Macs Are Great!

I'm dictating this review using the software that I am reviewing. It's called MacSpeech Dictate and it was a birthday gift I received this week. Having grown up in the 1950s and 1960s I was never taught to type in fact that was women's work when I was growing up. Maybe that's just an excuse, but for whatever reason, I'm probably the worst typist I know. I pretty much always know what I do want to say, but when I have to type it it takes me a really long time because I'm constantly correcting typos. I never learned to touch type and even when I look at the keyboard my hand eye coordination is so poor that I often hit a key next to the one I intended to press. The bottom line is I hate typing, but I love using computers.

Years ago when I was still using another operating system that I need not mention I tried a different dictation software package. The state-of-the-art has changed dramatically since then. Apart from occasionally saying the words scratch and that together to correct the word it did not understand I'm finding this dictation software is far more accurate than what I can accomplish using my fingers. It's fun as well.

Last night I was using it in an online chat session and the performance was fantastic. People used to wonder if I'd gone away in chat sessions because it took me so long to type, now they can hardly keep up with me.

If you have been considering using dictation software I honestly can recommend MacSpeech Dictate as having exceeded my expectations by far. Listed below is what Amazon has to say about MacSpeech Dictate.

MacSpeech Dictate List Price: $199.00 Sale Price: $160.26 You save: $38.74 (19%)

Description

Welcome to MacSpeech Dictate, the premier speech-recognition software for the Macintosh. With MacSpeech Dictate, you're free to focus on what you have to say--just think it, speak it, and create it. Instead of typing, use your voice to input text; rather than clicking your mouse, just speak commands...

Features

• Speech-recognition software built exclusively for Mac OS X
• Input text and execute commands--hands free (no keyboard or mouse required)
• Works with Microsoft Word, Adobe Photoshop, and Apple applications such as iChat, Mail, etc.
• Almost-perfect accuracy rate of up to 99 percent; never misspells a word
• Understands 13 distinct English dialect variations; headset microphone included

written by Steve Rider \\ tags: audio transcription, Dictate, Dictation, MacSpeech

After installing iTunes 9.1 yesterday I found that it was trivial to import my existing eBooks that were in Epub format.

I've been using the Amazon Kindle products, a 1st generation Kindle and a Kindle DX, for some time and have been gathering books from sources other than Amazon so I can read them using Stanza on my iPhone or Macs. I'm very much looking forward to the 3G iPad I ordered, and now I have a few books already loaded into iTunes (larger image) ready to sync to my iPad as soon as it arrives.

Apple does seem to be positioning the iBook store to compete with Amazon, and as is also the case with the Kindle they have wisely arranged it so that users can add their own Epub files gathered from public domain sources as well as other vendors.

It will be interesting to see how many eBooks are available through the iBookstore at roll out in a few days.

written by Steve Rider \\ tags: ebooks, epub, ibooks, iPad, itunes, itunes 9.1

Two and a half years ago I bought a 15" Apple MacBook Pro. It was the first model released with an LED backlit display. I've had very good results with the notebook until recently. About 2 weeks ago it began locking up after being used for a while. At first I thought it might be just overheating so I started using a laptop cooler with fans. But just a few days later it failed again and would not work properly since.

In this failed state the Apple logo shown during bootup appears much larger than usual, as does the rotating gear, as if it did not know the resolution of the display. Once the MacBook Pro reaches the point in the bootup process where the splash screen with the login dialog box should appear the display goes dark and stays that way. Connecting an external display brings no joy, as it never displays anything. Resetting the PRAM did not help, nothing seemed to help. Booting from the Snow Leopard DVD did not help. Booting from a bootable external backup drive created with SuperDuper did not help.

Fortunately for me I did buy the AppleCare Extended Warranty when I bought this MacBook Pro, and it is still in effect until June of this year. The Apple Support rep quickly agreed with my conclusion that there is a problem with the video hardware, and a ship it back to us box is on its way here to my remote desert physical location.

I had a concern, though, about all of the personal and business data stored on the machine. While no doubt Apple hires trustworthy people with no criminal intentions, there was data on that computer that could be used, for instance, to log in to this server as root (I own this server). And there was source code for some of my ~130 websites too, some of which had secret key information for certain APIs that I use. I'm a stickler for security so this was a troubling issue for me. However, because Macs Are Great it was easy to resolve these concerns. Here is what I did.

I connected the MacBook Pro via Firewire to my Mac Pro, and booted the MacBook Pro into Target Disk Mode, and used SuperDuper to completely back up the hard drive to yet another external drive connected to my Mac Pro. Then I started Disk Utility and used it to zero out the entire hard drive in the MacBook Pro. Next I used my Snow Leopard DVD to install Snow Leopard on the MacBook Pro while it was still in Target Disk Mode (you can do this and it does work) rendering it very much like a brand new out of the box unit - except for the being broken part.

I'll be pleased when I get my MacBook Pro back, in the meantime I still have my cute little MacBook, and tomorrow I'll be ordering my iPad.

