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Subject: Kibbles & Bytes #560: Mac Treat 36, We Won A Major Award, AirDisk is Here, New Airport Express
Date: March 21st, 2008
Dear Friends,

It's March Madness time and I've picked Memphis to go all the way in
the NCAA play-down but for a basketball fan it almost doesn't matter
who wins this perennial college basketball tournament, it is the
excitement of college basketball every day for three weeks that makes
it madness.   There will be upsets, incredible joy and tears but the
best college basketball players in the country will be playing and I
get to watch the NBA stars of the future compete.   Of course, my real
attention is to banner #17 as the Boston Celtics appear to be on a
great roll this year!

I'll be heading off on my spring vacation on Sunday carrying a 24-inch
iMac and some other goodies for my friend in Jamaica where Grace and I
will be relaxing for a week or so.  The Whistling Bird resort in
Negril, Jamaica is a 100% Mac operation run by various Macs that I have
bartered for vacation time for the past 25 years or so.   Even the
jukebox in the bar is an iMac running iTunes with a keyboard securely
nailed to the wall.

We've been discussing our dogs in the office policy (our current one is
come one, come all) and struggling a bit to find the middle ground
between a productive workplace and the benefits of dogs in the
workplace.  With our increasing number of employees it is apparent that
we must try to put some order into the chaos of the pups.   In addition
to making sure owners clean up after their pets, we are considering
forming a doggie court to mete out fines and suspensions for bad dogs.
All in all though we will always have the pups in our business for
their companionship and the incredible ability of dogs to dissipate
stress.

+---------------------------------------------------------+

Small Dog Service Department Wins Award For Excellence 
By Matt@smalldog.com

Apple honored Small Dog’s service department with a Commitment to
Excellence Award this week for the impeccable accuracy and great
turnaround speed of repairs performed by our technicians.  Apple has a
program to track the performance of its authorized service providers,
and Small Dog fit into the top 5% of all providers in North America for
the first quarter of this year!  To put that into perspective, Apple
authorizes over 2,500 service providers in North America, not including
Apple Stores.

Apple’s rating of service provider performance includes many metrics
and an algorithm that produces a percentage of expectations ranging
from 0% to 165%, and we were just shy of 165%!

Gargantuan props out to Jon, Chris, Bryan, Ryan, Todd and Liam for
having a fantastic quarter despite being a man down for most of it.
Your hard work and dedication to impeccable quality has put Small Dog
Electronics into the elite for this quarter and set the standard for
excellence.

+---------------------------------------------------------+

Mac Treat # #36: Pairing Your Apple Remote 
By Ed@Smalldog.com

Last week I wrote about how to use Front Row without an Apple remote. A
few readers wrote in to find out how to pair their Apple remote with
their Mac. As it is, all Macs and all Apple remotes ship unpaired. This
means you can use a single Apple remote to interfere with all
IR-equipped Macs within range. This can lead to unintended annoyances
and silly pranks.

At Small Dog Electronics, pranksters sometimes sneak up behind
co-workers and use the remote to launch Front Row. For a moment, the
victim is prone, wondering what's happening to their Mac as the shiny
black Front Row interface takes over its screen.

Here's how to pair your Apple Remote, and prevent the above scenario
from happening to you:

- Get extra close to your Mac (about 3 or 4 inches away). - Point the
remote at the Apple logo on the front of your Mac. - Press and hold the
Menu and Next/Fast-forward buttons simultaneously on the remote for 5
seconds.

Your Apple Remote is now paired with your computer. You can tell the
remote is paired because you will see a chain-link style lock. To
delete a pairing between the remote and your Mac, open System
Preferences, click Security, and then click Unpair in the Security
pane. (You may have to enter your Administrator password to make
changes in the Security pane.)

You can also turn off your Mac's infrared reception. To do this:

- From the Apple menu, choose System Preferences. - Click Security to
display the pane.- - Select the "Disable remote control infrared
receiver" checkbox.

+---------------------------------------------------------+

Apple Releases 802.11n AirPort Express! 
By Matt@Smalldog.com

on Tuesday Apple announced an update to the AirPort Express. The form
factor and feature set are unchanged, except the device now supports
802.11n networking. Users of the older 802.11b/g technology will be
astounded at the speed boost offered by this upgrade, especially when
doing wireless backups to a Time Capsule and generally transferring big
files across wireless networks. It’s still not as fast as gigabit
ethernet, but it’s fast enough to stream high definition video from
wireless network storage to another machine on your network.

