and make things easy on the user. That quibble aside, the Xserve is full of small but significant details which will be greatly appreciated by anyone who has to install, manage, or maintain rack-mounted servers. One example is the plastic pull-out asset tag located in a slot on the back of the chassis. It's durable and flexible enough to be easily visible, whether the server is at the top or bottom of a rack. Printed in a highly visible white ink, it lists the serial number and Ethernet IDs in bar-code and human-readable form, and has an area to attach custom labels. This probably cost Apple less than a dollar apiece to manufacture, but will save server administrators countless hassles and confusion. Another welcome addition is true lights-out management. The Xserve is <a href="http://www.techweb.com/encyclopedia/defineterm.jhtml?term=IPMI">IPMI</a>-compliant, and can be powered up and down, and fully monitored and managed remotely. Running Windows Server I tested and ran <a href="http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2003/default.mspx" target="xserve">Windows 2003 R2 Server</a> on the Xserve via VMWare's <a href="http://www.vmware.com/products/beta/fusion/" target="xserve">Fusion beta virtualizer</a> for Mac. Aside from the usual time spent loading all the Windows security patches after installation, the process was simple and straightforward, and Windows ran without a hitch. Both <a href="http://www.parallels.com/en/products/workstation/" target="xserve">Parallels Workstation</a> and VMWare's beta worked on the Xserve, allowing a full range of flavors of Windows, Linux, Solaris, and other operating systems to run. Curiously, however, Apple's own <a href="http://www.apple.com/macosx/bootcamp" target="xserve">Boot Camp</a> enabler, which allows Intel-based Macs to run Windows at full native speed, doesn't yet support the Xserve. When Boot Camp is folded into the next operating system release (currently scheduled for the spring), hopefully that curious omission will be remedied. Setup and administration of the <a href="http://www.apple.com/server/macosx" target="xserve">Mac OS X Server</a> system was incredibly quick and straightforward. (Windows, while it has come a long way since NT, still has a lot to learn here about how to write wizards and setup assistants.) You can drill all the way down to the command line if you need to, but for most functions, everything you might want to monitor or configure is at your fingertips, and generally intuitive. Apple has done an admirable job of integrating its own software with a number of open-source products such as <a href="http://www.openldap.org/" target="xserve">OpenLDAP</a>, <a href="http://web.mit.edu/Kerberos/" target="xserve">Kerberos</a>, <a href="http://www.apache.org/" target="xserve">Apache</a>, <a href="http://us4.samba.org/samba/" target="_xserve">Samba</a> and others, adhering to a wide assortment of industry standards, which enhances interoperability in the enterprise. Conclusions Putting the words "Apple" and "enterprise" together may no longer be an oddity. The Xserve is an admirable and capable server for general-purpose use as a Web, file, or mail server. In conjunction with the <a href="http://www.apple.com/xserve/raid/" target="xserve">Xserve RAID</a> (total capacity up to 7TB) and a <a href="http://www.techweb.com/encyclopedia/defineterm.jhtml?term=Fibre+Channel+&x=0&y=0">Fibre Channel</a> card, it makes an inexpensive <a href="http://www.techweb.com/encyclopedia/defineterm.jhtml?term=NAS">NAS</a> appliance or streaming media server (while not tested in this review, Apple offers a <a href=" http://www.techweb.com/encyclopedia/defineterm.jhtml;?term=SAN">SAN</a> package as well). Xserve rack-mounted servers and RAID arrays offer solid performance and broad standards support at an excellent price (particularly considering license costs), along with what is arguably by far the easiest to manage and maintain server operating system available. While Apple has historically been a niche player in the enterprise hardware market, I predict they will be making an appearance in more and more server rooms.2006-12-18T14:26:00ZReview: MacBook Pro Is A Solid Win For Apple When testing the new 15-inch MacBook Pro, the most frequent question was "What's not to like?" The answer: Not much. http://www.informationweek.com/news/196700577?cid=SBX_iwk_related_news_Handhelds/PDAs_hardwareLike the <a href="http://www.informationweek.com/news/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=193700845 ">Mac Pro desktop</a>, Apple's MacBook Pro is just about as good as it gets in its class. From start to finish, this is a class act, offering admirable performance married to a clean, elegant industrial design. <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="224" align="left"> <tr><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF" align="left"> <img src="http://twimgs.com/informationweek/reviews/macbookpro.jpg" border="0"> <img src="http://img.cmpnet.com/cmpnet/blank.gif" height="4" border="0"> Apple MacBook Pro </td> </tr></table> In addition, the MacBook Pro is full of thoughtful features that improve the computing experience in both small and large ways without getting in the way of usability or practicality. The ability to run Windows as well as Mac OS X, either natively via <a href="http://www.informationweek.com/news/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=194300513">Apple's Boot Camp dual-boot enabler or Parallel's virtualizer</a> makes the whole package significantly more attractive for enterprise IT shops. In short, chalk up another solid win for Apple -- one which will likely be appearing in a growing number of organizations which had previously not considered Macs. The first iteration of Apple's high-end MacBook Pro laptop in early 2006 (replacing the previous PowerPC-based Powerbook line) was a solid, impressive performer, especially considering that it was also the first of Apple's laptop models to make the jump to Intel chips. This new model takes that success and smoothes out the few remaining rough edges, while bringing the CPU up to Intel's 64-bit Core 2 Duo chip. Revving Up The Speed The Intel CPU bit in the review unit was speed-bumped up to the maximum 2.33 GHz (2.16 Ghz also is available), and has a significantly larger (4-Mbyte) L2 cache shared among the two processor cores. Yes, there is a performance boost compared with the prior MacBook Pro model, though perhaps not significant enough to make an upgrade worthwhile in itself. However, the move to a 64-bit processing core helps future-proof this laptop, looking ahead to when most operating systems and applications are 64-bit versions. Like other laptops currently using Intel's Core 2 Duo CPU, while there is physical ability to accommodate 4 Gbytes of RAM, the chipset can actually address only approximately 3 Gbytes of that memory. Some manufacturers have disingenuously listed 4-Gbyte capacity for their Core 2 Duo laptops, but Apple, to its credit, lists only the usable 3 Gbytes as the maximum available. The next iteration of Intel's chipset for Core 2 Duo CPUs, <a href="http://www.crn.com/showArticle.jhtml;jsessionid=L513G0UNASZCCQSNDLRSKHSCJUNN2JVN?articleID=193006402">Santa Rosa</a>, should remove this barrier, along with boosting front-side bus speed (and thus overall system performance), but Santa Rosa-based systems probably won't be available for at least six months, since the chipset itself won't be available from Intel until the second quarter of 2007. Valuable Video For graphics, Apple kept the same <a href="http://ati.amd.com/products/MobilityRadeonx1600/index.html" target="_blank">ATI Mobility Radeon X1600</a>, with the higher-end MacBook Pro configurations sporting an unchanged 256-Mbytes of SDRAM. The X1600 is still a solid performer with a good balance of performance, power consumption and cost, but is starting to show its age. Supporting dual-link <a href="http://www.techweb.com/encyclopedia/defineterm.jhtml?term=DVI">DVI</a>, the X1600 can drive Apple's largest 30-inch external display, as well as any smaller monitor. (Look to see updated graphics capability in the next generation of MacBook Pro -- ATI has released three new iterations of its Mobility line since the X1600, most recently the as-yet unannounced -- but <a href="http://www.laptoplogic.com/news/detail.php?id=1715" target="_blank">reportedly shipping</a> -- Mobility X1900, which promises to be a true screamer of a mobile graphics solution.) The 15.4-inch screen, available in both matte and glossy versions, has the same native 1,440-by-900 resolution as the previous model, and the screen is everything you would expect from a high-end laptop -- crisp, bright, and with excellent contrast. Storage Options The review unit came with a 160-Gbyte 5400 RPM Hitachi Serial ATA drive, which did well in performance testing. A 120-Gbyte 5400 RPM drive is standard in the lower-end model, but those needing the maximum possible internal storage can opt for a 200-Gbyte drive, which will, however, drop you down to a slower 4200 RPM. A slightly off-note was the choice of a slot-loading DVD drive. The dual-layer Matsushita UJ-857D CD/DVD drive experienced some occasional glitches, and in at least one case simply would not read a Windows CD that other drives could read perfectly. In addition, the performance of the drive in tests showed it to be adequate but not stellar. Some users on a number of Mac forums <a href="http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=769407&tstart=0" target="_blank">have reported</a> read or write problems with this model of drive, and apparently some newer MacBook Pros are now shipping with a different Hitachi drive which doesn't appear to experience the same issues. Other Features One of the causes of the most griping about the first generation of MacBook Pro laptops was the missing FireWire 800 port. Video professionals and other users who depend on the fastest available external drives were mystified by the loss of a feature that had been available in Apple's previous PowerBook line, and which was included in the 17-inch MacBook Pro, but not the 15-inch model. So for those who need FireWire, it's back -- along with a full set of I/O ports: <a href="http://www.techweb.com/encyclopedia/defineterm.jhtml?term=Gigabit+Ethernet">Gigabit Ethernet</a>, three USB 2.0 ports, FireWire 400, audio line-in and headphone-out (analog or optical digital audio), an ExpressCard/34 slot (the successor to the PC Card), and DVI-out (a VGA adapter is included, but you''ll have to buy an S-Video connector if you need one). <table cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" border="0" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" width="340" align="center"> <tr> <td align="center" class="blue14"><hr> Video professionals and other users who were mystified by the loss of the FireWire port...it's back .