Macworld0702February2007

EXCLUSIVE: PHOTOSHOP CS3 Ru, The Mac Product Experts ~~ We Pick the Hottest Hardware & Software Be: $6.99 U.S./$7.99 Canada | | | | I 70989" 06924) | oO 4 ny Gn eg tN Ot ee Bf *" i RES ee aH *_AChrysler Building eriginee oo ieee captured by Vincent Laforet. Aperture Profile: Vincent Laforet, LIFE magazine, Chrysler Building, New York, NY Vincent sets up for his shots, photographs a Chrysler Building engineer at work, then uses Aperture to import, edit, catalog, organize, retouch and publish his photos to his website, all from the top of the Chrysler Building. To get the shot, Vincent Laforet battled vertigo, high winds and the pressure of an early deadline. Atop Manhattan's famous Chrysler Building, routine maintenance is no easy task. Neither is capturing breathtaking photos of it. So with just a limited amount of time to shoot an engineer at work on one of the building's famous eagles, Vincent Laforet enlisted the help of Aperture™ and his MacBook” Pro. Only Aperture, the first all-in-one post-production tool for photographers, could help Vincent manage his entire workflow within such a narrow time frame. Working in RAW from start to finish, Vincent used Aperture to immediately catalog his shots as he took them, add important metadata, compare full-screen RAW photos with Aperture’s Stacks and built-in Loupe, then publish the final photos to his website — all from a landing on the 61st floor. By the time the shoot was over, thanks to Aperture, Vincent knew with certainty he’d made the most of his one chance. Aperture gives photographers the post-production tools they need to shoot with confidence from any- where. Which is something Vincent Laforet appreciates when he's on the ground, up in the air or somewhere in between. Aperture For more of this story and others, visit apple.com/aperture/profiles @ Aperture MacMall EXCLUSIVE Deals! 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HP Photosmart 8050 Printer only “49°F Everki Messenger Satchel only *4° With iBook G4 purchase. After mail-in rebates. While supplies last! Call for details. 6, AL February 2007 www.macworld.com oO Pp | N Ke) N 11 ~~ Erom the Editor’s Desk] : JASON SNELL Parallels Desktop for Mac is one of the most important products of the year. Here’s why. 16 Eeedback) COVER STORY Readers respond. 58 [The 22nd Annual Editors’ Choice Awards| REVI EWS Step into the winners’ circle. Macworld’s editors and readers select the best and most-innovative products of 2006. 68 KIRK McELHEARN AND SARAH MILSTEIN The Internet can be an invaluable resource for news, research, shopping, and more—assuming you know where to look. If you feel as though you spend more time searching than finding, don’t fret. Our experts will show you how to quickly cut through the clutter and get the information you want, delivered right to your Mac. 5g| THE EDITORS’ CHOICE AWARDS, 168 [DECODE THE WEB| 37 38 48 50 52 56 rSossm [On the Cover] Photography by Peter Belanger §8EES 15-inch MacBook Pro Core 2 Duo/2.16GHz §8EGS 15-inch MacBook Pro Core 2 Duo/2.33GHz $§6GG) 13-inch MacBook Core 2 Duo/1.83GHz $$$) 13-inch MacBook Core 2 Duo/2.0GHz §8GG5 13-inch MacBook Core 2 Duo/2.0GHz (black) $666 Backup 3.1 $68) Data Backup 2.1 $§BF Personal Backup X4 10.4.5 $8EE Retrospect Desktop 6.1 6G: Tri-Backup 4.0.4 More Reviews [iPod Gear DAN FRAKES Protect your laptop while sporting a new look, convert your favorite widgets into stand-alone applications, make iTunes do new things with easy-to-run scripts, and use your Mac to take power naps. February 2007 MACWORLD 5 Macworld February 2007 MAC BEAT 22 wn exclusive Took at the Photoshop C33 beta, our predictions for 2007, cooler] MacBooks and MacBook Pros, an interview with Will Shortz of the New York Times, iPod-airplane integration, and more. SECRETS 80 Easy Mac Backups JOE KISSELL The next version of OS X will include the backup software Time Machine, but who can afford to wait until then? Here's how to protect your data now. 82 The Podcast Listener’s Guide MATHEW HONAN Thanks to podcasting, you aren't limited to local radio programs anymore. Check out the variety of audio and video podcasts available at the iTunes Store. 84 Make Massive Prints BEN LONG The next time you make a print of your favorite photo, don’t settle for 8 by 10 inches. Supersize it. The Virtual CD > Google offers much more than just a search engine. It also has free tools for workgroups. Sarah Milstein details some of Google's lesser-known productivity features. > Web productivity is also on Christopher Breen’s mind. He retums to the Bungalow with more cool tips for getting the ‘most out of your Web time, > We also have the latest Macworld Podcast, online reviews, software updates, and the Best of Macworld.com, http://cd.macworld.com/2007/02/red-hut 6 MACWORLD. February 2007 86 Customize Your DVDs JIM HEID Apple's iDVD software makes it easy to burn a movie onto a DVD. And with a little know-how, you can give your DVDs a professional touch 88 90 Upgrade Your Laptop Want to pep up your old iBook or PowerBook? Here's how to decide whether you should upgrade the RAM and hard drive. 3 Great Tricks for Geeks CHRISTOPHER BREEN, ANDY IHNATKO, AND TED LANDAU We have top-secret tips for saving time, taking e-mails on the go, and just plain figuring out who's been using your Mac. 92 96 [HELP DESK] Mac OS X Hints ROB GRIFFITHS Cancel the Shut Down command, zip through podcast lists, drag and drop text to Dashboard widgets, add basic AppleScript support to applications that don’t have it, and more. [Mac 971] CHRISTOPHER BREEN Switch from .Mac HomePage to iWeb, keep an eye on the kids’ computing, edit videos on old VHS tapes, trim excess e-mail files, and more. BACK PAGE 132 Check out our favorite new stuff. www.macworld.com NEC NEC Display Solutions iTRN MH HE WS. AN. Wo. EDGE with attention-grabbing styling and unique features like an available panoramic Vista Roof,” this crossover is designed to inspire you to view the world in a different way. Plus, it offers the punch of class-leading’ 265 horsepower and does it all with impressive fuel economy."* So, stay sharp with the Edge, starting at $25,995 MSRP’ And leave dull behind. “Class is medium-size crossovers with standard V6. “*EPA estimated 18 city/25 hwy mpg. FWD. ‘SE $25,995; as shown, SEL $30,135. Taxes, title and license fees extra BOLD fordvehicles.com/edge iSkin Show some Skin. A sos; + Macworld $bb66 Ps iSkin® by iSkin In. Tats ‘Canada. All Rights Reserved. PORTRAIT BY PETER BELANGER nce) Minin RO) See) =,@ BY JASON SNELL Parallels Universe If | needed an indicator that this whole Intel-Mac thing is opening new doors for Apple, | couldn’t have asked for a better one than my Uncle Jim. He’s a retired corporate executive who has always used Windows, at home and at work. And yet just the other day during a family visit, he asked me which MacBook he should buy. He’s clearly not alone. Thanks to Apple’s year-old transition to Intel chips, lots of longtime Windows users are now thinking about buying Macs. It’s not the Intel brand name that’s attracting them, though: it’s the Intel-based Mac’s ability to run Windows soft- ware at native speeds. My uncle has several relatives who are Mac users. Over the years, he’s seen how easy Macs are to use, especially for his most important computer tasks— browsing the Web, reading and sending e-mail, and working with digital photographs. But he also wants to keep running some of his familiar Windows pro- grams. In the old days, that would’ve kept him from switching to the Mac, but not anymore. What Is It Good For? Let me make one thing clear: I think Windows should be avoided whenever possible. But sometimes it can’t be. Sometimes there’s a program you simply can’t use unless you're running Windows. For Mac users, that has always meant making a difficult choi buy a PC, struggle along with slow emulation so ware (the one thing that’s worse than running Win- dows is running it at one-quarter of its native speed), or just do without. Now we—Mac users, and PC users who couldn’t switch because of that one last program holding them back—are all free to run Win- dows programs without having to /ive in Windows. One of the most exciting developments of the p: year has been the rise of Parallels Desktop, the soft- ware that lets you run Windows on Intel Macs at the same time you're running Mac OS X. A year ago, I had never even heard of it. But in the past eight months, Macworld editors, readers, and I have all been extremely impressed with the program. Not only did we name it one of this year’s Eddy winners (see “The 22nd Annual Editors’ Choice Awards” on page58), but Macworld readers voted it their software product of the year. While Apple’s Boot Camp software was initially exciting, it just doesn’t make as much sense as Paral- lels Desktop. What's the point of having a Mac if you're just running Windows on it? With Parallels Desktop, your Mac and Windows programs can run simultaneously. ‘www.macworld.com Paradigm Shift The clever programmers at Parallels haven’t stopped, either. The company’s most recent beta release features a mind-bending new feature called Coherence. When you’re in Coherence mode, the Windows desktop disappears, and Windows pro- grams float among your open Mac program win- dows. It’s a major shift: in Coherence mode, you're not using Windows anymore; you're just using a few Windows programs in OS X. Even in Coherence mode, of course, using Win- dows programs can still be an exercise in frustration. The keyboard shortcuts are different, the interface is weird, and the font handling leaves much to be desired. That’s why I don’t see the rise of Par- allels as a threat to Mac software development. Whenever possible, Mac users will still want native Mac applications. But running Windows programs in Parallels, especially in Coherence mode, will do in a pinch. Just to prove my point, I’ve written this entire column in a beta version of Microsoft Word 2007 for Windows. In the background, I can see my Mac programs running happily, and I can switch to them with ease. I wouldn’t want to work like this all the time. But I can certainly put up with it when I must use Windows software. Strange New Landscape I can’t wait to see how this will all play out in 2007. Windows Vista will arrive, Parallels Desktop will likely acquire more features, and VMWare (the lead- ing provider of virtualization software on PCs) will probably release its own competitor to Parallels. Then there’s the forthcoming release of both Mac and Windows versions of Microsoft Office 2007. We are entering an exciting new phase in the Mac’s life. Today the old excuses for not using a Mac just don’t ring true anymore. Just ask my Uncle Jim, if you can tear him away from his new MacBook. What do you think? Know anyone who bought a Mac because of its ability to run Windows? Have you tried out Parallels? Come over to macworld,com/ forums and let me know. February 2007 MACWORLD. 