Spacepaper

Some time ago I discovered Spaces, the Virtual Desktop utility that comes with Mac OSX. It took a while to get used to the extra step of switching desktops instead of juggling with bringing windows to the top, but once I'd got the hang of it, then I wondered how I'd ever managed when I had a single over-crowded screen. As switching between desktops has become second nature, I've begun to wonder if there are any ways to extend the ease of use and immediacy any further...

One thought was to replace the keyboard key-press with a mouse click, but I used to use a three button mouse when I used Unix, and my fingers are happier with just a couple of choices. Squeezing a mouse feels wrong to me, too. The finger-gestures on the new Apple Magic Mouse might be a way forward, and I'll check that the next time I'm in an Apple Store (or find someone with a Magic Mouse - I've always found that talking with another user is a good way to shortcut the learning cycle).

But it turns out that there are a few software solutions that make virtual desktops easier to use, so here's a few things to consider.

- Dockland Soft's Spacesuit is a free utility that allows you to have different wallpapers for each desktop, so you get immediate visual feedback as you change desktop. But Dockland are into more than just extra wallpaper - Fantastik is a neat 'window preview' switcher system that offers an alternative way to sort out multiple windows.

- The CocoaBots' Hyperspaces is an alternative wallpaper-per-space utility that also allows you to colorize/tint one background image differently for each desktop.

- Once you start looking for alternative wallpapers for desktops, then you also find utilities that extend the basic Finder functionality. One example is Conjure 3 from Conjurebunny. Another (early beta) example is here.

There seems to be an evolution in progress here. Multi-touch tables, Magic Mouse, and iPhone seem to be influencing people to increase the tactile aspects of screens, and it seems to be leading to something of which we are only seeing glimpses so far. I'm reminded of other 3D-influenced utilities like the Cooliris image browser, and I also remember previous bursts of 'user interface' innovation activity like the transition from the one-app-at-once Finder via the Switcher to the many-apps-at-once MultiFinder and alternatives like the Slave beta from (I think) Steve Capps...

What I'm certain of is that there's plenty of things to explore in this area, and that having a different wallpaper for each virtual desktop is only the beginning.

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Setting up a new Mac

I've set up two MacBooks recently, and I thought it might be a good idea to gather all of my background research into one place. There's no magic or imposition here, just my personal opinion on some of the things to consider when setting up a new Mac.

1. Leopard

Tiger (10.4) is good, but Leopard (10.5) is better in some key areas - the ones that I found significant (and upgrade-worthy) were Time Machine (incremental backups) and the improved Quartz Composer (Which I would definitely recommend for anyone who wants to play with interactive graphics).

2. Security

The basic approach here is to create a 'Working' user account with no administrator privileges and to use that for everyday use, and to have an 'Admininstrator' user account with administrator privileges. Different passwords and some adjustments to the default settings should give you a pretty safe computer. I followed these intructions from MacGeekery:

http://www.macgeekery.com/tips/security/basic_mac_os_x_security

3. USB Boot Drive

It is possible to install a bootable (on Intel Macs) version of Leopard onto a 16 Gig USB Flash drive. It can take a while to install on slower drives, but the resulting portability and assurance is great. All I did was follow these instructions from Maciverse:

http://www.maciverse.com/install-boot-os-x-leopard-from-a-usb-flash-drive.html

Once done, you insert the USB drive, hold the alt button and power up, then select the USB drive.

4. Bootable Time Machine Drive

Time Machine makes incremental backup easy, but the default setup means that you have to do a restore when things go wrong. I'm much happier if there's the minimum to do when stressed by one failure, and so here's how to make the Time Machine drive bootable:

http://www.macosxhints.com/article.php?story=2008011623365026

http://www.thegraphicmac.com/create-bootable-time-machine-backup-drive

The one point of concern here is that when Time machine fills the drive, then there is no space for working files. One solution seems to be to store a sacrificial 1 Gig (or more) of files in a folder that can be deleted when required. Time Machine does not overwrite files, so this should help.

5. Applejack

When Mac OSX falls over, then probably the worst circumstance is when something is wrong during the Unix start-up, or if you don't get as far as the GUI starting up. Applejack provides a simple trouble-shoot or clean-up without requiring any knowledge of the Unix command-line at all.

http://applejack.sourceforge.net/

http://www.macfixit.com/article.php?story=2005041817191411

Note that you access Applejack by holding down Command+S (Command is that 'propeller' symbol) during a reboot, and then typing 'applejack' when the text prompt on the black screen appears. Then type 'a' for auto. I've only used it twice, but it rescued me each time!

6. Cocktail

Cocktail does all of the Unix routine maintenance jobs that should happen when a machine is left on all the time - but if you turn off your Mac then they never happen. It also does a lot more besides!

http://www.maintain.se/cocktail/index.php

I'm told that a partial free alternative is Maintenance ( http://www.macupdate.com/info.php/id/16790 ), but I've always used Cocktail and have no experience of Maintenance.

7. SuperDuper!

SuperDuper! makes backups easy - and once you've done that first backup, then only changed files are backed up, so it is much faster for the second backup (unless you have changed a lot of files in between the two backups!)

http://www.shirt-pocket.com/SuperDuper/SuperDuperDescription.html

8. QuickSilver

Quicksilver provides a way to control applications on a Mac with the qwerty keyboard instead of the mouse. Once learned (and it isn't difficult) it can really speed up many common activities. Definitely worth trying out, and persisting with, especially on a MacBook.

http://docs.blacktree.com/quicksilver/what_is_quicksilver

http://vjarmy.com/archives/2004/03/quicksilver_a_b.php

http://www.blacktree.com/

9. Blogs

You will have noticed that there's quite a few links to Mac-oriented blogs in this post - you will find them an invaluable resource for finding out, keeping up to date, and more...

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