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Cool Mac Things

So far (I'll make it "top 20" and add some school-specific stuff):

There are a lot of documented and undocumented tricks and tips for Macs, and here are some favorites. (Not all can be done by students because of the security settings)

1. Take a document or put some documents in a folder. With Stuffit Deluxe installed: On the end of the file or folder name add ".zip" and it will automatically compress the file. It discards the original. Without Stuffit Deluxe: go to FILE menu and select "Make archive of...".
2. Lots of windows open? press OPTION-COMMAND-W to close them all (or Command-W for the front window) You can also press F9 to tile all windows, and F11 to move them so you can see your desktop.
3. Have a lot of applications open? Press and hold the APPLE key, now tap the TAB key to choose an app to come to the front.
4. Want a PRINT button in Safari? In the URL type "javascript:window.print()" (without the parenthesis) and drag it to the bookmarks bar. Rename it "PRINT".
5. To select an area of your screen as a picture, press APPE+SHIFT+4. A cross will appear. Click where you want to start and drag to the other corner. It makes a PDF on the desktop.
6. Want to make a PDF of ANY document? (Well, not an iMovie!) Macs have it built in to the operating system! Just choose "print", then select "SAVE AS PDF...". Name it, and it will save to the desktop.
7. Have some interesting text you want to share? Highlight it, then drag it to the desktop. It makes a clipping file that can't be edited. I use it to capture all my passwords for websites and such (I mean, how annoying is Yahoo requiring you to verify your password all the time? I keep the file safe in my .Mac account)
8. Have a LLLOOONNNGGG web site address you want share with others? Go to the site, and drag the URL to the desktop. It will make a "webloc" file suitable for e-mailing.
9. Have a folder you access a lot in your Documets folder? Find the folder, then drag and drop to the bar on the left of the open windw. (Where your "Home", Applications" etc. are) You can also re-arrange the folders there by gragging them to a new location. Oh, and don't forget you can add folders to the dock for quick access.
 
Les Kern said:
4. Want a PRINT button in Safari? In the URL type "javascript:window.print()" (without the parenthesis) and drag it to the bookmarks bar. Rename it "PRINT".
Click to expand...

You mean, without the quotes, right?

And select a file, press Return to rename it. Quite handy.

And I am surprised that I didn't see it mentioned here:
APPLESCRIPT!
You can learn a programming language for free, and use it to do just about anything on your Mac!!!
 
I'm a switcher who still uses Linux and Windows regularly, but I found that one of the greatest features of my PowerBook (other than it being beautiful) was that I could plug my LCD directly into the DVI->VGA converter that came with my unit and BOOM I have a second screen. I go to configure it and I can change its color settings, resolution, and relation to my main screen. It didn't require any drivers or special software installation: I just plugged it in!

It's also cute to see it "breathing" when you close it.

One problem with the 12" PB: the keyboard layout seems to get impressed on the screen. Don't know why but it is probably dust. :)
 
OMG!

Mechcozmo said:
And select a file, press Return to rename it. Quite handy. !
Click to expand...

I did not know this!
Everytime I go to rename a file I either open it or get mad at having to wait 3 seconds between the 2 clicks to highlight it.

Thank you, thank you, thanks a lot!!!
 
phreakout13 said:
Ooh! What about when you press control-option-command-8 all at the same time and the screen turns all black and white and inverted. It's awesome!
Click to expand...
That's a Universal Access feature designed to make the screen easier to read for those people that have trouble reading the default color settings. In case you somehow found this mode and don't know how to make it normal again, just press control+option+command+8 again.
 
phreakout13 said:
Ooh! What about when you press control-option-command-8 all at the same time and the screen turns all black and white and inverted. It's awesome!
Click to expand...

haha! this is actually pretty cool if you wake up in the night and go play with your computer. the display hurts like **** even if it's on the dimmest possible setting (I have a 17" Apple SD LCD). Still don't think I'm gonna use it too much.
 
Lots of Mac Advantages..

Well... I have also complied a list that describing all the mac pointers. (coz I needed it to convince my 'rents)

(my list)(Thanks toPalad1)


1.) Can Mac Run, Visual Basic, Liberty Basic, JAVA, C,C++ ????


