Welcome to the MacNN Forums.

thunderous_funker · Feb 4, 2005, 02:18 PM

Just wanted to share the joy.

As many of you may know, I've been without a Mac for several years (I bailed during the dark ages of System 7-8). Ever since OS X launched I've been determined to Switch back but always found a good reason not to (like Apple hardware prices).

Well, the Mini was just too good to pass up (so was the iPod Shuffle) so I finally have made the full swing back to my beloved Mac platform so my PC can be relegated to the only thing its good for--playing games.

My cheesy .Mac page

Just wanted to get the pics up quick so forgive the generic photo album.

turtle777 · Feb 4, 2005, 02:20 PM

Good for you. Enjoy. But why a new thread ?
There are tons like this in the iMac/eMac/Mac mini forum !

IBL.

-t

thunderous_funker · Feb 4, 2005, 02:25 PM

Originally posted by turtle777:
Good for you. Enjoy. But why a new thread ?
There are tons like this in the iMac/eMac/Mac mini forum !

IBL.

-t

Sorry. Most of the people I know around here are Loungers.

Superchicken · Feb 4, 2005, 02:28 PM

Gah I hate it when people rag on others for making I got a new Mac posts... I mean really, that's what the community is here about. Not to mention how is this any worse than a insert random attack on Jesus post that few seem to have problems with. People ragged on me when I got my new iBook and I spent a while away from the forum cause everyone were such asses about it.

Anyway, glad you got your mini, I look forward to the day I buy one.

zigzag · Feb 4, 2005, 02:33 PM

Cool. Question: is Taschen publishing day calendars now?

I'm wondering if the Mini is going to kill the market for my old Cube.

macmad · Feb 4, 2005, 02:34 PM

I hate it when people rag others for making posts period!
Whats the point of a forum if every time you post some smart ass comes up with either "use the search" or "there's a topic on this already" ??

Spliff · Feb 4, 2005, 02:36 PM

Originally posted by thunderous_funker:
Well, the Mini was just too good to pass up (so was the iPod Shuffle) so I finally have made the full swing back to my beloved Mac platform so my PC can be relegated to the only thing its good for--playing games.

Just wanted to get the pics up quick so forgive the generic photo album.

I'm always shocked by how bad non-Apple monitors look when connected to Macs. It's like a chick with a unbelievably hot body but a rotting pumpkin for a head.

Mafia · Feb 4, 2005, 02:51 PM

Originally posted by Spliff:
I'm always shocked by how bad non-Apple monitors look when connected to Macs. It's like a chick with a unbelievably hot body but a rotting pumpkin for a head.

i think its more just crt's (which i have until april!

) but i've seen some good looking mac set ups with other brand lcd's.

congrats on the mini

demograph68 · Feb 4, 2005, 02:55 PM

Very messy! tisk, tisk, tisk...

turtle777 · Feb 4, 2005, 03:19 PM

Originally posted by Superchicken:
Gah I hate it when people rag on others for making I got a new Mac posts...

Well, I would hate if EVERY MacNN member who buys *ANY* new product starts a new thread ? WTF...

-t

Severed Hand of Skywalker · Feb 4, 2005, 03:27 PM

Why do you have a fake red ass next to your monitor?

Mafia · Feb 4, 2005, 03:41 PM

Originally posted by Severed Hand of Skywalker:
Why do you have a fake red ass next to your monitor?

lol i think its a heart stress reliever thing

Ricky · Feb 4, 2005, 04:19 PM

Congrats on your Mini. Hope you like it.

ThinkInsane · Feb 4, 2005, 04:19 PM

Originally posted by Severed Hand of Skywalker:
Why do you have a fake red ass next to your monitor?

I didn't even notice it until I saw your post.

Severed Hand of Skywalker · Feb 4, 2005, 04:33 PM

Either you are lying and got it yesterday or your calendar is behind

ThinkInsane · Feb 4, 2005, 04:39 PM

Originally posted by Severed Hand of Skywalker:
Either you are lying and got it yesterday or your calendar is behind

You pay a lot of attention to the details, don't you? First you spot the red ass, then the date on his calendar.

