tech: How Many Mudcatters using MACs?

Subject: RE: tech: How Many Mudcatters using MACs?
From: Rowan
Date: 13 Nov 07 - 03:54 PM

JTT, ever since the first computers were small and cheap enough to fit on one's desk the potential and actual owners of hardware and software have argued the merits of their own choice and decried that of others; proselytisation was rife before the Mac appeared and just got more intense once it did.

If you like a Mac, use a Mac; if you prefer a PC, use a PC! It's not a religion!

For many, it really is, but there are some cooler heads on this thread and quite a few who've taken the 'tools for the tasks' approach implicit in your post and dealt with both systems. The bits of this thread I find really interesting are the snippets of detail about how users have resolved the problems that have been identified.

Cheers, Rowan

Subject: RE: tech: How Many Mudcatters using MACs?
From: Amos
Date: 13 Nov 07 - 04:34 PM

Well, ya know, JTT, an opposable thumb is just a tool, also, with a few wires and hinges and a couple of levers in it. But I do get attached to mine.

The reason computers get personalized is because they gradually get involved in being your tool of representation to the world, especially the cyber world with its milions of unseen identities. Like the Mudcat. You want a tool that will be sturdy and reflect your wishes, just as a good sword, sharp spear, and agile battle-horse once did.


A

Subject: RE: tech: How Many Mudcatters using MACs?
From: Bonnie Shaljean
Date: 13 Nov 07 - 04:55 PM

It works in the other direction too, i.e. inwards as well as outwards. I'm continually amazed at how astonishingly vulnerable I am where my computer is concerned. Because - like most people - I place so much of myself in it (artistic creations, practical earning work, vital communication with people I care about, and connections that would otherwise be lost over time & distance) it becomes in a sense an extension of my mind. And if its contents are violated or - God forbid - lost, I would feel diminished in a very real way.

I'm not on a soapbox about the superiority of one system over another, but using (in my case) the two of them in constructive harmony is of great concern to me. Hence the emotion behind the technology.

Subject: RE: tech: How Many Mudcatters using MACs?
From: elfcape
Date: 14 Nov 07 - 12:35 AM

iPhoto edit button? No, it's been there for more than a year at least. I remember discovering it last Christmas to show a friend how to improve her pix.

How old is the iPhoto you're using, guest number 6? I've never bought iWork so my version of iPhoto is still the free one that came with OS X.4. That's been around more than a year now, so the Edit button has been around more than a year at least.

Under the Edit button is one labelled Adjust. That's where the higher level controls are.

Subject: RE: tech: How Many Mudcatters using MACs?
From: Bonnie Shaljean
Date: 14 Nov 07 - 06:54 AM

Just a quick heads-up to anyone who may not already know about this (Janie, ya out there?):

If you want a good word processor for your Mac but don't feel like stumping up for MS Word (part of the Office Suite, which means you are also stumping up for Excell, Entourage, Power Point and a bunch of other stuff you may not need) there's an excellent FREE download called NeoOffice which I have just installed. It's very friendly and intuitive, uses all the fonts you have in your Fontbook, and is compatible with Word so the layout & menus are all familiar.

Another thing I like about it concerns that worrisome macro risk. While Word simply offers you a yes-no option via a warning menu, this allows four different security levels in which the highest will disable macros automatically unless the source is one you trust and have specifically listed in a "safe" menu - which means you can't accidentally let them slip through.

I'm delighted with NeoOffice, though make sure to read all the information on their website because it's still being developed (by unpaid volunteers) so there may be a few bugs. They continually offer downloadable upgrade patches, and after you've installed it, they direct you to go back to the site and then get the patch. (Make sure NeoOffice is closed when you install this.)

There's an alternative called "Open Office" but it seems more complicated and appears to require an additional download (something called XII), and at least one blog said that it ran much better on Windows than Mac, so I opted for Neo. OO hangs out at www.openoffice.org.

Clicky: http://www.neooffice.org/neojava/en/index.php

Subject: RE: tech: How Many Mudcatters using MACs?
From: Amos
Date: 14 Nov 07 - 09:56 AM

Pages, an Apple product, is also easily exportable to Word or RTF files, and won't even notice a Word macro.

