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Laptops are small sized portable computers that can sit on someone’s lap. Since you place the computer on top of your lap, the term laptop has been coined. Often, Apple laptops my go under the name of notebooks due to its size and to a lesser extent its functions. These portable computers serve the same purpose of regular computers but they are convenient to carry around and travel with. In the case of Apple made laptops, they are referred to as iBooks or simply the MacBooks. The Mac is short for Macintosh, which is Apple’s brand name for their computers.

Apple computers can vary drastically from other laptops on the market. One of the primary differences is that they come equipped with Apple operating systems instead of Microsoft based operating systems. However, the ability to run other operating systems on Apple laptops can be done. If your laptop comes with Mac OS X Leopard and you are used to using Windows XP, this can require some knowledge of Mac products. This in itself isn’t a problem but trying to find computer software that’s compatible with Apple may be. Nevertheless, graphic design artist and musicians often prefer Apple based laptops over competitors. This is because Apple clearly has the upper hand in several key points of computer technology. Over the last couple of years, students have left their standard laptop models and have switched to Apple in large numbers. Here are some popular Apple laptops detailing some of there many features.

Apple iBook G3
integrated ethernet/Apple G3 800MHz processor/256 MB of RAM/Mac OS 10 pre-installed/30 GB hard drive/56K modem/airport wireless card/Cdrom drive ready to access media/12.1-inch TFT LCD

Apple Powerbook G4
60GB Ultra ATA 100 hard driveAirPort Extreme wireless networking and internal Bluetooth/DVI, VGA, S-video and composite video support/Combo (DVD-ROM/CD-RW) optical drive/two USB 2.0 ports and FireWire 400/256MB of 333 MHz DDR SDRAM

Prices for Apple laptops are consistent with other brands that are out. Prices can range from a little over one thousand dollars all the way up to three thousand dollars for new Apple laptops. It’s roughly the same for other models as well. Below are other models out that can be customized to your liking by interchanging parts.

Other Apple laptop models
Apple MacBook Air
Apple MacBook
Apple MacBook Pro
Apple iBook G4

Apple laptops parts
OEM Batteries/Hard Drive Caddies/Internal Drives/CPU’s/Circuit Boards/Keyboards/Cooling Fans/Miscellaneous Items/Inverters/OEM AC Adapters/DC Power Jacks/OEM Memory/Cables/Hard Drive Adapters/LCD Displays/Plastic Case

Not all laptop parts will work with Apple computers. Research should be done beforehand to determine if problems that may arise can be fixed in your area. This is because not all computer technicians are familiar with Apple products since Microsoft based computers dominate the market. Finding parts and people to install them may be very limited.

Conclusion
Ultimately what it all comes down to is your own personal taste. All laptops work primarily the same and have the same parts but things such as speed, weight and look are often the main areas laptop buyers look into when trying to decide on a laptop. Price and feature wise, Apple laptops are well worth the price. However, as I mentioned earlier, Microsoft, Windows users will need to prepare to get acquainted with the Apple based applications before they make the switch.

If you’re just getting started in Internet Marketing or any Web-related activity, you probably have lots of questions about Website hosting. There are many options available and monthly fees range from a few dollars to a hundred dollars or more. And you definitely don’t want to make a choice and then realize shortly after that you should have gone with something different – moving sites can be a pain. So how does a newbie figure out what’s right for their needs? Read on…

Shared Hosting

The first type of hosting you’ll find is shared hosting. Shared hosting means that you are given a block of hard drive space on a server that houses other accounts as well. You are sharing the server’s resources with dozens or even hundreds of other customers. And if the shared hosting account allows you to host multiple Websites, this means that there can be thousands of Websites living on this one server.

Let’s look at the good things about shared hosting. It is the most inexpensive type of hosting, which is a major plus for those just starting out. It usually includes a control panel (most often cpanel or plesk) which makes it easier to configure things on your hosting account. You often get an assortment of script installers (Fantastico is one of the more popular ways of providing this) which allow you to add a blog, a shopping cart, a guestbook and other options to your Website.

