Which OSX related web sites do you find most useful?
Hi,
I suppose the subject line says it all: of the many OSX related websites, which do you find the best source of information and advice on the more technical aspects of using OSX?
There is plenty of information out there about using Safari, Photoshop, iTunes etc, but I have struggled in the two years that I have been using my Mac to find the more technically oriented sources of information that were available for OS/2 (the OS I used previously).
I was quite confident doing open-heart surgery on my old OS/2 system, I knew where most of the files were kept etc, I had a maintenance partition, I could dig myself out most of the holes I created for myself - that kind of thing. OSX, on the other hand, is still quite a mystery to me - the books I bought as guides tend to be a bit on the elementary side (eg lots of advice on the 'make sure you have plugged your computer in' level). Any advice on the more crunchy class of websites?
Thanks,
all the best,
Jeremy
For trouble shooting the
For trouble shooting the Apple Discussion Forums, macnn forums and macfixit forums are good. I've been saved by a few posts in these places. TidBITS is worth a look although not particularly technical. Also the O'Reilly macdevcentre used to have good stuff.
My best source is that old standby the guy in the office down the corridor who knows more about macs than me :-)
Michael
I agree that most web sites
I agree that most web sites and forums are focussed on 'regular' users or at least you need a lot of searching to find the more pro content. If you really want to get serious information on the innards of OS X, the best bet would be to look for a 'UNIX for Mac OS X'-like book. There's also 'Mac OS X internals' of which I found a number of chapters on-line (don't remember where unfortunately).
Re: I agree …
You're probably referring to this accompanying site for Amit Singh's excellent book:
Mac OS X Internals: The Book
I don't have the book (yet) but have singly learned more OS X details from Amit's articles than anywhere else.
For me there's a definite shortage of technical sites and support resources primarily/specifically intended for more sophisticated OS X users who aren't necessarily developers and have exhausted other known options. Popular forums like MacNN and MacFixIt are generally too basic and redundant for me, and never helpful when I've infrequently (every year or so) posted a puzzling problem. Mailing lists are a more focused alternative (and less popular for casual novices, which I prefer), although my participation in most has dropped off over time.
Anyway,… the "which do you find the best source of information and advice on the more technical aspects of using OSX?" question is a reminder of an inability to find answers to some particularly challenging questions after investing significant time and effort. Hope the rest of you have better "luck" than I do. :)
Mac Geek Gab
Not really a site you can search but the Mac Geek Gab podcast (http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/features/podcasts/mac_geek_gab/) has some great chat about the more technical side of owning a mac. Discussion varies from some fairly simple and basic problems to often quite in depth issues really getting under the hood of a mac.
Ian Turner
http://homepage.mac.com/splash6/Splash6/
Forums!
Forums can't be beat if you need personalized help with any specific or complex topics.
I like AppleInsider and DSLR All Things Mac. People will go out of their way to help you if you ask nicely and if you show that you've done your homework.