iMac questions for a Windows convert
Just Binos
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iMac questions for a Windows convert
OK, I've done it. The cash situation got an unexpected boost so I went out and purchased my first Mac. So here I am in front of my iMac G5, and mightily impressed with what I have seen so far. Most Windows equivlents are fairly easy to find and the process so far has been relatively painless, BUT I cannot enlarge my browser window to full screen view. Searching for full screen or full page brought nothing of use, so at the moment I am stuck with a window taking up approx 60% of the page. Where is the full screen option? 
I'm sure I'll be back here relatively frequently in the short term. hence the generalised thread title, but this one will do me for now.
Oh, should have mentioned that I've tried the maximise button of course; it toggles between small and slightly larger.
I'm sure I'll be back here relatively frequently in the short term. hence the generalised thread title, but this one will do me for now.
Oh, should have mentioned that I've tried the maximise button of course; it toggles between small and slightly larger.
Ramasseur des pommes
Binoculars; Welcome to Macintosh!
You need to drag out the window from the bottom right corner to fill the full screen. If you haven't already done so, you can hide the Dock using System Preferences>Dock to give you more screen space. Safari will remember this window size setting. If you're still having problems, or resizing windows a lot, you can add a script to your bookmarks bar to do it from here (it's the one at the bottom).
You can minimize the window to the Dock by clicking the yellow button. Double-clicking on the title bar of the window will also minimize the window to the Dock (if enabled in System Preferences>Appearance).
Don't forget to switch on Tabbed Browsing in the Safari preferences, to take full advantage of the browser.
AppleMacster.
You need to drag out the window from the bottom right corner to fill the full screen. If you haven't already done so, you can hide the Dock using System Preferences>Dock to give you more screen space. Safari will remember this window size setting. If you're still having problems, or resizing windows a lot, you can add a script to your bookmarks bar to do it from here (it's the one at the bottom).
You can minimize the window to the Dock by clicking the yellow button. Double-clicking on the title bar of the window will also minimize the window to the Dock (if enabled in System Preferences>Appearance).
Don't forget to switch on Tabbed Browsing in the Safari preferences, to take full advantage of the browser.
AppleMacster.
Just Binos
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Thanks Macster; one problem solved! When the cursor didn't change to an arrow I didn't think there was a function there!
Next up, while I'll be gettiing a copy of Office over the weekend and using the email program on there, whose name escapes me, at the moment I'm just using Mac Mail. In OE I was subscribed to several newsgroups; do they exist in the Mac program?
I confess I miss the right click function from XP, and having to go to File - Move to Trash for a folder instead of just clicking Delete. Any other hints feel free to throw them this way.
Next up, while I'll be gettiing a copy of Office over the weekend and using the email program on there, whose name escapes me, at the moment I'm just using Mac Mail. In OE I was subscribed to several newsgroups; do they exist in the Mac program?
I confess I miss the right click function from XP, and having to go to File - Move to Trash for a folder instead of just clicking Delete. Any other hints feel free to throw them this way.
Ramasseur des pommes
Bino': glad to help.
Entourage, which comes with Office has newsgroups, and you will be able to subscribe to them as before.
You can "right-click" on a Mac by holding down the ctrl button as you click with the mouse.
However, if you got a new "Mighty Mouse" with your iMac G5 (it has a trackball on it), you will be able to "right-click" with that. It appears to have no buttons, but actually has four. To use the "right-click", use the area right of the trackball, without a finger on the left of the trackball at the same time.
You can set up the Mighty Mouse using System Preferences>Keyboard & Mouse. Right-clicking is referred to as "Secondary Button". You could set the other buttons to various things, for example Dashboard activation and Exposé are amongst the most popular.
AppleMacster
Entourage, which comes with Office has newsgroups, and you will be able to subscribe to them as before.
You can "right-click" on a Mac by holding down the ctrl button as you click with the mouse.
However, if you got a new "Mighty Mouse" with your iMac G5 (it has a trackball on it), you will be able to "right-click" with that. It appears to have no buttons, but actually has four. To use the "right-click", use the area right of the trackball, without a finger on the left of the trackball at the same time.
