Category Archives: How Do I …?

The Right Way to Wrap Your MacBook’s Power Cord

Posted on by Posted in Did You Know?, Hardware, How Do I ...? Leave a comment
Share

pic.twitter.com/hYfrBvzNah

Did you have any idea that there was a “correct” way (and a wrong way) to wrap a MacBook’s charging cord? Come on, be honest now. I didn’t know – and I’m the Mac Lawyer!

Of course, I learned the hard way that after several years of use and wrapping with the willy-nilly method, cords would fray and eventually break. Surely, that’s not the way Apple intended it to happen.

Last week, I learned the “right” way to wrap a power cord, as shown in the image at right. The key is to use the collapsable set of clips on the side of the adapter, which are not just for decoration.

Using this method will make your cord last a whole lot longer (and simultaneously enable you to amaze your friends with your brilliance). You too can learn how to do the magic MacBook wrap in three step-by-step GIFS at Gizmodo’s “You’ve Been Wrapping Your MacBook Charger Wrong This Whole Time“.

Discover Which Apps are Draining Your Mac’s Battery

Posted on by Posted in Did You Know?, How Do I ...?, Mac OS X 2 Comments
Share

Battery LifeIf you are not getting the battery life that you expect out of your MacBook Air or MacBook Pro, this tip is for you. OS X now enables you to quickly and easily see which apps are draining your battery.

Click on the battery icon, and after a moment, it will display which apps are using significant energy (as shown at right). If your expected usage exceeds the battery life remaining, you can quit the app, finish the process, close the browser tab that’s hogging resources, etc.

How to Format External Hard Drives to Use With Macs

Posted on by Posted in How Do I ...? Leave a comment
Share

disk utilityMacs work with pretty much all “off the shelf” external hard drives. However, those drives typically come preformatted in FAT32, which has some limitations, including the lack of journaling support that would help prevent data corruption and lack of support for filesystem permissions. Therefore, it is generally preferable to use a more OS-specific format like Mac OS X Extended (Journaled).

Fortunately, this is simple to do with Disk Utility in OS X, by attaching the external drive to your system and using the following steps:

  1. Select the drive device in the list of devices, which is the item above any storage volumes on the drive, and which may show the manufacturer name, media size, and so on.
  2. Choose the “Partition” tab that appears.
  3. Select “1 Partition” from the drop-down menu (or more, if you have specific need for more than one volume).
  4. Click the Options button and ensure “GUID” is selected as the partition scheme.
  5. Click Apply to save the changes.

When this is done, the disk should unmount and then remount with the new formatting settings, and now be ready for use.

Source: “How to Set Up an External Hard Drive for Use With OS X” by Topher Kessler, published at c|net.

Resources for Attorneys Considering Switching from PCs to Macs

Posted on by Posted in How Do I ...?, Mac vs. PC, Switching to Macs Leave a comment
Share

switching to macThe number of attorneys using Macs has dramatically increased over the last several years. Scan the room at any continuing legal education seminar and you will see glowing Apples everywhere. I attribute this due to a combination of several factors: (1) the residual “gateway drug effect” from the iPhone/iPad invasion; (2) the ever-increasing number of programs/apps available on Macs; and (3) lawyers realizing the many benefits that Macs offer compared to PCs.

What about those in the legal profession who are “Mac-curious” but have not yet made the switch? This term refers to those who have seen or heard about attorneys successfully using Macs in their practices, yet still remain skeptical or hesitant for one reason or another. Are there resources available to help answer their questions and reassure them that yes, they too can make the switch? The answer of course is yes, and the only question that will remain is “why didn’t I make the switch sooner?” Some of the many fantastic resources available include the following:

The Macs in Law Offices (MILO) legal technology forum was created in February 2007 by Ben Stevens and Grant Griffiths to enable attorneys, software developers, consultants, and other experts to discuss and share the best ways to use Macs in the practice of law. Since that time, it has become the largest forum of its kind, with well over 4,300 members – and best of all, it’s free. MILO’s membership roster reads like a virtual who’s who of legal technology, and there’s rarely a question asked that can’t be answered.

The Missing Manual books are generally considered to be the best in class, and Switching to the Mac by David Pogue is incredibly helpful, well written, and easy to follow (even for technophobic lawyers).  It walks readers through the conversion process step-by-step, carefully and thoroughly explaining the differences between PCs and Macs, how to transfer your files, the best way to run Windows programs on your Mac, and other helpful topics. In my opinion, this book is a must have for those making the switch, and it will prove helpful later as a handy resource if questions arise.

