News

Hard Drive Storage Space vs. Memory (RAM) November 04 2016

We're often asked: What's the difference between computer hard drive storage and memory (RAM)?
 
Being that these are the two most commonly upgraded components in any Mac, it's important to understand.
 
To put it as simply as we can, here's an analogy:
 
Cash in Purse vs. Account in Bank
 
That is...
 
Small amount of storage instantly available vs. a large amount of storage available after a delay.
 
RAM is used because accessing data on the hard drive is slow. Compared to accessing RAM, hard drive data access takes an *eternity*.
 
That's why RAM exists.
 
The more memory (RAM) you have, the more data you can access more quickly at once. The more hard drive space you have, the more data you can store on your computer. Memory is temporary storage, hard drive storage is permanent (until you delete it).
 
Please let us know if you have any questions, and if you haven't already, ask us about upgrading your Mac desktop or laptop to have more storage and/or more memory!

How to Update Your iPhone October 31 2016

Make sure you're connected to the internet. Go to your Settings app, tap on General, then tap on Software Update. Your iPhone, or other Apple device will automatically search for any new operating system updates available. At the time of this blog post, iOS 10.1.1 is the latest version available, with subsequent updates being released in the coming weeks and months.

It's important to keep your device up to date because these updates include fixes for bugs as well as performance and security enhancements. Keep in mind that if you have an older device, a newer iOS version could slow it down, but that's mainly when jumping from iOS 8 to 9, or 9 to 10 (current).

Apple released an iOS update today, so get downloading if you haven't already.


iOS 10 - New iMessage Features September 21 2016

If you already have iOS 10 on your Apple device, you'll know that it comes with a lot of new features. Some of them are very useful, others are just fun, and add to the user experience.

For years now, iMessage has stayed about the same. It wasn't until iOS 10 came along that people realized the potential that text messaging has for evolving into something even better. Not only can we send and receive plain text messages, we can also spice them up with a touch of personality and fun.

The new iMessage includes a host of new features. If you send a link, it will display as a thumbnail with an easy-to-read title. Likewise, with YouTube videos, you'll be able to see the video and even watch it without having to click on a cryptic link. But, that's just the tip of the iceberg. Text messages send much faster now, and emoji display much bigger. You can type a message, and iMessage will automatically find all the words that have a matching emoji so that you can automatically convert them.

One of the biggest new features is stickers! You can now download sticker packs to send personalized stickers to your contacts, not unlike Messenger for Facebook. There is so much flexibility with what you can now do as far as adding your own personal touch.

Along with sending handwritten notes and special text message effects, you can also easily search for GIFs, which comes built-in, so need for an app.

There is so much more I could talk about, but the best thing would be for you to go and discover all of these features for yourself. So, if you haven't already, go download iOS 10. To learn more about the new iMessage features and more, check out the Tips app included in the new operating system.

Happy texting!


HDD to SSD August 25 2016

For anyone who has an old Mac or a Mac with a failed hard drive, we always recommend upgrading to a solid state drive.

For one, if you have an old Mac, a solid state drive will make it feel like a newer, faster machine. This is because they use flash technology that allows for much, much faster read and write times. And two, because the older Macs tend to get really hot, and heat is the number one cause of hard drive failure. If we install a solid state drive, we eliminate the potential for overheating because solid state drives to not generate heat. You've probably never dropped your desktop Mac (although some of our customers have), but we're sure you've dropped your Mac laptop at least once. Traditional hard drives are extremely susceptible to mechanical failure in the event of a drop. Solid state drives, on the other hand, have no moving parts and, as a result, are not prone to failure due to shock.

Invest in a solid state drive when you can. They've become so affordable and they're so reliable. They come with amazing warranties and will probably outlive your computer. In this day and age when data is so important (and a lot of people don't have backups *tisk, risk*), it's essential to have a drive you can rely on.


Upgrade Your Computer's Memory Without Breaking the Bank August 16 2016

Most people don't realize how easy and affordable it is to upgrade your computer's memory (RAM). Here at Got Mac, we have many different types of memory in stock for every type of Mac. If we don't have your configuration, we can have it in within two business days. The best thing is you don't even need to leave your computer with us if you don't want to as the installation only takes a few minutes. None of our competitors can come close to our prices on computer memory and we use the most reliable brand memory out there.

If you recently upgraded to a new operating system and you've noticed your computer is running slower than usual, you probably need more memory as newer operating systems tend to demand more system resources. Chances are, depending on the age of your Mac, we can upgrade it to 8 GB, 12 GB, or even 16 GB or 32 GB, which will make a world of difference.

Most memory upgrades we do cost under $100. So, why wait to do one of the best and most affordable upgrades you can do for your computer? Like we said, it takes just minutes!