MacKarl's MacHelp

In this post I will put answers to questions that are placed in comments, as I am able (or interested) :)



Q: Can the MAC be on the same router that several other PCs use?

Karl's Answer: Yes. One of the nice things about a Mac, is that there is no setting up Internet - plug in - and it works. period. (WARNING: if you want to secure a wireless network, that will require running AirPort Setup Assistant from Applications/Utilities folder and will cost you 45 more seconds.)

Q: What did you do with all your old PC files?

K's A: They are all on my Mac, and all open. Except for PrintShop, but I was devoted to PrintShop3 because it was the last PrintShop that didn't require a CD to run, and I had hundreds of PS3 files from years of ministry. But they didn't open on any later versions of PrintShop for PC either, so that was why I stuck with PS3. Incidently, PrintShop for MAC is AWESOME!!!! When I need my old PS3 files, I open them in Virtual PC for Mac (which is also incredible) and make a PDF, and then I can still use them, though not edit them)

Q: Can the MAC software import Word, Excel, ect.?

K's A: Yes. Few people seem to know that there is NO LONGER any 'translation' between Microsoft products on PC vs. Mac. There is no more 'Mac Opener' programs, the file is the exact same file and will open on a Mac or a PC. Once in awhile, however, if a document has a LOT of tight spacing and graphics, some stuff might move around a little and need tweaking on the other (Mac to PC, or visa versa) but that can happen between PCs too. When I make a complicated file on my Mac and need to send to PC secretary for printing, I just make her a PDF, which is built into operating system.

Q: Can files be shared between MACs and PCs - say for web development.

K's A: Most files can be used between, with the rare exception noted above. Not sure what you mean for 'web development' - Kidology is a web company with nearly half on Mac (thanks in part to me) and half on PC and we all get along fine technically, though we do argue about our preferred platform in fun. (the PC people have a hard time accepting they are wrong)

Q: Does the MAC come with something simular to Word, Excel, Powerpoint, etc.

K's A: No. You have to buy Microsoft Office for Mac

Q: It sounded like you implied that the MAC dosn't need to run anti-virus or popup blocker software, is this the case? Do they make anti-virus or firewall software for the MAC?

K's A: There is much debate on whether a Mac is vulnerable to viruses. This is my personal answer, and I assume no responsibility if I'm wrong - but with that disclaimer, I've been on a Mac for nearly a year and a half without ANY virus protection and without ANY problems. Period. They DO sell Mac Anto-Virus, I asked at Apple store last week actually whether I was being a dope and should buy some 'just to be safe' - he gave me a similar disclaimer (no one wants to be blamed if you get hit) but then told me it was a waste of my money. He then said that the .Mac Membership ($99 annually) provides free virus protection, so I plan to download and install that - but haven't yet - there just isn't any urgency. Most PC people say that there aren't virus for Mac simply because programmers don't bother because of how small the Mac Market is. That is ballooney. There are enough Mac haters out there, they'd write them if they could, and they have tried. The reason they don't, is that Macs simply aren't as vulnerable as PCs. I'm not the guy for the technical reason, but I've had it explained to me, and made a lot of sense, at the core, Macs are enginered differently and their 'seal' is much tighter. Lack of viruses is a HUGE reason to shift. I listen to Kim Kommado Computer radio show sometimes and it seems like over half the show is people calling about virus/spam/skyware - I want to call and say 'GET MACS and GET ON WITH LIFE' - one guy last Saturday was explaining how he does all these 'sweeps' of his system daily. What a waste of life. I'd rather make an iMovie.
POP-UPS? Built in blocker with Firefox and I think Safari, rarely see them.
SPAM? Junk filter built in.


Q: Do MACs need MAC specific printers, scanners, etc. or are these devices all operating system independent now?

No, they are NOT all system independent BUT most good printers/scanners/etc/ are. And better yet, nearly all peripherials that are Mac compatible are just plug and play with the drivers already installed. Printer drivers can be a little trickier, but work fine. You run the install software first, THEN go to add a printer in Control Panel, THEN choose the printer in the drop down either under it's manufacter name, or often it appears under "USB" and it will be added. The only problem I had is that I had three of the same printer (home, office, kids church room) and did that so that it wouldn't matter where I was, but I still have to 'select' the right printer. I was able (under Tiger) to name them with location, but I do wish I could just have one printer that worked in three locations. THE BEST is that with an Apple Airport Express you can have your printer be wireless from anywhere in the house AND with the included "AirTunes" you can plug the AirPort into a speakers system and play your iTunes music from your laptop wirelessly through the house through those speakers!

By the way - all Apple stores are free wifi and I am at the mall working in Apple store - had a lunch meeting at mall, and can work here, online, without interuptions from office or phone. Go Apple Store!

Q: Did you say that Adobe Acrobat is available on Apple computers? If so, how do I launch the application?

