The iOS 4.2 update is coming our way in this fall, Nov ’10. Although many of the features are already available on iPhone and iPod Touch. It will be a reborn experience for your favorite tablet device the iPad. The iOS 4.2 update will include:

Multitasking:
Thank you Steve Jobs. Don’t you want to run all your favorite apps and switch between them instantly without slowing down the performance of the foreground app or draining the battery unnecessarily. And most importantly jailbreaking?

Folders:
I have a confession to make. I’m free apps download junkie. I have about a gazillion apps on the iPad. It would be great to organize apps into folders with drag-and-drop simplicity. Get faster access to your favorites and browse and manage thousands of apps.

Printing:
I haven’t came across the need to print any document yet. But I guess it would be cool to print mail, photos, web pages, and more directly to a printer on a wireless network.

Airplay:
Now we are talking. If you have been converting DVDs to iPad, you know the process one goes through. It would be great to beam up video and audio to the iPad. Not only that but also wirelessly stream videos, music, and photos from iPad to the new Apple TV, and stream music to AirPlay speakers or receivers, including AirPort Express.

Other notable features:
Its promised that iOS 4.2 update will have more than 100 new features. Beyond the major ones mentioned above, I think the other notable features are:

• Game Center
• Better Email Support
• Enhanced enterprise support
• Accessibility enhancements
• Keyboard and dictionary enhancements

For any odd reason, you are still wondering what the fuss is all about the iPad. I seriously recommend you to get your hands on one of these magical machines now.

* images courtesy Apple.com

I have to admit the new iMacs are just to damn gorgeous. The LED-backlit display is really bright and inviting. Now, embracing new processor family from Intel and powerful graphics from ATI Radeon, the new iMacs are really an amazing All-in-one solution. If you are looking for a new desktop, get an iMac.

Recently, I wrote on Connecting Multiple External Monitors to your Macbook Pro. Many friends contacted me who are currently deciding between Macbook or an iMac. All of them had the demand to have an extended desktop available for their ever demanding increase in desktop real estate. As I’ve already covered the Macbook and Macbook Pro scenario, its time to look at the new iMacs.

iMac 21.5″

The 21.5″ iMac in my opinion is a very practical size and machine for a family computer and also a pro user. With 1920 by 1080 pixels resolution, using Mini DisplayPort output with support for DVI, VGA, and dual-link DVI (adapters sold separately), its quite easy and natural to hook up extra screens. The 21.5″ supports for extended desktop and video mirroring modes and allows simultaneously support full native resolution on the built-in display and up to a 30-inch display (2560 by 1600 pixels) on an external display.

Apple has decided only to make 27″ LED Cinema Displays now, so we have to look for other makes for our needs. Here are few which I think will do the job well.

The old 24″ LED Cinema Display, if you are lucky to grab one, is my first choice as it meets the size closely. At $780, its expensive but you are guaranteed the closest match to your new iMac display. Buy Apple LED Cinema Display 24-Inch.

Beyond Apple, the following are a good choice:

Samsung EX2220X 21.5-Inch 1920 x 1080 5ms 16.7M High Performance Widescreen LCD Monitor with LED
Buy Now $180

ViewSonic VX2250WM-LED 22-Inch (21.5-Inch Vis) Widescreen Full HD 1080p LED
Buy Now $165

HP 2210m 21.5-Inch Diagonal Full HD LCD Monitor – Black
Buy Now $194

iMac 27″

Ah! The 27″ iMac. Don’t you just love this mighty machine. Now, what I think can be one great setup would be add the upcoming 27″ LED Cinema Display with your iMac 27″. That would create an enormous 2 X (2560 by 1440 pixels) resolution at your disposal. Apple designed the 27″ Cinema Display to complement the bigger iMac. See the picture below:

Beautiful isn’t it? Costly, definitely!

More than 1 Screen?

Whoa! 1 extra screen with your iMac not enough? Well, ofcourse you can add more. And to achieve that you need to get yourself one these. I’ve discussed about using these gadgets to hook up your macbook / macbook pro with external screens, please do read it though it works around a particular need.

Make sure before purchasing any device, you must have answers to your following questions:

• What port it will hook up to e.g., USB, firewire, Mini DVI etc.
• What is the Max resolution available through this device e.g., 2560 by 1440 pixels
• What monitor I’m going to use and what max resolution it will support.

Conclusion:

The iMac is now a complete power house capable of delivering great results for both average and pro users. Extend the screen size to get maximum utilization. I hope you have enjoyed this article. So whats the solution you are going for?

Virtualization products have been out there for Macs allowing you to run Windows and other operating systems from within Mac OS X. It was only when Apple introduced Boot Camp, which allows you to natively install Microsoft Windows on your Mac, the real attraction started for Macs. People who were reluctant switching to Mac earlier, were now more appreciative of their purchases.

Boot Camp

Right from Apple’s site:

Have a Windows application you need to use once in a while? No problem. Every new Mac lets you install Windows XP and Vista and run them at native speeds, using a built-in utility called Boot Camp.

