• Choose a category
• All
• Classic-Fiction

Check the boxes next to the printers you want to share.

* * *

Tip: Where in the Office...?

To let other people know where shared printers are physically located, start Printer Setup Utility (in the Utilities folder in Applications). Select the printer and click Show Info; then add a description in the Location field.

* * *

* * *

Note: What It’s For

Printers on your network are already shared, even if the printers are located in your office. Printer sharing gives network capabilities to devices such as USB inkjets, which don’t usually have network connectors.

* * *

Sharing an Internet Connection

If you’ve ever suffered through life with two Internet-capable computers and only one network connection, you’ll appreciate the ability to share an online connection with all the computers in your house or office. And life gets even better when your connection is broadband, such as a cable modem or a DSL line.

Choose Apple menu, System Preferences.

Click Sharing.

Check the box labeled Internet Sharing.

Click Start in the dialog.

* * *

Note: When Not to Share

If you connect to the Internet and your network via the same port, sharing your Internet connection can tell other computers to access the Internet through it when they shouldn’t (such as when you take your laptop to the office).

* * *

* * *

Note: Another Way to Share

If you’re sharing an Internet connection through another Mac, you’ll be able to get online only when that Mac is up and connected. If that doesn’t work for you, consider buying a hardware router that can keep you online all the time.

* * *

Joining a Wi-Fi Network

With an AirPort card, you can get rid of those annoying network cables and connect to your network from wherever your computer happens to be, as long as you’re close to a Wi-Fi connection point (either an AirPort base station, or another brand). AirPort is great for laptops—and it comes built into all Apple’s current laptops—but you can use it for desktop Macs, too.

Choose a network name from the AirPort menu in the menu bar.

To join a network that isn’t shown, choose Join Other Network.

Enter the network’s name and password in the login dialog box.

Click Join.

* * *

Note: AirPort in Your Menu Bar

The AirPort menu also enables you to switch networks, turn AirPort on or off, or connect to other AirPort-equipped Macs.

* * *

* * *

Tip: Close to Home Base

If AirPort is turned on but you can’t get in touch with the network you’re looking for, you might be out of range. AirPort base stations have varying ranges; you must be close enough to connect to the base station.

* * *

Chapter 13: Maintaining Your Mac

Most of the time, your Mac just hums right along, cheerfully complying with your requests and sitting quietly in the corner when you’re not using it. Every once in a while, however, even the best-behaved Mac needs a little maintenance or a minor repair. This chapter covers the basics of keeping your Mac happy and healthy.

In this chapter, you’ll learn how to fix disk errors and reformat disks, both removable disks and hard drives. Also covered are updating your system software, setting the date and time automatically, and calibrating your monitor for accurate color. Some of these techniques are one-time jobs (calibrating your monitor) and others are things you’ll do on a regular basis (formatting removable disks).

Along the way, you’ll learn a variety of useful tricks, such as how to force quit programs when they’re misbehaving. Whether you’re a power user or a weekends-only Macster, the tasks in this chapter will teach you things every Mac user should know.

Mac Maintenance and Repair Kit

Fixing Errors with Disk Utility

Over time and with use, the formatting structure of a disk can become scrambled, either slightly or seriously. If you have trouble reading files from, or saving files to a disk, or if you experience other mysterious problems, it’s time to run the repair program Disk Utility. (To