1st Mac maybe last

[Poki]

As for keyboard/mouse/trackpad:

You'll love the trackpad! It's just a much more convenient way to surf the web and consume something, but you'll need a mouse to create content.

Magic Mouse: Not for everyone! I used one more than a year, but now I'm using a Cyborg R.A.T. 5 (also wireless available as R.A.T. 9) as its more comfortable for my hand.

Keyboard: The best keyboard I've ever used. And I used many! Just for comparison: with a normal keyboard (with the higher keys) I write about 400 letters a minute (also counting space), with these modern logitech/Microsoft-keyboards with the low keys I write about 500 a minute, with the alu Apple keyboard I write 600. It's just that the keys are much tighter assembled. But you may want to try it first - I don't know if anybody prefers the higher keys. As for numpad, there are wireless numpads from Logitech & co. which you can store somewhere and take out just when you need them - this will let your desktop uncluttered.

 

[Weaselboy]

Forgive my ignorance. If there is a way to download Lion from the Appstore without having to fork over $30 please let me know how. Thanks for your post.

Yes. It is a bit of a drill, but this page shows you how to capture the install image. Once you have done that you can use the instructions here to make a USB key installer from the image. You won't be able to grab Lion from the app store since you did not buy it from the app store, so you will need to use the process I linked.

Don't let the rudeness of some in this thread put you off. It seems some are just here to take shots at others who are less knowledgeable.

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And while "ignorant" sounds pretty harsh, it simply means "uninformed".

Yes, we all know what ignorant means, and it is still rude to call someone ignorant when they ask a question.

 

[SR45]

Appears OP should have come here first, and asked a bunch of questions before his purchase, so he would not have been shocked/angry at the Mac when he finally pulled the trigger and got it. When getting a first Apple Mac, it is different, in a good way, over a PC (Did so myself for the first time) but seems you (OP) did not do the homework first.

Settle down, and ask how to do things from those on this forum that have been there/done that, and you will have a better experience. Should not have been angry about the lack of a DVD drive either, since it was shown not to have one on the sales site. More memory is always good and does not cost all that much as you have noticed. Having the recovery on a separate partition is easy as pie when you need to recover your Hdd someday.

PS. Coming from a PC, I really like my Mac Mini 2011 and will get another in a year or two.

 

[forty2j]

Had an issue with Home Sharing and called tech support (the tech support that is suppose to be top notch) and the 1st guy I got didn't know what Home Sharing was. I was transferred to a person who was more helpful, but he had never owned a Mac before. I was told that this issue has never shown up before and was sorry they couldn't help me and would close the case. (Close the case????? how about fix it).

I don't know who you called here, but it doesn't sound like you called Apple. Did you by any chance buy in a big-box store like Best Buy and get sucked into their own support instead of Apple's?

 

[jkeekij]

Yes. It is a bit of a drill, but this page shows you how to capture the install image. Once you have done that you can use the instructions here to make a USB key installer from the image. You won't be able to grab Lion from the app store since you did not buy it from the app store, so you will need to use the process I linked.

Or you can save all sorts of time and make it easier by downloading the Lion Recovery Disk Assistant. This is much easier than the above method.

 

[Weaselboy]

Or you can save all sorts of time and make it easier by downloading the Lion Recovery Disk Assistant. This is much easier than the above method.

Partly, that would just get him into Lion Recovery, but he would still need to DL Lion over the Internet once in the Recovery mode. I think he wanted to have copy of Lion locally though. A 2011 Mac Mini like he has can also boot into Lion Recovery direct from firmware, so he does not need a Lion Recovery USB key if that is all he is after.

 

[Lesser Evets]

1) Was told by Apple store that 2GB of ram is like 4GB. Searches on the web confirmed.
2) Was told by Apple store that iTunes was much better on Mac than on Windows. Searches on web confirmed.
3) Was told by Apple store that making a restore USB was doable. Coworker said same thing.

1) Why didn't you return it?
2) Why don't you return it?
3) Return it already. Dayum.

