MacBook Air Vs ThinkPad X300

By Mike T Martin

Apple's MacBook Air introduced the world to the thinnest notebook to date. Released in January of 2008, it is known as "ultrathin, ultraportable, and ultra unlike anything else." With the recent announcement of the new ThinkPad X300 from Lenovo, analysts are predicting that the ThinkPad will give Apple a run for it's money. The following is a brief review of each.

MacBook Air

The new Apple MacBook Air comes in a bit thinner than the Lenovo ThinkPad X300, measuring only 0.16 inches at its thinnest point. Steve Jobs actually introduced the new laptop to a crowd of onlookers at the Macworld Conference in San Francisco, by pulling the ultra thin notebook out of an office envelope. With a price tag of just under $2000, this notebook is a bargain in a class of laptops that are usually a bit more pricey.

Because the MacBook Air is so thin, the battery must be built in. Early tests are reporting about two to three hour battery life between charges. Other drawbacks include no built in GPRS/Edge etc, no optical drive, one USB port, and no choice of pointing device. Though it was designed for an SSD flash drive, it can also be purchased with an iPod drive, and Apple is expected to upgrade the drive by the end of the year. Despite some of these early drawbacks regarding features, overall this is a beautiful looking and very durable laptop, which Apple should improve upon over the upcoming year.

ThinkPad X300

Though not as sexy as the MacBook Air, the ThinkPad is built with the business user in mind. While the MacBook air is a consumer machine, this laptop is built more to be a business tool. The ThinkPad has a replaceable battery, replaceable optical drive, and three USB ports, compared to only one on the MacBook Air. The ThinkPad keyboard includes both Touchpoint and Touchpad pointing devices, a very durable / industrial strength built frame, a full set of management tools, and a more advanced flash drive. The ThinkPad also complies with EPEAT Gold, meaning it is one of the most "green", eco-friendly laptops on the market.

Which one is better?

Along with all of the executive minded features of the ThinkPad, comes an executive level price tag. The ThinkPad X300 will be initially made available for around $2,799. So if cost if your main bargaining point, then the sub $2000 MacBook Air is your best bet. Otherwise, your decision should be based on needs. The ThinkPad is designed for the top executive that is always on the run. ThnkPads have never really been known for being "sexy" products, but they have always been thin, while still being reliable. But if you are looking for something ultra thin and ultra cool, at a great price, and you don't need all of the high end business type features of the ThinkPad, then the MacBook Air may be your best bet.

Only time will tell which one comes out on top, but these are both great, innovative products that should spur the ultra thin laptop market for years to come.

Mike Martin is a computer programmer and website designer. http://www.flatlaptops.com Purchase discount laptops, including the MacBook Air and new ThinkPad X300.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mike_T_Martin

Apple iPod - You Can Play MP3

By Alice Erin

The Apple iPod from Apple Inc. is a portable media player that assures the users of perfect musical entertainment. The iPod was a result of Apple's research which resulted in the disclosure of the fact that the existing digital music players are "big and clunky or small and useless" with user interfaces that were "unbelievably awful". Apple developed the product in less than a year and unveiled it on October 23, 2001.

The name iPod was the contribution of Vinnie Chieco, a freelance copywriter, who was called by Apple to figure out how to introduce the new player to the public. The first iPod kiosks were demonstrated to the public in New Jersey in March 1998, and the commercial use of it began in January 2000. The trademark was registered by the USPTO in November 2003, and Grasso assigned it to Apple Computer, Inc. in 2005.

The Apple iPod can play MP3, AAC/M4A, Protected AAC, AIFF, WAV, Audible audio book, and Apple Lossless audio file formats ensuring the perfect musical entertainment. The iPod is generally associated with a host computer. Each time the iPod is connected to the host computer, iTunes are able to synchronise entire music libraries or music playlists either automatically or manually. Song ratings can be set on the iPod and synchronised later to the iTunes library, and vice versa. It is also possible for the user to connect the iPod to a second computer. Apple iPods generally function as mass storage devices to store data files. When the iPod is formatted on a Mac OS X computer, it uses the HFS+ file system format, which allows it to serve as a book disk for a Mac computer. The sound can be enhanced with the iPod's software equaliser (EQ) which has some EQ settings like R&B, Rock, Acoustic, indie, and Bass Booster which can result in fast bass distortion.

