New Mac Questions

[obiit]

Some updates:

I took the time to make a bootable MacOS Ventura USB drive. After I installed Ventura I noticed their isn't a way to enlarge the system font in accessibility options. My eyes aren't what they used to be so that's very important to me. I upgraded the system to MacOS Sonoma. So far, no issues! I also went out and got a high end 8K HDMI cord. Made a world of difference. I still am going to get a 2K or 4K monitor here in a few weeks. Until then, everything is working good.

Only questions I have are simple:

How do I make the folders in finder stay on top? I am using the list view and have files listed by the app that made them.

Is there a simple plug and play backup program I should use for backups or is Time Capsule good enough?

Glad to hear it's working as required now you have had a mess around and dropped the MacOS to Sonoma.

I presume that this https://support.apple.com/en-gb/gui... Mac, choose Apple,Text, then click Text size doesn't help with increasing the size ?

I have had cataract operations on both eyes and i now have to have separate reading glasses and monitor glasses. If you are having issues with the system font size then it may be worth getting a specific set of glasses for monitor work? By the way as it's best to have MacOS and Monitor set to a native resolution for clarity, going to 2K or 4K will just make the whole desktop larger and the system font smaller so that may not be the best.

Not sure what you mean by "How do I make the folders in finder stay on top?" as MacOS and Windows treat them rather differently?

MacOS's Time Machine is a fantastic program for backing up your device. I personally would use that rather than a third party program.

 

[Fishrrman]

OP wrote:
"I still am going to get a 2K or 4K monitor here in a few weeks."

Skip the 2k.
TAKE the 4k.
No comparison.
This will become one of the best decisions you make re the new Mac.

 

[Alameda]

Some updates:

I took the time to make a bootable MacOS Ventura USB drive. After I installed Ventura I noticed their isn't a way to enlarge the system font in accessibility options. My eyes aren't what they used to be so that's very important to me. I upgraded the system to MacOS Sonoma. So far, no issues! I also went out and got a high end 8K HDMI cord. Made a world of difference. I still am going to get a 2K or 4K monitor here in a few weeks. Until then, everything is working good.

Only questions I have are simple:

How do I make the folders in finder stay on top? I am using the list view and have files listed by the app that made them.

Is there a simple plug and play backup program I should use for backups or is Time Capsule good enough?

Apple’s backup program is called Time Machine. You buy a USB hard drive and plug it into your Mac. Thats it!!! The Mac will ask if you want to use the drive for Time Machine, click Yes, and that’s it!

Use a USB 3.1 hard drive, about 3x the size of your internal drive. You don’t need an SSD for this.

 

[kona0197]

Few updates:

The good:

* I finally got Finder setup the way I like it and am very pleased with the way it works. Having tabs helps so much. While I know it is different then Windows Explorer, I also see that Finder offers more options for file management.
* I connected my spare 1TB external SSD drive via the thunderbolt/USB 3 port and setup Time Machine to run once a week. I love that it's a set it and forget it backup option. Very nice!
* My HP LaserJet printer was detected by the OS and works just fine. Even shows me the ink level, something my Windows machine can't do without some arm twisting.

The bad:

* Sleep settings. I have it set to turn off the display after a couple minutes of no use. It works great. Just unsure if the computer actually goes to sleep. I have no way to tell. I would hate to put wear and tear on the computer by letting it stay on 24/7.
* Waking from sleep can take a good 30 to 40 seconds before the screen comes to life. Never seen this lag before. My old system turned on the screen in just a couple of seconds from sleep. Maybe this is due to the machines age?

 

[obiit]

Good to hear your almost there with your move from the dark side

All the sleep settings are here and as far as i know mine goes to sleep.

With waking up, macs do take longer than a Windows machine to show the screen. I don't think that the issue is the age of the machine. I think it's more probably the MacOS version as i'm sure Apple are killing off Intels slowly and have not paid enough attention to them with the previous two releases of MacOS (Sonoma and Sequoia). I know this is definitely true for the graphics side of things on my mini.

