My new iMac
It is everything I expected. As expected.
I ordered the full size wired keyboard and wired mouse, I still don’t really trust this wireless stuff. I also took the 640GB HDD over the 1TB, after all, how do you backup 1TB??
Anyway, now starts the arduous task of finding and copying all my mac-apps over to the iMac from the Macbook. The good thing is, it’s so much more easier than on windows.
I still cannot quite believe how fast it is. I guess the real test will be Photoshop CS3 and scanning negatives at 4000dpi. Fun Fun Fun.
Update: 18/04/09
All apps have been migrated or installed. The new iMac is now a fully armed and fully operational battle station.
Shiny white goodness
I ordered a wireless mighty mouse for the laptop. This wasn’t a flippant purchase, far from it. I don’t make flippant purchases. I had considered getting a mighty whitey for the macbook a while ago but, AU$99 for a mouse on it’s own is a bit of a stretch even for me.
So, I bought it as an additional item with my new iMac.
In other news, I have bought an iMac.
It won’t arrive for a good month or so, so I won’t go into details about it yet...I’ll wait till it arrives.
Back to the mouse... so far seems to be an excellent critter. Turned on the Bluetooth and before you could say “hey presto” the mouse had paired with the macbook and not a word was said.
All done and dusted.
Firefox 3.1 beta 2 Released
The interface is looking very much like the recent Thunderbird 3.0 beta 1, specially the tabs component. But aside from this there is no radically obvious changes.
Launching seems faster but that could be my new 7200rpm drive.
I’ve only been using FF31b2 for 5 minutes but one thing I did notice in my quick look around was this...
Previously, a plugin was required to do this very handy option.
Windows 98 on Parallels 4.0
I’m also ashamed to say I own (through OEM) the following Windows versions:
Windows 3.0
Windows for Workgroups 3.11
Windows 95 (A and D)
Windows 98
Windows 98SE
Windows NT Workstation
Windows 2000 Professional
Windows XP
Anyhow, from time-to-time, I find a bone that I just can’t stop chewing on... and this is such a bone.
After tinkering around for about 15 minutes I found a solution. This solution isn’t your normal “insert CD... next... next... next...”, but rather, how I’ve installed Windows 98 since time out of mind. I’m typing this up as my Windows 98SE installation is completing. Sorry, no screen grabs... I don’t care THAT much.
1. Create your virtual machine in Parallels 4.0 selecting Windows and “Other Windows” NOT “Windows 98” and leave all the machine defaults.
2. Insert your Windows 98 CD, boot from it and select the “run setup from CD”.
3. Allow the installation to start but you only want it to run to the end of the formatting of the hard drive. There will be several reboots (gotta love Windows) and once it gets to the “Checking the hard drive” force your machine to reboot again.
4. This time, boot from CD but select the “Boot with CDROM support” option.
5. You’ll end up at the DOS prompt, but importantly you’ll have an A:\, C:\ and D:\ drive. Ignore these for the moment and type the following at the prompt:
set path=d:\tools\oldmsdos;%path%
You need the tools in the D:\TOOLS\OLDMSDOS directory... namely XCOPY.EXE
6. Now type the following at the DOS prompt, ignoring the comments in inverted commas:
C: “changes to C: drive”
md win98 “creates the c:\win98 directory on c: drive”
D: “changes to D: drive”
cd win98 “changes to the win98 directory on d: drive”
xcopy *.* c:\win98 /s/e/v “copy the installation files to c:\win98 and all subdirs, even if they’re empty, and verify”
Once the copy has finished you have everything you need for the installation copied to C:\ and we no longer need the Windows 98 CDROM.
7. Now that the files are on the C: drive type the following at the DOS prompt:
C:
cd win98
setup /is /nr /id “skips the scandisk, registry scan, and disk space checks”
8. Complete the installation to your requirements.
9. To get the necessary Parallels Tools drivers to install (of which there aren’t many) you’ll need to switch the operating system version from “Other Windows” to “Windows 98”. This makes it easier to install the two drivers that are compatible with Windows 98... sorry no drag’n’drop to the desktop on this little puppy. I installed these manually.
