Note: After publishing, you may have to bypass your browser's cache to see the changes.
- Firefox / Safari: Hold Shift while clicking Reload, or press either Ctrl-F5 or Ctrl-R (⌘-R on a Mac)
- Google Chrome: Press Ctrl-Shift-R (⌘-Shift-R on a Mac)
- Internet Explorer / Edge: Hold Ctrl while clicking Refresh, or press Ctrl-F5
- Opera: Press Ctrl-F5.
This Mac thing is just a phase. Between the dominance of Windows and the energy of the open source desktops, it's hard to believe it will last. Nice hardware though - assuming it wears well. The following are some notes on trying Mac OS X on a Macbook Pro.
== Software ==
=== open source essentials ===
VLC - http://www.videolan.org/vlc/download-macosx.html - Isn't it cheesy how Quicktime only shows video in a tiny window, and Microsoft doesn't provide a media player for the Mac anymore? This player plays almost anything, with full resizing.
NeoOffice - http://www.neooffice.org/ - Mac OS port of OpenOffice
AdiumX - http://www.adiumx.com/ - multi protocol instant messager
Virtue - http://virtuedesktops.info/ - virtual desktops - a few glitches but decent
Shell - Built in ;) - but iTerm - http://freshmeat.net/redir/iterm/49825/url_homepage/iterm.sourceforge.net - is better
=== other required software ===
parallels - http://www.parallels.com/ - if you need to run windows for testing or basic games, as well as having a Linux 'sidekick' OS for self contained server work.
I installed Win2k since I had it lying around. Basic install, update, no usage. Noticed it was acting funny. Run the MS Malicious Software Removal Tool and it has over 1000 infected files. Go windows.
[http://earth.google.com| google earth] - the most interesting way to view the earth
== Best Shortcuts ==
Amusingly, the Mac has some of the most complicated and inconsistent keyboard shortcuts ever invented.
=== Type a directory location ===
- in the finder, and saving files using the default open/save dialog
Cmd-Shift G
=== Copy screenshot to clipboard ===
Cmd-control-shift-4 - press space if you want to switch to the "window" camera, then use the mouse to select your capture area.
== Peeves ==
Too many to list. Let's just say "overrated" is probably going to be the summary after a couple of weeks of dedicated use.
- An article on UI that pointed out how valuable edges are - so much easier to "select" than any screen area (since when you overshoot you've still got it) - really turned me onto the sensibilites of a good UI design. So why, then, are the shortcuts for ejecting a CD and opening the insipid Front Row located in these key positions? (the latter is miskeyed when using the switch-between-windows key)
- Cursor keys - different combinations in every app. Why?
- The whole keyboard muddle makes switching between operating systems especially frustrating.
- Frustratingly, the guideline of there being "no maximized windows" is upheld in apps such as firefox, where you can't "press f11 for full screen mode."
- Speaking of function keys... what the #($((#*?
- There's a limit of ten connections to your host for file sharing, for more you have to buy an add-on.
In September the 64bit Merom mobile chips will be out, and I have to wonder how much support there will be for 32bit macs considering their window will only be a year. Wish I could have waited, in addition to the 64bit potential (more registers, more future ready) Merom is supposed to be 20% faster at the same clock speed and can throttle the CPU down way lower when not in use for a cooler and longer running notebook.
== Looking forward to ==
- https://bugs.eclipse.org/bugs/show_bug.cgi?id=145890
- http://kberg.ch/q/
- [http://taspring.clan-sy.com/| TASpring on Mac]
- Decent power management/external screen support for Linoox