You can set up the Mighty Mouse using System Preferences>Keyboard & Mouse. Right-clicking is referred to as "Secondary Button". You could set the other buttons to various things, for example Dashboard activation and Exposé are amongst the most popular.
AppleMacster
Just Binos
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Hehehe, this is like having 24/7 online support from someone who speaks English! Thanks again, Macster, another problem solved, mighty mouse it is, and right click now established in preferences.
I'll know where to come for future problems; oooh, hang on, my End button and Home button don't appear to work; I'm sure they do, I just need another tip.
Could provoke laziness I know, but Binoette 4 thinks this is probably the smoothest thing her old man has ever done!
I'll know where to come for future problems; oooh, hang on, my End button and Home button don't appear to work; I'm sure they do, I just need another tip.
Could provoke laziness I know, but Binoette 4 thinks this is probably the smoothest thing her old man has ever done!
Just Binos
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Ahh, I see. Not Home as in home page, rather the "home" and "end" buttons on the keyboard which take the cursor to either the beginning or the end of the current line (when composing a post or generally editing text).
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Hehehe, this is like having 24/7 online support from someone who speaks English!
You are aware that we are charging your internet connection for tech support at standard industry rates blah blah
I reckon you owe $300 so far
Binos did you get the iMac with the built in iSight camera?
Just Binos
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Yessir, surely did. It is waaaaaaay too efficient I'm afraid. I like cheap webcams that hide the horrible truth, not magnify it to the point of scaring babies. 
Macster, I take your point about doing all this via PM, and if the mods decide that's how it should be done, I'm happy to go along, but I really think I won't be the only one learning things as it progresses; plenty of others in the same conversion boat.
Readers are warned that the following questions may be considered offensive by some.
I didn't get the expected number of software installation discs with the package. What happens if the hard drive should (gasp!) fail? How do I reinstall software? Is there such a thing as formatting a hard drive on the Mac? No DOS prompt of course, but hey, come on, somebody in the history of Apple must have destroyed a HDD?
Macster, I take your point about doing all this via PM, and if the mods decide that's how it should be done, I'm happy to go along, but I really think I won't be the only one learning things as it progresses; plenty of others in the same conversion boat.
Readers are warned that the following questions may be considered offensive by some.
I didn't get the expected number of software installation discs with the package. What happens if the hard drive should (gasp!) fail? How do I reinstall software? Is there such a thing as formatting a hard drive on the Mac? No DOS prompt of course, but hey, come on, somebody in the history of Apple must have destroyed a HDD?
Ramasseur des pommes
You should have found a couple of disks in the box. One of them will be a reinstall disk: it's a DVD-ROM if I recall correctly, which means you don't need lots of CDs . If the hard disk crashes (unlikely), you can reboot from the disk by holding down the "c" key on restart.
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Bino
My I offer my hearty congratulations to you for taking the plunge. Pretty soon, you'll wonder why on earth anybody would EVER buy a PC. Macs are what PCs can only dream of being. I've used Macs for 12 years and am currently running three. The best way of explaining is that you have to learn how to use a PC, but with Mac, it takes that pain away! Everything you ever wanted is there, just in more logical speak. To be fair, a lot of this has to do with Monsieur Gates, but hey, that's their problem.
If you find that you miss certain software that was only available on PC, don't worry, you can still run it with a package called Virtual PC (Microsoft - he had to get something right).
You can now wander around with that knowing "PC? Oh, you poor dear" smile that comes free with every Mac.
Ejnoy, and please feel free to ask any time, via thread or PM
Welcome to the family
Trips
My I offer my hearty congratulations to you for taking the plunge. Pretty soon, you'll wonder why on earth anybody would EVER buy a PC. Macs are what PCs can only dream of being. I've used Macs for 12 years and am currently running three. The best way of explaining is that you have to learn how to use a PC, but with Mac, it takes that pain away! Everything you ever wanted is there, just in more logical speak. To be fair, a lot of this has to do with Monsieur Gates, but hey, that's their problem.
