Whenever I see the ad, “Get a Mac,” that Apple Computer is running, I always get a good laugh seeing it. The 24 series ad shows two persons, one signifying a Macintosh computer and the other a Windows PC computer, talking with each other with the “Mac” upstaging the “Windows PC” every time.

This ad campaign was so successful that the Windows PC share of the computer market got hit significantly with thousands of their users switching to the Mac platform. Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer was said to be very agitated by the negativity of the “Get a Mac” ad towards the Windows OS platform that he ordered a multi million dollar ad campaign to counter the ill effects of said ad.

One may argue that Apple’s Mac only has less than 10 percent share of the worldwide computer market but numbers can be deceiving in many ways. Apple Computer has a monopoly in the Mac Os platform, there is no other computer company authorized to make Macintosh computers so that less than 10 percent share is already a big slice of the worldwide computer market.

Almost everything the “Get a Mac” ad campaign says is true. Mac Os is more reliable than the Windows OS. It is faster and has fewer viruses affecting its system. Multimedia artists and graphic designers prefer a Mac to do their artistic work on. Lots of popular computer graphics software started on the Mac platform and later ported to Windows.

The newest innovation that probably gave Apple the huge surge in Mac users is Boot Camp, wherein the newer Mac models can use both Mac OS and Windows OS on the same computer. This has lead to a number of Windows PC users trying out Mac computers for the first time. Most of these new Mac users have not switched back to using Windows powered PCs after seeing how wonderful Macs perform.

They say the best form of flattery is when your competitors imitate your product. Not all of Apple Computer’s products are new concepts. When Apple launched its first iMac computer, the all in one computer casing had already existed in the older Mac models. All Apple did was to change its design and add different color casings to choose from.

The following iMac model G4 was an ergonomically designed wonder that featured an LCD screen which fueled the boom of LCD screens and the slow demise of CRT screens. Its latest hit, the iPhone, had many features that existed in other smartphones like the touch screen feature. After iPhone, every major cellular phone manufacturer is producing touch screen phones to compete with iPhone.

With so many of its product features being copied by other companies, Apple continues to set the trend in new innovations in designs and concepts in the field of consumer electronics and personal computers. If you haven’t used a Mac computer before, rest assured the level of quality Apple gives to all its products is also present in a Mac. You surely will enjoy using a Mac and probably won’t switch back to the “has been” Windows based PC’s.

Sebastian Marders loves writing about a variety of things and sharing the website that inspires each piece with his readers. If you are interested in cheap custom gaming computers, as well as the cheap Alienware laptop computer, and cheap desktop computer memory then please visit.

[tags]computer, mac, pc, windows, apple[/tags]

Macintosh computers come complete with almost everything you need built into the computer. Let’s take a minute to check out just what comes with a Mac right “out of the box”. With the built in software included, you can edit movies, pictures and music, as well as manage your email, calendars and contacts. In fact, so much is included pre-loaded with the computer that you probably won’t have to buy a lot of additional programs later on. Let’s go over what you’ll see on your dock at the bottom of the screen when you turn your computer on.

First thing you’ll notice is the Finder. The Finder is the windowing system for the computer, however, you’ll notice it most with the translucent bar at the top of your screen. The Finder lets you quit applications, as well as access preferences, the file, edit, etc. menus.

The next application you’ll see on your dock is Dashboard. Dashboard allows you to access Widgets. You can access Dashboard by clicking on the icon in the Dock or pressing F12 on your keyboard. You can add and delete widgets by clicking on the “+” sign at the lesser left hand side of your screen as well as download new widgets on apple.

Mail is the next application you’ll see, it’s the basic mail application. You’ll be prompted to input your email account’s information into the application when you launch it for the first time. Mail also allows you to keep notes and make To Do lists along with the usual, compose, send and automatically receive email from your account.

Next you’ll see Safari. Safari is one of the Mac’s premier web browsers. Safari is considered to be one of the fastest browsers out there, and allows you to keep RSS feeds in order, make RSS feeds of selected parts of a web page as well as having excellent integration with the operating system.

