MacMechanic - Santa Barbara's #1 Apple Computer Authorized Service and Sales Center

The NEW iPad

jdessert — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 19:39:18 +0000

Equipped with a high resolution Retina Display and 4G LTE. Yes, Please.

The All-New Apple TV Now in 1080p HD

jdessert — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 19:19:35 +0000

Watch or stream video in in 1080p HD on your HD TV.

MacMechanic Training Launching 2/29/12

jdessert — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 18:24:18 +0000

Ask about our new training program featuring our FreeDiscussion, PrivateLesson, and StudyHall classes.

Apple Offers iBooks Textbooks to the Educational Market

sarah — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 00:17:37 +0000

Announced on January 19, Apple is taking the steps necessary to solidify its name in the education market. iBooks allows for an entirely new textbook experience supported by the undeniably intuitive design of the iPad. With the top K-12 publishers creating textbooks designed for use on the iPad, schools are reassessing their options. The problem with traditional texts books is simple: They are expensive both to produce and purchase, they are easily damaged through the passing along from one student to the next, and often times they are just simply outdated.

iBooks solves a number of issues and introduces a wide array of benefits for schools, publishers, and students. The paperless design creates an eco-friendly solution, free of the costs associated with printing textbooks. This further allows for an easy transition to the most updated versions of textbooks without needing to worry about what to do with those books no longer needed.

It is no secret that times are changing and nearly all aspects of life are influenced by conveniences provided by technological advancement. Apple is capitalizing on the e-textbook market and sending the message that there is no reason students today should be limited to the use of paper textbooks as were previous generations.

The interactivity provided by iBooks textbooks is one of the most exciting innovations in the educational world to date. Diagrams and figures that traditionally remain stagnant are now coming to life. Students are able to learn about various subjects in more than just two dimensions. Note taking is another aspect of the traditional textbook experience that has been revolutionized. By simply dragging the cursor over desired text and annotating the selected information, one is able to create assorted study materials ranging from a standard note sheet to a stack of flash cards.

Apple is not only focused on providing textbooks to students through iBooks, but is also encouraging anyone and everyone to publish their own texts. With iBooks author, anyone can create a multi-touch book for the iPad. The best part: there is no charge to do so!

Chairman and CEO of top textbook publishing company, Terry McGraw, backs iBooks suggesting, “It brings the curriculum alive.” The added value that Apple brings to textbooks allows for what could eventually become a norm among educational systems across America. A truly interactive approach to learning paves the way for a learn-by-doing methodology, leaving the learn-by-example ways as an element of the past. With Apple having just recorded its record high quarterly revenues, it will be no surprise if iBooks proves to be contributory to the company’s future successes.

Repair and Order Lookup

jdessert — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 00:22:05 +0000

One of the best, if not the best, features of our new website is the ability to lookup the status of a repair or order, directly from our website. All you have to do is go to www.macmechanic.com, look for the “Quick Links” on the left-hand side of the page, and click on the “Repair (SRO) & Order Lookup” link. From there you will need to click on the “Order Lookup” button on the right-hand side of the page. Simply enter the SRO or Order number (including the S- or O-) and the email address it was checked in with, and you can see where your Repair or Order stands. You will be able to see time-stamped notes from the technician, telling you everything that he or she has completed. If you have any questions or concerns, you can go to the “Company Directory” link at the bottom of our webpage and contact the technician who is working on your machine directly via email or phone with their direct extension.

Quicken Adds New (Old) Features

jwilky — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 23:33:42 +0000

Quicken for Mac users were a bit put off when Intuit introduced Quicken Essentials for Mac in 2010. Intuit took away key features that have been enjoyed for years by users on both the Mac and PC platforms including check writing and TurboTax exports. Recently, Intuit released Quicken Essentials for Mac version 1.5 which reinstates these missing features. Still missing is direct bill pay from Quicken. Rather than updating Quicken Essentials, Intuit still allows customers to purchase Quicken for Mac 2007.

From Intuit.com:

Can I pay my bills within Quicken?
While you cannot pay bills within the product itself (“direct bill pay”), you can track your bills and make sure you have enough cash to pay them when they’re due. A few alternatives available include using Quicken Mac 2007 or using the bill pay functionality of Quicken Bill Pay.

Overall, Quicken Essentials for Mac provides a great, Mac-like experience, but for some needing a bit more out of their personal finance software, there is still plenty left desired.

Quicken Essentials for Mac is in stock at MacMechanic and retails for $49.