Top reasons to love Macs

I've only had a new Mac laptop for about a week now, but it's been a great experience and a refreshing one after being a PC user for nine years. Without further ado, here are my top reasons why I love my new Mac.

• Stacks
  push away all those lesser used, but neccessary applications to a stock, or add the Adobe suite to a stack to restore valuble space to the dock (got this idea from Lifehacker)
  (Leopard only)
• Exposé
  One thing windows should try to copy. . PC users can get Switcher 2
  
• The Dock
  Essential to my launching apps fast. . .sorry quick launch bigger icons are better. Windows users can get Object Dock
  
• keyboard shortcuts
  see Switching to Mac - keyboard shortcuts
• Less digging through menus
  Mac menus are simplified, especially when dealing with preferences (options). Most things, like setting display preferences are much faster, and I can even open my system preferences with one click from the dock--it doesn't get any better than that.
• Run Windows Virtually, or in Boot Camp
  Parallels is an excellent way to run both Windows and OS X simultaneously. You can switch back and forth. . and don't worry, if Windows kicks the bucket, it's a short 30 minute virtual reinstall away. Boot Camp now lets gamers and others run more intensive PC apps natively, which requires a restart, but may entice many current PC users to make the switch to Mac.
• Learn Linux Virtually
  Someday I'll learn to use Ubuntu Linux or Knoppix through a Parallels virtual machine on my Mac.
  
• Frontrow
  For multimedia and a home theater experience, it doesn't get any better than this! All the new iMacs and laptops come with remotes to boot!!
  
• Built in functionality means less freeware apps to download
  On the PC I used Irfanview, Comodo Pro Firewall, and tried Object Dock for a while. Preview is a prime example of this--no acrobat reader necessary.
  
• No balloon notification madness
  I despised these on PC's. They would always interrupt my work and annoyed the hell out of me, even though I was a seasoned PC user they were an unnecessary evil.
• Mac OS updates are not an issue
  Updating Mac OS doesn't bother me, however by default on XP machines they will try to restart every five minutes after an update is downloaded unless the update settings are changed in the control panel. . I had to keep checking the machine to make sure it wouldn't turn off while I stepped away for ten minutes. The balloon icons to install the updates never stop bothering you!
• No Spyware/Adware
  Mac OS does not only have spyware, it's safeguarded against it by default. When applications want to install, or system changes are going to be made, you have to enter your account password. Microsoft are you listening?
  
• Preview
  No need to download acrobat reader to open PDF files, and it's a great image viewer and allows quick, easy slideshows, even for RAW images
• Screenshot Capability
  Just during the writing of this post, I've used the keyboard shortcuts to take several screenshots and select areas quickly. . .as a web designer and PC trainer easy screenshot capabilites are invaluable.
  
• Backlit Keyboard
  An excellent showcase for Apple. . .and a nice thing to have in dimly lit rooms.
  (MacBook Pro only)
  
• No pesky startup items
  Most common applications you install on a PC will place themselves into the startup, slowing down the machine when logging in, and lowering the user's available RAM. Shame on Microsoft for not making the startup items easily accessible and comprehensible, especially to the average user. My new Mac only has one startup item, the Microsoft Office updater--how ironic!! At this point I would have had to remove Quicktime, MSN Messenger, and other from my PC startup list. Whenever I help a Windows user who says their computer is running slow, I simply check the startup items in Msconfig and voila--after cleaning out several entries, their computer has some of its speed back.
  
• It's not Vista
  Vista has too many problems and a service pack to clean up the mess is still a few months away as of this writing (Dec. 2007). Apple is going to get a real shot in the arm from the Vista users bailing out on Microsoft. Leopard vs. Vista. . Leopard wins hands down. See The Road Ahead: Leopard and Vista
• No Drivers to install
  I have to hand it to Apple for this one. No drivers. That's impossible. Not on a Mac. I'm fairly comfortable with installing drivers, but if I don't know a computer's hardware, that makes the job much more difficult than a Google search for the manufacturer's website. Drivers are especially a pain with Vista. . .
  
• The new Finder Sidebar
  Not only does the new finder sidebar save me time, but it allows me to add my own folders for quick access and shows all my attached devices for easy access without going to the desktop. Yes, Vista does have this, but XP could have had a custom menu.
  (Leopard only)
  
• Display preferences appear on both monitors
  This is invaluable when configuring dual displays, and exceptionally user-friendly and straight forward. Good work Apple!!
• Searchable help
  I'm not sure if this is only in Leopard, but the searchable help is fantastic. Immediately after I start typing anything, a list pops up with the relevant topics in the help file. This means no more digging through help files to find an answer!
  
