GeekSugar

Lindsay Lohan Is a Fan of Apple but Not Its Warranty

GeekSugar — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 11:45:29 -0800

Although Lindsay Lohan has run the gauntlet of cell phones, she's become a BlackBerry convert and sticks with Apple for her computer needs. Lindsay recently lamented on Twitter about how her MacBook took a beating during her recent travels and ended up with a cracked screen. I know how expensive replacing screens can be, and unfortunately the star had to learn the hard way that accidental breakage isn't covered on Apple's warranty or by their protection plans.

Besides Lindsay's cracked screen, what else isn't covered through warranty or an APP? Find out when you read more.

Even if you have paid extra for an AppleCare Protection Plan, these items are excluded from your coverage:

Installation of noncovered equipment or software
Damage caused by accident, abuse, neglect, misuse, unauthorized modification, extreme environment (like temps and humidity), extreme physical or electrical stress, fluctuation or surges, lightning, static electricity, fire, and even . . . acts of God
Problems caused by a third-party or non Apple-branded device
Lost or stolen equipment
Cosmetic damage to your device, including scratches, dents, and broken plastic on ports
Batteries, except in respect to battery coverage under APP for iPod, or unless failure has occurred due to a defect in materials and workmanship
Preventative maintenance
Defects caused by normal wear and tear

Must Haves For November

GeekSugar — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 01:44:00 -0800

November not only brings the gathering of family and friends for Thanksgiving festivities, but the highly anticipated gadget deals on Black Friday. Whether you're planning on stocking up on your tech toys before the holiday shopping mayhem ensues, or you want to know what hot new gadgets and accessories will be flying off store shelves this month, here's my must-haves roundup of the latest and greatest in tech.

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Apple May Soon Be Announcing Cheaper MacBooks

GeekSugar — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 10:30:20 -0700

Less than a month after the announcement of new Shuffles and Nanos with cameras, it's rumored that Apple could be gearing up to unveil its most cost-effective lineup of Macs including iMacs and MacBooks.

According to the Apple Insider, the new models could arrive just in time for the holiday season and attract customers who are looking for an affordable laptop. The new MacBook is said to be thinner than the current 13-inch model, but no other details have been leaked.

Does this news make you excited? Would you pick up a cheaper MacBook?

Source: Flickr User pgh_shutter

Postage Sleeve For the MacBook Is Checkpoint Friendly? Wow

GeekSugar — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 05:47:56 -0700

Shocker! I can barely get my laptop through airport security when it's sans a bag, so don't even get me started about attempting to try a checkpoint friendly bag! Two things instantly struck me about this vintage postage sleeve ($37) for a 13.3-inch MacBook - first of all, it's in a league of all compared to other laptop sleeves, and secondly, I can't even imagine TSA allowing this (with your laptop inside) through the security machine!

Certainly something you'd see in one of our unique laptop sleeves slideshows, this padded MacBook sleeve is made up of four separate sections that wrap around your laptop like a present for just the right fit. I don't know if I'd say it's a fashionable tech accessory, but if it does get you through the security checkpoint faster, then that makes its geekiness well worthwhile.

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The Hills Are Alive With Computing Devices

GeekSugar — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 07:03:08 -0700

In less than a month, The Hills will return with some new faces, lots of drama, and I'm sure some new tech toys. We already know that the ladies regularly switch their cell phone handsets, but what about their laptops and computers? Here's what they've used in previous seasons, but I wonder if there will be many upgrades in Season six?

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Have No Fear: White Plastic MacBooks Not Going Anywhere

GeekSugar — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 01:45:02 -0700

With the MacBook, MacBook Pro, and MacBook Air all starting to use the same design - aluminum exterior with edge-to-edge black glass, there was a certain amount of fear the white plastic MacBooks were going to be discontinued.

I certainly thought it was only a matter of time, but Apple Insider has assuaged all our fears and reports that Apple is going to keep the white polycarbonate design and refresh them soon to boot, according to a source.

