Other Sites
Keyboards with trackpads
Adobe GoLive 9 Problem
Safari 3 beta
Voice recognition in Leopard?
Leopard Appearance theme
Keyboards with trackpads
From Jacek A. Rochacki
Hi, Charles:
I have returned to use quite often my Wallstreeet II aka PDQ PowerBook; by happy coincidence I have got for literaly a few pennies two original Wallstreet processor cards: 266 MHz and 300 MHz.
The 300 Mhz was missing this round element and frame which is fixed on top of the processor chip in order to cool the processor - to transfer the heat to metal heat shield, but I have removed these parts from another, broken processor card, fixed them in my processor card, and now I enjoy the speed of 300 Mhz processor.
And I have finally managed to connect my Wallstreet - still under OS 9.1, by PCMCIA Orinoco Silver WiFi card to internet as well as to my internal home net, that I have made by my AirPort Express access point, so now all my three laptops: Little Al, Pismo and
Wallstreet talk one to anopther.
The old Wallstreet is in the service again due to it's suberb keyboard, as I have no use for external keyboards with mouse when typing seated at the armchair. The letters are gone from the second keyboard of the Little Al...so let me ask you a question: have you ever heard of an external keyboard with trackpad built into such keyboard? - something, that I could keep on my lap, and use for operating Little Al, that I would place at speccial stand by my armchair?
It would have to be USB or wireless - BlueTooth, I believe.
With my best
Jacek
Hi Jacek;
Thanks for the report.
For USB keyboards with track pads or trackballs, see:
http://www.nextag.com/usb-keyboard-touchpad/search-html
http://www.fentek-ind.com/trackball-keyboard.htm
http://www.academicsuperstore.com/market/marketdisp.html?PartNo=734462
http://www.amazon.com/Adesso-Black-Keyboard-Glidepoint-Touchpad/dp/B00008XOH6
Charles
Keyboards with trackpads
From Jacek A. Rochacki
The links to keyboards with track pads are most interesting. I will continue further investigation in order to find out, which of such keyboards cooperates with Mac best. Or maybe it would be possible to ask the readerland for advice ? Maybe someone of your readers uses such keyboard with his or her Mac ?
With kindest regards
As always
Jacek
Hi Jacek;
Some of the 'boards at the links I cited are of course PC-oriented. They will work with the Mac, but you have to adjust to PC-labeled keys.
However, Adesso has been making Mac versions of their keyboards for a long time, and have offered keyboards with touchpads since ADB days.
Amazon.com has them:
http://www.amazon.com/Tru-Form-Contoured-Ergonomic-Keyboard-EKB-2150W/dp/B0000TW3NI
There are some good discounts here (scroll down):
http://www.totalergonomics.com/products.php?cat_id=2
However, unfortunately, they don't seem to list the Tru-Form Mac keyboard with touchpad, although there's a PC model with touchpad.
Charles
Adobe GoLive 9 Problem
From Marc Klein
Hello,
I have posted some information concerning Adobe's newest software release on VersionTracker.
I believe it's worth to read my postings since this update could have severe negative effects for existing site projects of other GoLive end-users. Maintaining your existing site projects (web projects of your own or for your clients) you have created by using Adobe GoLive CS1 or CS2 could become very difficult and frustrating by using Adobe's recent release "Golive 9.0".
Please, take the time and read my reviews I have posted on VersionTracker:
Adobe GoLive 9.0 Review
http://www.versiontracker.com/dyn/moreinfo/macosx/117
graphically & sincerely,
Marc Klein
mediaVinci - The art of invention
Hi Marc;
Sounds like a very frustrating bug (feature?)
Charles
Safari 3 beta
From Cathy
Hi Charles,
Have you tried the new Safari 3 beta? I'm a little chicken about beta software but it looks like it might have some new features, and Apple says it's faster. Having said that, I've also read it's kind of buggy. What's your take?
Hi Cathy;
I downloaded it the day it was released, but when I discovered that it installed WebKit 3 (ie: Safari 2 won't work subsequently without some geeking around), I decided to give it a pass.
From the reviews I've read, there are no must-have new features to speak of and it isn't that much faster, if any. I'll wait for a later beta or until Leopard is released.
However, it you're game for adventure, MacOSHints has a tip on how to restore use of Safari 2 WebKit after installing Safari 3 Beta here:
http://www.macosxhints.com/article.php?story=20070612131825986
Incidentally, I'm really liking the new Netsacpe Navigator 9. Has some cool and unique features, like browsing in the sidebar.
You can check it out at:
http://www.netscape.com/tag/netscape+navigator
Charles
Re: Safari 3 beta
From Cathy;
Yikes, I don't think I want to have to "geek around" to restore Safari 2, which already works just fine. I think I'll wait a while to see how the new version shakes out, to.
Does the Netscape Browser use a different rendering engine than Firefox or Safari?
Hi Cathy;
That was the conclusion I came to. If there was some compelling new feature in Safari 3, I might be tempted to install it, but I haven't heard of anything that makes me want to mess with the good performance of Safari 2.0.4.
If you want to try a WebKit-based browser that does have some pretty cool and unique features, try Shiira 2.0:
http://shiira.jp/en.php
It's under development, but I've found it to be reasonably stable.
Netscape 9 uses the same Mozilla Gecko rendering engine as Firefox 2.
Charles
Voice recognition in Leopard?
From Darrell
After many upgrades on Mac OS, they've yet to add or improve apon voice recogition. Any improvements coming with the new release of OS coming out in Oct? Windows seems to have much more natural voices etc.
I'm working on a leaf robot (hobby) which relies heavily on windows speech and voice recognition program. While not impressed with Windows, this works and sounds surprisingly well. I love my Mac and like a loving parent, I want it to succeed at every level. The best voice Mac has is "Victoria" and at that it's pretty rough really.
Hi Darrell;
I haven't heard anything on this topic regarding Leopard. It's possible that voice recognition improvements are among the 300 new features, but they aren't emphasizing it.
Charles
Leopard Appearance theme
From Rick;
Charles, technically, the new Apple website is NOT brushed metal. Safari uses brushed metal - note the horizontal line strokes. Other apps such as Mail and iTunes use a simpler gray motif without the brush stokes (I have no idea what it's actually called) of brushed metal. The new Apple website follows this look instead. Tiger has been criticized for having all these different styles. I think it looks like Leopard will settle on the non-brushed look we see in Mail and iTunes, and not the brushed metal look in Safari.
Rick
Re: Leopard Appearance theme
Platinum--the new Apple Website is in the Platinum motif, not brushed metal. I couldn't think of the name of it yesterday.
Hi Rick;
Right you are.
I've corrected the reference in the article.
Charles
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