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One hand on your mouse… the other on the Nostromo |
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December 17, 2004
 Nostromo™ SpeedPad n52 Every time I start playing a new game, I keep telling myself that I will pick up a Nostromo™ SpeedPad n52 to see if it will make my gaming better. After getting my copy of World of Warcraft and having played it for days on end, I broke down
and decided to get it.
Why would you want one if it is really only half the keyboard? Well... after playing a game for any length of time, my hands kill me. I also have a very hard time hitting all the keys for some of the newer games (whatever happened to one stick and one button, anyway? Ooooh, Atari, you had it right all along).
Installing:
I always just plug in a device to see what will happen. The Nostromo—prior to installing all its drives—worked like the left side of a keyboard, only with extras such as a thumb movement pad and scroll wheel. Once I installed the drives, the app allowed me to configure every button, as you may have guessed.
Game play:
World of Warcraft:
Dont give up your keyboard! In a game like WoW, you have to type in order to talk to other players. However, when in battle or running around doing all the quests, I found using the Nostromo to be better. I set up the thumb pad to do all the walking and running and the finger key to cast the spells. This set up worked well, but I took some time to adjust. The only thing that I did not like was that I now have three things to use: a mouse, a keyboard, and the Nostromo, so my desk feels cluttered.
First person shooters (FPS)
I think this is what the Nostromo was made for: no typing, just fast killing. Having all the buttons in one hand makes changing weapons and reloading simpler. After two hours of playing Unreal 2004, my hands and wrists felt great, which was unlike how they felt after using a standard keyboard.
Thoughts:
I like it, but just don't dump the keyboard yet. The Nostromo is well worth the money, and I also see myself setting up some way to use it with Photoshop and all the macros I have set up. The only down side is desk space. It will take up the same space as a mouse pad. This is space most of us do not have.
Belkin Nostromo Speedpad n52 Price $23 - $40
Posted by macomadmin at 11:50 AM
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On the 7th day after Turkey Day, let them make their own music.... |
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December 02, 2004
 For the people in your life who love to make their own music, get them something that will assist them. Once Apple came out with iLife (which comes with GarageBand), they gave people with very little training a way to make great—and not so great—music. This has encouraged a lot of cool products to be made compatible for the Mac. I have made a list of some that you should consider getting for the music maker in your life.
 iLife '04 (comes with GarageBand) $49.00
 M-Audio Keystation 49e USB Midi Keyboard $99.55
 Edirol PCR-30 MIDI Keyboard Controller $199.00
 Jam Pack 1: Instruments, Loops, and Effects $99.00
 Jam Pack 2: Remix Tools $99.00
 Jam Pack 3: Rhythm Section $99.00
 For the ultimate music maker: Logic Pro 7 $999.00
Posted by macomadmin at 06:14 PM
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It is that Time of year again !!! |
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November 26, 2004
For 12 days after Thanksgiving, I will be doing a countdown of killer gifts to get for the Mac person in your life.
On the first day after Turkey Day, you should give your true love…
An iPod!!!!
If you know anyone that loves or just likes music, they ought to have an iPod. It's a fairly obvious answer, but you need to consider the lifestyle of the recipient to know which one to buy.
 iPod mini: The iPod mini would be for someone who prefers a small and lighter MP3 player. It's great for that stylish person who has to have everything color coordinated; the iPod mini is available in five trendy colors. Right now, it is the most affordable—at $250 MSRP, it holds 1,000 songs.
 iPod 20/40 Gig: The iPod 20Gig and iPod 40Gig can hold 5,000 to 10,000 songs and is just a little bigger than the iPod mini. Priced at $299 and $399.
 iPod U2/ 20Gig: This iPod will probably be coveted by two types of people. The first are those who love U2 and the second are those who think the black and red color scheme is chic. Available at $350 and 5,000 songs.
Posted by macomadmin at 09:19 AM
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PRODUCTS: 30- inch's is something to look at |
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November 19, 2004
 My local Apple store has the new Apple 30-inch cinema HD, so I had to stop by and look.
