MacBook Air Portable Genius E-Book

Paul McFedries

• Herausgeber: John Wiley & Sons
• Kategorie: Wissenschaft und neue Technologien
• Serie: Portable Genius
• Sprache: Englisch
• Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2011

Seitenzahl: 357

Beschreibung

Get the most from Apple's ultracool new MacBook AirApple's newest MacBook Air is smaller, lighter, and morepowerful than ever. And this convenient little book is loaded withtips and techniques for everything from getting started with yourMacBook Air to maximizing power and battery life. Learn innovativeways to accomplish a task more efficiently, master the new featuresof the MacBook Air, and take advantage of all the remote featuresand accessories. Fun, hip, and portable, this guide has what everyMac fan needs to know about the MacBook Air.* The new MacBook Air features flash storage, longer batterylife, a full-sized keyboard with multitouch trackpad, WiFi andBluetooth connectivity, and extreme portability* This convenient, portable guide explains popular new featuresand how to make the most of them* Covers all the key skills, tools, and shortcuts to make you amore efficient MacBook user* Includes plenty of hip tips for configuring the multitouchtrackpad, maximizing power, streamlining common tasks, andmoreAs cool as the MacBook Air itself, this book has what you needto maximize your portable computer.

Leseprobe

MacBook Air® Portable Genius, 2nd Edition

Table of Contents

Introduction

Chapter 1: How Do I Connect Devices?

Using an External Display

Understanding external display connections

Setting the external display mode

Connecting and Sharing a Printer

Connecting a printer manually

Adding a shared network printer

Adding a shared Windows network printer

Sharing your printer with the network

Connecting and Sharing a Fax

Connecting a fax modem to MacBook Air

Adding a shared network fax

Sharing your fax with the network

Connecting Imaging Devices

Connecting an imaging device

Sharing an imaging device

Connecting to a network imaging device

Chapter 2: How Do I Make Wireless Connections?

Connecting to a Wireless Network

Setting Up a Remote DVD Drive

Making a Wireless Connection to Another Mac

Transferring Settings Wirelessly from Another Mac

Working with Bluetooth Devices

Connecting Bluetooth devices

Configuring a Bluetooth device

Working with a Bluetooth headset

Exchanging Files Using Bluetooth

Making sure MacBook Air is discoverable

Browsing a Bluetooth device

Sending files to a Bluetooth device

Activating Bluetooth sharing

Chapter 3: How Do I Synchronize MacBook Air with Other Devices?

Synchronizing with an iPod, iPad, or iPhone

Synchronizing music and videos

Synchronizing movies

Synchronizing rented movies

Synchronizing purchased or downloaded movies

Synchronizing TV show episodes

Synchronizing podcasts

Synchronizing photos

Synchronizing contacts

Synchronizing calendars

Synchronizing apps

Synchronizing eBooks

Synchronizing games

Synchronizing with a Bluetooth Cell Phone

Adding a cell phone to iSync

Configuring synchronization settings for a cell phone

Synchronizing a cell phone

Synchronizing with MobileMe

Synchronizing MacBook Air and MobileMe

Using MobileMe to keep two or more Macs synchronized

Stopping MacBook Air from synchronizing with MobileMe

Resolving synchronization conflicts

Chapter 4: How Do I Use MacBook Air to Organize My Real Life?

Managing Your Contacts

Saving a person’s contact information

Sending your contact information

Sending messages to a group of contacts

Keeping track of birthdays

Importing contacts from Microsoft Outlook

Merging duplicate contacts into a single card

Sharing your Address Book via MobileMe

Printing an envelope for a contact

Printing mailing labels for contacts

Managing Your Appointments

Setting up a meeting with a contact

Adding an alarm to an event

Stopping automatic calendar additions

Setting up a custom repeat interval

Creating a calendar of birthdays

Importing a calendar from Microsoft Outlook

Publishing a calendar to MobileMe

Subscribing to a published calendar

Chapter 5: How Do I Use MacBook Air to Organize My Online Life?

