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We Get Questions – Vol. 2

June 30, 2023 Comments off

We continue with our second installment of questions I answer on Quora about the Mac, computers, Chromebooks, iDevices, etc. In some cases, I’ve extended my answers here to make them more complete or to add clarity.

What happens when you try to permanently empty your computer’s trash bin?

I’m sure you know that when you empty the trash everything inside is deleted. Sometimes you can’t delete a file or app because it is being used in some way by the computer. In that case, restart and then finish emptying the trash. Happy emptying!

Currently, can I sell my locked iPad Pro (12.9) to anyone other than the company it’s linked to? What is a good price for the iPad?

If the iPad is locked (and you don’t have either the lockscreen code or iCloud email/password) then it is worthless. Did you steal it? If so, please return it to the company or person from that company you took it from. If you purchased it from someone or the company, you’ll need to go back to that person/company IT folks to get them to disassociate their iCloud account from the iPad.

What are the risks of using a Mac that runs on outdated software?

I’ll mention a couple based on current experience. Having used Macs with newer Oses up to Ventura (but not machines with Apple Silicone yet), my Mac tower running High Sierra is just slow and takes forever to load.

I don’t use Safari with High Sierra because it is not safe to use on the Internet (newer versions are just fine). I can’t get any OS updates and a chunk of apps (save for a few like Zoom and browsers) won’t update. I’m stuck using 10 + years older software. So lack of support, some security issues and slowness are all “risks.” That said, High Sierra remains a capable Mac OS and can still do a lot but it is clearly getting long in the tooth.

Do you think the Apple Vision Pro is worth its high price point?

This is a truly game-changing device that- like many other first gen machines- will sell to a particular high-end clientele to start. But I could immediately see there are tremendous business, education and military uses so Apple will sell a boatload.

The good news is with volume comes a reduction in costs and and we middle class folks, schools, etc. will benefit over time. Higher Ed will be in line to buy these and even some school districts. Remember Macs, Tesla’s and many other higher-end product costs have come town as volume ramped up. It is also possible Apple will develop lower price models much as they have for their iDevices. So let’s see what happens! You might even want to buy Apple stock! 😀 Good luck.

Does Apple have any plans to switch from macOS to a different operating system in the future?

I’ve owned Apple computers and other company devices since 1983 and as a user, I’ve learned that Apple makes its own decisions based on any number of factors- especially when the hardware demands a new OS.

Apple is switching all their devices to Apple Silicon and the Mac OS followed. I don’t see them changing to something else anytime soon. The Mac OS is a robust OS that continues to impress and meets the needs of the vast majority of users. ‘Nuff said!

What are some ways to reuse old computers instead of installing Windows OS in their hard drives?

Google has made it fairly easy to turn some PC and Mac laptops into Chromebooks. Not all so check the requirements. There are a lot of helpful guides out there -here’s one from PC magazine:

How to turn an old laptop into a Chromebook

You can convert an older laptop into a Chromebook without spending a dime. All you need is an hour.

I’ve made the switch on both Mac and PC laptops with success. Also tried iMacs without success. 😀
You can use older machines for lots of things but as they get older, there are increasing security issues if you want to search the internet (for example).

You can also install Linux and other OS on many older computers. The link I provided is just possibility.

That said, if your computer is too old, please recycle it responsibly. Good luck!

I needed to add that the non-profit I work with in Maryland- MacRecycleClinic- takes older Macs (High Serra and newer) and Chromebooks to refurbish and return to the greater Washington DC region (we call it the DMV). More info at MacRecycleClinic.org.

Which is more economical: buying a cheap printer or buying expensive cartridges for a good quality printer?

Actually I would pay a little more for a printer with an eco tank. Brother and Epson offer them and I believe others do too. If you do that… get a better quality printer – it will last you many years. Yes the ink is expensive but the bigger ink tanks will allow you to pay less per ounce and print more pages.
the alternative is to get a laser printer which will provide hundreds of pages of printing. The laser cartridges are also expensive but the trade off is number of pages printed before replacement. They can be recycled for free by the way.
Good luck!

Hi! I accidentally deleted some important photos from recently deleted and iCloud I have no access to them. I only found WooTechy but it requires 40$, isn’t there any other way?

Well if you had a Time Machine backup the answer would be pretty easy. It doesn’t sound like you do so the next question is, are those photos worth the money to recover? $40.00 seems cheap.
What did you use to take the photos in the first place? Are they still on the original device?
How long ago did you delete the photos? iCloud gives you a 30 day grace period:

Finally, please start using Time Machine do this kind of issue won’t happen again. Good Luck!

Is the MacBook Pro 2011 still usable in 2023?

