Bye PC, Mac Got Me

When I purhcased my Mac, I didn’t really even consider what it’d take to get my iTunes library setup on both the PC and the Mac. I currently have a shared drive on my network where all of my music files reside. When I setup iPhoto, I noticed that it copied all of my pictures to my MacBook, but I already have all my pictures on my network drive as well as an external backup disk, so I definitely didn’t want to have copies of all my music files created on my Mac. My solution to this was to navigate to my network server:

Once connected to my home network server, I navigated to the directory that contained all of my music files. Rather than clicking into the directory, I just selected the directory and pressed Cmd + L. Cmd + L is the keyboard shortcut for “Make Alias”. To the best of my knowledge, an “Alias” folder on the Mac, works similarly to how a “Shortcut” works on a PC.

Once you’ve created an Alias for the Music directory on your network drive, you’ll want to open Finder and navigate to your Home directory. From your Home directory, select Music, then select iTunes. Within the iTunes folder, there will be a folder called iTunes Music. We are going to be replacing this iTunes Music folder with our alias folder, so make sure that there is nothing in it. In my case, the folder was empty because I keep all of my music on a networked server, so I just deleted the iTunes Music folder. With the iTunes Music folder deleted, find your Alias folder on your network drive and drag it to your iTunes folder. Select the Alias folder, then click it again to rename it. Rename it to iTunes Music to replace the folder that we deleted earlier.

Now your networked drive is referenced for iTunes to use. Next time you open iTunes, all of your music will be available. I don’t know if there is a better, or more efficient way to share music from a networked PC to a Mac, but I’m very open to suggestions being that I’m still very new to OSX.

So far, this solution seems to have worked for me, if anybody has a different option that might work better, I’d love to hear it – please post it below in the comments.

written by Brady \\ tags: alias, iTunes, MP3, music library, network, share

If you read my previous post Switch to Mac: What will I use this computer for? that outlined the deciding factors in determining the uses and options for my new computer, you’ll understand why I’m only considering MacBooks and not desktop Macs.

In short, I’m only considering MacBooks because I’m trying to replace my old PC laptop that blew up. I’m not considering another PC laptop because I like the features and functionality that the Mac OSX operating system offers, plus, with the addition of the Intel-based Mac, and BootCamp, I’ll be running a dual-boot Mac laptop that will allow me to not only have OSX, but also Windows Vista Ultimate.

Though I really like the MacBook Air, that computer just didn’t make sense for me because it didn’t offer the processing power that I’d like to have. The MacBook Air is the computer that actually got me interested in Macs in the first place, but even as much as I trust Apple and their products, I could not justify purchasing a first generation MacBook Air. I feel that the MacBook Air may have some problems that need to be worked out, and I’m really curious as to its durability.

With the MacBook Air out of the question, I next started to consider the standard MacBook. I liked the size and weight of the standard MacBook, but after talking to a few “Apple Genius” geeks, as well as some friends who use Macs, I decided that a MacBook wouldn’t be optimal for handling and running some of the graphics and video editing programs that I will probably be using.

With all of the above out of the way, that left my only option as the MacBook Pro. 15 inch or 17 inch. Stupid question. 17 inch all the way. I’ve heard a lot of people say that the 17 inch defeats the purpose of having a laptop because its so big, but keep in mind that this is replacing my 17 inch HP PC, which was about the same height and width, but the 1 inch depth of the MacBook was more than doubled on HP, and the weight difference was remarkable. My MacBook Pro weighs about half of what my old HP laptop wieghed.

If you’re worried about size, MacBook Pros are probably not the best option for you, however if it is performance that you are after, MacBook Pros are your only option. If you’re in the market for ultimate portability, I’d have to recommend the MacBook Air, even though I haven’t had the chance to fully test one yet.

written by Brady \\ tags: BootCamp, dual boot, MacBook, MacBook Air, MacBook Pro

As a recent convert from a PC, I’ve slowly been realizing not only that is the Mac OSX operating system great, but I’ve also realized that there are many programs that need to be installed in order to be able to complete all of the tasks that I normally do from day to day on my PC.

