iPod Dock + Home Stereo

Apple's iPod Hi-Fi offers great sound, but what if you already have a great sound system that powers other audio devices and your DVD and TV? The answer: a number of dock

When Apple introduced the iPod Hi-Fi earlier this year, they billed it as a device that would offer audiophiles a high quality way to listen to the music stored on their iPods. While no one can really argue that the iPod Hi-Fi doesn't offer remarkable sound quality, the price for what is a bookshelf audio device can be rather off-putting to many consumers, particularly those that have already made an investment in home audio or home theatre systems. After all, if you've already paid hundreds of dollars for a home stereo/theatre system and spent hours placing and tuning the speakers in your living room for the perfect surround sound experience, you might hesitate before purchasing a separate $349 device.

Fortunately, there is an easy solution to attaching an iPod to an existing stereo system (several actually). Apple has produced docks for several iPod models, including the current universal dock that offers inserts for connecting any iPod model (save the original iPod, which pre-dated the current dock connector and the iPod shuffle). The current universal dock, which retails for $39, supports control by the Apple universal remote (a separate $29 purchase). Along with the requisite audio cables, this allows you to connect your iPod to virtually any home stereo or home theater receiver and to listen to your iPod without making a significant additional investment.

There are some downsides to Apple's dock solutions. First, the Apple dock only offers an eight-inch mini plug output with stereo sound support. Given good quality cables and a decent receiver, this shouldn't cause particularly reduced sound quality, though it may be less than that available through a digital audio connection. Most receivers include the ability to mimic surround sound from a stereo source - again a good quality system is assumed and required. Another downside is that Apple's docks don't support the larger visual display on the iPod screen that the iPod Hi-Fi does. Also, the Apple remote doesn't allows you to view or change playlists (on either a dock solution or on the iPod Hi-Fi). Lastly, the dock doesn't power the iPod unless you purchase a separate power cord or a dock cable to hook the dock up to a computer.

Other Dock Options

However, that doesn't mean you're completely out of luck. Several companies have produced competing dock products. The most exciting of which is Griffin's upcoming TuneCenter, a dock solution that offers many exciting features for $99.99. The TuneCenter allows you to view iPod song information on your TV screen and features a radio frequency remote (that does not require a line of sight to operate as Apple's remote does) that offers full navigation of the iPod's music and playlists. The TuneCenter also offers support for viewing of photos and videos stored on iPod models that support those features.

Kensington also offers a pair of iPod docks. One is for strictly audio use of the iPod and another for supporting video and photo viewing and retailing for $79.99 and $99.99 respectively. The less expensive model ships with an IR remote while the more expensive model utilizes a radio remote similar to the TuneCenter. Both devices offer a cradle that accommodates all iPod models without needing to use separate inserts for iPod models as the Apple dock uses.

http://mobiletechnology.suite101.com/article.cfm/ipoddock

iPod Ski Hat for Sale

SoundCap Inc. Sells an audio ski cap—but is music while skiing/snowboarding a good idea?

iSoundCap Inc. has announced their latest audio cap for skiing, snowboarding and other cold weather activities.

iPod accessories maker iSoundCap Inc. has announced their latest audio cap for skiing, snowboarding and other cold weather activities.

It’s a ski—or "knit"—hat that’ll hold your iPod Nano.

This new hat, made of 100% acrylic, not only will keep the head warm, the maker says, but will also hold an iPod Nano in a water resistant protective pocket.

The clear plastic covering the iPod wheel allows the user to change volume and song without removing the ski hat.

The hat also has a nifty wire management system that keeps the earphone cables from flying around. Using strategically eyelets, the wires almost disappear and the earbuds come down right next to the ears.

Which raises this question: given the inherent dangers of not being able to hear while sliding down snow at high speeds, is this a good idea?

"We don’t recommend skiing or snowboarding while listening to loud music. We always recommend that skiers and boarder be aware and keep safety first," iSoundCap president Karl Foust says.

"We call it a ski hat as a generic term," he added. "It’s a knit winter hat, and the most common name for that is a ski hat."