Address Book is the next app you’ll see. Address Book lets you input all of your information for contacts for anyone you know, including phone numbers, web pages and, of course, addresses. You’ll find this application also has excellent integration with other applications on your system and is more useful in other applications more than on it’s own.

Next up you’ll have iCal. iCal has become the standard for calendaring applications on the internet. iCal lets you easily manage your upcoming events and easily syncs with your iPod, iPhone, the web and other computers you may have. Preview is another application that is fairly desecrate within your computing experiences. Preview is what opens whenever you open a PDF document or an image. You probably won’t open this from the Dock very often, but it is most likely crucial to normal computing.

Next up we have the iLife suite. The iLife suite is probably the most interesting part of your new Mac. iLife includes iMovie, Garage Band, iPhoto and iDVD. iPhoto is a photo management application, whenever you hook up a camera, iPhoto is what you’ll see. iMovie is a video editing application, if you ever have a camcorder that is digital and you hook it up to your computer, this is what you’ll see, as well as if you ever want to manipulate video. Garage Band is a music creation and editing app. Garage Band comes with many built in instruments, loops and many useful features that you can use for your music creation. iDVD is just what it sounds like, it lets you take videos and convert them and dress them up so you can simply insert a DVD and have it burn so you can play it on any DVD player.

iTunes is probably the most well known application on both the Mac and Windows computers. iTunes is the largest music store in the world as well as an excellent music management application, if you have a music file, iTunes can probably play it. Next you’ll see Spaces. Spaces can be used to form virtual desktops, which can help you split up where your applications are on your Mac and help free you from screen clutter. Spaces can be accessed by pressing the icon on your Dock, pressing F8 or assigning a hot corner in System Preferences.

Time Machine is the second to last application on your Dock. Time Machine is a backup application. Time Machine will backup anything you ask it to to an external hard drive that you attach to your computer via USB or Firewire. The last, and arguably the most useful application you’ll see is the System Preferences. System Preferences lets you set up your computer exactly how you like and lets you configure any of the built in features of Mac OS X. Remember, all of these apps come standard with any Apple computer, weather it’s a Mac Book or a Mac Pro or anything in between - no need to buy additional programs or applications.

Let us help you find great deals on Macbooks, iMacs, Mac Minis, iPods and more cheap Apple Computer products. Save now- www.apple-only.com

[tags]Apple Computer, Apple iPhone, iPod, Macintosh, iphone, Apple, Mac OS, OS X, Apple Computer[/tags]

I’ve been a long time Apple user and want to share my experiences with those of you who are potentially considering getting a Mac of your own. My first computer was the Apple IIe. I’ve been a loyal fan ever since, and it has come with a price. I was ridiculed during my youth for not having a PC, so I’ve always been in tune with the differences between the two. All of my friends owned PC’s, working their way from DOS up to the most modern Microsoft software. Only until a few years ago have the tides started to sway.

In fact, one person who ridiculed me more than most now calls himself the “Mac Guru.” He has his reasons for converting to the greatest computer operating system of all time, but they’re not what I’m here to tell you. Most PC users have struggled for years with the pitfalls of a windows machine. I’ve been forced to work with them at work, so I too am well aware.

I think what prevents them most from switching from PC to Mac is their unwillingness to get through the learning curve that MUST be associated with a different computer OS. What they don’t realize is that using a Mac is FUN! The learning curve is more like “Wow, that is really simple and intuitive. I didn’t even need to read any help documents, or instructions.” Where on a PC you’re pulling you hair out reading messages that make absolutely no sense. And problems happen that result in a 3 hour call where you’re booting into safe mode and checking this setting, and that setting, and rebooting, and screaming “AHHHHHHH” at the top of your lungs!

Macs just work - period, end of story. Their hardware is top notch, and in the event of a hardware failure, Apple is great about getting your computer fixed under warranty and sent right back. Several friends have received whole new machines, or their machine had some extra upgrades added at no additional cost while they were out. How is that for customer service? I often keep my Mac laptop on for years on end, without rebooting. Seriously, can any other PC computer manufacturer boast that? While using a PC at work I often rebooted as many as 10 times during a typical day. Usually loosing the work that I had been doing since the last reboot.

