Five minor Vista features I wish Leopard had
Published on 25 Jul 2008 at 1:45 am.
20 Comments.
Filed under mac os, rant, vista.
These aren’t a big deal to me, but they are enough that I keep thinking about them. For most people I bet none of these are issues. Read the rest with that caveat in mind.
- An easy way to see the wireless connection speed. Signal strength and connection speed are somewhat related, but they are different. In Leopard, seeing the connection speed involves browsing the file system … Finder -> Applications -> Utilities -> Network Utility. That’s not discoverable. In Vista, you click on the connection icon in the taskbar, then the name of the connection and then status.
- A start menu sort of thing. I use about five apps with some regularity that aren’t already in my Dock, because, hey, 2 minutes use does not warrant a permanent place on my screen. The problem with “Recent Applications” is that they get reordered based on when each app was last used – not how often. The Vista start menu lets you organize in a few ways how often used, recently used, your own order or alphabetic. I argue that “how often used” it the most useful.
- Another indication that my password was wrong. If I type my password wrong when I login to Vista I get more than one indication. I get a sound, plus the visual cue doesn’t go away. In Leopard, the sign in box shakes for less than a second, then the screen is back to how it was, as if i never typed anything! I shouldn’t even have to expalin how this is the absolute wrong way to indicate a mistake.
- A way to control each application’s volume. I usually keep a DVD or QT movie playing in the background on my Mac. It gives me a little distraction. I want to hear it, but maybe not see it. At the same time, I keep an iChat session going, where I may want to see it but not hear it. In Leopard I have to rely on each app letting me set its volume, in Vista I can set the volume for each. And no, the developer doesn’t have to do anything, Vista controls the volume of any app that grabs hold of the sound device. Nice!
- An indication that a device was connected and not recognized. I’ve had a few mice that simply didn’t show up in Leopard. The problem is that I don’t know if the OS is the problem, or the mouse. Leopard gives no indication that I’ve connected an unsupported device, let alone asks me if you have a driver for it.
Yes, these are minor things. These are things that would be helpful to me. I don’t know how you got to my post, but the title clearly says “minor.” Which means, I’m not interested in comments that say that I’m complaining about small potatoes.
I think this list is basically “Vista, gives me more information (or control.)
I’m going to do a similar list on Monday with five Leopard features that I wish Vista had.
Update: Wow, useful comments! Thanks guys! Oh and that option click is great! Thanks again!!
Ken on 25 Jul 2008 at 7:13 am: 1
For feature #1, you can option-click the Airport menu item to see the MAC address, channel, RSSI, and transmit rate of your connection.
For feature #2, create a folder in your Home directory. Make aliases of those applications you want regular access to and move the aliases to the folder you created. Drag that folder to the Dock. Change its view settings to however you prefer them to be (right click it to set them).
Steve on 25 Jul 2008 at 7:59 am: 2
To easily see your wireless connection speed hold down the option key while clicking on the Airport icon in the menu bar.
MichaelT on 25 Jul 2008 at 8:25 am: 3
For #2 I use the sidebar on a Finder window. I keep a few apps in the Places section. Just like what you said, they’re apps I don’t use all the time, but enough so that I want quick access.
Allen Bennett on 25 Jul 2008 at 8:32 am: 4
Hold the option key down as you click the Air Port Status icon in the Menu Bar to see the transfer rate and other info. Faster than Vista.
taras on 25 Jul 2008 at 8:37 am: 5
These may be useful for you:
for 5. you could check the System Profiler if the device is seen by the OS.
for 1. I usually have Activity Monitor running (a habit from the old Safari beachballs). This shows the actual throughput of the connection when you click on the Network button.
Resuna on 25 Jul 2008 at 9:37 am: 6
Regarding the “option key” thing… I wish both Apple and Microsoft would spend more effort on making magic widgets and clicks like this discoverable. Microsoft used to be very good about that, MUCH better than Apple, but they have increasingly hidden options, removed keyboard controls of options, and now they’ve removed the menu bar completely so you can’t even scrub a menu to see what all the potential commands are.
For debugging USB, I use the USB probe tool in the development kit.
