If you attend one of the many Adobe courses, you will see that there are those designers who swear by Apple, and there are those designers who don’t know what all the fuss is about. They will claim their machines have superior speed. If you are new to the design game, you will know that Apple has a reputation, but is it all it’s cracked up to be? You are about to spend some serious money on a laptop, so what is the difference between an Apple or a PC?

• Software.

  When it comes to software, there is little difference at all. Adobe CS5 is the current industry standard and it is available in both formats. Most other applications are available on both formats too. Software is certainly not an issue unless you are working in Asia perhaps, and working on specific gaming software. Even Apple is making heavier inroads into countries like China where Windows has dominated for years.

• Ease of use.

  A few years ago it was easy to argue that Apple was by far the easiest to use. Nowadays, this is not always the case. Windows has changed considerably and adapted many of the user functions seen in Apple. Both operating systems are easy to use. Windows 8 will be released soon, and judging by the demonstrations available online, it looks like it will be a pretty spectacular OS.

• Graphics and other element handling.

  Back in the day, Apple was the designer’s computer. They focused heavily on graphics, colours, fonts and the smooth conversion of these elements, especially when converting for print. Today, both PC and Apple Mac handle all of this very well. Graphics and design software is very sophisticated, and takes care of just about everything these days.

• Screens.

  It is only those heavily involved with graphic design who will appreciate what Apple does when it comes to matte displays. If you are going to buy a PC, make sure you do not get one with a cheap glossy display. Glossy looks good when it is turned off, but after hours of working each day you will appreciate the power of a matte finish.

• Virus and malware.

  You will still use your machine to surf the Internet and send emails even if you are a graphic designer. Do you want your machine to be constantly dealing with virus and malware issues, especially if it holds so much important work? This is actually one of the biggest issues for many designers.

• Warranty and Support.

  So what makes the difference between Apple and PCs? As a graphic designer, you need your machine running all the time, every time. The best thing about Apple today is the full warranty and computer repairs package available for their machines. Apple has developed a superior global network for their online and offline stores. When you buy Apple Care, you know you will be taken care of. If there is not a store nearby, you know who to deal with. This is not always the case when you buy from another manufacturer. Is it the retailer you are to deal with, or will you have to send your machine back to the manufacturer in the event of a malfunction? There is no one as clear-cut and easy to deal with as Apple.

As we can see, many of the issues that were once issues for graphic designers and their machines are no longer issues of concern. The same problems exist for everyone. However, those issues are seriously intensified because of the nature of the graphic designer’s relationship with his or her personal computer. Apple is still safer when connected to the web (which is basically all the time), and you know who made and sold you the machine if it ever needs fixing. If you have a way around that with your PC manufacturer, then the choice is yours.

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They say that one of the best ways to experience a new place is through your taste buds, as the flavours, food trends and dining styles of the city will tell you a lot about the people who live there. It’s important to note, however, that dining is not just about what you eat, but the entire experience. Dining outdoors, for example, with the smell of fresh flowers in the air and the cool evening breeze on your skin, can make an ordinary barbecue seem pretty special.

Sydney, being one of the most naturally beautiful cities in the world, has a plethora of ways you can enjoy your meal while making the most of your surroundings, whether it be in one of the city’s world class dining establishments or simply sitting on the sands of Bondi Beach enjoying some fish and chips. Here, we profile a few of Sydney’s best spots to dine, so that the next time you visit, you can really make a meal of it!

Sydney Beach Bliss

Sydney’s beaches are world class, and up and down its coastline there are a multitude of opportunities to enjoy the surf and the sand while you tuck into a good meal. Whether you grab a no-fuss box of fish ‘n chips and enjoy it with the smell of the sea in your nostrils or head to a little beachside café to sit outside and have your breakfast, beachside eating reminds you just how good it is to be alive.

If you’re looking for a quality restaurant by the sea, there are plenty of options to choose from in Sydney, from Sean’s Panorama and North Bondi Italian Food at—yep, you guessed it—North Bondi Beach, to the Bather’s Pavilion at Balmoral Beach, eating in style within metres of the waves is a very viable option.

Picnic Fun in Sydney

With the many parks in and around Sydney, a casual picnic with friends is the perfect way to spend a Sunday lunch. With The Royal Botanic Gardens, Centennial Parklands and the Hermitage Foreshore National Park all within easy access of the city centre, there’s no reason at all not to grab a picnic rug and a nice wheel of brie and relax back under the sun for al fresco at its best.

