Your Business on a Mac
10 reasons why Mac is ideal for business
Businesses today need technology that works in a multiplatform environment, runs the soft- ware they need, offers proven reliability and security, and delivers lasting value. With a rich suite of applications included and powerful tools built in, the Mac is ready to go to work.
1. Fits in and stands out.
Incorporating the Mac into your existing PC network is easier than ever with Mac OS X. Native support for Mac- and Windows-based networks means that you don’t have to deal with compatibility issues and you can leverage your existing technology investments. The Mac can connect to virtually any server, share files with nearly any computer, and seamlessly share printers and other network services. It can even authenticate to Active Directory services. With Mac OS X, the Mac has out-of-the-box support for Microsoft Exchange Server 2007, something even Windows PCs don’t have.
2. Runs the software you need.
From accounting and finance to marketing, sales, and productivity—you can do it all on the Mac. The Mac runs both Microsoft Office and iWork,1 Apple’s productivity suite, to help you produce stunning documents, spreadsheets, and presentations. And built into every Mac at no extra charge, the iLife suite of applications includes iPhoto, iMovie, GarageBand, and iDVD—so you can easily create impressive marketing and advertising videos or design and publish compelling websites. You can also choose from thousands of dashboard widgets to help you customize the way your Mac works to suit your exact business needs.
3. Delivers rock-solid reliability.
With Mac OS X, you can count on the stability and security of a UNIX-based operating system—not just for desktop systems, but also for servers, notebooks, and even mobile devices like the iPod and iPhone. Apple designs the Mac and Mac OS X to work together, so a Mac is less susceptible to the conflicts and crashes that Windows PCs experience. Its renowned ease of use can also reduce support costs. That means you have more time and money to focus on what matters—growing your business and delivering great products and services to customers.
4. Includes built-in security.
Mac OS X doesn’t get Windows PC viruses. And its built-in, multilayered system of defenses helps keep your business safe from the constant threat of viruses. The Mac provides advanced, built-in security features, such as an application-based firewall, VPN client, strong encryption tools, and integrated Internet security.
5. Boosts productivity.
The Mac is designed to help you get work done quickly, with unique features that help you stay organized. Use Quick Look to see inside any document—even multiple-page documents—without ever launching an application. Browse files visually using Cover Flow. Use the Dock to store frequently used applications and files. And no matter what you’re looking for, the powerful search tool Spotlight helps you find it—even if what you need is on other network-connected computers.
6. Improves teamwork.
With the Mac, your business can collaborate more and spend less. The Mac helps keep your team coordinated and in sync with built-in solutions for email, calendaring, and contacts—all at no extra charge. And iChat—Apple’s built-in video conferencing solution—allows you to work with colleagues from across the hall or around the world—no need to get on a plane.
7. Helps you create videos with ease and flair.
The Mac provides powerful tools so you can easily produce and deliver video that expresses creativity, communicates key business messages, and captures the attention of a wide variety of audiences—employees, partners, and especially customers. It also lets you create and share video content across multiple media, including the Internet, iTunes,2 iPod, and DVDs. With the Mac, it’s simple to create attention-grabbing videos that promote your business and wow your customers—all without complex applications, large budgets, or professional assistance.
8. Backs up automatically.
The Mac helps keep your data secure with Time Machine. Once enabled and with an external hard drive attached,1 it automatically saves up-to-date copies of everything on your Mac for quick recovery. Easily go back in time to recover anything—your videos, documents, applications, and even settings. With Time Machine, you can worry less about safeguarding your valuable intellectual property knowing that you have a simple and secure backup system in place.
9. Runs Windows applications, just in case.
The Mac supports Windows files and applications. In fact, it will run the entire Windows operating system. Using Boot Camp, part of Mac OS X, you can choose to start up in either Windows or Mac OS X. And third-party applications, like VMware Fusion or Parallels Desktop for Mac,1 let you seamlessly run Windows and Mac OS X side by side—and even cut and paste between them.
10. Makes a smart investment.
The Mac offers everything a business requires, with features that streamline computer administration, boost productivity, support collaboration, and enable digital content creation. And the Mac tops the charts in reliability and customer satisfaction. That means real value for your business.
Top Ten Reasons Why Mac is Ideal for Business
May 26th, 2010
Creating PDFs from almost any application
April 28th, 2010
PDF stands for “Portable Document Format”, and what makes a PDF document practical is that it is universal – anyone on any computer, Mac or PC, can open it, without having the software originally used to create it. It can’t be modified by anyone; it’s essentially a picture of the page.
That means you can save a Pages document in a format your friend on a PC can read. It also means you can send a contract created in Word, and the recipient can’t change it and claim that’s how it was originally.
PDFs are saved like any other file, and can also be organized in iPhoto or Aperture.
To convert a document to PDF format, simply go to the Print dialog box.* In the lower right-hand corner, there will be a PDF button. Click on it, and you’ll have a variety of options, not just for the conversion, but for the action you want to do with it as well.
Choose “Save as PDF…” to convert to PDF and save it on your hard drive for archiving, or future use.
“Open in Preview” will immediately let you see what it looks like.
“Mail PDF” will open up Apple Mail and instantly attach the file, so all you have to do is address it and send it!
“Save as Adobe PDF” gets it ready to be modified in Adobe Acrobat, if you’ll be using it as the basis for an interactive form.
“Save PDF to Aperture” and “Save PDF to iPhoto” will instantly add the file to your photo library. You can then assign it keywords, ratings, and move it into albums. These choices are a great way of creating an archive of important records.
“Save PDF to folder as JPG (or TIFF)” turns the document into a graphic image.
“Save PDF to Web Receipts Folder” from either Mail or Safari allows to create digital receipts to track online purchases.
Once your document is saved as a PDF, its universal file format will allow you to use it in any way you’d like!
