First A+ Certification Test

My fist A+ cerfitcation test is done and I passed. I passed the Essentials test on Monday. I am scheduled for the Techniction test on the 11th. I’m half way there. Looking foward to getting the certification under my belt. I’ve been studying and making sure I know my stuff backward and fowards. I wasn’t sure I was going to pass. But I did quite a bit better than I though I would do. Well I hope I do as well with the next test…

Studying for A+ Cert

I’m studying for the CompTIA A+ Certification. I hope to go take it as soon as I’m ready. It’s a thorough set of tests consisting of 2 of 4 tests. The Essentials Test 220-601, IT Technician 220-602, Remote Support Technician 220-603, and Depot Technician 220-604. The Essentials is mandatory so you need to take that one and one other to become A+ Certified. http://certification.comptia.org/a/default.aspx this is the web site for CompTIA if you want more information on these tests. Wish me luck….

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Apple Computer middle of 3 week.

    I’ve now had my Apple computer about 3 or so weeks.  I switched out the Mighty mouse for my old Trackball that I had on my PC.  I like the Mighty Mouse it’s one of the better ones I’ve used.  But I’m a trackball person, I find them easier to use and more accurate.  I’m still tailoring the Apple to what I’ll use it for.  It’s become my main computer instead of the PC.

     I still use my PC but not as much any more. I’ve been able to find replacements or apple versions for most things.  After using the Mac for as long as I have still no crashes or blue screens of death, a good thing in my book.  I’ve noticed that the I-Mac does run a bit warm. Not sure how it cools itself but I hope it doesn’t become an issue under heavy loads.  Haven’t really gotten any software for it yet. Most of the software I’m looking for I’ll need to save up for.  I do have a copy of MS Office coming for the Mac and should be here soon.  Still looking for a good budgeting program to replace MS Money, I think I’ll try I-Bank.  I was able to get Picasa for the Mac, The Gimp and a few other free software for photo editing.  It’ll do the trick for now until I can either save up for Photo shop or Aperture 2.  But the Gimp combined with I-photo will do for now. 

     That is where I am so far, I’m looking foward to getting more familiar with the I-Mac.  I really want to us it for my photography and photo editing.  When I can get that into full swing I think I’ll really be able to put the I-Mac threw it’s paces. As for the everyday stuff I used the PC for, I find I can do it all on an Mac Just as well.  Maybe not the same way but close enough to where I’m not gonna hold it against The Mac.  I’m Happy so far with the switch, and how to be able to continue to say that as time goes by.

Apple convert 2nd week Continued

Well I’ve been able to learn enough to get around and the awkward nature is starting to go away.  Still find myself trying to work on it as if it were a windows machine.   I guess that’s what happened when you’ve been using windows from 1995 till now.  But it has gotten easier. For the most part I like it, having to get all new software is the part I hate. But that’s no reflection on the OS or the machine itself.  I do like the software that came with it and using I-works is cool.  I do look forward to the coming months when I can afford to get more software for it.  I do think it’ll be a nice little machine once I’ve gotten it to where I want it software wise.  I do think it’ll  be a good machine for my photography hobby, which is the reason getting. On top of wanting to learn Mac’s in general.  I think I need to find some MacHead’s to help me learn some of the hidden tips a tricks of the Macs.  I knew quite a few of them for Windows and would like to know them on OS X.

I found it’s kinda like buying a new car, once you have it you start to notice others who have the same make and model. I’ve notice a lot more people than I had before use a Mac. And found that some are just a committed to there machine and operating system than any PC user I’ve seen. Even more so in some cases. But I find the debate interesting and that it helps me learn about Macs.  I hope it has the same for them to find out new things about PC’s. Each have tricks and hidden functions that make computing fun in my book.  but I’m a geek any way so I don’t know how many people share my view.

I haven’t yet started calling myself an official Mac user. I’m still a PC with Mac tendencies. I think at best I’ll be 50% PC 50 %  Mac. Mainly because I can see the good things in each and will continue using both equally. I think I’ve gotten a better understanding of both sides of the argument now.

