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Enhance the look and feel of your movies with iMovie Themes
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Refurbished Macs

Want a Mac but don't want to spend a fortune? Get great deals with Refurbished Macs
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Google Wave on the iPhone

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Refurbished Macs

by Dan

Refurbished MacsOne of the many arguments that you’ll hear from PC owners is that Apple computers are just too expensive. PC owners often state that PCs that contain the same hardware specifications as a typical Macintosh computer will cost 15% – 20% less. It is true that prices are a bit more expensive for Apple devices, it is hard to compare Macs to PCs because of differences in software, security, and how a Mac is often much easier to re-sell and at higher prices.

If you’re looking for a new computer and are on a PC budget but really want a Macintosh there are ways for you to get a Mac at a PC price. Like most computer manufactures, Apple sells their refurbished macs at discounted prices. These discounts can at times reach as high as 30% off original MSRP Prices.

Best Place to Buy Refurbished Macs

There are a number of different places that sell refurbished Macs to customers looking to get an Apple computer at a discounted rate but in reality the two best places to purchased refurbished Macs are directly from Apple or from a large distributer like Amazon.

For example, this Macbook Air can be purchased for close to $1000.

Right now on the Apple Refurbished Store there are a number of computer models available for less than $1000. Currently the highest discount is at 28% MSRP but Apple continually changes the prices and discount rates on refurbished apple computers so be sure to check back periodically to see if the device is available.

Is It Safe to Buy Refurbished Macs?

While it is true that Refurbished Macs were used for a short period (often less than 30 days) of time and then returned to Apple because of a defective part, the computers are just as reliable as brand new Apple products you may purchase. Apple fully tests, and cleans all refurbished Macs before shipping them out again to new customers. Additionally, these computers are given new part numbers and serial numbers so previous owners can not track down the old computers they used.

To stand by the quality of the refurbished product, Apple includes a one-year warranty on refurbished macintosh products. Additionally, Apple offers extended coverage through AppleCare on their refurbished products.

I’ve purchased a number of refurbished Macintosh products from Apple in the past and have never had a problem with them. Each time, the device came in its own packaging and it looked and functioned just like a new Apple computer.

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Guest Post at Maciverse.com

by Dan

We here at Maciverse love offering Mac Help but also understand that there are countless tips and tricks to get the most out of your Apple products that we don’t know about. That’s why we’re turning to our readers and inviting you to be guest authors here at Maciverse.com.

If you’re wondering what we’re looking for, it is really anything to do with Apple products. Have an accessory that you just can’t do without, software that makes your life easier, or settings and configurations that speeds up your work progress then reach out to us and share. We’re even interested in those unique apple websites that you find beneficial. We’ll post your article here at Maciverse.com and it will go out to over 400 subscribers, and be read by our 60,000 monthly visitors.

The best way to reach us is to head over to the Contact Us page and send us a note letting us know you’d like to share with the rest of the Maciverse community.

Thanks, we look forward to hearing from you!

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OS X Firewall

by Dan

Apple Computers stresses as part of its advertising campaign the solid security and nature of OS X. One of the main messages that Apple wants consumers to take away is that Macintosh computers are secure, they don’t get viruses, and they just work.

One of the main features on each Mac to help keep it secure is the built in OS X Firewall. However, many times the firewall software is turned off by default. For example, after installing a fresh version of OS X Snow Leopard I checked to see how secure my system was setup. What I found was that the OS X Firewall was turned off by default.

The Importance of a Firewall

A firewall is a set of software that helps control what can and cannot be accessed on a computer or other device from external sources. Sometimes firewalls are included in computers while additional firewalls can be set at the network level to help keep a collection of computers secure.

Firewalls block unauthorized access to data and other files, or filter through only the applications and individuals with the proper credentials to access the data they should have access to.

Mac OS X has a built in firewall to help keep your data an information safe.

OS X Firewall

The Firewall included in OS X can be accessed and configured through system preferences. To setup OS X Firewall:

  1. Open System Preferences and select Security
    2. System Preferences - Security
  2. Select the Firewall Tab. To make changes to the firewall you’ll need to unlock the security around it. Click the Lock icon in the lower left corner and enter your user credentials.
    3. OS X Firewall
  3. If your Firewall is off, turn it on by clicking the Start button. This will limit incoming traffic to your computer.
  4. Click the Advanced button to change Firewall Settings
  5. From the Advanced menu, you can configure your OS X firewall to block all incoming connection, allow specific applications to communicate through the firewall, allow signed software to receive incoming connections, and run in Stealth mode which keeps your computer from being found by other computers and devices on the network
    6. OS X Firewall Advanced.jpg

Apple’s OS X Firewall is a feature to help keep your computer secure from potential hackers, people seeking your data and information, or keeping yourself hidden from others that may be trying to find you on a network.

However, if configured incorrectly some or all of your internet applications may not function correctly as they can’t send and receive the information they need.

If you’re not sure about configuring a firewall, consider other third party Firewall and Security Software for macs and OS X that may work better for you.

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Installing Snow Leopard onto an External Hard Drive

by Dan

When new versions of an operating system are released, its not uncommon to want to test out how the new software will work with your hardware, software, and data. The worst thing to experience is when your “upgrade” becomes a “downgrade” because none of your data is accessible or software available.