*If your print dialog box is very small, click the blue arrow to the right of the printer name to expand it out.
The fastest, most powerful MacBook Pro ever. Times three.
April 21st, 2010
The new MacBook Pro, available in 13-, 15-, and 17-inch models, sets all-new benchmarks for Mac notebooks. The 15- and 17-inch MacBook Pro feature Intel Core i5 and Core i7 processors, which boost performance up to 50 percent and reach Turbo Boost speeds up to 3.33GHz. Next-generation NVIDIA graphics bring high performance to everything from 3D games to photos and videos. And the built-in battery lasts up to 10 hours (8 to 9 hours on the 15- and 17-inch models). Starting at $1199.
Safari Bookmark Groups
March 25th, 2010
Do you visit the same websites every day? Do you open them one at a time, or open a half-dozen windows at a time? This tip will save you a ton of time and effort. Create a button on your Bookmark Bar that opens a group of tabs at once!
This works particularly well for opening all your bank accounts at once, all your news pages, or your email account and Google at the same time.
To create a Bookmark Group, first open each website in its own tab. To create a new tab, press Command-T, or File>New Tab. Navigate to the page you want. Create another tab, and open up the next page in the series. Do this until you have all the pages open in different tabs.
Be sure to go to the login page where you enter your password, not just the landing page, otherwise you’ll still have to click to it every time!
Once you have the tabs set up, go up to the Bookmarks menu and choose “Add Bookmark for these X tabs.” A window will pop up that says “Saved Tabs”. Change that to something short yet descriptive, like “Banking” or “News” or “My Tabs”. Be sure that the dropdown says “Bookmark Bar” (if it says something else, change it to this). Click Add.
Look on the left of your Bookmarks Bar. You’ll now see the name you typed, with a little square to the right. Click on it anytime, and it will reset the window to your tab set instantly.
Praise for MacPac Academy
March 11th, 2010
In February we introduced the MacPac Academy, where you can take low-cost classes to learn how to use your Mac efficiently, minimizing your learning curve. Alicia and Doug love teaching, and it shows! Here are a few comments from satisfied customers/students:
“I liked the speed of the instructor. Answered questions. Easy to understand.”
“Excellent – thorough – patient – organized – proficient. Practical advice.”
“This makes more sense than the trial-and-error method.”
“She answered all our questions as she taught.”
“Super. Wonderful. Awesome!”
“Liked the hands-on classroom computer.”
“Liked the rapid fire of information. Very pleasant, courteous, patient.”
“Liked the small class size and good interaction.”
“I liked all of it and learned a lot.”
“Great as usual. Always moves at the pace of the students. Very helpful.”
“Fun, clear, professional.”
Click here for a list of upcoming classes. Call MacPac at 503-256-5210 to sign up!
Tips and Tricks: Easy Access to Your Favorite Files
March 2nd, 2010
I see far too many people keeping their most important files on their desktop. I know what they’re thinking: “I can get to it so easily from here!”
But that’s like owning a file cabinet, and keeping your most essential documents piled in a stack on top of it!
You can accidentally throw them in the trash…save over them…forget to back them up…. You have to look at the clutter all the time. Plus, it actually requires your computer to work a little harder because it has to keep drawing their icons!
The first step in cleaning up the clutter is to put the files away where they belong. Put your files in the Documents folder, and your photos in iPhoto or the Pictures folder. After you’ve straightened up your desktop, here are five ways of accessing your files just as easily:
- Drag the file to the right side of the Dock. One-click access!
- Open a Finder window and drag the file to the sidebar.
- Open a Finder window and drag the file to the title bar at the top.
- Search for the first few letters of the filename in Spotlight.
- Use the Recent Items flyout under the Apple Menu.
The MacPac Authorized to Sell iPad
January 28th, 2010
The MacPac is thrilled to announce it is authorized to sell the iPad, which will be available on Saturday, April 3, for Wi-Fi models and in late April for Wi-Fi + 3G models.
Beginning today, customers can pre-order both Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi + 3G models from The MacPac and we will have demo models in the showroom to try out Saturday, April 3rd, 2010.
“The iPad is an amazing device. We think it will be much better than a NetBook for the person who wants e-mail, web, social networking and eBooks everywhere they go.” said George Swords, Marketing Manager at The MacPac. “The iPad uses the same technology that has made the iPod touch and the iPhone so popular. The interface was designed to touch from the beginning and now with a larger screen has even more potential. As you know, the iPad — Apple’s first tablet-style computing device — is making its debut this Saturday, and while much has been said about the iPad’s use as a consumer product, it is also an outstanding business device because of its unlimited, go-to-work applications. ”
“With everything the new Apple iPad offers, we have decided to create iPad training courses. How many times have we learned about a new feature and said – ‘I had no idea it could do that!’ Our customers love our instructors and our small class sizes because they get so much out of each class. MacPac also will provide professional consulting, training and support for the iPad, just as it does for Apple’s network of computing devices.”
We are anxious to begin working with our customers, IT executives and CIOs to help incorporate the iPad into their businesses and day-to-day lives. Internet access, email, screen size and application availability are just a few reasons this will be so incredibly popular. We’re excited to be a part of the rollout and to introduce our customers to the next generation of Apple’s technology.
For more information on pricing and availability, or for a personal iPad demonstration of what this fantastic device can do for you, please call us right away at 503-256-5210.
Pricing & Availability iPad will be available in Wi-Fi models on April 3 in the US for a suggested retail price of $499 for 16GB, $599 for 32GB, $699 for 64GB. The Wi-Fi + 3G models will be available in late April for a suggested retail price of $629 for 16GB, $729 for 32GB and $829 for 64GB.
Apple, the Apple logo, iPad, Multi-Touch are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries.
See the blog for more information.
