A few weeks ago I wrote an article offering users advice on how to handle .tar.gz files. Since then, things have changed. Aladdin has released version 6.0 of their Stuffit line of products, and Stuffit Expander 6.0 is a Carbonized application that does indeed correctly decompress .tar.gz files.
If you are a Beta user, and have not yet installed Stuffit Expander 6.0, we strongly suggest you do. However, there is a catch. While the application itself will work under OS X Beta, the Stuffit Expander installer will only function under OS 9. Thus, users must boot into OS 9, download and install Stuffit Expander, and then log back into OS X.
Although users now have a truly OS X friendly version of Expander, the OS still does not appropriately handle downloads. When using IE for OS X, and downloading a file, users should Control+Click on the link they want do download, and select the option "Download link to disk." If done correctly, you will be presented with a Save box asking for a download location. We suggest that you choose the Desktop.
One of the problems with OS X Beta is that the OS does not "refresh" or "update" automatically in some situations. Downloaded files are invisible, in some cases, until the user logs out and logs back in. That does not have to be the case, however.
If you do indeed save the file to the Desktop, there is a far easier way to make the saved file visible. Once you are sure the download is complete (which can be done with IEis Download Manager), click on the Finder in the Dock. This should bring up a Finder window. Now, drag a file, any file, from that Finder window onto the Desktop. Once you do that, immediately drag it back into the Finder window. Bingo! The downloaded file will now appear on your Desktop.
We are not exactly sure why this works, only that it does. Once you drag the file back into the Finder window, and make the downloaded file visible, you can treat it like any other file. If it is compressed, launch Stuffit Expander 6.0, drag the file over the Expander icon in the Dock, and you will be ready to work with the new file.
We fully expect these little quirks to be worked out by the time OS X 1.0 is available, but for now, use this tip to help make the most of your OS X experience.