Ah, the red delicious

Radius TruTunes Earphones Review and Unboxing

2010-01-15T16:46:00.000-08:00

Do you want a stylish pair of earbuds that are affordable and have decent sound quality? Well have I got news for you!

Radius Earphones has gained recognition by audio-fans everywhere with their introduction of the Atomic Bass Earphones. I thought that since they provided a decent pair of earbuds once, then they could do it again and at the low price of $19.99, I cannot complain. The earbuds are stylish and provide decent sound quality. Although they don't stack up to an expensive pair of Bose earbuds, the Radius TruTunes provide a fair and stylish alternative to the budget conscious who want to enjoy their music.

Google Chrome Developer Update

2010-01-14T16:56:00.000-08:00

I know that using a developer version of a web browser sounds kind of questionable, especially when you're downloading it and you have to read all of the potential warnings. As with anything else however, big risk leads to a big reward.

How to Customize Keywords in Google Chrome

2010-01-11T17:11:00.000-08:00

So, in an attempt to keep the recent Chrome theme alive, I decided to give a quick tutorial on using keywords in Chrome.

For those who don't know, keywords are beautiful little gifts from above which make surfing the web much easier. For example, if you wish to browse Yahoo!, Best Buy, or even AltaVista (yeah, I know, Alta who?), you can do so directly from your Google Chrome "omnibar" with just a few keystrokes! As easy as it is to perform, the task is relatively difficult to explain, so sit back, relax, and enjoy the show.

How to Get Extensions in Google Chrome (Mac Version)

2010-01-08T15:37:00.000-08:00

Are you a Mac user who was recently let down by the lack of features in your new version of Google Chrome? Well there may be a solution for you!

For those unaware, Google Chrome is one of the newest browsers to enter the battle. Beta versions were recently released on the three main operating systems (Windows, Mac, Linux), along with the ability to use the newly added "Google Chrome Extensions." For those who are holding onto Firefox only because of its ability to be customized, extensions are a rather big deal because you'll be able to use a faster, lighter, browser without sacrificing function. That is unless you have a Mac.

If you're a Mac user, Google has made it clear that you are to wait for the next version of Chrome in order to participate in the customizing fun. Lucky for you, you have me to be nosy and mosey on through all of Google's information.

As an avid fan of the Google blogs, I recently stumbled upon some news in the Chromium blog (for those of you who don't know, Chromium is the open source version of Chrome). For those willing to experiment, you can download the most recent version of Google Chrome's developer version and enjoy all the extensions you want. If you're afraid of instability, I've been using the developer version of Chrome since this past summer and I've had little to no problems with it. There is one thing to keep in mind however. Google does not produce all of these extensions, therefore you do take on some risk by experimenting (same risks present in Firefox) and if you notice your browser is slightly slower, you may have to experiment by removing your extensions.

All in all, extensions aren't for everyone, but just having the ability to squeeze a little more life out of an already amazing browser makes Chrome even more enticing than it already was.

Christmas Wish List 2009

2009-12-17T23:14:00.000-08:00

Just a list of the goods I would receive for Christmas if I lived in a "perfect" world, aka one where Santa was in full swing. Hope everyone enjoys the video, and more importantly, I hope that everyone has a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. See you all in 2010!

The Rise and Fall of my Relationship with DockSpaces

2009-12-12T16:13:00.000-08:00

If you're like me, you like to have a fairly small dock, but it seems nearly impossible because you need so much stuff! I've known about the snazzy application DockSpaces, which in short allows you to have several custom docks. For example I have one dock that has applications generally for web surfing, another dock for editing videos, and another dock for live streams, meaning I have several small docks for specific tasks as opposed to having one large one. Since I need so many programs, this application was very appealing to me because it allowed me to have the functionality of having several applications within reach without needing a roadmap in my dock. Then disaster struck. Before I knew it, my dock preferences weren't saving correctly, and my docks became confused. After resetting my preferences and reinstalling this program multiple times, I acquiesced to defeat.

About a week ago, I felt the need to give DockSpaces another try, and I opened this baby again. Same problems occurred, but I chose to fight back with the power of Google (i.e., I chose to see if other users experienced similar problems). Although I did not find similar stories, i found something better. A new build! I updated the application, and voila! I haven't had a problem with this application since. I was so upset when things didn't work out for us the first time around, so when I saw that DockSpaces and I were finally living in harmony, I almost cried with joy. The application isn't perfect yet, the trash icon does get kind of confused with multiple docks, but the important thing is that my five docks aren't having identity crises. Everything works smoothly as it should and I've never been happier.

Other delightful features are that you can assign specific docks to certain spaces (a feature I don't use), and have instant shortcuts to specific docks. These snazzy little features make this application a must have to any Mac user with organization issues.

How to Remove the Google Search Bar from Safari

2009-12-08T15:44:00.000-08:00

So in my last tutorial I showed you how to use your address bar in Safari as a search bar, a rather snazzy feature in my opinion, and that capability begs the question, "Why do I need my search bar?" Well the truth is, once your address bar has that function, you don't need the search bar anymore. If you use Firefox, this is no problem, just drag the search bar out of the picture, if you use Safari however, you're in for an adventure. Well actually you're not, because I found the solution and already provided it for you. Think of it as me doing your math homework for you, and all you've got to do is sign your name and turn it in, yes, that's exactly what happened here. First you must download this, and then watch the video below. Note, this only works for Mac users, so if you're a Windows user, bask in the fact that you can manage your bookmarks in Google Chrome or something.

Google Chrome Beta

2009-12-08T10:33:00.000-08:00

Just watch the video, it speaks for itself.

If you're interested in downloading chrome, you may do so here: http://www.google.com/chrome

Using Keywords in Safari

2009-12-07T08:19:00.000-08:00

I don't know about you guys, but I love web browsers. I enjoy picking at their features and customizing a few things. Lately I've been teetering back and forth between Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, and of course, Apple's Safari Browser, and although Chrome has been number one for a while now, I'm going back to Safari slowly but surely. One feature I thoroughly enjoyed in both Chrome and Firefox was the ability to search directly from the address bar. This feature is built into Chrome, but Firefox allows you to implement "keywords" so you can make shortcuts for any search engine you wish to use. I cannot tell you how much faster browsing is when you have these shortcuts, the only way to describe the experience is "magical."

Once I started moving back to Safari, I began to miss the keyword function deeply. In my opinon, search bars are so yesterday, and so limited. It's annoying not having every single search you want available, and when it is available, you have to drag your hand to the mouse and use drop-down menus, the process is exhausting! OK, "exhausting" might be a tad overdramatic, but the point is, why work harder when you don't need to? Don't worry, there is a solution! I learned recently that there is a community dedicated to producing plugins for Safari, and one of those very useful plugins is Glims. Glims adds a lot of functionality, but my favorite feature is the ability to replicate keywords in Safari. This is where you watch the video...