Apple’s design of the Macintosh is as simple and elegant as the operating system itself. Things are presented in a logical fashion, and it is virtually impossible for the new user to screw things up. Every device is plug and play, meaning it just works when you plug it in. Do you know exactly what that means? There is no need to install software, reboot, and scream with pain when things don’t work.

Here are some other benefits to owning a Macintosh. Better Graphics: Both the processing and the display is better. Making videos, gaming and movies so much better! Better reliability: Things just work! No installing drivers, updating drivers, and all the headaches that are just ingrained in a PC. Better Performance: Apple uses quality components. Not junk that will break in just over a year. I’ve used all my apple Mac computers for at least 7 years, and I still have them! I often pass them on to family members or set them up in a corner. They’re still running just like new! Better Interface: Everything is logical. There is no guessing what things do! The ease of use is unbelievable.

In the end, why buy a computer that tries to imitate Apple and does not have one original thought? Why not get the real deal right in the beginning? Macs are more than one step ahead of their competition in so many ways. It’s a shame that so many people are simply unaware of the greatness and simplicity that is a Macintosh computer. I truly recommend that if you’re “on the fence” about getting a Macintosh that you go and try one for yourself and you may be surprised just how easy the switch will be.

Let us help you find great deals on Macbooks, iMacs, Mac Minis, iPods and more cheap Apple Computer products. Save now- www.apple-only.com

[tags]Macintosh, Apple Computer, Apple iPhone, iPod, iphone, Apple, Mac OS, OS X, MacBook, Mac Mini[/tags]

Compared to a windows PC, Apple Macintosh computers are considerably more user-friendly and easier to use. The launcher, which is the bar of icons at the bottom of the screen when you first start, is a much more straightforward method of accessing commonly used tasks than the windows start menu. It also integrates some handy features like download and document stacks which help you keep track of the files you use the most.

What’s more, the installation of applications is just a few clicks, and the removal is just a matter of moving the applications to the trash, much easier than using the clunky add/remove programs system of windows. The dashboard feature allows you to keep information handy without it getting in the way. Windows has recently incorporated widgets on a sidebar of the desktop, but it takes up valuable screen space at all times.

The dashboard, by contrast, is gone when you don’t want to see it and only a keystroke away from letting you see the weather, translate a phrase, or manage your calendar and to-do list. This is a major player in the main strength of the Macintosh operating system, which is that it’s less cluttered. Whereas windows frequently shows large menus with every program you’ve ever installed cluttering your view, the engineers behind the Mac OS seem to realize that most people only use about 10 applications with any regularity, and make those visible while making the other applications easy to find in just a few clicks.

It’s also remarkably easy to back everything up, thanks to the time machine program, which will make periodic backups of your computer on an external hard drive behind the scenes. The macintosh software suites, iLife and iWork, are well designed and useful applications that help to make a Mac useful without buying a lot of applications. Considering that such common applications as Adobe’s creative suite and Microsoft’s Office suite can be purchased and installed if needed, you can easily make a Mac do almost anything you could want to use a PC for.

Another advantage of the Mac OS is that viruses are much rarer, making an antivirus program almost unnecessary which you could never do on a PC. Since such programs are normally a drain on system resources and an annoyance to manage, you can rest easy knowing that smart browsing habits should be enough to keep you safe on your Mac.

Add to this the convenience and thoughtful organization mentioned earlier, and the appeal of a Mac should begin to be clear. On a final note, the hardware is just beautiful and modern Macbooks, iMacs, and Mac Minis have incredible visual appeal compared to the often utilitarian designs of most other PC computers. So, the question no longer is Mac or PC but what kind of Mac do you want?

Let us help you find great deals on Macbooks, iMacs, Mac Minis, iPods and more cheap Apple Computer products. Save now- www.apple-only.com

[tags]Apple Computer, Apple iPhone, iPod, Macintosh, iphone, Apple, Mac OS, OS X, Apple Computer[/tags]

Let me begin by saying that owning a Macintosh computer is pure joy. There are so many extra features already included on each Mac that you do not get in a standard PC that it is just unreal. Apple has really thought of just about everything. Their programs are very easy to learn too and they feel really natural when you are using them.

