Tutorials
How to Monitor Your Mac's Memory Usage
Last updated: 01/02/2012Imagine driving a vehicle with no gauges on the dashboard. You wouldn't know how fast the car was going, how much fuel it had left, or whether or not the engine was about to overheat. In short, you'd be driving blind - hoping, by chance, that everything would just work out okay.
How to Update Your Mac's Software
Last updated: 12/30/2011Updating Apple's software on your Mac is an important maintenance task that you should perform regularly. Using the latest versions of Mac OS X and Apple's applications can protect your Mac against malicious attacks, improve sluggish system performance, and fix bugs that can cause applications to randomly crash. This tutorial will show you how to automatically and manually update the Apple software on your computer.
Automatically Check for Apple Software Updates
See How Much RAM is Installed in Your Mac
Last updated: 12/30/2011Do you know how much RAM is installed in your Mac? You should. RAM, or random access memory, stores the code and instructions for OS X and any applications open on your Mac. The more RAM you have, the more applications you can have open at once. Knowing how much RAM you have installed in your Mac is an important piece of information that could change how you use your computer.
Here's how to check how much RAM you have installed:
- From the Apple menu, select About This Mac. The window shown below appears.
How to Connect a Hard Drive to the AirPort Extreme
Last updated: 12/28/2011You can use an AirPort Extreme Base Station to create a wireless network for the computers and devices in your home or office. But did you know that you can also connect a USB hard drive to an AirPort Extreme?
How to Monitor Your Mac's Firewall Logs
Last updated: 12/27/2011If you're reading this article, you probably know that Mac OS X has a built-in firewall that should be turned on at all times. But how do you know that the firewall working, and how do you find out what's happening behind the scenes? To check, you need to access your Mac's firewall log - a file that contains a record of every event the firewall has processed.
Here's how to monitor your Mac's firewall logs:
- Verify that your Mac's firewall is turned on. For instructions, see How to Configure Your Mac's Firewall.
How to Install Windows 8 Using VMware Fusion
Last updated: 12/27/2011Maybe you've heard the buzz about Windows 8, the new operating system being developed by Microsoft. It's not for sale yet, but if you're feeling adventurous, you can install Windows 8 for free in a virtual machine on your Mac. Using a product called VMware Fusion (free trial, $49.99) is a great way to test Windows 8 in a sandboxed environment.
How to Use Your Mac as a Wireless Router
Last updated: 12/26/2011Did you know that you can turn your Mac into a wireless router for your home or office? This is a great option if you have cable or DSL service, but have yet to purchase a wireless router! These instructions will show you how to connect several computers or devices - such as an iPhone or iPad - to the Internet via your Mac's wireless network. The best part is that you can save big money on expensive devices like the AirPort Extreme and AirPort Express by setting up your Mac to do the same thing!
How to Hide Your AirPort Extreme Network
Last updated: 12/26/2011Own an AirPort Extreme Base Station? Congratulations! You have one of the most secure network devices in the industry. The AirPort Extreme's WPA2 Personal and WPA2 Enterprise encryption options are the best available.
How to Connect to Hidden Wireless Networks
Last updated: 12/26/2011Need to connect your Mac to a wireless network? You know the drill. Click on the wireless menu bar icon, select an available network, and your Mac automatically connects. But what about connecting to wireless networks that are hidden? The hidden wireless networks won't appear in the list, so you'll need to use a different method to connect to one of those networks.
Here's how to connect your Mac to a hidden wireless network:
- From the wireless menu (on the menu bar), select Join Other Network, as shown below.
How to Set Up the AirPort Extreme
Last updated: 12/25/2011If you're looking to set up a fast and secure wireless network in your home or office, look no further than the AirPort Extreme. It's easy to set up and use - just take it out of the box and plug it in. But there are some initial configuration steps required to get a wireless network up and running smoothly.
