Mac Net Journal

Recycling: Not Apple's Core Value - Even after Apple unveiled its first free computer recycling program Friday, it still falls short of competitors like HP and Dell, observers say. By Pete Mortensen, Wired News [myapplemenu]

17-inch MacBook Pro
Monday, April 24, 2006, 1:53 PM

Apple Introduces 17-inch MacBook Pro - Today Apple unveiled its new 17-inch MacBook Pro notebook computer featuring the Intel Core Duo processor and an all new system architecture that delivers up to five times the performance of the PowerBook G4. [Apr 24, 2006] [Apple Hot News]

So, does this mean that the Intel-based Mac notebooks are officially in version 1.1 mode, and it is safe to buy a PowerBook replacement? The next few weeks should tell the story...

Earth Day tips: How to dispose of an old computer
Friday, April 21, 2006, 8:15 PM

CNET offers a decent article today about how to Trash that PC in an eco-friendly way - an appropriate topic on the eve of Earth Day. This article comes on the same day that Apple announced that it has opened up a free computer take-back program.

Mac flaws remain unpatched, but unchallenged
Friday, April 21, 2006, 8:06 PM

Unpatched Mac flaws may put users at risk - Security researcher publishes details on several unpatched, potentially serious flaws in OS X. Apple investigates, plans patch. [CNET News.com]

Of course, none of these are currently being exploited by anyone. More proof of concept...

Lifehacker points out GTD software options
Thursday, April 20, 2006, 11:15 PM

If you aren't already reading Lifehacker in your newsreader, get with the program. Why is it useful? How about reader-submitted resources like this: Sources of GTD software.

How to use Thunderbird email client like a pro
Thursday, April 20, 2006, 11:09 PM

I am using PowerMail as my email tool of choice right now, but I am contemplating another look at Thunderbird, now that Natalie and I have just finished doing the second edit of our Washington Disasters and Heroic Rescues book - finished late last night. With that future experimentation in mind, I note Dmitri Popov's article: Use Thunderbird like a pro

How I write with a combination of Mac tools
Monday, April 10, 2006, 10:15 PM

An MNJ reader wrote me last night with some questions about how I work as a writer with my aging PowerBook and a combination of software that includes an open source office suite, Nisus Express, OmniOutliner Pro and Tinderbox. I figured it would make more sense to describe the process here than in e-mail. And so I take another break from editing the chapters for our Washington Disasters and Heroic Rescues book...

OmniOutliner Pro is the tool I have used for outlining and tracking progress on my last two books. Its simple user interface makes it easy to start drafting the outline for a project, and the ability to add columns to the outline allows the document to grow along with the project by adding more details - deadlines, checklists for including photos with each chapter, etc.

Here is a screen shot of a partial outline:

For the Washington Disasters book, I used this outline to gather research and bibliography information and things like links to Web sites. I could have done the same thing in Tinderbox, the tool I use to write and manage Mac Net Journal. But I stuck with OmniOutliner Pro for this latest project, simply because it worked so well for the Birding Washington book that Natalie and I completed in 2004.

Most of the writing for the first draft of the Washington Disasters book was done using Nisus Writer Express. Although this program is still not as complete as its more mature relative software, Nisus Writer, it runs reliably on Mac OS X and with each new beta version it seems to run a little better. Over the last three years of writing books it has gone from bogging down and not being able to keep up with my typing to keeping up quite nicely in the newest version. I use Express because it can read and write .doc files. But like most tools of this sort, the feature that separates the first draft writing tool from the editing and final draft tool is the ability to work with Word-compatible files that include the ability to track changes.

This is where OpenOffice.org comes in, and where NeoOffice has fit in on past projects. I am now using OpenOffice.org because I am testing the latest version, and because it is likely to be ported to the new Intel-based Macs well ahead of NeoOffice. But NeoOffice remains the most Mac-like of the open-source writing tools I have used. I may try the recently updated version of NeoOffice soon, although I have had problems in the past keeping working versions of both NeoOffice and OpenOffice.org working on my PowerBook at the same time. Since OOo is more cross platform, I have been opting to keep it around despite its less-than-pretty appearance.

The part of the writing process that Natalie and I are working on right now is the most painstaking and boring - re-reading the manuscript for the fifth or sixth time and trying to answer the sometimes annoying inquiries from the freelance editor who is trying to whip our book into its final shape before the galleys are produced and the whole mess goes to the printers.

Hopefully this post is helpful for those interested in how one writer with a Mac writes a book, including what tools I use and why. Feel free to ask questions.

