OS X :: Tips In Cleaning The Trackpad Effectively?
Jul 16, 2009
i'm using the new MacBook white for a month or so already but i've gotten some pretty stubborn stains on the trackpad. after trying a combination of damp cloth and soap, i went to get an iKlear, which was recommended by the sales officer. however, iKlear doesn't seem to work at all. in fact, it actually made the stain spread all over the trackpad. i really need help in cleaning this stain. it's such an eyesore!
We got a new furnace today and during the replacement, soot got everywhere. My PowerMac G4 Digital Audio was running the entire time, sucking and blowing the soot (you couldn't see it, but it did happen). My white Apple keyboard and Mighty Mouse are grey as well.
Any tips for cleaning it out? I wiped off one of the HDDs, and it had some soot on it and I'm a bit paranoid about the cleanliness of my computers.
My Mac mini (mid-'07) was also running for the entire time, although because it only has the exhaust vent I'm not as worried, but if you've got tips for cleaning that, I am looking for an excuse to open it .
PS: I'll probably open and clean everything that has either slats on the top or a fan to bring air in that was on.
I bought a early 2006 black MacBook off a family friend awhile back and it was practically brand new. Since I have been using it I noticed the keys and the trackpad on it are starting to get a weird feeling. The feeling is sort of like grease or something on the trackpad and keys. I wash my hands before using it, but I guess just from the oils on my hands have caused this. I have included pictures below trying to show what I am talking about. I have read around online on ways to clean it and everyone has suggested many different things and I've tried a few and nothing has worked. I used water and windex mixed with water and that cleaned it up a little bit, but didn't help much. I was just wondering if anyone had any suggestions so to a method that works for cleaning the trackpad and keys to remove whatever it is on there.
I have the dreaded " unexpected error occured. (Error code 0x8002006E)" problem.
Basically it doesn't want to burn DVDs ( fine on CDs though ).
I've read various ways to fix this such as zapping pram, SMC reset etc. and none worked. I also read that a cleaning disc might do the job.
So my question is, are these discs safe in a MacbookPro machine? And as I recall these discs have little bristles on one side - which way up should they go ( facing up or down )?
I have a Word document (Business Plan with lots of tables and pictures) that i have lots of problems saving as one PDF file as it has multiple sections. I was wondering if �Pages� could integrate this Word document effectively and would I be able to save it as one PDF file.
I've started to use Spaces to manage multiple full screen apps and windows but I'm having problems, especially with the Finder. It seems to make arbitrary choices when opening new windows, often placing new windows floating over fullscreen without switching spaces or opening them in other spaces underneath fullscreen apps so I can't find them. Sometimes it switches to a clean Space whist the window opens in a different Space altogether. I'm running Adobe software- CC '14 applications so I don't know if this causing the problems but most of the issues seem to be with the finder and apps that actually run fullscreenBP
I'm running a MBP with an external monitor- it's a one monitor set up, not dual so it shouldn't be causing the issues I'm having. I like the idea of spaces running fullscreen apps and windows- the tech has a lot of potential but seems crude and irrational presently.
Info: MacBook Pro (17-inch Early 2011), OS X Mavericks (10.9)
When waking from "sleep" the screen appears normal but, the pointer leaves a trail of grey as it moves and the whole screen will turn grey if I keep moving the pointer. The computer is effectively dead. Have to shut down by using power off for six seconds and then re-starting. I know little about computers!
Any how, my new iMac is on order and I have a couple questions. First, any MUST KNOW Mac tips and tricks? Second, I am currently on a Vista Machine and I have the 1TB TC. I would like to transfer some of my files from my PC to my new Mac. What would be the best way to do this? I have window backup files on the TC, but dont think I am able to "unzip" or "restore" them to the Mac.
I have been waiting to get a MBP for about 2 months now and I finally got one. One of the first apps I made sure to get was Multiclutch. This is easily the sickest app on the MBP.
In case anyone doesnt know, multiclutch extends the multitouch feature on the trackpads on new MBPs and MBA.
Extends is really too small a word though, because before, the gestures dont do a damn thing. Any way, a little tinkering around with multiclutch and I think I pretty much have the lay of the land.
First thing is first- global applications: these are your bread and butter in multiclutch. set up some good ones that will help u with anything. some that are good are:
swipe down -cmd-H -hides current window zoom out -cmd-Q -quits current application and I like Rotate left -cmd-W - closes current window- ill get more into that one in a minute.
these should get u started and used to multiclutch and most importantly global gestures will affect programs that wouldnt usually be affected by multiclutch such as carbon apps (itunes and finder especially).
