Kibbles & Bytes Blog

  • Mac mini Solid State Drive Upgrades

    I’m very glad to announce a great new offer here in the Small Dog Service department. It is an opportunity for a tremendous upgrade to the newly released Mac minis: the addition of a second hard drive. This can be any 2.5″ SATA hard drive.

    This upgrade can either serve as an enormous addition in storage space or, if you prefer, a great increase in performance. Adding a solid state hard drive into your Mac mini and making it the startup disk will give you an unimaginable increase in speed. Just like the hard drives in the current generation of MacBook Airs, solid state hard drives have a very high read/write speed (many times that of a standard spinning hard drive), which varies by brand/model.

    By adding a solid state drive to your Mac mini and making it your startup disk, you have increased your computer’s performance without sacrificing space, as you still have the original hard drive installed, which can serve as a storage space for your files, such as iTunes library, iPhoto library, etc.

    We now also offer a great selection of “*Kingston SSDs.*”:http://www.smalldog.com/search/?find=solid+state+2.5%5C%5C%5C%22+internal&refinecat=Storage_and_Backup|Solid_State_Drives|Internal With the purchase of a new 2011 Mac mini, SSD of your choice and necessary installation hardware ($49.99), we’ll do the installation for FREE. This includes the SSD install and installation of the OS on the SSD to create the boot volume.

  • Tip of the Week: Don't Forget Your Master Password

    FileVault is an encryption technology first included in Mac OS 10.4 that’s useful for anyone whose computer contains sensitive information. It can prevent unauthorized access to the items in your home folder by encrypting the entire folder with a current government-approved standard called Advanced Encryption Standard with 128-bit keys (AES-128).

    When you first turn on FileVault from System Preferences, you’ll also create a master password for the computer that will allow you to reset your regular login password if you ever forget it. While FileVault is an excellent and functional way to protect your files, if you ever forget your master password and your regular login password, your files are gone. Forever.

    A customer came in this morning asking for her password to be reset. When I realized she used FileVault, I called her to ask for the master password. She didn’t know it. This case was a double-whammy because I also discovered that her hard drive was failing when the computer took about 5 minutes to arrive at the login window. The drive was still working well enough that I was confident the data could be recovered, but since FileVault was enabled, there was no point.

    So, here’s this week’s tip: *do not, under any circumstances, forget that master password.*

  • Happy Tuesday,

    With another week of flood recovery behind us, the piles of debris are much less common. Much remains to be done, though, to get back to normal. Huge expanses of roads remain washed out where rivers carved new paths, buildings remain moist and mold-prone, inundated crops must be plowed under and many bridges remain out of service. With many town offices and records destroyed, Small Dog has been delivering temporary technology solutions to help keep things moving.

    It’s always nice to hear from Tech Tails readers when an article helps them directly. Last summer, Owen was skunked several times. After I wrote about it in a newsletter introduction, dozens of you responded with remedies that had helped you in the past. The most common suggestion worked best: baking soda and hydrogen peroxide. Owen made it all the way to September this year without a skunking: last night on our before-bed walk, he was sprayed from a distance, leaving him coated evenly from head to tail. It’s a good thing I keep several bottles of peroxide on hand, and I’m thankful both to provide help to readers and to receive tips and tricks as well.

    As always, thanks for reading, and keep in touch.

    Matt
    “matt@smalldog.com”:mailto:matt@smalldog.com

  • !http://blog.smalldog.com/images/2565.jpg!:http://www.smalldog.com/wag20730/at_dr

    *Over $300 in savings on this stunning 27″ iMac closeout – $1399.99!* Already discounted hundreds from its original price, this Deal Retriever exclusive iMac is an additional $100 off while quantities last. Plus, we’re throwing in a free Belkin Surge Protector!

    Because we want to give you the best deals AND stay in business, Deal Retriever deals are valid for one week only. Quantities are limited; offers good while supplies last.

  • Keeping Your Desktop Clean

    If you’re like me, you hate having clutter but can’t help but help but drag and drop files onto your desktop. I constantly…

  • I heard from Don and Grace on Monday, and I asked about the motorcycles they’re renting for their tour of France and Austria. Their answer was, “FAST AND FUN!” So, all is well with the Mayers, “as you can see here.”:http://blog.smalldog.com/images/2561.jpg

    Thanks for reading!

    Your Kibbles & Bytes team,
    _Jan, Kali, Emily & Stephanie_

  • SPECIAL: I Want My 2 Cables!

    One thing we’re crazy about over here is a good cable (or two)–one can never seem to have enough. FireWire (Would you like FireWire 400 or 800? One of each?), USB (The universal printer cable or hard drive/camera connector), ethernet… the list goes on and on.

    Fittingly, we happen to sell our own, and this week, we’d like to offer you *any two Small Dog cables for $5 off with free shipping.* Our cables are already a great value because we use high-quality components, and sell for fractions less than many big-name cable suppliers.

    Simply “*click here*”:http://www.smalldog.com/category/Cables_and_Adapters/Small_Dog to pick out any two cables of your choice and use coupon code *kbcable* in the cart to redeem your savings.

    __Please note that the offer is not valid toward ethernet cables 25 ft and longer and shipping savings are based on USPS to the lower 48. Other than that, go cable-crazy!__

  • iPad Users: Come Join the Fun!