I couldn't look beyond how crappy that CRT and keyboard look with that sweet little mac (no offense T_F).

Oh, and T_F, welcome back to the fold.

thunderous_funker · Feb 4, 2005, 04:40 PM

Originally posted by Severed Hand of Skywalker:
Why do you have a fake red ass next to your monitor?

LOL, didn't even notice it till you mentioned it.

Its a heart shaped spongy thing. I have no idea what its for. My wife is a phlebotomist so its probably some chachki from work.

Yeah, the old CRT is lookin' pretty shabby, I have to admit. Perhaps this summer i'll spring for an LCD.

Just feels good to not have to turn on my PC for anything other than games. iLife rules.

Severed Hand of Skywalker · Feb 4, 2005, 04:54 PM

Originally posted by ThinkInsane:
You pay a lot of attention to the details, don't you? First you spot the red ass, then the date on his calendar.
I couldn't look beyond how crappy that CRT and keyboard look with that sweet little mac (no offense T_F).

Oh, and T_F, welcome back to the fold.

Ya the CRT was too obvious, same goes for that dish-rack holding up his printer.

Timo · Feb 4, 2005, 04:58 PM

NIce, funker. Welcome back.

BRussell · Feb 4, 2005, 05:30 PM

Originally posted by Severed Hand of Skywalker:
Why do you have a fake red ass next to your monitor?

You know, it used to be that any mention of seeing buttocks in a rorschach meant you were a homosexual. Hmm, maybe there's something to it after all.

kikkoman · Feb 4, 2005, 05:38 PM

Originally posted by Spliff:
I'm always shocked by how bad non-Apple monitors look when connected to Macs. It's like a chick with a unbelievably hot body but a rotting pumpkin for a head.

yeah hot butterface

historylme · Feb 4, 2005, 05:40 PM

so what are the specs... memory and so on.

Cody Dawg · Feb 4, 2005, 05:42 PM

I'm jealous!

All I did was register one of our Macs with AppleCare today (extended warranty) since it's first birthday is coming up in a few days and it will be without a warranty after that.

I want one of those minis sooooo much!

I've just got to figure out where I'd put it.

Congratulations!

Disgruntled Head of C-3PO · Feb 4, 2005, 05:48 PM

Originally posted by history1me:
so what are the specs... memory and so on.

Slow and less slow.

Agasthya · Feb 4, 2005, 05:52 PM

Originally posted by Cody Dawg:
I'm jealous!

All I did was register one of our Macs with AppleCare today (extended warranty) since it's first birthday is coming up in a few days and it will be without a warranty after that.

I want one of those minis sooooo much!

I've just got to figure out where I'd put it.

Congratulations!

I thought AppleCare could not be sold in Florida.

ManOfSteal · Feb 4, 2005, 05:56 PM

New Hotness!

thunderous_funker · Feb 4, 2005, 06:24 PM

Originally posted by history1me:
so what are the specs... memory and so on.

I went with the base model but upgraded RAM to 512MB, 80G HD (i did not win the 5400 rpm lottery) and Superdrive. Only $681 with student discount.

I wasn't really going for big performance. I needed an iLife, Office, web, email machine first and foremost. That said, however, the rumors of dogged performance on these little babies are greatly exaggerated, IMO.

I was copying 6 Gigs of music into iTunes, 1200 photos into iPhoto, installing iWork from CD, browsing the web and playing with Mail, iChat and various utilities all at the same time without a hitch. Files were flying across my little LAN as fast as should be expected and all the apps were quick and responsive.

I was really impressed when one of the installers I was running got to a "you must reboot" screen and sat patiently in the background for probably an hour while I did a hundred other things including installed other apps before I even noticed it.

Now if I could just get my 5 button mouse to work...........

Stogieman · Feb 4, 2005, 06:35 PM

Cool, my mini arrived today too. Can't wait to get home and open it up. I was tracking the package at work all morning until it was deliver. It sucks, these last few hours have really been dragging.

spacefreak · Feb 4, 2005, 06:52 PM

Originally posted by Agasthya:
I thought AppleCare could not be sold in Florida.

