Update: It might be time to upgrade your Mac

13MBA_PF_Open_Mavericks_SCREENWhen is the Right Time?

With “Mavericks” finally getting more stable, Apple has released its new OS X “Yosemite” – the tenth version of the operating system named OS Ten (it looks like Apple is done with cat names. They only had one horse name, and have now moved on to parks). It is the only OS that will run on new Macs.

 

Now that Yosemite is released, it will not run the current 10.8 (“Lion”) or 10.9 (“Mavericks”) – and that can be a big issue.

 

Should you upgrade to Mavericks if you are still on Lion? It depends. OS X 10.8.5 is finally stable, and everything works on it, so now would be a good time to do the upgrade. Adobe, Microsoft, Extensis and others have gotten all the issues worked out and things are working pretty well, but Mavericks OS is a complete re-write and likely will affect software, networking, printing or some other mission-critical thing you need to do. That being said, you need to have a Mac that will eventually run 10.9, so being at 10.8.5 is a great start. There are a number of complicated items involved in the update so contact us and we’ll make sure its done correctly.

 

Hardware Update

The current line of Macs are all very fast, stable and feature-packed. If you have an older Mac, we recommend getting one now. Right now. The MacBook Pros and iMacs were recently updated and are the fastest designer Macs out there. The 15″ Retina MacBook Pro and a 27″ Thunderbolt display are an excellent choice for those who need to take their work on the go.

 

If you have a lot of apps running at the same time (press command-tab and look at the list). Its convenient, but each of them requires some RAM and hard drive space while its running. OS X takes about 1GB itself, and Photoshop grabs up to 70 percent of the RAM in your Mac when its running, so you can see how quickly it gets used. We recommend no less than 8GB of RAM, and if the Mac will take it, go to 16GB or 32GB. Many Macs even just a couple years old can’t expand to that level, and that reason alone is a good one to upgrade your hardware.

 

The latest Macs all have the option of either Fusion or SSD hard drives – both of which and far faster than traditional hard drives. Fusion drives combine a fast RAM area with a spinning hard drive, and store the OS and most used apps in that area for quick access. Solid State Disks or Flash Storage are up to 5 times faster than spinning drives. That speed comes at a higher cost however, and SSDs are still far smaller in capacity than spinning drives, so many designers are opting for the 1TB or 3TB Fusion Drives.

 

We’ll need to custom order new Macs with the features you need as many of them are not easily upgradable after purchase – so adding the faster processor, hard drive and RAM options need to be done day one. Also, the order time on new Macs has been 8-10 days so plan accordingly.

 

Software Update

In order to run Adobe CC, you will need to be on OS X 10.8.5. Coming from 10.6.8 is $19.99 for the OS, but you’ll also need to update your Microsoft Office to 2011, and Suitcase to Fusion 5. Note that older versions of apps may not run under 10.8, so if you have any questions on these apps – ask.

 

Many people have older font libraries that will need updating to be used properly by the latest OS X and applications. We know a lot about fonts and can assist with that process or take care of it for you. It’s astounding the number of people who do not know how to use font management tools. We can help!

 

We’ve offered this before, but feel free to send us your System Profile and we’ll determine the best course of action for your existing Mac – upgrade or replacement. Go to the Apple Menu>About this Mac and then System Report. Click File>Save and save the report to your desktop and email to service@centralcoastweb.com.

 

Enjoy, and Let Us Know If We Can Help With Anything – It’s What We Do.

 

-Ed Klemz, Owner, Central Coast Solutions

Update: It might be time to upgrade your Mac2018-09-20T10:16:09-05:00

Happy Earth Day from Apple

Happy Earth Day 2014! Here’s a brand new video about how Apple is working to save the earth and reduce our impact on the environment, while making the tools to inspire others to do the same.

Happy Earth Day from Apple2014-04-22T13:22:34-05:00

Update: It might be time to upgrade your Mac

October 2013

We’ve been getting a lot of end-of-year budget planning questions and it brings up an important piece of news that will affect many of you. Apple will soon be releasing its new OS X 10.9 “Mavericks” (I guess they’re done with cat names and have moved on to horses) and when they do, it will be the only OS that will run on new Macs. What that means is if you buy a Mac with 10.9 it will likely not run the current 10.8 – and that’s going to be a big issue.

OS X 10.8.5 is finally stable, and everything works on it, so now would be a good time to do the upgrade. Adobe, Microsoft, Extensis and others have gotten all the issues worked out and things are working pretty well, but this new OS is a complete re-write and likely will affect software, networking, printing or some other mission-critical thing you need – so there is no need for you to be an early adopter. That being said, you need to have a Mac that will eventually run 10.9, so being at 10.8.5 is a great start. There are a number of complicated items involved in the update so for sure contact us and we’ll make sure its done correctly.

HARDWARE:
The current line of Macs are all very fast, stable and feature-packed. If you have an older Mac, we recommend getting one now. Right now. The MacBook Pros and iMacs were recently updated and are the fastest designer Macs out there. I’ve gone with the new 15″ Retina MacBook Pro and a 27″ Thunderbolt display for my setup and its an excellent choice for those who need to take their work on the go. Contact me for more details, but as an incentive we’re giving $100 off any new Mac system with AppleCare, to all of our clients.

