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Get a Mac for X-Mas? Here's 10 things to know about OS X.

teenagefanboy.blogspot.com — If you are one of the millions to open up a new Apple Macbook or iMac tomorrow morning and you are switching to OS X from Windows with the gift, here is a list of 10 things you need to know before hitting the power button. Tip number 1, "When you install an application, you might not have actually installed an application."

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  • rebotfc, on 12/26/2007, -0/+13Generally good tips, and you're right about the Gamer issue the Mac isnt the best for gaming if that is your main computer usage.

    However one thing you should add is about Perian. most people get frustrated not being able to play windows media format wrappers like AVI. An install of Perian will clear most of these up.
    • goofygarber, on 12/26/2007, -5/+7I prefer VLC. Quicktime just sucks in general.
    • Spamcan, on 12/26/2007, -3/+2I used to believe the gaming thing was true, but as long as you aren't too picky about performance the iMacs and the Macbook pros are fairly adequate for gaming. I run portal in parallels without a problem, even crysis runs decently enough to be played natively. Granted, your still talking about performance that can be beat by a $500 PC with a semi-recent video card, but if you've got a mac you didn't buy it for gaming.
      • rebotfc, on 12/26/2007, -1/+1Yep It certainly is possible to play games on a mac, for instance im playing Gears of War and Unreal Tourny III at the moment, however it is just not economical if you are only going to play games.
    • MaxPayne3476, on 12/26/2007, -1/+3It's ABSOLUTELY economical as I have found out! I have a Macbook Pro and I'm a huge gamer. What I did was just do a dual boot installation then use the bootcamp drivers for Windows. No limitations of Parallels (though you really should be using VMWARE)
    • theuniversal, on 12/26/2007, -0/+1VLC is the way to go:
      http://www.videolan.org/vlc/download-macosx.html
  • osage, on 12/26/2007, -24/+2don't get a mac if you don't know what makes a mac unique, win XP isnt that bad. Service pack 3 I mean. IMEAN
  • waza8501, on 12/26/2007, -5/+11did any one check the post date jan 3, 2007
    • RexMaxus, on 12/26/2007, -0/+2I was wondering why there was no mention of spaces...

      All the tips still work though, so no worries.
  • digitallysick, on 12/26/2007, -1/+7My advice if you get a mac, you will probably need fip4mac, codecs, firefox, betterzip/unarchiver, Aduim, quicksilver, vlc, and i guess thats about it.
    • TremorX, on 12/26/2007, -6/+9Avoid Firefox, it's horrible. Go Camino, or just use Safari.
      • Syphon8, on 12/26/2007, -7/+6Avoid Safari, it's horrible, Go Firefox, or Opera.
      • Mcaruso, on 12/26/2007, -1/+1Try Firefox 3 Beta 2 (native controls, faster, uses less memory).
    • wwwluckyro, on 12/26/2007, -0/+2Adium
  • chingy1788, on 12/26/2007, -2/+17Mac for work
    XP for gaming
    Linux for well time wasting cause you will have to google everything you want to do on Linux

    - ALP rules!!!

