Forums | MacLife

user wrote:

Putting applications in the Apple Menu: Find the app, make an alias of it, find the Apple Menu folder, drag the alias to it, then edit the name so it doesn't say "alias". You can't drag and drop on it.

Putting applications in the Dock: Find the app and drag it to the Dock. You can drag and drop files on the app icon to open them.

I really like the Dock.

If you use FinderPop (no-nags donate-ware), you can create aliases to a folder inside FinderPop's folder easily. Add your apple menu folder in FP folder and when you want to create an alias in it, control-click on the app's icon, hold down command-option key (iirc, it's been long since I use OS 9), and select your apple menu folder. No need to rename.

Another way, find the app and command-option-drag it to apple menu's folder. Again, no need to rename. You can also view your apple menu folder as popup window to make it easier to access.

I love Dock, however. It's a combination of launcher and app switcher. My only complain is the background is too light and transparent, making it hard to see if you have windows under the Dock. Also, I wish there was an option to make it not floating. So it acts like an ordinary window/panel but it'll pop when you bump your cursor against the Dock-side of the sreen.

Nowt wrong with APE, just an awful lot of FUD and stupidity that I thought had been cleared up...

Whatever, Quicksilver makes a Mac.

Quick question: do people generally (that's YOU) have dock magnification turned on or off?

Because I *still* consider myself a switcher n00b, I have it on just for the "cool" factor. But it's really friggin' annoying. Especially when trying to use the bottom toolbar in Dreamweaver, and icons keep inflating and getting in the way!! I still can't bring myself to turn it off though...

And that's my only gripe with it. That and the recycle bin, err, sorry trash, that's hard to keep-up with after a bottle of wine.

(^^ wait a minute, that's not wine!)

tF

I can see what you're saying, it happens to me sometimes to, but other then that, I can't live without it.

tomfoolery wrote:

Quick question: do people generally (that's YOU) have dock magnification turned on or off?

Because I *still* consider myself a switcher n00b, I have it on just for the "cool" factor. But it's really friggin' annoying.

Yep. I tried using hiding for awhile (for the screen real estate) but it just pissed me off too much.

MysticCow wrote:

mahakali wrote:

My only complain is the background is too light and transparent, making it hard to see if you have windows under the Dock.

That is easily solveable with ClearDock from Unsanity.  The only caveat is that you'll need the application enhancer (APE) framework to run it.  Some people have reported major problems with APE, but I have not had a single problem with it.

Thanks for the tip. I had a problem with APE in Jaguar days that I was quite traumatized. But I just downloaded it again and so far so good.

The Dock, other than being a launcher/switcher and folder browser, is also great for working between apps. Try to drag selected text and drop it onto an app that's text based (Text Edit, BBEdit, DEVONthink, Script Editor, etc.) and it'll create a new document from dragged text. Drag an internet location (from you browser's location bar) on another browser and it'll open the location on that browser. drag it to another app (URL Manager PRo, for example) and it'll paste the dragged url.

I've slimmed down the number of apps  have on the Dock in favor of Spotlight and Finder toolbar and sidebar though.

tomfoolery wrote:

Quick question: do people generally (that's YOU) have dock magnification turned on or off?

Because I *still* consider myself a switcher n00b, I have it on just for the "cool" factor. But it's really friggin' annoying. Especially when trying to use the bottom toolbar in Dreamweaver, and icons keep inflating and getting in the way!! I still can't bring myself to turn it off though...

And that's my only gripe with it. That and the recycle bin, err, sorry trash, that's hard to keep-up with after a bottle of wine.

(^^ wait a minute, that's not wine!)

tF

I turned that magnification thing off after the first time using the OS. It was beyond annoying.

user wrote:

Like I said, plenty of ways to get around the limitations Apple has imposed on OSX. They keep making it dumber, 3rd parties step up and fill in the gaps.

