Here are some applications that I think are awesome. I use them all the time and install them on all of my Apple computers:

• Cyberduck - an easy to use FTP program that works well with the finder

• Perian - all the Quicktime components you’ll ever need to play anything

• Tinkertool - Simple GUI (graphical user interface) to make changes to your system and avoid the command line.

• Smultron - a fantastic color coded text editor for all types of txt files (html, logs, xml)

MacPorts - far superior to Fink, this will let you install open-source applications to do anything that you can think of.

It is amazing how FEW viruses I see causing any problems on a computer - and how MANY computer malfunctions are caused by antivirus programs. I’d say that it is about a 5-1 ratio. That makes antivirus programs 500% more likely to cause a problem on your computer - especially if an antivirus / firewall is misconfigured. Sometimes it really does seem like Antivirus programs are a real scam that plays off of the fear of end-users - the constant threat of a virus.

Still, any systems administrator will tell you that a proper firewall and antivirus program is necessary to the security of your system - not just to protect your computer from the internet, but also from you! Click one wrong pop-up advertisement and then click OK, suddenly you can have a radiation logo as your background and warnings that your system is infected and you now need a new antivirus program that you’ve never even heard of - Antivirus 2008. This is, in truth, a virus itself.

There are so many antivirus / internet security programs out there - all claiming to be the best. How do you know which one to choose?

At Rent-A-Geek, LA we always recommend ESET NOD 32 for these reasons:

1. Best Detection: Test results from the authority on antivirus programs: VB100 (virus bullitin) are far above and beyond McAfee, Kaspersky, and Norton.
2. Fastest Performance – Highly optimized code ensures file scanning and updates. Quick and efficient, without perceptible decreases in system performance.
3. Smallest Footprint – Utilizes less system resources than competitors. More room for other business applications and extends the life of PCs.

Contact us if you are interested in purchasing ESET NOD 32 - it has a funny name, but it really is the best antivirus program out there.

Office 2007 is new and strange..

The first thing that you should do when you get Office 2007 is to tell Word and Excel to save files in the .doc and .xls file format (respectively) instead of the .docx and .xlsx formats with which most people will be confused by when they can’t open it. This is because those new XML document formats are supported by previous versions of Microsoft Office.

To tell Word and Excel to save in the old version as a default. Start Word/Excel and for each one separately, click on the glowing orb with a windows logo in the top left corner of the window. Then click the Options button at the bottom right of the popup window. Once in the options, click on Save and choose the file version that ends in: 97-2003 - that is the version that is compatible with the older versions of Microsoft Office that everyone is still using.

FWIW: There is also a converter that you can download from Mircosoft if you need to convert docx to doc or xlsx to xls.

Next… If you are using Outlook - you should show the BCC field in the Message Editor. This has been hidden by default, to unhide the field, follow these steps:

1. From the Outlook toolbar, click New and select Mail Message.
2. A new message window will appear.
3. Go to the Ribbon and select the Options tab.
4. In the Fields section, select Show Bcc.
5. The Bcc field will appear. Place the address(es) you wish to send a blind carbon copy.

Please feel free to email us with any questions, concerns, or comments: fixme@rentageekla.com

Finding the IP address of your router is easy on both Macs and PCs. First of all, the most common address for routers is 192.168.1.1 - try this before following these steps.

First, on a Mac running OS X:

1. Go to the apple symbol in the top left of your screen and choose System Preferences
2. Now look for the icon that looks like a gray globe and says Network underneath
3. Make sure that the second drop down box reads Show: Network Status
4. Choose either Airport or Built-in Ethernet (whichever has the green light next to it)
5. If you choose Airport - click on the tab that reads TCP/IP - else, skip this step
6. Now look for the number halfway down the window that says Router: 192.168.1.1

That’s your IP address for your router. Go to your web browser’s address bar (where it displays the http://www.rentageekla.com). Delete whatever is in there completely and enter the number that you’ve found. Press enter.
On a PC computer running Windows XP, Windows 2000, or Windows Vista there is one guaranteed way to find out the IP address of your router no matter which operating system (OS) you are using:

1. Go to the start menu or windows logo (Vista) in the bottom left of your screen
2. Choose Run (if it is an option) and type cmd then press enter
3. If Run is not an option - look for the Command Prompt (aka DOS) program in your list of Programs under Accessories
4. A window will pop up with a black background and white text
5. Just type in: ipconfig    - then press enter
6. In the results of this command, look for the number next to Default Gateway. That is the IP address of your router.

Go to your Internet Explorer’s address bar (where it displays the http://www.rentageekla.com). Delete whatever is in there completely and enter the number that you’ve found. Press enter.