Archive for the 'Guides' Category

Microsoft Entourage 2004 Backup!

Published by admin on November 24, 2007 in Apple Inc. and Guides. 0 Comments

Planning to shift to Leopard? What to back-up? These series of posts will focus on Backing up important data in your Mac before going for the latest cat in town; Leopard! Whatever, method you opt for, its always good to be safe and back up important data of your mac! We’ll start off with backing up data of Microsoft Entourage 2004, a mail client on mac, usually preferred by people who are used to of outlook.

Entourage!

The entourage team has done a good job at explaining the back up process. Click Help and enter “Back up” (with a space in both words) and help brings the topic at top. See Image below:

Backup

We’ll use the same text provided in the help for explaination.

Entourage can export items such as mail messages, tasks, contacts, notes, and calendar events to an Entourage archive (.rge extension). This enables you to store information in another location and remove it from Entourage. You can also use this process to make a back up of your Entourage information (without removing the information from Entourage).

Some important notes:

When creating Entourage back ups and archives, keep the following in mind:

  • Groups, notes with multimedia elements and category information for all items except contacts cannot be exported.
  • When exporting messages stored on a mail server (such as IMAP accounts), the entire contents of the message can only be exported if it has been downloaded from the mail server.
  • Even if you choose to delete items after exporting, messages stored on the mail server will not be deleted.

Backing Up!

  1. Empty all Deleted Items folders to avoid getting items you do not want.
  2. On the File menu, click Export.
  3. Click Export items to an Entourage archive and select the items you want to include.
  4. Under Archive the following item types, select the item types you want to include, and then click the right arrow to continue.

    Entourage Export 1

  5. Choose whether or not you want to delete the items you are exporting and then click the right arrow to continue.

    Entourage Export 2

  6. Enter a name for the archive file and a location to store it and then click Save

    Entourage Export 3

Restore!

To restore Entourage information

  1. On the File menu, click Import.
  2. Click Import information from an Entourage archive and then click the right arrow to continue.
  3. Locate the .rge folder you want to import and then click Import.

Tips:

  • If you need to refer to information stored in an archive temporarily and do not want the items imported into Entourage, create a new Identity and import the archived information into it. Then, when you are finished, you can simply delete the new Identity.

    This tip can also be used to confirm if the Back up is made completely and contains all data.

  • If you want to explore the contents of an archive, hold down CONTROL while clicking the .rge folder and then click Show Package Contents.

Credits: Microsoft Entourage 2004

Definitive Guide for installing HP 1020 on Mac OS X

Published by admin on October 23, 2007 in Apple Inc., Guides and Laptops. 1 Comment

HP 1020

The HP LaserJet 1020 Printer, an excellent laser printer for the cost-conscious user, delivers high-quality LaserJet printing in a compact size, and at a price you can afford (at the time of writing this post Rs. 7990/-). The CD which comes in the box DOES NOT contain drivers for Mac OS X. On looking up for drivers at HP site, one comes to know that the printer is NOT supported by Mac OS X. But we made it working :)

Goolging the topic came up with many results, but Macworld forum provided the best support.The relevant portion is pasted below:

Heres a recap for everyone to Install HP LaserJet 1020 on Mac OSX.

1) Download; http://www.narc.ca/1601-LJ_1022_Series_OSX.dmg (Old version)
2) If you have anything for the HP 1020 in “/Library/Reciepts” delete it.
3) Delete anything for the HP 1020 in Printer in “Printer Setup Utility”
4) Add new printer in “Printer Setup Utility”, select HP LaserJet 1020, driver should come up, click ADD

Basically, the trick is we are installing HP 1022 drivers which are available for Mac OS X. Steps 2 and 3 are required if you have unsuccessfully tried to install anything from the CD.

The above method though worked like a charm on one macbook, but failed to even Install on another machine. After trying for few hours, we finally copy pasted the files which were installed on the first machine.

HP 1020 Installed driver

Paste this file under the folder tree as shown in the picture. For clarity, Under your Username, select library, open Printers folder. If you have not previously installed any driver, it will be empty.

HP 1020

Copy this Folder in the folder location as shown in the image above. The location is Macintosh HD > Library > Printers > HP > LaserJet > here!

This work around is pretty solid, but we do suggest to always purchase equipment which is Made to Run on Mac.

Shophive Laptop Buyer’s Guide

Published by Salmanmunir on October 9, 2007 in Guides and Laptops. 1 Comment

Thinking of buying a laptop? We know that this can be a tough decision to make. Selecting between the stylish Vaio, Business ready HP, durable Dells, Industry standard IBM and Apple - the Laptop from the heavens - we try to help you make the right decision.

There are numerous resources available on the web making our decision easier. We think the following 3 resources are most helpful.

CNET Laptop Buyers Guide

Geek.com Buyers Guide

Laptop Mag Buyers Guide

Few observations which we think must be shared with all consumers and laptop enthusiasts.

Speed:
It doesn’t make sense if you are on road with your new machine and its not able to crunch numbers as you desire. A good combination of processor speed & RAM will make it a perfect fit. Don’t go for the latest, just released processor, do your research on your requirements.

Memory:
With ever increasing memory demand by applications and Microsoft new Vista OS, memory greater than 1 gig should be your starting point. Make sure Laptop has the capability to intake RAM according to your need.

Graphics:
If you are a gaming freak or a 3D artist, then definitely a dedicated Graphic Card is must. Otherwise, shared memory on board graphics can serve pretty well for movie playback, decent games and photoshop trickery.

Screen Size:
Screen size directly corresponds to weight and features such as Drives, Ports etc. Select a size which best suites your need.

Size & Weight:
Size does matter. No doubt the desktop replacement do look stunning but they are a load to carry. Laptops should be Light, friendly and carry-able.

Inputs & Outputs:
It depends and standards change. Today S-Video is required, tomorrow you would be asking for DVI Output. Buy a laptop, which is compatible with your current devices or the ones you intend to buy. With the ease of Video Recording, making Home movies is on the rise requiring a Firewire input. The more USB 2.0 you’ll have the better they would serve you on the road. Otherwise USB extenders and port converters would be your first buy.

Data Backups and Media
We have Super drives, Multi layer capable drives and then CD drives. Select the one which you require.

Warranty, Warranty, Warranty!
Most consumers are unable to distinguish this important fact about Laptops. The market is filled with Grey / smuggled items, which carry an “International Warranty” with them. These devices are as good as there Channel brothers, but are without proper support and warranty. We advice our consumers to select products which are covered by Local Warranties and have local support.

…So what about those Mac’s
Please read our post on the topic Switch to Mac

Please visit our laptop section for our current product listing.