Comments for Chip's Technical Blog http://chip.kcubes.com Tech commentary of thoughts, challenges, how-to's, and the mundane. Thu, 05 Nov 2009 23:34:39 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9 hourly 1 Comment on Update on the iMac/TV by Michael http://chip.kcubes.com/2009/11/05/update-on-the-imactv/comment-page-1/#comment-289 Michael Thu, 05 Nov 2009 23:34:39 +0000 http://chip.kcubes.com/?p=62#comment-289 Wow, that sounds like a lot of work for a solution based on a Mac! Sounds like ditching the cable company is working out well for you guys. Wow, that sounds like a lot of work for a solution based on a Mac! Sounds like ditching the cable company is working out well for you guys.

]]> Comment on A plea to TV programmers by Chip's Technical Blog http://chip.kcubes.com/2009/03/01/a-plea-to-tv-programmers/comment-page-1/#comment-287 Chip's Technical Blog Sat, 31 Oct 2009 21:34:24 +0000 http://chip.kcubes.com/?p=46#comment-287 [...] know a bit about our viewing preferences, needs, etc. I have previously posted about hos we were considering canceling our cable TV. Well, we have decided to cut back to just the primitive broadcast cable channels, but [...] [...] know a bit about our viewing preferences, needs, etc. I have previously posted about hos we were considering canceling our cable TV. Well, we have decided to cut back to just the primitive broadcast cable channels, but [...]

]]> Comment on Pros on the Macbook Pro by Portable External Hard Drive http://chip.kcubes.com/2009/03/01/pros-on-the-macbook-pro/comment-page-1/#comment-148 Portable External Hard Drive Sun, 05 Apr 2009 07:20:09 +0000 http://chip.kcubes.com/?p=45#comment-148 Using such a hdd will definitely save my data in safety :) Using such a hdd will definitely save my data in safety :)

]]> Comment on Macbook Pro by Michael http://chip.kcubes.com/2008/07/27/macbook-pro/comment-page-1/#comment-147 Michael Wed, 25 Mar 2009 00:39:09 +0000 http://chip.kcubes.com/?p=37#comment-147 For me (I switch between an iMac and a PC at work all day long), it was definitely helpful to change some of the keyboard and mouse settings. For instance, my mouse has two button control now. This is just with the standard Mac mouse that came with the iMac. Also, I switched the Command and Control keys -- this drives visitors to my office crazy when they try to show me something, but it really helps me that (mac) Command-C and (win) Control-C are physically in the same place for my fingers. I could write in more detail when I'm actually in front of the Mac, but I seem to remember Cmd-Right taking me to my other desk space (forget what that's called, Spaces maybe?). Like you, I've been really annoyed with the difference of Home and End behavior. I'm still not used to it (after a year). For me (I switch between an iMac and a PC at work all day long), it was definitely helpful to change some of the keyboard and mouse settings. For instance, my mouse has two button control now. This is just with the standard Mac mouse that came with the iMac. Also, I switched the Command and Control keys — this drives visitors to my office crazy when they try to show me something, but it really helps me that (mac) Command-C and (win) Control-C are physically in the same place for my fingers.

I could write in more detail when I’m actually in front of the Mac, but I seem to remember Cmd-Right taking me to my other desk space (forget what that’s called, Spaces maybe?). Like you, I’ve been really annoyed with the difference of Home and End behavior. I’m still not used to it (after a year).

]]> Comment on Pros on the Macbook Pro by chip http://chip.kcubes.com/2009/03/01/pros-on-the-macbook-pro/comment-page-1/#comment-146 chip Tue, 24 Mar 2009 19:55:07 +0000 http://chip.kcubes.com/?p=45#comment-146 Why are you surprised? And yes, K and I both have 1TB external drives purchased for exactly this purpose. (Okay, not exactly. Originally, mine was purchased to store files from computers at UCSD when I no longer claimed them as mine. So then it was just convenient. K's was purchased for this reason though, because I liked how it worked, and have always felt that our laptop backup scheme was the weak link in our current backup strategy.) To be honest, I don't know anything about automator or AFP. Is it that TimeMachine uses automator, and thus you are saying that TimeMachine doesn't work for you unless the network drive is running AFP, which google tells me is an Apple Filer Protocol? I can't say anything about that. But it works quite well for external drives. We just plug them in every once in a while to make sure we get backed up. And if we forget for more than 10 days, it reminds us we need to do it. Why are you surprised? And yes, K and I both have 1TB external drives purchased for exactly this purpose. (Okay, not exactly. Originally, mine was purchased to store files from computers at UCSD when I no longer claimed them as mine. So then it was just convenient. K’s was purchased for this reason though, because I liked how it worked, and have always felt that our laptop backup scheme was the weak link in our current backup strategy.)

To be honest, I don’t know anything about automator or AFP. Is it that TimeMachine uses automator, and thus you are saying that TimeMachine doesn’t work for you unless the network drive is running AFP, which google tells me is an Apple Filer Protocol? I can’t say anything about that. But it works quite well for external drives. We just plug them in every once in a while to make sure we get backed up. And if we forget for more than 10 days, it reminds us we need to do it.

