Jake Fowler Consulting - All Things Mac

Mac Utilities on Leopard

2008-02-12T10:54:00.001-06:00

Whenever there is major Mac OS upgrade, i.e Mac OS 10.5, Leopard, one must be very careful using third party disk utilities. There are many behind-the-scenes changes to the way the OS works and the third party companies must update their software to keep up.

Apple's version of TechTool Deluxe has been updated and is available for download here
Disk Warrior is now shipping version 4.2 which works on Leopard and they promise to have an updater available for download soon.
Drive Genius 2 was just released today and, according to the press release, is fully Leopard compatible. It is a paid upgrade.

Even Apple's own Disk Utility can cause problems when used with incompatible systems. Due to changes in the way permissions work in Leopard, repairing permissions from Tiger on a Leopard Startup Disk will cause problems and probably render the disk unbootable.

Always make sure any utility can alter the hard drive is compatible with your system.

MacHeist Two

2008-01-22T12:26:00.001-06:00

I said I wasn't going to do it. I already owned most of the software offered in this year's MacHeist, but, they got me again. It's a really good deal - most of the titles alone are more than you pay for all of them. There's a couple games, some very useful utilites, and a couple creative apps that are compelling. Even if you don't use all the software, it's a good deal. Plus you can always gift a portion of your purchase to someone else. AND, part of the proceeds go to charity!

Run! Don't walk! The sale is over in about a day and a half! Buy, buy, buy!

Buy NewsFire, get Inquisitor Free

2006-08-20T16:37:00.000-05:00

That's right! The generous David Watanabe is offering several cool deals. More info here. If you use a Mac, you owe it to yourself to check out all of David's software.

Backing up is hard to do (not really!)

2005-08-14T20:12:00.000-05:00

Losing all the data on your computer is one of those things that happens to other people. Your computer would never betray you like that. It's loyal, it loves you, it would never freeze up, explode or just delete files. Right, and I'm the richest man in the world.

Data loss happens, even on a Mac - usually at the worst possible moment (thanks Murphy!) You can protect yourself from the inevitable by creating and following a strict backup routine. Making external copies of your files by burning CDs or DVDs or using an external hard drive works well, but only if you make yourself do it.

Luckily, there are a slew of programs that can make backing up easy and painless. These applications allow you create a backup routine - define the files and/or folders you want to backup and the frequency with which they are saved, i.e., once a week, once a day, etc. Some of them are commercial applications, some are shareware/freeware.

Apple Backup (requires a .Mac account) - As a part of the benefits of a .Mac account, Apple has provided a useful and fairly powerful backup application. Backup can save to a variety of places, included CDs, DVDs, an external hard drive, or your iDisk. It has several predefined data sources, but you can include specific files or folders as well. Backup also supports scheduled backups to automate your backups.

Dantz Retrospect - Retrospect is a commercial product, and a little more expensive than the others, but that also means that they will offer better support than some of the other smaller application developers. There are several levels of Retorspect, supporting everything from a home/small office to large corporate servers. Retrospect also supports multiple destinations and scheduled backups.

You Synchronize - As the name suggests, this application focuses on synching up two data sources, one of which, presumably, is a backup. It uses a more advanced comparison technique, rather than simply using a file's modification date, which allows for a more accurate and reliable backup.

Carbon Copy Cloner - CCC is a little more hardcore than the other applications listed here, in that it was designed to create a fully bootable backup of your system. CCC is most useful in copying everything over to a new hard drive. It will make an exact duplicate of your current hard drive, including all file permissions. This application is not for the meek, don't get me wrong, it's probably the best at what it does and it can function in a workable backup routine, but it is a little more daunting to learn.

Deja Vu - Exists as a preference pane, accessible in your system preferences rather than a standalone application. It supports everything the applications support - scheduled backups, multiple files and folders, and it can even clone your entire system, similar to what CCC (mentioned below) does.

iBackup - Similar to the other applications, differing mainly in the trendy use of the "i" at the beginning of it's name. Also, it's free. It will backup files/folders, application preferences, etc, and supports scheduled backups. If you're on a budget, or are simply cheap, it's worth a look.

LaCie SilverKeeper - Also free, this oddly named application supports all the expected backup standards - schedules, multiple destinations, etc. Also worth a look, considering the price.

Another thing to consider when backing up - archives. If you use an external hard drive to back up to, what happens when the disk gets full? Some applications simply synchronize the files and folders which you are backing up, in other words, they create no new files. Others create a new backup file every time they run. These files can be very large depending on what you are backing up, and they will fill a hard drive quickly. A good backup application will allow you to set a specific number of archive to keep and then getting rid of older versions, thus saving you disk space.

