Not long ago , it was more often than not understood that if you were serious about getting oeuvre done , you needed a desktop computer . But walk into just about any café , clientele meeting , or college class , and you ’ll see how times have changed . Laptops are currently Apple ’s quickest - growing product line , with sales up 79 pct over the last yr . In fact , Apple now sell more laptops than desktop arrangement .
With multiple processors , satiny pattern , and mickle of hard - parkway space , Apple ’s newest laptop computer — the MacBook and MacBook Pro — have little reason to begrudge their desk - confine siblings . These herculean portables can meet the need of the most - demanding road warriors , including lensman , software engineer , and interior designer . But live with a laptop has its challenge . For example , you ’ll need to see out how to keep your stamp battery charge on tenacious trips , and you ’ll have to take additional security precautions to keep your Mac safe .
If you ’re ready to leave your screen background behind , these strategies should aid you cut the corduroy .
Staying in power
When you make the shift from a background Mac to a laptop , it ’s not uncommon to become obsessed with power — specifically , where to find it and how to keep it from vanishing before the picture ’s end credit roll .
According to Apple , a MacBook ’s battery can run for up to six hr on a individual billing ; the 15 - column inch MacBook Pro can run for up to five ( you ’ll get five and a one-half hour from the 17 - column inch model ) . However , these numbers game represent a best - case scenario . If you use your laptop for CPU - intensive tasks , your battery will drain more quickly . For model , working in Microsoft Word while match your e - mail over a wireless connection will throw off your battery life to about three hours . And if you watch a videodisk , that movie had better be forgetful than two and a one-half hours .
gratefully , there are plenty of ways to extend your bombardment ’s charge .
Keep the Juices FlowingIf you spend a lot of time away from nursing home base , be certain to transmit your AC adapter with you . That way , you may recharge whenever you find yourself near a free exit . you’re able to buy a bare power adapter from Apple for $ 79 . By the way , despite the differences in wattage , you may use the MacBook Pro ’s 85 - W top executive arranger with a MacBook . you’re able to also expend the MacBook ’s 60 - watt power adapter with a MacBook Pro . But you might have to choose between charging the Mac and running play software — you probably wo n’t get enough power to do both simultaneously .
If you spend a lot of clip in your machine , you might desire to turn over a car office adapter , such as Targus ’s $ 60Mobile Power Inverter . When plugged into your car ’s cigarette lighter , the Mobile Power Inverter provides an mercantile establishment for your laptop computer ’s AC adapter . It has a construct - in surge protector , and it can recharge other portable devices , such as PDAs and cadre phones .
If you need business leader while fly , you may benefit from Apple ’s $ 59 MagSafe Airline Adapter , which plugs into the EmPower port and 20 millimeter ports found on some aeroplane — typically in business concern or first class . Not all planes volunteer in - seat power , so you should do your preparation before booking your trajectory ( for a useful template to planing machine that offer big businessman embrasure , go toSeatGuru ) .
If you ’re worried about run out of succus before you have a chance to reload , bribe a second battery that you may shift to when the first one dies . you could purchase a unornamented bombardment from Apple for $ 129 . you could pick up an prolonged - life assault and battery fromFastMacfor $ 100 and keep go even longer .
Conserve PowerTo make your assault and battery last as long as possible , eliminate unnecessary power Sus scrofa . The best property to start is in the Energy Saver preference panelling , which offers option for putting your screen or computing gadget to log Z’s after periods of inactiveness . But there are also some less - obvious solutions .
Whenever potential , turn down your screen ’s backlight ( using the F1 and F2 keys ) and unplug USB devices such as mice and card readers ( these twist employ vigor even when they ’re not in consumption ) . You should also change by reversal off AirPort and Bluetooth on airplane and when you do n’t need them ; these engineering are battery drainpipe . you’re able to turn off AirPort via the Airport Status menu — it ’s the one that show the strength of your wireless signal — at the top of your concealment . ( If you do n’t see the carte du jour , open your internet orientation pane , doubled - press AirPort , and choose the Show AirPort Status In Menu Bar selection . ) To turn off Bluetooth , open your Bluetooth druthers dot , press the configurations tab , and select change state Bluetooth Off .
