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Macintosh Video Adapters

January 25, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Nearly all Macs requires an adapter cable to connect to a monitor or video projector. For presenters using Keynote or PowerPoint it is essential that you be able to connect to any configuration.

If you have a standard VGA monitor adapter connector, then it is an analog video signal coming from your Mac (even though the computer itself is digital). I suggest carrying multiple adapters so you have backups and options to connect to nearly any projector. It is not uncommon for an adapter cable to go bad. Since they are not commonly found in the PC world, it’s good to have another on hand. A digital signal would be output from a HDMI or DVI adapter (see below).

To determine what kind of adapters you need, first find out what video port is available on the side of your MacBook. It will be one of the following male connectors:
1. Thunderbolt (newest)
2. Mini Displayport
3. Micro DVI
4. Mini DVI
This apple article describes them all. http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3235

The other end of the adapter would be a female:
1. VGA – Video Graphics Array.
2. HDMI – High-Definition Multimedia Interface. (Used for most new TVs…also a standard port on the MacMini. This cable can also transmit audio…but may not do so automatically from the Mac.)
3. DVI – Digital Visual Interface.

This end of the adapter will connect to the video projector cable itself. I suggest that you have one of each on hand (VGA, HDMI, and DVI) and an extra VGA since that is the most common.

Filed Under: Apple, Hardware, Mac OS

Fun Holiday Purchase-The Roku Box

January 1, 2012 By Leave a Comment

One of the best technology values I recently purchased was the Roku LT Streaming Player box.

If you have a high speed internet connection and a TV, this tiny purple box (about $50 with no hidden fees) connects your TV (via an HDMI cable or the included analog RCA cable) to the internet to get tons of content viewable in your living room. It’s simple to setup and you can connect it to several movie and audio services you may already have accounts for on your computer like Amazon.com (Prime members get thousands of free videos and free 2 day shipping for about $79/year), Pandora internet radio, etc. If you decide to purchase other paid services like Hulu Plus ($7.99/month) you may even be able to ditch your cable provider, save money, and go all internet with your TV.

Right now the Roku box is a better value than the Apple TV. It allows access to more affordable content at half the price. We used it to listen to music during our celebrations, watch funny classic movies like The Great Race via Amazon prime, view our Facebook photo albums with the family, and catch one of our favorite inspirational catalysts from NorthPoint TV.

For such a low investment and no monthly fees it’s almost a no brainer to add one to your home. New content is being added every day so your purchase becomes more valuable over time.

Filed Under: Hardware

Where’s the best place to sell your used iPhone? – The Results are In

December 3, 2011 By 1 Comment

The recent release of the iPhone 4S prompted me to upgrade. I’m extremely happy with the purchase. The fact that Siri can take dictation notes hands free is worth the price by itself.

In the mean time I had several older phones that I wanted to sell. I decided to try several services that I’ve mentioned but not personally experienced before. Here is my final review, the results, and my recommendations after personally testing three different companies to sell my old iPhones:

(1) Hello Totem – Cellular Distribution Strategies LLC www.hellototem.com 888-224-7231

I used Hello Totem to sell an iPhone 3G 16 GB for $77.23. The entire process took 22 days (11/11/11 to 12/2/11) from getting the online quote to receiving the money in my PayPal account. They are highly rated by other web sites.
In a second instance, I sold them my iPhone 4 32 GB for $222.76. The process took 26 days (10/27/11 to 11/16/11) from getting the online quote to receiving the money in my PayPal account.

Although they have free shipping of the device there is no tracking # on the US Postal Service First Class box they send which makes me a little nervous. Their prices were very good though it took a while to get the money.

(2) Gazelle.com – Second Rotation Inc. www.gazelle.com

I used Gazelle to sell an iPhone 3GS 32 GB for $131. The entire process took 23 days (10/31/11 to 11/22/11) from getting the online quote to receiving the money in my PayPal account. If you’re doing holiday shopping at Amazon.com, you can choose to get an Amazon Gift Card as payment and they’ll add 5% to your total.

(3) CashForiPhones – LDR LLC www.cashforiphones.com

CashForiPhones is a family of web sites cashforlaptops.com, etc. I completely lost trust in them as they provided a bait and switch tactic by quoting a higher price on the front end and then lowering it once they had my phone. They also made the process difficult through poor customer service requiring me to resubmit my order online.
Their web site quoted a decent price for an iPhone 3G. I sent in the unit and they said they found a slight crack and scratch on it and would give me $15. My phone was in identical condition to the one I sent to Hello Totem and got $77.23. The entire process took 17 days (10/31/11 to 11/16/11) from getting the online quote to receiving the money in my PayPal account. Once they have your phone you have little recourse. I could ask them to send it back but then I’d have to pay for postage.

