Tokyo, may 09, 2012 (JCN Newswire via COMTEX) –Fujitsu today announced that it has updated its FMV Series lineup of consumer-oriented personal computers. the summer 2012 line of LIFEBOOK notebook PCs and ESPRIMO desktop PCs features a total of 17 models in six product families that boast enhancedbasic performance capabilities and new innovative designs. the new models will be available in Japan beginning may 17, 2012.

the LIFEBOOK family of notebooks includes the new UH family of “Made in Japan”(1) Ultrabooks(TM). Lightweight and measuring just 15.6mm at their thickest point-making them the world’s thinnest(2) notebook PCs with an integrated hard disk drive-the UH family features a seamless, beautiful design and is equipped with a CPU from the powerful 3rd Generation Intel(R) Core(TM) processor family.

from the ESPRIMO family of desktops, the FH family of all-in-one LCD models (FH98/HM, FH/77HD and FH56/HD) comes with a new Quick TV feature that can launch the PC’s built-in TV viewer in approximately five seconds.

Fujitsu today also announced “My Cloud,” a revolutionary new concept for PCs. In aiming to bring about a human centric intelligent society, the announcement is part of Fujitsu’s continued efforts to create a prosperous future through a wide range of transformational technologies. Based on Fujitsu’s human-centric approach of placing top emphasis on the user, my Cloud is a fresh concept in personal computing that will offer customers a new kind of experience. my Cloud will take advantage of Fujitsu’s portfolio of transformational technologies-both past and future-and will present new possibilities for employing cloud computing.

1. Key Features of the Summer 2012 FMV Series Models

the new lineup includes the latest models from the UH and SH families of LIFEBOOK notebook PCs, which have been designed with a total emphasis on slimness. In addition, the ESPRIMO family of desktops boasts new models from the FH family that feature enhanced TV functionality and a revamped design.

(1) LIFEBOOK UH family: World’s thinnest Ultrabook(TM)

There are two new models in the LIFEBOOK UH family of Ultrabooks(TM): LIFEBOOK UH75/H (14″ wide-format LCD model) and LIFEBOOK UH55/H (13.3″ wide-format LCD model). the LIFEBOOK UH75/H measures only 15.6mm at its thickest point, making it the world’s thinnest LCD notebook PC with an integrated hard disk drive, weighs only 1.44kg, and offers 9.1-hours of battery runtime(3). Continuing with its efforts to pursue thinness and compactness, Fujitsu hasutilized Ultra Compressed Grid Construction technology and a durable magnesium alloy clamshell, which has undergone load testing of approximately 200kgf(4). these enable both durability and thinness, making this the ideal Ultrabook(TM) to accompany users wherever they go.

LIFEBOOK UH75/H is extremely beautifully designed thanks to an ultra-thin frame that is only 4.3mm on the top of the LCD screen and 4.1 on the left and right, and a full flat fine-panel. Both models are available in two different colors-LIFEBOOK UH75/H in Satin Red and Satin Silver, and LIFEBOOK UH55/H in Alumite Red and Alumite Silver. LIFEBOOK UH75/H also comes equipped with the latest high-performance CPU from the 3rd Generation Intel(R) Core(TM) processor family.

(2) LIFEBOOK SH family: World’s thinnest13.3-inch wide-format LCD notebook PC with an integrated optical disk drive

In addition to boasting high-spec performance that makes it perfect for use as a main machine, the thin, lightweight and long-lasting SH family of notebook PCs also features a built-in Super Multi Drive, enabling it to be carried anywhere at any time, both at home or when on the road.

