Windows Vista seems to be a monster when it comes to eating up space of hard disk & leaving huge burden on RAM. Realizing this & paying heed to feedbacks from customers, Microsoft has now given a glimpse of how big its next OS could be. Eric Traut, distinguished engineer & director of development (Windows Kernel & Virtualisation team), Microsoft, demonstrated through a video something they call ‘MinWin’. Compared to the core code of the monster Vista which eats up almost 4 GB of disk, MinWin sips only 25 MB, without a graphical interface. Microsoft is working on bringing it down further.
MinWin will form a part of Microsoft’s next operating system, named Windows 7, which would succeed Vista. The product is scheduled to be launched in 2010.
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Mobile use increases cancer risk
Chances of developing a brain tumour double for those who are hooked to their mobile phones. This has been found in a study conducted by Swedish scientists, which indicates that an hour a day on a mobile phone for a decade is enough to increase the risk.
According to Professor Lennart Hardell of the University Hospital in Orebro & Professor Kjell Hansson Mild of Umea University, long term mobile users had double the chance of getting a tumour on the side of the brain where they held the handset for over ten years.
The team said children should be discouraged from using mobiles because their thinner skulls and developing nervous systems made them especially vulnerable.
The Swedish study analyzed the results of eleven previous studies carried out around the world. It examined long term users because cancer can take more than a decade to develop. The Scientists, also says the risk can be reduced by using head phones
According to Professor Lennart Hardell of the University Hospital in Orebro & Professor Kjell Hansson Mild of Umea University, long term mobile users had double the chance of getting a tumour on the side of the brain where they held the handset for over ten years.
The team said children should be discouraged from using mobiles because their thinner skulls and developing nervous systems made them especially vulnerable.
The Swedish study analyzed the results of eleven previous studies carried out around the world. It examined long term users because cancer can take more than a decade to develop. The Scientists, also says the risk can be reduced by using head phones
.Mac ("Dot Mac")
Want to design a quick, attractive personal website with a click of the mouse? Need to share your vacation photos with friends anywhere on the planet? Interested in instant access to critical files, whether at the office or at home?
For $99.00 a year, Mac users can subscribe to .Mac (called "Dot Mac"). .Mac allows subscribers to publish websites and share photos with ease. .Mac automatically syncs information (including address book entries, calendar appointments, and email messages) across multiple Macs. In addition to a virus-protected "@mac.com" email address, it also provides space on Apple's servers for file storage and backups.
.Mac (pronounced "Dot Mac") provides email, web and photo publishing, file syncing and sharing, backup services, and more for one annual fee. Although many of these features are offered by other web-based services at various prices, for one-click simplicity, it's hard to beat .Mac.
Try a free trial of 60 days. Surely you love to use it more.
For $99.00 a year, Mac users can subscribe to .Mac (called "Dot Mac"). .Mac allows subscribers to publish websites and share photos with ease. .Mac automatically syncs information (including address book entries, calendar appointments, and email messages) across multiple Macs. In addition to a virus-protected "@mac.com" email address, it also provides space on Apple's servers for file storage and backups.
.Mac (pronounced "Dot Mac") provides email, web and photo publishing, file syncing and sharing, backup services, and more for one annual fee. Although many of these features are offered by other web-based services at various prices, for one-click simplicity, it's hard to beat .Mac.
Try a free trial of 60 days. Surely you love to use it more.
Switch to Macintosh OS
Before reading this, please note that I have no connections with Apple other than loving its products and none of the companies referenced have paid or compensated me in any way.
MAC vs. Microsoft Windows
When comparing with windows, MAC provides
*Easy Setup*
A new Windows PC spent a good half-hour sifting through the metric ton of packaging, trashing 14 full-color leaflets, and peeling the third-party vendor stickers off the merchandise. After being forced to activate and register the software.
By contrast, Mac came in an elegant box with minimal packaging. As it booted for the first time, it ask simple questions. In 15 minutes, I was good to go.
*Faster Boots*
MAC boots faster as compared to Windows. Life's short. Would you rather spend time waiting for Windows or getting things done on your Mac?
*Greater Stability*
Tired of resetting your Windows PC? Go with a Mac.
*Easy Software Installation*
When referring to Windows: find the install.exe file, double-click it, agree to terms, pick a subdirectory for the installation, click OK, and wait (and wait). And some times when launching the new program, see a result unable to find a necessary .dll file. Installing most Mac software is as easy as dragging the program icon to the Applications folder.
*The Apple Store*
At the Apple Store, everything Apple sells is powered up and accessible. Try out the MacBook, jump to the MacBook Pro, compare that to the Mac Mini, and then test drive the iMac. Displays clearly explain the differences among models.
*They're Compatible*
Today, though, almost every professional software package is available for both Macs and PCs. There's no need for translation software or special formats, because files created on the Mac open easily on the PC and vice versa.
If you switch to a Mac, you get the world's most powerful and attractive operating system, some of the world's easiest-to-use software, and, if you want it, the capability to run Windows and Windows software, too.
Using Boot Camp (free from Apple.com), you can choose whether your Intel-based Apple computer boots up as a Mac or a PC. With Parallels Desktop ($79.00 from parallels.com.), you can run Windows (or Linux, or even DOS, if you like) and Windows software in a window on your Mac. Crossover ($59.95 from codeweavers.com), still in development, promises to run many Windows programs, even if you don't have Windows installed on your Mac.
*Mac ("Dot Mac")*
Want to design a quick, attractive personal website with a click of the mouse? Need to share your vacation photos with friends anywhere on the planet? Interested in instant access to critical files, whether at the office or at home?
For $99.00 a year, Mac users can subscribe to .Mac (called "Dot Mac"). Mac allows subscribers to publish websites and share photos with ease. .Mac automatically syncs information (including address book entries, calendar appointments, and email messages) across multiple Macs. In addition to a virus-protected "@mac.com" email address, it also provides space on Apple's servers for file storage and backups.