My descriptions are far from complete, and I'm sure I left out some perfectly good backup applications, but this list should get you started. Take a look at each application's features, price, and usability - you have to be able to set up the application for it to work properly. And, if all else fails, call yor local Mac Consultant.

Buying The Right Mac

2005-05-18T12:59:00.000-05:00

I have always been of the opinion that you get what you pay for, especially when it comes to technology. If you buy a $200 computer, you will have problems. There's a reason it's so cheap - it uses cheap parts. Although Macs can seem more expensive than Windows based machines, this only holds true when comparing them to poorly designed budget computers - in other words, when comparing Apples to Oranges (or lemons, as the case may be). When you look at similarly equipped Windows based machines, Macs are competitively priced and often cheaper.

So which Mac is right for you? Apple has a full line of computers developed with all levels of users in mind.

G4 Desktops

eMac (starts at $799) - if Apple made a budget machine, this would be it. Originally developed for, and only available to the education sector, Apple later released the eMac to the public as the most affordable Mac you can buy. But in this case, affordable does not mean cheap, this is a quality machine and it's all-in-one design means you won't have to buy a separate monitor. This is the only, and probably the last, Mac with a CRT monitor, which is part of what makes it so affordable. This is a good machine for a beginner, a home user who is only going to be surfing the internet, emailing, and playing a few lower end games.

Mac mini (starts at $499) - The Mac mini was designed with current computer owners in mind, particularly switchers -people who already own a mouse, keyboard and monitor. This helps to keep the price down making this Mac even more affordable then the eMac, as long as you don't buy a monitor. Again, a very nice computer for the beginner, or light home user. This computer has no user serviceable parts, so make sure you order wisely - you can't even upgrade the RAM yourself, according to Apple.

G5 Desktops

iMac G5 (starts at $1299)- One of the most well designed computers ever, the iMac G5 is a powerful all-in-one machine with Bluetooth and Airport Extreme already installed, unlike the G4 desktops in which they are available as options at an additional price. The iMac G5 has more than enough power for the beginning home user, with enough to spare for even a higher end user who wants to make home movies, music or play some higher end games.

Power Mac G5 (starts at $1499) - The most powerful computer Apple has ever made comes in four configurations ranging from "Wow" to "Holy *$#% that's fast". This machine is best suited to users who do a lot of designing, developing, and creating with their computer. It was also built to last, being the most upgradable machine Apple produces at the moment. If you are serious about what you do with your Mac, whether it's gaming, creating, or just getting your work done before anyone else even thinks of starting, this is the machine for you.

G4 Portables

iBook G4 (starts at $999) - if affordable portability is what you need, the iBook G4 is your machine. This is the notebook computer for the beginning to middle of the road user. Honestly, the new iBooks are more powerful than my current first generation 12 inch Powerbook, I would have to give these serious consideration when it comes time for me to buy a new computer. The iBooks come in two sizes - a 12 inch and a 14 inch screen. The smaller iBook is a little more portable, but the 14 inch is a little more powerful.

PowerBook G4 (starts at $1499) - All that power and portable too? The PowerBooks are the portable equivalent to the PowerMacs, top of the line notebook computers for users who need to get things done.

There are several things to consider when deciding on a new Mac: budget, primary function, importance of being able to take your work with you when you're on the move, and budget.

First take a look at how much you are willing and/or are able to spend. Be realistic - you may have a killer computer, but you'll get tired of PB&Js and ramen for dinner every night for the next three months. Decide on a budget first, then you won't be as tempted to look at something that you can't afford.

Next, look at what you want to be able to do with your computer. If you only need to access email and the internet and play the occasional game, you simply don't need the power available in a G5. On the other hand, if you plan on producing a lot of home movies, or are a professional designer, a G5 is almost a necessity, for you, time equals money and the G5 can render movies and images in a lot less money, er... time.

If you travel frequently, or you visit clients, it makes sense to look at a portable computer. If you are going to just set it on your desk and leave it there, get a desktop.

Most of these suggestions might seem like common sense, but once you get to the store, all that cool technology can overwhelm you. Just make sure you put a little thought into what you want before you go to the store, and you will have a much easier time getting the machine that best fits your needs, and desires.

Sure the Mac is Fun to Use, but Can I Actually Get Anything Done On It?

