Features

• Expose for instant access to any window; displays all open or current-application windows
• FileVault for keeping your valuable documents safe with powerful AES-128 bit encryption
• Super-modern operating system combining the strength of UNIX with the elegance of Macintosh
• Over 150 new features and significant enhancements to its modern, UNIX-based foundation
• iChat AV for personal video conferencing in high-quality, full-screen video over the Internet

Reviews (71)

Extremely stable and elegant (except for that dock)
First, I wouldlike to state that I have used Macintoshes since May 1986 and would rather own an old, slow, second-hand Mac than have to grapple with any version of Windows, including XP. There's absolutely no reason for anyone who can't afford a new Mac to switch to a PC.

I have installed Panther (10.3.2) on two computers, my own B&W that now sports an Encore 1 GHz G4 processor, and my husband's 733 MHz Quicksilver, and we had no problems--not until we started downloading Apple's updates. The 10.3.9 combination update seemed to make both machines slow down. I have no idea how badly it has affected the Quicksilver (with 512 MB RAM) because I don't get to use it enough (I just get to do all the "techie" stuff on it *G*) but the slowness of the B&W (with 364 MB RAM) has become unbearable and I think I need to return to 10.3.2. Or maybe I should try more RAM first. :-(

I don't understand why some people have had trouble with OS X. Now, if I can install Panther on a machine with a bus as slow as the B&W, and a processor that isn't even supported by Apple, why are others having trouble on newer, faster machines? All I did was put the CD in the DVD or CD rewriter, hit the install button, let the machine restart from the CD, reformat the hard drive with OS X's Disk Utility, start the install and leave the installer to do its work. What could be easier?

First impressions, coming straight to Panther from OS 9, weren't entirely favourable. After all, OS 9 wasn't considered the best OS of its time for nothing! And it was so much better with Action Utilities, just as OS 7.6 (another great Mac OS) was better with Now Utilities.

My gripes:

1. I miss the ability to configure the apple menu the way I want it. I especially miss the way Action Utilities allowed me to navigate anywhere on my hard drive from this menu. Bring back a user-configurable apple menu, please, Apple! (Power-on Software confirmed that they will not be releasing an OS X version of AU.)

2. I miss the Action Utilities user-configurable short cuts--especially the ones that allowed me to open an application or switch between applications: e.g., control-p to open or switch to Photoshop, control-shift-p for PageMaker, control-q for Quicken, control-a for Acrobat. The command-tab feature (which was also part of OS 9) just isn't as fast. As for clicking on an alias in the dock, that's way too slow! It's tidier than clicking on aliases on the desktop, but that's about all. There ARE keyboard shortcuts in Panther, but they allow the user only to change the shortcuts of menu items that already have shortcuts. How about allowing us to make short cuts for ANYTHING, Apple? Please! I have no idea why this feature wasn't incorporated into the Mac OS long ago. If a third-party developer can do it, surely Apple can.

3. At first I had trouble coping with the way windows open on the desktop. It gave me a peculiar sense of claustrophobia. Yes I know: very strange! However, once I asked for column display I soon got used to this feature. It's actually very nifty if you have more than one hard disk, or several partitions.

4. I didn't like the dock at all. After several months of using Panther I still don't care for it. Action Utilities had a similar, though much plainer, feature, and I didn't like that either. I would have asked for it to be hidden all the time but for its calendar, which I found mildly useful. I can see the point of the dock for newcomers to the Macintosh environment (particularly those who are also first-time computer users) and for this reason I wouldn't want Apple to get rid of it. I know I can hide it, but what's the point? It merely makes opening a new application far too time-consuming. If Apple would only provide user-configurable short cuts to open/switch between applications, or a user-configurable apple menu--preferably both--those of us who don't like taking our fingers off the keys just to open a new application could keep the dock hidden all the time.

5. It isn't easy to work out how OS X works, as it was with OS 9 and its predecessors, which didn't have invisible files. I wish Apple would make all OS X's files visible. Why do some have to be invisible anyway?

6. Safari 1.3 quits if I hit the close window button. This happens on both my B&W and the Quicksilver. Just as well it's not working in OS 9 because at least I don't have to restart my machine.

7. Old applications work noticeably slower in Classic than when our machines are booted in OS 9. This probably has more to do with the machines than with Panther. In some cases it might also be the sheer age of the software (made for pre-Power PC processors).

The good things:

1. Panther is so stable. While OS 9 and its predecessors didn't crash anywhere near as often (or as badly) as their Windows equivalents, I haven't had Panther crash at all.

