tedlandau.com: MacFixIt Columns

mac.column.ted

I am currently doing a column for MacFixIt. I am also doing regular tutorials. A new column or tutorial will appear about every month.

The column is titled mac.column.ted. Each column focuses on some current issue in the Mac universe. Often the topic will be troubleshooting related. But I may also veer off into other directions. If you have a suggestion for a future column, or comments on an existing one, let me know.

Here is a list of all published columns and tutorials.
Click here to skip right to the tutorial list.

A similar list is available on MacFixIt. [Note: You may need a subscription to MacFixIt Pro to access all but the most recent column.]

A Leopard Surprise (Flat) Package [June 2008] A look at flat packages, one of the new lesser known more technical features in Leopard.
Leopard still holds some small surprises [May 2008] A look at extended attributes, especially the quarantine flag for Internet downloads, and sparse bundle images, two of the new lesser known more technical features in Leopard
Create a Leopard startup flash drive [April 2008] How to create a bootable flash drive, running Leopard. Why is this often so hard to do and what you can do about it?
DocuPen RC800: A handheld scanner misses the mark [March 2008] This pen scanner shows why the entire concept of pen scanners may not yet be ready for prime time.
Happy Anniversary to Default Folder [February 2008] The great Default Folder utility is now 20 years old. To celebrate, I interview its creator.
Detours on the road to success with Leopard [December 2007] Trying to install Leopard and restart successfully meets with more problems than you might think.
What you won't find in Leopard [October 2007] Some problems with Mac OS X have persisted over several versions. This article looks at a few that Apple should fix in Leopard, but doesn't.
The First Coming of iPhone [June 2007] In the last week before the arrival of iPhone, I make some predictions as to the likely success of Apple's latest and greatest product.
Leopard's delay is no big deal; or is it? [May 2007] Why I believe there's no need to worry about the delay in Leopard. Plus some thoughts on the supposed still secret features of the new OS.
An Alternative FAQ for Apple TV [April 2007] A look at some of the lesser-publicized details of how Apple TV works, plus some admiration for much hacking has already been achieved.
Second Look: The new AirPort Extreme Base Station [March 2007] Further details about the speed and range of the new Base Station.
First Look: The new AirPort Extreme Base Station [February 2007] A description of my experiences setting up a new 802.11n AirPort Extreme, including a disappointing discovery about its speed.
The iPhone: Second thoughts [January 2007] Despite how ultra-cool the iPhone is, I still have some reservations about getting one -- at least when it first comes out.
The trouble with creating bootable drives and discs (Part 2) [December 2006] How to roll-your-own bootable CD, DVD or flash drive.
The trouble with creating bootable drives and discs (Part 1) [November 2006] A look at the problems in creating bootable drives and discs, especially CDs and DVDs, and the solutions that are available.
Make the Most of your AirPort Network [September 2006] A look at some of the cool but less well known things you can do with your AirPort network.
A "Small" Mac OS X Leopard Wish List [July 2006] A list of some of the "small" improvements I would like to see in Mac OS X 10.5. Leopard.
Unravelling the Repair Disk Permissions controversy [May 2006] Should your use Disk Utility's Repair Disk Permissions feature? Or not? This article looks at the controversy.
Apple's April Surprise: XP on a Mac! [April 2006] A look at Apple's new Boot Camp software for running Windows XP on an Intel Mac.
Ten Good Years: MacFixIt's 10th Anniversary [March 2006] The title says it all. A look back at the highlights of MacFixIt's first decade.
Intel Mac NSFAQ [Februray 2006]. A list of some not-so-frequently asked questions about Apple's new Intel-based Macs.
Quick and Dirty Automator [October 2005]. How to accomplish something useful in next to no time - with Tiger's new Automator utility.
Filling the Norton Utilities gap [July 2005]. A look at a new troubleshooting software suite, Drive Genius, and how it stacks up against competing utilities.
More Tiger Troubleshooting Tips [June 2005]. This column looks at Tiger's new and improved Safe Booting and related troubleshooting features.
Tiger's new and improved “application crash” dialogs [May 2005] This article describes the changes to the "unexpected quit" dialog in Tiger.
Airline hassles: From online to onboard [April 2005] This column looks at the endless hassles of airline flights, especially so for laptop users.
The Trouble with troubleshooting Mac OS X [March 2005] This column looks at a printing problem that was very tricky to diagnose - and uses it as an example of the downside of troubleshooting Mac OS X.
Strangled in a Wireless World [February-b 2005] This column explore why it is that my “wireless” office has so many wires!
Pages vs. AppleWorks [February-a 2005] This column compares Apple’s new word processing application, Pages (and iWork in general), to its older sibling, AppleWorks.
There's no escape: Advertising gone wild [January 2005] This column expands beyond the Mac universe to argue that the amount of advertising we are now bombarded with has gotten out of control.
Do the math: The Mac mini [January 2005] This brief column looks at the "real" costs of the new Mac mini and deduces what the "real" market for this computer actually is.
Printing digital photos and Canon's iP6000D [Plus: Editing digital photos and Photoshop Elements 3.0]. [December 2004] This column discusses various options for printing your digital photos, focusing on inkjet printers with special attention to the pros and cons of Canon's latest photo printer. Additionally, I look at Adobe's Photoshop Elements 3.0 as a big step up from iPhoto.
Serendipity lives [Plus: A Grab Bag of items]. [November 2004] This column covers O'Reilly's Mac OS X Conference, focusing on some "accidental discoveries" I made while there, especially Delicious Library. The Grab Bag looks at the new iPod Photo, Virtual PC 7 and a couple of other matters.
The floppy disk is dead; Now what? [Plus: The iMac G5; Apple vs. Apple]. [October 2004] This column considers what has replaced the floppy disk, now that it is "officially dead." It describes pros vs. cons of CD-Rs and flash drives. In other topics, I offer my vote on the design of the iMac G5 and rant a bit on Apple Corp's trademark dispute against Apple Computer.
Mac OS X, UNIX, and the "average" Mac user [September 2004] This column discusses the extent to which the typical or "average" Mac user may need to confront using Terminal in Mac OS X. Contending that this should be "almost never," I look at how Mac OS X stacks up. In a second part, I offer a brief note about the improved hardware accessibility of the new iMac G5.
Moving on up: The new iPods [August 2004] This column considers the merits of replacing a perfectly working second generation iPod for one of the new fourth generation models. I consider some related iPod issues along the way. A second part continues my reflections on the past and furture of Macworld Expo.
Tiger and the (r)evolution of Mac OS X [July 2004] This column takes a look at what to expect from the next version of Mac OS X (Tiger) previewed at the WWDC. It also offers my reaction to Apple's new 30" Cinema Display and Apple's delayed shipment of new iMacs. Plus, on an entirely different topic (The dark side of Amazon), I detail the hassles I have had getting Amazon to correctly list my book.
Customizing System-level Startup [June 2004] This column shows how Bootstrap Daemons and Startup Items determine what loads when your Mac starts up. Learn how to use these features to customize startup, no matter which user logs in. On a different subject altogether, I offer some advice on digital camera batteries.
The iTunes Music Store 4.5: Win one; lose one [May 2004] This column looks at an undesirable change made to the iTunes Music Store when iTunes 4.5 was released -- and a change that was happily not made.
Manuals and monopolies [April 2004] This column covers two separate topics: (a) The decline of printed documentation for software and why I would like to see the return of these manuals and (b) Microsoft's monopoly vs. the European Union's ruling.
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It's two...two companies in one [March 2004] This column offers my views on Apple's unique position as the vendor for both the hardware and the software of the Mac platform.
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Making music with GarageBand [February 2004] This column offers my personal expeiences with and some technical advice regarding Apple's new GarageBand software.
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The one where I visit Microsoft [January 2004] This column recounts my visit to Redmond, where I spend a day with Microsoft's Macintosh Business Unit.
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A return to those thrilling days of yesteryear... [December 2003] This column is a look back at the birth of the Mac twenty years ago next month.
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The "little" changes in Panther: Which ones were worth it? [November 2003] This column presents a list of some of the "smaller" less-publicized changes in Panther and offers my opinion as to whether or not each change was worth doing.
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Breaking my cardinal rule [October 2003] This column discusses a problem I had with AirPort Extreme and a new 15" PowerBook--and concludes with a list of "Top ten tips to get the most out of your call to Apple tech support."
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Other articles

