customizing the MacBook?

[kenneth]

as the title states im wondering if and how i can customize my new aluminum Macbook? I have found out how to change the icons but is there themes or something similiar? How can i change the top menu bar? what apps are the most useful and how can i see my system performance?

[gotzaiPhone]

The top bar cannot be changed as in taken away. System performance can be seen in "Activity Monitor" in the applications folder and for the icon and dock customizing, there is a program out there called "candy bar" that can do that for you with different themes and what not, but its like 20 bucks.

[ADDam]

Hop on the forums and read...

http://macthemes2.net/

[acosmichippo]

...how can i see my system performance?

iStat Nano (http://www.apple.com/downloads/dashboard/status/istatnano.html)

[kenneth]

well i have been having some small issues already with the new macbook :( it will freeze up occasionally and it wont do anything all i can do is turn it off by holding down the power button. It will also give me a spinning color wheel on some applications and they will never close or do anything. does anybody know the command for force quit? i dont know what could be causing this and would really feel better about my rediculous purchase if it would atleast do the simple functions i need it to do. Damn i dont even have very many things installed.

[acosmichippo]

take it back... no reason it should be doing that.

you can force quit with cmd+opt+esc.

[kenneth]

take it back... no reason it should be doing that.

you can force quit with cmd+opt+esc.

not what i wanted to hear. I actually think it has something to do with the touchpad. It seems to happen as I let one of my fingers rest on it while using the other hand to scroll (two fingers). It has done it several times and it seems that everytime I feel like i didnt push on the touchpad hard enough or i short stroked it:tounge:

[connie]

I have changed some of the dock icons on my macbook using the copy and paste in Get Info. But I can't seem to change the Finder icon itself. Can someone let me know if there is a way to change it. Hopefully it's not too complicated for me.

[Saverino]

not what i wanted to hear. I actually think it has something to do with the touchpad. It seems to happen as I let one of my fingers rest on it while using the other hand to scroll (two fingers). It has done it several times and it seems that everytime I feel like i didnt push on the touchpad hard enough or i short stroked it:tounge:

I just tried the let one finger rest while scrolling with 2 fingers for a little bit and couldn't duplicate your problem.

Why don't you get it checked out at the Genius Bar if you can replicate it every time you try to...

[kenneth]

I just tried the let one finger rest while scrolling with 2 fingers for a little bit and couldn't duplicate your problem.

Why don't you get it checked out at the Genius Bar if you can replicate it every time you try to...


sorry I should have updated everyone. It was the crucial ram I bought. I had 4gb installed and it was giving me all kinds of problems. Im back on 2gb and running just fine.

[Saverino]

sorry I should have updated everyone. It was the crucial ram I bought. I had 4gb installed and it was giving me all kinds of problems. Im back on 2gb and running just fine.

Oh okay. Glad you got your problem resolved.

I didn't even notice the date of the post because I saw Connie's post from today.

[Ramesh]

sorry I should have updated everyone. It was the crucial ram I bought. I had 4gb installed and it was giving me all kinds of problems. Im back on 2gb and running just fine.

I am about to buy ram from crucial, and your post stopped me for a moment. But the I realized you're on the new macbook, per your post - and I remember that people were having a hard time with RAM unless they got it from Apple for the new unibodies.

[kenneth]

Yea from what I gathered crucial is the way to go if your on the plastic MacBooks. If your on a alum. Trust me and stay away.

[Ramesh]

How the hell does one even start theming the mac? I joined the forum, but I have NO idea where to even start, or how to use candybar. Any help would be appreciated.

[Saverino]

How the hell does one even start theming the mac? I joined the forum, but I have NO idea where to even start, or how to use candybar. Any help would be appreciated.

I would talk to Lincoln about this.

[Ramesh]

I would talk to Lincoln about this.

The dude's hard to reach.

[dturner]

How the hell does one even start theming the mac? I joined the forum, but I have NO idea where to even start, or how to use candybar. Any help would be appreciated.
This program (http://www.blocksoft.net/index.html) lets you change the dock color and a few other things. It is free.
As far as candybar, Philip has/does use this and could probably be of help.

[connie]

I learned because Phil referred me to the Mac 101 section at the Apple website, they show you step by step on how to change your icons. Take a look at some of the desktops in the Off Topic area, there is a thread where people show their desktop theme and you can see some of the things they've done.

I think I am going to buy Candybar, I still haven't figured out how to change Finder icon.

[Ramesh]

I learned because Phil referred me to the Mac 101 section at the Apple website, they show you step by step on how to change your icons. Take a look at some of the desktops in the Off Topic area, there is a thread where people show their desktop theme and you can see some of the things they've done.

I think I am going to buy Candybar, I still haven't figured out how to change Finder icon.

Thanks. I know how to do it the long way. I want to be able to use Candybar and do it quickly. I just haven't played around with it much yet. I figure if Linc could sum it up (or Hippo) in a post, I'd be all set.

[Youngbinks]

I'm still a bit new to the CandyBar scene but here's a mini-info session if you're interested.

CB is extremely, EXTREMELY easy to use. You don't have to go into the file folder or application or use the info for any applications or folders you want to change the appearance of. Just run CB and you get
http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p91/youngbinks/Picture3-3.png

You can download icon sets at a ton of sites but I have found IconFactory to be the most helpful and expansive. Once you download an icon set it automatically appears to the left hand side of the CB box. I have the "A Christmas Story" one for instance. You can use different sets of icons all at once. Just open the particular set of folder what the icons are in and you will see this
http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p91/youngbinks/Picture4-1.png

You then simply drag and drop the icon onto the icon that you want to replace. From there you simply hit apply icons and it will restart your dock and the icon should apply immediately. Sometimes I have noticed that it requires a restart for some icons to change.
http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p91/youngbinks/Picture5-1.png

[connie]

Cool, as soon as payday comes around I am getting this!