Note: to get any type of performance out of your Windows 98 machine, I recommend you disable all the fancy effects like menu fade and the like.
Done! How easy was that eh?
The benefit of copying the installation files to the C:\ drive is that if you want to install or change something later, you don’t need the CD.
Enjoy your Win98SE virtual machine. I don’t want to know what you do with it.. that’s your business.
AirPort shenanigans
Namely, AirPort plays up when switching locations.
At worst, AirPort settings are lost for the location I switch to. At best AirPort takes several start/stops to acquire an IP address from a DNS server (no there is nothing wrong with my DNS server). The most common however is, AirPort doesn’t turn ON if it is OFF as part of the location I’m switching from.
I believe Apple have supplied an update in AirPort Extreme Update 2008-004.
However, I’ve only just applied this update so I’m not sure if it has solved my problem. I’ll know tomorrow.
Prior to finding this update (thanks Paul...again) I was tinkering around trying to figure out what was occurring. It all seemed hit-and-miss in the Network Preferences pane so I switch to the terminal. Lo and behold, I found a quick work-around.
ifconfig en1 down
followed by...
ifconfig en1 up
This immediately and without fuss, fixed my AirPort connection. Why this doesn’t do exactly what the GUI does I’m not sure, but there does seem to be some difference.. perhaps that’s part of the problem as resolved in the update?!
This may or may not work for you but give it a shot if you haven’t had time to install the above update, which requires a reboot - There goes my record uptime attempt AGAIN.
OpenOffice 3.0 final release
There are apparently quite a few new things in this version, one being compatibility with M$ Office 2007 format.
I am running this version on OS X 10.5 and the final release is a bit quicker than the original public Beta. However, it’s no Audi R8.
I was flicking through some of the online discussions and found that by disabling the Java runtime environment you can speed up the whole app quite significantly. Jump into preferences and click on the Java option, then remove the tick.
So far it’s looking good and I’m glad it’s finally out of Beta.
I’ll be interested to see how it goes on Ubuntu, but I’ll wait for the official release in the updates for that one.
bc and cal
I came across two little terminal utilities that, for me, have a “cool” factor.
bc
bc is a terminal window calculator. Just run bc in a terminal and then plug in what you’d like to calculate. The calculator follows the BODMAS rules of calculation and calculates internal brackets before external ones. Type man bc for more options.
cal
cal by default, displays the current month calendar in the terminal window. Type cal in the terminal window. If you’d prefer the Julian calendar type cal -j. Type man cal for more options.
So if you spend your time in a terminal window, you don’t need to leave it do calendary mathematical things.
il est délicieux
What catalogs your
CD’s, movies, books and a swag of other stuff... and
tastes delicious?
Delicious Library!
This beaut little program uses the iSight camera
built into your MacBook to scan the ISBN bar-code on
your books, movies and whatever else then looks them
up on the interweb and puts them in your library. How
easy is that!?
It can search through ISBN libraries in other
countries just in case your “item” was imported.
Not only can it do this, but it also hooks into your
iTunes library as well.
Once you’ve cataloged your tools and the like, you
can then add “friends” from the Address Book so you
can check out items to them. Never again will you
forget who you loaned that widget-remover to. Even
have Delicious Library notify you when they’ve had
that doovey for too long.
Go to www.delicious-monster.com and
check out the latest version.
Slimline Apple keyboard on Windows XP
So you’ve succumed to the anodised aluminium wonder and purchased the slimline Apple keyboard (wired in this case)... but you don’t own a Mac and you want to get it working on WinXP.
You could just plug it in and it would work satisfactorily as it is.
However, what about the INS (Insert key) or the NUM (Numlock key) and all those specific OS X keys? What do they do now that this brushed beauty is running on a legacy OS?
Solution: Get the Apple driver.
If you’re an OS X user you’ll know that OS X 10.5 comes with BootCamp. This allows you to run a Microsoft OS on your Apple hardware with no OS X in sight. To fascilitate this desecration Apple have provided a swag of Windows drivers to allow the hardware to function.
One of the drivers is for the Apple keyboard.
To get the driver you could try downloading it, or you could ask one of your OS X using friends to get it for you.
