Apple Mac Users - A question
Jolly Green Giant
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Join Date: May 1999
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Well put simply, I'm just a really satisfied customer. the Mac has just been great and hasn't let me down in any way. I have Firefox and Opera installed but I actually like Safari....
I still use Office and Wintel in work and I can swap files no problem between the two, the Office for Mac is a great product from MS.
So I'm afraid that's what it boils down to for me, I'm just very happy with my computer. Simple as that.
I still use Office and Wintel in work and I can swap files no problem between the two, the Office for Mac is a great product from MS.
So I'm afraid that's what it boils down to for me, I'm just very happy with my computer. Simple as that.
Just Binos
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OK, another random question. I've been trying to tidy up my documents folder, which has files and folders going back well into the 90's. Easy enough to drag folders into the trash, but now I find myself with a page with large spaces between files and folders. You know how the Windows desktop has an "Arrange Icons" command which lines everything up nicely? Is there an equivalent on the Mac, so I don't have to laboriously drag and drop each file within the one folder? Shurely there ish?
Just Binos
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Hmmm, thank you dear lady. One is humbled at the breadth of knowledge in one so young. So just who IS the lucky man to whom you are betrothed? One of the Kennedy's perhaps? A Vanderbilt, perchance? Or simply a major player in Bonfire of the Vanities or, heaven forbid, American Psycho? If there were any justice in the world you would look like the south end of an eastbound crab, but I suspect that is not the case.
(err, thanks Acro; just a bit of aussie humour there!)
And I accept your offer to show me your beloved home "town" if the offer still stands.
(err, thanks Acro; just a bit of aussie humour there!)
And I accept your offer to show me your beloved home "town" if the offer still stands.
Just Binos
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Ahh, an Aussie-ism without thinking has perhaps led (lead? it is late) to a misunderstanding. A blokey aussie observation on a female used to be, going back to my schooldays, that she looked like the south end of a northbound camel. This was not generally considered a compliment.
It evolved into the south end of an eastbound crab for no obvious reason apart, perhaps, from the desire of the Australian male to protect the female of the species from hurt feelings. Such care can be heard every night in pubs and every weekend at sporting events. The aussie male is a gentle breed, given to fiercely protecting the feelings of...... what in god's name am I babbling on about here? In a computer forum?
Phew! Sorry. My second apology in a day on Pprune. Age is wearying me, and the years condemning.
It evolved into the south end of an eastbound crab for no obvious reason apart, perhaps, from the desire of the Australian male to protect the female of the species from hurt feelings. Such care can be heard every night in pubs and every weekend at sporting events. The aussie male is a gentle breed, given to fiercely protecting the feelings of...... what in god's name am I babbling on about here? In a computer forum?
Phew! Sorry. My second apology in a day on Pprune. Age is wearying me, and the years condemning.
An American Girl
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Actually, I took no offense, as it could be read as a compliment. So, took it literally ~ that perhaps the right-hand claw of a crab was the bigger tastier morsel. Looked down at the keyboard... hands seemed reasonably symmetrical... certainly not a meal 
one would have to crack a shell to get at.
one would have to crack a shell to get at.
Just Binos
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OK, another question. My MacBook, only a few months old, is getting sloooowwww. In the dark days I would have run a few spyware programs and CrapCleaner and everything would have been hunky dory, but I don't know what the normal protocol is on the Mac. All advice gratefully received as always.
Ramasseur des pommes
Binos,
The first thing to try is repairing your disk permissions.
1. Open Disk Utiliy (Utilities Folder, within the Applications folder)
2. Click the top disk on the left (your startup disk)
3. Click "Verify Permissions"
4. Click "Repair Permission"
5. Quit Disk Utility
This may sort it out - it's the only bit of disk management you need to do on the Mac, usually once a month or when you install new software.
Another classic "slowing down" reason is because the disk is too full. You need to keep 3Gb-5Gb of the disk free for OSX to run well.
Try Disk Utility, if that doesn't work, perhaps you could let us know more details about your system to work out other protential reasons why it's running slowly?