Apple has iTunes for you to download music and videos. iTunes categorizes everything for you in a very simple format. It also easily syncs to your Apple iPhone. iPhoto, already on the Macs, makes uploading and storing your photos very easy. It also helps you to keep them in albums and sorts them by date or last roll. It also keeps a library of all your pictures.

iCal, another program that is standard on the Mac, helps you to keep track of your special events and appointments. You can also set reminders so you never forget a special day. Stickies is another standard program - it allows you to create post it notes on your desktop so that you don’t forget to do something important. A big plus is that you don’t have the actual stickies all over the place.

All the programs you want to use can be easily stored on your own personal dock at the bottom of the screen. You can manipulate items and add or remove them whenever you want. The time capsule is a fool proof way to back up all your data and information in a very easy way.

Office for Mac allows you to open a gallery of items that include beautiful and artistic templates for anything from brochures to calendars. You can do something as simple as a resume or something as complex as a business plan. If you need to use Word, Excel, or Powerpoint, it is also available. You can color code tabs on your desktop so similar projects can be in one color.

Let’s talk about the internet for a moment. Surfing the web is easy with Safari. You can add several bookmarks to your bookmark bar. I open several tabs and then can easily surf different pages within seconds. My own computer even has a built in camera. It makes it easy to use Skype to talk to family and friends without hooking up an external camera.

Even the screen savers are beautiful in comparison to what you would find on your standard PC! As you can tell, I love my Macintosh computer. I recommend getting a Mac to everyone I know and even people I don’t. Every single person I know who has bought a Mac loves it too. If you want to have a lot of cool programs to use that are easy to use and fun as well, then do yourself a favor and get a Mac.

Let us help you find great deals on Macbooks, iMacs, Mac Minis, iPods and more cheap Apple Computer products. Save now- www.apple-only.com

[tags]Apple Computer, Apple iPhone, iPod, Macintosh, Apple, Mac OS, OS X, Apple Computer[/tags]

In 1976, two American misfits with a passion for technology got together and started a company which would go on to become one of the world leaders in personal computers. Those men were Steve Wozniak and Steve Jobs and their company? Apple Computers.

Fast forward to 2008 and Apple Computers is now just Apple and products like the Macbook and iPhone have inspired evangelical fanaticism in the young, the trendy, the arty and the wealthy.

Apple’s flair for eye-catching, minimalist design, intuitive user interfaces, innovative features and some pretty heavy-handed marketing has created far more than just a brand, somehow they have created a lifestyle.

Life wasn’t always as easy for the chaps at Apple, before the days of the iPod the company had a small cult following but was widely considered to be on it’s way out. Fortune Magazine ran a story on Apple in 1996 and concluded;
‘By the time you read this story, the quirky cult company will end its wild ride as an independent enterprise.’

In 1997 Steve Jobs returned to the company having left in 1985 to start a company devoted to developing computer platforms for higher education and business. As soon as Jobs returned to Apple and became CEO he ended projects on struggling Apple products such as Cyberdog, a then competitor to Internet Explorer.

Jobs revitalised the flagging brand and in 2001 the iPod was launched, cementing Apple once again the the consumer electronics market. Before the iPod, Apple’s efforts were a bit more hit and miss, three products in particular stand out as the company’s most dramatic failures.

Apple Bandai Pippin
In 1995/6 Apple created a multimedia console which was also intended to function as a cheap computer capable of playing CD-based games. In short, Apple made a games console, a terrible one.

Apple leased the technology out to third parties and Bandai chose the Pippin as it’s platform to enter the highly competitive gaming market.

In the mid 1990s the Sony Playstation and Sega Saturn dominated the games market. They were well established with a strong catalogue of software written by several developers. When the Pippin was released there was very little available software and the only publisher was Bandai themselves. The highly limited selection of games put off consumers and the first nail in the Pippin’s coffin was struck.

It could be said that cost was what finished the machine off. The Pippin cost $599 on launch, considerably more than competitor consoles of the time cost. Consumers overlooked or simply did not care about the console’s applications as a ‘proper’ computer and it’s failure was rapid, so rapid in fact that under 50,000 units were ever made and today almost nobody knows the ill-fated machine ever existed.

