From time to time, I run across some truly useful Macintosh utilities and applications that help me in my workflow. I’d like to share my latest discovery:

Hyperspaces

Spaces, Apple’s virtual desktop environment, isn’t complete without this $13 shareware application. Currently in Public Preview, Tony Arnold’s application allows you to customize each Space the way you want – via desktop pictures, colors, text labels, and even the name of each Space.

For instance, you can assign a separate desktop background for each space. You can also assign individual text labels, via custom fonts and colors. You can even adjust the position of the text label for each desktop. I prefer to have my text labels for each desktop on the upper left side.

When you switch between Spaces, the transition between each desktop is smooth. The unregistered version allows you to customize 2 Spaces – perfect for test driving this program. The registered version allows you to customize additional Spaces. After installing and using this app for two days, I registered my copy to support the developer’s efforts.

I evaluated my copy on a Macbook Pro and MacPro.

There are some niggles with this application, but given that it hasn’t officially hit 1.0, but the developer has been good about keeping users posted with updates.

In my usage of the app, I discovered that HyperSpaces doesn’t work with CocoaTech’s newest version of Path Finder. That’s because Path Finder draws its own Desktop on the screen. The workaround I’ve found is to uncheck “Hide Finder’s Desktop” within the Path Finder preferences.

Through SpaceSwitcher, an option within HyperSpaces, you can see a custom view of all your desktops by holding Option-` (backwards tick). See screenshot below:

As far as my wish list, here’s what I’d like to see in future versions:

1) multiple monitor support
2) pure Path Finder integration
3) application / window views within each SpaceSwitcher window, similar to the way virtual desktop apps of yore (CodeTek’s Virtual Desktop, etc.)

HyperSpaces has behaved well on my system. No crashes or slow-downs were caused by this application. I have confidence in the future of this app, as it was developed by the author of the late, lamented VirtueDesktops – one of the best virtual desktop apps on the market before Apple introduced Spaces.

I really found this application to be useful. I have separate Spaces assigned to Photoshop, Painter, Netnewswire and Web/Mail. I can now easily tell which desktop I’m on, and that makes me more productive. This is something I wish Apple had implemented from the get-go.

In short, if you’re looking for a better way to organize and manage your Spaces, check out HyperSpaces. HyperSpaces requires 10.5.4 and works on Intel and PPC Macs.

-Krishna

The time has come for me to seriously consider upgrading my 2006 Macbook Pro to the newest model. I’ve been reading Ars Technica’s review of the machine, and performance-wise, it looks like this new model will be significantly faster than the machine I’m using now. That said, I’m always interested in hearing from actual owners of said machine.

If you are using a late-2008 model Macbook Pro: What are your opinions of it? How long have you used it? How do you find the glossy screen in your day-to-day usage?

I work with my laptop in a controlled lighting environment 98% of the time, so I’m not concerned too much about the glossy display. (I would probably lean towards matte screen if there was a choice in the matter.)

What will happen to my current Macbook Pro when I purchase the new one? Aarti’s got dibs on it, of course. I plan on wiping the drive on that unit and reinstalling Leopard.

For the new MBP, I’m considering maxing out the RAM to 4GB and having a 250GB drive (7200 RPM) in place of the default 320GB (5400 RPM) drive.

Thanks for the feedback!

-Krishna

P.S. while I’m inquiring, I’m also interested in hearing opinions / reviews of the new iPod Touch. I’m torn between the 8GB and 16GB models. I plan on using the device primarily for the bundled PDA type apps (I already have a 2003 model iPod that carries my entire music collection.) I’m wondering if the additional 8GB would be important, given that you can add new apps to the device.

A few things came in the mail today…

I’ve opened the iPod Touch and played with it. What a marvelous gadget! I can see this forever changing my computing habits. The Corsair 16GB USB drive was a replacement unit swapped out by Newegg – the first unit I had was defective out of the box.

I still haven’t opened the MBP yet. Hoping to do that this afternoon. More to write soon.

-Krishna

I finally had a chance to set up my new Macbook Pro yesterday afternoon. I’m still installing apps, but my first impressions are positive. The screen is uniformly bright, the keyboard feels firm and solid. I’m very happy with my decision to purchase this unit instead of the new MBP (glossy screen) model.

I winded up paying $1000 less than what this machine cost when it came out. Below are some snaps from the obligatory unboxing.

-Krishna

My Speck case for my new Macbook Pro arrived this afternoon. The new case looks snazzy and does a great job protecting the outer surface of the laptop. I was able to get mine for half price as Speck Products is blowing out all their older cases with a 50% discount.

My older Macbook Pro is protected with a red version of the same Speck case:

-Krishna

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

When the new Macbook Pro models were announced in October, I was very eager to hear what users had to say. I poured over reviews from Macworld, CNET, Macintouch, TUAW and just about every reputable tech website out there.

My impressions, based on these reviews, came down to the following points:

1. RAM and hard drives could be easily updated
2. the unibody construction was solid
3. the display was nice and bright, but incredibly reflective under
   certain lighting conditions
4. discrete and onboard graphics NVidia chipsets
5. The units featured a Firewire 800 port, in favor of the popular Firewire 400 port
6. there is no button underneath the trackpad

Many people with these notebooks enjoy them. Some do not. I had a decision to make. I was in the market for a new Mac laptop – would I get the new one, or purchase the slightly older model for less?

As readers of this blog know, I opted to go with the slightly older model. For me, point 3 was the governing factor in my decision. I have seen and used glossy displays before. While the color fidelity on the new Macbook Pro displays are excellent (and I realize this is a subjective thing), the reflectivity factor was a major turnoff.

For me, the convenience of a portable machine means that I can use my machine anywhere, under a myriad of lighting conditions, without having to adjust or compromise my seating position in order to see the screen properly.