Applemacster
The first thing to try is repairing your disk permissions.
1. Open Disk Utiliy (Utilities Folder, within the Applications folder)
2. Click the top disk on the left (your startup disk)
3. Click "Verify Permissions"
4. Click "Repair Permission"
5. Quit Disk Utility
This may sort it out - it's the only bit of disk management you need to do on the Mac, usually once a month or when you install new software.
Another classic "slowing down" reason is because the disk is too full. You need to keep 3Gb-5Gb of the disk free for OSX to run well.
Try Disk Utility, if that doesn't work, perhaps you could let us know more details about your system to work out other protential reasons why it's running slowly?
Applemacster
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You could also trying running the maintenance scripts. There a 3 scripts which are designed to run automatically early in the morning with the computer still on obviously. Daily, Weekly and Monthly. They clear up temp files or something and sometimes help with a slow down like you described.
I recommend this utility, Onyx. Take time to read the readme file and be aware of what this little app is capable of. She's not to be messed with.
Includes some nice misc. parameters like locking dock icons, placing two scroll arrows at both ends of the scroll column etc.
"It allows you to run misc tasks of system maintenance, to configure certain hidden parameters of the Finder, Dock, Safari, Dashboard, Expose, Disk Utility... to delete cache, to remove a certain number of files and folders that may become cumbersome, to see the detailed info of your configuration, to preview the different logs and CrashReporter reports, and more."
I recommend this utility, Onyx. Take time to read the readme file and be aware of what this little app is capable of. She's not to be messed with.
Includes some nice misc. parameters like locking dock icons, placing two scroll arrows at both ends of the scroll column etc.
"It allows you to run misc tasks of system maintenance, to configure certain hidden parameters of the Finder, Dock, Safari, Dashboard, Expose, Disk Utility... to delete cache, to remove a certain number of files and folders that may become cumbersome, to see the detailed info of your configuration, to preview the different logs and CrashReporter reports, and more."
Just Binos
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OK, I'm about to head off to work, but I'll try Onyx tonight. It sounds though as if the disk utilities repair is designed to do the same thing.
Macster, I tried that and it didn't make any difference; Entourage takes a full minute to load. It's a bog standard MacBook, basic version, current model with 512Mb RAM, and it has about 13Gb free hard drive space.
Macster, I tried that and it didn't make any difference; Entourage takes a full minute to load. It's a bog standard MacBook, basic version, current model with 512Mb RAM, and it has about 13Gb free hard drive space.
Ramasseur des pommes
Binos,
That doesn't sound right to me. It shouldn't take a minute to load Entourage. You could try opening "Activity Monitor" (Applications>Utilities) and see if anything is overloading the CPU.
Do you have the latest system update (currently 10.4.8)?
Good luck,
Applemacster.
That doesn't sound right to me. It shouldn't take a minute to load Entourage. You could try opening "Activity Monitor" (Applications>Utilities) and see if anything is overloading the CPU.
Do you have the latest system update (currently 10.4.8)?
Good luck,
Applemacster.
AcroChik,
Regarding your August 4th post on bluetooth mouse problems. (Yeah, I know it's almost two months ago. I spend 99% of my Pprune time on Rotorheads, but tonight decided to poke around. What's this, a forum full of Mac-types? Cooooool!)
My G4 desk-bound isn't bluetooth equipped, but I couldn't stand the mouse cable getting in the way anymore. So, I turned to my favorite Mac-stuff vendor, Other World Computing. They sell an RF mouse made by Logitech that is wireless and optical. (Why are mice with balls still sold? They should be outlawed. I can't believe people use them, much less buy them.) It's a 3-button with scroll wheel. Anyway, the receiver is sort of triangle shaped, about the area of a deck of cards, and I plugged mine into the keyboard's left USB port. The mouse holds two AA batteries (that's the only potential downside, as it makes the mouse a bit bigger). I use NiMH batteries, which I have to change/recharge about every three weeks. When the batteries get low, the mouse freezes because the communication just quit. Change batteries and keep on going. The great part? It's all of $16! See it here in the RF section:
http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/input-devices/
Also, currently in the "Specials" section is a similar mouse for $13. See it here:
http://eshop.macsales.com/Item_Speci...LOG931025-0403
There now, that cable can stop being a pain the desk!!