Getting More out of MobileMe

Accessing any e-mail account online

Forwarding MobileMe messages to another account

Configuring MobileMe Mail not to show images in messages

Storing files online

Backing up your data online

Accessing MacBook Air remotely

Creating Your Own Web Site

Inserting a Google Map

Placing ads on your site

Adding your own HTML to a page

Placing a My iTunes widget on a page

Adding YouTube videos to your site

Publishing your Web site to MobileMe

Publishing your Web site using your own domain name

Chapter 6: Can MacBook Air Help Me Communicate More Effectively?

Improving Your E-Mail Life

Configuring Mail not to show images in messages

Moving junk messages to the Junk folder

Leaving incoming messages on the server

Skipping large incoming messages

Sending e-mail with a different server port

Sending all messages from the same account

Setting up rules to process incoming messages

Creating a Smart Mailbox

Bouncing back an unwanted message

Chatting and Videoconferencing

Chatting over your network

Showing your iChat capabilities

Setting up an audio chat

Setting up a video chat

Using iChat and a video camera to set up a security cam

Sending camcorder video to a video chat

Chapter 7: How Do I Keep MacBook Air Running Smoothly?

Routine MacBook Air Maintenance

Emptying the Trash

Cleaning up your desktop

Deleting unneeded files

Uninstalling unused applications

Setting the software update schedule

Updating software by hand

More MacBook Air Maintenance

Removing login items

Cleaning MacBook Air

Preparing for Trouble

Creating a secondary user account

Creating a secondary boot device

Backing up MacBook Air

Restoring MacBook Air

Restoring files using Time Machine

Restoring your system

Chapter 8: How Do I Maintain the Battery?

Understanding the MacBook Air Battery

Tracking Battery Usage

Saving Energy When Using Battery Power

Optimizing the MacBook Air energy settings

More ways to save energy

Cycling the MacBook Air Battery

Replacing the Battery

Working with a third-generation MacBook Air

Working with a first- or second-generation MacBook Air

Chapter 9: How Do I Maintain the Hard Drive?

Monitoring the Hard Drive’s Free Space

Erasing the Hard Drive’s Free Space

Checking the Hard Drive’s Status

Verifying the Hard Drive

Replacing the Hard Drive

Working with a third-generation MacBook Air

Working with a first- or second-generation MacBook Air

Chapter 10: How Do I Solve MacBook Air Problems?

General Software Troubleshooting Techniques

Tracking down the problem

Basic software troubleshooting steps

Checking for software updates

Bypassing your login items

Deleting a program’s preferences file

Reinstalling Mac OS X

General Hardware Troubleshooting Techniques

Basic hardware troubleshooting steps

Restarting MacBook Air

Running the Apple Hardware Test

Repairing the hard drive

Repairing disk permissions

Chapter 11: How Do I Solve Specific Software Problems?

You Can’t Change Some Options in System Preferences

A Program Is Stuck

A Process Is Stuck

Solving Program Problems

A program crashes

A program won’t start

You Can’t Empty the Trash

You Can’t Run Administrator Commands in Terminal

You Can’t Send E-Mail

Repairing Remote Disc Woes

Remote Disc won’t connect to certain CDs or DVDs

Remote Disc can’t see the host computer

You can’t use Remote Disc with a Windows drive

Time Machine No Longer Backs Up to an External Hard Drive

Solving Safari Troubles

You want to hide your browsing tracks in Safari

A Web site doesn’t recognize Safari

Your bookmarks are in Internet Explorer

You Can’t Specify a Different Time Zone for an iCal Event

Chapter 12: How Do I Solve Specific Hardware Problems?

