got my white macbook today!

[yoMAMA]

got it this morning from fedex.

im at work so have to get home and set up the laptop.

:cool: :smile: :biggrin:

[sinisterpanda]

jealous!!!

[yoMAMA]

hehe....

mac lovers...any hints, guides?

i still don't have a wireless router yet...

so i guess i have to go to a coffee shop or library to check out the aiport.

[ares]

congrats.

If you're into cataloging books, music and DVDs, try Delicous Library. It's half price this week.

http://www.delicious-monster.com/

You could also try Adium. It's all in one AIM, MSN, GTalk, and Yahoo chat client.

http://adiumx.com/

This is also a new site for software to check out:

http://osx.iusethis.com/

And then the normal shareware sites:

http://macupdate.com/
http://www.versiontracker.com/macosx/

[yoMAMA]

Thanks!

I've already countered a problem though:

I can't make the power plugs on my ac adapter to swing to 90 degrees....it can only swing to 45 degrees....

anybody know why?

http://www.universitycomputers.com/webitemimages/210/510E-44-MA357-m.jpg

it's supposed to look like this (when it's totally flat and 90 degrees):

but my can only swing to half of that...

[Shinkai]

take off the (clear) tape and use more force?...

If you want to install winxp, I can post some useful hints/programs.

As for OSX software, the main ones you should get are:
Quicksilver (app launcher and more)
VLC
Adium
Xee (if you read manga, or don't like Preview)
Temperature Monitor

just google those or look them up on versiontracker.com

[TB4000]

Is this the Intel one? Damn Steve Jobs won't let our software run on those things, that bastard. There's money to be had, you geek.

[yoMAMA]

use more force?...


that's right!

it worked....

i'm such a dumbass.

:biggrin:

[Shinkai]

Is this the Intel one? Damn Steve Jobs won't let our software run on those things, that bastard. There's money to be had, you geek.

what software? most ppc software will run just fine with rosetta.


oh and please caliberate your lcd. by default, macbook's color profile is pretty red/brownish.

[TB4000]

SPSS software. Where I work. It won't run on it because of the emulator issues.

[Faithless]

I'd like to get one, but not until they've settled on how to address the Windows connection.

[ares]

Windows connection?

If you mean networking or Active Directory, it works. If you mean running Windows, XP works. People have installed Vista as well. I'm gonna try Vista, probably later today.

Here's a blog to check out

http://tuaw.com/

[yoMAMA]

Windows connection?

If you mean networking or Active Directory, it works. If you mean running Windows, XP works. People have installed Vista as well. I'm gonna try Vista, probably later today.

Here's a blog to check out

http://tuaw.com/

I'm interested in bootcamp, but apple made it for sp2 only (since i bought my pc pre-sp2 patch), even thought i have a legite copy of xp, i can't use it. :mad:




oh and please caliberate your lcd. by default, macbook's color profile is pretty red/brownish.

how do I do that?

(i know, i'm embarassingly tech iliterate) :redface:


As for OSX software, the main ones you should get are:
Quicksilver (app launcher and more)
VLC
Adium
Xee (if you read manga, or don't like Preview)
Temperature Monitor

just google those or look them up on versiontracker.com


are those free?

[ares]

All those apps are free.

I'm surprised you need to calibrate your LCD. If you want to take a look, you can click the Spotlight icon (top right magnifying glass) and type Displays. It'll bring up the Displays Preference Pane in System Preferences (like Control Pane). The 2nd tab color, you can check the color profiles.

Spotlight lets you search for anything on your computer, word, powerpoint, bookmarks, PDFs, contacts in your address book, etc. It'll search for the name plus it can search inside documents.

[Faithless]

Windows connection?

If you mean networking or Active Directory, it works. If you mean running Windows, XP works. People have installed Vista as well. I'm gonna try Vista, probably later today.

Here's a blog to check out

http://tuaw.com/
No, I mean running Windows XP. It's gone through a little evolution in the last year or so. Right? That dual boot thing. Parallel. Virtualization (?). And now, a third party maybe able to make it more integrated with the Mac -- according to some Mac rumor site.

[ares]

Other stuff you could try out:

Google Earth

for notes, scraps, to store archives of web pages and stuff, check out this:

http://www.tuaw.com/2006/07/11/get-organized-a-survey-of-digital-junk-drawer-apps/

If you need an Outliner, OmniOutliner is it. Not free.

CandyBar and Pixadex are nice if you're into changing icons.