As the world’s thinnest 13.3-inch wide-format LCD notebook PC with an integrated optical disk drive(5), LIFEBOOK SH76/H measures only 23.2mm at its thickest and 16.6mm at its thinnest point, while also featuring a lightweight 1.34kg(6) body and achieving a long battery runtime of nearly 14.0 hours(7) (as opposed to previous models’ runtimeof 12.9 hours). furthermore, an integrated mobile multi-bay allows customers to exchange standard-equipped units with an expanded internal hard disk unit (option) or an expanded battery unit (options) based on their needs. with LIFEBOOK SH54/H, customers can select from three different color options: Urban White, Shiny Black and Garnet Red. since all models in the SH family include 128GB solid-state drives, they can record data at super fast speeds and are incredibly quiet, even when accessingdata.

(3) ESPRIMO FH family: Enhanced TV functionality and a revamped design

LIFEBOOK FH56/HD, FH77/HD and FH98/HM all come with a new Quick TV feature that can launch the built-in TV viewer in approximately five seconds. by simply pressing theTV power button on the accompanying remote control or the TV button on the PC itself, users are able to start watching digital terrestrial TV shows in a mere five seconds. the new models can record content in full high definition for up to fifteentimes longer than previously, and they are also equipped with smart pre-set recording capabilities, so users can make full use of them as a TV recorder device. Moreover, these models are compatible with DTCP-IP, which protects copyrights while stillallowing downloaded contents to be shared on digital devices, customers can record TV shows on their ESPRIMO desktop PC and then watch them on mobile devices such as a LIFEBOOK UH family notebook PC, ARROWS Tab tablet device, or smartphone. this enablesrecorded TV shows to be enjoyed in a wide variety of locations.

Fujitsu has increased the size of the LCDs on the LIFEBOOK FH54/HT and FH56/HD from 20 to 21.5 inches, while at the same time designing the PCs with an even smaller body. On topof this, through the use of full HD full flat fine-panel IPS LCD technology, all models feature a revamped design and simplified audio-video functionality.

2. New “My Cloud” Feature for the Summer 2012 Line (Enhanced my Photo Museum Functionality)

MyPhoto Museum automatically imports photos taken with a smartphone, digital camera or other device and automatically creates and edits albums. the latest version has been updated to include the following features, which enable integration withMy Cloud.

(a) Automatic album organization through built-in speech recognition

When browsing an album created in my Photo Museum, comments spoken by the user about the photos and comments regarding the people featured in the album are collectedas voice data. Then, speech recognition(8) is performed on the collected voice data, and personalized photo albums are automatically organized.

(b) Wireless data transfer made possible through F-LINK and FlashAir(TM)

Using F-LINK, still and moving images can be automatically downloaded wirelessly to the user’s PC from a digital camera or video camera equipped with Toshiba’s FlashAir(TM) wireless LAN SDHC memory card.

Now that it is possible to easily transfer large-volume graphics data from smartphones, digital cameras or digital video cameras to their PCs, and create photo albums using speech recognition and face detection capabilities, users can enjoy a full range of album editing features with even greater ease.

3. EnhancedPower Saving Capabilities

the F-PLUG will be available starting in late may. this power adapter allows users to employ the FMV Series’ simple and convenient power saving features and monitor electricity consumption. the new lineup also includes an improved version of the already available Conservation Navigator feature.

(1) F-PLUG: Power adaptor enabling users to monitor their electricity consumption

at WEB MART(9), Fujitsu’s online shopping site, the company will be offering F-PLUG, anew optional power adaptor for the LIFEBOOK AH family (AH77/HN, AH76/HN and AH50/HN) that allows users to effortlessly monitor the electricity costs of personal electronics devices in their household.

F-PLUG measures the power consumption of connected personal electronics devices, as well as the surrounding temperature, humidity and brightness levels, and stores the results of these measurements in its internal memory. Measurement results can be downloaded via Bluetooth(R) to a PC by launching a special application. the computer is not required to be constantly turned on and connected, so it consumes very little electricity compared to other measurement devices of its kind.

There were two major smartphone releases that consumers were looking forward to in 2012. we have recently seen one of them which is the impressive Samsung Galaxy S3 which was unveiled at the beginning of May. that leaves just the one major release which is the iPhone 5. This new phone will feature an updated version of the iOS operating system. One area that will benefit from this updated platform is the excellent iCloud storage service.

