There is no real installation procedure for .Mac. However, some of the features such as Virex virus protection, Backup, and the iDisk utility require simple installations to use.

Apple's .Mac services include quite a few features. These include web space, e-mail, virus protection, backup software, free stuff, support, and more. Here's a quick rundown of these features.

First, what may be useful to the most people is e-mail. .Mac users get a @mac.com e-mail address with 15 MB of space. You can use this e-mail through your favorite e-mail application, or over the web. Plus, Apple's servers have built in SPAM stopping software, which means you get much less junk mail than with Yahoo or Hotmail.

The other major online portion of this service is the iDisk. The 100MB iDisk not only acts as an over-the-Internet storage device, but is also a great place to post your personal web page (like this one). The iDisk is also used in a variety of ways including sharing your digital photos, and posting your iCal calendar. It will also be used with the upcoming iSync software to keep your computers in sync with each other.

To go along with the iDisk's web serving ability, Apple provides a Homepage tool. If you are new to the web site world, you can use this tool to easily make small websites using various templates. It's a great way to get into website building, but not a great tool for the experienced web site owner.

Another way to use one's iDisk is with Apple's backup tool. This handy little tool (Mac OS X only) will backup your important files to your iDisk, CD, or DVD. Backup lets you schedule when the backups happen, to where, and what kind of files to backup. It's very simple to use, and gets the job done.

Apple decided that with the advent of Mac OS X, Mac users may be more susceptible to virus attacks. So, they teamed up with Network Associates to bring us the latest versions of Virex. With .Mac, you can keep your computer free from viruses.

More free software comes in as MacSoft's Alchemy. Apple must have figured we just weren't getting enough out of .Mac in its current form, so they gave this game to us. Also, .Mac subscribers get $5 off Bejeweled, another MacSoft title. Hopefully, this kind of stuff keeps coming.

Other services include iCards and Support. iCards are a great way to keep in touch with family and friends. You can send birthday, anniversary, get well soon, or various other cards over the Internet. Also, iTools never really included a way to get any kind of support from Apple, but .Mac has changed that. Message boards filled with Apple employees who actually help. They also have a feedback form for users to make suggestions to the .Mac team.

The only problems I have had was very slow loading times of the iDisk at some points. I mainly use my iDisk form a Mac OS 9 Mac, so this may never get fixed. Mac OS X seems much better with iDisk access speed.

Apple created a frenzy by announcing the demise of iTools, and the introduction of the subscription based .Mac. At first, nearly everyone hated apple for doing this (including me), but I have come to realize that .Mac is much better than iTools in many ways, and may just be worth $100 per year.

Pros	Cons
15 MB @mac.com e-mail address 100 MB web space Free software (backup, virus protection, games) Good support iCards and Homepage tools	Somewhat expensive/no price tier system Homepage useless to many people
8/10 stars