Operating System Ground » Macbook

iPhone again

Andrew — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 04:09:28 +0000

Like usual Apple gimmick, some rumor, some excitement and wait for the queue.

Recently, there are rumor about the latest iPhone 4G, or some say it is iPhone HD.

The overall design look like a Macbook, I like, but I don’t like touch screen from now on, that’s it!

The 5th years

Andrew — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 16:04:58 +0000

It has been 5 years I’m writing blog for my operating system blog, I almost amazed by myself when I was research about life insurance quotes online and doing spring cleaning on this blog.

Let’s see what I’ve been working on this blog:

No ads!
Writing paid post/entry
From Macbook to Operating System then to my career – Web development
Back to basic

Back in October 2006, I finally decided to get a Macbook instead of a PC, because I was in print industry of studies. As most designers recommended Macbook due to the speed and stability it can provide to work on large scale of work.

However, soon I graduated from college, I started to order Ubuntu to test the system (That’s why it jumped from Macbook to Operating system).

On the end of end of 2008 I decided to go back to a PC since Macbook is too much to maintain and too expensive to upgrade with I got myself an Acer Aspire 4930, which is one of the economical laptop on the market. It was also because I started off as a web designer and not a print designer. So I am a-ok with PC since my work is small scaled.

And now, here I am as a self-employed/freelance web designer with my wife ranting and complaining to each other about web technology, WordPress upgrade and clients Life has been good and will be good.

Running Macbook and cleaning Ubuntu

Andrew — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 19:06:53 +0000

As the title stated, these are all I did today. Didn’t really online and tweet. Just some casual yet simple task today. However, something I find out about both systems though.

The longer it runs the better it gets

My Macbook need some heat. It doesn’t work well on first hour or more, but after the period of cooling, it will runs as I tell. I did a few print design today with it, files was approximately 15 to 25MB, without a dim problem with it, beside, of course the heat problem.

Too much USB causing a slow down

I can’t tell why yet, as I plugged the third USB device, it slowed down and start to lag, doesn’t matter which application I open, it took ages. The running processes also slow. What I plugged were 1, USB hub with a keyboard and a wireless mouse. 2, 3G USB modem, 3, External HDD. As soon as I plugged in the external HDD, it slow down and lag. Probably too heavy to run a huge (80GB) storage device?

Well, it is still good, I think I’m going to keep it for a moment and see what would I jump into before fixing myself into any operating system yet. I am seriously getting bored of designing this few month. I wanted to work on online traffic building and marketing at the moment. Just before I start off with a small agency, I need to at least know the most important aspect of one website-related office.

Anyway, speaking of cleaning Ubuntu, I think GtkOrphan is enough I tried to login to all system folders to see if there’s any leftover, but none I found, great work Ubuntu! And please make a better and stable version on next release? I’ll be upgrading to Ubuntu 9.04 once I step back home next month, the CDs just arrived home

Mac OSX Tiger 2 days

Andrew — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 12:55:35 +0000

I changed to Macbook for 2 days, test drive again after 6 months. Well, still the same, I think all these shits happen on my Macbook only and not others…

Slow

Opening windows and application is way slow comparing with Vista and Ubuntu. Though the system is faster, but I still believe a vendor who created the operating system and hardware should have a better performance.

Mouse

I need to stress this again. Without laser mouse or 1000dpi mouse, Mac OSX Tiger just don’t run that smooth. I am using a 800dpi mouse, in Vista and Ubuntu it runs well. Not in Mac OSX Tiger. That’s a down turn. I just cannot afford a mighty mouse. I am giving chance to Apple by buying their product, but they did not give me a chance to use/buy their product in long term.

Fragile

Macbook white 1.83GHz, bought 3 years ago. As fragile as it gets. Let’s see, I get battery defeated, DVD-ROM down, screen flickering… Almost everything that can be taken down has been broken. I don’t know how long it can stand anymore.

Anyway, just a few side note here:

Going to be busy due to some big personal event.
Friend went to Singapore to get an opportunity but ended up the medical check out that he need Mesothelioma treatment so he has been bounce back home again.
Parent is coming on August. Spent some money for their ticket already.

Obviously I wouldn’t be able to update too much on all my blog. But of course I will try my best for update my experience with the OS I have with me

Turning off computer

Andrew — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 04:30:06 +0000

Just for the sake of posting something here since the connection today seems to be pretty good Just to share some simple thing though. Speaking about turning off computer, I mean laptop actually are made to be easy. Let’s just take my Macbook as an esample, pressing the on/off button will come out this warning window…

Well, another press on “Enter” will do the work. However, some people joke about turning off windows need to go to “Start”, which for a laptop, is not truth. Simply press the on/off button will do too.