2. It's good to be able to use all my old software. Even Word 5.1 (from 1992) and Quicken 5 (1994) work in Classic.

3. There's no doubt that Panther's interface is very elegant (the dock notwithstanding).

4. TextEdit is head, shoulders and even more above Simpletext. It's virtually a word processing program. I suspect the version shipping with Tiger is even more so.

5. I love being able to get my Mac to tell me the time on the hour. I desperately needed something more able to catch my attention than a mere sound, which I soon found my brain was all too capable of stopping my ears from hearing! But it's very hard to ignore a voice.

6. Mail is fantastic, though it took me a little while to get used to after so many years of Outlook Express. The only feature I miss from OE is the name and email address of the sender and the size of the incoming email (in the Activities window).

7. The iLife suite of applications is awesome--extremely good value-for-money, especially if you are a keen photographer and want a decent application (iPhoto) for displaying photos and even fixing faults in them, are into making your own movies, transferring ones you already have on tape onto DVDs (iMovie and iDVD), creating your own music (GarageBand), downloading music from the iTunes store (or anywhere else) or even just turning your own CDs into MP3s for your iPod (iTunes).

Should you upgrade to Panther? Well, that depends. We probably did so before we were really ready, but my husband wanted to transfer his video tapes onto DVD and I tend to be a download freak. I will download trials of almost anything (that's how I landed up buying Action Utilities) and it's been absolutely ages since there was anything new to try in OS 9. If, however, you find you absolutely need to update many of your oft-used pieces of software, you might as well take the plunge. Mind you, now that Tiger is out you'd probably be best going straight to that.

Hate it
This is the worst os ive ever used you can't hold down the button like windows and its exteremly hard to use you also cant get games for it

Tiger Instead - New Mac - New Operating System
I guess if you needed Panther now you would buy it, but if you're not in a hurry, pre-order the Tiger Operating System (Available April 29th).It may even be cheaper than Panther, currently at $149CDN.

I got Panther with my new iMac, and I like it, but Tiger has a few features I would use every day:
1. Widgets - I played with Konfabulator and loved it.
2. Spotlight - will really simplify finding old docs, emails, etc.
3. QuickTime 7 - I'm a big fan and can't wait to see the improvements.
4. TextEdit - there are some new improvements that I've been waiting for sometime, including saving documents in HTML format.

Editorial Review

Early Adopters Pick: June 2003 The world's fastest personal computer and the first with a 64-bit processor -- which means it breaks the 4 GB barrier and can use up to 8 GB of main memory.

Hailed as the fastest personal computer ever released and featuring a truly remarkable set of technological breakthroughs, Apple's Power Mac G5 M9032LL/A is clearly designed for discriminating individuals who simply won't settle for anything less than the very best. For extreme performance and unrelenting power, this, the top of the line Power Mac G5 model, is as good as it gets.

Driven by not one but two 2 GHz Power PC G5 processors, 512 MB ultra-fast PC3200 DDR SDRAM memory per processor (expandable to a gargantuan 8 GB!), and an ATI RADEON 9600 Pro graphics card with 64 MB DDR SDRAM video memory, the Power Mac G5 M9032LL/A certainly seems impressive. But those figures only begin to tell the story. For its latest desktop, Apple teamed with IBM to redesign its leading-edge CPU architecture. Accordingly, the new Power PC G5 is the world's first 64-bit processor. With two of these 2 GB powerhouses running in tandem -- each sporting an industry-leading 1 GHz frontside bus -- the Power Mac G5 M9032LL/A delivers nearly double the throughout of a single 3 GHz Pentium 4-based machine and, according to Apple, runs standard Photoshop tests at 2.2 times the speed of a single 3 GHz Pentium.

But there's more than raw power lurking inside the futuristic anodized aluminum case. For starters, Apple has compartmentalized the unit into four independent sections to direct appropriate airflow to each key component. A total of nine fans work to keep things cool, yet all are extremely low-speed. Thusly the Power Mac G5 M9032LL/A runs three times quieter than the previous Power Mac G4 enclosure.

Apple has loaded the unit with data handling features, including a monstrous 160 GB 7200 RPM hard disk and a DVD-R/CD-RW combo drive (4X DVD write speed) through which you can archive information, play and burn audio CDs, enjoy the latest movies and record home videos. To help you transfer data to and from external peripherals such as optical drives and digital camcorders and cameras, the system also sports two high-speed FireWire 400 ports, one ultra-fast FireWire 800 port, three USB 2.0 ports and two USB 1.1 ports.

Editorial Review

Faster and far more capable than any other Apple notebook to date, the freshly unveiled 17-inch PowerBook G4 may be the most sophisticated portable computer ever released. Featuring an enormous display, an unrivalled feature set and virtually no performance bottlenecks, the stunning yet undeniably pricey 17-inch PowerBook G4 is ready to satisfy even the most discriminating professional or personal user.