The iCloud feature was launched in 2011 and enables users to have their precious data automatically stored. all users of iOS devices are allocated a set amount of storage space which can store a variety of material from photographs to documents. The advantage of a system such as this is that it enables data to be shared between various devices. Users can now take a photograph with their iPhone 4S and view the image on their iPad when they return home. in addition to the excellent sharing facilities iCloud is also perfect for protecting valuable data. if a handset is lost or stolen material is still safe and can be easily transferred to a new device. This system has proved a big success and the new iPhone 5 will boast an even better version of iCloud. it is expected that the updated service will be unveiled at the WWDC 2012 event which is where the new iOS6 operating system will be officially unveiled. there are also rumours that Apple may take the opportunity to reveal the new handset at this event although it is likely that they will hold a separate launch for this eagerly anticipated model.

Apple are looking to make iCloud a much more social experience on the new iPhone 5. Users will have the ability to automatically share groups of photographs with friends and family and these people will also have the ability to comment on the images. This may prove to be a very wise move from Apple with photo sharing software such as Instagram already proving a massive success with consumers. Apple are keen to change the personal Camera Roll facility into a fully functioning photo and video sharing application. there are numerous rumours circulating about other features that will be incorporated on the new operating system. it is expected that the Maps service will be completely overhauled and there is also a strong possibility that we may be treated to a brand new user interface to accompany the new design that the iPhone 5 will offer.

The iPhone 5 is certainly going to be one of the major smartphone releases of this year and Apple are keen to improve the iOS software so it compliments this new model. The iCloud service looks like one area that will be affected more than most by this update and users will soon be able to easily share video and photo content with other users.

Amtrak is introducing iPhones and electronic barcodes as a train ticketing scheme.

Simple solution makes a mockery of complex, dedicated ticketing schemes.

An American train operator is training old-school train conductors to give up their hole punchers and try something more modern: the iPhone.

Amtrak, the US government-owned corporation that oversees passenger train services, has been training conductors since November to use the Apple handset as an electronic ticket scanner on a few routes, including from Boston to Portland, Maine and San Jose, California, to Sacramento.

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With the system, passengers will be able to print tickets or load a special bar code on their smartphone screens for conductors to scan, and conductors will be able to keep track of passengers on board, Amtrak said.

”You don’t even need to print the document and bring it with you,” said Matt Hardison, chief of sales distribution at Amtrak, who helped plan the iPhone program.

”We’ve made a number of important improvements for both our customers and Amtrak, all in one fell swoop.”

Amtrak joins a growing number of businesses that are using mobile devices to improve operations. Some pilots are using iPads to replace flight manuals in the cockpit, a few US police departments are experimenting with using iPhones to identify suspects, and doctors are using iPads to access patient records and X-ray charts.

A digitised check-in process for trains seems long overdue in a world of online concert tickets and flight reservations, but the industry faces a particular challenge in that passengers hop on and off at different platforms at different times, unlike at an airport, where people check in at one gateway to board a flight and then stay there until the flight arrives.

Amtrak’s old manual ticketing process — punching a hole in the ticket, putting it in a pouch and then sending it to a central location, where it is eventually scanned and entered into a database — was not very good at tracking passengers on board because of the delay between when the ticket was checked and when it was processed.With the iPhone-powered system, conductors can monitor passenger check-ins in real time.

That will help them manage seating: If there are passengers who don’t show up, for example, it will be easier to fill empty seats with other passengers.

”When it was all a manual system there was a lot of guesswork involved,” said Patricia Quinn, executive director of the Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority, which contracts with Amtrak to operate the train service from Boston to Portland.

Each conductor’s iPhone is equipped with a case containing an extra battery and a barcode scanner, and has a special app to scan tickets but also to do much more. For example, with the app, conductors can indicate to the engineer if a disabled person is getting on at a particular stop. the app also allows conductors to report equipment failures, like broken toilet fixtures, to mechanics.

