Mac OS X - Part Two "The 'Tiger' Upgrade"

continued from Part One

It wasn't until the release of Mac OS X v10.4, "Tiger", that I decided to finally upgrade and leave v10.1 behind. I felt that it was time for me to take advantage of the new things that Mac OS X had to offer. So I bought a licensed DVD copy of "Tiger" and installed it myself. It was remarkably easy to do so, thanks to all the clear instructions. I did an Erase and Install, which meant that my hard drive would be wiped of all its contents before "Tiger" would be installed.

I was extremely pleased with "Tiger". It literally felt like I had a new computer. The new release boasts of 200 new features from the previous version so you could just imagine how different it was from v10.1. I was so excited! I felt like I was getting to know my computer again and couldn't wait to discover what it had in store for me.

Listed below are some of what I find to be the most helpful and innovative new features that make "Tiger" a great operating system:

It's A Widget World
A widget is a small application that performs a particular task or function. For instance, there is a widget that allows you to see what time it is in different parts of the world - the World Clock Widget. There is also a widget that will help you translate words from one language to another - the Translation Widget. There are hundreds, if not thousands, of Widgets out there that are available for "Tiger" users. Business Widgets, Music Widgets, Information Widgets and so much more! I even found a widget that will help you calculate how many gallons of gas your car uses. All of these Widgets that you choose to install onto your computer are neatly tucked in the Dashboard. Simply click on your Dashboard icon and your widgets come zooming in onto your desktop.

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Go to http://www.apple.com/downloads/dashboard to see a list of widgets available for download. Most of them are free!

Automator - From Tedious to Time-saving
Let's say you wanted to scale a particular image down to half of its original size and then rename it with a different filename. You simply open the image file with a basic photo editor, use the available tools to resize the image, click on Save and then rename the file. Doesn't sound too difficult, does it? Now what if you had 50 images that needed to be scaled down and renamed? You can repeat the steps 49 more times, where you thereby take an enormous amount of time and end up with an awfully painful wrist, or you can turn to Automator for assistance. Automator is a program that allows you to create workflows. An automator workflow is a particular task or a combination of tasks that you can perform using your mac. In this particular example, the workflow will be: scale image > rename file. Automator will allow you to apply this workflow to two or more files all in just a few clicks of the mouse. If I had 50 images that I wanted to resize and rename, I simply select all those images, open them in Automator, create a "scale images > rename files" workflow, and click on Run. Then Automator does all the work. It's that easy. There are hundreds of different workflows you can create to make tedious and repetitive tasks so much easier.

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iChat AV 3 - Smileys Are Just So Last Millenium
Why send a smiley when I can flash my pearly whites on cam instead? iChat with video conferencing (iChat AV 2) was introduced with the release of "Panther". This new version that comes with "Tiger" boasts of improved video quality. It introduces the H.264 codec, which allows video to be compressed at low data rates, while maintaining great video conferencing quality. Other instant messaging programs offer web cam capabilities that broadcast choppy and extremely pixilated videos. When you look at your video window, you can't help but feel like you're taking pictures in an instant ID photo booth from hell. The iChat AV 3, on the other hand, offers video quality that is far more superior. When I wave hello to my friend who is all the way in New Jersey, I actually look like I'm waving... and not dancing the "Robot". New features also include multi-person audio conferencing (up to 10 users at a time) and 4-way video conferencing capabilities. I can chat with friends from all over the world and feel as if we're all just in the same room.

In my opinion, these three new features alone make upgrading to "Tiger" well worth it. The Mac OS X has made me realize how much value a great operating system adds to a computing machine. I certainly can't wait to see what Apple comes up with next.

Mac OS X - Part One "A Brief History"

Mac OS X (pronounced O.S. ten) is the operating system designed for Macintosh computers, and is often hailed as the world's most advanced. When I got my iMac G4 back in 2002, it came with Mac OS X v10.1 (internally codenamed Puma). This is the second release of OS X, the first one being Mac OS X v10.0 (internally codenamed Cheetah). The first thing that struck me about Mac OS X was how much cooler it looked compared to Windows. It uses a highly functional and stunning user-interface known as Aqua. You will notice that the icons have a surprising amount of detail, while the window panels appear sleek and have smooth, rounded edges. It provides a visual feast to an environment that is user-friendly and seamlessly interconnected. I have to admit that, in the beginning, I was still very much within the Windows frame of mind. I was looking at the various OS X elements and trying to figure out what their Windows equivalencies were (such as the Finder being like Windows Explorer and Macintosh HD being like my Drive C). It wasn't long before I stopped doing that, and eventually, using OS X became second nature. I just love how easier it is to use compared to Windows. And this is something I am constantly reminded of. Today, for instance, it took me two restarts and a couple of error messages before I could get my dad's brand new Windows laptop connected to our wireless home network.

