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| Apple makes just using my Mac an awesome experience - May 30, 2004 1:04am - opinion |  |
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More and more, as I get used to being the sole user of my Mac, I have been able to fine-tune operations, customize my workflow, and get the most efficiency out of this wonderful computer of mine. - iCal is Apple's built-in calendar and appointments manager. I do not carry my appointments around with me, but using iCal I am able to plan in advance (when can I do this project? next Wednesday looks good), see scheduling conflicts, and just have an all-around better sense of what will be going on. iCal also includes a To-Do list, and I use that not for every little thing that needs to be done (I prefer pen and paper), but for more general things I will need to think about and for future items that need to be done on a certain date. - Mail. I am never overwhelmed by my email, and I think it is because of the way that I handle it. Spam never shows up in my inbox, and I have my flow of email set up so that an email stays in my inbox until it is read and replied to or handled. I subscribe to about 4 weekly newsletters, and if I don't have time to read them, I just delete them. Emails I will not need to refer to later also get deleted, and emails I may need get filed into one of 20 folders on my sidebar. If I ever need to look for an email again, I click on that folder and search for the sender, or by content. - Address Book is another Apple-included software. I have nearly 100 contacts, with anything from just a phone number to 5 numbers, 3 emails, two addresses, etc. Address Book shows what you need to know but is easily expandable. - Adium 2 is a customizable, expandable, IM client with support for multiple services and a lot of other stuff I don't use. What I like about it is that it is simple when I need it to be but also infinitely customizable. - Stickies. I never really used Stickies until this year, but I have grown to like it more and more. What do you do with those little bits of information that you do not need to keep forever but you want to keep handy? Use Stickies. It is the perfect place to keep phone numbers, directions, text to be used in a project later, etc. I do not say URLs, because I use the Safari toolbar and then delete it when I don't need it anymore. - Safari. I debated with myself on whether to include this, but in the end decided it was worth it. With almost everything you do on the computer able to be done through a web browser, Safari is one tool I use all the time. Whether it is looking up information on Google, managing a MySQL database, keeping in touch via a family messageboard, or checking on today's Foxtrot comic, Safari does the job. There you have it. You will notice that Adium was the only non-Apple item in the list... that is because I use IM a lot and Adium proved better for me than Apple's iChat. All the others are a testament to Apple's genius in GUI design, simplicity, and power. There are also other applications I use on a daily basis but did not make the list because they are not used all the time. These include Apple applications such as iTunes, GarageBand, and iPhoto, as well as third-party software like Transmit, SubEthaEdit (more on this in a future article), and Photoshop Elements (does anybody need a link to adobe's website?). I highly recommend all this software... they are just the best things since sliced bread. In closing, I have to say that Apple's Exposé makes locating all of these open windows and navigating through my open windows easy and efficient. I am convinced that once anybody has had time to spend on a Mac as their primary computer, they will grow to love the platform and create their own efficient workflow. |
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| Contour Showcase - Nov 26, 2003 10:24pm - review | |
 All iPod cases are not equal. Take, for instance, the case that Apple includes with the upper-tier iPods, and the Contour Showcase. I spent the first few weeks of iPod ownership with Apple's iPod case as its only protection. Apple's case is very basic, includes a belt clip, and leaves the top ports open for headphone access. It's not bad, but it's no Showcase.The Contour Showcase, at $39.95, is the latest entry into the iPod case market. It has some unique features that give it some advantages. The Showcase was designed to, surprisingly enough, show off the iPod. And it does a darn good job of this. When your iPod is secured inside the Showcase, you can still see its face and access all the ports and controls. It fits all the new dock-connector style iPods. The Showcase looks really nice. It's built from some sort of white rubber composite, which both looks good and provides excellent support. The face is a clear plastic, with holes cut out for the touch controls. It also protects the iPod from scratches, which come all too easy. Without a good case, the iPod can quickly become a haven of scratches. One of the cool features of the showcase is its belt clip. While most iPod cases have a clip that holds the iPod upright on your belt, the Showcase's clip holds your iPod horizontally. The belt clip is removable, and can be situated either direction -- so the top of the iPod can be facing forward when its on either side of your body. In my field tests, I discovered that this case really works... or that the iPod is just really well built. I took my iPod to a volleyball game recently to spin up some music while we warmed up. Fortunately, I left it in the Showcase. Five minutes into warming up, an errant ball flew through the air and landed smack dab on the iPod, inside the Contour Showcase. The iPod and case promptly flew five feet in the air and landed hard on the gym floor. Naturally, I freaked out. However, after checking my baby out for damage, I couldn't find any... to either the iPod or the Showcase. Ever since that experience, I've been really glad to have a Showcase. Lately I've been leaving my iPod inside the Showcase most of the time. It's a very convenient way of protecting the iPod, and since the ports are all accessible I don't need to remove it from the case to charge the iPod's battery. Really the only thing I can't do while it's in the Showcase is use the iPod Dock... which I really didn't use much, anyway. The only problem I've had with the Showcase is using the touch buttons and wheel. Because of the way the Showcase is built, it can be a little tough to press the four buttons above the scroll wheel (forward, back, menu, and play/pause). The holes in the case are no larger than the buttons themselves, so if you have big fingers it's a little difficult to press these buttons. My fingers are pretty thin, so I really haven't had much trouble myself. Overall, I'm very happy with my Contour Showcase. It does a great job of protecting the iPod, yet still looks good and shows off the iPod. And perhaps most importantly, the iPod is still very functional while it's in the Showcase. The only con I've seen so far is the size of the holes for the touch buttons. I'd rate this as an excellent case for the iPod.
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| The Incase Laptop Sleeve - Nov 21, 2003 1:49pm - review | |
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I recently bought a 12-inch PowerBook for use while I am at college. Before I got the PowerBook I had been using my family's old iMac for all my work. Once I got the laptop, everything changed. Now I could take my computer anywhere -- to class, to lunch, to the library. The only problem was keeping it safe. My backpack was just your normal bag, without any padding. My problems were solved with the Laptop Sleeve by Incase. Instead of having to buy a large laptop briefcase to protect my 'Book, I instead have a case barely larger than the laptop itself. If I don't have a textbook to take with me, I sling the Sleeve over my shoulder using the detachable shoulder strap, and walk to class in style. If I do have to take books, I put the Sleeve and my textbooks in my backpack and I'm still walking in style, because my backpack isn't some ugly 'computer backpack'. The Laptop Sleeve (available for $40 and up at Incase's website) is large enough for me to be able to keep my PowerBook and a couple notebooks inside, besides an AC adapter or mouse in the outside pocket. It is not a lot of space -- I can't bring along my camera, blank CDs, iPod, power adapter, mouse, and headphones all at once. But for the basics, it is more than enough without getting in the way. There are two retractable handles... I haven't used them yet. Carrying the bag by the handles cramps my style. But the handles are there, if you want them. Although the Soft-Tech Nylon model that I received costs almost $40, you can tell it's not the nicest case they've got. If you are looking for something that looks more expensive, don't worry. On top of the Soft-tech Nylon model, Incase offers a $49.95 Incase Nylon model, and a $99.00 Nappa Leather model. The other nice thing about these two models is the flap over the outside pocket. With the Soft-Tech case, it is possible that a pair of earphones or a USB thumb drive could fall out of the pocket. I have decided to rate the Incase Soft-Tech Laptop Sleeve 4.5 out of 5, because although it is very good functionally, I think it could look somewhat better for how much it costs, and the outside pocket does not have a flap.
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