Help Setting Up Multiple Users on new iMac.

[TheAnswer]

I've bought a computer for a friend and his family. The family is dad, mom and a 4 year old and they are all computer novices. I'm looking for the best and quickest way to set up the following:

1. Easiest way to transfer bookmarks from one account to another.

2. Doing the same with calendars and address book contacts.

(I plan to set up some bookmarks, contacts and calendars for them, then show them how to edit and create their own to.)

3. How to share the iTunes library between the adult accounts, but not the childs account (if possible. I don't want the four year old trashing all the music by accident!).

5. Doing the same with the iPhoto library (not as big a concern, since I'm sure they can just remember to use one account each time they add the photos)

6. Any advice on setting up access rules for the 4 year old's account.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions!

 

[elfin buddy]

I've bought a computer for a friend and his family. The family is dad, mom and a 4 year old and they are all computer novices. I'm looking for the best and quickest way to set up the following:

1. Easiest way to transfer bookmarks from one account to another.

2. Doing the same with calendars and address book contacts.

(I plan to set up some bookmarks, contacts and calendars for them, then show them how to edit and create their own to.)

3. How to share the iTunes library between the adult accounts, but not the childs account (if possible. I don't want the four year old trashing all the music by accident!).

5. Doing the same with the iPhoto library (not as big a concern, since I'm sure they can just remember to use one account each time they add the photos)

6. Any advice on setting up access rules for the 4 year old's account.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions!

1. Not sure. I know that .Mac provides a means of syncing bookmarks over multiple computers, so I presume it would also work for multiple accounts on the same computer.

If you were so inclined, I bet you could write a program to synchronise bookmarks across the computer in one shot.

2. See above.

3. Use music sharing in iTunes. It's an option available in the preferences that lets you see the libraries of other users on your computer or network who are logged in, have iTunes running, and have sharing also turned on.

I don't like that option. It irks me dearly. Personally, I created a new folder called "Music" on the root level of my computer, and let all users read, while only administrators write. All users can choose to use that as their iTunes music folder, so they have all songs in it. The only catch is that if one user adds music, the others won't see it until they go File-->Add to Library... and choose the "Music" folder again.

4. ??

5. iPhoto sharing works like iTunes music sharing. I've never tried it, but there's an option for it in iPhoto Preferences.

6. For a four-year-old's account? I like to encourage learning, so I'd give him (I assume 'him' just to annoy feminists ) every priviledge of using the computer except writing to the application folder, system files, and anyone else's files (naturally). I also wouldn't censor content on the computer (like dirty words in the dictionary).

If you're paranoid, give him no write priviledges outside of his Home folder. Give him "Simple Finder" mode. Put all applications you think he might use directly in the dock and in the "My Applications" folder. Turn on parental controls for Dictionary and any other app you think he might ever want to use. Oh, and show him how to use it first


Hope that helps!

 

[blodwyn]

I've bought a computer for a friend and his family. The family is dad, mom and a 4 year old and they are all computer novices. I'm looking for the best and quickest way to set up the following:

1. Easiest way to transfer bookmarks from one account to another.

2. Doing the same with calendars and address book contacts.

(I plan to set up some bookmarks, contacts and calendars for them, then show them how to edit and create their own to.)

You can export bookmarks and contacts from Safari and Address Book - export to a thumb drive, swith accounts and import them again

 

[TheAnswer]

Thanks...

...for all the suggestions.

...never having shared a computer, I must have glossed over when they added sharing to iPhoto and iTunes. That seems simpler to set up, so I'll probably go that route.

I'm guessing once I export the bookmarks and addresses, I can just drop them in the other users public folder, then switch accounts and put them where they belong, right?

I'm going to play a little in simple finder mode and see if that will be enough. I don't want to confine the 4 year old that much, no censoring...might keep her out of the utilities folder just in case. Since I'm not the parent, I'll leave the whole internet permissions up to them...and she probably doesn't need Mail for a couple of years.

Thanks again for all the help!

 

[blodwyn]

I'm guessing once I export the bookmarks and addresses, I can just drop them in the other users public folder, then switch accounts and put them where they belong, right?

You will want to open up Safari and Address Book and import the files you exported from the other account. File>Import Bookmarks for Safari, and File>Import>vCards for Address Book.

Good luck

 

[skubish]

I am going to ask a stupid question here:
Do they really need separate user accounts?
Since they are computer novices, I would just set up 3 accounts.
1. General user account they all use
2. Admin acct
3. Backup Admin acct (to be used in case #2 has problems)

Rarely do home users need multiple accounts.

 

[TheAnswer]

Actually...

I'm begining to wonder about the same thing...it might be easier with one adult account, my admin account and one for the 4 year old (just in case the adults have stuff they don't want the kid to see).

The only thing I can think is it might be simpler for each of them to learn without each other changing things around. Easier, for example, to use iChat if it automatically logs you in, instead of your husband...easier to find your contacts if all your wifes friends aren't mixed in with yours...same thing with bookmarks...events on calendars...etc.

It's something I'm still thinking about.