My MacBook Step-by-step instructions with callouts to MacBook photos that show you exactly what to do. Help when you run into MacBook or Snow Leopard problems or limitations. Tips and Notes to help you get the most from your MacBook. Full-color, step-by-step tasks walk you through getting and keeping your MacBook working just the way you want. The tasks include: / Managing and organizing your desktop / Accessing the Internet through wired, wireless, and cellular networks / Communicating via email, audio, and video chat / Troubleshooting system problems / Entertaining with music and videos / Keeping in touch and on-time with Calendars and Contacts / Accessing your data from anywhere with MobileMe / Sharing files, printers, and even scanners over your network connection / Expanding your capabilities with peripheral devices / Protecting and securing your data / Recording video and publishing it instantly to YouTube or MobileMe / Configuring your AirPort base station to best support your MacBook's capabilities
Table of Contents
Prologue Getting to Know the MacBook Hardware The Built-In Battery Special Keyboard Keys What You Need to Know The Menu Bar The Dock The Finder System Preferences Window Controls Contextual Menus Windows Compatibility Boot Camp Virtualization 1 Making the Most of Your MacBook's Desktop Space Introduction Organizing in the Dock Adding and Removing Items from the Dock Using Folders and Stacks in the Dock Customizing the Dock's Appearance Customizing Finder Windows Configuring the Sidebar's System Shortcuts Manually Modifying the Sidebar Modifying the Finder Toolbar Previewing Document Contents with Quick Look Viewing a File with Quick Look Previewing Files Using Finder Icons Swimming in a Sea of Application Windows with Expose Choosing Between Application Windows Showing the Desktop Configuring Expose Shortcuts Creating Unlimited Desktop Space with Spaces Configuring Spaces Activating and Using Spaces Using Instant-Access Utilities in the Dashboard Activating the Dashboard Adding and Removing Dashboard Widgets Configuring Dashboard Widgets Finding Information with Spotlight Searching for Files and Information Customizing Spotlight Searching Saving Searches as Smart Folders in the Finder 2 Connecting Your MacBook to a Network Introduction Connecting to a Wired Network Making an Ethernet (Wired) Connection Connecting to a Wireless Network Making a Wireless Connection Authenticating on a Wireless Network Disabling (and Enabling) Wireless Networking Manually Configuring Network Settings What to Collect Before Proceeding Configuring TCP/IP and Proxy Settings Activating PPPoE for DSL Connections Making Mobile Connections with the iPhone and Cellular Data Cards Tethering Wirelessly to an iPhone Tethering with USB to an iPhone Using Cellular Data Cards Creating Virtual Private Network Connections Creating a VPN Connection Configuring VPN On Demand Managing Multiple Connections with Locations and Configurations Creating Configurations Adding and Using Locations Seeking Automated Network Assistance Launching Diagnostics Launching the Setup Assistant 3 Communicating Online with Your MacBook Introduction Using Mail Things You Need Before Setting up an Email Connection Adding an Email Account (Simple) Adding an Email Account (Advanced) Finding Your Way Around Mail Reading Email Composing Email Managing Your Email Using RSS Feeds in Mail Instant Messaging with iChat Adding an Account to iChat Logging into Your Account Configuring Your iChat Identity Managing Your Buddy List Communicating with Your Buddies Sharing Files, Photos, and Your Screen Web Browsing in Safari Managing Bookmarks and Top Sites Advanced Browsing Features Adding Web Content to the Dashboard 4 Managing Contacts and Appointments Introduction Managing Contacts in Address Book Adding Groups Adding Contacts Using Network Contacts Exporting vCards from Address Book Printing Addresses Working with Schedules in iCal Adding Calendars Viewing Calendars and Calendar Groups Working with Events Working With To Do Items Printing Calendars 5 Sharing Devices, Files, and Services on a Network Introduction File Sharing on Your MacBook Sharing Files and Folders Accessing Shared Files Sharing Printers Enabling Network Printer Sharing Setting Printer Sharing Permissions Accessing a Network Printer Sharing a Scanner Enabling Network Scanner Sharing Accessing a Shared Scanner Sharing an Optical Drive Enabling DVD and CD Sharing Accessing a Shared Optical Drive Sharing Your MacBook Screen Enabling Screen Sharing Setting Screen Sharing Permissions Accessing the Screen of a Local Mac Accessing Remote Computers and Non-Macs Sharing Your Internet Connection 6 Accessing Entertainment on the Go Introduction Using DVD Player Playing a DVD Setting Bookmarks Viewing Browser Video or Downloaded Video Files Playing QuickTime Files in Your Web Browser Playing QuickTime Files from Your Desktop Creating a Media Library in iTunes Running iTunes for the First Time