And be certain you have enough RAM to keep your hard drive felicitous . When punishing drive do n’t have sufficient memory , they must trust more to a great extent on virtual memory , which requires more C.P.U. work and , in turning , apply more business leader .
fine-tune Your BatteryWhen go off the barrage , your laptop computer monitors how much mightiness you have leave , and it expose a admonition when the bombardment is fetch low . But over clock time , your battery display may become less accurate , making it harder to gauge your battery ’s performance . you could assist set things good and keep your assault and battery running expeditiously by calibrating your laptop computer ’s barrage . The standardization process helps the battery ’s inner circle find the barrage fire ’s high and low points , so it knows how much power it has .
You should fine-tune your assault and battery as presently as you get a laptop . To do this , connect the AC adapter and let the laptop rouse completely . Keep the adapter link up for at least two hour after it ’s fully charged ( feel detached to practice the figurer during this time , as long as you keep it plugged in ) . After two hour , disconnect the adapter and use the laptop as normal . allow the calculator run until the battery get so low that it forces the figurer to go to sleep ( make indisputable to regularly preserve whatever you ’re work on when the battery gets low ) . Leave the laptop computer alone for at least another five hours , so the electric battery will fully put down , and then plug it in . After that , recharge it and use it as usual . For the best battery functioning , you should calibrate it every few months .
you could keep an centre on your battery ’s health with the help of Coconut Flavour ’s freecoconutBattery . This utility shows you your battery ’s current and maximum mission , as well as the number of barrage fire wheel you ’ve used , so you could have an melodic theme of how long your barrage will last .
5 steps to a more secure laptop
You would n’t dream of carrying around your tax bod and camber statement in your backpack . Yet many of us do n’t recall double about leaving every bit sore data unprotected on our laptops for anyone to find .
If you must stock around personal or confidential files , make certain you ’ve taken appropriate steps to protect them — and yourself . Losing a laptop is bad enough ; your identity and banking company account should n’t be at risk , too .
1 . Require IdentificationWith OS X ’s Automatic Login feature turned on , your laptop is literally an open Quran . Anyone who presses the powerfulness push button will have instant admittance to your file . To move around this characteristic off , go to the Accounts preference pane and tap Login Options . ( If the button is dimmed , first select the ringlet icon and put down your administrator countersign . ) Deselect the Automatically access Asuser nameoption . Now anyone who tries to use your laptop will have to figure a password to access your scheme .
2 . Encrypt Sensitive FilesThe login mental process will keep out the casual snooper , but it wo n’t guarantee privateness . Thieves who know what they ’re doing will be able-bodied to get around this roadblock . So take extra precautions for tender files such as financial selective information or troupe datum .
One of the easiest means to protect significant files is to place them in an code disk ikon . When lock , an encrypt disk image ensures that only someone with the right password can get at the data . Once it ’s unlocked , however , you could easily work with the files it contains .
you’re able to create cipher magnetic disc images with the avail of Disk Utility ( /Applications / Utilities ) . To create a new disk image , choose File : fresh : Blank Disk Image , choose the trust size of it , and enable encryption . When you press Create , you ’ll be asked to cater a watchword for your disc image .
To work with the disc double , forked - dog on the resulting disk - image file and enter your password . It should look as a disc in the Finder ’s sidebar . you may now drag any folders or files you want to protect onto the disk figure of speech . When you ’re done , unmount it to again code the capacity . ( penetrate herefor detailed instructions on go down up encrypted disk images ) .
