Apple/handout Mac users often know the ins and outs of their gear – after all, we’re generally talking about a passionate bunch who love their machine – but like most technology, it’s estimated we only use a small fraction of what a Mac can do. If you’re like most, you stick to what you need, and don’t venture much outside of your comfort zone. But what if you’re not taking advantage of some productivity-boosting features? Who wouldn’t want to get more done in less time?
What about squeezing the most out of the macOS High Sierra operating system, along with little-known shortcuts and touchpad gestures? Whether you use your Mac for work or play – or, in all likelihood, a bit of both – the following are some tips and tricks to getting the most out of your MacBook (from $1299), MacBook Air (from $999), or MacBook Pro (from $1299). Talk to your Mac. Depending on how well you type, talking to your tech could be two to three times faster, and more accurate.
By either clicking the icon on your Dock or Menu Bar or pressing and holding Command + Space, summon your personal assistant to ask a question or give a command. Along with sports scores and music, Siri can help you launch apps, pull up specific files, and enable or disable Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity. Sign PDFs in Mail If you had to sign something received by email, you might think you had to print, sign, scan, and email back to the sender. Instead, you can sign the document right in the Mail app, and send it off. Simply drag and drop a PDF into an email message and hover your mouse pointer over it. In the top right you should see a little button to click, which gives you a few Markup options. One is to sign documents.
Sign your name on your trackpad or hold a signed piece of paper up to your Mac’s webcam, and it’ll import that for you. Create your own shortcuts Many seasoned Mac users rely on shortcuts to shave off time, but did you know you can also create your own shortcuts? To do so, head over to System Preferences Keyboard Application Shortcuts. Now click the + button to add a new shortcut and use the drop-down list to choose the app you want to apply it to. Now, choose a unique keyboard button combination to invoke the command, followed by Add. More on Apple: Apple's pricey HomePod sounds great but exacts some trade-offs More on Apple: How Apple profits from selling you iPhones with little storage Help your mom, remotely If you know anything about technology, you’re likely the go-to person in the family when things stop working (believe me, I can relate). And is there anything more frustrating – for both parties – than trying to walk through instructions with a tech-shy person, over the phone?
Instead, your Mac can view and take control over someone else’s Mac over the Internet. In Spotlight, launch Screen Sharing and then type in the Apple ID of the person you’re trying to help remotely. They’ll receive a notification and must grant you permission to let you in, so you can see their Mac, and also take control over their trackpad and keyboard. If it doesn’t work at first try, be sure Screen Sharing is enabled in the Sharing pane of System Preferences. Send and receive text messages on your Mac. Apple/handout Why should you need multiple devices to read different kinds of messages?
If you’re sitting in front of your Mac, you can read and respond to text messages and instant messages. So long as you an iPhone (running iOS 8.1 or newer), enable the Text Message Forwarding option under Settings Messages on your iPhone. Make sure you’re signed into the same account on both your Mac and iOS device, you’re good to go.
When someone sends a text, it will appear as a green bubble, while an iMessage will appear as blue. Email ridiculously huge files There are two problems associated with sending large files over email: you risk upsetting the recipient because it could jam up their inbox, or the message is rejected altogether. This could be a thing of the past if you use Apple’s own Mail app, or the webmail version at icloud.com. Since Yosemite, you can email files up to 5 gigabytes (GB) in size, as the large attachment is automatically uploaded to iCloud, and then a link is sent to the recipient, where they’ll have 30 days to download it. If they’re using icloud.com to read their mail, the recipient will likely see the attachment rather than a web link. Get more ports (or power).
Kingston Technology Corp. The one downside to Macs getting thinner and thinner is the lack of space to plug everything in. The good news is this could be resolved with a small accessory that acts like a hub, such as Nucleum ($79) from Kingston. This 7-in-1 Type-C hub works with newer MacBook notebooks, with ports for: USB-C (power input), USB-C (data), HDMI, two USB-A, SD (SecureDigital) cards, and one for MicroSD cards. And yes, all 7 ports can be used at the same time, plus it supports “pass through,” meaning you can charge your MacBook through Nucleum, while simultaneously using all ports. Another accessory tip: With some high-capacity back-up batteries, you can charge up newer MacBooks that have a USB Type-C ports – so you don’t need to plug it into an AC outlet in a wall or power strip. Multitask like a pro.
Apple/handout Ever since El Capitan debuted, working with two apps side-by-side became much easier to pull off. Aptly called Split Screen view, simply click and hold the mouse cursor over an app’s green-colored maximize button (top-left hand side of an app window), and then drag it to the left or right side of the screen.
