Mac OS X QuickTips #32

CreativeTechs QuickTips #32

Week of March 21, 2005

Tip One: Open MS Word documents in TextEdit.

One of the small pleasures of Mac OS X is using TextEdit to open Microsoft Word documents (TextEdit is found in Mac OS X's Applications folder). On most systems, Word takes as long to launch as it ever did. In contrast, dragging a Word file onto the TextEdit icon opens a Word doc in a heartbeat, at which point it can be saved as either another Word document or as an RTF (rich text format) document.

Note: TextEdit does not always convert tables or special formatting. Designers who trade many files with Windows-based clients will likely want to keep Microsoft Office in their collection of tools.

[Source: Subscriber Warren Wilkins at WarrenWilkinsDesigner.]

Send this Tip to a Friend
Sign Up for Weekly Tips

Tip Two: Test the speed of your Internet connection.

Curious how fast your DSL or Cable Internet connection is compare with other providers? There are a number of websites that let you test how fast your internet connection really is. Here is a link to the site we use most:

http://www.dslreports.com/stest

Follow the instructions and scroll down to pick a test server (we typically use the Speakeasy test server). The system will run a test to determine the speed of your Internet connection.

Note: If your studio has several designers, this test will show how fast your personal computer's Internet access was at the time of the test. Since other users are using part of the studio's bandwidth, it may not reflect the full speed of your company's Internet connection.

[Source: CreativeTechs uses this site along with other tools when troubleshooting Internet connection issues. Use of speed reports over time can also give an indication on when it is time to upgrade to a faster Internet service.]

Send this Tip to a Friend
Sign Up for Weekly Tips

Share tips and win music! Each week we're giving away a pair of $15 iTunes cards to a randomly chosen new Seattle-area subscriber PLUS the friend who referred them. Pass this newsletter along using the "Forward to a Friend!" link at the bottom and tell your friend to give you credit when they sign up! Last week's winners: xxx.

QuickTips is a free weekly e-newsletter from CreativeTechs, Inc. Each week we publish a fresh mix of left-brain and right-brain tips based on our real world experience supporting hundreds of creative teams in the greater Seattle area. For a complete archive of previous tips, visit www.creativetechs.com/tips

Your referrals wanted! CreativeTechs relies on word-of-mouth introductions. If you know a Seattle-area creative team who might benefit from our unique mix of computer support for creative professionals, please introduce us. We are never too busy for your referrals. Email help@creativetechs.com, or call us at 206-682-4315.