But many largely criticized the first release of OS X for poor performance. In fact, the second release, v10.1, was made available as a free update to v10.0 users because of the first release's poor reputation. This new release introduced performance enhancements and other features such as DVD playback.

Then, less than a year after v10.1's introduction, v10.2 was released. "Jaguar", as it was publicly known was marked with numerous enhancements. Among other things, it increased support for Microsoft Windows networks, and Microsoft Windows sharing protocols, making it easier to share files with other Windows PCs. "Jaguar" also introduced the first version of iChat - an instant messaging program that allowed Mac users to chat with each other as well as with other AOL Instant Messenger users.

"Jaguar" was then followed by "Panther". This new release introduced FileVault, an encryption and decryption system that keeps all your valuable files safe from unwanted access by others. "Panther" also included a new version of iChat with video-conferencing capabilities called iChat AV.

continue to Part Two

*Note: This entry is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Mac OS X".

Helpful Macintosh Resource Links

For those of you on your respective quests to find that right Mac, I have provided a list of sites and resources on the web which might aid you in this propitious and promising endeavor (see below). Current Mac owners and enthusiasts may also find these links very helpful.

The Official Apple Site
http://www.apple.com
Apple.com boasts of a simple yet pleasant design and contains a wealth of information about their products and so much more. You can visit the Apple store, check out the hardware specs, join the discussions or go to the QuickTime section and watch movie trailers. It's easy to get lost with all the information the site provides, but the user-friendly navigation bar located at the top of each page should help you find your way.

apple-history.com
http://www.apple-history.com
Here's a site for those of you who are interested in reading about a very detailed history of the Apple company, its founders and products.

EveryMac.com
http://www.everymac.com
This is a website that has a large and comprehensive amount of content devoted to the Macintosh. It has galleries, a listing of Mac products information and hardware specifications, forums, resource links, etc... Some sections are for members only, but registration is free.

MacInTouch
http://www.macintouch.com
MacInTouch.com has been around since 1994. It's a great place to find in-depth information about Apple computer systems and products.

Considering A Mac?

Apple has certainly elevated user-friendliness to a whole new level. This ease of use is apparent, the moment you take it out of the box. My iMac G4 desktop, for instance, was remarkably easy to set up. I had picked up my unit at the distributor's shop, with all the needed software properly installed. And when I got home, I simply had to connect the speakers, the keyboard and the mouse to their proper ports, plug in the power cord, and I was done. I gently pressed the power button and could have sworn that I actually heard a musical "aaahhh"-like sound emanate from somewhere. Turns out, it was actually the default startup sound that melodied everytime you switched the computer on. So thus began my foray into the world of Apple.

I use my Mac for pretty much all my computer work. I use it to surf the web, design my own web pages, create flash animation, design graphic artwork and edit videos. I relish in the stability that the Mac OS X has to offer. No blue screen of death and there are very few error messages that sound as if they were written in some foreign language. Of course there have been occasions when I've had to "command+option+escape" (the Mac equivalent of ctrl+alt+del) a program, let's face it - no computer is perfect. But overall, the Mac gives me a very pleaseant computing experience.

Aside from the previously mentioned tasks I perform with my Mac, I, in fact, also use it to type Microsoft Word documents and create Powerpoint presentations, which don't have any problems running on a Windows PC. In fact, many other popular programs such as Adobe Photoshop and Macromedia Flash have versions for the Mac. And the files created with these software will run on their Windows counterparts too. This kind of cross-platform compatibility is very beneficial for students and professionals who own Macs, as Windows PCs dominate the schools and work places in the Philippines (unless of course your work involves programming software for Microsoft). You can work on a Powerpoint presentation on your Windows workstation at the office, and then continue it at home whenever the need arises. You can surf the web or ask the local software dealers to see which software companies offer programs that have versions for both the Mac and Windows. One interesting fact, I might add, is that Microsoft actually has a special unit dedicated to creating versions of their own software (such as MS Office and Windows Media Player) for the Mac platform.