Even if some may not think this is the best idea for ski/snowboard headwear, it’s clearly a super for general outdoor use in winter, or for any outdoor winter activity, like snow shoveling, for example, where listening to music doesn’t endanger anyone.

http://wintersport.suite101.com/article.cfm/ipod_ski_hat_for_sale

H2O Audio Waterproof iPod Housing

A product review of the waterproof housing for iPods and MP3 players from H2O Audio.

It seems as if everyone in the world lives with their own soundtracks. MP3 players and iPods are attached to nearly everyone you pass on the streets. Unfortunately, most personal music players aren’t up to the demands of many sports. Water, snow, dirt and sand can seep into the crevices of your player and ruin the device forever. What a shame when you have to put away your tunes to do your favorite sports! Luckily, H2O Audio has developed a waterproof housing so that you can enjoy your favorite music while swimming, surfing and snowboarding.

The waterproof housing- The H2O Audio Waterproof shells are available to fit a variety of iPod models and MP3 players. The durable, waterproof casing, T-seal and the secure locking mechanism prevent water from entering the housing (the T-seal is good for about one year; replacements are available). Detailed instructions are included with the housing, as well as several yellow “warning” messages about safety and assembly (which made me anxious--mostly about ruining my iPod). The housing went together very easily, even though I had to change the brackets to adapt to my iPod model. The housing locks securely around the device, the locking mechanism is easy to work. It remained completely waterproof during the test period. There was never even a sign of condensation within the case.

A small scroll wheel fits over the touch dial. It works very well once you get used to it; you can’t just brush your finger across the dial as with your iPod. The screen is easy to visualize, even when in the water.

Accessories- An arm band and swim belt are available and are actually quite comfortable. There were no hard edges or seams rubbing my skin. I didn’t like the clear plastic that fits across the face of the unit & iPod. It may be a personal prejudice but I find those kinds of covering make it more difficult to visualize the screen (although I understand their function).

Headphones- H2O Audio also provides headphones to be used with the housing. They are designed to fit securely to the head and outer ears as well as within the ear. I found it a bit tricky to properly position the ear plugs for the best sound and fit. It is necessary to adjust both the length of the plug and the angle of insertion to get the best fit. Initially the sound isn’t as full and rich as with standard earplugs. I found the best quality sound to be when I was fully submerged in the water. The headphones do fit very securely to the outer ears and the back of the head, there was no movement regardless of what I was doing.

Safety- There are some safety issues associated with the H2O Audio system. With a good fit, environmental sounds can be blocked. Also, it cannot be used at greater than 10 feet under the surface of the water or can result in ear damage and hearing loss.

H2O Audio products are available at a variety of retailers including Apple Stores, Target.com, and specialty sport dealers. For more information visit the H2O Audio website.

http://extremesports.suite101.com/article.cfm/h2o_waterproof_housing_for_ipods

MP3 - Apple's iPod MP3 Player

Continuing with our MP3 portable reviews today it brings us to Apple Computer’s handheld music player, dubbed the iPod.

The iPod is 6.5-ounce and $400USD – [lays 100 hours or more and it can double as a hard drive while operating for 10 hours on a single charge. It is also a stylish piece accessory for the fashion conscious.

While other stand-alone MP3 players rushed to the market place, the iPod seems a late arrival.

The iPod contains unique features all packed in a pack-of-cards size player. Apple is asking you, in essence, why you would settle for anything less. The iPod is beautiful, back steel and iBook-like translucent white plastic on the front and it rests neatly in your hand.

The iPod has a simple interface, which uses hierarchical menus that rely on just a few buttons and a dial that rotates for selection or volume control. A large LCD screen displays choices and bright enough to read in the dark. Apple claims the iPod is so easy operate a child can do it.

The 5-gigabyte hard drive is capable of holding the equivalent of 100 CDs or more than 1,000 songs, depending on the sound fidelity of your MP3s. It uses the FireWire standard for both blazing-fast file transfers — downloading an audio CD's worth of MP3s takes about 10 seconds — and recharging the unit's 10-hour lithium polymer battery. The iPod comes with a tiny AC adapter block that the included FireWire cable plugs in to for non-computer charging. Recharging the battery entirely takes three hours, or just an hour to bring it up to 80 percent.