For passengers, the system means it will be easier to book or modify reservations. For example, if a rider discovered at the last minute that they had to take a train at a different time, they could make the change online or in Amtrak’s iPhone app, whereas previously they would have had to refund a ticket and buy a new one at a machine or through an agent.

The iPhone system is costing Amtrak $US7.5 million — $US5.5 million for the software development and $US2 million for the hardware, the company said.

Amtrak’s smartphone app for passengers is available only for iPhones, but the corporation said it was working on a version for Android devices, due for release later in the year. Users of other types of smartphones can still load their tickets through Amtrak’s mobile website.

The New York Times

There is no standard computer that can hold a candle to the common Apple Notebooks. Recently Apple put out the new 13.3 MacBook with the white housing and 2.1 gigahertz Intel Core 2 Duo and 1 gigabyte over 120 gigabytes. It is one of the top picks in Apple computers today. Mac computers are built to last. The standard PC lasts for around 2 to 3 years. Most of your PC computers are virus prone and many technical problems develop with each use. The Apple Notebooks have proven to give the highest performance and you do not have virus attacks like you do with the standard PCs.

The average PC cannot outperform any Apple computers, and the notebooks are often more reliable. Mac’s Intel based computers include the Mini selection, which gives you the best driver support and the system was upgraded to provide you with full specifics including the Intel Core Duo T2300 with 5300 DDR2 Memory. You have 120 Gigabytes combined with 5400 RPM and 8Megabytes of SATA Hard Drive space. You also have the 8X DVD and RW Burner for creating high quality movies and downloading music. The latest Apple Notebooks has the Intel GMA 950 Integrated Graphics and Airport Extreme 802.1 1b/g-Wireless and Bluetooth capabilities. Apple recently developed the 13.3 inch MacBook computer with 2.2 Gigahertz and 1 Gigabyte over 120 Gigabyte with the Super Drive. You just can’t beat the speed, efficiency, and performance.

PCs today offer you 4 Gigabytes of memory and 500 Gigs of hard drive space, which is a lot more than the typical Mac computer, yet the processor speed makes all the difference in the world. Standard computers have Window’s Vista, which is one of the most updated Operating System, yet when the OS came out, it was full of bugs. Now, you have better options with the upgrades, but still, standard computers are prone to technical difficulties and virus attacks. It seems that standard computers are always apologizing for their mistakes, while Mac or the latest Apple Notebooks is like Timex, “it takes a licking and keeps on ticking.” The average Mac or Apple Notebooks and computer will last 10-15- or even 20 years, which is a huge difference compared to the average PC. We see this in the new 13.3 inch MacBook computer, which gives you optimization all in one compact system. You get superb memory and storage space in addition to impactful media solutions.

When one considers the Apple Notebooks, we often must consider software, which is essentially plays a part in performance. Windows XP has the service pack 2, and is the latest Intel based Mac Operating System X Version 10.4.5, which was installed from Mac’s instructions posted on their website. When it all comes down to it, Apple Notebooks has the most advanced technology in software solutions around? In addition, you get the best of all worlds with the latest SATA hard drives, which give you 250 Gigabytes of hard drive space to handle all of your storage needs.

If you are considering purchasing an Apple Laptop, then I would really advise you to take a good hard look at the used market.

Apple computers have always been excellent machines, beautifully designed with software to match. Their iLife software offers seamless integration with your iPod and iTunes, and if you’ve got a video camera, just plug it in, download your footage, edit it and burn it to a DVD. Try doing that on a PC. You’d have to buy lots of software, but it’s all as standard on a mac.

There are many different laptop models to choose form, each having been designed for a specific purpose. If you are a home user, then I would recommend you look at the iBook series, where a business user should target the iBook Pro series. both of these were discontinued in 2006, to be replaced by the macBook and macBook Pro respectively, but still offer great value for money, and a high specification machine can be bought for as little as $300, compared to their original price of $1500+.