 

[Consultant]

I did not. You might laugh at this, but I had an old wireless PC mouse and keyboard by Logitech. My son had some white stickers and I made the mac keys by drawing on the stickers and putting them on my Keyboard.

I thought about getting the mac keyboard and mouse as they are very nice, but I like a number pad and the wireless keyboard didn't have the number pad on it (only the usb keyboard did).

Is the the track pad easy to get use to, and is it worth the money? Also does the Mac keyboard feel good to type on?

Thanks

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Forgive my ignorance. If there is a way to download Lion from the Appstore without having to fork over $30 please let me know how. Thanks for your post.

So it sounds like you got the low end Mac Mini.

Your experience will differ greatly if you got a MacBook Air or iMac.

What are YOU trying to do? Why do you need to restore OS on a new mac? Did you buy it used?

 

[Viking23]

Give the Mac a chance. Use the links in this forum and elsewhere, that's what I do and have learnt a great deal about various Apple products. It is always difficult with a new OS. Just take your time.

 

[tshrimp]

I don't know who you called here, but it doesn't sound like you called Apple. Did you by any chance buy in a big-box store like Best Buy and get sucked into their own support instead of Apple's?

I did not get sucked in to BB support. Yes it was Apple that I called. I thought it was funny as the 2nd guy told me he didn't have a Mac because they were too expensive. I thought the Mac mini was a reasonable price, and even the iMac for all you get is not a bad deal. Not what you can get on the PC side, but still reasonable.

SR45...I did know that the mini did not have a DVD, and did not state otherwise. This didn't bother me at all. I should have used a different term, but restore disk is usually the accepted term, but I understand the confusion.

Also as I have posted several times, I was never angry. More surprised since what apple store told me and what was delivered were different. I think if a Mac user went to a store and was you relied some on the sales person to give you accurate info, and things were different then you were informed then you might also be a little surprised.

 

[rdlink]

I didn't read all the responses, so if I repeat something that's already been said, that's why. It seems you can't throw a stick anywhere without hitting someone who thinks they're a "computer expert".

• Don't believe everything you read on the internet, especially if it's in a blog.
• Don't believe ANYTHING that a sales rep tells you.
• Don't believe anything that a Windows-only user tells you about Macs.
• Don't believe everything in advertising copy or "news articles".
• As far as Apple reps, it's important to remember than "Genius" is only their job title, and not necessarily an indication of their knowledge, experience or expertise. Some are new on the job and still learning.

A more reliable source of information is the Apple support website.

You'll also find a lot of help and good information in this forum. Pay attention to what people post and if you're uncertain about something posted, get confirmation from several others. The forum polices itself pretty well, so if someone posts misinformation, usually someone else catches it and corrects them. There are always exceptions, but you're generally safer getting advice from those who have been active in the forum for a while, rather than someone with only a handful of posts or who just joined. While many join with a wealth of knowledge and experience, it takes a while to get to know if their posts are generally reliable.

Take a deep breath. Relax. Now "reset" your expectations. A Mac is a computer. Just like every other computer, it's not flawless. However, if you give it time to learn your way around Mac OS X, you'll likely find you prefer it over Windows. Open your mind to the Mac way of doing things. In many cases, you may find it far more efficient than Windows. In some cases, you won't. It takes a bit of getting used to, but in my opinion, it's well worth the effort! Like many here, I can't imagine going back to Windows!

Helpful Information for Any Mac User
Mac Pro & Mac mini Fast Start: The new user's guide to the Mac

And while "ignorant" sounds pretty harsh, it simply means "uninformed".

OP: Please pay particular attention to the bullet list and the last sentence of this post. The bullet list points are true every one. So is the last sentence. Nobody was insulting you, or calling you names. But you were quite apparently ignorant about the issues you bring up when you made your decision.

None of the things you bring up are deal killers, though. Take the time to get to know your Mac. You will find your computing experience to be much better than it ever was (or will be) on Windows, IMO.

 

[MJL]

I need someone to talk me down. I just purchased my new Mac Mini Mid 2011.

Please someone set me straight before I adopt Windows 8.

Please ignore those that are insulting and are convinced (and try to convince you) that there is nothing wrong with Apple, I have had my share as well.