Me too. Are you using an out-of-state address to register it, or a business entity?

Note: The AppleCare Protection Plan cannot be sold to consumers residing in Florida and Wyoming. "Consumers" are persons who use their computers primarily for personal, family, or household purposes.

Related MacSlash discussion

ASIMO · Feb 4, 2005, 07:42 PM

Originally posted by ThinkInsane:
You pay a lot of attention to the details, don't you?...
...

I think it is more evidence to suggest that he is gay.

Mafia · Feb 4, 2005, 10:33 PM

Originally posted by kikkoman:
yeah hot butterface

Disgruntled Head of C-3PO · Feb 4, 2005, 11:56 PM

Originally posted by ASIMO:
I think it is more evidence to suggest that he is gay.

"Evidence to suggest?"

Me saying it myself isn't evidence enough?

sugar_coated · Feb 5, 2005, 04:21 AM

Good luck with your new Apple Macintosh! I wish you many fun!

Cubeoid · Feb 5, 2005, 06:37 AM

Originally posted by sugar_coated:
Good luck with your new Apple Macintosh! I wish you many funs!

wdlove · Feb 5, 2005, 10:46 AM

Welcome back as a Mac user thunderous_funker. Nice pictures thanks for sharing. May you have many hours of joy.

euphras · Feb 5, 2005, 12:27 PM

Enjoy your new Mini*.......T_F....and welcome back!

...but i�m seriously wondering that such a die-hard member of this forum was so long mac-less.

*Damn, i thought this is a car thread

thunderous_funker · Feb 5, 2005, 12:53 PM

Originally posted by euphras:
Enjoy your new Mini*.......T_F....and welcome back!

...but i�m seriously wondering that such a die-hard member of this forum was so long mac-less.

*Damn, i thought this is a car thread

Like I said, I bailed on the platform (relunctantly) during the Dark Age of System 7-8. By that time pentiums were cheap, fast and Windows was coming along pretty nicely.

It was a pragmatic decision. I needed a computer badly, my PM 6100 was a total dog. Coincidently, I had the PM 6100 with the DOS Card so I had been working with DOS/Windows all along and I was pretty comfortable with it. A new Mac at that time was ludicrously priced compared to a solid pentium box so I just took the path of least resistance.

Once OS X came along I knew it was time to go Mac again, but I was still put off by high hardware prices. Then in recent years when prices were better, I was put off by not having anything but AIO machines (unless you want to spend a lot). I'm not an AIO guy so I waited and bitched and moaned every time Jobs unveiled a new AIO machine....

Truly a heartwarming tale, eh?

As for remaining a Mac-head, I stayed in the platform wars through all those years as a means of having safe arguments. A bunch of us got tired of usenet and moved onto BB boards and stumbled onto this one. Been here under one identity or another for a long time.

effgee · Feb 5, 2005, 01:09 PM

Originally posted by thunderous_funker:
... Now if I could just get my 5 button mouse to work ...

either: Apple Menu > System Preferences > Expos�
or: USB Overdrive

thunderous_funker · Feb 5, 2005, 05:20 PM

Originally posted by effgee:
either: Apple Menu > System Preferences > Expos�
or: USB Overdrive

Wow, I can get Expose to work. That's brilliant!!

But I still can't get it to do Back or Forward in a browser even with USBOverdrive. Any hints?

effgee · 05:33 PM

Originally posted by thunderous_funker:
But I still can't get it to do Back or Forward in a browser even with USBOverdrive. Any hints?

Yup - USB Overdrive has "back" and "forward" functions you can assign to a mouse button (at the bottom of the drop-down menu on the right that initially says "moouse click"). If that doesn't work (I've never tried this particular function), simply assign the appropriate keyboard shortcut (Safari "shift-cmd-left" and "shift-cmd-right") to the buttons you'd like to use. For Firefox that would be "ctrl-tab" and "shift-ctrl-tab"

You can of course also assign Expos� keys via USB Overdrive - just assign the appropriate F-key to the respective mouse button.

edit: D'oh!!

