welcome

... to This Old Mouse! We'll need your help, so drop us a line and ask your questions, share your tips, or introduce us to a new Macintosh resources that everyone will like. Or, just let us know you're alive and kicking.

Are you ready for a Computer Fire_

Where there's smoke, there's fire -- and a recent thread in the AUGD discussion list prompted This Old Mouse to remember a once-upon-a-time smoking Mac IIcs, and share some sage advice about fire extinguishers...   (1/17/2004)

Erasing CD-RWs

Working with the new flat-panel iMacs has taught this old mouse some new tricks. However when we had to quickly erase CD-RWs we discovered that there's no simple way to do it from the desktop. Then, a member comes along with an easier way for This Old Mouse...   (12/1/2003)

What's a megapixel_

So many people have been asking which digital camera to buy, how many "megapixels" do I need, and "What's a megapixel_" Well, follow along as we share some quick, simplified, rules of thumb for making your own decisions, and get the digital camera that's just right for you.   (5/26/2003)

Where's that file_

Amazingly enough most new computer users run with their browser at its default "full screen" mode. They download files, then wonder where the files went. Follow along as we explore a number of cool tips for gathering content and downloads from the web   (5/19/2003)

You've got style

Follow along as we help ClarisWorks readers make the leap into AppleWorks' stylesheets...   (4/21/2003)

Newton Readers Respond

Last week's edition brought a wave of response from the community, and herein I'd like to share a few of them with you...   (4/7/2003)

Newton Duz iTunes_

Who would suspect that a personal data assistant orphaned by its manufacturer in 1998 would still be in use by some rather vocal enthusiasts -- and that it would synchronize with Apple's latest music player iTunes!   (3/31/2003)

Buying A Cheap Printer

How do you buy a cheap printer_ Well, there are good ways and there are bad ways.
      Join me in this edition of This Old Mouse, as I answer several reader's questions about purchasing printers. We'll dig in to the most important things to consider for printing; and together, we'll help you make a more informed decision on which printer to buy.   (3/17/2003)

OS X: Make it Quit

Nothing is worse than a Mac that won't start up -- except one that gets going and refuses to stop!
      Follow along as This Old Mouse untangles a problematic situation when an outlaw DVD installer defies all the tricks in the book, rendering a brand new OS/X Titanium PowerBook useless.   (3/3/2003)

Protecting Files with Encryption

Members get answers to their questions about how to safely protect files from prying eyes, especially when attaching to email. Here's some help!   (2/24/2003)

Sometimes you just need a little juice...

It happens to all Mac owners sooner or later -- particularly once that old mouse gets to be three to five years old. Here's some help!   (2/17/2003)

Seeing is believing: eye sight vs. screen space...

with today's over-decorated, over-interfaced, over-bloated software it's becoming more and more difficult to actually see what you're doing on the computer. Here's some help! (2/9/2003)

Optical Mouse for pre-USB machines

Tired of that mouse ball getting dirty and unreliable_ It's easier than you think to install an optical mouse and reap the benefits of adding USB as well... (Continues...)

Installing Sonnet's Tango Card

If you read the Optical Mouse article above, and want to take the plunge, here's an overview of installing Sonnet's Tango Card... (read more)

Vacation Photos on the spot_

With your digital camera and a portable printer like this HP Photosmart, you can see your photos today, not next week -- plus you can create your own picture post cards to send home to the folks... (To be posted soon.)

Defragmenting Large Hard Drives

Hard drives have gotten huge these days, and a reader asks if the same rules still apply to defragmenting those drives. Contrary to popular belief... (To be posted soon.)

Should I put my Mac to sleep at night

A reader writes to ask about the pros and cons of sleep mode. This old mouse relates advice for both desktop and laptop computers... (read more)

Pre-G Macs move to the back of the bus

Amidst lots of news items about the demise of 'older' standards, millions of computer users are asking themselves what to do, and perhaps even feeling a bit toward the back of the technology bus. (Continues...)

About "This Old Mouse"

This column was started in 2000 to provide short, interesting articles to Macintosh user group newsletter editors, and the Macintosh computer community at large.
      Each edition focuses on a single htmlect of using the computer in a more productive, beneficial way. Some editions will look at ways to help older hardware continue to perform a useful service. Others will focus on software tips and tricks that the end user can put to work right away without expensive purchases or add-ons. The focus favors users of Macintosh OS/8x, and OS/9x however may touch on earlier operating systems, as well as the newest OS Apple has to offer.

Get in touch

If you have tips, tricks or questions you'd like to add to "This Old Mouse" just send them along. We welcome your questions, problems, tips, tricks and input.
 

Until next time, happy mousing.
 

 

If you have tips, tricks or questions you'd like to add to "This Old Mouse" just let me know.   Macintosh User Groups are invited to use this column in their newsletters, but Please read the "Read Me" first, okay!

About the Author:
      Fred Showker is Editor in Chief of "MUG" the AACUG Mac User Guide, and the User Group Network News service, and a founding Apple User Group Advisory Board (UGAB) member. He was an original founder of the User Group Forum on AppleLink Personal Edition, and America Online where he was AFA for eight years. Many MUG (Mac User Group) members know him for his work with the Mug News Service (MNS), National Home & School Mac (NHSM), or his many speaking appearances at NAUG, NAUGSAW and Macworld Expo and others. Today, he's a familiar name in many user group newsletters around the world for his 60-Second Window, now in its 13th year of syndication... read more

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