Tag: macbook

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hardware

How to speed up your mac with a Solid State SSD Drive

prod_merc-legacy-pro

This article was originally written in 2015 but it is still relevant.  I have just updated it given that SSD prices have dropped dramatically in the last 3 years. Upgrading the boot drive on my Mac Mini to an SSD drive was by far the biggest speed enhancement I’ve experienced on any computer! The speed increase is incredible – almost hard to believe. Boot time went from 60 seconds to under 30 seconds, and applications launch instantly – no bouncing dock icon. In terms of bang for dollar, upgrading to an SSD drive is by far the best upgrade you can do.

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movies

How to lighten up dark movies on your iMac or projector.

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I noticed when watching movies on my 27 inch iMac that they are too dark especially in dark scenes. What I mean is that there are a lot of details in the blacks missing compared to watching on a normal DVD player.  I’ve also noticed the same thing when watching a movie on a projector  hooked up to my macbook air. Turning the contrast or brightness up doesn’t work as it just washes out the blacks. Here’s the cause of this frustrating problem and how to fix it!

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beginners

Do this BEFORE you lose your mac!

findmymac

Apple have a fantastic piece of software called ‘find my mac’ which can locate your laptop anywhere. But it needs to be tuned on… and once your computer is lost or stolen – it’s too late!  Here’s how to turn on ‘find my mac’ before you lose it!

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Apple TV

How to watch a DVD on Apple TV

dvd

 

I just set up my Apple TV and was very surprised that when I played a DVD from my Macbook  it came out all grey on the Apple TV. This thread claims that you cannot play a DVD on Apple TV due to copyright. Here are two ways to get around Apple’s DVD viewing protection.

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deals macbook

My favourite MacBook: the 13″ 2.5Ghz i5 MacBook Pro

macbook13

This 13″ refurbished Macbook for sale on the US store for $999 is a good one. For those readers from Australia, it’s $1139 here from the Australian store.  (If it’s out of stock – it’s worth checking back in a few days, they are released a few at a time.) Read on for why it’s so good.

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Categories
email

How to set up Apple mail to work with a Gmail account. (This is the original article from 2013)

google

Despite their differences, Apple and Google do work well together when it comes to email.  Gmail is free and it has great spam protection. But the Gmail web interface is a bit clunky. Apple mail is very nice to use and you can set it to use a Gmail account. Here’s how to use Gmail from Apple’s mail app and also how to set up Gmail on your iPhone or iPad.

There is a newer article about this topic here (2018) but I have kept this older article (2013)  for those who have an older version of OS X or an older version of Apple Mail.

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iPad macbook

Is an iPad a good replacement for Macbook?

ipad

 

The iPad can to do most things a laptop can do, and the retina display on the latest iPad is better than the display most laptops! So is there any reason to still buy a laptop?  The simple answer is yes. iPads are a great complement to your desktop mac or laptop but probably not a replacement. Here’s why.

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Categories
hardware Presentations

Good wireless remote for Keynote or Powerpoint to use on your Macbook

remote

I’ve just found a new wireless remote to use with presentations in Keynote or Powerpoint. Recently I have purchased a Kensington wireless remote and I’m very happy with it. It appeared in our local Office works store recently for just $29, and it’s on par with the old Logitec remote. 

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