Comments on: My newest toy… err, productivity increaser http://ryanjoy.com/2007/04/my-newest-toy-err-productivity-increaser/ Web developer living and playing in Austin, Texas Sat, 07 Jan 2012 14:02:56 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: atxryan.com » My Macbook Pro is ill. http://ryanjoy.com/2007/04/my-newest-toy-err-productivity-increaser/comment-page-1/#comment-116 atxryan.com » My Macbook Pro is ill. Fri, 20 Jul 2007 16:36:19 +0000 http://www.atxryan.com/2007/04/25/my-newest-toy-err-productivity-increaser/#comment-116 [...] I received my brand new Macbook Pro from Apple less than three months ago. I was apprehensive about spending that much on a single machine that I didn’t know how to troubleshoot, upgrade, or really even take apart. I was a PC guy used to building my computers from barebones kits, but I figured it was worth it because the Apple hardware was so reliable. [...] [...] I received my brand new Macbook Pro from Apple less than three months ago. I was apprehensive about spending that much on a single machine that I didn’t know how to troubleshoot, upgrade, or really even take apart. I was a PC guy used to building my computers from barebones kits, but I figured it was worth it because the Apple hardware was so reliable. [...]

]]> By: My OS X Software Setup at Alex Jones http://ryanjoy.com/2007/04/my-newest-toy-err-productivity-increaser/comment-page-1/#comment-115 My OS X Software Setup at Alex Jones Tue, 22 May 2007 17:35:46 +0000 http://www.atxryan.com/2007/04/25/my-newest-toy-err-productivity-increaser/#comment-115 [...] Ryan’s post ‘My newest toy… err, productivity increaser has some great suggestions in the comments. [...] [...] Ryan’s post ‘My newest toy… err, productivity increaser has some great suggestions in the comments. [...]

]]> By: Chris Frazier http://ryanjoy.com/2007/04/my-newest-toy-err-productivity-increaser/comment-page-1/#comment-114 Chris Frazier Thu, 03 May 2007 07:07:54 +0000 http://www.atxryan.com/2007/04/25/my-newest-toy-err-productivity-increaser/#comment-114 Here's a couple of apps I've picked up for my mbp: FolderShare (http://foldershare.com) - it's a [gasp!] Microsoft "acquisition" that will sync your files to/from different computers using a small taskbar app. You can also access files on computers that you have it setup on. I use this all the time. Azureus (http://azureus.sf.net) - bittorrent client written in java. I've found it to be okay on the mac, but better than a couple of alternatives I looked at too. The Gimp (http://gimp.org) - OS photo editing ala PhotoShop. I think this required me to install apple's X11 libraries, but it was still relatively painless. You may not like the interface tho after getting used to all that aqua ;) VirtueDesktops (http://virtuedesktops.info) - desktop manager with some nifty transition effects. Sofa Control (http://www.caseapps.com/sofacontrol.html) - it's like $10 or something like that but you can do lots more with that remote than just frontrow. Like play tetris :) All of these (except sofa control) are free. Also, I highly recommend setting up a hotspot for Expose - I've gotten so used to it that I found a windows clone of the behavior that I've been playing with recently on my dev box. (TopDesk - http://www.otakusoftware.com/topdesk/index.html) That should get you warmed up! Now it's time to go back over your comments and look for any juicy downloads I've missed ;) Caio! Here’s a couple of apps I’ve picked up for my mbp:

FolderShare (http://foldershare.com) – it’s a [gasp!] Microsoft “acquisition” that will sync your files to/from different computers using a small taskbar app. You can also access files on computers that you have it setup on. I use this all the time.

Azureus (http://azureus.sf.net) – bittorrent client written in java. I’ve found it to be okay on the mac, but better than a couple of alternatives I looked at too.

The Gimp (http://gimp.org) – OS photo editing ala PhotoShop. I think this required me to install apple’s X11 libraries, but it was still relatively painless. You may not like the interface tho after getting used to all that aqua ;)

VirtueDesktops (http://virtuedesktops.info) – desktop manager with some nifty transition effects.

