All Essential Mac OS Netbook Utilities

[Cal]

I'm sure we've all found a few lightweight tools that make Mac OS fit a little better on our minis. I thought it would be a good idea to swap our favorites. If you have any ideas, please post them here and try to include screen shots if you can.

I'll start with an app called ScaleResolution. I think I found it on Insainlymac's forums but its not showing up in a search right now.

The simple app lets you pick between 80% scale and standard 100% scale graphics.


Programs that are too big to work on the Mini's screen at 100% scale,


can be shrunk to usable 80% scale.


After you click the scale you want, every app started from that point forward is displayed at that scale. If you click 80% and reboot, everything including finder and the dock will be at 80%. Its obviously hacked together, but I've been using it with no problems.

Again, I can't remember where I found the app so I'll host it here, but all the credit is due to the program's author.
http://hcfolds.com/imagehost/ScaleResolution.zip

Thanks
Cal

[Richboy455]

I just tried that app on my mini and it didnt work so well. Safari wouldnt display and certain things just didnt function properly. It helped make Entourage work better but thats about it. I think ill just stick to the standard scale/resolution.

[louden]

I tried it as well...

Didn't work.. The only thing that scaled was the menu bar...

[six]

re: size/scaling/shirinking

It looks like someone hacked together an Applescript application. I remember stumbling upon this way back in the day: http://forums.msiwind.net/viewtopic.php?f=48&t=2168

And here too: http://forums.msiwind.net/post30293.html#p30293

I wonder if it was the same guy who came up with the Automator script that ended up writing the Applescript app. Anyway - if you want to play with it, get to know the terminal command:

defaults write -g AppleDisplayScalingFactor X

If it doesn't work (i.e. louden) it may be because the application you're trying to launch does not support full Cocoa, it probably won't work (like Firefox).

[six]

I just got my install of OS X working (everything but sleep) and these are two programs I got right away:

SlimBatteryMonitor:
http://www.orange-carb.org/SBM/

CoolBook:
http://www.coolbook.se/

Yay!

[intel9295]

Is there a good Office Suite that you know of?

Also, besides GIMP, is there a good photo editor? Thanks

[six]

Is there a good Office Suite that you know of?

Also, besides GIMP, is there a good photo editor? Thanks

If you desire simplicity - iWork is good. If you want free - try OpenOffice (there's a Mac port called Neo Office).

GIMP is free - but in terms of photo/graphics editors, there's a whole slew of them: Acorn, Pixelmator, DrawIt, etc.

[frankbonatelli]

Very nice bit of soft for system wide scaling of app windows. But for them that wish to alter app windows individually there is a nice bit of soft that works wonders for this and all manner of other alterations.
Firstly you need to download Pref Setter from [url]http://www.nightproductions.net/[/url. Its a great donationware app for manipulation of application settings.
Once this is down and you are running it there wil be a list of all aplications installed on your system.
Find the one you wish to alter the size. Before you alter any data make sure it is not running. Double click app of choice from with in Pre setter and a new window pops open. Now there will be a list of stuff relating to this application, things like desktop level, position on screen etc.etc search for AppleDisplayScaleFactor if it is there change the string setting value to what ever you wish. Default is 1 so .75 is smaller in size, 1.25 larger in size. Save and run to test results.
If it is not there add it by clicking the Action icon top left. Select ADD NEW KEY name it AppleDisplayScaleFactor be sure the class is set to STRING and the value will be set to the scale size of choice .80 .75 or what ever you wish for that application. Save and test by executing the application. That is it you should now see a scaled window on a per application basis

So far this has worked flawlessly for me.

[freshkaa]

How can I increase the font size for printed e-mails in Windows 7? All manipulation capabilities available in the pop up windoe found in XP appear to be missing.