Use a FireWire equipped MAC to load the music in to the iPod. The iPod mounts as a hard drive and contains the iTunes 2 software needed to work with it, which lets you configure automatic or manual synchronization. With the auto sync, you can dump all new MP3s you rip onto the iPod each time it's plugged in, or use playlists you create to sync specific collections in an order you've defined.

The iPod's not perfect it has its drawbacks. Such as no equalization controls (now found in iTunes 2, however), nor does it provide a balance adjustment or mono adjustment. Apple has promised to keep the iPod up to date with newer music formats and the missing adjustments could be solved with later firmware upgrades.

The iPod is yet not stable and it can be crashed easily, but Apple will be offering a 90-day warranty to compensate for this.

The stylish, sleek MP3 player I am sure will satisfy any MAC user and even maybe convert the die-hard PC user to play with the Apple’s iPod.

http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/mp3_music_net/84484

Movies and Videos on iPods for pennies

It is really great that now you could watch a movie on your iPod for as low as 3 cents.
A few ipod movies websites that have been launched are now offering almost 600 movies for less than $20. Now that’s a deal you would not like to miss.

IPods have made our lives definitely easier by allowing music downloads movies downloads, games, and music videos from various online stores at prices really down to earth. First, iPod put music in your pocket. Now it has put videos and images. With support for up to 15,000 songs and up to 150 hours of video on a 2.5-inch QVGA color display, iPod gives you the ultimate music experience. iPods are available in two colors- white and black.

The real point is that even if one doesn’t really like all of the 600 movies and videos it’s still a steal at even 60 ipod movies and videos for less than 420. It’s still far lesser than what you might end up paying for purchasing or renting these.

Well, just in case you still don’t have clue to what an iPod is, it can be said as the walkman of 21st century. You no longer need to carry those bulky Cassettes, or CDs and batteries to listen music on the move. It has an inbuilt memory ranging from about 128mb (Approx 30 songs) to 60 GB (approx 15000 songs).And all this in an unbelievably compact size. You can even watch movies and videos in the newer versions of iPod. And above all, you don’t need to carry or buy batteries every now and then because iPods come with a rechargeable battery and charger.

All the online stuff can be viewed directly on your Ipod by transferring it using a data cable or otherwise you can connect it to your computer and watch it on the bigger screen. With iPod movies you can watch your favorite movies, watch movie previews and your favorite TV shows that you might have missed while you were, busy with your work.

How do I download ipod movies?

Well first of all, you’ll have to download your service provider’s software and then fill up a registration form. As soon as you finish this, you can start watching movies on your iPod.

With the right device on you can listen to podcasts, radio stations, and itunes and a lot more stuff. Also, don’t forget to go through the previews listed on your service provider’s website to make a faster decision for the movies and other stuff you might want to download. So why wait. Go ahead and start downloading…

Ipods are fun and easy to use for the most part. The iPods differ, yet most enable you to do multi-tasking projects. If you are searching for movies, you might want to take advantage of the low priced videos. One of the things I learnt about buying music or movies is that many have only portions of the content that is favorites while the remaining videos are something we may not like. Particular music in this situation may publish one hit on a single album and when you pay around $15 or more for one hit; it is outrageous.

This is where an iPod will come in handy, since you can select a single hit and download it, burn it to a DVD/CD and follow pursuit until you have all your favorites sounds on a single disc. Likewise, you like clips of movies you can also download your favorite episodes or else download your favorite TV shows.

http://www.4ipodmovies.com/ipod_movies_articles.html

OS X upgrade, iPhone may boost Mac sales

SAN JOSE, Calif. - Apple Inc.‘s computer business may seem like it‘s taken a back seat lately to its flashy younger siblings, the iPod and iPhone, but Macs are still a key part of the family.

