Keeping devices up to date is one of the simplest ways to improve security, performance, and reliability, yet it’s often ignored until something goes wrong. Whether you’re an individual user or responsible for technology within a business, understanding how often to update and when to replace devices can prevent avoidable issues and downtime. Software & Operating System Updates Software updates should be treated as routine maintenance. Operating systems and applications are updated regularly to fix security vulnerabilities, resolve bugs, and maintain compatibility with new software and services. Updates should either be installed as soon as they are released or, at the very least, checked weekly if managed manually. Devices that fall several months behind on updates are far more likely to experience security risks, performance problems, and unexpected errors. Phones & Tablets Phones and tablets are used daily for email, [...]

In live events technology should support the show, not stop it!! So often it's over looked and becomes the weak link, with outdated or underpowered laptops crashing or cause playback issues. This not only makes you look bad but adds unnecessary pressure to teams working under tight timelines. From show control and media playback to presentations, registration, and technical operations, reliable computing power is essential. What works in an office doesn’t always hold up in a live event environment, where multiple applications, external devices, and displays are running simultaneously and failure is not an option. At iHire, we help event professionals avoid these issues by supplying modern, well-maintained rental laptops and computers that are ready to perform when it matters most. Why Reliable Tech Matters at Events Events place sustained demands on hardware. Older machines often struggle with modern software, [...]

Choosing the right laptop is often overlooked. Outdated equipment and laptops that are under- or over-specified can lead to unnecessary cost and on-site issues. Selecting the correct laptop specification helps control budgets, reduces technical risk, and ensures your team can perform under pressure. Below is a simple guide to choosing the right laptop for your event. Low-Spec Laptops – Simple, Reliable & Cost-Effective Low-spec laptops are ideal for straightforward tasks where stability and speed of deployment matter more than processing power. Event registration and check-in Lead capture systems Web-based platforms Email, spreadsheets and admin tasks Typical uses: Registration desks, badge printing, welcome counters and temporary admin points. These laptops are cost-effective and perfectly suited to front-of-house event workflows. Paying for extra performance here usually adds no real benefit. Mid-Spec Laptops – The Event All-Rounder Mid-spec laptops offer the best balance [...]

Reliable Wi-Fi is no longer a “nice to have”. In the UAE, where events, exhibitions, corporate projects, and temporary offices often operate on tight schedules and high expectations, a stable network is frequently mission-critical. Many connectivity issues don’t come from poor equipment, but from unclear requirements at the planning stage. Before requesting a Wi-Fi network in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, or elsewhere in the UAE, asking the right questions will help ensure the solution is reliable, scalable, and compliant with local conditions. 1. How many users and devices will connect at the same time? In UAE events and corporate environments, attendees often carry multiple devices — phones, tablets, laptops, scanners, or POS systems. International visitors may also connect personal devices unfamiliar to local networks. Planning for simultaneous connections rather than headcount alone is essential to avoid congestion, slow speeds, or dropouts [...]

We’ve added four powerful new products to our rental inventory, designed to support events, corporate environments, exhibitions, and temporary project setups across the UAE. Whether you need serious processing power, portable presentation tools, or rock-solid speaker cueing, these latest additions give you more flexibility and performance when it matters most. Here’s a closer look at what’s new. Mac Studio M4 Max – Extreme Performance for Demanding Workflows The Mac Studio M4 Max is built for high-end production environments where speed, stability, and processing power are critical. This compact desktop packs serious performance, making it ideal for technical control rooms, live graphics, video playback, data processing, and creative workflows. Ideal for: Live event control desks Video editing and media playback Data-heavy applications and simulations Temporary production offices Despite its small footprint, the Mac Studio delivers workstation-level performance and is perfect where [...]

With the current conditions surrounding Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) we wanted to share with you some of our tips and techniques for cleaning and disinfecting your computers and devices. These are cleaning techniques we use when every rental is returned to us and before it goes out to our clients, however we also have introduced a 48hour quarantine since the outbreak. We recommend these techniques not only during this time but also on a regular basis. Germs and bacteria can lurk in a verity of office & home electronics, including screens, keyboards, mice, touchpads, phones to name a few. Even simple sanitation techniques can prevent the spread of diseases and bacteria. Things you will need Soft micro fiber cloth Isopropyl alcohol or Disinfectant wipes (we use Nanofixit Gadget Sanitizer) Hand sanitizer   Sanitizing Computes and Devices Wash you hands and sanitize [...]

Welcome to our step by step guide for How to Setup Your Mac Like an AV Professional. Whether you're using PowerPoint, Keynote, Playback Pro, Q-lab, VJ software or any other similar software this guide will help build a more safe and robust system for your next presentation. This may also benefit designers and video editors, of course some settings might need to be changed due to the situation or personal preferences, however this is a good starting point to get maximum performance. 1. Create a brand new profile Whether you're using your own Mac or hiring from us, we recommend creating a brand new user profile if you plan to use this for anything beyond usual work/personal purposes. For example I have my standard user profile that I use for emails, design etc and then I have another called AV Work. [...]

We recently teamed up with our friends at DAS Event to create a solution for displaying speaker names and event logos within onstage speaker comfort/coffee tables. The challenge we were faced with was we had to create a dynamic solution, that would allow for last minute changes in speakers and the ability to move the speakers names around in case someone sat in the wrong seat. We also needed to create something that was cost effective and didn't require a long lead time creating a bespoke application. To achieve this we adapted a pre-existing screen application that we ran from a central control laptop and would sync with the screens through a cloud based interface via a Wi-Fi connection. As predicted, there were plenty of last minute changes and speakers that mistakenly sat down incorrectly. The solution worked amazingly well. [...]

Working in events can be stressful. It's often hard to stay on top of everything and keep organised. With looming deadlines, long hours & being away from the office, tasks can easily escape you when you lease expect it. So we assembled this guide for essential apps to help the event professional. These will save you time, keep you organised and help you deliver outstanding events. Super Planner Super Planner is the multi tool app for event managers. It provides a vast tool kit and is designed to help you in all aspects of the planning and delivery process. You can plan venue capacity, staffing, staging, AV requirements, and loads of useful tips. This app will help you from over crowding your venue; keep you on track with your budget; help calculate catering; ensure you staff your event correctly; and [...]

It's been a little while since we shared what has been going on here at Mac Rentals, so we wanted to share out new items as we are sure these will be of use to you in the coming months...So before we rabbit on let's get into it.   Our New Office Photo taken on move in day. First of all we wanted to share that we have a new office. We are now in Jebel Ali Industrial Area 2, so if you collect from us please make sure you visit our contact pages to get a map and our full address. We are really stoked with the new space. We had pretty much out grown Vista Tower and it was a mission to get our equipment in the elevator, we had a small prep space, it wasn't [...]