Nearly 15 million people use Macintosh OS X, the world’s most advanced operating system, with access to over 12,000 applications.
Reasons to Use a Mac
Connect to the Internet worry free. Sophos recommends Macs for network security. (A second article about this from the BBC.) Symantec says there are no known viruses for the Mac. (Also see Mac viruses: 0, Windows viruses: 114,000.)
Macs run Windows (Windows can’t run Macs) — simultaneously, too.
Believe it or not, Mac Pro is cheaper than a Dell — by a lot
Websites look their best on a Mac.
A 30-day trial version of iWorks '08 is available. Really beautiful software. (It may say it requires a G4 but it works on G3.)
Apple rated top American tech performer (number four in the world).
Mac testimonials: Why I Love Apple + World’s Best Laptop + Mac vs. PC
Thinking of switching to a Mac? Here's why you might
More? Apple.com
A History of the Modern (GUI, aka, Graphical User Interface) Computer
Origins of the Mac: Perspectives from the original developers
The Frugal Mac
Why spend a fortune on software when a free or low-cost application will do much, if not all, of what you want? (Besides, even if you are a specialist, do you really need all of that depth?)
The money you save on software is the money you can apply to the hardware you want: the extra hard drive(s), scanner, color laser printer, digital camera, video camera, etc.
SOFTWARE DISTRIBUTION MODELS
Freeware
Smileware
Donorware
Shareware
Commercialware
Rentware
Shareware and commercial apps may offer trial versions but there are either time or feature limitations. The problem with time limitations is that once the trial ends, you cannot recover the documents you may have worked on. Shareware and commercial software with pricey upgrades are also known as rentware.
With freeware/smileware/donorware, there are no time or feature limitations.
So you get to find out if the application is something you really need. And if it is, what features of the application do you really need?
If you find you need features available on shareware or commercial applications,
then consider trying a trial version and test the usability of its features,
not if you think you might want the app in general.
IF YOU BUY COMMERCIAL SOFTWARE, SAVE THROUGH
SOURCES FOR FREE OR INEXPENSIVE SOFTWARE
Outlining/MindMapping/Charting/Brainstorming/Visualization Software
Personally recommended for the frugal (or anyone):
MyMind
donorware
STRENGTHS
column outlining
intuitive
short learning curve
use with your favorite word processing or presentation app
integrated outlining and mind-mapping
(make an outline, then see your map)
Inexpensive
WEAKNESSES
Depth of features found in outlining or mind-mapping only programs
REVIEWS
SIMILAR APPS
FreeMind
free
Pyramid/Incubator
$33/$49
Inspiration
$69
OmniGraffle
diagrams only
$80/$150 pro
OmniOutliner
outlines only
$40/$70 pro
ConceptDraw Mindmap
$99/$249 pro
NovaMind
$99
MindMapper
$229
SOURCES FOR VALUE-PRICED APPLE AND APPLE-RELEVANT HARDWARE
RefurbDepot.com
Backups
There is no such thing as too many backups. Backup often and to several sources, including online offsite services, DVD/CD copies, and external hard drives.
ONLINE OFFSITE BACKUP SERVICES
dotMac,
10 Gb storage, $100 annually + another 10 Gb, $50 annually or
20 Gb, $100
Includes free Mac backup software and other services
Spymac,
3Gb for Macs and PCs, 30-day free trial, $25 annually
Includes free Mac backup software and other services
AOL, 5 Gb storage, free
Spam
The virtual world catches up with the real world
In the news: More
than 95% of e-mail is ’junk’
Why penny-stock spam
is a bad idea for everyone but the spammer
How to fight the spread of spam:
Do not automatically forward
alerts — check their validity first, most are hoaxes
If you forward messages, send blind copies instead of copies — spam harvesters
look for email addresses on vulnerable computers
Protect your computer from being hijacked to send spam
Install and turn on your firewall
Fight back — install black holes on your Web site
Use robot exclusion for sensitive areas of your Web site
How to protect yourself from receiving spam:
Use temporary/disposable addresses
Change your
addresses periodically
Use contact pages
If you must publish your email address on the Web, disguise it
Set up email filters
Never answer spam
Do not download attachments
Set image loading to manual
How to trace spam
Security
10 ways to protect yourself from identity
theft
Identity theft prevention cybercitizens
Online merchant protection
Identity theft prevention
Personal identity online
How to secure your wireless network
Chain Letters
Are they valid? Before forwarding, check with these sites:
Hoax Busters
Snopes
Symantec
V Myths
Urban Legends
But what about valid letters? This online petition was originally sent out in October 2001. Yes, it was a true story, a rarity for these things. Interesting it is still circulating, but not surprising.
