Welcome to the Practical Mac

Low End Mac is pleased to have as a columnist. Steve is the Vice President for Information Technology for a mid-sized bank and also an attorney. He has been a Mac user for about ten years. He is also an Army Reserve JAG on extended active duty (and thus forced to use Windows XP on a daily basis). His first Mac was a Classic II with a 40 MB hard drive and 4 MB of RAM. He has owned some PCs along the way - but always came back to the Mac.

Practical Mac Columns

• 5 things Apple is doing right in 2008 - and 5 it could do better, 2008.03.24. Apple has made great strides in the past five years, but there are still a few areas that need to be addressed.
• MacBook Air a compelling option for the true road warrior, 2008.02.22. Although it's not intended as a desktop replacement and has a few shortcomings, the lightweight MacBook Air with its 13" display could be the perfect field computer.
• Mailsmith a simple, powerful, spam fighting alternative to Apple Mail, 2007.04.23. Mailsmith is bundled with SpamSieve, integrates with Address Book, and has very flexible scripting tools combined with elegant simplicity.
• Can your spam with SpamSieve, 2007.02.02. "Right out of the box, SpamSieve exceeded the accuracy of the Apple Mail filter I've been training for over a year."
• 4 things we probably won't see from Apple at the Macworld Expo, 2007.01.08. Don't expect Apple to release a Tablet Mac, improve Mail's junk mail filter, improve Print-to-PDF control, or improve the integration of Mail, iCal, and Address Book.
• Beginning my Macintel adventure, 2006.09.21. When Apple introduced the Core2 Duo iMacs, the time was ripe to pick up a 20" Core Duo iMac on the cheap.
• MacHome magazine: 1991-2006, 2006.09.18. MacHome specialized in practical advice for the average Mac user. It will be missed.
• The benefits of using webmail, 2003.06.17. The biggest advantage of webmail is that you can access your email from any computer with a web browser and an Internet connection.
• Is QuickBooks Pro 5 the new accounting leader?, 2003.05.20. First update to QuickBooks in years supports OS 9 and X, but is it enough to win over Mac using businesses?
• Safari and the Apple Internet experience, 2003.05.13. It's free and fast, but the latest version makes Safari even more functional than the previous beta.
• Mail trouble a-brewin', 2003.05.06. There's something wrong when the standard OS X email program can't reliably send attachments.
• Sharing a dial-up Internet connection, 2003.04.29. Tips on sharing a dial-up Internet connection with multiple computers.
• Apple should buy Universal - or not, 2003.04.23. This would be a wise and prudent investment for Apple - or maybe not.
• MP3s and music to go, 2003.04.15. Three types of MP3 players that let you take your music with you when you're away from your computer.
• How spammers verify your email address, 2003.04.08. How simply reading spam can let a spammer know that your email address is valid - and then profit by selling it to others.
• iRock!, a gadget we can't live without, 2003.04.03. Clever, low cost device lets you listen to your iPod (or other portable music player) on any FM radio.
• 5 things Apple is doing right - and 5 they could do better, 2003.03.25. Thoughts on Al Gore, Xserve clusters, Keynote, Virtual PC, death of the CRT iMac, education, and how Apple could own the PDA market.
• Safe and secure online ordering, 2003.03.18. "By employing a few safeguards, you can greatly reduce the chances that you will fall victim to Internet fraud."
• A sentimental Mac journey with a PowerBook 3400, 2003.03.11. "Experiencing an attack of nostalgia, I got out the 3400c today. In fact, I am typing this column on it...."
• The complete Mac makeover, 2003.03.04. Revitalize your aging Power Mac or iMac with a faster CPU, more RAM, and a bigger, faster hard drive for $279 to $483.
• Independent Mac retailing done right, 2003.02.25. MacAuthority proves that independents can hold their own against Apple's own retail stores.
• Importing vCards from Entourage, adding a reply-to header, and the unshown drawer bug in Mail, 2003.02.18. Tips on using Apple's Mail application and secure file deletion, plus a problem with scrolling mics in the classic environment.
• Jaguar revisited, 2003.02.11. Three months with Jaguar - a lot of good, a little bad, and some nitpicky gripes.
• The value of a low end Mac, 2003.02.04. With a few hundred dollars worth of upgrades, an eight year old Mac remains a very useful computer - unlike a Windows PC.
