My Macbook

by Ray, John

• ISBN13: 9780789743039
• ISBN10: 0789743035
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2010-02-11
• Publisher: Que Publishing

Summary

The quick, friendly, full-color, task-based guide to making the most of the MacBook!--Organized, formatted, and sized for easy, quick, on-the-go reference.-Covers everything MacBook users need to know and do: apps, Internet, entertainment, troubleshooting, security, upgrades, and much more.-Perfect for any MacBook user - especially those new or almost new to the Mac platform.-A brand-new book, written from the ground up for Mac OS X Snow Leopard. Lightweight, friendly, thorough, and completely up-to-date, must-have companion for every MacBook user. Long-time Mac expert John Ray walks MacBook users through every task they'll need to perform -- from connecting to networks and the Internet to finding entertainment on the go, troubleshooting problems to maintaining security. Every task is presented stepby- step, using carefully annotated, full-color screenshots, all numbered so there's no chance of getting lost of confused. Drawing on 25 years of Mac experience, Ray presents scores of helpful tips and tidbits - as well as 'It's Not All Good' sidebars that identify bugs or issues readers may encounter, and offer quick, effective solutions. With usable answers - and readers don't have to sift through beginner-level computing skills to find the sophisticated information they really need. Everything's clearly organized to help readers get up-and-running in no time, and keep their MacBooks working exactly the way they want. The only visual guide to the MacBook written from the ground up for the new Mac OS X Snow Leopard operating system, today's Mac users want to perform, and the problems today's Mac users need to solve. John Ray (Columbus, OH) is currently Senior Business Analyst and Development Team Manager for the Ohio State University Research Foundation. His books include Sams Teach Yourself Dreamweaver MX in 21 Days, Mac OS X Unleashed Application Development in 24 Hours computer science and engineering, and has been a Macintosh user since 1984., Macromedia All-In-One, and Sams Teach Yourself iPhone. He has an extensive background in computer science and engineering, and has been a Macintosh user since 1984.

Author Biography

John Ray is a life-long fan of Apple’s products; he has been an avid Mac user since its inception in 1984. He relies on Mac OS X both at work and at home because it is a robust, flexible platform for programming, networking, and design.Over the past 12 years, John has written books on Mac OS X, iPhone development, Adobe Creative Suite, Linux, networking, and computer security. He currently manages the application development team in the Office of Sponsored Programs at The Ohio State University. He lives with his long-time girlfriend, their dogs Maddy and Coco, and an assortment of tech toys.

Table of Contents

Prologue

 

Getting to Know the MacBook Hardware

The Built-In Battery

Special Keyboard Keys

What You Need to Know

The Menu Bar

The Dock

The Finder

System Preferences

Window Controls

Contextual Menus

Windows Compatibility

Boot Camp

Virtualization

 

1 Making the Most of Your MacBook’s Desktop Space

 

Introduction

Organizing in the Dock

Adding and Removing Items from the Dock

Using Folders and Stacks in the Dock

Customizing the Dock’s Appearance

Customizing Finder Windows

Configuring the Sidebar’s System Shortcuts

Manually Modifying the Sidebar

Modifying the Finder Toolbar

Previewing Document Contents with Quick Look

Viewing a File with Quick Look

Previewing Files Using Finder Icons

Swimming in a Sea of Application Windows with Exposé

Choosing Between Application Windows

Showing the Desktop

Configuring Exposé Shortcuts

Creating Unlimited Desktop Space with Spaces

Configuring Spaces

Activating and Using Spaces

Using Instant-Access Utilities in the Dashboard

Activating the Dashboard

Adding and Removing Dashboard Widgets

Configuring Dashboard Widgets

Finding Information with Spotlight

Searching for Files and Information

Customizing Spotlight Searching

Saving Searches as Smart Folders in the Finder

 

2 Connecting Your MacBook to a Network

 

Introduction

Connecting to a Wired Network

Making an Ethernet (Wired) Connection

Connecting to a Wireless Network

Making a Wireless Connection

Authenticating on a Wireless Network

Disabling (and Enabling) Wireless Networking

Manually Configuring Network Settings

What to Collect Before Proceeding

Configuring TCP/IP and Proxy Settings

Activating PPPoE for DSL Connections

Making Mobile Connections with the iPhone and Cellular Data Cards

Tethering Wirelessly to an iPhone

Tethering with USB to an iPhone

Using Cellular Data Cards

Creating Virtual Private Network Connections

Creating a VPN Connection

Configuring VPN On Demand

Managing Multiple Connections with Locations and Configurations

Creating Configurations

Adding and Using Locations

Seeking Automated Network Assistance

Launching Diagnostics

Launching the Setup Assistant

 

3 Communicating Online with Your MacBook

 

Introduction

Using Mail

Things You Need Before Setting up an Email Connection

Adding an Email Account (Simple)

Adding an Email Account (Advanced)

Finding Your Way Around Mail

Reading Email

Composing Email

Managing Your Email

Using RSS Feeds in Mail

Instant Messaging with iChat

Adding an Account to iChat

Logging into Your Account

Configuring Your iChat Identity

Managing Your Buddy List

Communicating with Your Buddies

Sharing Files, Photos, and Your Screen

Web Browsing in Safari

Managing Bookmarks and Top Sites

Advanced Browsing Features

Adding Web Content to the Dashboard

 

4 Managing Contacts and Appointments

 

Introduction

Managing Contacts in Address Book

Adding Groups

Adding Contacts

Using Network Contacts

Exporting vCards from Address Book

Printing Addresses

Working with Schedules in iCal

Adding Calendars

Viewing Calendars and Calendar Groups

Working with Events

Working With To Do Items

Printing Calendars

 