<hr></td></tr></table> The MacBook Pro trackpad supports scrolling, a feature I've become addicted to, and the keyboard is illuminated with a sensor to automatically set the level of lighting, as well as the screen brightness, according to current ambient light conditions. The built-in <a href=" http://www.apple.com/isight" target="_blank">iSight</a> video camera allows impromptu videoconferencing using Apple's included iChat AV software. The included infrared <a href="http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPLE/WebObjects/AppleStore?productLearnMore=MA128G/A" target="_blank">Apple Remote</a> and <a href="http://www.apple.com/imac/frontrow.html" target="_blank">Front Row</a> system makes the MacBook Pro into a great presentations machine. The slick <a href="http://www.apple.com/macbookpro/design.html" target="_blank">MagSafe</a> magnetic power adapter available since the first MacBook Pro does indeed protect laptop and charger from the effects of a sudden tug on the cable, and Apple now has a MagSafe power adapter available for those flying in seats with power ports. Battery life is adequate, but not great, comparable to other laptops in its class. Rundown tests with various mixes of battery-intensive tasks, such as DVD playback or very heavy wireless and drive use, fell in the 2.5 to 3 hour range. Less demanding tasks, such as general word-processing and e-mail, could eke out more than four hours of use. Road warriors may wish to note that, as with the previous MacBook Pro, there is no built-in modem. While not quite as controversial as Apple's decision years ago to ditch the floppy drive, if you (like me) still need to use one of those old-fashioned dial-up connections from time to time, you can purchase a tiny USB modem from Apple for $49. A Powerful Performer In benchmark testing, the new MacBook Pro proved to a powerful performer, solidly in the top tier of its class across a variety of tests. Overall performance ranged from two to eight times as fast as the 1-Ghz G4 PowerBook reference platform, and in many of the tests it came in at roughly 50% as fast as the blazingly-fast high-end dual-3-Ghz processor Mac Pro desktop. For instance, the MacBook Pro chewed through the MP3 rip/encode test in 5 minutes, 13 seconds as opposed to 7 minutes, 2 seconds for the PowerBook and 3 minutes, 13 seconds for the Mac Pro, while it came through the audio file format conversion test at 1 minute, 55 seconds, versus 9 minutes, 29 seconds for the G4 and 1 minute, 21 seconds for the Mac Pro. Word processing, file loading, and scrolling tests came in at similar ratios, and the Photoshop filter tests showed the MacBook Pro coming in somewhat ahead of the G4, and about half the speed of the Mac Pro desktop. The obvious reason for the minimal performance gains over the older G4 in Photoshop is that Adobe's products aren't yet available in a Universal version (Intel-native) for Macs, so it ran under Apple's <a href="http://www.apple.com/rosetta" target="blank">Rosetta</a> enabler. When I put the MacBook Pro through the same tests under Windows XP SP2 using Apple's Boot Camp, speed more than doubled across the board, giving a preview of what can be expected when a Universal version of the Adobe suite is out. Testing using Apple's Universal versions of <a href="http://www.apple.com/finalcutstudio/finalcutpro" target="_blank">Final Cut Pro</a>, <a href="http://www.apple.com/logicpro" target="_blank">Logic Pro</a>, and <a href="http://www.apple.com/aperture" target="_blank">Aperture</a> all showed the MacBook Pro to be a blazing mobile performer, handling just about anything I could throw at it at a speed that was consistently impressive for any laptop. <a href="http://www.xbench.com" target="_blank">Xbench</a> benchmarks showed the MacBook Pro to be roughly three times as fast overall as our G4 reference platform, and 60% as fast as the Mac Pro, while tests using <a href="http://www.maxon.net/pages/download/cinebench_e.html" blank="_blank">Cinebench 9.5</a> generally maintained similar ratios. Conclusions The list price for the MacBook Pro as tested (2.33-GHz, 2-Gbytes RAM, 160-Gbyte hard drive) is $2,599, certainly not by any means the cheapest laptop on the market -- but arguably one of the best values, if you need the power and capability this high-performer can offer. For an inexpensive, lightweight travel companion, the 13-inch MacBook (also using the Intel Core 2 Duo) or any of a number of ultra-portable Windows laptops may be worth a look. But for a true full-featured desktop replacement, you can't get much better than this. <table cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" border="0" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" width="150" align="center"><tr><td align="left"><hr> <a href="http://www.apple.com/macbookpro" target="_blank"> MacBook Pro</a> Apple Computer <a href="http://www.apple.com">www.apple.com</a> Price: $2,599 <hr></td></tr></table> 2006-11-20T00:01:00ZThe Great Divide: Rural Areas Continue To Face Limited Access To Broadband ServicesRural areas have limited access to high-speed broadband services. New technology and government initiatives could change that--though probably not anytime soon.http://www.informationweek.com/news/194400843?cid=SBX_iwk_related_news_Handhelds/PDAs_hardwareIn the information age, high-speed broadband access to the Internet is supposed to be the great equalizer, allowing for new kinds of commerce and entertainment, transforming and streamlining business, and making distance increasingly irrelevant. Ironically, broadband access tends to be least available in the remote areas that might benefit most from having a big pipe to the outside world. In May, the Government Accountability Office reported broadband use in 28% of U.S. households, just below the 30% using dial-up. The Pew Internet & American Life Project also released a study in May, which was more bullish: 42% of adult Americans have access to high-speed Internet connections, up from 30% a year ago. The rate of growth of broadband adoption is nearly equal among urban, suburban, and rural areas, Pew found, but that rosy stat is overshadowed by another one: Rural areas lag behind, with barely 25% having broadband access, as opposed to 44% in urban areas and 46% in suburbia. Some form of broadband is available almost everywhere in the United States. The reality, however, is that it's still a patchwork, with some areas having significantly more limited options than others. Take Joe Bedalov, who lives in a rural area of southeast Wisconsin. He has satellite Internet, for which he paid $900 for setup and equipment, on top of which he pays $60 a month; his service is unavailable during strong storms. "There are no cable lines where I live and none planned, and AT&T (formerly Ameritech/SBC) says their phone lines are too old to carry high-speed DSL--I've written to them numerous times to upgrade their phone lines," he says in an e-mail. "I even wrote to the FCC, but the government was no help. They just forwarded my complaint back to SBC, who responded it would cost millions of dollars to upgrade their phone lines." Brian Brault describes his situation: "In our relatively rural area, there are many neighborhoods and even entire towns where the only alternative to dial-up is satellite. Some can't even get T1 service from Verizon! We had a wireless broadband provider for a while but they're out of business. Now that our public library offers wireless, people hang out outside with wireless laptops when it's closed because they can't get the access at home. We even have one enterprising community that has set up wireless repeaters to get broadband in from the end of the DSL/cable service area." <CENTER><A HREF="http://www.informationweekdownloads.com/shared/download.jhtml?id=166000037&cat=iwkd_mobile" target="_blank"><IMG SRC="http://twimgs.com/infoweek/promo/iwkdownload.gif" ALT="InformationWeek Download" WIDTH="278" HEIGHT="25" BORDER="0"></A></CENTER> The most common and least expensive forms of broadband are DSL and cable modem services. While speed, service, and cost vary, both generally provide peak speeds between 384 Kbps and 5+ Mbps for downloads and upload speeds of 256 Kbps to 1 Mbps. Both AT&T and Verizon say DSL service is available to 80% of their subscriber lines (a single house often has multiple lines). However, service availability and speed are limited by the distance between the subscribers and the nearest telco central offices, typically a maximum of 18,000 feet. Similarly, cable modem service is widespread but not ubiquitous. Areas without either service may have to wait a long while, especially if their region offers geographic challenges or sparse population.LOOK SOUTH As vendors of satellite broadband service are fond of saying, any place with a clear south-facing view can get high-speed service. But those who recall the satellite Internet access of the past may not remember it fondly. That's because it used a slow dial-up landline for the upstream connection and was prone to outages every time it rained or snowed. With technical advances, satellite services now handle inclement weather more gracefully, backing off on the data rate instead of losing the link entirely. And while the new service is still asymmetrical, with significantly higher download than upload speeds, upstream service is via satellite, not landline. While lower in speed than most terrestrial plans for consumer-grade service, it's at least in the same ballpark as typical DSL and cable offerings. AT&T offers three levels of satellite service, ranging from $50 a month for 512 Kbps download/128 Kbps upload to $80 a month for 1.5 Mbps/256 Kbps. Hughes Network Systems has similar plans for home users, with $60 a month buying 700 Kbps/128 Kbps and $80 a month pulling down 1.5 Mbps/200 Kbps. Such services are still a long way from the $20 to $35 sweet spot for home Internet connectivity and quite a bit higher than the average price of $36 a month the Pew study reports for DSL and cable modem subscribers. Small-business plans from Hughes give 1.5 Mbps/ 300 Kbps for $100 a month or 2 Mbps/500 Kbps for $180, with $1,000 of equipment, installation, and activation charges, after $400 of savings and rebates. That's still high but not too far above costs for landline-based business-class service in some areas. Hughes and AT&T clearly aren't looking to undercut traditional terrestrial broadband service. They're focusing their efforts on those potential customers for whom this is their only viable broadband option or those on the fringes of DSL availability, where speeds are often low and satellite may actually be able to provide a higher consistent bandwidth. Hughes estimates 10 million potential rural satellite customers, which is significantly larger than its current customer base of about 400,000. <table width="185" border="0" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="4" align="right"> <tr> <td width="10" bgcolor="#FFFFFF"><img src="http://twimgs.com/infoweek/spacer.gif" width="10" height="4" hspace="0" vspace="0" border="0"></td> <td width="175" align="center" valign="top" bgcolor="#999999"><img src="http://twimgs.com/infoweek/1115/115ID2_wimax.jpg" width="175" height="175" /></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="10" bgcolor="#FFFFFF"><img src="http://twimgs.com/infoweek/spacer.gif" width="10" height="4" hspace="0" vspace="0" border="0"></td> <td width="175" align="center" valign="top" bgcolor="#9cb2dc">Pros And Cons Of Satellite Service</td> </tr> <tr> <td width="10" bgcolor="#FFFFFF"><img src="http://twimgs.com/infoweek/spacer.gif" width="2" height="4" hspace="0" vspace="0" border="0"></td> <td width="175" bgcolor="#9cb2dc"> <div align="left">WIDELY AVAILABLE Virtually every rural area has this option</div> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="10" bgcolor="#FFFFFF"><img src="http://twimgs.com/infoweek/spacer.gif" width="2" height="4" hspace="0" vspace="0" border="0"></td> <td width="175" bgcolor="#9cb2dc"> <div align="left">UP TO SPEED Transmission speeds are similar to DSL and cable</div> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="10" bgcolor="#FFFFFF"><img src="http://twimgs.com/infoweek/spacer.gif" width="2" height="4" hspace="0" vspace="0" border="0"></td> <td width="175" bgcolor="#9cb2dc"> <div align="left">ASYMMETRICAL Download speeds are faster than upload</div> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="10" bgcolor="#FFFFFF"><img src="http://twimgs.com/infoweek/spacer.gif" width="2" height="4" hspace="0" vspace="0" border="0"></td> <td width="175" bgcolor="#9cb2dc"> <div align="left">WEATHER FACTOR Slows down when bad weather hits</div> </td> </tr> </table>The latency inherent in satellite service (the time it takes to send a signal to and from space) can, in part, be overcome by compression and various other technical tweaks that providers make behind the scenes. One example of these technical sleights-of-hand is prefetching, which takes advantage of the time a user spends