.Mac (pronounced "Dot Mac") provides email, web and photo publishing, file syncing and sharing, backup services, and more for one annual fee. Although many of these features are offered by other web-based services at various prices, for one-click simplicity, it's hard to beat .Mac.
MAC vs. Microsoft Windows
When comparing with windows, MAC provides
*Easy Setup*
A new Windows PC spent a good half-hour sifting through the metric ton of packaging, trashing 14 full-color leaflets, and peeling the third-party vendor stickers off the merchandise. After being forced to activate and register the software.
By contrast, Mac came in an elegant box with minimal packaging. As it booted for the first time, it ask simple questions. In 15 minutes, I was good to go.
*Faster Boots*
MAC boots faster as compared to Windows. Life's short. Would you rather spend time waiting for Windows or getting things done on your Mac?
*Greater Stability*
Tired of resetting your Windows PC? Go with a Mac.
*Easy Software Installation*
When referring to Windows: find the install.exe file, double-click it, agree to terms, pick a subdirectory for the installation, click OK, and wait (and wait). And some times when launching the new program, see a result unable to find a necessary .dll file. Installing most Mac software is as easy as dragging the program icon to the Applications folder.
*The Apple Store*
At the Apple Store, everything Apple sells is powered up and accessible. Try out the MacBook, jump to the MacBook Pro, compare that to the Mac Mini, and then test drive the iMac. Displays clearly explain the differences among models.
*They're Compatible*
Today, though, almost every professional software package is available for both Macs and PCs. There's no need for translation software or special formats, because files created on the Mac open easily on the PC and vice versa.
If you switch to a Mac, you get the world's most powerful and attractive operating system, some of the world's easiest-to-use software, and, if you want it, the capability to run Windows and Windows software, too.
Using Boot Camp (free from Apple.com), you can choose whether your Intel-based Apple computer boots up as a Mac or a PC. With Parallels Desktop ($79.00 from parallels.com.), you can run Windows (or Linux, or even DOS, if you like) and Windows software in a window on your Mac. Crossover ($59.95 from codeweavers.com), still in development, promises to run many Windows programs, even if you don't have Windows installed on your Mac.
*Mac ("Dot Mac")*
Want to design a quick, attractive personal website with a click of the mouse? Need to share your vacation photos with friends anywhere on the planet? Interested in instant access to critical files, whether at the office or at home?
For $99.00 a year, Mac users can subscribe to .Mac (called "Dot Mac"). Mac allows subscribers to publish websites and share photos with ease. .Mac automatically syncs information (including address book entries, calendar appointments, and email messages) across multiple Macs. In addition to a virus-protected "@mac.com" email address, it also provides space on Apple's servers for file storage and backups.
.Mac (pronounced "Dot Mac") provides email, web and photo publishing, file syncing and sharing, backup services, and more for one annual fee. Although many of these features are offered by other web-based services at various prices, for one-click simplicity, it's hard to beat .Mac.
*Easier Wireless Networking*
Mac makes wireless networking simple.
*Protection from Viruses*
Fewer viruses can attack the Mac, your chances of becoming a viral victim are drastically reduced when switch to MAC.
*Protection from Hackers*
Almost every week, it seems Microsoft issues yet another patch to shore up "security holes" in Windows and Internet Explorer. Hackers exploit these security flaws to track your activity, control your computer, and commit everything from mischief to felonies. Stories about hackers taking control of Macs remain rare. (The stories you do hear are usually exaggerated.) Want to improve your chances of avoiding a hack attack? Switch to a Mac.
*Productivity*
Switching to a Mac greatly enhanced productivity. On a Mac, get more work done in less time. Mac doesn't freeze up unexpectedly. When a shareware demo does crash, OS X remains stable & don't worry about the integrity of my Mac, I focus on getting things done. Controls are consistent.
*Intelligent Monitor Management*
When you connect your Mac to a monitor or television, the display settings update automatically. Your laptop's screen can mirror the image on the monitor, or you can extend your desktop to cover both screens. If you're making a presentation, you can send one slide to the projector and preview the next on your Mac's private screen.
*Smoother Media Playback*
Audio and video playback should be simple. But on a PC, it always seemed to be missing this codec or lacking that player update. Web clips stuttered. Casual use of Photoshop would cause dropouts in my MP3s as the software accessed my hard drive.
On Mac, video and audio playback is smooth as glass. The audio stays synchronized with the picture. Streaming media behaves. MP3s don't miss a beat, even when u fire up other programs & haven't to goggled for codec’s or tweaked display settings a single time.
*Digital Photography Made Simple*
But Macs also have a lot to offer everyday shutterbugs. When connect digital camera to Mac, iPhoto automatically imports latest masterpieces and files them by date. U can search images by thumbnail, keyword, time period, roll name, or filename. With a click, U can enhance photos or add effects. In minutes, U can lay out and order handsome hardbound books, create dynamic slideshows, produce DVDs, and more. Can you do these things on a PC? Sure with expensive third-party software. Make the switch. You'll be delighted at just how easy a digital photo project can be.
*Do More with Your Media*
Macs are made to help you do more with your media and to help you have more fun doing it, too.
*Native PDFs*
To create a PDF from any application on Mac, click File, Print, PDF; & don't need expensive software or additional plug-ins.
*Powerful Bundled Software*
Mac came bundled with full-featured, powerful applications without parallels in the PC universe such as iChat's "out of the box," zero-configuration video conferencing and Garage Band’s sophisticated virtual sound studio, complete with digital instruments, a sound effects library, multi track recording, and one-click podcast publishing.
*Blazing Fast Performance*
· Programs install and start faster than ever.
· Videos and DVDs don't take as long to encode and create.
· Effects in Keynote presentations are even more dazzling.
· Can zip through my massive photo collection in seconds.
*Switching Is Easy*
*Built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth*
*Vista 2.0 Today?*
At the 2006 Apple World Wide Developer's Conference, banners promoting Leopard, the newest version of Mac OS X, proclaimed, "Introducing Vista 2.0." Not bad, considering how long it's taken Microsoft to develop Vista 1.0!