There are cheaper models on the market too, specifically the iBook G3 ‘clamshell’ models, but these are the very early ones having been discontinued in 2001. Good sellers in their day, they are a little long in the tooth now, and won’t support many of the new applications. However, if you were looking for a first computer for your child, or a computer just to surf the internet and do some basic work, this might be for you.

If your budget stretches to a little more, then the aforementioned macBooks or even the new ultra thin macBook Air might be worth considering. you can get these on the used market too, and although there are significant savings to be had over list price, they are still pricey.

So where do you get your used apple laptop from? Personally, I’ve had great success with eBay – I’m on my third mac notebook from them now. there are really good bargains here, including lots of accessories, and as long as you are careful, you can’t go too far wrong. once you have decided on the best machine, look carefully at the seller’s details – look a the feedback they’ve had, make sure they appear reliable. You’re looking for a positive feedback of around 99% from 200 comments or more. you might even consider only buying from a Power Seller.

Wherever you buy from online, you should always email the seller, asking questions about the product and their service. here is a quick guide to some of the main points for you.

Look at the work you want your laptop to perform, research the machines available then make your choice. Don’t settle for anything else once you’ve made up your mind. Don’t get drawn into the trap of buying a better machine with less specifications for the same price, thinking you can fix it. most of the time it’s not that simple, so don’t take the risk.

Don’t pay more than $35 on shipping, unless it’s an ultra fast delivery.

Make sure it comes with an adapter, and the battery works.

Don’t buy ‘untested’ or ‘as is’ items, unless you are buying for parts.

Get the correct OS (Operating System) – if you’re going to do any serious work, and need to add new applications , make sure it is at least OS 10.3 (this will be very slow on a G3 ‘clambook’ so be wary if the seller says it is installed – this isn’t the original OS that machine was designed to run on).

Only pay by PayPal – otherwise some unscrupulous sellers might take your cheque, protest they’ve never received it, then keep both the chedue and the computer for themselves.

If you follow these guide lines, it is possible to get a fabulous used apple laptop for a bargain price. Good luck.

Cheri decided that she wanted to grow an apple tree in her back yard. She had never planted an apple tree before. in fact, she had never planted anything before. This was her first time trying her hand at gardening. but last year, she had this idea that it would be nice to grow an apple tree right in her back yard.

Now that the weather was growing nicer, the idea came back to her and it seemed that she became obsessed with growing an apple tree. being urged to get started, she found herself going to the library and the book store and on the Internet to research all that she could about growing an apple tree. She had to learn about apple variety and rootstock; about
site selection, proper planting, training and pruning, adequate
fertility, and pest control all of types of things that contributed to creating a healthy and productive tree.

Every time she went out in her yard, she would picture exactly where she would grow the tree. She would see, in her minds eye, the tree already grown with rich and wonderful apples all over it.

The time came for her to plant her tree. She used all the skills she had learned to make sure that it would grow to its fullest potential.

The tree grew and the most wonderfully, red apples sprouted all over the place. Cheri was so proud of her masterpiece.

Planting flowers and trees can really be amazing. You take a little seed and it put it in the dirt and you nurture it and before you know it, it starts to sprout, and then it grows into a full, blown flower, plant or tree.

It’s really incredible to experience.

Have you ever planted a tree or a plant? have you ever seen it sprout and grow all over the place–sometimes growing out of control? have you ever witnessed that?

I’m sure you have.

In fact, I’m willing to bet on it.

Well, you might not have actually planted a flower or a tree, but each day, you plant thoughts and ideas into your subconscious mind that start to grow. some of these thoughts and ideas grow out of control and before we know it, they start to take over our lives.

Some of these seeds are planted without us ever being aware of it. They are things that we’ve heard others say about ourselves and we allowed them to get planted, deep into our subconscious mind and then they start to grow so wildly and out of control that we don’t even realize it but before long, they have taken over our life.

