Only a week since Firefox 3 RC 2 was released, Mozilla has already released Firefox 3 RC 3. I can only imagine that they are getting very close to finishing this fantastic browser, and I can't wait until they do.

For those of you who don't know, Firefox 3 is hands down the best internet browser out there. This might sound like personal opinion, but I would wager a large sum of money on the fact that Firefox 3 is faster, safer, more reliable, and more standards compliant then all of the browsers out there today.

If you don't believe me, head on over to Mozilla's download page, and give the software a whirl for yourself. You won't be disappointed.

If you enjoyed this post, please subscribe to my posts in a reader. You will get updates delivered to your RSS Reader for free right when I post them. Interested in some RSS information? What is RSS?

Technorati Tags: internet, web browser, internet browser, firefox 3, open source, web,

Those of you out there in the wonderful world wide web that own Apple Macbook's may just be in for a fantastic little treat today. Recently, I upgraded my Macbook and I thought it would be of some value to document the process so other people could learn from my mistakes. I took some notes during the whole ordeal and after all was said and done I had a much better laptop, all in all.

A Little Backstory

Last year, I purchased a Macbook. This fancy little machine was the answer to my prayers. It quickly became 2007's most significant purchase, excluding my fiance's wedding ring. Before I purchased the Macbook, however, I had some thinking to do.

I considered the options available, and ended up choosing the right Macbook for my needs at the time. It was around this time that I wrote my guide to buying your new Macbook or Macbook Pro. That article is a little bit out dated now, but it provides some of the reasoning behind my purchase.

I bought the cheapest Macbook available. I could not justify spending an extra three or four hundred dollars to get a DVD burner, an extra bit of RAM, and an insignificant amount of hard drive space. Apple seems to gouge the hell out of hardware prices. It was then and there that I decided I would upgrade a bit later when the time was right, instead of forking out the cash immediately.

Specs Before Upgrading my Macbook

• Macbook (13.3") Core 2 Duo @ 2.0 GHz
• 80 GB Hard Drive
• 1 GB RAM

Specs After Upgrading my Macbook

• Macbook (13.3") Core 2 Duo @ 2.0 GHz
• 250 GB Western Digital Scorpio 5400 RPM 8 MB Cache (~$135)
• 4 GB Crucial RAM Kit DDR2 @ 667 MHz ($100)

These parts were all ordered from NCIX, the only company that I order from online. They have always had great customer service to go hand in hand with their great pricing. I recommend you give them a look if you buy computer parts on any kind of regular basis.

How to Upgrade Your Macbook

The first and most important step is to make sure you have your data backed up. This can be accomplished several different ways, but I opted to simply copy my internal 80 GB drive to the 250 GB drive before installing it. This way, when I install the drive and start my computer, it recognizes everything and I don't have to worry about losing anything.

Step 1
Put the new hard drive into some kind of USB or firewire enclosure that will allow you to access it from your Macbook. I used a Vantec Nexstar SATA 2.5/3.5 inch Hard Drive Docking Station, which did the trick quite well.

Step 2
Download Carbon Copy Cloner. This software is amazing for creating a bootable backup of your Macbook. It took just under one hour to back up approximately 50 GB. You create a bootable backup onto the new drive, so that when you put it in your Macbook, you will still have all of your data.

Step 3
Format the new drive to Mac OS Extended (Non Journaled). If you do not do this, the storage device probably will not show up in your Carbon Copy Cloner application.

Step 4
Do the backup. At this point, it's about as simple as choosing "bootable backup" and hitting backup now. If you have any trouble just let me know in the comments and I will see if I can help. I don't claim to be an expert, but I will do what I can.

Step 5
Replace the hardware. Obviously the trickiest of the steps. Make sure you have a Torx bit around to take the encasement off of the hard drive. I did not have one and was forced to use a wrench. I don't recommend this however, as it does not leave the prettiest looking equipment.

Step 6
Party!