With eerie consistency, Windows "innovations “cool graphical effects (drop shadows, transparency, a sense of depth), Desktop Gadgets (small information applications oddly similar to Mac's Dashboard widgets), and the capability to quickly jump between apps and the desktop seem to imitate features already in Mac OS X. Want access to Vista 2.0's best features today? Switch to a Mac.
*Unix Under the Hood*
Purring away beneath the shiny hood of both Tiger (Mac OS X 10.4) and Leopard (Mac OS X 10.5) is a stable, powerful engine: Unix. Power users know that Unix provides more efficient handling of programming code and improved stability when running several tasks at once.
For the rest of us, having Unix under the hood means Mac OS X boots up faster and runs more smoothly. Applications rarely crash, when they do, they're less likely to disrupt other programs. And robust processor and memory management means that we can work simultaneously in iPhoto, iTunes, and iDVD without slowing our computers to a crawl.
*The Mac OS X GUI*
The graphical user interface (GUI) governs the look and behavior of windows, menus, controls, buttons, cursors, icons, dialog boxes, and scroll bars. Though responsible for visual appeal, the GUI is more than just eye candy it dictates how using the computer "feels."
For example: in the Windows GUI, dialog boxes pop up in floating windows. This can be startling and frustrating, because important information can get lost under other windows. But on Macs, dialog boxes slide gently down from a program's title bar, keeping notifications in context. Small differences like these combine to make the Mac OS X GUI a more pleasant environment for getting things done.
*The Dock*
In Mac OS X, the Dock is a strip of icons that floats along (or, depending on your preferences, pops up from) the left, right, or lower edge of the screen.
Unlike the PC's taskbar, the Dock features large icons that make it easier to identify open documents and applications. The Dock holds shortcuts to often-used apps, and files dropped onto Dock icons open in their associated programs.
Leopard expands the Dock's functionality, adding spring-loaded folders that expand to reveal their contents and instant access to apps and documents located on multiple desktops. After you switch, you'll depend on the Dock for fast, easy access to the files you use most.
*Spotlight*
If you're a PC user, you're probably familiar with Google Desktop Search, a utility that indexes files for rapid keyword-based searches. Spotlight, built right in to Mac OS X, provides similar functionality for Mac users.
With the advent of Leopard, though, Spotlight kicks desktop search up a notch. The new Spotlight supports Boolean operators (AND, OR, and NOT), allows speedy searches of other networked Macs, and adds Quick Looka live preview of a document, photo, song, or video summoned whenever your mouse hovers over a search result.
*Dashboard*
The OS X Dashboard, summoned with a keystroke or a click of the mouse, is a dedicated space for hosting widgets tiny applications that speed repetitive tasks or pull information from the Web. With Dashboard widgets, my calculator, the weather, sports scores, headlines, and other services are never more than a click away.
In Leopard, the Dashboard allows you to highlight a piece of any web page and transform it into your personal, automatically updated widget. And thanks to Dashboard syncing, changes made to one widget on one of your Macs can be automatically reflected on the others. Want more out of widgets? Make the switch.
*Chatting*
Love to chat? Apple's iChat connects you in real-time with up to three other people, and Leopard's new video backdrop feature lets you insert any photo or video as a background. If you've got a case of morning face, you can switch to text-only mode, monitoring multiple sessions in one window and jumping from buddy to buddy by clicking a tab.
Got friends on AOL, MSN, Jabber, IRC, and Yahoo? Check out Adium (adiumx.com). The application's cute icon always prompts a grin, and its silly sound effects library makes even dull chats more entertaining. Simple, powerful and only for the Mac.
*Customize Your Computer*
The Mac OS X environment looks so slick, you may not want to change a thing. If you crave customization, though, there are several applications designed to make every aspect of your Mac reflect your personality.
*Email*
If you're used to managing email in Outlook or Outlook Express, Apple Mail's uncluttered screens feel like a breath of fresh air. I use Mail (built into Mac OS X) to pull messages from multiple POP3 accounts without a hitch. With Leopard, Mail includes templates for every occasion drop in your own photos, write a message, and click Send.
Microsoft Office power users will love Microsoft Entourage ($499, as part of Microsoft Office for the Mac). Made for the Mac, it integrates email with calendars, to-do lists, and a robust project manager.
*File Management*
PC users will feel right at home in Mac OS X's Finder, which organizes files and applications in nested folders (much like Windows Explorer). Finder, however, offers a column-based view (in contrast to the "one window at a time" approach taken on the PC) that makes for faster, easier, and more visual navigation of files.
*FTP*
FTP (file transfer protocol) software enables file management over the Internet. Mac-based FTP utilities have all the power of their PC counterparts but deliver that functionality with greater ease of use and a generous helping of style.
*Games*
Although some PowerPC-based Macs did struggle to keep up with the action, the "Macs don't do games" era has officially ended. The 24-inch iMac comes standard with the NVIDIA GeForce 7300 GT graphics card, with the 7600 GT as an optional upgrade so graphically intensive games (like Quake 4 and Doom 3) deliver smooth, realistic action at high frame rates.
Many game publishers still release hot new titles for PCs only. But with your Mac's ability to boot as a Windows PC (via Boot Camp) or run PC software (using Parallels Desktop), that's no longer an issue, now is it?
*Getting Things Done (GTD)*
For busy people looking to manage multiple projects and crammed in-boxes, David Allen's Getting Things Done is the bible of personal productivity.
*Making Slideshows and Movies*
iPhoto and iMovieHD (supplied with Mac OS X) make short work of editing home movies and creating cinematic slide shows.
*Music Recording and Editing*
GarageBand (www.apple.com, included in the iLife suite) turns any Mac into a sound studio. Use built-in digital instruments, connect a MIDI keyboard, or plug in your mic and belt out a tune; Garage Band makes recording, enhancing, and editing audio tracks as simple as cutting and pasting text in a word processor. PCs have nothing quite like it.
*Productivity Suites*
Microsoft Office for the Mac offers features (including project management features in Entourage) PC users envy, but other options are available. Open-source NeoOffice (www.neooffice.org) reads and writes Office documents and features an intuitive interface designed for OS X.
