How to Switch Pictures and Music from PC to Mac

So they finally
convinced you. All of those hippie Apple friends of yours finally convinced you to go out and buy a Mac. And they were right, because Macs aren’t just for hippies and teachers anymore. Macs are great computers and pretty soon you’ll be glad you have one.  For now though, you’ve just realized the first of your hurdles. Your new Mac might be cool, but all of your STUFF is still sitting over there on your PC. So how do you move it over, especially you photos and music? Read on.

There are third party software packages out there written specifically for moving files from a PC to a Mac. Some even come with a “special” USB cable for doing the job. If you want to go that route you’re more than welcome, but you’ll have more control over the process if you do it yourself. The choice is yours.How to move your pictures:

The Cloud – The cloud is your friend. And what the heck is the cloud? It’s a fancy way of referring to the fully self contained web applications on the internet. The cloud will likely not be of much help with your music collection (unless you acquired every single song you own from a particular site that allows you to fully restore your collection). What the cloud is good for is pictures. Popular sites like Flickr, Picasa, and SmugMug are great sites for storing your pictures. Why is this so great when it comes to changing computers? Because if all of your pictures are stored on one of these services then you don’t have to move them. Any machine with an internet connection can already view them. Apple’s own cloud program is known as MobileMe and can be found at: http://www.apple.com/mobileme/

Recordable Medium – At the end of the day, pictures are ridiculously easy to move. They don’t have anti-piracy technology and any images a Windows machine can read, a Mac machine can read as well. What does this mean? It means all you have to do is copy your files onto some sort of recordable medium such as a flash drive, external hard drive, or burnable CD/DVD. Then, just plug that recordable medium file into your Mac and copy the files over to your Mac’s “Pictures” folder

Direct Transfer – If you want to get fancy you can also network your PC and Mac together then copy the files directly over.How to move your music:

Non-DRM Music –In other words, MP3’s (and any other music file that has no form of anti-piracy technology). Files like these are as easy to move as pictures, so the “recordable medium” and “direct transfer” suggestions above will apply here as well. There are, however, two heads up. Mac’s might need you to install a third party player for certain music files such as Ogg Vorbis.  Second, iTunes, which is the Mac’s default music player can play mp3’s without a problem. What it will do by default though is copy the MP3’s you play into it’s own library.  This is fine. It’s literally just copying your MP3 into a different directory on the machine. Once you’ve moved all of your MP3’s over, I would in fact recommend loading them all into iTunes so it can copy them, then deleting the original files you moved over.

Zune – You’repretty much out of luck. Microsoft currently doesn’t support Zune software for the Mac, unlike Apple which supports iTunes for Windows. The one work around is this. Burn your songs to a CD then rip that CD on your Mac. You will lose audio quality doing this, but currently it’s the only real solution to a problem that shouldn’t exist in the first place.

iTunes – You can manually move your files over the way you would your pictures and MP3’s. The only difference is you’ll have to authorize your computer to play your iTunes purchased songs. Look up at iTunes menu and click “Advanced”, the authorization tool should be there. Getting back to moving the files though, for a lot of us our iTunes collections consist of multiple playlists and ratings we don’t want to lose. If that’s the case then I recommend checking out Lifehacker.com’s guide to moving your iTunes library.

It can be found here:
http://lifehacker.com/software/itunes/geek-to-live--how-to-move-an-itunes-library-from-a-pc-to-mac-and-back-242468.php

Until you get your stuff moved over, a new computer can feel like a house without any furniture. Hopefully the tips above will help you with “moving in”. Good luck!

How to Set Up a Wireless Network

If you are thinking about setting up a wireless home network, it is not as difficult as you may think. Follow these easy steps and you will have your wireless network set up in no time.

The first thing you need to do is make sure you have all the right equipment. What you need:

• Wireless 802.11g or 802.11n Router
• A Desktop or Laptop with wireless capabilities (Or a wireless network adapter if your computer doesn’t have built in wireless connectivity)
• High Speed Internet Connection (cable, DSL or other working broadband modem)

Before you purchase anything, double check to make sure your computer has a built in wireless networking support or has a wireless network adapter. If not, you will need to purchase a wireless adapter. There are different wireless networking technologies, but you are better off with an 802.11n, the latest and fastest version, or the 802.11g, which is compatible with all other current networking technologies and still pretty fast. If you need to buy an adapter as well, make sure the router and adapter are the same technology (its best if they are the same brand too).