Setup is simple and safe for your Mac files. After you’ve completed the installation, you can boot up your Mac using either Mac OS X or Windows. (That’s why it’s called Boot Camp.)

People involved with high performance applications such as 3D and appreciative of Mac hardware usually use Boot Camp to run Windows as native. But if you want to enjoy both the worlds and hate rebooting to switch back to Mac OS, you better try one of the following apps.

Wine Bottler

Wine Bottler, a free application which lets you run Windows applications in such a way that they run right in the native OS X environment. Its based on the famous Wine project on nix platform. Its not click and run ideally, requires a bit of getting things done but nothing unachievable. There is an excellent article on Mac.Appstorm on using Wine Bottler.

CrossOver Mac

Similar in functionality like Wine Bottler but with more intuitive usage and support, CrossOver Mac allows you to install many popular Windows applications and games on your Intel Mac. Once installed, your application integrates seamlessly in OS X. Just click and run your application directly from the OS X Finder. Not all applications are available for installation, but the current available list is pretty decent. The pro version costs $57 ($12 discount).

VMware Fusion 3

Moving on, if you want a more realistic experience where you are not bound to run a select list of applications, then look beyond Wine Bottler and CrossOver. VMware Fusion is a very decent application rightfully providing the juice to run your most demanding windows applications. This is what VMware has to say:

Run the most demanding Mac and Windows applications side-by-side at maximum speeds without rebooting. With more than 80 new features in VMware Fusion 3, including 5X better 3D graphics performance and 35% faster end-to-end performance in version 3.1, it’s never been easier to run Windows on your Mac.

At a discounted price of $61.99, its a very good purchase to fulfill your needs.

Parallels Desktop 5 for Mac

If you want to really enjoy the best of both worlds keeping your Mac running at best, look no further. Parallels Desktop 5 for Mac is the best option out there. This is what they have to say about their products:

Mac OS or Windows? Parallels Desktop 5 for Mac lets you seamlessly run Windows and Mac OS X side-by-side, drag-and-drop your files between operating systems, and run Windows software on your Apple computer without rebooting.

Faster
•    Run Windows 7 with Aero
•    Enjoy Snow Leopard
•    Use 1000s of Windows applications

Smarter
•    Share files between Mac and Windows
•    Use Windows apps like Mac apps
•    Connect your favorite USB devices

More Powerful
•    DirectX 9.0c/9Ex with Shader Model 3
•    All the security you need for Windows
•    No compromise on performance or speed

Parallels Desktop 5 for Mac is available at a discounted price of $59.99 ($20 off).

Recommendation:

I would recommend trying out 30 day trials of the app you like before going for the purchase. I have tested all of them and would recommend Parallels Desktop 5 for Mac as it beats the competition with so much to offer. Now, I can run Visio instead of look a likes.

Congratulations! You are here reading this blog post shows that you are considering purchasing a new Macbook. If you are moving from the world of Windows, believe me you are making the right choice regardless of the fact Balmer & co. are doing their cheap shots in convincing people that Mac’s are not for fun. Yeah! right. Once you have settled down with your new Mac, you will think about every second you have wasted on those blue screens, virus cleaning and other necessary rituals one has to perform on a windows machine to get things working. So lets move and see what options are available for you.

In my opinion, we must thank Apple for clearing out the clutter and providing a definite set of remarkably highly crafted machines. Unlike in the world of windows where you are trying to figure out why a HP with the same specs is expansive than a Dell or trying to figure out how that new hardware is superior to the other. Trust me, it doesn’t matter at the end when your OS just doesn’t work. To get things done, you need a hardware and software combination that really works.

The Catalog

At the moment there are 3 series available in Macbooks catering to different persona’s. They are:

• Macbook
  Macbook is entry level machine in the Apple notebook line up. It is very popular among college students and also professionals who are switching to the world of Apple with the cost conscious mind.

• Macbook Pro
  Macbook Pro are professional level machines, which are capable of performing high performance tasks such as audio/video, photo editing etc.

• Macbook Air
  The latest entrant to the Macbook line up is one the thinnest Laptops and is very famous with people who want a light weight yet powerful machine.

How to decide?

Before deciding to purchase any equipment, its important to understand your requirements and expectation from the investment. Please keep in mind Macbooks are not cheap. It is correct at the same price you can get a very hefty deal in the windows world. But the trade-offs are huge in performance, reliability, safety and workability. What is consistent on all Macbooks and the sibling desktop is the Mac OS experience. What changes is the underlying hardware and its capability.

Comparison

Apple has a beautiful and detailed comparison page. I’ll try to give you the gist of it to help you in deciding which Macbook is the one for you.