Note: There are some important asides I wanted to make about this installation process. The first of which is that you should follow Apples PDF. You can locate it here. This pdf does not explain every single aspect in detail, but it should show you enough of the basics to get a good understanding of what it is you are doing.

The RAM on the Macbook is extremely tricky to insert. You must push evenly on both sides, with stronger force than you would probably deem necessary, in order to make the RAM seat correctly. Use this guide to learn how to install the memory specifically.

The hard drive is very easy going. You take off the L-bracket, pull the hard drive out using the tab, and then slide it back in when you are done. Be careful not to do this upside down, as I spent about twenty minutes trying to put the hard drive in the wrong way.

I believe that is it! You should be ready to go with your upgraded Macbook. If you have any questions, comments, etc. make sore to leave them here for me.

Note: Following the advice on this site is done at your discretion. I caution you to look to other resources before attempting these installs. If you do not feel comfortable with the install, I'd suggest finding someone to help you who knows a little bit more about these things.

If you enjoyed this post, please subscribe to my posts in a reader. You will get updates delivered to your RSS Reader right when I post them. Interested in an RSS training course? What is RSS?


Technorati Tags: mac, upgrade, hardware, os x, macbook, apple, ram, hard drive,

[photo: discoweasel]

I love to keep up to date on all of my feeds. Generally speaking, this process used to involve me connecting to the interweb, finding my google reader and reading away in my browser.

Personally, I find interactive apps to be less appealing than standalone client solutions. It is this rationale that convinced me to try out NetNewsWire initially, and I fell in love.

After this amazing discovery into the foray of RSS clients, I realized that I needed a Windows solution.

Now, maybe you know, and maybe you don't know, that NetNewsWire allows you to synchronize your feed using OPML across to NewsGator. This way you can access your NetNewsWire feeds from any computer connected to the internet. Not only that, but NewsGator offers a link to your synchronized feeds OPML. Essentially, this allows you to capture the subscriptions from your NetNewsWire client, over to NewsGator, which in turn will populate another RSS reader.

In comes FeedReader.

This software is very similar to NetNewsWire in functionality, and is almost equally as user friendly. It allows you to import that OPML feed I have been discussing, and view your synchronized feeds in a client.

I think it is important to note that all of these options are available free of charge. Anyone who reads my articles knows that I am a huge fan of free and open source software. Anyone with a wallet agrees with me.

Do you have a better method for aggregating your feeds? Perhaps a better client that I should try out? Let me know in the comments, or shoot me an email at thetechjuice@gmail.com.

In the future, I may write a more detailed post speaking more directly about how this is done exactly. Although I found the interface to be easy to use, and got it set up rather quickly, it may not be so easy for you. If you have any trouble at all, email me and I'll see what I can do to help out.

I have been getting more into the widget scene lately. I came across a lovely little widget called iStat Pro. With this widget you can check various information about your Mac. Personally, I use it to check at a glance my hard drive usage, network usage, CPU usage, or my battery health.

If you feel like giving it a try, check it out at: http://www.islayer.com/index.php?op=item&id=7

Let me know in the comments if you know of a better system monitor tool.

OK, you've caught me. Web applications won't actually destroy anything. However, it is my professional opinion that they will indeed take over the planet, and ruthlessly pillage and plunder your operating system and it's insignificant villagers.

Web applications are going to eliminate the need for specific operating systems all together. Below you will find my extremely logical and informative reasons that this will happen. Maybe not now, maybe not ever, but soon.

Cross Platform

The internet is a crazy place. You can check stock markets, purchase items, communicate, store information, check the weather, watch TV, chat/network with friends, stumble around social media sites, play games, and this just in, almost all web applications are cross-platform.

This will eliminate the need for a single platform for applications. And actually limit the success capabilities of the single platform apps.

Making Software That Everyone Can Use Broadens Your Potential Market

Obviously, with Linux and Mac (especially) user percentages on the rise, applications that are web based and cross-platform can reach a broader market. If you create a standalone application only available for XP and Vista, you are essentially dropping your potential market for that product by approximately 10% by the current market share numbers.