Apple's Pages (included in the iWork suite) lacks Word's arcane features, but designs exquisite documents in minutes. Keynote (also from iWork) outperforms PowerPoint, offering templates, smoother animations, and stable media integration.
*Organizing Information*
Wouldn't it be great to have a single, trusted system that could capture and recall all the random information you deal with every day.
*PDAs, Palms, and Handheld PCs*
When you switch to a Mac, your Palm, Pocket PC, and Blackberry switch with you. Thanks to iSync (built into Mac OS X), Palm devices sync seamlessly with the Mac address book and iCal. Free Mac versions are available from Palm.
*Podcasting*
Podcasting on the Mac simplifies the process of creating a professional product and protects you from losing your best broadcasts to unexpected software failures. Garage Band offers click-to-record production and multi track audio; the capability to promote your podcasts on the iTunes Store is built in.
*Presentations*
If you're used to PC PowerPoint presentations, hold on to your hat: Keynote (in Apple's iWork suite) is a presentation powerhouse with cinematic transitions, smooth animation, and rock-solid media playback. Exquisite templates support fast, flexible, professional designs but avoid PowerPoint's "cheap clip art look." Additional themes available from Keynote Pro (www.keynotepro.com) add even more visual flair; some of their themes are even optimized for small-screen presentation on the iPod.
Laptop presenters, take note: while Keynote sends slides to an external monitor or projector, your laptop displays the current slide, the next slide, and a handy presentation timer.
*Remote Desktop Management*
Remote desktop management allows someone sitting at one computer to connect to and control another computer in a distant location.
*Spreadsheets*
In the PC universe, Microsoft Excel is the first and last word in spreadsheets. Excel for the Mac provides total compatibility, but you may also be interested in more streamlined alternatives.
NeoOffice (www.planamesa.com) includes Calc, which fuses all the power and compatibility of Open Office with the glossy, user-friendly look and feel of the Mac OS X Aqua user environment for free.
*Voice Over IP - Free Phone Calls*
With thousands of people depending on Skype's free PC to PC calling, the lack of a Mac Skype client was, frankly, a little embarrassing.
All that changed in September 2006 with the release of Skype for Mac (www.skype.com). Like the PC version, Skype for Mac places free computer-to-computer calls with up to 100 participants, free video calls, and low-cost calls to landline phones. Unlike Skype for Windows, the Mac version sports a bright, candy-colored Aqua interface and tight integration with Address Book and Entourage.
*Virus Protection*
As of September 2006, macvirus.org's Mac virus database has 26 entries. Most of these are rated "low risk" to home users and corporations; some are no longer in circulation. By contrast, in the same month, symantec.com's PC virus database listed 72,846 entries.
Even though your risk of infection, damage, and data loss is greatly reduced on a Mac, it's still a good idea to install virus protection especially because one of the most trusted Mac virus scanners is free!
Open-source ClamXav (www.markallan.co.uk, free) can be set to scan automatically for infected files. Brand-name shoppers can always pay for Norton AntiVirus for the Mac (www.symantec.com), which, like its counterpart on the PC, automatically updates protection, scans files, and monitors systems for unusual activity.
*Web Browsers*
The bad news: when you switch, you'll have to abandon Internet Explorer. Even Microsoft abandoned Internet Explorer for the Mac, stating that Mac users should "migrate to more recent web browsing technologies."
The good news: modern, powerful browsers with none of Internet Explorer's weaknesses and security issues are available for the Mac. Safari, included with the Mac OS, incorporates a snazzy RSS feed reader, inline presentation of PDFs (with no need to launch an external viewer), parental controls, and a rendering engine Apple claims is faster than Internet Explorer or Firefox.
Camino (www.caminobrowser.org), a Mac-only open-source browser, is also available. Its clean button bar and stripped-down interface can make it feel almost more "Mac-like" than Safari!
*Web Design*
With professionally designed templates and integration with iPhoto and .Mac, iWeb (part of Apple's iLife suite) quickly creates attractive personal web pages. Drag and drop photos, type in your text, click Publish and you're done.
*Word Processing*
Several Mac-only word processors read and write Microsoft Word files, but offer advantages and benefits even MS Word for Mac can't match.
Mac makes wireless networking simple.
*Protection from Viruses*
Fewer viruses can attack the Mac, your chances of becoming a viral victim are drastically reduced when switch to MAC.
*Protection from Hackers*
Almost every week, it seems Microsoft issues yet another patch to shore up "security holes" in Windows and Internet Explorer. Hackers exploit these security flaws to track your activity, control your computer, and commit everything from mischief to felonies. Stories about hackers taking control of Macs remain rare. (The stories you do hear are usually exaggerated.) Want to improve your chances of avoiding a hack attack? Switch to a Mac.
*Productivity*
Switching to a Mac greatly enhanced productivity. On a Mac, get more work done in less time. Mac doesn't freeze up unexpectedly. When a shareware demo does crash, OS X remains stable & don't worry about the integrity of my Mac, I focus on getting things done. Controls are consistent.
*Intelligent Monitor Management*
When you connect your Mac to a monitor or television, the display settings update automatically. Your laptop's screen can mirror the image on the monitor, or you can extend your desktop to cover both screens. If you're making a presentation, you can send one slide to the projector and preview the next on your Mac's private screen.
*Smoother Media Playback*
Audio and video playback should be simple. But on a PC, it always seemed to be missing this codec or lacking that player update. Web clips stuttered. Casual use of Photoshop would cause dropouts in my MP3s as the software accessed my hard drive.
On Mac, video and audio playback is smooth as glass. The audio stays synchronized with the picture. Streaming media behaves. MP3s don't miss a beat, even when u fire up other programs & haven't to goggled for codec’s or tweaked display settings a single time.
