Comments on: Macs: The Good, The Bad, The Inexplicable http://www.annezelenka.com/2006/04/macs-the-good-the-bad-the-inexplicable a blog about the connected age Sun, 07 Sep 2008 03:33:41 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 By: Anne Kerns http://www.annezelenka.com/2006/04/macs-the-good-the-bad-the-inexplicable#comment-259 Anne Kerns Sun, 30 Apr 2006 21:51:38 +0000 http://www.annezelenka.com/testbed/2006/04/macs-the-good-the-bad-the-inexplicable#comment-259 AppleCare has been great for me and my G4 Powerbook. In 2-1/2 years I've accessed it several times. Once I fell asleep with the computer on my lap and it toppled on the floor, denting in the round power supply plug...AppleCare covered replacing something (can't remember what) in there and tapping the dent out so that it worked again. Phone support & troubleshooting on the Airport Xtreme card, which was okay, but a new one would have been covered had it been bad (turned out to be my Linksys router which I then replaced with the Airport base station). Replacement power cord when an interal crimp developed due to rolling/folding/shoving the cord in my bag almost every day for 2 years. Lots of free phone support, too. On another note, make sure you optimize your battery. And check out Apple discussion lists for lots of good advice when things go wacky. Love my wireless (one-button) Apple mouse, but 3rd party choices are available, as mentioned. :)anne AppleCare has been great for me and my G4 Powerbook. In 2-1/2 years I’ve accessed it several times. Once I fell asleep with the computer on my lap and it toppled on the floor, denting in the round power supply plug…AppleCare covered replacing something (can’t remember what) in there and tapping the dent out so that it worked again. Phone support & troubleshooting on the Airport Xtreme card, which was okay, but a new one would have been covered had it been bad (turned out to be my Linksys router which I then replaced with the Airport base station). Replacement power cord when an interal crimp developed due to rolling/folding/shoving the cord in my bag almost every day for 2 years. Lots of free phone support, too. On another note, make sure you optimize your battery. And check out Apple discussion lists for lots of good advice when things go wacky. Love my wireless (one-button) Apple mouse, but 3rd party choices are available, as mentioned.
:)anne

]]> By: Mark Masterson http://www.annezelenka.com/2006/04/macs-the-good-the-bad-the-inexplicable#comment-258 Mark Masterson Mon, 24 Apr 2006 23:46:37 +0000 http://www.annezelenka.com/testbed/2006/04/macs-the-good-the-bad-the-inexplicable#comment-258 Ditto the right-mouse button. Ctrl-Click will bring up a context menu in a lot of places where you fell like you need one (Firefox, for example), but it's clumsy. Two finger scrolling, OTOH, is way cool. I like it MUCH better than scroll wheels. I've been on a PowerBook for a couple of months now, and I like 2 finger scrolling so much, I wouldn't trade it for a right mouse button... Just my .02! :-) Ditto the right-mouse button. Ctrl-Click will bring up a context menu in a lot of places where you fell like you need one (Firefox, for example), but it’s clumsy.

Two finger scrolling, OTOH, is way cool. I like it MUCH better than scroll wheels.

I’ve been on a PowerBook for a couple of months now, and I like 2 finger scrolling so much, I wouldn’t trade it for a right mouse button…

Just my .02! :-)

]]> By: Rob Sanheim http://www.annezelenka.com/2006/04/macs-the-good-the-bad-the-inexplicable#comment-257 Rob Sanheim Mon, 24 Apr 2006 21:25:37 +0000 http://www.annezelenka.com/testbed/2006/04/macs-the-good-the-bad-the-inexplicable#comment-257 Hi Anne, I recommend the Logitech S530 for a better wireless kbd/mouse. Its built for the mac, so it has the apple key instead of windows and all that. It also has a bunch of extra buttons for use w/ itunes, though they wont work on the macbook pro until Logitech updates their software (supposed to be this month). However, the mouse and kbd work great and are comfortable to use, and they also match the mac styling. Hi Anne,

I recommend the Logitech S530 for a better wireless kbd/mouse. Its built for the mac, so it has the apple key instead of windows and all that. It also has a bunch of extra buttons for use w/ itunes, though they wont work on the macbook pro until Logitech updates their software (supposed to be this month). However, the mouse and kbd work great and are comfortable to use, and they also match the mac styling.

