Mac Newbie Software Help

[Celeron]

I just threw down an order on a 12'' PB, should be here sometime this week, I hope. I have a few questions:

1. Is there any nifty software utilities that I should be aware for when I get my new laptop?

2. Is there any handy tips sites that have tweaks and such for OSX?

3. Is there anything I should be aware of before I plunge into OSX?

4. Does there exist basic help pages for things like system maintenance (this defrag, etc.. etc..), basic software installation, where configuration files are stored, and things of that nature?

I'm a long time PC guy, having never used a Mac for more than a hour at a time, and only when my classwork demanded it. Last time I had a class using one, I think they were running OS9.

Thanks in advance!

 

[abhishekit]

I just threw down an order on a 12'' PB, should be here sometime this week, I hope. I have a few questions:

1. Is there any nifty software utilities that I should be aware for when I get my new laptop?

2. Is there any handy tips sites that have tweaks and such for OSX?

3. Is there anything I should be aware of before I plunge into OSX?

4. Does there exist basic help pages for things like system maintenance (this defrag, etc.. etc..), basic software installation, where configuration files are stored, and things of that nature?

I'm a long time PC guy, having never used a Mac for more than a hour at a time, and only when my classwork demanded it. Last time I had a class using one, I think they were running OS9.

Thanks in advance!

Ans 1) yes there are some, but it depends on what you want to do..
Ans 2) biggest help site for me is this forum itself..absolutely genius guys roam here...and that why the use macs too..another site I find helpful is www.macosxhints.com
Ans 3)Yah, you are never going back to the shore..
Ans 4)Defrag ..ther have been lots of threads on that. Short answer..you dont need to worry about defrag, panther does it by itself....basic software installation..just drag the icon to your applications folder...configuration files,,..umm i m not sure what you are talking bout here..depends on the app..casually ..no storage anywhere except preferences,..may be in application support...thats it
welcome to the light
you are gonna have a ball...

 

[HexMonkey]

3. Is there anything I should be aware of before I plunge into OSX?

4. Does there exist basic help pages for things like system maintenance (this defrag, etc.. etc..), basic software installation, where configuration files are stored, and things of that nature?

Mac OS X does defragging automatically. I think there's a few third party applications that do it, but they are not necessary.
For general maintenance, you should repair permissions every once in a while. Go to Applications/Utilities/Disk Utility, select your system disk and click the 'Repair Disk Permissions' button. Also, there are three cron scripts (daily, weekly and monthly) that get run in the middle of the night, but they will never get run if you turn your computer off or put it to sleep at this time. There are a few utilities that will run them, eg MacJanitor

Installing software is simple. Some applications are distributed as dmg files, which are disk images. Double click them and they will mount, then simply copy the application from that (usually to the Applications folder, but you can put them anywhere). Others are pkg files, which are installers. Open them and they will guide you through installation. Most applications are just one file, the application, unlike in Windows, so to uninstall, just drag the application to the Trash.

Application settings are called Preferences in Mac OS X. There is usually a preferences file for each application for each user. Say your user name was Bob, then your preferences folder would be at /Users/Bob/Library/Preferences/. Most of the files in here have a naming convention com.[company].[application name].plist. If something ever goes wrong with an application, and repairing permissions doesn't fix the problem, simply delete the preferences file here and it will often fix the problem.

 

[Celeron]

Thanks for the tips so far guys! Hopefully the switch won't be as complicated as it seems. I'm not one for feeling like a newbie I do certainly dig the fact that in order to uninstall an app you just drop it in the trash, thats way nicer than Windows. Nothing like uninstalling something in windows and having it leave half of its install laying around.

I guess I probably shouldn't call it a switch, more of a combination. I have a pretty beefy desktop, P4 3.2 with ATI 9700 Pro, etc.. etc. I'm going to use the notebook for mobile, all around type things and keep the desktop for gaming and the like.

Is there a nice finacial managment program like Microsoft's Money?

 

[abhishekit]

Is there a nice finacial managment program like Microsoft's Money?

there is better..Quicken..and it comes free with panther

 

[Celeron]

I just thought of something else. What about an FTP client? I use FileZilla here on my PC (http://filezilla.sf.net). There's a Linux version with source code. Can I compile that on my PB when I get it? Does the same go for many other Linux applications? Would I need to install anything before I can get compiling, or can I do it right out of the box?