Geektool for Dummies: Advanced Uses

2009-12-05T09:04:00.000-08:00

So my first two Geektool videos were geared more toward casual usage so people could get handle on using the program. These two videos are much more difficult, and require quite a bit of patience. The first video will show you how to get a weather image on your desktop, and as simple as it sounds, it has caused me quite a bit of trouble. The second part involves incorporating AppleScript to display the "iTunes Now Playing" bit on your desktop. I've uploaded script to MEGAUPLOAD to accompany both videos, and the AppleScript one has a bonus code so that you can get your new mail displaying on your desktop as well, assuming you use Apple's Mail client. Good luck!

Geektool for Dummies Part 3 and it's script: Part 3 Script

Geektool for Dummies Part 4 and it's script: Part 4 Script

Why a Mac?

2009-12-01T19:30:00.001-08:00

Well I finally did it, I made one of those "Why I made the switch" videos. It didn't start out that way, but that's how it turned out, so here it is guys, hopefully you'll enjoy it.

Geektool for Dummies Introduction and Basic Scripts

2009-11-27T23:43:00.000-08:00

Alright well to keep up with the customization theme, I figured I'd do a snazzy little tutorial (or 3) on how to customize your desktop using a snazzy application called "Geektool." Geektool is probably one of the coolest ways to to bring functionality and good looks to a boring desktop at the same time through the use of shell script. Now not everyone (myself included) knows how to deal with shell script, but luckily the Google gods have provided us with a multitude of sources to provide us with what we may need. A few links I've found helpful are:

Because of the fact that Geektool is extremely intimidating, I decided to do a series of videos on how to use it (yes, I said series) so for those of you interested in really customizing your Mac, go right ahead watch these babies, and enjoy.

Anyone out there reading this, if you are interested in any of my scripts shoot me an email at coolenufforamac@gmail.com.

Geektool for Dummies Part 1:

Geektool for Dummies Part 2:

Final Thoughts on iWork '09

2009-11-25T08:00:00.000-08:00

So for those of you who have been living under a rock, Apple in 2005 released a snazzy little office suite affectionately dubbed as iWork. iWork now consists of three applications designed to go head to head with Microsoft Word, Powerpoint, and Excel (Pages, Keynote, and Numbers respectively) and who better to criticize these bad boys than me? I'm pleased to say I love iWork, and although there is still some definite room for improvement, I can see this becoming a major competitor for Microsoft Office in the future. Want the nitty gritty details? Watch below!

If Operating Systems Ran the Airlines...

2009-11-22T11:35:00.000-08:00

Took this from UrbanDictionary. What's your airline?

UNIX Airways

Everyone brings one piece of the plane along when they come to the airport. They all go out on the runway and put the plane together piece by piece, arguing non-stop about what kind of plane they are supposed to be building.

Air DOS

Everybody pushes the airplane until it glides, then they jump on and let the plane coast until it hits the ground again. Then they push again, jump on again, and so on...

Mac Airlines

All the stewards, captains, baggage handlers, and ticket agents look and act exactly the same. Every time you ask questions about details, you are gently but firmly told that you don't need to know, don't want to know, and everything will be done for you without your ever having to know, so just shut up.

Windows Air

The terminal is pretty and colourful, with friendly stewards, easy baggage check and boarding, and a smooth take-off. After about 10 minutes in the air, the plane explodes with no warning whatsoever.

Windows NT Air

Just like Windows Air, but costs more, uses much bigger planes, and takes out all the other aircraft within a 40-mile radius when it explodes.

Windows XP Air

You turn up at the airport,which is under contract to only allow XP Air planes. All the aircraft are identical, brightly coloured and three times as big as they need to be. The signs are huge and all point the same way. Whichever way you go, someone pops up dressed in a cloak and pointed hat insisting you follow him. Your luggage and clothes are taken off you and replaced with an XP Air suit and suitcase identical to everyone around you as this is included in the exorbitant ticket cost. The aircraft will not take off until you have signed a contract. The inflight entertainment promised turns out to be the same Mickey Mouse cartoon repeated over and over again. You have to phone your travel agent before you can have a meal or drink. You are searched regularly throughout the flight. If you go to the toilet twice or more you get charged for a new ticket. No matter what destination you booked you will always end up crash landing at Whistler in Canada.

Linux Air

Disgruntled employees of all the other OS airlines decide to start their own airline. They build the planes, ticket counters, and pave the runways themselves. They charge a small fee to cover the cost of printing the ticket, but you can also download and print the ticket yourself.

When you board the plane, you are given a seat, four bolts, a wrench and a copy of the seat-HOWTO.html. Once settled, the fully adjustable seat is very comfortable, the plane leaves and arrives on time without a single problem, the in-flight meal is wonderful. You try to tell customers of the other airlines about the great trip, but all they can say is, "You had to do what with the seat?"

Changing Dock Icons

2009-11-16T01:06:00.000-08:00

So I just recently felt inspired, and decided to get into the whole Mac customization thing (something I never saw myself becoming a part of). Although there are tons of ways to be part of this whole shebang, I found a pretty nice way to customize your dock icons for free and I decided to share. First and foremost, things you will need to download:

Pic2Icon - It will change your pic to an icon, who knew?! Just kidding, but it does get rid of the white background on certain images, you'll see what I mean.
LiteIcon (Free) or CandyBar ($30 USD) - This particular tutorial involves LiteIcon, I just posted CandyBar for those of you interested. CandyBar is easier, and will not require Pic2Icon, but LiteIcon is free.
StuffIt Expander - This is a free application, and the only reason you need it is to open and install Pic2Icon.

Once you have the necessary applications, it's time to get started! Well first and foremost, you're going to want to find an image for your icon. You can find these anywhere, but my number one source is deviantART followed in close second by a Google Image search. So if I was to go to either site looking for a replacement for my trash icon for example, I would search "trash icon." Easy! Once you do that find the icon you want, and download. Now that we're in the downloading phase, it's important to mention another reason why I like deviantART, it has icons. What does that mean? Well, icons have very specific file extension (.png, .icns, .ico (Windows)) and when you do a Google Image search, you get images in there too (.jpeg). What's the big deal? A picture is worth a thousand words, so I'll show you.

As you can see, the top image has a white background, whereas the bottom image has no background. Any file that is .png, .icns, or .ico will preserve that transparent background, whereas a .jpeg will have the white background. If you choose to use a .jpeg, it may involve some editing on your behalf, just FYI.

