[smax013]

dabigkahuna said:

Yeah, but the iWork thing is something I thought I'd play with and see how much I could get out of it. I used to do that on PCs all the time, making things happen that most people said couldn't be done. I'm slow about it, but I've often succeeded. And it is a fun challenge.

But for some years, I simply already had what I needed an no motivation to find new solutions. With a Mac, it would be nice to do more on it, without microsoft if I can. Might just have to go without visual basic. The excel gradebook code just automates a few things and I can do without if necessary.


The Access project was pretty darn complicated, but what it was for, I no longer use now. Could change, but I'm thinking about Filemaker Pro and see what I can do with that. In short, I see it as being a "fun" challenge I've missed (I hope!). There is some geekiness to me!


iWork for 5 is $80??? I thought that was the single license and the 5 computers was $100.











I may get Office Mac. But if crossover does it, that's a pretty cheap alternative and it will run other stuff.

You're right...I had a brain crap...$100 for the family pack...$80 for the single...although you can get it for slightly less from Amazon, I believe.

dabigkahuna said:

Yeah, but the iWork thing is something I thought I'd play with and see how much I could get out of it. I used to do that on PCs all the time, making things happen that most people said couldn't be done. I'm slow about it, but I've often succeeded. And it is a fun challenge.

But for some years, I simply already had what I needed an no motivation to find new solutions. With a Mac, it would be nice to do more on it, without microsoft if I can. Might just have to go without visual basic. The excel gradebook code just automates a few things and I can do without if necessary.


The Access project was pretty darn complicated, but what it was for, I no longer use now. Could change, but I'm thinking about Filemaker Pro and see what I can do with that. In short, I see it as being a "fun" challenge I've missed (I hope!). There is some geekiness to me!


iWork for 5 is $80??? I thought that was the single license and the 5 computers was $100.











I may get Office Mac. But if crossover does it, that's a pretty cheap alternative and it will run other stuff.

I guess it is probably best to go with Time Capsule to start. But tell me, is it possible to, after getting everything on the MB updated and the initial applications installed, to use that drive to ALSO create backup of all that which would not be "updated" as part of the time machine process (or superduper)? Or is that only possible on a separate, external HD? I know it wouldn't be bootable - I'd just want to be able to use it to replace what is on the internal drive if things got to be a problem like they are on my PC. Might never use it, but I kinda like having something like this.

And is Time Capsule just for backing up stuff, or can you put programs on it?

You can use Time Capsule as a plain old regular network hard drive if you want (i.e. to store files and such). You might be able to run some programs from it, but many programs still must have "crap" loaded on the hard drive of the actual computer. And even if you use it as a Time Machine destniation, you can still use Time Capsule as a plain old network drive.



I have never played with SuperDuper OTHER than cloning to an external drive...so I don't know if you can make "image" files off to a drive or optical disks. If I get a chance, I will play with it to see. You can create a disk image using a built in Apple utility, but I don't know if it will work on the drive you have booted from...never tried it for that. I have no doubt that there is some third party app that can make drive image files...but don't know of one off hand for the Mac.

dabigkahuna said:

Oh, since you have worked with Macs so much, does the OS seem to bog down over time? My PC is something like 4.5 years old. All the updates are on it, but I've never stripped it down and started over. I'm tired of things seeming to hang-up from time to time and waiting until it let me do things again. I've read others talk about Windows needed to sometimes be reinstalled (another reason for the ghost image), but don't know about the Mac OS.

My Mac OS computers don't "bog down"...at least not like my Windoze computers do...but then I do tend to use my Windoze computers MUCH more than my Mac (forced to due to how I make my living). But, then I haven't re-installed Windoze on my currently main use Dell tower except for about three years ago when the hard drive bit the dust and I had to replace it. It has reached the point where a reinstall likely would be good...which I will do when I finally get off my tushie and switch over to my new computer build completely (been procrastinating on the switch for about a year).

dabigkahuna said:

I guess the bootable clone is something I would add later - at least if I got time capsule. Just to keep the initial cost down! Then add another drive later.