    Small Dog Electronics’ “*Waitsfield location*”:http://www.smalldog.com/waitsfield/at_kb will be holding a *free* iPad Social on *Thursday, September 22 at 6pm.*

    Bring your iPad, your favorite apps, your iPad questions and any friends who want to tag along!

    Join us for a special after-hours event and enjoy drinks, food and fun while chatting about your favorite Apple device.

    Please RSVP by email to Waitsfield Store Manager Emily Kenyon if you plan to attend.

    “**emily@smalldog.com**”:mailto:emily@smalldog.com

  • Upcoming Apple Seminars for Business

    We’re offering several *free* Apple seminars this month focused on integrating Apple solutions to boost your business!

    *Your Business on a Mac*

    Tuesday, September 13 at our “*South Burlington, VT retail store*”:http://www.google.com/maps?q=100%2BDorset%2BSt,%2BSouth%2BBurlington,%2BVermont%2B05403&ie=UTF8&om=1&z=16&iwloc=addr

    Wednesday, September 14 at our “*Waitsfield, VT retail store*”:http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Small+Dog+Electronics,+Inc.,+Main+Street,+Waitsfield,+VT&aq=0&sll=44.21817,-72.791709&sspn=0.006713,0.010772&g=1673+Main+Street,+Waitsfield,+VT&ie=UTF8&hq=Small+Dog+Electronics,+Inc.,&hnear=Main+St,+Waitsfield,+Vermont&z=14

    Topics will include:
    * The Mac Advantage for Business. Learn how to introduce Mac into your business environment and get the most from your technology investment.
    * Marketing with Style. With iLife and iWork, marketing and promoting your business through self-created materials has never been easier.
    * Apple Solutions for Business. Learn how you can integrate iPhone and iPad into your business environment to help you work smarter and more efficiently.

    *iPad in Business*

    Tuesday, September 20 at the “*Highlander Inn and Conference Center in Manchester, NH*”:http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=2+Highlander+Way,+Manchester,+NH+03103&aq=&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=61.19447,88.242187&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=54+Hanover+St,+Manchester,+Hillsborough,+New+Hampshire+03101&z=17

    Topics will include:
    * Intro to iPad and iOS 4, the world’s most advanced mobile operating system
    * Deploying iOS 4
    * Integration & Security
    * Apps for Business
    * App Development
    * Wireless App Distribution
    * Mobile Device Management demonstration

    *Plus, a guided tour and demonstration of all iPad’s features and functions.*

    Preregistration is required to attend these seminars. For more information and to register, “*please visit the events page on our website.*”:http://www.smalldog.com/events/at_kb

  • MAC TREAT #164: Hidden Nuggets in Finder

    Before upgrading to Lion, I was most excited for the improvements to Finder, and they haven’t disappointed. To help you get the most out of Finder in 10.7, here are five notable new features of the happy Mac face we all know and love.

    # *You can arrange your files.*
    There’s an Arrange button in the Finder’s toolbar in Lion, and it lets you do just that: you may now group files and folders by name, size, label or date, among others. So nice!

    # *You can resize a window from any location.*
    This is a favorite feature of mine because I often find myself with dozens of windows open, and the lower righthand corner isn’t always immediately visible. In Lion, you can now resize from any part of the window–top, bottom, left, right and anywhere in between. So simple, yet so gratifying.

    # *You can search using file types.*
    Yay! As tidy as I try to keep my files and folders, sometimes I am too -lazy- busy to name a file as I’d like it to be permanently. This feature is much like what you can already do in a Google search: Type *kind: JPG (or whatever you need to find)* into the search bar in a Finder window. Once you select a file type from the menu, your results will be limited to those.

    # *You can edit and arrange your System Preferences menu.* __(OK, so that may not be technically a part of Finder, but it’s a system feature that goes hand-in-hand.)__
    Are there some things in System Preferences that you never use or would rather not see? Just select *System Preferences (under the Apple) > View > Customize* and uncheck what you want to hide. You can always go back and change those settings again, so nothing’s set in stone. It’s as satisfying as spring cleaning to me!

    # *You can get your colored icons back.*
    This requires a third-party software download and some commands in Terminal, but it’s pretty simple if you’ve been hankering for a bit more color in your life after Lion left your Finder windows monochromatic! (I’ll have to make sure Don sees this one, as he was lamenting the all-grey look when he first upgraded.)
    “*Read how to do it here.*”:http://osxdaily.com/2011/08/25/get-color-sidebar-icons-back-in-mac-os-x-10-7-lion-finder-windows/

  • *Back Cover*
    _Cost: $12 MSRP: $19.99_ “_»Learn More_”:http://vendor.hammerheadcase.com/pricelists/SS_backcover_dealer.pdf

    *Hard Shell Case*
    _Cost: $24 MSRP: $39.99_ “_»Learn More_”:http://vendor.hammerheadcase.com/pricelists/SS_hardshell_dealer.pdf

    *Leather Folio Case*
    _Cost: $33 MSRP: $59.99_ “_»Learn More_”:http://vendor.hammerheadcase.com/pricelists/SS_lfolio_dealer.pdf

    *Bluetooth Keyboard Case*
    _Cost: $54 MSRP: $89.99_ “_»Learn More_”:http://vendor.hammerheadcase.com/pricelists/SS_bluetooth_dealer.pdf