14 Mac Power User Track + Mac OS X: Ready for the Future? + Mac 0S X Power Tips * Apple's Latest and Greatest + 0S X Leopard Sneak Peek for the Power User * Introduction to Automator * AUNIX Guide to 0S X + Installing and Managing PostgreSQL on Mac * FileMaker Pro Out of the Box * FileMaker 7 Databases and the Web Aperture Aura Track * Intro to Aperture: From Capture to Output + Advanced Aperture: Becoming a Power User * Making Gorgeous Aperture Books + Understanding and Using Versions * Shooting and Editing Raw + Publishing your Photos Using Aperture Web Galleries and Journals + Light Table Secrets + Integrate Aperture Into Your Existing Process + Aperture and Automation Mac 0S X: Perfect for Photographers The Conference Cruise prices vary from $1,299 for an Inside Stateroom to $3,199 for a Full Suite, per person. (Cruise pricing is subject to change. 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Mi We Test, Review, and Dissect ‘Apple's New Ergonomic Advisers KARIM CHRISTOPHER Thanks for the article on ergonomics (“Macworld’s Guide to Healthy Comput- ing,” November 2006). In their rush to create the latest, greatest products, hard- ware and software companies forget that their customers are real, live human beings. [ hope more companies realize the need to build physically comfortable 2 products. With headline articles like yours, the message is getting acro PARRISH S. KNIGHT BE Thank you for your excellent article on RSIs. I’d like to point out one cause of RSIs for Mac OS X users that you didn’t mention: the way the mouse moves. In OS 9 and earlier, that mouse motion always felt completely natural. But in OS X, the cursor seems to accelerate and decelerate strangely. Many people— myself included—must use their hand and wrist muscles in unnatural ways to compensate, and that effort can hurt. In my case, after 20 to 30 minutes, I’m in so much pain I can’t use the mouse at all. As far as I can tell, no setting in the Key- board & Mouse preference pane will cor- rect this problem. Fortunately, a number of third-party alternatives can. I use one called USB Overdrive ($20; www.usbover drive.com). It takes a while to get the set- tings right, but once you do, the mouse is a joy to use again. My hand and wrist pain has completely disappeared. GREGG WILLIAMS Es As a writer who has permanent RSI in both hands, I applaud your recent article on healthy computing, about which I'd like to make two comments. One is to sug- gest another excellent head-mounted mouse replacement: NaturalPoint’s Smart 16 MACWORLD February 2007 When we were first considering doing a guide to computer ergo- nomics (“Macworld’s Guide to Healthy Computing,” November 2006), a story we’ve done many times over the years, we had to ask ourselves: NAV; [’'d recommend buying it from RJ Cooper and Associates ($200; rjcooper .com/smartnav), which supplies OS 9 and OS X drivers for the hardware. My second comment is about MacSpeech’s iListen software: I’ve found it woefully inade- quate. My alternative is to use Nuance’s Dragon NaturallySpeaking software ($100; www.nuance.com) on a PC that I’ve con- nected to my Mac through a VNC con- nection; the PC then becomes a glorified mouse and keyboard. Dangerous Raids JOE VANZANDT 2 In your article about the Mac Pro (“Inside the Mac Pro,” November 2006), you point out that the expanded disk capacity of the Mac Pro makes it possible to speed up the machine by instituting RAID 0 (striping) among multiple disks in the machine. While it’s true that striping can increase the speed on disk reads and writes, it’s also an inherently risky setup: if one disk fails, you may not be able to access data from any of them. While this is generally a remote possibility, it’s defi- nitely a real danger. If you use striping, it’s more important than ever to back up crit- ical data regularly. DAN GOLDENBERG | In the article “Inside the Mac Pro,” Jonathan Seff calls mirrored RAID “an up-to-the-minute backup.” But a mirrored RAID only gives you data redundancy. It won't do you any good if a file or directory becomes corrupt; it will only create an up-to-the-minute copy of that corrupted file or directory, giving you two drives with the same faulty data. You won't have a true backup until you create an offsite copy of the mirrored disks’ contents. “Is there anything new to say about it?” The answer, we decided, was that yes, there were some new tools out there to help you use your Mac without risking your health. More important, it’s a topic we should be covering regularly. Judging from the responses we got to the article, you seemed to agree on both counts. (1 How Fast Is FileMaker? JERRY WEIR Es} ‘There's a big error in your review of File- Maker Pro 8.5 (November 2006). Your reviewer quotes the company as having stated that “version 8.5 is up to two times faster than FMP 8 on a PowerPC Mac.” ‘That statement is not true, nor is that what FileMaker claims. What the company does claim is that version 8.5 will run two times faster on an Intel-based Mac than FileMaker Pro 8 ran on a PowerPC. So yes, if I upgrade my computer as well as my version of FileMaker, then 8.5 will run two times faster than 8.0. There’s a huge difference between those two statements. Sorry for the confusion. We should have made that distinction clearer—Dan Miller Parallels Universe ‘AMI SPERBER In the article “Design for Any Browser” (Create, November 2006), David Sawyer McFarland suggests a way to return to full-screen mode in Parallels, by installing and configuring VirtueDesktops. I have been using a much simpler method to do the same thing: in Parallels’ full-screen mode, I simply press %¢-H to hide Paral- lels. When I want to return to Parallels, I click on its icon in the Dock and immedi- ately return to full-screen mode. Pop Goes the Gmail PAUL APPLEGATE Es] In “Get More from Mail” (Working Mac, November 2006), Joe Kissell mentions adding a POP3 account to Gmail, but fails to mention the most important part: enabling POP3 access in the Gmail Web continues ‘wwwumacworld.com PHOTOGRAPH BY PETER BELANGER Graphired gives you the control you need to quickly and easily edit your digital photos. Draw, paint, and create artwork for slide shows, scrapbooks or craft and hobby projects. Enhance Your Photos Dress up your memories by correcting color and lighting and removing image imperfections and flaws using your pen with Adobe® Photoshop® Elements 3 (software included). Apply Color and Light Enhancements Intensify early-morning light, soften skin tones, or brighten dim areas of your photo using creative color effects and filters applied by your pen in Nik® Color Efex Pro 2 GE (software included). Visit | Call www.TabletPhotoFun.com | 1.800.922.2589 Draw and Paint Try any one of over 50 pressure-sensitive brushes and a mix of papers, nozzles, and pattems to create artwork from your digital photos using your pen and Corel® Painter™ Essentials 2 (software included). When used with a Wacom pen, Painter Essentials 2 looks and feels like just about any natural art tool your heart desires. Pressure Sensitivity Control your software tools like exposure, brush size, opacity and more by simply changing how hard you press the pen tip to the tablet. graphire. FEEDBACK interface. To do so, choose Settings, then Forwarding And POP, and choose your option. Now you can follow his setup instructions and POP your Gmail. You're absolutely right, I should have men- tioned that. I enabled POP access on my own Gmail account so long ago that I completely forgot the option isn’t turned on automati- cally. Luckily, it takes about two mouse clicks to do it.