2009-04-24 21:22:00
The past few days I've been tweaking and poking my Macbook, trying to make it just a bit better. Aside from the usual maintenance (cleaning unused files, installing updates, securing my WinXP image for Parallels) I've also put my hands on some cool, new pieces of software.
* Dropbox, 2GB of auto-synced online storage integrated into the OS.
* Cord, a somewhat nicer replacement for Microsoft's Remote Desktop.
* Geektool, which is too handy and cool to describe on one line.
* iPartition and iDefrag, two handy-dandy system maintenance tools.
iPartition came in very handy today because it let me repartition my Firewire laCie drive without having to move the data elsewhere. The drive's used for backups of our computers (plus some additional temporary storage) and I needed to remove three parts and add two new ones, all the while maintaining a forth. It worked a charm :) iDefrag might seem a bit of a waste, but it did help me save 4 gigs of space on my FileVault homedir.
Now... Any use for the aforementioned Geektool might not be immediately apparent. What it does is create an additional transparent layer across your desktop that allows you to "project" text or images. If you search the web for the term "geektool" you'll find loads of examples, including MRTG and Cacti graphs, or Nagios status buttons embedded on the desktop. In my case all I've got running are "top" and an overview of my current IPs, but I certainly see future use for this!
I've also ordered a 4GB RAM kit from Kingston Shop, which rang in at 56 euros. Would you believe today's RAM prices?! They're so low! <3 Moving from 2 to 4 GB will surely improve the 'book's performance when running one or more Parallels virtual machines.
I'm also thinking of getting a new hard drive for the Macbook, since I'm down to 15/160GB. I've got all my music on here right now, though technically speaking I could simply move that to a NAS for access through the home network. Hmmm... *ponders* 90 euro hard disk versus 200 euro NAS versus 500 euro Mac Mini... Hmmm...
kilala.nl tags: apple, macbook,
View or add comments (curr. 8)
2009-03-14 13:50:00
Today Marli's shiny, new Macbook arrive. It's an absolute beauty! The new anumilumlum housing feels very slick and the keyboard's just a touch heavier than the previous model. Very nice.
I had the laptop installed and set up with all of her data within an hour or two, so now she's happily surfing away on her lappy. It'll probably last her for four to five years, so that's good value for money.
Unfortunately I did my RSI no favours because after finishing her Macbook I went on to reinstall my own, white one. Unfortunately I made a wrong choice in file systems somewhere along the way which made it impossible to run File Vault. So basically I reinstalled twice and then I fiddled, I fiddled and I dabbled some more. Basically I spent yet another whole weekend behind the computer, which will probably come back to bite me in the ass.
On the up side of things we now both have wonderfully working laptops ^_^ I've also decommissioned the Powermac that I mentioned earlier. For now it'll just go into storage. Speaking of, would you believe that Marli herself actually suggested getting a Mini for file serving purposes? o_O
kilala.nl tags: macbook, powermac, apple, health,
View or add comments (curr. 3)
2008-09-05 22:38:00
This afternoon I got a call from my friend and new boss Dirk. We'd planned on me driving to his place this weekend to take care of the paperwork. Knowing about Marli's condition and willing to save me a lot of travel time he suggested that he drop by this evening instead.
As the title of this blogpost suggests, the paperwork isn't all that he brought ^_^ It's Unixerius' policy to give each employee a Macbook and an iPhone to work with and he brought my pair in early /o/
I know I've used the pic to the left about 1.5 years ago, but I reckon a re-use isn't an awful crime. Mr Sienna's right: the iPhone is fscking swank :D
The best thing about all of this though, is the fact that my contract's signed and I'm now officially an employee of Unixerius (per 1/10). I've been hearing some great things about my new assingment. It seems there's a whole rumor mill going! "Have you heard?! Thomas Sluyter's coming back!" Seriously, I'd never expected someone to say such a thing :)
kilala.nl tags: career, macbook, iphone,
View or add comments (curr. 6)
2007-06-21 19:10:00
Fsck! *anger*
What is it with me and laptops?! Why do I always end up damaging them out of my own stupidity? I haven't even had my Macbook for a month and I've already damanged the screen. I threw my digicam's USB cable on the couch and apparently the connector clipped the screen. So now there's a 1mm x 4mm scratch in it. Grr.
When do I learn?
kilala.nl tags: annoying, meh, macbook, snafu,
View or add comments (curr. 8)
2007-05-27 08:07:00
This month I'd saved up enough money in my individual IT budget at Snow to buy me a new laptop. I've been using my iBook for two years now and it's been great, but it's about time to get a faster piece of hardware. Luckily, the iBook is still covered by one more year of Applecare so I'll have it looked over and then it goes on to Marli.
So far I like the Macbook and I -love- it's glossy screen. The colours it displays are so vibrant! The only thing I already hate (really, I do) are the sharp edges on the bottom-front of the casing. These tend to scratch my wrists when I'm typing :(
And it has to be said that because Mac OS X is such an "easy" operating system, it takes all the fun out of installing a new computer. I hooked up my iBook using a Firewire cable and within the hour all my files and settings had been transferred to the Macbook. Thus it was set up in exactly the same way my old computer was and I didn't have to do a thing about it. Oh well *shrug* ^_^
kilala.nl tags: apple, macbook, toys,
View or add comments (curr. 3)
2007-05-05 09:32:00
A little over a year ago I modded my iBooks in a simple way: I put different colours of crepe papier behind the Apple logo lens, making it the rainbow apple (Apple's original logo from the eighties). Now that I've ordered my Macbook I was looking forward to doing the same with this new piece of kit.
Until I saw iFixIt guide for disassembling the lid and the LCD panel. Basically it boils down to the fact that you'll be taking apart the complete laptop (as in "everything"!), just to get to the lens. I guess I won't be doing that ;)
Instead I'll be getting a GelaSkin which is a piece of art, printed on vinyl, that adheres to the lid of your laptop. In my case, I really love the pieces called Nevermind, The great wave and Starry night
kilala.nl tags: macbook, apple, creative,
View or add comments (curr. 4)
All content, with exception of "borrowed" blogpost images, or unless otherwise indicated, is copyright of Thomas Sluyter. The character Kilala the cat-demon is copyright of Rumiko Takahashi and used here without permission.