They aren’t smart enough
March 20, 2006
I’m now officially using my iBook as a desktop machine. All this made possible due to the superb Screen Spanning Doctor: an app which enables the full dualscreen capabilities f many Macs. Apple disables these software-wise for procuct differentation– within their good right. Just too bad they aren’t smart enough to stop people from finding legal ways around this.
I bought a new keyboard for this today (a real Mac keyboard, I love those). The ext. screen runs its full potential (1280x1024), and is used as the main screen. The internal iBook one is used as a secondary screen, to hold Adium’s contact list, iTunes, etc: things that normally only get in the way. Simply unplug the ext. screen, and the Mac restores to its normal single-screen setup; without any problems. Settings are stored, window positions, it’s awesome.
>Apple disables these software-wise for procuct differentation
Which is why I believe that there won’t be many different Mac laptops in the future but maybe a MacBook (13″), a MacBook Pro (15″) and a MacBook-whatever (17″). No more 3 iBook models and 3 Powerbook models. Their features overlap too much to sustain such a product line.
Back in the day you could have differentation because WiFi and Bluetooth were expensive modules, but today you can’t even grasp a Mac without such features. Except for an HSPDA or UMTS module, screen size and maybe gfx cards you can’t really differentiate laptops enough anymore.
That’s why just 3 laptop models are enough for Apple’s laptop line *today*.
Comment by Eugenia — March 21, 2006 @ 2:09 am
Looks good. Especially those 2 ‘bosatlassen’ below your external screen… ROFL! (I use mine for likewise purposes ;))
Comment by LoeZ — March 21, 2006 @ 9:41 am
I love the Mac keyboards as well…very tactile and responsive. Wish they made a “split” version that worked on Windows.
Comment by jayson knight — March 22, 2006 @ 5:50 am