And this little thing that looks like emergency lights will switch off the laptop in no time. So just becareful when typing on speed with the keyboard.

Cleaning the only place

Andrew — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 06:43:07 +0000

Most Macbook user came to me and asked about how to clean Macbook, especially the keyboard part. Few nights ago, my friend who has just had his first Macbook for months, asked how long is my Macbook. I answered 3 years, he was impress with the cleanness of my Macbook, the keyboard part. So here is what I used to clean it up…

Yes, it’s as simple as that, eraser. Thing that has been using all the time when you’re studying. Or perhaps, thing that designer use so often You can easily get a wholesale fashion jewelry even if you don’t clean your jewely. But about a computer, there isn’t one. So be wise, save some money to clean yourself

Best Mac OSX maintenance software ever

Andrew — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 03:55:54 +0000

Due to my faulty DVD-Rom, I can’t repair my volume header, that scared me for a while. I took my time to look into the internet for the best volume repair software. I get cocktail and some other that are shareware

And finally I come across this best maintenance software called – Applejack. It allow Single User Mode to maintain and repair the header! It also helps if the laptop can’t boot up. Best of all, it’s freeware! Not even a shareware can compete with this. I got my volume header repaired and now running smooth Imagine sitting here all day long just to find out how to repair my volume header, damn! I should have know this software earlier. Next entry must be a weight loss pill reviews due to the long hour of sitting without exercise this few days.

All you need to do is press “Command + S” when startup and the sound “Pong!”. It can’t work when it is on the user mode though. My idea is to just use the command key “applejack auto”, it will do 3 things.

1, Repair header
2, Repair permission
3, Clean up cache

Which is way better to remember all others code It is only 331KB file by the way.

Macbook DVD-Rom down!

Andrew — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 10:18:16 +0000

Finally my Macbook need to send to the service center, but I didn’t do it I don’t want to waste any more money on this stupid machine. Well, not really that stupid. I’ve been finding that Macbook (Especially white ones) has a very weak/soft cover, it needed to be taken care REALLY careful. It could break apart anytime if there’s any tough move.

Recently the DVD-Rom has been playing games with me. Sometimes it just don’t read any CD or DVD, sometimes it does. When it does, it has a very annoying and scary sound. Now, it can’t burn and CD-R, error message was just about unable to connect to the DVD-Rom. It can’t boot up with my Mac OSX CD as well, which ended up I can’t repair my volume header

I looked into accessories store for a replacement. It cost more than RM500+, I really can’t afford it anymore. Obviously I needing some acne scars cream very soon! I’ve been spending too much for this stupid white machine!!! Since my parent tells me to give this Macbook to my sister, I’m thinking to get a PC laptop instead Hackintosh always available. Well, I don’t need Hackintosh anymore I guess. I’m in need of Internet Explorer. I’ve been actively developing WordPress themes this few months, and I can’t check them in Internet Explorer! Mac OSX doesn’t allow IE to install on it now, dammit!

Macbook and LCD

Andrew — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 19:37:45 +0000

Finally I took out my wallet and get the DVI adapter for my Macbook. There are a few reason that make me buy this expensive little adapter.

Eyes candy, this is the first reason. I’m a student, so I can’t run away from presentation, as I would like to be more special and more perfect on my presentation, I wanna use Keynote from iLife instead of Microsoft PowerPoint. All my course mates used PowerPoint and all of them are lack of knowledge in beautifying their PowerPoint slides. In order to take advantage from there, I think Keynote would do me much more better than a beautiful PowerPoint slide. (Hey, I know how to use PowerPoint in real deal.). No more breaking bathroom faucets for getting nervous on my stupid slide or even content. Believe it or not, beautiful presentation can help the content.

Secondly, 13.3 inches screen is a headache. I’m graphic based, so I do a lot of graphic related stuff which need lots of details. Hence, bigger screen will be better than small. One more thing, I’m using an external keyboard, there are some destine in between the screen with my eyes

Hopefully I’m not gonna waste this adapter on only presentation How I wish I have an LCD display back at KL.

Bluetooth Laser Mouse

Andrew — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 04:49:12 +0000

Recently my girl friend bought this bluetooth mouse for me This Logitech V470 bluetooth mouse is just sweet! Luckily there was this white color one instead of the ugly blue. It’s totally match my Macbook.

