Macintosh Resources
Macintosh User Groups | Macintosh Information Sites | Macintosh Software
Macintosh User Groups
Macintosh user groups provide a place to interact with other Mac users, to ask questions and socialize. There are often special interest groups (SIGs) that meet regularly to discuss specific topics.
User Groups
- Victoria Macintosh Users Group (VMUG).
- Apple's listing of Canadian User Groups.
User Group Resources
- Apple User Groups gives information about user groups and provides help to user group leaders.
- Apple's Find a User Group allows you to search for a group within the United States or by country.
Macintosh Information Sites
Other than Mac user groups, the Internet is the best source for help with your challenges.
General
- Apple — the place to start for Mac products and information.
- Mactopia — Microsoft products for the Macintosh.
Downloads and Information
- FAQs.org — Macintosh — various FAQs for the Mac.
- MacTracker provides detailed information on every Apple Macintosh computer ever made, including items such as processor speed, memory, optical drives, graphic cards, supported Mac OS versions, and expansion options.
- apple-history.com provides information on Apple computers and products by date, family and processor type.
- VersionTracker: Mac OS X Software is a free Macintosh software download site for Mac OS X freeware, shareware, etc.
- Info-Mac HyperArchive.
- MacFixIt — troubleshooting solutions for the Macintosh.
- MacGamer.
- Unsanity products — additions for Mac OS X that add extra functionality.
Software Issues
- Isolating issues in Mac OS X provides a methodical approach to determining the source of software (and hardware) issues.
Backing Up Your Email
Links Sites
Security
General Security
People use Macs because of the relative lack of security vulnerabilities compared in particular to Windows. However, that doesn't mean that issues don't crop up from time-to-time.
- Apple security updates direct from Apple.
- SecureMac.com — Mac security news.
Viruses & Malware
Reports are appearing about increased risk of malware and viruses to Apple computers (as well as the ever-more-ubiquitous hand-held devices) and I'm starting to hear from Mac users infected with malware. Do not click on links sent via email and be wary of websites and sudden warnings of infections.
- How to avoid or remove Mac Defender malware — Apple support documentation.
- AVG LinkScanner for Mac — free software that indicates if a link in Safari is trustworthy. (Look below the huge Free Download for Windows button for the Mac download.)
- 10 Best Anti-Virus Programs for Macs — rates several programs in order of increasing price and lists the requirements (some only work on Intel-based Macs).
Macintosh News
Macintosh Software
This list of Mac software is not extensive and is listed for the purpose indicated. A more extensive listing can be found on the Apple site
OpenOffice.org
Free Office Alternative
OpenOffice.org is a multiplatform and multilingual office suite and an open-source project. Compatible with all other major office suites, the product is free to download, use, and distribute.
Governments, education, businesses, not-for-profits, IT businesses and more are using OpenOffice.org products as their standard offic software. Find out why.
Minimum Requirements for Mac OS X (X11)
OpenOffice.org runs on many operating systems including Windows, Linux and Mac OS X. The Mac OS X requirements have been included below.
- Mac OS X 10.4 (Tiger) or higher
- Intel Processor
- 512 Mbytes RAM
- 400 Mbytes available disk space
- 1024 x 768 or higher resolution with 16.7 Million colours
Java Requirements
Java Runtime Environment (JRE) 1.5.x, required to use full OpenOffice.org functionality that need Java (I recommend using the latest version available). Apple provides their own version of Java. Use the Software Update feature (available on the Apple menu) to check that you have the most up-to-date version of Java for your Mac. You can also search Apple downloads for updates. See Java for Mac OS X 10.6 Update 6 (November 08, 2011).
HTML and Text Editors
WYSIWYG HTML Editors
- Taco HTML Edit is a freeware full-featured HTML and PHP editor for Mac OS X.
Text Editors
- BBEdit ($125 USD) is an excellent HTML text editor.
- TextWrangler is now free, and considered the replacement for BBEdit Lite. There is a TextWrangler FAQ that should answer questions about the intended market for this product and the advantages of moving to the full-featured BBEdit.
- BBEdit Lite is discontinued. There is still a download available here, which you'll need if you are not running OS 10.
Web Browsers
- Safari Browser is the Mac OS X default web browser and supports the latest standards and features.
- Firefox Browser is available for Mac OS X 10.2.x and later.
- iCab Browser. This alternative browser for the Mac is highly customizable and includes image filtering, which eliminates banner ads.
- iCloud includes email, calendar and more. available for OS Lion 10.7.2 or iOS 5.
- Mozilla Thunderbird is available for Mac OS X 10.2.x and later.
FTP
- Interarchy ($59 USD) is a good Mac FTP program that requires Mac OS X 10.4.11 or later.
Utilities
- StuffIt Expander.
- ZipIt for Macintosh — fully compatible with PKZip for the IBM.
History
- Making the Macintosh: Technology and Culture in Silicon Valley - An online project documenting the history of the Macintosh computer.
- apple-history.com has information on Apple products listed by date which provides an excellent historical reference.
This page is maintained as a service to Macintosh users.
www.RussHarvey.bc.ca/resources/mac.html
Updated: January 31, 2012