MacBook Pro Trackpad Clicks Not Responding

Clicks on the trackpad of my MacBook Pro were becoming less and less reliable. That is, about 1 out of 3 clicks would not register, unless I held the button down for more than a fraction of a second.

Apple Support Discussions provided a solution that works for me. See topic Official *Trackpad Click Not Always Registered* Thread for details.

Basically, you need to set the Double-Click speed lower. I set mine to the 5th tick mark, and it works fine now.

Update: Bad news is that this only helped for awhile. After a few reboots, the problem has returned, even though the Trackpad settings are at their new, lower position. I will have to continue the search for a solution.

Update 2: Good news is that there is a bizarre workaround. If you have one of your hot-corners set to start the screen saver, drag your mouse to that corner. Just as the screen-saver starts, pull the mouse away, so that you don't have to enter your password. You clicking behavior will be restored to normal. Yay.

Open Targeted Links in New Tab Instead of New Window

Update (6/21/2010): In Safari 5, Apple added a new preference that does this. It is found under Safari>Preferences>Tabs, and is called "Open pages in tabs instead of windows:". To enable this, choose "Automatic" or "Always".

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Though Safari has some preferences for how it should behave when you click a targeted link (i.e., a link that is designed to open a new window, rather than load a new page into the same window), none of them make the default behavior to be to open a new tab when you click such a link.

Fortunately, there is a hidden setting for Mac OS X, but you have to use Terminal to enable it. Just do the following:

1. Quit Safari
2. Launch Terminal
3. Enter the following (where $ represents your command line prompt):
   $ defaults write com.apple.Safari TargetedClicksCreateTabs -bool true
4. Launch Safari

Now, when you click a link that used to open a new window, it will instead open in a new tab in the existing window.

Compact Powered Subwoofers

Though 'powered' seems to be redundant qualifier in today's market dominated by Home Theater Systems (just try finding a passive, or 'un-powered', subwoofer online or at your local electronics store!), here are some of the good-quality, powered subwoofers that measure less than 13" wide/deep that I have been taking a look at:

• Velodyne Optimum-8 - http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/587518-REG/Velodyne_OPTIMUM_8CV_Optimum_8_Digital_EQ_Subwoofer.html
• Velodyne Impact 10 SPL - http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/586453-REG/Velodyne_IMPACT_10_Impact_10_250W_Self_Powered_Subwoofer.html#features
• Polk PSW 111 - http://www.polkaudio.com/homeaudio/psw/index.php?s=psw111
• Definitive Technology Definitive SuperCube III Subwoofer Speaker - http://www.definitivetech.com/Products/Products.aspx?productid=SuperCube%20III

Are there any other brands or models you would recommend I take a look at, before I buy?

Goodby Godaddy

This weekend, I finally decided to move my web hosting service from godaddy.com to justhost.com. I just couldn't put up with GD's frat-boy and godaddy-girl marketing slime anymore. So long, Bob Parsons. And to think that I once thought "Parson's Technology" was a company started by a church pastor. :-P

The Dessert Studio (http://www.thedessertstudio.net) web site is now up and available. Yay! Please forgive the lack of placeholder content --- we are still under construction.