Aperture 2 for the Mac

I am thinking of buying a copy of Aperture 2 for my Mac as a alternate option to photo-shop.  Not sure how they compare but am hoping that it’s close. I do a lot  of photo editing. I’m a photography hobbyist and need something to do some halfway decent photo editing.  I really don’t have the money for Photo-shop and Aperture seems a lot more reasonable.  If anyone who has used it would like to comment, it would be helpful.  I’ve really only use Photoshop and The Gimp photo editors and they really have only  been on a PC. So any good ideas for good photo editing software for the Mac would also be appreciate.

New Apple Computer 2nd Week.

Well it’s the second week of  using a Mac, and I miss some of the programs on my PC that allowed me to do things like update my blog, my MS Money program  and MS Office suite. Not to mention the photo editing software I now need to go out and buy again. I like the Mac, it’s all people say it is. But Switching from a PC to a Mac is becoming an expensive switch. Not Just in the cost of the  hardware, but also in the software that I now need to go out and replace. I’ve also noticed that even though there are duplicate programs for a PC and Mac. The Mac version is sometimes  don’t have the same options as the Windows side. Take MS Messenger…The Mac version doesn’t come with Video Chatting capabilities.  And the Software for my my Sprint Instinct doesn’t come in a Mac version.  It looks like it’s not gonna be a smooth transition after all.

Apple Computer

I made the switch to Apple for PC. I didn’t think I would ever move over to it, but as of the pas few months I’ve had given it much thought. And now that I’m really getting into photography the thought of getting an Apple is becoming a no brainer. So when my PC started going wonky on me I decided to get an Apple with my tax return. So I’ve have had my new Apple for about a week and am still getting used to it. I’ll keep you posted on my transition.

Apple Computers

I’ve been thinking of switching camps for a while now and trying an Apple computer. I’ve been a die hard windows\PC user since I started using computers in High school which is going on 20 years.  For the most part I was never interested in Apples because of the price and the lack of software choices. I didn’t use my computer for a lot of photo editing or any other function that normally would be up an Apple computers alley. I use a lot of Microsoft products for productivity, such as MS Office, Internet Explorer, MS Money and such. Now that Apple has it’s own version of Office and I use Firefox more now than IE its not as much of an Issue. I’ve had a chance to use some Apple products like an I-Pod and I-Touch. I’ve also clung to Windows because I know my way around it as was comfortable with that operating system. I was kind of weary of having to learn a new operating system.  But after trying Ubuntu Linux I think I could handle the change. I would have stuck with Ubuntu but it’s not quite where it should be for me to switch yet. When Linux is more widely adopted I may take another look at it.  But I think I’m ready for an Apple computer as a secondary computer or even as my primary computer as long as I have my trusty Windows machine to fall back on. Who knows maybe some time down the road I may become one of the converted.

Windows Vista SP1

I’ve been running Windows Vista for some time now with Service Pack 1 and all the updates available up to this point. Still runs a bit buggy in some areas, such as Using U3 software that comes with my SanDisk Cruzer.  Also connecting some devices like my I-Pod Touch is running a little buggy. But I’m not sure if that’s due to Vista or the Updated software, I’m using version 2.0 on my I-touch. So it could be one or the other or even both causing the issues I have. I’m running the 64 bit version of Windows Vista on my Intel Dual Core 64 bit system, with 3 gig’s of ram, ATI Radion X1900 GT, 2 100 gig hard drives. I’m using 2 SanDisk Cruzers, one I use as for a Ready Boost device and the other as it was intended. My system has a Vista rating of 5.0 with my processors being the lowest rated device. My processor is an Intel 64 bit dual core running at 2.13 ghts. I’ve noticed that XP is runs a bit snappier than Vista even with SP1 and the Ready Boost running. I plan on keeping Vista installed and am not planning on going back to XP. I’m hoping as time goes by Microsoft and their vendors fixes the bugs that are in the system. Apple needs to work on Vista support for their products and the new I-Phone I-Touch software.  I’ve gotten the impression from people who run Vista that not all are having the same issues.  So with time and tweaking I hope to get my system running as well as it did using XP. I’m not sure if I’ll upgrade to Window 7 if and when it comes out. I’ve learned my lesson and will hold off for a while in adopting a new operating system.

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