On the negative side, using shared hosting means that your Website is, to some extent, at the mercy of other sites on the same server. If another site is running a script that uses a lot of the server’s memory or processing power, it can slow down or even interrupt access to the other sites on the box. A good hosting provider will usually catch this problem and resolve it with the owner of the offending site, but it can still cause unnecessary headaches. Another potential problem is with spamming. If someone else on your server is sending out a lot of spam e-mail, the server’s IP address (the unique address of the server on the Internet) can be blacklisted by Internet Service Providers (ISPs) meaning that email sent from your Website might not get through, even though you aren’t the one spamming people!

Shared hosting is a good way to start if your Websites will be just HTML pages without any major scripts running, or if you don’t plan to send out a lot of email through the mail server. The pricing can’t be beat, but you have to be aware of the limitations and potential pitfalls I’ve outlined above.

One shared hosting provider I’d recommend is:

Omnis Network

Virtual Private Server/Virtual Dedicated Server

A step up from shared hosting is the VPS or Virtual Private Server (also called Virtual Dedicated Server or VDS). VPS hosting is similar to shared hosting in that you share a physical server with others. The big difference is that the server is outfitted with something called virtualization (Virtuozzo is one of the most common solutions used). Virtualization basically splits up the server’s resources into defined and dedicated blocks. Whereas with shared hosting, another user’s site can hog the physical server’s resources and bring all the other sites to a crawl, with VPS you get a certain amount of RAM and a certain percentage of processor usage that is dedicated to your sites. Similarly, each virtual server, or “chunk” of the overall physical server usually has it’s own IP address, thus reducing the potential for your IP being blocked because of someone else’s spam.

On the negative side, the cost of a VPS solution is usually significantly higher than a shared hosting package. Expect to spend about $40 to $90 a month. Look for coupons or specials that will either reduce your monthly cost or increase the level of resources assigned to your account without increasing the cost. And speaking of resources, make sure that you get a minimum of 128 MB of RAM (256 MB is strongly recommended). You also want to look for “burstable” resources, meaning that you can “borrow” unused resources beyond your dedicated limit for short periods of time. Another thing to watch out for is that many of the cheaper VPS packages do not come with much, if any, management of your virtual server. This means that you are responsible for installing any scripts you need (including a control panel in some cases). Unless you are a major tech geek willing to learn a lot about server configuration, try to find a managed VPS service that includes an already installed control panel (again, cpanel and plesk are recommended). It will save you a lot of headaches. Also look for WHM (Web Host Manager), which allows you to create sub-accounts for all of the domains you want to host.

Recommended VPS/VDS providers:

EasyCGI VPS Hosting

midPhase VPS Hosting

Dedicated Server

Hosting your site or sites on a dedicated server means that you are the only customer of the hosting company on a given server. You have the entire server and all its resources to yourself. No one else to bog down the server with complex scripts, no one else to get the IP address blacklisted for spamming. Just you. It sounds great, but the cost ($100 per month and up) is often prohibitive for many folks, especially those who are new at Internet marketing. Additionally, while you can sometimes find good deals on a dedicated server, there is usually a catch. That catch is that you take full responsibility for the software that is running on the box. You are responsible for updating to the latest version of the Apache web server, the latest version of PHP, the latest version of mySQL, etc. You are also responsible for making sure that security holes are patched so that your server doesn’t get hacked. In short, you probably have a lot to learn before you are ready for this type of responsibility.

That said, there are managed dedicated servers available, where someone at the hosting company takes care of some or all of these responsibilities. Of course, this costs even more money.

I don’t recommend a dedicated server for anyone just starting out, unless you’re a network admin who just quit his or her job to pursue the work-from-home dream that Internet marketing promises. Otherwise, steer clear until you have made enough money to pay for the fully managed dedicated server or to hire your own server admin.

So what should you do if you’re just starting out? I’d recommend starting with a good and inexpensive shared hosting provider until you learn the ropes and get comfortable with Web hosting. Once you’ve got some experience, move to a VPS solution. A smart way to go is to look for a hosting company that provides both shared and VPS plans – they may be able to help you move your sites if and when you need to upgrade your plan. (Both EasyCGI Hosting and midPhase Hosting – see links above – offer shared and VPS plans – check them out.)

Finally, the best tip I can give you is to make sure you understand what you’re getting in your hosting plan. Check the list of features against what you plan to do with your sites. If you are planning to run an ASP script, don’t sign up for Linux hosting – you need Windows hosting for ASP, in most cases. If you are planning to run a PHP application, make sure the plan you sign up for supports PHP (most do, but the point is to be diligent in checking your requirements before you sign up).