To continue with the tutorial just watch the posted video. This will get way too wordy for the average reader, so sit back, relax, and press play.

Surprise Unboxing!

2009-11-13T09:20:00.000-08:00

So in my attemt to be more active on this blog, there is going to be more integration with my YouTube channel. I've noticed that several bloggers out there do this, so I think I'll follow suit and try it out for a while.

Recently I received a gift from my parents (sort of) and I thought it would be fun to document the unboxing on YouTube, so here it is. I hope you enjoy!

So sorry!

2009-11-10T00:27:00.000-08:00

I'm not sure if anyone reads this, but if you do I'd like to apologize for my absence. I've been extremely busy with my graduate school and fellowship applications, but within the next few weeks, there will be some new content!

It's Official

2009-08-25T10:04:00.000-07:00

Finally, after what seems like months of waiting, it's been announced! Snow Leopard is gong to be released this Friday, August 28.

I actually thought about postponing my purchase and buying it at my local Mac retailer, but after I noticed that Apple was allowing pre-orders with free shipping. An amazing operating system for $29 and free shipping! I just couldn't turn down the offer. My copy will arrive on Friday, and hopefully I'll be able to film an unboxing and installation for YouTube and I'll post it on here for the slight chance that someone will watch it.

Thanks!

Snow Leopard's Early Release?

2009-08-19T16:55:00.000-07:00

Apple's website had a little mishap this morning and advertised software bundles which included Snow Leopard. Why is this a problem? They were set to start shipping tomorrow (August 20). All of these confusion grew when a [soon to be former] Apple saleswoman confirmed the bundle! Needless to say, Apple has fixed the website but no one in Cupertino is willing to talk about the incident and the saleswoman is keeping mute as well. We'll just have to wait and see if rumors of August 28 launch date are true or not...

Update

2009-08-15T22:05:00.000-07:00

So basically, I decided that as much fun as it is having a YouTube channel that revolves around tech, I want to incorporate personal videos as well. What does this mean? Only that I will be incorporating "normal" vlogs on my channel as well as the tech stuff.

Yes, that's all, haha.

Google Voice

2009-08-15T20:38:00.000-07:00

I know I'm a few weeks late, but the other day I decided to start researching the much talked about "Google Voice" service. After reading up on it, all I can say is "wow."

I guess you could go here but a quick summary is that Google has found a way to provide a free (yes, free) phone service based off the internet. The basic premise of this whole operation is that Google is going to provide you a phone number that you can access from your Google account, and calls made to that number can be rerouted to a landline, cell phone, whatever. As though that wasn't cool enough, you can actually program your Google number to react certain ways depending on who calls you. For example, if my mom calls, I can tell it to send the call to my house phone, and my cell phone, but if my boss calls, I can opt to send the call to only my cell phone. Yeah, it's pretty amazing.

There's so much more to this service, and if you want the specific details, I suggest looking going to the link I posted, but I became really interested in this because Apple/AT&T recently rejected the Google Voice application. Why did the reject it you ask? Well think about how I described the application. Someone calls your virtual number, the virtual number calls your cell phone, and then you've received a call. Now imagine that you have an application that cuts out the middle man. Instead of the first scenario, someone is going to call your virtual number, and then you will answer the call through the Google Voice app. What's the difference? You don't need a cell phone number! Google just became your service provider, and you didn't pay anything for it! So this means if you have an iPod Touch, it just became an iPhone compliments of the lovely people at Google. All that being said, I'm not heartless, I understand why the app was dismissed, but that doesn't mean I have to like it.

Apple and AT&T are currently being investigated being investigated by the FCC because of this app )I think) and I'm hoping that this whole ordeal ends in Google's favor. Since there are rumors saying that the new iPod Touch models are going to go up to 64GB, if the Google Voice app comes back, I'm going to invest in the new Touch, and the application.

Here's to hoping!

Watch Out Apple...

2009-08-13T09:09:00.000-07:00

I really hope that Apple is keeping an eye on Microsoft because the Zune HD looks amazing. Initially I didn't think that this would be the iPod killer Microsoft has been hoping for, but now if Apple isn't careful with what they release at this year's iPod event, it might be.

First Impressions of Google Chrome (Developer Version)

2009-08-11T15:57:00.000-07:00

As a former Windows user, the first things I've been trained to do on a computer is look for browser alternatives (I was reminded of this little habit when I reformatted my old laptop two weeks ago). The popular browser alternative is Firefox, but I enjoy going against the grain so I use Safari in Leopard, and Google Chrome in Windows. I have grown quite fond of Safari, but to be honest, the only reason I started using it exclusively was because I hadn't found a working version of Google Chrome for Macs. I'm sure someone is willing to chastise me for neglecting Chromium, but I've tried it. It doesn't support Flash, it crashes, and in the end, it isn't "Chrome."

A few months ago someone tweeted that Google released a developer version of Google Chrome for Leopard and Ubuntu, so needless to say I jumped on it. I tried it, but to my horror it too lacked flash support. It was just too soon to devote myself exclusively to this product because it wasn't ready to be used as a full time browser yet. It wasn't even ready to be an "alpha" version yet. I finally deleted it from my computer and continued using Safari till today...

After using my old laptop, I became nostalgic for the wonders of Chrome and I started searching for it on the Internet. I found the same developer version that I shunned months ago, and I decided to give it a try. All I can say is wow. This is not the same Google Chrome I remember. It now comes to you integrated with Flash and supports websites that caused me problems when using Safari! It has the same interface as on Windows, and surprisingly allows you to download themes (see below). Chrome runs fast (as expected) and I haven't had any crashes yet, but it is early. This is the browser that I've been yearning for, and I'm excited to see that Google has been working on this product. I would like to point out that the problem is still in development, and although I'm very happy with it there is a problem I found right away that will bother me till it's fixed. Bookmarks! You cannot manage your bookmarks, so if you're like me and like to give your bookmarks custom names, or drag them to different folders, you'll have to wait. It's a minor bug that I've learned to work around, but I would like it fixed sooner rather than later.

Anyone who is looking for a speedy alternative for the browser I highly recommend Chrome, and although it might be a bit buggy, it's still in development, so any issues you might have with it are most likely going to be fixed in no time.

If you would like to download the Mac version of Google Chrome click here.

RIP iPod Classic?

