Looking to buy a microphone headset to use with my macbook air...any suggestions?

I am looking to purchase a microphone/headset to use for webex presentations while using my MacBook Air.
Does anyone have any recommendations/suggestions?

For your use I would strongly recommend headsets with in-ear headphones from Etymotic.
The Mic on the Etymotic headsets I find is great - the voice is picked up perfectly and people on the other end can always hear me - the one downside I find is that it has to be relatively close to your mouth.
Etymotic deliver excellent sound quality however I found the other main selling point for these was that they are very comfortable to wear. I can wear them for hours on end and forget I have them in - I don't get the urge to adjust them etc.
You should note though - these headsets are not for music, the bass is almost non-existent and turning up the sound too high causes the sound to become distorted - however, for the uses you described, listening to talking, they are brilliant.

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I am looking for a (free, ideally) virus scan/check for my MacBook Pro -- any suggestions?

I am looking for a (free, ideally) virus scan/check for my MacBook Pro -- any suggestions?

Mac users often ask whether they should install "anti-virus" software. The answer usually given on ASC is "no." The answer is right, but it may give the wrong impression that there is no threat from what are loosely called "viruses." There is a threat, and you need to educate yourself about it.
1. This is a comment on what you should—and should not—do to protect yourself from malicious software ("malware") that circulates on the Internet and gets onto a computer as an unintended consequence of the user's actions. It does not apply to software, such as keystroke loggers, that may be installed deliberately by an intruder who has hands-on access to the computer, or who has been able to log in to it remotely. That threat is in a different category, and there's no easy way to defend against it.
The comment is long because the issue is complex. The key points are in sections 5, 6, and 10.
OS X now implements three layers of built-in protection specifically against malware, not counting runtime protections such as execute disable, sandboxing, system library randomization, and address space layout randomization that may also guard against other kinds of exploits.
2. All versions of OS X since 10.6.7 have been able to detect known Mac malware in downloaded files, and to block insecure web plugins. This feature is transparent to the user. Internally Apple calls it "XProtect."
The malware recognition database used by XProtect is automatically updated; however, you shouldn't rely on it, because the attackers are always at least a day ahead of the defenders.
The following caveats apply to XProtect:
☞ It can be bypassed by some third-party networking software, such as BitTorrent clients and Java applets.
☞ It only applies to software downloaded from the network. Software installed from a CD or other media is not checked.
As new versions of OS X are released, it's not clear whether Apple will indefinitely continue to maintain the XProtect database of older versions such as 10.6. The security of obsolete system versions may eventually be degraded. Security updates to the code of obsolete systems will stop being released at some point, and that may leave them open to other kinds of attack besides malware.
3. Starting with OS X 10.7.5, there has been a second layer of built-in malware protection, designated "Gatekeeper" by Apple. By default, applications and Installer packages downloaded from the network will only run if they're digitally signed by a developer with a certificate issued by Apple. Software certified in this way hasn't necessarily been tested by Apple, but you can be reasonably sure that it hasn't been modified by anyone other than the developer. His identity is known to Apple, so he could be held legally responsible if he distributed malware. That may not mean much if the developer lives in a country with a weak legal system (see below.)
Gatekeeper doesn't depend on a database of known malware. It has, however, the same limitations as XProtect, and in addition the following:
☞ It can easily be disabled or overridden by the user.
☞ A malware attacker could get control of a code-signing certificate under false pretenses, or could simply ignore the consequences of distributing codesigned malware.
☞ An App Store developer could find a way to bypass Apple's oversight, or the oversight could fail due to human error.
Apple has so far failed to revoke the codesigning certificates of some known abusers, thereby diluting the value of Gatekeeper and the Developer ID program. These failures don't involve App Store products, however.
For the reasons given, App Store products, and—to a lesser extent—other applications recognized by Gatekeeper as signed, are safer than others, but they can't be considered absolutely safe. "Sandboxed" applications may prompt for access to private data, such as your contacts, or for access to the network. Think before granting that access. Sandbox security is based on user input. Never click through any request for authorization without thinking.