• Widgets
  They are great. . .I can check the weather for the two cities I live in, see stock quotes, and much more--and they can be displayed/hidden easily
• Less application crashes
  I'll admit, applications didn't crash on my PC that often, but I'm not an average user with spyware, viruses, and fragmented OS on my hands. I've been running my new Mac laptop for a week without an application crashing--that's almost impossible on PC.
  
• No crash reporting
  When applications do crash, I don't get asked to report it to Microsoft (I turned this feature off in XP immediately, it was irritating and wasted my time.) One of the worst annoyances in Windows--but hey, if it helps Microsoft's OS and software to crash less, all the better.
  

Other bonuses:

• Multimedia included
  I know that I have essential multimedia applications available even though I'll rarely use them. . . but PC's are extremely crippled out of the box when it comes to multimedia apps
• They're great for the whole family
  Photobooth, iPhoto, iTunes, iMovie, and GarageBand, are worth part of the extra premium you pay for Macs, with PC's you'd have to spend at least $50 on each type of application to get something even remotely comparable. . .
• The fun factor
  In the first 20 minutes that I was using my new mac, my family crowded around my laptop to have some fun with Photo Booth. . you just don't get this kind of experience on a PC. . .at least not before configuring the webcam, downloading the software for it, etc.
• Macs aren't ugly
  Most PC users will argue that some people like Macs just because of the way they look, and yes I'm sure some people buy Macs to be hip, but Macs are much more than just than just eye candy.
  

Share your experiences with Macs. Love them? Hate them? Do they help spend less time solving issues and more time getting work done?

Please email me with any comments and stories. (My email is on the right column).

Switching to the Mac - keyboard shortcuts

After eight years using PC's I was worried that my switch to the mac would be problematic because of my love and usage of keyboard shortcuts. Immediately after using the Mac I've already discovered several keyboard shorts that I use regularly. There's only a few shortcuts that I miss from the PC, but so many new ones that I use to save me time on my Mac laptop.

• Command + ,
  Open an application's preferences
• Command + Q
  Quit an application (saves time over going to dock or using the menu bar)
• Command + Tab
  Equivalent of Alt+tab on windows, easily switch between two applications or any applications. . .I couldn't work without this, especially in web design
  

F11 Show all Windows in Exposé (I custom set this key for this)
F12 Hide all Windows and show the desktop (custom set)

• Command + N
  Open a new finder window
• Shift + Command + N
  Create a new folder (one of my favorite shortcuts on the Mac, and unfortunately there's no equivalent on PC's)
  

Option + arrows Move a word left or right, helps to quickly get through a typed line


And of course. . . .

Command + C Copy
Command + V Paste
Command + X Cut

Thank God these basic commands are essentially identical on the Mac.

The only shortcut I really miss from the PC is F2 which allows you to quickly rename a file or folder. There's no keyboard shortcut for renaming something on a Mac, but click twice slowly a filename can be renamed.

Firefox shortcuts

• Command + T
  Open a new tab (this one saves a lot of time, I'm a tab-a-holic)
• Command + R
  Reload a page
• Command + arrows
  Use the left and right arrows to go back and forward in the history (can be a real timesaver on a website you just browsed when you're not using tabs)
• Scroll wheel click
  Yes, it's not a keyboard shortcut, but it will open a link, bookmark, etc. in a new tab, a college friend of mine showed me this one, and he's been my hero ever since. I feel pity for the poor souls that are control-clicking on links in web browser, or even worse, opening pages in a new window. I couldn't browse the internet without this one. . .
  

Maybe someday

Command + D
Bookmark a page in Firefox

Function (fn) + delete
equivalent of using the delete key on a PC keyboard. My laptop doesn't have a "delete" key so I might start using this eventually

Eject button
Apple's design prowess really shines with the eject button standard on all mac keyboards for several years back. It's faster than going to the desktop and dragging a disk to the trash


If you have any keyboard shortcuts you can't live without that I've missed, please feel free to send me a comment by email.

Guide to computer experience

Every person has to work their way up to becoming a power user or a "geek" on a computer. I would classify myself more in the power user category because I haven't taken the dive into Linux yet, and I don't build my own machines--which I plan to learn to do in the near future. If you want to learn what advanced or power users do with their computer, and also the things that novices learn along the way, look no further than this guide to progressive computer experience. I've tried to break the items into categories, but some may overlap so bear with me.

I welcome any suggested additions or changes to this list, especially for the Power User and Savvy user categories. Please see my email address to on the right hand column, or feel free to post a comment.

