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The Top Ten Reasons Macs Are Better Than PC’s There is a never-ending debate as to whether Macs are “better” than PC’s. “Better” is of course a subjective term; for instance, while Macs are generally acknowledged to be easier to use, if you’re a long-time Windows user the first time you sit in front of a Mac, it certainly won’t seem that way. In any case, here follows a list of differentiators… if nothing else, these are reasonable arguments as to why you should consider buying a Mac. SEE THE BEST PRICES ON NEW MACS ON AMAZON 1. Macs are actually cheaper in the long run Sure, you can buy a Windows PC for fewer up-front dollars. But the true cost of ownership should be calculated based on not only the acquisition cost, but the residual value after you sell it or trade it in. It’s the difference between those two numbers that really tells you what your computer costs to own. When you calculate the cost of ownership in that way, Macs win easily. All you have to do is compare the value of a Windows PC from, say, three years ago (which is often close to zero), and compare that to what you can get for your 3-year-old Mac. It’s virtually always no contest. SEE THE BEST PRICES ON NEW MACS ON AMAZON 2. Macs are much easier to buy We tried shopping for a PC just to compare, and after about 15 minutes our eyes glazed over. When you have so many choices, not only of manufacturers, but bells and whistles and speeds and sizes, it’s almost impossible to know whether you’re getting the right, or best, deal. With the Mac, it’s much easier to narrow down your search quickly, PLUS, be assured you’re getting a well-made and well-respected product, included being loaded with a whole bunch of great software you’d have to buy extra on a PC. On top of all that, there’s no equivalent to PowerMax in the PC world. Our friendly and expert staff is happy to help you through the entire process. SEE THE BEST PRICES ON NEW MACS ON AMAZON Note: We received a message from someone who took umbrage at the above, saying he thought it was “incredibly ignorant.” We responded with the following, which may or may not appease those of you who share that opinion, but it is our opinion and we’re sticking by it: Simplicity isn’t for everyone, of course, and many IT professionals and computer geeks will look at the plethora of options available in the Windows world and not only not be fazed by them, but delight in the choices. Those same people often get frustrated that if you want to run the Mac OS, your choices are essentially limited to Apple, and then the limited choices they give you within that. But it sure makes it easier “for the rest of us” to make a decision, which is why we entitled that paragraph: “Macs are much easier to buy.” Obviously, with either, you can just see one and click “buy,” but with a PC, you’ll never be sure whether Samsung or Dell or HP or Acer or Toshiba or who knows how many other brands to choose from was the “best” one, all with their different video cards and storage options and screen sizes, not to mention the presumed or expected quality. That’s a lot of choices, and that makes it harder. That’s all we’re saying. SEE THE BEST PRICES ON NEW MACS ON AMAZON 3. In general, when Apple makes assumptions with its software, it gets it right, Microsoft often gets it wrong Surely this is subjective, but when you run Microsoft’s software, even on a Mac, it loves to run interference, making assumptions as to what you’re doing and trying to stay a step ahead. Most often, however, it just gets annoying. For instance, by default, if you type a “1)” in Entourage or Word, suddenly the next paragraph automatically starts with a “2)” even if you don’t want it. Most people spend more time undoing the presumptions than benefitting by them… Microsoft is just horrible at getting in the way. SEE THE BEST PRICES ON NEW MACS ON AMAZON 4. Viruses While this has changed just a little as Apple has gained ground on Microsoft, Mac users are still living in relative bliss with the lack of viruses, spyware and malware. We’re not saying they can’t get them, but it’s just far less of a problem for Mac users than it is for Windows users. SEE THE BEST PRICES ON NEW MACS ON AMAZON 5. Time Machine and the Cloud Not nearly enough people back up their hard drives (because it should be everyone), but Apple’s Time Machine makes it so elegant and simple that all you really need to do is hook up a drive and turn Time Machine on. And it’s not just a back-up, but you can go back in time to find a document you deleted. Apple is further assisting with backing up with the utilization of iCloud, something especially appreciated in this age of people using multiple devices, such as the iPhone and iPad. SEE THE BEST PRICES ON NEW MACS ON AMAZON 6. When something goes wrong… Microsoft makes the software. Dell, or Sony, or HP, or seemingly a million other manufacturers, make the Windows PC. Then you have third-party drivers and whatever else for all the peripherals. When you have a problem, everyone points a finger at everyone else. With the Mac, the issue rests more often just with Apple. Of course, any customer of PowerMax who has ever had a question or problem can attest to the friendly expertise we also provide to help sort it all out for them as well. SEE THE BEST PRICES ON NEW MACS ON AMAZON 7. Apple makes upgrading its OS simple, Microsoft still keeps it complicated Apple smoothly transitions its customers to its latest OS for free. Windows can’t even use a consistent naming scheme: the versions