Apple has produced a series of helpful videos on a wide variety of topics, including Mac OS X: PC to Mac – The Basics. This video runs just over six minutes, and it explains some of the differences between working in Windows and working in OS X. If you want to go deeper, Lynda.com offers a four hour video course, Switching from Windows to Mac by David Rivers, which thoroughly examines the similarities and differences between the two systems, including the operating system, hardware, and even some applications. 

The Mac Lawyer blog was the first legal technology blog specifically devoted to using Macs in a law practice. One of its primary goals is helping both new converts and longtime users get the most out of technology in their law practices. First published by Ben Stevens in August of 2006, it now contains almost 700 articles on a variety of topics, including a section on Switching to Macs, and its archives are searchable. You can also follow Ben’s thoughts on technology and other issues on Twitter at @TheMacLawyer.

2008 marked the first year of the Mac Track at ABA TECHSHOW, the world’s largest legal technology conference, which is held each Spring in Chicago. This conference features noted speakers and experts from all across the country, from large firms to small firms to everything in between. The Mac Track usually includes a few sessions aimed at switchers or recent converts. You can view the upcoming year’s schedule here. Another popular conference is MiloFest, which is held each Fall in Orlando, FL, though it tends to be aimed at more experienced users.

The following articles should also prove helpful to those in the legal field who are considering making the switch (as well as those who have recently converted):

Discover iOS 7

Posted on by Posted in How Do I ...?, iOS, iPad, iPhone, Online Resources, Product Reviews, Software, Technology Leave a comment
Share

Apple’s iOS 7 was released about two weeks ago, and everyone seems to have an opinion about it. I downloaded it the first day, and I like it overall. Sure, there are some things that take a little getting used to, but that’s the price of new technology.

iMore published a comprehensive guide that tells you everything you could ever want to know about iOS 7. If you want to learn some tips/tricks or discover more goodies, check it out. Best of all, it’s free.

Source: “iOS 7 Review” by Rene Ritchie, published at iMore.

Never Forget Again :: ForLater.net

Posted on by Posted in How Do I ...?, Online Resources, Technology Leave a comment
Share

What if you could send yourself an email to remind yourself about something at something at some point in the future? What if there was some way to send an email to someone, but not right now?

ForLater (forlater.net) allows you to enter your message, an email, and a date/time, and it will email you an reminder at the designated time. Best of all, it’s free.

Simply type in your message and the recipient’s e-mail address (whether yourself or someone else), select the date and time you want the reminder to be sent, and click “Remind Me!” ForLater will then send the e-mail reminder at the designated time.

Learn How to Start a Law Firm via Podcast

Posted on by Posted in How Do I ...?, Office Management Leave a comment
Share

“Let’s Start a Law Firm” aspires to be everything you wished law school had taught you and nothing you wished it hadn’t taught you. This short-run podcast explores the topics of whether starting a law firm is right for you, the logistics of starting and running a business, finding and hiring clients, setting up an office, technology in law offices, and finding legal and nonlegal help.  

Two Kentucky attorneys – consumer lawyer Ben Carter and criminal defense attorney Annie O’Connell – host the show. They decided to do this show to help law students, lawyers who can’t find work, and attorneys looking to get a better boss (themselves) navigate some of the non-legal aspects of starting and running a business. 

The fourth episode, “Finding and Hiring Clients”, premieres later this week, and it will focus on important questions that every start-up attorney must answer: How do I find potential clients? How do I help potential clients find me? Once we’ve found each other, how do I know whether to take a case? Under what conditions will I take the case? How do I get paid?  Topics include: attorney advertising, “networking”, social media, attorney websites (and attorney non-websites), fee arrangements, invoicing, and retainer agreements. 

You can subscribe in iTunes and find links to the products, websites, and services they mention in the show notes available at bencarterlaw.com/letsstartalawfirm.