If you have an OS X 10.5 DVD as I have you do the following:
1. Mount the OS X DVD on a Windows PC
2. double click the “Drivers” folder
3. double click the “Apple” folder
To install the drivers double click the “applekeyboardinstaller.exe”.
You can reboot if you like, it’s Windows afterall and it’s never happy without a reboot of some type.
Now when you plug in your slimline “twiggy” of the keyboard world, WinXP will detect it and away you go!
Key equivalents:
fn = INS
clear = NUM LOCK
Hiccups that I’ve found:
1. When installing NetWare in ESX server you are required to press the F10 key to accept the licence. In this instance F10 is not translating. Could be the Apple driver, could be the keyboard mapping to ESX. Fairly obscure I know, but worth mentioning.
UPDATE:- The F10 key is working fine, along with all the function keys. Solution: press the FN key in combination with the function key of your choice. All good. So now I have no hiccups.
2. Let me know if you find more and I’ll add them to the list.
RapidWeaver 4.0
RapidWeaver 4.0 has arrived. Usually this would be a paid upgrade however, as I found out today, owners of version 3.6 get a free upgrade to 4.0. That includes me...woohoo!
RapidWeaver 4.0 is built using Cocoa, OS X Leopard’s native language and takes advantage of Core Animation and Quick Look(available in 4.0.1).
The interface has also had quite an overhaul and looks very fresh and, well ... Leopardy!
The good news is, if you’re wanting to try it, RealMacSoftware are offering RapidWeaver for $59. That’s a $20 saving.
OpenOffice.org 3.0 beta
OpenOffice.org version 3.0 beta has been released, and finally drops the X11 requirement on OS X.
Open Office is everything you need and nothing you don't. Why pay money for Microsoft Office (over bloated behemoth that it is) when OOo is FREE?
I've been using OO for a while now on Linux(home) and Windows(work) and I've been waiting for a Aqua version of it so I could run it on the MAC without X11. NeoOffice is available (and I do have it installed) but nice as it is, it was a change in interface/icons that annoyed me.
Now that particular issue has vanished.
There are a number of nice new things in version 3.0 and you can read about them here, but mostly I'm impressed with the compatibility with latest version of MS Doc and XLS files, as well as the GoogleOffice format.
Version 3.0 is still in beta and it is rather obvious. It is horribly slow on Windows and passable on OS X. I'm still using version 2.4 on Ubuntu and will wait until the final release before upgrade on that OS.
If it's been a while since you last looked at OOo, it is time to have another look.
Remember:
OpenOffice = FREE
MSOffice = $$$
Firefox 3 in Beta 3
The worlds best browser is getting even better.
Firefox 3 is now in Beta 3 release, and ready for you to download and try. You can get it here.
One of the many new features is the redesigned location bar. You can read about that here.
At the suggestion of the Mac Guru at work (aka Paul) I renamed my current Firefox application to Firefox2 so the install of the beta wouldn't overwrite it. I can now run the two versions side-by-side with nary a problem. Windows users shouldn't need this step. I haven't tested it (because I no longer use Win) but from memory the beta installs as a separate program, but you might want to pay attention during the install.
Be prepared for the bug or two, but as yet I haven't found any with the Mac binary. Most of the themes/plugins I was using no longer work, but I expected this. FF3b3 is doing it's update check each time I launch it and it will grab them as they become available. I'm not really concerned with themes as the out-of-the-box theme is so close to the minimalistic one I use in FF2. All is good.
Switch to Firefox, because friends don't let friends use IE.
(Now.. me wonders when the new version of Thunderbird will be released.. last news was late this year 2008.)
Moving away from Windows
Microsoft would have you believe
they have the only computer operating system in the
world. But nothing could be further from the truth.
There are much more capable OS's out there than
Windows. More capable in every way.
People move away from Microsoft Windows for many
reasons, and they're all good ones. I have made the
move away from the endless security updates, virus
scanning, failed promises, poor performance, lockups
and all the other problems that are endemic to a
Windows world. There are so many better options than
a Microsoft operating system and the world is
starting to realise this.