reading a Web page to download other information that may be linked to that page and which a user may request, as well as streamlining the way in which images and other pieces of an HTML page are loaded. Protocol spoofing is another technique providers use to work around latency issues. Unfortunately, even with the best acceleration tricks, use of a VPN can still knock satellite connection speeds down by 50% to 75%, since encrypted VPN packets can't be efficiently compressed. This limitation could be a deal-breaker for a person in a rural area needing to get into a corporate VPN--dial-up could still be the fastest method. Hughes provides an option, in conjunction with Cisco and Nortel, for larger business customers that have control of both ends of their VPN pipe to install specialized code, providing VPN service to remote workers at higher speeds. Similarly, SSL bridging, which can speed the flow of encrypted traffic (such as when making online purchases and accessing banking sites), can be provided for corporate clients, but individual satellite users likely will see significantly slower network speeds when using Secure Sockets Layer. General packet latency (the time it takes for data to travel through the network) is necessarily high when sending data to and from a satellite, which means you may not notice a difference for a large download but don't try to play online "twitch" games. Other IP-based services, like videoconferencing and voice over IP, can have trouble with latency and upload speeds using satellite broadband, so if these IP-based services are critical to your business, check their level of quality before committing to satellite broadband. FUTURE DIRECTIONS A number of technologies hold promise for rural broadband access. Closest to reality are WiMax and 3G mobile data services such as EV-DO. WiMax, which is primarily a fixed wireless option something like "super Wi-Fi," is a framework for point-to-point and point-to-multipoint wireless data transmission that can provide service across miles and deliver shared data rates of about 70 Mbps, while potentially piggybacking on some of the existing cellular infrastructure. A number of telecom carriers are experimenting with WiMax-based pilots in rural areas, but we're years away from seeing any large-scale rollouts. AT&T is testing WiMax in five states, but its typical installations are still on a pilot level, serving 1,300 customers each in Texas and Nevada, for example. Verizon has similar pilots, but these, too, are very much in feasibility stage. Because WiMax is still evolving, current pilots use nonstandardized versions of the technology, underscoring the point that these deployments are a long way from being widespread solutions. However, as Intel and other chipmakers start to include WiMax functionality in standard laptop chipsets, availability may ramp up rapidly, much as we witnessed with Wi-Fi. GOING CELLULAR Cellular wireless data services offer another potential avenue for broadband access. Some of these services are available now, but the same rural areas that have limited access to DSL and cable-modem service may find they have limited coverage for digital cellular data. Low population density makes it less profitable to build the cell towers and other infrastructure required, except perhaps along interstate highways and other concentrations of mobile users. <IMG SRC="http://twimgs.com/infoweek/1115/115ID2chart.gif" ALT="On The Broadband Wagon" WIDTH="318" HEIGHT="249" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" BORDER="0" ALIGN="right"><IMG SRC="http://twimgs.com/infoweek/spacer.gif" WIDTH="10" HEIGHT="249" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" BORDER="0" ALIGN="right">In addition to limited availability, existing cellular data services don't yet offer the same level of service universally that other fixed broadband technologies do. CDMA2000 1xEV-DO, one of the third-generation cell data technologies, has a theoretical download speed topping 2.4 Mbps, but in the real world, commercial networks are lucky to see 300 to 600 Kbps and may experience even lower data rates. These are still much higher than older 2G services such as Verizon's 1xRTT cellular data service, which had a top speed of 144 Kbps. The next revision of this technology is supposed to offer peak speeds of up to 3.1 Mbps for downloads and about half of that on uploads, and the generation after that should have even higher speeds--73.5 Mbps down and 27 Mbps up. But don't hold your breath: These services, especially in rural areas, aren't likely to be available anytime soon. Verizon claims potential coverage of 250 million people for cellular data services, so it may be worth checking with your local providers to see if they have any form of high-speed data plan. Another potential gotcha, however, is that cellular data billing plans, if available in your area, were designed for intermittent users of mobile phones and can be significantly more expensive than DSL and cable modem service, particularly for unlimited-use plans. HIGH-SPEED ALTERNATIVES Direct fiber to the home is something telcos like to tout as the next big thing, but it's another long-term prospect that won't show up anytime soon outside of urban and suburban areas. High-capacity fiber optic into each home, or to nodes near homes and businesses, is becoming more widely available and offers enormous speeds. As of April, the FTTH Council and Telecommunications Industry Association reported 936 communities across 47 states as Optical Fiber Communities, and more than 4 million homes having fiber access. Verizon says it's building out fiber capability to 3 million homes a year, and AT&T predicts 19 million homes wired with its direct fiber project by 2008. But officials for both carriers admit that, for the foreseeable future, this service is likely to be concentrated primarily in areas of higher population. That means this technology actually could increase the divide between rural and urban/suburban areas. Longer term, broadband over power lines offers the ability to piggyback digital data signals over existing power distribution networks to send high-speed data. While an intriguing concept, technical and regulatory issues make this an option that won't be available widely for at least several years, if ever. Numerous BPL pilots were shut down over the past two years because of radio interference issues and other concerns about technical feasibility and cost-effectiveness. Increasingly, it looks like BPL offers no simple answer for rural broadband access. LOOK LOCALLY Federal government involvement and initiatives in developing and encouraging rural broadband thus far have been limited. Many local governments, however, are exploring developing local broadband access programs or partnering with local carriers to find ways to roll out broadband service to more people. The increasing number of communities taking matters into their own hands indicates just how important an issue this is perceived to be in rural regions. The AllCoNet project in Allegany County, Md., for example, built a high-speed infrastructure for use by schools, libraries, law enforcement, and other civic services and then leveraged that capital investment by expanding the service for business and residential use, often in partnership with local Internet service providers. This kind of public-private partnership may prove successful in many underserved rural areas, but at the moment only the most forward-thinking localities are creating such initiatives, and access will continue to be limited. CATCH-UP WITH THE WORLD A number of factors--including vast geographic areas with sparse populations and a great deal of in-fighting and competition among various incompatible technologies and the companies that champion them--have the United States playing catch-up with a number of other industrialized countries in terms of broadband access, particularly in rural areas. The United States, according to recent studies, may be falling further behind. That said, U.S. carriers like to point out how far the market has come in the last five years; there's been a great deal of broadband build-out and ever-increasing broadband access in the United States. Availability is still highly variable, and progress in the near term looks incremental, not revolutionary, though new technologies and initiatives appear just over the horizon. It may take a national initiative by a coalition of visionary federal, state, and local governmental agencies, in partnership with private industry, to bring about a comprehensive solution. In the meantime, rural broadband access will continue to be a landscape marked with deep divides, where the quality and type of service available is largely determined by where you live. <CENTER>Read the blog: <A href="http://www.informationweek.com/blog/main/archives/2006/11/broadband_in_th.html">Broadband In The Sticks: Tough Nut To Crack</A></CENTER>2006-11-15T08:46:00ZReview: Two Packages Put Windows On The Mac ProMac OS X and Microsoft Windows can now live nicely together without fighting -- if you've got either Boot Camp or Parallels Desktop for Mac. Here's how well they work.http://www.informationweek.com/news/194300513?cid=SBX_iwk_related_news_Handhelds/PDAs_hardwareApple's Mac OS X operating system gets more and more compatible with the PC world with each new release -- it supports both general industry standards and many proprietary de facto standards, and it integrates cleanly with networks, back-end systems, authentication, and authorization systems like Active Directory, network storage, and other historically PC-centric enterprise assets. In fact, an increasing number of key enterprise features have become significantly easier to administer on a Mac than a PC. Nevertheless, there is an entire range of products that require not just interoperability, but need an actual Windows operating system to operate, and it is this area that <a href="http://www.apple.com/macosx/bootcamp" target="mac">Boot Camp</a> and <a href="http://www.parallels.com/en/products/desktop" target="mac">Parallels Desktop for Mac</a> both address.  <table border="0" bgcolor="#CCD2E0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" align="right"> <tr><td rowspan="3" bgcolor="#FFFFFF"><img src="http://img.cmpnet.com/cmpnet/blank.gif" width="5"></td></tr> <tr bgcolor="#4C4C8A"> <td width="5"><img src="http://img.cmpnet.com/cmpnet/blank.gif" width="5"></td> <td>  <img src="http://img.cmpnet.com/cmpnet/blank.gif" height="4" border="0"> <center>Product Info</center> <img src="http://img.cmpnet.com/cmpnet/blank.gif" height="4" border="0">  </td> <td><img src="http://img.cmpnet.com/cmpnet/blank.gif" width=8></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="5" rowspan="12"><img src="http://img.cmpnet.com/cmpnet/blank.gif" width="5"></td> <td><img src="http://img.cmpnet.com/cmpnet/blank.gif" height="7" border="0"> <a href="http://www.apple.com/macosx/bootcamp/" target="mac">Boot Camp</a> <a href="http://www.apple.com">Apple Computer, Inc.</a> Price: Free <a href="http://www.parallels.com/en/products/desktop" target="mac">Parallels Desktop for Mac</a> <a href="http://www.parallels.com">Parallels, Inc.