Fact vs. Fiction :: iPhone / iPad Battery Life

Posted on by Posted in Hardware, How Do I ...?, iPad, iPhone 1 Comment
Share

Everyone seems to have their own theory about what does (and doesn’t) affect the battery life of iPads and iPhones. Which ones are true and which are not? Macworld published an article last week that examined various techniques which have been alleged to shorten or lengthen the battery life of iOS devices, and their conclusions are: 

Things that do affect battery life:

  • Screen brightness is the single most significant contributor to battery depletion. To check or change your screen’s brightness, tap Settings –> Brightness & Wallpaper –> adjust the Brightness slider.
  • Maps and directions can seriously drain an iOS device’s battery, particularly if the device is searching for GPS and/or giving driving directions.
  • Airplane mode helps preserve your device’s battery life by turning off multiple wireless features, including Wi-Fi, cellular antenna, GPS, Bluetooth, and location services.
  • Using iTunes Home Sharing to stream video from a Mac to an iOS device will drain your battery much faster than watching a movie that is already on your iPad.

Things that do not affect battery life:

  • Calibrating your battery will provide a more accurate estimation of your remaining battery life, but it doesn’t actually help preserve battery life itself.
  • Utilizing Location Services doesn’t expend much battery itself, so long as your device isn’t being actively and consistently used for maps or driving directions.
  • Battery utilities may provide helpful information to help you manage your battery life, they do not do anything themselves to do so.
  • AirPlay streaming did not take a significant toll on battery life, even though it seems like it should.
  • Turning off equalization during audio playback had little to no affect on battery life (despite Apple’s tip suggesting that it does).

Source: “Fact or Fiction: Nine iPhone and iPad Battery-Saving Techniques Tested” by James Galbraith, published at Macworld.com.

Five Finder Tips to Make Your Life Easier

Posted on by Posted in How Do I ...?, Software Leave a comment
Share

Most of us use the Finder every day, but it can do much more than you might have expected.  Consider the following tips:

  • Open files with the app you choose :: You can override the default to open a file by using the File > Open With command and choosing from the submenu or Control-click (or right-click) on a file and choose the Open With command in the contextual menu that pops up. To make the program you choose the new default when you open a particular document, press Option to change the contextual menu’s Open With command to Always Open With.
  • Move Finder items without dragging :: Instead of copying and pasting files and folders in the Finder with the Edit menu’s basic Copy and Paste commands (Command-C and Command-V), you can use the Option key to change the Finder’s Paste Item command to Move to Here.
  • Use global window commands :: You can change or close all your Finder windows in one fell swoop just by adding the Option key. For example, select the Window menu and then hold down Option. The Minimize and Zoom commands change to Minimize All and Zoom All. Use the same trick to change File > Close Window command to Close All.  You can also hold down the Option key while clicking the red, yellow, or green button at the top of any Finder window to close, minimize, or zoom all open windows.
  • Leap to your Library :: If you’re having trouble finding the Library, simply select the Go menu and then press Option to see Library appear in the list of options.
  • Add an app to the Dock without dragging :: On a large screen, you may have to drag a long way to move an icon into the Dock. Instead, select the icon and press Shift to change the File menu’s ‘File > Add to Sidebar’ command to File > Add to Dock.

Source: “Ten Fabulous Finder Commands You Should Be Using” by Sharon Zardetto, published at Macworld.com.

Five Finder Tips to Make Your Life Easier

Posted on by Posted in How Do I ...?, Software Leave a comment
Share

Most of us use the Finder every day, but it can do much more than you might have expected.  Consider the following tips:

  • Open files with the app you choose :: You can override the default to open a file by using the File > Open With command and choosing from the submenu or Control-click (or right-click) on a file and choose the Open With command in the contextual menu that pops up. To make the program you choose the new default when you open a particular document, press Option to change the contextual menu’s Open With command to Always Open With. 
  • Move Finder items without dragging :: Instead of copying and pasting files and folders in the Finder with the Edit menu’s basic Copy and Paste commands (Command-C and Command-V), you can use the Option key to change the Finder’s Paste Item command to Move to Here. 
  • Use global window commands :: You can change or close all your Finder windows in one fell swoop just by adding the Option key. For example, select the Window menu and then hold down Option. The Minimize and Zoom commands change to Minimize All and Zoom All. Use the same trick to change File > Close Window command to Close All.  You can also hold down the Option key while clicking the red, yellow, or green button at the top of any Finder window to close, minimize, or zoom all open windows.
  • Leap to your Library :: If you’re having trouble finding the Library, simply select the Go menu and then press Option to see Library appear in the list of options.
  • Add an app to the Dock without dragging :: On a large screen, you may have to drag a long way to move an icon into the Dock. Instead, select the icon and press Shift to change the File menu’s ‘File > Add to Sidebar’ command to File > Add to Dock.

Source: “Ten Fabulous Finder Commands You Should Be Using” by Sharon Zardetto, published at Macworld.com.