4. Starting with OS X 10.8.3, a third layer of protection has been added: a "Malware Removal Tool" (MRT). MRT runs automatically in the background when you update the OS. It checks for, and removes, malware that may have evaded the other protections via a Java exploit (see below.) MRT also runs when you install or update the Apple-supplied Java runtime (but not the Oracle runtime.) Like XProtect, MRT is effective against known threats, but not against unknown ones. It notifies you if it finds malware, but otherwise there's no user interface to MRT.
5. The built-in security features of OS X reduce the risk of malware attack, but they are not, and never will be, complete protection. Malware is a problem of human behavior, and a technological fix is not going to solve it. Trusting software to protect you will only make you more vulnerable.
The best defense is always going to be your own intelligence. With the possible exception of Java exploits, all known malware circulating on the Internet that affects a fully-updated installation of OS X 10.6 or later takes the form of so-called "Trojan horses," which can only have an effect if the victim is duped into running them. The threat therefore amounts to a battle of wits between you and the scam artists. If you're smarter than they think you are, you'll win. That means, in practice, that you always stay within a safe harbor of computing practices. How do you know when you're leaving the safe harbor? Below are some warning signs of danger.
Software from an untrustworthy source
☞ Software of any kind is distributed via BitTorrent, or Usenet, or on a website that also distributes pirated music or movies.
☞ Software with a corporate brand, such as Adobe Flash Player, doesn't come directly from the developer’s website. Do not trust an alert from any website to update Flash, or your browser, or any other software.
☞ Rogue websites such as Softonic and CNET Download distribute free applications that have been packaged in a superfluous "installer."
☞ The software is advertised by means of spam or intrusive web ads. Any ad, on any site, that includes a direct link to a download should be ignored.
Software that is plainly illegal or does something illegal
☞ High-priced commercial software such as Photoshop is "cracked" or "free."
☞ An application helps you to infringe copyright, for instance by circumventing the copy protection on commercial software, or saving streamed media for reuse without permission.
Conditional or unsolicited offers from strangers
☞ A telephone caller or a web page tells you that you have a “virus” and offers to help you remove it. (Some reputable websites did legitimately warn visitors who were infected with the "DNSChanger" malware. That exception to this rule no longer applies.)
☞ A web site offers free content such as video or music, but to use it you must install a “codec,” “plug-in,” "player," "downloader," "extractor," or “certificate” that comes from that same site, or an unknown one.
☞ You win a prize in a contest you never entered.
☞ Someone on a message board such as this one is eager to help you, but only if you download an application of his choosing.
☞ A "FREE WI-FI !!!" network advertises itself in a public place such as an airport, but is not provided by the management.
☞ Anything online that you would expect to pay for is "free."
Unexpected events
☞ A file is downloaded automatically when you visit a web page, with no other action on your part. Delete any such file without opening it.
☞ You open what you think is a document and get an alert that it's "an application downloaded from the Internet." Click Cancel and delete the file. Even if you don't get the alert, you should still delete any file that isn't what you expected it to be.
☞ An application does something you don't expect, such as asking for permission to access your contacts, your location, or the Internet for no obvious reason.
☞ Software is attached to email that you didn't request, even if it comes (or seems to come) from someone you trust.
I don't say that leaving the safe harbor just once will necessarily result in disaster, but making a habit of it will weaken your defenses against malware attack. Any of the above scenarios should, at the very least, make you uncomfortable.
6. Java on the Web (not to be confused with JavaScript, to which it's not related, despite the similarity of the names) is a weak point in the security of any system. Java is, among other things, a platform for running complex applications in a web page, on the client. That was always a bad idea, and Java's developers have proven themselves incapable of implementing it without also creating a portal for malware to enter. Past Java exploits are the closest thing there has ever been to a Windows-style virus affecting OS X. Merely loading a page with malicious Java content could be harmful.
Fortunately, client-side Java on the Web is obsolete and mostly extinct. Only a few outmoded sites still use it. Try to hasten the process of extinction by avoiding those sites, if you have a choice. Forget about playing games or other non-essential uses of Java.
Java is not included in OS X 10.7 and later. Discrete Java installers are distributed by Apple and by Oracle (the developer of Java.) Don't use either one unless you need it. Most people don't. If Java is installed, disable it—not JavaScript—in your browsers.
