Mat on Macs

As I mentioned before, my previous computer is a G4Powerbook. I was previously using the mac version of the open source, cross-platform virtual keyboard and mouse sharing software SynergyKM to share my desktop keyboard and mouse with my notebook (in fact I still use Synergy at work where the server is a PC). While there is a universal binary out, I was having some trouble with it so I turned to a Mac only alternative called teleport. As you can see below you arrange the machines’ desktop so that it matches the actual physical layout of your computers. When you move the mouse to the edge of the screen it automatically jumps over–including copying the clipboard. A bezel appears on the server mac indicating that the mouse and keyboard are controlling the other machine. In short, teleport “just works” and is a much more mac-like program.

So now I can control Clare with my preferred Logitech MX 1000 and Macally Icekey and I can have a threeway! Highly recommended.

Even with Apple’s Rosetta realtime translation technology, the biggest problem with running an Intel iMac is obviously software incompatibility (it seems like almost every prefpane has to be updated). So I’ve been scouring the net for applications. Versiontracker and Macupdate have pages up. But in addition I’ve found some other good resources for (mostly open source) binaries compiled for x86 processors (from back in the say). I’ll be making posts about Universal Binaries in the coming days, but for you early adopters check out especially: Macrumors and OSX86 Project. I’ve also found various unreleased alphas and betas by contacting authors and searching forums.

Apple’s Migration Assistant is a great idea; get a new Mac, put your old Mac in Firewire Disk Mode, and seamlessly transfer all your files and settings. What could be wrong with that? Well if your new mac is an Intel Mac and your old mac is not, then you may have some problems. I of course didn’t think about this; so I merrily transferred everything over and started BONAVENTURE. Well he didn’t like that one bit. CLARE, my Powerbook from which I was transferring everything, of course had tons of login items and prefpanes which ended up being incompatible with the Intel iMac. After some cursing and forced restarts I managed to get rid of most of the incompatible software. However, if I were doing it again I just copy over my files manually (Home folder, Applications folder, and a some items from /Library).

Here he is, my new 17″ Intel iMac which I’ve named BONAVENTURE. He’s pretty much straight out of the box except for one obvious addition–the Dell 2005FPW, 20″ widescreen LCD running in extended desktop mode (no Dell haters please; I got this display for more than $400 less than the equivalent ACD and have been very pleased with it). This required purchasing the mini-DVI to DVI adaptor (originally made for the 12″ Powerbook). One surprising thing I noticed is how much better the Dell looks than the built-in 17″ LCD on the iMac. I adjusted the color settings and that improved things a but, but side-by-side there’s really no comparison; the Dell is much nicer looking (interestingly, the actual LCD panel inside the Dell is apparently the same one as the 20″ iMac and 20″ Cinema Display, so I assume those screens would also look much better than the 17″).

The main problem with this iMac out of the box is that (at 512MB), it’s memory starved. That makes switching between applications quite tiresome, so much so in fact that I’m making this post from my 15″ Powerbook G4. I have already ordered more RAM from Data Memory Systems but they haven’t even gotten their stock in yet (hopefully I’ll get my part next week). I had a good experience with Datamem in the past and their price was very good; I just hope they can deliver soon, because I really need it.

The iMac uses a DDR2 PC2-5300 SODIMM which are evidently new enough that they’re hard to find. My normal preferred supplier Newegg doesn’t even list that part in their database. I find it rather annoying that Apple chose to use SODIMMs (i.e. notebook memory) in the new iMacs, which of course makes it cost more than the corresponding desktop size DIMMs

[update: I installed the new 1GB stick and it makes all the difference in the world! Running a new iMac without at least 1GB just isn’t going to cut it]

It’s true that the world is not wanting for Mac blogs, many written by much more knowledgeable folks than I. Nonetheless, I thought it’s be worth doing this, partly for my own enjoyment, but also to track the beginning of the Intel Mac era, because I am indeed writing this post on a 17″ Intel iMac. I’ll be posting about my experiences with my new iMac, including the pitfalls that come with being an early-adopter. I hope I might also be a source of information for others looking to get going on a new Intel Mac.