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Mysteriously Moving Margins in Word

In Microsoft Word 2008 (and older versions), if you put your cursor in a paragraph and then move a tab or indent marker in the ruler, the change applies to just that paragraph. If your markers are closely spaced, you may have trouble grabbing the right one, and inadvertently work with tabs when you want to work with indents, or vice-versa. The solution is to hover your mouse over the marker until a yellow tooltip confirms which element you're about to drag.

I recently came to appreciate the importance of waiting for those tooltips: a document mysteriously reset its margins several times while I was under deadline pressure, causing a variety of problems. After several hours of puzzlement, I had my "doh!" moment: I had been dragging a margin marker when I thought I was dragging an indent marker.

When it comes to moving markers in the Word ruler, the moral of the story is always to hover, read, and only then drag.

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Published in TidBITS 1049.
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Problem Solving | 13 Oct 2010 | Listen  | Print Printer-Friendly Version of This Article | Comment (3)

Apple Exchange Program for ATI X1900 XT Video Cards

by Michael E. Cohen Send Email to Author

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Do you have a Mac Pro purchased sometime between August 2006 and January 2008? Have you been seeing distorted video and unsightly video artifacts? If so, Apple has created a special repair program for you. Under the terms of the program, you can take your old video card (along with your Mac Pro's serial number) to an Apple Retail Store or an Apple Authorized Service Provider and exchange it for a new card.

Video cards that are eligible for exchange under the program have the characters "V6Z" in the last part of the card's serial number. In order to verify the card's serial number, you will need to open your Mac Pro and remove the card; you can't see the serial number when the card is installed. Apple has published a support note, "Mac Pro: ATI X1900 XT video card with distorted video," that explains how to remove the card and verify the serial number. The support note also points out that you do not need to exchange the card if it does not exhibit signs of distorted video.

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The exchange program, according to Apple, applies to "affected ATI X1900 XT video cards three years from the original date of purchase or until January 31, 2011, whichever provides longer coverage," although Apple may extend the program if necessary.

If you have already paid for a repair or purchased a replacement video card, you may be eligible for a refund; contact Apple for details.

 

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Comments about Apple Exchange Program for ATI X1900 XT Video Cards

Simon Woodward  2010-10-18 17:38
This is all well and good for these Mac Pros. But has anyone had similar problems on their MacBook Pros with ATY,RadeonX1600 cards? We have a couple that experience display problems.
Adam Engst  An apple icon for a TidBITS Staffer 2010-10-19 06:41
There is a recall program for certain MacBook Pros with Nvidia GeForce 8600M video cards; see

http://support.apple.com/kb/ts2377

And you're certainly not alone in your problems with the ATI Radeon X1600; see

http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-13727_7-10330060-263.html
Phil Emery  2010-10-19 07:36
I've been struggling with the ATI for months trying to figure out what the issue was. Finally just gave up and got a new card from the apple Store. Just recived the new card yesterday and installed it - then saw this.

Called Apple - hopefully they'll give me that refund!