How to Identify Which Macintosh Model You Own
There are a number of instances when it could be really useful to know exactly which model of Macintosh computer you own. Here are instructions to identify which model you have.
Read moreComputer Basics
Getting to know the basics of your computer.
What Is “Streaming” And What Does It Mean?
Clients are often unsure how to properly use the term streaming or unsure about what this term means. In a slight misuse of terms, you could substitute broadcast for stream. For example, you might hear a person say, “Last night, I streamed Clint Eastwood’s Gran Torino on Netflix”. You could think in your head, “Last night, … Read more
How To Forward Delete On A Mac Laptop
Do you have a MacBook, MacBook Air or MacBook Pro? Have you noticed that its keyboard doesn’t have a “Forward Delete” (aka delete to the right) key like the one that exists on an iMac’s keyboard? This tip tells you how to perform a forward delete. Simply hold down the Function key, which is labeled … Read more
How To Enlarge iPhone Text
There are a few ways to enlarge the text displayed on the iPhone. Each method is useful in different situations. You may already be aware of some of these options, but I’ll bet you don’t know all of them. [Update – March 2018 – I wrote an an article in 2017 about how to make … Read more
How To Force Quit A Mac Application
Sometimes an application stops behaving properly and doesn’t respond to menu commands or keyboard commands. When this happens, you’ll often want to use the Force Quit command to force the application to quit. There are several ways to issue the Force Quit command.
Read moreHow To Enlarge Text Size In Safari, Firefox Or Chrome
Here are some simple instructions on how to enlarge the size of text on a web page when you’re using Safari, Firefox or Chrome on a Macintosh computer. I use this feature on a daily basis since web sites use a variety of font sizes. This is especially handy in low-light settings or if one typically … Read more
How Long Will My Mac Last?
Are you wondering how long your Mac will last or how frequently you’ll need to replace it? This is a very difficult question to answer, since many factors can affect the durability, longevity and compatibility of a computer. I’ll do my best to provide some concise and useful guidance.
Read moreShould I Buy AppleCare With My New Mac?
I strongly recommend the AppleCare Protection Plan (APP) for all MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, iMac and MacPro purchases under most circumstances. I know that extended warranties have a poor reputation in general, but I think AppleCare is a good value for most Mac models. For the rest of this article I’ll simply refer to the AppleCare … Read more
Will Adding Memory to My Mac Make it Faster?
Adding memory (RAM) is one of the most common upgrades made to a computer. Many people think that this will speed up a computer. Adding memory to a computer can slightly improve its performance if the computer didn’t previously have sufficient memory installed to accommodate the applications running simultaneously. Let me elaborate to add some … Read more
Clean Up Your Mac Hard Drive Using OmniDiskSweeper
Do you want to clean up your Mac hard drive? Is your hard drive nearly full and you don’t know why? OmniDiskSweeper (free) can help with both of these situations. OmniDiskSweeper will scan all files and folders on your Mac and list them by size, starting with the folders taking up the most space. This … Read more
Preventive Maintenance for your Mac
Do you want to know how to perform some routine preventive maintenance on your Mac? Here’s my recommendation of helpful preventive maintenance tasks as well as instructions on how to perform these tasks. You do not need to have advanced knowledge to perform these tasks.
Read moreHow to Zoom In on Your Mac’s Screen
Update March 2013: Added instructions for OS X 10.8, Mountain Lion. Update October 2014: Added OS X 10.9, Mavericks, to the instructions for Mountain Lion. Did you know that Mac OS X has a built-in zoom feature? This feature lets you zoom in on your screen so everything on the screen is larger. Of course, … Read more
Do you need help finding your Mac’s cursor?
[October 2022. See Sound Support’s updated post on Find Your Cursor Using Simple Mouse Locator] If you ever struggle to find your Mac’s cursor then I recommend that you use MouseLocator. This free application puts a halo around the cursor to help your eyes locate it. You can configure how long the halo is displayed. … Read more
How to Check Your Mac’s Hardware Warranty Coverage
Do you want to check to see if your Mac is still under warranty from Apple? The technical support section of Apple’s web site lets you easily check to see if your Apple device is protected by either its built-in or the extended hardware warranty. Here are simple instructions on how to do so.
Read moreHow Big is a Kilobyte?
How big is a kilobyte? How big is a gigabyte? Relative to each other, how big are any two files? Here’s some information which can help you get your head around file sizes and comparing them.
Read moreQuickLook is a Fast Way to View a File
Here are some examples of how I use QuickLook. I often have a Word or Excel file I need to reference. I don’t need to make a change to the document I just want to read some information from it or remind myself of some details.
Read moreTech Tips from Apple Including an Explanation of Symbols used in Keyboard Shortcuts
Apple produces their own technical tips for the Mac and iPhone. They are short how-to videos. Check them out. I’m sure you’ll find one or two that will teach you a new trick. [Update: February 2018 – Apple Support now has a YouTube channel.]
Read moreWhen should I use the word upload and when should I use download?
What is the difference between the words download and upload? I’m asked these questions frequently. I have 3 answers that I offer.
Read moreHow to Hide and Switch Macintosh Applications
Is your Mac’s screen cluttered with too many windows? Do you drag windows left and right, up and down, trying to find the window that you’re looking for? There is a better way to manage window clutter on your Mac. Apple offers a number of tools and techniques including Spaces, Expose, Minimize Window and others. … Read more
How Do You Take A Screen Snapshot On A Mac?
Screen snapshots are pictures of a portion of the screen. Being able to take a screen snapshot can be very useful. I typically use this feature several times each day. Here are some reasons why I commonly take a screen snapshot:
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