:::Mac Tech:::

OK, here is basically where I put all the info that I've learn in the short amount of time that I've had my Mac. I'm hoping that this will come in handy to those who are new to the Mac platform. I'll try to point things out as simply as I can, and maybe later on, I'll include pic's but since this sit just started, it'll have to wait until my next update.

I will include more, but to start off, I'll just write up what people should do with their comps to make them run the best they can and understand why Mac are used in the creative community opposed to the PC.

:::Intro:::

First to start off, there's a few things to remember about Mac's other then it has possibly the smartest Os running. But also because of all the automation, there are a lot of automated functions that may slow down the performance of a Mac. I am by no means certified expert that went to years an years of school. Just a lot of questions and post's, and losing my HD countless times and more crashes then I'd like to remember. I"vet learned everything the hard way. Hopefully this will prevent others from going through the same thing. Also, this is for my class mates that ask me questions, now all I have to do is just say, "go to my site" and not worry about it anymore. But I'm sure they'll ask me any way...

:::Trim down your apple menu:::

Most people have a fat Apple menu that is loaded with stuff that they don't need. Other then your chooser, your Sherlock, control panels and your Font managing Appz. all the rest can go.

Step 1: go into your system folder and find your Apple menu folder.

Step 2: Take all the items and move them out of the folder, except the 4 items I said above.

Step 3: Create a "old apple menu" folder and place the old junk in there so you'll know where it is later if you need it.

It's pretty simply, but it relieves a lot the system resources in the root of the Os, by taking away the links to these folders. Therefore speeding up your comp or at least minimizing the risk of a crash.

::Fonts::

There should never be more then 12 fonts running on your comp at one time, try to install ATM deluxe or Suitcase to manage your font's. The biggest separation between Mac's and PC's is the Mac's actually shut off font's, where as PC's simply hide them. By turning them off, your system will actually speed up because it doesn't need to load every font's on your system. You'll find this to be true for most graphic programs also. Since most design's should not have more then 3 font's and the combination of your system fonts added into the equation. Keeping it under 12 is not that hard. Also try to stay organized early, create sets as soon as you can, because after a large collection, It becomes very difficult.

:::Short cut apps and 3rd party appz:::

A lot of people jack their apps full of short cut apps, like the apple menu, A-dock, drag thing etc. but the reality of it is that you only need one, the more of these 3rd party appz you have going, the more your system's resources are being used up. Me personally, use a dock, because of the comfort of use and the ability to pull it out and put it away with little hassle. I generally, turn my control stripe off, unless I need to monitor my firewall. But other then that the stripe is gone. It's basically the same as the apple menu, it's full of junk that 90% of the time you don't really need so why keep it running when you don't need it?

Kaleidoscope and Power windows... these things are cute and fun, and it makes your comp cooler looking then your buddies with PC's. But they run off the extra system resources off your G3 or G4. But if your doing graphic intense work, you don't have any to spare. I know because I used to crash my comp daily. Take them out if you do any serious work.

:::Memory Keep it fast:::

Memory... simple fact is that real ram is faster the Virtual memory, but another thing to keep in mind is that for those who can't afford ram, Ram Doubler is faster then Virtual memory Also, you should always go to your file menu>>>get info>>> and memory- to check how much memory is given to each appz. I find AI run's a lot slower with too much memory, and PS runs well; Quark has little to no effect either way. To having to worry to much, newbies should try to install from the least greedy to the most memory greedy ex: QX>>AI>>PS. or vector, then bitmap.

Also, personal hint for people that are going to install the warez off my kracks section. You need at least 128 of ram before you should even think of running AI or PS 6... they'll crash when you try to save.

:::extensions:::

A lot of the problems people present me with is... there's this problem and my computers fucked. Then I get there and it won't even turn on, and then they look at expecting to telepathically fix the fucking thing. 90% of the time this happens it's dues to extensions. Especially for warez collectors that love to have 5 million appz on their comp, 4.98 million of them the have no idea what they even do. Now here is what you do! (especially for people in my class) when you install ANY THING, check your extension manager, see if the there was an old one and if there is get rid of it!! if there is ver 4.2 you don't need ver 4.1 of the same extension.

Also keep track of them, don't install 50 things in one night, because when it fucking goes loco, you don't know which one is causing it and in most cases it's more then one conflict! so conflict cater cant really help. One at a time a if things seem OK, the install the other appz that probably does the same thing as one of the ones you already have.... ~moan~

and remember when ever possible, make sets of extensions, run only the ones you need. Just use your extension manger and click off the boxes you don't need.

:::Zip drive's and disks:::

First thing, Os 9.1 will not allow your iomega tools to convert your Mac format disks into PC format disks. So keep that in mind before you upgrade from Os 9.04. Secondly, do not drop the damn disks. Those lil' bastards will erase especially before a big submission that's worth like 40%. thirdly, Try to buy, Zips' that are already Mac formatted, fuck what the iomega tools say, that baby will turn PC on your ass over night. And remember to keep about 20% of that disk space free, because walking around with a full zip is like walking around with a full cup of coffee. Sooner or later your going to get burned.