MAC FAQS

If you've been assigned a multimedia project or presentation, chances are that the instructor has asked you to use software more common to PC users.  For more than 90% of the students on campus, this isn't a problem.  But you have a MAC that doesn't have Windows Movie Maker, PhotoStory3, Publisher or expensive web software.  What to do? 

First:  Ask your instructor if you can use another type of software for your project!

Here are some examples:

• Substitute i-Movie when asked to create a digital video using Windows Movie Maker or Microsoft PhotoStory 3.
• Substitute i-Web when asked to create a website using Microsoft Publisher, Frontpage or Dreamweaver

Powerpoint with Video: MAC vs PC

While most Powerpoint presentations created on a MAC will playback on a PC, with a few exceptions such as timed animations, VIDEO remains a major problem when creating a PPT presentation for playback on a PC when created on a MAC.

The reason.....MAC PPT presentations can only embed and play Quicktime Movies (.mov).  PC PPT presentations can only embed and playback Windows Media Movies (.wmv) or "compressed" AVIs.  

The best advice we can offer at this time is:  If you have to show your presentation in the classroom on a PC with video clips embedded into the presentation, create it on a PC and embed Windows Media format videos.   And, always check your presentation on a PC before taking it to PC based classroom only to find out that it won't play properly. 

You might also check to see if you can take your MacBook to the classroom and connect it to the projection equipment.  If so, you can do everything on your MAC book and just use it to playback your PPT presentation. 

Fonts: MAC vs PC

Be careful that you choose fonts that will be "standard" font types on a PC.  One noteable font is "helvetica" on a MAC.  Generally, helvetica is no long standard fare on a PC system.  So, if you use helvetica then show it on a PC, the font will be replaced with a "similar" font, probably Arial but it won't look the same and may ruin your slide layout. 

Best advice:  Never use Helvetica.  Use Arial instead.  And, as always, check your presentation on a PC before taking it to PC based classroom only to find out that it won't play properly. 

Uploading Web Pages/Files to the Kent Personal Server

Your instructor gave your class information about using Internet Explorer or "My Computer" to upload webpages or other documents to your personal space on the server but you find that doesn't work on your MAC.  That's because MACs need special "FTP" software to do this.

You can download the software you need for free from http://helpdesk.kent.edu/software . 

Scroll down to "Macintosh Software" then either choose the Fugu SSH Client or Fetch FTP Client.  Either works and both are free but Fetch will require you to get their "free" license within 30 days after 1st run to keep it working.  I found Fugo works just fine and once installed... it works forever.

Note: You have to either be using an "on-campus" computer or use VPN (Virtual Private Network) if you're off-campus or using your own laptop on campus to download this software.  Instructions for downloading and setting up VPN on MAC OS are at: http://www.kent.edu/is/network/vpn.cfm

Get the "Old" i-Movie back

Are you really unhappy with iMOVIE 08 (the version that comes with Leopard OS)?  

Then get the old version of iMOVIE 06 (the version that came with "Tiger OS") back.  The new version (08) in Leopard was dumbed down so much that it is really hard to use since they eliminated the "timeline".  If you want the old version that you already know and love, go to: http://apple.com/support/downloads/imovieHD6.html