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Tech Corner - February 2010
Frequently Asked Question
Question: How do you network PCs and Macs so everything works for everyone inside the office?
Answer:
PCs and Macs will play nice in a networked environment. Macintosh computers on a Microsoft Windows client/server network can easily transfer files to and from shared locations. In a “peer-to-peer” network, enable file sharing on the Macintosh (through System Preferences) to allow data to move between PC and Mac.
Microsoft Office for the Mac will allow you to open most any Word, Excel or PowerPoint document from a PC. In addition, the Mac software iWork also will open Word, Excel and PowerPoint files. Microsoft Access is not available on the Macintosh.
Here are some useful websites that will provide you with networking information:
- http://www.techsoup.org/learningcenter/networks/page4820.cfm
- http://www.macwindows.com/Network.html
- http://www.mac-connect.com/
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Feature - A Quick Lowdown on PDF's
PDFs.
They’re all over the web. They’re part of your email attachments. You can scan and print to PDF. Print houses or publishers will ask for your documents in the PDF format. There are electronic forms that are created and completed in the PDF format.
Here’s a quick what, why, and where of PDFs.
What is a PDF?
PDF is the acronym for Portable Document Format. Adobe Systems created the file format in 1993. Originally, the software tool to create a PDF was priced at $695. The software to read a PDF was priced at $50. Today, the software to read a PDF – Acrobat Reader – is free and often bundled on new computers. There’s a variety of software, including freeware, to create PDFs.
Why create or use a PDF?
PDFs are compatible across all computer operating platforms. To open a PDF, you’re not required to have Microsoft Office or Apple’s iWork software (as examples). Word documents, Excel spreadsheets, PowerPoint or Keynote presentations, PageMaker or InDesign publications can be saved as PDFs and opened on any computer.
PDF file sizes are smaller than the original file. That makes file transfers much easier, be it by email or the upload to a website or publishing house.
Creating a PDF secures your document. It won’t allow others the opportunity to edit your document. You can even prevent others from opening or printing your PDF file. And, PDFs are safe. There’s very little chance of acquiring a computer virus or Trojan horse from a PDF.
Where do you find PDF software?
Adobe Reader, the software to open a PDF, is free from Adobe. Adobe also has the professional tools to create a PDF. Non‐profit prices are available from Adobe. The software also is available to nonprofits at discounted prices from TechSoup.
Adobe Acrobat software offers the most comprehensive set of tools for PDF creation. It allows you to combine PDFs into a single file, create a PDF from multiple files, add and remove pages from a PDF, rotate pages, and more.
The Macintosh operating system has a built‐in PDF creation tool. Microsoft now offers a plug‐in for its Office 2007 suite that allows you to create a PDF from eight software programs (including Word, Excel, Access and PowerPoint 2007.
And, there are free and low‐cost PDF‐creation tools. Among them: CutePDF, PrimoPDF, or PDFCreator.
Here are some useful links if you wish to learn more about PDFs, their usefulness, and the software to read and create the file format.
PDF software:
- http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/?promoid=BPDDU
- http://www.techsoup.org/stock/Category.asp?catalog_name=TechSoupMain&category_name=Adobe&Page=1
- http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=4d951911-3e7e-4ae6-b059-a2e79ed87041&displaylang=en
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_PDF_software
And, finally, this article is available in PDF format here 
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