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Bosch introduces affordable Power Max home EV charger range, starts at $450
Electric vehicles still have a few obstacles that prevent them from going fully mainstream. These typically center on the price of the vehicle itself (though this is changing), and its range. One other barrier has also been the price of home-based chargers. Now, Bosch is offering a level 2 (quicker than the usually cheaper, and slower level 1) home charging system for just $450. For that price you get 16 amp charging and a 12 foot cord. There are two other options that increase the amperage to 30, with a choice of 18 or 25 foot cables -- costing $593 and $749 respectively. These don't include any additional networking features and so on, but for this price, and reduced reliance on external charging networks, it'd be worth clearing out the garage for.
iPad and iPhone trade-in programs now available from PowerMax
Apple authorized reseller PowerMax has been in business for nearly 20 years, supplying Apple users with all sorts of goodies from new and used Macs to accessories. This week they've announced their iDevice trade-in program that will accept your older iPhone, iPad or iPod touch. To take part, fill out the appropriate form for your iPad, iPhone or iPod touch. You'll supply information like model, storage capacity, condition and any included accessories. Since PowerMax will pay participants in the form of store credit (which can be applied towards anything they sell), they can offer more than businesses dedicated to the resale of iDevices alone. Once you've described your item, you'll be given shipping instructions. Send it off and the PowerMax team will inspect it upon arrival and if everything is kosher, release your credit. PowerMax has been accepting Macs this way for years, and has a loyal following because of it. Before you sell your iPhone, you might want to check out our guide for getting it ready and out the door properly. Good luck to PowerMax with their new service.
PSA: 160GB Apple TV now shipping
As we noticed yesterday, Apple is now offering two versions of the Apple TV: the original 40GB model for $299, and a new 160GB model for $399, which is shipping in 1-2 business days. This should make things interesting for those 3rd party services we found that can sell you pre-upgraded Apple TVs, DIY kits or overnight upgrades if you've already bought an Apple TV, especially since the latter two void Apple's warranty (though note that the pre-upgraded drives are covered under their own warranty from PowerMax, not Apple).So who's excited and who got stung? I picked up a 40GB Apple TV not long after they started shipping so I'm a little ticked about it. Still, I like to try and look at the bright side; at least I didn't get nailed by the Apple Upgrade Syndrome on something slightly more expensive, like my MacBook Pro.
PowerMax sells Apple TV with pre-upgraded 120GB drive, 1 year warranty
Yesterday we found a couple of companies who are offering hard drive upgrade plans for Apple TVs. For those of us who already scored one of Apple's latest gadgets, this post-purchase service is music to our ears (though maybe not to our wallets) - but for potential buyers, PowerMax does one better by selling Apple TVs straight out the gate with a pre-upgraded 120GB hard drive for $449. This is a serious advantage over both MacService and TechRestore, as their post-Apple TV purchase upgrade services raise your total investment to $534 and $497.99 for the same size drive, respectively. As icing on the cake, however, PowerMax goes yet another step further by offering a full 1-year warranty on the Apple TV, though no hard drive-specific warranty is specified (as I mentioned yesterday, MacService and TechRestore both warranty the drives they install - not the Apple TV itself, however - for up to 3-5 years). All these upgrade options are fantastic for both new and existing Apple TV owners who are experiencing bouts of 40GB-induced claustrophobia. While I'm glad these companies are doing a great job of picking up the ball that Apple so horribly dropped, I still hope the company pays attention to the market and treats us right with the Apple TV 2.0. Heck, it isn't too late even for an Apple TV 1.5 that offers decently sized hard drives. Hey Apple, *knock knock* - you listening?
Xserve unboxing
When the Xserves started shipping I asked that someone post some unboxing pics when they received their shiny new Xserve. Some ridiculed me (shocking, I know), but the kind folks at PowerMax met the challenge and posted a bunch of pics of their new Intel Xserve.Now excuse me while I fufill my Xserve desire by looking at these pictures for awhile.
