Past Meetings
June 24 , 2013 - Hammondsport Mac Users Group
ATTENDING: Tom B, Bob S, Dottie E, Jerry L, Janet S and Bill N.
TOPIC : SPEED
Do you remember a time when you could order something by mail, but had to allow for the obligatory 6 to 8 weeks for delivery? How could we ever wait that long? Now the delay of a few seconds makes us tap our toe impatiently and wonder what is wrong with the internet. At this meeting, we explored various ways to make our Macs faster without great cost or technical knowlege.
SOME WAYS TO SPEED UP YOUR MAC
1) RAM
Max out the Random Access Memory - it is the cheapest investment you can make to get more speed.
OWC (Other World Computing) - reliable source for RAM memory - low prices, ships fast - Tom recently purchased 8 GB of RAM (two 4GB cards) for $79 for his 2010 MBPro - also shared that many MBPros have been tested to run effectively with 16GB (see report from OWC and specs from Everymac (NOTE: it is necessary to run OSX 7.5 or higher along with with update of firmware EFI and SMC).
View 'How to install RAM' tutorials and videos from OWC, and iFixit for your specific Mac.
2) RUN LEAN
Quit unnecessary Apps and Utilities - note the 'running lights' on active Apps in the Dock - the Finder will always be ON.
Stick to one of each kind of background service such as anti-virus, calendars, newsfeeds, etc. Anti-Virus apps are often a big drag on speed.
One great free anti-virus app is ClamXav - download directly from developer (19.9MB) - OS10.5 or higher required. A slightly modified version of ClamXav is available from the Mac App Store.
What are the differences between the version of ClamXav available from maker and the version in the Mac App Store?
Speed up SAFARI by changing some browser preferences (Safari > Preferences > Security > Uncheck 'Plugins' (read more). This will often help prevent the SPINNING BEACH BALL OF DEATH.
< - - - this is not real but it's still annoying - read more about the SBBOD.
Empty the image Cache, Cookies, History and Trash once in awhile.
To empty Safari Cache, go to Safari>Empty Cache>Empty (note: on Mt Lion, Cache is combined with Clear History)
To delete Cookies, go to Safari>Preferences>Privacy>Remove All Website Data (or click Details to select specific Cookies)
To Clear History of visited sites, go to Safari>History>Clear History
To Empty Trash, click and hold on Trash can>Empty Trash
Be sure your HARD DRIVE is not getting too full. A minimum of 10% capacity is required or it will get very sluggish and possibly crash. Click 'Get Info' for HD or simply open a Finder window and read capacity remaining at bottom.
Check the ACTIVITY MONITOR (COM-SHIFT-U) to find out which Apps and Processes are the biggest hogs of your Mac's resources.
3) SHORTCUTS
Get there faster by using Keyboard commands to reduce mousing time
COM-SHIFT-A opens Applications Folder on your Mac
COM-SHIFT-U opens Utility Folder on your Mac
SPACEBAR in Browsing - moves page view down one screen
COM A - select all
COM S - save
COM C - copy
COM V - paste
COM [ (front bracket) - return to previous webpage
COM UP ARROW jump to top of browser page
COM DOWN ARROW jump to bottom of browser page
COM LEFT ARROW jump to previous browser page
COM RIGHT ARROW jump to next browser page
See complete list
Create SHORTCUTS (aliases) to folders or files - drag & drop a folder, file or app onto the Dock, sidebar of Finder window or top of Finder window.
4) CUT THE CLUTTER
Have you ever tried walking briskly through a cluttered room?
Remove most files, folders, apps and dmg installers from the Desktop Folder. Put them into Document Folders. Create Desktop aliases if you need quick access. . Remember, it's the Desktop Folder that needs to be kept cleaned out, not just the Desktop view. It may actually slow down the user's efficiency more than the computer, but it still tends to slow things down. Dmg files are not needed after the installation is completed. They can be trashed or copied to a USB flash drive for later use if needed.
Note: When trashing
files from a USB flashdrive or external drive of any kind, be sure to Empty
the Trash before ejecting the drive. This will free up actual storage space
on the external drive. You will see a change of size noted at bottom of the
disk window when done.
HELPFUL SOFTWARE
Pixelmator - $14.99 at the Apple App Store (Free 30-day Trial) - download (40MB) . Will Pixelmator replace Photoshop? Read Tidbits review.
ToyViewer - free image-manipulating utility - Apple store preview of latest ToyViewer 5.3.0 for Lion and Mt. Lion - download (4.2MB) - with high recommendations by Charles Moore- read his review - older version ToyViewer 5.0 for Snow Leopard here - the 'free rotation' tool is extremely handy.
HELPFUL WEBSITES
RoaringApps - website showing application compatibility for OSX / iOS (Lion and Mt Lion)
Computer Desktop Encyclopedia - quick on-line reference for tech terms w/ review by David Pogue of NY Time
IN THE NEWS
CBS Reporter's Computer Breached Remotely - read about it
WiFi in Your Home Can Track Your Moves - new technology called WiSee - read about it
3-D Printed Guns - blueprints banned from internet after 100,000 downloads in two days - read about it
Yahoo Mail - recently there has been a rash of strange emails from friends which look genuine except for the short cryptic web link enclosed in the e-mail, no other message, and also the fact that they didn't send it. Read how to stop possible Yahoo e-mail account hacking .
SAFEGUARD YOUR IDENTITY ONLINE
Free software available from MacUpdate helps you defend against any form of network surveillance that threatens personal freedom and privacy, confidential business activities and relationships, and state security known as traffic analysis
Tor - download browser
from MacUpdate (33mb) - read more
about the Tor Project
Anonym - download from
MacUpdate (1.3MB)
JonDo - download from MacUpdates (13.4MB)
NEXT MEETING
July 29 - Topic: STUFF - Bring your questions about anything Mac.
For example: What is behind the black plastic strip on the back edge of a MacBook Pro?
Answer: the antenna
Reminder: our www.hportmug.com website
can be easily searched for a term, app or name by using the freefind search window
next to title
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Hammondsport Mac Users Group - Hammondsport, NY 14840 - www.hportmug.com