MacBook Air Won’t Start

MacBook Air Says You Don’t Have Enough Memory

MacBook Air Runs Slowly

Sudden slowdown

Gradual slowdown

Your External Mouse or Keyboard Doesn’t Work

Your Display Is Garbled

Your MacBook Air SuperDrive Won’t Accept a Disc

You Have Trouble Accessing a Wireless Network

Your Sound Isn’t Working

You Can’t Eject a Disc

Appendix A: MacBook Air Online Resources

Appendix B: MacBook Air Shortcut Keys

Glossary

MacBook Air® Portable Genius, 2nd Edition

by Paul McFedries

MacBook Air® Portable Genius, 2nd Edition

Published byWiley Publishing, Inc.10475 Crosspoint Blvd.Indianapolis, IN 46256www.wiley.com

Copyright © 2011 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Indianapolis, Indiana

Published simultaneously in Canada

ISBN: 978-1-118-02997-8

Manufactured in the United States of America

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About the Author

Paul McFedries is a Mac expert and full-time technical writer. He has been authoring computer books since 1991 and has more than 70 books to his credit. Paul’s books have sold more than four million copies worldwide. These books include the Wiley titles Macs Portable Genius Second Edition, iPhone 4 Portable Genius, iPad Portable Genius Second Edition, and Teach Yourself VISUALLY Macs Second Edition. Paul is also the proprietor of Word Spy (www.wordspy.com), a Web site that tracks new words and phrases as they enter the English language. For more information about Paul’s books, please visit his Web site at www.mcfedries.com.

Credits

Executive Editor

Jody Lefevere

Project Editor

Amanda Gambill

Technical Editor

Dwight Spivey

Copy Editor

Scott Tullis

Editorial Director

Robyn Siesky

Editorial Manager

Rosemarie Graham

Vice President and Executive Group Publisher

Richard Swadley

Vice President and Executive Publisher

Barry Pruett

Business Manager

Amy Knies

Senior Marketing Manager

Sandy Smith

Project Coordinator

Katie Crocker

Graphics and Production Specialists

Joyce HaugheyAndrea HornbergerJulie Trippetti

Quality Control Technician

Lauren Mandelbaum

Proofreading

Melissa D. Buddendeck

Indexing

Potomac Indexing, LLC

Dedication

For Karen.

Acknowledgments

When guests to our house would learn that I was writing a book about MacBook Air, their eyes would invariably light up. Ah, I’d think, they’re impressed that I’m writing a book! Alas, no: “Ooh,” they’d say, “Can I see it?” They meant, of course, MacBook Air, and so I’d trot it out so everyone could coo over it, and my wife’s carefully planned dinner party would devolve into a geekfest for a while. That was just one of the perks of writing this book. Another was working with the amazing folks at Wiley, all of whom are preternaturally nice. They include Acquisitions Editor Jody Lefevere, who asked me to write the original version of this book the same day that MacBook Air was announced, and of course I accepted about five seconds later; Project Editor Amanda Gambill, whose edits, suggestions, and questions showed not only her smarts and utter common sense, but also her knowledge of what a book needs to make it better; Copy Editor Scott Tullis, who went beyond merely crossing my t’s and dotting my i’s by using his keen eye to tighten my prose and make me look good in print; and Technical Editor Dwight Spivey, a deep source f knowledge regarding all things Mac, who made generous use of that knowledge and his valuable time to supply this book with a layer of wisdom beyond what its author possesses. Finally, many thanks to the wonderful Karen Hammond, who took the marvelous photographs that are sprinkled throughout this book. My heartfelt and deep thanks to all of you for your tremendous work on this project.

Introduction

Back in 2008, I bought one of the original MacBook Airs, and it quickly became my go-to Mac notebook. It was light as a feather and impossibly thin. The screen was gorgeous, the multi-touch track pad was a lot of fun, and even the keyboard wasn’t bad at all. No wonder my trusty MacBook Pro started gathering dust!

So, in late 2010, when Apple came out with a new version of the MacBook Air that had two USB ports (yes!), easier access to all the ports, all-Flash storage, a full-featured multi-touch track pad, faster memory, a faster processor, a higher-resolution display, longer battery life, and it was both lighter and (gasp!) thinner, well, can you say “no-brainer”?

Fortunately, I haven’t been disappointed: The new MacBook Air is a fantastic machine. However, it’s not (yet) a perfect machine. Yes, the two USB ports are a huge help, but it’s still a challenge to connect FireWire devices given the lack of a FireWire port. You need MacBook Air on your super-fast network to transfer some stuff, but there’s no network port in sight. The Mini DisplayPort is great if you have a Mini DisplayPort monitor, but it’s a head-scratcher if you’re trying to connect to a DVI or VGA monitor, or to a TV. Apple has also made it even harder to get inside this thing!