Apple CEO Steve Jobs is expected to use his speech at the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference on Monday to highlight the upcoming release of Mac OS X , showing that Apple remains a computer company even after dropping "Computer" from its name in January.

Millions of Microsoft Windows users who don‘t own a Mac have now experienced Apple‘s touch by using iPods and managing their music through the iTunes jukebox program.

If it weren‘t for his iPod, Andy Ahmed would have never bought a MacBook Pro laptop last winter — his first Macintosh .

The wildly popular portable player cracked open the door for many like Ahmed to a computing platform they would have never considered in the past. Along with Apple‘s growing number of gleaming retail stores and its catchy "I‘m a Mac, I‘m a PC" ads splashed across TV and the Internet, the attraction to Macs has never been stronger.

After years of relatively flat sales, the number of Macs sold started to grow significantly in 2005. Mac shipments jumped 38 percent from 3.3 million units in Apple‘s fiscal 2004 to 4.5 million in 2005. Then they climbed 17 percent to 5.3 million in 2006.

The availability of the upgrade to Mac OS X, dubbed Leopard, was pushed back from this spring because Apple diverted some resources instead to the iPhone.

Apple won‘t discuss the "top-secret" features or other products it might announce at the Worldwide Developers Conference, but it‘s already known that Leopard‘s features will include Boot Camp, which lets users of Macs with Intel Corp. chips install Windows on their machines.

A test version of Boot Camp was introduced as a free download a year ago and appears to have contributed to Mac sales already. Its planned inclusion in Leopard could lead Apple to more prominently market the feature and win yet more converts, said Charlie Wolf, who tracked Apple as a Wall Street analyst for two decades and now is president of Wolf Insights Inc., an investment consultancy.

"Boot Camp removes a barrier to switching," Wolf said. "It‘s like an insurance policy for Windows users."

"I really had no idea Apple products were so cool until I started using the iPod," Ahmed said. But it was Apple‘s switch to using Intel chips, which made the Boot Camp feature possible, that clinched the Mac sale for Ahmed.

But Ahmed never even got around to using Boot Camp. He bought a Mac version of Microsoft Corp.‘s Office and Apple‘s presentation software program, Keynote, and found he was able to do all his work that he used to do on his old Windows-based computers.

"The interoperability is great," he said. "I don‘t need Windows anymore."

At the San Mateo County Community College District‘s three campuses, faculty aren‘t completely shunning their Windows habits, but more of them are signing up for Mac laptops running Boot Camp because it allows them to work in either a Mac or Windows environment, said Brad Whitham, a supervisor of information technology at the district. In the past eight months or so, the number of Macs purchased for faculty increased to about 50, up from the typical 20 to 30 in previous periods, he said.

Apple‘s computer sales have risen despite often being overshadowed by the spotlight on the company‘s soaring iPod sales, and more lately, the highly anticipated iPhone — a hybrid cell phone, widescreen iPod and wireless Web-browsing device that will run Mac OS X.

Though iPod sales sizzled, Macs still grew 18 percent in revenue and accounted for 38 percent of Apple‘s overall revenue in its fiscal year 2006, ending in September.

"Macs are still central to what they do, and I imagine it‘ll continue to be that way," said Richard Shim, a senior research analyst at IDC, a market research firm.

The release of Apple‘s last operating system upgrade in 2005 followed by new designs and innards for its computers helped push Apple‘s Mac sales from a single-digit growth rate to double-digits starting in 2005, he said.

"They‘ve meticulously designed their products, their retail stores are exciting to go into, and their services are designed to really help you," Shim said. "They‘ve nailed down the overall experience."

Windows still dominates the personal computer market, led by PC makers Hewlett-Packard Co. and Dell Inc., but Apple‘s slice of desktop and notebook shipments has grown, particularly in the United States, its strongest market. Apple‘s share in the U.S. rose from 3.5 percent in 2004 to 4.9 percent in 2006, according to IDC.

Wolf said the continued success of Macs will hinge largely on Apple stores, where computers prominently line one side and iPods line the other, allowing customers to easily give the products a test drive.