IMPORTANT: if you try to put gestures in itunes or any other carbon app remember to reset the shortcut for the global apps and the app will be able to use some gestures again
next most important application for gestures: firefox- or your browser of choice. These ones work great and really streamline the browsing experience. im still toying with these a little but the ones i have now are:
rotate right -cmd-T- new tab rotate left -cmd-W -this and the global app with the same function for the same gesture really work great together. in firefox cmd-W will close ur current tab and in global it will close ur current window- really intuitive and helpful zoom in -cmd-shift-T -opens ur most recently closed tab-good for when u accidentally rotate left swipe right- cmd ] - forward swipe left -cmd [ -back -saves a lot of time
obviously these firefox ones are not completely ideal because it would be nice to switch tabs when u want to as well, but the other gestures dont really work for switch tab, and the goal is really to make the gestures something simple and obvious.
that said i am tinkering with moving back to swipe up and then just having left right be for switching -so far its not really working because the combo for previous tab is set to the same button combo as the little app switcher thingie.
anyway clearly more work needs to be put in, but i just got my MBP a few days ago, so im constantly trying out new gestures for different actions.
If anyone has any gestures they think are good please share them, or if anyone thinks they know some better ones than the ones i point out.
I recently purchases a ScanSnap scanner, and have been trying to get it to work for a week now. I've been on the phone with Level 1 Fujitsu tech support, and we've determined that whatever is preventing ScanSnap from working is in my user account (it works flawlessly in my wife's user account on the same machine). Getting ScanSnap working is so important to me that I'm considering creating a fresh user account for myself. This is a daunting task because I have so many preferences, special configurations, symlinks, etc. that I've created over the years. I don't think I can just migrate my data from the old user account to the new one, because then I might re-create whatever is causing the problem with the ScanSnap - right? Is there any way to make this process easier, or do I just have to stick it out and do it the hard way?
I took everyone's suggestions and downloaded NeoOffice instead of using TextEdit. Since my entire document was in TextEdit, I just decided to copy and paste all the text into NeoOffice. Little did I realize that my book I'm writing has grown to 98 PAGES! Obviously, as soon as it got the document imported, the entire thing froze up. I haven't been able to get it to work well at all. I'm using a Powerbook G4 1.67ghz 1GB RAM, Radeon 9700. I can't believe that such a computer can't handle simple word processing tasks, and I'm convinced that it's a software issue.
I'm running Mac OSX Leopard 10.5.6 with all latest updates.
I was used to sit in a dark room at night so this was never an issue but lately I like having at least one light on. The problem is that when I do that and try to read something on the screen like a CNN article for example, I keep seeing my reflection and find myself moving left and right. I've tried to sit away from the light so its not directly behind me but sometimes that isn't always possible. I've also turned the brightness up to deal with it better but that's just a battery drain. My next macbook pro will surely be a matte screen as much as I love the black glass bezel. I used it for the first time at the Apple Store on a 17" and it was beautiful! So how do you deal with glare?
Every few hours, without my touching the comp, the airport extreme on my MacBook (OS v 10.6.8) just turns itself off. Under Network Preferences, it just won't allow me to turn it on, and neither does the diagnostic work. the only way i have found to get it on again is to restrart the comp.
The Dashboard in OS X is a convenient tool for accessing quick bits of information or using conversion, translation, or reference utilities among many other tools. Depending on the task at hand, sometimes the requirement to activate Dashboard every time you want to access a widget can be cumbersome, especially since the Dashboard prevents access to other applications while it is open. Luckily, however, there is a way around this.
Dashboard supports the use widgets without activating the Dashboard interface, which basically prevents them from being hidden whenever Dashboard is inactivated. This is done by enabling the developer mode for the application, by entering the following command in the Terminal:
defaults write com.apple.dashboard devmode YES; killall Dock
After this command is run, the Dock will relaunch and Dashboard will be in "Developer" mode. From here, all widgets will behave the same as usual, except now you can select a specific widget to keep on the Desktop by the following procedure:
1. Activate Dashboard. 2. Click and drag a widget. 3. Deactivate Dashboard (while still dragging). 4. Release the mouse.
This will keep the individual widget active while the rest close with Dashboard, and the widget will be kept above all other running applications. To reverse this for a widgets, do the same process in reverse order as follows:
1. Click and drag the Desktop widget. 2. Activate Dashboard. 3. Release the widget. 4. Deactivate Dashboard.
While this is a convenient trick, keep in mind it will keep the widget active and alive, which in some cases can use up system resources. You can check this by using Activity Monitor.
To deactivate developer mode, run the command in the terminal and replace "YES" with "NO".