Sofa Control (http://www.caseapps.com/sofacontrol.html) – it’s like $10 or something like that but you can do lots more with that remote than just frontrow. Like play tetris :)

All of these (except sofa control) are free. Also, I highly recommend setting up a hotspot for Expose – I’ve gotten so used to it that I found a windows clone of the behavior that I’ve been playing with recently on my dev box. (TopDesk – http://www.otakusoftware.com/topdesk/index.html)

That should get you warmed up! Now it’s time to go back over your comments and look for any juicy downloads I’ve missed ;) Caio!

]]> By: marla http://ryanjoy.com/2007/04/my-newest-toy-err-productivity-increaser/comment-page-1/#comment-106 marla Thu, 26 Apr 2007 22:14:12 +0000 http://www.atxryan.com/2007/04/25/my-newest-toy-err-productivity-increaser/#comment-106 Whoops, forgot I had customized Expose. F11 is nice, but the default coolness is at F9. Whoops, forgot I had customized Expose. F11 is nice, but the default coolness is at F9.

]]> By: NattyBobo http://ryanjoy.com/2007/04/my-newest-toy-err-productivity-increaser/comment-page-1/#comment-105 NattyBobo Thu, 26 Apr 2007 17:32:10 +0000 http://www.atxryan.com/2007/04/25/my-newest-toy-err-productivity-increaser/#comment-105 What’s your favorite text-editor?not sure. Dashboard widgets? Jesus Bobblehead or Moof the Cowdodg AppleScripts? not sure What makes working on a Mac more efficient and productive for you? It just works and stuff dont break. Other Apps: Toast for CD or DVD burning, Popcorn for DVD mastering, Mac The ripper for DVD extraction, Visual Hub for video conversion, iChat with Chax for chatting, Audacity for simple audio recording, Audio hijack for capturing web audio or any sound on your computer, FireFox for browsing. All the iapps for whatever they are supposed to do. Anything else you need, check out the version tracker link below. I need tips. Tricks. -- not sure. you most likely know everything you need to get started. Resources http://www.versiontracker.com/macosx/ -find apps http://www.macsurfer.com/ - find news and tips http://www.apple-history.com/ - old apple info What’s your favorite text-editor?not sure.

Dashboard widgets? Jesus Bobblehead or Moof the Cowdodg

AppleScripts? not sure

What makes working on a Mac more efficient and productive for you?
It just works and stuff dont break.

Other Apps: Toast for CD or DVD burning, Popcorn for DVD mastering, Mac The ripper for DVD extraction, Visual Hub for video conversion, iChat with Chax for chatting, Audacity for simple audio recording, Audio hijack for capturing web audio or any sound on your computer, FireFox for browsing. All the iapps for whatever they are supposed to do. Anything else you need, check out the version tracker link below.

I need tips. Tricks. — not sure. you most likely know everything you need to get started.

Resources
http://www.versiontracker.com/macosx/ -find apps
http://www.macsurfer.com/ – find news and tips
http://www.apple-history.com/ – old apple info

]]> By: Grant Hutchins http://ryanjoy.com/2007/04/my-newest-toy-err-productivity-increaser/comment-page-1/#comment-104 Grant Hutchins Thu, 26 Apr 2007 06:44:48 +0000 http://www.atxryan.com/2007/04/25/my-newest-toy-err-productivity-increaser/#comment-104 Try out Quicksilver for sure, but I don't use it and I've gotten along fine. Growl is a definite must. I like having MenuMeters to keep track of CPU and RAM usage. AppZapper is great for uninstalling stuff. Disco is great for burning CDs and DVDs. And other than that the sky is the limit. I'd encourage you to try Safari out even if the draw to Firefox is strong. I run both all the time. NetNewsWire is good for RSS feeds. Cyberduck is great for FTP/SFTP/etc. and is free. Screen Sieve is a cool way to search text in any app, I just found it last night. Pyro if you ever use Campfire to chat. I like DeskShade as a way to get rid of all the icons on the desktop. LinoType FontExplorer X for font management. iMote for controlling iTunes even when it's not the active app. Hold Cmd+Ctrl down and then tap D. Keep holding Cmd-Ctrl. As you mouse over words they get defined. Set your window corners to be the things like Exposé, Dashboard, show Desktop, etc. and you can do it with a flick of the mouse and while dragging files around. Get very used to hitting cmd-w and cmd-q to close windows and quit programs. AppUpdate and WidgetUpdate widgets. Transmission for BitTorrents. Inquisitor to make Safari Google searching cooler. That should keep you busy for a bit. Try out Quicksilver for sure, but I don’t use it and I’ve gotten along fine.

