My MacBook (Mountain Lion Edition)

John Ray is a life-long fan of Apple's products; he has been an avid Mac user since its inception in 1984. He relies on OS X both at work and at home because it is a robust, flexible platform for programming, networking, and design. Over the past 14 years, John has written books on OS X, iOS and OS X development, Linux, web development, networking, and computer security. He currently manages the application development team in the Office of Sponsored Programs at The Ohio State University. He lives with his long-time girlfriend, their dogs, a collection of vintage arcade games, and an assortment of tech toys.

A quick, friendly, full colour task-based guide to making the most of a MacBook with OS X Mountain Lion.

Prologue 1 Getting to Know the MacBook Hardware 1 What You Need to Know 4 Understanding iCloud and Apple ID 12 Windows Compatibility 13 Chapter 1 Managing Your MacBook Desktop 19 Organizing in the Dock 20 Customizing Finder Windows 24 Arranging and Grouping Files 26 Previewing Document Contents with Quick Look 28 Using Instant-Access Utilities in the Dashboard 31 Finding Information with Spotlight 34 Keeping Track of Application Events with Notifications 38 Chapter 2 Making the Most of Your MacBook's Screen Space 43 Swimming in a Sea of Application Windows with Mission Control 44 Managing and Launching Applications with Launchpad 53 Managing Auto Open and Save Features 61 Chapter 3 Connecting Your MacBook to a Network 65 Connecting to a Wired Network 66 Connecting to a Wireless Network 67 Manually Configuring Network Settings 72 Making Mobile Connections with the iPhone and Cellular Data Cards 78 Creating Virtual Private Network Connections 85 Managing Multiple Connections with Locations and Configurations 88 Seeking Automated Network Assistance 91 Chapter 4 Accessing iCloud, Email, and the Web 95 Setting Up iCloud 96 Exploring Unique iCloud Services 100 Getting Started with Accounts 108 Using Mail 110 Web Browsing in Safari 136 Chapter 5 Being Social with Messages, FaceTime, Twitter, Facebook, and Game Center 157 Instant Messaging with Messages 158 Video Calls with FaceTime 176 Using the Mountain Lion Twitter and Facebook Posting Support 182 Getting Your Game on with Game Center 186 Chapter 6 Keeping Contacts, Appointments, Reminders, and Notes 197 Managing Contacts in Contacts 198 Working with Schedules in Calendar 212 Remembering with Reminders 226 Keeping Track with Notes 232 Chapter 7 Sharing Devices, Files, and Services on a Network 243 File Sharing on Your MacBook 244 Sharing Files via Share Sheets 256 Sharing Printers 261 Sharing a Scanner 264 Sharing an Optical Drive 266 Sharing Your MacBook Screen 268 Sharing Your Internet Connection 274 Chapter 8 Accessing Entertainment on the Go 279 Using DVD Player 280 Viewing Browser Video or Downloaded Video Files 283 Creating a Media Library in iTunes 287 Chapter 9 Installing and Managing Software on Your MacBook 311 Mac App Store 312 Installing Non-App Store Applications 318 Keeping Your Applications and Operating System Up-To-Date 321 Chapter 10 Making the Most of Your MacBook Hardware 325 Balancing Battery Life and Performance 326 Updating Keyboard Settings 329 Changing Trackpad Options 335 Adjusting the LCD Display 338 Setting Sound Input and Output 342 Recording Audio, Video, and Screen Actions 347 Chapter 11 Connecting Devices to Your MacBook 353 Connecting USB Input Devices 354 Using Bluetooth Devices 356 Using External Displays and Projectors 361 Connecting to an Apple TV (or Other Device) with AirPlay 365 Connecting and Using a Printer 369 Connecting and Using a Scanner 374 Chapter 12 Securing and Protecting Your MacBook 379 Working with Users and Groups 380 Tracking Passwords with Keychain Access 388 Encrypting Your Mountain Lion Disk 392 Limiting Application Execution 394 Achieving Network Security with the Built-in Firewall 395 Backing Up Important Information 398 Chapter 13 Troubleshooting Your MacBook System 409 Dealing with Troublesome Software 410 Restarting and Correcting a Frozen Machine 414 Fixing Disk Problems with Disk Utility 419 Gathering Information About Your MacBook 423 Remember Your Backups! 427 Chapter 14 Upgrading Your MacBook 429 Upgrading Your Built-In Hardware 430 Adding External Storage 433 Index 438