UPDATE: Less than 48 hours after I dropped off my MacBook Pro at FedEx I had it back, repaired, with a new mother board to correct the video problems. I'm quite pleased!

written by Steve Rider \\ tags: AppleCare, Broken Mac, hardware problem, Install Snow Leopard, It's dead Jim, MacBook Pro, no video, Target Disk Mode, zero out hard drive

Like many other people I'm planning to buy an iPad when they become available to order later this month. With that in mind I thought I'd take a quick look at eBay the night before last to see if they had any cool accessories I might have on hand when my new toy eventually arrives. I can't wait to sit in the Comfy Chair in the evenings surfing the web with a gadget that won't cause second degree burns on my legs.

What I found was an auction for a domain name with the word iPad in it, specifically iPadStereo.com. As you have guessed by now, because you are not stupid, I won the auction and after a few hours of hand coding, using Coda a free CSS template and an API that pulls data from Amazon, I'm now the proud owner of an iPad accessories shopping site. Your comments on the design and functionality are most welcome. I designed it so that on the day that Amazon first puts iPads into their online catalog they will automagically be listed on the landing page.

I also added a few pages of Apps you can browse through too, to keep it interesting. Thoughts? Feedback?

written by Steve Rider \\ tags: cases, domain names, eBay, iPad, websites

Recently our trusty old HP laser printer began displaying a cryptic series of blinking lights instead of printing pages. Since the printer was already 7 years old and was cobbled onto our wired LAN using an unreliable print server module, we decided it was time for a new printer. I wanted direct Ethernet support and a price under $200.

It came as a surprise when I saw a Samsung printer listed as not only having built in Ethernet (as well as USB) but also duplex printing. The next question in my mind was whether it would work with a Mac. Well, not only does it work with a Mac, it nearly installed itself.

Samsung ML-2851ND Network-Ready Monochrome Laser Printer
List Price: $329.99
Sale Price: $119.99
You save: $210.00 (64%)

         

Description

The easy-to-use Samsung ML-2851ND Network-Ready Monochrome Laser Printer delivers high-quality professional print jobs at speeds up to 21 pages per minute. With a durable monthly cycle of 30,000 pages, this efficient printer is designed to meet the demands of smaller offices...

Features

• Monochrome laser printer produces up to 21 ppm for efficient office use
• Prints single sheets in 8.5 seconds and 100 pages in under four minutes
• TonerSave mode that extends cartridge life up to 40 percent
• Durable monthly cycle of 30,000 pages for small office use
• Measures 14.3-by-14.5-by-8.3-inches

---

The printer arrived with a cryptic sheet with visual-only instructions for inserting the toner cartridge and attaching the included duplex adapter. Then it was just a matter of plugging in an Ethernet cable and a power cord, and finally turning on the power. That was the hard part.

On my Mac Pro two rooms away I brought up the Add Printer dialog in system settings. My Mac asked me if it was the Samsung printer it saw that I wished to add (yes, I do love using OS X). The Samsung printer uses Bonjour to announce its presence to Macs. We were also able to use IPP (Internet Printing Protocol) to setup a PC running Solaris to use the new printer. It is a PostScript printer.

Of course for those who have not yet escaped from using a Microsoft operating system there is also a CD with drivers and you can play the reboot game.

The printer supports automatic two-sided printing without any options or difficult setup. On the Mac you simply select the Two-Sided checkbox in the print dialog and it handles everything else.

I'm completely satisfied with this printer, and was very pleased to pay less than $200 including tax and shipping. Woo hoo! Poor HP.

Technorati Tags: Laser Printer, Samsung ML-2851ND, Duplex printing, under 0, Mac friendly, Bonjour printer, Network printer

written by Steve Rider

I received Snow Leopard today and have upgraded an older MacBook, a MacBook Pro, and my Mac Pro with no problems at all. It was the easiest operating system upgrade I've ever done. I now have a lot more free hard drive space on my two notebooks, making room for more movie and TV files in iTunes.

As expected Snow Leopard is much faster, especially Safari. I also notice it is faster in Mail when I switch from one mail folder to another. Even my Mac Pro is notably faster.

I'm very pleased

Technorati Tags: Snow Leopard, OS X, Apple, Mac OS, upgrade, Mac Pro, MacBook Pro, MacBook

written by Steve Rider

Apple will be releasing Snow Leopard on Friday and I have every intention of installing it ASAP. I intend to start with my main workhorse computer, my 8-core Mac Pro, on which I do all of my website development work. I ordered the 5-pack to include some of my other Macs too.

In preparation for the upgrade I've just started a complete backup of my 4 drive RAID 0+1 array using SuperDuper! so that I can boot back up immediately if it all goes horribly wrong.

I still use Time Machine and SuperDuper! as a combined backup strategy. I have no intention of losing any of my over 2 million data files.

I'm not expecting trouble, but knowing I'm prepared no matter what happens reduces the stress involved with an OS upgrade.

Among my other computers are an original first Intel MacBook, still running Tiger, and a 15" MacBook Pro. I think I'll upgrade the MacBook to Leopard today so that it can be then upgraded to Snow Leopard.