Laptop or desktop, the computer isn't likely to move much! My whole apt is only about 525 sq ft! The is no kitchen table!





Any reason you use NetBarrier rather than the built in firewall?

I use NetBarrier because I started using it BEFORE the Mac OS had a firewall built in, so I am kind of used to it. And the built in firewall was not too customizable initially...it has gotten better. I actually do use the built in firewall on my old G4 tower (my MacBook Pro is the one with the NetBarrier installed on it).

[dabigkahuna]

I'm not sure what the powers or limitations are of a "plain old regular network hard drive" :D

I just know about drives that are either built in or normal drives attached to a computer. In those cases, I know I can save files and install programs, make all kinds of partitions.

You say I "may" be able to run programs from it. Does that mean you aren't sure or just that some programs may work and others may not? I guess having some parts of a program still put on the main drive is okay - I'm certainly used to that with a PC!

Something I'm curious about. I mentioned in a prior post a couple programs I found which supposedly let you use extra buttons on mice which the mouse software themselves didn't provide (on a Mac). I don't mind experimenting with these things myself (and reporting back, of course). I could, for example, try my present keyboard and mouse and see if the software worked.

My concern is about if putting such things on my computer (maybe taking them off later) is if I'm going to be leaving "stuff" behind. PCs can be a hassle with this - one of the reasons I wanted ghost images on the PC. I figured I could make a number of changes, keeping track of what since the last image, and then at a future point decide which I really wanted to keep. Then use a prior ghost image followed by just adding the things I decided to keep followed by a new ghost image.

Looking at approximately two weeks to a new Mac!

[smax013]

dabigkahuna said:

I'm not sure what the powers or limitations are of a "plain old regular network hard drive" :D

I just know about drives that are either built in or normal drives attached to a computer. In those cases, I know I can save files and install programs, make all kinds of partitions.

When I say "plain old regular network hard drive" that is to differentiate from the Time Machine capability. I basically mean that it can operate as a standard network drive that mounts on ANY computer on your network (both Windoze and Mac for sure...not completely sure about a Linux box) for general file storage and disk use. Basically, you would be able to use it just like an external drive or flash drive or floppy disk in copying files and storing files. It is basically like setting up file sharing from a computer except you don't have to leave a computer on for it...basically, like a computer file server with out it being a computer. You might be able to have partitions (I don't recall if you can set up multiple partitions or not)...but if you do, you DO NOT format it like you would an external (or internal) drive. And you can use it as a boot device....it is NOT a "dedicated" drive for just one computer.

dabigkahuna said:

You say I "may" be able to run programs from it. Does that mean you aren't sure or just that some programs may work and others may not? I guess having some parts of a program still put on the main drive is okay - I'm certainly used to that with a PC!

Both. In general, you can run Mac programs from any location on any drive on the Mac...and you can move applications AFTER installation...both of which is something that is not necessarily true on Windoze (some programs in Windoze HAVE to be installed in a certain location...and if you move the program file after you install in Windoze, many times it will not work properly). In theory, this should be true of a program moved to the Time Capsule drive (or any network drive), but it is possible that could cause problems. I am assuming that in general it will be that you would be able to run programs from the Time Capsule, but that there might be some that would not work just due to how they operate and such...but then it is possible that I could be off base. Note that if I am right and you can run programs of the network drive, then there might be some "lag" in how they run if they are disk intensive programs (i.e. database program or such).

dabigkahuna said:

Something I'm curious about. I mentioned in a prior post a couple programs I found which supposedly let you use extra buttons on mice which the mouse software themselves didn't provide (on a Mac). I don't mind experimenting with these things myself (and reporting back, of course). I could, for example, try my present keyboard and mouse and see if the software worked.


My concern is about if putting such things on my computer (maybe taking them off later) is if I'm going to be leaving "stuff" behind. PCs can be a hassle with this - one of the reasons I wanted ghost images on the PC. I figured I could make a number of changes, keeping track of what since the last image, and then at a future point decide which I really wanted to keep. Then use a prior ghost image followed by just adding the things I decided to keep followed by a new ghost image.