When I bought a new-style AirPort Extreme with 802.11n about a year
ago, I had to run an ethernet cable to my 3-year-old Express. When you
introduce a slower client to an 802.11n network, the entire network
slows to the speed of the slowest client. Once I hook up the new
Express, I’ll finally lose the last wire tucked along the baseboard of
my living room! The new Express is available for preorder here:

http://www.smalldog.com/product/71133

+---------------------------------------------------------+

AirPort Extreme + USB Drive= Time Capsule! 
By Don@Smalldog.com AND Ed@Smalldog.com

Don: With the release of version 7.3.1 of the AirPort Extreme firmware
this week (via Software Update) USB drives connected to Apple 802.11n
AirPort Extreme now are recognized by Time Machine in Mac OSX Leopard.
This means that you can have all of the capabilities of TIme Capsule
with an AirPort Extreme base station and an attached USB drive.

Ed: Oh really? Is this the "AirPort Disk" feature Apple originally
advertised as a feature for Leopard?

Don: Yes.

Ed: What about Time Capsule? I thought that was the only way to
automatically and wirelessly back up a Mac with Time Machine.

Don: Not anymore, not if you have an 802.11n Airport Extreme and a
Mac-formated USB hard drive.

Ed: I can't use a firewire drive?

Don: Have you looked at the 802.11n Airport Extreme? It only has one
USB port.

Ed: Bummer, I already use that for wireless printing.

Don: Easy. Plug a USB hub into your AirPort Extreme and attach your USB
printers and hard drives to that. You can use multiple hard drives,
printers, or a combination of both.

Ed: So I can use my Airport Extreme base station, a USB hard drive, and
Time Machine to get automatic and wireless backups? That's pretty cool!
How do I get it?

Don: You need a Mac with OS 10.5.2. Leopard to download the update. You
can read about it here:

http://www.apple.com/support/downloads/timemachineandairportupdatesv10.
html

Ed: Can I use it with Windows?

Don: Windoze users don't have Time Machine - it's one of the reasons
they should get a Mac. However, Windows users can access the AirPort
Disk to share files.

Ed: What does that mean?

Don: When a drive is connected to the USB port on an AirPort Extreme,
all the documents, videos, photos, and other files on it become
available to anyone on the secure network, Mac and PC alike. It’s
perfect for file sharing and collaborative projects. The AirPort Disk
Utility allows you to password-protect accounts for everybody on the
network or allow read-only access to certain files and folders. Ed: So
I just plug the USB drive into and everything is all set?

Don: Some drives will work right away, but it's better to format the
drive first. Use Leopard's Disk Utility to do this. Make sure to format
the drive as Mac OS X Extended (Journaled). Plug the drive into your
Mac, format it, then plug it into the base station’s USB port. It
should mount in the Finder. At that point you can choose to use the USB
drive as a Time Machine backup disk.

Ed: Any AirPort base station?

Don: No, like I said, you need an 802.11n Airport Extreme base station
- not the UFO style, but the new flat version introduced last year.

Ed: What about Airport Express - like the new 802.11n Airport Express
introduced last Tuesday?

Don: Sorry, 802.11n Airport Extreme only. The USB port on Airport
Express is only used for wireless printing - which is still pretty
cool.

Ed: I was thinking of getting a Drobo, for super-easy redundant Time
Machine backups. But can Drobo work as an Airdisk with Time Machine?

Don: People are reporting that so far Drobo works fine with Airport.

Ed: Time Capsule is still pretty sweet - you get either a 500GB or 1TB
hard drive plus a full-featured router. Simple, easy, reasonably
priced, and clutter-free.

Don: The Time Capsule solution is much more elegant and compact with
its all-in-one design. The price of USB drives is quickly declining.
But if you already own an AirPort Extreme, this is an easy way to take
advantage of the revolutionary feature of Mac OSX that is Time Machine!

Ed: I don't know if I'm ready to use this for Time Machine backups.
However, I'll definitely use it for an AirDisk. I'm really glad Apple
released the update! Did you see Lost last night?