I thought I'd share the strategy I used to move away
from Windows, which is also the one I recommend to my
friends.
Step
1 - Find open source equivalents to the windows
software that you use
This is actually a very easy step. I have blogged
about some of the open source software on this site
but there is so much more. First of all I made a list
of the windows software I used and went hunting for
replacements. It also helps if you have an idea of
which OS you think you'd like to move toward. I
wasn't sure but figured it would be Linux of some
flavour but also considered MAC OS X, so the software
I went looking for ideally would work on all three
platforms. Once you have your list you can now
install your Open Source software on Windows so you
become familiar with it and ensure that it meets your
needs.
OpenOffice
replaces
Microsoft Office
This is an easy one for me. I'd been using OpenOffice
for a while and already new about the product before
I decided to make the move. Thanks to the
Novell/Microsoft agreement, you are guaranteed that
documents created in on will work in the other.
Thunderbird
replaces
Outlook
Thunderbird is a worthy replacement for Outlook. It
has most of the bells and whistles and all the
features you need in an email client. It's also
available for Windows, Linux and OS X.
Firefox replaces Internet
Explorer
This is a no-brainer. If you're not using this Web
Browser already, you should be. Firefox has been
available for Windows for a long time, and is usually
where Microsoft gets their improvements for IE from.
Just look at the Tabbed interface. Firefox also has a
built in pop-up blocker and enhanced security
features that are lacking in IE. Even if you decide
to stay with Windows, you should be using this
browser.
RealPlayer
replaces
Windows media player
Not much to add here, they both play media files.
The GIMP replaces ...MS
Paint????
Yes, you noticed this too.. Windows doesn't have a
half-decent image editing application. The GIMP is a
powerful Open Source image editing package. It has a
lot of the features of the VERY costly Adobe
Photoshop, and if you're not in the image editing
area this is still worth a look. All those digital
photos you take and store on your computer can be
touched up beautifully with this application.
There are many other applications, and I'll let you
find them. Remember, GOOGLE is your friend. You might
also wish to have a look at www.theopendisc.com
Step
2 - Practice
Now that you have your software, spend a good 6
months getting used to it and how they work. Learn
how they work, how to back them up and restore them.
Now is also the time to look at the hardware you use.
Start researching support for your devices under
other Operating systems. Search for drivers and
software to support your devices. 6 months may seem a
long time and it will depend on the individual. Only
you will know when you're ready.
Step 3 - Testing the waters of a new Operating
System
This step is the most exciting one and it's fortunate
that Linux especially has many options that boot from
a "Live CD". A Live CD is a bootable CD/DVD that
contains the operating system. You can boot from it
and load up the OS into memory without effecting your
installed OS. This enables you to test the waters
without actually taking the plunge.
Ubuntu is my favourite choice for
Linux, for the home user. Novell's SuSe Linux
Enterprise Desktop (SLED) is also an excellent
choice but doesn't come as a Live CD. All Linux
distributions are essentially the same under the
hood. So you could trial one but select another.
Another option is to download the Free
VMWARE player
software or
Microsoft Virtual PC software. These applications
allow you to create a virtual workstation on your
Windows computer and use it like any other
application. You could trial every OS you wanted
this way and get comfortable with how they work.
You should be using the Internet to good effect.
There are uncountable support forums for every OS
available. All of them are filled with people just
waiting to help you out and answer your questions.
Make good use of these resources, ask lots of
questions.
Step
4 - Ripping out that hapless water-buffalo
You're now ready. You're comfortable with your new
software suites and you have all the drivers for your
hardware (bare in mind that recent OS's have nearly
all the drivers built in). Backup your data to an
external drive. If you've decided to go with a
version of Linux that comes on a Live CD then all you
need to do is double click on the install icon and
you're away. Otherwise, follow the install
instructions that come with the version you've
chosen.
If you've decided to go Mac OS X then you've bought
yourself a new bit of kit. Either way, have fun and
start enjoying the world without Windows.
Conclusion:
There is no reason to stay with Microsoft Windows.
