Brand: MacNews

As noted on Monday, Microsoft’s decision to bundle an enhanced messaging application with Windows XP is drawing similar parallels to the tactics employed by the company during the browser wars. c|net has published an in-depth look at the messaging market and what Microsoft’s move could mean.

In some excellent news for Apple, a Pittsburgh Post-Gazette article, as noted by MacCentral, reports that the Quaker Valley School District has opted to select Apple over Dell as its primary hardware supplier. The school district recently received a $2 million grant to spend on technology, and will be outfitting its 1,600 students with iBooks, while 70 teachers will receive PowerBook G4s and the library will get a set of G4 Cubes.

Henry Norr addresses a number of users’ questions in today’s issue of the San Francisco Gate, including organizing downloads, arranging icons on the desktop, thoughts on upgrading to OS X, and launching applications from the keyboard.

PowerFile, creators of CD/DVD jukebox solutions, has announced it will have support for Mac OS X ready by Fall 2001. The company currently offers Mac OS 9 support for the PowerFile Solo, a one-drive, 200-disc capacity solution; the PowerFile C200 Studio, a two-drive, 200-disc capacity solution; the PowerFile Enterprise Edition, with network support; and the PowerFile Solo Writer, which includes a DVD-RAM drive for archiving.

TransIntl has begun shipping IBM’s 2.5″ 48GB hard drive, the largest and fastest on the market. The drive spins at 5400 RPM, measures about 12mm high (not compatible with new or old iBooks), and features improved shock handling. It’s available for US$549.