5 Sharing Devices, Files, and Services on a Network

 

Introduction

File Sharing on Your MacBook

Sharing Files and Folders

Accessing Shared Files

Sharing Printers

Enabling Network Printer Sharing

Setting Printer Sharing Permissions

Accessing a Network Printer

Sharing a Scanner

Enabling Network Scanner Sharing

Accessing a Shared Scanner

Sharing an Optical Drive

Enabling DVD and CD Sharing

Accessing a Shared Optical Drive

Sharing Your MacBook Screen

Enabling Screen Sharing

Setting Screen Sharing Permissions

Accessing the Screen of a Local Mac

Accessing Remote Computers and Non-Macs

Sharing Your Internet Connection

 

6 Accessing Entertainment on the Go

 

Introduction

Using DVD Player

Playing a DVD

Setting Bookmarks

Viewing Browser Video or Downloaded Video Files

Playing QuickTime Files in Your Web Browser

Playing QuickTime Files from Your Desktop

Creating a Media Library in iTunes

Running iTunes for the First Time

Finding Your Way Around iTunes

Building Your Media Library

Viewing the Library

Using Playlists

Playing Internet Radio

Keeping Media in Sync

Presenting Media with Front Row

Entering and Exiting Front Row

 

7 Using MobileMe to Access Your Data from the Road

 

Introduction

Setting Up MobileMe

Creating an Account

Configuring Your MacBook for MobileMe

Sharing Storage with iDisk

Configuring iDisk Syncing

Configuring Your iDisk Public Folder

Accessing Your iDisk

Accessing Other MobileMe iDisks

Using the iDisk MobileMe Web Features

Enabling MobileMe Syncing

Configuring Synced Data

Initiating a First-Time Sync

Resetting Synced Computers

Using Back to My Mac

Configuring Back to My Mac

Using the MobileMe Web Applications

Accessing MobileMe Email

Accessing MobileMe Contacts

Accessing MobileMe Calendars

Using MobileMe Web Galleries

 

8 Making the Most of Your MacBook Hardware

 

Introduction

Balancing Battery Life and Performance

Monitoring Battery Life

Configuring Display, Computer, and Hard Disk Sleep

Creating a Sleep/Wake Schedule

Updating Keyboard Settings

Setting Keyboard Repeat Rate

Changing Keyboard Illumination

Creating Keyboard Shortcuts

Changing Trackpad Options

Setting Trackpad Speeds

Controlling Gestures

Adjusting the LCD Display

Setting Display Resolution

Controlling Display Brightness

Choosing a Color Profile

Calibrating the LCD Display

Setting Sound Input and Output

Setting the Output Volume

Configuring Alert Sounds

Choosing and Adjusting an Output Device

Picking and Calibrating an Input Device

Recording Audio,Video, and Screen Actions

Recording Audio

Recording iSight Video

Recording Screen Actions

Transferring your Recordings to iTunes,MobileMe, and YouTube

 

9 Connecting Devices to Your MacBook

 

Introduction

Connecting USB Input Devices

Configuring a USB Keyboard

Configuring a USB Mouse

Using Bluetooth Devices

Pairing a Bluetooth Mouse

Pairing a Bluetooth Keyboard

Connecting a Bluetooth Headset

Adding and Using the Bluetooth Status Menu

Using External Displays and Projectors

Adding the Display Menu to your Menu Bar

Detecting and Activating a Display

Setting Monitor Arrangements

Activating Mirrored Video

Connecting and Using a Printer

Adding a Printer

The Printing Process

Connecting and Using a Scanner

Adding a Scanner

Scanning in Preview

 

10 Securing and Protecting Your MacBook Data

 

Introduction

Working with Users and Groups

Creating User Accounts

Creating Groups

Configuring General Account Security

Assigning File Permissions to Users and Groups

Tracking Passwords with Keychain Access

Viewing Keychain Items

Adding Data to the Keychain

Creating New Keychains

Adding a Keychain Menu Item

Encrypting Your Account Files

Activating FileVault

Setting a Master Password

Achieving Network Security with the Built-in Firewall

Activating the Snow Leopard Firewall

Configuring Incoming Services

Backing up Important Information

Using Apple Backup

Using Time Machine

 

11 Troubleshooting Your MacBook System

 

Introduction

Dealing with Troublesome Software

Force Quitting Applications

Testing with the Guest Account

Removing Corrupted Application Files

Restarting and Correcting a Frozen Machine

Starting in Safe Mode

Changing Login Applications

Removing Startup Applications and Launch Daemons

Disabling Extensions

Removing System Preference Panes

Fixing Disk Problems with Disk Utility

Repairing Permission Problems

Verifying and Repairing Common Disk Errors

Gathering Information About Your MacBook

Monitoring System Activity

Generating a System Profiler Report

Viewing the System Logs

Remember Your Backups!

 

12 Upgrading Your MacBook Hardware and Software

 

Introduction

Upgrading Your Built-In Hardware

General Guidelines for Conducting MacBook Surgery

Verifying Your MacBook RAM Upgrade

Preparing a New Hard Drive

Adding External Storage

Preparing the Storage Device

Mounting and Unmounting Devices

Upgrading Your Operating System

Setting an Update Schedules

Manually Checking for an Update

Applying a System Update

Installing New Applications

Unarchiving Zip Files

Accessing Disk Images

Finding Useful Apps for Your MacBook

 

13 Configuring AirPort Extreme Services for Your MacBook

 

Introduction

Configuring AirPort Extreme Services

Logging into the Airport

Sharing a Printer

Connecting and Sharing Disks

Connecting a Disk to the Airport

Setting Up Sharing Access

Accommodating MobileMe Services

Enabling NAT-PMP

Configuring MobileMe Support

 

Index