</a> Price: $79.99 <img src="http://img.cmpnet.com/cmpnet/blank.gif" height="10" border="0">  </td> </tr> <tr> <td bgcolor="#FFFFFF" colspan=5><img src="http://img.cmpnet.com/cmpnet/blank.gif" height=5 border=0></td> </tr> </table>  Back in the spring, I took a close look at both <a href="http://www.networkcomputing.com/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=184430281"> Apple's Boot Camp</a>, which allows Windows XP to run at native speeds on Intel-based Macs, and <a href="http://www.networkcomputing.com/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=187002626">Parallel's Workstation 2.1</a> which, while slower, allows Windows to run in a window inside Mac OS X, instead of requiring a reboot. At the time, both solutions were quite new -- Parallels had just come out of beta, and Boot Camp was (and still is) in beta -- but both options for running Windows on Macs proved themselves to be well worth considering, even in that early state. Six months later, I was able to try them both again, this time on a new Mac Pro. Besides a recent change in name from "Parallels Workstation for Mac OS X" to "Parallels Desktop for Mac," I found that the latest version of the Parallels Mac virtualizer (Build 1970) has garnered a substantial increase in speed and additional maturity, but Boot Camp 1.1.2 (beta), while still getting the edge for speed, compatibility and graphics capability, needed a workaround to operate on the Mac Pro. Boot Camp Vs. Desktop In my battery of tests, which included office automation applications (Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Visio), Java code compilation, Photoshop operations, audio and video encoding, and a series of benchmarking applications, Boot Camp was faster across the board than Parallels Desktop. However, the gap is narrowing, and the flexibility that Parallels offers of being able to switch between Windows and Mac OS X environments and applications without a reboot is compelling. Parallels Desktop's new virtual machine installation process is simple and easy, and unlike Boot Camp, which supports only Windows XP SP2 and Vista, Desktop supports virtually any flavor of Windows, Linux, FreeBSD, OS/2, Solaris, or MS-DOS. One area where Parallels is not gaining ground, however, is 3-D graphics, which still run slowly under Desktop, if they run at all. According to Parallels, the company is continuing to work on this issue, and promises significant improvements in the months ahead. Another ongoing limitation of the Parallels product has to do with the inability to encode data from CDs and DVDs, such as audio tracks from music CDs. This prevented me from running the cross-platform iTunes encoding test, and is an unfortunate shortcoming. (One solution is to work with CD and DVD data on the Mac side and transfer the files across as needed, using the shared folder feature of Parallels Desktop.) Unfortunately, Boot Camp, which had in previous versions proved to be vastly superior to Parallels Workstation in speed and capability, as well as ease of use, was so difficult to work with on the Mac Pro review unit that it was practically unusable. Driver issues between the otherwise-excellent ATI Radeon X1900 XT card, the 23-inch Cinema Display, and Windows XP made installation and use of a Windows XP SP2 instance virtually impossible. Even attempting installation of Windows resulted in a total lack of video (black screen) until I replaced the Mac Pro's 23-inch display with an old VGA monitor. After installation, however, the problem remained chronic. It turned out that this was an issue other users have faced, and I was able to find an effective workaround. The open-source program <a href="http://sourceforge.net/projects/winacd" target="mac">WinACD</a>, once installed on the Windows side, solved the problem. However, it has the shortcoming of not being loaded until relatively late in the boot sequence, which effectively prevented use of multiple users on the test platform. (The week after this review was complete, Apple released an EFI Firmware Update [v1.1] which solved the video/display issues I noted here.) Which To Use? Parallels Desktop continues to improve, and it is clearly the most flexible option for running Windows (as well as other operating systems) on Macintosh computers, for a very reasonable cost. Boot Camp still wins the speed and compatibility comparisons, and has the advantage of being a free download. But this latest round of tests highlighted the fact that, while a remarkable and workable product, Boot Camp is definitely still in beta. Full support by Apple for Windows partitions on Macs is scheduled to be included in the next major release of the Mac OS X operating system, Leopard, due in the spring of 2007. The Mac virtualizer battle is about to heat up, however, with industry stalwart <a href="http://www.vmware.com" target="mac">VMWare</a> preparing to release a product for Intel-based Macs, though likely at a higher price-point than Parallels Desktop for Mac. One thing is certain -- the options for running Windows on Macs keep getting better, and that helps makes the future look bright for an increasing number of Macs in the enterprise.  <table border="0" bgcolor="#CCD2E0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" align="center"> <tr><td rowspan="5" bgcolor="#FFFFFF"><img src="http://img.cmpnet.com/cmpnet/blank.gif" width="5"></td></tr> <tr bgcolor="#4C4C8A"> <td width="7"><img src="http://img.cmpnet.com/cmpnet/blank.gif" width="5"></td> <td>  <img src="http://img.cmpnet.com/cmpnet/blank.gif" height="4" border="0"> <center>More Info On Apple's New Mac Pro</center> <img src="http://img.cmpnet.com/cmpnet/blank.gif" height="4" border="0">  </td> <td><img src="http://img.cmpnet.com/cmpnet/blank.gif" width=8></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="7" rowspan="3"><img src="http://img.cmpnet.com/cmpnet/blank.gif" width="5"></td> <td>  <img src="http://img.cmpnet.com/cmpnet/blank.gif" height="8" border="0">   <a href="?articleID=193700845">Review: Apple's New Mac Pro Blows Away The Competition</a> <img src="http://img.cmpnet.com/cmpnet/blank.gif" height="10" border="0"> </td> <td rowspan="3"><img src="http://img.cmpnet.com/cmpnet/blank.gif" width=8></td> </tr> <tr> <td bgcolor="#4C4C8A"><img src="http://img.cmpnet.com/cmpnet/blank.gif" height=1></td> </tr> <tr> <td><img src="http://img.cmpnet.com/cmpnet/blank.gif" height="7" border="0">   <a href="http://www.informationweek.com/galleries/mac_pro/">The Mac Pro In Detail: Image Gallery</a> <img src="http://img.cmpnet.com/cmpnet/blank.gif" height="10" border="0">  </td> </tr> <tr> <td bgcolor="#FFFFFF" colspan=5><img src="http://img.cmpnet.com/cmpnet/blank.gif" height=5 border=0></td> </tr> </table>  2006-11-13T09:31:00ZReview: Apple's New Mac Pro Blows Away The CompetitionApple's latest Mac Pro desktop proves itself a winner in design, performance and flexibility.http://www.informationweek.com/news/193700845?cid=SBX_iwk_related_news_Handhelds/PDAs_hardwareAfter two weeks with one of the new Mac Pro desktops, I've got only one word: "Wow. The new Apple Mac Pro desktop is one of the best-designed, highly-performing desktops currently available at any price. Not only does it run Mac OS X and OS X applications at absolutely blazing speeds, but if you install Parallels Desktop for Mac (or Apple's Boot Camp), the Mac Pro makes a better Windows workstation than almost any other Windows desktop out there. <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="150" align="left"> <tr><td bgcolor="#EDEDED" align="left"><img src="http://twimgs.com/informationweek/reviews/macpro_sideview.jpg" border="0" width="150"></a> <img src="http://img.cmpnet.com/cmpnet/blank.gif" height="4" border="0" > Apple's new Mac Pro </td> </tr></table> The attention to detail, as well as substantial improvement over the previous Power Mac G5, is obvious. Below the front-mounted power button and light are a complete set of I/O ports: two USB 2.0 ports, one FireWire 400, one FireWire 800, and a headphone jack. This full set of front ports saves a great deal of time crawling around the back of the device. Two front panels allow the inclusion of dual optical drives, another key improvement. On the back, three more USB 2.0 ports and an additional pair of FireWire ports (one 400, the other 800) are joined by <a href="http://www.techweb.com/encyclopedia/defineterm.jhtml?term=S%2FPDIF+&x=35&y=6">S/PDIF</a> optical digital audio in/out, and 1/8-inch line in/out ports. Two Ethernet ports can be used separately, but the Mac Pro also supports <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Link_aggregation" target="mac">link aggregation</a> and <a href="http://www.techweb.com/encyclopedia/defineterm.jhtml?term=virtualLAN" target="mac">VLAN</a> 802.1q tags (VLAN tags are used to allow 802.1q tunnelling and routing), allowing for a wide range of networking and networked storage options. The case design is very similar to that of the previous Mac tower on the outside, but the differences inside are impressive. A single lever on the rear of the case allows the side panel to rotate up simply and quickly, giving easy access to up to four direct-attach internal drives, which slide into the side of the frame securely with almost no effort. A double-wide <a href="http://www.techweb.com/encyclopedia/defineterm.jhtml?term=PCI+Express+&x=3&y=14&_requestid=107236">PCI Express</a> slot for the graphics card keeps the other three full-size PCI Express slots free for other uses, and the system RAM is easily accessible via a pair of easily-removed riser cards. The test machine came configured with top-of-the-line dual 3 GHz <a href="http://www.intel.com/products/processor/xeon/index.htm" target="mac">Dual-Core Intel Xeon</a> processors (the base configuration has a pair of 2.66 Ghz CPUs), 4 GB of 667 Mhz <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FB-DIMM" target="mac">FB-DIMM</a> RAM (expandable up to 16GB), and four 500GB <a href="http://www.techweb.com/encyclopedia/defineterm.jhtml?term=SerialATA">SATA</a> drives (maxing out the four drive bays), for a total of 2 Terabytes. The <a href="http://ati.amd.com/products/RadeonX1900/index.html" target="mac">ATI Radeon X1900 XT</a> graphics card that came with our Mac Pro is a solid performer. It's not quite as fast as the NVIDIA Quadro FX 4500, which has the advantage of also being able to drive the 30-inch Apple Cinema HD display, but reasonably-priced and much more capable than the stock NVIDIA GeForce 7300 GT. (The two Nvidia cards are the other two options for the Mac Pro.)  <table border="0" bgcolor="#CCD2E0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" align="center"> <tr><td rowspan="5" bgcolor="#FFFFFF"><img src="http://img.cmpnet.com/cmpnet/blank.gif" width="5"></td></tr> <tr bgcolor="#4C4C8A"> <td width="7"><img src="http://img.cmpnet.com/cmpnet/blank.gif" width="5"></td> <td>  <img src="http://img.cmpnet.com/cmpnet/blank.gif" height="4" border="0"> <center>More Info On Apple's New Mac Pro</center> <img src="http://img.cmpnet.com/cmpnet/blank.gif" height="4" border="0">  </td> <td><img src="http://img.cmpnet.com/cmpnet/blank.gif" width=8></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="7" rowspan="3"><img src="http://img.cmpnet.com/cmpnet/blank.gif" width="5"></td> <td>  <img src="http://img.cmpnet.com/cmpnet/blank.gif" height="8" border="0">   <a href="?articleID=194300513">Windows On the Mac: Boot Camp Vs. Parallels Desktop for Mac</a> <img src="http://img.cmpnet.com/cmpnet/blank.gif" height="10" border="0"> </td> <td rowspan="3"><img src="http://img.cmpnet.com/cmpnet/blank.gif" width=8></td> </tr> <tr> <td bgcolor="#4C4C8A"><img src="http://img.cmpnet.com/cmpnet/blank.gif" height=1></td> </tr> <tr> <td><img src="http://img.cmpnet.com/cmpnet/blank.gif" height="7" border="0">   <a href="http://www.informationweek.com/galleries/mac_pro/">The Mac Pro In Detail: Image Gallery</a> <img src="http://img.cmpnet.com/cmpnet/blank.gif" height="10" border="0">  </td> </tr> <tr> <td bgcolor="#FFFFFF" colspan=5><img src="http://img.cmpnet.com/cmpnet/blank.gif" height=5 border=0></td> </tr> </table>  Putting It To The Test In testing the Mac Pro, I ran through a series of real-world tests and tasks, including digital video, audio, graphics, and DVD authoring products from Apple and Adobe, Microsoft office automation programs (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), and both cross-platform and single-platform benchmarks, such as <a href="http://www.maxon.net/pages/download/cinebench_e.html" target="mac">Cinebench</a> and <a href="http://www.xbench.com" target="mac">XBench</a>. Where possible, I initiated tests under both OS X and Windows XP SP2 using both the latest build of <a href="http://www.parallels.com/en/products/workstation/mac" target="mac">Parallels Desktop for Mac</a> (Build 1970) and Apple's latest <a href="http://www.apple.com/macosx/bootcamp" target="mac">Boot Camp Beta</a> (1.1.1). I also ran most tests, where possible, against my baseline reference platform, a 1Ghz G4 Powerbook with 1GB of RAM, upgraded with a Momentus 5400.2 120GB hard drive and a Pioneer DVR-K04L optical drive. Raw power is what the Mac Pro is all about. Overall XBench numbers were roughly five times higher on the Mac Pro than the Powerbook reference platform (170.64 versus 35.70); that scale of differential is not unexpected, given the Mac Pro's two dual-core 3 Ghz processors, each with its own independent 1.33 Ghz frontside bus, ATI Radeon X1900 XT card loaded with 512MB of GDDR3 SSDRAM, 4 GB of fast system RAM, and up to four Serial ATA drives, each with its own 3Gb/s channel. Cinebench 9.5 figures were similarly impressive, many multiples above the reference platform.  <table border="0" bgcolor="#CCD2E0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" align="right"> <tr><td rowspan="3" bgcolor="#FFFFFF"><img src="http://img.cmpnet.com/cmpnet/blank.gif" width="5"></td></tr> <tr bgcolor="#4C4C8A"> <td width="5"><img src="http://img.cmpnet.com/cmpnet/blank.gif" width="5"></td> <td>  <img src="http://img.cmpnet.com/cmpnet/blank.gif" height="4" border="0"> <center>Product Info</center> <img src="http://img.cmpnet.com/cmpnet/blank.gif" height="4" border="0">  </td> <td><img src="http://img.cmpnet.com/cmpnet/blank.gif" width=8></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="5" rowspan="12"><img src="http://img.cmpnet.com/cmpnet/blank.gif" width="5"></td> <td><img src="http://img.cmpnet.com/cmpnet/blank.gif" height="7" border="0"> <a href="http://www.apple.com/macpro/" target="blank">Mac Pro</a> <a href="http://www.apple.com/index.jsp">Apple Computer, Inc.</a> Price: $2,499 <img src="http://img.cmpnet.com/cmpnet/blank.gif" height="10" border="0">  </td> </tr> <tr> <td bgcolor="#FFFFFF" colspan=5><img src="http://img.cmpnet.com/cmpnet/blank.gif" height=5 border=0></td> </tr> </table>  In ripping and encoding audio data from a CD, the Mac Pro did only moderately better, at 3 minutes 55 seconds, than the Powerbook reference machine (4 minutes 35 seconds), but this anomalous result can likely be explained by a bottleneck created by the 32x CD read speed of the drives in both the Powerbook and the Mac Pro. More telling was the CPU-intensive task of re-encoding existing MP3 audio files to <a href="http://www.techweb.com/encyclopedia/defineterm.jhtml?term=AAC&x=6&y=12&_requestid=116456">AAC</a>, where the Mac Pro screamed along at roughly five times the speed of the reference platform, doing what the Powerbook took 6 minutes 17 seconds to do in a mere 1 minute, 5 seconds. The office automation tasks again proved the worth of the Mac Pro. One test task, using Microsoft Word to load and scroll through a copy of Tolstoy's War And Peace, took 48 seconds to load and 1 minute 59 seconds to scroll on the Mac Pro, versus 1 minute 27 seconds and 2 minute 47 seconds on the reference platform. The same tasks under Windows using Parallels Workstation were, at 31 seconds and 1 minute 44 seconds, even faster, indicating likely performance gains when mainstays like the Microsoft Office suite are available in universal versions. Slight Hit For Adobe But while Apple's mix of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universal_binary " target="mac">Universal binary</a> professional digital audio, video, graphics and authoring applications (<a href="http://www.apple.com/logicpro" target="mac">Logic Pro</a>, <a href="http://www.apple.com/finalcutstudio/soundtrackpro" target="mac">Soundtrack Pro</a>, <a href="http://www.apple.com/finalcutstudio/finalcutpro" target="mac">Final Cut Pro</a>, and <a href="http://www.apple.com/aperture" target="mac">Aperture</a>) run at warp speed on the Mac Pro, the many professionals now using Adobe software will have to make do with running under <a href="http://www.apple.com/rosetta" target="mac">Rosetta</a> until Adobe releases Universal binary versions of their products next spring. That said, while tests of Adobe's currently-shipping product versions reveal a significant performance hit for Rosetta, results certainly fall well within the usable range. For example, a series of Photoshop filters that processed in 11.5 seconds on the reference platform took half the time on the Mac Pro (6 seconds), while a second set took 5.5 seconds on the Mac Pro versus 15 seconds on the Powerbook. Much greater speeds can be expected when the Universal versions of the Adobe products appear, as suggested by the near-doubling of speeds (as compared to Rosetta) when using the Windows version of Photoshop to run the same tests natively on the Mac Pro via Apple's Boot Camp (3.3 seconds and 3 seconds, respectively). My experience with using Boot Camp and the Mac Pro, along with the configuration of ATI Radeon X1900 graphics card and 23-inch Cinema Display, was the one major fly in the ointment. Due to apparent driver issues, installing Windows XP SP2 and using it <a href="?articleID=194300513">proved to be a huge problem</a>. Boot Camp is still beta software, and Apple has been releasing updates with some frequency -- but the new 1.1.2 version, released just as this review went to press, unfortunately does not seem to fix the issues I experienced. One of the major drawbacks for this stellar desktop is price. Costs can accumulate quickly, especially when adding options and the very expensive FB-DIMM RAM. As a high-end workstation, the Mac Pro is very hard to beat, almost in a class of its own, but those looking for inexpensive generic employee workstations would best look elsewhere. In addition, hardware <a href="http://www.techweb.com/encyclopedia/defineterm.jhtml?term=RAID+&x=32&y=13">RAID</a> would be preferable to the software-based RAID options in the Mac Pro, though the familiar and easy-to-use software RAID setup allows for the usual range of <a href="http://www.techweb.com/encyclopedia/defineterm.jhtml?term=diskmirroring">mirrored</a> and <a href="http://www.techweb.com/encyclopedia/defineterm.jhtml?term=diskstriping">striped</a> arrays, and is made much more flexible and has much greater capacity, due to the four internal drive bays. The Mac Pro, however you look at it, is a very powerful, capable, expandable performer. Its dual OS X/Windows capability and adoption of a range of critical open standards make it worth consideration in any enterprise looking for the best possible machine for high-end use.  <table border="0" bgcolor="#CCD2E0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" align="center"> <tr><td rowspan="5" bgcolor="#FFFFFF"><img src="http://img.cmpnet.com/cmpnet/blank.gif" width="5"></td></tr> <tr bgcolor="#4C4C8A"> <td width="7"><img src="http://img.cmpnet.com/cmpnet/blank.gif" width="5"></td> <td>  <img src="http://img.cmpnet.com/cmpnet/blank.gif" height="4" border="0"> <center>More Info On Apple's New Mac Pro</center> <img src="http://img.cmpnet.com/cmpnet/blank.gif" height="4" border="0">  </td> <td><img src="http://img.cmpnet.com/cmpnet/blank.gif" width=8></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="7" rowspan="3"><img src="http://img.cmpnet.com/cmpnet/blank.gif" width="5"></td> <td>  <img src="http://img.cmpnet.com/cmpnet/blank.gif" height="8" border="0">   <a href="?articleID=194300513">Windows On the Mac: Boot Camp Vs. Parallels Desktop for Mac</a> <img src="http://img.cmpnet.com/cmpnet/blank.gif" height="10" border="0"> </td> <td rowspan="3"><img src="http://img.cmpnet.com/cmpnet/blank.gif" width=8></td> </tr> <tr> <td bgcolor="#4C4C8A"><img src="http://img.cmpnet.com/cmpnet/blank.gif" height=1></td> </tr> <tr> <td><img src="http://img.cmpnet.com/cmpnet/blank.gif" height="7" border="0">   <a href="http://www.informationweek.com/galleries/mac_pro/">The Mac Pro In Detail: Image Gallery</a> <img src="http://img.cmpnet.com/cmpnet/blank.gif" height="10" border="0">  </td> </tr> <tr> <td bgcolor="#FFFFFF" colspan=5><img src="http://img.cmpnet.com/cmpnet/blank.gif" height=5 border=0></td> </tr> </table>  2006-04-10T16:17:00ZApple's Boot Camp: Macs Do WindowsThe beta version of Apple's dual-boot enabler allows Intel-based Macs to speak Microsoft's language for the first time.http://www.informationweek.com/news/185300001?cid=SBX_iwk_related_news_Handhelds/PDAs_hardwareApple's switch to Intel CPUs for its new desktops and laptops brought up a fascinating question: Could the Intel-based Macs run Windows operating systems and software natively? The almost instant answer was yes. After <a href="http://onmac.net/" target="_blank">OnMac.net</a> gave a <a href="http://www.techweb.com/wire/networking/183700209">nearly $14,000 prize</a> to the first person to prove it was possible, <a href="http://www.developerpipeline.com/blog/archives/2006/03/apple_rulez.html">subsequent stories</a> indicated that Intel-based Macs could run some Windows software <a href="http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/03/22/mac_fastest_core_duo_laptop/" target="_blank">even faster than comparable PCs</a>. But Windows-on-Mac was still firmly in the experimental realm. Then Apple <a href="http://www.techweb.com/wire/software/184428980">unexpectedly released</a> the beta version of <a href="http://www.apple.com/macosx/bootcamp" target="_blank">Boot Camp</a>, a dual-boot enabler specifically designed to allow users to install Windows XP on Intel-based Macs. Apple says dual-boot capability will be built into Leopard, the next major release of its OS X operating system. But how does BootCamp work today? The short answer: amazingly well. I ran Boot Camp on a new Intel-based 20-inch iMac with a 2GHz Intel Core Duo processor, and installed Windows XP Pro almost without a hitch so smoothly you'd hardly know Boot Camp was beta software. I then ran a full range of Windows software, from Office, Visio, and Outlook to Photoshop and graphics-intensive games. Whether OnMac's contest turned up the heat on Apple, or whether Apple planned all along to do a beta release of a dual-boot capability add-on, BootCamp shows little sign of being hastily rushed out the door. No-Sweat Windows On Mac The entire process of getting Windows on the Mac took about an hour from start to finish, most of which was spent on the standard Windows installation. You have to start with a single-disc copy of Windows XP SP2 Pro or Home version no other versions will work. Apple's Boot Camp Assistant first burns a CD with all of the necessary drivers for Windows on your Mac. Creating the Windows partition itself is dirt-simple using Apple's slider system, but you have to have a buffer of 5GB free space on both the OS X and Windows sides. <table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" width="402" align="center"> <tr><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF" align="center"> <a href="http://i.cmpnet.com/pipeline-shared/story_art/reviews/bootcamp.jpg" target="_blank"><img src=" http://i.cmpnet.com/pipeline-shared/story_art/reviews/bootcamp1.jpg" border="0"></a> <img src="http://img.cmpnet.com/cmpnet/blank.gif" height="4" border="0"> The entire process of getting Windows on the Mac takes about an hour. Click image to enlarge. </td> </tr></table> One quibble is that there's no warning given at this point that if the Windows partition you create is larger than 32GB, formatting it as <a href="http://www.techweb.com/encyclopedia/defineterm.jhtml?term=FAT32&x=20&y=9">FAT32</a> instead of <a href="http://www.techweb.com/encyclopedia/defineterm.jhtml?term=NTFS+&x=19&y=6">NTFS</a> will not be an option during Windows installation (this is a FAT32 limitation). This will affect the ability to transfer files between the two operating systems Apple's OS X can read and write to the Windows FAT file system, but has read-only access to NTFS. Windows XP can't access the OS X <a