Don't let the clock speed fool you. The system's PowerPC G4 processor is a real step up from last year's 1 GHz G4 chip, running at 1.33 GHz and featuring 512 KB Level 2 cache for rapid retrieval of recently accessed data. Apple has added 512 MB of ultra-fast PC2700 (333MHz) DDR SDRAM memory (upgradeable to 2 full GB) and an ATI Mobility Radeon 9600 graphics processor with 64 MB dedicated video memory, thus ensuring smooth operation during high-demand tasks such as 3-D games, 3-D drawing and multitasking.

This high-speed architecture continues throughout the unit, where you'll find connectivity options such a standard FireWire interface, an ultra-fast Apple-designed FireWire 800 port, two 480 Mbps USB 2.0 ports, integrated 10/100/1000BASE-T Ethernet, 54-Mbps AirPort Extreme wireless, and built-in Bluetooth for the new breed of cordless digital peripherals. Storage facilities include a spacious ATA/100 80 GB hard disk and a versatile DVD-R/CD-RW SuperDrive through which you can burn audio CDs, backup critical and write DVD-R discs at 2X speed.

Editorial Review

As the most affordable products in the entire Apple roster of desktop computers, eMacs are not intended for sophisticated applications where power and versatility are paramount. They are, however, just fine for general day-to-day tasks such as word processing, personal finances, Internet surfing, email and light gaming/entertainment. They’re also small enough to fit comfortably on virtually any desk or table, no matter how cluttered it might be. This model, the Apple eMac Desktop 17-inch M8951LL/B, offers twice the RAM and twice the hard disk space of the entry-level eMac, and is also equipped with a DVD recorder.

Driven by a 1 GHz PowerPC G4 processor, 256 MB RAM (upgradeable to one full GB) and an ATI Radeon 7500 graphics chipset with 32 MB of dedicated DDR SDRAM memory, the eMac Desktop 17-inch M8951LL/B sports satisfactory front-end speed and enough 3-D drawing power to handle midlevel games and 3-D rendering applications.

Like all eMacs, the eMac Desktop 17-inch M8951LL/B sports a unique and conveniently space-efficient one-piece design. Inside, Apple has incorporated a sizeable 80 GB hard disk (enough space for a typical allotment of data and a full library of multimedia files) and a DVD-R/CD-RW SuperDrive combo drive through which you can burn audio CDs, archive information, watch your favorite DVD movies, and record home movies to DVD format. The system also incorporates a surprisingly generous 17-inch glass-tube CRT (not LCD) display and integrated stereo speakers.

Connectivity options include a 56K modem for dial-up communication, a 10/100BASE-T Ethernet chipset for high-speed network and Internet interaction, an expansion slot for wireless networking, two FireWire 400 ports (commonly used for transferring data to and from digital camcorders), and five USB 1.1 ports for external devices such as joysticks and scanners. Potential customers should note that the unit is not equipped with new high-speed USB 2.0 ports. An Apple keyboard and Apple mouse complete the hardware picture.

Editorial Review

If you’ve considered Apple’s amazing new PowerBook G4 series of portable computers but can’t quite justify the expense, you may want to check out PowerBook’s less expensive, slightly less capable sibling, the iBook G4. Available in three flavors, the iBook G4 doesn’t sport PowerBook amenities such as DVD burning and massive widescreen displays, yet all three models feature superb connectivity, subcompact dimensions, and impressive battery life. This particular unit, the 14-inch M9388LL/A, is the midlevel iBook and one of the best bang for the buck notebooks in the entire Apple roster.

Featuring a spry power section consisting of a 933 MHz PowerPC G4 processor and 256 MB RAM (expandable to 640 MB), the system packs enough raw muscle for most typical mobile computing tasks. However, the real surprise comes in its 3D rendering capabilities. Unlike many comparably equipped notebooks, the iBook G4 14-inch M9388LL/A features an ATI Mobility Radeon 9200 video chipset with 32 MB of dedicated DDR SDRAM memory. Thusly, it will efficiently handle many demanding 3D drawing and gaming applications too.

At just 12.7 by 10.2 by 1.35 inches and 5.9 pounds, the iBook G4 14-inch M9388LL/A is a pound heavier and a few square inches larger than its close cousin, the entry-level iBook G4 12-inch M9164LL/A. Nevertheless, it is smaller and more portable than many competing notebooks. Furthermore, this unit features a larger viewing screen than the 12-inch model, a 14.1-inch TFT XGA active-matrix display capable of 1024x768 resolution. For data handling, Apple has included a midsize 40 GB hard disk and a combination CD-RW/DVD-ROM drive through which you can burn audio CDs, archive files and play the latest Hollywood blockbusters.