Beginner

• Uses their computer to type the occasional document and may send a few emails a week
• Don't use more than 3 or 4 programs on their computer
• Enlist someone else to help them buy a computer
• Purchases software they don't end up using, or only uses the software pre-installed on their computer.
• Don't know what degragmenting is and why it needs to be done
• Are using a computer with less than 1GB of RAM, especially a new Mac or Windows XP/Vista
• Are running Vista because a salesman told them it was the best new operating system
• Pays more than $60/month for high speed internet
• Pays for their anti-virus/anti-spyware software
• Are extremely wary of using the internet because of viruses, fraud, phishing (if they even know wha phishing is of course), etc.
• Have lots of unchecked spyware and adware sitting on their machine
• Open obviously SPAM messages.
• Pay for their email service
• Uses regular English words as passwords (not safe, time to get educated).

Novice

• Has switched to Firefox because a friend recommended it
• Uses a different photo editor beyond what came pre-insalled on their computer (or had someone add this for them)
• Uses software to burn an audio CD
• Uses software to burn mix CD's
• Has heard of Skype but is not convinced enough to use it
• Purchased an external hard drive to backup their photos (even though most people will never use more than 30-60GB to backup every photo)
• Knows what zip files are and possibly how they work
• Are aware of sales pitches when buying a computer
• Have heard of torrents, but don't know how to use them or what they are
• May have recently started using online banking
• Calls a flash drive a "thumbdrive" or even worse, a "zip drive"

Savvy user

• Uses Firefox
• Uses Firefox extensions for productivity
• Use Firefox search plugins
• Knows what open-source software is and may have used some OOS beyond Firefox.
• Doesn't pay for Anti-virus/Anti-spyware software and uses perfectly good alternatives like AVG Anti-Virus and Comodo Firewall Pro or ZoneAlarm (free)
• Use advanced search queies on google to search only education sites, pull up local information, or filter results with special operators
• Have used social bookmarking regularly
• Uses a webmail service other than Hotmail or some no-name email service
• Has used Gmail with POP or IMAP
• Got Gmail before 2006 when it was still by invitation only
• Has used online banking for at least a year, before it became all the rage and every adult discovered it.
• Have switched from an ISP's email service to something free or otherwise not from their ISP
• Rip songs from an iPod to another person's computer (or help someone recover the songs on their iPod)
• Upgrade the RAM on a computer (the easiest hardware upgrade to perform, and especialy simple on a laptop)
• Knows what Linux is
• Uses Skype and understands its benefits
• Purchased an external hard drive
• Has used DVD Shrink to copy DVD movies
• Rip DVD's to movies files
• Have successfully downloaded something with a torrent
• Has made minor registry tweaks discovered online
• Can recognize most file extensions
• Use or have tried an alternative IM client that supports multiple IM services
• Has purchased something on Newegg.com or Tigerdirect.com for computer hardware
• Purchased an external drive to store DVD rips, DVD ISO files, TV show downloads, software downloads, etc.
• Uses dual-monitors (also Power users and geeks)
• Use an extra monitor with their laptop
• Read RSS feeds (with an online or desktop reader)
• Does not use regular English words as passwords, may use strong passwords
• Understands why more people should be using Macs
• Have used msconfig to clean up their startup items (some savvy users don't know about this)
• Doesn't use Windows Media player
• Have changed their media player settings to rip music in an unprotected, higher bitrate format
• Use VLC or Mplayer to play video files (some savvy users have never heard of these, so Mplayer also extends to the Power User category).
• Doesn't pay for software very much.

Power User

• Have upgraded the optical drive (CD/DVD) on their desktop
• Knows what Linux is, why people use it, and may have dabbled in Linux
• Have reinstalled Windows before
• Has used DVD Shrink in conjunction with DVDfab Decrypter or DVD43 to copy a DVD movie
• Has burned an ISO/IMG or other disc image file to a CD/DVD
• Has made registry tweaks to clean up their system or tweak more advanced settings
• Knows just about every common file extesion and what can be used to open it
• Never uses Internet Explorer whenever possible and cringes at the thought of using it, Firefox is the only way to go. Sorry Mac-heads, Safari is still inferior, especially for web development
• Regularly reads articles on LifeHacker.com
• Purchased a flash drive before fall 2005 (AKA thumbdrive or incorrectly called a zip drive by newbies)
• Always uses strong passwords (min. 8 characters, alphanumeric, mixed case, with a symbol)
• Runs Windows virtually, or dual-boots with Bootcamp
• Uses the command line occassionally
• Rarely pays for software except when it's from a small developer, they want to go legit wit something professional like Photoshop, or something awesome like Parallels that's relatively cheap ($80 list) and extremely invaluable.
• Uses a separate FAT32 partition to store their data, drivers, etc. for faster Windows reinstalls and as a contingency in case Windows kicks the bucket
• Would like to own a Mac, but they're just too expensive for their budget most of the time

Geek
(Note that geeks can be lacking in some of the skills in the "Power User" Category because geeks tend to be especially proficient in a specific area, such as hardware, or linux for example. Just because someone is a Linux geek does not mean they know how to copy DVD movies.