If there was a machine available in our country with the same form factor and low noise level as the Mac Mini and was not Apple then I personally would take that instead. (e.g. ASRock Vision 3D)

Alas, such is not the case and I do like very much that it is quiet and does not require hundreds of watts to run.

OS X is morphing into iOS and it is not as intuitive as some want you to believe especially if you need to do something more than web browsing and playing music.

I went back to using Windows 7 which runs fine on the Mac mini.

I've briefly had the mini upgraded to Windows 8 and I reverted back to 7 since the mini was running too hot for my liking.

Hopefully the next version will run cooler. If not then I'll revisit if I am going to stay with Apple.

 

[philipma1957]

Please ignore those that are insulting and are convinced (and try to convince you) that there is nothing wrong with Apple, I have had my share as well.

If there was a machine available in our country with the same form factor and low noise level as the Mac Mini and was not Apple then I personally would take that instead. (e.g. ASRock Vision 3D)

Alas, such is not the case and I do like very much that it is quiet and does not require hundreds of watts to run.

OS X is morphing into iOS and it is not as intuitive as some want you to believe especially if you need to do something more than web browsing and playing music.

I went back to using Windows 7 which runs fine on the Mac mini.

I've briefly had the mini upgraded to Windows 8 and I reverted back to 7 since the mini was running too hot for my liking.

Hopefully the next version will run cooler. If not then I'll revisit if I am going to stay with Apple.

I am drifting more and more to windows 7. I just built my second pc and quite frankly it is far better then a mini in every way but one. it is 20 by 20 by 8 a far cry from 8 by 8 by 2 . i can build a stable pc under 600 bucks that kills a mini
if i want small size 12 by 12 by 5 is as small as i can do and clearly beat any mini. that small size is very costly

 

[namelessme]

Something I don't get here. You love the mini, yet are thinking of dumping it all because of the issue of no easy restore disc?

The ram thing.... yeah, that's annoying, but 8GB is cheap, as you said. It is silly for apple to release any machines with 2GB only. As for iTunes, can't comment on, as I never use it.

Ideally, a restore OS disc or USB drive would be included, but I don't see that a major, major deal. Worst case you set the mini to download the OS, go eat dinner or something, come back a couple of hours later and its done.

For myself, the mini was my first mac. I came from the PC world, and although this may be blasphemy here, I rarely use Lion. I got the machine to primarily use Win 7. The machine is quiet, it works fast enough, and does what I want it to do (mostly)... so if the form factor is good for you and you like the OS, I don't see what the problem is really.

And unless you like an OS with a split personality, muddled interface, and parts of it better suited for a tablet, you probably wouldn't want to go with Windows 8. Windows 7, yes... Lion, yes, if you like the Mac OS... Window 8... only if you like using a desktop as a tablet.

 

[xxBURT0Nxx]

is it really that hard?

the first link takes you to apples site with a link to the download you need and directions to create the drive.

even the second link tells you how to do it in 3 simple steps.

I guess it's easier to rant on a forum about how you are going to return your stuff rather than do a little searching for yourself.

 

[Slow Programmer]

Recovery discs are not just an Apple issue. I have bought over a dozen new PCs in the last eight years (use them in a business) and not a single one has come with recovery discs. The last factory included recovery disc I remember getting was for a Sony at least ten years ago. Sure most give you a way to burn your own, but I have not found that to be very reliable. The world changes and not always for the better.

 

[tshrimp]

is it really that hard?

the first link takes you to apples site with a link to the download you need and directions to create the drive.

even the second link tells you how to do it in 3 simple steps.

I guess it's easier to rant on a forum about how you are going to return your stuff rather than do a little searching for yourself.

Thanks for the links, but that does not create a full recovery USB drive. That method just creates another web based install.

Check out Weaselboy's post for instructions on creating a full USB restore.

I will try and refrain from posting anything negative about a Mac in the future. I have learned my lesson as a new mac owner.

 

[KScottMyers]

Thanks for the links, but that does not create a full recovery USB drive. That method just creates another web based install.