]]> By: Judi Sohn http://www.annezelenka.com/2006/04/macs-the-good-the-bad-the-inexplicable#comment-256 Judi Sohn Mon, 24 Apr 2006 09:47:03 +0000 http://www.annezelenka.com/testbed/2006/04/macs-the-good-the-bad-the-inexplicable#comment-256 Don't worry about deciding right now about AppleCare. You can still buy up until your machine's 1 year birthday and you get the same benefit as if you bought it on Day 1. The only difference is that you won't have the phone support after 90 days, but if you have a problem you can always buy AppleCare then wait for it to go through then call. Honestly? Get the AppleCare on the MacBook Pro, and skip it if you feel like it on the iMac. AppleCare does NOT cover any accidental damage, so you're on your own if you drop it but statistically they do suffer from more wear and tear than their desktop cousins that Apple will cover as long it's not obvious abuse. I've never purchased AppleCare for a notebook that didn't pay itself back. I did buy it for my G5 which will be celebrating its 3rd birthday in September. That turned out to not be necessary as it needed a warranty repair on the graphics board, but it was within the 1st year. But who knew? Don’t worry about deciding right now about AppleCare. You can still buy up until your machine’s 1 year birthday and you get the same benefit as if you bought it on Day 1. The only difference is that you won’t have the phone support after 90 days, but if you have a problem you can always buy AppleCare then wait for it to go through then call.

Honestly? Get the AppleCare on the MacBook Pro, and skip it if you feel like it on the iMac. AppleCare does NOT cover any accidental damage, so you’re on your own if you drop it but statistically they do suffer from more wear and tear than their desktop cousins that Apple will cover as long it’s not obvious abuse.

I’ve never purchased AppleCare for a notebook that didn’t pay itself back. I did buy it for my G5 which will be celebrating its 3rd birthday in September. That turned out to not be necessary as it needed a warranty repair on the graphics board, but it was within the 1st year. But who knew?

]]> By: ryan http://www.annezelenka.com/2006/04/macs-the-good-the-bad-the-inexplicable#comment-255 ryan Mon, 24 Apr 2006 08:32:44 +0000 http://www.annezelenka.com/testbed/2006/04/macs-the-good-the-bad-the-inexplicable#comment-255 under syspref (system preferences, hit the blue apple menu on the top left and then select system preferences), check out the keyboard & mouse icon. Once you're there, check out the trackpad tab, and in there, trackpad gestures. Check "use two fingers to scroll" if its not, and i would suggest not checking "allow horizontal scrolling" - its hard to get pure vertical scrolling and thats the most important use case (reading webpages, emails, etc). Also turn on clicking - it might not be. I dont use dragging or drag lock (not an option unless dragging is on). This does mean for me dragging is a two handed affair, you might want to try out the dragging trackpad gesture. you might get a few more options than me since your notebook is a year newer than mine. If you need s/w hints and other tips, drop me a line. Always happy to help a new convert :-) under syspref (system preferences, hit the blue apple menu on the top left and then select system preferences), check out the keyboard & mouse icon.

Once you’re there, check out the trackpad tab, and in there, trackpad gestures. Check “use two fingers to scroll” if its not, and i would suggest not checking “allow horizontal scrolling” - its hard to get pure vertical scrolling and thats the most important use case (reading webpages, emails, etc).

Also turn on clicking - it might not be. I dont use dragging or drag lock (not an option unless dragging is on). This does mean for me dragging is a two handed affair, you might want to try out the dragging trackpad gesture. you might get a few more options than me since your notebook is a year newer than mine.

