There are times when your Mac will just start misbehaving. Video settings getting reset, fans start running at full speed, and more. This often happens after an upgrade like Lion. There are many possible fixes, but if everything fails, try resetting your PRAM or SMC. Read more »
We knew Apple was introducing something today, what we didn’t know was that it was going to be saying goodbye as well. The basic white MacBook is getting squeezed out in favor of the newly polished and upgraded MacBook Air lineup. Read more »
Mac OS X Lion arrived Wednesday morning, available through the Mac App Store as a downloadable upgrade for users of Snow Leopard. Lion is version 10.7 of Apple’s desktop operating system, and it brings some significant changes to Mac computing. But will users welcome those changes? Read more »
With the next major release of Mac OS X, 10.7 Lion, on the way, it’s a good idea to start preparing your Mac for the transition soon. Here are some steps to make sure your Mac is ready for Lion. Read more »
Pocketable drives that carry not just your data, but your entire computer for use with any Mac you encounter are that much closer to a reality today, thanks to the discovery that Thunderbolt on new Macs supports booting from external storage. Read more »
New MacBook Airs could be right around the corner, according to stock shortages at retail partners like Best Buy and Amazon. OS X Lion is also arriving in July, which begins in only a few short days, and the Air could arrive at the same time. Read more »
Thunderbolt has arrived, but it’s been on the market now since February, and we’ve yet to see it really do much in the way of changing how we use our Macs. Signs indicate that this summer could be the time we do see that happen. Read more »
Apple is gearing up to release Lion, the first OS X updated to leave some Intel-based Macs out of the party. Even with the minimum specs, you won’t be getting the full experience. Here’s how to make some key improvements without breaking the bank. Read more »
SSDs are making new computers blazingly fast. But how do they affect the performance of older machines? I tested an SSD in my original black MacBook (circa 2006) to find out if it could help my aging beauty get back her youthful charm. Read more »
Apple’s refresh of the MacBook Air last fall did much to improve the fortunes of the company’s ultra-slim notebook. And with its next iteration, it could be getting ready to step into the spotlight as the quintessential Mac computer, alongside the release of OS X Lion. Read more »
Apple issued a new support document over the weekend that promises a fix for white, unibody MacBook affected by a problem with peeling rubber on the bottom case. Affected units are now eligible for free repairs, for up to two years from the original purchase date. Read more »
With MacBooks getting closer and closer to desktop performance, some may find themselves in need of a docking station. PC docks abound, but there are few Mac options. One of those options is the Henge Dock. These docking stations are designed for MacBooks and MacBook Pros. Read more »
Tech blog SemiAccurate sped up a slow news Friday with a so-crazy-it-might-be-true rumor that Apple will be switching CPU architecture. Again. Right now, it seems impossible, but given time, could Apple really use in-house designed ARM-based chips to provide the processing power behind Mac computers? Read more »
The MacBook Air may or may not get a June spec bump, as per recent rumors, but at least one component appears to have already been quietly updated. Some newer MacBook Airs are shipping with what seems to be a noticeably faster SSD. Read more »
A lot of the time when you connect an external display to a Mac notebook, you’ll want to continue working on the large display and close the lid of the laptop. Here is a step-by-step guide to getting that working right every time. Read more »
Just before the latest MacBook Pro updates were released, rumors swirled that the new models would adopt solid-state drives in addition to hard disk drives and drop internal DVD drives. That sounded perfect to me, so I made it happen even though Apple didn’t. Here’s how. Read more »
Location-aware devices are becoming common across Apple’s lineup, except when it comes to MacBooks. But adding GPS to a MacBook is as easy as pairing with a Bluetooth mouse. But not all Bluetooth GPS devices are created equal. Here are your best bets. Read more »
Earlier, I wrote about cutting the cord using Apple devices. In the section on using a Mac, I focused on general advice applicable to all machines, but here are a few tips tailored specifically to the unique challenges faced by those using Apple notebooks specifically. Read more »
The new MacBook Air is guaranteed to be on many a Christmas list this year, and I’ve been dead set on getting one ever since it was announced. So how did I end up typing this on a four-year-old black MacBook that I bought on eBay? Read more »
The MacBook Air is a bold move forward in mobile computing. It has flash storage, and real need for an optical drive. But Apple’s greatest achievement with the MacBook Air, and the thing that will have the strongest influence on its other notebooks is the price. Read more »