Anyway, due to the reason that it is laser base, so the motion is way faster than when I’m using normal optical mouse or even the previous 3D mouse. Will post more about the review soon, so far I’m with PC instead Anyway, this mouse only costed USD50 (RM160), according to my research on Malaysia market, they’re selling this at a sky high RM190+ price, still worth my flight deals to Indonesia here!

No More Updates

Andrew — Tue, 27 May 2008 00:18:41 +0000

I keep checking the software update from time to time hoping…

1, An update that fix the screen flickering problem.
Recently it keep happening back on my Macbook again, although it has been sometimes that it doesn’t happen B ut it’s annoying you know?
2, USB ports giving me a headache.
My mouse doesn’t seems to work so perfect nowadays too. After wake up my Macbook from sleep mode, the mouse red LED light underneath it gone! I have to re-plugin my mouse again.
3, Airport doesn’t work like charm anymore.
To tell you the truth, it’s been quite a while my Airport doesn’t work well, especially when we just changed a new wireless modem. I like to use wireless compare to ethernet which messing up with the Macbook left sidebar Well, I used only the adapter, the mouse and a speaker, any edition to the sidebar cause a mess! It doesn’t matter how much engraved plaques trophies has Apple win now, it’s about the software quality!

So… Where is Apple update coming? Anyway, it’s might be that the launching of Leopard is the death of Tiger

More RAM

Andrew — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 09:57:22 +0000

Just came back from PC Fair, this is the first time for 2008 and I manage to get something from there.

Yes, 1GB memory stick for two It’s been quite sometimes I’m planning to get one, but the price was way high then. Well, until recently when I wanted to get it, it costed only RM74 per stick and since PC Fair was near, so I waited for the week and get for only RM58 per stick, and I was directbuy from the Kingston reseller. Heh… I wonder why I didn’t count the transportation and the walking in the crowd situation.

Now with 2GB memory I think I can less worry about the lack of memory on my Macbook when I run most my Adobe products (Photoshop, Illustrator, After Effect and Flash).

Battery Or Not

Andrew — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 15:51:21 +0000

Many people advice me not to use battery with adaptor plugged. But since I’m using the “hottest” and the more advance laptop (MacBook) so I give it a test! And it’s a stupid plan to take…

It’s not like I’m a gold cufflinks kind of people, I can’t afford another battery for sure, obviously the power of this battery is really unstable now. Of course it can’t be used for 3 hours, not even a sharp 2 hours, sometimes it works very well, sometimes it run only for an hour plus, it’s a 16 months old machine so far, I’m going to do some observation on the screen and keyboard now…

Macbook Upper Casing

Andrew — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 03:43:45 +0000

Today, the postman surprise me with this big ass box. I almost forgot about this item after a week time.

It’s all the way from US, PowerbookMedic, a Mac specialty I found out months ago when doing some market research, and take the chance to order a piece of crap I’ve ruined

There are one receipt, one advertisement paper in A4 and the truly Macbook upper case The smell, the clean look of it, it’s just gives me the day!

All I have to do is to unscrewed a few screws and done, you don’t need to take out the RAM or hard disk like shown in most assembly guide though, it’s just wasting time The reason I change because…

This machine is obviously very very fragile, needs a lot of attention either something like that, or the casing, because it get scratches so easily. Anyway, I have a new Macbook now!

Photoshop Speed Test

Andrew — Sun, 25 Nov 2007 18:45:09 +0000

Remember I was talking about Photoshop loading speed? Well, in this world of internet which I reckon it as a “World of intelligence”, people tend to test out Photoshop speed together

So, it works like this…

1, Open a new document with 8×10 inches in 300dpi resolution
2, Add noise filter on it, apply it as Uniform, Monochromatic and 400%
3, Add Radial blur filter as 100, Zoom, Best in quality
4, Press enter on Radial blur and start counting.

It took me 3 minutes 7 seconds to apply the Radial blur, which I consider as slow like shit! I can’t believe I’m holding my pen and stop watch on my hands for 3 minutes just for this sake! Honestly I don’t expect that kind of speed though, the average speed was 50 seconds, but my Macbook with Intel Core Duo 1.83GHz and 1GB DDR2 RAM running so God damn slow recording 3 minutes while those with Pentium 4 2.8GHz and also 1GB DDR2 RAM could make it on 1 minute?! Damn, there must be something wrong with my laptop!