Software Project Manager, here's what my Mac runs:
Java SDK 1.4.2
Eclipse (Java IDE, free version of IBM's industry standard WSAD, which even in its free version, kicks major ass especially when it comes to refactoring)
Mono : .net CLR, for all your C# needs
MySQL : SQL Relational Database
Apache: Industry-wide standard HTTP server
PHP: Web application authoring language, easy
GCC : GNU free compiler which groks (amongst other things:
C
C++
Liberty Basic
Pascal
Objective-C
You name it
Xcode: Apple's free objective-C / C / C++ / Java IDE. Most software vendors use this tool in the Mac world.
Quote:

2.) If I run tons of apps, will it in the same performance? ( like running 5-20 apps )



Do remember that Powerbooks are high-end machines, so if they buy a 900$ DELL laptop, chances are your powerbook will just beat it by a mile of it performance-wise.

On the other hand, I made some tests between my 1.5PB and a VAIO (P4), on some points the VAIO won : games, raw speed, but the PB clearly won over th VAIO under high load. Seems like OSX fares much better than XP when the system load is >100%

(coding/surfing/light photoshop and of course the Fabulous 4: Word/Excel/Powerpoint/Outlook), 1 gig of RAM bought me peace of mind. The Kernel is really good at managing lots of applications at the same time, I can't complain (see hrere for a much more detailled discussion about RAM: https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/92669/ )
Quote:

3.) Is a mac easy 2 switch? is it easy to handle? what learning curve is there?


I made the switch 5 months ago, I'm a programmer, used PCs since I was 12, the first week as an ex power-user was a bit frustrating, but once you get used to the fact that the Mac way to do a thing is always the most evident/straightforward one, it just keeps on getting better and better!
Quote:

4.) Will mac support the printer model : HP PSC 1210 ; and will it support the Modem : DSL-302G running OptusNet?



Apple support for non PCMCIA peripherals is really impressive. Just plug in any camera on a Mac and you'll understand (as opposed to plugging it in an XP box for the first time. oh gawd)
Quote:
Compatible operating systems Microsoft® Windows® 98, 98 SE, 2000, Me, XP; Macintosh OS 9.0 and above, OS X v 10.1 and above; (Just to let that peps usin' optusnet DSL, it is compatible with Mac , you needa configure it yaself, w/o tech support

Quote:

5.) Many people say MAC is bad, why? A mac has none of the Software work on Mac? Are they a solution to it?

I use Virtual PC for 2 things:
PSN8.5 (Microsoft Project clone)
Visual Studio.Net when I'm not at the office

The thing is, if you have a PC desktop near you, you are better off using Remote Desktop Connection in order to run windows applications. On the other hand, I don't need VS.Net everyday thanks to Mono (http://www.go-mono.net)

As for the comments made by persons who hate the Mac, I can relate.

The thing is, I used to be the most offensive Mac basher ever. My first computer was an Apple][/e and I never forgave Apple for ditching the CLI in favor of its stupid Macintosh interface. Let's say I was not a fan of OS7-8-9 either, so many things were hidden from the power user it was just freaking me out.

Then came Steve with NeXT and OSX with it UNIX goodies. I gave it a try 3 years ago, and was quite impressed with the whole thing, it did not relate to any previous Mac experience I had (this must have pissed several OS789 users by the way ).

What I wanted to say (instead of telling my life ) was that these people are as misinformed as I used to be and still have preconceptions dating back to classic OS789 days.

Most Windows apps now are either
Cross platform (MS Office, Java)
Cloned by open source projects (Eclipse, Mono,Firefox)
Utterly ridiculous when compared with their Apple equivalent (Logic,Motion...)

This machine will be excellent for Computer Science college, right

If you get a PC, you will spend your time playing videogames, whereas on a Mac, everybody knows there are no games, thus it's all productivity!!!
----------

Macintosh only has 1% of viruses, spyware and other security risks. So you can your computer out of harm’s way.

