Typically, this is how it goes. We run a utility like Disk Warrior on the original machine. No sense cloning over a corrupted system right. After that, we install CCC on the old machine and connect the new machine to it using Target Disk Mode. Then we erase the new machines hard drive (if it isn’t already) and start the clone from the old machine to the new.

This clone can take several hours if there is a sizeable amount of data. Once everything is cloned we boot to the new machine and run Permissions. This is a very important step, things just don’t work right unless you run Permissions afterward.

Most of the time the clone is seamless, but once in a while you will have to re-install an application here and there.

CCC is a great program. I highly recommend it.

Doug

Doug

Doug

I really like the new icon for iTunes 10. Some people in the Mac community are complaining about it, but that is always the way it is with some Mac people. I really like it.

It seems that the program is just a little bit faster, a little more responsive. Yes, I know it has Ping and some other good stuff, whoopie! The bells and whistles are important, usability and functionality are tops on my list. So far so good in that department.

There is one thing I do not like, however. Apple specializes in minimalist design. But, sometimes they are too minimalist. I am referring to the icons inside the program.

They are just too under stated! I really do like the old icons better. They were much more dramatic, much crisper and nicer to look at. I know, these icons are not supposed to be that way on purpose, but I wish they were. For someone my age, they are a little difficult to make out, really.

Anyway, overall I am liking iTunes 10. It is a nice upgrade even if you don’t use all the cool new stuff like me. I have installed it twice now on Macs and the upgrade was flawless. I say, go ahead and do it. But, there is one caveat. I have also installed it twice on PC’s at my work and it gave back some type of iPod Services error each time. It did not install properly. One of the PC installs was an upgrade and the other was a new, standalone install. Neither one worked. A word to the wise.

One more thing. Have you noticed the red, yellow and green window buttons in the upper left hand corner? What do they remind you of? A traffic signal!! Apple did not place the buttons horizontally, they placed them vertically. I guess I think it looks weird because every Mac app for the last umpteen years has had them horizontally. What’s up with that!

Doug

As far as I can tell there is no way within the program to put a border around a photo like you can in Ecto. Not a really big deal, but a nice touch. Actually, the image placement and editing of images needs some work for sure. Here is a photo that could use a border:

Yes, you can do the border in another program, but it is a bit cumbersome to do so. I am sure the creators of Blogo will include that capability within the next few releases of the program.

Another drawback is there is no import from iPhoto like Ecto has. That is a major convenience. In Blogo you just drag a photo where you want it which works quite well.

I guess I would say Blogo excels at text entry and editing. They have a fullscreen mode. If what you want to do is enter a lot of text all you have to do is click the full screen button. I am writing in full screen mode now. You can see the full article without distractions. Kind of like Pages full screen mode, but the screen still has a few editing controls present.

All in all, I am liking the program and am going to do my Macessence blog on it for a while to see how it goes.

If you are using Blogo or are planning to use it let me know in the Comments section. More on Blogo later.

Doug

Please be patient with me while I try to learn this new software. I probably will continue to use Ecto, but the fact is it is not supported too well these days. Blogo looks like it gets great support. We will see.

The interface is sure different, but it really does the same things as Ecto as far as I can tell. It might take me a while to get used to it.

I still haven’t figured out the image editing thing. I will continue to work on it. I may be editing this particular post several times over the next couple of hours. Hang with me.

Doug

Doug

Most of these utilities do many of the same things so you really don’t need more than one or two. I probably use Onyx the most, but on occasion I use others like Cocktail and HDCleanup just to see if they have new stuff. Of course, Cocktail is similar to the other programs with one difference. It is really laid out nicely. The choices in each menu are very clear, it just has a nice layout.

Today I was working in Cocktail (after installing an upgrade for the program) and discovered this new feature (or at least I think it is new):

In the Interface menu under the Finder tab I discovered “Disable downloaded file warning” button. I immediately selected it so as to turn off that annoying warning. Just in case you are wondering, that is the warning you get when you download something from the Internet and then open that item. For me that is usually an upgrade to a program. I find the warning very annoying (I KNOW I downloaded it from the Internet thank you!) so to be able to turn it off is totally cool.

Try Cocktail if you have time. It is not one of the free maintenance utilities, but it is worth a few bucks just to be able to use it’s interface, very nice.

Doug

Doug

Doug