A good hosting provider can be a valuable asset to your online business for years to come. A poor one can be a major obstacle to success. Follow the advice I’ve provided here and you should be in good shape.

If something happens to your computer or your hardrive and your iTunes library is wiped out, did you know that Apple doesn’t allow you to transfer the music and other files on your iPod to a new iTunes install?

This means all those valuable songs and videos that you’ve bought and paid for in iTunes and uploaded to your iPod cannot be downloaded from your iPod back to iTunes. Apple does this to prevent unauthorized sharing of “protected” content.

Unfortunately lots of people with legitimate reasons to transfer files from iPod to iTunes can’t do it with the factory iTunes settings. This is where you have to turn to third party software developers.

4Media iPod to Mac Transfer can help you rip and transfer files from iPod to iTunes on Mac easily and quickly, it is perfect iPod transfer, iPod ripping software specially designed for Mac users. Moreover, this Mac iPod copy software supports transferring files from iPod/iPhone to iTunes and managing your iPod on any Mac.

Guide: How to transfer files from iPod to iTunes on Mac

Step1: Download 4Media iPod to Mac Transfer and install it, an icon would be created on the desktop. Run 4Media iPod to Mac Transfer and insert your iPod/iPhone. Your device can be automatically recognized by the program.

Step2: Select the files that you want to transfer to Mac.
Open the library/playlist that you want to export files to, and then check the file(s) you want to export in the file list.

Step3: Click the “iPod to iTunes ” button to start transferring songs, videos, or photos to you Mac.

Transfer your iPod to iTunes – you can copy music, playlists, photos, contacts, calendars, notes and videos from any iPod or iPhone to iTunes.

First steps Unpacking

Your box contains

a Mac mini

a power adaptor

a power cord

an Apple Remote

a DVI to VGA adaptor

Basic features

On the front of your Mac Mini is a slot-loading optical drive. The built-in infrared (IR) receiver lies to the right of the slot, and the power indicator light is at the bottom right-hand corner.

At the back of the Mac mini, you have two rows of features. Along the top row, from left to right, are

the power button

a security slot for a cable and lock

an audio in/optical digital audio in port

a headphone out/optical digital audio out port

Along the bottom row, from left to right, are

a power port

an Ethernet port (10/100/1000Base-T)

a FireWire 400 port

a DVI video out port

four USB 2.0 ports

AirPort Extreme wireless technology and Bluetooth® wireless technology are inside your Mac mini.

Power adaptor

Strip away the plastic film from your Mac mini and the power adaptor. Place the Mac mini on a firm surface right side up or on its side, and close to an electric socket. Your monitor, keyboard and mouse should also be near at hand.

Connect the power cord to the power adaptor

Put the plug on the end of the power adaptor’s lead into the Mac mini’s power port

Plug the power cord into the electric socket

Please note: never place anything on your Mac mini. Objects on your Mac mini may disrupt the optical drive, the AirPort Extreme wireless signal, and the Bluetooth® wireless signal.

Peripheral set-up

Your Mac mini is BYODKM – bring your own display, keyboard and mouse. Use the ones you already have (almost any are suitable).

Keyboard and mouse

Connect your keyboard to a USB port on the back of the Mac mini. Connect your mouse to a USB port on the keyboard or on the Mac mini.

Windows-based keyboards may not have specific Mac OS X Command and Option keys. The Windows logo key, however, is equivalent to the Mac OS X Command key, and the Alt key is equivalent to the Mac OS X Option key.

To modify the keyboard

click Apple>System Preferences

click Keyboard & Mouse

choose Modifier keys

follow the screen instructions

Please note: when you use a USB keyboard and mouse made by a company other than Apple, you may need software drivers. If you don’t already have these, visit the manufacturer’s website and download them.

Apple Wireless Keyboard and Mighty Mouse

If you have an Apple Wireless Keyboard and wireless Mighty Mouse, follow the set-up procedures contained in the appropriate manuals.

Monitor

Use your Mac mini’s DVI video out port to connect a monitor. If you have a VGA monitor, connect it to the Mac mini with the supplied DVI to VGA adaptor.

Please note; your Mac mini supports digital resolutions up to 1,920 x 1,200 pixels. This means you can attach a 20 inch Apple Cinema Display or a 23 inch Apple Cinema HD Display.

