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So, you're having problems with your mac?! What? Problems with the mac I hear you say? But I thought Macs never have problems?!

Aaah yes, Okay, so I go around telling people that you rarely have problems on Macs, that is true, you do especially when compared to using a Windows Machine. But like any computer from time to time you will have problems. These problems aren't generally as devastating as Windows ones, and generally its when you are doing something a bit more interesting than simply surfing the web.

Just want to make it clear, no computer is without its problems. The Mac is a very well built computer and you can do all sorts of wonderful things with it. From the normal, email and internet use to making movies and DVD to messing with pictures and making your own music! When Apple and other software vendors release products there are going to be small bugs - well mostly small ones - that maybe cause a bit of injury on the computer. However there are always places you get information for workarounds to these problems.

Anyway, so what do you do when you have a problem?

Go Online:

First thing is first, go online and find out about it. This can be done bygoing to the software vendors support site and taking a look through there.If nothingcomes up see if they have a discussions board. If they do, search through thatfor your problem, as more than likely someone else had something similar. Ifyou can't find anything, then post a question as someone will know the answertoit. Often times the engineers themselves reply back to the questions and arealways willing to help out.

If there are no discussion boards and no where to post a message even to theirsupport, then search the web, Google it! You will find pages set up by wonderfuland smart people who have taken the time out to compile a list of troubleshootingtechniques and methods to workaround bugs in production software. So a big thankyou goes out to all of them!

If its not a software problem and just don't know how to use something, go tothe bookstore and buy a book on it. There are so many computer books writtennowadays for people from beginners to intermediate users, to advanced users.I suggest getting one of those and taking the time to sit down and read it.

Thats what I did many many years ago. Back in 1993, I picked up the first editionof Macs for dummies just when the dummies series was starting out. I sat downand read that book back and fourth about 8 times! My first introduction to the mac.

Most questions come about from general Mac OS X and iLife use. The best thingto do is check out Apple's web site. Their support pages are very helpful andconsidering iLife doesn't come with any documentation, Apple has kindly provideda great support and help site. They also have excellent discussion boards foryou to ask and answer questions. I strongly recommend using these as the answersto your questions have been already answered.

Also, make sure you have the latest software updates. Go to the Software update on your computer and check. Many times the bugs are fixed in these updates.

So, quick recap:

1. Go to the company web site and search their support.
2. Look through or post in their discussions section.
3. Google for other web sites with more indepth solutions.
4. Buy a book and read it.

Useful links:

Apple Support
http://www.info.apple.com/

Apple discussions
http://discussions.info.apple.com/

If you are using iLife then go to their support and discussion sites.

iMovie
http://www.apple.com/support/imovie/

iDVD
http://www.apple.com/support/idvd/

iTunes
http://www.apple.com/support/itunes/

iPhoto
http://www.apple.com/support/iphoto/

Garageband
http://www.apple.com/support/garageband/

Books:

Although I have NOT read these books I don't know of the actual contents, but these series or authors have written good books in the past.

Tiger
Mac OS X: The Missing Manual, Tiger Ed (Missing Manual)

iLife '06
The Macintosh iLife 06

Panther
Mac OS X Panther All-in-One Desk Reference For Dummies

Mac OS X: The Missing Manual, Panther Edition

iLife '05
iLife '05: The Missing Manual (Missing Manual)