Overall, I recommend Hello Totem for selling your old phone. Stay away form CashForIPhones.com. I feel they ripped me off.

Filed Under: Hardware, Mobile iPad & iPhone

The New iPhone 4S

October 5, 2011 By 3 Comments

For those of you that travel extensively…and overseas…the new iPhone 4S is definitely worth looking at. It includes CDMA and GSM chips in it so it can talk on nearly any mobile phone tech system…and across Verizon, AT&T, and Sprint.

In addition, the new Seri intelligent assistant will be great for those of us who enjoy talking. Now there will be another listener. :) This will totally change the way we interact with our “phone”.

New camera, faster, longer battery life, etc. Many iOS 5 features coming, too.

If your contract is ready for an upgrade, I think it’s a no brainer. For those of us that already have an iPhone 4…hmm…
You can sell / recycle your current used phone at one of the following sites SellYourMac , Gazelle , HelloTotem , or CashForiPhones and think about the new investment.

Filed Under: Apple, Hardware, Mobile iPad & iPhone, Speakers/Entertainers

Build a Utility Shelf for Your Mac Mini, Time Capsule, or Airport Extreme Base Station, etc.

September 26, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Our home wiring panel was getting overrun with equipment with no place to put them and limited space to actually mount a shelf. First, there were 2 boxes from Comcast for our phone system and internet connection. Then I added two Apple Time Capsules to create our wireless network with a total of 4 TB of backup disk drive space. Where could I safely put all these boxes?
I searched for pre-built brackets and shelves for the Time Capsule or Mac Mini and found a few. They were all specialized and not cheap (most cost around $45). Some required a lot of wall space. I devised a simple solution with the following advantages:

  • Very low cost (about $5 per shelf)
  • Easy to construct and install
  • Access to front and back of the unit for viewing status lights and attaching cables
  • Sturdy and reliable
  • Open air provides breathability for the components so they don’t overheat
  • Fits any equipment
  • Minimal wall space required for installation
  • Side stops prevent units from accidentally falling off the side of the shelf.

Note: This shelf is not a solution for keeping a component secure or preventing use of the internal CD drive as some of the pre-built solutions do.

I was able to get all the parts at our local Menard’s hardware store. Lowe’s and Home Depot should also carry similar items. I’ve included links here so you could purchase from Amazon.com.

Gather the following components:

  • 1 Shelf bracket with 10″
  • 1 Small wire helper shelf
  • 3 Standard screws
  • 3 Plastic cable zip ties

Amazon.com Links

Here’s how you build and install the shelf in three easy steps:

  1. Use three screws to mount the shelf bracket on the wall. You may want to install the bracket upside down so that the longer arm is facing out. It will still be plenty sturdy. (If installing in drywall with no stud be sure to use appropriate dry-wall anchors.)
  2. Turn the helper shelf upside down so the legs face up (they will become side stops) and place the shelf on top of the bracket.
  3. Use three cable zip ties to fasten the shelf to the bracket going through the screw holes in the bracket.

You’re all done! Hope works for you. It worked out perfect for me. Repurposing the shelf and mounting it upside down with the cable zip ties was the key. You should also have plenty of zip ties left over to also make your cables neat!

Filed Under: Apple, Hardware

Laptop Travel Tips

July 27, 2011 By Leave a Comment

When I travel I go carry on only. I have one plane sized carry on bag for clothing. I have a backpack for the computer, etc. that qualifies as my “purse” or “handbag” for carry on even though it is quite roomy. Here’s the backpack I have for the computer: SOLO Sterling Collection Laptop Backpack, CheckFast Airport Security-Friendly, Holds Notebook Computer up to 16 Inches, Black, CLA703-4  You can also find this or similar items at Office Max or Office Depot for a decent price.

I carry lots of extras to be prepared:

POWER
Apple Power Adapter (comes with your laptop)

Power Strip or Splitter – Monster Outlets To Go 4 Outlet Travel Power Strip
3 Prong to 2 prong grounding converter
For international travel… World Travel Adapter Plug Set

OTHER
Display adapter for laptop to VGA (for projector connection)…depends on your laptop model.

Black RJ45 Computer Networking Cat5e Ethernet Patch Cable – (3 Feet)

STORAGE and BACKUP
USB Flash Drive…formatted as Windows drive to transfer files between any computer. SanDisk Cruzer 8 GB USB 2.0 Flash Drive

External bootable hard drive with full backup using SuperDuper. LaCie Rugged All-Terrain 500 GB FireWire 800/ FireWire 400/USB 2.0 Portable External Hard Drive

Other World Computing also makes great portable drives.

