Finding the "Best Buy" — Apple Computers Sale

I'm on a budget, so I went digging for the best buy. Apple Computers sales seem hard to come by. However, I found a few tricks to make sure I could get a good price.

1. Buy Online — but NOT from Apple

Apple has an online store, but there are a number of discount stores that specialize in Apple, and they are often about $100 cheaper. Apple ships their new computers directly to these stores for sale, so the product is exactly the same.

(I guess Apple wants to maintain a reputation with their prices? I don't know.)

Buy from a discount Apple store like MacMall.com, and use the money you save on some cool software, or a backup drive or something.

2. Buy an Older Model

Once Apple starts selling a new model/version of the MacBook or iMac, last year's model drops significantly in price. And it's only a year "old", so you won't be missing out on too many features. After all, just the day before it was the latest and greatest!

I recently found this search on Amazon.com turns up some good, cheap options for older iMacs.

3. Buy "Pre-Owned" or "Refurbished"

As long as you buy from an Authorized Apple reseller, you can get a perfectly good used computer or refurbished one for about half the price of a brand new one. And it will be fully tested and good as new. It might take some shopping around to find one, but it's a huge payoff when you do!

Sometimes you can even find an "open box" deal at your local retailer. That's when someone buys the computer, takes it home, and returns it within the store's return policy period. They can't resell it as "new", so they take a bit off the top. Could be anywhere from $50 to $150 depending on the time.

Finding a Mac computers sale just takes a little time researching online. But if you take the time, you might find the best buy on Apple computers.

How DO You Right Click? Mac Conundrum…

It's a common question from people new to the Mac: How do you right click? Mac mice made by Apple only have one physical button. Actually, they don't have any visible buttons.

Well it is possible to right-click, or to fudge it. Here are the quick tricks:

1) Control-Click

By holding down the "control" key on your keyboard while clicking your mouse or trackpad normally, you'll get the equivalent of a "right-click". The little menu will pop up.

2) Two-Finger Click

This one is for those of you with a trackpad on your laptop, or the Apple Magic Trackpad on your desktop. By pressing down on the trackpad with two fingers next to each other simultaneously, you'll get the same functionality of a "right click".

This also works if your trackpad has a separate button. Simply touch two fingers to the trackpad while clicking the button normally.

This trick only works, however, if you have the "Secondary Click" feature turned on in the System Preferences for your trackpad

3) Right-Click

Yeah. Just click on the right side of your mouse!

The Apple Mouse and Magic Mouse both have the ability to detect which side of the mouse you're pressing down on. But the "Secondary Button" feature has to be turned on in theSystem Preferences for your mouse.

If you want more detailed information about how to set it up, check out how to right click on a mac.

You'll now be able to answer when anyone asks you, "How do I right click on a Mac?"

The Wars of Other Men

I just started the Official Scott Norman Actor Blog last week, and my first post is about my experience shooting the dieselpunk influenced short war film called "The Wars of Other Men".

I play the lead role as a nameless lieutenant fighting for an army on the verge of defeat, ordered to lead a squad through the war torn city to capture the scientist responsible for the creation of the enemy's chemical super weapon.

The film was tremendous labor of love for all involved, and was a lot of fun to work on. Now we can finally say it's complete. It's been getting quite a bit of attention and support recently, particularly in the Steampunk and Dieselpunk communities.

Check out the trailer:

Here's a sample from my post:
(http://www.scottvnorman.com/blog/2012/01/the-wars-of-other-men/)

I am so impressed by the progress of this unlikely film project, The Wars of Other Men by Mike Zawacki, that I just have to take some time to write about it. This little short film continues to impress and surprise me — and has from the very beginning…

…If you want to know a little more about the project, click on that Kickstarter link above (or below) and watch the video. After the short trailer is a cool presentation by Mike Zawacki about the making of TWOOM. I think you’ll find the backstory in it interesting. And, if you decide to kick in a couple of bucks to the project, you’ll not only be a part of something really special, but you will make a group of filmmakers in Detroit very happy.