As the gap between Windows installations and Mac installations decreases, more and more apps are going to either need to be developed for both platforms to address the needs of both users, or go the less expensive route and make a single web app that performs on both machines. Linux can be thrown in to this mix too, but lets be honest, Linux doesn't really matter just yet. Most Linux users are dual booting with Mac OS X , Windows, or both anyway.

Web Applications are Cheaper to Develop

It costs much less to develop an application in Java or PHP for instance, than it does to develop apps in Visual Studio. Server costs for PHP are relatively low, as it has a high-performance, low resource style to it.

Oh, and by the way, you know those boxes they put software in? The manuals? The CD's or DVD's? Those cost money. Sure it's not much per unit. But if you don't find that kind of money useful in some way, feel free to email me and send me what you don't need. I'll promise to waste it on lottery tickets and bad DVD rentals.

The Bandwidth Available to Residential Consumers is Increasing Rapidly

Sure, North America is no Japan, but lets be serious. That kind of speed is just nutty. Remember those commercials that stated that DSL was faster than cable because you don't share a connection? How the hell can that be true if the entire population of Japan, which might I remind you is approximately 125 million people, use their broadband connections on their country which is around 378,000 square km. For you American folk, that is smaller than Texas. Enough of that rant, I forgot I was supposed to be writing some kind of article here. Forgive me.

You might be saying to yourself, “Hey stupid, I can't play the latest and greatest games on this OS or that OS. I'll need to stick with XP/Vista”. On one hand you are correct. On the other, you are entirely wrong. Gamers aren't real people. So their opinion doesn't really matter in the real people world.

In all seriousness, I think games are probably one of the few things that will remain dependent on a specific operating system. Things could change much later, but for now the technology just isn't there to create a next-gen quality game for your computer in some kind of web application form. I sure hope this changes though, because quite frankly, I'm sick and tired of XP. I've found Linux and OS X to be much better overall operating systems, and I'd rather not be forced to use an operating system just to play games. And yes, I'm not a real person either.

Note: To post a comment for this post, click here.

I have been recording various things on my Macbook and PC for awhile now, and thought it would be good to share a tool with everyone. I use a program called Audacity for all of my editing needs. It is very robust but remains easy to use. It is also available for Linux, Mac OS X, and Windows XP/Vista. It the best free multi-track music editor I have found thus far, and I haven't had any bad experiences with it.

Head on over and Download Audacity

Let me know how well it works for you, or any problems you are having in the comments.

Operating systems are an important aspect of your computer. They handle the user accounts, the processing algorithms, as well as the general handling of almost everything you do on your computer. It is important when you are choosing your next computer that you consider the various options available for you when it comes to operating systems.

This article will cover some of the key differences between Apple's OS X, Linux, and Windows. It is not meant to try to examine which operating system is the best, but rather takes on the project of explaining the differences and how to determine which is the best operating system for you specifically.

Microsoft Windows

This is by far the most popular operating system. Whether or not it is right for you is a different question. Windows is a good operating system. It is relatively stable, is regularly updated, and has decent customization options. Some of the problems with Windows lies in the realm of viruses and spyware. Windows has more of a chance of picking up spyware and viruses than the other operating systems for a couple reasons. The most notable reason being that the account you are using tends to be the administrator account. This means that system changes can be changed by you at your discretion. This also means that programs that are run by you (with or without your knowledge) also can have this access to critical system files. It is important to recognize that Windows Vista has attempted to alleviate some of this problem by adding UAC (user account control) to the interface, asking you to enter your password if anything important is being changed. Having said that, Windows is by far the best platform for computer gaming, and is the standard for most businesses. These trends may change in the coming years, as Mac computers are getting an increasing share in the market.

All in all, Windows is a good operating system. It is relatively simple to use and set up, and is generally the most familiar to newer users as it has been relatively unchanged for several years. If you do not mind the hefty price tag or do not want to spend the time to learn a new operating system, windows is probably the best choice for you.