BootCamp problems?
Monday, April 10, 2006, 10:11 PM

Boot Camp Users Reporting Serious Crashes - The common crisis is that after partitioning their hard drives and installing Windows XP -- which seems to work fine -- people find they can no longer boot back into OS X. By Daniel Terdiman, CNET News.com [myapplemenu]

Easy steps to recycle your old computer
Sunday, April 9, 2006, 5:56 PM

How to recycle your computer - A guide to how and where to dispose of your computer so it doesn't end up in a toxic dump. [Salon]

Robert Cringely on Microsoft's Mac attack
Saturday, April 8, 2006, 11:24 AM

Writing in the New York Times, Robert X. Cringely argues that Microsoft stands to be the big winner thanks to Apple's release of BootCamp. And, like me, he doesn't view BootCamp as being all that interesting.

Meanwhile, an MNJ reader pointed me to the beta version of Parallels, a real virtualization solution for Intel-based Macs that lets you run Windows inside a window under Mac OS X. This is a whole lot more interesting! Macintouch has a reader report underway about Parallels...

BootCamp - Much ado about not much
Friday, April 7, 2006, 2:42 PM

I remain highly skeptical of the hype around the BootCamp beta program, and from the sounds of things, the effort could well backfire on Apple unless it plans to come up with its own way to run Windows in a virtual window on the Mac OS X desktop, since Microsoft is questioning whether it will continue developing Virtual PC in light of BootCamp.

Yes, I can see the utility in being able to run Windows on a Mac, but it sounds like a huge step backward to get that ability only by rebooting into Windows, then rebooting again if I want to use Mac OS X. Meanwhile, Mac computers will continue to cost more than their Windows-only counterparts, and no one in their right mind would pay more for a Mac just to run Windows.

I will wait to get excited about running Windows on an Intel-based Mac when it can be run in a virtual window like any other application. I don't need another complete OS - especially once that makes my Mac into a more expensive Windows PC clone.

Windows: The New Classic
Friday, April 7, 2006, 1:36 PM

Windows: The New Classic - Everything about Boot Camp is calibrated to position Windows-on-Mac as the next Classic-style ghetto - a compatibility layer that you might need but that you wish you didn't. [Daring Fireball]

Apple's new BootCamp for running Windows on Intel-Macs
Wednesday, April 5, 2006, 12:56 PM

It's interesting to see the news today that Apple has unveiled a new program in public beta today called BootCamp that lets users of the new Intel-based Macs run Windows XP alongside Mac OS X. My question will be how longtime Mac users will deal with loading a virus and malware system to their otherwise secure Macs? Depending on the details, you could double or triple the amount of time required to keep your machine in working order by adding Windows to an otherwise functional Mac.

Time will tell...

DPReview posts review of Canon EOS 30D
Tuesday, April 4, 2006, 10:23 AM

Digital Photography Review has posted a review of the new Canon EOS 30D. I will definitely be reading this review later, when I have some time away from work...

Light at end of tunnel for MacBook Pro users with problems
Monday, April 3, 2006, 10:00 PM

Apple Addresses MacBook Pro Issues - Those who are having issues with their MacBook pros should first check for the identifying serial number, and then coontact Apple to address the issue. By Tuan Nguyen, DailyTech [myapplemenu]

Apple releases Mac OS X 10.4.6
Monday, April 3, 2006, 3:54 PM

Apple has released an update for Mac OS X today - weighing in at 45.3 MB for the PowerPC version that shows up in the Software Update panel on my aging 12-inch PowerBook G4. Here are the release notes from Apple:

The 10.4.6 Update is recommended for all users and includes general operating system fixes, as well as specific fixes for the following applications and technologies:

login and authentication in a variety of network environments

file access and byte range locking with AFP file sharing

network access when using proxy server automatic configuration files

connecting to Cisco VPN servers using IP/Sec

using Bluetooth wireless devices

searching iWork '06 and Microsoft Office documents with Spotlight

saving Word documents automatically when using a network home directory

creating Automator workflows for iPhoto 6

synchronizing contacts and calendars to .Mac and mobile phones

mounting and unmounting iDisk volumes

compatibility with third party applications and devices

previous standalone security updates

For detailed information on this Update, please visit this website: http://www.info.apple.com/kbnum/n303411.

For detailed information on Security Updates, please visit this website: http://www.info.apple.com/kbnum/n61798.

Tinderbox updated to version 3.0.6
Monday, April 3, 2006, 3:30 PM

Tinderbox 3.0.6 - Now available: a fresh update to Tinderbox! This release fixes a few glitches in Tinderbox 3.0.5 -- and adds a handy Bring All to Front command to the Windows menu. [Tinderbox Syndicate]