I totally agree with this. I personally hate the dock. I actually think that OSX in general has been a miserable failure. Sorry for being negative, but the system has been slow and clunky from day one and it has not improved much. I've been working in the publishing business for 10 years and I can say that OS 9.2 was a great publishing system. It was fast and RESPONSIVE—with no delays. OSX on the other hand is like working in OS 9.2 under water. All actions seem to be in slow motion and you can always count on the dreaded spinning rainbow wheel to chew up a good portion of your time.

And the dock. It just seems slow, and it gets in the way. I know most people have clicked on an app by mistake. The pulsating morphing app image was an attempt to appeal to the most basic computer user.

I've been producing a full color magazine for many years now. In OS 9.2 I could fly through it. In OSX it becomes a nightmare that takes much longer. I reverted to OS 9.2 more than once. Now I'm forced to use OSX. I've suggested to my employer to buy a pc for me.

Last edited by Bri_o (2005-11-04 5:28 pm)

Did I mention...

iBubba wrote:

I use neither Dock nor Quicksilver...

http://free.abracode.com/cmworkshop/quick_access.html

?

Bri_o wrote:

I totally agree with this. I personally hate the dock. I actually think that OSX in general has been a miserable failure. Sorry for being negative, but the system has been slow and clunky from day one and it has not improved much. I've been working in the publishing business for 10 years and I can say that OS 9.2 was a great publishing system. It was fast and RESPONSIVE—with no delays. OSX on the other hand is like working in OS 9.2 under water. All actions seem to be in slow motion and you can always count on the dreaded spinning rainbow wheel to chew up a good portion of your time.

I've been producing a full color magazine for many years now. In OS 9.2 I could fly through it. In OSX it becomes a nightmare that takes much longer. I reverted to OS 9.2 more than once. Now I'm forced to use OSX. I've suggested to my employer to buy a pc for me.

Just out of curiousity, what Mac do you have?

Bri_o wrote:

MysticCow wrote:

Just out of curiousity, what Mac do you have?

I use a G4 — 1 gig ram, 500 mhz, 20 gig hd, 2002 model. I know this is an "older" model, but with all that ram, it should run my system efficiently.  Now I'm guessing you'll suggest that if I buy the latest mac my computer/system speed delays will be solved, right?

That's Apples answer. Just keep buying, Apple will get it right, just keep opening your wallet. Apple kicked their customers in the croch when they came out with OSX in another way. All that hardware/software that was good with Classic SOON became less valuable or even obsolete. Core Apple customers, those who owned pre-OSX hardware—scanners, printers, etc overnight saw their equipment value drop to a fraction of what they paid.

It kills me to hear Macintosh advocates try to tell me how great Mac is after all that's happenned.

..let me get this straight - you'll pardon my lack of tact, I hope.

You're considering actually asking the powers that be to buy you a NEW Windows rig, complete with software and fonts, but you have serious reservations about asking for a new G5 rig?

Color me not understanding and borderline not giving a squirt. Shall I punch some number for you to display the incredible fault in finances and logic? I think not - you gotta be smarter than that, mate.

While there are lots of things I wish Apple had done differently with OSX it is still head and shoulders better than Windows.

Bri_o wrote:

MysticCow wrote:

Just out of curiousity, what Mac do you have?

I use a G4 — 1 gig ram, 500 mhz, 20 gig hd, 2002 model. I know this is an "older" model, but with all that ram, it should run my system efficiently.  Now I'm guessing you'll suggest that if I buy the latest mac my computer/system speed delays will be solved, right?

That's Apples answer. Just keep buying, Apple will get it right, just keep opening your wallet. Apple kicked their customers in the croch when they came out with OSX in another way. All that hardware/software that was good with Classic SOON became less valuable or even obsolete. Core Apple customers, those who owned pre-OSX hardware—scanners, printers, etc overnight saw their equipment value drop to a fraction of what they paid.

It kills me to hear Macintosh advocates try to tell me how great Mac is after all that's happenned.

I'm assuming you either have a Sawtooth or a G4 Cube.  Both systems can have their processor upgraded, which will give new life to the system, especially with 1 GB of RAM.  No need to even think of a new system when a processor upgrade can breathe new life into it.  And it's less expensive than a new system.