Why You Should Buy a Mac

How To Computer — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 00:04:50 +0000

Why buy a Mac?

Mac computers are some of the most reliable machines on the market today, gaining popularity due to the fact that they’re essentially virus proof amidst being cool to look at. There are more reasons to buy a Mac computer other than the fact that it is aesthetically pleasing however. This article will outline a few reasons why buying a Mac is well worth your money.

Virus Resistant

Mac computers run on Apple’s OSX OS which is a UNIX system. This makes Apple machines practically immune to all viruses and trojans that the internet can throw at you. This means that Mac’s aren’t only nearly immune to the threat of viruses, but it also means that they don’t have to deal with the hassle of anti-virus software. Not having to deal with anti-virus software means you’re saving your money and your time by not having to worry about the potential threat of viruses.

Dual-Boot Windows

Mac computers are able to run Windows because of the fact that Microsoft has allowed Apple to install it on their systems. This means that if you still need Windows for your work or for any sort of program that will not run on OSX, you still have Windows right there available for you to use. If your computer is strong enough to run OSX, chances are it’s strong enough to at least run Vista also; meaning that you need no hardware upgrades to have both OS’s.

Visually Pleasing

Not only are Mac computers technically sound, they’re also a pleasure to look at. Macs often are very customizable in appearance in respect to color and screen size. You can also count on your MacBook laptop weighing significantly less than its Windows counterpart while also supporting a much better battery life. If you’ve ever seen a MacBook Air commercial you’ve probably seen that the laptops are so thin that they can even fit into a small envelope!

Easy to Use

One problem that Windows users often have that is never an issue with OSX is how many odd issues that they experience with software installations and driver compatibility. OSX doesn’t suffer from nearly as many issues and is much easier to use because of how intuitively the OS is laid out for you. Everything makes sense and just feels like it’s where it should be.

Macs are becoming increasingly more common among workplaces and schools. They’re easy to use, visually appealing, and virus resistant. It’s hard to find a fault other than price, but is that really a problem when they’re so effective and reliable?

Photo Credits: Djenan

Originally posted 2009-10-26 03:25:47.

Top 5 Computer Security Tips

How To Computer — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 05:41:44 +0000

Step up your security.

With Ads like Mac Vs PC floating around in full force arguing which OS is more safe against viruses like it’s a computers prime selling point, just how big of a deal are viruses now? Even the unreleased Windows 7 isn’t safe from being infected by viruses if it’s used improperly, so they’re a big deal. What can you do to protect yourself from an onslaught of viruses? This article will provide you with a few tips that will keep your computer running smooth and virus free.

1. Use Up to Date Anti-Virus Software- Perhaps the best way to keep your computer safe from the threat of viruses is anti-virus software. It’s very important to download a noteworthy company’s software such as: Ad-aware, Spybot or Avast. These companies all offer free anti-virus that’s constantly updated. It’s important when downloading anti-virus software that you’re not downloading a virus itself, because that’s one of their most common disguises. That’s why you should always stick with a trusted company.

2. Be Safe With Email- Email is one of the easiest ways to become a victim of a large scale virus infection, and the easiest way to avoid it is to not open any suspicious email or follow any odd links and attachments. If you know the sender and the attachment still seems fishy, simply ask them by phone or in person before you open the attachment.

3. Better Passwords- This has become something that companies are enforcing, but it’s still something that needs to be emphasized, use strong passwords. Don’t simply make your password your first name or your dog’s name. You need to add numbers and special characters such as a # sign to your password. This will make it much more difficult for any potential hacker/virus program to affect you. If you can’t remember long passwords, try using phrases as they usually make the best passwords.

4. Use Anti-Spyware Programs- Although many of these programs becoming pre-packaged with anti-virus programs, it’s still important to note that spyware is much more commonly affecting your computer than a virus. It may come in the form of ads popping up on your desktop, or even just a program running in your background eating your memory. They may not be viruses, but they’re deadly and it’s important you prepare for them.

5. Watch Where You Download from- Where you download files from plays one of the biggest roles in whether you’re likely to get a virus or not. Avoid using P2P networks as much as possible as they’re probably the most unsafe downloading environments there are. If you visit a website and a message box comes up asking you to install (yes or no) always ctl-alt-delete exit the website immediately. This is one of the easiest ways to allow your computer to be infected.

Photo Credits: amelungc