—Foe Kissell On the Road Again NEAL GALLAGHER Es} ‘Asa prolific photographer, who backs up gigabytes at a time when I’m out in the field, let me add two comments to your story “Back Up Photos on the Road” (Digital Photo, November 2006). First, the Apple iPod Camera Connector is a battery hog: it'll suck your iPod’s battery dry before you’ve downloaded a full 4GB memory card. Second, you missed my favorite online photo backup service, phanfare.com. It has wonderful options and great, iPhoto-compatible software that allows me to download entire ch record edit enjoy Macworld Macworld 666; $666; eyety hybrid eyetv2 software albums directly out of iPhoto, all in the background. It’s definitely worth a look. Thumb Drives, Ha! ALBERT REINGEWIRTZ i) About your column in November on portable applications (“Your Apps in Your Pocket,” Mobile Mac): I recently spent a week in New York and carried full-fledged copies of all my apps with me. I brought all my data and configuration files with me, too. But I didn’t use a thumb drive: I used a 2.5-inch, 100GB portable hard drive. Not only does it carry more, it’s bootable and FireWire-capable. It makes no sense to promote thumb drives when external hard drives are capable of so much more. A Better Way to Share LEON NELSON ie) In “Better Living through iPhoto Sharing” (Mac 911, November 2006), Christopher Breen described several elaborate ways to move pictures from one Mac to another. I prefer a simpler Watch, pause and rewind full screen television directly on your Mac. Record TV ao shows and take control of your schedule with the help of a built-in, searchable Program Guide. Edit recordings to remove unwanted content, or create short video clips. Export your recordings to your iPod® in one easy step. Sit back, and enjoy. Elgato products are available at these and other authorized Apple dealers: @& Apple Store MacMall Visit us at Macworld San Francisco! luary C 132 method: On computer number one, select the pictures to move (even the entire library), and copy them to a folder on the desktop (I called mine PicMove). Next, copy this folder to a portable hard drive that’s connected to the USB port. Now, on computer number two, create a new iPhoto album (I called mine From Portable). Plug the portable hard drive into computer two’s USB port, and copy the PicMove folder to the From Portable album. You've copied all the pictures from computer one to two. I think this is the simplest, best way to move pictures from one Mac to another. © Post comments on our forums (www .macworld.com); send them by mail to [1 Letters, Macworld, 501 Second Street, Sth Floor, San Francisco, CA 94107; or send them by e-mail to letters@macworld.com. Include a return address and daytime phone number. 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But with Apple’s transition to the Intel processor com- plete and the release of Adobe Creative Suite 3 still months away, Adobe has taken the unusual step of putting a free beta version of Photoshop CS3 in cus- tomers’ hands now. (The 750MB Photo- shop CS3 beta, which will expire when CS} ships sometime in spring 2007, is available at labs.adobe.com for registered Photoshop CS2 us In addition to native compatibility with Intel-based Macs, the Photoshop CS3 beta also packs a large selection of impor- 22 MACWORLD. February 2007 tant new features, including interface changes, nondestructive filters, easier compositing, improvements to Camera Raw, and a completely redesigned version of Bridge, Adobe’s companion file browser (for more on Camera Raw and Bridge, see the longer version of this story at mac world.com/2439). In my tests, the Photoshop C$3 beta was very stable and showed much- improved performance on both Intel- and PowerPC-based Macs. In terms of the interface, the program’s core fea- tures remain the same, so the transition should be easy for experienced users (though the beta doesn’t yet have all the final features in place). Performance Boosts Although the program is loaded with many new features, most users—particu- larly those who've bought an Intel Mac or are contemplating such a purchase—will initially be curious about performance on Mac Pros, MacBook Pros, and other Intel- based machinery. Overall, the news is very good: most operations receive some improvement while other functions realize a substantial gain. In my tests, launching the application was more than twice as fast as launching CS2; it clocked in at 20 se onds on a 2GHz Intel Core Duo Mac: Book Pro, compared with 50 seconds for starting up CS2. Running the Sharpen and Blur filters was also more than twice as fast ‘wwwumacworld.com in CS3, and I found that these numbers scaled consistently with larger images. Other operations, such as CMYK conver- sion and resizing with bicubic interpola- tion, were only faster by a second or two, however. The Macworld Lab is doing for- mal benchmarks on the public beta, the results of which should be published on ‘Maeworld.com by the time you read this. Updated Interface Upon launching, the first thing veteran Photoshop users will notice is the new palette look. The program still offers a docking mechanism for nesting palettes into tabbed collections, but CS3 moves the palettes that used to reside in the toolbar into a second palette dock that sits next to the original dock on the right side of the screen. With a second dock, each tab collection is roomier. Photoshop's interface has been verging on palette-heavy for a while, so Adobe has added the ability for the user to col- lapse a dock full of palettes into a collec- tion of smaller icons. For people using small displays, the ability to collapse palettes is particularly useful, while Photoshop users with large displays will probably appreciate the sec ond dock, which lets them see more palettes at once. One bug in the beta involves the cur- sor display. When running CS3 on an Intel Mac, the painting-brush cursor’s size displays improperly or the cursor is missing altogether. Adobe plans to fix this problem by the time Photoshop CS3 is actually released. Improved E ig When Adobe added Adjustment Layers to Photoshop 4 in 1996, it introduced the practice of non- destructive image editing. With Photo- shop CS3, you can now attach any fil- ter—Unsharp Mask, for example—to a layer as a smart filter in the same way that Layer Styles are Soe 209189 =n added to a layer. ‘The advantage of Adjust Here Camera Raw adds features from Photoshop Lightroom, asmart filter over a regular filter is that you can hide or delete a smart filter to disable or remove its effect, or you can double-click on a smart filter’s name to change its parame- ters at any time. Smart filters also have built-in layer masks, just like Adjustment Layers, so you can interactively paint a mask to constrain the effects of your smart filters. While many effects in Photoshop are still destructive—cropping, mode changes, and resizing, to name a few— the addition of smart filters should appease many Photoshop users who’ve been frustrated by the fact that once they apply a filter they can’t alter or undo that action later. People who do a lot of image retouch- ing with Photoshop’s Rubber Stamp tool will welcome the new Clone Source 2A Poa Fs Open Up Bridge now lets you preview multiple images simultaneously. ‘www.macworld.com palette, which lets you change the clone source numerically, store multiple clone sources, or view the clone source as a semitransparent overlay. Making selections is a big part of many retouching tasks, from composit- ing to localized correction and filter- ing. To make this task easier—both in terms of speed and accuracy—Photo- shop CS3 adds a new Quick Selection brush, which lets you select an object simply by brushing over it. As you brush, the program analyzes your image to determine which pixels in the region need to be selected. No matter which selection tools you use, the new Refine Edge palette (which replaces the Feather Selection com- mand) lets you interactively apply feath- ering to soften the edge of a selection, and then expand and contract the selec- tion. The new Radius slider can often significantly improve the accuracy of your selection. ‘Many other changes and improve- ments abound throughout the program. For example, the Curves window adds a Preset feature as well as black-and-white point sliders, and a new Black & White option gives you a six-channel color mixer for black and white adjustments. Even with the final software months away, it’s clear from this beta that Adobe is well on its way to releasing a greatly improved version of Photoshop. BEN LONG is a San Francisco-based writer and photog- rapher. He is also the author of Getting Started with Camera Raw (Peachpit Press, 2006). February 2007 MACWORLD 23 MAC BEAT MACWORLD’S SEVENTH ANNUAL LOOK AT THE YEAR AHEAD Fortune-Tellers Not even Steve Jobs knows everything that will occur in the world of Macs in 2007. But that needn’t stop us from making our own predictions. So this year we asked Senior Editor Christopher Breen, Senior Contributor Adam C. Engst, John Gruber of the Daring Fireball blog (daringfireball.net), former Macworld columnist and Chicago Sun-Times technology and computer columnist Andy Ihnatko, and John Moltz of the Crazy Apple Rumors Site (www.crazyapplerumors.com) to tell us what they think 2007 will bring. 2007’s Most Sign Hardware Breen: Other. in hardware other than computers. This could include an iPhone, a wide-screen iPod, or the iTV. Engst: I’d like to say the iTV, but it’s as yet unclear how large an impact it will have, given that many people are clearly happy already with watching video on their Macs or iPods, and making a better connection between a Mac and a'TV may simply not be sufficiently compelling. AirPort Express is cool, but it didn’t change the world. Were I to venture further out on the limb, I’d predict new hardware designs for at least the iMac and the Mac- Book Pro, with the Mac mini and the Mac Pro potentially in line as well. Gruber: An Apple-branded mobile phone. I’m torn between whether such a device will be its own new brand, or whether it'll be branded as an iPod with phone capabilities. But I think 2007 is the year this will happen, and I think it’s going to be big news. Ihnatko: Apple’s wireless iPods. ‘The iPod is the tail that wags the dog; any change that Apple makes to the iPod ant New 24 MACWORLD February 2007 winds up in the pockets, purses, and belts of the entire world, and unlike Zune and its “why even bother?” Wi-Fi features, Apple will make the iPod’s wireless features compelling, relevant, and instantly transformative. Moltz: The Apple iPhone, and it will have only one button. 