• ThinkFree Office: Not ready for prime time, 2003.01.28. The spreadsheet seems fully polished, and the presentation module works fine, but the word processor leaves a lot to be desired when working with Word files.
• The value of a refurbished iBook with Jaguar, 2003.01.21. How well old iBooks hold their value - and the value of buying a newer factory refurbished iBook with Jaguar and Quartz Extreme.
• The new PowerBooks, Safari, and other Apple innovations, 2003.01.14. A killer portable presentation 'Book, a use-it-anywhere PowerBook G4, a very polished browser, a PowerPoint killer, and wireless connectivity.
• Move2Mac, divergent reviews, and making your own choices, 2003.01.07. Reviewers disagree, but that diversity provides you with more information so you can make a better decision.
• Apple's top 10 of 2002 - plus two more, 2002.12.17. Innovative new hardware, faster processors, consumer G4s, and demise of the Dell dude hilight the list.
• 10 holiday gift ideas for Mac users, 2002.12.10. Holiday gift ideas from $29 to $999 for the Mac lover.
• A smooth switch with Move2Mac, 2002.12.03. Want to switch, but worried about your PC files? Move2Mac can handle most of the transfer effortlessly.
• Frequently asked employment questions, 2002.11.19. The five most frequently asked questions by those searching for a job.
• The rest of the story, 2002.11.12. A look at other backup options, recent advice on getting a job in IT, wireless printing, and finally fulfilled Macworld Expo predictions.
• Top 10 ways not to get hired, 2002.11.05. Ten sure-fire tips for staying unemployed instead of getting a job in Information Technology.
• Low-cost backup solutions, 2002.10.29. The importance of backup - and how to do it at minimal cost.
• How to land the job you want, 2002.10.22. Practical advice for those who want to find a job in the information technology field.
• A look at the IT job market, 2002.10.15. "Jobs are harder to come by, and the Information Technology sector has not gone unaffected."
• There's much more to life than Macs, 2002.10.08. "If you know someone at risk for suicide, talk to them. Better yet, try to get them to talk to a professional."
• Apple, Apple everywhere, 2002.10.01. Between OS X and the "Switch" ads, Apple Computer's profile is higher than at any time in recent memory.
• Jaguar joyride, 2002.09.24. "I have just taken Mac OS X 10.2 (a.k.a. 'Jaguar') for a spin, and I am impressed. There's a lot of energy in this cat."
• The sad state of the tech sector, 2002.09.17. The tech slump gives Apple a perfect opportunity to demonstrate their innovative products to the IT community.
• Microsoft: Just Say No, 2002.09.10. Alternatives to Microsoft Office XP abound, and giving PC users choices helps Apple in the long run.
• Contains Microsoft: Use at your own risk, 2002.09.03. "How long will the computer world continue to blindly follow the Microsoft monopoly into continued mediocrity?"
• Wireless printing revisited, 2002.08.27. How to use a wireless print server to share your printer on an AirPort network.
• iTunes 3 hands on review, 2002.08.20. One of the most versatile music programs available - and best of all, it's free.
• Gone in 60 nanoseconds, 2002.08.13. Protecting your money online in the world of PayPal, credit cards, and debit cards.
• Dear Mr. Jobs, 2002.08.06. "In order to make the leap to the next level, the enterprise, Apple must encourage or facilitate development of some crucial industrial-grade applications."
• Apple's retail upswing, 2002.07.30. Apple isn't just turning a profit - they're also retailing computers right.
• Pass the crow, please, 2002.07.23. Last week's Expo predictions revisited. Some misses, but some home runs, too.
• 'Twas the night before Macworld, 2002.07.16. Thoughts and predictions - what we may see at the Macworld Expo.
• eMac test drive, 2002.07.09. The G4, larger screen, and attractive price make the eMac a real alternative to the old CRT iMac.
• Same stuff, different pile?, 2002.07.02. Are all computers pretty much the same, or does something still set Macs apart from the rest?
• Are Mac users losers?, 2002.06.25. Are switchers nothing more than "a stark collection of life's losers"?
• Readers weigh in on Mac Challenge, 2002.06.18. Lots of comments on Mac OS X vs. Windows XP - but no question that the Mac OS is superior.
• Mac challenge follow up, 2002.06.11. More information on software used during the Mac Challenge, which compared OS X and WinXP.
