.tgz files have been used in Unix for years. Originally created to handle backups to tape, it’s now commonly used to archive groups of files together such as installers for software. This is where most people run across the confusing .tgz, tar.gz, or tar.bz2 file extensions. These instructions should be universal for most Unix systems, [...]

In OS X there are two ways to do everything. Via the GUI, or Via the command line. Frequently the GUI method does fine for most uses. But sometimes a bit more information is needed. In the GUI, getting Disc Usage is simple. Open Finder, click on the drive and look at the bottom of [...]

More often then not I’m asked specifically why I like Macs. Until recently I didn’t have an answer as I just did. Thinking about it though I realized that I feel into OS X completely by accident. Unlike other operating system transitions such as my move from Dos to Windows 95, Windows 98 to FreeBSD, [...]

Every once in a while you’ll here or read about an absolutely awesome command line utility or X11 program that you must have. After consulting the great Oracle, Google you find that the program you want is in Macports which for those who are not comfortable at the command line may cause some issues. Fear [...]

1.) Finder – My biggest issue with finder is that I like to have column view. Finder does not reliably track that preference. When closing the active window it sometimes switches back to another view, especially if you’ve not opened it in a while. This is even worse when working with network shares that multiple [...]