I understand that the Snow Leopard upgrade set being offered on Friday requires Leopard be already installed. People not already running Leopard can buy a box set that contains a full version (not just an upgrade) of Snow Leopard along with the excellent iLife and iWork packages. $149.99 might seem like a lot of money until you compare it to what it would cost for another operating system and comparable applications, imagine buying an OEM copy of Vista with MS Office and some photo package from Adobe, it would almost certainly cost $500 to $1,000 depending on versions and any student discounts. And that would not include an analog of Garage Band either.

Price comparisons are moot anyway for my purposes, Apple produces the operating system and hardware I prefer to use, so I will continue to do so.

Technorati Tags: Snow Leopard, Apple, OS X, 10.6, release, Mac Pro, upgrade

written by Steve Rider \\ tags: 10.6, Apple, Mac Pro, OS X, release, Snow Leopard, upgrade

I resisted as long as I could. I kept telling myself that since I was home most of the time I had very little need for a smart phone. My husband has had an iPhone for over a year now, but I kept resisting, content with having 5 Macs and 4 iPods.

What finally did me in was a recent trip back east to visit my kids and my grandson. My daughter was having a fatal problem with her existing cell phone, it would only hold a charge for a few minutes. She asked me if I would go with her to the AT&T store so that she could look at a new phone. The conversation turned to the fact that my husband (her third Dad) had an iPhone and she wondered how much it was costing him per month.

My husband was back in California, so I typed out a text message asking him about how much his iPhone was costing. When I hit send I discovered that my cheap T-Mobile prepaid phone had no service at my daughter's house, so we just went to AT&T and she got a 3G leftover iPhone for under $100. This left me still not having an iPhone while my über-geek programmer husband had one and my Registered Nurse daughter had one.

Last Friday I phoned my local AT&T store and they said they had no 3GS iPhones in stock, but I could come in and order one. The helpful clerk asked which model I would choose if I could have any of them at all, and I said "Well, I'd love to have a 32GB 3GS in white, if you had one." So he went into the back room and a few minutes later came out with a white 32GB iPhone 3GS, which I bought fast before anybody else saw it.

Gosh, what an absolutely wonderful toy! I've been tracking my trips to the store using GPSed and listening to local police radio with Police Scanner. I guess I have about 90 Apps total on my iPhone now, plus a gazillion songs from my iTunes library.

I've added a new Apps page to our Apple downloads pages maintained here at Macs Are Great. I really ♥ my new iPhone.

Technorati Tags: 32GB iPhone, iPhone 3GS, GPSed, Police Scanner, Apple downloads, iPhone apps

written by Steve Rider

As I'm typing this I'm on an American Airlines flight from DFW to Palm Springs using their new GoGo Inflight Internet service. For only $5.95 I am getting quite fast Internet access, and they do not seem to be blocking any ports. I was able to use SSH to connect to a secure site I manage, and the throughput is really fast.

A combination of coincidences led to this unexpected event. My flight was delayed a long time for aircraft trouble, then I was upgraded to an exit row seat. The battery on my MacBook Pro was virtually flat before I boarded, but I had my Apple MagSafe Airline adapter with me, and the exit row seat I was upgraded into had a power adapter underneath. Woo Hoo, the 21st century has now arrived. If there was a Jeebus he could take me now

Technorati Tags: Apple Magsafe Adapter, Inflight Internet, Aircraft WiFi, American Airlines, MacBook Pro, GoGo Internet

written by Steve Rider \\ tags: Aircraft WiFi, American Airlines, Apple Magsafe Adapter, GoGo Internet, Inflight Internet, MacBook Pro

It has been nearly nine months now since I abandoned using Dreamweaver and adopted Coda as my HTML/PHP editor and site manager. I never look back. Coda does have a few minor oddities about it, cases where I wonder why they did it that way, but I'm able to use it to do everything I need to with all of my blogs, associate stores, plain HTML sites and forums. My swearing while web editing has been reduced at least 90%.

One oddity I've noticed has to do with adding new files to your site. Assuming that you are creating, editing or otherwise manipulating these files on your Mac first, let's assume you add a new folder to a subfolder of document root, for example you might add a folder named "tiny" to an existing folder /images. If you select this new folder with the intention of uploading it to your site Coda will offer to upload it to the document root folder. I would have expected it to offer to upload it to the same folder on the server as it is in the local copy of the site. The simple fix for this unexpected behavior is to access the remote site in Coda, navigate to the folder that will contain your new upload, images in this case, then return to the local view of your site layout. Coda will now offer to upload the new folder to the desired location.
One of my websites is intended to provide support for people with celiac disease. On that site I'm using a number of different pieces of software plus some static and a few dynamic PHP pages of my own design. I'm using SMF in the forum, Associate-O-Matic in the store, Video Niche script to display YouTube videos, and Carp to show the content of RSS feeds. I wanted them all to look the same. I settled on an SMF theme that I really liked, then used Coda to force feed the layout into all of the other pieces of software. I'm rather pleased with the results, see what you think. The CSS editor built in to Coda was immensely helpful in this project.

When editing files Coda behaves exactly as I would want it to, it is a well designed, stable, well supported program and I'm abundantly pleased with it. No more Dreamwrecker swearing at this house. Coda gets 5 stars!

written by Steve Rider