Mac OS X Tips & Tricks

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Just passing along some information for the Mac OS X users out there.

So with OS X, Macs went to having a UNIX shell, or something like that. Anyway, this gives Macs a whole new dimension in efficiency. Multiprocessing for one. It also brings problems. I won’t lie. But the nice thing is, built into the UNIX shell are ways to efficiently deal with them.

The Console is new on the Mac platform. It allows Mac users to see what is going on behind the scenes by reviewing various logs. There is also the Activity Monitor allowing real-time monitoring of various processes such as CPU activity, memory allocation, disk and network activity. There is also the NetInfo Manager for detailed network traffic observation and trafficking.

In a trouble shooting scenario, these three simple utilities that ship with OS X, will allow you to pinpoint any problem. For example, I’ve monitored my Network traffic and found a process with a questionable user. I’ve shut it off without any negligible effect on my system or network connection. These utilities can help you streamline your system.

Recently I learned that OS X is meant to be up and operable 24/7. For that reason there are routines built into the UNIX shell that run in the wee hours of the morning that help keep your system efficient. Now, I have a G4 Silver, and the fan gets going sometimes, so I don’t like to keep it on all night. If you shut down, you are missing the self-maintenece routines.

Luckily, someone has come to our aid. MacJanitor (http://personalpages.tds.net/~brian_hill/macjanitor.html) is a small utility that will run the UNIX routines any time you want. They also have very understandable descriptions for all their OS X utility software applications.

Another third party utility that I have tried and approve of is Cocktail (http://www.macosxcocktail.com/). This utility not only seems like a more efficient permissions fixer, it does other routines that Apple’s Disk Utility doesn't have.

W A R N I N G !

If you are a gamer and have tried to use MacAlly’s iShock controller, and have upgraded to OS X 10.3.8, you need to go to MacAlly’s (http://www.macally.com/techsupport/drivers.html) page and follow all the steps. MacAlley’s iShock driver is not compatible with OS X 10.3.8 and will write errors to your system log hundreds of times an hour. Eventually you will end up with a log file in the GBs that will keep growing to eat up all your free disk space.

This happened to me and the Apple forums were where I found the solution. In finding that solution I also found many more useful things that I thought I would pass on to other users.

So let this be a thread for the Mac OS X users share their experiences, tips, tricks and just general :heart:!

I’d like to learn more about customizing my Mac through commands in the terminal. Anyone have anything?

[Sean]

My only tip would be .. don't buy a mac.

[Back]

Originally posted by Tijay
My only tip would be .. don't buy a mac.

If you like battling viruses, pop-ups, worms, trojans and spyware with obscure instructions... I would concur.

[Warriorbird]

Yeah. I can't wait to get back to a Macintosh.

[Sean]

Originally posted by Backlash

Originally posted by Tijay
My only tip would be .. don't buy a mac.

If you like battling viruses, pop-ups, worms, trojans and spyware with obscure instructions... I would concur.

Oddly enough I don't have any of those.

[peam]

Tijay beat me to it.

[Back]

Originally posted by Tijay

Originally posted by Backlash

Originally posted by Tijay
My only tip would be .. don't buy a mac.

If you like battling viruses, pop-ups, worms, trojans and spyware with obscure instructions... I would concur.

Oddly enough I don't have any of those.

Consider yourself a savvy PC user then. Why the H8TORADE?

[Sean]

Because 1 mouse button isn't natural!

[Artha]

If you like battling viruses, pop-ups, worms, trojans and spyware with obscure instructions... I would concur.

It's a really easy battle.

1.) Download (and use) FireFox.
2.) ?
3.) Download (and use) Microsoft's anti-spyware program.

[StrayRogue]

You can't upgrade Macs. They are expensive. While they are the best platform for working on in regards to Word processing, graphic manipulation etc, your comment about trojans, viruses etc holds no water when Linux does all those while using the PC system.

[Mistomeer]

Originally posted by StrayRogue
You can't upgrade Macs.

In what way? If you buy a model with on-board video, then true, but many PC's are sold with on-board video as well. The only things worth upgrading in a PC are video, ram and hard drive, really. You can upgrade hard drives and ram in all macs.


They are expensive.

Mac mini's start at $499. Not exactly breaking the bank for that computer.


While they are the best platform for working on in regards to Word processing, graphic manipulation etc, your comment about trojans, viruses etc holds no water when Linux does all those while using the PC system.
Except KDE and Gnome aren't nearly as user-friendly as the OS X user interface your application selection is much more limited. You can get MS Office for a Mac, whereas with Linux you're limited to OpenOffice and on a Mac things like iMovie, iTunes, Safari are much, much better than the MS equivalents.

