Cyberduck: FTP client

Cyberduck lets you download files from FTP servers. It's quite handy and polished. Painless installation. 

LaTeXiT: create latex formulae to drag and drop

LaTeXiT is a fantastic application: it allows you to input a LaTeX formula, compile it with a single click, and obtain an image that you can drag and drop pretty much everywhere (an existing LaTeX presentation or a plot for instance).

Important: LaTeXit is not yet packaged for Leopard. If you are a Leopard user, then do not install LaTeXiT 1.14.4, but go for LaTeXiT 1.14.3 instead. More about it later.
Update: LaTeXit 1.15.0 has just been released. This version is Leopard-compatible (thanks Bjorn Sandstede).

Skype

Skype seems to work fine on the external network. 

Guest account

I have setup a guest account, that is you can switch on my machine at any time and login with no password. This account allows you to run practically all the applications that are on goofy (my machine's name). The bad news is that you can not access this account remotely (let me know if you need it, I'll work it out for you) and you can not install programs on this account. The great news is that you can access this account at any time (and please feel free to do so). Here is how:

• If I am not there and goofy is switched off: switch it on and login as a guest. It's enough you click on the guest icon
• If I am not there and goofy is switched on: go on the menu, top right corner and click on the shaded man. You'll be prompted in another desktop, and whatever I was doing will keep running on the background (no harm for me, then). 
• If I am there, just come and ask, it takes a second to switch user.

Why this is useful: you may want to use some software that is on goofy but not on your machine, or you may need goofy to be switched on. Just help yourself. A few caveats

• You can temporarily store files in a guest account, but they will be deleted when you logout
• My keyboard is Italian (experience the pain I go through every time I sit on a computer with a differently mapped keyboard...)

Installing XCode and Developer Tools

Go to the Apple Developer Connection Website and activate an AppleID if you haven't already done so (when you register for Apple Protection Plan for instance). Go to Download and then, on the right hand side select Developer Tools. Download XCode 3.0 (it's quite bulky) and install it with a few mouse clicks. Among the proposed packages, double click on XcodeTools.mpkg.

Pdf viewer and note taker: Skim

Beside Preview, the standard pdf viewer, I've installed Skim: it allows you to write notes on the pdf. Useful while correcting a LaTeX paper when the source is not available. Skim supports pdfsync (i.e. you will be able to jump from the source .tex file to the corresponding line on the pdf and the other way round)

Configuring a CUPS printer

Update: the howto described below could be valid only for Leopard users. For Tiger users, I have made available my printer online, therefore you should be able to see it with a laptop and print using my settings. My printer is labelled HP LaserJet with Duplexer. If my machine is off, you can turn it on and login as a guest (see this post about the matter). Anyway, the best thing to do is to configure your own printer. This might be done from System Preferences>Print & Fax from which you could input the printer address and settings. If you succeed, please let me know. Also, people seems to have problems to printer under a VPN connection at ENM.

Setup our printer in Room 2.80 (other printers should work similarly)

1. Open Safari and go to your local CUPS system at http://localhost:631/
   
2. Click Add Printer (eventually input your Mac username and password)
   
3. Name: DepartmentalPrinter (customise it as you like)
   
4. Location: Room 2.80 (customise it as you like)
   
5. Description: HP LaserJet with Duplexer (customise it as you like)
   
6. Click Continue
   
7. Device: Internet Printing Protocol http
   
8. Click Continue
   
9. Device URI: http://printsrv.enm.bris.ac.uk:631/classes/2.80
   
10. Click Continue
    
11. Make: HP
    
12. Click Continue
13. Model HP Color Laserjet 4650
    
14. Click Continue
15. Insert userame and password associated with your Mac
    
16. Under Options Installed select Duplex Unit Installed
    
17. Under General set Page Size to a4 and Paper Source to Tray 2
    
18. Click Set Printer Options
    
19. Done

For other CUPS printers you have to insert a different URI for the device (this is the CUPS address of your printer, ask your sytem administrator) and you may have to set different Make, Models, Printer Options.

I would be grateful if you reported me (un)successful installations.

Installing LaTeX

I strongly advice to install the MacTeX distribution. It installs nicely and it is exhaustive.

Configuring email

The settings found here seem to work fine.

Right click

Activate immediately the right click facility of the mouse. Under Preferences>Keyboard & Mouse>Mouse. On the right click menu select Secondary Button.