A few shout-outs this morning:

UNcubed updates with a new installment, that takes a page from the playbook of PC Weenies.

Myself, Kevin Cross, Mark Rudolph and Ted Seko joined host Javier Hernandez on JaviLAND to geek out on numerous topics: our 2009 aspirations, relationship advice to comic-making geeks (our Dr. Phil moment), and our favorite geek toys from Christmases past. Go have a listen. (Warning: My voice sounds like Tone Loc during the recording of this show, thanks to a throat infection.)

And speaking of podcasts, this week’s Art and Story Alive features the return of host Jerzy Drozd as we discuss the impact family has on our comic-making. Whether it’s support we get (or wish we get) from our families, to how we plan to pass along the proverbial torch to future generations, it was an interesting and lively discussion.

Enjoy!

-Krishna

When the new Macbook Pro models were announced in October, I was very eager to hear what users had to say. I poured over reviews from Macworld, CNET, Macintouch, TUAW and just about every reputable tech website out there.

My impressions, based on these reviews, came down to the following points:

1. RAM and hard drives could be easily updated
2. the unibody construction was solid
3. the display was nice and bright, but incredibly reflective under
   certain lighting conditions
4. discrete and onboard graphics NVidia chipsets
5. The units featured a Firewire 800 port, in favor of the popular Firewire 400 port
6. there is no button underneath the trackpad

Many people with these notebooks enjoy them. Some do not. I had a decision to make. I was in the market for a new Mac laptop - would I get the new one, or purchase the slightly older model for less?

As readers of this blog know, I opted to go with the slightly older model. For me, point 3 was the governing factor in my decision. I have seen and used glossy displays before. While the color fidelity on the new Macbook Pro displays are excellent (and I realize this is a subjective thing), the reflectivity factor was a major turnoff.

For me, the convenience of a portable machine means that I can use my machine anywhere, under a myriad of lighting conditions, without having to adjust or compromise my seating position in order to see the screen properly.

The other factor that swayed my decision (to a lesser extent) was the fact that the new MBPs are essentially Revision A models. The chances of bugs and other weirdness creeping in is generally found to be higher whenever the manufacturing process changes significantly.

To make a long story short, I settled on the early 2008 Macbook Pro (2.5GHz, 15″ display, 250GB hard drive) instead. These models are being blown out at firesale prices, and represent a good investment for someone who wants the power of a Macbook Pro at Macbook-type pricing.

The new machine shares a lot of common traits with the 2006 model Macbook Pro I also own. The keyboard is taut and stiff, and is very comfortable to type on. The OLED display is bright (almost too bright) and sharp. (I opted for the matte display.) The unit includes 1 Firewire 400 port, 2 USB ports, 1 Firewire 800 port, audio input, headphone output, and Express PC slot. The machines use Intel Penryn chips for the main processor and Nvidia GeForce 8600M GT for the graphics processor.

The machine runs very warm during normal operation, enough for me to warrant resting the machine on a surface rather than on my lap. I also noticed that the screen can’t be pushed past the 90 degree viewing angle, compared to the older MBP model I have. Perhaps this was done intentionally?

The speed difference between the 2006 MBP and 2008 MBP was rather significant. I don’t have any quantifiable measurements (those can be found on other sites), but application launch times on the new MBP are very fast, and overall Finder responsiveness (including Spaces, Dashboard) seems greatly enhanced.

Transferring my documents over to the new notebook was a breeze. I didn’t use Migration Assistant - I simply copied the data I needed from an external HD backup (done via SuperDuper).

The new touch-pad capabilities of the Macbook Pro have proven themselves to be very useful in my day to day computing. I really enjoy this feature. One other thing I noticed with the keyboard: the enter and return keys are now combined into one. This took me by surprise, as my older MBP had each designated as separate keys.

I’m running my Macbook Pro with the stock 2GB RAM. I plan on adding an extra 2GB in the future. I’m very happy with the machine - it’s behaved flawlessly out of the box. If you’re looking at a Macbook Pro and want to save some sizeable coin, seriously consider going with the early 2008 Macbook Pro model.

