Cool Tip Thread

[Dan Millar]

Jeez!

I am NOT the Mac-nazi!

Plume, you can install apps like Onyx - it's quite useful, and has a wealth of "tricks" that are harmless and reversible.

But, yes, Terminal is a scary place for most people. However, the Apple Store is not - check out their free workshops on the store's website:

http://www.apple.com/ca/retail/rideau/

If you see any that appeal to you, register and attend, like your bus trip - it's free!!! Is that a Cool Mac Tip, or what?

Happy, Crazy, No-Holds-Barred Mac'ing!

Dan

[z-mac]

I would'nt even dare attempt to try this.

~Do~ play with your computer! It's the best toy in the world. You certainly won't do any harm using Onyx.

Even *if* you did some harm, you're in a better world than M-Windows users. One of the (many) things that I like about OS X and Linux is that they are easy to install for those occasional times when I make a mess and need to install again. (Back up your data, of course.)

If you worry about doing something that causes a difficult problem and prevents you from browsing the Internet and sending e-mail, I recommend that you burn a copy of an Ubuntu Live CD. Whatever happens to your computer, you can always boot your Mac from an Ubuntu Live CD and use Firefox. A Live CD is reliable and completely secure -- no data can be stored locally.

The PowerPC version (which I believe you need) is available here:
http://cdimage.ubuntu.com/ports/releases/lucid/release/

If you have trouble with this, I would be happy to burn the Live CD for you.

I would like to be able to go visit the new MAC store at the Rideau Centre. I'm told it is impressive.

How impressed you will be by the Apple Store depends on how much you love the colour white. (0:

But seriously, it *is* fun to see a store filled with so many very good computer products. There are people of all ages playing with them, browsing the Internet, checking e-mail, updating their silly WasteBook accounts...

A visit to the store always makes me think about how Apple's fortune has changed. Just 15 years ago, Apple was a dying company, begging Microsoft for a small donation. Today, Apple has successful products, retail stores, and is one of the most valuable companies in the world:

http://www.asymco.com/2010/09/26/apples-growth-vs-top-10-largest-market-caps/

[z-mac]

You have a home network. You have an OS X computer, but maybe you also have some housemates using Linux or Microsoft Windows.

Perhaps you want to "chat" with them. You know, open a program window and send some text to someone else on your network, or transfer a file.

This is easy between two or more OS X computers: OS X has Bonjour. Open iChat and you should discover the other OS X computers.

If you want to chat with Linux users, you use iChat and they can use "Empathy" or "Pidgin". (There is also "Kopete" for KDE Linux.) The major Linux distributions will have one of these already included in the installation.

Microsoft Windows users can use Miranda ("http://www.miranda-im.org") or Pidgin ("http://www.pidgin.im").

[eugedunn]

Good Morning z-mac
Sorry for the slow response.
I am downloading the Ubuntu and would like to read about it.
I will not attempt any crazy moves until i am sure of myself.
Will get back to you with more information.
I may yet take your offer of burning one of those CD.
Have a very good day.
                                           Take care of the ones that are precious to you.
                                           I'm not talking about your dog if you have one
                                           Eventhough we do get attach to them
                                           They are pets.
                                                                     Plume
                                                             

[eugedunn]

Good day again z-mac
I downloaded the file called Ubuntu.
Once downloaded i was going to open the file
but a window open up to tell me that the file maybe corrupt
and to open would create my system not to function properly.
????????????????
                                    Plume
                               Have a good day z-mac
                                   

[z-mac]

Plume, if you *really* want to try Linux, send me a personal message (PM) and we'll talk about how to do it.

The short version is: you download the ISO file, burn it to a CD, and then use it to boot your Mac.

[z-mac]

Tips For Controlling Adobe Flash Content When You Are Browsing The Web
==============================================

Adobe Flash is used for showing video and animation on the Web. Other technology may replace it, but for now (Nov 2010) Flash is everywhere. Flash may show something you want to see (e.g. Youtube), but it is often what you don't want, too. Advertising is annoying and Flash can crash your browser.

If you use a portable computer, preventing Flash from loading will extend your working time on battery power by 30% or more. Also note that even if you don't mind Flash-based distractions or the Flash-based drain on the Ontario power grid or even that Flash can crash your browser, Flash can also be used to invade your privacy by storing tracking data on your computer (https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/Local_Shared_Object). You ought to mind *that*.

It's your computer and your privacy, so you should take control of Flash. Only load Flash objects when *you* want to see them!

How?

For Safari:
There is a plug-in for Safari called "ClickToFlash" that you can install to control the loading of Flash:
http://rentzsch.github.com/clicktoflash/
To remove Flash LSO data, find this directory and delete the subfolders:
~/Library/Preferences/Macromedia/Flash Player
Note that Safari's "Reset Safari" command does not delete LSO data.

For Firefox:
If you use Firefox, you can install FlashBlock, AdBlock Plus, and BetterPrivacy:
https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/433/
https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/1865/
https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/6623/