]]> Comment on Pros on the Macbook Pro by Michael http://chip.kcubes.com/2009/03/01/pros-on-the-macbook-pro/comment-page-1/#comment-145 Michael Tue, 24 Mar 2009 13:27:28 +0000 http://chip.kcubes.com/?p=45#comment-145 I'm a little surprised to see that you're using Time Machine. Do you have an external hard drive that you're backing up to? I've been looking into automating a backup routine for my Mac at work, but I've run into problems with not being able to use Automator to save an archive to an external (network) drive that isn't running AFP. I’m a little surprised to see that you’re using Time Machine. Do you have an external hard drive that you’re backing up to?

I’ve been looking into automating a backup routine for my Mac at work, but I’ve run into problems with not being able to use Automator to save an archive to an external (network) drive that isn’t running AFP.

]]> Comment on Macbook Pro by chip http://chip.kcubes.com/2008/07/27/macbook-pro/comment-page-1/#comment-113 chip Wed, 27 Aug 2008 15:44:44 +0000 http://chip.kcubes.com/?p=37#comment-113 Do Ctl-A and Ctl-E work in things other than a terminal? I have discovered Cmd-Left and Cmd-Right, though I am frustrated that in different contexts, different keys are needed. For example, some applications do cmd left/right as you'd expect, while others do cmd left/right UNLESS you are doing a selection (by holding down shift), in which case what actually works is ctrl left/right (which doesn't work unless you are doing a selection). I just think it would be better having dedicated home and end keys. And what about the insert key? I agree that most people don't use it, but on some OSes, it has emerged as a standard way to paste (shift-insert), which was nice. I'm very frustrated that X11 paste is very annoying on MacOSX. As a partial solution, I have enabled the case that 'alt' causes the button to act like a middle button, which kinda works. Then there is copy, which is similarly quirky. Supposedly, Cmd-C will copy in X11, but when I use it in Mutt, I just get a message that the key is not bound, and I have to use the menus. Now that's in an xterm. In a Terminal, it works better, however the Terminal doesn't get the coloration correct for a colored-xterm. Anyway, it still is taking some getting used to. But thanks for the suggestions. I haven't tried Ctl-A and E in other applications. Do Ctl-A and Ctl-E work in things other than a terminal? I have discovered Cmd-Left and Cmd-Right, though I am frustrated that in different contexts, different keys are needed. For example, some applications do cmd left/right as you’d expect, while others do cmd left/right UNLESS you are doing a selection (by holding down shift), in which case what actually works is ctrl left/right (which doesn’t work unless you are doing a selection).

I just think it would be better having dedicated home and end keys. And what about the insert key? I agree that most people don’t use it, but on some OSes, it has emerged as a standard way to paste (shift-insert), which was nice. I’m very frustrated that X11 paste is very annoying on MacOSX. As a partial solution, I have enabled the case that ‘alt’ causes the button to act like a middle button, which kinda works. Then there is copy, which is similarly quirky. Supposedly, Cmd-C will copy in X11, but when I use it in Mutt, I just get a message that the key is not bound, and I have to use the menus. Now that’s in an xterm. In a Terminal, it works better, however the Terminal doesn’t get the coloration correct for a colored-xterm.

Anyway, it still is taking some getting used to. But thanks for the suggestions. I haven’t tried Ctl-A and E in other applications.

]]> Comment on Macbook Pro by Justin http://chip.kcubes.com/2008/07/27/macbook-pro/comment-page-1/#comment-112 Justin Wed, 27 Aug 2008 14:37:59 +0000 http://chip.kcubes.com/?p=37#comment-112 W/r the home and end keys, sometimes Ctl-A/Ctl-E work for going to the start/end of a line. And I believe Command-Left/Command-Right might do the same thing. (I believe that earlier you might have tried the Fn-Left/Fn-Right). W/r the home and end keys, sometimes Ctl-A/Ctl-E work for going to the start/end of a line. And I believe Command-Left/Command-Right might do the same thing. (I believe that earlier you might have tried the Fn-Left/Fn-Right).

]]> Comment on Evolving Technology in Crisis by Chip's Technical Blog http://chip.kcubes.com/2007/10/31/evolving-technology-in-crisis/comment-page-1/#comment-64 Chip's Technical Blog Wed, 28 Nov 2007 15:11:39 +0000 http://chip.kcubes.com/2007/10/31/evolving-technology-in-crisis/#comment-64 [...] Chip’s Technical Blog Tech commentary of thoughts, challenges, how-to’s, and the mundane.Note: to see my personal journal, formerly on this page, visit my personal page. « Evolving Technology in Crisis [...] [...] Chip’s Technical Blog Tech commentary of thoughts, challenges, how-to’s, and the mundane.Note: to see my personal journal, formerly on this page, visit my personal page. « Evolving Technology in Crisis [...]

]]> Comment on Trying to understand SiteMap(s) by JohnMu http://chip.kcubes.com/2007/09/25/trying-to-understand-sitemaps/comment-page-1/#comment-50 JohnMu Tue, 02 Oct 2007 12:38:11 +0000 http://chip.kcubes.com/2007/09/25/trying-to-understand-sitemaps/#comment-50 Using a sitemap generator like the one from Arne is a great idea - it will help to make sure that the search engines (Google in particular) find out more about your site and your new / modified pages. If you have access to your log files, you should see the search engine come in and view the new pages fairly quickly after you update the sitemap file (which is done automatically with the plugin). Using a sitemap generator like the one from Arne is a great idea – it will help to make sure that the search engines (Google in particular) find out more about your site and your new / modified pages. If you have access to your log files, you should see the search engine come in and view the new pages fairly quickly after you update the sitemap file (which is done automatically with the plugin).

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