Printing from Windows XP to Mac

Well, the Windows printing problem is resolved. Using a combination of the iFelix articles and numerous visits to the Apple discussions forum I have now got my HP printer hosted on my Mac which I can print to from the XP machine.

There are several ways to do this, the most elegant is to use Apple's Bonjour for Windows software. Once installed on the Windows PC it's a simple matter of running the Windows Bonjour Printing wizard. The other way is slightly more complex and involves using the Windows Add Printer wizard. Important bit! When you get to the point where you select the printer driver, do not select the one for your printer! Instead, select the Generic Postscript driver. This will work!

I'll put the links to the ifelix pages on my website technical page.

Networking Macs and Windows

Spent an interesting couple of hours trying to network my Mac and Windows XP PC.

It's always been easy to share a drive on XP and access it from my Mac. I have also been able to share a Windows printer with the Mac using 3rd party printer drivers. The challenge has been to (a) access a folder on my Mac from the WinXP machine and also (b) to print from XP to a printer connected to my Mac.

I managed to set up Windows sharing on the Mac and log on to it from Windows - however while this is relatively secure it is a pain as I have to connect as a specific user and I can only see their folders.

Printing is a different matter - I set up print sharing on the Mac and tried to connect two different ways - from the XP machine using the IP address and then using Bonjour. Neither work at the moment - interestingly I can send a print job to the Mac printer but it never prints - even though the job shows as complete in the printer queue on the Mac.

Hmm...

Hello iMac

I have managed to get my hands on a new iMac - it's an Intel Core Duo. What an awesome piece of kit!

Church Bulletins

Thank God for church ladies with typewriters. These sentences actually appeared in church bulletins or were announced in church services:

• The sermon this morning: "Jesus Walks on the Water." The sermon tonight:"Searching for Jesus."


• At the evening service tonight, the sermon topic will be "What Is Hell?" Come early and listen to our choir practice.


• Scouts are saving aluminum cans, bottles and other items to be recycled. Proceeds will be used to cripple children.


• Please place your donation in the envelope along with the deceased person you want remembered.


• Low Self Esteem Support Group will meet Thursday at 7 pm. Please use the back door.


• Weight Watchers will meet at 7 PM at the First Presbyterian Church. Please use large double door at the side entrance.

Apple Store

Today I visited the Apple Store at Brent Cross, London. I had a great time playing with all the latest Apple gear, although the store is nowhere as big as the Regent's Street store, e.g. nowhere to sit and log on with my iBook.

Still, a welcome addition to the Apple infrastructure and somewhere within easy reach without traveling all the way to Londinium.

Oh, and I didn't come away empty handed....

More later...

Isn't it nice when something just works?

Funny how you get used to something. At work I use Win2000 and it takes absolutely ages to start up and get to the point where I can actually do some work. Admittedly it's loading up "company stuff", like network clients and similar, nevertheless I usually have time (between switching it on and being able to do something with it) to brew a mug of real coffee.

By comparison, when I'm at home I get my iBook out of its bag, open the lid and it's good to go! 'Nuf said!

Test the widget

I'm writing this post using this dashboard widget on my Mac. 

Goodbye Windows Media Player

When I got my Mac, I found the only way I could play WMV files was to use Microsoft's WMP for Mac. Not any more! I have discovered flip2mac, which is a plug-in for Quicktime. I subsequently learnt that Microsoft are not supporting WMP for Mac anymore so I'm better off all round.

If you want to get flip2mac - here's the link: www.flip4mac.com. Oh, and the player plug-in is free!

Of course, once you have flip2mac installed you will probably want to uninstall Microsoft WMP - here's how.

Have fun!

The excitement is deafening

Yes, after another chronologically challenged weekend it's back to work. Highlights: I went somewhere and did something.

Ferrari are back!

It was a close race, as it turned out Alonso just beat Michael to the line, because he got in front at the last stop. Of course Ferrari "lost" a lap's worth of fuel from qualifying and the extra lap which it would have given Michael might have made all the difference. Nevertheless it was a great result. Ferrari's performance showed that they are back at the front. Massa did a sound job as #2 and given the fumble with the wheel guns, 9th was a good result. And Raikkonen's recovery from last on the grid to 3rd was great.

Also, great start by rookie Nico Rosberg, fastest lap on his debut GP - not bad! I will be following his progress as well, I was a great fan of his dad Keke.

So... I reckon there are 4 or 5 competitive teams - Ferrari, Renault, McLaren, Honda and Williams - let's see how things stand after a couple more races!

Only 6 days until the next race!!

Forza Ferrari !

A Ferrari front row! Really pleased to see the turn around in their performance from last season, let's hope they remain at the front. I'm expecting the battle to be between Ferrari, Honda and Renault - can't wait!

Interesting new qualifying format, it's an improvement on the rubbish system last year. However as before if you mess up, you end up at the back! Better luck next time, Kimi.

1 day to go!

At the end of 2nd practice in Bahrain, the Ferraris ended up 2nd and 4th fastest, Schumacher just being pipped to first by Anthony Davidson in the Honda. A promising start.

You may have noticed that I have changed the font used in these posts, I prefer a san-serif font. I've also got rid of the standard orange header colour as supplied in the blogger template and replaced it with "Wizzard Prang blue". I hope you like it. (Well, I don't actually care whether you do or not, but Hey! I have to say that in the interests of customer care).

Always look on the bright side of life

De do, de do, de do de do de do...

I haven't been posting recently because, well... nothing good to say.

I've been really disenchanted with work and been generally stressed out by various things. Still, trying to maintain a Positive Mental Attitude. If I get really pissed off I might tell you what has been happening although I'm not sure it's a subject for this blog. We'll see.

4 days to go!

Just 4 days until the first F1 race of 2006. I'm optimistic that Ferrari will be back on form with the 248 F1. They are one of the few teams to have tested in Bahrain so hopefully we will see them back at the front.