Don: Don't you have work to do around here?

Ed: Well....

+---------------------+

Read more about the Airport Extreme  update here:

http://www.apple.com/airportextreme/features/harddrivesharing.html

http://www.apple.com/support/downloads/timemachineandairportupdatesv10.
html

+---------------------------------------------------------+

FEATURED SPECIALS! Here are the specials for this week, valid through
March 28 or while on-hand supplies last.

+---------------------+

MACBOOKS - A recent price reduction makes these our lowest prices ever
on new, never used, MacBooks! Now you can save up to $300 on MacBook
bundles. Prices start at $999.99.

No sales tax on orders that ship out of Vermont. Add a select Epson
printer or printer/copy/scanner to the purchase of a new computer, and
qualify for a $70 mail-in rebate until March 30. Orders that include a
printer will get a free USB cable.

MacBook 2.0GHz Core 2 Duo 1gb/80/combo/AP/BT white - $999.99
http://www.smalldog.com/product/70355

MacBook 2.16GHz Core 2 Duo 1gb/120/SD/AP/BT white, $1129.99
http://www.smalldog.com/product/43257

MacBook 2.16GHz Core 2 Duo 2GB RAM/120/Superdrive, 3-year AppleCare
plan, FREE 3-day shipping - $1369.99
http://www.smalldog.com/wag17928/at_kb

MacBook 2.16GHz Core 2 Duo 2GB RAM, 120GB hard drive,Superdrive, v. A,
FREE 3-day shipping - $1179.99 http://www.smalldog.com/wag17947/at_kb

MacBook 2.16GHz Core 2 Duo 1gb/160/SD/AP/BT black - $1199.99
http://www.smalldog.com/product/43258

MacBook 2.16GHz Core 2 Duo 2GB RAM/160GB hard drive, Superdrive, black
- $1329.99 http://www.smalldog.com/wag17946/at_kb

MacBook 2.16GHz Core 2 Duo 2GB RAM/160/Superdrive, black, 3-year
AppleCare, FREE 3-day shipping - $1529.99
http://www.smalldog.com/wag17929/at_kb

MacBook 2.2GHz Core 2 Duo 1gb/160/SD/AP/BT black - $1299.99
http://www.smalldog.com/product/70357

See all MacBooks here. The cheapest way to buy RAM and AppleCare is at
the same time as buying your new Mac:
http://www.smalldog.com/category/x/x/MacBook/MacBook/wag140/wag10040

+---------------------+

MACBOOK PRO - No sales tax on orders that ship out of Vermont. Add a
select Epson printer or printer/copy/scanner to the purchase of a new
computer, and qualify for a $70 mail-in rebate until March 30. Orders
that include a printer get a free USB cable.

MacBook Pro 15in 2.2GHz Core 2 Duo 2gb/120/Superdrive - $1699.99
http://www.smalldog.com/product/43514

MacBook Pro 15in 2.2GHz Core 2 Duo 4GB RAM, 120GB hard drive, plus
3-year AppleCare pla - $2099! http://www.smalldog.com/wag17934/at_tt

MacBook Pro 15in 2.5GHz Core 2 Duo 4GB RAM, 250GB hard drive, plus
3-year AppleCare plan - $2899.99 http://www.smalldog.com/wag17936/at_tt

See all MacBook Pros here. The cheapest way to buy RAM and AppleCare is
at the same time as buying your new Mac:
http://www.smalldog.com/category/x/x/MacBook%20Pro/MacBook%20Pro/

+---------------------+

iMACS - No sales tax on orders that ship out of Vermont. Add a select
Epson printer or printer/copy/scanner to the purchase of a new
computer, and qualify for a $70 mail-in rebate until March 30. Orders
that include a printer get a free USB cable.

iMac 24in Intel 2.16GHz 1GB RAM/250 hard drive/SD/AP/BT/iLife '08
(Apple refurbished, white model) - $1399.99:
http://www.smalldog.com/product/70904/at_tt

iMac 24in Intel 2.16GHz 3GB RAM/250GB hard drive/iLife '08 (refurb,
white), 3-year AppleCare plan - $1599.00:
http://www.smalldog.com/wag17938/at_tt

iMac 20in Intel 2.0GHz 1.5GB RAM/250GB/SD/AP/BT (includes FREE 512MB
RAM chip!) - $1,199.99: http://www.smalldog.com/wag17904/at_tt

