Jewish World Review August 6, 2002 / 28 Menachem-Av, 5762
By Mark Kellner
http://www.NewsAndOpinion.com |
My Mac experiment is still chugging along, with most of my daily (and
weekly) work being done on an iMac, and quite happily. There's never a crash
of the system, applications work very nicely without impinging on each
other, and the iMac itself is a dream system. After packing the computer's
40 GB hard drive with programs and data files - and lots of each - I'm still
below 50 percent capacity.
Along the way, I've come across some small wonders in the software area that
make my life easier. If you're a Mac user - or contemplating the switch -
they might be useful for you, too. (The applications mentioned below all run
under Apple's Mac OS X, the Unix-based, very solid operating system towards
which the firm has pointed all its developers.)
Setting up and using the program is particularly easy since MYOB, an
Australian-based firm with a U.S. sales and support office in Rockaway, New
Jersey includes more than 80 different "charts of accounts" for various
types of business from accounting and advertising agencies to veterinarians
and web designers.
I've printed and e-mailed quite a number of invoices with the program and
have had no problems getting the information to those who need it. Invoices
are sent as Portable Document File (stet) or PDF documents readable on all
computer platforms using either Adobe Acrobat or similar programs. Entering
client information and generating the statements are each easy tasks. The
software can be used to fill in blank checks as well.
For the time being, MYOB has the dominant position in the Mac accounting
market, since it offers both First Edge and the more advanced AccountEdge
(stet) for businesses that need more features and capabilities. If you want
to make the switch to a Mac platform for your work and business, it's nice
to know that there's good software available for one's accounting needs.
More information on both programs can be found at
http://www.myob.com/us/index.htm.
Finding names in the Now Contact database is super-fast - type a few letters
in the find window and contacts start popping up. Or, you can click on the
telephone button the program puts in the menu bar to show a list of quick
contacts or the ability to find a contact quickly. The program will also
dial the phone for you if your Mac's modem is connected to a phone line.
The Now Up-to-Date calendar is charming and cozy, yet equally powerful for
scheduling meetings and appointments. It, too, features a drop-down button
for the menu bar to list pending appointments and to-do items.
The programs synchronize with Palm OS handheld devices, and can import files
from a variety of other contact managers. The $130 cost may seem steep, but
if you live by your contact list, it's a bargain indeed. Information can be
found at http://www.poweronsoftware.com/products/nudc/.
The full program is $499, while an "LE" version is $99. In the full version,
you can mix tracks and bring in background music, up to four tracks, as well
as edit audio tracks for QuickTime movies. You can export tracks in several
formats, including MP3 (stet) and WAV (stet), and burn audio CDs.
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JWR contributor Mark Kellner has reported on technology for industry newspapers and magazines since 1983, and has been the computer columnist for The Washington Times since 1991.Comment by clicking here.
Off to college ... with eMachines
Mac satisfaction --- and some really good software
Not every Mac user will need such a program, but with the continuing
interest in digital media by many users, it will appeal to many people and
is worth investigating. Details on the software can be found at
www.bias-inc.com.
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