Nervian’s CardReader Pro fits right in with PowerMac G5 / Mac Pro

As your never-ending quest to find peripherals specifically made to match beautifully with your PowerMac G5 / Mac Pro continues, we’ve one that’ll surely shoot right to the top of your must-have list. Nervian’s CardReader Pro slips just under the front handle of your tower, providing (almost) integrated card reader functionality without putting a damper on your rig’s style. Better still, the USB 2.0 unit supports 52 different flavors of flash memory, ensuring that just about every card you toss in there will mount in short order. There’s no word on how costly this will be when it ships in October, but those definitely interested can nab 15% off by signing up for details at the outfit’s website.

[Thanks, choco]

Popularity: 7% [?]

Been itching to overclock your Mac Pro? No problem.

Well what do you know, ZDNet’s German bureau has apparently released a functioning overlocking tool (ZDNet Clock) for Mac Pros and Xserves. Vater Steve doesn’t look kindly upon such things, but with a little luck (and a lot of cooling) you might be able to eke out a few hundred extra MHz from your aluminum clad box without tipping off any Geniuses the next time you bring it in for repair. Unfortunately, for the time being it only appears to work on newer Pros and Xserves — not laptops or iMacs — running the latest release of Leopard.

[Via Computerworld]

Popularity: 8% [?]

Graphics Powerhouse: ATI Radeon HD 3870 Mac & PC edition

Mac Pro users — it’s time to power up the graphics capability of your machine! ATI has announced the new Radeon HD 3870 Mac & PC Edition. Whether you’re a serious gamer or a graphics designer, this new card features 256-bit 512MB GDDR4 frame buffer memory, 320 stream processors, twin dual-link DVI ports to run two 30″ Apple Cinema HD displays, PCI Express 2.0 support, and more.

One of our readers pointed out that you can even use the HD 3870 in Windows running in Boot Camp on a Mac Pro. The Radeon HD 3870 runs in any Mac Pro and will be available in late June for a MSRP of $219.

Thanks to TJ & Seth for the tip! Read

Popularity: 17% [?]

My USB dilemma, can you help?

Here’s my daily dilemma. Between work and family, we own 6 iPods (this includes our two iPhones), each of which has its unique playlists, podcast subscriptions and so forth. We also have a printer and scanner — both used regularly, and an EyeTV tuner, again critical. We have an external microphone connector for Skyping and no fewer than three external disks. One is used for Time Machine, one for EyeTV recordings, one for my G4 backups.

My G4, with its ten built-in USB ports and connection to a single powered USB 4-port hub, is on the fast-past to dying. It’s not right on the edge yet but all the signs are there. It’s time to move on. But what is going to replace that G4 with its surfeit of USB ports?I’m not holding my breath waiting for Apple to release a mini-tower any time soon. And that’s a shame. Between my disk needs and USB port needs, a mini-tower would give me all the peripheral power I needed without committing me to an overpowered, overpriced Mac Pro. Even the refurb Pros are priced beyond what I can spend, before adding disks and USB cards.
Minis are a problem too. The Mac mini with its 4 ports and no drive bays ends up a Franken-monster rather than “simple elegance” after you somehow add on 10 additional USB ports and 3 external disks. And I haven’t found any really good hubbage solutions out there.

I don’t understand why Apple, supplier of USB-based iPods hasn’t realized that its consumer base needs lots and lots of USB ports on their standard models. And I don’t understand why Apple hasn’t yet delivered any wire-free iPod docking and powering solutions. The iPhone and iPod touch are meant to live by your side. So where is the WiFi sync that would allow the iPhone to sleep on your headboard in your bedroom while connecting to the iTunes computer in your office?

As for me, I’m stuck between buying a Mini and complaining that it doesn’t have enough ports, disk space or dual monitor support, and buying a refurb Tower and having to outfit it with ports and disks. Are you in a similar situation? What’s your advice? How would you handle this challenge?

Popularity: 7% [?]