24in 2.8GHz iMacs in stock and ready to ship. The fastest iMac ever is
also a powerful professional workstation. iMacs with the 2.8 GHz Core 2
Duo processor are usually special order machines. Our bundles will save
you up to $769 from Apple's regular pricing. Prices range from
$2,149.99 to $2,399.99. Check them out here:
http://www.smalldog.com/specials/70693/at_tt

See all MacBook Pros here. The cheapest way to buy RAM and AppleCare is
at the same time as buying your new Mac:
http://www.smalldog.com/category/x/x/Imac/imac/wag104/wag10004/

+---------------------+

XSERVES ON SALE - Save up to $450 on Xserves. now shipping with Mac OS
10.5 Leopard Server!

XServe Intel 2.0GHz 3GB RAM/80GB/Combo/10.5 Server (unlimited),
AppleCare, Free 3-day express shipping! - $2999 vs $3156
http://www.smalldog.com/wag17962/at_tt

XServe Intel 2.0GHz 3GB RAM/80GB/Combo/10.5 Server (unlimited), Free
3-day express shipping!  - $2269.99
http://www.smalldog.com/wag17963/at_tt

XServe Intel 2.0GHz 5GB RAM/80GB/Combo/10.5 Server (unlimited), Free
3-day express shipping! - $2319.99 vs $2367
http://www.smalldog.com/wag17965/at_tt

XServe Intel 2.0GHz 5GB RAM/80GB/Combo/10.5 Server (unlimited),
AppleCare, Free 3-day express shipping! - $3099.99 vs $3246
http://www.smalldog.com/wag17964/at_tt

+---------------------+

MAC PROS - No sales tax on orders that ship out of Vermont. Add a
select Epson printer or printer/copy/scanner to the purchase of a new
computer, and qualify for a $70 mail-in rebate until March 30. Orders
that include a printer will get a free USB cable.

Mac Pro 8-Core 2.8GHz 6GB RAM (6x1GB chips) 320GB HD, 2600XT, 3-year
AppleCare plan - $3258.99: http://www.smalldog.com/wag17888/at_tt

Mac Pro 8-Core 2.8GHz 10GB RAM/2x500GB hard drives/2600XT graphics -
$3549.99: Save over $1000 from Apple's price, plus no sales tax on
orders that ship out of Vermont. http://www.smalldog.com/wag17915/at_tt

Mac Pro 8-Core 3.2GHz, 10GB RAM, 500GB hard drive, 2600XT graphics,
3-year AppleCare plan - $5099.99: Save over $1000 from Apple's price,
plus no sales tax on orders that ship out of Vermont.
http://www.smalldog.com/wag17913/at_tt

+---------------------+

SOFTWARE

Free Shipping on all versions of TurboTax for Mac! Prices start at 
$24.99. Get your taxes finished early this year!
http://www.smalldog.com/wag17839/at_tt

SAVE $150 and get free shipping on Final Cut Studio 2 - $1,148.99:
http://www.smalldog.com/wag17776/at_tt

Need to run Windows on your Mac? Check out our new bundles with
Parallels! Note that you save the most when you buy an OEM copy of
Windows with any new Mac:

Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition (full retail box) + Parallels Desktop
- $268.99 http://www.smalldog.com/wag17955/at_tt

Microsoft Windows XP Pro SP2 Retail (full retail box) + Parallels
Desktop for Mac - $359.99 http://www.smalldog.com/wag17956/at_tt

Microsoft Windows Vista Business (full retail box)+ Parallels Desktop
for Mac - $359.99 http://www.smalldog.com/wag17953/at_tt

Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate (full retail box) + Parallels Desktop
for Mac - $459.99 http://www.smalldog.com/wag17954/at_tt

OEM:

Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition SP2 OEM with Parallels installation
on any Intel Mac (save $30!) Must be purchased together at same time
with a new Mac. Includes installation - $179.99
http://www.smalldog.com/wag17951/at_tt