Linotype FontExplorer X is a nice free font manager if you do graphic stuff

Mugshot is for Flickr
coconutBattery can keep track of your battery charge
Sofa Control or Remote Buddy lets you use your Apple Remote in other apps
Toast is what everyone uses for CD and DVD burning

No, I mean running Windows XP. It's gone through a little evolution in the last year or so. Right? That dual boot thing. Parallel. Virtualization (?). And now, a third party maybe able to make it more integrated with the Mac -- according to some Mac rumor site.

Boot Camp lets you dual boot XP and OS X. It's in beta but runs great. The beta part only means all the drivers don't quite work yet (iSight camera and other stuff). OS X can't yet write to NTFS (maybe in 10.5). Vista works too but not without some tricks.

Parallels Desktop is out. It virtualizes the machine (makes XP think it's running by itself). Very fast. Works great except USB compatability is not perfect. VMWare should be out soon.

I'm interested in bootcamp, but apple made it for sp2 only (since i bought my pc pre-sp2 patch), even thought i have a legite copy of xp, i can't use it. :mad:


Here are some instructions for making an XP SP2 disc.

http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/windowsxp_sp2_slipstream.asp

Got Vista installed on my MacBook Pro. Display and wireless works. Brightness control doesn't yet. MacDrive (lets you access OS X partitions) doesn't work. bummer.

I'll still with it and see how it goes.

[Shinkai]

I'm surprised you need to calibrate your LCD.

It depends on your personal preference and whether you're picky about colors (or if you're doing professional photo work). All LCDs need to be recaliberated to an extent (like TV), but most are pretty normal out of box. MacBook's default color profile is fairly warm. If you install WinXP and compare colors, you'll notice there's a huge difference (WinXP default profile is cooler).

You can recaliberate colors by going to System Pref->Displays->Color->Caliberate. Use expert mode (basic mode doesn't do much, just gamma and white point I think).

Alternatively you can try my color profile here
https://mywebspace.wisc.edu/klapoetke/web/MacBook%20Calibrated-4271780.icc
put it in "/Library/ColorSync/Profiles/Displays/"




If you're going to install WinXP, then you might want to check out these apps.

MacDrive (payware) (http://www.mediafour.com/products/macdrive6/) <-- allows you to write to OSX volumes in windows

Input Remapper (http://forum.osx86project.org/index.php?showforum=78) <--reassign keys + right click

Your built-in speakers are always on in WinXP (even when you plug in headphones). There's a registry hack to disable built-in speakers completely, but I can't find the forum post on osx86projects. I do have a pdf copy of the instructions. I can post it later if you need it.

OS X can't yet write to NTFS (maybe in 10.5)
What makes you say that? I saw this article (http://developers.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=06/07/15/1346250) few days ago, but I'm not sure if Apple cares to implement safe write in OSX.

[ares]

It depends on your personal preference and whether you're picky about colors (or if you're doing professional photo work). All LCDs need to be recaliberated to an extent (like TV), but most are pretty normal out of box. MacBook's default color profile is fairly warm. If you install WinXP and compare colors, you'll notice there's a huge difference (WinXP default profile is cooler).


I doubt YoMAMA is doing much of that. Yes Mac and PC gammas are different. If one wanted to calibrate for print, then it would be more involved and require some hardware. :)




What makes you say that? I saw this article (http://developers.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=06/07/15/1346250) few days ago, but I'm not sure if Apple cares to implement safe write in OSX.
[/quote]

I didn't look at your article link. I think some Linux developer was talking about working with Apple for NTFS write in Leopard. Who knows. I imagine they'd want it. The average person is not going to know FAT32 or NTFS; they'll install Windows and wonder why they can't copy stuff to it. Apple wouldn't let that happen.

I'm now going thru trying to get Office 2007 to work on Vista. What a pain. Some obscure problem some people have.

[Faithless]

Boot Camp lets you dual boot XP and OS X. It's in beta but runs great. The beta part only means all the drivers don't quite work yet (iSight camera and other stuff). OS X can't yet write to NTFS (maybe in 10.5). Vista works too but not without some tricks.

Parallels Desktop is out. It virtualizes the machine (makes XP think it's running by itself). Very fast. Works great except USB compatability is not perfect. VMWare should be out soon.
Aren't you afraid that at this point, the running of Windows is just a novelty, and when it comes down to running it seriously, it won't be there.

It just seems to "bleeding edge" to me.

Nonetheless, the PC retail consumer market is very interested in this prospect of running Windows on a Mac -- so much so, I've read, that there is a nice enough market to consider going after.

