hands
on
Mac
it work
Michael Vallance
Mac users are no longer an uncared for
lot. There is help available to guide them from buying to burial.
The local Mac users' website at www.macuser.org.sg is a little world of
its own where you can share your woes as freely as your enthusiasm for
all things Apple.
For quite some time, Mac users have had no one to turn to for technical
support, even if they have been willing to pay for it. But with Apple's
resurgence worldwide, especially in Asia, there are now a number of sources
where they can get technical help: Apple stores, Apple Care, and an increasing
number of Mac users in the workforce.
If you wish to buy the new iBook, for instance, the best place to start
is Singapore's Apple website (www.asia.apple.com)
or any of the certified Apple distributors listed at www.asia.apple.com/
buy/singapore.html
If you like the new iBook, but are worried about its compatibility with
a Windows-based system, then you can visit MacWindows at www.
macwindows.com. It has all the information required for linking your
Mac to a Windows network.
There is Mac vs PC
In fact, connecting a Mac to a Windows NT network can be easier than setting
up a PC. Purchase Dave (www.Thursby.com)
and you can access any PC or Postscript printer on the network (think
Network Neighbourhood). Works a treat and the network is easily accessed
via the Chooser once Dave is installed.
Of course, setting up a Mac network is fairly straightforward too. So
if you want your office or lab to be PC-free, browse through July's Macworld
magazine or access online at www.macworld.com/2001/04/13/howto/backup.html
They even set up an old Mac as a backup server.
Also, in typical cool yet functional Mac fashion, all new Macs have wireless
capability built-in as standard. You can purchase an Airport base station
and network your Macs without cables. A dedicated Airport page can be
found at www.macuser.org.sg/5art/2001/airport1.html
Microsoft apps
Where does Apple figure in this Microsoft-dominated world? Well, Office
2001 for Mac contains Word, Excel, PowerPoint and a wonderful e-mail cum
personal assistant named Entourage. All files are 100 per cent PC compatible.
Microsoft even has a Mac-specific webpage at www.
mactopia.com
After you have bought a Mac, connected it to the company's network and
are sharing Word files. And then, it crashes. Yes, it happens with Macs
too. Who do you call?
Apple Singapore has revamped its AppleCare support and the feedback has
been positive. The service offered by the AppleCare team has raised the
bar somewhat in Singapore which can only be good news for all computer
customers. For instance, you can purchase up to three years of direct
telephone access to Apple technical experts. Call AppleCare and state
your problem: the number is on your new Mac's registration card.
However, the premium Internet fix-it page is
www.macfixit.com
I had a problem with my PowerBook so I searched using the key words "powerbook
AND sleep". Immediately I found a posting with my problem and someone's
clear answer. (When putting my PowerBook to sleep I simply close the lid
and should not select Special -> Sleep as this crashes the Finder.
Um -- don't ask, but it works).
Online help
For new Macs, post your problem and check the bulletin board the next
day. Usually, there's an answer there.
Apple has its own BBS at www.asia.apple.com/support/siteindex.html
one great feature of which is that this board will alert you by e-mail
when someone has replied to your message.
You can also find answers to your simpler questions in Apple's Help menu.
For educationalists, there is the Apple Learning Interchange (ALI) website
which touches on all issues faced by Apple users (teachers and students)
whose needs are often different from the business user. Go to www.
apple.com/education
Apple support resources can be linked via the Mugs (Mac User Group of
Singapore) page at www.macuser.org.sg/6help/index.html
Mugs has volunteers who try to help fellow Mac users. Over the past six
months they have answered various questions: accessing Magix, wireless
surfing in Singapore, setting up Entourage, and many more.
Seek help online at www. macuser.org.sg. Better still, come to the next
Mugs meeting and chat with fellow Mac users.
Mugs' top websites:
* www.macuser.org.sg
* www.asia.apple.com
* www.macfixit.com
* www.versiontracker.com
* www.macosxhints.com
* www.ResExcellence.com
* www.zdnet.com/zdnn/mac
* www.macaddict.com
* www.xlr8yourmac.com
Michael Vallance is from the Mac Users Group of Singapore. Its website is at www.macuser.org.sg