[StrayRogue]

You can't upgrade the chip, cooling system, sound card, or board of a Mac. Most PC software can be emulated on Linux. My PC, which is capable of playing any game available on the market, cost me £279, not including monitor.

[Mistomeer]

If you're going to upgrade the chip, cooling system, sound card and board, why not just buy a new computer? But you're wrong, you can upgrade most all of that. You do realize that you can buy parts for Macs, right? Ironically enough, I had a meeting with Apple today and the engineer was talking about guys he knew that were still using Mac Quadras and such (10 years old +) that they had just kept upgrading...


Emulation sucks. But if you want to talk about emulation, you can buy Virtual PC for a Mac, and just run Windows XP on it and run any and all PC software.

[StrayRogue]

Originally posted by Mistomeer
If you're going to upgrade the chip, cooling system, sound card and board, why not just buy a new computer?

Because its ALOT cheaper. And if you say I can easily open up my iMac, fiddle around and change components as easily as I can in my PC, then I'll believe ya.

[Mistomeer]

You can't compare an iMac, to a PC. Some PC's are simple to get into, some are pains in the ass. The only really difficult part to change in an iMac is the A/V board, for the monitor, but other than that, it's not all that complicated to change anything in an iMac.

If you are talking about upgrading the chip, cooling system, sound card, and board, then you're basically talking about buying a new computer and keeping the case....yeah, that's ALOT cheaper since a case is around $75.

Almost everything you've said, from a technical standpoint, has been wrong(expensive, non-upgradable, etc) or just silly (Emulation, lol). I have a hard time believing you've ever really used a Mac for an extended period of time. For an average home user, Linux is not practical. It's just not there yet, and may never be. OS X, on the other hand, is easier than Windows, and comes with alot more built-in software, that is better than the MS counterpart - iMovie, iPhoto, iDVD, Garageband, etc. For casual use, such as browsing the web and using Office, a Mac beats a PC hands down.

[StrayRogue]

Unless you play games. Especially older ones. As for not using one, I own a few PCs and use an iMac for my work. Been a Quark user for about 10 years now. Buying components for my PC has always been cheaper as they are alot easier to get hold of. Hell check ebay and compare the sheer list of parts available for each. I'm willing to bet anyone with intimate dealings of both will agree that upgrading a PC is easy and cheap, easier and cheaper than a tempremental Mac. Hell, my GF could put together a PC.

Availability is another issue. I can buy computer components and games in the local supermarket for my PC. Theres literally thousands of websites/shops/relailers that sell these things in massive quantities for decent prices.

[Edited on 26-2-05 by StrayRogue]

[Theyesman]

Speaking of web browsers alone.... Safari fucking sucks, sorry all you mac guys but you'll have to use IE to have half the browsing capabilty,

[Mistomeer]

Originally posted by StrayRogue
Unless you play games.

Which makes your entire Linux argument wrong. So now you're back at Windows, with viruses, trojans, and spyware.


Especially older ones. As for not using one, I own a few PCs and use an iMac for my work.

An iMac has been the cheapest computer Apple makes for years now. I'm not sure I'd care for Macs either if I had to use an iMac everyday at work.


Buying components for my PC has always been cheaper as they are alot easier to get hold of. Hell check ebay and compare the sheer list of parts available for each. I'm willing to bet anyone with intimate dealings of both will agree that upgrading a PC is easy and cheap, easier and cheaper than a tempremental Mac. Hell, my GF could put together a PC.

I think you said that you couldn't upgrade a Mac, not that it was easier to upgrade a PC. Even so, I'll take just about any Mac over a $279 Linux box and come out ahead in terms of features, performance, etc.


Availability is another issue. I can buy computer components and games in the local supermarket for my PC. Theres literally thousands of websites/shops/relailers that sell these things in massive quantities for decent prices.

And half those plarts will work on a Mac. What's your point? Mac's use AGP video, DDR Ram and SATA hard drives and IDE CD/DVD drives.
You can also order parts from Apple.

I think you originally said that Macs were expensive, which they're not, and that you could not upgrade them, which you can. You have also tried to argue that Linux is better for home use, which it's not, and that Macs now suck not because they're expensive, and you can't upgrade them, but because there's more parts available for a PC, but most of those parts work on a Mac too, so I'm not sure what your next argument is going to be.