For better or worse, we are all in for a headache [June 6, 2005] This brief article offers my initial reaction to Apple's decision to move to Intel processors.

Tutorials

Using what's new in Leopard's Accounts and File Sharing Preferences [January 2008] Guest accounts, sharing accounts and more.
Screen Sharing in Leopard: How it works and how it doesn't [November 2007] A look at the new ways to share in screen in Leopard -- and the problems you may have when trying to do so.
Location Finder: Part II [September 2007] A continuation of the "where is it?" tour at some of the "most frequently sought-after but not especially obvious destinations" in Mac OS X.
Location Finder: Part I [June 2007] A "where is it?" tour at some of the "most frequently sought-after but not especially obvious destinations" in Mac OS X.
Preferences Files: The Complete Story: Part VII [October 2006] My favorite property list (.plist) file tricks.
Preferences Files: The Complete Story: Part VI [August 2006] Property List (.plist) files outside of the ~/Library/Preferences folder.
Preferences Files: The Complete Story: Part V [June 2006] How .plist files become corrupt and troubleshooting the results.
Preferences Files: The Complete Story: Part IV [January 2006] In this installment of the multi-part tutorial, I get to the nitty-gritty of how to edit preferences (.plist) files.
Preferences Files: The Complete Story: Part III [December 2005] In this multi-part tutorial, I explore all about preferences (.plist) files. In this second installment, I explain exactly what "hidden" .plist file settings are, why they exist and how to find them.
Preferences Files: The Complete Story: Parts I & II [November 2005] In this multi-part tutorial, I explore all about preferences (.plist) files. In this first installment, I explain what .plist files are, where they are stored, and how to view their contents.
Getting into Login Items: Part 2 [September 2005] In this two-part tutorial, I explore all about Login Items. Using a Q&A format, I explain what Login Items are, how they work, and how to get the most use out of them.
Getting into Login Items: Part 1 [August 2005] In this two-part tutorial, I explore all about Login Items. Using a Q&A format, I explain what Login Items are, how they work, and how to get the most use out of them.
Ten ways to stay out of trouble Rather than focusing on how to fix problems, this tutorial offers advice on how to avoid getting into trouble in the first place.
Open up In this tutorial, I examine the various ways to open documents, especially how to deal with documents that open in the “wrong” application or do not open at all.
Now you see 'em, now you don't: Invisible files in Mac OS X In this tutorial, I examine the methods Mac OS X uses to makes files invisible, what and where the major invisible files are, how you can change an item's invisibility status, and how knowing all of this can help in troubleshooting.