If you find that you miss certain software that was only available on PC, don't worry, you can still run it with a package called Virtual PC (Microsoft - he had to get something right).
You can now wander around with that knowing "PC? Oh, you poor dear" smile that comes free with every Mac.
Ejnoy, and please feel free to ask any time, via thread or PM
Welcome to the family
Trips
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Yessir, surely did. It is waaaaaaay too efficient I'm afraid. I like cheap webcams that hide the horrible truth, not magnify it to the point of scaring babies.
Bino
The keyboard shortcut I use when using Mac mail instead of the end key which doesnt work is Apple key and right arrow key will take you to the end of the line. Same as Apple key and the up arrow take you to the home position of what ever it is your writing. It took me ages to get around the end key not working like it did on a windows machine but it's worth it.
From memory once you get Office and you start using Entourage for your email the end key will work in the Microsoft application. Also you can subscribe easily to newsgroups with Entourage. For heaps of other support be sure to check the Support Forums at apple.com and also www.appletalk.com.au is very worthwhile.
I'm sure you will enjoy your iMac. Welcome to the club
The keyboard shortcut I use when using Mac mail instead of the end key which doesnt work is Apple key and right arrow key will take you to the end of the line. Same as Apple key and the up arrow take you to the home position of what ever it is your writing. It took me ages to get around the end key not working like it did on a windows machine but it's worth it.
From memory once you get Office and you start using Entourage for your email the end key will work in the Microsoft application. Also you can subscribe easily to newsgroups with Entourage. For heaps of other support be sure to check the Support Forums at apple.com and also www.appletalk.com.au is very worthwhile.
I'm sure you will enjoy your iMac. Welcome to the club
Just Binos
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I was hoping I'd seen the last of WMP, but I suppose whenever somebody sends me a .wmv file I'm going to have to have it, right? It is on my Office CD, so not a real problem.
But what is a problem on my Office CD is that the file which is obviously the exe file for installation doesn't seem to want to open. It's MS Office 2004 OSX .sit The response is; There is no default aplication specified to open the document MS Office 2004 OSX .sit Choose application. I wondered if there should be a space between OSX and .sit, tried to rename it but that option doesn't appear to be available.
But what is a problem on my Office CD is that the file which is obviously the exe file for installation doesn't seem to want to open. It's MS Office 2004 OSX .sit The response is; There is no default aplication specified to open the document MS Office 2004 OSX .sit Choose application.
I wondered if there should be a space between OSX and .sit, tried to rename it but that option doesn't appear to be available.
Ramasseur des pommes
Binos,
That's very strange. Sounds like you need Stuffit Expander, although in my experience, just double-clicking on the install application should be enough. If I recall correctly, you need to remove the Office "Test Drive" that was pre-installed on your iMac with the "Remove Test Drive" application on your Hard Disk. Put the Office CD in and click on the "Microsoft Office 2004" icon. It should then be a question of following the straightforward onscreen prompts.
That's very strange. Sounds like you need Stuffit Expander, although in my experience, just double-clicking on the install application should be enough. If I recall correctly, you need to remove the Office "Test Drive" that was pre-installed on your iMac with the "Remove Test Drive" application on your Hard Disk. Put the Office CD in and click on the "Microsoft Office 2004" icon. It should then be a question of following the straightforward onscreen prompts.
Just Binos
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Hmmm. Some interesting results after that download. Suffice to say I think I'll take my copy of Office back to Honest Abdul's Genuine Software (Same address for two mind-boggling weeks!~). Until then, I'll take the Fifth. 
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Bino
You can download the latest Windows Media Player for Mac OSX here:
Windows Media Player (free)
Go down the page until you get the "Windows Media Player 9 for Mac OS X" (it's a .sitx file so you'll need Stuffit Expander - see below).
With some software installations, as opposed to trying to open the installer from the disc, all you have to do is drag the icon into the applications folder and it will do it all for you.
Whilst I think about it, there is another little glitch in the system that you may or may not come across. For some it never rears it's ugly head - depends if you're using Panther or Tiger, but just in case it does.......