"The stores are playing a really subtle but important role in Mac growth in providing assurance to Apple switchers," he said.

Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster expects the iPhone to accelerate Mac sales by introducing more people to Apple‘s software and featuring easy connectivity to a computer, possibly including its Apple TV video-streaming set-top box. He raised his target stock price for Apple on Thursday and predicted it could sell 45 million iPhones in 2009. His report sent shares of the Cupertino-based company to an all-time high of $127.61 before closing that day at $124.07, up 43 cents.

"When people get exposed to Apple products, their interest in other products goes up," Munster said. "And the iPhone is going to get into the hands of lots of first-time Apple customers."

http://www.onelocalnews.com/whiterockreviewer/stories/index.php?action=fullnews&id=121025

OS X, iPhone could boost Mac sales

SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) - Apple Inc.''s computer business may seem like it''s taken a back seat lately to its flashy younger siblings, the iPod and iPhone, but Macs are still a key part of the family.
Apple CEO Steve Jobs is expected to use his speech at the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference on Monday to highlight the upcoming release of Mac OS X, showing that Apple remains a computer company even after dropping "Computer" from its name in January.
The slickness of its designs notwithstanding, the key to Apple''s success and reputation for ease of use is its software and how well it integrates with its hardware.
Millions of Microsoft Windows users who don''t own a Mac have now experienced Apple''s touch by using iPods and managing their music through the iTunes jukebox program.
If it weren''t for his iPod, Andy Ahmed would have never bought a MacBook Pro laptop last winter -- his first Macintosh.
"The iPod opened my eyes," said Ahmed, of Foster City.
The wildly popular portable player cracked open the door for many like Ahmed to a computing platform they would have never considered in the past. Along with Apple''s growing number of gleaming retail stores and its catchy "I''m a Mac, I''m a PC" ads splashed across TV and the Internet, the attraction to Macs has never been stronger.
It''s not all hype either.
After years of relatively flat sales, the number of Macs sold started to grow significantly in 2005. Mac shipments jumped 38 percent from 3.3 million units in Apple''s fiscal 2004 to 4.5 million in 2005. Then they climbed 17 percent to 5.3 million in 2006.
Analysts predict Macs will continue a double-digit growth rate, outpacing the industry, as Apple gets a boost from at least two more product debuts this year: the iPhone on June 29 and the operating system upgrade due to be released in October.
The availability of the upgrade to Mac OS X, dubbed Leopard, was pushed back from this spring because Apple diverted some resources instead to the iPhone.
But Jobs made it clear he wasn''t ignoring it either: "We think it will be well worth the wait," Apple said in announcing the delay.
Apple won''t discuss the "top-secret" features or other products it might announce at the Worldwide Developers Conference, but it''s already known that Leopard''s features will include Boot Camp, which lets users of Macs with Intel Corp. chips install Windows on their machines.
What remains unclear is how Apple will integrate Boot Camp and how much flexibility it will give users to toggle between the competing operating systems.
A test version of Boot Camp was introduced as a free download a year ago and appears to have contributed to Mac sales already. Its planned inclusion in Leopard could lead Apple to more prominently market the feature and win yet more converts, said Charlie Wolf, who tracked Apple as a Wall Street analyst for two decades and now is president of Wolf Insights Inc., an investment consultancy.
Already, Apple says about half of the computers sold at its retail stores are to people new to the Mac platform.
"Boot Camp removes a barrier to switching," Wolf said. "It''s like an insurance policy for Windows users."
It certainly was for Ahmed, a clinical research manager.
"I really had no idea Apple products were so cool until I started using the iPod," Ahmed said. But it was Apple''s switch to using Intel chips, which made the Boot Camp feature possible, that clinched the Mac sale for Ahmed.
But Ahmed never even got around to using Boot Camp. He bought a Mac version of Microsoft Corp.''s Office and Apple''s presentation software program, Keynote, and found he was able to do all his work that he used to do on his old Windows-based computers.
"The interoperability is great," he said. "I don''t need Windows anymore."
At the San Mateo County Community College District''s three campuses, faculty aren''t completely shunning their Windows habits, but more of them are signing up for Mac laptops running Boot Camp because it allows them to work in either a Mac or Windows environment, said Brad Whitham, a supervisor of information technology at the district. In the past eight months or so, the number of Macs purchased for faculty increased to about 50, up from the typical 20 to 30 in previous periods, he said.
Apple''s computer sales have risen despite often being overshadowed by the spotlight on the company''s soaring iPod sales, and more lately, the highly anticipated iPhone -- a hybrid cell phone, widescreen iPod and wireless Web-browsing device that will run Mac OS X.
Though iPod sales sizzled, Macs still grew 18 percent in revenue and accounted for 38 percent of Apple''s overall revenue in its fiscal year 2006, ending in September.
"Macs are still central to what they do, and I imagine it''ll continue to be that way," said Richard Shim, a senior research analyst at IDC, a market research firm.
The release of Apple''s last operating system upgrade in 2005 followed by new designs and innards for its computers helped push Apple''s Mac sales from a single-digit growth rate to double-digits starting in 2005, he said.
"They''ve meticulously designed their products, their retail stores are exciting to go into, and their services are designed to really help you," Shim said. "They''ve nailed down the overall experience."
Windows still dominates the personal computer market, led by PC makers Hewlett-Packard Co. and Dell Inc., but Apple''s slice of desktop and notebook shipments has grown, particularly in the United States, its strongest market. Apple''s share in the U.S. rose from 3.5 percent in 2004 to 4.9 percent in 2006, according to IDC.
Wolf said the continued success of Macs will hinge largely on Apple stores, where computers prominently line one side and iPods line the other, allowing customers to easily give the products a test drive.
"The stores are playing a really subtle but important role in Mac growth in providing assurance to Apple switchers," he said.
Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster expects the iPhone to accelerate Mac sales by introducing more people to Apple''s software and featuring easy connectivity to a computer, possibly including its Apple TV video-streaming set-top box. He raised his target stock price for Apple on Thursday and predicted it could sell 45 million iPhones in 2009. His report sent shares of the Cupertino-based company to an all-time high of $127.61 before closing that day at $124.07, up 43 cents.
"When people get exposed to Apple products, their interest in other products goes up," Munster said. "And the iPhone is going to get into the hands of lots of first-time Apple customers."