Microsoft Windows XP Pro OEM with Parallels installation on any Intel
Mac (save $30) Must be purchased together at same time with a new Mac.
Includes installation - $229.99 http://www.smalldog.com/wag17952/at_tt

Microsoft Windows Vista Business OEM with Parallels installation on any
Intel Mac (save $30)! Must be purchased together at same time with a
new Mac. Includes installation - $239.99
http://www.smalldog.com/wag17949/at_tt

Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate OEM with Parallels installation on any
Intel Mac (save $30)! Must be purchased together at same time with a
new Mac. Includes installation - $284.99
http://www.smalldog.com/wag17950/at_tt

+---------------------+ REBATES

Receive $30 via mail-in rebate when you purchase an Apple computer  and
.Mac together between January 22, 2008, and April 21, 2008.
http://www.smalldog.com/wag17921/at_tt

$70 rebate on many Epson printers and printer/copy/scanners with
purchase of any Mac or camera! This makes the CX7400
printer/copier/scanner FREE after rebate! Other models include: C88+,
C120, R280, R380, CX7400, CX7450, CX8400, CX9400Fax, CX9475Fax, RX595
or RX680. Mail-in rebate expires March 31.
http://www.smalldog.com/wag17850/at_tt

$10 rebate on the all-new Epson Stylus C120 printer,  the worlds 
fastest ink jet printer - only $79.99 after rebate!
http://www.smalldog.com/wag17851/at_tt

+---------------------+

iPODS

SAVE $40 on 8GB iPod touch (new, never used, MA623LL/A) - $259.99:
http://www.smalldog.com/wag17827/at_tt

SAVE $40 on the 16GB iPod touch (new, never used, MA627LL/A) - $359.99:
http://www.smalldog.com/wag17828/at_tt

FREE Napa leather iPod Case with any new iPod classic (black or silver,
80GB or 160GB). Prices range from $249.99 for the the 80GB iPods to
$349.99 to the 160GB iPods: http://www.smalldog.com/wag17391/at_tt

iPod FM transmitters for 1G and 2G nanos, 4G and 5G iPods, reduction
and FREE Shipping - only $19.99: http://www.smalldog.com/wag17871/at_tt

+---------------------+

GROOVY

Small Dog Groove Cube portable speakers, plus FREE AC Adapter - use
batteries or plug into the wall - $19.99:
http://www.smalldog.com/wag17940/at_tt

Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard: Peachpit Learning Series - Save 15%
http://www.smalldog.com/wag17966/at_tt

+---------------------+

Clearance! Save up to 50% on Crumpler bags, iPod accessories, more!
http://tinyurl.com/3548qy

+---------------------------------------------------------+

I'm hoping that all the snow melts while I am in Jamaica but it will
probably be the height of mud season when I get back.  There is an
Apple Specialist Marketing Coop meeting in St. Louis the first week in
May and I didn't make any plane reservations since I have this notion
of riding my motorcycle out there.  I might get caught in the rain but
I think if I just head south I should miss any late snow.  My Cubbies
are playing the Cards that weekend so I'm trying to get out there early
to catch the game on Saturday.

Meanwhile, I'm sure Kali and Ed will keep you in formed here in Kibbles
& Bytes on the latest from Small Dog and Apple!

Thanks for reading this issue of Kibbles & Bytes!

Your Kibbles & Bytes team,

Don, Matt and Ed

+---------------------------------------------------------+

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+---------------------------------------------------------+

Check out our other newsletters: http://www.smalldog.com/subscribe.html
TECH TAILS --  Macintosh Technical Tips BEST IN SHOWROOM -- News and
events from our Retail Stores

+---------------------------------------------------------+

Small Dog Electronics | Always By Your Side 1673 Main Street,
Waitsfield, Vermont 05673 USA Phone: 802-496-7171 Toll Free:
800-511-MACS (6227) Fax: 802-496-6257 Email: sales@smalldog.com

+---------------------------------------------------------+

KIBBLES & BYTES, SMALL DOG, SMALL DOG ELECTRONICS, and ALWAYS BY YOUR
SIDE are registered trademarks of Small Dog Electronics, Inc. Entire
contents copyright 2008, Small Dog Electronics, Inc., Waitsfield,
Vermont USA.  All Rights Reserved.
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