In 12 months, Apple’s notebook lineup will be so different, we’ll barely recognize it. Physically, the computers may look the same, but the teaser that is the MacBook Air makes very clear the changes we can expect to see rolled out across the entire MacBook line. Read more »
Over the weekend, we saw a slew of new rumors surrounding the new MacBook Air hit the web. The new reports suggest we might see more than one design for the ultraportable. We might also see the introduction of a new kind of notebook storage. Read more »
Apple’s having a press event next week on Wednesday, Oct. 20, and a new version of OS X will definitely be unveiled. But that’s probably not all we’ll see revealed by Cupertino. You can expect new Macs, too, just in time for the holidays. Read more »
It’s been about six months since I took the plunge and moved from PC to Mac. I thought it would be interesting to check in and see where I am now, how I am faring and what software I’m using. Read more »
Apple will hold a press event Oct. 20 unveiling Mac updates. The event is called “Back to the Mac,” which is an acknowledgement that Apple’s focus has seemed to be elsewhere of late. But the teaser image reveals we could see more than just new hardware. Read more »
I’m one of the lucky few who can carry their MacBook Pro to and from work each day, and just use one computer for everything. Still, I’m not always happy with my current setup. There’s one big thing missing that PC laptops have: the docking station. Read more »
My main computer for the past 19 months has been a Core 2 Duo unibody MacBook. It’s fast, has an excellent LED backlit display, is quiet and reliable. Nevertheless I still log some three to four hours per day on average with my 10-year-old Pismo PowerBooks. Read more »
With nary a yellow sticky saying the Apple Store will be back soon, today Apple quietly updated the white MacBook. The company’s value laptop got a slightly faster CPU, better graphics, and longer battery life, but not a better price. Read more »
This morning didn’t start as planned. At 5 A.M. there was a loud “boom”, and the power went out. I have been working on my MacBook using a 3G connection. Working in the glow of the laptop screen reminds me of the period after Hurricane Ike. Read more »
I work in front of a computer for 10 – 12 hours per day, and having a productive environment on my Mac is vital to my mental health. Utilities provide a productive system to get work done; here are 5 Mac utilities that rock my world. Read more »
Nearly a year after the last MacBook Pro update, and months after Intel launched its latest mobile CPU, Apple has added Core i5 and Core i7 CPUs to the MacBook Pro…or at least most of them. Read more »
All focus on Apple may be aimed at the iPad and the new iAd service but for Cupertino it’s still business as usual. A refreshed line of MacBooks has appeared to keep Apple’s core business chugging along. The MacBooks get faster processors and longer battery life. Read more »
If you’ve been sitting there twiddling your thumbs while Apple announced the iPad, then just recently began talking about iPhone OS 4.0, then news of what’s going on with the Mac line (yes, Apple still makes computers) will probably come as a welcome surprise. Read more »
If you’re considering a school for next year, you might want to put Seton Hill on the shortlist, as the university in Greensburg, Pennsylvania is the first academic institution to announce free iPads for every full time student beginning in Fall, 2010. Read more »
In a move reminiscent of the warranty extension Apple offered to MacBook Pro owners affected by NVIDIA-gate, the Mac maker announced this week that it would offer a similar consideration to some MacBook owners whose hard drives are crashing. Eligible models (black and white MacBooks sold […] Read more »
The simple if unsatisfying answer to the question of when to buy a new Mac is when you need one. There’s nothing a Mac bought a year ago can’t do today, and nothing a Mac bought today won’t be able to do a year from now, […] Read more »
Coincidentally, Apple happened to announce the new iPad on the morning that I came home after four exhausting days at a trade show. So when I started reading about the iPad, my flight-fogged brain immediately wanted to know if the iPad could make the travel marathon I’d just endured any easier. Read more »
January 2010 will mark the four-year anniversary of Apple’s first Intel-based Mac, the MacBook Pro. With Snow Leopard officially dropping support for PowerPC Macs and the next version of iLife and iWork likely to do the same, a perfect storm is brewing where Apple can begin […] Read more »
Apple uses the desktop version of Intel’s Core i5 and Core i7 processors in its current iMac lineup, and despite some DOA machines and some odd display problems being reported, people seem generally pleased with the results. It makes sense then that Apple would be interested […] Read more »
Apple is fairly reliable, but not the most reliable company of all when it comes to notebooks, according to a new study by research firm SquareTrade. The top honor goes to Asus, which surprised me, but I suppose shouldn’t have when I consider the build quality […] Read more »