• Build their own computers
• Have setup and use a dual-boot or triple boot machine (yes, it can be done)
• Can comfortably diagnose hardware problems
• Reinstall Windows more than twice per year (this
• Are completely comfortable with the registry and have no problem editing it
• Uses the command line frequently
• Have written their own software
• Use Linux, swear by Linux, or will avoid Microsoft products like the plague
• Program Java/C++
• backup their essential files regularly and without fail (even geeks can forget to do this and we should all strive to do this with our irreplaceable photos and home movies).

Mac: View System Processes and Performance

How to view the System Processes and Performance on a Mac

Navigate to:
/Applications/Utilities folder/Activity Monitor

The Activity Monitor on the Mac is the equivalent of the Task Manager in Windows

The Activity Monitor displays the system processes, CPU/memory usage.

Photoshop Tutorial - Create 3D Box Art

Photoshop Tutorial - Create 3D Box Art

Photoshop Tutorial - Creating Reflections

Photoshop Tutorial - Creating Reflections

Photoshop Tutorial - Blending images with Gradients

Photoshop Tutorial - Blending images with Gradients

Photoshop Tutorial - Painting Effect

Photoshop Tutorial - Painting Effect

Photoshop Tutorial - Match color, lighting effect

Photoshop Tutorial - Match color (create lighting effect)

Photoshop - Turn photos to sketches

Photo to Sketches Tutorial

Photoshop Gradient Blending

Blend Tutorial with Gradients (version 7)

PC World Articles

Video Downloading Tools

15 Great Free Utilities you've never heard of

Top Anti-Virus Programs
http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,130869-page,1/article.html

Videos on PCWorld.com
http://www.pcworld.com/video.html

Top 5 external hard drives
http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,123728-page,1/article.html

Top 10 Black and White Laser Printers
http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,123860-page,1/article.html

Top 5 20-inch Monitors
http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,126075-page,1/article.html

top 10 Value Desktop PC's
http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,123848-page,1/article.html

Top 5 All-Purpose Laptops
http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,123678-page,1/article.html

JPEG Photo Format on Its Way Out?

JPEG Photo Format on Its Way Out?
Microsoft's new HD Photo format offers higher-quality images half the size of JPEGs, company says.
PC Magazine Article from 03/08/2007

Digital Books (ebooks)

Apple Pro Training Series - Final Cut Pro 5

Apple Pro Training Series - DVD Studio Pro 4

Advanced Editing and Finishing Techniques in Final Cut Pro HD (2nd Edition)

ISBN: 9780321256089

Advanced Editing Techniques in Final Cut Pro 5

Premiere Pro 2.0 Studio Techniques

Photoshop CS2 Studio Techniques

Word 2007: The Missing Manual

-----

Essential Photoshop Editing Techniques

501 Web Site Secrets: Unleash the Power of Google, Amazon, eBay and More

Photoshop CS2: Image Editing for New Users and Professionals

Shoot Like a Pro! Digital Photography Techniques (PDF)

PSP Hacks (O'Reilly, 2006)

Creating Photomontages with Photoshop (PDF)

Powerpoint Advanced Presentation Techniques

Enhancing CAD Drawings with Photoshop

Photoshop Tips

From Outdoor Photographer:
Using Layer Masks

Use the X key when painting Layer Masks

Mistakes are reversible by switching from white to black or black to white and repainting the area. When painting in a Layer Mask, keep your free index finger hovering over the X key on the keyboard.

When you make a mistake, hit X and the painting color will switch to the opposite color. You can quickly paint out your mistake, hit X and go back to painting the Layer Mask.

Watch your progress on the Layer Mask in the working image on the screen. Look at the Layer Mask itself to examine whether certain areas are filled. Thumbnails in the Layers Palette are too small to judge critical areas. Use Alt-Click or Option-Click on the Layer Mask thumbnail in the Layers Palette to see the Layer Mask on the screen. Return to the image by clicking on the image thumbnail in the Layers Palette.

Layer Masks and Split Neutral Density Filters
Article from Outdoor Photographer

The Gradient tool shares the space with the Paint Bucket tool in the Tools Palette (ND 1).