Connectivity options include an integrated 56K modem for dial-up communications, a 10/100BASE-T Ethernet port for LAN and high-speed Internet and email, and two high-speed USB 2.0 ports and one FireWire 400 port for external high-tech toys such as scanners, digital cameras and digital camcorders. Users can also purchase an Apple AirPort Extreme Card for wireless communication and an internal Bluetooth module to interact with future cordless Bluetooth devices such as cell phones and PDAs.

Editorial Review

This modern, minimalist display is clearly designed for those with demanding temperaments. Its lightweight 17-inch screen supplies the outstanding 1,280 x 1,024 resolution you'd normally find in a 21-inch CRT giant, while the clean, simple lines and clutter-reducing two-port USB hub will have your desktop ready for a photo shoot.

Features include an anti-glare hardcoat, 16.7 million color capability, 0.264 mm dot pitch, and 350:1 contrast ratio for a rich, bright picture. The 170-degree viewing angle and nearly instant pixel response promise satisfaction when you're dealing with graphic-heavy applications--games, DVDs, and professional design programs are all a joy to watch.

Features

• Incredibly wide 170-degree horizontal and vertical viewing angles
• Lightning-fast pixel response for full-motion digital video
• Full 23-inch diagonal display area
• Supports 1,920 x 1,200 resolution for high-definition video and stills
• Designed to work with the Power Mac G4 digital graphics interface for distortion-free images

Reviews (26)

too expensive, but undeniably good
I got one of these and you get what you pay for with this screen. The problem is you pay a lot.

Its a very nice screen. Nothing more I can say. Never seen a nicer LCD anywhere. Only reason I dind't give it 5 stars is the price (which is astronomical).

I use it to watch movies, do work, everything. I don't even have a TV.

By the way if anyone knows if a DVD player that I can hook right up to the DVI input of this I would love to find one. DVD player makers are retarded, I havn't found a good DVD player yet that is made to work with DVI (for computers, not DVI for HDTV which apparenltly for some stupid reason is not compatibly).

If you get the 30" model you don't need a TV or HDTV. Its much better than all that crap anyway. HDTVs can come in bigger sizes but the quality is so much worse you are better off not getting one.

Excellent monitor
The screen itself is excellent.Especially since you can get a (...) rebate if u buy it together with an Apple G5 Powermac.Buy one you won't be disappointed.Also, Apple will release a 30" display in the Apple WWDC (...)

Editorial Review

The AirPort Extreme Base Station with Modem and Antenna Port is compatible with the industry-standard 802.11b wireless networking protocol, which means all AirPort products, as well as Wi-Fi certified 802.11b wireless products. For higher performance you will need to have both the Airport Extreme Card and the AirPort Extreme Base Station. The range of AirPort Extreme is up to 50 feet at 54 Mbps and up to 150 feet at 11 Mbps. The Base Station can be used in conjunction with an Ethernet connection (such as with a cable modem, DSL modem, or Ethernet network) through the integrated Ethernet port, or with a telephone line through a modem.

The AirPort Extreme Base Station with Modem and Antenna Port also supports USB or Ethernet wireless printer sharing. Just plug in a compatible USB or Ethernet printer and with Mac OS X on your computer you can quickly and easily print. You can use the new USB port to attach a USB printer or use the 10/100BASE-T Ethernet LAN port to plug in an Ethernet printer directly into the base station.

With the new AirPort Extreme Base Station with Modem and Antenna Port, up to 50 users can work and play on the Internet simultaneously up to 150 feet away from an Ethernet connection or a phone line. The Base Station comes equipped with a built-in firewall to protect sensitive data on your computer and the ability to secure transmissions with support for 128-bit encryption.

Features

• Increased Security with 802.1X and WPA
• Features robust security to protect the wireless network from intruders
• Up to 108 Mbps with AirPlus Xtreme G products
• Advanced Firewall and parental control
• Backwards compatible with all 802.11b and 802.11g products

Reviews (286)

A Top of the Line Wireless Router - Highly Recommended!
This router seems to stick it's head everywhere I've been. Friends houses, small businesses, parents house, all over the Internet, etc. I keep hearing this name mentioned or talked about in a forum somewhere. It's kind of creepy. Anyhow, after seeing the way this product performs at other people's houses/businesses I decided to get one for myself.