And they is something else "unique" (- i dunno..) about Apple Macintosh. It’s called Memory protection. Just say you are running 20 applications simultaneously, and 1 freezes and crashes, not to worry, unlike windows, when one application fails, it takes the system down with it. Not with Macintosh, it is completely the opposite. If an application fails, it’ll leave the system at its normal state, and won’t interrupt any other process. So don’t worry about saving your documents every 5 minutes, in case of a system failure.

Because it’s built on UNIX standards, Mac OS X provides you with time-tested security and reliability not available on other systems. And Panther gives you even more control to safeguard your data. File Vault automatically encrypts and decrypts the contents of your home directory on the fly with powerful AES-128 encryption. Which will take 120 trillion years, with T, years to crack!

Mac OS X is the only high volume operating system that provides world-class developer tools to everyone. Xcode is the fastest way to create Mac OS X/ Windows applications, using your choice of Objective C, C++, C, AppleScript or Java. Combining a groundbreaking user interface with an all-new, high-performance toolkit that includes gcc 3.3, (which can compile Liberty B.A.S.I.C, Fortran, C, C++ , C# ,) Xcode makes it easy to take advantage of the latest technologies from Apple without costing a cent. In fact, developers have already released over 10,000 titles for Mac OS X.

They are lots of Apple technologies {features } (150+), I’ll name you the main Apple Technologies:
Xcode (Software Developing tool)
Adobe Photoshop (Graphics Developing Tool)
Macromedia (Web Developing)
UNIX ( Strong as a Rock OS)
Quartz (The Graphics secret behind Mac OS X)
Video Compression (H.264) Use your webcam to talk to your friends, to matter where they are, in superior quality and minimal lag
Exposé (Find the Window you need. Fast.)
Mail (Sort by thread, Throw the Spam)
Preview ( Tear through PDFs (Adobe Acrobat Reader) in no Time.)
Font Book (Get the style of writing you need. Free.)
Windows ( Every thing you need to create a windows centric world)


What’ll happen if encounter any difficulties?
This is a every good part of Apple, because if you have problems with Windows, people blame each other, not with Ma they’re trained professionals at Apple, so if anything ever goes wrong, there they to help you.

Now, no-one can argue with this. Apple (Macintosh) Hardware is just inspritially Beautiful No its or buts.

Apple will Define the Next Digital Wave.

Pixeled_Apple
 
Easy OS X Customization:
Apple-H to hide your application, but wished the dock icon for that app becomes transparent? You can make it so!

Want a message in your login screen? Easy.

Robert Griffiths of macosxhints writes a cool article for OReilly macdevcenter. Click on the link for a tutorial.

ASCII STAR WARS: Open Terminal and type this:
telnet towel.blinkenlights.nl

(that's all....)

To save all this wonderful yumminess, I think this will work:

curl -f "telnet://towel.blinkenlights.nl" -o "starwars.vt100"


There's also the Dock's "Blue Ball", but I haven't checked to see if Panther still supports it.

Speaking of the Dock, you can kill it and use another launcher instead, I'm sure there are plenty of links in these forums.
 
FOREIGN LANGUAGE SUPPORT

That one is the killer for me. I can switch between German, English & Japanese with ease. Windows cannot even come close to that. It really blows me away how Apple managed that :)

Also the wallpaper flipper/changer thing. I setup a folder with pictures from Guam, and OS X changes them gradually every 1 minute. Terrific!
 
5300cs said:
FOREIGN LANGUAGE SUPPORT

That one is the killer for me. I can switch between German, English & Japanese with ease. Windows cannot even come close to that. It really blows me away how Apple managed that :)

Also the wallpaper flipper/changer thing. I setup a folder with pictures from Guam, and OS X changes them gradually every 1 minute. Terrific!
Click to expand...
It gets even better though - the language system is Unicode-based AND extensible, so other languages can be added later. How's that for a Windows-beating foreign language implementation?
 
aussie_geek said:
One great thing about the Macintosh is connectivity. You can just plug things into them (printers, cameras and scanners etc) and it just WORKS!! Worrying about drivers for your hardware is a thing of the past. Just plug and play dude. :D

aussie_geek
Click to expand...

"its plug and play, not plug and get mad" :p
 
How about the fact that you can drag text/images from one place into a text box/application directly. I find that much more helpful than dragging stuff to the desktop.
 
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