MacUpdate Bundle of Joy turns back into a pumpkin at midnight
A reminder that the MacUpdate Parallel’s Bundle turns into a pumpkin tonight at midnight, so if you were thinking of picking up Parallels and the other 9 apps for less than the price of Parallels alone, now is your chance.
It is coincidentally also your last chance to support Macenstein by buying the bundle by clicking here.
Thanks!
Deals: Bargains aplenty at Harman/Kardon’s eBay store
If you do not fear the word “refurbished”, there are deals aplenty over at Harmon Kardon’s eBay store. Harman sells a wide range of receivers, speakers, subwoofers, and complete surround sound and multimedia systems under the Harman, JBL, and Infinity brand names, and a ton of these items start at only 99¢. I picked up a pair of JBL Spot speakers for $30 (that’s 70% savings).
Above: Many items start as low as 99¢.
I had reviewed the Spots last year and was blown away (9 out of 10), but unfortunately had to send the review unit back. The really nice thing is since you are buying from Harman, you get a factory warranty on your purchase – always nice when buying from eBay. Anyway, just a heads up, I don’t have an affiliation or anything, just passing it along.
MacUpdate announces “MacUpdate Parallels Bundle”
It looks like April is shaping up to be a good month for Shareware fans. MacUpdate has partnered with 10 Mac developers to bring us the MacUpdate Parallels bundle. Similar to the MacHeist bundle of apps, the MacUpdate bundle consists of 10 apps, the three most expensive of which need to be “unlocked” by hitting sales goals in order to be obtained. The biggest name in the bundle (and thus the reason for the bundle’s name) is Parallels Desktop.
The bundle costs $64.99, and with the 7 currently unlocked apps would retail for $265. When all 10 apps are unlocked, the value of the bundle would be $475.
The MacUpdate Parallels bundle contains the following applications:
• Hazel “your personal housekeeper, organizing and cleaning folders based on rules you define. Hazel can also manage your trash and uninstall your applications.”
• Art Text “an application to create high quality textual graphics, headings, logos, icons, banners and buttons.”
• MenuCalendarClock for iCal “gives you instant access to your iCal calendars from a menu bar icon.”
• Leap “A combination Spotlight, Bridge, Finder, and more. With the Finder on Leopard you can find that you have over 10,000 images. Leap shows you all of them, and more importantly – where they are on your computer.”
• StoryMill “introduces aspiring authors to multi-level writing methods of tracking characters, scenes, and locations, while professional writers will appreciate StoryMill’s time-saving ability to oversee and manage the full creative process with Smart Views. ”
• Typinator ” types repeating texts and pictures for you”
• DVDRemaster “is an utility for Mac OS X to recompress large DVDs so that they fit on standard DVD5. DVDRemaster can also convert DVDs so they can be watched on iPod nano, iPod classic, iPod touch, iPhone, Apple TV and much more”
Apps which must be “unlocked” include
• Sound Studio “s an easy-to-use Mac OS X application for recording and editing audio digitally on your computer.”
• BannerZest “Flash presentation software for professional and amateur web designers. ”
• Parallels Desktop “is the first solution that gives Apple users the ability to run Windows, Linux or any other operating system and their critical applications at the same time as Mac OS X on any Intel-powered iMac, Mac Mini, MacBook or MacBook Pro.”
As always, if you are considering purchasing the bundle, we’d love for you to do so via clicking this link, which helps support Macenstein.
The Holy “headless” Grail – Psystar delivers headless “bargain” OpenMac – but is it a bargain?
Filed under: Apple Fanboyism, Awesomeness, Cynicism, Hacks, OS X, deals
Yeah, it kinda is.
A company called Psystar has begun selling a Mac clone called the OpenMac, capable of running Mac OS X Leopard. Starting at $399, the specs are meant to compare favorably with the $800 Mac mini, yet offer more expandability options than the mini does.
Above: The OpenMac is not as stylish as Apple’s CPUS, but we’ve seen far uglier. Plus, it’s what’s inside that counts!
Base model
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- 2.2GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
- 2GB of DDR2 667 memory
- Integrated Intel GMA 950 Graphics
- 20x DVD+/-R Drive
- 4 USB Ports
- 250GB 7200RPM Drive
In its base configuration, the Psystar “OpenMac” does not ship with Leopard, although you can have them install it for you for $155 (they include the Leopard Retail DVD/packaging, as well as a restore DVD). Additional options like a faster processor, more RAM, a GeForce 8600GT 512MB graphics card, larger drives, and a 3 port FireWire card are all available. A fully tricked out OpenMac will run you $1,044.99, and the majority of parts are identical to those found in iMacs and Mac Pros.