Mac OS X Leopard

OS X is designed with the average user in mind. It makes everything very simple and easy to use. Having said that, there are still advanced options and various things that can be done to manipulate the environment to make it more tailored to an advanced user. OS X is much more secure than Windows, but is not as widely used. Another important aspect of OS X is that it is proprietary to Macintosh computers. This means that only Apple computers are legally allowed to use OS X as their operating system.

Leopard is the newest installment of the operating system, and has some significant upgrades since the last version, Tiger. One of the most notable features is the automatic backups which is called Time Machine. It lets you specify a drive to back up your data to, and asks what you want backed up, and it is ready to go.

It is important to note that if you play games, Mac OS X is probably not the way to go. It does not yet have even close to the library that Windows has.

Linux

Linux is another operating system that you could use. It is generally free, and comes in many different shapes and flavors. These flavors are called distributions. Because Linux is open-source, it means that anybody who would like can edit the code and manipulate the system to fit their personal needs.

Currently, Ubuntu is the most widely used distribution of Linux that is available. It is easy to set up, and has a good range of compatible components to it. You can get Ubuntu here, and if you would like to give it a try without messing up your current configuration of Windows, feel free to check out my guide on how to install Ubuntu using Wubi.

Linux is probably the most secure operating system of the three, but lends itself to more experienced users a bit better. That is not to say that new users cannot use it, just that it sometimes requires some fiddling with to get everything to work properly.

Whatever You Choose

Remember that all of these operating systems are good options. Windows has its high level of compatibility, games, and is the standard. Apple's Mac OS X is easy to use, powerful, and very pretty. Linux is free (generally), a little bit harder to use, but can be the most powerful and prettiest of the three with some customization.

Having said that, the only thing that really pushes these operating systems apart from each other is games for the computer. There are ways around this and it may change in the future, but Windows right now is hands down the best operating system for gaming. Virtually everything else can be accomplished using Linux, OS X, or Windows.

If you have any questions or comments feel free to email me or comment below.

Next: How to Choose a Processor (CPU)

Previous: How to Choose a Video Card

Back to Series

I know that to some people this is common knowledge. To others it will be a useful bit of information. Just to clarify this works on all laptops that use a Lithium Ion battery, as well as most other rechargeable electronics.

First, it is important to know that the batteries have what you might consider a memory. When you are constantly using your Macbook for 30 minutes to an hour, and only dropping the battery life to around 50% before recharging, you are essentially telling your Macbook's battery that it is empty when it gets to below 50%. This, over time, will gradually decrease the battery life on your Macbook or other electronics.

Having said that, it is important to understand that this is generally what happens over many different recharges. It is definitely fine to recharge your Macbook when it is at 50% battery life.

Maintain the Battery Life on Your Macbook

Occasionally, perhaps once a week, let your Macbook run until the battery drops below 3%. This allows the battery to be used almost completely, and reminds it of it's true capacity.

Like I mentioned above, this can be used for most rechargeable electronic devices.

Have you noticed a decrease in your Macbook's battery life? Let me know in the comments.

Recently, my fiance asked for help to download music on to her new laptop. I pointed her to Limewire and told her just to search for what she wanted and download the songs that match her search criteria.

Little did I know that the p2p networks had been stuffed full of viruses and other malware. I was on her machine not to long ago and was going to listen to some music on when I noticed there was about 10 to 15 songs that weren't songs at all. They were image files, and each one (although they had different titles) was the exact same size. I realized very quickly that these files were not at all what she wanted, and more specifically, they were exactly what she did not want on her computer.

I've written this in an effort to help people that are relatively new to the idea of peer to peer clients understand what they are doing, and how to do it safely.

These tips are in no particular order.

Make sure you have some kind of virus scanner.

I recommend AVG, as it doesn't burn a hole in your pockets like some of the other tools available. You can visit this site to download the latest version. It will al