[yoMAMA]

Here’s my quick review of the white Mac book (spec: 2 GHZ Intel core duo, 1 GB RAM, 60 G HD)

1. I love OSX!-such a beautiful operating system :smile:

2. This thing is fast! Everything just loads up instantly. I love core duo :smile:

2. Haven't set up the internet connection....I don't have a wireless router, although I do have a DSL modem and an Ethernet cord-from college dorms. Is there a way for me to use my DSL modem to connect to the net? (Currently I use the DSL modem connected to my desktop PC).

3. I found a little dot on the middle left corner of the screen, couldn't quite figure out if it's a little dust/dirt, or a dead pixel. I sure hope it’s the former. :frown:

Is there a way to detect dead pixels on the screen? (Other than nervously staring at the screen ;)

Also, how do you clean LCD screens? They are such fragile little things :smile:

As for the glossy screen, I love it! There are reflections on certain angels, but unless I really try to find it, there's not much problem, and the screen is really bright for a laptop LCD, the colors are beautiful (although I haven’t calibrate it…too complicated for me ;)

as for the keyboard, it feels very firm when typing, and not uncomfortable.

And the operating temperature…well, after an hour of set up and playing around…the bottom of the laptop is HOT! But I guess that’s the norm for all laptops….

Anyways…

That’s what I have so far....

If that's a dead pixel...then I prob. has to return it and exchange for another one..... :frown: :mad:

but overall, I love my Macbook, I'll give it an A-.

and another question: I ordered the 3 year protection plan from apple, am I supposed to get a box or something?

[ares]

Aren't you afraid that at this point, the running of Windows is just a novelty, and when it comes down to running it seriously, it won't be there.


What do you mean? :) That Apple or someone else is going to drop support? Or that compatibility is not perfect?

I'm tying this from Vista and everything works great. So I don't have my backlighted keyboard or video chat (and I haven't checked bluetooth). But everything else is perfect. Except Vista is kinda horrible. Just using it for Word 2007. I was running it on XP plus inside Parallels but XP's font smoothing is bad.


2. Haven't set up the internet connection....I don't have a wireless router, although I do have a DSL modem and an Ethernet cord-from college dorms. Is there a way for me to use my DSL modem to connect to the net? (Currently I use the DSL modem connected to my desktop PC).


You could take the cable and plug it into your MacBook. Or go get your wireless router. Since you have more than one computer, if you wanted Apple's router, you'd need AirPort Extreme. And then when you wanted music streaming you'd need AirPort Express too.

You could get a switch for now. Cheap and you can plug both computers in.

3. I found a little dot on the middle left corner of the screen, couldn't quite figure out if it's a little dust/dirt, or a dead pixel. I sure hope it’s the former. :frown:

Is there a way to detect dead pixels on the screen? (Other than nervously staring at the screen ;)


There are programs out there that can change the entire screen to one color (red blue and green) so they're easier to see.

It's also possible to sometimes rub out the dead pixel. There are also programs out there that can sometimes fix it.

http://digg.com/software/A_program_that_can_fix_dead_pixels_on_your_LCD_(WO RKS_)

Also, how do you clean LCD screens? They are such fragile little things :smile:


With just water and something as non-abbrasive as possible.


and another question: I ordered the 3 year protection plan from apple, am I supposed to get a box or something?

Just a very thin box with a sign up paper inside. I'm guessing if you buy it at the same time as your computer from Apple, they just send you a paper and automatically register you.

[Shinkai]

Aren't you afraid that at this point, the running of Windows is just a novelty, and when it comes down to running it seriously, it won't be there.

It just seems to "bleeding edge" to me.

Not sure what you mean by seriously. I'm running matlab and games in WinXP on my macbook. I think Apple will include bootcamp in Leopard officially.


Also, how do you clean LCD screens? They are such fragile little things
I recommend microfiber cloth. It's used for cleaning camera lenses and it works wonders on greasy finger stains.

[yoMAMA]

Apparently, it was false alarm..

i think after some cleaning, the "dead pixel" was actually some dust debries....

thank god...:)

[ares]

I've been trying out different ways to type pinyin in OS X. There's what's built in, Openvanilla, and QIM. QIM is impressive.

[yoMAMA]

how do you get QIM?

my dad is a writer and he has been searhing for eternity in the quest for a good chinese input software.

[ares]

http://glider.ismac.cn/RegQIME.html

Some features:

Live preview of characters. Type one letter and it'll start to show options, type more and it'll narrow it down.

Frequency - used words show up first

Compound characters. Nihao. All of them do this I think.

