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  • Ron Knights 6:12 pm on October 14, 2011 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: Apple, , , OSX, , updates   

    Apple’s Agonizing Updates 

    I take pride in being a Non Conformist. I mostly avoid the directions of the faceless mobs, the trends, etc. Like thousands of other loyal Apple users, I had to get the most recent Apple updates the same day they arrived. These updates were indeed agonizing.

    I started out using Software Update on my Mac Mini, which I had recently turned into my Primary Macintosh computer. Oh my God, a 6-hour download?! I abandoned the update for awhile and worked on a video project. I started having anxiety attacks about the editing project, and returned to the Apple upgrade experience.

    This time I decided to go directly to the Apple Support Downloads site to get the updates. Here is the link. I think it was more efficient to download directly from this site because I could save the files, and use them on the second Macintosh computer. But then I realized my Mac Mini’s wi-fi connection was abysmally slow. I’ve covered that story in this blog post. I started using the iMac for downloads.

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  • Ron Knights 5:34 pm on October 14, 2011 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: Apple, frustration, , mini,   

    Mac Mini Mayhem 

    Many of my friends and relatives recall how my desk collapsed, and my 24″ iMac hit the floor face-first. I consider it a miracle that the iMac survived with no apparent outright physical damage. The screen wasn’t even scratched. Internally I wasn’t so fortunate. The internal hard drive doesn’t work. The DVD burner is possibly gone as well.

    The iMac still functions when it boots off an external USB drive. Many people are amazed that it works at all. I have to imagine the iMac isn’t terribly efficient, running off an external USB drive. I decided it was time to make the Mac Mini my primary Macintosh, a year after I bought it.

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  • Ron Knights 5:19 pm on October 14, 2011 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , Apple, Korg, , monitor, mophie, nano, , Viewsonic, Wirecast,   

    Recent Purchases 

    I haven’t made the wisest decisions recently. I can say it’s due to my recent depression. I can say I bought some stuff I always wanted. That much is true.

    My first significant purchase was this wonderful 24″ LED monitor by Viewsonic for $190. Here is the link.

    I do a lot of graphics and video work. I absolutely needed a second monitor for one of my Macintosh computers. I absolutely wanted and needed a large monitor to replace the 25″ monitor that died last year.

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  • Ron Knights 5:37 pm on October 10, 2011 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: Apple, death, deceased, , Steve Jobs   

    Steve Jobs, RIP 

     

    teve Jobs died today. He will be missed.

     

  • Ron Knights 6:38 pm on August 26, 2011 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: Apple, , , , , , TV   

    AppleTV, the Good and the Bad 

    It’s been five months since I bought my AppleTV.  My online friends gave me the money to buy it, as a birthday present.

    I like some things about the AppleTV, while I find some limitations maddening.

    I was concerned at first because the AppleTV only handles 720p. I discovered my LCD TV only handles 720p as well.

    The current version of the AppleTV appears to be some sort of switch that brings audio and video into your TV and or sound system.

    Steve Jobs, in his infinite wisdom, decided we no longer needed the ability to attach storage to the AppleTV device. Steve wants us to either use Apple’s iCloud service (which is not yet fully functioning, I believe), access iTunes, or create our own personal cloud at home.

    We can rent movies, but we can no longer rent TV shows. We can buy TV episodes, or Season Passes?! I made a list of my favorite shows, and the total for season passes would be $320. Eureka costs $50 for a season. TNA Impact Wrestling costs $60 for a season! If I had cable tv, I’d easily pay $720 for 12 months, but I’d get to watch anything covered by my cable tv plan.

    The Internet category doesn’t offer much. We get Netflix , NBA, MLB.tv, YouTube, Vimeo, Podcasts, MobileMe (dying), Flickr, Radio. (Paid subscriptions are required for some services.) The networks and movie companies are eliminating access to devices like AppleTV, GoogleTV, Boxee, etc.

    I mostly use the AppleTV to access my stored multimedia. I need to have iTunes open on one of my computers and enable Home Sharing in order to access the content on my computers. That really is a huge waste of resources and devices.

    I could buy a large TV, and connecting it to one of my Macintosh computers via HDMI?! Many TVs don’t make very good computer monitors.

    The AppleTV and similar “set top boxes” were a good concept at first. Their effectiveness was diminished when TV networks blocked access to the devices.  AppleTV loses value when I need to tie up a computer to provide access to my stored content.

    I recently “cut the cable,” cancelled my Cable TV service in order to save money. Once again, I regret that decision. I yearn for the easy access to the TV. For decades I just turned on the TV to find easy access to programming that would provided amusement or education.

    AppleTV and other similar devices just don’t fill that gap.

     

  • Ron Knights 12:06 am on August 21, 2011 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: Apple, , , Microsoft, ,   

    Windows Still Sucks 

    I recently dealt with a 3D-Art related problem involving DAZ3D, one of the major providers of Poser-related materials.

    DAZ3D has been several years behind in producing installation programs to install their content on Macintosh computers. When OSX Lion was released, most of DAZ3D’s installers were broken. This is because OSX Lion does not support Rosetta or backward compatibility.

    I was left in a quandary. I contacted DAZ3D’s tech support and Dan Farr, the President of DAZ3D. (We’ve spoken personally over the past years.) Neither Dan or DAZ Tech support could offer me any estimation on when or if DAZ3D would fix the problem with the Macintosh installers. Suddenly 90% of DAZ’s content unavailable to me. This was an intolerable situation.

    I was left with a dilemma and two possible solutions.

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  • Ron Knights 4:48 pm on August 20, 2011 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: Apple, , iPad, iPhone, , speakers   

    Computer Plans 

    I’m in a good financial situation right now. I’ll be able to pay off my $500 Time Warner cable bill in the coming weeks. That will leave me with regular monthly bills, which I intend to handle promptly. Now I can look at potential computer-related expenses.

    I want to get back to my 3D Art pursuits. In coming weeks, there will be new versions of DAZ Studio Advanced and Poser, which are my main graphics programs. I also own Carrera, and there is a new version of Carrera on the way. The total price of all that software could easily top $500.

    I was able to get Poser 8 free because I do Poser tutorials. I slacked off on my Poser tutorials. I need to do more tutorials, and see if I can get Smith Micro to give me a free copy of Poser Pro 2012.

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