To adapt the FireWire 400 cable to newer computers… FireWire 800 to 400 adapter

Hope that list helps! Being fully prepared has saved me many times.

Filed Under: Apple, Hardware

I Need More Hard Drive Space!

April 21, 2011 By 1 Comment

When your hard drive is running out of space you can upgrade to a larger capacity internal hard drive relatively quickly, easily, and inexpensively. This will give you more room for videos, photos, and your iTunes music library. You can even speed up your Mac significantly by getting a faster hard drive. I recently upgraded to a SeaGate 500GB hybrid drive and my Mac is much zippier.

So, what’s the easiest way to upgrade my Mac OS hard drive?The easiest way is to have me do it for you : )…but for the do-it-yourselfers…here’s how I would go about the process:
1. Go to Other World Computing’s web site and search for an upgrades by computer type.

2. Purchase a kit that includes an external hard drive case that you can use to install your old hard drive in, a tool kit for opening your Mac, and the new hard drive.

Once you receive your new hardware, you can follow these instructions that provide quick summary of the upgrade procedure for your hard drive.

1. Download and install SuperDuper! on your current hard drive. SuperDuper!

2. Connect the new external hard drive.

3. Open Disk Utility located in your Applications folder and then the Utilities folder.

4. Click on the icon for your external disk drive.

5. Click on Partition and then choose 1 Partition from the pull-down menu.

6. IMPORTANT: Click on the Options button and choose GUID Table option. This ensures that you can use this hard drive to boot your Intel-based Macintosh. (If you have an older PowerPC based Mac choose Apple Partition Map.)

7. Click on Apply to format and erase everything on the external disk drive.

8. Open SuperDuper! and use it to copy your entire hard drive to the external disk drive.

9. If you own any Adobe products like Photoshop, Illustrator, etc. open them up and choose to Deactivate their license protection.

10. Shut down your Mac and swap the hard drives. Follow the instructions provided by OWC to open your Mac and install the hard drive. Then install the old hard drive in the external case.

11. Turn your Mac on and you should be in business! Keep your external hard drive as a backup for a while. Better yet, put it in a safe place offsite as an emergency backup permanently. You never know when you’ll need it and you’ll be glad it’s there.

Filed Under: Apple, Hardware, Mac OS

Purchasing Apple Technology

March 3, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Purchasing Apple Technology

Visit The Apple Store or Best Buy in your area to get hands-on experience with Apple products.

Prices of Macs are pretty much the same everywhere. Any differences in price are due to what a bundle might include like extra memory, printer, etc. If you’re a student or teacher you can get an exceptional deal through the Apple educational discount. You can also purchase Apple refurbished products directly on the Apple Store with a full one year warranty…just search for “refurbished”. Availability changes often so if you see something you want you should purchase it soon.

In addition, MacMall / PCMall and Cimbura.com partner to offer a discount of 5-50% off computer hardware, software, and home electronics. The discount purchase program is available for anyone accessing it through Cimbura.com.
http://cap.pcmall.com/site/CimburacomConsulting
User name: cimburaepp
Password: cimbura123

PowerMax offers a large inventory of used Apple Macintoshes.

If you’d like any help deciding on a particular model for your needs, let us know and we’ll be happy to provide part numbers for you so you can order easily. We do not mark up hardware or software, but will charge a consulting fee for situations that require additional research.

Other World Computing (OWC) is a great source for memory, hard drives, and other Macintosh accessories. Cimbura.com, LLC can order exactly what you need and install these items for you.

AppleCare – Within the first year of ownership of a new Macintosh, you can purchase AppleCare to extend the standard warranty of 1 year to a total of 3 years. Computers have moving parts (like the DVD drive and hard drive) that have the possibility of failing. (You NEED to backup!) If you have AppleCare, Apple or any authorized Apple dealer will take care of replacing these or nearly anything else that goes wrong at no cost including labor or new hardware. Be sure to register your computer with Apple after you get it.

Filed Under: Apple, Hardware

Technology Resources

December 24, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Our technology blog provides many technical tips and helpful articles. Sign up for our e-mail list or follow us on Twitter.

I highly recommend CrashPlan. With CrashPlan you can backup to a local computer (free on your own disk), a friends computer (free for “social backup”), or to their central offsite location (monthly fee for “backup in the cloud”). We use CrashPlan offsite backup for peace of mind. It’s secure and simple and automatically backs up all our files offsite every night in case of emergency.

DropBox – Get 2 GB or more of remote file sharing disk space (similar to Apple’s iDisk). It’s super easy to sync, store, and share files across Windows and Mac OS systems.