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If you have any other Dashboard tips, post'em here.
I am running windows 7 on my new MacBook Air, this is a requirement for my work, so can't be changed. I bought the MBA because it's a beautiful laptop, thin and light, great screen, and great keyboard. My battery life, however seems to be terrible, especially compared to statistics I have seen on other reviews/threads. At the moment, when I am unplugged, I have brightness at 30%, I have the hard drive set to sleep when not in use. I have bluetooth turned off and WiFi on. I almost exclusively use the computer to work on google docs. So, turn on the computer, work for half an hour, in Chrome, either sending and receiving emails or writing in Google Docs. (I can't figure out if this qualifies as "light browsing", but based on my battery drain I would say it's not...) I have a plug-in to block flash, and haven't been running flash on any website since I started using the computer.
Here are my statistics: Last night, typed (on the web) for half an hour and went from 100-80% battery. Put the computer to sleep for 9 hours, and when I woke the computer it was at 74% battery. Typed and checked email for forty minutes, went to 57% Woke the computer two hours later and was at 49% typed (on the web) for half an hour and was at 29% put the computer into hybernate, turned it on ten minutes later at was at 27% I've now been typing for about half an hour and I'm at 15%.
I'm losing, roughly, 20% of my battery for each half hour of typing in a browser, with flash disabled. That means 2.5 hours of browsing. I need to get 4 hours if I'm going to keep the computer.
'm not particularly fond of some of the commercial macbook skins out there, so i'm interested in creating my own.
i'd like to create something similar to this:
clearly, there's some sort of custom/created skin (vinyl, perhaps?) on top of the actual macbook without covering the macintosh light. on top of that is a black incase cover.
any tips on creating something along these lines? methods/tools/supplies?
I want to prolong the battery life as long as possible. If I am sitting at my desk with an available ac outlet and my battery is already full. Is it better to run off the ac adapter? Is it harmful?
I just bought an iBook G3 500MHz with 192MB of RAM for $80 (thing is completely mint too) anyway I performed a clean install of 10.3.9. Are there any tips to speed up the OS aside from the obvious of getting more RAM?
I'm running W7 ultimate on a Rev. A MBA. I'm looking for some tips on improving performance in Bootcamp.
Here is what I have done so far: - Installed latest BC drivers (3.1) - Defragged windows partition - Disabled hibernate function (to save HDD space) - Installed all updates from Windows Update - Disabled (some) of the Aero eye candy - Disabled unnecessary services (ala Blackviper's site) - Disabled unnecessary startup programs
EDIT: - Disabled Index Service - Disabled Windows Search
My main reason for wanting to do this is that I'm having some issues when playing MP3s in WMP. They play fine until I say, launch Firefox. Doing so causes the playing MP3 to skip, or temporarily become garbled. I assume this is due to taxing the HDD, but since upgrading to an SSD is currently not an option, I'm trying to squeeze as much performance out of the system as I can.
i just recently bought a iMac G4 in good condition for $175 on Craigslist.I was on a budget so i couldn't afford to spend $1000 on a Macbook.I'm not too familiar on Macs since its my first one.But it seems to be a PowerPC, It's running Tiger OS, and the base of the Mac looks like a lamp.I'm sure you guys know what a iMac G4 is.So are there any ways of speeding up this thing? Is it slow because of its age?Because it seems to be in pretty good shape to me.I did a restore on it and it was still slow.I just need help on improving the performance.
I tried to migrate information from MacBook Air to ...Pro and it seemed to have taken files from folders on desktop as none exist on Air now. As to where these files are, I don't know. It has also taken my pictures from iPhoto to unknown destination. ??
my problem i that when I import CDs such as the main artist but featuring someone else, the album flow wil not be sequential, instead when i sync my iphone/ipod i end up getting artists <blank> featuring <blank>. Same goes for front row.
Is there a solution, or a useful application for itunes organization?
Spilled (a lot of )water all over my 2008 13" unibody macbook earlier today. Quickly flipped it over so the keyboard was facing down to the ground, and pulled the power. Surprisingly, it continued running and I cleanly shut it down (yes, managed to do it while it was upside down). Took out the battery. Such a bummer.So I started taking it apart so I could air out all of the components.
I have an late 08 unibody Mbp and a 11 mba, I have noticed the glass trackpad on the air is much closer to the glass on an iphone in the way your finger reacts to it... the least bit of moisture and your finger doesn't glide as easily. On the pro it seems to have more of a coating to allow for smoother use under these normal conditions (humidity). Has anyone else noticed this? bottom line the air trackpad almost seems more polished.