My “start menu” is a folder in my home directory containing links to /Applications, /Developer, and /Local (where I put non-Apple apps). This works great in Tiger, but I’m going to have to come up with another solution when I finally upgrade to Leopard. Damn you, Apple, you didn’t have to break the dock menus when you added stacks!
Tyler on 25 Jul 2008 at 10:02 am: 7
Yea, I would need my connection to be very accessible as at times I will need to check the home network or something of the like and like it to be very accessible like it is in Vista.
I also think the password thing is confusing as Linux does the same type of thing. So for users that aren’t really aware of Mac will have a hay day if they cannot login and don’t know why it isn’t accepting their password.
I was never even aware Vista allowed that, that’s neat.
lantzn on 25 Jul 2008 at 11:17 am: 8
#2 Try FinderPop. This little app makes menuing a dream come true.
http://www.finderpop.com/
lantzn on 25 Jul 2008 at 11:21 am: 9
Forgot to mention, place app alias’ in the FinderPop Items folder and then when you click on an empty area of the white menu strip at the top those items are listed first.
Chuck on 25 Jul 2008 at 12:31 pm: 10
1. I use Net Monitor for this. Connection speed is written on the dock icon. Menu meters is another choice, or use Activity Monitor for a free dock icon option that shows speed…but not as nice as NM.
2. Use Spotlight. Open system prefs>Spotlight and drag the items types in the search categories so that apps are searched first. Once that is done you launch MS Word, by control-spacebar and then start typing W-O-R-D. This is very fast once you get it set up.
veggiedude on 25 Jul 2008 at 1:20 pm: 11
A freeware app called Volume Master (can be found on MacUpdate) controls the *input* for various apps. Maybe you should contact the author to do the same for the sound output.
baaker on 25 Jul 2008 at 1:49 pm: 12
Try NetMonitor for connection speed readout 1, and Quicksilver for 2.
Leopard shakes its head at you when you err at login. Seems both usefully anthropomorphic and unambiguous.
Partners in Grime on 25 Jul 2008 at 5:41 pm: 13
You can apply an icon to your Special apps folder in the Dock by selecting the folder and then command-I for get info. Click the folder icon in the Info window to select it and paste a new icon from your clipboard.
Partners in Grime on 25 Jul 2008 at 5:42 pm: 14
QuickSilver is quick at launching apps.
Blackhatseo on 26 Jul 2008 at 3:05 am: 15
Added. Nice work on this one. Btw, my blog is dofollow, stop by and grab a link. Bompa
Tom on 26 Jul 2008 at 6:29 pm: 16
There are several good books out there that give really good breakdowns of features not immediately visible in the OS. “The Mac Bible” - Pogue’s Missing Manuals etc. - check them out and your knowledge will grow exponentially.
(Then you can post hints and tips for the rest of us.)
Vlad on 27 Jul 2008 at 7:21 am: 17
For network info and more the easiest way to check is free widget iStat nano or for even more info - pro
Ian O on 27 Jul 2008 at 10:54 am: 18
I’d support Chuck’s thumbs up for Spotlight. Key [Cmd]-[Space] and start typing the name of the app required. In most occasions it is selected within 2-3 characters. Then hit [Return]…..
I haven’t used the Dock in months.
Steve on 28 Jul 2008 at 11:52 am: 19
#1) Option-click airport menu
#2) Start menu is a copy of the old Apple menu. Create a folder (or smart folder) in the doc for these apps or use Spotlight for quick app launch.
#3) I think you do have to explain your issue with the OS X visual cue for incorrect password. Personally, I find the OS X “shake” visual feedback more intuitive than another dialog box that simply states the obvious.
#4) The audio control by application would be nice to have built into the OS. However, you might try something like Hear from JoeSoft that does that and a whole lot more.
#5) “About this computer” window would be the place to start. You can tell which devices are physically attached, etc. even if they are not mounted, etc. properly. Also, which mice don’t work with OS X? I’ve yet to find one that doesn’t.
MacPhobia on 30 Jul 2008 at 3:25 am: 20
There are many things Mac lacks… compared to windows