The Holy “headless” Grail
Many Apple fans (myself included) have long wished for a low-priced, headless Mac with some expandability options, and the OpenMac would appear to be the answer. However, when one looks at the base model for $399, it may not be the bargain many have hoped for. First, unless you own a copy of Leopard, you’ll need to add $155 to the price of the OpenMac to get it to even begin to compare to the mini. then, throw in $79 for iLife, and suddenly you are up to $633 vs. $599 for the mini.
But not so fast. The $599 mini only has a 1.8 GHz processor, 1 GB of RAM, an 80GB Hard Drive, and a combo drive. Apple doesn’t allow you to even come close to building the base OpenMac specs into the mini. Even the top of the line mini tops out at 2 GHz processor, 2 GB of RAM, 160 GB Hard Drive, and a SuperDrive. And it costs $949.
Of course, the biggest selling point of the Open Mac is it’s expandability. You can add up to 4 GB of RAM to the OpenMac, and add a dedicated graphics card, something mini-critics have long seen as the mini’s greatest shortcoming. For just $100 more than the top-of-the-line Mac mini, you can get a fully tricked out Open Mac with 400 GB Hard Drive, a 2.66GHz Processor, the GeForce 8600GT 512MB, 3 FireWire ports, 4GB of RAM and Leopard. When you take a look at these specs, you do get a somewhat sobering glimpse at Apple’s profit margins.
Sounds awesome, what’s the catch?
Well, yes, it IS awesome, and yes, there are sure to be catches. While there is no question the OpenMac bests Apple’s Mac mini (and even iMac) in power and features, there are risks involved in committing to the OpenMac. First, Read more
Break out the loose change, Macheist is back!
Shareware lovers rejoice, Macheist has returned with their $49 Retail bundle. If you picked up the bundle last time, you may notice 3 of the apps are the same (Awaken, Cha-Ching, and Coversutra) but be sure to check out the other nine apps, odds are something there is worth the $49.
The apps this time around are:
-
Awaken (iTunes alarm clock app)
Cha-Ching (persoal finance/budget app)
CoverSutra (control iTunes without using iTunes)
DEVONthink Personal (app for managing all your crap)
iClip (multiple clipboard/scrapbook app)
Overflow (app launcher)
Wallet (keychain replacement)
Writeroom (kind of cool full screen writing app)
XSlimmer (shrinks space applications take up by deleting unused code/languages)
Enigmo, Bugdom 2, Nanosaur 2 (games)
I broke down in the 25th hour last time around and picked up the bundle, and am quite pleased. While part of me felt a little guilty for picking up these apps so cheaply, I am assuming/hoping no one is twisting the developers’ arms over at MacHeist. As always, Macheist is a limited time deal, so buy early and often.
(Oh, and if you buy the bundle through this link, an Angel gets its wings. Thanks!)
Selling a MacBook Pro to buy a DELL??!
This story pulled at my heartstrings the way an abused kitten story never could. Check out this craigslist listing:
17in. MacBook Pro – $1 (Minneapolis)
Paid over $3000 for this laptop less than a year ago and now feel that Macs aren’t my thing. Looking to sell it so I can get a Dell. Make your best offer.
Laptop is new condition.
Ok, someone needs to start a Minneapolis Mac Rescue League to rescue unloved and neglected Macs from maniacs like this. I know NYC has a great program.
I mean, how can the Mac not be his “thing”? The Mac is EVERYONE’S thing. And he wants to sell it to buy a DELL?!? Please. If you’re looking to sell something, usually you want to at least try to appear sane, and selling a MacBook to buy a DELL is the act of madman. At least say your mom needs a kidney or breast augmentation and you are trying to raise money by selling your prize possessions.
Well, if you’re willing to risk a buck to rescue this poor, neglected and unloved machine, check out item 596228426. Let us know how it goes. I only pray it’s not too late.
MacHeist ends tomorrow – What will Diggers write about?
MacHeist 2, perhaps the most widely over-publicized conglomeration of software in the history of the Mac, will see its shadow tomorrow and go back in its hole for another year.