-Krishna

My holiday gift to you! (Click on the image to grab the larger version.)

Enjoy!
-Krishna

Here are some high resolution desktop wallpapers I worked on yesterday afternoon. Click on the images to grab the larger versions.

Comments and feedback are always appreciated.

-Krishna

Kevin Cross and I filled in for Jerzy Drozd last night on the Art and Story Alive podcast. We talked about the structure of good vs bad composition and dove into a little discussion on studio setups. Take a listen!

Also, I finally wrapped up this week’s installment of UNcubed. Fathers with daughters - maybe you can relate?

-Krishna

Okay, so it’s actually been more than a week (give or take a few days) - but I thought I would chime in on my impressions of the iPod Touch 2G 16GB.

In a nutshell: I love it.

I truly understand what the hype is around this device, now that I’ve spent some time with it. The iPod Touch is very intuitive and earns high marks for its overall looks. This was to be expected, of course. Where the unit really shines, in my opinion, is in the quality of the bundled applications.

The iPod Touch has single-handedly replaced my alarm clock, calculator, calendar, and to-do list device. In addition to being incredibly useful in my outings, it’s also a fantastic entertainment device. The screen is razor sharp. Images are vibrant and rich. Audio, through the headphones, sounds great as well. (The external speakers are a bit tinny, though.) The volume control on the side of the device is convenient.

The iPod’s touch screen works remarkably well, even with the on-screen keyboard. The only negative thing about touch screens is the finger prints they leave on the device, but this is easily solved with a soft, non-abraisive cleaning cloth. I also use (and strongly recommend) iKlear’s Apple Polish. It’s safe to use on LCD screens, and is actually recommended by Apple.

Downloading and installing new apps is incredibly easy, too. I’ve found a slew of useful applications to add to the unit, all free. Integration with the App Store works well, and apps generally download in under a minute.

Battery life on the 16GB iPod Touch is fairly decent, too - but I haven’t taken any specific measurements. For my day to day usage of the device, I generally have to charge the unit once every two days.

I was torn between the 8GB and 16GB model. In the end, I opted for the larger size - the price differential between the 8GB model and the 16GB model was $50 for double the space.

It’s only been a week, but some of my favorite apps on the iPod Touch are:

• Twitterific: free client for Twitteraholics
• Flixter: check on movie times, trailers, and upcoming DVD releases
• Labyrinth LE: fun wooden puzzle game (reminiscent of the ones I used to purchase for long car trips)
• Amazon Mobile: great for comparison shopping and ordering from Amazon (it’s almost too easy with their one-click-to-buy button
• Exposure: view your Flickr photos
• Wikipanion: access a mobile-friendly version of Wikipedia
• i.TV: TV listings - like an electronic version of TV Guide
• Remote: control iTunes on your Mac - via wireless remote

What are your thoughts on the iPod Touch? Which apps do you find indispensible? Sound off in the comments below.

-Krishna

Reader, and celebrated PC Weenies guest-star Jason Reed started a Facebook group for PC Weenies fans.

So, if you’re on Facebook and you dig the ‘toon, why not join the I Love PC Weenies group?
-Krishna

We had a fairly good turnout for tonight’s show. Topics included: the writing process, figure drawings tips for newbies (with links), and resources for cartoonists. Participating on the show this week:

RyanDow
Frumph @frumph
DungeonWarden @DungeonWarden
Liz Walsh @litazia
AxoniteV3 @Axonite
Comics Grrl @comics_grrl
MarkCalifornia @markCalifornia
KSekelsky
Scott Story @sstory
JT Shea
Carlisle
Argonsassistant
Javier Hernandez @JavierHernadez
Argylegargoyle

Notable links discussed in the show included:

an online version of Preston Blair’s Cartoon Animation for studying character construction and line of action.

Sheldon’s Art Academy: An excellent series of Youtube videos that focus on drawing, painting, and design.

Temple of the Seven Golden Camels: an online repository for storyboarding, filmmaking, drawing, and animation.