If you need s/w hints and other tips, drop me a line. Always happy to help a new convert :-)

]]> By: Anne http://www.annezelenka.com/2006/04/macs-the-good-the-bad-the-inexplicable#comment-254 Anne Mon, 24 Apr 2006 08:06:34 +0000 http://www.annezelenka.com/testbed/2006/04/macs-the-good-the-bad-the-inexplicable#comment-254 Hey everyone, thanks for all the great info. Guess I need not worry about whether a non-Apple mouse and keyboard will or will not work with my new machines... one never knows when one starts from utter ignorance. ryan, great insight into the context menu thing. I am so used to using them on Windows that it's hard to imagine getting by without them. Two finger scrolling? Gotta go check that out! Hey everyone, thanks for all the great info. Guess I need not worry about whether a non-Apple mouse and keyboard will or will not work with my new machines… one never knows when one starts from utter ignorance.

ryan, great insight into the context menu thing. I am so used to using them on Windows that it’s hard to imagine getting by without them. Two finger scrolling? Gotta go check that out!

]]> By: ryan http://www.annezelenka.com/2006/04/macs-the-good-the-bad-the-inexplicable#comment-253 ryan Mon, 24 Apr 2006 05:47:01 +0000 http://www.annezelenka.com/testbed/2006/04/macs-the-good-the-bad-the-inexplicable#comment-253 Hey Anne, I will tell you to get any ye old 3 button mouse. I also enjoy apple's mighty mouse, and my logitech notebook mouse as well. Now, to why they only include single mouse buttons on the notebook and why the mighty mouse defaults to single click with scroll action. This is an important UI design - by making right click difficult to do, it forces designers to do their UI without requiring "context sensitive menus". Meaning, all your options are visible in either the UI or in the visible drop down menus. This is part of the old apple HIG - don't hide menu options, grey them out. By hiding things, people don't know they are there, but greying it out, people can see what their options are (even if its not applicable right now). The context menu is supposed to be an add-on. But with the way windows programs are being done nowadays, many functions are hidden behind context sensitive menus - now imagine your UI is a big mess of widgets, panes, etc. That one function you need is only accessible in pane foo context menu, which is hidden by default unless you use the other context sensitive menu in pane bar, which defaults to 20 pixels tall. I am one of the most power users you will ever find. I used to mock Apples back in the early 90s. I am a heavy duty unix user, programmer, etc. I don't miss the 2nd mouse button. The best thing about the new apple books is the 2 finger scrolling on the trackpad. Check out the syspref, and then you will die with enjoyment. Much cooler and more awesome than then scroll "area" of a trackpad on a PC. Good luck, don't struggle, you won't miss it. The UI is better for the lack of a 2nd mouse button. Hey Anne,

I will tell you to get any ye old 3 button mouse. I also enjoy apple’s mighty mouse, and my logitech notebook mouse as well.

Now, to why they only include single mouse buttons on the notebook and why the mighty mouse defaults to single click with scroll action.

This is an important UI design - by making right click difficult to do, it forces designers to do their UI without requiring “context sensitive menus”. Meaning, all your options are visible in either the UI or in the visible drop down menus. This is part of the old apple HIG - don’t hide menu options, grey them out. By hiding things, people don’t know they are there, but greying it out, people can see what their options are (even if its not applicable right now).

The context menu is supposed to be an add-on. But with the way windows programs are being done nowadays, many functions are hidden behind context sensitive menus - now imagine your UI is a big mess of widgets, panes, etc. That one function you need is only accessible in pane foo context menu, which is hidden by default unless you use the other context sensitive menu in pane bar, which defaults to 20 pixels tall.

I am one of the most power users you will ever find. I used to mock Apples back in the early 90s. I am a heavy duty unix user, programmer, etc. I don’t miss the 2nd mouse button.

The best thing about the new apple books is the 2 finger scrolling on the trackpad. Check out the syspref, and then you will die with enjoyment. Much cooler and more awesome than then scroll “area” of a trackpad on a PC.

Good luck, don’t struggle, you won’t miss it. The UI is better for the lack of a 2nd mouse button.

