If you’ve ever wanted to set up a Mac for someone and do tasks such as preload applications or run Software Update, you’ll have to jump through the setup process, but the next user won’t be able to enter all their details. How can you go about resetting the Mac to re-run the Setup Assistant and give the new-Mac feel?
A tip I ran across on niload.com describes how to do just that. Basically, you run setup like normal, log in and do updates and/or install programs, then remove a few things and shut down. Upon reboot, the Mac will run the Setup Assistant as if it just came from the factory. You can read the full hint for the detailed instructions. (Also, note my comment at the bottom of the hint, as it should be a safer way of removing the account.)
While I’m on the subject of new Mac owners, this list of 10 things every new Mac owner should know might be a handy resource to print out and give along with the updated Mac. [via]
Published on November 30, 2005
Here is a hack just like my ADB to USB Mouse Conversion, only using the electronics from a newer Apple mouse. The creator, Alex Dawson, did a great job on the overhaul, especially with the positioning of the board and the placement of the optical sensor. It was recently posted on hackaday, which is where I learned of the hack.
On a related note, I just received my first issue of MAKE magazine, and I couldn’t be more thrilled with it. If you find the above hack even moderately interesting, you’ll want to get a subscription.
Published on November 28, 2005
Mentioned briefly in my post about the comment spam filter Akismet, WordPress.com is out of beta and open to anyone who wants to sign up. Not to be confused with the downloadable version at wordpress.org, WordPress.com is a free Blogger style site where you can create an account and instantly run a blog powered by (you guessed it) the WordPress publishing system.
Published on November 22, 2005
Jon points out a handy program, FontParade, for previewing your fonts on paper. Sure, you can scroll through a list on screen, but referencing a tangible list is far easier. I’ve never found another program that accomplishes quite what this program does. If you have a ton of fonts to browse through in order to achieve just the right look, give FontParade a whirl.
Published on November 21, 2005
Shortly after Google Analytics was released, I gave it a shot. Several days after properly setting it up, I still wasn’t getting results. Today, I read that it doesn’t work in Safari. So much for depending on Google for stats.
As a full time Safari user, I gave up on that front and purchased Mint, an easy to use (and wonderful to look at) web stats generator by Shaun Inman. While it doesn’t have graphical pie graphs like Google Analytics, it sure makes checking out my stats a breeze. Some webmasters go all-out and get very detailed with stats, but me, I just what to have a general idea of what’s going on and what’s hot. For the cost of the average shareware app, Mint reports all this and more with a clean, refreshing style. I couldn’t be happer with it. To top it all off, there’s a simple Tiger widget included in the purchase which displays total visitors.
Published on November 20, 2005