Tom’s MAD blog: Tutorials and tips from the famous MAD magazine illustrator.

Learn to Draw the Human Figure - everything you wanted to know about drawing anatomy (with instructional DVDs.)

ComicCrazys: fantastic comic samples to further inspire the sequential artist.

So there ya go. If I missed you on the show notes, please drop me a line. One big announcement, I’m planning to switch the show dates to Saturdays instead of Fridays. So, mark your calendars for Saturday, December 27th for Show #15.

Please note that the SAP forums have moved. Sign up for the new SAP forum - post your questions and get some discussion going there today!

-Krishna

I’m one of those geeks who go the extra mile to protect my hardware. I cringe when I see a scratch or blemish. Little dings and marks drive me up the wall.

With that said, it was time for me to purchase a case for my new iPod Touch. There were plenty of options to choose from, and my mind reeled at all the available choices.

After two weeks of research, I settled on the SoftShell Case from DLO (Digital Lifestyle Outfitters).

The DLO iPod Touch 2G SoftShell Case is a flexible molded case for the iPod Touch. I purchased mine from Best Buy for under $20 this evening. My research led me to this particular model.

The case packaging was attractive, and the plastic shell that housed this case was surprisingly very easy to open. Inside the plastic shell is the SoftShell case itself and two SurfaceShields (screen protectors).

The photos above show the front and back of the case with the iPod Touch sitting snug inside it. What I really like about the SoftShield unit is how well the case fits and protects the iPod itself. The ports for power and headphones are exposed at the bottom, for convenience, but the rest of the back and sides of the iPod are fully protected.

The SoftShield’s back has a nice silver pattern that looks really slick. The case really compliments the gorgeous looks of the iPod Touch. I also really like how the SoftShield feels in my hands.

The included SurfaceShields were a nice touch, but my attempt to apply one left numerous air bubbles along surface of the iPod Touch’s screen. I opted to remove the SurfaceShield altogether because of the visibility of air bubbles.

Ultimately, whether or not you choose to purchase a case for your iPod Touch is entirely up to you. If you’re obsessive / compulsive about your gadgets like I am, you can’t go wrong with the DLO SoftShell. I would not hesitate to recommend it to iPod Touch owners who are looking for a reasonably priced case to help protect their investment.

The DLO SoftShell for the iPod Touch 2G gets 4.5 Weenies out of 5.

-Krishna

It’s time to geek out a bit:

If I can be so bold, I would like to toss my hat into the “Erase and Install” camp when it comes to installing Mac OS X on a Mac. The merits of performing an Erase and Install of Leopard on my old 1st generation Macbook Pro were worth the time invested.

Let me back up (ha! ha!) and say that when I first purchased my laptop, it came with Tiger (10.4.x) already installed. When Leopard came out a year later, I was not in a situation or place where I could wipe the drive and start fresh. I opted to go with the “Archive and Install” option, which backed up my previous System folder and contents while installing the new OS, leaving all the applications and data files untouched.

There were no immediate problems with this approach. In my day to day usage, the MBP seemed to run all the applications I threw at it. Certain apps would feel sluggish, but I just chalked that up to the processor and the gaggle of pro apps that were on the hard drive. Over the span of a few months, however, I noticed that the laptop would run increasingly hotter - with fans idling at 5000 RPM even when all applications were closed.

Not so good.

Alas, I didn’t have the time to deal with the issue - until this weekend. The arrival of my new MBP last week meant that I would be giving my old MBP to Aarti. (It’s her first-ever Mac, and she’s excited.)

I wiped the hard drive clean (after making two back-ups using SuperDuper and Time Machine), and reinstalled Leopard and other apps on the now virgin 100 GB 5400 RPM drive.

Performance, particularly in the areas of Finder operations and application launches, are much, much improved. The machine also runs much cooler, with the fans idling at 2000 1000 RPM, even when multiple applications are running. The old Macbook Pro honestly feels like a new machine again.

My only thought on the whole matter is: why did I wait so long?

What about you? If you’re running a Mac - what methods / approaches do you take when installing a new version of the OS?

-Krishna