On Sydney Harbour

Sydney Harbour is widely acknowledged as one of the most beautiful natural harbours in the world and, naturally, a lot of fantastic dining institutions have sprung up around it. Whether you’re enjoying the hustle and bustle of the Pyrmont Fish Markets as you watch the fresh hauls come in, or treating yourself to something really special at the Quay, you’re in for an experience.

If you want to go out on the water, why not enjoy a Sydney Harbour cruise where you can feast on fresh seafood as you cruise around Port Jackson, learning about the history of the city and getting a front row seat to all the best views.

E-learning short courses (Photo credit: London College of Fashion short courses)

For whatever reason, you may have decided to complete a course online rather than at a physical college or university.  While this means you may not need to buy as many school supplies there are also things to watch out for. Here’s some important tips:

Tip 1: Is the course provider reputable?

Online courses and e-learning have sprouted across the web like mushrooms. They can wildly vary from being high standard and academically excellent to being shonky rip off merchants that are only after your credit card details. So you should definitely investigate the course providers’ credentials. For instance: are they affiliated to an actual college or university? Is there a physical way of contacting them on their website? And is their course accredited with the relevant education bodies in your state? Also, if they have testimonials you should certainly check them out. If possible, talk to others who have taken the course to see what their experiences were.

Tip 2: Be sure of your own self discipline

Learning online requires a lot of concentration and self motivation. Unlike traditional learning in a classroom or a lecture hall, you won’t have other students to inspire or help you. You also won’t have a teacher or a professor giving you deadlines. So you need to know your own capabilities. If you tend to be someone who needs lots of guided teaching or if you prefer social type learning, then an entirely online course may not be for you.

Tip 3: Look at how interactive the course is

A good online course will allow you to give feedback to the tutors and teachers. Ideally it should have lots of interaction with other students. This may be in the form of an online forum or else a space where students can chat or post up their work for discussion. Just like a normal course, you should expect to have tutors available if you are having difficulties. You don’t want a course where you rarely hear feedback and feel isolated. So make sure this is one of the criteria you investigate.

Tip 4:  How flexible is it?

In a traditional learning environment courses can be very rigid. One of the benefits of online learning is that they allow the student to cherry pick and tailor a course to his or her needs. This is not just in choosing subjects. It can also mean a mixture of theoretical and practical. Say, for instance, you’re studying hospitality training in Australia. You may want a course that gives you written online assessments but also allows you to go to do practical training in a hotel for a few days. Or perhaps you want a course that lets you change the pace of your commitment. For example, going from full time to part time without any hassle. These are all important things to consider.

Tip 5: How up to date?

All the best courses are ones that actively seek to get the latest information and research. We live in a rapidly changing world and learning should reflect that. So you should investigate how recent their source materials are. Also see if they have been running the same course for years without updating it. A simple Google search will help you uncover this. Other areas to look at are if they are using a lot of texts that are more than ten years old and if their teaching reflects changes in news or current affairs.

Flickr friends (Photo credit: Meer)

There is nothing worse than putting countless hours into planning a big event only to have a poor turnout on the day. Sometimes a poor showing can be just a matter of luck, but there are lots of things you can do to give your event the best chance of being jam packed. The following ideas are good to think about to make sure your event will be well attended.

Make It Unique

If you want people to attend your event you are going to have to have a clear reason why they should come. Making your event different from everything else and a unique experience is crucial if you want people to drop everything and come. If your event really is a one of a kind you should have no problems getting a good crowd.

Personal Invitations

One thing that hospitality training in Australia teaches is that there is nothing quite as effective as the personal touch. No doubt you have a lot of friends and know a lot of people, so if you want them to come to your event you should make up personal invitations for them all. Make up the invites with high quality stationery and you will definitely get people’s attention by having an invitation made up just for them.

Good Value

Most people would love to go out to great events seven nights a week, but it just isn’t realistic. Making your event good value for money will bump it up to the top of people’s list and make them more likely to choose your event over others. Many people make the mistake of pricing their event too high in the hope of making more money, but if you lower the price you make it an option for way more people and will probably end up making more money too.

Time It Well

Have a look at what other events are going on around the time you plan to have your event and try to pick a date that doesn’t clash with other major events. The less competition you have on the day of your event, the more chance you are of getting a good turnout. So be sure to have at look at your local events calendar before selecting a date.

Give Lots of Notice

No matter how good your event is you are going to need to give people a bit of notice if you expect them to be able to come. Most people lead busy lives and their calendars fill up quickly, so the more notice you give them the better.

