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Grumpyguy Wrote:
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> spotlight seems to find a lot of clutter, rather
> than the file I want.
>
> It seems overly complex without any great value to
> the user. That's just my 2¢ and it it works for
> other people, then more power to them : )
Apple posted a Tip Of The Week from Scott Kelby (Killer Tips Book guy) that may help you out on those searches:
If you want to narrow your search right off the bat, you can add a category when you type the term in the Search field. For example, if you’re looking for a song named “Vertigo” (by the band U2), there’s no sense in having Spotlight bring you a list of email messages from your ear doctor, right? So if you give Spotlight a hint as to what you’re looking for, you can get just songs as your Spotlight search results.
Here’s how: Type “kind:music” (with no space in between or quotations), then add one space and type “Vertigo” (again, you don’t need the quotes). So your search will look like this: kind:music Vertigo.
Now it will only search songs, and you’ll only get song results. Schweet!
http://www.apple.com/pro/tips/spotlighthint.html
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as far as I'm concerned, those first two years didn't count...
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Grumpyguy Wrote:
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> Dashboard isn't anything great or wonderful that
> you can't do with seperate programs or
> Konfabulator.
>
> Automator? Maybe photoshop people.
Dashboard is actually growing on me.
Automator is very nice if you spend some time with it and create some personalized workflows. I have workflows to date and rename files. Move files. Resize files. Pretty useful program that I didn't expect much from.
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Grumpyguy Wrote:
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> 10.4 is just a lot of bells and whistles for the
> most part.
No it wasn't. It was a HUGE productivity improvement release. Of course, people who don't use their computers productively wouldn't have noticed this.
> Dashboard isn't anything great or wonderful that
> you can't do with seperate programs or
> Konfabulator.
Yeah, that's why I buy Apple -- so I can run lots of little, poorly-made programs that do the same thing as one professional, efficient program, only nowhere near as elegantly.
> Smart folders? Smart folders remind me of Open
> Doc. Great idea, but really, have you figured out
> how to use them?
Yes, but only because I'm cleverer than you (evidently).
> Automator? Maybe photoshop people.
??? That's a pretty bizarre statement, but I think I'd best refer you to the line about "don't use their computers productively," above.
> iChat video? Too bad I'm not pimp and don't have
> a horde strippers so I could make some bucks from
> live video : )
iChat video is AMAZING. It's one of the very few things that make me think I'm living in the World O' The Future ™.
> so yeah, 10.3 is a safe bet : )
Not about to dis 10.3.5 and 10.3.9, fine releases both. Tiger just builds on them quite spectacularly.
> oh, and spotlight. Just give my my find command.
It's there. Command-F. It works just like it used to, only way faster. Where's the problem?*
*having said that, very slow typists DO have an understandable problem with Spotlight. Luckily, someone outside Apple fixed that ages ago. If you're having that issue, fix it.
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Chas,
Can you ever answer a post without be condescending?
My point, (which despite you being obviously smarter than me), which you missed, that for the masses, smart folders and automator aren't great selling points.
Smart folders, if you follow Apple's directions, ends up being a folder of unrelated junk. Sure you can refine the searches, but it isn't self-evident or easy. And I'd bet 2/3 of people who try it, give up on it. I'm sure once one masters it, it could be a great tool for professionals. BUT to make it great, Apple needs to make useable for everyone, not only smart people like you.
Automator is for people who use their Mac professionally or do other repetitive work, thus the "bizarre photoshop" comment. I can see setting up a script to resize volumes of photos for instance. But once again, most Mac users will never use automator. Does that make useless, obviously not. BUT, for most, it doesn't make it a must have feature.
And dashboard has many flaws, like for one, you can't use it in the Finder. It is either or, unlike say a program like Meteorologist or Calculator.app which can be used alongside your other programs in the Finder. It is cute, it has its uses, but a must have?
And I stand by my comments on Spotlight. Do I need to know a "search language" to find specific files? Additionally, the interface for Command-F has changed for the worse. One step forward, and two backwards here.
Never really knocked iChat video. It is a great feature, but most people don't even have iSight with their Mac yet....
Plus, I type just fine. Really, was that snide comment necessary?
And really, I'm so glad, Chas, that you use your computer so much more efficiently than I do. You really do turn off people rather efficiently.
And if you really wanted to make a point, why not suggest a few ways to use smart folders? Or automator? Sure would have been more useful than your post....
The really sad thing is Chas, you can be insightful and helpful and sometimes mean.
Bryan
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