The answer is – it depends. At the MacRecycleClinic in Silver Spring, Md. machines running High Sierra are now at the low end of what we give out these days (we refurbish older machines to donate to those who do not have computers). Our donations are trending more towards mid 2012 and newer machines that can run Catalina and higher.

That said, depending on what you need to do, High Sierra is still very capable for many tasks. We recommend not using Safari as we don’t believe it is as secure as Firefox or even Chrome.
I have a Mac at home that runs HS and it can be slow but is able to browse, edit video and audio, get email and more. But the handwriting is on the wall since Apple no longer supports this older version of the OS (32 bit vs 64 and a newer APFS file management system). Good luck!

What is the most useful software on your Mac that you never use?

Let’s say I never used this software until I found out what a useful tool it is. That would be the Notes app. Who thought it could make such a difference. But now I use it for so many things on a daily basis. Thoughts, notes, poems, passwords (for short retention) and so much more.
Because it is part of iCloud, Notes is shared and updated on all your devices and you can share a note with anyone.

Here’s the most useful thing I do with it: I’ve written a note to my wife and children with a ton of information they will need to know if I become incapacitated or die. I got the idea from my best friend who did the same thing. It proved very useful when he passed. Good luck!

How can I view my photos on my external hard drive that was formatted for Apple but my Apple computer died?

Find a friend with a Mac, connect the external and then save the files to a thumb drive. Most thumb drives are formatted for PC use.

Macs can read PC formatted disks but PCs can’t read Mac disks without extra software (thus your second solution – install software that lets the PC read Mac-formatted drives.)
There are other ways but these might be the easiest for you. Good luck!

How long does it take for a full Mac OS X Time Machine backup?

First time will always take longer depending on how big your internal drive is. I usually set it up to run overnight. Next backups are quick depending what is added, subtracted, etc. from the internal drive. Good luck!

Can you upgrade an iMac to increase speed?

Not really. With a Mac always order a machine with a look forward attitude. Buy as much SSD and memory as you think you will need in 3–5 years. Unfortunately the best answer is to buy a new Mac if you are frustrated with the speed.

Macs today are configured with everything soldered on the mother board (with a few exceptions) so you have to buy what you think you’ll need in the future.

What is the difference between buying a product on Apple.com and at an Apple Store?

The best reason to buy at the Apple Sore is you can kick the tires and ask lots of questions. If you’re fairly new to Apple you want to go and physically see the computers, iPads or iPhones. Try them out. Ask all the questions you might have with someone who knows the equipment inside and out.
They can also help you transfer your data, get your computer or iDevice set up if you want. The prices won’t be different (tho you can buy refurbished machines online at a discount).

Note this applies s to third party retailers like Best Buy and others who can also help you in the same way. Big Box stores like Costco sells Apple products – sometimes for a bit less- but really don’t have folks who can help you in the same way as an Apple or computer store.You can also recycle your equipment at the Apple Store.
Good luck!

How can you fix your Chromebook when it won’t turn on, if it has no battery or no charger?

Hmmm. Where did the battery go? You do know your Chromebook won’t work if it doesn’t have a battery, right? And you need a charger to charge that battery.

The easiest answer would be to just get a new Chromebook and move on. Otherwise, check the model and serial number to find the right battery and charger online. You can install a new battery easily with help from iFixIt.

What are some of the best ways to connect a keyboard to an iPhone/iPad?

There are many Bluetooth keyboards out there – some on the iPad side with a cover as well. I’m using one right now. Good luck!

How can you get Google Chrome to update itself automatically and silently?

So this is what I have found working with Chrome (the browser) on older Macs. If the Mac has Chrome installed, start it and try to update it.

If it won’t, simply go to the Chrome website (Google “Download Chrome”) and download it. Even if the older version won’t update, you can get the newest version just by downloading and replacing the older version with the newer one. Chrome should update itself automatically by the way. (Check About Chrome from the Apple menu on a Mac – a new page will open and Chrome will check to see if it is the latest edition.)

Can you turn an iPad into a laptop without buying anything extra?

If by laptop you mean a computer with a keyboard and maybe a mouse the answer is not really. The iPad meets many requirements of a laptop, but having to peck on the screen is a challenge to productivity. That’s why I have a Bluetooth keyboard for my iPad. It makes a high difference just in speed. And yes – you can also connect a bluetooth mouse to your iPad as well. But frankly, if you need a laptop, get yourself one.
Good luck!

We Get Questions – Vol. 1

April 27, 2022 Comments off

One of the ways that MacRecycleClinic is able to interact with Mac and Chromebook users is by answering questions on a website called Quora. It’s a place where folks can ask a wide range of questions on every conceivable topic and get answers from many knowledgeable members.

