Zeldman's OSX Switcher's Guide
Zeldman just put up a neat little Switcher's Guide at his site. He's finally starting to move to OSX.
Not a really comprehensive thing, just thought some of you would like to give it a read.
Not a really comprehensive thing, just thought some of you would like to give it a read.
Comments
edit: hmmm... works in explorer and mozilla...
Anyway... Sheesh! What a lot of effort to drag OS 9 "cute-ilities" into OS X. Font management needs work, no debate, and those other apps may be useful, but that whole page feels like what I have observed in others: The absolute refusal to make a clean break.
The only utility I used from those listed was Dragthing and once I used the Dock in OS X I was done with app switcher/shortcut apps. Done!
I'd go mad trying to manage all those apps that are there to solely "enhance" the OS.
Also, I was initially expecting Windows switcher guide as opposed to a guide for an OS 9 switcher. (Not that I need either).
Is there anyone else that abandoned most of those little apps once they migrated to OS X??
Screed
I'm assuming since he makes the site on a Mac, and he's a pretty heavy hitter in web design circles, that they should be fine with those browsers. (the screenshot in his story has Chimera running even)
Hmm.
Originally posted by sCreeD
Is there anyone else that abandoned most of those little apps once they migrated to OS X??
There was a time when I was somewhat younger when all I thought about was to 'enhance' the OS. I'd download all sorts of gadgets and gizmos...Kaleidoscope...etc. and made it an obsession. I've grown out of that phase.
I believe a lot of people are still immature and stuck in that intermediate phase I call, the Nerd Complex phase, where people strive to modify everything they see to fit their needs using any mean possible. At this stage, you've become proficient enough with a computer to find these OS utilities yourself, download them, install them and play with them.
The phases go like this:
Newbie (Petrified of new software, scared of breaking the computer...will only settle for the basics.)
Nerd Complex (Finally finds out that new software is fun, not scared of breaking the computer and begins to install OS modifying utilities and complex software...instability to the OS is brought in...complexity of managing the computer is introduced.)
Maturity (Realizes that most of these utilities are dumb and serve no real purpose. The person in the maturity phase, acquires the need for 'going back to basics', and enjoys a clean OS and easy-to-use software but also has the skills of the person that broke through into the Nerd Complex phase.)
A lot of people are Newbies and have a hard time moving the next phase...quite a few reach the Nerd Complex phase...but only a handful actually go beyond and realize it's all a big joke and the truth lies in a simple, clean OS and simple, clean apps.
I don't want to hear anyone disagree with these true facts. Anyone who disagrees is evidently in the 2nd phase (Nerd Complex) and doesn't want to hear about the phase beyond. Believe me, it's there...even though some of you will dismiss it as "one of kim kap sol's dumb crack-smokery".
I had Kaleidoscope with theme randomization, I had all sorts of sounds going off, anyone remember Neko the cat that ran after your cursor?
Then one day I looked at it and said "You know, this is all just really frickin' annoying, is what this is."
Haven't looked back.
Maturity (Realizes that most of these utilities are dumb and serve no real purpose. The person in the maturity phase, acquires the need for 'going back to basics', and enjoys a clean OS and easy-to-use software but also has the skills of the person that broke through into the Nerd Complex phase.)
Or perhaps just crack smoking cluelessness. Of the apps mentioned on Zeldman's page only one replaces OS9 behaviors (ASM) and one other (Dragthing) is a matter of personal preference. The others are absolutely essential if you want to get a lick of work done. If you think Spell Catcher or Typeit4me are the equivalent of Kaleidescope you should review your UI concepts.
Is there anyone else that abandoned most of those little apps once they migrated to OS X??
Open/Save dialogs are near useless without Default Folder, and even then because there is no equivalent to Nav Services, Default Folder is the ugliest of kludges. Nonetheless it is essential in rescuing open/save dialogs from Apple's minimalist, user-unfriendly urges.
I think after the nerd complex it breaks off into two groups. The mature *nix user. No matter how un-easy the OS is to use they fly through it like it was OS X. They crave an OS that they can wrap and contort into anything they want it to..
and the mature user you specified...
We all know it would look like this.
His screenshot can best be described as backward. If he doesn't want to use X, then he shouldn't. ph34r teh n3w t3ch.
Ok, maybe it should look like this.
"whole O?Reilly books have been written about font management in OS X, and the authors of those books always commit suicide after writing them."
Just made my night!
But this is just pushing it: "Oh, yeah, and DragThing also lets you put the Trash Can back on the Desktop, as the Lord intended."
I agree with KKS to some extent, and I don't like DragThing and DockThing and all that.
i have definitely pruned back on the crap I load on my Mac.
Originally posted by sCreeD
Is there anyone else that abandoned most of those little apps once they migrated to OS X??
I just wish I could add some of this stuff to my Windows machine. Anything would be better than a Start button.
Originally posted by Defiant
just switch over to a mac, and never look back- that's waaaaaaay easier than to get windows to run properly...
It rhymes. That should be Apple's new slogan. :P
Originally posted by Defiant
just switch over to a mac, and never look back- that's waaaaaaay easier than to get windows to run properly...
Yea, Rrright... like someone with _that_ nick would be a windoze user..
At least the dock-like apps he usees don't move around when you open or minimize things.
I didn't know about a couple of the apps he uses - and I would probably use them if I used OS X more.
There's nothing wrong with love.