rickshangle.com

I just bought an Apple Mighty Mouse. It works as advertised. I really like the scroll ball; it is incredibly smooth and responsive, with none of the sort of soft “clicks” present in the Microsoft BT mouse I once used.

The top-button action is a little tight for my taste, but I’m sure I’ll get used to it / burn 4 extra calories a day in the process.

Really, though: Why did I buy this?

For the simple reason that I’ve wanted Apple to come out with Bluetooth version of the MM for a while, and in buying one today, I’m assuring that Apple will announce said BT version on Tuesday.

“… you will find it is not the spoon that bends, but yourself.” -Boy

rds

Slashdot reports on ThinkSecret reporting on expected Intel-based replacements for the iBooks, next Tuesday.

I’ve enjoyed the power of a 17″ G4 PowerBook for the last few years. However, Kelley’s in need of a speedbump off her G3 iBook, and if Apple does come through with a) CoreDuo and b) widescreen 13″ for sub-$2000, I think I’ll lock in (despite the horrors associated with the Apple Gen 1 product curse) and pass Kelley the G4 PowerBook.

However, that’s wishful thinking - I can’t foresee a CoreDuo on the MacBook line. Hope I’m wrong.

rds

Note two small black dots dramatically differentiating the 17″ MacBook Pro rendering from prior models in the conceptual rendering.

Configured.

My current g1 PB 17″ appears to be going for about ~$1,800 on eBay.

Can’t do it… can’t do it. I should feel good about holding back, but also feel weak, like a kitten who is afraid to lock into the enormous power.

If I actually believed the 5x speed bump claims emanating from the ARDF (and that they applied to anything other than counting from 1 to 2^64), it’s quite possible I’d feel compelled. As-is… holding off.

rds

Update

I was full of crap - those eBay numbers I quoted were for like “buy me now” new G4 PowerBooks. The actual bidding range for used systems is mid/high sub-$1000.

r

One of the fun things about having time is the ability to optimize things that otherwise would never get optimized.

I think today’s mission will be figuring out why the hell iTunes always consumes 100% of one of my 2GHz G5 CPUs.

I’ll let you know how it goes.

rds

update @ 1:15PM

After a few Googles, the first stop on our journey is downloading and installing CHUD Tools from the Apple Developer site. As a fan of CHUDs, I’m excited already.

The reason for downloading CHUD Tools is to gain access to amber and acid, two tools that trace and analyze thread execution within processes… which is something I apparently can’t do in the core Mac OS X (ex. there doesn’t appear to be a native version of the Solaris pstack command).

update @ 1:21PM

CHUDs are installed. I’ve completely forgotten about Amber/Acid because I’ve discovered Thread Viewer[1], a GUI for… viewing threads… so I can analyze iTunes. Let’s see… I wonder which of these threads is consuming the CPU… perhaps the big green one:

Hmm… “DoAmazonLookup”. I’m betting dollars to donuts that has to do with the Now Playing iTunes module I’m running to update album art on this blog, especially since it’s been hanging a lot in the current version. Quit iTunes, reboot iTunes, we’re back to normal momentarily - iTunes consuming 4% of one CPU. We’ll keep an eye on it and I’ll notify the developer of Now Playing.

[1] Maybe a front-end for Amber/Acid? D/dc[2].
[2] Dunno, don’t care.

rds

Chainloading, speedloading, partitioning, and booting Linux, XP and OS X on an Intel Mac

Take it to the limit.

rds

So thousands (hic) of you have asked, and I’m using Joni Mueller’s Zen Minimalist wordpress theme here on rds.com. It’s pretty much unmodified except for the now playing stuff that I stuck in the sidebar (and, as a side-note, is not working very well in recent versions; for $10, I’m not exactly expecting rocket-speed updates, but that’s another topic).

I like it (zen minimalist wordpress theme) because it’s simple and I like to think I try to be a sort of zen guy, although thinking one is zen is probably the antithesis of zen-ness.

There are lots of other awesome themes out there, but none of them are compelling enough to make me switch.

Now, there is an idea for a theme that, massive Apple power user (or, as others have suggested, “lemming”; at least i never bought, nor do I plan on buying, this) that I am, would make me switch, but as far as I know it doesn’t exist. That would a theme more or less modeled on the Apple website.

More specifically, the style of one of the product pages, not necessarily the main page which is sort of sparse.

With the release of iWeb, which features a default web page theme that is kinda-sorta modeled on the Apple web aesthetic, it looks like I could actually create a blog in the Apple vein, and be an ever huger nerd in the process.

Looks like I’ll be learning how to create wordpress themes… or not. CROSS-CHECK!

rds

I’ve really enjoyed using Remote Desktop in the past. Apple released the first update in like a year this week.

ARD is systems management software for OS X. In a nutshell, it allows you to control a remote Mac over the network (think VNC for Mac, if you know what that is) as well do other admin tasks on groups of machines (system status reporting, push software updates, reboot, troubleshoot, etc etc etc etc.)

I do wish Apple had a ~5 managed systems edition for like $150, but I’ll probably wind up biting the bullet for the 10 user @ $300. This is so I can control my 17″ PowerBook, which is sitting right next to me on my desk, from my G5. Because I am a lazy, lazy man. I also realize that being able to remotely control my mom’s mac in Sterling from Arlington has a certain appeal during phone troubleshooting of her various issues, but since many of those issues deal with her cable modem network allegedly being “down”, maybe not. Hey, at least I got her to OS X and off XP… that was a big step.

But, funny (and true) story:

One time I went over to my friend Mike’s house around 11PM on a Friday night and banged on his basement door. I knew he was in the back “media” room of said basement, drinking and watching TV at 110 dB. Mike is a not a one to answer his phone, and I required access (and the whiskey he was hoarding), so extreme measures were required.

NOTE: This is a good example as to why it’s a bad idea to let your friends know your system / network passwords:

I just happened to have my PowerBook with me…

Step 1) Log onto Mike’s Airport network

Step 2) Install ARD agent on Mike’s PowerBook without his knowing

Step 3) Take control of Mike’s PowerBook

Step 4) Open TextEdit on Mikes’ PowerBook

Step 5) Type: “Mike, it’s Rick. Don’t freak out. Open your basement door.”

Since his house is made of brick, Airport reception is crap outside, and each of these steps, which should have taken about ten seconds apiece, took several tries.

The net effect was Mike first thinking he was experiencing an Amityville experience, followed by the relief of realizing that it’s only his as*hole friend. He appeared at the door sheepishly, relieved that it was just me and not Robert Johnson/the devil/some zombie from The Monkey’s Paw.

Then we drank the whiskey.

This is why ARD is essential software.

rds

Screen dump from Activity Monitor.app after upgrading an external disk to Firewire 800. Check out the peak throughput in the graph:

Ha ha. I’m just kidding. I’m sure it was a bug, or something. Yes, I am a huge nerd.

rds

I can’t say it’s the moment we’ve all been waiting for, but it’s certainly one a few of us have been expecting: Apple supports boot of Windows XP on Intel Macs via Apple - Boot Camp (public beta).

Adding Intel Mac mini to cart now.

I don’t think this means Dell is as in as much trouble as TUAW thinks, but we’ll see. You can only connect the dots backwards.

So, the prediction: Apple’s market share will move from 3-4% (whatever it is now) to 10% in 12 months.

Also, within six months, Apple will need to re-calibrate their stance on “we don’t support Windows no how no way no what”, somewhat. due to negative press.

Takers?

updates

Vista on Macbook Pro

rds

Video walkthrough of Boot Camp / loading XP on an Intel Mac over at Uneasy Silence.

For huge nerds.

rds