 

[abhishekit]

I just thought of something else. What about an FTP client? I use FileZilla here on my PC (http://filezilla.sf.net). There's a Linux version with source code. Can I compile that on my PB when I get it? Does the same go for many other Linux applications? Would I need to install anything before I can get compiling, or can I do it right out of the box?

use 'fink' for open source apps optimized for os x..google fink for more info

 

[Duff-Man]

there is better..Quicken..and it comes free with panther

Duff-Man says....Quicken does *not* come free with Panther. It does come bundled with some of Apple's computers - I belive the "consumer" models like iBook's and iMac's, not the "pro" machines like Powerbooks and Powermacs......oh yeah!

 

[HexMonkey]

Duff-Man says....Quicken does *not* come free with Panther. It does come bundled with some of Apple's computers - I belive the "consumer" models like iBook's and iMac's, not the "pro" machines like Powerbooks and Powermacs......oh yeah!

And only in the US, I believe.

 

[switchingGeek]

I just thought of something else. What about an FTP client? I use FileZilla here on my PC (http://filezilla.sf.net). There's a Linux version with source code. Can I compile that on my PB when I get it? Does the same go for many other Linux applications? Would I need to install anything before I can get compiling, or can I do it right out of the box?

No need, the finder does ftp.

Sidetrack is one thing you HAVE to HAVE. www.ragingmenace.com.

Fink, is essential, install X11 if it's not already there.

MPlayer and VLC will take care of all your video needs.

I use Pandocalender for a popup calender, Thunderbird for email.

 

[MarkDilley]

.mac mail hell

Hello Folks,

I am struggling with many issues with my beloved mac. Currently the most pressing is to do with my email. I use .mac and Mail. What I want to happen is that Mail goes to .mac and downloads my mail from the server, so that .mac stays empty.

What is currently happening is that when I delete a message off the .mac server, it deletes it off my hard drive (Mail) program.

Why? Help. Thanks.

Best, Mark

 

[leftbanke7]

I just thought of something else. What about an FTP client? I use FileZilla here on my PC (http://filezilla.sf.net). There's a Linux version with source code. Can I compile that on my PB when I get it? Does the same go for many other Linux applications? Would I need to install anything before I can get compiling, or can I do it right out of the box?

I have used a program called Fetch since I was using OS8 and I have always though of it as a pretty good program.

 

[HexMonkey]

Hello Folks,

I am struggling with many issues with my beloved mac. Currently the most pressing is to do with my email. I use .mac and Mail. What I want to happen is that Mail goes to .mac and downloads my mail from the server, so that .mac stays empty.

What is currently happening is that when I delete a message off the .mac server, it deletes it off my hard drive (Mail) program.

Why? Help. Thanks.

Best, Mark

I think that .Mac is an IMAP account type. This means that what you see in Mail is exactly what's on the server, and the mail is never actually on your computer. When you read a message, it gets marked as read on the server. When you delete a message, it deleted it from the server etc. If you want to put the messages on your hard drive but delete them from the server, create a new mailbox in Mail, and copy your new emails to this mailbox before deleting them. This way, they are on your computer, not the server.

 

[Sparky's]

Celeron, as you can see there is a lot of help here wether sometime misguided or not, we all try to lend a hand to a fellow mac man. I would recommend waiting for your PB and just follow all the on screen instructions if it does not come already OS installed which a assume it will. Also the Apple Support discussion groups at: http://discussions.info.apple.com/WebX?14@26.lMxxaCkReVs.13@.599b236d can be a great source of knowledge and problem solving. Also http://www.macosxhints.com/ is another source, and I'm sure there are many more out there. So sit tight get your book and when you come across a problem or need info on a "How to" then come on back and ask for what you seek.....

 

[Celeron]

Celeron, as you can see there is a lot of help here wether sometime misguided or not, we all try to lend a hand to a fellow mac man. I would recommend waiting for your PB and just follow all the on screen instructions if it does not come already OS installed which a assume it will. Also the Apple Support discussion groups at: http://discussions.info.apple.com/WebX?14@26.lMxxaCkReVs.13@.599b236d can be a great source of knowledge and problem solving. Also http://www.macosxhints.com/ is another source, and I'm sure there are many more out there. So sit tight get your book and when you come across a problem or need info on a "How to" then come on back and ask for what you seek.....

Sounds like a plan to me. One of my roommates is a mac guy, so I should have a good resource in him. I ordered my PB from Apple so I assume its going to come with Panther preinstalled on it for me.

Thanks for all the help guys...