MAC Meeting
11/26/13
Larry started and Jack wore out his voice imparting information for the next couple of hours. As always he did a good job.
Time Machine
Is a program included in the MAC operating system which enables users to easily schedule and back up their machines. It has to have an external drive attached wirelessly or directly. It was suggested powered external drives were better as they don't us up more USB ports.
The backup drive should be about 2x the size of the drive included in the machine as Time Machine deletes the oldest backups as the drive fills up. Not necessarily a bad thing unless you have archival information you want to keep. Decide what you want and schedule it appropriately.
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1427 This link will take you to an Apple explanation plus lead to other locals for more information.
Jack mentioned two web dealers who sell memory, MacSales.com and Crucial.com. I've used another called Directron.com in Houston. Prices vary.
Disk Utility
Is another program included in the MAC operating system which can be used for correcting errors in hard drives, partitioning HDs, erasing HDs, restoring, and various other functions. It is located in Applications/Utilities as shown below.
If you experience some problems with programs working correctly using this utility to repair permissions can be helpful. I'm including two links for further reading.
http://computers.tutsplus.com/tutorials/whatisdiskutillity--mac-27965 and http://macs.about.com/od/applications/tp/usingosxdiskutility.htm
RAM
RAM is temporary memory which is wiped
away every time the machine is turned off. RAM is where the
computer does its work. When you turn your computer on the operating
system loads the programs necessary to perform. Then when you start
a program, it loads itself into RAM and tries to do what you want.
Sometimes the program will transfer data back and forth between RAM
and your hard drive which will slow the work process. That's why
it's generally better to have as much RAM as you can afford.
It's better to turn your computer off
when through for the day as the operating system will be loaded
directly from the hard drive and have no opportunity to be corrupted
in RAM while in sleep mode, which is invoked by just closing the lid.
Hard Memory
Hard memory is the capacity of your
hard drive which permanently stores your data and programs. The size
you need depends upon what you are going to do. Lots of photos
require more and maybe external units. There are at least two types
of hard drives out now, conventional mechanical ones and solid state.
Generally the solid state drives are more expensive but are becoming
more common in the new computers. They are usually very much faster
and less apt to fail because they have no moving parts. Again, a
good rule is get the most you can afford.
iCloud
Since Mike was hiking instead of being around at meeting time he's been selected to do a presentation next week. He knows next to nothing about iCloud but will come up with something.
Don't forget the iPad meeting in the Ocotilla room on Sunday at 1300.
Your faithful servant,
Mike
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