Now, for those of you considering a Mac purchase, make sure that you have a clear picture of your computing needs before you jump the gun. Are you a graphic designer who needs above average computing power for heavy-duty design work, are you a sales executive who needs to make presentations from one client to the next, or are you just a basic user wanting to find out whether professions about the Mac's stability and ease-of-use live up to all the hype. Whatever your needs are, there could very well be a Mac out there that is right for you. The important thing is that you do your research so that you can make an informed purchasing decision. To start you off, you can visit http://www.apple.com/switch. This page outlines 10 reasons why you should choose a Mac, as well as corresponding links to other useful information that will help you make your decision. I hope you find one that's right for you. :)

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PinoyMacLovers is a great source for news, reviews, how-to & feature articles about all things related to Apple and their products. Here, you'll find great tips that will help you get the most out of your Mac; whether you're a long-time user or a recent switcher.

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My First Mac

Pictured in this blog entry is my first Mac. I made the switch back in 2002, thanks solely to my generous father who gave me an Apple computer as a graduation gift. It's certainly not as pristine as it used to be, but it still works amazingly well. I'm always quick to point out the fact that in the span of 3 years (and counting!) since I've had this computer, not once have I ever had the need to send it to the repairshop. It's just THAT reliable.



This is a first generation iMac G4. It has a gorgeous flat 15" LCD panel, and the dome base you see pictured above contains the entire CPU! The ports (USB, firewire, etc...) are located at the back, and the CD/DVD drive tray opens up at the front. The specs are as follows:

800-MHz PowerPC G4 processor
512MB SDRAM
60GB Ultra ATA hard disk drive
Apple Superdrive (DVD-R/CD-RW)
15-inch LCD display
NVIDIA GeForce2 MX graphics processor



A lot of useful software programs came bundled with the unit. iMovie, for instance, allows you to capture high quality video footage from a DV cam via the firewire port and allows you to edit your own home movies complete with titling, effects and transitions. Once you're done, iDVD allows you to create a DVD disc of your movie, playable on most standard DVD players. These, along with numerous other software run on the mac's amazing operating system, OS X.

Switching to Apple proved to be a great decision for me. It's reliable, efficient and looks absolutely stunning. We still keep a Windows PC at home though, and I keep asking myself why. The one we have now had to be sent to a technician after it had been infected with a virus just TWO WEEKS after we bought it. I'm sure many of you can relate.

So... do you wanna make the switch? :)

I Love My Mac!

I became the proud owner of my very first Macintosh computer sometime in the middle of 2002. Apple had just recently unveiled, what was then, the new iMac with its breakthrough G4 processor and an amazingly breathtaking design. It has a swiveling flat screen panel attached to a majestic dome base. It was love at first sight. I don't know if it was the pristine white exterior, but everytime I looked at it, it just emmanated such radiance. And the inner workings of its anatomy were impressive as well. It was fast and efficient. The user interface was so friendly, it was as if we'd known each other our whole lives. I was clicking my way around it with such ease.

Needless to say, I was bursting with joy, and the people around me certainly knew. I would share with them my thoughts on how a Mac is so much more reliable and ever more dependable than a windows-based PC. But the problem was, at least back then, I was the only person I knew who owned a Mac. I could not find someone whom I could truly share my enthusiasm with. So I took it upon myself to become a staunch advocate of the Mac here in the Philippines. Everytime I heard a friend or co-worker mention the words, "I'm thinking of buying a new PC," I would quickly interject and ask, "have you ever considered an iMac?" When ever I was around, the phrase, "I want a new laptop," was always followed with, "what about an iBook?" I was determined to spread the truth. It was my quest to shine the quintessential light in this dark PC age...

And now, in the year two thousand and five, thanks to the amazing iPod line and all the staunch Mac advocates such as myself, Apple has continued its exponential success. I now have friends with Macs and even more friends who ask me where to find a reliable Apple distributor. Suddenly, the world seems brighter.

So, to all you Mac lovers out there, let us keep on fighting the good fight. Let us share with others the deep sense of joy that comes with owning an Apple computer. It is our responsibility. And through it, we shall make this digital world a better place, one apple at a time.