Don’t forget that you need a broadband Internet connection. Broadband is the most popular type of connection and your local cable or telephone company can set you up if you don’t already have it.

1.) The first step to setting up your wireless router is choosing a convenient location. You will want to set it up near your high-speed internet equipment and desktop computer.
2.) Locate your cable or DSL modem. Unplug the Ethernet or USB cable from your internet modem and plug it into your router’s “WAN” port using the supplied cable. Turn the modem off and then back on so it recognizes the router.
3.) Next, connect the wireless router to your computer using Ethernet cables to your router’s LAN ports. Even if the router is “wireless” you need to temporarily connect them to ensure maximum performance of the router.
4.) The majority of wireless routers will work out of the box, however they are not secure. Therefore, next, you need to configure your wireless router. Open your Web browser on your computer and type in the router’s address to configure the router. Make sure that you are following the instructions in your routers documentation to determine the address. Log in to the router and follow its administration tool (they vary slightly by model). It may give you a password to type in at this point. The default settings will be shown by the program. Most of them are default settings and you shouldn’t have to do anything with them. You will want to change the passwords, but do this after setup is complete to avoid any complications. At some point the tool will require you to enter your internet connection information (PPPoE username and password if using DSL). Just follow the admin tool.
5.) The next thing you need to do is change the wireless network name. Make sure you choose something that your neighbors will not be able to pick up on. Don’t use your last name or something obvious. You want it to be protected.
6.) Then you will need to encrypt your wireless router. You can do this by providing a pass phrase. Make sure it is long enough that others can’t break the code. Finally, you will need to provide an administrative password. This should not be a real word. Combine letters and numbers together, but make sure that you memorize it. It will be used in case you need to change your router’s settings.
7.) Lastly, verify the connection is working and connect any additional computers to the router. Remember that your router will send the information to your computer when you turn it on.

After you have completed these steps, you will be ready to run your wireless network!

Popular Routers:

Linksys WRT600N 4-Port Dual-Band Wireless-N Gigabit Router

D-Link Xtreme N Gigabit Wireless Router

For a Network Business Solution, call our Account Managers today at (800) 814-5410 to get the best solution for your business.

How to Recycle your Computer Accessories

Even though you may not buy a new computer very often, there is a good chance that you change accessories from time to time. The fact of the matter is that computer accessories are always getting swapped out for new ones for a couple of different reasons. First and foremost, accessories have the tendency to wear out over time; especially when subjected to extended use. Additionally, computer accessories do not cost nearly as much money as the computer itself. But when you are thinking of getting rid of computer accessories, you also need to keep recycling in mind. After all, you do not want to do anything that is going to harm the environment when swapping your old accessories for new ones.

You need to first know what computer accessories you use, as well as which ones you get rid of from time to time. Some of the most common computer accessories include: modem, keyboard, and a mouse. All three of these items are commonly used by most people who have a computer. This holds true in a business setting as well.

There are a couple of ways that you can properly recycle computer accessories. Neither one of them consist of putting the items in the garbage and waiting for the trash company to pick them up. If you do this, the computer accessories will end up in a landfill somewhere. In turn, they will be taking up valuable space while also releasing harmful materials into the soil, water, etc.

The best way to recycle your computer accessories is to take them to a company that specializes in this area. In most cases, the companies that recycle computers will be more than happy to take your accessories as well. They will either break them down to use them for parts, or
refurbish them to working order.

Additionally, there are also companies that specialize in computer and computer accessory refurbishing. They do not strip the accessories down for parts, but instead ensure they are working and then pass them along to charities, schools, or other organizations. Remember, just because you purchased a new item does not mean that the old one is totally useless. Leave it up to a refurbishing company to get the accessories back in working order.

The best way to recycle computer accessories is to take them to a recycling or refurbishing company. Just remember, putting the accessories in the trash is not going to help anybody or the environment.