Call Your Friends

Some time within the week leading up to your event it’s a good idea to personally call your friends and re-invite them to your event. People are funny and are way more likely to actually turn up if you have asked them personally. They also may have forgotten about the event so a friendly reminder may be the difference between them attending or not.

swimming pool (Photo credit: freefotouk)

Buying a pool means you have many fantastic times ahead. You will make lots of great summer memories, and if you’re willing, work away the Christmas kilos by hitting the water and doing laps.

And while having these options is very exciting, owning a pool also comes with some responsibilities. With water acting as a great breeding ground for bacteria, and a range of other factors that can make your pool an unhygienic or unsafe area, it is important you look after maintenance as a priority. Pool maintenance is not a big deal, and won’t take up a great deal of your time – and to truly make the most of your backyard waves, it is something that is vital. Make friends with your pool supplies store assistants and get some good advice.

So what maintenance tips do you need to remember?

1. The Water and Chemicals

To keep your water hygienically clean, safe to swim in and suitable for human swimming, there are a number of chemicals that will help you out. Chlorine is the first and most renowned of the chemicals that will play a part in your pool maintenance. It is basically used to keep your pool clean and to break down and remove any build up of bacteria and algae – which of course you don’t want to swim around in, and you definitely don’t want your kids in. Sanitise your pool with chlorine regularly, and monitor the chlorine levels so you know it is safe for swimming in – you should watch this carefully, you don’t want your chlorine indicator to be your kid’s red, sore eyes!

In addition to chlorine levels, you should also monitor the pH levels in your pool – this is the measure of acidity or alkalinity. The water should be more alkaline (slightly) as chlorine works most effective this way. As well as impacting chlorine, more alkaline water is better matched to our own skin and also means pool equipment won’t be damaged.

2. Keep it Clean

Your skimmer basket and pool filter are your best friends when it comes to keeping your water clean. Your skimmer basket will collect leaves and other debris that falls into the water. Make sure you check and empty it regularly to keep your pool is as clean as possible. In addition, use a leaf net to rake up anything remaining and clean your tiles regularly.

3. Other Pool Additions

Besides the chlorine and pH levels that are commonly known, new pool owners should also consider heading to their pool accessories store for other treatments which will further ensure cleanliness and the long life of your pool – and its swimmers! Algae preventatives will need to be added regularly to control algae contaminants. Keep in mind these additives can damage your tiles, so ask a professional and spend that little bit extra to get a good quality one that does no damage. Your filter system will have some trouble eliminating the very small particles on the surface, such as metal particles, which are often found. A ‘metal out’ chemical helps rid you of these. Finally, a clarifier should be added to rid the water of any cloudy appearance.

4. Keep an Eye on the Weather

The other major factor in your pool maintenance is the weather. Storms of any kind, particularly dust storms, will leave your pool incredibly dirty, and maintenance should be undertaken immediately. To decrease the amount of damage incurred, consider getting a pool cover and keeping the water under wraps when not in use.

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The most important thing about entertaining outdoors is to have somewhere to entertain your guests.  A good paved area with a veranda or retractable awning for shade is a good start to creating an entertainment area.  You can also create an outdoor room by using outdoor roller blinds to close your entertainment area in.

Guest list

An outdoor party is really only as good as its guest list.  Depending on the occasion your guest list may change.  You may have occasions where it is just family and close friends, or there are other times you extend the guest list and include a wider circle of friends.  For a larger party, it can be fun to get guests to bring a friend that you haven’t met.  It’s a great way to meet new people and makes for interesting conversations and a memorable evening.

Invitations

Send out invitations early because people are often busy and it pays to get in early.  It is especially important to get invitations out early around Christmas and New Year as everyone ends up with lots of commitments between family and friends as well as work functions.

Menu

When you are entertaining outdoors, think carefully about what sort of food you are going to serve.  Choose meals that are easy to prepare or food where people can help themselves.  A barbecue with salads is always the easiest, but to be a bit more adventurous try having a themed party with foods like Mexican, Thai dishes or big platters of seafood.

Lighting

To create the right mood, use the right sort of lighting in your garden.  Don’t switch on the fluorescent overhead light but use the lights in your garden to light your party.  Fairy lights look effective hung in the trees and around the veranda and spot lights are good to light the way along pathways.  If you have a swimming pool, turn on your pool light to make the back garden look more inviting.

Outdoor Furniture

Outdoor furniture is now so much more than just a set of plastic chairs and a table.  You can buy comfortable outdoor lounge suites, beautiful tables and chairs, recliners and gorgeous hanging chairs that can be set up hanging from a tree branch or from a frame.

Outdoor Kitchen

If you entertain outside often you might want to build a whole outdoor kitchen that will mean you can prepare and cook your entire meal outside.  As well as your barbecue, you can have a sink installed, have a large bench area to prepare and lay out food and even have storage space underneath.  If you really wanted, you could also put in a small fridge for drinks.

