[ Mac] New Users

[randombs]

Hey all, I'm getting annoyed at the lack of a hash key (#) on my Mac keyboards (both the laptop's built-in one and my full-size one). I'd like to know if there's a way to have the § key remapped to #.

As it stands, I can't think of any possible reason why I'd want a § key anyway. What's it for?

:edit:

Ignore that, I found out how to do it - Alt+3

########!

[VR46]

Select the file and press Enter?

Yep that's about one of four ways to do it, I'm just used to right clicking etc.

[randombs]

Oh yeah, I didn't even notice it's not in the right-click menu. I found out it's for renaming by pressing enter to open files. I've become used to using command+O to open files, and now when I use PCs I do the same thing

I know there are various ways to make OSX more palatable for Windows users but I try and steer away from them as I need to learn how to do things the Mac way!

[Taka]

Impressed by Handbrake, I've done loads of PSP/Touch converting over the years and Handbrake is very fast at what it does. There's certainly no need to look elsewhere so cheers.

Apart from Ctrl+C and Ctrl+V being changed slightly everything is very user friendly for a Apple newbie

I did have to Google how to find out how to change a file name though lol.

It's also pretty decent at encoding files to other formats, ie avi to mp4 or vice versa. I'm sure its speed is down to it being optimised for multicore processors, though don't quote me on that.

[samanosuke]

Yep that's about one of four ways to do it, I'm just used to right clicking etc.

I click on the file, wait a couple of nanoseconds, then click on the filename.

[arada392]

I had a Magic Mouse for a week, took a bit of getting used to but it was good.

How much time did you need to get used to the Magic Mouse? I've had it for about two weeks now and my wrist starts hurting after about only fifteen minutes of using the mouse. It's a shame that I'm only one of the (seemingly) few people with this problem, because it has everything I want in a mouse...

[VR46]

I click on the file, wait a couple of nanoseconds, then click on the filename.

Nice tip thanks, in so far as that way it highlights the file name but not the extension.

As long as the file is highlighted you can click on the name at any point to rename

[randombs]

I've got extensions hidden (even though I always enable them in Windows. Hmm...) but Vista does the same thing - highlights the text in front of the extension. I actually prefer that when doing a few renames - there's been more than a few occasions where I've started renaming a file and forgotten what the extension was to begin with

[samanosuke]

Vista does the same thing

Well, imitation is the highest form of flattery, as they say; OS-X has done this since 10.1 was released way back in 2001. For all I know 10.0 might have also but as I never used it I can't verify.

[Ginger Tosser]

How much time did you need to get used to the Magic Mouse?

I had it for a week, in that time got used to it. A few things I didn't like was:

• The sharp edges of the top plate
• Lack of side buttons (I used side buttons on the M.Mouse for Spaces)
• Found the mouse moved when swiping
• Couldn't get swipe to work in Firefox

I may wait for a wired version before I get it again. That said the roller on the Mighty Mouse is playing up so might take that back and add the ?20 on top for a magic mouse.

[wakka]

The rollerballs on the Mighty Mice are ludicrous. They're so terribly designed, they always end up gumming up and stopping working in at least one direction. And I'm aware there are methods of 'cleaning' the rollerball or whatever but I've never had any of them work. Dire. Apple's worst mouse, definitely. It even looks cheap, with just plain white plastic instead of the injection moulding used on the mouse prior to it and the Magic Mouse. It's also far too easy to set off the side buttons accidentally.

*rage*

The Magic Mouse seems great though

[Strolls]

Well, imitation is the highest form of flattery, as they say; OS-X has done this since 10.1 was released way back in 2001. For all I know 10.0 might have also but as I never used it I can't verify.

I have this notion that Windows 95 did this.

[JP]

Can anybody recommend a trusted Mac download usage monitor?

A few months ago my ISP started throttling my speeds during peak hours as they claimed I was using over a 100GBs a month, at this time I was completely sure that I was no where near that amount but I had no proof other than me having a good idea of what I was downloading each month.

I started using SurplusMeter which is free and each month it tells me that I use around 20GBs which to be honest is what I was expecting but each month I get an email saying that my speed is going to be restricted to 1mbs for 30 days as I've gone over 100GBs.

I've followed all the recommendations that I've been able to find including changing all the security settings on my wireless router even though I would have been fully aware if somebody had been trying to connect wirelessly as my router logs all attempted connections.

I've spoken to my ISP who advise me that they don't supply anything to monitor my download usage themselves but recommend I download independent monitors. I've told them that I've already done that and given them the results of the ones that I've tried and they just state that the ones I've tried are inaccurate but theirs isn't.

As they seem unwilling to listen I'm going to progress this via Otelo but before I do that I want to make sure that I have as much information as possible to back up my case.

Because I know that I'm right in what I'm claiming I'm willing to do whatever it takes to resolve it and I'm more than happy to pay for a usage monitor if it's going to ensure reliable results, free is better but I'm very willing to spend to prove my point so I'd appreciate any recommendations at all.

Thanks.

[VR46]

I asked the same question the other week after my Virgin tribualtions John

These two seem popular for the Mac (both are free)

http://islayer.com/apps/istatmenus/ - monitors memory, HD, CPU etc also if you wish, nice flexible program.

http://www.dumeter.com/scrshots.php - also pretty good

Give 'em a whirl and see what suits.

[randombs]

Did you ask them which monitoring software they recommend in that case? They shouldn't claim yours is inaccurate and then not give you an alternative. Silly question, but does your monitor include outbound traffic or just downloads?