I had to get the screwdrivers out today as the hard drive in my old G4 PowerBook had began to grind (it was a bloody good job I backed-up earlier in the month). With the help of xlr8yourmac.com I had swapped the 40GB 4200rpm Toshiba drive for a much faster and bigger 80GB 5400rpm Hitachi Travelstar (£60.83 all in from MacWarehouse). I soon discovered that the formentioned guide was missing a few steps, like neglecting to tell me to remove the side case screws before lifting up the hood, so I'll be posting up my own guide in the near future.

Another Apple ad that looks like a GAP ad.
Must be something to do with Gap's CEO Millard Drexler being on Apple's board.

I leave the country for a week and low and behold, strangers start discussing my mother in the Guardian Technology sup.
You can see above that John Dean recommends using Word Viewer.
It's PC only, so thanks for that bit of advice. Great. This is MacBore here. That's M-A-C Bore.
Oh. Sorry for the bad spelling and grammar, Guardian. I always type my blogs at work, when I'm supposed to be doing more important things, or when I've just returned from a Firkin Friday lunch.
Is it Friday? Is that the time?

Firmware updates for all Intel Macs.
"This EFI Firmware Update fixes several Boot Camp, start up, and wake-from-sleep issues on MacBook computers."
Get them all here.

Spam tailor made for a Mac Bore.
Three times already this week I've been fooled into opening spam messages that have slipped through Mail's junk filters. In the Inbox, they look like they're the usual email from Apple or FHM, with the subject 'Apple's new Core 2 Duo MacBook' or 'Sync your life with .Mac'. Once opened, I soon discover that they aren't all they seem and are embedded with something like the gif above flogging me hot stock in West Excelsior Enterprises. WHYIOUTTA...!
Nevertheless, it warms my cockles to think that someone (even a spammer) has gone to the bother in writing a program that trawls my websites to find out what tickles my fancy. Bless.

MacBooks Updated with Core 2 Duos.

Here's what the press release says:

"With prices starting at just £749 (inc. VAT), the new MacBook lineup includes three models: sleek white 1.83 GHz and 2.0 GHz MacBook models, and a stunning black 2.0 GHz MacBook model. With Intel’s latest Core 2 Duo processors, the new MacBook is up to 25 percent faster than the previous MacBook and up to six times faster than the iBook."

I don't work in IT, but I know my way around a computer. I've just had my Firkin Friday lunch spoilt by my Mum asking me how to open a word file without Microsoft Office (it was my own fault. I told her to download NeoOffice - she hasn't installed an app in her life. She doesn't even know what the 'desktop' is!) I totally relate to this week's Technobile in the Guardian Technology sup.
If you're PC literate, don't tell anybody.

Bootcamp beta updated to version 1.1.2
Boot Camp 1.1.2 beta contains several updates and is intended for all new and previous Boot Camp beta users.

"Boot Camp 1.1.2 beta includes:

* Support for the latest Intel-based Macintosh computers
* Easier partitioning using presets for popular sizes
* Ability to install Windows XP on any internal disk
* Support for built-in iSight cameras
* Support for built-in microphones
* Support for the Apple USB Modem
* Trackpad scrolling and right-click support on Apple Laptops
* Improved Apple keyboard support including Delete, PrintScreen, NumLock, and ScrollLock keys
* Improved International Apple keyboard support"

Question: What was the first song ever to play on an iPod?
It was Spiller's Groovejet. It played on the first working prototype (not the one shown here - that's just foamboard and fishing weights).
I know this because I've just read the excellent article on the birth of the iPod in this month's wired magazine. You can read it here.
Of course, Steve Jobs came up with the name that spawned a culture.
I had an argument with the wife last night. I asked her the same question as above and she asked why would I think that she needed to know that piece of useless information. "But the iPod changed the world!", I answered back. She begged to differ. Thinking about it, it probably didn't change the world as a whole, but just the world's of the iPod owners and those in the music industry. I won't bother her with any more 'useless info' again. Just you. But by going out of your way to read this, you must be interested in that sort of stuff in the first place. Or were you googled here by mistake?

iPod (PRODUCT) red now available in 8GB.
...and don't forget, the new tiny shuffles are out today.
...and the colour of the black iPod nano rubs off slightly over time (well that's what the review in Macuser said).