If wishes were fishes [geekery]
You know what I’d like? I’d like a piece of OS X software that will pull a black veil over, black out, everything on my screen that’s not the window (of whatever software) I’m looking at. No cluttered desktop, no other windows, nothing. Like WriteRoom but letting me use, say, TextEdit.
And while we’re at it, I’d love the use of a Mac that can run Classic and has it installed.* For a full day, if possible. Anyone reasonably local (Boston-Providence) have access to such and a kind heart? :)
*I’d thought it stopped shipping with OS 10.4, but mindlace says it’s 10.3. So pre-10.3, I guess?
December 6th, 2006 at 2:42 pm
http://www.43folders.com/2006/02/23/against-distraction/
http://www.versiontracker.com/dyn/moreinfo/macosx/24877
Maybe?
December 6th, 2006 at 2:48 pm
There should be a “classic application support” or somesuch…usually on DVD 2 of your system install/restore CDs that came with the computers (it never came with the retail OS DVDs that I remember).
It takes about 5 minutes to install then you have classic.
If you can’t find it e-mail me and we’ll figure something out.
The first problem was actually originally going to be solved at the OS level. they called it single app mode or something, and showed it in the original OS X demos. It was a purple button on the top right of the window if I recall.
ANYWAYS-This looks like what you are looking for. not quite as simple to set up but seems about the right solution.
http://www.43folders.com/2006/04/17/fsm2-electric-boogaloo/
December 6th, 2006 at 7:23 pm
Those suggestions are excellent, thanks Xtina! and sean!
Sean: Classic doesn’t run at all on an Intel Mac, which is what I’m using right now. I still have access to a PPC, so might look for the OS install disks… but far as I remember, Classic didn’t ship with any of the OSes we actually have on disk. I might be emailing you yet…
December 6th, 2006 at 10:27 pm
“Like WriteRoom but letting me use, say, TextEdit.”
If your goal really is just to get TextEdit functionality in WriteRoom then check out the new WriteRoom 2.0 beta. It support most if not all of TextEdits functionality, including rich text editing, and wrap to page.
December 6th, 2006 at 11:54 pm
Thanks, Jesse – my goal, though, isn’t just to use TextEdit but to have an uncluttered desktop with a bunch of apps open but only one visible, and also with the desktop clutter hidden. A combination of Backdrop and MenuShade, both found at links above, seems to do the job.