• Mac Challenge results, 2002.06.04. One month with an iMac and OS X, another with a Dell and Windows XP. Which is the more practical platform?
• Apple's ulterior motive, 2002.05.28. How Apple is pursuing new markets within the corporation by advertising to CEOs, CIOs, and IT.
• Printer sharing for Mac OS X, 2002.05.21. Linksys WPS11 shares a printer on ethernet and AirPort - but with a catch.
• Apple back on the radar screen, 2002.05.14. CIO Magazine, eWeek, ZDNet, and others are taking notice of a resurgent Apple.
• How to optimize Classic, 2002.05.07. How to make Classic mode more stable and faster loading.
• Your right to link threatened, 2002.04.30. "If the simple process of posting a link to another site becomes mired in regulation, it is not inconceivable that the Internet as a useful communication could begin to wither."
• The case against Microsoft, 2002.04.23. Why Microsoft should be broken up into two or more companies.
• The Mac is back, 2002.04.16. Mac OS X and Java could make the Mac a leading choice for programmers.
• Indispensable OS X wares, 2002.04.09. 10 freeware and shareware programs every OS X user should know about.
• MacLeisure, 2002.04.02. Six leisure time programs for your (and your Mac's) down time.
• The $299 2 GHz iMac '040, 2002.04.01. How Apple could produce a 2 GHz iMac and sell it for just $299.
• The Mac Challenge kickoff, 2002.03.26. Final changes to the Mac Challenge add installation, gaming, and MP3s.
• Take the Mac Challenge, 2002.03.19. The goal of the Mac Challenge is to discover which is the superior platform: Mac OS X or Windows
• Who stole my domain?, 2002.03.12. Traffic aggregators are ready to buy your expired domains and redirect them to porn sites, online casinos.
• Configuring your OS X firewall, 2002.03.05. How to set up your OS X firewall to disable or allow data on specific ports.
• Setting up a firewall in OS X, 2002.02.26. Everything you need to set up a firewall is built into OS X - except for an easy way to set it up.
• OS X and the future of Linux, 2002.02.19. Some claim that OS X dooms Linux; I believe it renews Linux.
• 8 OS X gotchas, 2002.02.12. You can't sync your Palm, share your USB printer, use most scanners....
• 10 forward, part 2, 2002.01.29. An easy, successful upgrade to OS X, and how I crashed OS X in one easy step.
• 10 Forward!, 2002.01.22. All the old commands are in different places, but forward migration shows just how rock solid Mac OS X is.
• Stop the email madness, 2002.01.15. Fighting spam is a good thing, but some ISPs carry things too far.
• The 2001 Top Ten, 2001.12.18. The ten best Mac-related developments of 2001 don't include a single cow.
• A home away from home, 2001.12.11. Three solutions for accessing your home computer from work or vice versa.
• Undercover at the Apple Store, 2001.12.04. A trip to Dallas, discovery of a new Apple store, and going undercover as a Windows user.
• Internet security for the home user, 2001.11.27. Determining how much protection your home computer needs and picking the right solutions.
• Technical aspects of network privacy and security for business, 2001.11.13. Tips on picking a firewall, mail server, Web server, and antivirus program.
• Legal aspects of network privacy and security for business, 2001.11.06. The importance of establishing company network and internet use policy.
• Windows is watching, 2001.10.30. Windows tracking Mac users? Computer security in the Internet Age.
• Building a Web presence on a shoestring, part 2, 2001.10.23. Choosing the right free or low-cost host for your website.
• Building a Web presence on a shoestring, 2001.10.16. Low cost and no cost solutions for designing a single page or a whole website.
• BIAX vs. Apple, Part 2, 2001.10.09. Is Apple the right target for the BIAX suit - and what about prior art?
• BIAX vs. Apple, Part 1, 2001.10.02. Does the BIAX suit against Apple have merit?
• Apple's dirty little secret, 2001.09.25. One more way in which Apple is very different from Microsoft.
• Why OS X matters, 2001.09.18. With the stability of Mac OS X, Apple leapfrogs all the improvements in Windows stability.
• Some mindless entertainment, 2001.09.11. No in-flight movie, but watching a couple IT guys try to run a DVD on their Dell was entertaining enough.
• The Mac as a business solution, 2001.09.04. The Mac finds a home in real estate and banking.

Also see the Best of the Practical Mac.

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