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Enable path bar, set key repeat rate, and learn great keyboard commands.

Note: Only for people who are really committed to efficiency.

Open a Finder window, then under the View menu, choose “Show Path Bar”. If you reference my “where am I” post you’ll see how handy it can be.

Next, go into System Preferences -> Keyboard to set the Key Repeat Rate to maximum, and Delay Until Repeat to one below maximum. Test it out by typing some text then holding the Delete key to delete it. VROOM!

I always keep my left hand poised over the left side of the keyboard, with my thumb hovering over the Command key. That gives you quick access to great shortcuts:

• Command-1, 2, 3, 4: Icon view, List view, Column view, and Cover Flow view, in that order. I spend most of my time in List or Column view.

Some … Read more …

Customize your Screen Saver, Display, and sleep settings (Energy Saver).

I like to keep interruptions to a minimum. If I am going to be looking at my screen pondering a sticky problem, I prefer not to have it go dim (or into a boring Screen Saver) too soon.

My favorite Screen Saver is a slideshow of about 500 perfectly-edited Interfacelift images, assembled by a very good friend of mine. Second favorite? The word of the day. I like to get smarter whenever possible.

To add a folder of pictures for your Screen Saver slideshow, go to System Preferences -> Desktop & Screen Saver -> Screen Saver tab, then hit the + sign. You can also change the Screen Saver start time with the slider. To change your sleep settings, go to System Preferences -> Energy Saver, then adjust the sleep timers for both Battery and Power Adapter.

I will always … Read more …

When you setup your living space, adding just the right furniture and shelves, organizing your stuff into the right places, it takes a bit of time and a bit of work to get it all “just so.” The mood lighting is in the right corners, the magazines that properly demonstrate your character are splayed just right on your coffee table, and your carpet is VERY clean.

How does it feel once it’s all done, perfect, with everything in its rightful new place? Feels pretty good, right? Exactly.

Here are all the things I do for myself, and for my clients, when setting up a Mac system.


Clean your Desktop, making folders where the info should go.

Reference the “where am I” post from yesterday, and start making folders for your info. You can make a bunch of relevant and logical folders on your Desktop, move items into them, … Read more …