While we’re talking about Bluetooth, Apple recently introduced their own wireless keyboard and mouse, using the Bluetooth standard.

The new keyboard features 16 full-size function keys, numeric pad, document navigation keys, a full-size inverted T, and multimedia keys to adjust audio and video, and eject optical media from the CD/DVD drive.  It runs on four AA batteries (included) and has an On/Off switch to save battery power.  Normal use should result in several months between battery changes.  You’ve probably (or, maybe not) wondered whether some smart hacker type could sit outside your window and intercept the Bluetooth signals to see which passwords you’re typing.  Not so fast.  The system includes 128-bit encryption to keep your information secure while you’re typing it.

The wireless mouse shares the white plastics with the keyboard, is powered by included batteries, and has an On/Off switch as well

So, you may also (or, maybe not) have wondered – what if I have more than one computer using wireless Bluetooth mice and keyboards in the same room?  Well, the keyboard and mouse are “married” electronically to the host computer at installation, and Apple employs something called “adaptive frequency hopping” to keep multiple setups from causing interference among themselves.  As usual, Apple does it right.

In other news, I had the opportunity this week to get some hands-on time with both the new 15” PowerBook G4 and the new Dual 2GHz PowerMac G5.  The new 15” PowerBook now sports an aluminum body, the same as the 12” and 17” models.  It’s an ounce or two heavier than the previous Titanium-encased model, and a smidgen thicker.  It feels really solid, and the fit and finish are superb.  What impressed me the most was the speed.  It’s wicked fast, due in part to the faster (1.25 GHz) processor, the doubled to 512K Level 2 cache, and the Radeon 9600 Mobility graphics processor with 64 MB of RAM.

The G5 is an impressive machine, both inside and out.  Despite the nine fans assigned to cool the monster processors, I couldn’t hear a sound coming from the case.  Although it was loaded with demo software, there were no really huge files to open in something like Photoshop to give the G5 some real heavy-duty computing tasks.  Opening applications and Finder windows, however, was noticeably faster than older G4s.

© 2003 Peter F. Zimowski