Computer that just works

[Tyranicus]

Originally posted by: WelshBloke
Full screening VLC turns off my other monitor! It does play everything though.

I forgot that it does that by default. I've been migrating my preferences from system to system for a long time now. While in VLC, go to Preferences (under the VLC menu), then go to the Video tab and uncheck the box that says "Black screens in Fullscreen mode."

Btw, what I do to make launching applications easier is to put my Applications and Utilities folders in the Dock, so that they create stacks and I don't have to navigate through Finder just to open something.

 

[WelshBloke]

Originally posted by: Tyranicus

Originally posted by: WelshBloke
Full screening VLC turns off my other monitor! It does play everything though.

I forgot that it does that by default. I've been migrating my preferences from system to system for a long time now. While in VLC, go to Preferences (under the VLC menu), then go to the Video tab and uncheck the box that says "Black screens in Fullscreen mode."

Btw, what I do to make launching applications easier is to put my Applications and Utilities folders in the Dock, so that they create stacks and I don't have to navigate through Finder just to open something.

Cool thanks for the VLC tip. :thumbsup:

I just tried to drag my applications folder to the dock from finder and it literally disappeared in a puff of smoke.
Now I cant find it.

 

[mmntech]

Originally posted by: WelshBlokeMainly its the lack of software to do what I want (avchd editing).

Both Final Cut Express and Final Cut Pro 7 (in Final Cut Studio) do AVCHD editing.
http://store.apple.com/us/product/MB278Z/A

I got my first Mac in a long time in 2005 mainly because of higher battery life. I though the transition would be difficult after being 10 years PC exclusive but it really wasn't. Most major software is available for Mac, such as Office. Plus there are plenty of open source alternatives that will handle the jobs. But if you're really stuck, you can always run Windows under Boot Camp or through virtualization.

 

[WelshBloke]

Originally posted by: mmntech

Originally posted by: WelshBlokeMainly its the lack of software to do what I want (avchd editing).

Both Final Cut Express and Final Cut Pro 7 (in Final Cut Studio) do AVCHD editing.
http://store.apple.com/us/product/MB278Z/A

RRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGGGGEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE :|

 

[mmntech]

Originally posted by: WelshBloke

Originally posted by: mmntech

Originally posted by: WelshBlokeMainly its the lack of software to do what I want (avchd editing).

Both Final Cut Express and Final Cut Pro 7 (in Final Cut Studio) do AVCHD editing.
http://store.apple.com/us/product/MB278Z/A

RRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGGGGEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE :|

Lets pretend for a second that I don't know what the problem with Final Cut is...

 

[WelshBloke]

Originally posted by: mmntech

Originally posted by: WelshBloke

Originally posted by: mmntech

Originally posted by: WelshBlokeMainly its the lack of software to do what I want (avchd editing).

Both Final Cut Express and Final Cut Pro 7 (in Final Cut Studio) do AVCHD editing.
http://store.apple.com/us/product/MB278Z/A

RRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGGGGEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE :|

Lets pretend for a second that I don't know what the problem with Final Cut is...

Sorry, regardless of what apple says, iMovie and final cut express (I dont know or care about final cut pro, it costs a fortune) will not edit or convert any of the AVCHD files I have on my hard drive.

I have to ask if you've used Final cut yourself to edit these files or if youv just read some marketing.

Right I think I'm getting too tetchy to carry on, see you all tomorrow.

And thank you for your help and patience.

 

[TheStu]

Originally posted by: WelshBloke

Originally posted by: mmntech

Originally posted by: WelshBloke

Originally posted by: mmntech

Originally posted by: WelshBlokeMainly its the lack of software to do what I want (avchd editing).

Both Final Cut Express and Final Cut Pro 7 (in Final Cut Studio) do AVCHD editing.
http://store.apple.com/us/product/MB278Z/A

RRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGGGGEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE :|

Lets pretend for a second that I don't know what the problem with Final Cut is...

Sorry, regardless of what apple says, iMovie and final cut express (I dont know or care about final cut pro, it costs a fortune) will not edit or convert any of the AVCHD files I have on my hard drive.