Adium

First and foremost comes unproductivity. That’s why Adium is on this list. Adium is a full featured chat program/instant messaging client that can be used to connect to all of the most popular platforms: AIM, MSN Messenger, Jabber, GTalk, Yahoo!, Facebook, MySpace IM, ICQ, Mobile Me, and more. Adium is easy to configure, has more options than you can dream of, and just works great.

NeoOffice

Now if you’re looking for an office suite and don’t want to fork out the $349 to pickup a copy of Microsoft Office for Mac, you’re in luck because NeoOffice allows you to open/edit/save all of the popular Microsoft Office file formats. Not only that, but it is based off of the OpenOffice suite, but extended with OSX features and functionality. A must have!

FireFox

One program/application that will be a familiar item for many PC users will be FireFox. Still known as one of the best web browsers, FireFox is hard to beat with its speed and ease of use. The ability to install add-ons has made FireFox the leader of the browser war, and it functions just as good as any other browser on the Mac.

VLC Media Player

QuickTime is great for MOV files, but when you need a media player that will play other video formats, VLC Media Player is a great place to start. VLC Media Player is a simple, no frills player. It has a clean interface and is simple and easy to use.

If you have any comments, suggestions or recommendations, please leave a comment as I’m still new to the Mac and would love to hear what any of you seasoned veterans prefer to use.

written by Brady \\ tags: best applications, best programs, instant messaging, media player, must haves, office suite

If you’re converting from PC to Mac like I have, you may be beginning to look for a new office suite to install. If you’re looking for something familiar, Microsoft Office for Mac is always available, but if you don’t mind spending a little extra time to learn a new interface, there are some very viable alternatives to Microsoft Office 2008 for the Mac. Especially when you consider the $349 price tag on Office for Mac, it makes these others look more enticing.

Microsoft Office 2008
Your most familiar option when selecting a new office suite for your new Mac will probably be Microsoft Office 2008. When it comes down to it, Microsoft Office is still the most popular office productivity suite and its document formats are widely used and accepted among almost all companies, organizations and universities.

iWork
If you switched to a Mac for all things Apple, then iWork will probably be the platform for you. It comes with 3 applications Pages (word processor), Keynote (presentations) and Numbers (spreadsheets).

OpenOffice
OpenOffice is a free open source application that is available for all operating system platforms. It offers compatibility for opening and saving all popular Microsoft formats. OpenOffice has a handy autocomplete feature that recognize commonly used words and completes the word for you. With a look and feel very similar to that of Microsoft Office, OpenOffice will be a quick transition for any current Microsoft Office users looking for a quick switch, and best of, OpenOffice is entirely FREE!

NeoOffice
NeoOffice is a port of OpenOffice made specifically for the Mac OSX platform. NeoOffice has integrated dozens of native OSX features, which makes it a great choice for Mac users (new and old). Some of the native OSX features found in NeoOffice are:

1. Media Browser
2. Native Floating Tool Window
3. Magnify and Swipe Trackpad Gestures
4. Menus available when no documents are open
5. Import images from scanners and cameras
6. Cmd + Clicking on the window titlebar
7. OSX Leopard grammar checking support

In terms of functionality, you’re not going to find much in Microsoft Office that isn’t offered in NeoOffice.

Summary
If you’re looking for familiarity and don’t mind forking out $349, Microsoft Office 2008 for Mac is probably going to be the best choice for you. Or if you love everything about Apple, and the simplicity of all things Mac, iWork is probably the platform you’d like to consider – with a price tag of only $79, it is very fairly priced and will get the job done for you. If you’re looking for a fully functioning office suite on a budget (or on no budget), your choices are simple – OpenOffice or NewOffice. I’ve chosen to go with NeoOffice due to the fact that it was ported from OpenOffice, and it builds upon native functions of Mac OSX.

My choice – NeoOffice.

