Access a PC from a Mac

As I had recently written, I am a recent Mac emigre having been a long-time PC user. One of my main concerns was being able to access the data from my PC. Sure I had the fallback option of burning things to a CD and then copying it off of the CD. However, it would be nice to directly be able to access the files; 'cos you know there is going to be that one file (or more) that you forgot to burn onto the CD and you'd have to repeat that process.

I had read assurances of the ease of migrating. Apple spends a lot of ink (and resources at their stores) helping folks with the migration. However, I have had problems with my home network -- even to get my Windows PC and Windows laptop to play nice so I was understandably nervous.

Sure enough, my first few attempts to get the iMac to see my PC were futile. Tried Go > Network, Go > Connect to Server... to no avail. Finally a bit of Googling gave me the hint I needed. In Windows-land they keep saying how only machines in the "same workgroup" can see each other. All fine and dandy. But how does one set the workgroup in Mac-land? Here's how (tip of hat to jlgnyc11):

Finder > Applications > Utilities > Directory Access > Services (tab?) > SMB/CIFS. Then, press "Configure..." and provide the same workgroup name as you have set for your PC. And there it was, my PC in all its glory!

There was still some quirkiness with accessing things in certain folders in my PC (those under my %userprofile%). On my PC I had to drag 'n drop the folders I wanted to share to c:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Documents). Oh! Well.

I'm a Mac

My iMac is about a week old and I'm loving it! After ogling one for years the process of getting one was quite sudden and fairly unexpected.

It was caused by the collusion of several events: First was the over 90 minutes of video I had amassed during my vacation. I needed some way to "manage" it. By that I needed to be able to edit it, splice it and do all things you always do with home videos. I did realize that I needed to get a Firewire card for my long-in-the-tooth PC . However, it looked like I would need to purchase (alright "need" is too strong, want is probably right) some video editing software. Also, the aforementioned long-in-the-tooth computer....well, it was going to be a sloth.

Coupled with all that, even the wife suggested "why don't you just get a Mac"? Well then, who am I to argue?!

My initial desire was to get a Mac mini. The reasoning was went along the usual lines -- well, I have a monitor, a keyboard and a mouse, and I feel guilty of spending too much on a computer and the mini looks compact and all. Well, long story short, turns out I would have needed to soup up the mini. That coupled with the fact that I would be needing a monitor after all(is it freaky or what that my 14-year old monitor died on the very day I was going to go to the local Apple store to check out the computers) resulted in making the iMac an attractive proposition.

I had heard of Apple refurbished products being of good quality backed by the same warranty as a brand new product. Colleagues who had purchased refurbs from Apple also egged me on. So I decided to get a refurbished iMac. And I kid you not when I say that I cannot find a scratch/dent/blemish on the product! The baby looks brand spanking new! At 85% of the price.

Sweet!

Demanding Philanthropy

A recent episode of the ABC program 20/20 spurred this post. This show talked about philanthropy in America. Host John Stossel talked to several rich people and asked them why they weren't giving more, are they giving enough, what are they possibly going to do with all their money etc.

I was left incredulous with the program and the entire line of questioning. This subject has come up for discussion in other forms of media before and I am surprised by it. Who are we to demand that people give away their money?! Where do we get off telling someone that they haven't given enough? This is just an extension of the "entitlement wonks". I am not rich, you are, so give me your money.

Wow! What will they think of next? Legalizing robbery? "Your honor he has more money than he could dream of spending so I was just helping him get rid of it" is going to be a valid defense?

It is commendable whenever someone does anything selflessly. Whether it is volunteering your time at the local soup-kitchen or providing shelter to the needy or giving monetary aid. It is your desire to do so. That's it nothing more, nothing less. It musn't be because of what the world around you is doing, because of what people are saying or the weight of expectations.

Showering praise on talent

I think we put people who excel at something on a pedestal simply because they do something we cannot. If you could run just as fast, sing like a soprano, solve math puzzles, compose poetry, or...the excellence suddenly becomes very relative.

Also, have you considered that most of these people excel chiefly because they had some innate talent. If not for that talent they would not have continued in that field. In other words the recepient of the accolades is just doing what comes naturally to them.

I am not discounting the fact that there talent alone takes you only so far and that to truly excel, one has to work at it. My point however is that talent is a great motivator and overcomes inertia.

Art appreciation

I recently went to the local art museum to view the works of Picasso, Matisse and several contemporaries that were influenced by them. Not having seen their works in person, I was really curious.

Having gone there I must say "I don't get it". I stood there staring at the paintings/sculptures. Looked at them from various angles. Read the synopsis (the story line behind the work). I waited in vain for the enthrallment.

I didn't go there to judge the work but to try and understand these artists' accomplishment. What differentiated them from anyone else? Probably going to an art exhibition was not the best way to learn art appreciation.

One in hand better than Two Bushes in Florida?

Is the Everglades restoration project DOA? The two Bushes and the Everglades