See comments below. These are my opinions. YMMV!
--
Brian Ehni
On 3/19/08 8:20 PM, in article HZiEj.7329$rR1.4788@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
"Tom"
<yahoo@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:
> A buddy (non Mac user like me) just got an AirBook notebook. We have
> several questions but don't know where to go to get the answers.
>
> He needs to run Microsoft Access db application what is the
preferred
> method of doing this on the AirBook?
Either run Boot Camp and reboot to Windows XP, or, as I prefer, install
Parallels, then Windows XP for MacOS to Windows OS drag and drop. Either
way, you will need Office as well; Microsoft, in it's infinite wisdom,
does
not offer Access as part of the Mac Office Suite. There's also
FileMakerPro
- a DB program that is cross-platform!
> He needs to expand the number of USB ****t what do you suggest.?
The only way to expand the number of ****ts on that book is to use a USB
hub,
which means you can't also use the USB optical drive (as it requires more
power than standard).
> I noticed it took quite awhile to boot up what can we do to speed it
up?
Is it a standard hard drive or solid state? Off hand, I can't think of
much
either way, but the SSD drive boots faster than the regular kind. The 80gb
standard drive is 4200rpm, which means it's the slowest speed hard drive
out
there (the MacBook and MacBook Pro use 5400 or 7200 rpm drives).
> Any recommendations for books to learn how to use it and to learn
Macs
> in general?
http://www.oreilly.com/catalog/9780596514129/?CMP=ILC-MMh0me
for starters.
David Pouge has plenty of good Mac Books on his site.
> Any recommendations to enhance the AirBook experience?
Unless you just have to have a MacBook Air (the proper name), return it
and
get a MacBook. Faster processors, up to twice the RAM, up to 4 times the
hard drive, built-in optical drive, more than one USB ****t, a firewire
****t,
and wired ethernet! Sadly, it will cost you at least $300.00 less and be 2
pounds heavier, for the same footprint. See a comparison at:
<http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPLE/WebObjects/AppleStore.woa/wa/RSLID?nn
mm=browse&mco=MTE3MzI&node=home/shop_mac/family/macbook>
Be sure to copy and paste the whole link if it doesn't all come across!
Perhaps I haven't made my self clear: the MacBook Air is a nice book for
travel and light use (email, word processing). For more serious work
(especially when running Windows and intensive Applications like Photoshop
or Access, you will want the MacBook, or MacBook Pro for the extra RAM
they
can have and also the more powerful processors.
I wouldn't have a MacBook Air unless it was a gift. Even then, I'd Ebay it
and get a MacBook or MacBook Pro.
>
> Should I post this question anyplace else?
>
> Tom
>
>
>
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