Download Links:

NeoOffice
OpenOffice
iWork
Microsoft Office

written by Brady \\ tags: iWork, Microsoft, Microsoft Office, NeoOffice, office applications, office suite, OpenOffice, productivity software

	Command/Apple key (like Control on a PC)
	Control Key (Control + Click = Right Click)
	Option Key (alt / option)

Most Used Keyboard Shortcuts:

• Cut: Cmd + X (Same as Ctrl + X on the PC)
• Copy: Cmd + C (Same as Ctrl + C on the PC)
• Paste: Cmd + V (Same as Ctrl + V on the PC)
• Window Switching: Cmd + Tab (Cmd + Shift + Tab to scroll the opposite direction)
• Force Quit: Cmd + Option + Esc (Similar to Ctrl + Alt + Del on the PC)
• Right Mouse Click: Ctrl + Click (Unless you have a 2 button mouse plugged in)

written by Brady \\ tags: keyboard, shortcuts

Since switchin to Mac, I’ve been looking for a good FTP program that will get the job done with features similar to that of FTP programs that I used on my PC – Ipswitch’s WS_FTP Pro, CuteFTP, etc. After searching for quite awhile, it was obvious that there were 3 leaders.

1. Fetch – Shareware: $25.00
2. Transmit – Shareware: $29.95
3. Cyberduck – Free

Seeing that I just spent over $2G’s on my new MacBook Pro, I decided to go with the freeware version of Cyberduck to start, and I must admit that thus far, I’m very happy with it. It really is plain and simple, and took no time to learn or get used to. I installed it and immediately was able to FTP to my site and transfer files. Some of the best features of the Cyberduck FTP Client for Mac are:

• Browser – Simply open and FTP site and browse the documents just as you would on your Mac. You also have the option to use QuickLook, the handy new feature that is built into OSX Leopard.
• WebURL – If you specify the corresponding website when setting up your FTP connection, you’ll be able to open up the corresponding web URL without having to open your browser and type in the address. Handy, especially when editing and working with non-dynamic HTML based sites.
• Integration – Cyberduck allows integration into the OSX platform, allowing Cyberduck to become the default handler for all FTP/SFTP connections.
• Activity Window – Gives a current status of all open transfers.
• Keychain – Stores all passwords in the System Keychain.
• Amazon S3 – Allows easy connection and access to Amazon’s S3 file storage service. Great for backing up files.
• Synchronization – One of the best features, this allows you to directly synchronize local and remote directories, and prior to synchronizing, Cyberduck will display a listing of affected files and directories so that you can see what will be changed/updated prior to starting the sync.

written by Brady \\ tags: FTP

As Microsoft has been releasing newer server operating systems, many of the machines in my company have been updated from Windows Server 2003. I am now finding myself running into the problem of not being able to connect to Windows Server 2008 machines using CoRD (Cocoa Remote Desktop) – which worked perfectly for connectiong to Windows Server 2003 machines.

Has anyone found a solution for connecting to Windows Server 2008 machines via remote desktop from a Mac?

written by Brady \\ tags: CoRD, Microsoft, remote desktop, Windows Server

As I’ve stated before, I am a web developer and I’ve always got the need to connect to a Windows Server somewhere via Remote Desktop. CoRD (Cocoa Remote Desktop) has given me the perfect solution for connecting to Windows Servers and Windows based PC’s, just as easy as using the Remote Desktop Client that is built into Windows itself. CoRD has given me the perfect option for connecting to my office Terminal Server, as well as managing and maintaining my other servers.

CoRD Remote Desktop for Mac OSX is a great option if you need to connect and manager any of the following:

• Windows Server 2000
• Windows Server 2003
• Windows Server 2008 (hopefully coming soon)
• Windows XP (Home, Professional or Media Center Edition)
• Windows Vista (Home Premium, Business, Ultimate)

written by Brady \\ tags: CoRD, Microsoft, remote desktop, Windows Server

For a majority of us, purchasing a new laptop isn’t an everyday thing, and it’s also not typically a small purchase that we just run out and rush into. That’s why it’s important to ask yourself a number of questions prior to purchasing a new computer. In this post, I’ll be helping you answer the question, What will I use this computer for?