href="http://www.techweb.com/encyclopedia/defineterm.jhtml?term=HFS+&x=0&y=0">HFS</a> partition at all without third-party software. But that barrier could be a blessing in disguise, since it keeps the OS X partition relatively safe from the flood of viruses, Trojans, and spyware that are much more common in the Windows world. A word to the wise, however the Windows installation here has the exact same need for regular, frequent patches and updates as any other Windows instance. There are a few other rough edges in Boot Camp. During Windows installation, if you choose anything other than the C: partition to install to (and of course the Windows installer gives no warning here), you can instantly wipe out your OS X partition accidentally. Printing out Apple's installation instructions and following them to the letter is advisable here, particularly for novice users. In addition, Apple says the iSight camera, the Apple Remote, the USB modem, and the MacBook Pro keyboard backlighting aren't supported, but all of the other hardware on my iMac was fully recognized and supported, and worked virtually flawlessly. I had one early instance of failure to wake from sleep in Windows, requiring a hard boot, but it wasn't repeatable. The system time doesn't transfer automatically from OS X to Windows, so setting Windows to grab the time from a network time server is a good idea. Finally, Windows cannot boot from an external drive, so carrying around a self-contained Windows XP installation on a FireWire or USB drive unfortunately isn't currently an option. Clean, Easy, and XP Those relatively minor caveats aside (and Apple says it's working on fixes for the remaining hardware and time issues), Boot Camp was clean, easy, and enabled full-speed native use of Windows XP. Using Boot Camp, you can't switch back and forth between operating systems without a reboot. If you need that capability, a beta version of a virtualization product from <a href="http://www.parallels.com" target="_blank">Parallels</a> has just been released, which might be worth a look. Apple's senior director of Mac OS X product marketing, Brian Croll, says Boot Camp is designed for two main kinds of customers: those who have a handful of mission-critical Windows apps they need to run, and potential switchers to Mac who want the security blanket of being able to run Windows "just in case." If this logic proves sound, Apple may have a big winner here, and Microsoft certainly won't mind selling some extra copies of Windows to Mac owners. Boot Camp's execution is good, and the concept is a stroke of brilliance on Apple's part. Apple does not sell or support Windows on Mac, and says they have no intention to pre-install Windows on their products. Time will tell whether that stance holds firm, but regardless, Apple now has a fast, capable, stylish line of computers which runs a wide range of operating systems natively: OS X, Windows XP, and Linux. That's something to get excited about or perhaps, if you're Dell or HP, a bit concerned. <table cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" border="0" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" width="340" align="center"><tr><td align="left"><hr><a href="http://www.apple.com/macosx/bootcamp" target="_blank">Boot Camp</a> Apple Computer, Inc. <a href="http://www.apple.com">www.apple.com</a> Price: Free Summary: Apple does its best to prove that Macs do Windows, too. <hr></td></tr></table>2005-06-30T14:58:00ZTiger Stalks The PipelinesCan four Pipeline editors, including one Windows user, agree about the advantages and disadvantages of Apple's new OS? http://www.informationweek.com/news/164904453?cid=SBX_iwk_related_news_Handhelds/PDAs_hardwareIs Tiger, Apple's new version of its OS X operating system, really burning bright? We asked four Pipeline editors Scot Finnie (a long-time Windows user), Richard Hoffman, Matt McKenzie, and Johnny DeVilla to install the latest version of Apple's Mac OS X and discuss how the installations went, what they thought of the new operating system, and whether it could make a difference in Apple's sales over the coming year. Here's how the conversation went: New Installations Scot: I installed Tiger tonight on my Mac Mini: the 1.42 MHz model, with a full gig of RAM. On first view, I'm not sure I see what the big deal is. I see that they've installed a Dashboard and third-party Widgets, but nothing else immediately looks all that different. On the other hand: Am I imagining that I can now finally make folders and the desktop automatically sort icons by name? I think this may be my favorite new feature. Where is the desktop search? I'm sure it's somewhere obvious that I just haven't found because I'm too busy reinstalling all my applications. By the way, I clean installed, which meant that it wiped my disk and none of my apps were saved. I'm sure I could have created a new partition and moved them there first. But, hey, I didn't have that much to mess with. Richard: There aren't a lot of huge visual differences like some of the other point releases, it's not a huge change. It's debatable whether it's worth the money they're charging. There's some stuff under the covers Active Directory integration is supposed to be improved, though I hear there are a few technical glitches in that yet. I'm not sure [the ability to make folders and automatically sort icons] is new, though honestly, I've not set up my machines that way before I have turned on the option to automatically calculate folder size. <table border="0" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1" width="230" align=left><tr><td><div align="left"> <a href="http://i.cmpnet.com/desktoppipeline/story_art/tiger/tiger_spotlight.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i.cmpnet.com/desktoppipeline/story_art/tiger/tiger_spotlight.jpg" BORDER="0" HEIGHT="227" WIDTH="224"></a> Spotlight desktop search. (Click on image to expand.)</div></table>The desktop search? Blue magnifying glass at the top right of the screen. If you add a new drive, it'll tell you how long it takes to index it, otherwise, when you click on it, it's a basic simple search window. I've noticed that I had some unexpected pauses in my system on occasion, and I suspect it's indexing new content (like incoming e-mail, etc.) on the fly. It's pretty cool, though, to be able to automatically search across the entire file system. This is one area where Microsoft is now way behind the curve. People are just going to start expecting this as a normal part of their OS. By the way, even though I wasn't having any explicit problems, I ended up going back last night and doing a clean install of Tiger on my laptop, just to be sure. But it's a Mac, so that was pretty easy. First, I backed up my drive partitions to an external FireWire drive with the excellent (and free, for basic use), <a href="http://www.shirt-pocket.com/SuperDuper/SuperDuperDescription.html">SuperDuper</a>. I used to use Carbon Copy Cloner, but SuperDuper was Tiger-ready and seems to be updated more frequently, as well. It's a very cool and useful app. Next, I booted from my external drive (to test the integrity of my backup before I wiped the laptop drive), did a clean install of Tiger, then used the option Tiger gives you to restore apps and settings from "another Mac in Firewire Target Disk mode," which copied everything over automatically in one smooth shot. I used my external drive with my backup on it, but I could just as easily have been copying everything over from another Mac. Nice, very nice. I had to replace a couple of the icons on my Dock for some reason, but otherwise it seems to have worked flawlessly. This is the way an OS upgrade should work. Matt: It will be interesting to see how Tiger plays with my G4 desktop system. It's an old-timer: a Power Mac G4 450MHz, from the first generation of AGP PowerMacs that support Quartz Extreme. (It uses an ATI Radeon video card with 16MB of VRAM, the lower limit for Quartz Extreme support.) Although I tripled the original memory to 384 MB, some of my other interactions with new software releases lately suggests it might roll over and die when Tiger gets hold of it. I agree with Richard about SuperDuper: It's a great app, and the extra features you get for paying the shareware fee are well worth the money. I also plan to install Tiger on a clean drive, after making and testing a bootable drive image on my LaCie Firewire drive. Richard: I'm running Tiger on a 1Ghz G4 Powerbook (TiBook), probably about middle of the range, and Tiger's perhaps just a bit faster than Panther. I did get some passing slowness when I first installed, but it may have been indexing my hard drive.. I also wonder if having the Dashboard Widgets in the background eats CPU cycles periodically. Matt: The Tiger install went flawlessly on my G4. It took 32 minutes, with nary a hiccup. Now that I've got a bootable clone for my iBook, I plan to install Tiger there, too. Post-install, I noticed just one odd issue on the G4 so far: Every time I log in or wake the system, it says it does not recognize my keyboard type and makes me go through a quick but annoying keyboard config test. I'm using a Kensington wireless keyboard/mouse set addressing a shared RF receiver, which in turn plugs into my KVM switch controlling both Macs. Up And Running Johnny: I have been running Tiger for about a week and a half now on a 12-inch, 1.33 GHz Powerbook running with 768 MB of memory I chose to save the archive and install, but from what I have seen in performance I am considering a clean install. <table border="0" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1" width="230" align=left><tr><td><div align="left"> <a href="http://i.cmpnet.com/desktoppipeline/story_art/tiger/tiger_mailsearch.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i.cmpnet.com/desktoppipeline/story_art/tiger/tiger_mailsearch.jpg" BORDER="0" HEIGHT="207" WIDTH="224"></a> Tiger's mail search. (Click on image to expand.)</div></table>The search function and the new Safari are my favorite two upgrades. I also found myself dropping Newsfire for Safari's built-in RSS reader. The Mail app has another new feature: sorting mail by threads. This is a cool feature when you have a lot of e-mail to sort. I keep just about all of my e-mail it is very handy to have the ability to reference an e-mail without searching through folders the old way. Matt: I've got Tiger running on both my G4/450 and G3/800 iBook (the latter with 640 BM of memory) now, and I'm very impressed with its performance. It's been noted elsewhere, and it's true: Tiger runs noticeably faster on both machines than Panther. I have also noticed very few problems with apps handling the upgrade, except for obvious stuff like network utilities that require direct kernel access (<a href="http://www.obdev.at/products/littlesnitch">Little Snitch</a> broke until I installed a Tiger-tweaked version). By the way, I downloaded and installed the The Mac OS X 4.1 update, which fixed the keyboard bug I encountered on both machines. I have not noticed any other bugs associated with Tiger on either of my Macs, either before or after installing the 4.1 patch. Richard: Spotlight is way cool, though it doesn't work for monolithic file stores like Euroda's Inbox I still have to use Eudora's own search feature there. Scot: As much as I think both Spotlight and Dashboard are cool, I have problems with both of them. Spotlight is still rudimentary. Microsoft's plans for Longhorn go way past this. It's not that I dislike Spotlight, it's just that it feels like Google Desktop Search grafted onto the Mac. Longhorn intends to bake desktop search into the structure of the entire user interface. It's not one search point for your data, but an entire UI strategy that offers more than a dozen serious changes and new features for associating and finding data. Matt: If we're talking about current capabilities, then as Scot noted before, Spotlight is far better than what's available