If you are like me, you have a lot of apps running at the same time (press command-tab and look at the list). Its convenient, but each of them requires some RAM and hard drive space while its running. OS X takes about 1GB itself, and Photoshop grabs up to 70% of the RAM in your Mac when its running, so you can see how quickly it gets used. We recommend no less than 8GB of RAM, and if the Mac will take it, go to 16GB or 32GB. Many Macs even just a couple years old can’t expand to that level, and that reason alone is a good one to upgrade your hardware.

The latest Macs all have the option of either Fusion or SSD hard drives – both of which and far faster than traditional hard drives. Fusion drives combine a fast RAM area with a spinning hard drive, and store the OS and most used apps in that area for quick access. Solid State Disks or Flash Storage are up to 5 times faster than spinning drives. That speed comes at a higher cost however, and SSDs are still far smaller in capacity than spinning drives, so many designers are opting for the 1TB or 3TB Fusion Drives.

We’ll need to custom order new Macs with the features you need as many of them are not easily upgradable after purchase – so adding the faster processor, hard drive and RAM options need to be done day one. Also, the order time on new Macs has been 8-10 days so plan accordingly.

SOFTWARE:
In order to run Adobe CC, you will need to be on OS X 10.8.5. Coming from 10.6.8 is $19.99 for the OS, but you’ll also need to update your Microsoft Office to 2011, and Suitcase to Fusion 5. Note that older versions of apps may not run under 10.8, so if you have any questions on these apps – ask.

Many people have older font libraries that will need updating to be used properly by the latest OS X and applications. We know a lot about fonts and can assist with that process or do it for you.

I’ve offered this before, but feel free to send me your System Profile and I’ll determine the best course of action for your existing Mac – upgrade or replacement. Go to the Apple Menu>About this Mac and then System Report. Click File>Save and save the report to your desktop and email to me.

Enjoy, and let me know if we can help with anything – its what we do.

-Ed

Update: It might be time to upgrade your Mac2018-09-20T10:16:12-05:00

Testimonials – Read All About Us!

shutterstock_131795768_LRCentral Coast was there when my computer blew up.

“At 10:00 p.m. my computer actually blew up—literally—we’re talking smoke pouring out the back followed by that wonderful burnt electric smell. Needless to say I was horrified. It’s one thing to lose the hardware, but my next thought was what else did I lose that I didn’t have backed up, and then, how am I going to meet my deadlines? I called Ed, the owner of Central Coast and left a rather frantic message. I was not surprised when he called me right back and told me not to worry.”

 

“Remember this is 10:00 at night.”

 

“That’s the kind of responsiveness I’ve come to expect from Ed. He came out first in the morning, his customary Mountain Dew in one hand and a temporary machine for me to use in the other. After recovering all my files off my hard drive, he helped me decide the best business strategy for a replacement machine. I say that because with Ed it’s not about the hardware of software, they’re just tools, but it’s about the health and welfare of my business and where I’m going with it. Oh, and he doesn’t make you feel dumb for asking, well, dumb questions. I know he’s got clients far bigger than my little business, but when he makes a house call it’s like you’re the only one that matters.”

 

— Terri Kinne, Owner, Kinne Design

 

 

shutterstock_174976631I’m a true believer!

“The dream machine is up and running and GORGEOUS, and Central Coast Solutions  was great to work with. I’m sure you figured I was a little apprehensive about the in-home “gourmet” treatment, and I am now a true believer. A total convert.

 

The Apple Store and the Genius Bar are NOT the only go-to guys at the front of my little black book anymore! THANKS for your help in getting that all set up! Have a splendid day.”

 

—Amy Lengsfeld

 

 

shutterstock_167677004_LRNew York magazine relies on Central Coast for key transition

“Central Coast was extremely patient, helpful and unobtrusive, as they helped guide us through a very challenging relocation from New York to Minneapolis. Imagine a completely new creative staff of art directors, copy editors, freelancers, all needing different levels of access to servers, printers, passwords, data, images, and none of us really had any established workflow or working status for the technology we had inherited.

 

Ed and his team helped us sort it all out, made recommendations that improved workflow and protected the many deadlines inherent in publishing an iconic magazine.”

 

— Monica Moses, Editor in Chief, American Craft Magazine american-craft-council

 

ccs-logo-soloBest Mac shop – hands down

“I worried. Would I be able to find a good Mac shop in Minnesota? And by gosh, I found Central Coast Solutions, and they’re about 50 times better than the Apple Stores I lived near in California!

 

I’m SO sold on these people. One repair and it couldn’t have gone better or more smoothly!”

 

– Steve Holland

 

 

shutterstock_139839664_LRBrilliant, reliable and they seem normal!

“I’d recommend Central Coast Consulting to anyone. 1) they really know their stuff; 2) they’re a pleasure to deal with and 3) their company is the perfect size for giving great service. 

 

I’ve tried the big firms. Because of the high rate of staff turnover, I never had the same tech twice–some were great, others were not, but it was all pot luck. So I tried working with individual consultants and met a cast of highly eccentric, sometimes brilliant characters who could been in a movie. Except I wasn’t making a movie. I was just trying to work on my Macs. 

 

I can’t tell you how happy I was to finally find the folks at Central Coast. They’re brilliant, reliable and they seem normal. Which is no small thing in the computer biz—it’s sort of like hitting the Trifecta of Macintosh consulting. Central Coast is the best.”

 

—Lynnell Mickelsen

 

Testimonials – Read All About Us!2018-09-20T10:16:13-05:00
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