]]> By: Sara http://www.annezelenka.com/2006/04/macs-the-good-the-bad-the-inexplicable#comment-252 Sara Mon, 24 Apr 2006 02:26:23 +0000 http://www.annezelenka.com/testbed/2006/04/macs-the-good-the-bad-the-inexplicable#comment-252 We're an all-Mac Household here (from our G4 dual 450 tower to husband's year-old powerbook). All of them have third-party mice - some cordless some not. Absolutely no problem using any of them, and no need to install any additional hardware. I'd go find yourself something you like and go crazy ;) I didn't have a problem setting up our Linksys router, other than that the software that came with it was PC only, so I had to rely on my sysadmin brother-in-law to talk me through some of the settings. I've heard horrendous things about Mac Quicken. When I did, I went looking for other Mac personal financial software, and found a number of packages out there for various sums of money. In the end, I wrote an Excel workbook that does most of what I wanted to do, but there is quite a bit of stuff out there, depending on what you want to do with it. We’re an all-Mac Household here (from our G4 dual 450 tower to husband’s year-old powerbook).

All of them have third-party mice - some cordless some not. Absolutely no problem using any of them, and no need to install any additional hardware. I’d go find yourself something you like and go crazy ;)
I didn’t have a problem setting up our Linksys router, other than that the software that came with it was PC only, so I had to rely on my sysadmin brother-in-law to talk me through some of the settings.

I’ve heard horrendous things about Mac Quicken. When I did, I went looking for other Mac personal financial software, and found a number of packages out there for various sums of money. In the end, I wrote an Excel workbook that does most of what I wanted to do, but there is quite a bit of stuff out there, depending on what you want to do with it.

]]> By: Steve Adelman http://www.annezelenka.com/2006/04/macs-the-good-the-bad-the-inexplicable#comment-250 Steve Adelman Mon, 24 Apr 2006 02:05:53 +0000 http://www.annezelenka.com/testbed/2006/04/macs-the-good-the-bad-the-inexplicable#comment-250 Welcome back to the Mac fold! I, too had a Mac SE many years ago, and was forced to move over to the Windows world due to professional pressures. I switched back about a year and a half ago, and aside from a few glitches I am thrilled to be back on a computer that acts like I think, and is more stable to boot. Regarding your inexplicables - ditto on the lack of a docking station. Makes no sense. There might be one out there, but for now I unplug my speaker, external hard drive and monitor each time I go mobile - which isn't that big a deal, but a strange pain to have to endure. Oh, and I also unplug the base station/battery charger for my Kensington wireless keyboard and (two button with scroll wheel) mouse - which worked out of the box with my PowerBook. Wireless Optical Desktop for the Mac - model #K64354 - http://us.kensington.com/html/3853.html Welcome back to the Mac fold!

I, too had a Mac SE many years ago, and was forced to move over to the Windows world due to professional pressures. I switched back about a year and a half ago, and aside from a few glitches I am thrilled to be back on a computer that acts like I think, and is more stable to boot.

Regarding your inexplicables - ditto on the lack of a docking station. Makes no sense. There might be one out there, but for now I unplug my speaker, external hard drive and monitor each time I go mobile - which isn’t that big a deal, but a strange pain to have to endure. Oh, and I also unplug the base station/battery charger for my Kensington wireless keyboard and (two button with scroll wheel) mouse - which worked out of the box with my PowerBook. Wireless Optical Desktop for the Mac - model #K64354 - http://us.kensington.com/html/3853.html

]]> By: Bill Berry http://www.annezelenka.com/2006/04/macs-the-good-the-bad-the-inexplicable#comment-251 Bill Berry Mon, 24 Apr 2006 01:48:23 +0000 http://www.annezelenka.com/testbed/2006/04/macs-the-good-the-bad-the-inexplicable#comment-251 You're right about the one button mouse, and almost any two-button bluetooth mouse will work with the mac. macally.com produces models that work well for me. You’re right about the one button mouse, and almost any two-button bluetooth mouse will work with the mac. macally.com produces models that work well for me.

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