I was smiling when I found out it actually does a good job of being a firewall, a wireless access point, a 4 port switch, and even some parental control features for the Internet. Very nice features this thing packs inside it's box. Heck even the power cord is color coded so that you know blue goes with blue. Very NICE!

Overall I'd have to say this router is a pleasure to work with. Easy to configure, simple in it's setup, yet has many features you can get "hardcore" with. I'd recommend it to anyone looking for a good router/firewall/wireless access point with more options than normal.

SURPRISE! It Works!
I don't see why D-Link could keep selling all of these (on of their most popular products from what I hear) and have them all not working. I see so many complaints, but I can't say I sympathize with any of them. My 624 router works great, and always has.

I basically followed the instructions when setting it up, and even opened some ports so my son and I can play some online games while stil being protected. The wireless works great and is fast enough for gaming with my laptop.

Features

Reviews (25)

Why did I even give this 1 star????
The only thing I can say with regards of virtual pc is that the feeling of using it is no different than having $1,000,000.00 the other side of a window and not being able to open the window to get to it!Yes, it's that frustrating!

Putting the Microsoft Wizard to Work with Virtual PC 6.1
Strength of Virtual PC

The biggest strength of Virtual PC 6.1 is that it works well. Within minutes of running the installer you can be using Windows XP on your Mac. A setup assistant guides you through adjusting the application's RAM, VRAM, and other basic settings.

Windows XP can run in full screen mode or in a small window mode. Using the Command (Apple) and 'M' keys, toggles you back and forth from full screen mode to small screen mode on your Macintosh.

Virtual PC Toolbar

Virtual PC 6 has a toolbar in the lower left-hand corner. All the Toolbar icons use contextual menus (Control-Click-hold). All the icons let you pop up the Virtual PC 6 Settings window.

Using the hard drive icon, I can launch the Disk Assistant application. The Virtual PC 6 CD icon can unmount or eject a CD. The floppy icon lets you unmount or ejects a floppy. You also can mount a floppy disk image by dragging it to the icon. The Shared Folder icon lets you navigate to a Macintosh folder for sharing on both Mac and Windows platforms.

Working with Virtual PC 6.1

I needed FileMaker Pro program running on my Mac computer. I received additional consulting work from a jewelry company that wanted me to set up a database with graphics of their jewelry products. They had several PCs running Windows XP linked to various servers.

Instead of purchasing a Windows computer, I used Virtual PC to get the job done. I transferred information from and to their Windows XP computers and my Mac G4 by using my Mac's Zip drive.

Next, I made sure that I had PC zip cartridges for backup to get the job done. Virtual PCÊ 6.1 worked well for my evening work setting up and editing the FileMaker Pro database.

Solving Connection Problems

I had trouble connecting to America Online with Virtual PC. The problem was having the right ISP (Internet Service Provider) serial setup number.

The sweetest sound. The answer was using Network Setup Wizard. I had to use my America Online Windows' CD to setup the proper network connection.

In additon, I find that I can connect to the Internet using my Mac AOL OS X and Mac Internet Explorer connection. Now, I use Internet Explorer for Windows to connect to web for special Windows projects.

Pro Reaction

Most of the Window programs Mac users run on their PCs can run on Mac computers using Virtual PC. Virtual PC is an inexpensive way to use Windows programs. You can take over your virtual PC environment. You can even cut and paste between Mac and PC desktops. Virtual PC takes advantage of my dual processor Macs.

I could connect Virtual PC to my printer. I can do this by using my shared USB HP printer which connects well in Virtual PC. My additional external drives, Lacie and Acomdata drives are shared in Virtual PC.

Con Reaction

I had difficulty with my internet account. My computer problem was having the right America Online ISP (Internet Service Provider) serial number.

This should be mentioned in the help menu for America Online users. I found using the Network Setup Wizard connection with AOL CD the answer to the America Online connection problem.

Final Remarks

The major reason that I have to get online is to register my Windows software and receive authorization pass codes to continue to use the software. In addition, I can upload my graphics to my web sites on register.com that normally do not take graphics from a Mac computer.

You can register by telephone by calling Microsoft's toll-free number if you do not have an internet connection. You need to have your Virtual PC registration pass code when calling Microsoft.

Editorial Review

The idea behind The Sims is this: the ultimate goal of life is to achieve happiness, and the way to achieve happiness is to satisfy your Sims' needs. That's right, The Sims allows you to create, direct, and manage the lives of SimCity's residents. Each need (Hunger, Comfort, Hygiene, Bladder, Energy, Fun, Social, and Room) can be met by interaction with other Sims or objects: throw a party with the help of a rockin' stereo system, and watch your Sims' Social and Fun ratings improve. Have one of your Sims whip up some food from the refrigerator, and you'll satisfy the Hunger needs of your guests. Or have your Sim engage another Sim in a game of chess: not only will their Fun and Social moods improve, both Sims will gain some points in their Logic skill rating--which might help on the job.