Abbreviation of compound characters thru initials. nj is enough to show nihao and other possibilities. Even long works like zibenzhuyi can be appreviated like zbzy. Learns well.

One key switch between English and Chinese (shift or capslock). This seems to have some problems. If you switch away from one program and go back, it doesn't yet remember which language you were using. Always goes back to Chinese. I emailed the author so we'll see; should be fixed sometime.

$20 for QIM. Seems like by far the fastest way to type pinyin and only pinyin. For everything else, you try the free Openvanilla

http://openvanilla.org/

And a good resource for Chinese on the Mac. (They also have a discussion mailing list).

http://www.yale.edu/chinesemac/

I started using HanziBar (http://realimaginary.com/HanziBar/) for Firefox. It seems to be the best out there for browser translation. Far better than LiveDictionary for Chinese.

Too bad that means I need to use FireFox. I'll miss Safari.

[yoMAMA]

I just had my first OSX crash today.

Apparently it was due to my USB flash drive (although I don't know why since I followed the peculiar mac instruction of choosing the keydrive in the "Finder", and select "eject", when I had to pull it out (in windows xp I just pull it out after I'm done using that).

This just seems to be rather strange (how I have to go to the finders, select the usb drive, and then hit "eject".

[ares]

From what I remember, it takes at least 4 mouse clicks to eject a drive in Windows (Microsoft does recommend using the tray icon to eject drives). You can pull it out and ignore the error message. I do that sometimes on my Mac.

You could write an AppleScript and leave it in your dock. Many OS X programs are scriptable (so you can automate them). And AppleScript is very English like:

tell application "iTunes"
quit
end tell

tell application "Safari"
open location "http://www.google.com"
end tell

http://macscripter.net/ (a good place to get started with AppleScript)

You could write an AppleScript and it assign it some keyboard shortcut thru an app like QuicKeys.

There are many ways to make the AppleScript. Here's one example:

tell application "Finder" to eject (every disk whose capacity < 250 * (1024 ^ 2))

(ejects all drives less than 250 megs)

http://bbs.applescript.net/viewtopic.php?id=3452

[yoMAMA]

From what I remember, it takes at least 4 mouse clicks to eject a drive in Windows (Microsoft does recommend using the tray icon to eject drives). [

really?

Thanks for the scripts.

[ares]

really?

Thanks for the scripts.

Here's a script that will eject the drive:

tell application "Finder" if exists(disk "YOUR USB DRIVE NAME") then eject "YOUR USB DRIVE NAME"

AppleScript is very handy for automating anything. I have iTunes scipts that do search and replace of tags, fix the capitalization, and dozens of other things. I use some for Safari, like one being able to very quickly search 5 amazon sites (France, Germany, US, UK, Canada) at the same time.

With LaunchBar or Quicksilver, from anywhere in OS X, I can press cmd-spacebar, g, spacebar, "what I want to search for", return and get a google search. It's very fast.

I can also get show Yellowworld's new posts from anywhere in OSX, by pressing cmd-spacebar, ye, return.

Automator is an app that also helps with automatting common tasks.

That site, macscripter.net is very useful for getting started with AppleScript. You can ask people there for help.

I’ve started using a Chinese InputMethod full time. I leave it active and by pressing caps lock, it lets me type English. So I found an easy way to let me know when caps lock is on.

http://www.thewoodwards.us/sw/CAPSWarn/index.shtml

[yoMAMA]

Mac gurus, I need help again :(

I just bought Mac office 2004, and installed it on my Mac book.

No problem with the installation.

However, once I started the programs, each time the program started, I get an error message of

“an unexpected error occurred while trying to load the Microsoft framework library".


And this annoying error message shows up whenever I tries to open any office 04 apps-word, excel, PowerPoint.

And with the final piece of the office 04, entourage, while, it won't even allow me to use it!

This is the message I get when I click on entourage:

"This identity cannot be opened with this version of entourage". :confused:


I just think this is rather strange, since I have a legit copy of office 04.

I guess maybe if I try the download office updates, those annoyances may go away (however my Mac book is not connected to the internet at the moment (have to go to a library or coffee shop for that).

Also, maybe it's because of an Intel Mac trying to run an app designed for PowerPC processors?

Also, how do you uninstall programs/software in osx?

I have no idea how to do that.

Thanks my Mac Fairies.

:smile: :wink:

[zarathustra]

Here ya go

support.microsoft.com/kb/908466

[yoMAMA]

Here ya go

support.microsoft.com/kb/908466

awesome!

thanks.

although I have to go to a coffee shop or library tomorrow to get the update, and see if it fixes the problem.