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Brand new computer, what do you do first?

H

Hubris

macrumors newbie
Original poster
May 3, 2011
10
0
So I just picked up the 2.7" 21.5 inch yesterday, and I'm thrilled with it already (got that one for the larger HDD, better GPU, and wanted the cabling in place for SSD boot drive down the line). Got everything transfered off my old computer, a first gen. 1.86 Core Duo MBP which was very close to S#$%'ing the bed after almost 6 years of service. Got my games installed, WoW, SC2, Civ. V.

So my question then, is what do YOU do with a new computer? what are the first apps you install (free, preferably), setting you change, or fun toys you play with?


P.s. got the magic trackpad combined with BetterTouchTools, freaking rediculous, could not be more thrilled. Girlfriend thinks I have magic powers.
 
First thing I'd do is get an external HD to use as a Time Machine backup and get your backup started. You don't say how you intend to use it so it's a little difficult to recommend apps.
 
I haven't rocked a OSx comp yet so can't say...

It's really subjective though outside of the Utilities...etc

Logic and Bootcamp setup and games will likely be my first course of action!

Then maybe iMovie and 3 pay checks worth if App store apps :cool:
 
No no i'm not asking what you would recommend for ME, I'm literally asking what YOU all do. I know what I need to do :-D. Just looking for some entertaining ideas that I might not have thought of yet.
 
Bought an external HD, partitioned it into 2 partitions, one for Time Machine and one for a SuperDuper clone. Turn on Time Machine and make a clone and repeat the clone process every few days.
 
First I set up my e-mail accounts in mail. Then i put music/movies/games from an external on the computer.
 
Hubris said:
No no i'm not asking what you would recommend for ME, I'm literally asking what YOU all do. I know what I need to do :-D. Just looking for some entertaining ideas that I might not have thought of yet.
Click to expand...

Install Screenshot plus widget, iStat Pro widget, google chrome for starters. Install Reason/Record. Install Windows7 on partition for gaming. Maybe compress some video just to see how much faster it would be...
 
software updates immediately, then clone it after everything is set up (mail, chrome/bookmarks, install office/quicksilver/firstclass/printers/adobe CS5/other apps)
 
The very first thing that I do with my brand new computer is turn it on....

Hehe

Really thought I always take the gpu for a test drive. I have two worlds 2 on steam and cant wait to see how the 27 inch 6970m 2 gb runs it when I get it tomorrow. It is currently being shipped and should arrive tomorrow.

I had the imac 2010 27 inch and while it was great two worlds 2 chugged a bit at high resolutions and I had to turn down the shadows and effects to get 30-40fps at native. Here is hoping it will run with everything intact.
 
old-wiz said:
Bought an external HD, partitioned it into 2 partitions, one for Time Machine and one for a SuperDuper clone. Turn on Time Machine and make a clone and repeat the clone process every few days.
Click to expand...

I was wondering why you would put the clone and the Time Machine backup on the same drive. If the drive fails you've lost both backups. And I know it's far fetched but what if if the drive did fail and while waiting for replacement something happened to your computer, then your screwed.
 
Got mine this morning. First thing I did was back up my Macbook and iTunes to an external drive.
  • Install Updates
  • Setup iTunes and organize all my apps and music
  • Setup iPhone with it
  • Installed Chrome
  • Installed Office

Next up, Steam and WoW :)
 
iphone+ apps are next for me. Followed by office activation, and lastly bootcamp and steam.
 
I updated it then I installed wow and steam to test out gaming.

Then installed the apps I know I want. Copied my stuff over my network to the mac. Then connected an external for time machine.

Then setup bootcamp and install windows and more games.

Then I was done. For now.
 
b-rad g said:
I was wondering why you would put the clone and the Time Machine backup on the same drive. If the drive fails you've lost both backups. And I know it's far fetched but what if if the drive did fail and while waiting for replacement something happened to your computer, then your screwed.
Click to expand...

I'm actually ahead of that; I have a 3rd Firewire drive that is just the clone, so I actually have two clones plus a Time Machine backup. Originally I set it up with clone and Time Machine on one external HDD, then added another one for clone plus some other stuff.
 
First things I install are all my development tools (TextWrangler, XCode etc), and Final Cut Studio.... mainly as Final Cut is a big hunk o app that takes forever to install... then I just add Adium, CS5.5, Celtx, Mactracker, Skype and lots of free dashboard games.
 
Unfortunately I have to install Logic Pro, NI Komplete, Ableton Live and a few sound libraries. My first day won't be much fun considering I will spend hours installing around 250 gigs in just music production stuff alone.

Scratch that, I will still have fun doing it!:D
 
sonarghost said:
Unfortunately I have to install Logic Pro, NI Komplete, Ableton Live and a few sound libraries. My first day won't be much fun considering I will spend hours installing around 250 gigs in just music production stuff alone.

Scratch that, I will still have fun doing it!:D
Click to expand...

Just think how much fun that would be if you had to wait for it all to download through the Mac App Store? :eek:
 
old-wiz said:
Bought an external HD, partitioned it into 2 partitions, one for Time Machine and one for a SuperDuper clone. Turn on Time Machine and make a clone and repeat the clone process every few days.
Click to expand...

That is a REALLY REALLY bad idea. You should have both backups on their own separate HD, if the HD on the drive you have now crashes then you will have lost both backups totally defeating the strategy of a backup at all. HD's are very inexpensive there isn't any reason not to have 2 external HD's for backup if you want to use both TM and SuperDuper.

EDIT: I just saw your later post where you stated you have a second external HD with the Clone on it.
 
I am going to install chrome, final cut studio, Adobe Suite, plugins and hook it upto my 42" flatscreen.

Unfortunaltely i have been waiting since tuesday 3rd to pick it up, but they dont have it in stores here in norway yet.. :mad:
 
Well, when my ordered 27" iMac finally arrives, I will

a) tidy up the mess on my desktop
b) put my old G5 iMac aside to have the space for the new 27"
and c) be excited about the performance and the general feeling of the new, big brother.

I don't plan to import the data from the old one to the new one. I think it's quite good to get a 'clean' machine. Without trash data I never use. Well, after I turned the new iMac on, I will probably

a) download Chrome
b) set up my mail accounts
c) install office for mac '11
d) import my data for iCal and my adress book.

After that I will probably play around with Photo Booth or add some bookmarks to the 'new' Chrome. Somewhen follows Win7, GTA IV et cetera. I am quite excited. :)

Oh and I will definitely shoot a comparison picture with the two iMacs.


Cheers!
 
Thanks to Migration Assistant the workload is minimal to say the least. I first de-authorize my previous machine, then break out the restore disks of the new machine and re-install OS X without the extra languages, fonts & printer drivers to gain even more space and keep things lean.

Then i attach the latest cloned backup of my previous machine and 'migrate' everything over (excluding stale settings, files & folders). 30-45mins later (after grabbing a cold one) i'm logging into my user account on the new machine and the rest is history.
 
I've got a question, didnt want to make a new topic, but Can you play games off and external HD if its hooked up to the mac? Thanks
 
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