Stupid OS/X questions... and one for iTunes and one for iMac

[imported_Shivetya]

So I like my little widgets... the ones in OS/X.

The dock has space on the left and right; I know its there so it can grow. I want to keep something like the weather widget up at all times. Does someone know of one that will sit in the dock and display the temperature all the time?

I haven't tried this yet, but can I control iTunes while its in the dock or do I need to open it do so? Say if I start a song running is there a way to pause the song or skip to the next without switching to it directly?

iTunes, Can I import my library directly from the PC its currently on using iTunes or do I need to first copy the contents of that machines music directory? I want to use the iMac as the master machine, relegating the upstairs PC to storage; its not on all the time; and PC specific tasks.

oh, anyone know of a site for instructions for upgrading the hdd? or is that a "void the warranty" type of operation. I could just hang WD iBooks (or whatever they call them) off the machine for extra space.

Finally, what are some common keyboard shortcuts across applications? I keep finding myself going to the command bar at the top to figure them out. Is there some keyboard combo that will pop up a list of shortcuts relevant to the application at hand?

 

[TheStu]

Originally posted by: Shivetya
So I like my little widgets... the ones in OS/X.

The dock has space on the left and right; I know its there so it can grow. I want to keep something like the weather widget up at all times. Does someone know of one that will sit in the dock and display the temperature all the time?

Nothing that i know of that sits in the Dock, though you might want to check out iusethis.com. They have a massive list of user submitted apps (not made by users necessarily, but mentioned i guess) and you can usually get reliable info from there. If for instance you see an app on there that 1000000000000000000 people use, there may be something go on. Conversely, if 12 people are using another app, maybe its not so great

I just thought of something else.

Open up Terminal (Applications -> Utilities -> Terminal) and type "defaults write com.apple.dashboard devmode YES" sans quotes obviously.

Now, hit F12 to bring up Dashboard, and then press the little plus sign in the bottom left corner. Select the widget you want from the list there, and then drag it out, but while still holding it, press F12 again, and place it on your desktop.

I haven't tried this yet, but can I control iTunes while its in the dock or do I need to open it do so? Say if I start a song running is there a way to pause the song or skip to the next without switching to it directly?

Itunes has to be running, but that is about it. You can have it minimized (please don't) hidden (yes!) or closed (notice I didn't say quit) and you can control it by secondary clicking on the iTunes icon on the Dock

iTunes, Can I import my library directly from the PC its currently on using iTunes or do I need to first copy the contents of that machines music directory? I want to use the iMac as the master machine, relegating the upstairs PC to storage; its not on all the time; and PC specific tasks.

I would recommend copying the folder contents. It will just make your life easier.

oh, anyone know of a site for instructions for upgrading the hdd? or is that a "void the warranty" type of operation. I could just hang WD iBooks (or whatever they call them) off the machine for extra space.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA... you want to replace... HAHAHAHA

No, it will void the warranty to do that, and is probably not too easy to boot. The RAM is user accessible but that is pretty much it to my understanding. Just grab externals since you will need them for Leopard anyway.

Finally, what are some common keyboard shortcuts across applications? I keep finding myself going to the command bar at the top to figure them out. Is there some keyboard combo that will pop up a list of shortcuts relevant to the application at hand?

I don't know about a list within the applications... but you can define your own keyboard shortcuts for either the whole OS (I have Apple+Shift+Z set to 'Zoom' the window, basically it resizes it automatically) or for a specific application (Apple+F for Full Screen in DVD Player... it is Apple+0 of all things by default) Also, Google is your friend

 

[randomlinh]

For an iMac, the HDD is not worth replacing. hte mini, PITA, but doable... the laptops, far easier I believe.

 

[Tegeril]

Pet peeve. This is not OS/X (a la OS/2), it is OS X.

 

[AsianriceX]

Originally posted by: randomlinh
For an iMac, the HDD is not worth replacing. hte mini, PITA, but doable... the laptops, far easier I believe.

Upgrading the HDD on the G5 iMacs w/o iSight were easy. Loosen some screws on the bottom and the whole back panel would lift off revealing all of the innards. No fuss.

Once they released the G5s with the iSight, all bets were off.

http://home.comcast.net/~woojo.../iMac_Disassembly.html

Good luck with that one...