Growl is a definite must. I like having MenuMeters to keep track of CPU and RAM usage. AppZapper is great for uninstalling stuff. Disco is great for burning CDs and DVDs. And other than that the sky is the limit. I’d encourage you to try Safari out even if the draw to Firefox is strong. I run both all the time. NetNewsWire is good for RSS feeds. Cyberduck is great for FTP/SFTP/etc. and is free. Screen Sieve is a cool way to search text in any app, I just found it last night. Pyro if you ever use Campfire to chat. I like DeskShade as a way to get rid of all the icons on the desktop. LinoType FontExplorer X for font management. iMote for controlling iTunes even when it’s not the active app.

Hold Cmd+Ctrl down and then tap D. Keep holding Cmd-Ctrl. As you mouse over words they get defined.

Set your window corners to be the things like Exposé, Dashboard, show Desktop, etc. and you can do it with a flick of the mouse and while dragging files around.

Get very used to hitting cmd-w and cmd-q to close windows and quit programs.

AppUpdate and WidgetUpdate widgets.

Transmission for BitTorrents.

Inquisitor to make Safari Google searching cooler.

That should keep you busy for a bit.

]]> By: Marla http://ryanjoy.com/2007/04/my-newest-toy-err-productivity-increaser/comment-page-1/#comment-101 Marla Thu, 26 Apr 2007 04:20:40 +0000 http://www.atxryan.com/2007/04/25/my-newest-toy-err-productivity-increaser/#comment-101 Seconding Adium, Growl, BBEdit and Quicksilver. NetNewsWire for RSS feeds. And if you use FTP you must have Transmit. My three favorite shortcuts: 1. Command-Tab lets you tab through your open apps 2. Holding down Option while clicking on your Airport menu bar icon; this shows all available networks *in order of signal strength*. 3. F11. When your screen is cluttered with open windows, this is a thing of wonder and beauty. Seconding Adium, Growl, BBEdit and Quicksilver. NetNewsWire for RSS feeds. And if you use FTP you must have Transmit.

My three favorite shortcuts:
1. Command-Tab lets you tab through your open apps
2. Holding down Option while clicking on your Airport menu bar icon; this shows all available networks *in order of signal strength*.
3. F11. When your screen is cluttered with open windows, this is a thing of wonder and beauty.

]]> By: Paul Menard http://ryanjoy.com/2007/04/my-newest-toy-err-productivity-increaser/comment-page-1/#comment-109 Paul Menard Thu, 26 Apr 2007 01:59:44 +0000 http://www.atxryan.com/2007/04/25/my-newest-toy-err-productivity-increaser/#comment-109 One more MenuCalendarClock - http://www.objectpark.net/mcc.html This app put a little calendar off your menubar. The non-free version will display events from iCal. One more
MenuCalendarClock – http://www.objectpark.net/mcc.html
This app put a little calendar off your menubar. The non-free version will display events from iCal.

]]> By: Nathan http://ryanjoy.com/2007/04/my-newest-toy-err-productivity-increaser/comment-page-1/#comment-108 Nathan Wed, 25 Apr 2007 21:16:07 +0000 http://www.atxryan.com/2007/04/25/my-newest-toy-err-productivity-increaser/#comment-108 Text editor? vim! Text editor? vim!

]]> By: Ryan http://ryanjoy.com/2007/04/my-newest-toy-err-productivity-increaser/comment-page-1/#comment-112 Ryan Wed, 25 Apr 2007 21:15:59 +0000 http://www.atxryan.com/2007/04/25/my-newest-toy-err-productivity-increaser/#comment-112 @Tanner: lol. @Everyone else: Thanks a bunch! This stuff is golden. @Tanner: lol.

@Everyone else: Thanks a bunch! This stuff is golden.

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