August 2007

Another name for this tutorial could be “how to install Windows programs in OS X without buying Crossover“. Or “how to use Darwine to install Windows programs in OS X”. But this tutorial will take you step-by-step through installing uTorrent (which is currently Windows-only) via Darwine - an OS X port of Wine. [click to continue...]

This tutorial will take you every single step of the way through installing Ubuntu 7.04 (Feisty Fawn) using Parallels Desktop 3.0 (Build 4128) for OS X. In other words, even your parents should be able to follow along.

Note: if you’re looking for help installing Ubuntu 7.10 (Gutsy Gibbon) in Parallels, see this tutorial.

1. Who this tutorial is for
2. Background
3. Setting up Parallels for Ubuntu
4. Installing Ubuntu
5. Installing Parallels Tools in Ubuntu

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This brief tutorial will guide you in determining the IP address and/or MAC address of the ethernet adapters for your Mac (both wired and AirPort) running OS X 10.4.10 [click to continue...]

Dockables are a series of apps that provide quick access to the following features: Shut Down, Start Default Screen Saver, Restart, Empty Trash, Eject Media, Sleep, Log Out, Close Applications, Hide Applications, Mute Sound, sleep display, and ‘take screenshot’.

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This brief tutorial will guide you in using The Gimp to resize pictures/images. It’s also a part of the Linux for Parents - A Beginners Guide to Ubuntu series. Though the Gimp is not a Linux specific program, it is included as the default image editing software in Ubuntu. [click to continue...]

This tutorial will guide you in using the open source (free) utility Eraser. Eraser is an advanced tool which allows you to completely remove sensitive data from your hard drive by overwriting it several times with carefully selected patterns. [click to continue...]

Recently I upgraded my mum from Windows XP to Ubuntu. I’m not the only one who has done the same thing. As many of you already know, even Dell now includes an option to have Ubuntu as the pre-installed operating system, rather than Windows.

This page will serve as a central location for all of the beginner-to-intermediate Ubuntu “how-to” tutorials that I create (so my mum can bookmark one page and have quick access to all of the things she asks me to explain). Some of the links will open in a new page (or tab). I’m not doing that to increase my page-views-per-visitor, rather I want this page to load quickly if all you’re trying to figure out is how to rename a file. The lengthier tutorials will go on their own page, the ’short’ ones will be included right here.

If you’ve recently upgraded a family member from Windows to Ubuntu please feel free to share your experiences and offer any suggestions for FAQs/tutorials. [click to continue...]

This tutorial will guide you in setting up Evolution 2.1.x (the version included in Ubuntu 7.04 - known as “Feisty Fawn”) for the first time. Though the screenshots are from Ubuntu, the steps are virtually identical if you’re using another version of Linux.

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ShellEnhancer is a great little (free) program that significantly improves (if nothing else) the Windows user interface. Continue reading for an overview of some of its features… [click to continue...]

I’m not sure if that’s the best title I’ve ever come up with, but it’s late and I’m tired. Shareaholic is a Firefox add-on (plugin) that allows you to quickly ’share’ or save the page you’re currently viewing, via many of the popular social news and bookmarking sites.

If you save or share content via a number of different services (like del.icio.us, Stumbleupon, Facebook, ma.gnolia etc) this one add-on may allow you to uninstall several.

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This tutorial will show you how to rearrange your Windows Taskbar and System Tray icons, using the fantastic (and free) software Taskbar Shuffle.

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This brief tutorial will guide you in copying/moving pictures from your digital camera to your Ubuntu computer. The steps and screenshots are specific to Ubuntu 7.04 (Feisty Fawn) but will likely be similar to previous and upcoming versions. [click to continue...]

For the last few days I’ve been trying to figure out how to best write this post. This is what I’ve come up with, I hope it’s helpful (cause it sure is long, winded).

1. What I’ve done
2. What I think I’ve done right
1. SEO
2. Content
3. Responsive
4. Thankful
5. Research
3. What I think I’ve done wrong
1. Community participation
2. Took a break
3. Low Page View per Visit ratio
4. Misc. Mistakes
4. What I was surprised by
1. Traffic sources
2. Browser type
3. Top content
5. What I still don’t understand
6. What I’m going to do next
7. Summary of my tips/suggestions

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Using the fantastic application Visor (brought to you by the same geniuses who created Quicksilver) you can create an easy keyboard-shortcut to invoke a drop-down console, just like in Quake.

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