2005-04-18T12:55:00.000-05:00

You went ahead and bought that iPod for your daughter's birthday. You borrowed it while she was at school and got yourself addicted, so you went out and got one for yourself. Now you're wondering, if the iPod is so well designed, is it time to look at a Mac? Apple's latest Operation System - Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger - is out and the best version yet. Apple profits are soaring with a second quarter net profit of $290 million. Apple recently did a 2 for 1 stock split and the Macintosh's market share is growing. Considering how well things are going for Apple, they must be doing something right.

Before you run out and get that iMac G5, you're going to want to know a few things about compatibility.

"Will I be able to open all my documents and pictures?" you ask no one in particular. "What about email with attachments? Will I be able to open them?"

The truth is, you can open just about anything anyone will ever send your way, and every file on your old PC, including your pictures and the letter written to grandma by your daughter when she was only 4 years old.

Microsoft makes a version of Office for Mac, that some consider superior to the PC version. MS Office 2004 for Mac offers full cross platform compatibility for all your Word, Excel, and even PowerPoint presentations. There is even a version of Entourage, Microsoft's email and calendar client.

There are also a number of alternatives:

Mariner Software makes one of my personal favorites - Mariner Write is a lightweight, yet powerful word processor. Write can open, edit, and save as any Word document, as well as other formats.

Mariner also makes a good replacement for Microsoft Excel - Mariner Calc, a great little spreadsheet application, able to open, edit and save as Excel formats. Both Mariner products use a lot less system resources than their Microsoft counterparts, which means they will run faster, especially on older machines.

Apple has been in the office application game too, with it's capable, but aging Appleworks - a suite of applications with a word processor, a spreadsheet, and a painting and drawing application. Appleworks will work with your Microsoft documents as well.

Apple recently released iWork, a bundle of two productivity applications that work the way you have come to expect Apple products to work - simply and beautifully. Pages is a word processor with style, and Keynote is simply the best presentation application in existence (I'll admit, I am most certainly biased, but it really is good). Both applications are very worthy replacements for Microsoft's Word and PowerPoint, respectively.

For your family photos, Apple's iPhoto - part of the iLife suite, does a great job of both managing your pictures and making it easy to import them directly from your digital camera. The rest of the iLife suite is worth checking out as well, for digital movie editing - iMovie, music library management, and purchasing - iTunes, composition - GarageBand, and DVD creation- iDVD.

Would I recommend a Mac for a life long PC User? Most certainly, after having used both platforms for many years, I realized that the main difference between the two was that PC's make you fight your computer to get anything done. Simply put Macs are a pleasure to use; they get out of the way and let you get your work done. One of the things that Apple care the most about is good design, they pay attention to how people use their systems and design the OS accordingly. One of the hardest things for almost every switcher to get used to was how easy things were, so easy, it was sometimes difficult. PC simply aren't used to things being designed well; they assume that anything they want to get done will be a time consuming task and contrary to common sense.

Quality Mac Shareware/Freeware or Anything You Can Do, I Can Do Better

2005-03-18T12:54:00.000-06:00

One of the biggest fallacies about Macs is that there is not as much software available as for the PC. My only response to that is quantity is not quality. While it may be true, "Professor Howdy's EZ Web Page Creator" just doesn't cut it. The truth is, there is very little that you can do on a PC that you can't do on a Mac just as well, if not better. So, with that in mind, I have compiled a list of some of my favorite applications that may be useful to those new to Mac OS X, whether you are a switcher or a System 9 user.

System Utilities - as stable as the UNIX based Mac OS X is, there are still things that can help your system run better.
TinkerTool - a utility that gives you access to additional preferences which Apple built into the system, but did not provide a way change.
Onyx - provides a means of maintaining and optimizing your system, as well as setting some preferences.
MacJanitor - a utility provided primarily for users who don't leave their systems on 24/7. Unix runs all sorts of maintenance jobs at night, when a typical user is asleep, but for owners of laptops, or the more energy conscious user who sleeps or turns off their machine at night, these jobs never run.
Macaroni - similar to MacJanitor, but automated to run when the system is active.
DesktopManager - a great utility for laptop owners, this application give you multiple desktop spaces with some cool activation animations.
Unsanity - Unsanity makes several system additions which bring back some of the better parts of System 9 as well as other functionality - FruitMenu, Shapeshifter, WindowShade, MightyMouse, give them a try!