[Mistomeer]

Originally posted by Theyesman
Speaking of web browsers alone.... Safari fucking sucks, sorry all you mac guys but you'll have to use IE to have half the browsing capabilty,

Safari is the best browser out there.
IE sucks, so thanks for proving you have no clue as to what you're talking about.
Firefox > IE.
Safari alot is like Firefox, only it works much better and has been around longer.

But there's also IE for Macs, so if you want to use it, have at it.

[HarmNone]

I've thought about buying another MAC, strictly for thegraphics and because I find them to be more reliable overall. However, I haven't used one in years. I'll have to look into the changes that have come about and make a decision based on what I find out.

Thanks for bringing up the subject. It gives me food for thought. I still find myself gazing longingly at my old MAC classic every now and then. :)

[CrystalTears]

Get over the one-button mouse thing with Macs. You can have a regular mouse whenever you want. If you choose to use the one-button mouse, you're just being lazy and stubborn.

Macs can be upgraded, and rather easily, albeit a tad more expensive. However considering how reliable they can be, it's worth the extra expense. If gaming is that important to you, have a PC just for games and the Mac for the other important tasks, like documentation, expenses, email, surfing and whatnot since the chances of getting viruses and spyware is minimal to none.

OSX is very user friendly. I find it easier to use than Windows. With Windows if you upgrade, you have to reinstall everything for Windows to recognize it. With Macs if you just know where to put the extension files, you're all set. I hate upgrading Windows with a passion because of the constant reinstalling.

If you don't like Macs, that's fine, nothing wrong in that. But usually those that bash it have obviously never used one extensively enough to have a solid opinion on them.

I hate IE. Safari rules, however I've been using Firefox mostly. The browser and the Thunderbird email client is awesome. Anything but Microsoft. Ugh.

[Warriorbird]

iMac != most Macs... and you can upgrade iMacs as well, if you know what you are doing.

Stay = incorrect.

[Back]

THIS IS THE MAC :heart: THREAD!!! GET OUT YOU SORRY PC FUCKERS@!! HAHAAHAHAHA!@!!!

Anyway. I use a four-button trackball at home. The control key is your right click. Are Mac users the only ones who use the mouse and keyboard at the same time? Ambidextosity.

Mac builds those all-in-one macs, like the iMac, or the Classic (Wow, Harm, thats going waaaaay back) and yes those are hard to upgrade. The towers however are probably more accessable than PCs. Right now, all I have to do to open my tower is turn a ring and the whole fucking side opens up. Now, I’ve never had, or wanted, to do anything more than add a PCI card or RAM, so I don’t know about adding drives or swapping processors, but I don’t see how it could be any different than a PC.

JFC!! So you don’t like macs? Well STFU and start your own H8 thread!

[StrayRogue]

If Mac's are so good, how come they are outsold massively by PC's then?

[Back]

The number one reason is that PCs are cheaper.

[Latrinsorm]

Originally posted by StrayRogue
If Mac's are so good, how come they are outsold massively by PC's then? I never thought StrayRogue would make an appeal to the majority. Not after the most recent U.S. election, anyway.

My mom had a Mac at work, and I tried to play Gemstone on it one time. CRASH. This was at least 5 years ago, but the wound has yet to heal.

[Mistomeer]

Originally posted by StrayRogue
If Mac's are so good, how come they are outsold massively by PC's then?

So you gave up on all the technically incorrect information? The last two computers I have bought have been PC's. That doesn't mean that a Mac is a piece of shit, however, or that it can't be upgraded, or it's really expensive, or it can't emulate Windows programs, etc.
But if you want to talk about market share, sure PC's have the majority of the market, but the only company out there doing well, besides Apple, is Dell. IBM just sold off their PC division, Compaq and HP merged to stay alive, and Gateway is having financial trouble...
Apple must be doing something right with their share of the market.

[StrayRogue]

Nope. But we've already assertained in previous threads that you won't fall back even if you're proven wrong. I won't do the same either. My point remains: PC's are cheaper and easier to upgrade.

[StrayRogue]

http://www.digitalvideoediting.com/2002/11_nov/reviews/cw_macvspciii.htm

http://www.digitalvideoediting.com/2002/07_jul/features/cw_macvspc2.htm

I couldn't find instructions on how to install vapochill into an iMac either.

[Mistomeer]

Originally posted by StrayRogue
You can't upgrade Macs.

I never said that Macs were easier to upgrade than PC's. I said they could be upgraded, and used the same memory, hard drives, video cards and cd drives as PC's.

But at least you're not sticking with the "can't upgrade Macs" stance anymore.

[Edited on 2-26-2005 by Mistomeer]

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Control-click with Safari in a form lets you spell check like TextEdit. Word.