2007’s Most Significant New Software Breen: The software that manages Other—a new version of iTunes. Engst: Leopard, without question. Just the features that have been previewed so far would be sufficient to give it the nod, and Steve Jobs implied there were more features coming as well. That said, Leopard faces the same challenge that Tiger faced and, for many people, failed to meet. If, like me, you find Spotlight useless, can’t figure out anything useful to run in Dashboard, don’t use Mail, and have little use for Automator, Tiger doesn’t offer much more than Panther did. Boot Camp, Time Machine, Spaces, and Dashboard’s Web Clip certainly sound useful, but whether they will prove to be so in real-world use remains to be seen. Gruber: Can I just say Leopard? If so, that’s my answer. If I need to be more specific, ’d say Safari 3.0. thnatko: The m ignificant software has to be the Universal editions of Microsoft Office and Adobe Creative Suite. They’re the last pieces of the Intel transition, and I’m sick and tired of liv- ing in a world where the fastest Photo- shop machines are Windows boxes. Moltz: iTunes 8, which will be able to find a song for you if you just say “You know that song, the one that goes ‘Baaaah, dah-dah-dah-dah! Bah-dah- duh-dun!’ What song is that?” 2007’s Biggest Mac News Breen: Apple and the Other. See, I’m sticking to a theme. 2007 is the year Apple makes a bigger plunge into the media business and, through iTunes integration with the iPhone, begins to have an impact in the telecommunica- tions business as well. Engst: My money is on it being an over- all story of Apple's resurgence in the computer market, driven by the combi- continues Readers Weigh In We asked Macworld.com forum members to share their predictions for 2007. Here are the top 12: iLife ‘07 . Blu-ray drives on Macs . New iSight camera and Cinema Displays with builtin iSights iTunes Store expands its movies beyond Disney offerings iPhone Wide-screen, touch-sensitive iPods Intel-native Adobe Creative Suite 3 Quad-core Mac . Work ‘07 with a spreadsheet application 10. Smaller MacBooks or a tablet Mac 11. 802.1 1n wireless networking in Macs 12. 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Call 800.450.1984 or visit www.FastTrackSchedule.com/mac FastTrack Schedule 9 rldwide at Apple Retail Stores and through these fine retailer amazoncom MacMaly 26 MACWORLD February 2007 MAC BEAT nation of great native hardware and soft- ware, full Windows compatibility, and the iPod’s continuing halo effect. We've seen record profits from Apple this year, but once Windows compatibility isn’t something that needs to be added on, I think even more people will be buying Macs. The real question is, what will Apple do with all that money? Gruber: The release of OS X 10.5. What's going to make Leopard such a big deal is that there are so many different new things in it. It’s packaged and presented as a single new product, but it’ really a col- lection of dozens of new and updated components. Everything from Safari to iChat and iCal is getting a significant overhaul. It’s a horrible cliché, but there : Apple carefully and licenses some of its technology to consumer-electronics makers, not to transplant iTunes and Mac experiences onto third-party electronics, but to extend Apple’s influence into a broader range of devices. Moltz: The biggest news will be Steve Jobs leaving Apple. After several hours of garment-rending and wailing from the Mac community, the event will end anti- climactically as Jobs returns, having apparently just gone out for a soy latte. When Will It Happen? There are many items we all know (or at least think we know) are coming down the pike. The big question is when, so we asked our experts to guess the timing for five forthcoming hardware and software products. Leopard Breen: April. Engst: June. Gruber: June. Ihnatko: May, so it can help boost sales to the education market. Moltz: After screenshots of all the supercool features have already been leaked on the Internet, ruining a good time for everyone iTV Breen: March. Engst: February. Gruber: February. They'll start taking orders after the Expo keynote, though. Ihnatko: It's just waiting for the 802.11n Wi-Fi standard to settle down. My guess is May. Moltz: When you kids finish your homework and not a minute before! | don’t care when your show starts! Adobe Creative Suite 3 Breen: Summer. Engst: June. Gruber: June. Ihnatko: First quarter; Photoshop CS3 is already in beta Moltz: Just in time for you to drive your brand-new hover car to the Apple Store on Mars to pick up a copy. An Eight-Core Mac Breen: January. Engst: If a Mac Pro does come out with eight cores, I'd expect it in October, presumably after Leopard and some applications that pro- vide support for all those cores in a real way come out. Gruber: January. thnatko: It's a toss-up, but | think WWDC is a safe bet. Moltz: Never! Four cores should be enough for anyone. In my day, we only had one core and we had to crank-start—hey, where are you going? Come back here! Wide-Screen iPod Breen: Spring, Engst: September, in time for the holiday buying season. Gruber: September. Ihnatko: Late in the year (October, say), if at all. | still haven't seen evidence that Apple's actually buying parts or readying manufacturing. And the iTV has taken a lot of the steam out of the “any day now" wide-screen iPod rumors. Without iTV, one has to wonder why Apple has moved into movies so aggressively if not to support an iPod that makes video a more sumptuous and indulgent experience. With the iTV, online movies and TV shows have someplace to go; maybe Apple will just steer iPod users to those paperback-sized screens that you slide your iPod into for longer battery life and a bigger display. Moltz: Five minutes after the next time Steve Jobs says, “Oh, there's just one more thing. www.macworld.com ViewDock™ Take your iPod® from hand-held to mind-blowing. > a VX2245wm THE WORLD'S FIRST INTEGRATED IPOD® DOCKING STATION. Dock it. Sync it. Charge it. Play movies, videos and games on a 22” hi-def widescreen. ViewDock is designed for Mac and PC and combines revolutionary LCD technology with an integrated multimedia base for efficient desktop convenience. 4 USB slots and built-in 8-in-1 card reader keep your workspace clutter-free. Speakers and subwoofer make it all complete. Become one with your personal digital universe. Find a retailer and buy at ViewSonic.com/HDLife. ViewSonic Se. Figz compusn @ woocmm fxr the choice of professionals Manage your SUBSCRIPTION with a simple click! Using our Subscriber Services web site is the fastest way to take care of any of your Macworld subscription inquiries. Your online service options allow you to: @ Pay for your subscription @ Change your mailing address @ Sign up for continuous service @ Give a gift subscription @ Renew your subscription @ inquire about missing/duplicate issues @ Contact us directly with your questions Gaxetmerere >) service.macworld.com 28 MACWORLD. February 2007 MAC BEAT TIMES PUZZLE EDITOR IS A LONGTIME MAC USER Interview: Will Shortz Will Shortz is the crossword editor of the New York Times, the puzzle master for National Public Radio's Weekend Edition Sunday, the founder and director of the American Crossword Puzzle Tournament, and the only person in the world with a college degree in Enigmatology (the study of puzzles). And anyone with a keen eye who has watched the 2006 puzzle documen- tary Wordplay (www.word playthemovie.com) also knows that Shortz is a Mac User—JONATHAN SEFF What’s your history with the Mac? I'ma big Macintosh fan and have always worked with Macs. | started out with one at Games magazine in the late 1980s and have always had one since. How do Macs fit into your Times workflow? | typeset the New York Times crosswords on Beatles Coming to iTunes? According to a For- tune story, Apple and the Beatles are finally nearing a deal that would put the Fab Four's music on the iTunes Store—marking the first time the Beatles have allowed digital downloads of their music. “It would certainly be a trophy,” says Ross Rubin, director of analysis at market-research firm NPD Group. “[Steve] Jobs has publicly professed his admiration for the Beatles and their music. This is the kind of fan base that really leads to a lot of possibili- ties.” Apple declined to comment, but a deal may be worked out by the time you read this. FM Transmitters OK in the United Kingdom The United Kingdom has decided to allow the use of low-power FM transmitters that stream tunes from a portable music player to a car stereo. The amendment, made in December 2006 under the Wireless Telegraphy Act of 1949, fixed a quirky them, and really do everything with them. Right now I'm using a special program, New York Times proprietary software, for typesetting the crosswords in Quark[XPress], but we're just about to change over to [Adobe] InDesign. How else do you use Macs in your work? | also direct the American Crossword Puzzle Tourna- ment—which includes typesetting and laying out the crosswords for the TT tournament that, believe it or not, | still use [Adobe] PageMaker for. As soon as InDesign is up and running for me, | plan to switch everything over to it. Also, there's a brochure that goes out to crossword people every year for the tournament, and that's laid out and designed on my Mac. Once | switch to OS X exclusively, | guess I couldn’t even possibly run the PageMaker program anymore—which is another reason I'll be using InDesign. loophole that makes it legal for U.K. retailers to sell certain types of FM transmitters, but technically illegal for most people to use them. The approved devices must conform to a specification that sets a power limit for FM transmitters and requires devices to scan for a clear channel to avoid inter- ference. Other European Union countries are in the process of adopting the specification. Sony Finds Digital Camera CCD Problems Problems with the CCD (charge-coupled device) in some of Sony's cameras could result in the inability to take clear pictures or any photos at all, according to the company. The CCD found in the DSC-F88, DSC-M1, DSC-T1, DSC-T11, DSC-T3, DSC-133, DSC-U40, and DSC-U50 models, sold worldwide between September 2003 and January 2005, could become faulty. Problems have gener- ally been reported by users in countries where the weather is hot, says Tomio Takizawa, a spokesman for the company. Sony will repair the camera at no charge if it shows the problem. ‘wwwumacworld.com HOTOGRAPH BY PE WILL SHORTZ PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF ROBIN We have solutions to improve any creative process. 