http://www.euro2day.gr/articlesfna/36574866/

OS X upgrade, iPhone may boost Mac sales

SAN JOSE, Calif.—Apple Inc.'s computer business may seem like it's taken a back seat lately to its flashy younger siblings, the iPod and iPhone, but Macs are still a key part of the family.

Apple CEO Steve Jobs is expected to use his speech at the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference on Monday to highlight the upcoming release of Mac OS X, showing that Apple remains a computer company even after dropping "Computer" from its name in January.

The slickness of its designs notwithstanding, the key to Apple's success and reputation for ease of use is its software and how well it integrates with its hardware.

Millions of Microsoft Windows users who don't own a Mac have now experienced Apple's touch by using iPods and managing their music through the iTunes jukebox program.

If it weren't for his iPod, Andy Ahmed would have never bought a MacBook Pro laptop last winter—his first Macintosh.

"The iPod opened my eyes," said Ahmed, of Foster City.

The wildly popular portable player cracked open the door for many like Ahmed to a computing platform they would have never considered in the past. Along with Apple's growing number of gleaming retail stores and its catchy "I'm a Mac, I'm a PC" ads splashed across TV and the Internet, the attraction to Macs has never been stronger.

It's not all hype either.

After years of relatively flat sales, the number of Macs sold started to grow significantly in 2005. Mac shipments jumped

38 percent from 3.3 million units in Apple's fiscal 2004 to 4.5 million in 2005. Then they climbed 17 percent to 5.3 million in 2006.

Analysts predict Macs will continue a double-digit growth rate, outpacing the industry, as Apple gets a boost from at least two more product debuts this year: the iPhone on June 29 and the operating system upgrade due to be released in October.