Seriously, though, I have not seen hide nor hair of the Word macro virus in years, so I am not sure how big a worry it is.


A

Subject: RE: tech: How Many Mudcatters using MACs?
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 14 Nov 07 - 10:39 AM

Seems Linux is catching on in some areas. $200 for a new PC equipped to do most peoples' office tasks, web browsing and more.

Subject: RE: tech: How Many Mudcatters using MACs?
From: number 6
Date: 14 Nov 07 - 11:08 AM

Thanks for that link Jon ... very interesting indeed.

biLL

Subject: RE: tech: How Many Mudcatters using MACs?
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 14 Nov 07 - 12:51 PM

Glad it was of interest, Number6. I'll be interested to see how it goes longer term.

I do believe that entry level machines are more capable than a number of people seem to realise, that software such as Open Office works well and would suit most needs, and that a destkop Linux with something like KDE or Gnome is as easy to use as Winwows (in fact, my parents who are in their 70s and not particularly computer literate (but OK as users) had no problems when I switched them from Win 2000 to Opensuse/KDE) etc. but I still have doubts.

Other hardware may be a problem for some. Linux gets better and most devices we have work straight off but still I would check on compatibility before purchase, perhaps take an extra step like compiling a kernel module (not as frightening as it might sound btw) to get something to work as well as taking time searching "how tos".

I think a lot can be done but I'm not sure this market would contain many people who would take those sort of steps. Of course, I guess if sales of these computers at Walmart continue to be successful and the system itself proves good, maybe more manufactures would be keen to support Linux - from my outlook, it's a hope anyway.

Subject: RE: tech: How Many Mudcatters using MACs?
From: Janie
Date: 14 Nov 07 - 10:32 PM

Help! I have just repeatedly tried to make a link in another thread. Went to the website, highlighted the URL, rightclicked, chose copy. Went to thread and linkmaker. Right clicked. The paste option is inactive. did it repeatedly. No joy. Would occasionally run into this with the PC. (probably something I was doing wrong, but neverfigured it out there either.) When that would happen, i would minimize the browser window with Mudcat, click IE on the desktop and open it in another window, go to the website, copy, maximize the browser with Mudcat open, and paste to the linkmaker. But I can't seem to get Safari to open a second browser window to try this. When I minimize Mudcat to return to the desktop and click Safari, nothing happens. Maybe I don't know what to quiery, but Safari help didn't turn up any answers or clues either.

One option when I right clicked to copy the URL was make a link. I clicked that. But had no idea what, if anything, to do from that point.

2nd, perhaps related, issue. I was trying to link to a podcast. At some point, I inadvertently opened the podcast and it started playing again, thru iTunes. I couldn't get it turned off. I closed the link and closed itunes, but the podcast continued. I finally reopened iTunes, moved the slider to the end of the podcast, and then closed iTunes again. (Did that in the middle of typing this post - it was driving me nuts.)

I am not stupid, but in spite of trying, I seem to be in a permanent state of cluelessness when it comes to anything computer. It ain't the Mac. It is me. But I am stumped. (And this is, I am sure, some simple idiocy I am doing.)

*sob*

Janie

Subject: RE: tech: How Many Mudcatters using MACs?
From: Rowan
Date: 15 Nov 07 - 01:24 AM

Janie, In Safari's File menu (across the top of the Mac screen, select New Window (Cmd N) and you should get a second (3rd, 4th...) window opening on whatever your home page is set at; I've currently got four open and earlier today I had about eight. They'll all be listed under Window in the same menu bar and clicking on any one will bring it to the front. Putting the cursor on the little square in the bottom right hand corner of any window on the Mac allows you to resize that window with a click&drag.

This all works on a one-button Mac mouse; the right click is only "useful" for Windoze applications.

I hope this helps.

Cheers, Rowan

Subject: RE: tech: How Many Mudcatters using MACs?
From: Janie
Date: 15 Nov 07 - 01:34 AM

Thanks Rowan. Now I know how to open new browser windows.