The only way I can describe this display is GIGANTIC! It is bigger than my home TV. Now, as I have said before, I think the only way to use a Mac is with two monitors, but this monitor is equivalent to two 21-inch monitors, side by side. If that does not put it into perspective, look at this photo I took.
I opened up six web pages, and they all fit with some room to spare. Like I told you, it is big. I did not have a DVD to watch on it, but I can only imagine how cool it would be.
The only thing I did not like about it is its price tag. $3,299.00—ouch!!! For the same price, you could get one Apple Cinema 23" HD Flat-Panel Display and one Apple Cinema 20" Flat-Panel Display for the same price. That is 225,680 more pixels—about the size of a 14" monitor. With that said, if you are looking to get me something for Xmas, this would work just fine.
Posted by macomadmin at 01:21 AM
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PRODUCTS: iPod photo IN Living Color: |
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November 18, 2004
 I had a chance to hit the Apple Store and look at the new iPod photo from Apple . If you have not been keeping up with your Mac news, Apple has come out with an iPod photo. It will store photos and play them back on its color display or out to a TV.
Look and feel
The case of the new iPod photo has the same shape as the 40 gig iPod. The difference is that it has a color screen. Seeing the UI in color is kind of cool at first, but it does not improve function a whole lot.
Photo
From the main UI, you can get to the photo section. This gives you all the photos albums. As you have probably guessed by now, you use the wheel to scroll through them and use the center button to go to the highlighted album. Once in an album, you are given a screen full of thumbnails. By clicking on one, it opens full screen.
Games
mmmmm.... Break Out in color… oooooo... Solitaire, now I can see the color of the suits.
 
As you can see, I do not think color improves the games a whole lot. I think they should have add a game that only plays in color, but most people do not get an iPod for games anyway. They get a Game Boy for that.
My thought
The iPod 40 gig is $399 and the iPod photo 40 gig is $499. For $100 more, is it worth it just to have your photos with you? Most likely, you took them with a digital camera and your camera has a screen on it to see them. Also, do you really need a 40 gig iPod? If you ask me, I would get an iPod 20 gig for $299 and a Canon PowerShot SD110 3MP Digital Elph for $219. That way, you can take photos as well as have an iPod.
What I think is missing
If they added the ability to play QuickTime movies, then I could see spending $499 for it. I would love to be able to take movies from my ReplayTV server (see: ReplayTV and Mac home video server!!!! Part 1, Part 2 or Part 3 (coming soon)) and play them on my iPod through a TV at my friend's house. Now that is what Apple should be working on.
Posted by macomadmin at 04:10 AM
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PRODUCTS: DVI to s-video ??? |
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November 16, 2004
 As I was at the Apple Store looking around, something caught my eye. It was a DVI to s-video adapter for a G5. I had no idea Apple made this. If you are looking for a way to push your video out to a TV, this would work. I am thinking of using it to get my home server's video pushed to the TV sets in my house. Why would you want to do that, you ask? Because I can!!!
Places you can find this:
Amazon: Apple dvi to video
Apple: Apple Computer
Posted by macomadmin at 05:00 AM
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Products: Add new ports to your Mac |
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November 08, 2004
 If you are like me, about once a week you have to plug something into the back of your computer. I know on my desk this is not a simple task. That is why Marathon Computer has made the RePorter.
RePorter Features
• Solid high-impact plastic construction
• A single 5-foot (1.5m) cable with connectors for each of your computer's most-used rear ports
• Two USB Type A standard ports
• FireWire 400 and 800
• Audio-in minijack (1/8 inch)
• Stereo audio-out minijack (1/8 inch)
• FireWire and USB ports light up when plugged in
For more info:
Marathon Computer
Posted by macomadmin at 07:21 PM
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Welcome to Mac Over matter |
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October 13, 2004
This site is dedicated to making your life better using a Mac. We will be covering every thing for moding your house using your mac, tricking out your car with a ipod, new products that can make your Mac life a little better.
Welcome More coming soon.....
Posted by macomadmin at 05:38 AM
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Inside Mac games have posted a good review on top of the line mac video cards
