A while back, Apple announced that it had increased the storage threshold for .mac email and iDisk to 250 meg from 100. That's great (though still far behind gmail) but unfortunately Apple didn't explain how to reallocate storage space for those of us who don't keep 125 mb worth of mail hanging around.

Fortunately the current issue of Macworld (February 2005) explains how to fix this. In his "Mac OS Hints" column, Rob Griffiths explains that instead of going to System Preferences and then to the ".mac" control panel (which would make sense), you have to go to the .mac home page (www.mac.com), log in, click on "account" and then log-in again. Only then are you allowed to change your preferences for mail/iDisk.

Brilliant eh?

Hopefully, the new Tiger version of Mac OS X will integrate this storage allocation directly into the OS (and while they're at it, it'd be nice if they would allow you to sync up individual folders within your home directory to iDisk).

Speaking of Macworld, the February issue is actually a very good one -- in addition to the standard "Mac 911" and "Mac OS X Hints" columns, it has a section dedicated to preventing Mac-related disasters. It includes instructions on how to verify preferences, repair permissions, delete cache files, delete log files, prebind applications, automate maintence, and more.

It's exceedingly useful, and a written in a very easy to understand, easy to follow style. If you're a Mac person, it's definitely worth picking up.