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Now macworld.com/2402 for the MacBooks degrees internally. that both have been updated with Core and macworld.com/2401 for the Mac- ‘The MacBooks, on the other hand, 2 Duo processors, Mac users are hop-__ Book Pros.) saw external temperatures drop by five ing that the laptops are a little less hot ‘The switch from the Core Duo pro- degrees around the battery. The white in one area in particular—their laps. cessor to Intel’s next-generation Core 2. 2GHz MacBook (the warmest of the So we decided to test their temper- bunch) peaked at 95.4 degrees near the atures to see what (if any) dif- ference the new proc made in the heat output of these models. battery and 101.5 degrees above the keyboard, well below the black Core Duo MacBook's high. Internal temperatures were the same for the Using the surface probe of an 2GHz Core Duo MacBooks and the 2GHz Core 2 Duo models. Although the MacBook's heat drops are more signif- icant, these results show infrared thermometer, we mea- sured external temperatures in the same hot spots—the bar above the function keys and the area surrounding the improvement in the MacBook Pro’s battery—on the three MacBook models Duo slightly reduced the 2.16GHz system-cooling technology when you and both 15-inch MacBook Pro models. MacBook Pro’s persistent fever. How- _ consider the Core 2 Duo’s superior We also ran Jonathan Pepin’s free Core- ever, the 2.33GHz MacBook Pro got speed and power—a definite step in the DuoTemp to test the internal tempera- _just as hot as its Core Duo counter- right direction.—BRIAN CHEN Every time I get near a Ricoh color printer, I feel just like an artist. Easy there, Rembrandt. Ricoh dependability moves your ideas forward. ca essai = RICOH 1-800-RICOH-43 Adobe Psteript ! 02006 Ricoh Cargratin ie www,omnigroup.com Stop by booth 602 and say hello. Going to Macworld Expo this January? W; See what's new from the Omni Group “NoteBook is a must-have if you're using your computer asa true digital hub.” Tera Patricks, Mac360.com “NoteBook is now open on my desktop all the time.” Shawn King, Host/Exec. Producer, Your Mac Life CIRCUS PONIES NOTEBOOK organization for Macworld kk kk Mac Aidit A e000: Macworld UK GREAT vailable at Klee d le Store PUB ‘all MAC BEAT PLAYERS TO INTEGRATE WITH IN-FLIGHT ENTERTAINMENT iPod in the Sky Already the perfect companion for a long flight, the iPod is set to get even better, as Apple announced plans to team up with several major international airlines to integrate iPods with their in-flight entertainment systems. The airlines, including Continental, Delta, Emirates, and United, will soon offer iPod seat connections to charge and power iPods in-flight, and to allow the iPods to dis- play video content on seat-back monitors. The airplanes outfitted with iPod connectivity will feature 30-pin dock connectors in the seat. Once they’re plugged in, the systems will charge up the iPod’s bat- tery and provide users with the ability to listen to music. For those aircraft that feature personal seat-back monitors, you'll be able to watch video from your Freeverse Soft- ware has made its game Wing- Nuts: Temporal Navigator avail. 3 able as a free download. The previously $20 game is a PowerPC-only app that runs natively in Mac 0S 9 or Mac OS X. WingNuts puts you in the pilot's seat of a time-traveling aircraft as you go after the evil (but wacky) Baron von Schtopwatch and his legions of robot-controlled aircraft as they plague the skies of various eras (download at macworld.com/2408). if you've wanted to play World of Warcraft (www.worldofwar craft.com) but haven't felt like plunking down money for the game, rejoice: Blizzard Entertain- fifth-generation iPod on the larger screen, too. Apple expects in-flight iPod connectiv- ity to be available beginning in mid-2007. After the announcement, Reuters reported that two other airlines Apple mentioned as partners—Air France and KLM—disputed Apple’s assertion. An Air France spokesperson said “it’s way too early to con- firm” any details, and while a KLM spokesman agreed that his company had “informal contacts” with Apple, he likewise said it was “very prema- ture” to announce a deal. An Apple spokes- person responded that Apple “clearly had a miscommunication with Air France and KLM” but was excited about seeing iPod connectivity on other airlines. —PETER COHEN ment has released a free trial edition that lets you play the massive multiplayer online role- playing game for ten days. The download is sev- eral gigabytes, however, so if you're not on a fast, reliable connection, you may want to check your local retailer for a cheap demo disk, which is also in circulation. Virtual Program- ming (www.vpltd com) has released a $15 expansion pack for Victoria: An Empire Under the Sun called Victoria: Revolutions. The tumn-based-strategy game focuses on the British Empire during the reign of Queen Victoria and shortly thereafter. The expansion pack includes 15 extra years of game play (taking you up to right before World War Il), reworks the technology tree and election and politics system, overhauls the military system, and introduces new economic elements.—PETER COHEN www.macworld.com you could if you The long and short of it? Everyone comes in different shapes and sizes. But that doesn't mean we can't work and play well together. Anthro's Fit System® Adjusta demonstrates this point perfectly. The same desk can fit someone ANTHRO Technology Furniture” = Fast and Friendly! wanted to who is 6' 4" just as easily as someone 5' 3”. So for furniture that lets you do things you never thought possible, contact our friendly and knowledgeable folks at 800.325.3841 or anthro.com/mac. We'll help configure something just for you! NO MORE CABLES. AEGIS DRIVES WITH BUILT-IN FIREWIRE OR USB CABLE Here’s to portability. To productivity. To advanced backup, encryption and synchronization software. To holding anywhere from 30GB up to 160GB. Here’s to the Aegis line of portable drives, and to Apricorn, the company that lets you do more with less. APRICORN Go to www.apricorn.com/macworld for exclusive savings on our Aegis line MAC BEAT Apple’s Superstars of Poker One of the best parts of Apple’ Texas Hold’em iPod game is the realistic char- acters you play against. Some of them look vaguely familiar, and I kind of assumed that some Apple employees were stashed among the stable of oppo- nents. But it wasn’t until I found myself in the final tournament that my suspi- cions were verified. That's where I noticed that the player named “Killer” bore a striking resemblance to Phil Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of worldwide product marketing, a pretty familiar face if you’ve ever attended a Macworld Expo keynote or Apple prod uct launch. Another player, “Shark,” looks very much like vice president of worldwide iPod product marketing Greg Joswiak (also known as “Joz”). ‘The Hawaiian shirts and sunglasses may hide their tells, but they definitely don’t hide their identities —JONATHAN SEFF HARDWARE BEAT ety8, from Etymotic Research (www.etymotic com): Bluetooth-based in-ear wireless earphones ‘weigh less than half an ounce and ship with an optional iPod adapter for controlling volume, track selection, and playback (earphones, $199; with adapter, $299). FP92W, from BenQ (www.beng.us): 19-inch wide-screen display features D-Sub and DVI inputs and includes Senseye image-processing technology ($269). JukeDock, from Pressure Drop (www.pressure dropinc.com): White or black iPod dock that resembles a vintage jukebox connects the portable music player to a home stereo ($100). ScanSnap S500M, from Fujitsu (www. fujitsu com): Updated version of business scanner for converting documents to PDF files is 20 percent faster than its predecessor and features auto- matic paper detection and a new design ($495). ‘TruePower Battery, from FastMac (fastmac com): 84-watt-hour battery replaces the battery included with Apple's Pismo-era PowerBook G3 model ($140). Spitting Image Killer (above), from the iPod game Texas Hold'em, looks a lot like Apple's Phil Schiller (left) STORAGE BEAT Biggest FW800 RAID, from LaCie (wwvulacie com): Updated version of external storage device with RAID controller now uses a Serial ATA hard drive for better performance and fea- tures new silver design with lockable hard-disk drawers (1TB, $1,299; 2TB, $1,699). CopyCatX 4.0, from SubRosaSoft.com (www. subrosasoft.com): Hard-drive-duplication and “recovery software adds Intel compatibility and optimized code for faster performance ($50; upgrade, $20). EZ Bus Desktop USB/FireWire Combo, from Apricom (www.apricorn.com): Desktop hard drives in capacities ranging from 80GB to 500GB with FireWire 400 and USB 2.0 connectivity come bundled with backup and synchronization software ($119 to $369, depending on capacity). Mercury On-the-Go FireWire 800/400 + USB 2.0, from Other World Computing (www.mac sales.com): 20068 version of portable external drive uses an Oxford 924 bridge chip set and a 4,200-rpm Serial ATA hard-disk drive mecha- nism ($380). www.macworld.com The #1 Mac antivirus solution and the #1 Windows antivirus program in a single package ——— wee Running Windows on a Mac is possible with | ities today's Intel-based Macs, but this opens up i s a whole new range of security threats. 