OvernightPrints.com – Business Cards, Postcards, Brochures, Letterhead , Greeting Cards & Envelopes overnight. Great service, quality, and prices.

FileMaker Database Techniques

The following sample databases can be used by FileMaker developers to help create a customized solution. They are provided free of charge.

fmGauge – Use Google’s charting to create a dashboard type gauge.

fmMapCharter – Use Google’s charting to create a customized map of areas the world. Includes ISO country and state tables.

Web Viewer Image Resizing – A sample file that elegantly shows how to dynamically resize an image in a web viewer

fmPacMan – In celebration of the 30th anniversary of PacMac (May 2010), take a break and have some fun playing PacMan in your database.

Mac OS X Address Book Contacts and iCal Calendar Event/Task Import – Utilizing Bento and FileMaker 11 this database will allow you to easily import this information into FileMaker

fmNAICSCodes – Standard industry classification NAICS codes in a sample FileMaker database with unique codes in one table and conversion from 1997-2002 codes in another.

fmTinyURL – Use FileMaker to make your URLs shorter.

Apple Technology Information

Apple Product Manuals – Get the latest documentation for iPod, iPad, iPhone, MacBook, iMac, etc. here online.

Apple Discussion Support – Online support via other users.

Apple Product Specifications – Technical information about Apple products.

FileMaker Training and Learning

Learn FileMaker Pro – Lynda.com is an amazing online training resource. They have training for FileMaker as well as many more software packages like Adobe creative suite, etc. Be sure to sign up via this provided link so they know that we referred you. Free 24 hour pass to lynda.com

lynda.com

FileMaker 10: The Missing Manual – A great book for learning the basics

FileMaker Pro 11: The Missing Manual – Latest version of the book for learning FileMaker basics

FileMaker TechNet – For $99/year get access to discussion boards, etc.

FileMaker Webinars – Online training at no cost on many FileMaker topics

Geoff Coffey’s Six Fried Rice technology blog has many good resources and tips.

Developer Cards for FileMaker Pro – Great cheat sheets to assist with building databases

Search for a Custom Function:

Free library of FileMaker Pro Custom Functions

Comparison of Microsoft Access and FileMaker – An overview showing some of the reasons why we’re asked to convert databases from Access into FileMaker

FileMaker DevCon – The annual FileMaker developer conference with over 1,500 attendees from all over the world.

FileMaker Software – Get a 30 day trial version for FREE

Internet/Network Tools

SpeedTest – Test your internet connection speed

OpenDNS – Protect your internet connection with free web content filtering and phishing protection while making your network faster and more reliable. There’s nothing to download or install, and you can set it up in a couple minutes.

Web Tools

WordPress – Flexible, high end blogging and web site tool

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Other IT Services

December 23, 2010 By

SERVICES – Your Strategic Partner

Business Process Consulting and Workgroup Strategy

We can evaluate your business processes and tell you how technology can be used to make them more effective. Sometimes an outside perspective provides the insight needed to reveal an ineffective or better process to achieve results. For enterprise clients, we will interface with your IT department to ensure any system we build fits with an organization’s overall technology strategy and is a collaborative partner with regard to systems, security, and platforms. We can also consult with IT organizations to define Workgroup Application Strategies that allow them to support custom productivity software in an ongoing basis.

Personal IT Coaching and Training

Are you trying to set up your Macintosh, iPhone, iPad, or some specific software like Bento or Apple Mail? How are your back-ups? Does your wireless network work? Want your employees to be able to telecommute? If you are looking for some help, we can navigate these technological situations with ease and show you how to do it, too! We are here to answer basic to complex questions about software and hardware that can make your life easier. We can teach complex technical topics in words humans can understand. We can set up corporate sessions, in-home one-on-one help, or remote training and mentoring.

Apple and Network Technology Consulting

Cimbura.com LLC specializes in Apple Macintosh systems for ease-of-use, low life-cycle cost, and reliable virus-free computer operation. With all newer Intel-based Macintoshes, you can run any Windows applications when necessary. All our database solutions run on both Mac OS or Windows.

Technology Consulting – We evaluate your current tools and recommend changes that will improve the efficiency and stability of systems. We will also make recommendations on technology strategies to improve your bottom line.

System Installation – We install operating systems, applications, networks, workstations, and servers.

Troubleshooting – We will fix or repair most computer problems that can come up. We can do this remotely or on-site.

Maintenance – We will keep your technology in top condition through period checkups. We can recommend and work out a reliable back up solution for your critical data.

Technology Sourcing

We know how to find the best products and the best prices for our clients. We provide hardware and software sourcing as a service. Visit our Products page for more information on purchasing equipment.

Ready to get the IT help you’re looking for?
Contact us directly with our online project request form.
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