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Saturday, April 30, 2011

MacBook Buying Guide (2011): Choosing Which MacBook To Buy

Mac notebooks are pretty great. The look is very appealing. It's simple yet sleek and sophisticated. But it doesn't stop there. The performace is impeccable as well. They come with fast processors and a very intuitive and easy to use operating system. For me, choosing to buy a MacBook was a great decision.

There are currently three members in the MacBook family – the MacBook, MacBook Pro, and MacBook Air, which are all designed to suit the needs of different users. Each model has its own set of features and specifications to suit a wide range of computer users.

If you're deciding on which MacBook to buy, this handy MacBook buying guide will enumerate the key factors and features you need to consider to help you pick the right notebook that suits your needs and fits your budget.

Processor

All Mac notebooks come with top-of-the-line Intel processors. Taking into consideration the kind of processing power you need will help you in choosing which MacBook to buy.

MacBook Pro
If you're a power-user who uses a lot of powerful and resource-intensive applications such as advanced video editors, 3D and graphics editing software, you might want to choose the MacBook Pro. It can have up to a 2.3GHz Quad-core Intel Core i7 blazing fast processor. Great for all those apps that need a lot of computing power.

MacBook
Next is the MacBook which has a 2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, which is actually still pretty strong and capable of running multiple apps at once. You can run a word-processor while doing research on the web, manage your photos, edit that simple home movie, etc... Great for all those hard-working multi-taskers, and still performs well during your downtime when you just want to surf the web or watch videos.

MacBook Air
Lastly, the MacBook Air has a less powerful processor compared to the first two. You can choose between a 1.4GHz, 1.86GHz and 2.13GHz Intel Core 2 Duo configurations. But considering how small and lightweight it is, its power is still pretty impressive. It will perform well under regular home and work tasks that you need to complete.

Still need help choosing which Macbook to buy? Read on!

Memory

All Mac notebooks come with atleast 2GB of 1066MHz DDR3 SDRAM. The MacBook and the MacBook Air come with 2GB, and you have the option of upgrading up to 4GB. The MacBook Pro, on the other hand, has 4GB of RAM and can be upgraded up to 8GB. So if you want the option to be able to upgrade to the largest memory size on a MacBook, then the MacBook Pro Pro is a great choice.

And up next on this MacBook buying guide...

Display and Graphics

Mac laptop displays have an LED-backlit glossy widescreen format. The MacBook has a 13.3-inch display with a resolution of 1280 x 800 pixels, while the MacBook Pro is available in 13-inch, 15.4-inch and 17-inch models with resolutions of 1280 x 800, 1440 x 900 and 1920 x 1200 pixels respectively. The 15.4-inch and 17-inch models also have the option for an anti-glare screen instead of a glossy one. The MacBook Air now has 11.6-inch and 13.3-inch displays to choose from.

If you enjoy playing games and watching movies on your MacBook, all three Mac notebooks are great choices with their LED-backlit displays. However, the MacBook Pro would be a better choice because of its larger screen size and a more powerful graphics card (an AMD Radeon HD 6750M with 1GB of GDDR5 memory) for the 15-inch 2.2Ghz and 17-inch models.

Size and Weight

If size and weight are important factors for you, then you should take a close look at the different sizes that the MacBook, MacBook Air and MacBook Pro have to offer. If you travel a lot and need something that is easily portable and light-weight, then the incredibly light and compact MacBook Air is the perfect companion. If you are a student who needs an all-in-one notebook, then the MacBook is more up your alley which at 5lbs is light enough to carry around campus and robust enough to endure the rumble and tumble of travel thanks to its polycarbonate shell. For half a pound to two pounds more, you can have all the power and larger display of the MacBook Pro.

And lastly, to round up this MacBook buying guide, here is one very important factor that many people consider when choosing which MacBook to buy...