Apple recently released Snow Leopard and we walked readers through how to install snow leopard from a USB Drive. Now we’ll explain the steps on how to install snow leopard onto an External Hard Drive so users can test out the new OS X 10.6 without risking the potential negative impacts of an upgrade on their Leopard Installation.

Installing OS X Snow Leopard on an External Hard Drive

The steps to install Snow Leopard onto an external hard drive are very similar to the steps of booting OS X from a USB drive. In fact, if you have a large enough USB flash drive, you can use these same steps to install Snow Leopard on to it. This 128 GB USB Flash Drive can service just as well as a normal External Hard Drive, and may even run a bit faster than your typical HD.

  1. Insert the OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard DVD into your Mac, or boot into the USB Snow Leopard Installation we described in an earlier post.
  2. Open system preferences from the menu bar, select start up disks and then the OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard Install DVD. Click the restart button to start the installation process
  3. After your computer restarts continue through the introduction and agreement pages
  4. The External Hard Drive won’t currently be an option for installation so we’ll need to use Disk Utility to make some configuration changes. Select Utility from the Menu Bar to access Disk Utility.
  5. Once Disk Utility opens, select the External Hard Drive you’d like to install Snow Leopard onto and then Select Partition. From here select 1 Partition and then click Options. To allow the Mac to boot from the external hard drive, the drive must be setup with a GUID Partition Table. Select GUID.
  6. To make sure that you don’t mistake the External Drive for your normal Hard Drive, be sure to name the Volume something like “Snow Leopard”. Apply the changes and continue to the next step
  7. Exit DisK Utility and the installation window will return asking which volume you’d like to install snow leopard onto. Select the External Hard Drive that we partitioned with GUID (Named Snow Leopard) to continue the installation. Follow the instruction until the installation is complete.

The installation requires at least 8.1gb of space, so a normal 8gb flash drive won’t work. If you’re using an External Hard Drive you can install the complete installation (11gb). If this isn’t enough space be sure to customize the installation and remove printer settings and extra languages.

Snow Leopard Installation Time

Once the installation to my External Hard Drive started, it took 30 minutes to complete. The total install time including setting up the External Hard Drive as a GUID bootable device took close to 40 minutes.

This time depends completely on your computer settings and hard drive speeds.

Snow Leopard Installation Problems

I didn’t have any problems installing Snow Leopard to an External Hard Drive with the steps listed above, however after the installation completed it tried to reboot to the external hard drive on its own. It got stuck during the restart but powering off the Mac and starting again holding down alt (option) allowed me to select and boot from the hard drive.

Let us know what problems you’re having with your installation efforts and Maciverse will do our best to Help.

External Hard Drive Snow Leopard Speed

I’ll be the first to admit that I was amazed at the speed of the OS on the External Hard Drive. I expected Snow Leopard to run slower than the native hard drive but that wasn’t the case. Safari opened quickly, finder also was zippy, and the dock functioned without any speed issues. Moving files around and creating video with Quicktime X worked flawlessly.

It functioned so well that I’ve decided to do a fresh install on to my internal hard drive on my Mac. I’ll backup the data on the drive and follow the steps listed above but will select my internal hard drive as the volume.

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iPod Classic

by Dan

We recently discussed the strong features still available in the “less talked about” iPod Nano, even though most of the attention these days is driven towards Apple’s iPhone and iPod Touch. But it seems that the Nano isn’t the only iPod that hasn’t gotten a lot of focus lately.

The iPod Classic is currently a hot topic amongst rumor articles that discuss the upcoming Apple media event. Apple often upgrades their iPods in September, in preparation for a long Christmas buying season.

Apple’s iPod Classic, which previously came in 80GB, is now available in 120 GB models. The device has impressive features and is fully loaded with media capabilities that keep you entertained where ever you go. As the name implies, this iPod is made with classic design and finished with metal sleek body.

It is designed with a large storage space of 120GB, in increase from the previous 80GB model. This storage space is more than enough to store full length videos and large amount of music file. This iPod is enclosed with aluminum anodized structure and made with metal body. It is easy to hold and is compact enough that you can carry it anywhere you want. Like other models of the iPod, the Classic has an intuitive interface that helps you to select and play media.

Apple’s iPod Classic is enabled with new Genius playlist capability that lets you easily access a collection of relevant media from your own personal library based on your current song selection.

Additionally, You can store a large movie library on the iPod Classic. This is a significant feature with the iTunes media offering available to individuals around the world.

The battery life on the iPod classic is 40 hours for audio playback and 7 straight hours for video. It truly is an option for those long car rides.

The iPod Classic includes three different games; iQuiz, Vortex and Klondlike. The screen is only 2.5 inch so it can make watching video and playing games more difficult than options available to iPod Touch or iPhone users. Share videos and photos with Mac using iTunes and sync the photos for easy access. If you’re looking to save a few bucks the 80gb model offers the same features and capabilities of the current iPod Classic. Check out detailed reviews on iPod Classic 80gb before you make a purchasing decision.

Like the iPod Nano, the iPod Touch, and the iPhone the iPod classic has a lot to offer. Its larger storage space makes it a great option for users who are interested in bringing their complete media package with them wherever they go. Be sure to check out reviews of all the iPods before you decide which is best for you.

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