The ‘Hockey Puck’ Mouse
Perhaps the least ergonomic mouse ever produced, the so-called ‘Hockey Puck Mouse’ was a study in how not to design a pointing device. It was uncomfortable, unintuitive and difficult for users with larger hands to use for any extended length of time.

For reasons unknown, Apple decided to depart from the typical, comfortable, tried and tested mouse shape and instead produced a flat, round mouse with a single button which was hardly defined on the body of the device.

Customers had to constantly look down to reposition the unruly gizmo. Apple responded to a slew of complaints by placing a small indent on the mouse’s button to make it easier to find, needless to say, the Hockey Puck mouse was short-lived.

Various companies offered clip on shells to transform the ghastly device into something more user-friendly but thankfully, the RSI-inducing nightmare of a mouse was discontinued and replaced with a more traditional, oblong shape.

Apple Quicktake
Ever wondered why Apple don’t have a digital camera out? The Apple Quicktake is probably why.

In 1994 Apple entered the fledgling digital photography market with the Quicktake 100, the camera was built by Kodak had 1MB of flash memory and 640×480 resolution.

Although the specs are laughable today they were relatively competitive back then, it was the whopping price tag that dragged the Quicktake down. At $750 the Apple camera was considerably more expensive than its rivals for very little benefit.

The Quicktake went through two revisions before Steve Jobs culled the device in 1997 and began the glorious Apple revolution that brought us the iMac, the Macbook and the iPhone.

Samantha is an expert Research and Theatre consultant. She is currently excited about the upcoming West End revival of Oliver!

[tags]apple, macintosh, apple mac, quicktake, pippin, hockey puck, steve jobs, iphone[/tags]

The MacBook Pro was the first Apple computer to feature the Intel Centrino Core Duo chipset - a dual-core processing platform that was being perfected at the same time as the new Pro. The release of these two great innovations means you get a laptop that reportedly delivers performance four to five times faster than the previously released PowerBook G4. The new Mac Pro release was aimed at the professional and power user market, but has made plenty of fans among less demanding users.

The extremely thin MacBook Pro with the aluminum case weighs 2.54 kilograms and features a 15.4-inch wide-screen monitor, an iSight camera built in, and a remote for use with Apple’s Front Row media software. The trackpad has been enlarged, allowing for more room and comfort for scrolling and multi-touch gestures. The backlit keyboard has the sunken and separated keys that have become standard for Apple laptops.

The Mac Pro gives users a giant leap forward in processing speed, far above the performance of the PowerPC’s G4 processor, which was produced by IBM. Intel’s Core Duo processor has created a monster of a laptop that processes data at blazing speeds.

If you liked the profile of the 15-inch PowerBook, you’ll love the MacBook Pro. It looks very similar to the PowerBook and it weighs about the same, but the MacBook Pro brings users a larger monitor screen while keeping a slightly thinner profile.

The monitor is an LED-backlit glossy widescreen display with support for millions of colors. The high gloss finish of the display in this model, as compared to the former monitors’ matte display, is due to the thin glass cover on the screen. The bright display of the MacBook Pro monitor is possible due to Intel’s dual-core processors, which reportedly consume less power than the past generation single cores. The new MacBook is estimated to provide up to four times as much performance per watt as the PowerBook G4 did, resulting in a vastly improved display that isn’t as power hungry as previous laptop models.

So what’s the downfall of the MacBook Pro? Like most laptops, the answer is in battery life. Although this laptop and monitor is supposed to be more power conscious, battery life and corresponding problems seem like they will always be an issue. Another less important, though often worrisome downfall, is the amount of heat generated under the laptop during use. Neither of these issues are serious enough to take away from the advances that it brings to the table.

The Apple Laptop Shop specializes in finding used apple laptops, used MacBook, and used macbook pro.

Before shelling out your hard earned money for a used laptop, you need to consider whom you are buying it from. Some situations make it easier to verify that the person selling you the used laptop is not a scammer than others.

