After the death of my beloved iBook G4 (she spent two years in Africa with me) and after about a month long mourning period, I purchased one of the 13in MacBook Pros in anticipation of starting grad school. I’ve had the new computer for a couple of months now, and I don’t think I could survive without it. However, rather than just preach to the choir about the glory of Apple, I want to talk about the practical ways some specific innovations have been indispensable.

One of the primary reasons I was attracted to this computer in the first place was the physical size. At 4.5 pounds it’s only a shade heavier than the Air, and not that much larger. And in trade you get back way more power and speed, so I can still play games on-the-go if I want to. Speaking of on-the-go, compared to my old iBook, this computer is a joy to carry with me everywhere. The portability allows me to follow my impulse to the next coffee shop and basically work from anywhere.

But shrinking sizes and boosted specs are nothing new. What really makes it easy to keep working is Apple’s new 7-hour battery. This thing lives up to the boast. In practice, I am able to charge my computer over night and leave the charger at home in the morning. I work on this thing all day at Small Dog, then take it for a study session at a couple of different coffee shops, and finally read web comics in bed before it finally tells me to plug it into power. Not having to remember to carry my adapter with me is, in a word, liberating. And all of that usage was done without ever turning off Wi-Fi or dimming the screen anymore than the computer does automatically (yeah, did I mention it auto adjusts to ambient light? ‘Cause it does!).

The third thing I really love, which has changed the way I think about user input devices, is the glass Multi-Touch trackpad. As an example, in my grad program, I have to read a lot of scanned texts. I like to save paper so I never print these out. Sometimes, however, they are scanned in vertically, so the text is the wrong way around. On my iMac, I have to go through menus to rotate each page. Pain in the butt. On my MacBook Pro however, all I have to do us use the rotate gesture on the trackpad. Nothing has ever felt so natural. Add to that the intuitive zoom and scrolling and it’s like I’m manipulating a physical document. This is truly the interface of the future!

The innovations Apple has packed into these unibody MacBooks and MacBook Pros are amazing and make mobile computing an absolute delight. With the polycarbonate body MacBooks finally getting some of the goods, it really makes it a great time to upgrade an older laptop.

“Check out what’s new here.”:http://www.smalldog.com/macs

This week we’re offering $10 off any external hard drive with coupon code *backup*. Simply enter this code in your cart at checkout to get the $10 savings on any external hard drive!

We’re also offering $5 any iPod nano, including iPod nanos that are already on sale or listed in bundles, with coupon code *nano5*. For example, you can get an additional $5 any of the iPod 4G bundles listed below:

“iPod nano 8GB – Orange (4G), Free Contour iSee Inked for iPod nano (r) – $119.99!”:http://www.smalldog.com/wag19555/

“iPod nano 8GB – Pink (4G), Free Contour iSee Inked for iPod nano (r)! – $119.99”:http://www.smalldog.com/wag19558/

“iPod nano 8GB – Yellow (4G), Free Contour iSee Inked for iPod nano (r)!”:http://www.smalldog.com/wag19557/atXX/

“iPod nano 16GB – Yellow (4G), Free Contour iSee Inked for iPod nano (r) – $129.99!”:http://www.smalldog.com/wag19559/

“iPod nano 16GB – Silver (4G) , Free Contour iSee Inked for iPod nano (r)! – $129.99”:http://www.smalldog.com/wag19556/

Finally, we’re offering $5 off any iPhone case with coupon code *iphonehome*.

To use any of the coupons, place the item you’d like to order into your cart and then enter to coupon.

*If you have trouble using a coupon, please email* “sales@smalldog.com”:mailto:sales@smalldog.com.

Yesterday, the World Wide Web is 40. Pretty crazy, huh? I bet most of us would guess that the internet is about 20+ years old, at most, but in fact, the very first message was sent via “Arpanet”:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ARPANET on October 29, 1969.

So, as you’re bouncing around the internet, playing, working, emailing, or just generally ‘surfing,’ be sure to wish it a happy birthday!

Curious to learn more about the origins of the internet? “Click here.”:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_Internet

__Via__ “Telegraph.co.uk”:http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/news/6455139/Happy–40th-birthday-the-internet-20-milestones-in-the-nets-development.html

Earlier this week, Apple introduced a semi-major free update to the software that drives Apple TV. Now called Apple TV 3.0, the update centers around a completely redesigned main menu that aims to make content simpler and faster to navigate, especially when used with the “Apple Remote.”:http://www.smalldog.com/product/74719

Beyond the all-new interface, Apple TV also supports iTunes Extras and iTunes LP in fullscreen as well as Genius Mixes and the ability to listen Internet radio through your home theater system.

iTunes LP delivers a rich, immersive experience for select albums on the iTunes Store by combining beautiful design with expanded visual features like live performance videos, lyrics, artwork, liner notes, interviews, photos, album credits and more.

iTunes Extras are similar to special features on DVDs, with deleted scenes, interviews and interactive galleries. iTunes LP in fullscreen, as well as listen to Genius Mixes and Internet radio through your home theater system.