2009-07-29T21:14:00.000-07:00

I will never forget the first time I saw an iPod commercial, and truly understood what it was about. I was 17 years old, and I thought that the commercial and the device were simply the coolest things on earth. Sadly, this was during the time period when iPods were still phasing from Mac to PC compatibility, and I wasn't able to let go of the money to purchase one, but it was the summer after I graduated high school when I received my first iPod. Funny enough, my dad found it when he was walking (yes that's right, he found my first iPod) and my life was never the same after that. I loved everything about that iPod, and when it died a year later, my life wasn't the same. Luckily it was replaced shortly after, and two years later, I received my third iPod, a black 120 GB iPod Classic.

I had the choice of either an iPod Classic or an iPod Touch but I opted for the Classic because of one reason, the capacity. I use my iPod for music, podcasts, videos, audiobooks, and as an external hard drive to my iMac, so I can very easily fill up the Touch. We've been together for 8 months, and I love my iPod. It suffices as the ultimate multimedia device for my calendars and such, and it's still easy to use. I love the form factor, and because of this, I don't believe I'll ever be able to use a device without buttons on it (e.g., iPod Touch). So as you could imagine, I was very upset when the Apple rumor mill started up saying that the HDD line might be discontinued this September. Am I upset? Um, yeah. Does it make sense for Apple? Yes and no. I understand that Apple is a very cutting edge company, and in a world where SSD and flash drives are gaining popularity, it doesn't make sense to hold onto an "outdated" product. At the same time however, how can you just get rid of the 120 GB storage without replacing it with anything comparable?! In my opinion, getting rid of this niche isn't exactly the smartest idea for Apple, especially when rivals (e.g., Microsoft) are still offering comparable products to fill that void. I don't know, I guess it's just my personal bias, but I really hope Apple postpones the death of the Classic line, but I guess we'll just have to wait and see what Apple has to say come September. Let's cross our fingers!

An iCon among iCons

2009-07-20T17:29:00.001-07:00

Alright so I love my computer, we get along very well together, but lately I've been missing having a laptop just because I don't always want to be sitting at my desk. This has basically led me to searching some older Apple notebooks (of course) and I came across the idea of purchasing an iBook G3 Clamshell.

I remember when these babies came out I wanted one badly. They were so cute, (and still are I might add)! I don't need a state of the art laptop, basically I just want one for some basic internet surfing when I'm on the couch or something. The only problem I find is that I cannot go on YouTube, but that's not a big issue. I'm currently looking for a refurbished one so that it comes with an airport card, and there are some sellers on eBay who sell then with Microsoft Office so I can do some work that way too. Well we'll see, how it pans out because they're still fairly expensive. Even though these things are fairly old, it's not uncommon to find them for several hundred dollars. Why? Well, apparently they're collector's items! The sleek design had never, and still hasn't been matched, so apparently several people are making some nice cash trying to pawn them off for more money. Hopefully I can get my hands on one of these babies soon!

Wow, I've been too lazy!

2009-07-05T15:52:00.001-07:00

So sorry for the lack of updates lately, but more will be coming soon. Expect a review of my LG Lotus, my new Twitter client NatsuLion, and some tutorials regarding my phone!

Thanks and sorry for the delays!

Completely unrelated but...

2009-06-25T15:43:00.001-07:00

RIP Farrah Fawcett and Michael Jackson. The two of you will be missed, and the entertainment industry changed for the better because of you both. There will never be another angel and king of pop who will come close to matching the legacy left behind.

Farrah Fawcett

February 2, 1947 – June 25, 2009

Michael Joseph Jackson

August 29, 1958 — June 25, 2009

MacHEADS Review

2009-06-23T22:50:00.000-07:00

I just recently acquired a copy of this film, and I thought that the subject matter of the film was worthy of a little review/reaction blog by me.

For those of you who don't know, a "Machead" is someone who is obsessed with Apple computers. Basically, this is the typical person you may think of when you hear someone uses a Mac. You know the people I mean. The Apple evangelicals. This movie is a documentary portraying those people who joined the Apple computer cult early (Apple I and Apple II era) and how they've taken their admiration a wee too far. There are people with tattoos of the Apple logo on their bodies, poor individuals who camp out days before Macworld, etc. It's scary to see how this admiration for a company has turned into an obsession for some. The movie then goes on to show how the "cult" changes throughout time (Jobs era to post-Jobs era to Jobs-again era) from computer fanatics, to people who just want an iPhone for it's status.

Going into this movie, I had no expectations. I had never heard of it before today, but I had some reservations after seeing the trailer (it's a nice summary of the individuals mentioned before). All I can say is that it was an accurate portrayal of the Mac fanatics everyone criticizes. The movie started by showing swarms of people camp in line for MacWorld, and then it shows personal interviews with the people who lived through the computer revolution. I really enjoyed this part because these people were able to witness history (reading iWoz made me realize how much I wanted to be a part of this time)! These people recounted on major events of Apple history such as the birth of Apple, the Apple II, the Macintosh, the fall of Apple, the birth of iPods.

Regardless of how "strange" these people may be perceived, I found it interesting to see how these people truly had a bond with one another because of Apple and how each event made them stronger as a group.

My favorite part of the movie had to be when the birth of the iPod and iPhone was addressed. Before this point, people who bought Apple products were true Mac enthusiasts because, well, they owned Macs. The iPod made Apple products affordable, and accessible to everyone, and they could own any computer they wanted. This entrance into the main stream market was depicted by interviewing people waiting in line for the first iPhone. Several of the people interviewed had never owned a Mac, but just wanted to have the top of the line phone. The defining moment (in my opinion of course) was when they showed the clip at MacWorld when Steve Jobs announced that Apple was changing it's name from Apple Computer, Inc. to Apple Inc. I don't think any other scene could have captured the change in a company's culture more than that moment.

Overall, I really enjoyed the movie. I highly recommend it to anyone who is curious about the Apple culture and wants to know what it means to be a "MacHEAD." Survey says, 4.5  out of 5 .

iPhone 3 GS Rant (Yes, that says "rant")

2009-06-20T23:58:00.000-07:00

OK, so if you've been on the techie side of YouTube lately, you'll know that everyone and their mom is v-logging about the iPhone 3 GS.

It's freaking killing me! I know, I know it's exciting! It's state of the art! It's a new Apple product! All this is true, but do I need to watch 800 videos on it?! I mean come on, it's not even exciting anymore! I hope that the software and hardware is performing even better than we could have hoped for, but please, can everyone stop making videos about the phone? Can't we just designate one person to do this? It would mean a lot to me, I just can't take the lack of interesting content anymore!

OK, I think I'm done. I hope everyone has a happy Father's Day tomorrow!