Let me give you an example. Ever heard your parents say to you, Money doesn’t grow on trees. or money is hard to come by. or You can’t get everything that you want.

Well, these are seeds that are planted into our subconscious mind and over the years, they are nurtured and allowed to grow so much that they begin to grow out of control. we wonder how come we are always struggling to make ends meet or why we can’t experience financial freedom like we see so many other people experience.

It’s because of those seeds that are planted into our subconscious mind, have been planted so deeply that, without us even given any thought to it, we always find ourselves struggling to make ends meet because money doesn’t grow on trees and it’s hard to come by and we simply can’t get
everything that we want.

We have just accepted it as a truth, a reality, without ever questioning or researching to see if it holds any merit. It becomes second nature for us to quickly say to our own children, Money don’t grow on trees, you know. Because its something that we’ve heard for most of our life.

And because we have this believe, money will always elude us because our seed that has been planted inside of us, has grown so big that it makes sure that we hold on to this belief.

If you plant a seed for an apple tree, an apple tree will grow.

If you plant a seed that money is hard to come by, then money will always be hard to come by.

You can’t plant apple seeds and expect oranges to grow.

You can’t hold on to beliefs that are planted into your subconscious mind and expect your life to be different from your beliefs.

Sorry, it just doesn’t work that way.

If you want to grow oranges, you have to plant seeds that produce oranges.

If you want to live a happy and successful life, you have to plant seeds that will bring about a happy and successful life.

Well, how do you go about doing that when the seeds that have been planted for so long are negative and do not allow you to have the things that you desire?

You do it the same way a Gardener does. when a Gardener plants grass and notices that weeds have sprouted amongst the good grass, s/he goes to work to kill the weeds. They have to destroy the weeds or else it will destroy the good grass.

You must do the same. Destroy the weeds (negative thoughts) that are growing inside of you before they kill off the good grass (positive thoughts).

Always be mindful of what you are thinking and the affect that it will have on your life. when you notice a negative thought–kill it, before it kills you.

ACTION POINT: Let’s do some spring cleaning this week. Let’s become aware of thoughts that we have that are like weeds and can destroy our efforts to change our life. Let’s pull out the weed wacker and the weed killer and destroy them whenever they rear their ugly heads. This week, we will only have positive, life empowering thoughts that move us closer to our goals. And we will destroy negative thoughts that hold us back. can you do that for yourself this week? I know you can. Don’t try to do
it–do it.

With the recent introduction of the iPad, the world of portable computing has taken on a new direction.

Now, in a market dominated by laptops and netbooks, consumers have yet another option – a tablet type device. But is this new invention a true laptop replacement? The overwhelming answer is – No. In fact, as it stands, the iPad is designed to sync with a computer – not replace it.

Some people were sorely disappointed to come to this realization. But this device does serve a purpose. Many people need a convenient option for “light computing”. They are not power computer users. They are the folks that use technology to organize their busy lives.

The tablet computer satisfies this market. The people who need a convenient and portable option for

• managing calendars and contacts
• keeping track of detailed to do lists
• reading books
• surfing the internet
• and other personal type tasks

Critics were quick to point out that a smartphone can handle all these tasks as well. It is a point well taken – but the larger screen and longer battery life make an iPad a much better and more user friendly choice. Clearly, Apple’s new “iTablet” is in a class by itself and is paving the way for similar type devices from competitors.

In the end, choosing whether or not to buy an iPad is a personal decision based on needs, wants, and cost. The combination of a laptop and smartphone is more than adequate for most people. However, the added convenience that a tablet device offers cannot be ignored.

