Mac Memos

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Open the document you wish to save as a PDF. Go to File > Print… in the top menu bar. Select “PDF “.

Use the pop-down list under PDF to choose Save as PDF…

In the Dialogue box that opens, name your PDF whatever you like and set it to save to wherever you wish. I usually save to my Desktop.

BONUS INFORMATION You can secure your PDF so that recipients need a password to open and read it. Kinda cool. More »« Less

We have an old copy of Quicken 2005 running on Snow Leopard. It is a PowerPC app so it needs Rosetta to run on our Intel iMac. No problem. Although Rosetta is not installed automatically when you upgrade to MacOS X 10,6, it IS installed if you have applications that need it. Rosetta is included on the Snow Leopard installation disc.

Here’s what happens…. the installer disc checks to see what you have on your hard drive. It restarts your machine and begins the lengthy installation process. 45 minutes in our case. If you have applications that require Rosetta, you will get a dialogue box asking if you’d like to do the Rosetta installation. Yes, you would. Takes about a minute, and your old PPC app is happy.
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Admittedly, it’s easier for Canadians to control their gadget lust for nifty, new products like Apple’s iPad. We’ll get it later, it will cost more and we will have more expensive phone and data plans.

Nevertheless, there might be an iPad in my future. Maybe next year. Or sooner if a second generation shows up sooner. (I don’t know what they have left out of the first generation, but the second generation will be more complete, I think.)

I like the size, the fact that it can run iWork apps, has a mic and speakers. It does WiFi internet, but (unsurprisingly) no Flash. The screen is LED, the battery life claim is up to 10 hours and the resolution is a very respectable 1024×768.

Gaming is of no interest to me and I would have liked a camera, but I hope that the iPad will enable reading of library books as well as the titles from the iBook Store. It can do enough to be of interest to me, that’s for sure.

There will be extras to buy… I’d like Bluetooth earphones rather than corded ones and I think the dock/keyboard thing would be a must, even though there are virtual keyboards onscreen. There’s a cover/stand that will be needed, too.

U.S. prices are $500, $600 and $700 for 16 GB, 32 GB and 64 GB machines, respectively. Add the cost of the extras, the cost of connectivity and the temptation to buy instantly from Apple’s various Stores and you have a potential threat to your personal economy.

Adobe’s dim view

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Mark wrote in with this: I have a Keynote question…

When making a Keynote presentation and using an external projector ,the MacBook has a feature that allows you to view the ‘current’ and ‘next’ slides on your Mac while only the current slide shows on the projected screen…”Play / Customize Presenter Display’……’Great’ feature for presenters who use their own external projector.

The problem is I cannot get it to work properly….My projected image shows both the ‘Current’ and ‘Next’ slides..I cannot get only the single ‘Current’ image on the screen…I have checked all the settings but am stumped!!

I replied with a link to this Apple Tech Note.

Then Mark got back to me with his experience:

I had a few problems with the first set up but there were three things that I found effect the result.
1. The projector (Dell) must be connected to the MacBook and turned on first
2. In Keynote Preferences / Presenter Display..Check ‘Alternative Display’
3. In Keynote Preferences / Slideshow…Check ‘Present Secondary Display’
The result:
Slide #1 projected
Slide # 1 & 2, plus ‘Presenter Notes’ displayed on the MacBook…just like it suppose to do.

Thanks, Mark! Good stuff.

You’re not alone, if that’s any comfort. Also, a software fix will probably set things right, so that’s the good news.

What do you do if your computer doesn’t mount or recognize your Touch? Call AppleCare, wait 15 or 20 minutes to get to a human and then let that person walk you through the steps you need to take. It will involve some file-trashing and a fresh installation of iTunes but then you’ll be fine.

[UPDATE}
My friend Brian has done the call to AppleCare and writes:

“FYI, this is what the Apple support person had me do.”
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1747

Thanks, Brian. You’ve probably saved some waits for tech support.

I predict that I will be a senior citizen before Apple releases Snow Leopard version 10.6.3.

I have my copy, bought and paid for, still shrink-wrapped in its package. It won’t be installed until that .3 updater is available. That could take a while.

Click the image to go to the download page.

I haven’t worked with it much, but my first impression is positive. Looks quite polished. In addition to a word processor, you get presentation software, a database program, a spreadsheet app, a drawing program and some templates.

Although you are invited to donate something, no money is required and you don’t even have to register to use it.

Label sheets used are Avery Mailing Labels 5161 (20 peel-and-stick labels per sheet). Office supply stores often sell house brands for less and include the Avery equivalent number on the packaging. There may be some savings available that way.

Also, Address Book supports many other Avery labels styles (numbers), so you are not limited to 5161. DYMO brand labels (and number series) are also supported. You can check the full list by opening Address Book, highlighting any contact and Choosing “File > Print”. Open the full print dialogue box and click the “Layouts” tab to see all of your choices.

I have my bought-and-paid-for Snow Leopard box sitting on my desk, ready to go… but not yet. There are still reports of bugs that need squashing. Upgrading to Snow Leopard is not essential, so I will wait until an update to 10.6.3 is available. Even then, I will first read the Mac sites to see how that version fares.

BTW… many, many people report using Snow Leopard without any problem. I just figure that there’s no rush, so why not wait a bit?

Neat and wire-free, but the latest iMac keyboards don’t have numeric keypads, UNLESS…

…unless you really want one, because some applications make extensive use of number pad shortcuts. Adobe After Effects, for example. So Apple DOES let you order a full keyboard. There’s NO EXTRA COST but the full size keyboard isn’t wireless. (Not a big deal, really.) See your online Apple Store and click “Buy Now” to view your options.

BTW. The newest iMacs don’t come with an Apple Remote in the box. I guess your wireless keyboard can be used as a remote, so the little one became redundant. If you order an iMac with a full but wired keyboard and still want a remote to play DVDs, you buy the remote as an accessory for CAD$ 19.00.