Happy mousing, Rotorfan
Regarding your August 4th post on bluetooth mouse problems. (Yeah, I know it's almost two months ago. I spend 99% of my Pprune time on Rotorheads, but tonight decided to poke around. What's this, a forum full of Mac-types? Cooooool!)
My G4 desk-bound isn't bluetooth equipped, but I couldn't stand the mouse cable getting in the way anymore. So, I turned to my favorite Mac-stuff vendor, Other World Computing. They sell an RF mouse made by Logitech that is wireless and optical. (Why are mice with balls still sold? They should be outlawed. I can't believe people use them, much less buy them.) It's a 3-button with scroll wheel. Anyway, the receiver is sort of triangle shaped, about the area of a deck of cards, and I plugged mine into the keyboard's left USB port. The mouse holds two AA batteries (that's the only potential downside, as it makes the mouse a bit bigger). I use NiMH batteries, which I have to change/recharge about every three weeks. When the batteries get low, the mouse freezes because the communication just quit. Change batteries and keep on going. The great part? It's all of $16! See it here in the RF section:
http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/input-devices/
Also, currently in the "Specials" section is a similar mouse for $13. See it here:
http://eshop.macsales.com/Item_Speci...LOG931025-0403
There now, that cable can stop being a pain the desk!!
Happy mousing, Rotorfan
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I think I’m about to take a deep breath and go Mac after 10+ years of Windoze.
It seems to me that the only difference between the two white MacBooks currently on offer in the UK is a slightly higher clock speed and a ‘SuperDrive’ – and about £150. I have dual drives on my home PC so better to save my £150?
Main use for the lappy is pic/video editing, but I might need to create the occasional word doc or spreadsheet that is PC-readable. Do I need to buy the ‘Office For Mac’ at just over £100 or can I get away with some free software?
All input gratefully received
It seems to me that the only difference between the two white MacBooks currently on offer in the UK is a slightly higher clock speed and a ‘SuperDrive’ – and about £150. I have dual drives on my home PC so better to save my £150?
Main use for the lappy is pic/video editing, but I might need to create the occasional word doc or spreadsheet that is PC-readable. Do I need to buy the ‘Office For Mac’ at just over £100 or can I get away with some free software?
All input gratefully received
Join Date: Apr 2005
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Go for it
Unconcerned - go for it.
I teach on Windoze - anything else for I use the Mac. I've an iMac at home and a portable - both running OS X. ( they're not intel mac's though).
You can get a Student edition Office 2004 - i thinkit cost me around £60 - Loadsa plusses - but downside - I occasionally get web pages that don't work right so check it out if you use one of the Flight Planning websites - If you do e mail me and I'll see how it reacts to the mac and let you know. The freebie from Loop didn't work for example.
So when you do get your Mac you can walk around wid a smug smile on your face - Software Crashes - what are they?
I teach on Windoze - anything else for I use the Mac. I've an iMac at home and a portable - both running OS X. ( they're not intel mac's though).
You can get a Student edition Office 2004 - i thinkit cost me around £60 - Loadsa plusses - but downside - I occasionally get web pages that don't work right so check it out if you use one of the Flight Planning websites - If you do e mail me and I'll see how it reacts to the mac and let you know. The freebie from Loop didn't work for example.
So when you do get your Mac you can walk around wid a smug smile on your face - Software Crashes - what are they?
Ramasseur des pommes
Unconcerned,
Welcome to Macintosh!
You can download Neooffice for free. It will read and write Word, Excel and Powerpoint files.
If you're happy to drag files over to your PC to burn onto DVD, then get the slower MacBook. However, you won't be able to use iDVD, for example, in this way.