Cost

The MacBook Air and MacBook are the most affordable (both starting at $999) and has a lot of great features in one compact, robust package. If you want more bang for you buck, then the MacBook Pro, which starts at $1199 is what you are looking for.

In conclusion, everything will eventually come down to how much your budget can accommodate when choosing which MacBook to buy. To find the MacBook that's right for you, identify what your needs are and select the one that can address most, if not all, of them based on your budget. But whichever model you end up choosing will surely be a great investment. They are extremely reliable, and the exceptional combination of style and substance inherent in these machines is unrivaled in the market.

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Learn How To Use iTunes 10 | iTunes Video Tutorials

If you'd like to learn how to use iTunes 10, here are some iTunes video tutorials by Lynda.com. These videos are from the iTunes 10 Essential Training Course. You'll learn how to input song information, browse and search for music, create playlists, and more! I've been a Lynda.com subscriber for a few years, and I can say that they are one of the best online training sites out there. Here's a 7-day free trial pass so you can try their entire library of 1000+ courses. To learn more about iTunes 10 Essential Training, continue reading this page.



iTunes 10 Essential Training by

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iTunes 10 Essential Training - Welcome


Opening iTunes for the First Time - iTunes 10 Video Tutorials


Entering Song Info Manually - iTunes 10 Video Tutorials


Browsing - iTunes 10 Video Tutorials


Searching - iTunes 10 Video Tutorials


Exploring Playback Options - iTunes 10 Video Tutorials


Creating Playlists - iTunes 10 Video Tutorials


Course Information

Title: iTunes 10 Essential Training
Author: Garrick Chow
Duration: 4hrs 34mins
Date of release: 10 November 2010

Topics

1. The iTunes Interface
Opening iTunes for the first time
Exploring the Source pane
Using the playback controls
Setting general preferences
Exploring the interface differences in the Mac and Windows versions
Setting parental controls
Using keyboard shortcuts

2. Importing Media
Understanding file formats
Importing from a CD
Entering song info manually
Finding and adding album artwork
Adding lyrics to songs
Dragging in song files
Converting single files
Using the Automatically Add to iTunes folder
Joining tracks
Importing videos

3. Managing Your Library
Consolidating your library
Upgrading to iTunes Media organization
Extending your library
Working with multiple libraries
Finding duplicate songs
Moving a library

4. Playing Content
Browsing
Searching
The Snapback button
Rating songs
Exploring playback options
Creating playlists
Creating Smart Playlists
Creating playlist folders
Shuffling and repeating
Using iTunes DJ for party playlists
Using the Equalizer
Using the Visualizer
Using internet radio

5. Sharing and Streaming Content
Sharing over a network
Turning on home sharing
Burning discs
Using AirPlay to stream content from iTunes to an AppleTV or Airport Express

6. The iTunes Store
Store overview
Creating an account
Browsing for content
Searching for content
Purchasing content
Purchasing gifts for others
Redeeming iTunes gift certificates
Using the Genius sidebar and creating Genius playlists
Using the Ping social network

7. Podcasts
Finding and subscribing to podcasts
Listening to and interacting with enhanced podcasts

8. Syncing with iPods
Managing your iPod
Syncing music and movies
Syncing photos from a Mac
Syncing photos from a Windows computer
Syncing contacts and calendars from a Mac
Syncing contacts and calendars from a Windows computer
About Lynda.com

Lynda.com is an online video training provider with over 1000 courses covering a wide array of topics - 3D, video, business, the web, graphic design, programming, animation, photography, and more. They produce top quality video tutorials with the best industry experts as your instructors. With a subscription, you can log-in at any time, and learn at your own pace. New courses are added each week, and you will receive a certificate of completion for each course that you finish.

For as low as $25, you get 1-month access to their entire online video training library. There is no long-term commitment required, and you can cancel your membership at anytime.

START LEARNING TODAY
or

Become a lynda.com member to get access to over 1000 courses, and start learning how to use iTunes 10.
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