I have to ask if you've used Final cut yourself to edit these files or if youv just read some marketing.

Right I think I'm getting too tetchy to carry on, see you all tomorrow.

And thank you for your help and patience.

WelshBloke: I have never run into compatibility issues when running Perian, it really is a great app to get, it is free and works as advertised, what more does one need? As for your Dock issues, after about a year or so of owning a Mac I moved the Dock to the left side of my screen (mounted vertically). It takes up less space, and you get all your vertical pixels back. I realize that it is a hard adjustment to make sense you are used to having your applications listed on the bottom from Windows, but give it a whirl.

As for your Applications folder issues... When you open a Finder window, you have items listed in the sidebar on the left, organized into groups. Devices on top, then Places, then Search For. Within Places you have by default, Desktop, Home (or whatever you called it), Applications, and Documents I believe.

What it sounds like you did was drag the Applications entry from the sidebar. Think of the sidebar as a bookmarks or shortcuts bar, you can drag items in and out and they are just links, not the actual item. To get at your Applications folder again and put it in both your Dock (place it to the right of the divider, immediately to the left of the Trash Can, that is where folders go) and your sidebar again, just go to your OS Drive(listed under Devices in the sidebar). By default it is called Macintosh HD, but you may have renamed it. Click this and right there is your Applications folder. Do not move this or anything, just drag it to the sidebar to the 'Places' area, and then drag it again to the Dock. Not immediately intuitive I suppose now that I have explained it, but what is intuitive to some is next to impossible for others.

I highly recommend experimenting around with the OS, and reading my Guide at the top if you haven't already. The Guide is a little out of date, and I meant to do a re-write when Leopard came out, but I may wait until I get my new MacBook Pro with Snow Leopard.

 

[Zaap]

WelshBloke- I'm curious, why are you using a Mac and OSX when it seems it doesn't suit your needs?

I'm not being snarky, argumentative, defensive (personally, I'm fairly platform neutral, though I lean OSX these days), or even trying to say you're wrong, just genuinely curious.

 

[Nothinman]

I dont like virtual desktops, I hated them in windoow I doubt I'd like them in OSX as they seem the same.
I'd rather add more monitors/bigger monitors if I don't have enough room.

You should probably give them another try, I'm using Linux but I've gotten so used to having a half dozen or so desktops that I feel so limited when I'm stuck with only one. I pretty much never minimize anything, I have certain apps on certain desktops and instead of alt+tab or expose I just switch to the desktop with that app on it. I don't own a Mac so I can't give any first hand experience but they've gotta be better than the clunky implementations for Windows although I'm not sure how the stupid single menu bar would work with that.

And not to thread-crap but I think this thread should be stickied and anytime someone makes a comment about how much easier Macs are than Windows they should be pointed here. What you already know is easy, there's nothing intuitive about any OS. I even have some keyboard shortcuts setup on my Linux machines for stuff like Win+E because the shortcuts are so ingrained in my head it made more sense to recreate them in the other OS rather than trying to unlearn them.

 

[sourceninja]

Man, I couldn't imagine trying to use a mouse to navigate and find applications to run. Even on windows I tend to launch most things via the run command.

This is why I think OSX is suited more for people coming from a developer's mindset and not a average window's users mindset. Ever OS requires a complete release of your old paradigm. Most people just don't want to do that. A lot of work was put into spotlight because it is the way to quickly get to what you want. No hunting for the right menu option, just command-space and a few characters of the app you want then the enter key.

Although the stacks suggestion seems right up the alley you are wanting.

 

[TheStu]

Originally posted by: sourceninja
Man, I couldn't imagine trying to use a mouse to navigate and find applications to run. Even on windows I tend to launch most things via the run command.

This is why I think OSX is suited more for people coming from a developer's mindset and not a average window's users mindset. Ever OS requires a complete release of your old paradigm. Most people just don't want to do that. A lot of work was put into spotlight because it is the way to quickly get to what you want. No hunting for the right menu option, just command-space and a few characters of the app you want then the enter key.

Although the stacks suggestion seems right up the alley you are wanting.

