Apple Mac Tips, Tricks, and Information

Mac Buying Guide

So you want a Mac, huh? I don’t blame you, they are one of the most well built computers on the planet accompanied by Mac OS X, a far superior operating system when compared to Microsoft Windows.

Although Apple offer a rather smaller selection of Mac’s to choose from when compared to the PC market, there is still a fair amount for the average user to try and decide which Mac is for them.

This short article focuses on explaining the advantages and disadvantages of each Mac and advice on when a good time to purchase your Mac is.

Desktops

Mac Mini

Advantages:

  • Excellent price – by far the cheapest mac available
  • Average specs (and provides ability to upgrade when ordering) portability
  • Allows the use of existing monitor, keyboard and mouse
  • Front Row and Remote included

Disadvantages:

  • Price does not include a monitor, keyboard or mouse
  • Difficult to upgrade
  • Onboard graphics

iMac

Advantages:

  • Fair price
  • Screen, keyboard and mouse included
  • iSight (web camera) built-in
  • Compact (but not portable)
  • Excellent specification
  • Provides easy access to upgrade RAM
  • Good choice in screen size
  • PhotoBooth, Front Row and Remote included.

Disadvantages:

  • If a fault occurs, for example if the monitor was to stop working, the entire unit has to be sent off.

Mac Pro

Advantages:

  • Excellent specifcation, ideal for professionals.
  • Several models to choose from.
  • Apples best performing Mac.
  • Easily upgradeable.
  • Allows use of existing monitor, keyboard and mouse.

Disadvantages:

  • Very expensive
  • Price does not include monitor, keyboard or mouse
  • No Front Row (that is accessible) or Remote included

Laptops

MacBook

Advantages:

  • Best priced Apple laptop
  • Average specs
  • Perfect for portable usage
  • Choice of either black or white
  • iSight (web camera) built-in
  • Screen, keyboard and trackpad included
  • Good screen resolution
  • Option to easily upgrade both RAM and Hard Drive
  • PhotoBooth, Front Row and Remote included.

Disadvantages:

  • Only one choice of screen size available (13”)
  • The black model is more expensive than the white model
  • Onboard graphics

MacBook Pro

Advantages:

  • Great specification
  • Fair price
  • Option to upgrade RAM
  • Choice of either 15” or 17” screen
  • iSight (web camera) included
  • PhotoBooth, Front Row and Remote included.

Disadvantages:

  • Extremely difficult to upgrade hard drive.

Buying Time

So, you’ve figured out what Mac you want – now you need to think if the present time is recommended for buying it. As Apple operates in almost complete secrecy there is unfortunately no way of knowing when a product is due to be released, meaning buyers are always scared that a newer model will be released right after they’ve placed their order.

Fortunately Apple cannot keep everything hidden, and over on the Apple rumour mills there is always new products being predicted for the near future. Before placing your order it is worth checking the following websites for news on the development of new products and if any Apple Expo’s are on the horizon.

 
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Installing applications on Mac OS X

One thing that new switchers from Windows often find confusing when first using the operating system is installing an application. This guide shall explain the simple stages involved in installing the popular instant messaging application, Microsoft Messenger.

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1. Download your DMG file and open it. Rather than using Windows executable files Mac OS X uses DMG files to store a directory of files for using when running and installing your applications.

2. Upon opening the DMG file a mountable drive shall appear on your desktop and in your Finder window, and upon opening the mountable drive the program icon will usually appear. Rather than this icon being the installation wizard, this is actually the program itself.

3. Open up a new Finder window and navigate to your Applications folder. Simply drag across the program icon from the mountable drive into your Applications folder, and from there open the program icon.

4. The program has now been installed. If you wish for the icon to appear in your dock, simply drag the program icon from your Application folder into the dock and a shortcut will now appear within the dock, as well as the actual program icon that will still remain within the Application folder.

5. Close the mountable drive window and drag the mountable drive icon on your desktop towards the trash can. As you drag the icon across the desktop the trash can will change to an eject symbol and allow you to drag the mountable drive onto it. After the mountable drive has been successfully ejected proceed to either deleting the DMG file or transferring it to a safe location for future use.

Tip: Rather than opening up a new Finder window to navigate to your Applications folder, simply click the horizontal icon at the top right of the mountable drive window. This will open up the window you are in fully, allowing you to see a full Finder window thus showing your Applications folder.
 
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