Connect and Use Your Devices: Introduction

There are plenty of things you can do on your Mac, but now it's time to start thinking outside the box. We're talking peripherals—all those glorious gadgets and digital devices that you can hook up to your Mac for even more fun. If you've got ’em, we'll show you how to connect them to—and use them with—your Mac.

Whether you want to print out photos or your resume, connect your DSL or cable modem to go surf Safari, import pictures or video footage from your digital camera, or fill up your iPod with tunes, we've got the methods for your madnesses.

Got or want digital toys? Follow these lessons to find out how to incorporate them into your Mac environment.

Lesson 1: Ports and Connectors—Before you start connecting stuff to your Mac, you need to get to know your computer's various ports. If you're unfamiliar with what those funny shaped holes are, this lesson introduces you to the ports on your Mac, and provides general information about what you'll need to connect peripherals.

Lesson 2: Connect Your Printer—Someday your prints will come. If you've got a printer and complete this lesson, that day can be today. We'll show you how to hook up a printer, connect to a networked printer, and print your files. Plus, get tips on getting perfect prints.

Lesson 3: Connect to the Internet—Whether you're using a DSL or cable modem, or want to connect without wires, we'll show you how to hook things up, configure your Internet settings, and get you connected to the worldwide web and email.

Lesson 4: Connect Your Camera—Digital still and DV cameras do all the work when it comes to capturing images, but if you want to view, edit, and share what you've caught, you'll need to download the pictures or video to your Mac. This lesson explains how to do just that.

Lesson 5: Connect Your Scanner—If you've got a scanner, follow this lesson to find out how to connect it to your Mac, and get tips that'll help you get the best scan for your job at hand.

Lesson 6: Audio Attachments—The Mac has long been the tool of choice for both recording engineers and musicians. This lesson will show you how to connect instruments (guitar, bass, and microphone), digital music players, and other musical gear to your Mac.

Lesson 7: Set Up Storage Devices—If you want to keep files separate from your computer's internal hard drive, you can connect an external FireWire or USB drive, DVD-RW or CD-RW drive, or other removable storage device. We'll tell you what you need to know to connect these types of devices.