Post All MAC Questions Part 6 - 10.8.3 out now!

[rav2k]

My Mac Mini is connected to my TV and I was hoping to use airplay to send images/video from my iPad to the TV via the Mac?

I'm guessing it doesn't work that way although I don't see why the Mac wouldn't be capable of it.

[DB2k]

not really. ATV would be easiest. I wonder if there is a way to view your photo stream on the mac if that will help? Running iPhoto from your mac would sync photo stream which would sort that part out right?

[Kryten]

I believe there is third party software to do that, but for me as my video is all on a Mac then I just play it back on the Mini to the TV from iTunes.

[Sandeep C.]

Anyone care to post any opinions on the Macbook Air please? My Hackintosh (Dell Mini 10v) is fast becoming my main machine but it lacks juice, so think an upgrade is due. My Dell has been rocksolid and very durable - usually accompanies me on my travels. So would be keen to know if the Air can withstand a bit of abuse and general performance? Cheers.

[Kryten]

The current air is a seriously nice piece of kit. We have quite a few a work and have had no issues (11" and 13") and they are really fast (especially the updated core i ones). They are well built and so far despite our execs using them and abusing them (literally I fear!) they have help up well.

[Jez]

I'm thinking about replacing my MacBook Pro with a top range MacBook Air.

Still trying to decide if it will match it.

As i think a MacBook Pro is actually too much for what i do (coding websites and opening photoshop every now and again)

[Kryten]

The only reasons to get the pro are:

>4GB RAM (Air limited to 4GB - This is the biggest limitation IMO)
Quad Core (Air dual only, but my MBP is dual core i7 and fast enough for me!)
Integrated SuperDrive
Later than 13" screen

I guess you can add >256GB drive too, but I have a 256GB SSD in my MBP and still only use around 150GB of that with all my work stuff etc.

[KeyserSoze]

I have a late 2006 Macbook C2D 2Ghz 3GB RAM. Its currently running Leopard. Do you think its worth the upgrade to Snow Leopard?

[Kryten]

It gets you app store and some more recent updates. Nothing major in the feature set though. If you have a copy of SL easily to had or cheap then I would say yes, otherwise wait until you get your next Mac.

[wakey99999]

Originally Posted by Kryten

The only reasons to get the pro are:

>4GB RAM (Air limited to 4GB - This is the biggest limitation IMO)
Quad Core (Air dual only, but my MBP is dual core i7 and fast enough for me!)
Integrated SuperDrive
Later than 13" screen

I guess you can add >256GB drive too, but I have a 256GB SSD in my MBP and still only use around 150GB of that with all my work stuff etc.

The other key benefit of the 13" Air over the 13" MBP is that the Air has a higher screen resolution (1440 x 900 vs 1280 x 800).

[Kryten]

Originally Posted by wakey99999

The other key benefit of the 13" Air over the 13" MBP is that the Air has a higher screen resolution (1440 x 900 vs 1280 x 800).

There are several reasons to go for the Air over the MBP, I was listing one for the other way round! The screen res on the 13" Air is great, so is the size and weight, performance with standard SSD etc.

[wakey99999]

Originally Posted by Kryten

There are several reasons to go for the Air over the MBP, I was listing one for the other way round! The screen res on the 13" Air is great, so is the size and weight, performance with standard SSD etc.

Don't disagree (as I have one) but I just thought it was worth highlighting. For me it was one the key reasons to go for the Air over the MBP.

As I have a Late October 2010 one I probably should have waited but nonetheless its still a great machine.

[Kryten]

I would jump at getting an air if they had 8GB. Running a Win7 x64 VM in 4GB is not really good (along with everything else I do). I have the MacBook Pro 15 with the high res (1680x1050) matte display so have the higher res for the size which I like (would actually prefer 1920x1200 but do not want to go to the 17", I had that on my old Dell 15")

[rav2k]

My Mini is fast enough but I'd imagine the SSD in the Air would make it fly. Definitely the way forward.

[B0zza]

What's the best/nicest way to Remote Desktop onto another Mac on the same wireless network for free/cheap?

I had thought the Mac Mini would be running Plex 99% of the time so I'd only need the keyboard and pad to do other stuff very occasionally. As it is, that's not the case and a keyboard and pad on your lap/sofa is not the best so I'd rather control things from the Macbook Pro, also meaning the TV can be used for other stuff whilst I'm tinkering.

[DB2k]

Team Viewer? Free..

Or any number of free VNC clients would work fine..

[wakey99999]

Originally Posted by B0zza

What's the best/nicest way to Remote Desktop onto another Mac on the same wireless network for free/cheap?

I had thought the Mac Mini would be running Plex 99% of the time so I'd only need the keyboard and pad to do other stuff very occasionally. As it is, that's not the case and a keyboard and pad on your lap/sofa is not the best so I'd rather control things from the Macbook Pro, also meaning the TV can be used for other stuff whilst I'm tinkering.

If you doing mac to mac then you can use the built in screen sharing client.

In finder just click go > Computer and type in vnc:// IP address as long as you have screen sharing enabled on the source device then its a doddle.

[Kryten]

I use the built in screen sharing personally. Just enable it under security and it shows up in finder under shared computers and just click screen sharing

[DB2k]

completely forgot about that

[wakey99999]

Originally Posted by Kryten

I use the built in screen sharing personally. Just enable it under security and it shows up in finder under shared computers and just click screen sharing

Yeah thats an easier way of doing what I described :-)