Computers

[Alex_de_Large]

Anyone running it yet? My copy should be here tomorrow, but I am interested in hearing if anyone here got an early-bird copy (some vendors shipped early)...

[ltl/fb]

Originally posted by Alex_de_Large
Anyone running it yet? My copy should be here tomorrow, but I am interested in hearing if anyone here got an early-bird copy (some vendors shipped early)...

What's Tiger?

[Oliver_Wendell_Ramone]

Originally posted by ltl/fb
What's Tiger?

Not sure, but I'm guessing its grrrrrrrrreat!

[ltl/fb]

Originally posted by Oliver_Wendell_Ramone
Not sure, but I'm guessing its grrrrrrrrreat!

Now I'm hungry. sts.

[Atticus Grinch]

Alex, on the backup issue, since wireless NASes can be pretty pricey and the wireless ones below $500 seem to have Mac performance issues, what about buying a Mac mini with wi-fi and setting it to syncronize folders with your primary Mac over the wireless net? Anyone considered doing this? I can get the 1.42 GHz G4 with 80GB, AirPort, BT, 512MB, and SuperDrive for $820. If you've got the monitor and keyboard, what's the downside to this?

BTW, why has no one come out with a BT keyboard with an integrated trackpad? This makes so much more sense than a BT keyboard + BT mouse set.

[Alex_de_Large]

Originally posted by Atticus Grinch
Alex, on the backup issue, since wireless NASes can be pretty pricey and the wireless ones below $500 seem to have Mac performance issues, what about buying a Mac mini with wi-fi and setting it to syncronize folders with your primary Mac over the wireless net? Anyone considered doing this? I can get the 1.42 GHz G4 with 80GB, AirPort, BT, 512MB, and SuperDrive for $820. If you've got the monitor and keyboard, what's the downside to this?

BTW, why has no one come out with a BT keyboard with an integrated trackpad? This makes so much more sense than a BT keyboard + BT mouse set.

I want to run a mac mini as a media player, replacing my cd/DVD player (my TV has DVI in), and streaming itunes and other media from a NAS. Your idea sounds great, but 80 GB is still about 1/2 what I would want for storage i.e. I would need an additional external HDD.

[Alex_de_Large]

Originally posted by ltl/fb
What's Tiger?

Mac OS X 10.4. Comes out tomorrow, except for those lucky few who received early shipments. You can read about it here.

[Mmmm, Burger (C.J.)]

Originally posted by Atticus Grinch
Alex, on the backup issue, since wireless NASes can be pretty pricey and the wireless ones below $500 seem to have Mac performance issues, what about buying a Mac mini with wi-fi and setting it to syncronize folders with your primary Mac over the wireless net? Anyone considered doing this? I can get the 1.42 GHz G4 with 80GB, AirPort, BT, 512MB, and SuperDrive for $820. If you've got the monitor and keyboard, what's the downside to this?

BTW, why has no one come out with a BT keyboard with an integrated trackpad? This makes so much more sense than a BT keyboard + BT mouse set.

Why would you want to do wireless network backups, when you could use a firewire hard drive attached to your computer to achieve the same? If necessary, get a program like Retrospect to handle backups for multiple computers on a single hard drive. If you need more sophisitication, you really ought to spend for an actual server, which could handle all of that for you separately.

As for media servers, if your computer is already there, why not use it? Otherwise, buy a mac mini, attach a daisy-chain of FW harddrives as necessary for all your media, and use it. Use Apple Remote Desktop to control it if you're sick of plugging in a monitor to maintain it.

As for BT trackpads, I disagree, mainly because I don't like the limitations of trackpads. Then again, others don't like the limitations of mice, so who am I to say. How to wired trackpad/keyboards sell? Probably get your answer right there.

[Atticus Grinch]

Originally posted by Mmmm, Burger (C.J.)
As for BT trackpads, I disagree, mainly because I don't like the limitations of trackpads. Then again, others don't like the limitations of mice, so who am I to say. How to wired trackpad/keyboards sell? Probably get your answer right there.

Not quite. An integrated trackpad wireless keyboard would obviously sell better than an integrated trackpad USB one, because mice are better than trackpads if you're at a desk. Using a Mac mini as an iTunes/DVD player/media server means you'll want to have the controller somewhere in the room, probably your lap, where a mouse is impractical but a trackpad is perfect.

