Insight Data - Recommended Products


						OVERVIEW Although we do not sell anything, we have been called upon from time-to-time to recommend various software and hardware products for use with the Macintosh. The list below consists of products which we have actually used ourselves or have installed for our customers. Buy things made for the Macintosh whenever possible. Let's say you want to purchase a game or financial program and it's only available for the PC. However, you learn that the company who makes it will release a Macintosh version in a few months. Because you don't want to wait, you decide to purchase the PC version and also buy a PC "emulation" program (such as "Virtual PC"). Once again a signal finds its way into that company's statistics and your purchase adds one more number to the "PC" side of their sales equation. RECOMMENDED SOFTWARE FOR Mac OS X DRAWING / PAINTING Photoshop Elements (by Adobe): This painting / photo-retouching program is nearly as powerful as its big brother "Photoshop" ($650). If you need something inexpensive (under $90) yet extremely powerful, then Photoshop Elements is the one to buy. Keep in mind however that this program, like its big brother, is awkward to use and non-intuitive. Fireworks (by Adobe): This $299 program allows you to "draw", "paint" and create web embelishments (such as pop-up menus). This multipurpose graphics program is Paul's favorite. ArtRage (by Ambient Design): A fun and powreful painting program. ($25) Art Text (by BeLight Software) This $40 text-manipulation program is one of Sylvia's favorites. Image Tricks (by BeLight Software) This $15 design-creation program is another of Sylvia's favorites. GAMES These are strategy-based, non-violent, non-bloody games. RealMYST (by MacPlay): Same story and gameplay as the original MYST but RealMYST has been completely redesigned. You will now experience incredible life-like scenery along with the sound of wind. There's even an environment where you will SEE rain and hear it! There's another environment where you will see... Well, I think I've said enough already. Riven, The Sequel To MYST (by Red Orb -- a division of Broderbund): (Difficult to find these days but well worth it when you do.) Although you do not need to play MYST (or RealMYST) before you play Riven, it may help you understand some aspects. Incredibly-life-like graphics! Puzzles are extremely well integrated with the over all story. (You can die but there is no blood.) MYST III: Exile (by Presto Studios -- now out of business): The third in a series of the world's best-loved adventure game of all time. You don't have to play MYST, RealMYST or Riven before playing MYST II: Exile but it will help you understand the broader scope of the story and provide you with a better grasp of why some things unfold as they do. MYST IV: Revelation and MYST V: End of Ages are also well worth your time and money. GREETING-CARD SOFTWARE The Print Shop 2 (by Software MacKiev Company): After using Print Explosion Deluxe (by Nova Development) (versions 1, 2 and 3) for many years, we have switched to The Print Shop. We even tried "Greeting Card Factory" (by Nova Development). Be sure to read our complete comparison review of Print Explosion Deluxe 3 and The Print Shop on the M.A.C.S. web site. PRODUCTIVITY Freeway Express (by Softpress Systems, Ltd.) A very capable and powerful, yet easy to use, program for designing Web pages. NOTE: Be sure to read our thorough review of "Freeway 5 Pro". To find it, click here to visit the Macintosh Asheville Computer Society (M.A.C.S.) web site. Then, click the link located near the Freeway logo, at the bottom of the "Welcome" page. iWork (by Apple): This software package contains three programs: "Pages" (for word processing), "Numbers" (to create spreadsheets) and "Keynote" (for slideshows and presentations) NOTE: Apple has stopped selling the very flexible "AppleWorks" program. Instead, they have replaced it with "iWork". NisusWriter (by Nisus): Powerful word processing and drawing program. Contains useful features. The most versatile and thorough "Search and Replace" functions we have ever seen! It can even handle text written in several different languages at once. If you need a Word Processor with more features than AppleWorks, NisusWriter would be well worth your time. UTILITIES DiskWarrior (by Alsoft, Inc.): We've used Norton Utilities. We've used TechTool Pro but DiskWarrior is by far the best! This disk utility program only performs one function but it does it so well, no professional troubleshooter should be without it. Even if you're a first-time or casual Macintosh user, DiskWarrior can help you keep those behind-the-scenes problems from getting out of control. SHAREWARE WE RECOMMEND CDFinder (by West-Forest Systems) A well thought out cataloger program. After backing up your important information onto a CD or DVD, use this program to catalog the contents. Then, even after you have lots of CDs cataloged, whenever you want to locate a particular document or photo, simply use CDFinder to search all of its catalogs. VersionTracker (VersionTracker): And while we're on the subject, the best place that we've found, for locating freeware, shareware and updates to "commercial" software, is Version Tracker. RECOMMENDED HARDWARE Although you may pay more for an Apple-branded product, they