Unless of course you want to.. but that couldn't
possibly be the case. Why would you want to pay large
amounts of money for all the bits and pieces you need
to maintain a Windows OS? The saying "It just works"
doesn't really apply anymore to Windows (not that it
ever did).
Anyway.. this is the process I followed. I ended up
going to both Linux and Mac OS X. There were two
reasons for this and the first was Adobe Photoshop. I
use it rather heavily for photography and well, Adobe
don't release Photoshop for Linux...yet. The other
was I had only just bought a new Dell PC and so I
went Linux on it. I've been happily Windows free for
nearly 12 months. During this time, Vista was
released, but there is nothing that I've read that
could tempt me back. I haven't missed Windows at
all.
Wireshark for Leopard
Wireshark is now available for OSX 10.5
(Leopard). You can download it from
VersionTracker.
There are still a
few bugs in it, but it seems to work better than
it did under 10.4 (Tiger).
Wireshark is the most popular packet capturing
software available today. Wireshark is a continuation
of development on the Ethereal product that I have used for
years.
Wireshark on OS X and Linux enables you to capture
data packets not only on your wired network
interface, but also your WIRELESS! You have to pay
money for this ability under Windows...nothing to do
with Wireshark...just Windows.
Check out VersionTracker
for the install
package and Wireshark for more information on the
program.
Happy sniffing.
Battle of the Browsers
I was having a look at the stats for my photography site today. StatCounter tracks what type of browser was used to view a page, one of many stats you can get from this service.
As you can see the Windoze browsers are only slightly in front of the Non-Windoze browsers. Could this be indicative of a M$ loss of market share to OS X and the Open Source community? Probably not, but I like to think so.
OpenOffice.org Release 2.3
This new version sees quite a number of enhancements to the overall product.
For those of you who don't use OO, here is a quick breakdown of what the product offers...
Writer
WRITER has everything you would expect from a modern, fully equipped word processor or desktop publisher.
Impress
IMPRESS is a truly outstanding tool for creating effective multimedia presentations. Your presentations will stand out with 2D and 3D clip art, special effects, animation, and high-impact drawing tools.
Calc
CALC is the spreadsheet program you've always wanted. Newcomers find it intuitive and easy to learn; professional data miners and number crunchers will appreciate the comprehensive range of advanced functions.
Draw
DRAW - from a quick sketch to a complex plan, DRAW gives you the tools to communicate with graphics and diagrams.
Base
New to Version 2, BASE enables you to manipulate database data seamlessly within OpenOffice.org. Create and modify tables, forms, queries, and reports, either using your own database or BASE’s own built-in HSQL database engine. BASE offers a choice of using Wizards, Design Views, or SQL Views for beginners, intermediate, and advanced users.
Math
MATH is OpenOffice.org's component for mathematical equations. It is most commonly used as an equation editor for text documents, but it can also be used with other types of documents or stand-alone. When used inside WRITER, the equation is treated as an object inside the text document.
That's just some of what OpenOffice.org has to offer. Check out some reviews of the product here. You can also get a promotional flyer here.
Best of all, OpenOffice.org runs on Windows, Linux, OSX, and many more. Is it compatible with M$ Office? Why yes it is, and it will only become more compatible as M$ adopts the Open Document Format (ODF) as it is in M$ Office 2007.
Download OpenOffice.org today and see what the free world is using.
First impressions of Leopard
This is the process I followed:
1. took an image with carbon copy cloner to my external drive
2. took a second image with CCC to my external drive
3. then copied my documents folder to the external drive
4. the booted of my OS X 10.4 CD and used Disk Utility to take a clone of the entire hard drive to my external disk.
5. Inserted the OSX 10.5 CD and started the install
6. I think the term is "nuke 'n pave"
Done.
All the good stuff you've probably heard about is true.. it's all good!
Even on my MacBook Leopard is quite a bit faster in just about everything.
Updates as the come in...
The new Cat is coming...
October 26 is the date.
I don't get too excited about much I.T. related, however this has got me hopping with anticipation.
OS X Leopard is a rather large update from Tiger with some 300+ new things. Hop on over to the Apple website for a sneak preview on what will devastate the Windows Vista devotees.
