Maximize Your Mac

While most of the computer-loving world is happy with HP or Dell laptops, for some folks, Macs are where it's at. The latest machines, which fall into the MacBook family, look and work like fans would expect: They're sexy, trim, easy to use, and pack plenty of power. Of course, there's always room for improvement, so here are some of our favorite ways to make your MacBook even better. If you're still holding onto your iBook or PowerBook, never fear, as most of these tips and upgrades will work with those notebooks, too. And if you're a PC lover, read on anyway-maybe you'll be inspired to convert.

 

1. Get a Keyboard Cover
Chances are you don't like getting crumbs and soda dribbles on your MacBook. Fortunately, the iSkin ProTouch keyboard protectors offer a simple, cheap way to protect your laptop. ProTouch covers come in frosted blue, pink, and clear, glow-in-the-dark white, and black, and keep all sorts of dust and gunk from your notebook's keys. The covers are made of stretchy, durable silicone and can be hand-washed with soap and water. Bonus: The covers also quiet keystroke sounds. Still not convinced? Then think about the product's cost versus that of buying a new MacBook when you spill Red Bull all over your keyboard.
$24.95

 

2. See Things in a New Light
If you're having trouble seeing your notebook's display because of harsh lighting conditions-or you just want to make your monitor look really cool-press the Control, Option, and Apple keys and, while still holding them down, hit the 8 button. Voila, color change! If you have an iBook or PowerBook, the screen will change to a black-and-white view. If you're rocking a MacBook, the display should look more like a photo negative.

 

3. Elevate Your Mac
Mac users always put their laptops on a pedestal, at least figuratively speaking. But actually doing so could be a good way to keep your machine running smoothly. The Griffin Elevator desktop stand for personal computers is a good way to use your laptop at home or in the office while keeping the bottom (and your lap) from overheating. The stand should also help prevent neck and eye strain, while keeping your arms in a good typing position.
$39.99

 

4. Get Your Apple (Tip) a Day
You can never get too much advice on how to make the most out of your Mac. The site www.macosxhints.com has all sorts of tricks and tips, and a section of Apple's site (www.apple.com/macosx/tips) is devoted to divulging insider info on OS X. A new tip pops up each week, and advice ranges from how to use the operating system's Keyboard Viewer to how to turn a photo into a tile game.

 

5. Take Photos Now
If you hate Photo Booth's time lag between pressing the red picture-taking button on your MacBook and the actual shutter click, you can speed it up with a shortcut. Just press the Option button on the keyboard while hitting the photo-snapping button.

 

6. Right Click It
It involves a few buttons, but there is a quick way to right-click with your Apple laptop's built-in trackpad. Hit the Control and Command keys at the same time and, while still holding them down, click the mouse to see right-click options. Another way to do this is by tapping the trackpad with two fingers. Enable this feature by clicking on System Preferences then Keyboard & Mouse. Click the Trackpad tab and then check the box next to "Tap trackpad using two fingers for secondary click."

 

7. Get Some Freebies
Want some new software but don't want to shell out big bucks? There are plenty of places you can go to online for the latest freeware and shareware. We like
www.macupdate.com, www.versiontracker.com, and www.opensourcemac.org.