Looking at approximately two weeks to a new Mac!

Depends on how the mouse utility (or whatever) is written. If is somewhat "Windoze like" and sprinkles crap all over the place, then there might be some "crap" that sticks around....but even then, it will not likely be like Windoze since the Mac OS does not have something that is directly like the Registry in Windoze. Left over "residue" in the Registry is where a lot of Windoze "crud" builds up. But then you can also just get "file crud" building up from orphaned files from removed programs...and this can happen on a Mac as well depending on how the program is written.

[dabigkahuna]

Okay, so the hard drive in Time Capsule can be used from any machine on the network, using it as a network drive. So time machine just does some of this backup stuff automatically for Macs on the network? Oh, can you specify for it to NOT copy some things - or once it copies it once, tell it not to update it again unless you want to? Maybe by setting certain folders to copy or not copy?

You said it could be used as a boot device, but I thought you said before you couldn't boot from it. I think I missed something!

I didn't know you could move apps on a Mac! That could be handy.
What I'd like to do with putting programs on Time Machine - especially as I start filling up the internal drive - would be some things I want, but don't necessarily need on trips. At home, they'd always be available.

I don't mind too much gettnig orphaned files left behind - it was all the crap in the registry that built up that was aggravating!

I went to the Apple store today. Interestingly, the only new macbook they had was the 2.4 ghz version, but all their little signs giving specs and prices next to each one was for the $1299 version! I found out when I looked at the hard drive to see how much space was available - all had more space left than 160 gb!

On some forum (I forget which) someone mentioned the local store did memory upgrades AND gave them back the original memory. I asked about that and found something new. They said they don't give the memory back on their "rebate" for memory. Never heard of that rebate so I asked further. Seems their normal price for that memory is $300! I don't know if it is an instant rebate you don't have to even think about or one you apply for, but it was new to me.

Have to think a little about whether I should get it now while prices are low ($135 for educators) or just figure if I ever do need it, I can buy it for around the lower price from non-apple sources.

So I'm looking for sure at the computer ($1249), the printer that will be free with rebate, and probably Time Capsule ($279). That's $1538. Then maybe iWorks ($71 - interestingly, the family version has no discount) and MobileMe ($30). $1639 total. Just wait on the Applecare - you still get the discount later. Wait on the keyboard/mouse too - try my present one and see if I get lucky with the software I mentioned.

Now, if the government would stop taxing, I'd be reasonably satisfied!

BTW, I was checking out the bottom of each of the display models for heat again. Noticed one that was considerably hotter than the rest! Meant to ask about it, but forgot.

[smax013]

dabigkahuna said:

Okay, so the hard drive in Time Capsule can be used from any machine on the network, using it as a network drive. So time machine just does some of this backup stuff automatically for Macs on the network? Oh, can you specify for it to NOT copy some things - or once it copies it once, tell it not to update it again unless you want to? Maybe by setting certain folders to copy or not copy?

I believe you can set aside folders/locations to NOT backup, but I don't know for sure...I have not upgraded to Leopard on my MacBook Pro, so I have not really played with Time Machine too much (did some very basic "playing" with it on my mom's MacBook which has Leopard). In many ways Time Machine is rather powerful, but in others it is VERY limiting.

dabigkahuna said:

You said it could be used as a boot device, but I thought you said before you couldn't boot from it. I think I missed something!

If I did, I had a brain cramp which resulted from my fingers being faster than my brain...you CANNOT boot from a network drive (at least not to my knowledge) and that includes Time Capsule. I likely forgot a "not" in my previous post.

dabigkahuna said:

On some forum (I forget which) someone mentioned the local store did memory upgrades AND gave them back the original memory. I asked about that and found something new. They said they don't give the memory back on their "rebate" for memory. Never heard of that rebate so I asked further. Seems their normal price for that memory is $300! I don't know if it is an instant rebate you don't have to even think about or one you apply for, but it was new to me.


