noobie question

[NoBob]

Well, I did it. Switched and got myself a 2.4 GHz MB Pro today. Quiet and smooth it is. But a couple of questions:

Mail seems a bit basic and was wondering if there's a better email app? Also I keep getting error messages when trying to send emails.

To install Firefox I dropped the dmg file into the Applications folder, double clicked it, and Firefox appeared in the Dock and started up and is running. But there's a Firefox icon (like a small hard drive wrapped with Firefox icon in fact) sitting on my desktop, which I can't get rid of. How does I remove that? If I try to Eject i just says FF is in use.

And is there a good firewall out there, by any chance? I used to use Zone Alarm on the PC, and like being able to check what's going in and out.

Thanks,
NoBob.

 

[Silver-Fox]

for your firefox issue, you have it open from the dmg, so close firefox wich is currently open, > go to applications open firefox from there> go back to desktop eject the firefox dmg

what kinda error messages are you getting from mail as well?
also you could try entourage by MS.

 

[iBookG4user]

Well, I did it. Switched and got myself a 2.4 GHz MB Pro today. Quiet and smooth it is. But a couple of questions:

Mail seems a bit basic and was wondering if there's a better email app? Also I keep getting error messages when trying to send emails.

To install Firefox I dropped the dmg file into the Applications folder, double clicked it, and Firefox appeared in the Dock and started up and is running. But there's a Firefox icon (like a small hard drive wrapped with Firefox icon in fact) sitting on my desktop, which I can't get rid of. How does I remove that? If I try to Eject i just says FF is in use.

And is there a good firewall out there, by any chance? I used to use Zone Alarm on the PC, and like being able to check what's going in and out.

Thanks,
NoBob.

For Mail, have you made sure that the smtp server is right, and that it's going on the right port? Next, the Firefox drive that you see is the disk image that is expanded, you have to drag the Firefox icon from the disk image to the applications folder, not the .DMG file. (You'll have to quit FireFox and then eject it after you moved the FireFox file.) Next, there is a great built in firewall for Mac OS X.

 

[kolax]

OSX's built in Firewall is perfect. You don't need to worry about any virus scanners or crap like that. They are available but I tend to think that half the virus's on the PC are made by people like Norton so you keep buying their product. Who knows.

Firewall is accessible through System Preferences --> Sharing.

The Firewall is also able to create a log of activity like what you described.

 

[Shotgun OS]

To install Firefox I dropped the dmg file into the Applications folder, double clicked it, and Firefox appeared in the Dock and started up and is running. But there's a Firefox icon (like a small hard drive wrapped with Firefox icon in fact) sitting on my desktop, which I can't get rid of. How does I remove that? If I try to Eject i just says FF is in use.

And is there a good firewall out there, by any chance? I used to use Zone Alarm on the PC, and like being able to check what's going in and out.
.

For the Firefox app, you want to open the .DMG that opens on the desktop. It should mount an external drive. You want to take the Firefox icon from the mounted drive and drop it into the applications folder. This link should help visually:
http://kb.mozillazine.org/images/Macdmgvl1.jpg

For the Firewall, the firewall built-in to OSX is all you need.
To view it and toggle it on/off, go to System Preferences >Sharing>Firewall.

 

[NoBob]

Thanks for the help and advice.

Got FF installed and Mail working. Is it possible to transfer messages from OE into Mail, by the way?

On the subject of Mail, I created a Smart Mail Box and Mail automatically moved several emails to it according to the condition I set, but when I edited the condition, all the emails disappeared. Have they gone for good?

Another question: downloading on my home wi-fi connection seems to be slower. Do I need to do some special configuring in Airport?

Lastly, I'm using the keyboard I used with my PC, and the Ctrl button on it doesn't work, so copying and pasting isn't so easy, unless I reach up and use the MBook Apple key + C, or V. Is there a way around it, or do I have to get an Apple keyboard?

Thanks,
NoBob.

 

[iBookG4user]

Thanks for the help and advice.

Got FF installed and Mail working. Is it possible to transfer messages from OE into Mail, by the way?

On the subject of Mail, I created a Smart Mail Box and Mail automatically moved several emails to it according to the condition I set, but when I edited the condition, all the emails disappeared. Have they gone for good?

Another question: downloading on my home wi-fi connection seems to be slower. Do I need to do some special configuring in Airport?

Lastly, I'm using the keyboard I used with my PC, and the Ctrl button on it doesn't work, so copying and pasting isn't so easy, unless I reach up and use the MBook Apple key + C, or V. Is there a way around it, or do I have to get an Apple keyboard?

Thanks,
NoBob.

Well, what you could do is switch the Command (Apple key) and the Control keys using doublecommand. It will also let you disable CAPS lock which I've never used.

 

[NoBob]

Thanks,

Ordered myself a White Keyboard (USB)...

 

[darkcurse]

On the subject of Mail, I created a Smart Mail Box and Mail automatically moved several emails to it according to the condition I set, but when I edited the condition, all the emails disappeared. Have they gone for good?

Nope they're not gone. Smart mailboxes are like the smart playlists in iTunes in that they are dynamic. Messages show up based on the criteria you set. Its all still there in your main mail box

Another question: downloading on my home wi-fi connection seems to be slower. Do I need to do some special configuring in Airport?

What do you mean by slower? Slower as in compared to your PC? Or it just seems slower? Need some more info to help you on that one

 

[flyfish29]

What do you mean by slower? Slower as in compared to your PC? Or it just seems slower? Need some more info to help you on that one

Yeah, need more- how are you connecting to the Internet- (ie. what brand/model router, Airport, etc. and what is your Internet connection- DSL, Cable, etc.)

 

[NoBob]

Hi,

Think I spoke to soon about the internet connection. Maybe I was just downloading from a slow server at the time. Will keep an eye on it.

NoBob