Designed by Tommaso Gecchelin, the core of this concept is a technology called iSpine. like the spine of a book, the tech allows the device to go from a normal laptop with screen and touchscreen board to large widescreen canvas for drawing, presentation or movie watching. [link]

Apple iPad Touch concept designed by Chris Messina promises to offer slick, streamlined experience that feels less like a computer and more like a lifestyle object. [link]

Beautiful Apple Tablet concept rendering by Fotoboer.nl. [link]

Video of the much rumored Apple Tablet by MacRumors forum member GoneWithTheWind. [link]

Another beautiful Apple iTablet concept design by Isamu Sanada. [link]

Apple Tablet concept designed by Adam Benton for MacFormat. [link]

Clever Apple Tablet concept by Vern Hart looks like a giant iPhone. [link]

The incredibly thin wireless keyboard is used as a protection cover for transportation. On the back of the computer, a hinge allows it to be put in a vertical position so you can use Mactab comfortably on your desk. [link]

Beautiful Apple iTablet concept design by Jesus Diaz from Gizmodo. [link]

[via]

TAGS: Apple, apple concept, Apple Tablet, iPad, iTablet, Mac Tablet, Macbook Touch, MacTab, net tablet, TECH

Apple has thrown a bone to Mac owners left unprotected against the Flashback malware family — but only some of those users will be getting help.

On Monday, Apple quietly released two security updates for Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard, a nearly five-year-old release that Apple had otherwise abandoned. (Apple generally supports only the two most recent OS X releases.)

The security updates remove and protect against the Flashback malware family on Leopard machines, and disable older versions of Adobe Flash Player. Similar updates had previously been released for Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard and 10.7 Lion.

The catch is that only Intel-based Macs will get the Leopard security updates. Older Macs that have  PowerPC-based central processing units, which Apple sold until 2006, will still be out in the cold.

[ FAQ: The New Mac Virus and Apple Anti-Virus Options ]

However, it’s not clear whether PowerPC Macs can be infected by the Flashback malware at all. The most prevalent route of infection is via a security flaw in Java, the application platform designed to run on any operating system, but the flaw may exist only in versions of Java never released for PowerPC Macs.

There are tens, and perhaps hundreds of thousands of perfectly working PowerPC Macs still being used, but they can’t be upgraded to Snow Leopard or Lion because Apple never created PowerPC-compatible versions of those releases.

Leopard was still running on nearly 14 percent of Macs last month, according to the StatOwl website, which did not break those numbers down between Intel and PowerPC-based systems.

Apple has been widely criticized in recent weeks for its seemingly cavalier attitude toward security updates. The Java flaw that exposed Macs to the most successful variant of Flashback was discovered in January and patched on Windows and Linux machines in February, but Apple did not patch it on Macs until April, after an estimated 600,000 Macs had been infected.

Granted, at $30 each, Mac OS X upgrades are much less expensive than Windows upgrades, which start at $99.

With the increasing prevalence of malware targeting Macs, Apple may need to rely on Mac anti-virus software vendors to supplement its efforts, much as Microsoft does with the multi-billion Windows anti-virus software industry.

An email to Apple asking whether PowerPC-based Macs would also be patched against Flashback was not immediately returned.

• 10 Pros and Cons of Jailbreaking Your iPhone or iPad
• How far Behind is Apple’s Security?
• 10 best Anti-Virus Programs for Macs

© 2012 SecurityNewsDaily. all rights reserved

Takeaway: many people are still undecided about whether they could use Apple’s tablet instead of a notebook. There’s no doubt in Seb Janacek’s mind.

One big issue with replacing your laptop with an iPad is that Apple’s tablet doesn’t seem to age well. Photo: Apple

I tweeted the other day to no one in particular that I couldn’t see my iPad replacing my desktop machine but I could easily imagine not buying another laptop.

I’ve given it more thought and as much as I had assumed I’d update my MacBook Pro to a MacBook Air in a few years, now I’m not sure I need to. The iPad is now the computer I use most.