*Digital Photography Made Simple*
But Macs also have a lot to offer everyday shutterbugs. When connect digital camera to Mac, iPhoto automatically imports latest masterpieces and files them by date. U can search images by thumbnail, keyword, time period, roll name, or filename. With a click, U can enhance photos or add effects. In minutes, U can lay out and order handsome hardbound books, create dynamic slideshows, produce DVDs, and more. Can you do these things on a PC? Sure with expensive third-party software. Make the switch. You'll be delighted at just how easy a digital photo project can be.
*Do More with Your Media*
Macs are made to help you do more with your media and to help you have more fun doing it, too.
*Native PDFs*
To create a PDF from any application on Mac, click File, Print, PDF; & don't need expensive software or additional plug-ins.
*Powerful Bundled Software*
Mac came bundled with full-featured, powerful applications without parallels in the PC universe such as iChat's "out of the box," zero-configuration video conferencing and Garage Band’s sophisticated virtual sound studio, complete with digital instruments, a sound effects library, multi track recording, and one-click podcast publishing.
*Blazing Fast Performance*
· Programs install and start faster than ever.
· Videos and DVDs don't take as long to encode and create.
· Effects in Keynote presentations are even more dazzling.
· Can zip through my massive photo collection in seconds.
*Switching Is Easy*
*Built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth*
*Vista 2.0 Today?*
At the 2006 Apple World Wide Developer's Conference, banners promoting Leopard, the newest version of Mac OS X, proclaimed, "Introducing Vista 2.0." Not bad, considering how long it's taken Microsoft to develop Vista 1.0!
With eerie consistency, Windows "innovations “cool graphical effects (drop shadows, transparency, a sense of depth), Desktop Gadgets (small information applications oddly similar to Mac's Dashboard widgets), and the capability to quickly jump between apps and the desktop seem to imitate features already in Mac OS X. Want access to Vista 2.0's best features today? Switch to a Mac.
*Unix Under the Hood*
Purring away beneath the shiny hood of both Tiger (Mac OS X 10.4) and Leopard (Mac OS X 10.5) is a stable, powerful engine: Unix. Power users know that Unix provides more efficient handling of programming code and improved stability when running several tasks at once.
For the rest of us, having Unix under the hood means Mac OS X boots up faster and runs more smoothly. Applications rarely crash, when they do, they're less likely to disrupt other programs. And robust processor and memory management means that we can work simultaneously in iPhoto, iTunes, and iDVD without slowing our computers to a crawl.
*The Mac OS X GUI*
The graphical user interface (GUI) governs the look and behavior of windows, menus, controls, buttons, cursors, icons, dialog boxes, and scroll bars. Though responsible for visual appeal, the GUI is more than just eye candy it dictates how using the computer "feels."
For example: in the Windows GUI, dialog boxes pop up in floating windows. This can be startling and frustrating, because important information can get lost under other windows. But on Macs, dialog boxes slide gently down from a program's title bar, keeping notifications in context. Small differences like these combine to make the Mac OS X GUI a more pleasant environment for getting things done.
*The Dock*
In Mac OS X, the Dock is a strip of icons that floats along (or, depending on your preferences, pops up from) the left, right, or lower edge of the screen.
Unlike the PC's taskbar, the Dock features large icons that make it easier to identify open documents and applications. The Dock holds shortcuts to often-used apps, and files dropped onto Dock icons open in their associated programs.
Leopard expands the Dock's functionality, adding spring-loaded folders that expand to reveal their contents and instant access to apps and documents located on multiple desktops. After you switch, you'll depend on the Dock for fast, easy access to the files you use most.
*Spotlight*
If you're a PC user, you're probably familiar with Google Desktop Search, a utility that indexes files for rapid keyword-based searches. Spotlight, built right in to Mac OS X, provides similar functionality for Mac users.
With the advent of Leopard, though, Spotlight kicks desktop search up a notch. The new Spotlight supports Boolean operators (AND, OR, and NOT), allows speedy searches of other networked Macs, and adds Quick Looka live preview of a document, photo, song, or video summoned whenever your mouse hovers over a search result.
*Dashboard*
The OS X Dashboard, summoned with a keystroke or a click of the mouse, is a dedicated space for hosting widgets tiny applications that speed repetitive tasks or pull information from the Web. With Dashboard widgets, my calculator, the weather, sports scores, headlines, and other services are never more than a click away.
In Leopard, the Dashboard allows you to highlight a piece of any web page and transform it into your personal, automatically updated widget. And thanks to Dashboard syncing, changes made to one widget on one of your Macs can be automatically reflected on the others. Want more out of widgets? Make the switch.
*Chatting*
Love to chat? Apple's iChat connects you in real-time with up to three other people, and Leopard's new video backdrop feature lets you insert any photo or video as a background. If you've got a case of morning face, you can switch to text-only mode, monitoring multiple sessions in one window and jumping from buddy to buddy by clicking a tab.
Got friends on AOL, MSN, Jabber, IRC, and Yahoo? Check out Adium (adiumx.com). The application's cute icon always prompts a grin, and its silly sound effects library makes even dull chats more entertaining. Simple, powerful and only for the Mac.
*Customize Your Computer*
The Mac OS X environment looks so slick, you may not want to change a thing. If you crave customization, though, there are several applications designed to make every aspect of your Mac reflect your personality.
*Email*
If you're used to managing email in Outlook or Outlook Express, Apple Mail's uncluttered screens feel like a breath of fresh air. I use Mail (built into Mac OS X) to pull messages from multiple POP3 accounts without a hitch. With Leopard, Mail includes templates for every occasion drop in your own photos, write a message, and click Send.
Microsoft Office power users will love Microsoft Entourage ($499, as part of Microsoft Office for the Mac). Made for the Mac, it integrates email with calendars, to-do lists, and a robust project manager.
*File Management*
PC users will feel right at home in Mac OS X's Finder, which organizes files and applications in nested folders (much like Windows Explorer). Finder, however, offers a column-based view (in contrast to the "one window at a time" approach taken on the PC) that makes for faster, easier, and more visual navigation of files.
*FTP*
FTP (file transfer protocol) software enables file management over the Internet. Mac-based FTP utilities have all the power of their PC counterparts but deliver that functionality with greater ease of use and a generous helping of style.