Regardless of version, experience has shown that Java on the Web can't be trusted. If you must use a Java applet for a task on a specific site, enable Java only for that site in Safari. Never enable Java for a public website that carries third-party advertising. Use it only on well-known, login-protected, secure websites without ads. In Safari 6 or later, you'll see a lock icon in the address bar with the abbreviation "https" when visiting a secure site.
Stay within the safe harbor, and you’ll be as safe from malware as you can practically be. The rest of this comment concerns what you should not do to protect yourself.
7. Never install any commercial "anti-virus" (AV) or "Internet security" products for the Mac, as they are all worse than useless. If you need to be able to detect Windows malware in your files, use one of the free security apps in the Mac App Store—nothing else.
Why shouldn't you use commercial AV products?
☞ To recognize malware, the software depends on a database of known threats, which is always at least a day out of date. This technique is a proven failure, as a major AV software vendor has admitted. Most attacks are "zero-day"—that is, previously unknown. Recognition-based AV does not defend against such attacks, and the enterprise IT industry is coming to the realization that traditional AV software is worthless.
☞ Its design is predicated on the nonexistent threat that malware may be injected at any time, anywhere in the file system. Malware is downloaded from the network; it doesn't materialize from nowhere. In order to meet that nonexistent threat, commercial AV software modifies or duplicates low-level functions of the operating system, which is a waste of resources and a common cause of instability, bugs, and poor performance.
☞ By modifying the operating system, the software may also create weaknesses that could be exploited by malware attackers.
☞ Most importantly, a false sense of security is dangerous.
8. An AV product from the App Store, such as "ClamXav," has the same drawback as the commercial suites of being always out of date, but it does not inject low-level code into the operating system. That doesn't mean it's entirely harmless. It may report email messages that have "phishing" links in the body, or Windows malware in attachments, as infected files, and offer to delete or move them. Doing so will corrupt the Mail database. The messages should be deleted from within the Mail application.
An AV app is not needed, and cannot be relied upon, for protection against OS X malware. It's useful, if at all, only for detecting Windows malware, and even for that use it's not really effective, because new Windows malware is emerging much faster than OS X malware.
Windows malware can't harm you directly (unless, of course, you use Windows.) Just don't pass it on to anyone else. A malicious attachment in email is usually easy to recognize by the name alone. An actual example:
London Terror Moovie.avi [124 spaces] Checked By Norton Antivirus.exe
You don't need software to tell you that's a Windows trojan. Software may be able to tell you which trojan it is, but who cares? In practice, there's no reason to use recognition software unless an organizational policy requires it. Windows malware is so widespread that you should assume it's in everyemail attachment until proven otherwise. Nevertheless, ClamXav or a similar product from the App Store may serve a purpose if it satisfies an ill-informed network administrator who says you must run some kind of AV application. It's free and it won't handicap the system.
The ClamXav developer won't try to "upsell" you to a paid version of the product. Other developers may do that. Don't be upsold. For one thing, you should not pay to protect Windows users from the consequences of their choice of computing platform. For another, a paid upgrade from a free app will probably have all the disadvantages mentioned in section 7.
9. It seems to be a common belief that the built-in Application Firewall acts as a barrier to infection, or prevents malware from functioning. It does neither. It blocks inbound connections to certain network services you're running, such as file sharing. It's disabled by default and you should leave it that way if you're behind a router on a private home or office network. Activate it only when you're on an untrusted network, for instance a public Wi-Fi hotspot, where you don't want to provide services. Disable any services you don't use in the Sharing preference pane. All are disabled by default.
10. As a Mac user, you don't have to live in fear that your computer may be infected every time you install software, read email, or visit a web page. But neither can you assume that you will always be safe from exploitation, no matter what you do. Navigating the Internet is like walking the streets of a big city. It's as safe or as dangerous as you choose to make it. The greatest harm done by security software is precisely its selling point: it makes people feel safe. They may then feel safe enough to take risks from which the software doesn't protect them. Nothing can lessen the need for safe computing practices.