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Intego Dual Protection gives you all the security you need, #1 bitdefender VirusBarrier rated best Mac antivirus by Macworld - BitDefender rated best Windows antivirus by PC World OUTSTANDING: VERY GOOD: GOOD: FLAWED: UNACCEPTABLE: Updated MacBook Pros Offer Speed Boosts Laptops Get Latest Intel Processors and More BY HENRY NORR Apple says that its latest MacBook Pro laptops, equipped with Intel Core 2 Duo processors in place of the Core Duo chips that powered the first-generation lineup, “deliver performance that is up to 39 per- cent faster.” Although I was initially skepti- cal, imagine my surprise when I began to study the Macworld Lab performance-test results of the updated 15-inch models. The new $2,499 version of the 15-inch Mac- Book Pro, with a 2.33GHz Core 2 Duo processor, outpaced its similarly priced pre- decessor, which had a 2.16GHz Core Duo chip, by 30 to __ 40 percent in tests with applications like Adobe Photoshop CS2 (running on Apple’s Rosetta code-translation technol- ogy), Compressor, and iTunes. Granted, the overall increase in the Speedmark tests wasn’t that dramatic, but an 18-percent gain is nothing to sneeze at. Extra performance isn’t the only benefit of the new models. They also come with double the memory of their predecessors, larger hard drives, and several other enhancements. It all adds up to surprisingly substantial improvements in a lineup that was already superb. The new MacBook Pros look nearly identical to their predecessors, and the overall structure of the lineup hasn’t changed: there are still two 15-inch con- figurations at $2,499 and $1,999, and a single 17-inch model priced at $2,799. (To see test results for the 17-inch Mac- Book Pro Core 2 Duo, go to macworld .com/2406.) Port Support Apple has added a FireWire 800 port to its Core 2 Duo MacBook Pro models. 36 MACWORLD February 2007 The Core 2 Duo runs at a slightly higher speed than the Core Duo chip that powered the previous generation: in the new, more expensive 15-inch configuration, the processors now operate at 2.33GHz, up from 2.16GHz, while the less-expensive 15-inch model’s Core 2 Duo chip runs at 2.16GHz, up from 2GHz. Beyond the processor upgrade, Apple has doubled the RAM in each standard Mac- Book Pro configuration: the 2.3GHz 15-inch model comes with 2GB of RAM—a pair of 1GB SO-DIMMs—and the base 15-inch model has a single 1GB SO-DIMM. For peo- ple not satisfied with 2GB of RAM, all Mac- Book Pros can now accommodate up to 3GB. Apple also bumped up the hard-drive capac- ity: the 15-inch MacBook Pros now come with 120GB drives. And Apple finally addressed one other complaint about the original 15- inch MacBook Pros: FireWire 800 is back, alongside a FireWire 400 port. However, the company hasn't added an internal modem. If you need dial-up support, you'll have to buy ‘Apple’ external USB modem ($49). Macworld’s Buying Advice Apple’s latest update has made these great laptops even better. If you make heavy use of Adobe’s Creative Suite or other applica- tions that can’t take full advantage of Intel processors, you will still benefit from buy- ing the Core 2 Duo MacBook Pro. The only real concern is cost been a while since Apple reduced its prices on pro lap- tops, and though they keep getting better, I wish they were a little more affordable. If price isn’t a concern for you, you won't find much else to criticize in the MacBook Pro. (For a more detailed review of the Core 2 Duo 15-inch MacBook Pros, see macworld.com/2405.) [) RATING: 6966: PROS: Fast performance; classic design; gorgeous screen; ample RAM and hard-drive capacity; FireWire 800. CONS: No internal modem option; pricey. PRICE: 2.16GHz, $1,999; 2.33GHz, $2,499 COMPANY: Apple Computer, www.apple.com ‘wwwmacworld.com PHOTOGRAPHY BY PETER BELANGER 36[MacBook Pros] | 37[MacBooks] | 38 Backup Software] | 48[More Reviews] | 56[Top Product: REVIEWS YOU CAN TRUST Macworld rates only final shipping products, not prototypes. What we review is what you can actually buy. MacBooks Get Their First Makeover Consumer Laptops Get Core 2, Too BY HENRY NORR Before even reaching its six-month birth- day, the MacBook has had its first makeover. ‘The changes—a new processor and (in two of the three MacBook models) more RAM, bigger hard drives, and double-layer DVD burning—aren’t quite as substantial as Apple’s recent updates to the 15-inch Mac- Book Pro, but they add real value to a prod- uct that had already taken the consumer and education markets by storm. Headlining the update is a switch to Intel’s latest processor, the Core 2 Duo, in place of the Core Duo chip that powered the first ‘MacBooks. Besides their new processors, the two more-expensive MacBook models now include a full gigabyte of memory, twice as much as before, while the $1,099 configura- tion still comes with only 512MB of RAM. As for hard-drive capacity, the $1,099 model still comes with a 60GB Serial ATA hard drive, but the $1,299 and $1,499 models now have 80GB (up from 60GB) and 120GB (up from 80GB) drives, respectively. ‘The base model still has only a Combo drive (CD-RW/DVD ROM), but Apple has added support for burning double-layer (8GB) DVD+R discs to the SuperDrives in both of the higher- priced MacBooks. Despite their differences, all three configurations offer the same features that have made the MacBook such a hit: the gor- geous 13.3-inch glossy wide screen (1,280 by 800 pixels), built-in AirPort Extreme and Bluetooth 2.0+EDR wireless networking, an integrated iSight camera, both optical- digital and analog-audio input and output, a ‘MagSafe power connector, and a Mini-DVI port that can (with the addition of adapters that cost $19 each) support a variety of external monitors. Macworld’s Buying Advice All three MacBook models are fast, sturdy, and versatile. Among the three standard models, I like the middle choice ($1,299) best. The $1,099 model, with no increase in RAM or hard-drive capacity, and with a lim- ited version of the Core 2 Duo processor, lags further behind its more expensive sib- lings than it did in the original MacBook lineup. As for the $1,499 version, I don’t think it’s a rational choice, but if you just have to have a black Mac, it’s your only option. If you can afford a little extra to indulge your fancy, why not? (For a more detailed review of the Core 2 Duo Mac- Books, see macworld.com/2404.) [1 RATING: $999: PROS: Improved performance; great glossy screen; built-in AirPort Extreme and Bluetooth; integrated iSight camera; SuperDrive provided with 2GHz models. CONS: Mediocre graphics performance; no expan- sion-card slot; 1.83GHz model offers no additional sys- ‘tem memory or hard-drive capacity since last version, PRICE: 1.83GHz, $1,099; 2GHz, $1,299; 2GHz (black), $1,499 COMPANY: Apple Computer, www.apple.com HENRY NORR is a veteran Mac technology writer based in Berkeley, California, Speedmark 4.5 ‘Adobe Photoshop CS2 Cinema 4D XL 9.5.21 iMovie 6.0.2 Unreal Tourna- iTunes 6.0.4 ment 2004 cup 13-inch MacBook Core 2 Duo/1.83GHz 13:inch MacBook Core 2 Duo/2GHz 13-inch MacBook Core 2 Duo/2Gkz (black) 15-inch MacBook Pro Core 2 Duo/2.16GHz 15:inch MacBook Pro Core 2 Duo/2.33GHz (2GB of RAM) 13-inch MacBook Core Duol2GHez (black) 15.inch MacBook Pro Core Duol2.16GH2* 15-inch PowerBook G4/1.67GHz ‘OVERALL SCORE >Better RENDER ‘AGED EFFECT MP3 ENCODE FRAME RATE <Better <Better <Better >Better BEST RESULTS IN BOLD. REFERENCE SYSTEMS IN ITALICS. *System tested with optional 7,200-rpm hard drive. Speedmark isa suite of 15 tasks using the Finder and eight other applications Only a portion of those tess are represented in this cart The individual scores are relative to those of @1.25GHe Mac min, which is assigned a score of 100. Adobe Photoshop, Cinema 4D XL, iMovie and iTunes scores are in minutes'seconds. All systems were running Mac OS X 10.4.8, with TGB of RAM and wit processor performance set to Highest in the Energy Saver prefer- ence pane when applicable. The Photoshap Suite test sa set of 14 scripted tasks using a SOMB fil, Photoshop's memory was set to 70 percent and History was set to Minimum. We recorded how lang it took to render a scene in Cinema 40 XL. In iMovie, we applied the Aged video effect to a T-minute movie. We converted 45 minutes of AAC audio files to MP3 using Tunes’ High Quality setting, We used Unreal Tournament 2004's Antalus Botmatch average frames-pe-second score; we tested ata resolution of 1,024 by 768 pirels atthe Maximum setting, and with both audio and graphics enabled. The Photoshop CS2 testis not part of Speedmark and does not factor into the Speedmark overall score. To compare Speedmark 4.5 scores fr various Mac systems, vst our Apple Hardware Guide at macworld com/0815.