My Thoughts on the new MacBook and MacBook Pros

2009-06-11T14:56:00.000-07:00

For those of you who don't know, this past Monday, Apple hosted a little shindig known as WWDC (World Wide Developer's Conference) which is where they display there newest and sexiest projects they're working on before releasing them to the public. Now, the main focuses of the year were the iPhone 3GS, iPhone 3.0 OS, Snow Leopard, and of course the MacBooks. Regardless of all the fun upgrades soon coming (Snow Leopard is only $29!) I couldn't help but feel a little disappointed regarding what happened to Apple's notebooks. Any notebook that had a unibody aluminum casing is now considered a MacBook Pro and the MacBook brand is reserved for the plastic white MacBook.

Why don't I like this? Well, because it seems like the consumer model notebook was downgraded. If you bought a MacBook a week ago, it seemed as though you really got your bang for your buck. You got a beautiful machine that felt like it was manufactured with care. Now you get a plastic laptop, how is this different than what any other company offers? Granted the good thing that occured is that the base 13-inch MBP is $100 cheaper than it was a week ago, it just seems to me as though Apple shot themselves in the foot with this move.

Now I do recognize the fact that the formerly existing unibody MB's didn't look any different from the MBP's with the exception of size, I think that they could have differentiated the two models in another way. I'm sure that Apple has reasons for what they did, but until I know what they are, I'm just going to have to be patient and let the recent events grow on me.

Fix Yo' Face Fool!

2009-06-06T20:08:00.000-07:00

So this past April I attended Coachellafest and one of the performances I had the pleasure of witnessing was Travis Barker alongside DJ AM (TRV$DJ-AM). Their performance was amazing, the sound was unique, the crowd was excited, it was a great time to be part of an audience. If you ever get the opportunity to attend one of their shows, I highly suggest it. But anywho, after I left Coachellafest, I just forced myself to accept the fact that I would never hear any of that amazing music again. Well I was wrong (well partly anyway)! A little curiosity on the internet went a long way today, and I was able to find the entire Coachella set, and a set from a previous performance! By the way, both were for free! So if you're interested, click here and go to "Download". Yes, it's that simple. You will have the option of two albums (Fix Your Face Vol. 1 and Vol. 2) and I highly recommend both, but the Coachella set is Vol. 2. Alright well happy hunting, and hope you enjoy these mixes as much as I did!

Opinion: Aluminum Unibody MacBook < White MacBook?

2009-05-29T09:34:00.000-07:00

If you're reading this blog, chances are you're familiar with Apple and their computer line. Last year Apple introduced the aluminum MacBooks in order to follow through with the sleek metallic theme present throughout the company, and they look beautiful. Although they introduced the new models, Apple still chose to sell the older plastic white MacBooks for $999. This seemed like nothing more than a slow transition away from the older models, since they are quietly sold, and never advertised. That was until recently.

This week, Apple decided to "quietly" upgrade the old plastic MacBook by raising the processor speed from 2 GHz to 2.13 Ghz. Now normally I would applaud this gesture, except for one tiny thing. This computer now has the same hard drive size and faster processor for $300 less than the entry level aluminum MacBook! Honestly Apple, what were you thinking? To make your older stuff more cutting edge (and cheaper) than the new equipment is a stupid move and it will only hurt you in the end. OK, that is all I have for now, I need to take a breather before I rupture a vain.

Hulu on my Desk!

2009-05-28T20:32:00.000-07:00

As almost everyone knows, Hulu is this amazing website (in my opinion) which allows you to watch certain television networks on the internet for free with minimal commercial interruptions. I personally use Hulu to watch ABC and NBC and I'm waiting for a couple other channels to hop onto the bandwagon, but overall I'm very happy with the service. In my experience, shows have loaded relatively quickly and the picture is crisp and clear. My only gripe with this service (I use "gripe" loosely, this is mainly my being picky) I don't like having to search for my subscriptions on the internet, I get lazy. Hulu has found a way to fight lazy people like me, Hulu Desktop!

Hulu Desktop is basically a video player which conveniently holds all of the same services as the website, on your desktop. You still have the power to watch your existing subscriptions, while searching the website for new videos.

I've only been playing with this website for a couple hours, but it's free, and easy to use. It's still in beta testing, but I highly recommend this to both Mac and Windows users. Let me know what you think!

New Earbuds and MP3 Player

2009-05-26T18:19:00.000-07:00

Well I finally got my new set of Radius Atomic Bass earbuds. I've heard a lot about this particular brand of earbuds due to their price range and sound quality, and curiosity finally got the best of me. I'll give a review later, but some first impressions, listening to No Doubt on these sounded exactly like seeing them in concert. So far so good.

The title is slightly ambiguous regarding the next headline but the new MP3 player isn't for me, it's for Microsoft. They've finally confirmed the new Zune HD and I must say, it does look nice. What does this mean for Apple, I have no idea. Competition is definitely healthy, and hopefully this will only push Apple to give us even better products seeing as how Microsoft isn't willing to throw in the towel just yet. Here's to seeing an interesting battle from here on out!

A Few Fun Apps for New Mac Users

2009-05-21T08:53:00.000-07:00

So I deeply enjoy reading tech related news, and in my daily reads and my subscriptions on YouTube, I've found a couple good apps that I would like to pass on.

Alarm Clock

Probably the most useful application I have is Alarm Clock, for obvious reason. I need an alarm, and this app allows me to have program several different alarms for specified weekdays and times. If you're like me, and let your Mac sleep at night, this alarm will wake your computer up from sleep mode and then let the not so beautiful alarm go off. The sound is annoying, and will wake you up, I promise. If you don't like the nasty beep sound, you can also select music from your iTunes library.

Perian

So if you're a new Mac user, you've probably already noticed that your beloved Quicktime player does not play every single video file. This sucks to say the least for those of us who really want to make use of Front Row but only have .AVI files. Well there is a way to beat the system! There is a nice little application called Perian and it's a free plugin for Quicktime that allows you to play several different formats you wouldn't have been

able to enjoy otherwise. Just install it once, and you're good to go.

VLC Player

Going on that same tangent, in case you don't feel like getting an add-on for Quicktime, you can download VLC Player which is a nice video player that doesn't discriminate against the popular video formats we know and love. Note, I found VLC Player before I found Perian, and now that I have Perian, I don't find VLC Player necessary. They're both free and work great so the choice is up to you.

BravoTunes

For those of us who use iTunes on the Mac (almost everyone) there is a nice little application called BravoTunes. What this does is installs controllers in the file menu so you can iTunes even when the window is closed or on another desktop.

TuneLyrics

TuneLyrics also works with iTunes and it finds lyrics for your music as you listen to each song. I have no complaints as of yet, but if anyone else has something better, let me know!