The other factor that swayed my decision (to a lesser extent) was the fact that the new MBPs are essentially Revision A models. The chances of bugs and other weirdness creeping in is generally found to be higher whenever the manufacturing process changes significantly.

To make a long story short, I settled on the early 2008 Macbook Pro (2.5GHz, 15″ display, 250GB hard drive) instead. These models are being blown out at firesale prices, and represent a good investment for someone who wants the power of a Macbook Pro at Macbook-type pricing.

The new machine shares a lot of common traits with the 2006 model Macbook Pro I also own. The keyboard is taut and stiff, and is very comfortable to type on. The OLED display is bright (almost too bright) and sharp. (I opted for the matte display.) The unit includes 1 Firewire 400 port, 2 USB ports, 1 Firewire 800 port, audio input, headphone output, and Express PC slot. The machines use Intel Penryn chips for the main processor and Nvidia GeForce 8600M GT for the graphics processor.

The machine runs very warm during normal operation, enough for me to warrant resting the machine on a surface rather than on my lap. I also noticed that the screen can’t be pushed past the 90 degree viewing angle, compared to the older MBP model I have. Perhaps this was done intentionally?

The speed difference between the 2006 MBP and 2008 MBP was rather significant. I don’t have any quantifiable measurements (those can be found on other sites), but application launch times on the new MBP are very fast, and overall Finder responsiveness (including Spaces, Dashboard) seems greatly enhanced.

Transferring my documents over to the new notebook was a breeze. I didn’t use Migration Assistant – I simply copied the data I needed from an external HD backup (done via SuperDuper).

The new touch-pad capabilities of the Macbook Pro have proven themselves to be very useful in my day to day computing. I really enjoy this feature. One other thing I noticed with the keyboard: the enter and return keys are now combined into one. This took me by surprise, as my older MBP had each designated as separate keys.

I’m running my Macbook Pro with the stock 2GB RAM. I plan on adding an extra 2GB in the future. I’m very happy with the machine – it’s behaved flawlessly out of the box. If you’re looking at a Macbook Pro and want to save some sizeable coin, seriously consider going with the early 2008 Macbook Pro model.

-Krishna

A few shout-outs this morning:

UNcubed updates with a new installment, that takes a page from the playbook of PC Weenies.

Myself, Kevin Cross, Mark Rudolph and Ted Seko joined host Javier Hernandez on JaviLAND to geek out on numerous topics: our 2009 aspirations, relationship advice to comic-making geeks (our Dr. Phil moment), and our favorite geek toys from Christmases past. Go have a listen. (Warning: My voice sounds like Tone Loc during the recording of this show, thanks to a throat infection.)

And speaking of podcasts, this week’s Art and Story Alive features the return of host Jerzy Drozd as we discuss the impact family has on our comic-making. Whether it’s support we get (or wish we get) from our families, to how we plan to pass along the proverbial torch to future generations, it was an interesting and lively discussion.

Enjoy!

-Krishna

Today marks the 25th birthday of the Apple Macintosh computer.

I’ve owned a Mac since 1996 (well, technically it was a Mac clone — a Power Tower 180e by Power Computing) and have been an avid enthusiast of the platform.

But I’ve used Macs for much longer than that. My first computer was an Apple IIGS, which shared many of the desktop metaphors that the first generation Macintosh’s had. My first encounter with Macintosh computers was in college, where I remember seeing a slew of Mac Plusses in labs all across campus at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville – my alma mater.

I was always fascinated with the Mac, yet resentful. I loved my Apple IIGS – it was a great computer – but I felt a sense of abandonment when Apple moved beyond the Apple // to the Macintosh.

I moved from the IIGS to a PC (a 486DX/33, to be precise), largely because all my classes involved Windows-based apps. I was running Windows 3.1 / PSpice / Word and a host of other apps. While the Windows user interface was similar to the Macintosh, the fit and finish was not the same.

I lusted after the Mac IIci and MacSE/30, but couldn’t afford either. I think the IIci form factor was the best – and to this day I still wish I could get my hands on one.

Using the PC wasn’t fun – it was a machine I used because I had to. In grad school, I went back to my stalwart IIGS. I used it at home, while I used a Power Macintosh 6100/66 that the school provided. What I remember about this machine was that it had a card that would let me run Windows based software at the same time.

Soon after, I purchased my first Macintosh – it was a PowerTower 180e, built by Macintosh clone maker Power Computing. This machine was amazing. It was ridiculously fast, easily upgradeable, and served me well from 1997 – 2000.

In 1998, I purchased my first bonafide Mac, a Wallstreet PowerBook G3. This was my first laptop. It didn’t have wireless access, but nonetheless, I finally had portable computing power.

As for the PowerTower, I expanded the heck out of it, with RAM upgrades and even an accelerator card. Ultimately, it died as a result of a lightning storm, taking all the data on my hard drive with it. I eventually sold the machine for parts on eBay, keeping only the label on the front of the machine for sentimental reasons.

My list of Macs in my ownership since then have included:

• PowerMac Dual 450 – purchased in 2000)
• Powerbook G3 (Pismo) – purchased in 2000)
• PowerMac G5 2GHz (Rev. A) (purchased in 2003)
• Macbook Pro (1st generation MBP, purchased in 2006)
• MacPro (8 core, 2.8GHz purchased in early 2008)
• Macbook Pro (Feb. 2008 model, purchased in Nov. 2008)

What was your first exposure to Macintosh?

-Krishna

I think my video card may be melting down (or something). This morning I noticed a lot of strange video artifacts on my Mac Pro. It’s running an ATI 2600 card. Up until today, there weren’t any problems. Curious to know if other folks have experienced these video issues.

Thanks!

-Krishna