The $999-priced 13-inch laptops are doing exceptionally well in sales, and I love its look, even if it doesn't "match" the rest of its brethren. Perhaps a face-lift will give it a tiny shift toward looking similar (but like I said, tiny). Now if only they'd do the same for the BlackBook.

State of Maine Gives MacBooks to Every Public School Student

GeekSugar — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 11:35:19 -0700

How times have changed since I was in high school, when the only thing you got for free was a dented locker: The state of Maine has agreed to provide Apple MacBooks to every public school student, grades 7 through 12.

The Maine Department of Education has already ordered over 64,000 laptops for students and staff, to make Maine the first and only US state to ensure that every public school kid in middle and high school has a laptop to work on. The students are allowed to use the computers at school and take them home, but they have to return them at the end of the school year to pass to the next classes.

Bravo to Maine for making an important - and very expensive - educational tool so widely available for its youth. I also love that there's a standard for Macs as well - guess someone on that board is a Mac.

Daily Tech: Gadget Evolution 1-0-1

GeekSugar — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 12:03:09 -0800

MTV UK has whipped up an interesting video which shows how technology changes faster than hairstyles. - Unplggd
Apple has updated the white MacBook by replacing the polycarbonate shell with the aluminum unibody encasing. - CrunchGear
Yesterday, directly on the CNN homepage that was covering the inauguration live, there were over 600,000 status updates from the Facebook Connect service. - TechCrunch
MSI's Valentine's Edition of their Wind U100 netbook, comes in pink, features a 160GB hard drive, and costs $430. - Gizmodo
On Friday, Barack Obama aides learned that they will have to give up IM, or else IM communication will become a part of official records. - Switched

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How to Extend Your MacBook's Battery Life

GeekSugar — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 14:30:47 -0800

Yesterday, PetSugar asked me a great question - how can she extend the life of the battery in her new MacBook Air? I gave her some of my "battery-saving" tips, but I didn't know if her notebook should be plugged in all day when it's turned off (and fully charged) - something she was concerned about, and something I do all of the time. Keep reading to find out the answers to some of the most popular MacBook battery conundrums.

When you first receive your MacBook, make sure you fully charge the battery before use.
MacBooks use lithium ion batteries, which means they don't have to be completely drained to prevent the memory effect. Completely running them out actually reduces their capacity.
According to Apple, it's important to keep the electrons in the battery moving occasionally, but they do not recommend leaving your laptop plugged in all the time.
Basically, it's best to keep your battery's juices flowing. Therefore, if you use it on the bus on the way to work, then plug it in all day while at work, that's actually good for it.

To see more MacBook battery-saving tips, just read more.

If you don't use your MacBook regularly, you should set a reminder to charge and discharge the battery at least once per month.
And if you are away for more than six months, Apple recommends storing your battery in a cool place with a 50 percent charge. Therefore, completely shut it down with a 50 percent charge, since sleep mode still uses power from the battery to maintain your laptop's memory.
Apple periodically releases updates that may improve battery performance, so make sure you install the updates!

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Macworld 2009: The 17-Inch MacBook Pro Is Unveiled

GeekSugar — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 11:01:14 -0800

They always manage to save the best for last - don't they? Phil Schiller just announced the new MacBook Pro, which is the world's thinnest 17-inch notebook, measuring in at .98-inches thick, and weighing only 6.6 pounds. On the side of the laptop, you'll find a Mini Display port, a Firewire 800, digital audio in/out ports, three USB ports, Expresscard, and the standard Ethernet and Magsafe. An optional add-on? You can pay an extra $50 for an antiglare screen if you really want to pimp it out.

Other great features include the glass trackpad, which includes four-finger gestures functionality and multibutton support. It even comes with the longest-lasting battery ever, which is said to last up to eight hours on a single charge. The sad part? It's built-in, so you're stuck with it. And for eco-chic peeps, it's EPEAT Gold, and arsenic, BFR, mercury, PVC free, and comes with 34 percent less packaging that's highly recyclable. The new MacBook Pro's will start shipping late January and will cost $2,799.

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