Ipad Generations Explained iPad technology, like all things Apple, has transformed the way we use technology. Since its inception in 2010, the iPad has offered a tablet-sized method for surfing the web, checking emails, watching movies and reading books. Now as Apple releases the second generation of iPad Pro, these tablets do more, perform faster and have become integral to the way we teach, do business and entertain ourselves. iPad 1st Generation Limited to iOS 5.1.1 or earlier, this may pose problems with newer programs designed only for newer OS’s. Available in silver with a white bezel, if you’re mostly surfing the web, reading email, and aren’t pushing the envelope with applications this iPad does its best work as an e-reader, and weighs in at 1.5 lbs. SEE THE BEST PRICE FOR ALL iPAD GENERATIONS HERE iPad 2nd and 3rd Generations Both the iPad 2 and iPad 3 are upgradable to iOS 9 and no further and are a nice, low cost option for folks with children or who are using older Apps. The second generation comes with a choice of black or white bezels and a silver aluminum frame. It also includes the A5 chip and was the first iPad to add cameras to the front and back. The 3rd generation sports the first Retina display and 5MP rear facing cameras. These iPads weigh in at about 1.4 lbs., and like the first generation iPad, use a 30-pin dock connector to power up. SEE THE BEST PRICE FOR ALL iPAD GENERATIONS HERE iPad 4th Generation The fourth generation iPad improved the cameras and was the first iPad to use the faster, thinner Lightning connector for charging. Upgradable only to iOS 10, it will eventually outgrow current Apps. This iPad has the same form factor as the 2nd and 3rd Generation models – so they can wear the same cases – and it weighs in at 1.46 lbs. iPad Mini 1st Generation Released for the first time in 2012, the smallest Apple iPad with a 7.9-inche screen is the “Mini Me” to the classic iPad 2nd Generation. It sports the same internal specs as the bigger model but comes with an upgraded 5MP camera. It also has the same limitations as its older sibling and can only upgrade to as far as iOS 9 and no further. SEE THE BEST PRICE FOR ALL iPAD GENERATIONS HERE The iPad Air 1st and 2nd Generations The iPad Air was a radical design change from the classic iPad. The Air is the first iPad to offer Touch ID and more color choices – Space Gray, Silver and Gold – and weighs in just slightly less than one pound – 20% lighter than prior models. Apple reduced the dimensions of the Air from the pervious iterations by 23%. They carved off a bit of the height and width of the case. The iPad Air 2 built upon the improvements made on its lighter older sibling with both speed and a faster processing chip, as well as adding for the first time the Touch ID technology to the home button. The iPad Air 2 also includes an 8MP rear-facing camera with a fixed f/2.4 aperture and HD. On tablet cell sign in was also introduced for the first time with the iPad Air. Both iPad Air and iPad Air 2 will upgrade to iOS 11 and beyond. SEE THE BEST PRICE FOR ALL iPAD GENERATIONS HERE iPad Mini 2nd, 3rd and 4th Generations Apple tends to upgrade each iteration of their iPad models to offer better cameras, faster processors, Touch ID, etc. In spite of the diminutive size, the iPad Mini 2nd-4th generations more than met those expectations. Upgrades included more storage – up to 128GB on the 4th Generation – Touch ID and multiple color options. Retina display, anti-reflective coating and faster graphics also distinguish these iPads from the original iPad Mini. All will upgrade to iOS 11 and likely beyond. SEE THE BEST PRICE FOR ALL iPAD GENERATIONS HERE iPad Pro 12.9-inch and iPad Pro 9.7-inch 1st Generation Apple dipped its toe into Pro tablets for the first time in 2015 with the hefty 12.9-inch iPad Pro, closely followed by the 9.7-inch option that mirrors the form factor of the Air 2 but, like it’s bigger sibling, provides more raw power than previous versions. Both Pro models offer four speakers, motion sensors, Touch ID, better screen resolution and as much as 256GB storage than the non-Pro versions. Also new with this release, the original iPad Pro 12.9-inch comes with an 8MP camera and enough room for the split screen technology to work well – it’s the same surface size as two standard iPad screens set side by side. Like the iPhone 7, the 9.7-inch version comes with a whopping 12MP camera upgrade. The 12.9-inch iPad Pro weighs in at a hefty 1.6 pounds, while the 9.7-inch is slightly less than one pound. An upgrade to iOS 11 is available on both. Both were released with Smart Keyboards that connect to the iPad via Smart Connectors only available for use with the iPad Pro models. Soft-to-the-touch keys, a folding stand and the ability to use the keyboard itself as a screen protector rounds out the coolness factor of these keyboards. The Apple Pencil, another accessory that can only be used with iPad Pros, charges via the iPad Lightning port. The Apple Pencil includes pressure sensitivity to allow it to mimic a No., 2 pencil and no need for Bluetooth connectivity. SEE THE BEST PRICE FOR ALL iPAD GENERATIONS HERE iPad Pro 12.9-inch and iPad Pro 10.5-inch 2nd Generation Apple dropped the 9.7-inch version of the iPad Pro in 2017 when it introduced a 10.5-inch version. These iPad Pros include slimmer bezels on the side that offer a bigger screen; the same size as a standard keyboard. The 2nd generation iPad Pros include improved displays that are brighter and less reflective with higher refresh rates and even less lag with the Apple Pencil. Apple rounds out improvements with a 12 MP camera that allows

