New MBP owners, what advice would you give to someone who just bought an MBP

[Vegeta-san]

Ordered mine on Monday. So now, while I'm waiting for it to get here, I'd like to ask you what are the first things I should do, programs I should install once I get it. First, some background.

As a kid, I lived with my mom who was a teacher. Naturally, she used a Mac and there were a lot of Macs in her school. So back then, I was a Machead. Most hardcore Machead kid you'd ever meet. lol. Then, at about 12, I moved to my Dad's who was convinced Apple was about to go under any day now (hasn't happened since)....So, he naturally had a PC. Since then, I've become accustomed to (accustomed to does not equal I like it) Windows. Right now, at 23, I use a Dell with Windows XP. About to graduate from MSU so I decided that I'm going to order an MBP. But my problem is that I know nothing of the MacOS anymore...I think that last MacOS I used was OS8. Or was it 6....Anyway.

So yea, the only things I can think of installing immediately once I recieve it are Orbicule's Undercover (Can't have it stolen), and Boot Camp (I play alot of Windows games). I also think I need to know about file systems and which one to pick because I'd like to be able to access my files from both Windows and OS X. So I'd appreciate it if someone could clue me in on that.

Basically, any information you have know that you wished you would have known when you first got your MBP would be extremely helpful to me. As much as I'd like for it to be here right now, I know thinking of it every friggin second will just make time go slower so....Anyway, thanks.

 

[yellow]

Your previous Mac experiences really aren't going to help you much in OS X.

I'd start here when you get it:

http://www.apple.com/support/mac101/
and
http://www.apple.com/support/switch101/

As for the file system, I hate to say it but this gets asked a bajillion times a day and should be pretty easy to find with simple Google-Fu.

 

[manosaurus]

I would do an custom erase/install first thing. There's plenty of OS X items that take up a significant amount of HD space such as printer drivers, languages, jingles, Microsoft Office trial (or something similar), Quicken and more that I can't think of now. Also you can leave out iLife apps that you won't be using.

 

[diadem]

the file system is base of the linux FS types Ext3 ect.. but it aint called Ext2 ext3. macfs or sumthing canny mind.

program HD space usage dipends on the program. installing tends to be a case of draging the program to the applications folder. somtimes there is an installer same as in all version of mac os.

OS X is based on a hybrid version of BSD Unix they added that to steve jobs nextstep and we have OSX, google it for more info.
OSX is now desktop usable version linux woot

 

[yellow]

the file system is base of the linux FS types Ext3 ect.. but it aint called Ext2 ext3. macfs or sumthing canny mind.

Sorry, this is incorrect. The file system is HFS+, basd on HFS, which is based on MFS, ext came much later than MFS and has nothing to do with HFS/HFS+.

 

[Vegeta-san]

Your previous Mac experiences really aren't going to help you much in OS X.

I'd start here when you get it:

http://www.apple.com/support/mac101/
and
http://www.apple.com/support/switch101/

As for the file system, I hate to say it but this gets asked a bajillion times a day and should be pretty easy to find with simple Google-Fu.

Thanks Yellow, but this is not the type of information I was looking for. I like to experiment and figure things out, and I know OS X will take some figuring out just like Windows...It'll prolly be a hell of a lot more intuitive, but It'll take some figuring out nonetheless. Which I'll do. Those guides kinda seem to me like guides for very elderly people who can't figure an OS out.

 

[Vegeta-san]

I would do an custom erase/install first thing. There's plenty of OS X items that take up a significant amount of HD space such as printer drivers, languages, jingles, Microsoft Office trial (or something similar), Quicken and more that I can't think of now. Also you can leave out iLife apps that you won't be using.

Wouldn't you want the printer driveers tho? As this would guarentee compatibility with whatever printer you buy? What are jingles? What about iLife, I think I wanna keep that...When custom erasing/installing, can I select the things I want gone and the things I wanna keep?

 

[yellow]

Thanks Yellow, but this is not the type of information I was looking for.

However, there is a lot of intformation there for people who don't know jack about OS X. Playing will get you a long way, certainly.


I wouldn't suggest reinstalling, as it will be a compelete waste of your time.

Buying a Mac isn't like buying a Dell. There aren't a bajillion companies giving Apple money to include a bajillion craptastical application demos. You won't gain much but disk space from a reinstall, and you can get the same thing by just erasing the apps and associated Madness that you don't want.

My only suggestion is to nuke the Microsoft Office Test Drive.

Otherwise, leave as is and play away.

 

[richard4339]

My only suggestion is to nuke the Microsoft Office Test Drive.

The most annoying thing to me was when I installed MS Office, it didn't get rid of the test drive; so the first few times I tried to use the programs by double clicking on a document, it would open it in the test drive and not the full version.