*Games*
Although some PowerPC-based Macs did struggle to keep up with the action, the "Macs don't do games" era has officially ended. The 24-inch iMac comes standard with the NVIDIA GeForce 7300 GT graphics card, with the 7600 GT as an optional upgrade so graphically intensive games (like Quake 4 and Doom 3) deliver smooth, realistic action at high frame rates.
Many game publishers still release hot new titles for PCs only. But with your Mac's ability to boot as a Windows PC (via Boot Camp) or run PC software (using Parallels Desktop), that's no longer an issue, now is it?
*Getting Things Done (GTD)*
For busy people looking to manage multiple projects and crammed in-boxes, David Allen's Getting Things Done is the bible of personal productivity.
*Making Slideshows and Movies*
iPhoto and iMovieHD (supplied with Mac OS X) make short work of editing home movies and creating cinematic slide shows.
*Music Recording and Editing*
GarageBand (www.apple.com, included in the iLife suite) turns any Mac into a sound studio. Use built-in digital instruments, connect a MIDI keyboard, or plug in your mic and belt out a tune; Garage Band makes recording, enhancing, and editing audio tracks as simple as cutting and pasting text in a word processor. PCs have nothing quite like it.
*Productivity Suites*
Microsoft Office for the Mac offers features (including project management features in Entourage) PC users envy, but other options are available. Open-source NeoOffice (www.neooffice.org) reads and writes Office documents and features an intuitive interface designed for OS X.
Apple's Pages (included in the iWork suite) lacks Word's arcane features, but designs exquisite documents in minutes. Keynote (also from iWork) outperforms PowerPoint, offering templates, smoother animations, and stable media integration.
*Organizing Information*
Wouldn't it be great to have a single, trusted system that could capture and recall all the random information you deal with every day.
*PDAs, Palms, and Handheld PCs*
When you switch to a Mac, your Palm, Pocket PC, and Blackberry switch with you. Thanks to iSync (built into Mac OS X), Palm devices sync seamlessly with the Mac address book and iCal. Free Mac versions are available from Palm.
*Podcasting*
Podcasting on the Mac simplifies the process of creating a professional product and protects you from losing your best broadcasts to unexpected software failures. Garage Band offers click-to-record production and multi track audio; the capability to promote your podcasts on the iTunes Store is built in.
*Presentations*
If you're used to PC PowerPoint presentations, hold on to your hat: Keynote (in Apple's iWork suite) is a presentation powerhouse with cinematic transitions, smooth animation, and rock-solid media playback. Exquisite templates support fast, flexible, professional designs but avoid PowerPoint's "cheap clip art look." Additional themes available from Keynote Pro (www.keynotepro.com) add even more visual flair; some of their themes are even optimized for small-screen presentation on the iPod.
Laptop presenters, take note: while Keynote sends slides to an external monitor or projector, your laptop displays the current slide, the next slide, and a handy presentation timer.
*Remote Desktop Management*
Remote desktop management allows someone sitting at one computer to connect to and control another computer in a distant location.
*Spreadsheets*
In the PC universe, Microsoft Excel is the first and last word in spreadsheets. Excel for the Mac provides total compatibility, but you may also be interested in more streamlined alternatives.
NeoOffice (www.planamesa.com) includes Calc, which fuses all the power and compatibility of Open Office with the glossy, user-friendly look and feel of the Mac OS X Aqua user environment for free.
*Voice Over IP - Free Phone Calls*
With thousands of people depending on Skype's free PC to PC calling, the lack of a Mac Skype client was, frankly, a little embarrassing.
All that changed in September 2006 with the release of Skype for Mac (www.skype.com). Like the PC version, Skype for Mac places free computer-to-computer calls with up to 100 participants, free video calls, and low-cost calls to landline phones. Unlike Skype for Windows, the Mac version sports a bright, candy-colored Aqua interface and tight integration with Address Book and Entourage.
*Virus Protection*
As of September 2006, macvirus.org's Mac virus database has 26 entries. Most of these are rated "low risk" to home users and corporations; some are no longer in circulation. By contrast, in the same month, symantec.com's PC virus database listed 72,846 entries.
Even though your risk of infection, damage, and data loss is greatly reduced on a Mac, it's still a good idea to install virus protection especially because one of the most trusted Mac virus scanners is free!
Open-source ClamXav (www.markallan.co.uk, free) can be set to scan automatically for infected files. Brand-name shoppers can always pay for Norton AntiVirus for the Mac (www.symantec.com), which, like its counterpart on the PC, automatically updates protection, scans files, and monitors systems for unusual activity.
*Web Browsers*
The bad news: when you switch, you'll have to abandon Internet Explorer. Even Microsoft abandoned Internet Explorer for the Mac, stating that Mac users should "migrate to more recent web browsing technologies."
The good news: modern, powerful browsers with none of Internet Explorer's weaknesses and security issues are available for the Mac. Safari, included with the Mac OS, incorporates a snazzy RSS feed reader, inline presentation of PDFs (with no need to launch an external viewer), parental controls, and a rendering engine Apple claims is faster than Internet Explorer or Firefox.
Camino (www.caminobrowser.org), a Mac-only open-source browser, is also available. Its clean button bar and stripped-down interface can make it feel almost more "Mac-like" than Safari!
*Web Design*
With professionally designed templates and integration with iPhoto and .Mac, iWeb (part of Apple's iLife suite) quickly creates attractive personal web pages. Drag and drop photos, type in your text, click Publish and you're done.
*Word Processing*
Several Mac-only word processors read and write Microsoft Word files, but offer advantages and benefits even MS Word for Mac can't match.
Masters of Business Administration (MBA)
MBA stands for Masters of Business Administration, and is a post graduate degree in business communication. It is also one of the most sought after degrees in the world because of its value to people in business and administration. An MBA degree can benefit those in positions in business and management, especially those in executive and managerial positions. An MBA degree from a leading institution in the US has great value throughout the world and thus there are thousands of students from various countries who come to the US for the sole purpose of pursuing an MBA degree even though their own country may offer several MBA programs.