are well made and provide long-term compatibility. Let's say you purchase a non-Apple-brand monitor and it works just fine. Next year, Apple comes out with a newer version of their Operating System and you decide to buy it. After you install this new software, you may notice not all the "bells-and-whistles" in that monitor are working as they should. You contact the manufacturer and explain your situation. They tell you they are working on a new version of their software which will allow all the features of their monitor to work with Apple's new Operating System... "The software should be ready in about a month." In the meantime, you won't be able to use this monitor to its fullest." If you had purchased an Apple monitor, the software which controls it will most likely be included with the Operating System. SCANNERS (in this order) Canon or Epson : These brands have proven to be the most Mac-conscious available today. Our direct experiences with these brands have been positve. PRINTERS (in this order) Epson: All the printouts from all brands of inkjet printer will smudge a bit, even after a month or more, if your fingers are damp when touching the text. If you want the ink to stay on the page, we highly recommend buying one of Epson's printers which comes with their "Dura Brite" ink. This ink is waterproof and will not fade in direct sunlight for decades! (Only use Epson-brand ink. We know of a few people who have ruined their printer by using ink made by another company. Canon : Our second choice in printers for the Macintosh. (Only use Canon-brand ink. We know of a few people who have ruined their printer by using ink made by another company or by using an ink “refill kit”.) STORAGE DEVICES The best TECHNOLOGY for information-storage is CD-R (creating your own CDs for music and general backups) and DVDs. (Most of Apple's current Macintosh models can store information on both.). Other devices, which you may want to consider, for backing up your important information, are "Flash Drives". SURGE SUPPRESSORS American Power Conversion (APC): This company manufactures the best surge suppressors and Uninterruptible Power Supplies (UPS) on the planet! Their products are guaranteed to do their jobs properly. We always recommend surge suppressors that are "guaranteed". CLEANERS WE RECOMMEND Goo Gone (by Magic American Corporation, 800/321-6330): This great liquid can clean: oil, tape, soap scum, scuff marks, shoe polish, candle wax, kitchen grease, asphalt, tree sap, make-up, adhesives. We've used it for years to clean the glue on computer surfaces which was left behind from signs and stickers attached by the salespeople at the store. (Available in most department stores.) Klear Screen (by Meridrew Enterprises, 800/50 KLEAR): Although you may only find this product by contacting the manufacturer, it is well worth your time and money. Klear Screen is a liquid which will "correctly" clean the viewing surface of computer monitors, portable computers, televisions, etc. The term "correctly" means Klear Screen will not damage the thin protective coating found on most computer monitors. Other cleaners, although they may state that they are made for computer monitors, can actually harm this protective coating and the delicate plastics in portable computer displays can also become damaged. Klear Screen is 100% non-toxic and non-flammable. Their packaging states... "Active Klear Screen ingredients are chemically and physically inert and cannot be absorbed by the skin." PUBLICATIONS WE RECOMMEND The Robin Williams Mac OS X Book and just about any other book by Robin Williams (no, not the comedian) (Peachpit Press). She mostly writes books for typography (font usage) and publication design (newsletters, flyers, books, etc.) but she has also written a few general-purpose Macintosh guides. Her "Little Mac Books" not only cover OS X, Apple's latest Operating System version, but also explains fonts, menus, folders, Apple's optical mouse, and much more. "Dummies" books (Dummies) Based on our experience with "iMac for Dummies", "ClarisWorks Office for Dummies" and "Quicken for Dummies", we have found the "Dummies" series to be very helpful to beginners. ACCESSING THE INTERNET There are two technologies for accessing the Interne: "Dial-Up" (using a standard telephone line) Pros: Since a standard telephone line is used, locating a telphone jack is very easy to do. Cons: Since all Macintosh models no longer come with modems (for accessing thi technology), you'll have to buy one. Dial-Up technology is MUCH slower than High Speed Internet access. Examples of Dial-Up Providers are Earthlink and America Online. "High Speed" (also known as "Broadband) Pros: MUCH faster than Dial-Up technology. Cons: Depending on the pricing plan you choose, High Speed Internet access can be much more expensive than Dial-Up service. Examples of High Speed Providers are BellSouth and Charter Cable. NOTE: Prices for Dial-Up and High Speed have been changing. If you're still using a Dial-Up service, check your bill against the current High Speed prices. You may find that the slowest High Speed option is now the same or cheaper than Dial-Up. (High Speed Internet access is usually offered at different speeds. The faster your speed, the higher the price. Even a slow High Speed service is much faster and far more reliable than any