in Windows XP. I've heard talk that Apple also decided not to expose Searchlight's full feature set in the Tiger GUI, so Longhorn will probably have more serious competition when Leopard (Apple's next planned OS X release) arrives at about the same time. There have been other hints that Apple is working on file-system metadata support that goes way past anything Spotlight would need. A while back, for instance, they hired the guy who developed the BeOS file system, often cited as the best in the business. I'm not sure about Eudora, but Apple is definitely working with Microsoft to solve a similar issue with Spotlight and Entourage. Both it and Eudora use single files to hold large sets of email records, and Spotlight lacks the ability to parse and index these types of single-file data sets. Scot: Dashboard: I may very well be missing something here, but why do I have to open Dashboard to access widgets? Why can't I just have widgets where I want 'em? And have you tried to do simple things like delete a widget? I'm sure I've missed some things, because, well, frankly, widgets seem a little like marketing glitz to me. They're cool to look at but not very useful. I love OS X. But Tiger is something of a disappointment to me. The best thing about it is that a lot of little bugs and problems have been fixed or streamlined. Matt: I'm not crazy about Dashboard, but I never really got into <a href="http://www.konfabulator.com">Konfabulator</a>, either. But this seems like a relatively easy way encourage a community of third-party developers, and that could always lead to some pleasant surprises. <table border="0" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1" width="230" align=right><tr><td><div align="right"> <a href="http://i.cmpnet.com/desktoppipeline/story_art/tiger/tiger_dash.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i.cmpnet.com/desktoppipeline/story_art/tiger/tiger_dash.jpg" BORDER="0" HEIGHT="179" WIDTH="224"></a> Dashboard widgets. (Click on image to expand.)</div></table>I spent a little time checking out how Dashboard and widgets work. There's a familiar name behind the desktop curtain: Web Kit, the rendering engine also used in Safari. Widgets, it seems, are built using mostly Web-standard tools, notably a slightly souped-up version of JavaScript. You can, in fact, run most Dashboard widgets in Safari 2.0 (a fact that appalls Web standards groups they're afraid Mac bigots will use this stuff to build Web sites). This explains why widgets can't roam free on the desktop: They're tethered to Web Kit and thus to Dashboard. It also explains why Very Bad Things (probably) can't happen just because you downloaded an evil Widget. If these things were built using Objective-C, I think the Mac would lose its reputation as a malware-free platform faster than you can say, "Trojan!" None of us seem too blown away with the obvious, GUI-based changes in Tiger. Yet some of the under-the-hood changes are huge. Maybe the biggest is that Tiger is the first OS X release to use what Apple calls a "nonfragile" kernel access model. Developers can now write kernel extensions using "KPIs" (Kext Programming Interfaces) rather than writing directly to the kernel. Now, Apple doesn't have to worry as much about breaking third-party apps when it modifies the kernel; developers will have fewer headaches building and maintaining their apps; and users will get better, more reliable software from both sides. Apple also rewrote the kernel to make multithreaded operations much more efficient, especially for network operations. This could explain why Tiger feels so much faster on the same hardware than Panther. Another big change: One of the file system tweaks I mentioned before involves support for Access Control Lists, which is a huge improvement over Unix permissions and makes Active Directory integration much easier. (This is only visible in the GUI for OS X Sever, but you can turn on ACL via the command line in any Mac running Tiger.) This sort of thing shows how Apple has updated both the kernel and HFS+ to support metadata at the file system level, and it's the reason why I think OS X will more than hold its own against Longhorn and WinFS, even in business environments. Apple could have played up all of this in its Tiger marketing, but instead it went with the usual dog-and-pony show: Dashboard, Spotlight, yada yada. The result is silliness like that list of 200 new features in Tiger that actually counts individual Widgets as "features." Apple's marketing people either got lazy, decided Mac users are a bunch of simpletons, or both. Two OSes, One Machine Scot: On Matt's advice, I bought a 160GB LaCie triple interface hard drive. The thing is very nice and connected perfectly. Can I install Panther to this drive while running Tiger on my internal hard drive? I want to be able to compare the two Mac OSes at will. I could also use some advice. I'd like to copy my Windows-based document store to Tiger so I can test the desktop search capabilities. It's been almost 10 years since I did anything like that between Mac and PC, and it was very painful then. How painful is that now? Is there an easy way to go about it? Richard: It's a piece of cake to install Panther on one drive and Tiger on another. Another way to select which OS you want to run, without having to go into the control panel and change it, is, when you start up your machine, hold down the "Option" key, and it'll give you a chance to select any available OS on any accessible partition. Slick. Scot: So I partitioned no sweat. Typical Mac, it was just completely easy. And Panther is installing on my removable drive right now. I was amazed at how quickly the Mac drives repartitioned and reformatted. But . . . is there a dynamic partitioning utility in the Mac world? Or put it another way, where do I get PartitionMagic for the Mac? Or doesn't that exist? Matt: The best-known product for doing on-the-fly Mac partitions is Micromat's <a href="http://www.micromat.com/diskstudio/ds_introduction.html">DiskStudio</a>. Personally, I prefer <a href="http://www.subrosasoft.com/MacSoftware/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1&products_id=6">VolumeWorks</a>. Like Partition Magic on Windows or DiskStudio on the Mac, VolumeWorks allows resizing, moving, etc. of partitions without reformatting or losing data. I've been futzing with my partitions a lot, especially on my FireWire drive, and this app has already saved me hours of time and immeasurable trouble dealing with disk partitioning. If you mess with your drives like this, you should also get either MicroMat's <a href="http://www.micromat.com/tt_pro_4/tt_pro_4.html">TechTool Pro</a> or <a href="http://www.alsoft.com/DiskWarrior">DiskWarrior</a>, so you can verify the permissions and volume structure on your disks. If that's done and journaling is enabled on every volume that supports it, it's pretty damned hard to take out a HFS + volume unless the drive itself fails. Changing Sides And Increasing Sales Scot: The more I use the Mac, the more I wish I could afford to chuck 15 years of expertise and replace all my Windows PCs with Macs. Let's face it, the Mac is definitely the thinking man's (or woman's) PC. I know that; you know that. I'm just going to bow to reality on that point. That doesn't make it the best value or the right computer to have in all situations. But if you can afford to specify what you're working with and the software is there it's really no contest. Richard: Ah, young Jedi, the Force is strong with you . . .welcome back from the dark side. ;) <table border="0" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1" width="230" align=left><tr><td><div align="left"> <a href="http://i.cmpnet.com/desktoppipeline/story_art/tiger/tiger_automater.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i.cmpnet.com/desktoppipeline/story_art/tiger/tiger_automater.jpg" BORDER="0" HEIGHT="201" WIDTH="224"></a> Tiger's application Automater. (Click on image to expand.)</div></table>Seriously, almost all of the truly skilled hard-core developers I know who have a choice use Macs now, probably for many of the same reasons that more than 25 percent of the people who read Developer Pipeline use some form of Mozilla as their browser. Power users appreciate the efficiencies and other advantages (Unix tools, security, etc) of OS X even more than others. I totally admit that Windows is getting much, much better than it used to be. But Tiger is what Windows wants to be, and perhaps in another year or so, will be. It does seem that OS X has a significant lead, which is especially interesting given the relative amount of development money and personnel Apple and Microsoft have had to put into their respective development. Johnny: I don't think the operating system itself will do much for Mac sales. In order for those Windows users who may be tempted by the dark side to convert, they will still need plop down some hefty cash for a Mac box and the appropriate memory to run the OS. Last time I checked, Apple was still shipping many of their machines with a measly 256MB, which really doesn't allow Tiger to perform at a level which would reveal its prowess. Scot: One thing the Mac can't compete with at the moment on the server side is 64-bit Windows. And there's also just is nowhere near the breadth of apps for the desktop. But I would love nothing more than to go Mac if I could afford to. In order to do it, I have to come up with an excuse to buy a Mac notebook one my wife will buy too. ;-) Matt: I can't wait to get a shot at an x86 Tiger build. All they really have to do to ship the thing is change the wording on the box. The only question is how Apple limits hardware support on the Intel platform. All Apple really has to do is limit its software licensing , either for driver development via<a href="http://developer.apple.com/devicedrivers">I/O Kit</a> or for OS X generally , to keep commercial, third-party competitors out of the market. But I also suspect Apple wouldn't mind hobbyists or open-source developers writing drivers and making it possible to run OS X, without official support, on any Intel hardware with enough horsepower to handle it. All of this talk about proprietary chipsets and other Rube Goldberg stuff seems excessive and pointless. If Apple can control supply (and prices) without driving up its own production costs, then that's al it needs. Richard: I would be totally flabbergasted if Apple allowed OS X to run on anything other than their own branded hardware, just as always, and yes, it'll be interesting to see how they do handle licensing. Matt: I get the impression that Apple is marketing Tiger to its installed base, as it did with Panther and whatever that silly kitty was they used to name 10.1. At WWDC (Worldwide Developers Conference), Steve Jobs said Tiger had already sold however many billions of copies, but I don't recall anyone at Apple talking about the Mac's real-world market share moving up in any meaningful way. <table cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" border="0" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" width="340" align="center"><tr><td align="center" class="blue14"><hr>The PC world's first and best grudge match Mac versus Windows will turn into a head-to-head comparison on the same hardware.