Starting at $999 Macbook Save upto $50 is the most affordable in the line up. It comes in White only (Black was so cool) with the following specs:

• 2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
• 2GB DDR3 memory
• 250GB hard drive
• 8x double-layer SuperDrive
• NVIDIA GeForce 320M graphics
• Built-in 10-hour battery²
• Polycarbonate unibody enclosure

Macbook Pro 13″ comes in 2 models: 2.4Ghz ($1,199) Save upto $60 and 2.66Ghz ($1,499) Save upto $70. The specs are

• 2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo or 2.66GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
• 4GB Memory
• 250GB hard drive | 320GB hard drive
• SD card slot
• Built-in battery (10 hours)
• NVIDIA GeForce 320M graphics

Macbook Pro 15″ comes in 3 models: 2.4Ghz ($1,799) Save Upto $80, 2.53Ghz ($1,999) Save upto $130 and 2.66Ghz ($2,199) Save upto $135. The specs are:

• Intel Core i5 | Intel Core i5 | Intel Core i7
• 4GB Memory
• 320GB hard drive | 500GB hard drive | 500GB hard drive
• SD card slot
• Built-in battery (8-9 hour)
• Intel HD Graphics
• NVIDIA GeForce GT 330M with 256MB | 256MB | 512MB

Macbook Pro 17″ comes in 2.53Ghz  Intel Core i5 ($2,299) Save upto $190. Though an Core i7 option is also available:

• Intel Core i5
• 4GB Memory
• 500GB hard drive
• ExpressCard/34 slot
• Built-in battery (8-9 hour)
• Intel HD Graphics
• NVIDIA GeForce GT 330M with 512MB

Macbook Air comes in 2 models: 1.86GHz ($1,499) Save upto $50 and 2.13Ghz ($1,799) Save upto $90. Specs are:

• 1.86 GHZ Intel Core 2 Duo | 2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
• 2GB DDR3 memory
• 120GB hard drive | 128GB Solid State Srive
• NVIDIA GeForce 9400M
• Built-in 5-hour battery²
• Polycarbonate unibody enclosure

The devil is in the details:

From the above specs you can summarize the following:

• Macbook is not coming out with SD Card reading option. You would need an external card reading unit
• Only Macbook Pro 17″ comes out with the ExpressCard/34 slot if you happen to need it.
• Macbook Air doesn’t come out with a superdrive. If you are DVD freak, you would need an external DVD unit
• In Macbook Pro’s you have the option to have either Hard Drive or Solid State Drives.
• In 15″ & 17″ Macbook Pro’s you have the option off Glossy or Anti-glare display

I would also recommend reading a comparison report on the Core 2 Duo and Core i5 processors.

Update timeline

Both Macbook and Macbook pro have been recently upgraded. Macbook pro are now equipped with the latest Core i5 and Core i7 processors. Mac’s were pretty late in getting their hand on the latest Core i5 /i7 technology.

Macbook Air is way beyond Apple’s normal product refresh rate. Its rumored that new models are right on the horizon. Lets see.

So which Macbook is the one for you?

As I said earlier, individual needs and requirements must be pivotal in your decision process. I have been using a Macbook for 3 years and it has been great so far. If I would switch it would only for 2 reasons:

• Battery life
• Better processing power
• Screen size and display

My pick would be Macbook Pro 15″ 2.4Ghz Core i5 because of the latest processor, screen and battery life. If Apple had upgraded the 13″ with Core i5, I would have picked it up.

Let me know how are you deciding.

* Images courtesy of Apple Inc.
** Pricing are taken at the time of writing this article, which may have changed.

What are the benefits of jailbreaking?

People with jailbreak iPads can download apps which allow them to customize everything from homescreen images to icons. The most sought after feature “multitasking” running apps in the background, so you can enjoy browsing the web while listening to your favorite tunes. Once your iPad is jailbroken, Cydia, a jailbreak application store have apps that let you do pretty much anything. Usually, there are only one or two apps that make sense in jailbreaking. for some, its just the experiencing how to jailbroke your iDevice.

What I can run on Jailbroken iPad?

Cydia is the official underground app store, which gives you access to thousands of apps and hacks available for your iOS devices. Its best to download apps which are updated for iPad. Then there are apps, which run great on all devices. There are plenty of sites which keeps an updated list apps working on iPad. Here’s one from MacStories and similar thread on iPadForums.

So what is the downside of Jailbreaking?

According to Apple, Jailbreaking voids warranty. So if something goes wrong during your jailbreaking, which is unfixable (usually everything is), Apple won’t accept your claim. You can always restore your iPad to factory settings and there will be peace.

What happens to my App Store apps?

Don’t fret, all your iPad purchased apps will run just fine. And you can continue to get more apps from the App Store without any issues.

How to Jailbreak your iPad?

If you haven’t updated your iPad to the latest OS upgrade to 3.2.1 and still running 3.2, please visit this excellent article on how to Jailbreak your ipad.

For folks, like me who have upgraded their iPads to 3.2.1, the new web based Jailbreak.me solution is out. Read here about it.

So whats next?

If jailbreaking brings any value to you, go ahead give it a try (on your own risk). For me, I’m going to wait for the iOS 4 to be released for the iPad this fall.