Tweetie/Twhirl

Well since everyone and their mom is on Twitter these days I figured I might as well throw these puppies in here too. Twh irl and Tweetie are both Twitter clients for Macs (Twhirl works on Windows as well) so you can post your mini-blogs without having to go to Twitter's website. Twhirl is free, and Tweetie has a paid and free version for you to use. I think Tweetie looks nicer (right), but Twhirl (left) makes a sound and and gives you an update every time someone tweets.

Jing

So if you like to share things with your comrades via the internet, Jing allows you to take several screen shots and videos of your desktop with your own narration. You just select the area that you want on your desktop, and you're good to go. For videos, Jing even uploads your video to ScreenCast.com so your buddies can see right away. The free version only allows you to make recordings of up to 5 minutes, and the paid version allots more time and you can edit your video using iMovie allowing for YouTube uploads.

Well that's all I have for now. If anyone out there has any suggestions, please let me know, and if I find more, I'll do the same.

Dual Booting Windows Via Boot Camp

2009-05-16T08:09:00.000-07:00

As you may or may not know, I recently took the liberty of installing Windows 7 on my Mac via Boot Camp. My main reasons for this were I need Windows XP (yes that's right, I need XP, the life of an engineer is not an easy one) and I heard that Windows 7 had a virtualization option to run XP. Since Windows 7 is free, and I like free (hey who doesn't?!) I decided to go for it, and since I need large (very large) programs, I decided to initially install it on Boot Camp (for a review of my experience with VirtualBox, stay tuned). Update: I ended up uninstalling Windows 7 from Boot Camp and installing Windows XP instead. I found that the XP VM ran kind of slow for the software I need, so I figured to just bite the bullet and buy XP. You can only install one operating system at a time when using Boot Camp, so changing your mind means wiping out the partition, and starting over.

If/when you make the decision to use Boot Camp, you are basically sacrificing a portion of your hard drive to only run Windows. Yes that's right, you're giving up part of your Mac. My hard drive is 640 gb, so I figured I should be OK with allocating 50 gb to Windows, but it still hurt. Installation is painless depending on the OS. Windows 7 was a fast installation (30 minutes or less) and it has a nice visual appeal. Windows XP on the other hand seemed to take forever and there wasn't anything pretty to keep my attention, so it felt longer (I believe total setup was about 45 minutes).

After waiting what seemed like hours, I finally got to run Windows (Note: After you run Windows, insert your Mac OS X install dvd in order to properly install your drivers and get semi-full access out of your keyboard, graphics card, etc). Both Windows XP and 7 flew on my Mac, but not before I installed AVG free antivirus, Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool, Windows Defender, and all of my Windows updates. The last thing I wanted was to end up with Conficker on my beloved iMac. Since I don't plan on downloading anything from the internet, I think this is more than enough protection for my computer. Once I had all of the necessary protection, I began installing the software that forced me back onto this OS platform (AutoCAD, SAP2000, to name a few). The programs which were normally very laggy on my old laptop and the machines at my alma mater, ran faster and smoother than I could have wished for. I have heard several times that Macs run Windows better than PCs, but experiencing it is a whole different thing. I'm still in shock as to how well these applications perform on this amazing computer.

Since I'm still tinkering with Windows on my Mac, this is more of a first impressions type thing. To reiterate, so far I think that Windows runs great and I would urge anyone who thinks they may need it to go for it. Installation is harmless (long, but harmless) and the computer runs just as well as it would if it was a PC. My only complaint is that for those of us who have the full keyboard (with the numeric keypad) the numeric keypad doesn't work, nor do some of the buttons. Granted volume and eject controls work fine, there is some room for improvement. Another gripe I have is that once you set your partition, you can't change it. I would like in the future (if possible) to have the same option available in Boot Camp as in the virtual machine software where you have the option to have dynamically expanded storage, but then again I'm just being nit picky.

Overall, Boot Camp is a great alternative to a virtual machine which will allow users to get the full Windows experience. It's free, and runs great for those of us who genuinely need access to Windows.

VirtualBox, We Need to Talk...

2009-05-13T07:57:00.000-07:00

After using VirtualBox for a while, I have to say, I was really pleased with it till yesterday. I installed Windows 7 RC 1 using VirtualBox, and all was right in the world. I was enjoying my ability to play with the new software while I surfed on Safari, then I decided to install Windows 7 on my computer via Boot Camp and then reassign VirtualBox to access the files from there. That's where problems struck. You cannot use a Boot Camp partition with VirtualBox! For those of you who don't know what that means, it means that if you have Windows on your computer via Boot Camp, and you have installed a fair amount of software, you can't access any of it with VirtualBox. I have to say, I'm very upset now. That kind of defeated the purpose of using VirtualBox for me. Oh well, I guess at this point I have the choice of either running off of Boot Camp or exploring VMWare Fusion and/or Parallels. I'll let you know how that goes soon hopefully.

Audible

2009-05-09T17:29:00.001-07:00

OK, so I listen to almost any podcast with Leo Laporte in it (I highly recommend MacBreak Weekly and TWiT) and one of his supporters is Audible.com. For those of you who are unfamiliar with Audible, it's a website where you can purchase audiobooks. You might think "big deal, I can buy those on iTunes," and you're right. However, if you want to buy a book on iTunes, it costs about $20. Buy it from Audible, and you can download one book a month for $7/mo. Much nicer I think, especially when you start getting into the thicker selections. I just signed up as a special promo per the TWiT podcast, and I got two books for free on sign up, and I'm enjoying it immensely. I'm currently reading The Golden Compass as I listen to it, and it's great. I don't know why I waited so long to do this! So anywho, since you can never read enough, I strongly suggest Audible if you're interested in expanding your horizons alongside your MP3 player.

Thanks!

VirtualBox - The Free Virtual Machine

2009-05-04T18:42:00.000-07:00

So if you're a Windows user and you're genuinely interested in switching over to a Mac, you might be hesitant like I was because sometimes you just need Windows! For those of us who are Windows dependent, there are several options such as Boot Camp (native with Mac OS X), Parallels, and VMware Fusion. With the exception of Boot Camp, the other programs cost about $80, and if you're trying to save money (like me) you probably want to a cheaper option that allows you the same flexibility. This is where VirtualBox comes in.

VirtualBox, just like Parallels and VMware Fusion, is a virtualization software, so it lets you run another operating system through a separate window on your computer.

I've been doing some research on this application and I keep reading that it's just as good as VMware and Parallels. My only complaint is that running this with Ubuntu, requires some programming on your part when you want to change the screen resolution. Other than that, it's a great piece of software for those who want an affordable way to run other operating systems. It is a bit of a RAM hog, so beware of that.

I'll try to get around to doing a deep review in a few weeks once I've spent some more time with it.

