Loving OsX

[Cassady]

Forgive me for this pointless(?) topic - but felt compelled to shout it from the rooftops. As a very recent convert - my initial trepidation is giving way to huge smiles at how the little things can make all the difference!

I work with thousands of PDF files, sourced from all over. I've spent many many hours of late - mostly on Windows - re-organising these files, for the purposes of utilization for research. I cannot begin to explain how much easier it all is on my MBP!

Just the usefulness of being able to zoom in, and scroll through the document, in Preview mode with it alongside the file name that I can simultaneously edit - has allowed for a workflow (new word that to me ) that has saved me hours.

Add to this the ability, with a simple flick of the fingers on the trackpad, to change (and automatically save) the rotation of individual pages in a PDF document - and I'm smiling even more.

The cherry on top was managing to "design" (ha ha) my first Automator service (inserted in Finder) that allows me to edit filenames en masse - by either inserting/changing/removing text etc. to filenames in a flash. This has literally saved me days - and allowed for a vastly improved organisational structure.

I downloaded a cheap little PDF manager, that has allowed me to split & join PDF files - which is no doubt available in Windows form - but has nonetheless made everything come full circle on the Mac.

There are still a few things that I find odd - but just the above has made my MBP purchase "worth the admission price alone"...

If there are any other recent Windows defectors, who have found similar gems - please share! I'm beginning to realise I might very well miss plenty, simply by being constrained by what I presume to not be possible, simply because Windows says so.

(Standard proviso: It naturally goes without saying that there are no doubt many things that OsX cannot do, that Windows does as 2nd nature...but there be plenty of threads all over the Web making us all aware of that! )

[bwana]

You didnt need an app to spit and join PDFs - Preview does it natively.

BTW - add your signature preview using the built in camera http://www.tuaw.com/2011/08/10/mac-1...s-preview-app/

[Cassady]

You didnt need an app to spit and join PDFs - Preview does it natively.

BTW - add your signature preview using the built in camera http://www.tuaw.com/2011/08/10/mac-1...s-preview-app/

Ja. Spotted that after having bought it. Bought it on discount - $0.99 - so no biggie!

[Hemps]

Built myself a Hackintosh and I must admit Mountain Lion is very fast and easy to use.

I'm still Fiddling with stuff so it's a learning experience of note.

[kooldude]

Built myself a Hackintosh and I must admit Mountain Lion is very fast and easy to use.

I'm still Fiddling with stuff so it's a learning experience of note.

Can you provide your hardware details? I would love to build myself a hackintosh.

[ponder]

Can you provide your hardware details? I would love to build myself a hackintosh.

http://www.tonymacx86.com/home.php
http://tonymacx86.blogspot.com/search/label/CustoMac

[unskinnybob]

Can you provide your hardware details? I would love to build myself a hackintosh.

Some more information here: http://mybroadband.co.za/vb/showthre...309-Hackintosh

Vinodh hooked me up with a Unibeast USB with Mountain Lion. That's pretty much all you need to get started. After 1st boot, configure devices with Multibeast and you're A-for-away.

[BobJones]

Considering the price of a mac mini, a hackintosh doesn't really make sense.

[unskinnybob]

Considering the price of a mac mini, a hackintosh doesn't really make sense.

You could build a hackintosh that outperforms a top of the line iMac for round about Mac Mini prices. Food for thought.

[bwana]

There are plenty of Hackintosh threads already - even one called Hackintosh - so lets keep this one on topic pls.

[Cassady]

BTW - add your signature preview using the built in camera http://www.tuaw.com/2011/08/10/mac-1...s-preview-app/

I don't often need to sign off on PDF's - but that's super useful. Thanks for the link...

[ponder]

Considering the price of a mac mini, a hackintosh doesn't really make sense.

For the price of a mac mini you could build something approaching a Mac Pro or better with a little bit more money.

[Cassady]

At the risk of having a conversation with myself... :P

Just worked out (I'm a bit slow) that I can manage my PDF files even easier, since Preview allows you to rename the file from within the application.

In other words - a three-finger tap/spacebar to invoke Preview - scroll/zoom to the relevant page within the PDF document, that has the details you want to incorporate into the filename - tap on the filename right at the top of the Preview bar - select the "rename..." option that has now appeared in the drop-down menu, and Bob's your proverbial uncle...

This offers an alternative to playing around with the column sizing in Finder, especially where you have many sub-folders before eventually drilling down to where your files are kept, and changing the filename whilst the file is displayed in the quick-view section to the right of the screen...

Finished flogging this dead horse now. Will shut it - promise!