I have never bought an operating system without a PC to go with it. That is, I've always received an OS via the OEM. Leopard is the first OS that I have laid down the plastic for.
Since embracing the Mac way of life my computing experience has never been better. It just works.
I can empathise with those who are unsure about making the change. All the doubts about software compatibility, range of software and usability went through my head before I took the leap. All of them, bar none, were worries I shouldn't have been having and I quickly learned this... with the help of a Mac redi-reference at work (Paul, you're a legend). I recommend you just do it.. you won't look back and you'll be living in PC nirvana.
I have pre-ordered Leopard and eagerly await it's arrival some time after the 26th. I live in the 'Bush' so I don't expect to get it on that Friday.
In preparation for the new arrival, I have been preparing my little MacBook. Thanks again to Paul, I have a great little tool called Carbon Copy Cloner that can make a DMG image of my hard disk. This is my backup strategy should I wish to roll-back for some reason...can't think of one at the moment but there may be some weird kind of software that I desperately need and can't do without that won't run on Leopard.
Anyway... Tiger was/is great, Leopard looks positively Grand, and if those Apple dudes continue their trend Leopard is going to be a jaw dropper!
Check back from time-to-time as I'll be putting up my impressions of the new animal.
It Arrived!!
I'm now officially an iPod owner.
Mind you, I didn't buy one. I won it in a Novell competition.
No I am NOT on their payroll. I won it honestly and fairly, I assure you.
Anyway back to the brushed metal wonder. I won the 2Gb version of the Nano. It looks very sleek. I have no idea how to use it at this point but being an apple icon I'm thinking all I'll need to do is plug it in and away I go. I'll try that a bit later, it's charging at the moment.
I was hoping it would arrive a little sooner, I wanted to take it on holiday. My CD stacker is in for 'realignment' and I've been without music for a while. But alas, it arrived while I was away. Still, a pleasant surprise to come home to I guess.
The main problem I think I'll face is which 2Gb of my 60Gb music collection will I start with????
hmmm... decisions.
Update 14/10/07 12:15pm
I christened my iPod with Icehouse and have since synched a test playlist to it. All working smoothly as it should.
I have created my Roxette playlist and am now ready to go... Yeee-haaaa!
What's in a Keyboard?
So this is my new keyboard...
Sexy isn't it!?
It's the new offering from Apple and is currently shipping with the new iMac. I picked up this wired USB version (also comes in wireless but that's too much smoke and mirrors for me) because I've been using a MacBook for a while now and have come to like the keyboard on the MB very very much. This new keyboard gives me the same luxurious feel on my PC that I've come to appreciate from my MB.
It works fantastically with SLED10 and seems to work perfectly with Windows XP, based on my experience with a virtual machine.
I'm likening the key press to what a sniper might be feeling as he rests his finger on the trigger of his weapon. There is enough resistance so you know you've pressed the key, but requires no effort to type continuously. Fantastic all round if you ask me.
Apple are masters of design and function, they prove it over and over again.
Once you go black...
So... this is my MacBook.
Friends at work (on ya Paul and Rob) through subtle and subliminal advertising convinced me to buy one and I'll be forever grateful.
The history of this purchase is... I was looking for something to take traveling with me, that would be portable, stable, run Photoshop, and have enough storage to take multiple Gigs of images from my Canon 10D. I do a fair amount of travel and I'm an avid photographer so I needed something that would cater for all this. I was originally looking at an image viewer from Epson, however this wouldn't allow me to backup to DVD if required. Something I tend to do regardless of what they say about X-Ray screening machines. Plus I couldn't run PS.
I also looked at a tiny Dell laptop however, after checking out a MacBook owned by one of the other guys at work, I was hooked.
Down went the plastic and as they say, the rest is history.
Quick specs:
Dual core 2Ghz processor
2 Gb RAM
120Gb Hard drive
SuperDrive
Firewire/USB
Built in camera (iCam)
OS X Tiger
I mentioned stability. According to iStat Nano the longest I've had my MacBook running is 30 days 21hrs. That's with constant daily use. Try that with windows!
For PS work, I connect to a 24" Dell monitor and colour manage with a ColorVision Spyder2.