The world’s reaction to the iPad was muted at first. like many others, I bought an iPad when it first went on sale in 2010 without a clear idea what I would use it for. before buying it, I’d played with one for about 30 minutes, firing through 10 to 15 iPad apps in quick succession: the BBC app, Marvel comics, the Guardian photos app, and a graphically rich interactive book.

Steve Jobs mused about whether there was a space for a product between a smartphone and a laptop and decided the iPad was it. According to the Walter Isaacson biography, the polite applause and muted reception depressed Steve Jobs because the concept had been the culmination of several years of work.

Meanwhile, the tablet drew accusations that it was primarily a device for the passive consumption of content. Not anymore. The iPad is selling at pace far in excess of any previous Apple product.

There’s no doubt that the iPad is a fine device to watch stuff on. one of the best descriptions comes from the journalist and TV writer Charlie Brooker who described it as a device “ideal for idly browsing the web while watching telly”.

It performs this function very well, but two years after I first started to use it, I know it does a whole lot more. So much more that I suspect, based on my personal usage, that I can get by with a desktop Mac and an iPad and cut out mr Laptop altogether.

Here is my home set-up: a mid-2007 24-inch iMac, a mid-2010 13-inch MacBook Pro and a third-generation 32GB wi-fi iPad. I would estimate my usage ratio as 20:10:70 for iMac:MacBook Pro:iPad.

Some people dismiss the iPad because they feel it’s uncomfortable to write on due to its lack of a physical keyboard. but I found you soon get used to it.

I admit that even now I probably make more mistakes on the soft iPad keyboard than I do on a real one, yet these errors do not represent enough of a problem to stop me using it for writing and certainly not when considering the device’s wider benefits.

On three occasions I’ve written full articles in the car – of course, not while driving. There’s more room to work on trains with the added bonus that I don’t need to worry about being within a couple of feet of a power cord.

For me, the iPad’s key work uses are writing and editing articles – sometimes long ones – producing simple presentations, and viewing often tedious papers in preparation for meetings.

I use it as my main email and browsing machine. It’s excellent for managing social media channels. there are endless Twitter clients and the WordPress app lets you post articles, review and publish comments and get headline traffic and usage data.

The Pages app is an excellent basic word processor, possibly my favourite since the Windows version of WordPerfect 5.2. Pages is used for making notes in meetings or at presentations, as well as writing longer articles. Note-taking on the iPad also means my jottings are legible, unlike my paper laptop filled with full of page after page of childlike scrawl.

A to-do app lets my manage priorities and a calendar app lets me manage time and appointments. Dropbox lets me access my files from anywhere with a wi-fi connection and presents documents and papers very well, although Excel spreadsheets less so.

Of all the common productivity applications, spreadsheets are the most problematic. I’m not a fan of either the Mac or iPad version of Numbers so still looking for a solution on this issue.

There will be many cases where a laptop is preferable to an iPad. but for someone who needs the basic functions of web, email, social media, productivity apps and other office-based applications, the iPad is starting to look like a worthy alternative.

It offers mobility and lightness, excellent user experience and a superior focus on tasks and work. Plus, in downtime, it’s an excellent machine to watch stuff on.

The one big issue I have with the iPad as a laptop replacement is device longevity. My first-generation iPad is becoming slow and unresponsive and despite my new iPad’s quick performance I suspect that in two years it will succumb to a similar fate.

iPads don’t seem to age well the way Macs do. given their lower price, I suspect Apple – and possibly other manufacturers – see them as devices that will have a shorter upgrade lifecycle than laptops or desktops.

Despite being a mid-2007 model, my iMac is still in fine shape and will last another couple of years before being upgraded. The MacBook Pro is new and will give many more years of service.

This may be the core issue. a Mac laptop has traditionally lasted me five to six years before being upgraded. if the iPad continues to creep towards obsolescence after two or three, then the maths takes over. Will it be a smaller outlay every two years for a new iPad or a larger investment every five to six years for a new laptop?

However, cost aside, increasingly there’s not really an argument for me over form and function. The iPad is winning the day.