For example, buying a used Apple laptop from a classified ad may not very smart. After all, how do you know if you can trust the person selling the laptop? You have no way of finding out if that seller has ever scammed people before. If the used laptop doesn’t work like advertised can you get your money back? If you do buy from a classified ad, always make sure to get a written receipt and a confirmed address and phone number of the person selling the laptop.

These are questions that should concern you when shopping for any laptop, not just used ones.

Bidding on an eBay auction means you can have answers to those questions before you buy. Any seller dealing in used laptops can be easily researched with eBay’s system. Nowhere else lets you see a seller’s detailed feedback from past transactions, find out their return policies and have your sale protected like eBay can.

Here are some things to look for before bidding on a used laptop on eBay:

The seller’s guarantee. Make sure they state that they will return your money if the used laptop doesn’t work.

The seller’s transaction history. Have they sold a lot of laptops or other similar items? Has the feedback on those items been positive? Always make sure you buy from reputable sellers with positive feedback.

The dealer’s shipping and handling fees. Do the fees cost more than the used Apple laptop did in the first place? If the fees aren’t reasonable, the dealer is probably shady.

Ebay is a great place to find a used Apple laptop and the accessories to match it. With eBay’s security policies and seller requirements you can make a safe and smart transaction easily.

But before you go straight to eBay, you may want to look elsewhere on the web for used laptops. For example, if you’re looking for a used Mac, you may want to consider the Apple Laptop Shop, which specializes in finding great deals on used apple laptops.

Additionally, there are great online stores to find deals on PC laptops as well. With a little time on Google, you will be surprised at the deals you find.

The Apple Laptop Shop specializes in finding used apple laptops, Apple laptop articles, and used macbook pro.

[tags]laptop, laptops, mac, macintosh, macbook, apple, computer, used, ebay, classified, computers, tips[/tags]

The MacBook Air is one hot selling laptop. The Mac Book Air is Apple’s new Ultra Light, Ultra Thin notebook. Although this isn’t the first ultra thin notebook to hit the market (the first was the X505 from Sony in 2003), this is probably the most hyped.

The MacBook Air will find a following with on-the-go Travelers and Business people no doubt. The Air sports a wedge design that tapers from approximately 3/4″ to less than a 1/4″ at the front of the “wedge”. The little “heavy weight” notebook weighs in at a mere 3lbs.

Other features for the on-the-go Students and Business people will find useful are:

Built-in AirPort Extreme Wi-Fi wireless networking that is IEEE 802.11A/B and C compatible
Built in BlueTooth and EDR
1 Built in USB 2.0 port
1 Micro DVI port
1 Audio Out Port
13.3 inch backlit TFT Glossy Widescreen
Intel Core 2 Duo processor with a 4MB on-chip shared L2 cache
Built in sight camera
Built in mono speaker
Omnidirectional microphone
These features and more will make the MacBook Air a hit with business traveler as well as the on-the-go student.

MacBook Air Is Green Friendly
Apples states that the MacBook Air is also Environmentally friendly. Apples product information states that the Air uses the least power of any Mac. It uses a highly recyclable aluminum case, Mercury free LCD display and arsenic free glass, PVC free internal cables, most of the packaging is recyclable plus the MacBook Air meets Energy Star requirements. The MacBook Air also received a Silver rating from EPEAT.

What Comes With the MacBook Air
The MacBook Air ships with a Micro DVI to DVI adapter, a Micro DVI to VGA adapter, a cleaning and polishing cloth, MagSafe power adapter, Install and Restore DVD’s plus full documentation. If the Mac Book Air has a fault, it’s that it doesn’t come with some of the standard items that other light weight notebooks come with. But it’s a Mac and it’s air light, so we can put up with some things not being available to us..right?

According to Steve the new MacBook Air’s will not start shipping for another 2 weeks. Only time will tell whether or not the MacBook Air will be the light weight power house that it has been hyped to be, but with all the features packed into this 3lb giant, it’s certainly off to a good start! Keep watching for a full review of the Macbook Air when mine arrives!

Bill Miller is a computer gadget freak. You can find his MacBook Air reviews on his blog. His MacBook Air Review will give you all the in’s and out’s of the latest hot product from Apple.

[tags]mac, macbook, mac book air, apple, macintosh, laptops,[/tags]