The availability of the upgrade to Mac OS X, dubbed Leopard, was pushed back from this spring because Apple diverted some resources instead to the iPhone.

But Jobs made it clear he wasn't ignoring it either: "We think it will be well worth the wait," Apple said in announcing the delay.

Apple won't discuss the "top-secret" features or other products it might announce at the Worldwide Developers Conference, but it's already known that Leopard's features will include Boot Camp, which lets users of Macs with Intel Corp. chips install Windows on their machines.

What remains unclear is how Apple will integrate Boot Camp and how much flexibility it will give users to toggle between the competing operating systems.

A test version of Boot Camp was introduced as a free download a year ago and appears to have contributed to Mac sales already. Its planned inclusion in Leopard could lead Apple to more prominently market the feature and win yet more converts, said Charlie Wolf, who tracked Apple as a Wall Street analyst for two decades and now is president of Wolf Insights Inc., an investment consultancy.

Already, Apple says about half of the computers sold at its retail stores are to people new to the Mac platform.

"Boot Camp removes a barrier to switching," Wolf said. "It's like an insurance policy for Windows users."

It certainly was for Ahmed, a clinical research manager.

"I really had no idea Apple products were so cool until I started using the iPod," Ahmed said. But it was Apple's switch to using Intel chips, which made the Boot Camp feature possible, that clinched the Mac sale for Ahmed.

But Ahmed never even got around to using Boot Camp. He bought a Mac version of Microsoft Corp.'s Office and Apple's presentation software program, Keynote, and found he was able to do all his work that he used to do on his old Windows-based computers.

"The interoperability is great," he said. "I don't need Windows anymore."

At the San Mateo County Community College District's three campuses, faculty aren't completely shunning their Windows habits, but more of them are signing up for Mac laptops running Boot Camp because it allows them to work in either a Mac or Windows environment, said Brad Whitham, a supervisor of information technology at the district. In the past eight months or so, the number of Macs purchased for faculty increased to about 50, up from the typical 20 to 30 in previous periods, he said.

Apple's computer sales have risen despite often being overshadowed by the spotlight on the company's soaring iPod sales, and more lately, the highly anticipated iPhone—a hybrid cell phone, widescreen iPod and wireless Web-browsing device that will run Mac OS X.

Though iPod sales sizzled, Macs still grew 18 percent in revenue and accounted for 38 percent of Apple's overall revenue in its fiscal year 2006, ending in September.

"Macs are still central to what they do, and I imagine it'll continue to be that way," said Richard Shim, a senior research analyst at IDC, a market research firm.

The release of Apple's last operating system upgrade in 2005 followed by new designs and innards for its computers helped push Apple's Mac sales from a single-digit growth rate to double-digits starting in 2005, he said.

"They've meticulously designed their products, their retail stores are exciting to go into, and their services are designed to really help you," Shim said. "They've nailed down the overall experience."

Windows still dominates the personal computer market, led by PC makers Hewlett-Packard Co. and Dell Inc., but Apple's slice of desktop and notebook shipments has grown, particularly in the United States, its strongest market. Apple's share in the U.S. rose from 3.5 percent in 2004 to 4.9 percent in 2006, according to IDC.

Wolf said the continued success of Macs will hinge largely on Apple stores, where computers prominently line one side and iPods line the other, allowing customers to easily give the products a test drive.

"The stores are playing a really subtle but important role in Mac growth in providing assurance to Apple switchers," he said.

Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster expects the iPhone to accelerate Mac sales by introducing more people to Apple's software and featuring easy connectivity to a computer, possibly including its Apple TV video-streaming set-top box. He raised his target stock price for Apple on Thursday and predicted it could sell 45 million iPhones in 2009. His report sent shares of the Cupertino-based company to an all-time high of $127.61 before closing that day at $124.07, up 43 cents.

"When people get exposed to Apple products, their interest in other products goes up," Munster said. "And the iPhone is going to get into the hands of lots of first-time Apple customers."

http://www.mercurynews.com/news/ci_6109144?nclick_check=1