Mismanage your new, simulated family, and you'll be faced with the worst of MTV's The Real World--with a touch of teenage angst drama thrown in for good measure: jealousies will ignite, fights will break out, jobs will be lost, and the house will fall apart. Bringing about such a calamity is almost as much fun as guiding these Sims to material paradise, and takes considerably less time.

A good general rule is that the more expensive the object, the better its ability to satisfy Sim needs. One gameplay goal is to improve your Sim so he or she can climb the career ladder, which nets him or her more money, which allows the purchase of higher quality stuff, which lets you improve your Sim even more. Eventually, your Sim will have a mate, kids, and a mansion with an indoor pool.

Before you decide how to fix your Sims' health and happiness, you need to craft each of your simulated people: pick a name and a gender, decide on personality/astrological sign, and then choose a look from a variety of heads, bodies, and skin tones.After the creation, the next step is to find a place to live. Again, the player can choose from among the empty houses in the neighborhood or decide to buy some land and design a dream house. Building houses is a blast, and the easy-to-use house design interface could almost be its own game: players design the floor plan, put up walls, pick carpet, wallpaper, and siding, and fill the house with furniture, decorations, fixtures, and appliances. You're limited only by your imagination--and your Sims' pocketbook. But the choices you make in designing and decorating your Sims' house are vital.

Triumph or tragedy, each significant event in a Sim's life is captured in a snapshot and saved in a photo album for later viewing. Players can also take photos any time they wish. The photo album feature is cool by itself, but the best part is that you can upload the album to www.thesims.com and share your Sims' sagas with the world. Entire families can also be uploaded and downloaded, as can houses. Want to re-create and manage your own version of Friends? Download the free face and body editor and make Sim clones of Ross, Rachel, and the rest. Want to go really crazy and perfectly re-create the set? Snag the free wall and floor texture editor. With The Sims, you can create whatever--and whomever--you desire.

Toying with the lives, successes, and emotional states of dozens of little Sims is undeniably fun. In the same way that SimCity players develop a condescending attitude toward real-world city planners, The Sims players will begin to see life as a series of needs-satisfying challenges; the game gets in your head. But that's OK: limitless gameplay, endless variety, cool Internet features, and the ability to play matchmaker/landlord/counselor/God makes The Sims a great way to increase your own Fun score. --Mike Fehlauer

Pros:

• Unique, addictive, fun gameplay
• Included photo album feature records triumphs and tragedies
• Free uploads and downloads expand the game and allow swapping with other players
• Sims are smart--it's sometimes best to just let them act on their own

• Addictive gameplay may cause loss of sleep, job
• Complex behavioral modeling program--requires serious computing power
• No pets other than fish

Features

• Dungeons and Dragon-based Internet-enabled fantasy role-playing game
• Set in D and D's-based Forgotten Realms world
• Choose what skills and abilities you will develop as you voyage though Forgotten Realms
• DM Client allows nearly unlimited control for running your own adventures
• For 1 to 64 players (multiplayer requires Internet connection)

Asin: B0000A33ZM
Sales Rank: 926
Subjects:  1. Computer Games    2. Macintosh (Machintosh)    3. Mac    4. Apple    5. Adventure    6. Computer Role Playing Games (Game, crpg, crpgs, rpg, rpgs)   

Features

• Four different races to command including Orcs, Humans, Night Elves and Undead, each possessing unique units, magical abilities and weapons of war.
• Skeletal and skinning animation process allows infinite frames of animation resulting in true fluid movement of 3D models.
• Advanced world design tools allowing players to customize every aspect of the game including tile sets, character art, quests, mission objectives, and unit types, AI, attributes, special abilities and spells.
• Expanded multiplayer options over Battle.net including a larger number of players per game and multiple game types including team play and questing.