I have been strong, and managed to resist the bundle’s siren song up ’till now, but it looks like I will be breaking down tonight and picking it up. I’m a sucker for deadlines, and I have bought more than one horribly overpriced bit of animation art at auction because of my tendency to be pressured into a rash decision due to time running out.
I already have what I consider to be the crown jewel in the suite (Snapz Pro X) but for $49, odds are at least one of these other apps will prove useful (plus with so many Macs, I’ll sleep a little better with an extra Snapz license). I’m actually hoping Cha-Ching has some magic Keyboard shortcut capable of somehow getting my finances under control (it will probably suggest I sell my animation art), and Pixelmator and Awaken both looked interesting enough in the past that I wanted to check them out, but not interesting enough that I wanted to pay full price. I suppose I can always write these off as “research” for Macenstein come tax time.
So looks like I’ll be buying the bundle. If any of you own and love any of the other apps in the bundle, let me know why in the comments. I love hearing tales of how software has changed people’s lives for the better.
Last day to submit for your $100 iPhone credit
Today (November 30th, for those of you without calendars) is the last day “early iPhone adopters” can redeem their $100 Apple Store credit.
I blew spent mine on Leopard a couple weeks ago, but now that we’re in the thick of the holiday shopping season, I could sure use another… Did I mention how very, very, very deeply hurt I was by that iPhoe price drop thing?
(If you haven’t already redeemed your iPhone credit, click here to do so).
Did Apple’s “Black Friday” specials leave you hungry for more? Try a “Mac Feast”
As usual, Apple’s “Black Friday” specials ended up being much ado about nothing, with price cuts on the order of what most people who have even a tenuous relationship with a student can accomplish on their own.
However, there is good news for those Mac fans left wanting from these “deals”. Aquafadas did some networking at this year’s WWDC, and managed to line up a slew of the biggest and brightest European Apple developers for their “Give Good Food to your Mac” initiative, beginning this Monday.
Aquafadas describes GGFTYM thusly:
‘Give Good Food to your Mac’ is a community action where independent Mac developers come together and build an exciting project:
“For about 10 days, every Mac users will be able to download and taste 25 great Mac applications and enjoy discounts ranging from 30 to 70%.
No junk food, just healthy, tasty and innovative products. And because we are speaking ‘haute cuisine’ everybody gets to create their own combination of titles matching their own and unique taste.
The promotion will start Monday, November 25th with a private sale to existing customers then kick off on tuesday 26th and remain open until the 8th of December.”
The list of participants and available software for the event is shrouded in mystery, but we hate mystery, so here’s the list.
Art Text from Belight
http://www.belightsoft.com
BannerZest from Aquafadas
http://www.aquafadas.com
PixelMator from PixelMator
http://www.pixelmator.com
Cheetah3D from Cheetah3D
http://cheetah3d.com/
Contactizer Express & Pro from Objective Decision
http://www.objective-decision.com
CoverScout 2.3.5 from Equinux
http://www.equinux.com
CSSEdit from MacRabbit
http://macrabbit.com/cssedit
Expert Wine Cellar from Kletel Multimedia
http://www.kletel.net
Feeder from Reinvented Software
http://reinventedsoftware.com/
Fotomagico Express from Boinx Software Ltd.
http://www.boinx.com
FreeWay Express and PRO from Softpress Systems Limited
http://www.softpress.com/
Geophoto from Ovolab
http://www.ovolab.com
iDive from Aquafadas
http://www.aquafadas.com
iStopMotion Home from Boinx software Ltd.
http://www.boinx.com
Magnet from Creaceed
http://www.creaceed.com
Merlin 2.5 from ProjectWizard
http://www.merlin2.net/
Money from Jumsoft
http://www.jumsoft.com
Morphage 3.x from Creaceed
http://www.creaceed.com
Personal Trader from Coladia
http://www.coladia.com
PulpMotion from Aquafadas
http://www.pulpmotion.com
RapidWeaver from realmacsoftware
http://www.realmacsoftware.com
Remote Buddy 1.x from Iospirit GmbH
http://www.iospirit.com
Table from Daniel Schwill
http://www.x-tables.eu/more/overview.html
Together from Reinvented Software
http://reinventedsoftware.com/
VideoPier from Aquafadas
http://www.aquafadas.com
All in all a very decent selection of apps for this “Mac Feast”. The one thing that does still remain shrouded in mystery is which of these apps will get the 70% treatment, but hey, even 30% off is 3 times what Apple offered.