    i might get a mac... if i had the money
    • MaxPayne3476, on 12/26/2007, -2/+6Mac for Work; Bootcamp for Gaming; Linux.. well who needs it.
      • DarkMeld, on 12/26/2007, -3/+5So how do u plan to play anything with integrated graphics or payin over 2k for a pro wit a basic card
        • superal1394, on 12/26/2007, -2/+3I think people who would buy a computer to game on are willing to spend the extra cash.
        • dragon76, on 12/26/2007, -1/+1I think people wanting to play games aren't going to go the route of a dead platform for gaming (PC) and instead will get a 360 or a PS3. When Microsoft themselves admits the PC is a dead platform for gaming and creates a console, you know it's dead.
          • Syphon8, on 12/26/2007, -1/+1360 and PS3 are made on the basis that better graphics = better games. And guess what has the best graphics.
        • NoNameNoNumber, on 12/26/2007, -2/+1to Dragon76, are you retarded? PC gaming is still by far the best gaming experience! Hence why games are still made for it and why graphics cards are being developed and produced so quickly. I have both PC and 360 and I can say that the 360 is fun but the graphics and controls are no where near that of a PC's.
      • Syphon8, on 12/26/2007, -5/+2Windows for work and play, Linux for hobby programming.
      • superal1394, on 12/26/2007, -1/+4Linux for the CS server, duhhh
    • xShad0w, on 12/26/2007, -1/+4sad that your third rule is still true, even though ubuntu gutsy has cleared up most stuff, it still takes a lot of googleling around to get anything done
    • banmaster, on 12/26/2007, -8/+3Mac for work?? Huh?
      Don't you mean mac for sniffing your own farts and making 'cool' slideshows that nobody give a ***** about!
    • TypeEE, on 12/26/2007, -2/+2Same here, use xp + mac + linux at work, XP at home. I am good at all 3, the OS really doesn't bother me that much. Windows for the wide software selection is why I am still on XP. May be it's because I know how to do most of the stuffs on all 3 platforms, I see mac is smart on a lot of things, I just don't feel there is anything I must have a mac for.
  • NightOwl4, on 12/26/2007, -15/+4Get a mac...with out Leopard...get the old Operating System...runs so much more smoothly
    • MaxPayne3476, on 12/26/2007, -0/+3Really? I haven't noticed anything wrong with leopard. I will say that $120 wouldn't be worth it, as they're are only a few subtle improvements in my opinion, but i've noticed no slowdown or hitches.
    • Azio, on 12/26/2007, -1/+6SILENCE, HEATHEN. LEOPARD IS THE MOST IMPORTANT PRODUCT SINCE APPLE TV. IT IS ABSOLUTELY PERFECT IN EVERY WAY.
      • NightOwl4, on 12/26/2007, -3/+1no its not...i am mac fanboy and it hurts me to say it...but leopard nor vista lived up to what they were supposed to be
  • kjizzle, on 12/26/2007, -1/+9No, I didn't.
  • vonskippy, on 12/26/2007, -19/+11No, I was good this year so Santa brought me a real computer - none of that Mac crap.
  • exonyte, on 12/26/2007, -10/+7How about knowing that if you get a Mac your going to have a hell of a time getting your 5.1 speakers to work with it.
    You'll need to find an external sound card that works with the Mac, good luck finding one.
    Otherwise you'll be hearing sound from only two of the speakers.
    "Ultimate media experience" my ass.

    • rdhazrd, on 12/26/2007, -2/+8Just use the optical audio out, built into every mac sold.
      • exonyte, on 12/26/2007, -3/+1If i'm not mistaken that will give you only use of the left and right front speakers.
        I bought the logitech z-5300e, and i asked around and i was told at three different tech shops that i need an external converter of some sort.
        Like the Griffin Firewave for it to work. Which no one carries.
        If it was as simple as you said, im sure someone would have mentioned it to me.
    • TypeEE, on 12/26/2007, -2/+1I am not familiar how to get 5.1 out of a mac. For PC, I know you either connect like 4 wires or your sound card need to be able to encode dolby digital ie Auzentech sound cards or some of the nForce motherboards
      • exonyte, on 12/26/2007, -1/+0Yeah, its easy enough with a PC. You just buy a soundcard, which you can easily find at any PC shop, and it'll cost you less then $100.
        I went to a Mac store, Futureshop and another Computer shop, and they all told me i needed some sort of external converter.
        Oddly enough no one carries it. And i believe they're referring to the Griffin Firewave.
        Either way, no real solution was provided for me. I had to go and exchange my 5.1 speakers for a decent pair of 2.1 speakers.
        • dragon76, on 12/26/2007, -1/+1So, basically you're saying that on a PC you have to buy a sound card that happens to go INTO the computer, and somehow that's better than a sound card that gous OUTSIDE the computer. Hmm. Sounds the same to me.
        • exonyte, on 12/26/2007, -1/+0Um.. no. Im saying that you can actually find these soundcards anywhere.
          Soundcards for macs are either non-existant, or you just cant find them anywhere.
          The Griffin Firewave i guess can be considered an external soundcard that works for the mac, but no retail stores sell it, you can only buy it online.
          And it costs $100.. which is double the price of a PC soundcard.
          So really its more about convenience, cost and how practical it is.