Asin: B00005V9Q1
Sales Rank: 750
Subjects:  1. Historical (historic) Recreation (Recreations)    2. Military (Wargames    3. Macintosh (Machintosh)    4. Mac    5. Apple    6. Havas    7. Computer Games    8. Action    9. Adventure    10. Strategy (Strategic)    11. Fantasy   

Features

• One new Hero per race, each possessing powerful spells and magical abilities
• A host of new units, each equipped with new abilities and spells, giving players the opportunity to create diverse strategic and tactical forms of combat
• Player-built shops, unique for each race, equipped with items carefully designed to improve and aid the units of every race
• Neutral Heroes, available for recruitment by all players, that can supplement and strengthen a player's army with all new spells and abilities

Asin: B00008ODBQ
Sales Rank: 195
Subjects:  1. Computer Games    2. Action    3. Adventure    4. Strategy (Strategic)    5. Fantasy    6. Macintosh (Machintosh)    7. Mac    8. Apple    9. Computer Role Playing Games (Game, crpg, crpgs, rpg, rpgs)    10. Computer Role Playing Games (Game, rpgs, rpg, crpg, crpgs)    11. Havas   

Features

• More than 8 hour battery life on a 3 hour charge (1-hour fast charge to 80% capacity)
• Features redesigned and backlit navigation; includes dock, wired remote control, earbud headphones, carrying case, and AC adapter
• 20 GB model holds up to 5,000 songs; supports MP3, AAC, WAV, MP3 VBR, Audible (6), and AIFF formats
• Mac and Windows compatible; FireWire and USB 2.0 interface for fastest digital transfer available
• Included docking station makes charging and synching easy

Asin: B0000CEORU
Sales Rank: 8001
Subjects:  1. Portable Audio    2. MP3 MP 3 Player    3. Jukebox    4. MP3 Player (MP 3)    5. Apple    6. (Mac)    7. (Macintosh)    8. Gigabyte    9. 10GB    10. 10 GB   

Features

• More than 8 hour battery life on a 3 hour charge (1-hour fast charge to 80% capacity)
• Features redesigned and backlit navigation; includes dock, wired remote control, earbud headphones, carrying case, and AC adapter
• 40 GB model holds up to 10,000 songs; supports MP3, AAC, WAV, MP3 VBR, Audible (6), and AIFF formats
• Mac and Windows compatible; FireWire and USB 2.0 interface for fastest digital transfer available
• Included docking station makes charging and synching easy

Asin: B0000CEOYI
Sales Rank: 7854
Subjects:  1. Portable Audio    2. MP3 MP 3 Player    3. Jukebox    4. MP3 Player (MP 3)    5. Apple    6. (Mac)    7. (Macintosh)    8. Gigabyte    9. 10GB    10. 10 GB   

Editorial Review

By following up their debut thriller Bound with the 1999 box-office smash The Matrix, the codirecting Wachowski brothers--Andy and Larry--annihilated any suggestion of a sophomore jinx, crafting one of the most exhilarating sci-fi/action movies of the 1990s. Set in the not too distant future in an insipid, characterless city, we find a young man named Neo (Keanu Reeves). A software techie by day and a computer hacker by night, he sits alone at home by his monitor, waiting for a sign, a signal--from what or whom he doesn't know--until one night, a mysterious woman named Trinity (Carrie-Anne Moss) seeks him out and introduces him to that faceless characterhe has been waiting for: Morpheus (Laurence Fishburne). A messiah of sorts, Morpheus presents Neo with the truth about his world by shedding light on the dark secrets that have troubled him for so long: "You've felt it your entire life, that there's something wrong with the world. You don't know what it is, but it's there, like a splinter in your mind, driving you mad." Ultimately, Morpheus illustrates to Neo what the Matrix is--a reality beyond reality that controls all of their lives, in a way that Neo can barely comprehend.

Editorial Review

In every aspect, the extended-edition DVD of Peter Jackson's epic fantasy The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring blows away the theatrical-version DVD. No one who cares at all about the film should ever need to watch the original version again. Well, maybe the impatient and the squeamish will still prefer the theatrical version, because the extended edition makes a long film 30 minutes longer and there's a bit more violence (though both versions are rated PG-13). But the changes--sometimes whole scenes, sometimes merely a few seconds--make for a richer film. There's more of the spirit of J.R.R. Tolkien, embodied in more songs and a longer opening focusing on Hobbiton. There's more character development, and more background into what is to come in the two subsequent films, such as Galadriel's gifts to the Fellowship and Aragorn's burden of lineage. And some additions make more sense to the plot, or are merely worth seeing, such as the wood elves leaving Middle-earth or the view of Caras Galadhon (but sorry, there's still no Tom Bombadil). Extremely useful are the chapter menus that indicate which scenes are new or extended.

Editorial Review

The Canon GL2 (like its predecessor, the GL1, and its big brother, the XL1) is helping to blur the line between consumer and professional video equipment. This camcorder borrows most of those cameras' professional-quality components and puts them into a more compact, affordable camera. Though it's small enough to carry around and doesn't cost much more than a top-of-the-line consumer camcorder, the GL2 produces such high-quality results that it could be used as a broadcast video camera.