Those were the shortcuts to switch between tabs ... that should of course have been "cmd-left arrow" (back) and "cmd-right arrow" (fwd)

thunderous_funker · Feb 5, 2005, 07:24 PM

Originally posted by effgee:
Those were the shortcuts to switch between tabs ... that should of course have been "cmd-left arrow" (back) and "cmd-right arrow" (fwd)

Yeah, I've been fiddlin' with USBOverdrive all weekend but I can't get it to do what I want. It does nothing I put on the 4th or 5th button.

However, I just installed Cocao Gestures so that will work. Between Expose and Cocao Gestures I can do what I want so I'll live now.

Thanks for you help.

Amorya · Feb 5, 2005, 07:41 PM

Originally posted by effgee:
Those were the shortcuts to switch between tabs ... that should of course have been "cmd-left arrow" (back) and "cmd-right arrow" (fwd)

Command-[ and Command-] might work in more apps - they're the standard system-wide shortcut. (Works in stuff like Finder too.)

Amorya

thunderous_funker · Feb 5, 2005, 08:21 PM

Originally posted by Amorya:
Command-[ and Command-] might work in more apps - they're the standard system-wide shortcut. (Works in stuff like Finder too.)

Amorya

I can't get USBOverdrive to do anything.

In the USBOverdrive Prefs panel, there is a "handled devices" drop-down list. No devices are listed there. Is that my problem? I'm getting the feeling it doesn't even know my mouse is there.

effgee · Feb 6, 2005, 04:37 AM

Originally posted by thunderous_funker:
I can't get USBOverdrive to do anything. In the USBOverdrive Prefs panel, there is a "handled devices" drop-down list. No devices are listed there. Is that my problem? I'm getting the feeling it doesn't even know my mouse is there.

Papapapap ... impossible.

Seriously though, that is weird - USB Overdrive should work just fine. I dug out my old Intellimouse Explorer (same as yours), hooked it up to my Powerbook (with USB Overdrive installed) and it worked like a charm. Try these ...

Make sure you have the correct version of USB Overdrive installed (there's two for OS X): http://www.senlick.com/macsw/usb-overdrive-x-103.hqx
Open USB Overdrive (in the "Applications" Folder or via "System Preferences") and click in "Handled Devices" - your mouse should show up like so:

If it doesn't show up, just to make sure there's no hardware weirdness going on, try connecting it to one of the USB ports on the back of your Mac. USB port/mouse boo-boo?
With USB Overdrive open you should also be getting visual feedback every time you click one of the buttons on your mouse - the respective button "names" ("left button", "fifth button", etc.) listed in the center column should turn bold with each click. Your mouse has the following buttons: left, right, middle, fourth and fifth.
To assign a function to a button click its name in the center column once so it's highlighted, then choose a function from the drop-down menu in the right column. Like so ...
To assign an Expose function to a mouse button, click the name of the button once, choose "Keystroke" from the function menu, click once in the text field labeled "Keystroke" in the right column and then type (for example) "alt-F9" on your keyboard. If you don't use "alt" as a modifier key, OS X will simply run the respective Expose function and nothing will change inside USB Overdrive.

That should do it.

typoon · Feb 6, 2005, 07:22 AM

Congrats on coming back to the Mac. Which Mini did you get?

thunderous_funker · Feb 6, 2005, 12:47 PM

Originally posted by effgee:
...great help....

That should do it.

thanks, man. I obviously had the wrong version installed. Now it works. Althought now it is conflicting with the Expose settings I had.

But its working now so thanks a ton. I'm pretty sure I grabbed the version off of versiontracker so maybe they need to update their links or something because it was clearly the problem.

Typhoon, I posted the specs earlier in the thread.

effgee · Feb 6, 2005, 03:26 PM

Originally posted by thunderous_funker:
... Althought now it is conflicting with the Expose settings I had.

No problem - glad it worked. USB Overdrive's a gem (even though it really could use an update so it can take charge of Bluetooth mice, too) - I wish there was something like it for Windows. I hate Logitech drivers.

To get rid of the Expos� conflicts simply open System Prefs, click in Expos� and select "-" in the bottom pane ("Mouse") for all three functions. Voil�.