Finding Your Way Around iTunes Building Your Media Library Viewing the Library Using Playlists Playing Internet Radio Keeping Media in Sync Presenting Media with Front Row Entering and Exiting Front Row 7 Using MobileMe to Access Your Data from the Road Introduction Setting Up MobileMe Creating an Account Configuring Your MacBook for MobileMe Sharing Storage with iDisk Configuring iDisk Syncing Configuring Your iDisk Public Folder Accessing Your iDisk Accessing Other MobileMe iDisks Using the iDisk MobileMe Web Features Enabling MobileMe Syncing Configuring Synced Data Initiating a First-Time Sync Resetting Synced Computers Using Back to My Mac Configuring Back to My Mac Using the MobileMe Web Applications Accessing MobileMe Email Accessing MobileMe Contacts Accessing MobileMe Calendars Using MobileMe Web Galleries 8 Making the Most of Your MacBook Hardware Introduction Balancing Battery Life and Performance Monitoring Battery Life Configuring Display, Computer, and Hard Disk Sleep Creating a Sleep/Wake Schedule Updating Keyboard Settings Setting Keyboard Repeat Rate Changing Keyboard Illumination Creating Keyboard Shortcuts Changing Trackpad Options Setting Trackpad Speeds Controlling Gestures Adjusting the LCD Display Setting Display Resolution Controlling Display Brightness Choosing a Color Profile Calibrating the LCD Display Setting Sound Input and Output Setting the Output Volume Configuring Alert Sounds Choosing and Adjusting an Output Device Picking and Calibrating an Input Device Recording Audio,Video, and Screen Actions Recording Audio Recording iSight Video Recording Screen Actions Transferring your Recordings to iTunes,MobileMe, and YouTube 9 Connecting Devices to Your MacBook Introduction Connecting USB Input Devices Configuring a USB Keyboard Configuring a USB Mouse Using Bluetooth Devices Pairing a Bluetooth Mouse Pairing a Bluetooth Keyboard Connecting a Bluetooth Headset Adding and Using the Bluetooth Status Menu Using External Displays and Projectors Adding the Display Menu to your Menu Bar Detecting and Activating a Display Setting Monitor Arrangements Activating Mirrored Video Connecting and Using a Printer Adding a Printer The Printing Process Connecting and Using a Scanner Adding a Scanner Scanning in Preview 10 Securing and Protecting Your MacBook Data Introduction Working with Users and Groups Creating User Accounts Creating Groups Configuring General Account Security Assigning File Permissions to Users and Groups Tracking Passwords with Keychain Access Viewing Keychain Items Adding Data to the Keychain Creating New Keychains Adding a Keychain Menu Item Encrypting Your Account Files Activating FileVault Setting a Master Password Achieving Network Security with the Built-in Firewall Activating the Snow Leopard Firewall Configuring Incoming Services Backing up Important Information Using Apple Backup Using Time Machine 11 Troubleshooting Your MacBook System Introduction Dealing with Troublesome Software Force Quitting Applications Testing with the Guest Account Removing Corrupted Application Files Restarting and Correcting a Frozen Machine Starting in Safe Mode Changing Login Applications Removing Startup Applications and Launch Daemons Disabling Extensions Removing System Preference Panes Fixing Disk Problems with Disk Utility Repairing Permission Problems Verifying and Repairing Common Disk Errors Gathering Information About Your MacBook Monitoring System Activity Generating a System Profiler Report Viewing the System Logs Remember Your Backups! 12 Upgrading Your MacBook Hardware and Software Introduction Upgrading Your Built-In Hardware General Guidelines for Conducting MacBook Surgery Verifying Your MacBook RAM Upgrade Preparing a New Hard Drive Adding External Storage Preparing the Storage Device Mounting and Unmounting Devices Upgrading Your Operating System Setting an Update Schedules Manually Checking for an Update Applying a System Update Installing New Applications Unarchiving Zip Files Accessing Disk Images Finding Useful Apps for Your MacBook 13 Configuring AirPort Extreme Services for Your MacBook Introduction Configuring AirPort Extreme Services Logging into the Airport Sharing a Printer Connecting and Sharing Disks Connecting a Disk to the Airport Setting Up Sharing Access Accommodating MobileMe Services Enabling NAT-PMP Configuring MobileMe Support Index
Author Biography
John Ray is a life-long fan of Apple's products; he has been an avid Mac user since its inception in 1984. He relies on Mac OS X both at work and at home because it is a robust, flexible platform for programming, networking, and design.Over the past 12 years, John has written books on Mac OS X, iPhone development, Adobe Creative Suite, Linux, networking, and computer security. He currently manages the application development team in the Office of Sponsored Programs at The Ohio State University. He lives with his long-time girlfriend, their dogs Maddy and Coco, and an assortment of tech toys.
