I was reminded not too long ago that not all Mac Users understand the trash can. Not just the main Trash located on their Dock but Trash in applications like iPhoto and Mail. Not only do you have to throw away the files you don’t want but you also have to tell the Trash to empty after you move the files there. If you do not empty the Trash the files stay on your hard drive and sometimes manage to fill it up to the point of  corruption. So empty the Trash often. For those of you who put items in the Trash and use it as a holding bin: DON’T. Never put anything in there that you want to keep. If you feel the need to archive some files burn them to a CD or move them to a external hard drive, then throw them away and empty the Trash. If your Trash tells you that it can’t throw away certain files try again holding down the Option key as you empty the Trash. I have even had times I needed to "secure empty trash" before items would allow themselves to be removed.

Always entertained about people who complain about FaceBook. Lets see you get on FaceBook to be found by your friends then you only put data on there that you want people to see, Right? There lies the problem folks that think they are only letting their friends see the data. You really need to go into your security setting on FaceBook and make sure only invited friends see your posts. Do keep in mind that any friend who shares your post allows all of their friends to see it. My best advice is don’t post anything you would not say out loud in a room full of strangers. As long as you use FaceBook posts this way you will never get in trouble. Also never tell people where you live or that you are going on a trip and won’t be home. Your real birthday is your business I don’t mind telling what month and day I was born but leave the year off. I only share things that I want to share and tend to treat FaceBook just like writing a articule for Mouse Tracks even if it is for friends. You never know who is going to read it.

In this new economy we watch companies wander round looking for someone to show them the next great thing we need more visionaries. One of Steve Jobs greatest assets was recognizing good ideas. He didn’t think them up he used talent that he knew was there. Steve used the talent from both friends and enemies to advance products. Some times those talents had nothing to do with computers it had to do with style and looks. Having a computer that used fonts in the same manner page layout people used them was this kind of thinking. A long time ago when I worked for ESI engineers used to ask anyone standing around them for comment on a project. Now that does not mean these were not smart guys. They wanted feed back from someone else’s eyes, a new perspective.  Poor attention to detail is what kills most innovation.  You need it to be killer the very first time you introduce it. This shows in the iPhone, iPad, iMac, MacBook Airs and MacBook Pros. People like the looks the feel as well as the software.

The Apps store at Apple is both good and bad. It’s good that it offers one stop shopping and updates for purchased items. However the amount of control the developers give up to put their products there hinders what they can and cannot do. So while you may only have to go to the Apps store to shop you may be settling on a product that has far less features than if you purchased the item directly from the developers. In fact many developers cannot be in the Apps store because their product violates Apples rules. Many Tricks software Moom is one of these. Their product is in the Apps store but all they can do is fix bugs they cannot add new features like they do if you buy the product directly from them due to Apples sandboxing rules. This is just a sample of one companies effort to keep their customers software up-to-date see their blog at (http://manytricks.com/blog/?page_id=2208) to learn more about how to update to their new versions by going to their web site. So if you really like a product at the Apps store you may want to check out the company that produces it and maybe buy it direct from the source. What this does is gives more money directly to the programmers. It lets the programmers inform you when updates happen and gives you the most current one with all the bells and whistles that Apple may not allow you to have. The biggest problem I have with Apple is that they do not turn over to the software developers who bought their products so they have know way to know that you have purchased their product. These are the bad parts of the Apple Apps store. The good part is that you can upgrade up to 5 machines using your Apps/iTunes account and password. This means if you buy Pages for your desktop you can also install it on you portable and your Mac Mini for no additional cost.

Well it’s been over 5 years that I started work for the MacStore in Beaverton. Told everyone going in that my feet would tell me when it was time to go. By the time you read this I will be a former employee and back to being a computer consultant again. I call it retirement because I will have Monday though Friday work hours and be able to travel a bit now and then. Retail has taught me a lot of things that I did not understand before.  For shoppers first thing is be kind to the person you’re working with, most are trying really hard to help. Do your homework before you go and then when you ask for help you will understand many of the answers. Do not tell the sales rep your life story stick to what you came for. Do not ask how much this item is next door! If you want to know go next door and look. Sales people are not there to shop other stores for you. Sales people will ask you what you are currently doing with your computer and what would you like to do with your computer in the future. Knowing what you do helps them suggest the right computer for you. On the other hand sales people should treat you, as they would like to be treated.