Mac stuff

[Soupdog50]

So I recently started using my Hackintosh. Its mainly the guts of an old HP with a Pentium 4 and 2GB of RAM. I needed a desktop to do cross platform development on and seeing as all the hardware cost £20 I'm very happy with it.

What do all the Mac users here suggest I try out? I'm currently using the Mac versions of my favourite Windows software (VLC, XBMC) What are the killer applications on OSX and any general tips would be appreciated.

[CommanderTim]

Uh, killer apps? Well... I guess iPhoto could count.

Here's some Mac only programs that I simply can't do without (or would prefer not to):

CSS Edit
Transmit
Coda
Fraise
and even though it's built into the OS and not an app, Exposé

That's all I've got. It's a platform preference I suppose: there's nothing I do on my Mac I can't do on Windows. I just prefer the Mac.

[metatron]

I like Aperture but that's about the only thing I think I'd miss if I didn't have a Mac.

[kyeetza]

I like the The Unarchiver much better than the built in unzipper

Uhm, you'll probably want to get Flip4Mac and Perian for watching videos.

Get yourself an external drive and turn on Time Machine, there's nothing like it on any other platform.

Besides that, most of what you need is built in.  For shits n giggles, hold down shift while you minimize a window

[metatron]

I like the The Unarchiver much better than the built in unzipper

Uhm, you'll probably want to get Flip4Mac and Perian for watching videos.

Get yourself an external drive and turn on Time Machine, there's nothing like it on any other platform.

Besides that, most of what you need is built in.  For shits n giggles, hold down shift while you minimize a window

Just use VLC. Also I don't like Time Machine I recommend getting a  Netgear Stora as they have dropped below £100 online and come with a 1TB drive with room for another one. A NAS is always a better option if you have more than one computer in the house, or use any kind of console and/or media box with your TV.  

[Soupdog50]

Thanks guys I'll try those out.
Since my flat mate took our server back for the summer (ASSHOLE!) I'm going to be keeping all my stuff on my machines from now on. I'm thinking I'll use the Mac as my server as well as my desktop. It's going to be on for torrents most of the time anyway so I'll stick some hard drives in it and open up some samba shares. I do like those little NASes but I've never found one that I completely like. I'm really enjoying using OSX, I need either an American Keyboard or an official Apple one though because my old M$ keyboard isn't compatible enough. OSX seems to be at a really good point in between Linux and Windows. I've got my eyes on a small Asus card to give me dual HDMI support for my two monitors and then my net upgrade will be a better processor.

I'd forgotten how much better the desktop experience is than the laptop experience, the trouble with being a student is that you tend to have one room which you work,sleep, eat and play in so I had to get rid of my Antec 900 build because it was far too big.

PS. I have one ADSL Netgear router plugged into my broadband connection and I then run an ethernet cable to my room where I have another Netgear. How do I get to the web admin for the router In my room? Whenever I go to 192.168.0.1 it takes me to the ADSL one. I'm trying to give the Mac a static IP so I can use Transdroid (coolest Android App Ever) for remote controlling transmission.

[CommanderTim]

ust use VLC. Also I don't like Time Machine I recommend getting a  Netgear Stora as they have dropped below £100 online and come with a 1TB drive with room for another one. A NAS is always a better option if you have more than one computer in the house, or use any kind of console and/or media box with your TV.  

I'll second both of those statements. VLC is no nonsense, and will play anything you care to throw at it. Netgear NAS boxes are ace as well. The built in DLNA client works a trick for zero-conf media streaming to anything that supports it (like a PS3). (kind of wish I had a NAS myself)

[kyeetza]

Yes, but I was talking about software for backing up and retrieving lost files, I've never seen anything remotely as easy and useful as Time Machine (and Tim, I know you've said the same thing on the show).  Besides plugging in a drive, there's virtually zero setup, and It's designed to integrate with most OS level apps (address book, mail, ect).  Almost retard proof.

Call me picky, but I don't like how VLC has a player window in addition to the movie window (I know you can just x out of it, but still).  For 85% of videos, Flip4Mac and Perian allow you to use a clean quicktime window with no frame or minimize/maximize/close bar at the top.  If you want a 1 stop shopping solution, sure VLC is great.

[metatron]

PS. I have one ADSL Netgear router plugged into my broadband connection and I then run an ethernet cable to my room where I have another Netgear. How do I get to the web admin for the router In my room? Whenever I go to 192.168.0.1 it takes me to the ADSL one. I'm trying to give the Mac a static IP so I can use Transdroid (coolest Android App Ever) for remote controlling transmission.

So I'm guessing you switched of DHCP on the second router already. Easy way to fix the issue is to:
Unplug the second router
Reset it
Connect to it via your computer
Change the default IP address to something like 192.168.0.254
Switch DHCP off as its not needed.
Reconnect it into the network/ other router.

Also you know you can get 5 to 10 port gigabit unmanaged switches which are ultra low power/heat for $20.

[Soupdog50]

Thanks Metatron I'll give that a go.
It wasn't due to lack of ports on the main router that im using another  its just that the router is so shit (flatmates choice...) that it cant handle lots of wireless connections at once.

I'm going to try to get myself one of the mini apple bluetooth keyboards because they look awesome and I'm trying to have a wirefree desk. I'm guessing I'll have to find a bluetooth adapater similar to the built in ones and do some kext edits to get it working.

[CommanderTim]

Yes, but I was talking about software for backing up and retrieving lost files, I've never seen anything remotely as easy and useful as Time Machine (and Tim, I know you've said the same thing on the show).  Besides plugging in a drive, there's virtually zero setup, and It's designed to integrate with most OS level apps (address book, mail, ect).  Almost retard proof.

Netgear supports zero-conf (or Bonjour if you must), which means Time Machine works out-of-box with them.

I don't trust Time Capsules at all. Every single person I know that has bought one has had it die on them, hence Apple begrudgingly admitting that they have defective power supplies (finally). Pretty shitty to have a backup system that is likely to be broken when you need it.

[kyeetza]

I didn't say anything about the Time Capsule........    I just said to plug in an external drive and turn the software on.

[CommanderTim]

I know 

I was just commenting on how I do think that Time Machine is a great pick, but along the lines of what Metatron was saying, go with a Netgear NAS vs. a Time Capsule.

*hugs*