—wacWORLD LAB TESTI BY AES GALBRAITH, BRAN CHEN, AND EY JUNG ‘www.macworld.com February 2007 MACWORLD 37 REVIEWS Backing It Up There Are All Kinds of Backup Apps Out There. Which One Is Right for You? BY JOE KISSELL In the near future, Mac users will begin updating their computers to run Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard). One of the most interesting features promised for Leopard is Time Machine, a built-in backup utility with a slick 3-D. interface (macworld.com/1658). ‘Time Machine is Apple’s response to a long- standing problem: too few Mac users create backups of any sort, and fewer still have thorough, automated backups. Although the details may change before Leopard's final release, the version of Time Machine that Apple has publicly demon- strated and described on its Web site appears to solve many backup problems. You can configure it with just a few clicks; it backs up all your files by default but can exclude particular files and folders; it runs once a day, at a time that you can specify; and it can use a secondary hard drive or net- work volume as its destination. When you change or delete a file, Time Machine retains older versions, so you can restore any file to a previous state. And, perhaps best of all, it works not just with whole files but also with database records in supported applica- tions; for example, you can retrieve a single mistakenly deleted Address Book entry. All of these features are useful and enticing, and I’m optimistic that Time Machine will massively increase the number of OS X users who perform good backups. But does Time ‘Machine spell the end of third-party backup utilities? Is it a complete and final answer to everyone’s backup needs? And does it mean that you can put off implementing a backup strategy until Leopard ships? The answer to all of these questions is a resounding “No.” For all of Time Machine’s promised virtues, it won't address every backup need, and there will still be a place for existing back- Choose Items to Back Up Theme @ Address Book up software. For example, 5 although Time Machine copies every file on your | | agpcaton pte disk, it apparently | © tacts ww sophaton prefer does not make a bootable duplicate. Also, it’s clearly vm geared toward ie individual users. 2 Network admin- istrators who @ AppleWorks documents ON tacks up fles located in you @ FileMaker documents [Racks up files located in you @ GarageBand projects Backs up GarageBand projec ei Tack oor acl @ 10W0 projects © iN tacks up your Mac 05 X Address Book database and preferences. © tacks up iDVD projects located in your home folder. v 1 home folder created with AppleWorks ts located In your home folder. Fes and preferences want a centrally controlled repos- itory for multiple users will have to look elsewhere. Until you can (Cancel Done) Pull a Fast One Backup’s QuickPicks dialog box lets you select commonly used file and data types with a single click. take advantage of ‘Time Machine, there’s plenty of time left for your hard disk to crash, for someone to steal your laptop, or for any number of other cat- astrophes to befall you. If you haven't estab- lished a good backup plan, there’s no time like the present. If you're on the fence as to the type of media you should use for back- ups, consider this: an external hard drive is good for backups right now, and it will be the ideal choice for Time Machine. Buying one is an investment that will serve you well into the future. Which of the dozens of Mac backup pro- grams should you choose? There’s no single right answer for everyone. As a starting point, consider these five popular backup applications, all of which offer some features that Time Machine won't. Backup 3.1 If you're a .Mac member, you have access to Apple’s Backup 3.1. Among numerous changes since version 2, Backup now backs up new or changed files on each run with- out erasing older copies. To use Backup, you begin by creating a plan—a combination of items to back up, one or more destinations, and a schedule for each destination. You can create as many plans as you want. To make the process as easy as pos- sible, Backup provides several predefined templates you can use or modify to suit your needs. Or you can create a custom plan. Both predefined and custom plans make use of selection criteria called QuickPicks. These options are designed to help you include information that you’d want to back BACKUP SOFTWARE COMPARED osx Compatibility Summary 10.3, 10.4 Backup is easy to use, but its notification features are intrusive, and it lacks an automated option for deleting old backups. 10.2, 10.3, 10.4 Retrospect Desktop's customization options are great for system administrators, but it has a con- fusing interface and is resource-intensive. 10.2, 10.3, 10.4 Personal Backup X4 provides direct recording to optical discs but has limited synchronization fea- ‘tures and poor restoration capabilities. 10.2, 10.3, 10.4 Product Price Backup 3.1 Included with Mac mem- bership (5100 per year) Retro: $129 Desktop 6.1 Personal Backup $70 x4 10.45 Data Backup 2.1 Product Ti-Backup 4.0.4 Data Backup offers numerous backup and schedul- ing options, but it lacks support for optical discs and has limited synchronization features. 10.2, 10.3, 10.4 38 MACWORLD February 2007 ‘Tri-Backup’s backup and scheduling options stand ut, but it’s hampered by interface oddities and limited support for optical discs. ‘wwwmacworld.com up, such as Address Book data, preferences, your iPhoto library, Safari settings, and so on; you can even add third-party QuickPicks, such as the free Quick Pick Pack from Wish- ingline Design Studios (macworld.com/2318). You can also choose specific files or folders to inchide in, or exclude from, a plan—either manually or via a built-in Spotlight search feature. However, this Spotlight search isn’t dynamic. If you use it to find all fold- ers whose names contain the word finances, the plan won't automatically pick up a new folder with that same name later on. Backup can use any mounted volume as a destination, including your iDisk, local net- work servers, optical discs, and external hard drives. But plans can run no more fre- quently than once a day; if you want to back up certain files more often, you'll have to create multiple plans. When a scheduled backup is about to run, Backup launches and an alert appears, with options to run the backup immediately or skip it; if you do nothing, it runs in 120 seconds. Backup offers no way to turn off this alert, which is unnecessarily intrusive for backups that do not require you to take any action (such as inserting a disc on which to burn data). To restore files, you select a plan and click on the Restore button. Backup lists all the dates and times when that backup has run, Select an instance, and Backup displays a snapshot of all the files in the plan as they appeared at that time. Unfortunately, Backup offers no way to search your back- ups for files matching certain criteria, and finding all the versions of any particular file is awkward at best. When your backup media becomes full, you can force a new full backup to run from scratch and then manually delete earlier incremental backups that copied only new or modified files. However, this process is con- fusing and error-prone; Backup should pro- vide an automated option for deleting older backups when you run out of space. For archiving commonly used files, Apple’s Backup is more than adequate. ‘Most users can set up an automated sched- ule in minutes with just a few clicks, and restoring backed-up files is straightfor- ward. However, Backup may disappoint someone looking for advanced features such as rotating backups (which automati- cally delete older files), sophisticated selec- tion criteria, or flexible scheduling. Data Backup 2.1 Prosoft Engineering’s Data Backup 2.1 offers options for both beginners and power users. The first time you launch the pro- gram, it looks for an external hard drive and, if it finds one, offers to use that as the default destination; otherwise, it asks you to choose one. You can then drag files, folders, or an entire volume into the Sources field and click on Start Now for an immediate, hassle- free backup, saving your settings for future reuse if you like. Alternatively, you can choose from several prepackaged file selec- tions, ranging from your Documents folder to the entire startup drive. You can also use any of Data Backup’s six backup methods, which cover a wide range of scenarios, to create custom backup sets. With this flexibility and power comes greater complexity. I frequently had to consult the manual to determine which method was appropriate in a given situation. But once you've chosen a method, you can customize it extensively. The Clone method, as the name implies, creates a bootable duplicate of an entire disk on another disk (optionally ignor- ing specified files). The | Simple Copy and Full Copy methods copy Biscup tuchup Options | | | | { f=) entire folders or volumes. Seu teihod With Simple Copy, sub- o Olek sequent backup runs are O Cone incremental—only copy- e Otont ing new or modified aa © incremental files—but older files in = O sremonize the backup get overwrit- ten. Full Copy makes a complete copy of your files in its own time- stamped folder each time you run the software. The Synchronize method merges the contents of two folders or volumes, Destination Options Massing ems: new folders) ‘ompress les Ci tnert Tailor-Made Creating a custom backup set in Data Backup is a straight- forward matter of choosing a source, destination, and other options within a single window (schedules appear in an additional dialog boxy. ‘www.macworld.com but does so unintelli- gently—for example, if both a file’s source and its destination have changed, Internet Backups Most individual users choose to store their backups on media such as hard drives, CDs, and DVDs. But what if you didn’t have to pur- chase any storage media at all, and instead stored your backups on a high-capacity server somewhere on the Internet? Assuming you have sufficient bandwidth to do so, Internet- based storage could be for you. Several companies currently offer such a service. One example is Backlack (macworld .com/2322), which supplies 2GB of storage for $12.50 per month. Prolifix (macworld .com/2324) offers 500MB of storage for $10 per month or 8GB of storage for $29 per month. Higher levels of service are also avail- able for both of these offerings. ‘Anew service from Amazon.com called ‘Amazon $3 (Simple Storage Service) (macworld .com/2403) costs just 15 cents per gigabyte stored per month, plus a file-transfer fee of 20 cents per gigabyte uploaded or downloaded. Unfortunately, $3 can‘t hold any individual files larger than 5GB, and OS X backup programs have not yet been updated to interact directly with $3. If and when backup programs fully support $3, though, it will be a highly cost- effective backup option. synchronization will fail, generating