Have to think a little about whether I should get it now while prices are low ($135 for educators) or just figure if I ever do need it, I can buy it for around the lower price from non-apple sources.

If you do decide to upgrade the memory yourself, be a little careful with where you buy the memory. Apple tends to use "better" specification memory, which on occasion can mean that getting any old cheap, generic memory might cause problems. I would suggest that if you buy and upgrade the memory yourself, buy it from a vendor that has tested the memory with Macs (Crucial.com and OWC are two good places to get memory for Macs). This is not to say that other memory will not work, but Macs can be a little finicky about memory.

[dabigkahuna]

I found the documentation for Time Capsule online and read through it. Doens't really give details on Time Machine, but I would be surprised if there wasn't some way to either specify what to backup or what not too. Next trip to the Apple store, I'll double check.

One think that I did note was that it recommended keeping Time Capsule away from a microwave - 25 feet was recommended. Well, that would be nearly the distance from one end of my condo to the other! As it happens, the only practical place for me to set up my computer is no more than 5 feet from the microwave! I assume (hope!) that the microwave would only be a factor when it is actually cooking something! Can't move the microwave and anyplace else I put the computer would be inconvenient most of the time and more susceptable to reflections.

Since I plan on normally connecting with wires, I can't move the Time Capsule very far from where the computer is.

Thanks for the tip about memory.

[smax013]

I will be able to play with Time Machine some tonight at my folks' place. I will see what I can learn.



More than likely the issue with the microwave is ONLY when the microwave is in use...and it will be one of two things...



The one thing that is generally a problem is interference with the WiFi signal...microwaves can interfere with WiFi. The other possibilitiy might be some sort of magnetic field that could screw with a hard drive...but I am guessing that is MUCH less of an issue and only if rather close. It is most likely the potential WiFi interference issue.

[dabigkahuna]

Boy, I hope it isn't magnetic field issues! Can't imagine that being an issue unless virtually right next to the microwave! Right now I'm seeing two possible locations for the Time Capsule. One is a table just to the side of my computer table - about 6 feet from the rear of the microwave (you can see part of it throw a window into the kitchen from the living room).

The other would be about the same distance - maybe 5 feet - but against the wall dividing the kitchen and living room. Thus no line of sight, but just dry wall for an obstruction.

[smax013]

I did confirm that Time Machine has an "exclusion" option...i.e. you can set aside certain things to NOT backup.

[dabigkahuna]

THanks!

Here is some info that you or others may find useful. MacRumors (on "page 2" said that Codeweavers (the folks who make Crossover Mac so you can run windows on a Mac) is making it available for ONE DAY (today - Tuesday) for FREE! Here is the link:

http://www.macrumors...2F&t=1225242001

It actually sent me to a special page because their normal page apparently got overloaded with traffic. There are four things you can download (two for mac and two for linux. Also a place to give an email address so they can send you the code you have to enter to activate it.

I had to download it on my PC so I hope it works when I get my mac. Don't know if there is any deadline as to when you have to actually do the activation - could be an issue if there is because I'm still about 9 days from buying a mac. Also don't know when the deadline for downloading is today.

Maybe I better put up a new thread about this!

[miamiking75]

Do you have the file you could email to me or upload to rapidshare?

[dabigkahuna]

Wouldn't do any good. You'd still have to have the code to unlock it - each person had to apply for that and they said it would be a few days before they got them out. I'm still waiting.

[dabigkahuna]

Smax

Found some info that might open up some possibilities. When looking at keyboard/mice at Best Buy, I was talking to one of the sales people who at least SEEMED to know something. I was talking about the requirement of having to plug the sensor right into the computer (no hub) and when I asked about if this was still true, she said it was - but that it was keyboards that had to have the usb connected plugged in. Wireless mice could have the sensor plugged into a hub. If this is true, then I could get a blue tooth keyboard (don't need anything special there) then get a usb wireless mouse and use it with a hub and plug other things into the that hub. That would still leave a USB port open for my laser printer if necessary.

Do you know anything about this?