iMac Concerns

[Tonerl]

I switched from a PC to an iMac at the end of last year and, in the main, found the transition to be smooth and worthwhile. I now have Mac software for all but OCR, personal finance, and synchronizing my Treo 680.

Over the past couple of months, I have found that my security setting 'require password when waking' has been ignored occasionally. Usually, repairing disk permissions has returned things to normal. After updating to 10.5.4, however, I can find no way to restore the password function. As the iMac is in my study, this is a concern when I leave the house but it would be a serious problem were the machine in an office.

I've used a variety of OSs over the years, on mainframes and on desktops, but have never come across such a security problem before. Further, having to repair permissions seems wrong to me - is HPFS+ really that fragile?

 

[Avenger23]

The require password to wake after sleep is located in the Security System Preferences under the General tab right at the top of that window. It should ask you if you want to disable automatic logins once you click the checkmark box. You can purchase Quicken for Mac for finance software, Readiris is a good OCR program, and you can download the Mac HotSync software for your Treo from Palm.

 

[Tonerl]

"The require password to wake after sleep is located in the Security System Preferences under the General tab right at the top of that window. It should ask you if you want to disable automatic logins once you click the checkmark box. You can purchase Quicken for Mac for finance software, Readiris is a good OCR program, and you can download the Mac HotSync software for your Treo from Palm."

1 As I stated in my original post, I've already set the require-password option. The problem is that OS 10.5 or the firmware ignores the setting and simply displays my working screen. I've tried resetting the PRAM and repairing permissions but neither is effective.

2 I understand that many users have reservations about Quicken for Mac, though I believe that a new version is in the works.

3 I looked at Readiris but can't remember why I didn't go with it! I must investigate it again.

4 Palm does not provide OS-X-compatible sync software for the Treo 680 - or didn't last time I looked. Missing Sync for Palm is usually suggested but it seems to have problems with iSync, possibly because the firm is spreading itself too thinly.

Thanks for your interest.

 

[AppleFan360]

2 I understand that many users have reservations about Quicken for Mac, though a new version is in the works.

I have been using Quicken for Mac since last December for simple checkbook balancing and it has been working fine. Although I feel it's not as user friendly as the Windows version, it does the job.

 

[Avenger23]

"The require password to wake after sleep is located in the Security System Preferences under the General tab right at the top of that window. It should ask you if you want to disable automatic logins once you click the checkmark box. You can purchase Quicken for Mac for finance software, Readiris is a good OCR program, and you can download the Mac HotSync software for your Treo from Palm."

1 As I stated in my original post, I've already set the require-password option. The problem is that OS 10.5 or the firmware ignores the setting and simply displays my working screen. I've tried resetting the PRAM and repairing permissions but neither is effective.

2 I understand that many users have reservations about Quicken for Mac, though I believe that a new version is in the works.

3 I looked at Readiris but can't remember why I didn't go with it! I must investigate it again.

4 Palm does not provide OS-X-compatible sync software for the Treo 680 - or didn't last time I looked. Missing Sync for Palm is usually suggested but it seems to have problems with iSync, possibly because the firm is spreading itself too thinly.

Thanks for your interest.

Here is the page for the Mac compatible sync software on Palm's support pages.
http://www.palm.com/us/support/macintosh/mac_desktop.html

 

[Tonerl]

Here is the page for the Mac compatible sync software on Palm's support pages.
http://www.palm.com/us/support/macintosh/mac_desktop.html

Thank you. I'll try that. The UK support site referred me to Mark/Space's The Missing Sync!

BTW, I've now got 'require password' working again - I ran Onyx to verify my system but made no changes!

 

[Tonerl]

I'm grateful for the advice I received here.

The Palm Desktop seems to be working well; so, that's one problem solved.

I still think it's worth waiting for the new Quicken for Mac - I could change over at the start of the new year, all being well.

Readiris is still under a questionmark but I'll investigate further.

After 6 months of iMac use, I'm still a happy bunny!