For those of you who want to install Ubuntu, I found some great videos on YouTube. Here is the one to install Ubuntu using VirtualBox and here is the one to fix the screen resolution.

Review of Apple's Mighty Mouse

2009-05-03T23:29:00.000-07:00

So as visible per the title, I'm going to be reviewing the Mighty Mouse, the wired version. I chose to get the wired mouse for two reasons, I already have a perfectly good wireless mouse, and I read the wireless Mighty Mouse sucks. That being said, I figured I would just give the wired version a try and if I really like it, I'll eventually buy the wireless one off eBay or something. Let's get this puppy started!

Pros

This mouse is definitely cute (figures, it's an Apple product after all!), and it matches the keyboard and computer beautifully.
Since it's from Apple, it works with the computer very well. This mouse was made to work with applications like Spaces and Expose and you can tell by it's design. My old mouse was a Fellowes 5-Button mouse and I thought that I would have to get used to not having programmed buttons (escape, delete, absolute essentials for any CAD user). Surprisingly, once you experience this mouse in its native OS, you'll feel right at home.
Note: This is unique to the wired version. The mouse is nice and responsive. The one thing I don't like about wireless mice is that it's not impossible to lose the signal due to battery or whatever reason. A wired mouse means never having to say "I hate you" to your mouse.
Note: Also unique to the wired version. It doesn't need batteries! Granted I have rechargeable batteries, but it's inevitable that one day I will forget to charge the spare and will be without a mouse for a short time.
The scroll wheel on this is surprisingly responsive. At first glance, I thought the mouse would either be super sensitive, or not sensitive enough. Much to my surprise, this works just as well as the scroll button on my old mouse, and it also allows for horizontal scrolling. Nice touch Apple, nice touch.
It works! You may think that's a stupid pro, but I've had experiences in the past so I can't be too judgmental and take those little things for granted.

Cons

I'm not sure what happened, but the night before last, when I put my hand on my mouse, the thing started going crazy on me! Just the pressure of my palm on the mouse's body sent the thing into Expose, and I have no idea why. After I removed the mouse and connected my old one, I tried my Mighty Mouse again, and it worked. So I'm not exactly sure what went wrong, but I can tell you that I'm not pleased.
This is minor, but the mouse is white meaning it will eventually get dirty and show when it happens. Oh well, such is life.
Traction on the mouse isn't the best. My old mouse responds well to my desk's surface, but this one requires a mouse pad. Once again, not a total loss, but that's one other thing I need now.
This a programmable mouse and you can use it as a traditional 2-button mouse. The problem I've found is that you really have to make an effort to get the right click to work. I find myself having to hold down the "right" button area, in a very specific location otherwise I will not get the response I want. Sometimes it's just easier to use CTRL + Click and get those right click options you want. This was/is the major pet peeve for me, and I hope Apple can improve this in the future.

Verdict

Regardless of a few problems, this is still a pretty good mouse that comes with the computer. This is by no means the best mouse on the market, and there are noticeable differences between this mouse and my Fellowes mouse, and I would not spend the $50 for one of these that Apple charges. That being said, it's good lucking, nice to the touch, and works fairly well most of the time, so I intend on using it till it's death. For those of you looking to get a Mac and are afraid of using the mouse, you'll be fine as long as you don't need heavy performance out of it.

Edit

Today my mouse spazzed out on me again. I think I'll try to take it to the local Mac Gallery, or contact Apple soon about this. Might as well since it's under warrantee.

My Experience with Apple Technical Support

2009-05-03T09:29:00.001-07:00

So leave it to me to have problems less than a week into my computing experience. Basically I was driven by curiosity when I decided to request an Ubuntu installation CD, and I figured that with 640Gb to use, I might as well explore it. Unfortunately for me, I chose to explore using Boot Camp, and Boot Camp is meant for Windows. Long story short, I ended up with a harddrive with four, yes four, partitions. I spent the first day looking for help on MacRumors and other various websites, but none of the suggestions worked so I scheduled an appointment to talk to someone at technical support. Yes, you heard me right, I scheduled an appointment.

Basically what's really cool about Apple's technical support, is that you can do one of two things. First, just call them like a regular person. The problem with this is that you are then thrown into the same waiting line as everyone else and you have to wait for them to pick up the phone. You can do this, or go to an Apple Expert. To get an Apple Expert, you go to the support website, select your device, explain the problem, and select a date and time when it would be convenient for someone from tech support to call you. It's sensational! No waiting, and if when they call you, you're busy, reschedule. Now that you know how it works, onto my experience.

The first guy I spoke to was extremely nice. I basically stumped him with my problem, but after some time together, he suggested something that didn't work. Unfortunately I didn't know that it didn't work till after we hung up. He suggested that I reformat my harddrive, but all I did was end up with a new installation of Leopard on the same partition. Nice guy, but wrong advice. The next guy I spoke to was also very nice, and we went through the same checking specs. I stumped him as well, but he came through for me. He suggested an all too simple solution which worked after a few minutes. I felt kind of stupid... it was sad. But overall I received the solution that I wanted, and the service was amazing. I never felt stupid when asking a question (and I asked a lot) and both representatives tried to answer to the best of their abilities.

Overall, if you need help, don't be afraid to ask Apple to help you. If you're still allowed to receive help over the phone (only three months after your purchase without AppleCare) I would recommend it. Don't bother trying to diagnose your computer by yourself if you can't fix it after a few minutes. Just ask the experts.

The iMac from a Windows User's Point of View

2009-04-29T12:58:00.000-07:00

So as you can probably tell, I finally got my brand new iMac and I have to say, it's amazing! There are definitely some major differences but I haven't encountered anything that I didn't figure out within 10 minutes of tinkering with the system (yet). So basically I guess my little review starts here.

Appearance

Have you seen one of these things?! They're gorgeous! If you don't believe me, go to Apple's website and see for yourself. I love the fact that the entire computer is in my monitor, which is huge even though I only opted for the 20-inch model. The aluminum framing with the black looks beautiful so I have no complaints there. The keyboard is gorgeous, and the mighty mouse compliments it nicely. Overall, it's safe to say this puppy is sexy.

Performance Specs

If you don't know already, I custom ordered my iMac from Apple's website so that I was able to double the hard drive and the memory (640gb and 4gb RAM) and it has 2.66ghz Intel Core 2 Duo Processor. This thing basically flies compared to my old laptop. Basically, 4gb of RAM beats 1gb any day, lol. I was able to copy my external hard drive to the desktop while I installed other programs, surfed the internet, and watched a movie. There was no lag. I can honestly say, it was one of the most beautiful moments of my life.