Now, pick a second open app to snap to the other side. Be aware, this feature obscures the Menu Bar, which will return when you close one app. Stop annoying web videos from auto-playing. Apple With the new Safari 11 web browser, you can choose which websites can auto-play videos when you visit them — or block all of them, if you prefer. For individual websites, go to a website that auto-plays videos and click Safari in the top menu bar, followed by Settings for This Website (or right-click the URL box and select Settings for This Website).
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A pop-up box will appear and hover mouse cursor over Auto-Play (the last option on the list) and it will turn into a menu with three choices: Allow All Auto-Play, Stop Media with Sound, or Never Auto-Play. Safari will remember your settings for that site going forward. To stop all videos from auto-playing in Safari, to go Safari Preferences Websites.
Choose the option called Auto-Play on the left, and then Choose settings for all websites. Run Windows 10. Parallels International GmbH You’ve got a Mac, but that doesn’t mean you can’t run Windows 10 on it. Cue the song “Best of Both Worlds” by Hannah Montana. OK, maybe not. But it’s true you can run the world’s most popular desktop operating system – finally eclipsing Windows 7, according to Microsoft – to take advantage of all its benefits, such as wide-ranging support for all kinds of software (including computer games), and hardware. You can toggle between Windows and macOS using a virtual machine program, such as Parallels or VMWare Fusion - though performance may not be the best for demanding applications (like gaming).
Alternatively, you may choose to start the MacBook into a desired operating system using Boot Camp, located in the Utilities folder (but you won’t be able to run macOS apps alongside Windows apps). However you choose to install and run Windows, you’ll need a Windows license. More: Windows 10 tips and tricks you must try today More: A laptop with three days of battery life: It's coming Follow Marc on Twitter: @marcsaltzman. E-mail him at www.marcsaltzman.com.
Choosing computers for an entire team can be a daunting task, especially when everyone has strong personal opinions. To clarify things, we've taken a no-nonsense approach to explaining the options available to business buyers. While we have positioned these facts in the context of an 'either/or' shopping decision, many business owners choose to purchase a blend of Macs and PCs and distribute them based on department (typically with creatives receiving Macs and other staff sticking with PCs). Additionally, some business owners allow their staff to choose which type of machine they want. This is a good option for companies that want to emphasize employee autonomy, but it can be a costly choice. If you're on the hunt for business laptops and desktops but still in the 'Mac or PC?'
Stage of decision-making, this guide is for you. Handling Mac and PC employee preferences The most obvious difference between Macs and PCs is the operating system. The interfaces are visually very different, menus aren't set up the same way, and many keyboard shortcuts vary between the two types. Most die-hard Mac or PC fans are primarily attached to the brand they like because of the general interface, but the exterior design can be a major selling point (or detractor) as well. While PCs vary drastically in design from machine to machine, Macs have a more consistent look and feel that appeals to people who prefer a high-end experience. If your employees want Macs because of the look and feel, you may be able to win them over with a high-end PC, like an HP EliteBook or Microsoft Surface Pro. On the other hand, if your employees prefer a Mac or PC due to efficiency or ease of use, you may have a harder time convincing them to switch.
Workers who use extensive keyboard shortcuts or specialized design, visualization, or analytics software may be particularly sensitive to laptop type, and while it is possible to switch from being a user and, there is something to be said for keeping productive employees happy. Pros of Macs Low maintenance: If your small business doesn't have the budget for tech support and you're uncomfortable with basic maintenance, a Mac may be a good option. Apple laptops and desktops are famously low-maintenance and not often a target for hackers. High status: While it may be tough to admit to oneself, status and perception by others is a reason many people prefer Apple computers. If a large part of your business involves impressing clients or investors, it might be worthwhile to spring for the company's 'designer' laptops.
Industry standard for design: If you employ a lot of designers or creative professionals, Macs are a good option to satisfy your staff. Digital graphic design really got its start on Macs, and the system still has a pretty tight grip on the artistic community. Even Photoshop was born on Macs. Because of this, many designers first learned how to design on Macs and remain fiercely loyal to them. Luxurious design: Compared to some other laptops (even many high-end PCs), Apple computers feel and operate like luxury machines. The company is known for bright and colorful displays, responsive keyboards, and highly sensitive track pads. For many people, the sheer quality level of the aluminum unibody chassis is reason enough to buy a MacBook. For details about the latest Mac operating system, check out.