The new Apple TV software is available immediately free-of-charge to existing Apple TV owners, and Apple TV with 160GB capacity is available for just $229.

Apple TV boasts the largest selection of on-demand HD movie rentals and purchases, HD TV shows, music and podcasts, all downloaded directly from the iTunes Store.

“The new software for Apple TV features a simpler and faster interface that gives you instant access to your favorite content,” said Eddy Cue, Apple’s vice president of Internet Services. “HD movies and HD TV shows from iTunes have been a huge hit with Apple TV customers, and with Apple TV 3.0 they get great new features including iTunes Extras, Genius Mixes and Internet radio.”

“View the Apple TV by clicking here.”:http://www.smalldog.com/product/43699

Save $10 on Apple TV for the next week when used with coupon code “*appletv*”. To use this coupons, place the Apple TV into your cart and then enter the coupon. *If you have trouble using a coupon, please email “sales@smalldog.com.”:mailto:sales@smalldog.com*

Greetings, ghouls…

We’re at it again this year, and we need your help picking the best costume of all the Small Doggers. This year, we’re also giving away a “Chill Pill”:http://www.smalldog.com/product/71679 to one lucky voter, who will be picked at random.

*Here’s how to play:*

# View photos of the costume contest contenders by clicking the links below. (To see all costumes and Halloween photos, “click here.”:http://www.flickr.com/photos/smalldog/sets/72157622571116829/)
# Vote for your favorite costume on the poll below (after the photos).
# Once you’ve voted, email us at “marketing@smalldog.com”:mailto:marketing@smalldog.com to be entered into the Chill Pill drawing!

Voting will end Sunday night!

*Art,* “Wicked Twine Tangle Monster” “Photo”:http://www.flickr.com/photos/smalldog/4058635722/
*Brian,* “Mike Myers” “Photo”:http://www.flickr.com/photos/smalldog/4057893619/”
*David,* “Monty Python Lumberjack” “Photo”:http://www.flickr.com/photos/smalldog/4058786366/
*Don,* “Hippo” “Photo”:”http://www.flickr.com/photos/smalldog/4057890965/
*Ed,* “Eddie Munster” “Photo”:http://www.flickr.com/photos/smalldog/4058664594/
*Kali, Emily, Kerry, Lucie and Rebecca,* “Mad Dog Derby Dames” “Photo”:http://www.flickr.com/photos/smalldog/4058653336/
*Gary,* “Rocker” “Photo”:http://www.flickr.com/photos/smalldog/4058759962/
*Hapy,* “Tinky Winky” “Photo”:http://www.flickr.com/photos/smalldog/4057923667/
*Jaime,* “Party Granny” “Photo”:http://www.flickr.com/photos/smalldog/4057907099/
*Jason,* “Aquaman” “Photo”:http://www.flickr.com/photos/smalldog/4057990789/
*Jim,* Groucho Marx” “Photo”:http://www.flickr.com/photos/smalldog/4057925569/
*JJ,* “Pirate” “Photo”:http://www.flickr.com/photos/smalldog/4058754090/
*Jon,* “Biker” “Photo”:http://www.flickr.com/photos/smalldog/4058666686/
*Katie,* “Don” “Photo”:http://www.flickr.com/photos/smalldog/4058008635/
*Mark,* “The Health Care Meltdown” “Photo”:http://www.flickr.com/photos/smalldog/4058661402/
*Matt,* “Tired” “Photo”:http://www.flickr.com/photos/smalldog/4058786568/
*Michelle,* “PC” “Photo”:http://www.flickr.com/photos/smalldog/4058045373/
*Taylor,* “Austin Powers” “Photo”:http://www.flickr.com/photos/smalldog/4058633046/
*Tim,* “Freakshow” from Harold and Kumar go to White Castle “Photo”:http://www.flickr.com/photos/smalldog/4057990737/

*Happy Halloween and thanks for voting!!*

__Votes are only registered once, and multiple email entries for the contest will be disqualified. By entering, you may receive notification of future contests and specials from Small Dog Electronics.__