Especially if he then runs this command in Terminal

defaults write com.apple.dock mouse-over-hilte-stack -bool TRUE

This causes a 'highlight' to follow the mouse around when navigating the stack, I find that it helps a lot!

Originally posted by: Nothinman
You should probably give them another try, I'm using Linux but I've gotten so used to having a half dozen or so desktops that I feel so limited when I'm stuck with only one. I pretty much never minimize anything, I have certain apps on certain desktops and instead of alt+tab or expose I just switch to the desktop with that app on it. I don't own a Mac so I can't give any first hand experience but they've gotta be better than the clunky implementations for Windows although I'm not sure how the stupid single menu bar would work with that.

And not to thread-crap but I think this thread should be stickied and anytime someone makes a comment about how much easier Macs are than Windows they should be pointed here. What you already know is easy, there's nothing intuitive about any OS. I even have some keyboard shortcuts setup on my Linux machines for stuff like Win+E because the shortcuts are so ingrained in my head it made more sense to recreate them in the other OS rather than trying to unlearn them.

Multiple desktops is handled very well in OS X, Spaces is fantastic and I used it quite a bit before I left school. The single Menubar is present from one space to the next, so no matter what space you are in, your menubar (and everything on it) is present.

I seldom use multiple monitors, but I can understand how the single menubar can be annoying if a user isn't comfortable with keyboard shortcuts.

 

[sourceninja]

Originally posted by: TheStu

Especially if he then runs this command in Terminal

defaults write com.apple.dock mouse-over-hilte-stack -bool TRUE

This causes a 'highlight' to follow the mouse around when navigating the stack, I find that it helps a lot!

You are my hero, that is so cool! But don't forget you have to either relog back in or do a
killall -9 Dock

for the changes to take effect.

 

[TheStu]

Yea I almost forgot about that. I have never used the -9 though, what does that do?

 

[WelshBloke]

Originally posted by: Zaap
WelshBloke- I'm curious, why are you using a Mac and OSX when it seems it doesn't suit your needs?

I'm not being snarky, argumentative, defensive (personally, I'm fairly platform neutral, though I lean OSX these days), or even trying to say you're wrong, just genuinely curious.

I wont know if it suits my needs until I learn more about it. Most of my problems are down to me and the way I'm used to doing things.
I'm not against learning new ways, I will admit that I am quite set in my ways though.

 

[WelshBloke]

Originally posted by: TheStu

WelshBloke: I have never run into compatibility issues when running Perian, it really is a great app to get, it is free and works as advertised, what more does one need? As for your Dock issues, after about a year or so of owning a Mac I moved the Dock to the left side of my screen (mounted vertically). It takes up less space, and you get all your vertical pixels back. I realize that it is a hard adjustment to make sense you are used to having your applications listed on the bottom from Windows, but give it a whirl.

As for your Applications folder issues... When you open a Finder window, you have items listed in the sidebar on the left, organized into groups. Devices on top, then Places, then Search For. Within Places you have by default, Desktop, Home (or whatever you called it), Applications, and Documents I believe.

What it sounds like you did was drag the Applications entry from the sidebar. Think of the sidebar as a bookmarks or shortcuts bar, you can drag items in and out and they are just links, not the actual item. To get at your Applications folder again and put it in both your Dock (place it to the right of the divider, immediately to the left of the Trash Can, that is where folders go) and your sidebar again, just go to your OS Drive(listed under Devices in the sidebar). By default it is called Macintosh HD, but you may have renamed it. Click this and right there is your Applications folder. Do not move this or anything, just drag it to the sidebar to the 'Places' area, and then drag it again to the Dock. Not immediately intuitive I suppose now that I have explained it, but what is intuitive to some is next to impossible for others.

I highly recommend experimenting around with the OS, and reading my Guide at the top if you haven't already. The Guide is a little out of date, and I meant to do a re-write when Leopard came out, but I may wait until I get my new MacBook Pro with Snow Leopard.

Cheers I'll put Perian back then, I'd when i googled about my iMove problems lots of posts about perian came up so I got rid of it. Although now I've got VLC working like I want I probably wont need it.

The dock is much better on the side of the screen, thanks for that as well.

Yay 3for3! application folder back in the sidebar and in the dock.