I’m a web developer, and I do about 95% of all of my programming and development using Microsoft technologies, on a desktop PC, at my office. The use of my laptop has, and probably will always be more for personal use – pictures, music, videos, responding to emergency situations while out of the office, for checking email while on vacation. Over the years, I never really used my PC laptop to do any real development work. Most often, the only “real work” that I’d do on it was write quotes and proposals for clients. And Mac OSX offers the Microsoft Office Suite which would allow me to create quotes and proposals just as I did with my PC.

Prior to deciding the type of computer that I was going to buy, I put together a list of things that I’d like to use my new laptop for. Your list will probably look different, but this will give you an idea and a starting point of things to consider prior to making your next computer purchase.

• Image editing
• Video editing
• Music management
• Writing quotes and proposals
• Browsing the web
• Email – Personal, work, and other (I’ve got like 500 email addresses)
• Watching movies
• Blogging
• Basic HTML editing
• FTP access
• Remote server access – for my work servers

The above list covers about 90% of my day to day activities that I’d be using my new laptop for. Next, I had to ask myself, what software/features do I need, and how much power do I need to accomplish all of these tasks. Mac OSX comes with iLife and iTunes which takes care of a large portion of the above list, but for advanced photo editing and video editing, I’ll be using Adobe products such as Photoshop, After Effects and Premier. These programs typically require strong processors, and a large amount of RAM. I was never really worried about storage space because I typically will store all of my music, pictures and videos on my home PC server and/or on an external hard drive. The only time videos, music and images will take up space on my laptop hard drive is when I am working on them directly.

My minimal storage space needs, made just about any laptop a perfect fit for me. However, due to the amount of work that I anticipate on doing with digital media (music, pictures and videos), my mind was pretty much set on going with Apple and the OSX operating system, due to all of the easy to use tools that it comes with. My need for a fast processor took the MacBook and MacBook Air out of the equation, thus leaving me with MacBook Pro as my final option. So, now there was only one question left – 15 inch or 17 inch. And I think we all know the answer to that one!

written by Brady \\ tags: email, FTP, image editing, Microsoft, Microsoft Office, video editing

A couple months ago, my laptop computer blew up… literally. I was working on something, when it started to sizzle, then POP. Everything immediately turned off, and smoke started spewing from the computer. It was an HP laptop PC, which I never really had a problem with, until of course it blew up. Until this “incident”, I had never really considered buying a Mac, but when the opportunity/necessity to get a new laptop computer presented itself, I started to consider going Apple, and buying a MacBook. Over the years, I’ve had friends and family who all raved about Mac computers, and this seemed like the perfect time for me to give it some serious thought.

The computer that really got my attention initially was the MacBook Air. There is nothing in the market like it, and that initially sparked my interest. I found myself in the Apple store occasionally playing around with the MacBook Air, then the MacBooks and the MacBook Pros.

My old HP laptop was 17″, I like having the extra screen real estate, so I decided to buy a MacBook Pro 17″. The computer was about the same size in terms of width and height, but the depth when closed was about half, and the weight of the computer was about half as well. The MacBook Pro is a very sleek and well designed laptop, plain and simple.

So when the time actually came to make the purchase, there were a few questions that I asked myself. These are probably some questions that you should ask yourself too when considering converting from a PC to a Mac.

• What will I use this computer for?
• Which Mac should I buy? In my case, it was: Which MacBook should I buy?
• Will I be able to navigate the Mac OSX operating system?
• Will all of my old PC files be compatible with my new Apple Mac?

I’ll explore the above questions further in future articles, and to conclude this article, I’ll touch on the single biggest selling point that truly sold me on Mac OSX. The Intel based Mac and BootCamp. First of all, the fact that Apple switched to using Intel processors rather than PowerPC processors was huge, and that made BootCamp an viable option for me. I’ll be installing a copy of Windows Vista on my MacBook Pro using BootCamp. Thus far, I haven’t had any need to boot up any PC based programs while using my MacBook Pro, but I’m sure that the day will come, and when it does, I’ll have a dual boot machine that’s ready to go.

written by Brady \\ tags: BootCamp, Intel, Mac, MacBook, MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, PC, PowerPC