Secrets of Mac superheroes
Highly effective Mac users share their smart work habits
by Jeffery Battersby, Christopher Breen, Rob Griffiths, Dan Frakes, Adam C. Engst, Ted Landau, Kirk McElhearn, Merlin D. Mann, Macworld.com
We are all creatures of habit. But sometimes those habits aren’t doing us any good.
Take the way we use our Macs. All too often, we figure out a way to do something—surf the Web, handle e-mail, or any other little computing chore—and then keep doing it that way forever.
How often do we take a critical look at the way we do things, figure out a better method, and change our habits?
Well, here’s a chance. We asked some of the most knowledgeable users we know to let us in on a few of the secrets that help them make the most of their time and get the most from their Macs. Specifically, we wanted to know about their computing habits—not just keystrokes and commands (though we got those, too), but comprehensive approaches to using applications efficiently.
For example, Merlin D. Mann has some advice for handling your e-mail inbox. He also explains how he uses Entourage to implement the ideas of productivity guru David Allen. Dan Frakes suggests some AppleScripts that make quicker work of e-mail chores. Kirk McElhearn offers tips on using your browser’s newer features for nimbler surfing. Troubleshooting ace Ted Landau lists the first six things you should do when your Mac gets balky. And some Macworld contributors explain which utilities they couldn’t work without.
None of our experts’ suggestions are exactly revolutionary. While all of us could be doing these things, few of us are. But it’s never too late to break a bad habit—and adopt some good ones.
- Secrets of Mac superheroes
-
Web smarts
By now, you may think you know pretty much everything you need to about surfing the Web. But as browsers and Web sites continue to evolve, our surfing habits don’t always evolve with them. Here are seven habits that any self-respecting Safari user should have right now.
-
The inbox makeover
The key to managing important e-mail messages is to evaluate each one for the response it requires and then quickly convert that evaluation into action. What follows is one such system.
-
Six steps to fast Mac troubleshooting
When something goes wrong with your Mac, all you care about is getting it fixed fast. For such stress-filled times, here are the quick-and-dirty troubleshooting steps you need to follow.
-
Managing with AppleScripts and Entourage
Looking for ways to streamline sorting, reading, and categorizing your e-mail? Dan Frakes is here to help you find the right AppleScripts for Mail and Entourage. How about using the project management features in Entourage to help you stay on top of things? Merlin D. Mann can help get you started. It’s all part of the fourth installment in our series on time-saving tips.
-
Software we can’t work without
Do you have an app that makes your Mac experience unbelievably better? Here’s the lineup of programs that the panel of experts from our “Secrets of Mac Superheroes” series fires up every day on their own machines.
Highly effective Mac users share their smart work habits