Applemacster
Welcome to Macintosh!
You can download Neooffice for free. It will read and write Word, Excel and Powerpoint files.
If you're happy to drag files over to your PC to burn onto DVD, then get the slower MacBook. However, you won't be able to use iDVD, for example, in this way.
Applemacster
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I have a MiniMac here and I love it! Just a shame I have to use a PC 9 till 5 everyday. The only downfalls I find are like you said the 'MS Office package' and the lack of games for the Mac. I think I'll be getting my hands on Virtual PC by the end of the week so all should be ok from there on.
Have you seen the Mac Adverts??
Good luck.
Andrew
Ramasseur des pommes
Alpha Male,
Virtual PC is not going to help your games famine. On the G4 chip, Virtual PC will not run fast enough to play PC games. It's really only good for non-graphics-heavy packages, such as Office. Switchers from Windows would typically buy it to run a "must have" package which hasn't been ported to the Mac; eg Sage for Accountants switching to the Mac.
If you have an Intel MacMini, Virtual PC won't work. To run Windows software in emulation, you'll need something like Parallels. It's a lot faster than VirtualPC, but still won't run fast enough to play (graphics-intensive) Windows games. To run games properly on an Intel MacMini, you will need to install Boot Camp and boot up as a Windows machine.
A good place to find games is Macgold and Macgamer is a review and news site dedicated to games on the Mac.
Applemacster
Virtual PC is not going to help your games famine. On the G4 chip, Virtual PC will not run fast enough to play PC games. It's really only good for non-graphics-heavy packages, such as Office. Switchers from Windows would typically buy it to run a "must have" package which hasn't been ported to the Mac; eg Sage for Accountants switching to the Mac.
If you have an Intel MacMini, Virtual PC won't work. To run Windows software in emulation, you'll need something like Parallels. It's a lot faster than VirtualPC, but still won't run fast enough to play (graphics-intensive) Windows games. To run games properly on an Intel MacMini, you will need to install Boot Camp and boot up as a Windows machine.
A good place to find games is Macgold and Macgamer is a review and news site dedicated to games on the Mac.
Applemacster
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Many thanks for all the replies
I'm a tad confused regarding the inability to burn DVDs on the cheaper MacBook. Maybe I didn't pay enough attention to the salesman, but I thought that was OK - I just couldn't direct copy them. I've got twin drives on my home PC so I can copy discs on there as necessary, but I would need the facility to burn disks on the laptop from its hard drive. Am I being a MacDummy already?
I hardly ever play games on a PC, so that's not an issue. I suppose the only other thing I need to decide is whether I need Office For Mac or whether I can get by with Neooffice.
I think I need a personal sticky for all the useful Mac utilities with such unfamiliar names!
I'm a tad confused regarding the inability to burn DVDs on the cheaper MacBook. Maybe I didn't pay enough attention to the salesman, but I thought that was OK - I just couldn't direct copy them. I've got twin drives on my home PC so I can copy discs on there as necessary, but I would need the facility to burn disks on the laptop from its hard drive. Am I being a MacDummy already?
I hardly ever play games on a PC, so that's not an issue. I suppose the only other thing I need to decide is whether I need Office For Mac or whether I can get by with Neooffice.
I think I need a personal sticky for all the useful Mac utilities with such unfamiliar names!
Join Date: Jul 2006
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Ahh thanks for putting me straight!
That is the other problem with Macs ... Not many people know enough about them when you want advise - unless you have somebody like 'AppleMacster' on a forum.
Just to confirm I have a '1.66GHz Intel Core Duo' with soon to be upgraded Ram from 512 to 1Gb
Thanks again
Andrew
(Just spotted X-Plane 8 on that site)
That is the other problem with Macs ... Not many people know enough about them when you want advise - unless you have somebody like 'AppleMacster' on a forum.
Just to confirm I have a '1.66GHz Intel Core Duo' with soon to be upgraded Ram from 512 to 1Gb
Thanks again
Andrew
(Just spotted X-Plane 8 on that site)