Shade

You do need a shaded area when entertaining outdoors, especially during summer when it is so easy to get sunburnt.  A sheltered area means you can also use the space during winter if you have an outdoor heater or fireplace.  A veranda or even retractable awning works well to create the necessary shade.

Get Organised

If you haven’t been to school in a while, it might take you a bit of getting organised, though depending on what you have been doing the last few years, it may not be a very difficult adjustment at all. Chances are that you may still be working a job while doing your studies on the side, so making sure you can balance your time and obligations will be crucial to both your job and your studies.

Be Prepared

Having all the right school supplies will make you feel prepared and ready for the learning to begin, and with a decent day planner or organiser, you will be able to keep track of everything you have going on. Most classes will give you a list of everything that you will need for the class, so as soon as you know what you need, get it. You don’t want to be halfway through an assignment late at night and be missing that crucial item of stationery.

Practice Discipline

It is important that you are disciplined and stay on top of your class work, as once you fall behind it can be really hard to catch up again. Do your work as soon as it is assigned and if you have class work to do, skip that night of partying with your mates and make sure you have your best work to hand in.

Find a Study Buddy

If you can manage this, your studies will be far easier as well as way more fun. All it takes is asking around the class as usually others will be looking to team up to do their studies as well. Having someone to study with will help motivate you when the going gets tough, and you may end up making a friend while you are at it.

Take Advantage

There are lots advantages to being in school, such as the student discounts, student grants and scholarships, being eligible for exchange programs, and the opportunity to meet lots of new people. As a student you have a world of opportunities open to you whether you are studying on campus or online. Make sure you know what you are entitled to and eligible for, and you will be making the absolute most of this amazing opportunity.

Going back to school as a mature student can be a pretty daunting task, though these days it is quite a common thing to do. So go and get those extra qualifications, and have fun doing it. You may find there are a few more courses that you want to do next.

In all the excitement of a fast approaching trip overseas to Australia, it is easy to forget about all the things you have to do before you leave to make sure you are fully prepared. If you want to have a smooth, stress-free trip, then taking care of the essentials ahead of time, such as researching your destination, managing your finances and getting everything at home in order, is key. Here are a few tasks that you will definitely want to take care of before you fly away.

Paperwork

Before you go on a trip overseas, there is lots of boring and tedious paperwork you need to take care of first. A few things you will want to consider are; updated passport and ID, international driver’s license, your travel visa, copies of any necessary prescriptions you have and where you can get good, cheap travel insurance.

Arrival Plan

The first few days of your trip will often be devoted to travel logistics, sleeping arrangements, becoming familiar with new surroundings and overcoming jet lag. Planning ahead for these confusing days will reduce your stress levels and make you less nervous about leaving home. The most important thing is knowing where you will sleep on your first night, so look into pre-booking hotels, hostels or serviced apartments. Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne are all large and confusing cities, so before you come, make sure you study a map and know how you will get from the airport to your accommodation.

Start Packing Early

The best way to make sure you don’t forget anything vital is by making a list early on in your travel planning. From there, any time you think of something you will want to take, you can add it to the list instead of trying to remember it. When travelling to Australia, you will only need bare essentials and personal items since you can buy anything you need when you get here. Leave some space in your bag, too, as you will most likely want to bring souvenirs back home with you.

Manage Your Cash Flow

Travelling internationally means that you will need to exchange your money into the foreign currency of the country you are travelling to. Many banks will allow you to buy Australian currency ahead of time, which ensures that you have money to spend as soon as you get here. You will also want to discuss how you can access your money from overseas with your bank as well as contact your credit card company to let them know about your travel plans.

Take Care of Things at Home

Before you leave, you will want to make sure your home and your personal belongings will be secure while you’re gone. Make sure to organise someone to look after your home and pets well before you are scheduled to leave. At least three days before you travel, you need to look into placing a stop order on regular occurring deliveries or services such as postal mail, newspapers, house cleaners, gardeners etc. It is a good idea to have someone either stay in your home while you are away or at least have a friend come regularly to make it look like your home is being lived in.

Window and Shutter (Photo credit: Andrew_D_Hurley)

They say that your eyes are the window to your soul, and that may be true, but have you also ever thought that your windows could be the soul of your home?  From the street two things that somebody might immediately notice about your house are the front entrance, which could have a fancy security door in place, and the other thing are your windows.  You can dress your windows with either roller blinds or curtains, and you can also even change the look of your windows on the outside with screens or retractable awnings.  There are many ways you can make your windows great.