Below, you’ll find some of the questions and answers by this author – we’ll add more as time permits. Note questions and answers may be edited for content and accuracy.

Should I wait for the MacBook Pro 2022 or buy 2021?

Hey there. I’ve written about this in the past but will say once again – if you need a computer now, buy one. The MB Pro 2021 is an excellent laptop that will serve you well for many years. As always, please know what you want to do with it – as that informs what configuration you have to buy. If you’re just surfing and doing email. You won’t need as much memory or SSD space as you would if you were planning to do heavy duty video, photo or audio editing. That said, being proactive now and buying MORE than you need will ensure future usefulness. Finally, always, always, always buy AppleCare when you buy a laptop. It is money well spent. Good luck!

Can a Mac be too old to update?

The basic answer is yes. There are hacks (see DosDude) that can let you run a later version of an OS on an older machine. But you can lose some capabilities (like WiFi) by doing so.

(Update here from original):

Apple has a lot of great support pages – this one will tell you how to check which version of the Mac OS will work with your Mac.

When purchasing a used MacBook Pro 15″ RADEON R9 3.7GHz Quad i7 Turbo Retina 16GB RAM 1TB SSD, should the computer be restored to factory settings?

(Update here from original):

Hey there – if you’re purchasing a used Mac, it is always a good idea to reinstall the latest OS to start “clean.” At MacRecycleClinic we ALWAYS wipe the hard drive/SSD and reinstall the highest OS that particular machine will take before it goes to an individual or family.

What we do is install a clean version of the OS one version down from the OS we intend to install, then install the newer OS. By doing it this way, you will install any firmware updates that might be needed. That said, you can install a new OS by booting into the Mac’s recovery drive by restarting while pressing the Command + R keys. You can then reinstall the Mac OS.

This Apple website provides you will all the options you need to reinstall a Mac OS.

We have a “standard install” of software we use for all Macs we work with. We may install the software individually (to make sure you get the latest version). We’ve also used Migration Assistant to transfer files from an external drive.

How good are Apple notes?

I didn’t think much if Notes until I started using it to hold articles of interest, a running timeline when we recently bought a house and even a special note for my wife listing everything she needs to know should I pass. Notes has become indispensable and can be shared, etc. It will even hold videos, photos and audio media too. A simple, yet amazing little App.

How do I connect a Dell monitor to a MacBook Pro?

(Updated here a bit from original.)

You’ll need either an Apple Display Port to VGA or ADP to DVI “dongle.” Easy to connect and works well. PC monitors come with different ports so hard to know exactly. But one of those two dongles should work. If the Mac has an HDMI port (MacMini, Mac Pro, some MacBook Pro models and the new Mac Studio) and the monitor does, all you need is an HDMI cable.

Is it possible to upgrade an iPad’s main storage?

(Updated a bit from original answer.)

Unfortunately no… as with a growing number (actually the majority) of Apple products (exception is the Mac Pro tower and 27” iMac)), you must buy the most memory and largest HD/SSD drive you think you will need. Everything is soldered onto the motherboard. Always think about what you will need in five years and buy for that possibility. It will save you money in the long run.

Why won’t my Mac go into recovery mode?

(Expanded answer here)
You don’t say what OS you are running. If you’re doing all the right things to get it into recovery mode, then the odds are you don’t have a recovery drive or it’s corrupted. Reboot while pressing the option key and you’ll see if the recovery drive is there. If it is, arrow over to highlight it and hit return to see if it will boot from there.

One other option is to create a bootable external drive (HD or thumb drive). Creating a fresh bootable drive should include a recovery drive. Follow the instructions below, and run recovery from the external drive.

(Added here – thanks to another Quora member for these instructions.)

If you need to reinstall your Mac OS and you’re not sure you have a recovery drive, here are the steps to follow:

1) Shut down the Mac by holding down the power key a few seconds.

2) Hold down COMMAND-R and press the power button. Continue holding down COMMAND-R until you see the Apple menu.

3) After a few minutes the recovery screen should appear. This will allow you to reinstall macOS. IF THIS WORKS, STOP HERE. NO NEED TO GO FURTHER. (Recommendation: Run Disk Utility on your internal drive first – you can do this from the recovery menu.)

4) If this doesn’t work, shut down the Mac again.

5) Hold down COMMAND-OPTION-R while pressing the power button. This will summon up Internet Recovery. You can let go when you see a globe on the screen. (Note: an Internet connection is required for this to work. You may also be asked to choose a network.)

6) Internet Recovery will take a lot longer, depending on the speed of your connection. BE PATIENT. I have seen this take as long as 30 minutes. Eventually a screen will appear that will allow you to reinstall macOS.

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