 

[Kaido]

Originally posted by: Shivetya
So I like my little widgets... the ones in OS/X.

The dock has space on the left and right; I know its there so it can grow. I want to keep something like the weather widget up at all times. Does someone know of one that will sit in the dock and display the temperature all the time?

I haven't tried this yet, but can I control iTunes while its in the dock or do I need to open it do so? Say if I start a song running is there a way to pause the song or skip to the next without switching to it directly?

iTunes, Can I import my library directly from the PC its currently on using iTunes or do I need to first copy the contents of that machines music directory? I want to use the iMac as the master machine, relegating the upstairs PC to storage; its not on all the time; and PC specific tasks.

oh, anyone know of a site for instructions for upgrading the hdd? or is that a "void the warranty" type of operation. I could just hang WD iBooks (or whatever they call them) off the machine for extra space.

Finally, what are some common keyboard shortcuts across applications? I keep finding myself going to the command bar at the top to figure them out. Is there some keyboard combo that will pop up a list of shortcuts relevant to the application at hand?

1. I don't know about adding it to the dock, but you can put Widgets on your desktop. You need to use developer mode like TheStu said; here's a good how-to:

http://www.macosxhints.com/art...tory=20050422172929402

2. You can control iTunes from the dock using ByteController; it adds some controls up near the clock and Spotlight. Download the Mac version:

http://www.bytetastic.com/

3. The easiest way is just to copy the entire iTunes folder from your Windows machine to your Mac. Here is a great tutorial on migrating your music:

http://www.tunequest.org/migra...ndows-to-mac/20061105/

4. What kind of iMac do you have - G5, Intel? You have a few options here:

1) Upgrade the internal drive (not recommended if it's new)
2) Add external storage (USB or Firewire)
3) Add network storage (Airport Disk or NAS)

It will void your warranty to upgrade the internal hard drive, not to mention it's difficult and can be dangerous if you screw anything up. Adding external storage is relatively easy and much safer. In addition, you can actually boot from an external hard drive (I recommend Firewire). Yet another option is to add network storage, so you don't have to have anything on your desk - plus you can share it with the other computers in your house.

5. Here are some common OS X shortcuts:

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=75459

 

[imported_Shivetya]

I will stick with a WD external harddrive then, it supports FireWire and USB which is all I need for extra disk space.

Thank you for the link about migrating my iTunes. I want to consolidate my work to one machine and that will make it much easier.



Oh Tegeril, I will try to call it OS X Though honestly OS/2 was amazing

 

[imported_Shivetya]

OK.

One thing I have seen multiple times is reference to "/Users/" directories.

I don't recall ever seeing one in Finder.

So, let me guess, it is because I run in admin mode all the time? (since anytime I want to do something bad it requires a password I don't feel threatened)

 

[TheStu]

Alright

Open up Finder, which by default takes you to /Users/YourName

Now, you have Finder open, look at the Sidebar, and you see how at the top of the Sidebar it says Network, then below that it should say ComputerName. Click on that, that is the root directory, within that is the Users folder.

Where have you been seeing a lot of talk about the Users directory?!?!

 

[imported_Shivetya]

Originally posted by: TheStu
Alright

Open up Finder, which by default takes you to /Users/YourName

Now, you have Finder open, look at the Sidebar, and you see how at the top of the Sidebar it says Network, then below that it should say ComputerName. Click on that, that is the root directory, within that is the Users folder.

Where have you been seeing a lot of talk about the Users directory?!?!

well the most recent was that link for moving my iTunes from Windows to Mac.

another was when writing a script to execute in terminal mode

 

[TheStu]

Ah, gotcha

 

[imported_Shivetya]

OK, the former owner specified a name for the computer (or he just considers himself something special, I don't know)

Will renaming this cause me to lose preferences I have specified for mail, firefox, and the like?

 

[TheStu]

Specificed a name how and where?

The hard drive name you mean? If it is that, then just click on the drive, hit apple+i and rename it to whatever you like. If it is the name that appears on the network, then you need to hit The Mighty Blue Apple in the upper left corner of the screen, go to the system preferences and then to Sharing. From within there you can rename the system.

Though honestly you should have just reformatted the thing when you got it.