TODAY'S TOURBUS TOPICS: SWITCH FROM WIN TO MAC / ADDING RAM

In today's TOURBUS, you'll find help switching from Windows to a Mac. Blasphemy? Nah... you can run Windows right on your Mac desktop if you like. I've also got an illustrated guide to adding RAM to your computer, and quick guides to buying a cell phone, tricking out your Firefox browser, and adding nifty gadgets to your website. Read on!

Switching From Windows to Mac?

It's been said that operating systems are like religions, except that people feel more strongly about their operating system. Devoted fans of Macs and PCs have been in heated debate for years, even before the "I'm a Mac, I'm a PC" commercials ever appeared on TV.

Let's set aside the question of which camp is "right" and focus on the reasons why some people choose a Mac over a PC, the major differences between the two operating systems, and the learning curve you will face, for the benefit of those who are considering a switch from Windows to a Mac... http://askbobrankin.com/switching_from_windows_to_mac.html

OR... Why Switch? Run Windows On Your Mac!

One would think from all the media buzz, that computer users fall into two distinct categories: right-brain dominant, latte-slurping Macintosh users and left-brain dominant, number-crunching Windows users. The reality is there's both a sterotypical Mac and Windows user in all of us. Depending on the task at hand, sometimes a Mac is just right for the job, and sometimes a Windows app is what you need.

So what's a computer user who wants the best of both worlds to do? Buy two systems? Sure, that's an option. But recent developments make it easy to run BOTH Mac OS X and Windows side-by-side on ONE computer. You can even cut and paste between the two! Here's the scoop on how to run Windows on your Mac...

http://askbobrankin.com/run_windows_on_mac.html

Gimme Just A Little More RAM

If your computer seems to stagger under the burden of your commands, responding slowly, freezing or timing you out; if working at your system feels like bicycling uphill, consider adding extra memory.

RAM (Random Access Memory) is the temporary working memory that the operating system, programs and documents use when your computer is running. (Don't confuse RAM with hard drive storage, which is where your files are stashed.) For years, processors and software have been growing increasingly RAM-hungry. A decade ago, 64MB of RAM was considered more than enough, but today that's laughably inadequate.

Adding memory to your computer isn't so hard -- here's a step-by-step guide to figuring out if you need more RAM, learning what kind to buy and installing it yourself...

http://askbobrankin.com/adding_memory.html

What Cell Phone Should I Buy?

With hundreds of cell phones on the market you can narrow down your choices by first deciding what features you need or want. Consider first how and how often you're going to use your phone. Will it be for business and travel, everyday home use, or for emergencies only?

Do you want your mobile phone to take snapshots, play music, gut fish drive a nail and double as a spare tire? You may want a phone that's JUST A PHONE -- a basic model without all the features that make cell phones more complicated and more costly -- or you may want a gadget that can phone home, film a documentary and sling spreadsheets. Read on for a handy guide to buying the cell phone that's right for you...

http://askbobrankin.com/best_cell_phone.html

Is Your Website Boring?

Personal websites are great for sharing your pictures, videos, poetry and ideas. Maybe you have a blog, online store or a website for your club or association. Whatever the case, if you're looking for ideas to jazz up your pages, I have some good news for you.

If you can copy and paste, there are plenty of cool things you can do to spiff up your website, blog or online store, without knowing a thing about programming or script writing. And even cooler, most of them won't cost you a thing. Here's my guide to the best sources for website gadgets:

http://askbobrankin.com/website_gadgets.html

Tricking Out Firefox

Firefox is an alternative web browser that is rapidly growing in popularity -- approaching 100 million users worldwide and grabbing 15 percent of the browser market from Internet Explorer. A casual
user might not even notice the difference between the two browsers, but TOURBUS readers, widely recognized by experts as smarter and better looking than the average Internet user, will know better.

Under the covers, Firefox's focus on privacy and security has won it many converts from Internet Explorer. But Firefox's attention to flexibility and usability is what turns many users into rabid fans. Let's focus on the flexibility factor and see how easy it is to customize your Firefox browser... http://askbobrankin.com/tricking_out_firefox.html

That's all for now, see you next time! -- Bob Rankin