System Monitors - Some of the more technically inclined like to keep an eye on what's happening on their systems, these applications do exactly that.

iPulse - iPulse offers a very graphical view of what's going on with your system. It's customizable interface can be as simple or cluttered as you need it to be.
GeekTool - a little more technical, but still very cool, the developer's site include a lot of example of how this preference pane can be used.
Konfabulator - Konfabulator is a framework for running widgets that can do just about anything, from monitoring stocks to providing a prettier interface to iTunes.

Launchers/File Navigation - although the Finder and the Dock are great tools for accessing your applications and docs, these applications help you find your stuff even quicker.
Dragthing - Apple's Dock on steroids, this highly customizable launcher can leap tall buildings in a single bound, run faster than a locomotive, and even make you a PB&J for lunch. Well, okay, maybe that was an exaggeration, but it is very powerful.
QuickSilver - "An evolving framework for accessing and manipulating many forms of personal data." QuickSilver has to be used to be appreciated, I too was a non-believer, but once I started using it, I was addicted. Simply put, QuickSilver provides a means of opening documents and applications without having move your hands from the keyboard, by hitting a key combo and then typing in the first few letters of the item that you want.

Internet - Who isn't using the internet these days? While Apple's Safari is a great browser, sometimes it's nice to have alternatives.
Sogudi - an addon to Safari, Sogudi allows you to set up shortcuts for the address bar, particularly useful for searching sites - typing "vt Sogudi" searches Version Tracker for Sogudi You can set it up to search just about any site.
Camino - based on Mozilla's open source Gecko rendering engine, Camino is a great alternative to Safari.
OmniWeb - the most innovative web browser, the Omni Group takes accessing the web to the next level.
NetNewsWire (Lite) - many sites offer RSS feeds these days, and in order to keep up to date on everything happening around the world, rather than visiting every single news site, whether it be world news or Mac news, etc, NetNewsWire Lite goes out and grabs the news you are interested in and brings it to you, to read when you are ready. Just try it, you'll soon be asking if all your favorite sites have an RSS feed!
Transmit - the best ftp application for Mac. Not free, but very worth the small shareware fee.
Unison - a very user friendly way to access usenet - yes it's still out there.
Adium - easy to use multi-protocol instant messaging application, it lets you sign on to a every conceivable IM system, using every username you have, all at once.
Ticker - keep track of your stock portfolio in realtime.

Graphics - a picture is worth a thousand words, but only if you can see it...
GraphicConverter - a shareware application which is included with most new Macs, it is a nice image manipulation program for people who don't need the complexity of photoshop, and it can translate just about any image format to any other.

Text - for the aspiring writer in us all, there are a ton of options for those who find Apple's TextEdit just a little too slim for their needs.
DevonNote - a notepad and so much more, Devon Technologies make several useful applications, DevonNote being the littlest brother to them all, I'm using it right now to write this article! I use it mostly to store the bits and clip of things I write or articles that I find on the web that I want to save or read later.
TextWrangler - Bare Bones' modern replacement for BBEdit lite, is great for those who like to hand code their sites, it's also useful for general text editing.
SubEthaEdit - SubEthaEdit's claim to fame is it's collaborative capabilities - everyone involved in a project can have access to the same document at the same time, in realtime, great for co-authoring websites, or just doing collaborative note-taking at a conference or meeting.

Media - from movie previews to short animated films and video captures from your brother-in-law's camera, there are a lot of different video formats out there.
VLC - for all those video formats that quicktime can't handle, saves you from having to install Windows Media Player and Real Player.

Games - there are a lot of great, free, old school games for the Mac. I prefer to leave more hardcore gaming to my dedicated gaming platform of choice (although I have a certain respect for the Xbox, I wouldn't be a true Mac-head if I actually owned one...)
Quinn - an aquafied Tetris clone.
Pac The Man - all the fun of Pac Man, with a better soundtrack.
SuperTux - with gameplay very similar to Super Mario Bros., this Linux port is very addictive.

Although this list is far from complete, hopefully it will get you started. Mac Shareware/Freeware developers tend to be as passionate about their applications as they are about their Macs, and you can tell, most of these applications are a pleasure to learn and use. For more application fun, visit Mac Update or Version Tracker.

Apple Introduces New Cheaper Portables, Still No G5 PowerBook

2005-02-18T12:53:00.000-06:00

Apple has refreshed the high end portable line of Powerbooks today with some new features and several improvements on the aging line, they are, however, still G4's. Tim Cook, Apple's VP of Worldwide Sales and Operations has admitted that a G5 PowerBook would be "would be the mother of all thermal challenges." during Apple's most recent conference call with analysts to discuss first quarter earnings.