          Mac users are always bragging about how good the media experience is, and i thought it macs were aimed towards musicians, and artists and such.
          5.1 surround support should be built in or, they should atleast carry the hardware in their stores and maybe not have it be so expensive. So basically read my post better, Apple stores do not carry the firewave, and neither do any other computer stores. It shouldnt be this hard to get 5.1 support, it should be alot easier. Figuring out how to get 5.1 to work with my PC was no task at all, but i think its ridiculous that i have to ask a sales rep for what i need and they have no clue, or have to look online to get my answer and still not be sure.
        • karladam, on 12/26/2007, -1/+1There is an optical audio out on every mac sold today. On the Mac Pros it's a SPDIF port on the back, on the other machines, it's a combo line/digital out. This is why you really should go to an Apple Store and ask these questions. If you want anything higher than 5.1 you can get any of the MANY External USB sound cards. I have no idea why everyone was pushing the Griffin Firewave, but you don't need it for anything, they just thought they'd make a buck or two off you then realize they didn't have any in stock since they'd pulled that crap on so many others.
    • enjayenel, on 12/26/2007, -0/+2"good luck finding one"

      OK. Go to Google, type in "surround sound for mac" and click the I'm Feeling Lucky button. Hmmm... Maybe I WILL buy that lotto ticket today.
  • mooseontheloose, on 12/26/2007, -4/+1I got Leopard for Christmas, now I've got more crap to learn! I haven't even gotten the hang of Tiger yet :(

    Spaces is cool though
  • alfitzhugh, on 12/26/2007, -5/+2millions?!? of Macs will be given for Christmas? I don't believe it. Any proof of this?
    • daGUY, on 12/26/2007, -0/+4http://www.apple.com/pr/library/2007/10/22results. ...
      In the fourth quarter alone (ending September 29), Apple sold over 2,000,000 Macs. Keep in mind this was also in the month leading up to a major OS release - a period of time when sales are most likely to slow, if anything. Add in the fact that sales always go up during the holidays and it's definitely within the realm of possibility that they'll sell one million Macs for Christmas.
  • SovereignGFC, on 12/26/2007, -0/+3The only thing I envy is the 20 second boot. My Inspriron takes twice that long, and even my Raptor-equipped desktop isn't that fast...
    • banmaster, on 12/26/2007, -4/+2Well seeing as apple has complete control over EVERYTHING it should really be a 5 second boot!!
    • superal1394, on 12/26/2007, -0/+3The advantage of well written software my friend.
    • wellyuk, on 12/26/2007, -3/+1I'd take that 20 second boot with a pinch of salt. I've got a Macbook Pro (2.4ghz/4gb/7200rpm drive) and it certainly doesn't boot in 20 seconds. My old Macbook (black model 2.0ghz/2gb ram) didn't boot in 20 seconds either.
      • dragon76, on 12/26/2007, -0/+3My MacBook Pro 2.16 Core Duo boots Leopard in around 15 seconds.
    • Lemon, on 12/27/2007, -1/+1Leopard takes longer to boot than Tiger. I was booting Tiger on a black macbook in about 12 seconds. Leopard take closer to 25 seconds for me now, but a fresh install might cut that down.
  • daGUY, on 12/26/2007, -1/+7Installing and uninstalling applications is something that tripped me up when I first got a Mac, too. I had gotten so used to the Windows method of using installers and uninstallers for everything that it never even occurred to me that I could "uninstall" an app just by dragging it to the trash. I went into System Preferences looking for some kind of add/remove utility (like Windows has), and when I didn't find one I actually went online and looked up how to do it.

    Ironic, really...the Mac method was SO much simpler that it actually caused me trouble, because the solution seemed too simple to even cross my mind!
    • banmaster, on 12/26/2007, -9/+1Macintosh - A computer so simple an idiot can use it = only idiots WILL use it!
      • daGUY, on 12/26/2007, -0/+6Right, because everything on a computer should be as complicated as possible. If you make something easy to do, then it must only be for idiots - REAL computer users will always prefer to do things the hard way.
        • wellyuk, on 12/26/2007, -0/+4The thing which banmaster doesn't seem to understand is OS X isn't a simple operating system, it merely performs tasks for you that you really don't need to be concerning yourself with. Underneath the user interface is a incredibly powerful operating system and far more powerful than anything Microsoft has released of late.