The Gradient tool can be used in a Layer Mask to simulate several Split Neutral Density filters. Combined with the Brush and other tools, a Layer Mask can be adapted to enhance any image. The Linear Gradient and the Radial Gradient are the most useful Gradient modes for a Layer Mask.

Here’s a simplified start from the many modes and choices available. Click on the Linear Gradient and the Gradient Preset Picker and choose Foreground to Background (ND 2). In the Layer Mask, this means black to white or white to black.

To use the Linear Gradient, click somewhere in the image and drag the “rubber band” to some other point in the image. The space between the beginning and ending click points will be shaded from black to white. Outside of the click points will be solid colors. If you click at the very top and drag to the very bottom the whole area is shaded in a long, soft blend simulating a soft neutral density filter (ND 3).

If you click and drag a short distance, the blended area is small and there are large areas of solid color simulating a hard neutral density filter (ND 4).

The Linear Gradient can be used high or low in an image or at an angle. Combined with a Brush, a very accurate Layer Mask can be made for any image.

A Radial Gradient in a Layer Mask is used to spotlight a subject or vignette an image.

How to convert DVDs to AVI or MPEG video files

WikiHow page on steps for converting a DVD to an AVI file or MPEG file.

AutoGK or DVDx can be used.

AutoGK (Official) Tutorial

For Macs

Handbrake, there's also Instant Handbrake.
Handbrake gives a good interface and multiple format/compression options.

Installing Windows

Tips for Reinstalling Windows:

Download all your drivers and save them to a flash drive or burn them to a CD before you reinstall windows, that way you they'll be handy, and you won't have to go looking for them to have the correct resolution on your screen or to allow your DVD-Burner to function.

Before you install windows and the option appears to create a partition, create an extra partition for your data, so if you ever need to recover data, you'll be able to. This should help speed up the process of reinstalling windows later, since essential drivers and software can be saved to the separate partition.

From my experience, you can create this extra partition now, however you have to wait until windows is installed to format it. Double click on the partition in My Computer and it should prompt you to format it. It's best to format it FAT32, because it's readable by more OSes. A 26 GB partition took about 20 min. to format in FAT32 without the "quick option" on my laptop.

After reinstalling Windows. . . . .
here are some settings you may want to change:

• Show file extensions
• Set automatic updates to download automatically, but select "let me choose when to install them"
• Disable error reporting
  (WindowsKey + Pause), click on Advanced at the bottom and disable the error reporting
• Add the volume icon to the system tray
  
• Remove Windows Media Player from music/video files associations
• Adjust the your scheduled anti-virus scans
• Change the location of the My Documents folder
  (Right-click the My Documents folder, choose Properties, select the Target tab, and click Move to transfer your current My Documents folder and its contents to another location (see Figure 5). To make My Documents point to an existing folder, click Find Target instead of Move.)

Hardware Drivers

Dell Inspiron 6000 Drivers

From the Microsoft Page:
Automatic Driver Updates
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/games/learnmore/updatingdrivers.mspx

To use the Windows Update Catalog

1.	On the Microsoft Update home page, under Other options click Administrator options.
2.	Under Update multiple operating systems click Windows Update Catalog.
3.	Click Find driver updates for hardware devices.
4.	Click Pick a hardware category, and search for the latest updates to keep your devices working properly

You can search for driver updates to hardware products, organized by kinds of product and then by manufacturers.

You'll see a list of driver types. Select the category you're updating (Sound, Video, Printer, etc.) and a search form will display. Select from the list of manufacturers, choose your operating system, and search for your update. You'll see a list of suggested updates in the search results. Find the one you need, click Add, and click Go to Download Basket. From there, browse for the location where you'd like to download the software and then click Download Now. Finally, install the update.

What if I can't find my driver using the Windows Update Catalog?

A great resource in the gaming community is a Web site called FilePlanet that hosts drivers, trial versions, and hundreds of other gaming resources. Check FilePlanet if Microsoft Update doesn't list your driver. In the Browse menu on the left, under other files, click Drivers. When the Drivers page appears, enter the name of your device in the Search field, or scroll down to browse by category (Sound, Video Cards, DirectX, etc.)

Dust and Noise on Desktop computers

About half of the noise generated by desktop computers can be eliminated by dusting out the inside.

Use Meebo to IM from a Browser

Meebo
Meebo.com
Supports AIM, Google Talk, ICQ, Jabber, MSN, and Yahoo! instant messaging services all from within a browser window. A new feature lets you move your chat windows onto the desktop. Meebo works in Internet Explorer, Firefox, and Safari.

IM without using or installing an IM client.

From PC Magazine, March 6 2007 issue p.43