For some reason the Times RO font will prevent you from downloading/installing/updating. Your Mac doesn't need it and unless you do particularly, you can safely disable/remove it. First, double click your hard disc icon and under 'Applications', double click 'Font Book'. In the left hand column, click 'All Fonts' and then use the slider of the right hand column to go down until you get to 'Times' (note: don't look in the Times CY or Times New Roman fonts). Click the little arrow to the left to expand the file and then click on one of the fonts i.e. 'Regular'. Then, under 'Preview' (on the top bar) click 'Show font info'. Move the cursor back down over the Times fonts (Regular/Italic/Bold etc.) and after a second or so a yellow box should appear giving you the font details. Look for the ones that have 'Times RO' at the end of the Path line. All the ones that have, you can either disable (under 'Edit') or remove entirely (under 'File'). Once done, quit out and restart your Mac. Should be trouble free updating and installing.
Sorry if this has been a bit long winded - trying to keep it in human speak!
Trips
Oh forgot to say, AppleMacster is spot on the money with Stuffit Expander. Download your free copy from the link he\'s given. Then, when you double click the .sit or .sitx file, Stuffit should automatically open and when you select it to expand it'll put a copy of the file on your Desktop. And no, ordinarily there shouldn't be a space between OSX and .sit. If you need to remove it, drag the .sit file onto your Desktop and then change it from there.
Trips
You can download the latest Windows Media Player for Mac OSX here:
Windows Media Player (free)
Go down the page until you get the "Windows Media Player 9 for Mac OS X" (it's a .sitx file so you'll need Stuffit Expander - see below).
With some software installations, as opposed to trying to open the installer from the disc, all you have to do is drag the icon into the applications folder and it will do it all for you.
Whilst I think about it, there is another little glitch in the system that you may or may not come across. For some it never rears it's ugly head - depends if you're using Panther or Tiger, but just in case it does.......
For some reason the Times RO font will prevent you from downloading/installing/updating. Your Mac doesn't need it and unless you do particularly, you can safely disable/remove it. First, double click your hard disc icon and under 'Applications', double click 'Font Book'. In the left hand column, click 'All Fonts' and then use the slider of the right hand column to go down until you get to 'Times' (note: don't look in the Times CY or Times New Roman fonts). Click the little arrow to the left to expand the file and then click on one of the fonts i.e. 'Regular'. Then, under 'Preview' (on the top bar) click 'Show font info'. Move the cursor back down over the Times fonts (Regular/Italic/Bold etc.) and after a second or so a yellow box should appear giving you the font details. Look for the ones that have 'Times RO' at the end of the Path line. All the ones that have, you can either disable (under 'Edit') or remove entirely (under 'File'). Once done, quit out and restart your Mac. Should be trouble free updating and installing.
Sorry if this has been a bit long winded - trying to keep it in human speak!
Trips
Oh forgot to say, AppleMacster is spot on the money with Stuffit Expander. Download your free copy from the link he\'s given. Then, when you double click the .sit or .sitx file, Stuffit should automatically open and when you select it to expand it'll put a copy of the file on your Desktop. And no, ordinarily there shouldn't be a space between OSX and .sit. If you need to remove it, drag the .sit file onto your Desktop and then change it from there.
Trips
Last edited by Trip Switch; 5th Dec 2005 at 10:21.
Just Binos
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Sorry to say, NOT a good day for the convert. To those who hear that you can be up and running out of the box in fifteen minutes, just remember to add one small codicil; unless everything you want to transfer has been done on Windows machines for fourteen years.
Finder is driving me mad, even got to the stage where the whole system hung when Finder refused to go away; "Choose an application to start setup.exe" or words to that effect. I'm sick to death of seeing it. Office X won't read any .doc files I try to import, so I removed it ( I think) by dragging it to the trash. Tried to reinstall and when clicking the sitx file I get told "The destination folder "MS Office +" is on a locked volume. Please select another destination". A locked fcuking what????? Windows Explorer, I apologise profusely for my recent abuse.
