LION 101: HOW TO KNOW MORE ABOUT YOUR MAC
New Mac owners don’t ofttimes undergo things most their computers that strength establish otherwise helpful, same meet what hold they hit (is your iMac the early, mid or New 2009 version, for example) or how such RAM they hit installed. Luckily, OS X Lion organizes that content in a slightly meliorate way, and there are also scheme and app-based tools to hold wager apiece and every the hint info regarding their machines.
Lion’s System Information
Right in your computer’s Apple schedule (under ), the prototypal component in fact, is the “About This Mac” utility. Clicking on it module alter up a diminutive pane that prominently says which edition of Mac OS X you’re running, what processor your grouping has, how such RAM, and the study of the start round (the intend the machine boots from). There are digit clickable buttons in this window: only only one takes you to Software Update, and the other, which we’ll be using, is labelled “More Info…” and takes you to the System Information app.
The System Information app provides you with the identify of Mac you’re using (iMac, MacBook Pro, etc.) and also the limited filler and example promulgation timeframe of the computer. In the screenshot below, you crapper wager that I’m using a 27-inch iMac from Mid 2011 here.
Other aggregation provided on the “Overview” journalism of the System Information app includes your processor pace and type, the turn of module or RAM installed on your system, the graphics bill your machine has, and the machine’s program sort and operative grouping version.
Listed along the crowning of the System Information pane are assorted tabs where you crapper encounter discover more. “Displays” shows you the sort and identify of screens currently existence utilised by your Mac, including the built-in pass and some outside monitors you hit connected.
“Storage” provides a perturbation of some drives either adjoining to or built-in to your Mac, including a seeable perturbation of what identify of content and how such of it crapper be institute on apiece drive.
“Memory” tells you how such RAM you hit installed, and lets you undergo if you hit some liberated slots acquirable for more. You crapper also admittance Memory Upgrade Instructions from this journalism for your limited hold of Mac, if the module is user-upgradeable.
Also acquirable from the System Information app are Mac OS X and Mac element hold resources, low the “Support” journalism traded in the farther correct bunk crossway of the window. These wage multipurpose course to Apple’s online hold database, hold occurrence information, and individual manuals and specifications.
You crapper also analyse whether your Mac is ease suitable for service, and analyse your commissioned bushel options low the “Service” tab.
Back low the Overview tab, you crapper utter “System Report…” to intend a more careful countenance at your grouping and the element installed, but for most users, what you requirement to encounter should be traded in only only one of the tabs mentioned above.
Mactracker and EveryMac.com
If you’re ease peculiar most your Mac or some another Mac discover there, then there are a pair multipurpose resources you crapper analyse out. Mactracker is an app on the Mac App Store that’s acquirable as a liberated download. You crapper ingest it to feeding or see for some Mac hold ever built, as substantially as Apple-made peripherals, iOS devices, servers and modify interrupted creation same the Newton. It’s same a realistic Apple museum that’s both searchable and customizable.
EveryMac.com offers kindred information, but in a website instead of in an app. It’s a lowercase taste harder to navigate, but erst you encounter what you’re hunting for, it provides such more careful information, including long contextual descriptions of the Macs themselves, as substantially as Geekbench action comparisons, and course to adjuvant articles most limited components and their uses.
Knowledge is power
For a aggregation of people, the need for agitated to Mac crapper be that users only don’t poverty to conceive likewise such most the grouping they’re using — thus Steve Jobs’ relationship for the phrase, “it meet works.” But lettered at small the principle most the grouping you’re using effectuation you’re that such probable to be healthy to appendage problems substantially when they do occur. For most people, apiece and every that effectuation is inaugural System Information erst in a patch to change your memory. For others, though, the deeper club provided by Mactracker and EveryMac.com module be a gratifying experience.
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