It’s time to geek out a bit:

If I can be so bold, I would like to toss my hat into the “Erase and Install” camp when it comes to installing Mac OS X on a Mac. The merits of performing an Erase and Install of Leopard on my old 1st generation Macbook Pro were worth the time invested.

Let me back up (ha! ha!) and say that when I first purchased my laptop, it came with Tiger (10.4.x) already installed. When Leopard came out a year later, I was not in a situation or place where I could wipe the drive and start fresh. I opted to go with the “Archive and Install” option, which backed up my previous System folder and contents while installing the new OS, leaving all the applications and data files untouched.

There were no immediate problems with this approach. In my day to day usage, the MBP seemed to run all the applications I threw at it. Certain apps would feel sluggish, but I just chalked that up to the processor and the gaggle of pro apps that were on the hard drive. Over the span of a few months, however, I noticed that the laptop would run increasingly hotter – with fans idling at 5000 RPM even when all applications were closed.

Not so good.

Alas, I didn’t have the time to deal with the issue – until this weekend. The arrival of my new MBP last week meant that I would be giving my old MBP to Aarti. (It’s her first-ever Mac, and she’s excited.)

I wiped the hard drive clean (after making two back-ups using SuperDuper and Time Machine), and reinstalled Leopard and other apps on the now virgin 100 GB 5400 RPM drive.

Performance, particularly in the areas of Finder operations and application launches, are much, much improved. The machine also runs much cooler, with the fans idling at 2000 1000 RPM, even when multiple applications are running. The old Macbook Pro honestly feels like a new machine again.

My only thought on the whole matter is: why did I wait so long?

What about you? If you’re running a Mac – what methods / approaches do you take when installing a new version of the OS?

-Krishna

I’m one of those geeks who go the extra mile to protect my hardware. I cringe when I see a scratch or blemish. Little dings and marks drive me up the wall.

With that said, it was time for me to purchase a case for my new iPod Touch. There were plenty of options to choose from, and my mind reeled at all the available choices.

After two weeks of research, I settled on the SoftShell Case from DLO (Digital Lifestyle Outfitters).

The DLO iPod Touch 2G SoftShell Case is a flexible molded case for the iPod Touch. I purchased mine from Best Buy for under $20 this evening. My research led me to this particular model.

The case packaging was attractive, and the plastic shell that housed this case was surprisingly very easy to open. Inside the plastic shell is the SoftShell case itself and two SurfaceShields (screen protectors).

The photos above show the front and back of the case with the iPod Touch sitting snug inside it. What I really like about the SoftShield unit is how well the case fits and protects the iPod itself. The ports for power and headphones are exposed at the bottom, for convenience, but the rest of the back and sides of the iPod are fully protected.

The SoftShield’s back has a nice silver pattern that looks really slick. The case really compliments the gorgeous looks of the iPod Touch. I also really like how the SoftShield feels in my hands.

The included SurfaceShields were a nice touch, but my attempt to apply one left numerous air bubbles along surface of the iPod Touch’s screen. I opted to remove the SurfaceShield altogether because of the visibility of air bubbles.

Ultimately, whether or not you choose to purchase a case for your iPod Touch is entirely up to you. If you’re obsessive / compulsive about your gadgets like I am, you can’t go wrong with the DLO SoftShell. I would not hesitate to recommend it to iPod Touch owners who are looking for a reasonably priced case to help protect their investment.

The DLO SoftShell for the iPod Touch 2G gets 4.5 Weenies out of 5.

-Krishna

We had a fairly good turnout for tonight’s show. Topics included: the writing process, figure drawings tips for newbies (with links), and resources for cartoonists. Participating on the show this week:

RyanDow
Frumph @frumph
DungeonWarden @DungeonWarden
Liz Walsh @litazia
AxoniteV3 @Axonite
Comics Grrl @comics_grrl
MarkCalifornia @markCalifornia
KSekelsky
Scott Story @sstory
JT Shea
Carlisle
Argonsassistant
Javier Hernandez @JavierHernadez
Argylegargoyle

Notable links discussed in the show included:

an online version of Preston Blair’s Cartoon Animation for studying character construction and line of action.

Sheldon’s Art Academy: An excellent series of Youtube videos that focus on drawing, painting, and design.

Temple of the Seven Golden Camels: an online repository for storyboarding, filmmaking, drawing, and animation.

Tom’s MAD blog: Tutorials and tips from the famous MAD magazine illustrator.

Learn to Draw the Human Figure – everything you wanted to know about drawing anatomy (with instructional DVDs.)

ComicCrazys: fantastic comic samples to further inspire the sequential artist.

So there ya go. If I missed you on the show notes, please drop me a line. One big announcement, I’m planning to switch the show dates to Saturdays instead of Fridays. So, mark your calendars for Saturday, December 27th for Show #15.

Please note that the SAP forums have moved. Sign up for the new SAP forum – post your questions and get some discussion going there today!

-Krishna