Apple iPod Alice Erin is an Expert Author. He has written good quality articles on Mobile Phones Have a look at Cheap Laptops

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Alice_Erin

An Apple a Day - Fun Apple Activities

By Jolanda Garcia

Fall is just around the corner and what better way to mark the season than with a month of apple-related activities? It’s the time of year for freshly-baked apple pies, apple festivals, and Johnny Appleseed’s birthday! Take a trip to a farmer’s market or to an orchard to pick your own apples. Have a party to celebrate Johnny Appleseed’s birthday. Serve apple pie and apple juice and plant apple seeds in his honor. These activities will also partner up well with your fall, farm, or harvest themes.

Apple Tidbits
Relate these interesting facts about apples to children to pique their interest and get them excited about apples...:

• Apples come in all shades of reds, greens, yellows.
• 2500 varieties of apples are grown in the United States and 7500 varieties of apples are grown throughout the world.
• The pilgrims planted the first United States apple trees in the Massachusetts Bay Colony.
  Apples are a member of the rose family.
• The most nutritious part of the apple is the skin.

Make Your Own Applesauce
Applesauce is easy to make. Five pounds of apples makes about 2 quarts of applesauce. Peel, core and slice apples into quarters. Put slices in a pot and partially cover with water. Boil apples until they are soft. Let children use a potato masher to mash the apples to make applesauce. Add sugar and cinnamon to taste.

Dried Apple Rings
First, peel, core, and cut apples into chip-sized circles. Then, dip the circles in fresh lemon juice. Use a wire cutter to cut a clean, white-coated clothes hanger. Next, decorate the hanger with some apples made out of craft paper and add the apple rings. (Don’t let the apple slices touch each other.) Finally, hang the apples in a dry, airy spot and let them dry for one to two weeks.
Tip: Rotate the apples every day.

Apple Tasting
Next time you go to the grocery store with your child, point out all the different kinds of apples. Tell your child their names. Buy a few different kinds, and when you get home, let your child try them. Ask your child how each one tastes, how each one is different, and which one is his or her favorite. To add to the fun, purchase or make different things that are made from apples, such as applesauce, dried apples, apple pie, apple butter, and apple cider. Let children sample the treats.

Apple Toss Set out a laundry basket or a bushel basket and red bean bags or small red balls. Use masking tape to tape a line on the floor. Place the basket a couple of feet away from the line. Have child stand behind the line and try to toss the balls or bags (apples) into the basket.

Plant Apple Seeds
Talk or read a story about Johnny Appleseed and how he planted apple seeds. Provide children with small paper drinking cups, apple seeds, potting soil or dirt, and water. Have children first fill their cups with soil. Then, have them place finger in the soil to make a small hole. Next, have them drop in a seed. Dampen the soil with a small amount of water. Place cups in a well-lighted area and water occasionally.

Apple Relay
To play, you need one apple for each team. On the word "go," a team member places an apple on the back or hand of the first player. The first player races to the end of the course and back without letting the apple fall off her back or hand. If the apple falls off, that player has to stop where she is and put it back on. Once the apple is back in place, she keeps going from where it fell off. When the player gets back to her team, she puts the apple on the back or hand of the next person in line. The first team to finish wins.

Apple Smile
Cut an unpeeled red apple into wedges. The wedges should look like a smile. Spread one side of an apple wedge with peanut butter. Add three or four miniature marshmallow “teeth” along the edge. Spread another apple wedge with peanut butter. Place it on top of the marshmallows for a big, toothy grin.

Visit www.KidsSoup.com to find a bushel full of other terrific apple-related ideas.
Jolanda Garcia is a former teacher and educational content designer. Her goal is to provide parents and teachers with quality resources to promote their children's development and creativity. Visit her websites at: Preschool activities and crafts, and www.eartwiggles.comfor resources and activities to promote healthy eating habits in young children.