 

[Boyd01]

Sleep settings. I have it set to turn off the display after a couple minutes of no use. It works great. Just unsure if the computer actually goes to sleep. I have no way to tell. I would hate to put wear and tear on the computer by letting it stay on 24/7.
* Waking from sleep can take a good 30 to 40 seconds before the screen comes to life.

Have been using a 2018 Mini very heavily, going on 5 years now. More often than not, it runs a Windows VM 24/7 ,processing big exports that can involve between 100 to 300gb and (literally) millions of files. Then it can also run continuosly for a long time backing these up to the cloud. I have mine set for the screen to sleep after an hour and to prevent the computer from sleeping. No problems whatsoever, so I wouldn't worry much about "wear and tear" from simply leaving it on.

That said, it should be pretty easy to tell if it's on. For one thing, the 2018 Mini runs very hot. If you just touch it, you should be able to tell if it's on - it will feel warm. But the main clue is that it wouldn't take 30 or 40 seconds to wake up unless it's actually asleep. If only the display is sleeping, it should wake up quickly (unless there's something slow about your screen).

 

[roronl]

Few updates:

The good:

* I finally got Finder setup the way I like it and am very pleased with the way it works. Having tabs helps so much. While I know it is different then Windows Explorer, I also see that Finder offers more options for file management.
* I connected my spare 1TB external SSD drive via the thunderbolt/USB 3 port and setup Time Machine to run once a week. I love that it's a set it and forget it backup option. Very nice!
* My HP LaserJet printer was detected by the OS and works just fine. Even shows me the ink level, something my Windows machine can't do without some arm twisting.

The bad:

* Sleep settings. I have it set to turn off the display after a couple minutes of no use. It works great. Just unsure if the computer actually goes to sleep. I have no way to tell. I would hate to put wear and tear on the computer by letting it stay on 24/7.
* Waking from sleep can take a good 30 to 40 seconds before the screen comes to life. Never seen this lag before. My old system turned on the screen in just a couple of seconds from sleep. Maybe this is due to the machines age?

You Will love the Nice video’s for MacOS etc here in MacMost channel: https://youtube.com/@macmost?si=rTxXMvIJf2lVg_VR

 

[kona0197]

Thanks for all the help. I did get a 32” 2k monitor on loan from a friend. Everything is sharp and crisp. I’m still running macOS 14. I’m honestly thinking about selling the Mac. After 35 years of using Windows I’m finding the transition to Mac to be almost impossible.

 

[obiit]

After 35 years of using Windows I’m finding the transition to Mac to be almost impossible.

I've only had 33 years (managing it for 30 in Education). What i cannot handle is what Windows has changed to - a data slurping, over controlling mess. Want your data safe - no can do as Microsoft wants it. You uninstall something that came with the OS - next update it installs it back. You want apps - here you go (whether you like them or not).

I got MacOS when i volunteered to manage the Mac estate at where i used to work (retired now). Yes it's different, yes it's a learning curve (still learning 5 years on) but in the end it's just an OS - it's the Applications you use on it that matter.

If MacOS has the Applications you want to run just persevere - you know your data is safe.

If you decide in a few months time, nope cannot handle it, then that's okay, you go back to Windows.

If MacOS ran all games properly i would be fully Apple by now - but it doesn't So i have a Windows 11 PC just and only for games.

Your life, your call but at least give it a try a little longer - you still have that Mini

 

[kona0197]

Well to be honest it's all the apps and games I paid for on Windows along with all the years of experience I have with Windows that has me wanting to go back. MacOS for my needs is just boring and stale.

 

[obiit]

Ah well there you have it - the apps

I don't really care about the OS as long as i can run the apps i want to on it and keep my data safe. If you could run World of Warcraft on Linux i'd be using that

And yes i know you can run WoW on a Mac but it's the arm and a leg for the Mac Studio to run it properly!

Well enjoy your computing experience whatever OS/Apps you use 👍

 

[kona0197]

Problem solved. I installed Windows 10 using Bootcamp. Works great. Now I can play all my games.