Apparently there's one with a trackball. Close, but no cigar. I would prefer the fourth one down if it were BT instead of USB.

[Mmmm, Burger (C.J.)]

Originally posted by Atticus Grinch
Not quite. An integrated trackpad wireless keyboard would obviously sell better than an integrated trackpad USB one, because mice are better than trackpads if you're at a desk. Using a Mac mini as an iTunes/DVD player/media server means you'll want to have the controller somewhere in the room, probably your lap, where a mouse is impractical but a trackpad is perfect.

Apparently there's one with a trackball. Close, but no cigar. I would prefer the fourth one down if it were BT instead of USB.

Ahh, I see your point now. What you really need is a BT remote, and some media server software. I give it about 6 mos.

[Mmmm, Burger (C.J.)]

Originally posted by Mmmm, Burger (C.J.)
Ahh, I see your point now. What you really need is a BT remote, and some media server software. I give it about 6 mos.

ETA. Screw that. 6 mins. and google. Get this

Use a keyboard for initial configuration. What more would you need? Something without line-of-sight?

[Alex_de_Large]

Build your own DVR/music server. Too bad it appears that the software is Wondoze-only.

[Gattigap]

It's probably been said here already, but Gizmodo has some pretty amusing stuff from time to time.

Today's entry: The USB Barbie Flash Drive.

[Alex_de_Large]

Originally posted by Alex_de_Large
Anyone running it yet? My copy should be here tomorrow, but I am interested in hearing if anyone here got an early-bird copy (some vendors shipped early)...

I finally had the time to install Tiger. I went with the standard upgrade path (as opposed to a clean install or the archive method). Things went relatively well (though i am glad that I backed up the important stuff). Tiger finctionality is really cool. Spotlight is Quicksilver built into the UI, with a constantly updating "library" of files and action. Very very cool, though I am not as quick with it as I was with Quicksilver. Dashboard is pretty cool too, and it lacks the clutter that kept me from using Konfabulator on a regular basis.

Now, the problems. The new Mail doesn't work as it should for me. I'm not all that upset, as I use Entourage for mail, calendar, etc., but I am mystified as to why it doesn't perform correctly. I may have to reinstall mail.

Smaller problems: a couple of programs that I use on a regular basis don't have a Tiger-ready version yet: Adium (IM client) and PocketMac (sync engine that uses isync to sync by Blackberry with my Mac). Those are coming soon.

Safari 2.0 is quicker than 1.x. The RSS features are cool, but I won't be using them much (I use Newsgator on the web and through Outlook).

Bottom line, the increased stability, and speed, plus Dashboard and Spotlight, make this a worthy upgrade. Remember to back everything up (!!!!!!) before you install Tiger, though.

AdL

[Alex_de_Large]

Originally posted by Alex_de_Large
I finally had the time to install Tiger. I went with the standard upgrade path (as opposed to a clean install or the archive method). Things went relatively well (though i am glad that I backed up the important stuff). Tiger finctionality is really cool. Spotlight is Quicksilver built into the UI, with a constantly updating "library" of files and action. Very very cool, though I am not as quick with it as I was with Quicksilver. Dashboard is pretty cool too, and it lacks the clutter that kept me from using Konfabulator on a regular basis.

Now, the problems. The new Mail doesn't work as it should for me. I'm not all that upset, as I use Entourage for mail, calendar, etc., but I am mystified as to why it doesn't perform correctly. I may have to reinstall mail.

Smaller problems: a couple of programs that I use on a regular basis don't have a Tiger-ready version yet: Adium (IM client) and PocketMac (sync engine that uses isync to sync by Blackberry with my Mac). Those are coming soon.

Safari 2.0 is quicker than 1.x. The RSS features are cool, but I won't be using them much (I use Newsgator on the web and through Outlook).

Bottom line, the increased stability, and speed, plus Dashboard and Spotlight, make this a worthy upgrade. Remember to back everything up (!!!!!!) before you install Tiger, though.

AdL

I fixed the Mail problem by tosssing the Panther Mail plugins I had installed. Next time I opened Tiger mail, everything worked smoothly.

Regarding Spotlight, mrs. dL, who is not a power user by any means, declared it "really ficking cool." Not bad.