Software and Operating System

Mac OS X is a beauty. Just at first glance, it's apparent that the dock and entire system was laid out with the consumer in mind. From the moment you turn your computer on for the first time to installing programs on your computer, using the Mac OS is enjoyable. Everything is just so easy! Leopard is not only beautiful and easy it comes with two amazing features, Spaces and Expose. Spaces basically gives your monitor multiple screens so it's like you have multiple desktops. It's amazing!

Expose is Leopard's other snazzy tool to help you minimize the clutter. When you have multiple windows overlapping, just activate expose (F3 or in my case squeeze the mighty mouse) and the windows rearrange themselves so that you can see everything on your desktop.

Both features can be activated on your keyboard or programmed into your mighty mouse. Use them once, and you'll never be the same again.

On top of having a great OS, Apple provides their consumer with amazing software right out of the box. Every Mac comes with iLife '09 which consists of iTunes, GarageBand, iMovie, iDVD, iWeb and iPhoto (I'll give a more detailed review of iLife later) so you get to be creative right away with your music, movies, and pictures. Along with iLife, you get your email software (Mail), calendar (iCal), Stickies, PhotoBooth, iChat, the list goes on.

Since I intend to use my computer for work use, I also purchased a copy of iWork '09. I will give a detailed review of this software later, but just playing with it now (primarily Numbers), is a great piece of software. It's easy to use, has a nice and simple interface, and has tons of templates to choose from.

Differences

I keep saying how easy Mac OS is to use, but there is a slight learning curve. Navigating the your documents and programs is different, but easier, on a Mac than on a PC. Everything can be found through the "Finder" (go figure). Programs are listed under "Applications" and "My Documents" is equivalent to your username (e.g., if your username is "Bob" click on "Bob" and there you will find all of your document related folders. Something else that's different is installing programs. When you install a program on your Mac, the file downloads on your desktop, and you have to drag it to your "Applications" folder. From there run it once and you're good to go. Like I said, there are differences, but I haven't found any that are too hard to master.

Overall, the iMac is an amazing computer. It's simple to use, stylish, and versatile. Definitely worth looking into if you've always wanted to join the Apple community.

Let the world know

2009-04-23T08:46:00.000-07:00

I bought my iMac, lol. I have a financing plan, so I know what I'm allowed to spend and such per month. I'm so excited! Now, the only problem is that I have to wait now since I ordered a customized computer. Apple, make it happen!

New Accounts

2009-04-14T17:19:00.001-07:00

So to prevent confusion since I currently have a bout 3 different Gmail accounts, I decided to get a new one specifically for my techie pursuits. Everything around my tech wannabeness is now linked to the name CoolEnufForAMac. I got the idea from Microsoft's new laptop hunter ads. So, the new accounts:

Email/Chat: CoolEnufForAMac@gmail.com

Skype: CoolEnufForAMac

Twitter: Yes, I caved in and got one of these... what's killing me is that I actually like it, it's so addicting! http://twitter.com/CoolEnufForAMac

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/coolenufforamac

OK, I think that's it for now, till another day...

At last...

2009-04-12T14:44:00.000-07:00

I finally have the proper funding resources so that I can purchase my beautiful new iMac. As a reminder, I'm going for the 20" model, and man am I excited! I can't wait till mid next week when I order it, images shall be posted.

I'm making the switch...

2009-03-10T22:37:00.000-07:00

So as you can tell from my title I'm finally making the switch from a Windows operating system to an Apple computer. I'm so excited! I fell in love with iMacs back when they were a little colorful cube with the matching mouse, and the love affair continued through high school when I took digital art, and made contact with an iMac G4. That G4 and I together made several works of art on multiple mediums, and it was depressing when my dad told me we weren't going to get one. Here I am, a college grad, and I'm finally going to make it happen.

I've decided to go for an iMac (desktop) mainly because I want/need memory. My current laptop (Acer Aspire 5002) only has 100 gb, which is decent for most people, but right now I've used up about 65 gb of the available 90 gb. As it is, I run my laptop in conjunction with an external harddrive, so I have an additional 250 gb at my disposal. I've used up about half of that, and the funny part is that I haven't even loaded up my computer and harddrive with "work" related programs! All of this memory is being taken up by recreational related software. Even as I type, my laptop is being laggy as I type and listen to my podcast at the same time. So basically, once I get my amazing desktop, I intend to wipe out my laptop and only load it with a few programs so that it is work related (just in case)! and I'll use my desktop for everything else.

What kind of iMac am I going to get, you ask? Well, I've decided to customize my own 20" desktop. Twenty-four inches is a huge screen, and I can upgrade a 20" and it'll still be cheaper. Standard 20" iMacs come with a 320 gb harddrive and 2 gb of RAM. I'm going to double both capacities so my computer will have a 640 gb harddrive and 4 gb of RAM. All the memory will allow me to operate without the use of my external harddrive (which is in desperate need of repairs) and the extra RAM is basically to prevent any lag later although I don't see it being a problem. Hey, it's only $100, so why not? I've also decided to purchase a copy of iWork '09, the computer already comes with iLife '09, and I'm debating on purchasing additional software, but I think I'll just buy those later. Altogether, my beautiful computer will be about $1600 including the additional protection plan. Some people might think that's a painful amount of money seeing as how a standard Windows desktop is about $500 (not including the monitor!). I will remind those individual that your basic Windows PC has little to no useful software! With an Apple computer, you are now getting the iLife '09, Bootcamp, a built in camera, and a monitor and CPU in one device! So once you take everything into consideration, the price difference isn't as big as you might think. I'm so excited! I've been stalking the Apple website and various Apple blogs in lieu of my decision.

Well that's all for now, I'll come back soon with a review on my iPod or maybe some freeware (Thunderbird, OpenOffice.org?). Tootles!

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Now playing: Leo Laporte, Alex Lindsay, Andy Ihnatko, Scott Bourne, and Justine Ezarik - MacBreak Weekly 125: 25 Years And Still Going Strong
via FoxyTunes

Welcome!

2009-02-16T13:20:00.000-08:00

So basically I'm a huge tech junkie (with a primary interest in the Apple and iPod brands) so I decided to further develop my new hobby of watching reviews and starting my own. I currently own an iPod Classic (120 gb) and I love it (note this is not a review yet!) and I thought hey why not spread the joy and experiences I've had/been having with my iPod and iTunes with the world. So here I am. As I said before, I am partial to Apple, but I'm really fascinated with mp3 players of all kinds, and I would love to start trying out new ones, primarily the Zunes. I've heard many good things about them, so curiosity is getting the best of me. Well I suppose that is all for now, but I shall return soon with hopefully more information to share.

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Now playing: Jason Mraz - Live High
via FoxyTunes