Import Bookmarks scoffs and doesn't even bother un-greying the Import button when I present it my current list on a memory stick, I've been to the ends of the internet trying to find a Mac printer driver for my Canon bubblejet, finally got one, downloaded it now I can't find it, importing email folders....dbx files??? don't make me laugh; application please! rtf files? likewise ...etc etc... grrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!!! damn damn bugger fcuk! I've had enough. I'm back on my Dell taking strong drink to get over the disaster of the day.
Not happy Jan!!!!! grrrr, bah humbug, grumble grizzle grump. I feel like Mr Draper. Oh well, at least it's Tuesday tomorrow, err, make that today.....
Finder is driving me mad, even got to the stage where the whole system hung when Finder refused to go away; "Choose an application to start setup.exe" or words to that effect. I'm sick to death of seeing it. Office X won't read any .doc files I try to import, so I removed it ( I think) by dragging it to the trash. Tried to reinstall and when clicking the sitx file I get told "The destination folder "MS Office +" is on a locked volume. Please select another destination". A locked fcuking what????? Windows Explorer, I apologise profusely for my recent abuse.
Import Bookmarks scoffs and doesn't even bother un-greying the Import button when I present it my current list on a memory stick, I've been to the ends of the internet trying to find a Mac printer driver for my Canon bubblejet, finally got one, downloaded it now I can't find it, importing email folders....dbx files??? don't make me laugh; application please! rtf files? likewise ...etc etc... grrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!!! damn damn bugger fcuk! I've had enough. I'm back on my Dell taking strong drink to get over the disaster of the day.
Not happy Jan!!!!! grrrr, bah humbug, grumble grizzle grump. I feel like Mr Draper. Oh well, at least it's Tuesday tomorrow, err, make that today.....
Ramasseur des pommes
Binos,
Sorry to hear you're having trouble. The finder is asking you to choose an application to open your .exe file because it can't open it. This is because it's a Windows file. One of the major joys of the Mac operating system is that it isn't Windows, ergo it can't open .exe files.
The kosher version of Microsoft Office is very simple to install, and doesn't contain any .sit files.
A locked destination is usually referring to a disk to which you cannot write, eg. a finalized CD-ROM.
Apple provide help and support on moving your stuff to the Mac:
Switch
Support
Discussion fora
You might find your Canon printer driver in the Documents folder (depending on how you've set-up Safari). You can also search for it using the swift "Spotlight" technology, accessed using the Blue magnifying glass in the top right hand of your screen, or by pressing Apple-Spacebar.
AppleMacster
Sorry to hear you're having trouble. The finder is asking you to choose an application to open your .exe file because it can't open it. This is because it's a Windows file. One of the major joys of the Mac operating system is that it isn't Windows, ergo it can't open .exe files.
The kosher version of Microsoft Office is very simple to install, and doesn't contain any .sit files.
A locked destination is usually referring to a disk to which you cannot write, eg. a finalized CD-ROM.
Apple provide help and support on moving your stuff to the Mac:
Switch
Support
Discussion fora
You might find your Canon printer driver in the Documents folder (depending on how you've set-up Safari). You can also search for it using the swift "Spotlight" technology, accessed using the Blue magnifying glass in the top right hand of your screen, or by pressing Apple-Spacebar.
AppleMacster
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Bino
Slowly, slowly, catchy the monkey!
As AM says, the Kosher version of Office X has no .sit files. To get rid of it, simply dragging it to the trash won't do. Part of the Office suite includes 'Remove Office' (Applications - Microsoft Office - Additional Tools)
This'll get rid of all the hidden files you can't see.
If you want a talk through for the rest of it, send a PM.
Trips
Slowly, slowly, catchy the monkey!
As AM says, the Kosher version of Office X has no .sit files. To get rid of it, simply dragging it to the trash won't do. Part of the Office suite includes 'Remove Office' (Applications - Microsoft Office - Additional Tools)
This'll get rid of all the hidden files you can't see.
If you want a talk through for the rest of it, send a PM.
Trips