How to Copy and Paste on a Mac Using a Keyboard Shortcut Anyone who has had to type up huge chunks of text will agree that the copy and paste functions are probably two of the best things ever invented. And it’s not only good for editing lengthy lines of text, it’s also quite handy for people who have trouble remembering complex combinations like PIN codes, serial numbers and the like. It’s such a frequently used function that one of the first things new Mac users ask our Mac Experts is how to use this function. How to Copy and Paste on a Mac Using a Keyboard Shortcut If you’ve been a long-time Windows user and have just recently started using a Mac, pressing CTRL + C and CTRL + V for copy and paste respectively is already thoroughly ingrained — so much so that you probably tried using the same key combinations on your Mac until you realized the CTRL key has been replaced with a key labeled “control.” Don’t panic. While the Control key doesn’t have the same function on Macs as it does on Windows, there’s an equally quick way to perform copy and paste on a Mac and that is by pressing Command + C (⌘ + C) and Command + V (⌘ + V). If you don’t want to be bothered with constantly pausing and reminding your fingers to use Command instead of the Control key, or if you want to use a Windows-based keyboard that doesn’t have a Command key to begin with, you can remap your Mac keys so that you can assign a different key for performing copy and paste on your Mac. SEE THE BEST PRICES ON NEW MACS ON AMAZON To remap your Mac keys: Go to the Apple Menu Open “System Preferences” Click on “Keyboard” Select “Shortcuts” Click on “Modifier Keys” Go to the “Command” field Click on the drop-down menu Select “Control” Click “OK” Please note that while remapping your Mac keys this way will apply the changes to the whole system, there are certain applications where it may not work. To ensure that your preferred keyboard shortcut for copy and paste on your Mac will also work on your frequently used applications: Go to the Apple Menu Open “System Preferences” Click on “Keyboard” Select “Shortcuts” Select “App Shortcuts” Click the “Add” button (the one with the + sign) Select the app or apps for which you want your preferred keyboard shortcuts to be used. If you can’t find your favorite application on the list, click “Other” then use the “Open” dialog box to search for it. If you want your preferred shortcut for copy and paste to apply to all applications, just click on “All Applications.” In the “Menu Title,” type in the command for which you want your shortcut to work (for example, type “Copy” if you want to assign a keyboard shortcut for copying and “Paste” if you want a keyboard shortcut for pasting things). Please make sure that you write the menu title exactly the same way the command is written on your favorite application’s menu (including capitalization and spaces). Next, go to the “Keyboard Shortcut” field, then press the key combination that you want to use for the keyboard shortcut while you’re in the empty box beside it. Click on “Add” SEE THE BEST PRICES ON NEW MACS ON AMAZON How to Copy and Paste on a Mac Using a Apple Magic Mouse Many Windows users, employing a two-button mouse, know to right click in order to copy and paste. However, mice that come with Macs have only one button. The easiest way to copy and paste using a Magic Mouse is as follows: Highlight the text that you want to copy Hold down the Control button Click the mouse button Select “Copy” from contextual menu Go to the place where you want to paste the text Hold down the Control button Click the mouse button Select “Paste” from contextual menu SEE THE BEST PRICES ON NEW MACS ON AMAZON How to Copy and Paste on a Mac Using Your Trackpad Aside from using a keyboard shortcut and your mouse, you can also use your trackpad to perform copy and paste on your Mac. On Windows-based PCs, you usually do this by highlighting the text that you want to copy, pressing on the lower right corner of your trackpad which is equivalent to performing a right-click with your mouse, then selecting “Paste” from the menu. On Macs, the process is similar: highlight the text that you want to copy, use two fingers to lightly tap around the center of your trackpad to bring up the contextual menu (the popup menu that appears when you initiate a “Control + mouse click), then selecting “Paste” from there. Now, go and try to practice them so that you can get used to performing copy and paste on your Mac before you work on projects that require a lot of copying and pasting. Good luck! Keep checking back at the PowerMax blog for all kinds of news, tips, tricks, how tos and more! SEE THE BEST PRICES ON NEW MACS ON AMAZON