 

[yellow]

The most annoying thing to me was when I installed MS Office, it didn't get rid of the test drive; so the first few times I tried to use the programs by double clicking on a document, it would open it in the test drive and not the full version.

Absolutely.. that's just one of the many reasons to nuke it right away.

 

[dpope]

I'm a linux user who just got his first apple (MBP) in years and so I'm in a somewhat similar boat. You can find responses to my questions here:

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/255082/

Hope this helps

 

[GraceMolloy]

ok I will echo the go ahead and do a reinstall right away for a couple of reasons.

First, is obviously the hard drive space. The M$ Office installs alone were about 4 Gigs. The retards installed an entire different version for each language. Not to mention a gig or 2 worth of print drivers that can easily be downloaded when you need them.

Second, I too am a recent switcher, and I wanted the experience of formatting and reinstalling OSX. I'd never done it before. Now I know just how easy it is and in a few months when I do my semi-annual format (I always do this to clean out my old crap) I won't be so scared of it.

I'm also a bootcamp user. Use FAT32 for the Windows partition so you can easily move files to the Mac side, and I highly recommend MacDrive for the windows side so you can use your Mac files. If you choose to get the program through less than nefarious means, it will cost some money, but it's not too bad.

If you do decide to skip the reformat, then go ahead and get AppZapper so you can kill the Office trial and save quite a lot of time removing random folders from your libraries.

Enjoy, your new machine. I know I love mine.

 

[psycoswimmer]

Ummm. Don't drop it.

 

[e12a]

make sure your spacebar doesnt squeak. get a case. Use your computer and enjoy it. Keep it clean.

For additional happiness, install bootcamp so people come over and are totally blown away when they see a popular PC game running or a windows desktop. I still impress many people when i play. Not a lot of people know that Macs can run windows...let alone Intel based macs exist.

ex: my friend with a PB asked me how i ran Windows.

 

[quigleybc]

I'm looking forward to getting a notebook, i'm jealous.

As for apps that are nice, remember you're going to have to seek out UB or Universal Binary programs, or UB updates to programs. No biggie but a lot of people I've talked to lately think their books are slow, when in fact they're using ppc apps....

anyhoo...

I'd get UB versions of :

Onyx-maintenance app
Handbrake-All around DVD ripper utility
Mactheripper-Unencryptor for DVDs(is this UB?) not sure
Clutter-to collect iTunes album art-(cover flow view beeeotch !)
QUICKSILVER-just get it, immediately
Adium-get your msn chat on
iSquint-dvd to iPod ripper
app zapper (not free)-to easily uninstall apps, not like it's not the easiest thing anyway

Audacity-Free audio Editor-good stuff, did I mention it was free..
Speaking of free, Transmission is a fantastic Mac BitTorrent client.

To record audio, try out Audio Recorder OSX or Wiretap
Cyber Duck for your free FTP needs

Commercial Apps:

Toast 7, I couldn't live without it

Ableton Live if you like Messing with Audio

That should get ya started...

enjoy


Oh, i'm too lazy to post links for those, get yo goog on

 

[manosaurus]

Wouldn't you want the printer driveers tho? As this would guarentee compatibility with whatever printer you buy? What are jingles? What about iLife, I think I wanna keep that...When custom erasing/installing, can I select the things I want gone and the things I wanna keep?

The printer drivers, as another poster said, can be downloaded on an as-needed basis; no need to have a hundred drivers for the one printer you're going to get.

About the jingles, I recall when I did my Custom erase/install that there was something about jingles for soundeffects or garageband or something. At any rate, they took up alot of HD space and I found them extreneous.

About iLife, you can keep what you want and leave out what you don't. For instance, I use Garageband a little so I want that but I don't need iMovie or iDVD because I don't need to create or edit DVD's.

And yes, it is verrrry easy with OS X to customize your erase/install.

 

[yellow]

The M$ Office installs alone were about 4 Gigs. The retards installed an entire different version for each language.

Sorry, but this is very,very, very, very incorrect.
I have an out of the box 24" iMac right here and the entire "Office 2004 for Mac Test Drive" folder is...

329.2MB

Slightly less than 4GB.

I'm also a bootcamp user. Use FAT32 for the Windows partition so you can easily move files to the Mac side

And OS X can read NTFS in most instances, so this was moot unless you wanted to move files from OS X -> Windows partiton from inside OS X.

 

[sepu]

I know this might dont have anything to do with the topic ... but
what are the main difference between the bootcamp adn the parallel ?

Which one is better and which will performance better using Windows?

thanks guys.

 

[yellow]

I know this might dont have anything to do with the topic ... but
what are the main difference between the bootcamp adn the parallel ?

Which one is better and which will performance better using Windows?

thanks guys.

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/245674/

 

[GraceMolloy]

And OS X can read NTFS in most instances, so this was moot unless you wanted to move files from OS X -> Windows partiton from inside OS X.

I do.