As the iPad 2 remains sold out most anywhere, the only question is whether Apple can build enough to satisfy the demand. But there’s another cloud hanging over production, which is the impact of the earthquake in Japan. Since many semiconductor parts are built there, any slowdown or halt in manufacturing is bound to cause […]

Over the years, Apple has been urged time and time again by customers and media analysts to build cheaper gear. When they respond at all, the answer is usually the same. Apple won’t build junk, and they cannot find a way to cheapen Macs, for example, without sacrificing quality and features. At the same time, […]

In talking with David Biedny for an episode of The Tech Night Owl LIVE, I came to realize that he had twice encountered a hardware issue similar to one I’ve faced. That’s the ease with which the audio input or output jack on a Mac note-book can break. Here’s what I mean: My 2006 17-inch […]