Check out Weaselboy's post for instructions on creating a full USB restore.

I will try and refrain from posting anything negative about a Mac in the future. I have learned my lesson as a new mac owner.

I think its more about how you ask.

The whole purpose of this forum is to share information about the topic at hand. I think you'll find it very helpful instead of just complaining how you can't get something to work and basically giving up.

 

[MrNomNoms]

Forgive my ignorance. If there is a way to download Lion from the Appstore without having to fork over $30 please let me know how. Thanks for your post.

When you load up your Mac mini for the first time you register it against your AppleID which should show the latest version of Mac OS X it was pre-loaded with along with iPhoto, Garageband and iMovie. I have the low end Mac mini and all I had to do was to load up the AppStore, accept the T&C's and then those pre-loaded applications appeared on the available applications to download.

Once you've done that then click on download and follow the instructions:

http://osxdaily.com/2011/07/08/make-a-bootable-mac-os-x-10-7-lion-installer-from-a-usb-flash-drive/

Such instructions have been around for ages.

 

[Weaselboy]

When you load up your Mac mini for the first time you register it against your AppleID which should show the latest version of Mac OS X it was pre-loaded with along with iPhoto, Garageband and iMovie. I have the low end Mac mini and all I had to do was to load up the AppStore, accept the T&C's and then those pre-loaded applications appeared on the available applications to download.

Once you've done that then click on download and follow the instructions:

http://osxdaily.com/2011/07/08/make-a-bootable-mac-os-x-10-7-lion-installer-from-a-usb-flash-drive/

Such instructions have been around for ages.

The iLife apps will show up in the App Store by doing as you said, but not Lion. He will need to grab the install image using the method I linked in my post.

 

[mjsayshi]

1) Was told by Apple store that 2GB of ram is like 4GB. Searches on the web confirmed.
2) Was told by Apple store that iTunes was much better on Mac than on Windows. Searches on web confirmed.
3) Was told by Apple store that making a restore USB was doable. Coworker said same thing.

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I'm not surprised you got bad info at the Apple Store. They hire "perky" not "smart". There was a time when anyone you spoke to at the Apple Store was pretty knowledgeable but this was a few years ago. Now, due to their ever expanding, underpaid workforce, Apple only hires brand conscious cheerleaders. Fortunately they try to keep some old school computer wonks around to give correct answers. You pretty much have to go to most unemployable looking person to get good advice.

 

[drsox]

I'm not surprised you got bad info at the Apple Store. They hire "perky" not "smart". There was a time when anyone you spoke to at the Apple Store was pretty knowledgeable but this was a few years ago. Now, due to their ever expanding, underpaid workforce, Apple only hires brand conscious cheerleaders. Fortunately they try to keep some old school computer wonks around to give correct answers. You pretty much have to go to most unemployable looking person to get good advice.

Agree 100%.
I asked the "personable young man" whether there was a fan in the MBA.
No, was the emphatic and wrong answer.

Now I look for the geek kept chained behind the counter - this one knows the truth !

 

[NunoBerny]

You will never experience the performance drop when your antivirus software starts to autoscan again, because there's absolute no need for installing antivirus software.

You may want to wait a bit before you say that. The success of the Mac in recent years will make the virus threat significant, I'm quite sure of that.
The price of success, I guess.

 

[GGJstudios]

You may want to wait a bit before you say that. The success of the Mac in recent years will make the virus threat significant, I'm quite sure of that.
The price of success, I guess.

The "market share theory" has been debunked countless times. There is no virus threat, because there is no Mac OS X virus that exists in the wild.... and there never has been one.

 

[simsaladimbamba]

You may want to wait a bit before you say that. The success of the Mac in recent years will make the virus threat significant, I'm quite sure of that.
The price of success, I guess.

Don't you think, someone would have written a virus by now, just because to get attention and be famous for writing a virus for an OS, that has been virus-free for over a decade?

Anyway, maybe this article can shed some light on it, that it is not the marketshare, that prevents a virus, but the underlying system, which prevents privilege escalation:
The Mac OS X Malware Myth Continues