Dial-Up experience. When you sign up with a Dial-Up or High Speed Internet Service Provider (ISP), they usually provide free software for your computer and various other numbers which the software will need in order to connect you to the Internet. NOTE: If you are using MacOS 8 or higher, all the software you need to connect to the Internet, through an ISP, is included. (This applies to Dial-Up and High Speed.) As long as all the pieces are installed properly, you will not need any other software to access the Internet. (The only exception to this is NEWER or UPDATED Browsers (Internet-viewing software) or eMail programs.) We've seen or heard about too many situations where the Internet-access software was already installed and the ISP insisted that the customer add "their" software. This has caused LOTS of problems. Also, if you subscribed to one ISP and decide to change to another, you "may" only need to change a few access numbers ("TCP/IP", "DHCP", etc.) -- you don't have to add new software! However, this does not apply to America Online. If you subscribe to their service, you must use their software. (There are exceptions to this.) With DialpUp, once you're connected to the Internet, you're on the Internet. With High Speed, once your Macintosh is ON, you are connected to the Internet.(Once connected, you can browse Web pages, send & receive eMail, download files, etc.) No matter how you decide to sign up for Internet access, we strongly suggest you select a "national" company. We're all for supporting the local community but when it comes to Internet access there are too many shortcomings with local ISPs... If a local ISP has computer problems, they may not have other computers in place ready to instantly take over the work load. If a local ISP experiences a power failure, their computers will be "offline" during that time -- which means you won't be able to access the Internet. NOTE: Only your local telephone company can provide High Speed "DSL" service to your home and only your local cable company can provide your home with "cable" Internet access. Although other companies, such as Earthlink and America Online, offer High Speed service, they cannot provide it. Instead, they simply contact your local telephone or cable company and have them activate the service. You could have done that yourself and maybe gotten a better deal -- lower price or free modem, etc. Whenever your computer connects to the Internet, you are actually contacting that ISP's computer. If their computers are not working properly, you won't be able to access the Internet or your eMail. We're not saying that "national" companies don't have the same problems as local companies but when they do, they usually have other computers and backup electrical generators in place ready to switch on the moment a problem arises. National Internet companies also provide 24-hour, toll-free, technical support. Cable versus DSL Technology Cable Pros: Available to more homes and businesses than DSL. With a "Router" (a book-sized, traffic-director box), you can connect several computers and have each one browsing a different Web site and checking eMail. No extra software is needed. Cons: The Cable technology basically involves a length of wire which runs from the cable company’s closest junction box (near your home) through to your entire neighborhood (maybe a hundred homes and businesses). Another wire is then connected between your building and this wire. The more connections to this wire (the more subscribers), the slower your Internet experience becomes. At different times of day, you'll notice a "faster" and "slower" Internet experience. If your building has never had cable television service, you will have to endure the cost and time of having a wire added to your building. Even if you are currently subscribing to cable television, a new wire may have to be added near your computer. Whenever your computer is on, it is connected to the Internet -- whether you are actively accessing the Internet or not (browsing a web page or checking eMail). DSL (Digital Subscriber Line) Pros: 99% of the time, the telephone company uses your existing telephone wiring. They simply go to your neighborhood’s junction box and switch your telephone line to one of their digital connections. This will bring high-speed DSL service into your building. (Unlike “Cable” technology, you have a direct connection to the Internet.) In order to connect your computer to this new technology, you’ll need a DSL modem. (NOTE: This is not a “Cable” modem. There is a difference.) You will be able to browse the Inernet, check your eMail and use your phone -- all at the same time. With a "Router" (a book-sized, traffic-director box), you can connect several computers and have each one browsing a different Web site, checking eMail AND you can use your telephone at the same time! No extra software is needed. When your computer is on, it is connected to the Internet -- whether you are actively accessing the Internet or not (browsing a web page or checking eMail. Cons: Not as readily available as Cable technology. (Your building cannot be more than 18,000 feet (as of this writing) from a telephone company junction box. Don’t try to determine this yourself. Your local telephone company (such as BellSouth) will usually have a page on their web site where you