Not only that, but MacBook Air runs OS X, of course, so it comes with the limitations and annoyances of that operating system. Yes, it’s mighty simple to use out-of-the-box, but some of its most useful and powerful features are hidden away in obscure parts of the operating system. Sure, OS X doesn’t get in your way when you’re trying to be productive or creative, but sometimes it does something (or forces you to do something) that just makes you want to raise your eyebrows in wonderment. MacBook Air’s robust design makes it a reliable machine day after day, but even the best-built machine can have problems.

When you come across a conundrum or problem, either with MacBook Air itself or with OS X, you might consider making an appointment with your local Apple Store’s Genius Bar. More often than not, the on-duty genius could give you good advice about how to overcome the conundrum or solve the problem. The Genius Bar is a great thing, but it isn’t always a convenient thing. You can’t just drop by to get help — you have to make an appointment. You have to drag yourself down to the store, perhaps wait for your genius, get the problem looked at, and then make your way back home. In some cases, you may need to leave MacBook Air for a day or two while the problem gets checked out and, hopefully, resolved.

What MacBook Air users really need is a version of the Genius Bar that’s easier to access, more convenient, and doesn’t require tons of time or leaving MacBook Air in the hands of a stranger. What MacBook Air users really need is a portable genius that enables them to be more productive and solve problems wherever they, and their MacBook Air, happen to be.

Welcome, therefore, to MacBook Air Portable Genius, Second Edition. This book is like a mini Genius Bar all wrapped up in an easy-to-use, easy-to-access, and eminently portable format. In this book, you learn how to get more out of MacBook Air by learning how to access all of the really powerful and time-saving features that aren’t obvious at a casual glance. In this book, you learn how to avoid your MacBook Air’s more annoying character traits and, in those cases where such behavior can’t be avoided, you learn how to work around it. In this book, you learn how to prevent MacBook Air problems from occurring and, just in case your preventative measures are for naught, you learn how to fix many common problems yourself. And, yes, this book also shows you how to get inside the MacBook Air case!

This book is for MacBook Air users who know the basics, but want to take their education to a higher level. It’s a book for people who want to be more productive, more efficient, more creative, and more self-sufficient (at least as far as MacBook Air goes, anyway). It’s a book for people who use MacBook Air every day, but would like to incorporate MacBook Air into more of their day-to-day activities. It’s a book I had a blast writing, so I think it’s a book you’ll enjoy reading.

Please note that some special symbols used in this eBook may not display properly on all eReader devices. If you have trouble determining any symbol, please call Wiley Product Technical Support at 800-762-2974. Outside of the United States, please call 317-572-3993. You can also contact Wiley Product Technical Support at www.wiley.com/techsupport.

Chapter 1: How Do I Connect Devices?

You love MacBook Air because it doesn’t require you to be a genius to accomplish basic, everyday tasks. Got a new mouse? Just plug it into one of the USB ports and it’s ready to use within seconds. Nice! Unfortunately, some devices are more ornery and require a bit of extra effort on your part to get them connected and configured. In this chapter, I take you through connecting a few such devices, including an external display, printer, fax, digital camera, scanner, and camcorder.

Using an External Display

If you have an extra external display — a monitor, television set, or projector — just lying around, you can connect it to MacBook Air for various scenarios:

• As an alternative display. You can use the external display instead of MacBook Air’s built-in monitor.

• As a desktop extension. You can use the external display to extend the MacBook Air desktop.

Fortunately, both of these connection types are plug-and-play (meaning once you plug in and turn on the external display, MacBook Air recognizes the new device right away). That’s the good news. The bad news is that although using an external monitor is plug-and-play, the plug part isn’t as straightforward as you might like because there are many different ways to connect a MacBook Air to a display. The next few sections provide you with the details you need to make things happen.