<hr></td></tr></table> I think it's the Apple hardware, especially innovations like the iMac and Mini, that move the needle on market share. Even there, you're talking mostly about people who can afford premium-priced hardware. There are reasons, to believe Tiger could be an exception. Spotlight is just too cool I've always been a complete Luddite when it comes to using desktop search, but I'm hooked on this thing. Tiger also supports 64-bit memory addressing from top to bottom, although even Panther used a hybrid model that allowed things like using more than 4GB or physical RAM. I'm sure this is important to keep up appearances, even though most people wouldn't recognize 64-bit software if it marched circles around them with a band in tow. You know, Intel's executives must have little fits of fiscal ecstasy every time they think about all of the people who are going to want top-of-the-line systems capable of dual-booting Longhorn and Leopard when they both come out in 2007. That is, if you think Apple-branded hardware will allow users to do such a thing, and I'm betting it will. Even if it doesn't, 2007 will still be the first time that the PC world's first and best grudge match Mac versus Windows will turn into a head-to-head comparison on the same hardware. There may be a lot of money on the line, but there's even more pride at stake. Do you think there will be a few stressed-out software engineers slaving away in Redmond and Cupertino? I'd rather go play on the freeway than answer to either Steve Jobs or Bill Gates for building those products. But I'll bet Longhorn and Leopard are both amazingly good operating systems in the end, as a direct result of that competitive pressure. <a href="mailto:sfinnie@cmp.com">Scot Finnie</a> is Editor of TechWeb and the Pipelines. <a href="mailto:rhoffman@nwc.com">Richard Hoffman</a> is Editor of Developer Pipeline. <a href="mailto:mattcmp@sonic.net">Matt McKenzie</a> is Editor of Linux Pipeline. <a href="mailto:devilla@adelphia.net">Johnny DeVilla</a> is Freelance Producer for the Pipelines. 2005-05-18T09:43:00ZReview: palmOne's LifeDriveWith a hard drive and business and multimedia apps, the LifeDrive boldly updates the idea of the PDA in a device that's strong . . . and a bit clumsy.http://www.informationweek.com/news/163105626?cid=SBX_iwk_related_news_Handhelds/PDAs_hardwareA few Internet ages ago when iPods were new, I bought a 20GB model, the biggest one Apple then offered. I filled it with data and files from my various computers and, every time I had a system crash, it saved the day. And, of course, it played all of my favorite songs (and still does to this day).  <TABLE WIDTH="120" ALIGN="right" CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="8" BORDER="0" hspace="5" vspace="5"> <tr> <td> <div align="center"> <a href="http://i.cmpnet.com/desktoppipeline/story_art/lifedrive_lg.jpg"> <img SRC="http://i.cmpnet.com/desktoppipeline/story_art/lifedrive_sm.jpg" border="0"></a> palmOne's LifeDrive <a href="http://i.cmpnet.com/desktoppipeline/story_art/lifedrive_lg.jpg" class="blue10"> Click to Enlarge </a> </td> </tr> </table>  That's exactly the kind of mobile power that palmOne is trying to provide with its new LifeDrive, which sports a built-in hard drive and both PDA and multimedia capabilities. This is a much more revolutionary device than we've come to expect from palmOne, which lately has stuck to relatively simple evolutionary changes in its Tungsten line of PDAs. The company deserves a lot of credit for this attempt to re-define the PDA and LifeDrive will, indeed, appeal to many users. Still, at times, LifeDrive seems clumsy because it's trying to do too many things for too many people. It's not, for example, as simple and easy to use as a consumer device like the iPod. And in making LifeDrive a jack of all trades, palmOne made design and physical heft compromises. Plus, at $499, the price is hefty, meaning that if you only need a PDA, music player or external hard drive, you'd be better off going with the individual devices. But its features do hit the target market of corporate executives, the digital elite, and anyone who needs a full-featured device in a small form-factor. And, if nothing else, it's a significant and fascinating first step toward a new type of mobile device.In trying to think outside the box, it is rather amazing what palmOne crammed inside it. This device is based on Palm OS 5.4 (Garnet), not the more advanced Cobalt version of the Palm platform, which can do multitasking and multithreading, and it is built on a reasonably hefty (for a mobile device) 416 MHz Intel XScale processor. . The most substantial addition is the use of a 4GB Hitachi microdrive for primary storage, along with 64MB of RAM for program space. The program RAM is typical RAM and not the flash memory used in palmOne's Tungsten T5 and E2 PDAs, but having the 4GB microdrive continues palmOne's move towards non-volatile storage, meaning that users won't lose all of their data even if the battery runs down. The device also has a SD Disk expansion slot. The device also is quite connective, with built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 1.1 support. The screen is an absolutely crisp and brilliant marvel with a 320x480 resolution " twice that of typical Pocket PC devices. The LifeDrive also adds a hardware switch on the side of the unit to rotate between normal portrait and landscape mode inside of any application. In addition, the voice recorder is back after being inexplicably dropped from the Tungsten T5, accessed via a side switch, and the quality of the rear-mounted speaker seems to have been improved. For those who want better fidelity than any micro-speaker can provide, a standard audio jack is on the bottom of the unit, but it appears to be for audio output only -- those hoping to run Wi-Fi VoIP through the LifeDrive with a headset will be disappointed. Having permanently ditched their previous "Universal Connector," the LifeDrive continues palmOne's recent use of the new "Multi-connector" for charging and data synchronization (via an included USB cable instead of a cradle). PalmOne, obviously understanding that this device would need lots of power, built in a beefy, internal 1660 mAh Lithium-Ion battery. If not quite the two to two-and-a-half days per charge palmOne claims, I got at least a full day of heavy use, which is a refreshing change from many wireless-enabled units that often have a battery life measured in a few hours of real-time use. A rough run-down test on the LifeDrive, with MP3 files playing constantly and accessing the drive, Wi-Fi active and in use, and the screen on maximum brightness, was still in the range of 3 hours. This is in welcome contrast to earlier Palm OS devices, which when using the add-on Wi-Fi SDIO card, you could almost see the battery indicator dropping as you watched. The LifeDrive feels rather pudgy at 4.76"x2.87"x.74", and a hefty 6.8 oz. PalmOne beveled the back of the unit to provide a slimming profile, but the extra thickness and weight compared to its T5 PDA is definitely noticeable in your hand. That's the tradeoff for 4GB of storage and both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, but this is a much more brick-like device than any previous palmOne product. Still, the unit has a very solid-feeling, with a brushed-aluminum finish more like the Tungsten T3 than the T5, and a notably clean combination of style and functionality.In the end, the 4GB microdrive is a mixed bag. The extra storage space is, as intended, extremely useful for storing large presentations and media such as audio and video files. 4GB still isn't quite enough to hold serious enterprise-related data. For instance, I used to store multiple OS images and other multi-gigabyte files on my venerable 20GB iPod, but that isn't possible on a 4GB drive. More significantly, the LifeDrive takes a noticeable performance hit from using a rotating-media drive. For reasons of performance and battery life, the LifeDrive does its best to pre-cache data it thinks you'll need from the hard drive into RAM. However, frequently I experienced delays in response while the drive spun up. It wasn't unusable by any means, but those used to the near-instant-on response of typical PDAs may find themselves annoyed by occasional perceived slowness. The built-in Wi-Fi is generally solid. Setup is simple and easy, and I had no trouble finding and accessing 802.11b and g access points on my network, as well as public access points (palmOne includes a 30-day free trial on T-Mobile's network.) WEP and WPA-PSK encryption is supported, but palmOne no longer bundles Mergic's VPN client, so you'll have to purchase that separately if you need it. Another possible instance of tradeoff is that, while using the included Pocket Tunes application for playing MP3 files, there was at times some noticeable audio interference between tracks, and a distinct delay when skipping tracks in the forward or reverse directions, particularly when playing tracks off of both the hard drive and a 1GB Secure Digital expansion card. The LifeDrive does a reasonable job of being all things to all people, but if what you really want is a dedicated MP3 player, you're probably better off with an iPod. PalmOne continues its wise bundling of DataViz's excellent Documents To Go application, providing better compatibility with Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint files than Microsoft's Pocket PC devices do. With the addition of an external keyboard and a video-out add-on like Margi's Presenter-to-Go SDIO card (not available for the LifeDrive at press time, but likely to be shortly), it should be possible to give complete, media-rich presentations and leave the laptop at home. PalmOne includes a competent array of bundled software to help organize and manage photo, audio and video media, and the Versa Mail application in combination with Documents To go allows you to receive media files or Microsoft Office files as attachments, view and edit them, then mail them back via the LifeDrive. Other included software is designed to work with and manage digital camera image files located on SD cards, allowing use of the LifeDrive as a portable image tank, to backup and display digital camera images on the road. The LifeDrive Manager program did a reasonable job of synchronizing files between Windows computers and the LifeDrive, including media conversion on the fly where necessary, and a simple to use Drive Mode allows the LifeDrive to appear as a standard external USB drive for both Macintosh and Windows computers. Using the LifeDrive is exciting because if, for no other reason, it represents the first example of the next generation of a venerable type of product - the PDA. And while it is pricey, it does many things reasonably well, serving as a corporate-level PDA, music and media player and even external storage device. It doesn't, however, do any of those tasks quite as well as devices dedicated to those specific tasks.2004-12-03T01:00:00ZHP, JBoss Announce App Server Support DealHP will package the JBoss open-source app server with its own servers and professional services, looking for a competitive edge against IBM.http://www.informationweek.com/news/54800348?cid=SBX_iwk_related_news_Handhelds/PDAs_hardwareHewlett-Packard has jumped back into the application-server market through an expanded partnership with JBoss, maker of the popular open-source J2EE JBoss Application Server. The move is HP's attempt to get back on the horse following its ill-fated purchase of Bluestone, a once-powerful app server that HP couldn't even give away in the end. The HP-JBoss pairing has potential, marrying an up-and-comer in app servers with HP's considerable technical and marketing muscle. The partnership will give HP a chance to compete with IBM, which has rolled up the revenue by combining its WebSphere product line with its vast professional services offerings. Most of WebSphere's market success can be attributed to IBM's ability to deliver software and consulting bundles. And many enterprises have wrapped hardware into the package, including IBM-supported Linux servers, making the purchase even sweeter. With JBoss, HP can offer a similar bundle of hardware, software and services. If the HP-JBoss partnership works as well as HP hopes, the loser may be HP's current app-server partner, BEA Systems. BEA is being squeezed on the low end by JBoss and on the high end by WebSphere. For IT departments, however, the partnership is good news. If you want cost-effective but fully supported app servers, the HP-JBoss combo is worth a look.