What kind of portable hard drive can I use with my macbook air 13''

What is the type of portable hard disk that can be used with the macbook air

rickii wrote:
What is the type of portable hard disk that can be used with the macbook air
As long as it's USB, any one will work (If you're only using it for your Mac, then use Disk Utility to Partition it as GUID/HFS+).
Tony

What is the best projector to use with a macbook air

Need a trouble free projector to use with my macbook air for showing photos and business documents , excel eyc.

If you don't mind connecting the projector directly to the Mac with an HDMI cable, any projector with an HDMI input will work. There are a very large variety to choose from. Projector People is a competent vendor that I have used and can recommend. They are knowledgeable about Macs. Describe your needs and they will make recommendations. Their prices are as good as you are likely to find anywhere else.
You will also need a Thunderbolt to HDMI adapter. Purchase one from Monoprice. They are less than $10.

What kind of external microphone can I use with the MacBook Pro?

What kind of microphone can I use with GarageBand in MacBook Pro ?

It depends which MBP you have. Some of the newer ones don't have an audio in port, so you need a USB adapter with an audio in jack.

Which inspection camera to use with my MacBook Air?

This question relates to inspection cameras also known as snake cameras, endoscopes, borescopes or fiberscopes.
I want to buy an inspection camera which sits at the end of a cable perhaps 2-3m in length. I want to plug it straight into the USB port of my MacBook Air running 10.8.5.
It should have an illuminated tip and reasonably good resolution so that I can inspect areas under floorboards and within cavity walls. A waterproof version for use within a drain would be a bonus. It does not have to be medical grade.
I have spent hours trawling the web trying to find a suitable device.
I see several cameras most which seem to originate from China which (a) are reviewed as having poor resolution and (b) require software installation from a Chinese CD. Neither fill me with great confidence.
Surely somewhere out there this is a device which is of reasonable quality and will plug-in to my MacBook Air and work without having to load unverified software. For the avoidance of doubt I don't mind paying for and loading software as long as it's from a trusted source.
All help much appreciated.

Did your search find this one:
http://www.amazon.com/Waterproof-Endoscope-Borescope-Inspection-Camera/product-r eviews/B004ZWFOEQ
I don't have it and am suspicious of how well a $20 inspection camera will function, but it was the very first one I found with a review from a Mac user.
Be sure to read the review written by "Paul Manning"...

What is a good external hard drive for use with a macbook air?

I am looking at purchasing a macbook air 13". What is a good external hard drive to use with it? Should I look for an external hard drive with its own a/c power or is the usb 3.0 capable of powering the external drive.

Have a look here for the sizes and prices.
It is however, much better to get a USB external drive that comes with it's own power adapter to avoid issues when or if your USB port can't supply enough power to your external drive.
That issue however does happen rarely but it does happen. Especially when connecting other devices to your other USB port while your external hard drive is connected to your other usb port.

Looking for a Digital Handycam that works well with the PB. Any suggestions

Hi people,
I recently got the SONY DCR DVD 105 Digital Handycam as a gift, (along with the receipt) Well the nice little sony is not compatible with the PB.
So i'm now on the market for a handycam, as I want to return it.
Does anyone here have any suggestions as to a good camera, for basic home video's, that works well with the PB, for editing reasons?
Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks

Sorry...
When I did that, it was on Ver 2 I think.... I found this..... iMovie 2 Compatible Camcorders
More searching.... I got this (bit more current)....
List Of Compatible Camcorders For iMovie
Beavis2084

Advise on buying an external monitor to use with FCPX

I want to buy a monitor to use with my Macbook Pro
Any advice on what to buy if I also want to use with FCPX?
Is the advice to get the biggest one possible!? DOH!
Anything else?
I don't want to buy Apple: I don't have the budget to afford
Thanks
Omar

I don't think there is much point in going larger than 24" and you can get quite a few around the £120 mark on Amazon.
Make sure it has the right connection for your MBP as there are several different ones on the market.

What 32inch plus tv to buy in the UK to use with new intel Mac mini

As the title - What 32inch plus tv to buy in the UK to use with 1.83 intel Mac mini. It does not have to have freeview as I will be using tubestick. I do want to use the hdmi connection. Who's got a great setup, with no issues - model numbers appreciated £1200 ish budget

So everything is working normal except for screen saver? Hmm. That's odd. Perhaps your settings are such that shortly after the screen saver kicks in the mini is also set to go to sleep. That would cause the screen to lose sync and give the "no signal" message. Check your Energy Saver against the Screen Saver settings and adjust the sleep interval if need be.
FYI, running a screen saver on an LCD TV is not a good idea long term. An LCD uses a lamp as a backlight, and the lamp has a finite lifetime. Consuming it's limited hours of life by running a screen saver all the time (like overnight, everynight) will shorten considerably the service life of your TV.

I have a 500 gig time capsule. I have used with a Macbook. The Macbook has a 500 gig hard drive which is about 3/4 full. Now we just purchased a new MacBook pro with a 1 TB hard drive. Do I need to buy a larger Time Capsule?

I have a 500 gig time capsule. I have used with a Macbook. The Macbook has a 500 gig hard drive which is about 3/4 full. Now we just purchased a new MacBook pro with a 1 TB hard drive. Do I need to buy a larger Time Capsule?

Do I need to buy a larger Time Capsule?
Probably yes. You might be able to get the full backup of the new MacBook Pro on the Time Capsule, but it will not be long before the Time Capsule is out of space.
Better to add a new Time Capsule and backup the new MacBook Pro to the new Time Capsule, and keep the old MacBook backing up to the old Time Capsule.
If you do not want to add a new Time Capsule, another option would be to erase the Time Capsule disk and start over again with new backups of both Macs and move forward.

