Apple guide, new toy!

[Incomplete Pete]

Getting a new laptop tomorrow, 12" Powerbook

However, this will be my first ever Mac, used PCs for 10 years so any hints and tips before I step into the stable world or Mac?

Thanks

[Jon]

Yeah. Before you get too complacent, read I don't do Windows (http://www.livejournal.com/users/editrx/), the 12/27 7:03 PM post.

[Incomplete Pete]

Pish, reading that, that happened to me tonnes of times on my PC! Powerbook is the king for photojournalism!

[robekert]

Getting a new laptop tomorrow, 12" Powerbook

However, this will be my first ever Mac, used PCs for 10 years so any hints and tips before I step into the stable world or Mac?

Thanks

Good Luck with the new Powerbook. I don't know what you are comming from, I have always used Macs. I did see my nephew yesterday. He got a 12" Powerbook last year for Christmas. He is a "switcher". He said "Uncle Bob. My Mac just works." Nuff said.
Cheers,
Rob

[Incomplete Pete]

Come from using PCs, getting the Powerbook for portability, quality, wirelessness etc., best thign I could find which can fit in my shoulder bag when I go to uni. Perfect for what I need when shooting matches 'n need to wire pics quickly.

How hard will it be to learn? Are there are classic pitfalls I might fall into?

[Jyoti]

Congrats and welcome to the MacWorld! I have a 1.25GHz Al Powerbook myself and do all my photo work on it. Photoshop CS is a dream on it. The only proviso is that you need pleeenty of RAM for large image manipulation. How much have you gone for?

Here's some good Mac resources:

http://www.apple.com/downloads/macosx/
http://www.macnn.com/
http://osx.hyperjeff.net/Apps/index.php
http://www.versiontracker.com/macosx/
http://www.macworld.com/news/

By the way, this is not to start a platform war - I also use Windows (Dell Inspiron) and Linux (old Packard Bell). I just prefer the comfy niceness of OSX for all my photo and music work. Horses for courses!

[Jyoti]

How hard will it be to learn? Are there are classic pitfalls I might fall into?

You will miss the right-clicking. I know 'ctrl-clicking' does the same but when I switch from my Dell to my PB, there's always a bit of a lag.

One thing I use a hell of a lot: the Calculator also has a very handy converter that does conversions, including currency. I know you can do this on the web, but I find it much handier when net-shopping.

Be careful with your user accounts: don't just rush into making yourself el supremo god admin. One of my mates did this and then cocked-up some rather important settings. Stay with your normal user account till you've settled in. And if anyone else wants to play, create a very neutered guest account so they can't cause any mayhem.

[Incomplete Pete]

Thanks for the links!

I just got the bog standard Powerbook, need it in a hurry! So 256Mb is all, but ought to be fine as I won't be doing too much on it. Just PS CS and Photomechanic (When I get it!) will be used really.

[Incomplete Pete]

PS. Just noticed you're from Derby! I'm at Loughborough Uni, will be in Derby a fair bit over the next few months shooting the Derby County FC matches.

[Mills]

Welcome to the Mac Family. Feel free to pm me with any questions as you make the transition. :D

[Vita Rara]

I'm a switcher, from Linux though. A valuable thing for me was a copy of "Mac OS X: The Missing Manual." Well worth the purchase price.

Welcome to the Mac world. I've enjoyed my experience immensely. Hopefully you do too.

[robekert]

How hard will it be to learn? Are there are classic pitfalls I might fall into?

I have been learning for 15yrs. Most switchers say it is easy. He is a tip, when you have multiple windows or programs open press F9. Try it.
Rob

[Jonny]

Pete,

I have the same powerbook and it is brilliant although the screen is a tad small but i knew that when i bought it.

You will have no problems switching over as OS X is very easy to use compared to windows. Just switch it on and away you go!!! If you need any help with anything just PM me.

[Incomplete Pete]

Thanks for the advice! What does F9 do....?

[Jonny]

Thanks for the advice! What does F9 do....?

F9 activates 'Expose' about the best feature ever conceived! It will create small windows of all the windows you have open and display them neatly on the screen. You can then click the one you want to bring to the front - an excellent way of finding the windo you need when you have many apps open at the same time.
F11 slides all open widows off the screen to display the desktop, press again to slide them back.

you can also activate these features by placing your cursor in any designated corner...its brill!


http://www2.toddot.net:8081/projects/macosx/img/acedb-expose.jpg

[Jyoti]

PS. Just noticed you're from Derby! I'm at Loughborough Uni, will be in Derby a fair bit over the next few months shooting the Derby County FC matches.

Cool! I'm not a footie fan myself but I'm told by more knowledgable mates that Pride Park is a good ground. Apparently Millwall were over today.

If you're in Derby, make sure you get to the top of the Cathedral too, apparently you can see three counties from there.

I'll also second Expose being great. I love the way it minimises my Konfabulator Widgets and Safari windows and I can still see the animated gifs flashing away on the webpages. Lovely!