Macintosh Resources
Macintosh User Groups - Macintosh Information Sites - Macintosh Software
Macintosh User Groups
Macintosh user groups provide a place to interact with other Mac users, to ask questions and socialize. There are often special interest groups (SIGs) that meet regularly to discuss specific topics.
User Groups
- Victoria Macintosh Users Group (VMUG).
- Apple's listing of Canadian User Groups.
User Group Resources
- Apple User Groups gives information about user groups and provides help to user group leaders.
- Apple's Find a User Group allows you to search for a group within the United States or by country.
Macintosh Information Sites
Other than Mac user groups, the Internet is the best source for help with your challenges.
General
- Apple - the place to start for Mac products and information.
- Mactopia - Microsoft products for the Macintosh.
Downloads and Information
- FAQs.org - Macintosh - various FAQs for the Mac.
- VersionTracker: Mac OS X Software is a free Macintosh software download site for Mac OS X freeware, shareware, etc.
- Info-Mac HyperArchive.
- MacFixIt - troubleshooting solutions for the Macintosh.
- MacGamer.
- Free products - additions for Mac OS X that add extra functionality.
Software Issues
- Leopard changed the Java2D pipeline of Java 5 - discusses the problems with Java on the Mac (and a fix for Java version 5). Note: Java 6 has not been supported by Apple.
Backing Up Your E-mail
Links Sites
Security
- SecureMac.com - security for your Mac.
Macintosh News
Macintosh Software
This list of Mac software is not extensive and is listed for the purpose indicated. A more extensive listing can be found on the Apple site
OpenOffice.org
Free Office Alternative
OpenOffice.org is a multiplatform and multilingual office suite and an open-source project. Compatible with all other major office suites, the product is free to download, use, and distribute.
In fact, there are large organizations and governments using OpenOffice.org products as their standard software.
Minimum Requirements for Mac OS X (X11)
OpenOffice.org runs on many operating systems including Windows, Linux and Mac OS X. The Mac OS X (X11) requirements have been included below.
- Power Mac G3 400Mhz or higher
- Mac OS X 10.4.x
- 256Mbytes RAM
- 400Mbytes available disk space
- X11 required. Available for OS X 10.4 on the OS X install disc. The instructions for Tiger users are here.
- 800 x 600 or higher resolution with 16.7 Million colours
Java Requirements
The minimum JDK/JRE version required to use OpenOffice.org features that require java is JDK/JRE version 1.3.1. For full functionality, jdk/jre 1.4.0_02 or newer or jdk/jre 1.4.1_01 or newer is required. You can download Java or test your current Java installation.
HTML and Text Editors
WYSIWYG HTML Editors
- Taco HTML Edit is a freeware full-featured HTML and PHP editor for Mac OS X.
Text Editors
- BBEdit ($199 USD) is an excellent HTML text editor.
- TextWrangler is now free, and considered the replacement for BBEdit Lite. There is a TextWrangler FAQ that should answer questions about the intended market for this product and the advantages of moving to the full-featured BBEdit.
- BBEdit Lite is discontinued. There is still a download available here, which you'll need if you are not running OS 10.
Web Browsers
- Safari Browser is the Mac OS X default web browser and supports the latest standards and features.
- Firefox Browser is available for Mac OS X 10.2.x and later.
- iCab Browser. This alternative browser for the Mac is highly customizable and includes image filtering, which eliminates banner ads.
FTP
- Interarchy ($59 USD) is a good Mac FTP program that requires Mac OS X 10.4.11 or later.
Utilities
- StuffIt Expander.
- ZipIt for Macintosh - fully compatible with PKZip for the IBM.
History
- Making the Macintosh: Technology and Culture in Silicon Valley - An online project documenting the history of the Macintosh computer.
- apple-history.com - information on the various Apple models.
This page is maintained as a service to Macintosh users.
www.RussHarvey.bc.ca/resources/mac.html
Updated: October 2, 2009
