requirements

Older 64-bit Macs out of the picture for Mountain Lion

Apple recently issued the golden master release of OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion to developers and testers, indicating that if no outstanding bugs are found in the current build then it will very likely be the final release of the operating system that will soon be issued to the public. Through the testing of the four preview releases of Mountain Lion, developers have noted that even though the operating system is 64-bit, Apple has excluded some early 64-bit-capable Mac systems from being included.

While this limitation was at first suggested as a possible temporary limitation during the initial phases … Read more

Will your Mac run Mountain Lion?

With the release of the Developer Preview of OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion came a list of system requirements that excludes more Intel-based Mac systems from running the new operating system, including a few models such as the first Mac Pro that seem like they should run the new OS just fine.

Given the first Mac Pro's processing capabilities, with its multicore 64-bit-capable CPUs with plenty of RAM and advanced graphics card, it ought to be more than capable of running Mountain Lion. After all, the difference here is not like Apple's switch to a new architecture … Read more

How to match Mac systems with system requirements

When Apple releases new software updates or even new devices, sometimes there are hardware requirements for which Mac models can be used with the new products. For instance, in the latest news on Apple's release of the OS X 10.8 developer preview, news of the system requirements came out suggesting some Intel Macs that can run Lion will not be able to run Mountain Lion.

In these requirement listings, models are usually referenced by the time frame in which they were released. For instance, you might see "mid-2010 MacBook Pro," or "late 2007 iMac," … Read more

Mac OS X 10.8 requirements omit more Intel Macs

If you've taken a look at Apple's sneak peek of its upcoming revision to OS X, you might wonder if your system will be able to run the operating system. In recent versions of OS X, some requirements have resulted in older hardware no longer working properly, including the drop of PowerPC support in Snow Leopard, and Lion not installing on some of the earliest Intel-based Mac systems.

Unfortunately Apple has not yet officially released the system requirements for the new OS, but the developer release that is being issued to members of its Mac development community does … Read more

Microsoft lays out Window 8 tablet hardware requirements

Microsoft has issued a set of guidelines for hardware certification on Windows 8 tablets--a policy it applies to all new operating systems.

While there aren't a lot of surprises (see charts below), Microsoft does specifically address a "convertible" design, which is expected to become popular on both Intel- and ARM-based devices.

Convertible: "A convertible form factor is defined as a standalone device that combines the PC, display and rechargeable power source with a mechanically attached keyboard and pointing device in a single chassis. A convertible can be transformed into a tablet where the attached input devices … Read more

Lion installation requires OS X 10.6.6 or above

Given the recent bugs that developed for users in OS X 10.6.8, a number of people have wondered whether they will need to update their Snow Leopard installations to the latest version before installing OS X 10.7 Lion. Apple's latest Snow Leopard updates have included tweaks to the Mac App Store that specifically mentioned they were for the pending Lion release, and this has introduced a bit of confusion as to whether the OS install will require the latest OS version or if you can get away with using any version of Snow Leopard that has … Read more

System requirements for Apple's iLife '11

With Apple's release of iLife '11, new hardware requirements have been published so that people can run the latest software enhancements. Keep in mind that these are the minimum specifications required to run the new iLife '11 and better hardware will ensure smoother operation.… Read more

iPhone 4 system requirements questioned

Digging into the iPhone Atlas mailbag, Brandon from Atlanta wonders why iPhone 4 requires Mac OS X 10.5.8 when it can operate on a Windows machine still running Windows XP.

"I tried to activate my iPhone yesterday from my Mac, which is 4 years old and running 10.4.11. The iPhone needs 10.5.8 or higher. If I use a PC I can use XP, Vista, or Windows 7."

On the surface this looks like a major flaw in Apple's planning for releasing iPhone 4. As Brandon mentions later in his e-mail to … Read more

Complex financial planner

J and L Financial Planner Professional is a powerful program that allows users to predict how certain financial events will affect them in the future. Although the program is jam-packed with features, its overwhelming interface makes it a little hard to get used to.

The trial version of the program allows users to view a sample account, and the first screen of the interface shows three graphs representing net worth and incoming and outgoing funds. The rest of the interface is cluttered with tabs, buttons, and drop-down menus. Users need to take a deep breath and resign themselves to clicking … Read more

Deadly 'subcompacts' on hold

Crews hoping for more personal fire power when scrambling from a tank hatch or other confined conveyance will be disappointed to learn that the U.S. Army is putting the search for a "subcompact" carbine on hold, according to industry reports.

While searching for a possible alternative to the M4 carbine, the Army had also been looking at a new "personal defense weapon" to give drivers and crews a little more punch than the currently issued Beretta M9 9mm pistol. But that plan has followed the economy, and the military budget, down the drain, according to … Read more