Thanks loads :beer:

 

[WelshBloke]

Originally posted by: sourceninja
Man, I couldn't imagine trying to use a mouse to navigate and find applications to run. Even on windows I tend to launch most things via the run command.

Remember I've never used a mac before I don't know what half the programs are called or even whats there.


Also I don't see how using the run command is quicker than windows quick launch or the mac equivalent.

Quick launch is .........move mouse>click
run command is?.......hotkey>type characters>enter

 

[sourceninja]

Originally posted by: TheStu
Yea I almost forgot about that. I have never used the -9 though, what does that do?

Well -9 is sends a SIGKILL signal to the app. Killall can be used to send different signals based on how you want to use it. On POSIX-compliant platforms, SIGKILL is the signal sent to a process to cause it to terminate immediately. You might also send SIGTERM, or any other POSIX signal an app responds to. Killall by default sends SIGTERM. The difference is that signterm can be caught by the application or ignored by it. It's like saying "Hey, you mind shutting down now?". SIGKILL is like shooting the process in the head with a bullet.

 

[sourceninja]

Originally posted by: WelshBloke

Originally posted by: sourceninja
Man, I couldn't imagine trying to use a mouse to navigate and find applications to run. Even on windows I tend to launch most things via the run command.

Remember I've never used a mac before I don't know what half the programs are called or even whats there.


Also I don't see how using the run command is quicker than windows quick launch or the mac equivalent.

Quick launch is .........move mouse>click
run command is?.......hotkey>type characters>enter

99% of the time, my fingers are on the keyboard. That's why it's quicker. If I had the mouse in my hand, I'd probably use it. But at the speed I can type I'd be willing to challenge most people for a speed test.

 

[Nothinman]

The single Menubar is present from one space to the next, so no matter what space you are in, your menubar (and everything on it) is present.

When you switch desktops does focus switch to whatever app is on that desktop too? I would get very annoyed if I switched desktops and the menubar still had the menus of the app on the previous desktop.

 

[ChAoTiCpInOy]

Also you can scroll wherever the mouse pointer is hovering over, it doesn't have to be the active window to scroll.

 

[TheStu]

Originally posted by: Nothinman

The single Menubar is present from one space to the next, so no matter what space you are in, your menubar (and everything on it) is present.

When you switch desktops does focus switch to whatever app is on that desktop too? I would get very annoyed if I switched desktops and the menubar still had the menus of the app on the previous desktop.

It switches to the active app there. All the icons are still in the Dock as well, so if you are using Pages in space 3 and want to look something up online, you can then click Safari in the Dock (or use CMD+Tab) and it will jump over to whatever space that Safari is in.

 

[umrigar]

LOL @ Vista Home

 

[umrigar]

for fast keyboard launching, i recommend Quicksilver.
http://www.macupdate.com/info.php/id/14831/quicksilver

 

[PricklyPete]

Originally posted by: WelshBloke

Yeah I fully realise that I'm just used to the windows way of doing thing.

The problem is the windows way is so easy, everything is at the bottom of the screen and I can get to it with one click.

Also getting avi's to play in quicktime is a pain.

I'm not seeing any advantages from win7.

I think I've been assimilated

For your AVI problem...look into installing Perian...and getting the regular updates. No more problems.

I agree with the previous poster..Exposes and Spaces should solve most of your issues. I didn't like them at first as I was not used to Macs...but now I go back to a Vista or WinXP machine and get frustrated at how unproductive I am trying to manage my windows there. Just give it some time...I can almost guarantee that if you put the effort into changing your ways...you'll end up with an appreciation of how your desktop is managed on the Mac.

For your Application "headache"...just drop your Application folder to the dock...now you essentially have the "programs" menu from the Start Menu...

 

[Chris27]

Originally posted by: TheStu
Yea I almost forgot about that. I have never used the -9 though, what does that do?

The 9 corresponds to the Unix signal SIGKILL. The killall program sends signals to other programs. The default behavior of killall is to send a kill signal (there are several and I'm not sure if SIGKILL is the default one), so adding "-9" shouldn't be necessary.

-edit
or just read sourceninja's post