          Is it not Windows that is packed with wizards, designed for idiots? Anyone who says OS X is an operating system for idiots or new computer users obviously hasn't ever used it. The way I see it, OS X is a more of a transparent operating system that makes itself known when it needs to do so as opposed to getting in your face with wizards and other ***** for the most basic tasks that surely the operating system should be doing itself.
          • daGUY, on 02/16/2008, -0/+1Agreed. I think it's a bit ridiculous that Windows XP has a "rename this file" wizard...
      • wellyuk, on 12/26/2007, -2/+1You're a bit of a wanker, aren't you?
  • torontoliam, on 12/26/2007, -10/+6I have to say, I've also had a Macbook for 6 months, and I installed XP via Bootcamp 3 months later. Now, I boot XP 9 times out of 10. There are a lot of little annoyances in OS X (some have since been fixed). But why is there no Maximize button for windows in OSX?

    Really, there is no pride in using OS X to be trendy.

    My only complaint....the partition (I allocated 10 GB for XP) cannot be changed. When I get my act together, I plan to reformat with XP only. Great hardware, but I can do without the flashy software. In my opinion OS X is totally overrated.

    Digg me down all you want. At least I tried going to the other side after 15 years of Windows.
    • Kypt, on 12/26/2007, -2/+2I personally liked OSX better than windows, but you stated your point and gave pretty good argument as to why you think the way you do instead of bashing. Sorry it didn't work for you but +1 digg
    • zweirad, on 12/26/2007, -1/+1The maximize button is the green button at the top left of the window. Click it once to max the window size, click again to return to the original window size. The yellow button minimizes the window by sending it to the Dock. The red button closes the window. The real difference is that you can only drag a window larger (or smaller) from the bottom right corner where in XP you can drag it from any edge.

      The switch from XP to X can be daunting. It's hard to unlearn how Microsoft wants you to use a PC. The eye candy in OSX is nice, but the real beauty is under the hood. It is simply unmatched when it comes to color management. Unless you're a gamer a hardcore database person, OSX is really great. Not having to dodge every virus and piece of malware daily is a great relief. Give OSX a little more time. You might actually like it.
      • Lemon, on 12/27/2007, -1/+1Sorry to be picky, but the green button is "zoom" NOT maximise. Try it in a finder window and tell me if it maximises or not. However you can download a 3rd party patch that forces the green button to 'maximise' if it's giving you the *****. I got used to it, it works pretty good in almost all my mac apps... but I have to admit finder still behaves strangely...
  • Syphon8, on 12/26/2007, -8/+311) Everything it can do, Windows and Linux can do better, you just have to know where to look.
  • ragedriven, on 12/26/2007, -7/+2haha, just go to the apple website and search for "games", it brings up solitaire! way to go mac! basically the only thing macs have to claim is that they are equals to the windows experience in video/picture/sound software... equal... and if you are doing anything else (especially gaming) you are much much better suited to a pc.

    take my advice and don't buy a mac!
  • cannarymburns, on 12/26/2007, -1/+1Nice little article, but if this guy has all that ***** starting up for him, he hasn't heard of msconfig... really though, its not a secret, my parents use it. other stuff is true, next laptop i buy will be a macbook, just cause theyre sexy as hell.
  • Unit134679, on 12/26/2007, -2/+1Come ***** one. I hope the author isn't serious about #1. That was the first thing I noticed and learned about my Mac
  • Gregsaw, on 12/26/2007, -4/+2This article isn't valid if you're talking to someone who knows what they're doing on Windows. Mac was made for Windows illiterates.
  • TheDatabit, on 12/26/2007, -2/+1Step 11 When you decide to get rid of your newly received "gift" be sure not to take it back to the Apple Store because since you are not the original purchaser all you will get is store credit (And really who needs that many ipods). Sell it on ebay or craigslist and use the money to by 2 PCs
  • bdbElysian, on 12/28/2007, -1/+1“7. Don't bother with games, even 2 year old games. - If you're a PC gamer, don't buy a Mac.”

    So because I’m PC gamer I should eat ***** and stay with Windows or switch to one or more consoles for my gaming? This sounds like a reaction of an Apple user whose been slapped in the face by their Windows buddies constantly reminding them of the stranglehold that Microsoft has over the gaming industry.

    How about more Apple users growing some balls and making Apple rip into the PC gaming market and the same goes for Linux users as well. Then you can sit back and watch what happens to the PC market.

    Microsoft isn’t a superior OS for games they were just smart enough have manipulated the gaming industry. If games were built on something like OpenGL and PC gamers had choice then we could really see how many times PC gamers would be been spit on by Apple PC users.
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