Photos from many of these meetings are posted in the Tuesday "Nemo" pictures at MyMac.com.
10:00 — SecuriKey by Griffith Technologies
Bennett Griffin, company president, introduced us to their SecuriKey USB thumb-drive-lookalike hardware/software combo security solution. Packaged in an impressive little industrial suitcase, users receive two USB plug-in keys and an installer CD. When activated, the computer can be used only by a special password with the USB key inserted.
David Casseres and Owen Rubin are planning a two-person review of this cross-platform product, priced at $130. David Weeks and I were impressed by Bennett’s enthusiasm, and by the straightforward implementation of his product. "What about a lost key?" we asked. For $49, users can obtain a replacement key if they registered upon initial purchase and installation. "The gerbil ate both my SecuriKeys!" Fear not — in a day or two you’ll be back in action.
Web site: http://www.securikey.com
10:30 — Peachpit Press
Old friend Kim and new staff member Sara Jane gave us a preview of titles being released in early 2005. Peachpit is pleased with our coverage of their books. Kim had a few suggestions of subject areas we don’t normally review to enhance our depth. We’ll brace ourselves for several cartons of books dealing with the new software announced yesterday during the keynote address at MWSF 2005.
11:00 — iPort by Sonance
This company has twenty years’ experience creating custom home audio gear. Apple’s iPod provided a new set of challenges and opportunities, and iPort is the first result.
Using a local installation service from their nationwide network, you pay $600 for the hardware and another $100 – 300 (on average) to have it mounted in the wall of your home. Then the iPod becomes the source for listening via in-wall speakers.
It wasn’t easy to determine quality in the noisy Macworld Expo, but the company knows which end of a speaker is the front, and I expect this custom gear is worth the cost for many convenience-oriented music consumers.
11:30 — Lunch with David Weeks, David Casseres, Owen Rubin, and cousin Jim Nemo.
We enjoyed meeting young ("I’m almost seventeen") O’Reilly author Adam Goldstein, excited about the imminent release of his book Apple Script: The Missing Manual from O’Reilly / Pogue Press. David Casseres will be our lead reviewer. It sure is great to spend time with so many MyMac.com writers, in a collaborative, energetic environment. I wish we could do it every week! Hey — other writers — make plans NOW to join us next January, please!
1:00 — Other World Computing
CEO Larry enjoys sending review products to MyMac.com. We currently have two laptop batteries and a power supply unit from them, and our reviews will be posted in a few weeks. OWC is making more and more high capacity replacement laptop batteries, and this market is becoming "huge," says Larry. Their traditional processor upgrade line is now enhanced with items for digital musicians.
The improved iBook and PowerBook batteries are made in Canada and Japan, and marketed under OWC’s legendary Newer Technologies brand. Replacements for iPod batteries are steady sellers, as are jumbo external battery packs for several models of iPod.
Look here at MyMac.com for honest but subjective reviews of OWC accessories during 2005 and beyond.
1:00 — HP
Owen and both Davids were at HP before I arrived. The four of us were impressed as Rick Spillers, from the Mac Connect group at HP, gave us a dynamic tour through the company’s entire series of new products. And there are a lot of them, all happily compatible with the Macintosh. New inks, new monochrome and color laser printers, new multifunction units, new new new more more more. We’re each looking forward to reviewing equipment within our individual areas of expertise. HP hardware and software are impressive!
David Weeks’ comments:
Nemo’s covered the Moscone waterfront, but I’ll chip in a few observations.
I liked the SecuriKey. While it’s a hardware-based system, the accompanying software is accessed via a Preference pane, with varying levels of security and convenience. That, of course, is the age-old tradeoff. More security and less ease of use, or more ease of use and less security. SecuriKey may have found a good balance.
If you get the willies when you think about using Apple’s built-in FileVault technology, you may prefer this hardware-based approach. If you lose the key, you can get another one FedExed to you overnight, unless you reside in Ulaan Bator, Outer Mongolia. Then it’ll take two nights to get a replacement.
Peachpit book reviews are a staple food item at MyMac.com. We get the books from Peachpit as soon as the ink is dry on the initial press run. At MyMac.com, unlike many reviewers, we read the books, not just weigh them and read the back cover! You’ll find out which ones are best for you by reading Weeks’ or Nemo’s book reviews.
iPort by Sonance.
Got kids? Kids can’t agree on what to listen to? You and the kids can’t agree what to listen to?
My favorite iPort model was a combo unit that consists of an iPort and two Sonance in-wall speakers that is inexpensive enough for each teen (or adult) to have a unit in their own bedroom. When you leave, pop the ‘Pod out of the iPort dock. When you’re back in the bedroom, pop the iPod back in the iPort, and you’ve got your music in your personal in-wall stereo.
OWC Larry, the head honcho of Other World Computing is a character. If Larry talked any faster, he’d hurt himself. But he’s no snake-oil salesman. John and I have started reviewing two of his Newer Technology PowerBook batteries, and they look like they’ll outperform the stock Apple batteries. More news when Nemo and I have finished beating up on the batteries.
HP printers
I had a bad experience with my multi-function HP PSC 750 printer/scanner/copier a few years back, so HP had some serious ‘splaining to do to convince me to give them another try. HP’s Rick Spillers got me to listen long enough to agree to let HP send me a new PSC unit for review. I’ve always liked HP’s hardware, so let’s hope they’ve gotten it together with their current OS X printer drivers. Good news or bad, you’ll hear it from me after I spend time with the PSC 2610.
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