Bluetooth headset not working with 2008 Macbook!

Hello,
I just got a new Macbook and love it!
But, the other day I tried out my Bluetooth headset and the A2DP headphone choice works great.
But when I change it to headset for use with skype I can hear the person but all they hear is weird repeating static. I listened to myself with skype call testing service and it sounds bad. I looked in preferences of sound and most of the sound bars are purple and moving as if
i am yelling into the microphone. I know it is not the headset for it works with my cellphone and eMac.
Anything I do to the headset doesn't solve this or even brake the pattern in the purple bars.
I turned off the headset when it was showing these bars and they kept going.
It is not the headset. The Macbook is capable of receiving files through Bluetooth so it is not the input of Bluetooth that is the problem.
Also, when I first started the microphone of the headset it was clear then after a couple seconds it started to drown out my voice then it was gone, replaced by shhhhhhchhh.
My headset is a Plantronics 590E.
Thanks,
MIBM

Yes, thank you.
I was recently on Vacation and scheduled a Genius Bar visit and they tested my headset with another Macbook and same thing. I am very mad at Apple after finding this out. I had a feeling it was drivers or something but obviously could not test seeing as I only have one computer running Leopard, eMac runs Tiger. I actually have a third party bluetooth dongle working with my eMac. It is an Iogear dongle and on the box it says all features work with Mac and then I plugged it in and was unable to turn on/off and couldn't use headsets, then after hours of research I found a forum and downloaded a Broadcom driver and voila! it worked. That is also why I wasn't sure if it was a driver problem or hardware.
If anyone needs a tutorial and the driver for a broadcom bluetooth USB dongle I would be happy to help.
Thanks,
MIBM

What is the best wireless printer to use with an IPad Air and IPhone?

What is the best wireless printer to use with an IPad Air and IPhone that will print both text and photos? Also, is the separate keyboard available for the IPad Air, yet?

Best is relative. Different people like different things. I have an epson that I like. I'd look through a site like Best Buy and compare reviews for Air Print enabled printers.
as to the keyboard, I know Zagg has one and I think there are other manufacturers that have keyboards for the Air. As far as I know, pretty much any bluetooth keyboard will work, but if you want a case then you'd need to get a specific one.

Using an external display with the macbook air

hi, i wanna know if i can use an external display with the macbook air as the tunderbolt is a bit pricey? i was thinking about buyin a LCD moniter wih a VGA port. many thanks

Yes. You can use VGA DVI or HDMI monitors by buying a Minidisplay port to xxx adapter and the the appropriate cable (vga, dvi or hdmi).
The MiniDisplayport adapter plugs into the Thunderbolt port.
Regards,
Captfred
Here's a sample HDMI adapter. All these available in the Apple online store.
http://store.apple.com/us/product/H1824ZM/A/Moshi_Mini_DisplayPort_to_HDMI_Adapt er?fnode=MTY1NDA3Ng

A woman in her 50's using her first macbook air :)

hi i do not know if i am in the right area to ask this but i purchased my very first computer in my whole life it is the macbook air 13" the newest one. my son helped me installed the apple care cd onto my computer and ran the test. everything passed except for volume structure. ive been having trouble loading some youtube videos to watch. some thing would pop up telling me it is unable to play with the location of where the problem lies in my computer. im not sure how to be clear about this or how to go about the situation. my son thinks he should take in to the apple store where i purchased it to ask the genius bar for help but i thought i should go on the discussion board to see if i can find help from others who are using the same laptop as me. sometimes when i play farmville on my facebook, it would say the same thing as the youtube situation. can anyone help me? thank you kindly.

Hi and welcome to Mac
If the Apple Care utility is reporting a volume structure problem, then before you install anything else, please repair the drive.
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4399
To do this, insert the USB key that came with the MacBook Air - the little white software installation stick - and restart the computer. As it restarts (just as you get the chimes) press and hold down the C key.
This will force the machine to start from the USB stick.
You will be prompted to install software, but ignore this (choose the language only), then look under the Utilities menu and run Disk Utility.
This will allow you to repair the disk.
The restart and see how you get on with that. You should also run Software update after you restart to check everything is up-to-date.
It might also be a good idea to book a session with the Genius Bar at your Apple Store just to have them take you through what you can do with the MacBook Air so you get the most enjoyment out of it.
http://www.apple.com/support/macbookair/
Have fun!
Adam

Looking to buy a microphone headset to use with my macbook air...any suggestions?

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