Good news for Power Mac G4 users, you can now upgrade your CPU with your choice of single or dual processor with configurations up to 2.0GHz, thanks to Newer Technology (NewerTech).

NewerTech has released their new MAXPower for Power Mac G4 CPU upgrades. These new upgrades are available in single-processor 2.0GHz configuration (which sells for $399), dual processor 1.6GHz ($449), dual 1.7GHz for $529 and a dual 1.8GHz for $599.

The new MAXPower uses FreeScale PowerPC 7447 processors and are compatible with Â?SawtoothÂ?-era Power Mac G4s up to the Â?QuicksilverÂ? models. The upgrades are also compatible for use with all the current hardware and software that run on Mac OS 9.2.2 or Mac OS X v10.3.5 or higher.

As we reported last July 31st, if your MacBook Pro batteries (a) have A1175 as their model number, and (b) their serial numbers end with U7SA,U7SB, or U7SC, you still might want to replace your battery, just in case.

For all other MacBook Pro battery owners, you can breathe a sigh of relief.

The US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) reviewed the substandard batteries used in early MacBook Pros sold between February and May, but found that they didn't pose any safety threat.

The battery exchange program came about after MacBook Pro owners complained of a "high-pitched buzzing sound" in their notebooks, and problems concerning recharging. However, Apple maintains that the recall of the MacBook Pro batteries stemmed not from any potential fire hazard such as that which plagued batteries in Dell laptops (or for that matter the batteries in Apple's iBook and Powerbook G4 models which were recently recalled), but because those batteries failed to meet the company's high standards for performance.

So except for those batteries - where the damage is really obvious - and those covered by the replacement program, as far as the CPSC is concerned, MacBook Pro owners can relax. Still, it doesn't hurt to be a little vigilant with your MacBook's battery. In light of the Dell exploding laptop and concerns with laptop batteries, it's better to be safe than looking at a damaged notebook from any manufacturer.

As a result of the Sony Laptop battery scandal, Apple have recalled up to 1.1 million Laptop batteries that might be in Apple iBook G4 and PowerBook G4 Laptops sold October 2003 through to August 2006. Apple is voluntarily recalling the affected batteries and has initiated a worldwide exchange program to provide eligible customers with a new replacement battery, free of charge. The program is being conducted in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).

The CPSC are known for calling this the"the biggest recall of electrical products in history", effecting Sony, Dell, Apple and many other brands of Laptop. Want to know if your Laptop is affected? Here's the lowdown straight from Apple:

Please use the chart below to identify the battery model and serial numbers that apply to your iBook or PowerBook. If the first 5 digits of your batteryÂ?s 12-digit serial number fall within the noted ranges, please order a replacement battery immediately.

To view the model and serial numbers labeled on the bottom of the battery, you must remove the battery from the computer. The battery serial number is printed in black or dark grey lettering beneath a barcode.

For more information, please visit Apple's Battery Exchange Program website, and don't hesitate to contact them if you have any questions about your laptop. And don't just think that your laptop will be okay if it has been effected. After all, you wouldn't want your laptop to end up like this Dell now would you?

The score: Dell - 3, Apple - 1.

So far, those are the only exploding laptop cases that have been catching attention. Most likely, there are more laptops going boom somewhere, but are left undocumented. Anyway, it looks like Dell is not alone in its misery, as an Apple laptop exploded -- this time in Kristiansand, Norway. The employees of a company, called Ide`til Produkt AS, got the fright of their lives as a battery of one of their  12" Powerbook G4 laptop suddenly caught fire recently.

An employee divulges that smoke appeared from the corner of the laptop, where the battery was located. He moved away from it and then flames shot out of the laptop. The said employee, Ive Skrede, was quick-minded enough to push the battery to a trash can and to take it out of the office. The trash can fire intensified. This type of laptop uses lithium-ion batteries, and they create their own oxygen when they burn. If you could recall, Apple launched a worldwide Battery Exchange Program for the iBook G4 and the PowerBook G4.

After the fiery incident, Mr. Skrede contacted Apple about what had happened. The company took it seriously as the laptop will be sent to Apple labs in Ireland, and replaced. Whether the fire is caused by the company or by the owner's negligence, definitely the Apple brand would be hard to remove from this fiasco.

It seems that Mac developers and power users no longer have the capability to rebuild, replace, and alter the OS X kernel from source code. This means that Linux clearly has the upper hand in terms of openness -- the very same reason why it has become the second most popular OS.

What does proprietary mean? End users generally do not have the ability to run the software for any purpose, study and modify the software, copy the software and provide it to third parties, and make and release improvements to the software.

The Darwin open source Mach/Unix core shared by OS X Tiger client and OS X Tiger Server remains completely open for PowerPC Macs. If you happen to be a proud owner of a G3, G4 or CS Mac, you can hack your own Darwin kernel and use it to boot OS X. However, if you have an Intel-based Mac desktop or notebook, your kernel and device drivers are impenetrable...for now.

Although Apple is largely generous to the open source community by open sourcing internally developed technologies such as QuickTime Streaming Server and Bonjour zero-config networking, the source code required to make a personalized OS X kernel, however, is gone.

What does this mean to Apple users? This step back to a proprietary kernel means that all users must accept a fixed level of performance since they can't configure it by themselves. The default OS X kernels are built for broad compatibility rather than speed and throughput. That doesn't matter at present, because all Intel Macs are built on the same Core Duo/Core Solo 32-bit architecture.

Apple is afraid of losing hardware sales to software pirates. They do not want to face the possibility of dealing with the selling and distribution of cloned Macs in foreign markets with weak protection for intellectual property. They have all the reasons to be paranoid, but not paranoid enough to slam its doors to the open source community.

If you're feeling nostalgic for the "good 'old days" of your youth misspend in front of a Mac Plus or Mac II running System 6, why not start by giving new life to your first mouse?

The old rectangular ADB mouse (frequently available at thrift and second-hand stores, these days) are easily modified to work like Apple's latest, the Mighty Mouse. In fact, its as simple as doing a complete transplant of the latter's inner workings to the former.

Best of all, you'll have a very cool-looking mouse with 'vintage' style and cutting-edge functionality...rather like a putting a fuel injected  V-6 into your '32 Chevy Rumble seat Roadster...

Check out the full article for more details!