How To Remap Keys On Your Mac When Apple designed the MacBook keyboards, they were probably thinking of which commands we will be using the most when they assigned shortcuts to specific functions, but as with everything else that is being used by millions of people, actual usage does not always align with intended purpose, so many default keys are left unused while some missing keys remain desired. If you have a lot of unused keyboard shortcuts yourself and would like to replace their functions with something that you actually use, below is a guide on how to remap keys on your Mac. Which Keys Can You Remap? There are several sets of keys on your Mac keyboard that perform individual functions. You can modify the functions of some keys, but there are some that you cannot. Among the sets of keys that the functions of which you can easily change and remap according to your needs are the function and modifier keys. The function keys are usually located at the top most part of your keyboard and are either marked with a letter F followed by a number (e.g. F1, F2, F3, etc.) or an icon that signifies what they do (e.g. sun icon for brightness and speaker icon for volume). The modifier keys, on the other hand, are the sets of keys that you use in combination with another key to perform specific functions like the CMD, CTRL, Caps Lock, Shift, and Option keys. SEE THE BEST PRICES ON NEW MACS ON AMAZON What Do Function Keys Do? Traditionally, Function keys were designed to work as shortcuts to system-related commands usually buried under convoluted menus and submenus; however, since they are not frequently used by the average user, Function keys have been increasingly remapped to provide quick access to basic customization tools (like brightness or volume control) although their traditional functions have not been completely removed but simply delegated to the backseat instead.* For example, in the current Mac keyboard design, Pressing F1 reduces brightness. Pressing F2 increases brightness. Pressing F3 lets you switch to “Expose” view to see all running programs or apps. Pressing F4 gives you quick access to business, communication and Internet tools. Pressing F7 lets you rewind a video that you were watching. Pressing F8 displays thumbnails of your current work spaces. Pressing F9 launches “Mission Control.” Pressing F10 shows all open windows for the active application. Pressing F11 hides all open windows and shows the desktop instead. Pressing F12 shows or hide the dashboard.   *To use the traditional functions of the Function keys, you have to press F1 or F2 together with the Fn key. **F5 and F6 has no specific function attached to it by default. SEE THE BEST PRICES ON NEW MACS ON AMAZON What Do Modifier Keys Do? Like Function keys, modifier keys also work as keyboard shortcuts to frequently used commands. Some examples of commands that your modifier keys are assigned to perform by default are: Command+A which selects all items in the active window Command+C which copies highlighted items. Command+X Cuts the selected items Command+F which opens the “Find” dialog Command+I  which shows additional information about the currently selected item. Command+M which minimizes the active window Command+Z which undoes a previous action Command+V which pastes items previously cut or copied Command+O which opens the selected item Command+W which closes the active window   Aside from being used as keyboard shortcuts for system-wide commands, modifier keys can also be used to execute application-specific commands like: Command+Option+Space which opens the “Spotlight” menu. Command+Shift+A which opens the “Applications” folder. Command+Shift+U which opens the “Utilities” folder Command+Shift+I   which connects you to your iDisk Shift–Command–(?) which opens the “Help” menu. SEE THE BEST PRICES ON NEW MACS ON AMAZON How to Remap Keys on Your Mac If you are not happy with the default functions of your Function and Modifier keys, you can easily remap the keys on your Mac to assign keyboard shortcuts according to your specific needs and preferences. To remap the Function keys and change how they work, Go to the Apple menu Open “System Preferences,” Click on the “Keyboard” tab. Select “Shortcuts.” Select “Use all F1, F2, etc. keys as standard function keys. To remap the modifier keys and assigned new key combinations for shortcuts, Follow Steps 1 to 3 Click on “Modifier Keys.” Select the modifier key that the function of which you wish to change. Choose the new action that you want the modifier key to do when clicked on. This works for system-wide commands; however, you can also remap keys to perform certain functions while particular certain apps. To do this, Follow Steps 1 to 4 Select “App Shortcuts.” Click on the “Add” button (the one with the plus icon). Click on “Application” Choose the application for which you want to use the new keyboard shortcut. If you can’t find the app that you want on the list, choose “Other” then find the app by using the “Open” dialog (note that some apps do not allow users to create custom keyboard shortcuts). If you want to use the same shortcut for multiple applications, select “All Applications.” Go to the “Menu Title” field. Type the menu command for which you want to create a new shortcut, like “Merge All Windows,” for example. If the menu command that you wish to make a shortcut for takes several steps to reach, type the menu command in the exact order of steps that you need to do to reach that particular command, with each step separated by the “>” character. For example, if you want to create a shortcut to the “Export to PDF” command, type in “File > Export to PDF” in the “Menu Title” field. After that, go to the “Keyboard Shortcut” field, then press the combination of keys that you want to use for your custom keyboard shortcut. Click “Add.” Follow the same steps if you want to create separate keyboard shortcuts for specific apps.