K's A: No acrobat, just the ability to make PDF's is built in. From any page/application, simply go to File/Print and look at the bottom of the print menu, you will see "PDF" - choose that and a save-dialogue will open, name the file, and choose where to save it. NOTE: If it defaults to a .doc.pdf remove the applications extention, it is no longer needed, and some spam filters will remove it as a virus, don't have any periods other than .pdf at the end!

Q: Is there a cheat sheet on keyboard commands, and how in the world do I right click with the Apple mouse?

K's A: Until Windows, Apple's Help Menu, actually IS helpful! Just go to Help menu at the top of your screen, and choose Mac Help and type in 'keyboard shortcuts' - you will find a TON of choices for keyboard short cuts. My favorite is: ctrl-alt-apple and then 8! (hahaha)
NOTE: Make sure the "Finder" menu is at the top of your screen (not a current application - or you will open that programs help) quick tip: just click anywhere on desktop and then choose Help!

Q: Is there a list of must have Mac software, that doesn’t come bundled with the computer?

K's A: Great Idea! Will get to that eventually! Will make a whole post on that!

MORE LATER!
10 Comments so far

10 Comments:

Let me elaborate a little on the whole virus thing. There are malicious viruses for Macs, but they requires a Mac to spread. And because they are so few and far between, it doesn't spread much.

There have also been several security holes in the Macintosh operating system, but because the Mac is used by so few, it is not attacked. If you flipped the scales and Mac had a 95% marketshare and Windows had 3%, the story would be exactly backwards. This is not just my opinion, but the opinion of Windows and Mac experts worldwide.

Now, the only other issue I see with Macs...
I have an aunt who bought a Mac at the urging of a friend saying that it would be easier to learn. She needed help to learn it, but there was no one anywhere around that could help her, and her nearest Apple Store with Genius Bar was in Chicago. Being as she was older, she simply couldn't get there. So if you need help, make sure that you can either travel or learn yourself.

I am in Western MI right now, and they just got their first Apple store in WMI yesterday. Before, the nearest one was Detroit (Troy to be technical). There were 3 teens that drove 4 1/2 hours from Cleveland to be here for this opening. Now that's dedication to an operating system.

By Evan, at Sunday, 26 June, 2005  

True - it is wise, if switching to something new, to have someone to help you, that is with anything new, not just computers, however, any computer is usually tough for older people, and I've heard many stories of older people who were able to use Macs quite easily.... if you have never used a computer, Macs ARE a LOT easier, switching is hard to do alone because, as they say, it is hard to teach and old dog (no offense to any grandmas!) or new dogs(!) to learn new tricks.

Mac and Virus? - Sorry, Evan, you've bought the myth. It is NOT true that Macs don't get virus because there are so few of them, they don't virus because they are more secure. Virus writers have admited this. The only way to give a Mac a virus is to sit at the individual Mac and personally install it. Yes, every computer has 'vulnerabilities' but the reason Mac users don't have to worry about viruses is because it is nearly impossible to get a virus INTO a Mac - they are secure. Perfect? Of course, not, no machine made my man can be, but by comparison to a PC, they practically are perfect when it comes to virus vulnerability. To have ZERO virus/spyware after a year and half with NO installed protection, in today's unhealthy Internet, is pretty amazing. The fact is, Macs are a million times more secure than a PC, even when the PC has a bunch of software on it that slows it down and bogs it down. On PC people spend hours fussing with and preventing viruses, on a Mac, you just do your work.

By Karl Bastian, at Sunday, 26 June, 2005  

Great source of information, really enjoy your blogs and thanks for answering the earlier questions. Do MACs need MAC specific printers, scanners, etc. or are these devices all operating system independent now?

By Anonymous, at Friday, 01 July, 2005  

Answered in post.

By Karl Bastian, at Friday, 01 July, 2005  

One caveat to your virus discussion since you've also mentioned running Virtual PC: Your Virtual PC is just as vulnerable to Wintel viruses as any Wintel system. You should run anti-virus and anti-spyware utilities within your Virtual PC.

By Anonymous, at Sunday, 24 July, 2005  

Good point on Virtual PC - however, I don't use any internet with Virtual PC other than ftp for FrontPage, so never opening IE or E-mail should help... (i hope!) but I do have anti-virus software on the Virtual PC. Yeah, I know, installing Virtual PC is like installing cancer to your system... but I really needed FrontPage.

By Karl Bastian, at Sunday, 24 July, 2005  

When are you going to add more on this site? I can't wait!!!!!!!

By Pastor Todd McKeever, at Friday, 07 October, 2005  

sequential

By Anonymous, at Saturday, 15 October, 2005  

sequential

By Anonymous, at Saturday, 15 October, 2005  

Please post your idea of must have software. I have been waiting to see the list. Please keep this web blog going, it is so nice to read about MAC's and have a place to send people to to read about MAC's.

Thanks, and I will be looking for the software dream list to come.

By Pastor Todd, at Friday, 11 November, 2005  

Post a Comment