The paste button still remains inactive when I try to copy and paste urls to the linkmaker on mudcat, even when I am moving between different browser windows.

Any clue as to what I am doing wrong?

Subject: RE: tech: How Many Mudcatters using MACs?
From: Rowan
Date: 15 Nov 07 - 01:52 AM

I suppose, because of my starting on 'command line' OSs I keep using keyboard commands where those who started on GUIs might routinely use their mouse. If I'm cutting, it's Cmd X, copying, it's Cmd C and pasting, it's Cmd V.

Mudcat's linkmaker has a pair of 'text window bars'; one for the URL and one for the text. When you've copied either and want to paste it into its respective text window bar, you have to 'activate the text window bar before you can paste. Put the cursor in the bar and just click the mouse; the bar will indicate that it's receptive by surrounding the bar with the same faint blue line as around the box into which you post thread messages. The Cmd V and you're away.

Is that the question you wanted answered?

Cheers, Rowan

Subject: RE: tech: How Many Mudcatters using MACs?
From: Janie
Date: 15 Nov 07 - 07:48 AM

*blush* I'm embarrassed to confess I was forgetting to activate the dialogue pox before trying to paste.   Forgetting over, and over, and over again.

There are some things good technology an design can't fix!

Subject: RE: tech: How Many Mudcatters using MACs?
From: Rowan
Date: 15 Nov 07 - 04:10 PM

to activate the dialogue pox
Love it!

Don't worry Janie, we all do it; forget technology, that is. My excuse is "senior moments".

Cheers, Rowan

Subject: RE: tech: How Many Mudcatters using MACs?
From: Amos
Date: 15 Nov 07 - 04:13 PM

Sounds like you'd already been bit by the dialogue pox. You should know this comes from engaging in unprotected dialogue. You should make a list of all those you have dialogued with and perhaps give each of them a wee phone call.


A

Subject: RE: tech: How Many Mudcatters using MACs?
From: GUEST,.gargoyle
Date: 17 Nov 07 - 07:25 PM

Wall Street Journal has elected to provide previous "subscriber only" material for free.

Walter S. Mossberg writes a column "Personal Technology", they published his Here's a Mac FAQ If You're Looking To Buy a Computer on Thursday, November 15, 2007, p B-1.

http://online.wsj.com/public/article/SB119508572403993424.html

Sincerely,
Gargoyle

(He admits (like me) his bias upfront (PC) however, this article is aimed at average users like those on Mudcat....and he gives some pretty compelling reasons why they SHOULD purchase a MAC.) ENJOY

Subject: RE: tech: How Many Mudcatters using MACs?
From: Janie
Date: 17 Nov 07 - 10:35 PM

Thanks Garg. It seems I should be able to open Word docs., in iWorks Pages.

So...another question from the techo-impaired:

I went the website of my church this morning to check on the readings for tomorrow. (I'm the reader for one of the services tomorrow.)   I left clicked on the link to open the schedule matrix. The download window opened. I left clicked the .doc file for the matrix in the download window and nothing happened. (deja vu, still having trouble retaining the differences between Windows and Mac when it comes to right, left, and double clicking.) I right clicked, and when the dialog box opened, I clicked 'open'.   I guess I thought the Mac would magically do what was needed to open the ms word document in the iWorks 'Pages.' Instead, a download window opened for Word test drive for Mac., which I did (download, I mean.) Then I realized it was a 30 day trial for Word for Mac and an 'invitation" to buy Word and/or Office for Mac at the end of thirty days. Not knowing how else to access the matrix I needed, I went ahead and downloaded the 30 day trial version of Word. Right clicked again on the document, selected open, and it opened in the trial version of Word.   I can not discern what I should/could have done to have opened the linked matrix document in Pages. At this point in time, I don't want to use MSWord, etc. I want to be able to download and open these files using iWorks.

Where did I go wrong?

