I'm getting a Macbook Pro next week in the mail from Apple.com and it is the first Apple product I have ever bought. I have always used windows but I have heard more good things about Macs than windows and many of my friends use them so it should be good. I just want to know how some of the features on the computer. I know there is a toolbar type thing on the bottom of the screen so how do you add firefox, msn messenger and that type of stuff down there? Also should I get a anti virus, I heard that Macs hardly ever get viruses. Also I NEED wireless so is that basestation on the website everything I need to complete the wireless, I already have cable modem so that isn't a problem. Thanks in advanced.
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Getting my first Mac
- Thread starter falcon1
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Hi. Congratulations on your first mac! Ok, I'll give you a little information on Mac OS. So, there is a bar at the top like the Menu Bar which is always going to be there, and will change based on what application you have currently open. Like your File, Edit, etc will be up there. There is also a Blue Apple button up there on the Menu Bar. That is your commands for shutting down, restarting, sleep, software update, system prefs, etc. The bar at the bottom aka the dock, is where you can put your favorite applications. The icon at the left of the dock is the Finder which is like the "My Computer" window on PCs. Here you can browse Pictures, Music, Other Files, Applications, etc. To add your application to the dock, click Finder > Applications and then click/drag the application to the dock. No, you don't need antivirus. AntiVirus software slows down the computer more than it is needed. Some longer Mac users on here will tell you also that you don't need it. About the Networking, you can use an Airport Base Station/Airport Express w/ AirTunes, except you don't absolutely need an Apple Router. You can use any Linksys, NetGear, Belkin router also. Hope this helps. Enjoy your MBP. 
Kevin
Kevin
First, congrats on getting a mac . The bottom toolbar thingy is called the dock, you can drag any program onto the dock and an icon will appear there, also programs that are in use, like if you launched firefox will get a temporary icon there until you quit the program. Also you should know that quitting a program does not happen by just closing the window on the mac, you have to right click (two fingers on the trackpad and click/ctrl click) on the icon in the dock and quit it. aMSN is the best MSN client for the mac, I used to use firefox but found that safari was better suited for me, but that can be found at getfirefox.com just as the windows version is. You do not need to get an antivirus for the mac as of yet. Also, almost any router would work with a mac for wireless.
. The bottom toolbar thingy is called the dock, you can drag any program onto the dock and an icon will appear there, also programs that are in use, like if you launched firefox will get a temporary icon there until you quit the program. Also you should know that quitting a program does not happen by just closing the window on the mac, you have to right click (two fingers on the trackpad and click/ctrl click) on the icon in the dock and quit it. aMSN is the best MSN client for the mac, I used to use firefox but found that safari was better suited for me, but that can be found at getfirefox.com just as the windows version is. You do not need to get an antivirus for the mac as of yet. Also, almost any router would work with a mac for wireless.
i would say wait until you get the mac until you start asking questions. simply b/c everything is soooo easy to use. you will be amazed at how easy everything really is. drag and drop. thats all you need to remember.
congrats and welcome to the place where the grass is actually greener
congrats and welcome to the place where the grass is actually greener
Thanks. I used a mac in grade school but that was when the first mac with the color panels came out and since then I haven't been around mac because in middle school and now high school, we only used Dell and Sony. Alot of my friends say just spend a couple minutes or hours just looking around and finding stuff on the computer because it is so easier than a pc. I'll ask other stuff I can't figure out once I get the computer, thanks for the info.
falcon1 said:
Well Congrats on your new mac, welcome to the light
well make sure to check out the forums here and at apple.com, we will try to answer all your mac related questions, also make sure to check out Versiontracker.com, you will find all the apps, and updates for verything mac.