Monthly Mini-Bytes - March 2022

 

Don't Count on a New 27-inch iMac If you have been waiting for the revised 27-inch iMac with the Apple chip, then stop waiting. In the last Apple Keynote early in March they highlighted all the Macs with the M Series chips and said that there was just one left to go, and it wasn't the 27-inch iMac, but the Mac Pro. The 24-inch iMac is apparently the only current and future iMac in the near term. So, if you want a Mac with a big screen, then you have two options: The Mac mini M1 or the Mac Studio paired with the Studio Display or another of your choice. Here are some links so you can learn about the different models: Mac mini M1: https://www.apple.com/mac-mini/ Mac Studio: https://www.apple.com/mac-studio/ Studio Display: https://www.apple.com/studio-display/

Google Chrome: Security Update Needed There always seems to be a security issue with Google's Chrome Browser, which is why we usually recommend Safari as it is most often a better choice. But if you are using Chrome it is extremely important that you update your software. Here is a link to an article that explains the issue: https://www.forbes.com/sites/daveywinder/2022/03/26/google-confirms-emergency-security-update-for-32-billion-chrome-users-attacks-underway/?sh=6370408eaaa2 The steps are really simple to update: Open Chrome From the Chrome drop-down menu in the upper left next to the Apple, choose "About Chrome" This will take you to an update window. It will check if one is needed and prompt you to install it if there is one.

Know Where Your Stuff Is

One of the most important non-technical skills with owning a computer is knowing where you save things. Where are your photos and documents? Where are your saved mail messages? If you use Quicken or Quickbooks where is your working file or backup? In the event you lose something, you won't be able to find it if you don't know where it is. Just think about if your car was stolen, but you can't tell the police where it was or where you kept it. They wouldn't be able to help. Familiarizing yourself with your file system is easier than you think. Click on the Finder on the lower left corner of your Dock and this opens the map of your computer where you can search, organize, and open files. If you need to search for a missing file, you can use the spyglass in the upper right of the Finder window or even up by the clock in the Top Bar. Taking some time to know where your most important things are kept will go a long way to not only help preserve that data, but also boost your confidence in knowing where it is.