3 . mesh It DownEncrypted disk images protect your files only when they ’re locked . If you abuse away from your laptop computer after you ’ve access and unlock your files , anyone who take the air by will have full access code . To prevent this from happening , necessitate a password to waken your reckoner from sleep or from the screen saver .
launch the Security preference pane and select the Require Password To Wake This figurer From Sleep Or Screen Saver option . Then switch to the Desktop & Screen Saver taste pane and set your screen saver to turn on after a few minute . ( You may also want to lay out a hot street corner so you may activate it manually . )
If you do n’t want to have to enter your password every metre you sit staring at your Mac ’s screen for a couple of minutes , you could opt to lock your cover only when you ’re stepping away from your computer . start the Keychain Access utility ( Applications / Utilities ) , and choose Keychain Access : Preferences . press the General tab and select the Show Status In Menu Bar option . A modest whorl image will appear in your menu bar . Quit Keychain Access . The next time you need to step away for a second , select the lock ikon and pick out Lock Screen .
4 . Give Good Samaritans a HandIn case some well - intentioned soul finds your mislaid laptop computer , check that that you provide information on how to get in touch with you . Visage , a $ 10 druthers pane by Sanity Software ( ) , gives you an easy way to supply text — such as your first name , your atomic number 99 - mail address , and a phone number — to your Mac ’s login blind .
5 . Track ItSo what befall if your laptop gets steal ? If you ’ve instal trailing software , such as SealthSignal’sXTool Computer Tracker , you may just have a shot at getting it back . This software system communicate with a central server when the Mac is connected to the Internet . If you fall behind the laptop , touch SealthSignal — there ’s a chance it will be able to encounter out where your computer is .
Make yourself comfortable
Sitting hunch over a laptop is fine when you ’re on the road , but if you ’re planning to wreak for a long fourth dimension , you ’ll want to make yourself more comfortable . When you ’re at home or at the office , take your cue from traditional desktop systems and create a functional workstation . With the right peripheral , you could have all the advantage of a desktop Mac ( a big monitor , a full - sizing keyboard , and a comfortable setup ) with all the contrivance of a laptop . When you ’re setting up your equipment , study these tips :
Dock ItTo simplify connecting your laptop to the various cables you habituate , consider stick a dockage station . BookEndzsells docking stations for all current Mac laptop , as well as many older example . The $ 159 MacBook Docking Station , for example , fits right into the port wine on the left side of the computing machine . It even offers an extra powered USB hub , as well as a VGA porthole for join an older monitor . Once you ’ve connect all your peripheral and cables to the dockage station , you could simply slide the tying up post into your laptop computer ’s ports . All your other cables stay on connected to the tying up station , so docking and undocking is quicker and produces less cable tangle .
Cut the ClutterIf you ’re bothered by cable system fuddle , look at going wireless with a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse , such as Apple $ 59 Wireless Keyboard and $ 69 wireless Mighty Mouse ( ) . When Bluetooth support is become on , your laptop will mechanically observe your keyboard and mouse , so there ’s no effort on your part . Just be sure to turn off Bluetooth when you ’re on the road , to save battery power .
Keep Your CoolIf you have an extraneous monitor and input machine , you may be tempted to simply close up your laptop computer and block about it while working at your desk . But your laptop computer will ferment more efficiently if you give it a short external respiration room . Leaving your portable flat on a desk or tabular array will raise its temperature , causing its fans to run more often . To aid it cool down , place your laptop computer on a riser so air can circulate on all sides . Even a slice of Grant Wood or a book will raise the computer enough to earmark air to hang beneath it . I also recommend leave the laptop computer lid opened somewhat so that air can circulate and fool any heat .
Use Your Laptop as a MonitorIf you ’re on a budget or you ’re close on space , you may save money by using your laptop ’s cover as your monitor . If you go this route , study getting a laptop stand , such as Griffin ’s $ 40Elevator . A laptop stand has two advantages : it raises the laptop computer to middle level , which is much serious for your neck and back , and it allows air to flow beneath the laptop computer .
[ Kirk McElhearn has authored and coauthored a dozen Mac ledger . His blog , Kirkville , feature articles about OS X , the iPod , and more . ]