Subject: RE: tech: How Many Mudcatters using MACs?
From: Amos
Date: 17 Nov 07 - 11:00 PM

Well, one alternative would have been to save the Word file to your Desktop, and then open Pages and tell it to open the Word file. Or drag the file icon onto the Pages icon on your Dock (if it is there) which amounts to the same thing.


A

Subject: RE: tech: How Many Mudcatters using MACs?
From: Janie
Date: 17 Nov 07 - 11:32 PM

That worked. Thanks!

Subject: RE: tech: How Many Mudcatters using MACs?
From: Bonnie Shaljean
Date: 18 Nov 07 - 04:16 AM

Thanks for the link, Garg. Good stuff. Re one of the points Mossberg makes:

"All Macs come with at least one gigabyte of memory... If you can, get two gigabytes. Apple charges a lot for extra memory, but you can buy it for less at stores and online providers."

I read somewhere in my recent trawling through the discussions on the Apple forum (someone correct me if I'm remembering this wrong - the original source is some web page I saw days ago so I can't check it) that if you want to upgrade your memory to 2gb, you ought to get two memory sticks of 1 gig each, not one memory stick of 2 gig. This is apparently to do with the fact that you shouldn't leave any empty memory slots.

As the 1-gig Macs are structured to take two - presumably - 512mb sticks rather than a single 1gb one, it means having to buy TWO new sticks, not just an additional one, which is something of a bummer. But if you want a VM programme, as I do, there seems no choice. Mossberg's suggestion of buying them from an online source seems a good one - or is this one of those beware-budget-quality situations?

Anybody feel like editing a Mac Permathread? ;-)

Subject: RE: tech: How Many Mudcatters using MACs?
From: Andrez
Date: 18 Nov 07 - 06:43 AM

Re the Mossberg article.

.

Its not the Mac that cant run Outlook, its something Microsoft did to stop Entourage (as the Office email client) from being compatible with Outlook .pst files. Microsoft Outlook 2001 that ran under the old Mac OS9 works perfectly fine as a mail client in an Outlook environment. I tested this by plugging my PowerBook into an NT/2000 network (I had admin privileges and the IT Managers approval) and actually using it as a working Outlook client.

The thing about the RAM sticks needing to be balanced in the two slots has not been an issue with the newer DDR and later faster RAM types. I have a 512Mb and a 1 Gb ram module installed with no problems whatsoever.

My suggestion is that the user forums at MacFixit offer much more to new and experienced Mac Users alike and are much more informative than articles like Mossbergs. The link is: http://www.macfixit.com/index.php and then either look at the articles or find the links for the forums and dive in.

Cheers,

Andrez

Subject: RE: tech: How Many Mudcatters using MACs?
From: Rowan
Date: 18 Nov 07 - 04:19 PM

Another tip for Janie, when trying to open files on Macs with no separated left & right buttons on mice;
Single clicking works on hyperlinks while double clicking is required for files and aliases ("Shortcuts" on Windoze).

Trying to open a file when not in an application will usually open the file unless something doesn't get recognised as a file of a particular type. Macs will then usually give a dialogue box asking you to choose an application. I've not used iWorks but I suspect it is capable of opening most file types

When you're in iWorks and wish to open a Word (or other) file from within the iWorks application, Cmd O should give you a series of option similar to the dialogue box method mentioned above.

Cheers, Rowan

Subject: RE: tech: How Many Mudcatters using MACs?
From: Andrez
Date: 18 Nov 07 - 08:47 PM

I'd be interested in "sharing" the role of editing a Mac permathread if there are any other takers?

Cheers,

Andrez

Subject: RE: tech: How Many Mudcatters using MACs?
From: Bonnie Shaljean
Date: 19 Nov 07 - 06:09 AM

I'm not exactly sure what editing a permathread involves! I've waded around in the site's assorted info pages but couldn't find anything hard and fast about the amount of work it requires, though I may be missing the obvious. In case others are wondering the same, I've PM'd Joe Offer to either give me an info link I can share here, or to please post it himself. OR - if anyone out there knows of one - ??

I think it would be a very useful thing to have, if the logistics can be worked out. Anyone else feel the same?