First Mac...

[BigMacUser]

I orderd my first Mac last thursday should be at my house June 13th...

Just wondering if ya'll have any tips or hints you could give me with the computer, whether it be about the apperance and keeping it clean, programs and applications, internet browsing, ect.. . Basically just want to learn all of the little tricks and basic tips and instructions. Let me know! Thanks!!!

 

[WildCowboy]

Congrats on your purchase!

You can start your reading here!

 

[Nate4747]

A great alternative web browser is Camino, I use it all the time, and when you come across that occasional site that doesn't work in Safari it will usually work in Camino.

Another great app is is VLC, it is a video player that can play almost ANY video file you throw at it. It also does fullscreen, which Apple disables on QuickTime Player unless you pay $30 for the pro version.

Another tip is to use keyboard commands. It is so much faster than mousing everything. Command is the key with the Apple on it.

Command Q quits an application
Command W closes a window
F9 - F11 activate Expose, a cool feature that hides and organizes all open windows.
Command Tab toggles between open apps.

That's just a few I can think of off the top of my head.

 

[wako]

I orderd my first Mac last thursday should be at my house June 13th...

Just wondering if ya'll have any tips or hints you could give me with the computer, whether it be about the apperance and keeping it clean, programs and applications, internet browsing, ect.. . Basically just want to learn all of the little tricks and basic tips and instructions. Let me know! Thanks!!!

Congradulations on your purchase...


Nate already went through the most fundemental commands there is, and like what he said, try to learn as much keyboard shortcuts there are. It is wonderful.


An application i would suggest you checking out is something called QuickSilver. Click Here

It is the most vital program I use when I use my mac. Basically it catalogs all your files, applications, and so forth. When you open it, and say you type in "itu" it will automatically find the closest matched file or application, which should be iTunes. If there are more than one you can choose to view the other files that match closely to search criteria. I love because basically you can find applications effortlessly, instead of opening finder and going to app folder and then finding whatever you want. It is basically like spotlight, but it is much faster than spotlight. It also has much more capabilities, like writing a quick email, or even typing in macrumors.com and then it will open up a web browser and goto the website!

 

[lamina]

Also, check out AppZapper and Disk Inventory X. AppZapper allows for uninstalls of software in a much cleaner way than the OS alone does, and Disk Inventory X inventories your hard drive with a graphic that shows exactly what's taking up your precious hard drive space.

Great choice on the 17" MBP btw, did you order the glossy screen?

 

[Macer]

What about onyx, this is a good app.

 

[timmac]

I assume you are switching from a Windows system. If that is the case, I can't give enough kudos to "Switching to the Mac: The Missing Manual" by David Pogue. I read that before my iMac arrived in March and it kept me from making a lot of the typical "switching" mistakes (especially installing and uninstalling apps).

There's a bit of a learning curve . . . you have to unlearn to think like a Windows user and think like a Mac user. Be patient, and you will find (for most things), Macs are more intuitive.

 

[BigMacUser]

Also do you guys think this is a good choice for college? I will be using it for Civil engineering and construction management....in a smaller D1 college...Ohio U.

So the lecture halls wont be too big nor will my graduate classes be too big...I think the civil engineering classes are about 20-25 people...

 

[timmac]

Also do you guys think this is a good choice for college? I will be using it for Civil engineering and construction management....in a smaller D1 college...Ohio U.

So the lecture halls wont be too big nor will my graduate classes be too big...I think the civil engineering classes are about 20-25 people...

I'm sure you will eventually take a CAD course. Whatever program your college uses may not be available for the mac. Of course, you can always use the engineering school's computer lab.

 

[BigMacUser]

and that is why I would D/L bootcamp and get Windows XP and Office for 20 bucks from my school....


wouldnt the software work then?

 

[wako]

So the lecture halls wont be too big nor will my graduate classes be too big...I think the civil engineering classes are about 20-25 people...

if it is really a LECTURE hall, good luck on trying to balance the behemoth on a small desk no bigger than a standard sized piece of paper.

 

[BigMacUser]

ok well if its that big then how would the 15.4" Macbook make any differnce? ...

But anyways....the lecture halls arnt like that...and after my freshmen year my classes go from lecture halls with 300 people to classrooms with 20-30 people...

but anyways...can someone point me in the right direction to exactly what I need to do to get windows on my Mac??

I know I need bootcamp....and then the Windows XP disc....but then what?