Apple Mac HQ

Here’s a tip for anyone using a wireless Mighty Mouse. If you use a Mighty Mouse (MM), I’m sure you’ve had it disconnect from your Mac while working. Previously, the only way I could get the connection restored was to restart my Mac. After some poking around I found a way to reconnect the MM without restarting. This tip works better with a notebook, but will work with a desktop provided you have a USB mouse (or know the keyboard shortcuts). Do the following if the mouse has been disconnected:

1) Click the bluetooth icon in the menubar
2) Choose Set Up Bluetooth Device from the menu
3) Using the Bluetooth Setup Assistant, go through the process of setting up your mouse just as you did the very first time you setup the Mighty Mouse. If the Setup Assistant doesn’t see the MM during the scanning portion, slide the sensor cover closed and then reopen it. At that point the Setup Assistant should find the mouse.
4) Finish up the setup process and your MM should start to work again!

I’ve read numerous forum posts about Mighty Mouses disconnecting while in use. I haven’t been able to find out why it happens, but at least you can get it working again without rebooting.

Popularity: 21% [?]

Choosing the right Apple notebook is an important decision for first time and seasoned Mac users. While there are only three notebooks to choose from, each product has its own strengths and drawbacks. I thought I would make it easier for you to choose the proper Apple notebook.

I’m compiled a detailed chart listing every possible option I could find or think of based on the current notebook offerings. If you see that I missed something, please lease a comment and I’ll update the chart. I present to you, the Apple Notebook Comparison Chart (pdf).

Update: I’ve updated the chart to reflect the recent Macbook and Macbook Pro updates.

Popularity: 100% [?]

If you’re a Mac loving pessimist who likes to save money, I’ve got good news for you. The piece of mind that is AppleCare, can be purchased for less than retail price. While this may not be news to some, it was to me.

For those that don’t know, AppleCare is basically an extended warranty with telephone technical support, web-based support resources, and some free diagnostic software. The complimentary coverage that you get when you purchase a Mac is 90 days of phone support and one year of service coverage (hardware repair). AppleCare extends both phone support and service coverage to three years. When you purchase AppleCare it does not extend your warranty three years, it extends your warranty to three years from your date of purchase.

I won’t go into the debate if AppleCare is worth the money or not. Any Mac user that’s had to use AppleCare though will likely tell you that it is worth the money. I’ve never bought an extended warranty for a computer but I’m going to purchase AppleCare for my Macbook Pro. My MBP travels a good deal, and with all that movement comes the chance that one day something might happen to it.

You can purchase AppleCare up to one year from the date of your Mac purchase. Once that one year mark passes, you can no longer purchase AppleCare. Amazon is currently (maybe always?) selling AppleCare for less than the Apple price. The Macbook Pro plan will set you back $300 ($50 less than retail). The Macbook plan costs $200 ($50 less than retail). The iMac and Mac Pro plans will set you back $150 ($20 less than retail) and $250 respectively. Oddly, the Mac Pro plan is the only Mac AppleCare plan that is not less than retail price. I guess if you can afford a Mac Pro you can afford AppleCare at retail price?

Popularity: 41% [?]

If you want to watch TV on your Mac, Amazon has an amazing deal going on right now. It looks like it’s one of the Black Friday special deals so take advantage of it while you can. For just $75 USD (after $30 rebate), you can pick up the Hauppauge WinTV-HVR-950 from Amazon. The regular price is nearly $150 so you’re saving close to 50%.

The Hauppauge WinTV-HVR-950 looks amazingly similar to the Elgato EyeTV Hybrid which I own and love (a review is coming soon). In fact, the WinTV-HVR-950 even comes with the EyeTV Lite software package. Included is software that will work with PC’s too. The Hauppaugge will receive HD ATSC (over the air) and analog cable TV signals. The WinTV-HVR-950 even comes with a portable TV antenna capable of receiving HD signals, the Elgato EyeTV Hybrid does not include a antenna. You’ll need a fairly recent Mac to use the WinTV-HVR-950, but if you want to watch TV cheaply on your Mac this is one of the best deals I’ve seen.

Popularity: 44% [?]

Macworld opened the voting for their annual Readers’ Choice Awards tonight. Held annually since 2004, the Macworld Readers’ Choice Awards give accolades to the best hardware and software available for the Mac. The 2007 awards brought the total number of categories to four. Each of the four categories have six finalists which were pared down from reader nominations. The four categories are:

1) Apple Product of the Year
2) Third-Party Product of the Year
3) Third-Party Software of the Year
4) Mac Gem of the Year

Voting is currently open and will end November 15th. The winners will be announced next month and will be featured in the February 2008 issue of Macworld. You can vote for your favorite finalists here.

Popularity: 23% [?]