The 3 CCD System
The GL2 maximizes the capability of the DV format by using a 3 CCD (charge-coupled device) system with a separate CCD for each primary color (red, green, blue). A beam-splitting prism separates light passing through the lens into individual color components and each is sent to its own CCD. Compared to a single CCD, the 3 CCD system achieves outstanding detail with highly accurate color reproduction suitable for the demands of high-end video production - wide dynamic range, low color noise, high-contrast detail, natural color resolution and low-aliasing. The 3 CCD system also makes advanced Pixel Shift (for increased image quality) and Low Light Recording (for increased flexibility) possible.

Professional L-Series Fluorite Lens
Canon has satisfied the demands of experienced image makers for years through the power, design and quality of 35mm and broadcast TV lenses. Canon's Professional L-Series lenses utilize Fluorite, a material which provides outstanding resolution, contrast, and color reproduction- especially in lightweight, high-magnification lenses. Incorporated into the lens on the GL2, Fluorite delivers the ultimate in clarity and image quality. The Fluorite element inside the lens defeats color aberration -- the effect when the components of light stray from one another within a lens, causing a reduction in sharpness, contrast and color. The Fluorite lens precisely controls components of light providing an excellent balance of these three critical ingredients of picture quality. This is unobtainable with conventional optical glass.

To further improve image detail, Canon has intentionally shifted the green CCD (which contains 60 percent of the picture detail) half a pixel horizontally and vertically. This shift allows more accurate interpolation, resulting in an image that Canon claims rivals those from cameras with 410,000-pixel CCDs. Each pixel is 72 square microns, which is about 1.5 times the size as those in competing camcorders. This increased size increases light sensitivity, allowing you to shoot in low-light situations.All this results in outstanding detail, with highly accurate color reproduction suitable for the demands of high-end video production. The GL2 also incorporates a 20x Professional L-Series fluorite optical zoom lens, which is equivalent to 39.5-790mm, as well as a 100x digital zoom.

Audio
The GL2's omni-directional microphone is designed to deliver realistic stereo sound. Using the GL2's advanced accessory shoe expands your audio options. Audio can be recorded in 16-bit mode on two channels on one track. Alternatively, audio can be record in 12-bit mode, where the audio track is divided into two, and two channels of audio are recorded onto one track, with the other left over for audio dubbing.

Optical Image Stabilizer
Canon's superb optical stabilization system corrects camera shake instantly so even hand held shots, at full telephoto, and shots taken from a moving car, are smooth and steady. And since it is optical, there is no loss of image quality inevitable with electronic image stabilizers. It perfectly complements the high picture quality of the DV format.

Digital Stills
You can turn your GL2 into a still camera by switching to 1.7-megapixel photo mode and capturing high-resolution still images onto the camcorder's MultiMedia/Secure Digital card. (One 8 MB Secure Digital card is included with the GL2.) The full-frame images are free from time-lag blur. A six-blade circular iris, as found on Canon's top-of-the-line XL1 and XL1S models, is used for professional exposure control, helping to deliver stunning video and still photos.

Inputs and Outputs
The GL2 comes with the standard DV IEEE 1394 port (also known as FireWire) for a super-fast, lossless connection to a PC or other DV machines. You can also connect to your PC via a USB connection to download still photos. The GL2 is designed to handle two types of analog input and output: using audio/video cables (composite) or S-video. Both connections are on the camera back.

More Features

• Three shooting modes: normal movie mode, digital photo mode, and the cinema-like frame movie mode.
• The Custom Key function lets you create and save your own custom settings so your common shooting modes can be readily duplicated.
• Digital effects are offered for a greater imaging variety, including fader, sepia, strobe motion, and black and white.
• With the Interval Timer function, you can record for a selected time with a selected interval--convenient for nature observations such as flowers or sunsets.

Editorial Review

For all the budding Spielbergs and Lynches out there, Apple’s Final Cut Express is a great first foray into the world of movie magic. Even if you’re only looking to polish up your vacation videos, Final Cut Express offers easy-to-use controls and an open workspace that welcomes all abilities.

In a nutshell, Final Cut Express is a pared-down version of the popular Final Cut. The technology behind both packages is the same, so you can count on high quality output. But you, as the average user, won’t be burdened by the more technically robust features. In fact, while we were editing, we couldn’t think of a feature that we wished was included in Final Cut Express--this package allowed for plenty of different ways to modify your video, including audio effects, filters (like sepia, black and white, opacity, brightness, color control), and transitions (such as fade, wipe, and so on).

We started by viewing Apple’s online help videos to learn the lingo of compositing, transitions, and ripples and rolls. These serve as an invaluable introduction to the package, especially since the package does not include a Help menu.