Comments on: First Week with a MacBook http://www.livedigitally.com/2007/08/18/first-week-with-a-macbook/ My opinions about convergence, consumer technology, gadgets, Web, and more. Wed, 08 Feb 2012 09:51:18 -0700 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.4 By: » I’m a failure as a Mac evangelist » Ben Drawbaugh http://www.livedigitally.com/2007/08/18/first-week-with-a-macbook/comment-page-1/#comment-249966 » I’m a failure as a Mac evangelist » Ben Drawbaugh Sun, 24 Feb 2008 03:16:25 +0000 http://www.livedigitally.com/2007/08/18/first-week-with-a-macbook/#comment-249966 [...] Ever since I bought my first Mac, I’ve shared my love and I’m not sure if it’s me or those around me, but I’ve only been able to get a few people to switch, but the biggest failure hit me today. I’ve worked on getting my wife to use a Mac for almost four years now, and I just can’t break her. I even try to strong arm her — yes, I feel guilty about it — but it didn’t work either. I thought it was OS X — cause like many Windows users, no matter how much better something is, if it’s different it’s a barrier — so I even offered to install Windows XP on it. So today I gave up, and against my better judgement I helped her pick out a pink Sony Vaio. I know Jeremy, I know. [...] [...] Ever since I bought my first Mac, I’ve shared my love and I’m not sure if it’s me or those around me, but I’ve only been able to get a few people to switch, but the biggest failure hit me today. I’ve worked on getting my wife to use a Mac for almost four years now, and I just can’t break her. I even try to strong arm her — yes, I feel guilty about it — but it didn’t work either. I thought it was OS X — cause like many Windows users, no matter how much better something is, if it’s different it’s a barrier — so I even offered to install Windows XP on it. So today I gave up, and against my better judgement I helped her pick out a pink Sony Vaio. I know Jeremy, I know. [...]

]]> By: David Badash http://www.livedigitally.com/2007/08/18/first-week-with-a-macbook/comment-page-1/#comment-177376 David Badash Mon, 27 Aug 2007 14:49:39 +0000 http://www.livedigitally.com/2007/08/18/first-week-with-a-macbook/#comment-177376 Interesting that the list of negatives is twice the size as the list of positives! My first computer was a Mac Performa, more than 10 (12?) years ago. I made the switch to Windows after that, and had a Gateway and then 2 Dells and an IBM (all laptops.) I am now on my second in a row Mac laptop (PowerBook G4 followed 2 months ago by a MacBook Pro.) Secretly, I think I prefer Windows. But I also enjoy formatting my hard drive, and I try out a ton of shareware. (I also pay for what I keep!) For either platform, I truly believe that with few exceptions, there is an application/script/keyboard shortcut/tweak that will improve functionality for any desire. You just have to find the one you want. (Feel free to contact me if you have a question/want to know how to do something, or if there is an "add-on" you're looking for and can't find.) My only 2 "complaints"? (1) I miss Outlook. Nothing comes close, and I will probably go the Parallells route to add it. (Way pricey to buy Parallells + Windows OS + MS Office.) (2) The Windows GUI/hand-to-mouse environment is a little more precise. Mac's OS to me has always felt a little "klunky." Interesting that the list of negatives is twice the size as the list of positives! My first computer was a Mac Performa, more than 10 (12?) years ago. I made the switch to Windows after that, and had a Gateway and then 2 Dells and an IBM (all laptops.) I am now on my second in a row Mac laptop (PowerBook G4 followed 2 months ago by a MacBook Pro.)

Secretly, I think I prefer Windows. But I also enjoy formatting my hard drive, and I try out a ton of shareware. (I also pay for what I keep!)

For either platform, I truly believe that with few exceptions, there is an application/script/keyboard shortcut/tweak that will improve functionality for any desire. You just have to find the one you want. (Feel free to contact me if you have a question/want to know how to do something, or if there is an “add-on” you’re looking for and can’t find.)

My only 2 “complaints”? (1) I miss Outlook. Nothing comes close, and I will probably go the Parallells route to add it. (Way pricey to buy Parallells + Windows OS + MS Office.) (2) The Windows GUI/hand-to-mouse environment is a little more precise. Mac’s OS to me has always felt a little “klunky.”

]]> By: Thomas Caleshu http://www.livedigitally.com/2007/08/18/first-week-with-a-macbook/comment-page-1/#comment-176030 Thomas Caleshu Tue, 21 Aug 2007 06:22:47 +0000 http://www.livedigitally.com/2007/08/18/first-week-with-a-macbook/#comment-176030 <a href="http://www.macupdate.com/info.php/id/10451" rel="nofollow">Menu Meters 1.3</a> Changed my life, can't live without it. A simple utility that places status icons in the menu bar for hard drive activity, CPU usage (as 0-100% or timeline graph or both), network throughput, memory used/available. Seriously - if you want to know what's going on inside your computer, this will tell you far more than a simple blinking HDD light... -t Menu Meters 1.3

Changed my life, can’t live without it. A simple utility that places status icons in the menu bar for hard drive activity, CPU usage (as 0-100% or timeline graph or both), network throughput, memory used/available.