a mes- sage for you to check the logs but not offer- ing any reconciliation option. ‘The other two backup methods incre- mentally copy new or changed files, but also retain previous versions of files (as well as files you've deleted from the source disk). The Versioned method makes the target drive or folder appear to be identical to the source drive or folder after each run, but it keeps older copies of files in a hidden folder. The Incremental method stores the files from each backup in a separate, time- stamped folder. Versioned backups are best for backing up to hard drives; Incremental backups are designed with CDs and DVDs in mind. Unfortunately, Data Backup offers no direct support for backing up to optical discs, so you have to burn CDs or DVDs manually, which can be time-consuming. Data Backup’s scheduling options are extensive. A given backup set can run at spe- cific dates and times: at intervals ranging from every minute to every four weeks, when you start your computer, when you mount the backup volume, or on certain days of the week. It can also run on more than one schedule. ‘To restore files with Data Backup, choose File: Restore and select a source, the files or folders within it that you wish to restore, and a destination. continues February 2007 MACWORLD 39 Other than its weak support for optical discs and below-average synchronization feature—neither of which is crucial for backing up your data to hard drives—there’s little to dislike about Data Backup. Its a mature, capable backup application that should handle almost any single-computer backup task smoothly. Personal Backup X4 10.4 Intego’s Personal Backup X4 10.4.5. has an unmistakably friendly interface that makes backing up look simple. Pick a backup type, choose your source and a destination, click on a button, and you're off. Behind this easy-to- use system is a full-featured backup applica- tion with surprisingly advanced options—and some surprising limitations. The fundamental unit of work in Per- sonal Backup X4 is a script, which includes a backup’s type, source, destination, schedule, and other options. Personal Backup X4 comes with several predefined scripts for immediate backup actions (just supply the source and destination), as well as scripts with predefined sources (your Documents, Music, and Pictures folders, for example). To customize a script, you can copy and edit an existing script or use a built-in assistant to create your own from scratch: The script types define overall behavior. The options are Backup (includes incre- mental updates after the first full run), some ricoh-usa.com/itchannel 1-800-RICOH-43 2006 Ricoh Corpration <a Adobe PosScript3 Archive (stores (866 files in a com- pressed disk image), Move (stores files in their original for- mat and deletes the originals), Clone (creates bootable dupli- + cates), and Syn- chronization Personal Backup X6 we +. a 2 le ence 381 8 (Bestnaton—) Personal Backup (merges two vol- umes or folders so that each has the most recent ver- sion of every file). The Synchronization type is rudimentary; it neither warns you nor offers any reconciliation options when a file’ source and destination have both been modified. Personal Backup X4 can also use the results of a Spotlight search as a source: enter search data, and the program backs up all files match- ing your search criteria on each ran (unlike Apple’s Backup, in which Spotlight searches are not dynamic). Unfortunately, this feature is buggy and unreliable; for example, search- ing for text in file content worked, but searching for text in file path names did not. When choosing a source or destination for your backups, you can select not just a mounted volume but even an unmounted network volume. Personal Backup X4 can That Ricoh color printer could make me employee of the month. You've got quite a colorful imagination, Jerry. Point of View Personal Backup X4s delault view shows you scripts (predefined and user-created) at the top, and the source and the destination below. Double-click on the script to expand the window and show detailed options. store your user name and password, if you wish, and can automatically connect to AFP, FTP, SMB, and WebDAV servers when it’s time for a backup to run. In addition, it offers direct support for backing up to optical discs. Backups to CD or DVD can span multiple discs, and the program prompts you to insert additional discs when needed. When it comes to restoring files, Personal Backup X4 is weak. Restoration is merely a matter of selecting a source and a destination and then clicking on a button, but the prob- lem is that it’ all or nothing: you can’t choose which files to restore. Since you're much more likely to want to restore a portion of a backup than the whole thing, this is a significant flaw. continues, Ricoh dependability moves your ideas forward. RICOH for your iPod’ Small system. HUGE SOUND! Don't be fooled by the size. With its advanced digital electronics, iMainGo floods the room with music — clean highs, deep basses. With no earphones to tie you down. Just unzip the iMainGo, plug in your iPod (any iPod fits), zip it up and stand back! It's powerful. It's portable. It protects. It's the best friend your iPod ever had. For the dealer nearest you, visit imaingo.com $ Portable Sound Laboratories, Inc.” iPod® is a registered trademark of Apple Computer, Inc. iMainGo™ is a trademark of Portable Sound Laboratories, Inc. Patents pending REVIEWS Personal Backup X4 10.4 certainly has flashes of brilliance, such as extensive net- work server support and direct recording to optical discs, and for basic backup oper- ations, it works well. But bugs and a poor restoration feature mar an otherwise attractive program. Retrospect Desktop 6.1 Retrospect Desktop 6.1, from EMC Insignia, is one of four editions of this soft- ware available for Macs. The Workgroup and Server editions add features for han- dling large networks and computers run- ning OS X Server; the Express edition, bundled free with many hard drives and optical drives, omits network backups and tape drive support. Retrospect’s design caters to the needs of network administra- tors, who must grapple with backing up numerous computers (both Macs and PCs). For the average home or small business user, though, the program can be intimidating. In an attempt to bypass the complexity, Retrospect has a feature called the Easy- Script Wizard that builds a basic backup system by walking you through a series of questions. You can customize the plan it creates relatively easily. But if you want to color outside the lines even more, you must dig into the 256-page manual. The learn- ing curve is challenging. Duplicates and Synchronization Some of the backup programs covered here can create bootable duplicates of your startup disk; some can syn- chronize the contents of one folder or volume with those of another. Both of these processes create identical copies of your files. Synchronization, however, is usually a two-way process, merging file from two sources and ideally providing multiple ways to reconcile their differences. Duplicates on the other hand, require addi- tional work, as you can boot a duplicated disk only if every ast detalis identical to the original. If your focus is on duplication, Shirt Pocket’s SuperDuper 2.1 ($888; $28; macworld.com/2325) is an ideal choice; another good option is Bombich Software's Carbon Copy Cloner 2.3 (88663; donation requested; macworld.com/2277). As for utilities that specialize in synchronization, Econ Technologies’ ChronoSync 3.0 ($88; $30; macworld.com/0609) is both powerful and versatile. Other options include Qdea’s Synchronize Pro X 5.0 ($100; macworld.com/2320) and Decimus Software's Synk 6.0 ($20; mac world.com/2321), both of which can also make bootable duplicates. Retrospect Desktop can perform imme- diate, unscheduled backup, duplication, and restore actions. For automated use, you must create a script. This is simply a collection of settings—backup type, source, destination, schedule, and other options—all shown in a single window. Script types include Backup (which creates archives in a proprietary file for- mat, incrementally adding new files on each run without deleting old ones), Duplicate (for making exact, bootable duplicates), Archive (for copying files and optionally deleting the originals), and Restore (for the task of auto- mated restorations). The program’ options for selecting or excluding files, scheduling back- ups, and fiddling with every detail ofa backup’s execution are versatile—but confusing. Although Retrospect Desktop works perfectly well for backing up a single machine, it can also back up two additional computers (Mac or PC) on your network via an included Retrospect Client program (you can purchase additional licenses if you're backing up more than three). Using an external hard drive, Retrospect Desktop can even create a bootable duplicate of your hard disk over a network connec- tion, a rare feat among backup programs. You manage all backups and restorations centrally on the computer that’s running Retrospect Desktop. Retrospect Desktop has unparalleled capa bilities when it comes to working with optical continues The 3ware Sidecar & Your Apple Mac Workstation: The Perfect Match ‘The 3ware® Sidecar by AMCC is a powerful SATA RAID desktop storage solution designed specifically for the Apple® Power Mac® G5 with PCI Express and Mac Pro. At speeds 4-8x faster* than Firewire or USB, it can store and protect tons of your photos, songs, videos, illustrations and web pages. Whether you're editing and archiving digital photo shoots or snapshots, home movies or future Academy Award® winning films, garage jam sessions or professional mixes — rest assured your data will always be protected. 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