Do online petitions work? See what these various sources have to say.
Conclusion: Break the chain. Never forward chain letters, valid or not.
RapidWeaver by RealMac Software
RAPIDWEAVER vs. DREAMWEAVER
RapidWeaver advantages:
Focus on content
Easy to create pages
Inexpensive
Dreamweaver advantage:
Unrivaled depth
RapidWeaver vs. Dreamweaver reviews:
Download Squad
Mac 360
Mac the Web
RAPIDWEAVER vs. iWeb
RapidWeaver advantages:
Easy to use, yet has depth for the advanced user
Many third-party themes and plug-ins (see below)
Modify themes
Easily change from one theme to another theme
Create your own theme
Clean, compact code; 100% w3c compliant
iWeb advantages:
Extremely easy; perfect for the beginner
True WYSIWYG
Integrated with iPhoto and other Apple software
RapidWeaver vs. iWeb Reviews:
Apple
Matters
Amazon UK
Business
Logs
iMug Australia
Mac
360
MacOpinion, Part
1 and Part 2
Mac
Rumors
This
Lamp
TidBits
TUAW
Tutors
All
What Do I Know
HOW TO GET RAPIDWEAVER
To install, download RapidWeaver
Fully-functional trial version option, limited to three pages
To produce more than three pages, purchase for $40
Save 20% with discount code SCORW35, courtesy ScreenCasts Online, until
end of October
RAPIDWEAVER FEATURES
RapidWeaver Overview
Advanced RapidWeaver
features
RapidWeaver Showcases
RAPIDWEAVER SUPPORT
Extensive support via very active forum, online manual and third-party tutorials
RapidWeaver Forum
RapidWeaver
Manual
RapidWeaver Tutorials
ScreenCasts
Online:
Excellent video tutorials on a variety of Macintosh applications and utilities
SCO0023 - RapidWeaver Part
1
SCO0027 - RapidWeaver Part
2
SCO0033 - RapidWeaver Part
3
SCO0063 - RapidWeaver 3.5
Update (discount code, through October 2006, at end of program)
SCO0038 - RapidWeaver Plugins
SCO0066 - RapidWeaver Plugins
update
SCO0044 - eShox electronic
catalog for RapidWeaver
RapidWeaver Personnel
THIRD-PARTY RAPIDWEAVER
THEMES
Several third-party themes available for free, others for $10 or more
Blueball
Design Simple theme, free
Elixir Graphics Milky
theme, free
MultiThemes Flat,
NoTheme, Plastic, and WhiteShadow themes, free
Rapid Ideas Clockwork, Handball, Nature, and Vivaldi themes, free
A complete list of themes in
showcase format
THIRD-PARTY RAPIDWEAVER PLUG-INS
Most plug-ins available as limited-function trial versions
YourHead plug-ins
15% bundle discount,
likely to end any day; often offered during major release
Accordion dynamic
interactive menu-driven interface
Blocks free-form
layout (if try just one RapidWeaver plug-in, try this one)
Collage flexible
image layout
Columns when
you want more than one
LogHound plug-ins
Lockdown password-protect
private Web pages
MediaSurfer adds
the iLife media browser (free)
RapidFlickr showcase
your Flickr photos on
your Web site
SiteMap makes
it easy for visitors, and search engines, to find information on your site
Plug-ins in development
BBS online
forum
Kontacts online
address book
MapIt! create
a Google map (free beta) on your Web page
Markdown transform
plain text into HTML markup
RapidCal online
calendar
SimpleViewer customize
Flash image viewing (free beta)
WebEvents online
calendar
WeaverForums online
forum
WikiMedia create
and edit Web page content with any Web browser
Mac OS X Basics
FINDER
Want to set the finder to open in column view (or icon or list view) and/or make the font size larger (or smaller)?
Forgot your master password?
Mac OS X Tips
15 Mail tips from Macworld + a directory of Mail plug-ins
15 Web surfing tips from Macworld
39 ways to speed up your Mac software from Macworld
A directory of 130+ plug-ins and add-ons from Hawkwing
10 apps every new Mac user should download + a counter view
Top 10 things every Mail.app user should have
Everything about Automator: examples, scripts, resources
Mac OS X Developer Tools
How to write Mail plug-ins
Mac Resources
Apple.com support
MacBytes.com — Mac news, headlines and links
Mac Tutorials
Assorted Mac apps and OS X video tutorials (many free, others fee)
MAC OS X
Automator video tutorial (Automator series free, others fee)
Mac versus Windows
Mac/Windows interface similarities and differences
How to accomplish equivalent Windows tasks on a Mac
www.LesGetchell.com ©2005. All rights reserved. Sunday, May 11, 2008, 05:49 PM