Seriously – if you want to know what’s going on inside your computer, this will tell you far more than a simple blinking HDD light…
-t

]]> By: Jeremy Toeman http://www.livedigitally.com/2007/08/18/first-week-with-a-macbook/comment-page-1/#comment-175767 Jeremy Toeman Mon, 20 Aug 2007 06:21:56 +0000 http://www.livedigitally.com/2007/08/18/first-week-with-a-macbook/#comment-175767 re HDD light: I can't explain the real motivation, but I really like a physical light for it, not the onscreen indicator. I have activity monitor and "mini-meters" installed, still not the same. Jonathan - GREAT tips all around, thanks, esp comments on the Dock Dave - thanks for the "right click" Ben/James - MacDrive still isn't making my NTFS drives more accessible. Also, I agree with you that the program files concept is archaic, but it's still not intuitive to drag&drop new installs to Applications. Also, I have to say - the import into iPhoto was awful. I have >7000 "uncategorized" photos that were perfectly organized into folders on my NAS. The great presentation factors do not outweigh that obvious blunder IMHO. re HDD light: I can’t explain the real motivation, but I really like a physical light for it, not the onscreen indicator. I have activity monitor and “mini-meters” installed, still not the same.

Jonathan – GREAT tips all around, thanks, esp comments on the Dock

Dave – thanks for the “right click”

Ben/James – MacDrive still isn’t making my NTFS drives more accessible. Also, I agree with you that the program files concept is archaic, but it’s still not intuitive to drag&drop new installs to Applications.

Also, I have to say – the import into iPhoto was awful. I have >7000 “uncategorized” photos that were perfectly organized into folders on my NAS. The great presentation factors do not outweigh that obvious blunder IMHO.

]]> By: James http://www.livedigitally.com/2007/08/18/first-week-with-a-macbook/comment-page-1/#comment-175694 James Sun, 19 Aug 2007 22:56:49 +0000 http://www.livedigitally.com/2007/08/18/first-week-with-a-macbook/#comment-175694 The cool things about the drag and drop installation is that when you want to uninstall the program, you just hit delete in the applications. Usually, there's no long uninstall process where you have hunt down deleting registry information or other external files. It's all right there in the applications folder -- very simple. The drag and drop makes me more at ease knowing exactly what I'm copying over and what I'm actually changing on my mac. In windows installs, who knows what else they are installing and changing! The cool things about the drag and drop installation is that when you want to uninstall the program, you just hit delete in the applications. Usually, there’s no long uninstall process where you have hunt down deleting registry information or other external files. It’s all right there in the applications folder — very simple.

The drag and drop makes me more at ease knowing exactly what I’m copying over and what I’m actually changing on my mac. In windows installs, who knows what else they are installing and changing!

]]> By: Ben Drawbaugh http://www.livedigitally.com/2007/08/18/first-week-with-a-macbook/comment-page-1/#comment-175692 Ben Drawbaugh Sun, 19 Aug 2007 22:50:28 +0000 http://www.livedigitally.com/2007/08/18/first-week-with-a-macbook/#comment-175692 Nice write-up, I couldn't agree more about the inconsistent keyboard shortcuts and no right mouse button, but the multi-touch touchpad more than makes up for it. As for NTFS, they have to license it from MS, which would be nice, but who knows how probably that is. The read drive they use now is from open source projects, which also don't have write support. You're best bet is to use HFS+ and MacDrive, which I've had good success with. I think the Application installation process in ingenious, a program files directory and installers for everything seems archaic. I'll also add, no built-in 3G wireless option and when the last window in an application closes the application should quit. Nice write-up, I couldn’t agree more about the inconsistent keyboard shortcuts and no right mouse button, but the multi-touch touchpad more than makes up for it.

As for NTFS, they have to license it from MS, which would be nice, but who knows how probably that is. The read drive they use now is from open source projects, which also don’t have write support. You’re best bet is to use HFS+ and MacDrive, which I’ve had good success with.

I think the Application installation process in ingenious, a program files directory and installers for everything seems archaic.

I’ll also add, no built-in 3G wireless option and when the last window in an application closes the application should quit.

]]> By: Dave Zatz http://www.livedigitally.com/2007/08/18/first-week-with-a-macbook/comment-page-1/#comment-175691 Dave Zatz Sun, 19 Aug 2007 22:42:58 +0000 http://www.livedigitally.com/2007/08/18/first-week-with-a-macbook/#comment-175691 Configure the touch pad to two fingers on it + click = right click. Also any external mouse will right click as you expect. I've had a hard time with the ergonomics of keyboard cut&paste on the Mac versus PC. A universal file system (other than FAT) for shared external storage would be nice. Configure the touch pad to two fingers on it + click = right click. Also any external mouse will right click as you expect. I’ve had a hard time with the ergonomics of keyboard cut&paste on the Mac versus PC. A universal file system (other than FAT) for shared external storage would be nice.

]]> By: tivoboy http://www.livedigitally.com/2007/08/18/first-week-with-a-macbook/comment-page-1/#comment-175673 tivoboy Sun, 19 Aug 2007 19:06:37 +0000 http://www.livedigitally.com/2007/08/18/first-week-with-a-macbook/#comment-175673 I DO often use the 180 degress on my thinkpads, for when travelling in coach and I want to put the screen up, I just hold the laptop on the table and the screen sits right up in front of me. Now that I am no longer a 1K, I spend a BIT more time in coach? :-) Works as a nice presenter. I DO often use the 180 degress on my thinkpads, for when travelling in coach and I want to put the screen up, I just hold the laptop on the table and the screen sits right up in front of me. Now that I am no longer a 1K, I spend a BIT more time in coach?

:-)

Works as a nice presenter.

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