You need to have some sort of cover over your windows, particularly if you have large windows or ones that are facing either the north or west and get a lot of direct sunlight during the hottest part of the day.  Roller blinds can be a cheaper option, and you can even install them yourself.  You can order blinds online, which is a good way to do it if you are on a budget.  You simply need to provide the correctly measurements and they will make them up to the right size.  Once they are delivered you will find it easy enough to put them up yourself.  Roller blinds are also great because they don’t take up any room alongside your windows, giving you that bit more space and achieving a less cluttered look in your room.

Curtains

Curtains look fantastic on windows if you want a more formal look, and can be really dressed up with sashes, tassels or bows.  Having thicker curtains with a proper backing are also good for keeping out the heat during summer and trapping the warm air during winter.  You can choose curtains to suit any room, curtain or style of furniture.  They come in a huge variety of fabrics, in different textures, colours and quality.  The price range can vary right across the scale, so you are sure to find something to suit both your room and your budget.

Shutters

Shutters can give your windows a more casual look.  They look great in bathrooms and also work well on floor to ceiling windows.  You can have timber shutters on the inside of your windows, or you can have shutters on the outside of your home, which will also give your home a more period look.

Glass

You can dress up your windows by having different types of glass, such as stained glass windows or frosted glass.  Glass also comes in different textures and patterns, which is great for bathroom or toilet windows.  This alleviates the need for having a blind as you can’t see through the window from the outside.  A stained glass window can be a real feature of your home and looks fantastic at entrances and even bathrooms.  You can buy stick on coverings that give the appearance of frosted glass, some even with cut out patterns and words on them, just to give your window a bit of interest.

Your windows don’t need to be boring and just something to look out of.  Really dress them up so they are a feature of your home.

Happy Valentine's Day... (Photo credit: Јerry)

If you’ve got a special loved one in your life, there’s no skimping out of a special treat on Valentine’s Day. But what do you do exactly? Flowers? Chocolates? Teddy bears? Dinner? If you think Valentine’s Day is kind of silly or a bit of a non-event – or if you’re stumped on what to do, here are 5 tips to make sure you come out on top in the eyes of your favourite girl.

1. Don’t Ignore It

Whatever you do, don’t ignore Valentine’s Day by pretending it doesn’t exist. Even if you’re busy at work, a total lack of phone calls or emails or sweet one-liners will get you nowhere. And what’s worse, your girl will probably sit around for most of the day wondering when she’s going to hear from you. You may not be the sensitive type, but if you simply ignore the fact that it’s Valentine’s Day, you’ll probably be coming home to some icy-cold stares.

2. Don’t Spend It With Your Mates

This is probably the worst thing you can do and is somewhat on par with forgetting her birthday or your anniversary. If you decide to spend Valentine’s Day with your mates instead of your girl, you are probably committing relationship suicide and what’s more, she’ll be hurt and disappointed, even if she pretends otherwise. If hanging with your boys seems more alluring than spending it with her, perhaps you need to consider how committed you really are to your relationship.

3. Get Her Something

All girls love gifts and no matter what you think, a girl will still swoon if you get her something on Valentine’s Day. Whether it’s a bouquet of Valentine’s Day flowers, a rose, a surprise dinner or even a new necklace, make sure you get her something.  Even when she might say she doesn’t want anything or that she thinks Valentine’s Day is not a big deal, she’ll still love the gesture because it means you’ve made an effort for her – which is what girls really want!

Tip: Don’t buy cheap or thoughtless gifts – sending her a card or buying her a new pair of oven mitts will not go down well. Even something like a book by her favourite author or a voucher for some shoes she’s had her eye on will be better than something you haven’t thought about. When in doubt though, stick to flowers.

4. Surprise Her

Yes, girls love surprises! Surprises can come in many forms and they don’t have to require lots of effort or money from you. Surprise her with a romantic dinner, a chick-flick or even tell her that you’re going to cook for her tonight (assuming your home cooking’s not awful!). Surprising her also means NOT doing the exact same thing you did last year. Still can’t be bothered? Sending flowers to her workplace will always go down well – it’s unexpected and no doubt she’ll be sitting around watching all the other girls receive their flower deliveries.

5. Your Undivided Attention

Even if you do get her some flowers or a gift or take her to dinner, it’s not going to mean anything if you spend half the night with your mind elsewhere. No girl wants a bunch of flowers only to find you’re going to spend the evening watching your favourite TV show, nor does she want a romantic dinner where her man is texting and emailing the whole time. Give her the time and attention she deserves and you’re almost guaranteed she’ll be smiling non-stop, which in the long run will score you some serious boyfriend brownie points.