An MBA Program offers a range of benefits for the successful applicant, including:
Business Knowledge: The MBA program and business schools give you valuable knowledge about business and all its related aspects. You learn about business strategies and concepts, not just on paper, but the training and internship required in an MBA course, teaches you how to use these skills in practical life and in day to day business operations.
Leadership Abilities: An MBA degree involves rigorous training, assignments, reports, presentations, and group projects, all of which give you the necessary abilities to handle real-life business situations. This helps to set you apart from those who do not have such expertise and can make you a leader in your chosen field.
Networking: The alliances that you form with your classmates and the network that you create is deemed as one of the most important and valuable things that an MBA program can give you. MBA graduates have often felt that the associations formed during the MBA course are resources that are invaluable and can be drawn upon for years after the MBA degree has been achieved.
Anyone thinking of applying for an MBA program could benefit greatly from learning more about the program beforehand, and finding out what an MBA is all about as well as what MBA institutions are looking for in applicants. This site aims to teach you about various aspects of the MBA program, enabling you to make a more informed choice and to be more prepared for what to expect.
The Value of an MBA
In the United Sates alone, in any given year, there are close to 300,000 MBA aspirants pursuing the MBA degree. Taking into account the thousands of students who take the MBA program all over the world, there surely must be something of great value that the MBA degree offers you. But is it really as worthwhile as it seems? Here’s a look at what an MBA can do for you and how valuable it actually is.
Skills Acquired Through an MBA Program
Business Knowledge: The MBA program and business schools give you valuable knowledge about business and all its related aspects. You learn about business strategies and concepts, not just on paper, but the training and internship required in an MBA course, teaches you how to use these skills in practical life and in day to day business operations.
Leadership Abilities: An MBA degree involves rigorous training, assignments, reports, presentations, and group projects; all of which give you the necessary abilities to handle real-life business situations. This helps to set you apart from those who do not have such expertise and can make you a leader in your chosen field.
Networking: The alliances that you form with your classmates and the network that you create is deemed as one of the most important and valuable things that an MBA program can give you. MBA graduates have often felt that the associations formed during the MBA course are resources that are invaluable and can be drawn upon for years after the MBA degree has been achieved.
Career Prospects
An MBA degree provides you with innumerable career opportunities in various fields. It is especially beneficial to get jobs in high level positions such as managerial and executive level jobs. Whether you are looking to further your career in your existing job or are looking to change your job and start your career afresh, an MBA degree can be very valuable in either scenario.
The value of an MBA degree, on the whole, cannot be denied. But more importantly, anyone who has an MBA degree, or anyone who is in pursuit of one, has to determine how the degree can benefit them and should ask themselves what the value of an MBA is to THEM individually.
You can do this by assessing how an MBA can help you in your chosen field and in jobs for which you have an aptitude. If an MBA can enhance your business skills and make them better suited to your particular profession or career choice, then it can be invaluable to you.
Financial Value of an MBA
An MBA degree from one of the top business schools in America could set you back by up to $100,000. This is by no means a small amount and is indeed one of the largest investments that you are likely to make in your life. So it is necessary to evaluate the value of an MBA, strictly from a financial point of view as well. So you need to ascertain the return on investment on the amount that you are likely to incur in pursuing an MBA and see if it is financially valuable to you.
Calculate all the costs that are involved in pursuing an MBA, namely application fees, program fees, tuition costs, interest on any loans, cost of materials needed, travel costs related to training etc, test fees, and any other miscellaneous costs that you may incur. Once you have estimated the cost of your MBA, you need to assess the benefits of an MBA in terms of increased salaries, better wages, and more career opportunities to evaluate the monetary value of your MBA degree.
What Makes a Good MBA Candidate?
This is what all applicants to an MBA program need to ask themselves when they apply to any school to be admitted into their MBA program. Remember that the admissions officers and those professionals, who process your application, are also asking themselves if you will make a good candidate for their MBA program.
As the MBA is a very intense program, not to mention very expensive, schools are looking out for those applicants who come across as having prior knowledge about the program and are also clear about what they want from the program. As an MBA aspirant, you too, should do your best to be perceived as the ideal candidate for an MBA. The following areas are where you need to make your mark and put your best foot forward.
The Application for MBA
Once you have decided on some schools for an MBA program, the next step is to apply to those schools. Your application is the most important aspect, which will determine whether or not you are accepted into an MBA program. People think of the interview as the tough part, but if your application does not make you stand out as a great candidate, then you may never reach as far as the interview. Here’s how you can better your MBA application:
Have a really solid and complete application file. List down all your qualifications and your work experience in a way that complements them. Do NOT leave any part of the application form blank.
The essay that is required with the application should be written sincerely and should be so compelling that the person reviewing your application finds it tough to put your essay down.
Prepare for your GMAT test beforehand so as to have a high GMAT score in your application form.
The letters of recommendation with your application should stand out from the others.
Remember that only as little as 20% of all applications received by MBA schools, are actually considered further for the next stage in the admissions process. So make sure that you do the best possible job with your application so that it goes on top of the ‘in’ pile and does not get relegated to the ‘out’ pile.
Interviews for MBA Programs
If your MBA application is as good as it should be, then you may be short listed for the interviews. This is another critical aspect of the MBA admissions process and here the interviewer can physically determine how good a candidate you are for their MBA degree. Here are some tips to help you get prepared for the interview:
Portray Yourself as Part of a Team: Convey what you wish to get out of the MBA course, but more importantly, tell what you will contribute to it as well. Most MBA graduates consider their classmates and other students to be a big help during the course. So present yourself as a quality student and a valuable team member.
Be Sincere and Truthful: Do not give answers to questions that you think the interview committee wants to hear. They are great at their job and can easily differentiate among students who are being sincere and those who just give the ‘expected’ answers. So be honest about your expectations from the MBA course and why you have decided to pursue the particular program or school.
Prepare Yourself: Make a list of expected questions and then decide how you will answer them. But do not prepare actual questions and answers as then they will seem rehearsed and not spontaneous.