Cons of Macs Expensive: All Mac products are expensive. Part of that comes from the luxury design and high-status perception. Apple doesn't make a budget option. If you are not interested in paying a minimum of $999 per laptop, a MacBook is not for you. Very few choices: Apple is the only manufacturer of Mac products. When you shop for a MacBook or an Apple desktop, your design and configuration options are limited. Likewise, if a power cord breaks, you'll have to either shell out top dollar for an Apple replacement or take your chances with a third-party cord. No touchscreens or hybrids: There aren't any Macs with 360-degree hinges, touchscreens or stylus capabilities.
Which Mac To Get
However, Apple does make a line of iPads to serve this market. If touchscreens on a laptop are important to you, it might be worth buying tablets in addition to laptops. Office for Mac: It used to be that you could only run Microsoft Office on a PC, but now there is a Mac version of Microsoft Office. If you've never used Office before, you'll probably enjoy using Mac for Office.
If you're already adept at using Microsoft Office on a PC, you'll go through an adjustment period using Office for Mac, because it's not identical to the PC version (especially when it comes to Outlook). Pros of PCs Varied price points: PCs crush Macs in offering prices suitable to a wide range of budgets. You can purchase a very low-end PC for as little as $300 (we don't recommend that) or a ridiculous gaming monster machine for $30,000 (we don't recommend that either). The average cost of a PC is between $400 and $500, while the average cost for a Mac is $1,500, per NPD Group. More customizable: PCs are highly customizable.
Many of the well-known manufacturers (Dell, Lenovo, HP, etc.) offer many upgrade options, such as additional ports, CPUs, GPUs and plenty of accessories. This is a huge asset if you're outfitting a large team with drastically varying needs. Many design options: Because so many different companies manufacture and sell PC laptops, there are lots of design options. You can purchase heavy and powerful workstation-style laptops, portable ultrabooks, hybrids that can transform from laptop to tablet, and so on.
Business standard: Outside of the design world, PCs are the general industry standard for business users. With the widespread use of PCs, your employees are likely to be familiar and comfortable with using a PC laptop at work. Cons of PCs Quality varies: Because there are so many manufacturers of PCs, the quality varies massively from machine to machine. Using on reputable sites and looking at product specifications can help ensure you get a quality PC. Keep in mind that if the price is super low, the actual build is likely to feel cheap and flimsy. Sometimes OS updates are terrible: Macs are nothing if not consistent. While Apple updates its OS occasionally, adding in features and power, the company more or less maintains the status quo.
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Sometimes Windows OS updates feature minor improvements too, but other times Windows decides to do something completely different and terrible, like Vista (an OS everyone hated) or Windows 8 (an OS no one understood). Security software: If you purchase a PC, you should also purchase some form of. In general, this is not a huge expense, but it is something you need. Less stylish: PCs are getting better-looking, but there are still many manufacturers of business machines that pay little attention to aesthetics. You can find nice-looking PCs that feel like high-quality machines, but PCs aren't considered as universally stylish as Macs, and in some cases they are downright dowdy. Alternatives to mainstream laptop choices You may want to consider something outside the PC/Mac paradigm. There are OS alternatives that can run on nearly any machine, and several viable business Chromebooks are currently on the market.
Alternative operating systems An easy way to give your staff (especially your tech pros) flexibility is to allow them to install their own OS on their work PCs. The Linux-based Ubuntu is a popular open-source software OS that appeals to people who don't like Windows or Mac but also don't want the hassle of running Linux with no frills. Once installed, Ubuntu functions much like any other OS, and it is relatively intuitive and user-friendly. Few companies make machines with Ubuntu preinstalled, but you can find them from Lenovo, HP and Dell. It's also easy to install it yourself, thanks to Ubuntu's extensive. Chromebooks Chromebooks have come a long way in the last few years, but Google's introduction of the gorgeous Pixelbook (complete with high-end chassis, stylus and flexible touchscreen) is what really tipped the scales. There's even a rumor that Google is adding a dual-boot function that allows users to toggle between Google's OS and a third-party (perhaps Windows?) OS. Even if this rumor doesn't come to fruition, the Pixelbook and other standout business Chromebooks deserve consideration when you're shopping for a business device.
Currently, Chromebooks run a largely web-reliant operating system by Google called Chrome OS, which is easy to navigate with a modern design. These machines tend to last longer on a charge than their PC counterparts, and they tend to be inexpensive, due in part to a lack of storage space. Chromebooks are meant to run web applications rather than downloaded software. Dwl 520 driver. As more storage moves to the cloud, SaaS continues to spread, and downloading software becomes a less frequent occurrence, it's possible Chromebooks will naturally take over. Chromebooks are inexpensive and growing in popularity.
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