Examples of Environmentally Friendly Computer Accessories:

Labtec 2.4 GHz Wireless Notebook Mouse
(Shuts off power automatically to extend battery life)

Western Digital Caviar GP 750 GB SATA 300 Internal Hard Drive
(Provides the right balance of system performance, ensured reliability and energy conservation)

How to Setup Dual Monitors

More and more people are running dual monitors on their computers today. There are even some professionals and gamers who connect three or more monitors to their computers. One of the main reasons to consider running multiple monitors is that it is a tremendous time savior. Dual monitors increases productivity for anyone that opens multiple windows and applications simultaneously. This is especially true for designers who work with various graphics programs; you can code on one monitor and view results on another. Contrast to using a single monitor, you do not have to worry about constantly maximizing and minimizing screens when working with two or more monitors.

In order to set up dual monitors, you will first need to make sure that you have everything you need. Requirements for doing this include two monitors, a computer, Windows 2000 or XP and two monitor connections on your video card. The video card is the part of your computer that sticks out from the back. Before you get started, you need to look and make sure that you have either two VGA connections, two DVI connections or one of each. In most computers produced in the last few years that is not a problem. In the rare event that you do not have more than one connector, you have two options. One option is to add a second video card and the other option is to replace the video adapter with a card that offers dual monitor support. There are many different video adapters from which to choose; varying in terms of performance and price. You can usually find one; however, that will support even a small budget. It is a good idea to keep in mind that in the event you work with a lot of graphics, you should make an attempt to obtain a card that supports Video Ram or VRAM.

To find out whether you have everything you need, take a look at the back of the computer and look for two VGA connectors, two DVI connectors, or one of each. If you only have a single DVI or single VGA connector then you will need to either replace your existing video adapter with one that has two connections or install a video adapter.

Once you have two of the right connectors, you can connect your second monitor to the computer by plugging the second monitor into the port. Then restart the computer. This will give it a chance to detect the second monitor.

You will then need to adjust the display settings by clicking on the Start menu and then on the Control Panel. Next, click on monitor icon labeled Display. From there, click on the Settings tab in the Display Properties box. (A faster way to get here is to right click anywhere on the desktop, click on properties, and then click the Settings tab.) Now, click the monitor icon that is labeled ‘2’. Next, select ‘Extend my Windows Desktop onto this Monitor.’ There should be a checkbox next to that option.

This will allow you to extend the desktop onto both monitors rather than having it just on one. It may take a moment for your computer to start running on both monitors. In fact, your screens may go black or freeze up for a few seconds. Do not worry as this is normal. Your computer needs a few seconds to ‘talk’ to the new monitor. Within a few seconds the screen should come back to life and you should be able to see your desktop on the screen. Now, enjoy!

How to Recycle your Laptop Computer

There are several ways that you can ensure that your old laptop computer is being recycled in the proper way. You want to make sure that you do what is right as far as disposing of your laptop computer is concerned. This way, you can be rest assured that your old device does not end up in a landfill harming the environment.

Here are three ways that you can recycle your old laptop computer.

1. Find out if the manufacturer offers a product take back program. If they do, they will take your laptop computer back from you and put it to good use as opposed to throwing it in the trash. If the manufacturer does not offer this type of program, there is a chance that the store you purchased from may. This is even easier for you because all you have to do is drop off your old laptop computer.

2. Locate one of the many computer recycling companies in the United States. There is a good chance that one of these companies will be located in close proximity to your home. If not, it will not cost you a lot of money to ship the computer to them. After all, the small price of doing so is well worth saving the environment. Upon receiving computers, these companies shred them and then sell the leftovers to companies that will be able to use them in future production.

3. Are there any reuse or donation programs in your area? Even though you may think that your laptop computer is too old to use, there is probably somebody somewhere who disagrees with you. The fact of the matter is that not everybody is as well off as those in the United States. If you can find a program that collects and donates laptop computers to needy people in other countries, you are doing a great deed. In many cases, this is the best way to recycle your laptop computer.

Throwing a laptop computer in the trash is the worst thing that you can do. Yes, this will get the unit out of your home, but it will also mean that it will sit in a landfill for years on end. While doing so, it could be very harmful to the environment. So instead of throwing your laptop in the trash, consider the three options listed above.

Examples of Environmentally Friendly Laptop Computers:

Lenovo ThinkPad T61 7658

Fujitsu LifeBook U810 Notebook