Internet or network

Connect your Mac mini to the Internet or a network wirelessly or by using a cable.

Wireless. Your Mac mini has built-in AirPort Extreme wireless technology. For more details, go to Menu Bar; select Help>Mac Help; and click Library>AirPort Help.

Cable. Simply plug one end of an Ethernet cable into your Mac mini, and the other into a cable modem, DSL modem, or network.

Switching on Power button

To start your Mac mini, press the power button located on the back.

Setup Assistant

When you first use your Mac mini, Setup Assistant appears. This enables you to establish your

user account

Internet access

email details

If you already own a Mac computer, you can use Setup Assistant to transfer software and files to your Mac mini.

If you prefer to wait before you transfer information, use Migration Assistant at a later date.

Select the Applications folder

Open Utilities

Double-click Migration Assistant

Customising

To change the layout of Desktop – the first screen that appears when you’ve finished with Setup Assistant – go to the Menu Bar and select Apple>System Preferences. For more details on what you can do to customise your Mac mini, select Mac Help and search for “System preferences”.

Sleep mode and shutting down Sleep mode

If you intend to be away from your Mac mini for just a short while, you can put it in sleep mode rather than shut it down. Simply choose one of the following actions:

press and hold your Apple Remote’s Play/Pause button for three seconds

select Apple>System Preferences; choose Energy Saver; set the timer

press the power button

select Apple>Sleep on the Menu Bar

When you’re ready to wake your Mac mini, press any of your Apple Remote’s buttons or any key on your keyboard.

Shut down

Shut down your Mac mini by selecting Apple>Shut Down. To turn it on once more, press the power button.

Please note: do not move your Mac mini before you’ve shut it down. You can damage the hard disc if you move the computer while the disc is spinning.

Basic OS X guide Operating system

Mac OS X v10.5 Leopard is your Mac mini’s operating system. It runs your files, software and peripheral devices, and is similar in principle to Windows.

Controls

Your controls are your mouse, keyboard and Apple Remote. If you’re more used to Windows, you’ll soon discover that Mac OS X is easier to navigate and faster.

Main features

Navigating your Mac mini’s screens is easy. There are self-explanatory windows, menus, and shortcuts, plus the following main features:

Desktop

Dock

Finder

Menu bar

Desktop

Desktop is the screen where you normally start each time you switch on your Mac mini. The screen displays your HD (hard drive) icons. Select an HD icon to view the files and applications it contains. When you plug a peripheral device into your Mac mini, the appropriate icon appears on Desktop.

Points to note:

Use Desktop to store your folders, images, files and other documents

Mac OS X gives each user of your Mac mini a separate Desktop

Desktop lies behind any of the applications you run

Dock

The icons at the bottom of the screen are the Dock. Use the icons to access your most frequently used applications, folders, files and windows.

When a window appears, note that it has three coloured buttons in the upper left-hand corner.

Red closes the window

Yellow minimises the window to the Dock

Green maximises and minimises the window’s size

Finder

The Dock icon on the far left is the Finder. You can use Finder to manage your folders, drives and applications.

Menu Bar

Mac OS X has just one Menu Bar. It appears on your screen as a line at the top.

Use the Menu Bar to

work with a programme

view and change settings and software

close software

check your recent work

log in

log out

put your Mac mini into sleep mode

restart your Mac mini

switch off

The Menu Bar changes to give you the most suitable options for the software you’re running.

Connectivity

For a list of connection ports, see First steps – Basic features.

The FireWire 400 port is ideal for connecting high-speed devices. These include digital video cameras and hard drives.

The four USB 2.0 ports are for devices such as your keyboard, mouse, iPod, printer, camera, and games controller. Your Mac mini will recognise many of these without the need to run software because Apple pre-installs hundreds of peripheral drivers at its factory to make connections as quick and easy as possible.

Use your audio in/optical digital audio in port for a microphone. Use the headphone out/optical digital audio out port for a pair of headphones or speakers. You can also use either port for your digital audio equipment as appropriate.

For more guides & tips head to: www.duncsweb.com Being new to OS X, I decided to make this video showing all the things I have learned while using the Operating System. If I have made a mistake or missed anything out please leave a response or comment, thanks! feel free to follow me on twitter www.twitter.com