The new lineup includes the faster Bluetooth 2.0+EDR (Enhanced Data Rate) which is up to three times faster than its predecessors, offering a maximum data rate of 3Mbps. For those who don't know, Bluetooth is a wireless protocol which can be compared to a USB or Firewire connection, rather than ethernet for internet connectivity. Bluetooth can be used to connect peripherals such as mice, keyboards, even printers to your computer with no wires. Bluetooth can also be used for data transfer for properly equipped phones and PDA's - to easily and quickly sync your address book and calendars.

Also new in the Powerbook line is a new trackpad with scrolling capability, using two fingers on the trackpad you can to scroll vertically and horizontally or pan around any active window. This feature is also fully customizable via the System Preferences.

One more new feature protects the data on your hard drive in case your Powerbook falls. Apple's Sudden Motion Sensor senses change in axis position and accelerated movement and parks the hard drive in order to minimize damage.

Each Powerbook now comes with a standard 512MB of RAM and is loaded with software - Apple's latest iLife Suite, Quickbooks for Mac, New User's Edition, Art Directors Toolkit, OMniGraffle, OmniOutliner, and GraphicConverter are just a few of the titles included with every new PowerBook.

The smallest PowerBook - 12 inches - comes in two standard configurations, both feature 1.5Ghz PowerPC G4's, an NVIDIA GeForce FX Go5200 with 64MB of DDR SDRAM, the lower end model comes with a 60GB hard drive and a Combo drive (DVD-ROM/CD-RW the higher end, a 80GB drive and a 8x SuperDrive (DVD±RW/CD-RW).

Both 15 inch PowerBook configurations come with a 80GB hard drive and an ATI Mobility Radeon 9700 with 64MB of DDR SDRAM. The lower end model has the same 1.5Ghz PowerPC G4 as the 12 inch and a Combo drive (DVD-ROM/CD-RW). The higher end model has a 1.67Ghz PowerPC G4 and a 8x SuperDrive (DVD±RW/CD-RW).

The largest PowerBook, the 17 inch, has a 100GB hard drive, a 1.67Ghz PowerPC G4, a TI Mobility Radeon 9700 with 128MB of DDR SDRAM and dual-link DVI, and an 8x SuperDrive (DVD±RW/CD-RW).

The 15 and 17 inch PowerBooks all have an illuminated keyboard with an ambient light sensor, and the faster 10/100/1000BASE-T (Gigabit) ethernet ports. With prices starting at $1,499.00 for the low end 12 inch PowerBook and $2,699.00 for the 17 inch PowerBook, standard configurations, there is room for a new Apple portable in about any budget. See Apple's PowerBook site for more information.

Apple's New Mac mini and iPod Shuffle Create "Switchers"

2005-01-18T12:47:00.000-06:00

Another MacWorld has come and gone and in it's wake, several new products from Apple as well as a quickly rising stock price. Steve Job's two biggest product announcements were the Mac mini and the iPod shuffle.

Apple's new Mac mini is poised to take the growing switcher market by storm. “What is a switcher?” you ask from underneath your rock. A switcher is a a Windows PC user who is fed up with viruses, spyware and system crashes and decides to give a Mac a try. The Mac mini is a competitively priced, fit in your hands, G4 based Macintosh computer. The lower end Mini is a $499 1.25Ghz G4 with a 40GB hard drive. The higher end system is $599 for a 1.42Ghz G4 with an 80GB hard drive. Both models come with a Slot-loading Combo Drive (DVD-ROM/CD-RW) and are loaded with software including iLife ‘05 (includes iTunes, iPhoto, iMovie, iDVD and GarageBand), AppleWorks, Quicken 2005 for Mac, Nanosaur 2, Marble Blast Gold and Apple Hardware Test. The ideal buyer for the Mac Mini is a user who wants to upgrade to a newer system but already has a keyboard, mouse, and monitor.

Switchers often come to Macs by way of the market-dominating iPod, so it only made sense for Apple to introduce an iPod to compete with the only market that the existing iPod couldn't reach: cheap, flash-media based digital music players. The iPod shuffle comes in two flavors, a $99/512MB model and a $149/1GB model. This gadget is essentially a USB flash drive that plugs directly into your computer and can sync with your music via iTunes through several customizable options. It can also be used as a normal flash drive for a quick and easy way to transfer files.

Steve Jobs also demonstrated the latest Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger, coming the first half of this year. With many exciting features and improvements, it looks to be a great release. Apple has yet to announce a specific release date. Visit Apple's site to see the new products and the Tiger Demo.