An MBA Program offers a range of benefits for the successful applicant, including:
Business Knowledge: The MBA program and business schools give you valuable knowledge about business and all its related aspects. You learn about business strategies and concepts, not just on paper, but the training and internship required in an MBA course, teaches you how to use these skills in practical life and in day to day business operations.
Leadership Abilities: An MBA degree involves rigorous training, assignments, reports, presentations, and group projects, all of which give you the necessary abilities to handle real-life business situations. This helps to set you apart from those who do not have such expertise and can make you a leader in your chosen field.
Networking: The alliances that you form with your classmates and the network that you create is deemed as one of the most important and valuable things that an MBA program can give you. MBA graduates have often felt that the associations formed during the MBA course are resources that are invaluable and can be drawn upon for years after the MBA degree has been achieved.
Anyone thinking of applying for an MBA program could benefit greatly from learning more about the program beforehand, and finding out what an MBA is all about as well as what MBA institutions are looking for in applicants. This site aims to teach you about various aspects of the MBA program, enabling you to make a more informed choice and to be more prepared for what to expect.
The Value of an MBA
In the United Sates alone, in any given year, there are close to 300,000 MBA aspirants pursuing the MBA degree. Taking into account the thousands of students who take the MBA program all over the world, there surely must be something of great value that the MBA degree offers you. But is it really as worthwhile as it seems? Here’s a look at what an MBA can do for you and how valuable it actually is.
Skills Acquired Through an MBA Program
Business Knowledge: The MBA program and business schools give you valuable knowledge about business and all its related aspects. You learn about business strategies and concepts, not just on paper, but the training and internship required in an MBA course, teaches you how to use these skills in practical life and in day to day business operations.
Leadership Abilities: An MBA degree involves rigorous training, assignments, reports, presentations, and group projects; all of which give you the necessary abilities to handle real-life business situations. This helps to set you apart from those who do not have such expertise and can make you a leader in your chosen field.
Networking: The alliances that you form with your classmates and the network that you create is deemed as one of the most important and valuable things that an MBA program can give you. MBA graduates have often felt that the associations formed during the MBA course are resources that are invaluable and can be drawn upon for years after the MBA degree has been achieved.
Career Prospects
An MBA degree provides you with innumerable career opportunities in various fields. It is especially beneficial to get jobs in high level positions such as managerial and executive level jobs. Whether you are looking to further your career in your existing job or are looking to change your job and start your career afresh, an MBA degree can be very valuable in either scenario.
The value of an MBA degree, on the whole, cannot be denied. But more importantly, anyone who has an MBA degree, or anyone who is in pursuit of one, has to determine how the degree can benefit them and should ask themselves what the value of an MBA is to THEM individually.
You can do this by assessing how an MBA can help you in your chosen field and in jobs for which you have an aptitude. If an MBA can enhance your business skills and make them better suited to your particular profession or career choice, then it can be invaluable to you.
Financial Value of an MBA
An MBA degree from one of the top business schools in America could set you back by up to $100,000. This is by no means a small amount and is indeed one of the largest investments that you are likely to make in your life. So it is necessary to evaluate the value of an MBA, strictly from a financial point of view as well. So you need to ascertain the return on investment on the amount that you are likely to incur in pursuing an MBA and see if it is financially valuable to you.
Calculate all the costs that are involved in pursuing an MBA, namely application fees, program fees, tuition costs, interest on any loans, cost of materials needed, travel costs related to training etc, test fees, and any other miscellaneous costs that you may incur. Once you have estimated the cost of your MBA, you need to assess the benefits of an MBA in terms of increased salaries, better wages, and more career opportunities to evaluate the monetary value of your MBA degree.
What Makes a Good MBA Candidate?
This is what all applicants to an MBA program need to ask themselves when they apply to any school to be admitted into their MBA program. Remember that the admissions officers and those professionals, who process your application, are also asking themselves if you will make a good candidate for their MBA program.
As the MBA is a very intense program, not to mention very expensive, schools are looking out for those applicants who come across as having prior knowledge about the program and are also clear about what they want from the program. As an MBA aspirant, you too, should do your best to be perceived as the ideal candidate for an MBA. The following areas are where you need to make your mark and put your best foot forward.
The Application for MBA
Once you have decided on some schools for an MBA program, the next step is to apply to those schools. Your application is the most important aspect, which will determine whether or not you are accepted into an MBA program. People think of the interview as the tough part, but if your application does not make you stand out as a great candidate, then you may never reach as far as the interview. Here’s how you can better your MBA application:
Have a really solid and complete application file. List down all your qualifications and your work experience in a way that complements them. Do NOT leave any part of the application form blank.
The essay that is required with the application should be written sincerely and should be so compelling that the person reviewing your application finds it tough to put your essay down.
Prepare for your GMAT test beforehand so as to have a high GMAT score in your application form.
The letters of recommendation with your application should stand out from the others.
Remember that only as little as 20% of all applications received by MBA schools, are actually considered further for the next stage in the admissions process. So make sure that you do the best possible job with your application so that it goes on top of the ‘in’ pile and does not get relegated to the ‘out’ pile.
Interviews for MBA Programs
If your MBA application is as good as it should be, then you may be short listed for the interviews. This is another critical aspect of the MBA admissions process and here the interviewer can physically determine how good a candidate you are for their MBA degree. Here are some tips to help you get prepared for the interview:
Portray Yourself as Part of a Team: Convey what you wish to get out of the MBA course, but more importantly, tell what you will contribute to it as well. Most MBA graduates consider their classmates and other students to be a big help during the course. So present yourself as a quality student and a valuable team member.
Be Sincere and Truthful: Do not give answers to questions that you think the interview committee wants to hear. They are great at their job and can easily differentiate among students who are being sincere and those who just give the ‘expected’ answers. So be honest about your expectations from the MBA course and why you have decided to pursue the particular program or school.
Prepare Yourself: Make a list of expected questions and then decide how you will answer them. But do not prepare actual questions and answers as then they will seem rehearsed and not spontaneous.
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