can go, type in your telephone number and it will instantly tell you if your building qualifies for DSL service.) Personally, we find DSL technology to be faster and more consistent than Cable technology. NOT-RECOMMENDED SOFTWARE Anything made by microsoft: We have come to this conclusion through our own personal experience with various Microsoft programs over the years. We have found Microsoft Word, for example, designed to be overly-complicated. Each new version seems to add features simply to boast that it has new features. However, accessing those features seems to become more and more difficult. There is also an issue of not thinking through their programming. In Microsoft Word, for example, virus-creators have found an easy way to activate viruses -- these are known as "word macro viruses". There was also a virus, called "Melissa", which found its way into microsoft's internet explorer program. Because of the way this Browser was programmed, the Melissa virus can send itself to anyone listed in this Browser's Address Book. Other viruses have also been created to work within the loopholes within other microsoft programs. NOT-RECOMMENDED HARDWARE PRINTERS Hewlett-Packard: Because of reports placed on the Web from time-to-time, regarding this company's negative attitude towards Macintosh users and from our personal experience in talking with their Customer Service department, we are currently not recommending Hewlett-Packard printers. Their drivers (the software used to tell the Mac how to work with their printers) are sometimes not written according to Apple guidelines. Because of this, we've had a few problems getting HP printers to work properly -- especially when there is a scanner or other device connected to the Macintosh. Lexmark: Their print quality has not been as good as that of Epson's models -- even Epson's cheapest model. Brother: We have two customers with different Brother printer models. One customer owns a Brother laser printer which broke down after only a few months of use. They sent it back to the company for service but Brother told them it would take a while because they didn't have the part needed to make the repair! (How does a manufacturer not have a part for their own product!) Our other customer has a Brother all-in-one device -- printer, scanner, copier, fax. However, when the customer decided to start using Mac OS X, some of the features in this unit would not work! In fact, the customer couldn't even print on his iMac using Mac OS 10.2! Any "non-brand-name ink". In the early days of computers and printers, you could easily save money by purchasing any brand of laser toner cartridge or printer ribbon (there simply weren't inkjet printers in the early to mid '80s). Today, printers are much more sophisticated and printer technology continually trys to create a printer which produces smaller and smaller dots, for better resolution (quality). Inkjet printers contain tiny tubes and nozzles carrying ink from the tank to the paper. Because of all this, it's really not wise to use any ink except what is recommended by the manufacturer. What if you don't... Just a few years ago, a member of the local Macintosh computer club had saved some money by purchasing an ink-refill kit for his inkjet printer. After a month or two of refilling the ink, he ended up giving the printer away -- it wouldn't print properly and was too costly to fix. SCANNERS Hewlett-Packard: Same problem as with their printers -- the company has an attituide problem towards Macintosh users and their scanner drivers (the software used to tell the Mac how to work with their scanners) are not written according to Apple guidelines. STORAGE DEVICES Jaz Drive (by Iomega): Although we have never owned a Jaz drive, we are no longer recommending it. See "Click of Death" for details. Zip Drive (by Iomega): We had been using a Zip drive for about a year. During that time we had started up several different types of Macs and ran various programs right from Zip cartridges. One day we started hearing a loud clicking sound and called Iomega tech support. We were told that Zip drives were not meant to be used for prolonged use and definitely not to start a Macintosh! After speaking with them and learning about the "Click of Death", we decided to never use our Zip drive again and to no longer recommend this product. See "Click of Death" for details. MEDIA READERS SanDisk brand: A "media reader" is a device which accepts one or more types of information-storage technology, connects to a computer and allows you to transfer any information and graphics TO or FROM the media. The "media" would be: CompactFlash, SmartMedia, Memory Stick, SecureDigital, MultiMediaCard, etc. The brand of reader we purchased, but were not happy with, is "SanDisk". It worked fine when we first purchased it. However, a few months later, we decided to use it with our new Mac OS X Macintosh and found it was not compatible (it just wouldn't work). After contacting the SanDisk company, we were told they had no plans to change its software so it would be Mac OS X-compatible! If you're looking for a media reader, buy the "SmartDisk" brand. They have a "Universal Media Reader" which not only works with Apple's latest Operating System but this particular model reads and writes (exchanges information with) several different types of media!