[Ham-Mac] Dashboard Widgets

Sun May 1 12:24:31 EDT 2005

While I don't run same printer I do have an older HP Deskjet 952C and  
a new Epson PictureMate (Small 4x6 Photo printer - outstanding  
quality with inks that won't fade and are waterproof... also use this  
for QSL cards using MacLoggerDX).

With 10.3 I had to install drivers for the new Epson printer (makes  
sense).  Now running 10.4 and all my HAM applications work. From  
CocaModem to MacLoggerDX.
HP drivers are included seem to be using 2.7.1 version which seem to  
work better that older 2.5.x version with 10.3.

The Espon Picturemate drivers were included in 10.4 so it was a  
simple plug into USB and go. As a test I actually printed to both  
printers at the same time and worked.  Very slick and printed as far  
as the printers could muster.

There are many more printer drivers in 10.4 as you will notice from  
the installer messages. I decided to perform an archive and install.   
This gave me a new system while retaining the old one as a safety net  
to grab system files (fonts, preference panes etc..) I might of  
forgotten about.

This method I had to reinstall Keyspan drivers but it still uses the  
same driver 1.8 from Keyspan.

Over all it was quite smooth upgrade.  Working well.  Have no problem  
to report.

Here is a list of HAM related application I use and all seem to work  
as good or better (faster) now.

MacLoggerDX
MacDopplerProX
MacMemoriesManager
ZTerm
MultiModeX
AudioCoderX - VOX sound recording
CocoaModem  - PSK31/63/QPSK/RTTY
DarwinPSK - OpenSource PSK31/RTTY
RDCP+ Mac (Carbon) - Kantronics Packet program
EchoMac - EchoLink Client

Regarding Dashboard....  The point of Dashboard is to have something  
you can quickly (F12 Key) and get updated info. Not something you  
site and watch or interact with.  Examples.... Weather forecast, time  
(various time zones), Calendar, Stock ticker, calculator, address  
book, Dictionary lookup etc....

If you don't have a full time Internet connection you not going to  
find as useful. Widgets are little java/html apps that work best  
grabbing information from internet or from your hard drive and  
present in simple graphic informative way.

I think of it like a utility drawer at my desk.  Open it and there is  
my ruler, stapler, calculator etc...  They are all there and I use  
what I need then put it away.  With Dashboard the utility is  
information and you configure your "drawer" with the things you like  
to use from time.

I have already added extra Widgets to the stock Apple ones... you can  
get more here.

http://www.versiontracker.com/macosx/cat/widgets

Did I buy Tiger just for Dashboard?  No not at all, but I am finding  
handy and enjoy it more and more.

Personally I think it a great upgrade at around $150 or so ($CDN).   
Heck my Internet connection cost $40 a month. Amortising this update  
over last upgrade I purchased makes this work out to less than $5 a  
month.  I use the OS more than anything else in my office/shack.  Was  
an easy decision to get the update.

Very happy with update so far... and enjoying it more as I learn it  
new capabilities.

73
Steve
VA3SPH

On 1-May-05, at 11:01 AM, N1OFZ wrote:

> Dick,
>
> I have a Photosmart 1215.  It uses the same 2.5.5 driver.  I'll be  
> upgrading to Tiger on Monday (seems my pre-order copy) did not make  
> it for delivery on Friday.  I'll let you know how it works.  Apple  
> knocked $15 off the cost because of the delay :)  While I really  
> like my Photosmart it is a pain in the butt.  For instance I have  
> an Airport Extreme and the only HP printers that don't work with  
> the Extreme's print server are the Photosmart line and the All in  
> One multifunctions.  And of course there was the 10.3 driver  
> debacle that you referenced.
>
> On another note, my wife's company bought her a Brother  
> (MFC-5840CN) color multifunction (printer, scanner, copier, fax)  
> for when she works from home.  I also has the CF/MD/etc reader  
> built in like my 1215.  I plugged it into my network (printer has  
> built in Ethernet) and instantly all my machines saw it through  
> Rendezvous!  Even across the 802.11 networks.  It prints images as  
> well as the Photosmart.  It also has separate ink cartridges for  
> each color, which is nicer than having to replace the whole  
> cartridge because one color is out.  Oh and the price?  $199.   
> Might want to think about upgrading printers soon!  My Photosmart  
> collects more dust now than anything.  If Tiger does not work with  
> the existing driver, it's going into storage.
>
> As for Dashboard Widgets, I'm really excited to see what they can  
> do.  There were some comments about them being useless because they  
> hide when there is an active application.  This is not true, it may  
> be the default but a widget can be configured to float instead.
>
> Looking forward to reporting back next week,
>
> Dana
> N1OFZ
>
>
> On May 1, 2005, at 10:14 AM, Dick Kriss, AA5VU wrote:
>
>
>> Stan,
>>
>> What version HP driver are you using?  Go to Application/Utilities  
>> and open
>> the Print Center.  Mine currently shows "hp photosmart" and when I  
>> click on
>> the Get Info button it shows the version as 2.5.5.
>>
>> Something tells me your HP Deskjet uses a different  
>> driver....something like
>> version 2.7.  My concern is Tiger may not work with the hp  
>> photosmart 2.5.5.
>> driver that is the ONLY driver HP says will work with my printer.
>>
>> Still looking for a report from someone using 10.4 and a hp  
>> photosmart 1115
>> printer.
>>
>> Dick, AA5VU
>>
>
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