Call all Mac users

[mesyjesse]

Well i final jumped on the bandwagon and bought a mac and got it today. I got a refurb MacBook. It was only 800 dollars and was too cheap to pass up. Now on to my question. What are your favorite things you do on your mac and or programs you use. Also any accessories do you think are worth the money

Thanks
Jesse

[G66]

Congrats on the Mac.

Check out http://www.opensourcemac.org/

I recommend Perian and Handbrake for starters.

[kwsoccerkid]

The best thing I like is you can go on do what you have do and not have any problems. I have a refurb macbook and I love it both of my kids have macbooks for college and they never have any problems with them. I used to
have PC's and I will never go back.

Good luck and enjoy

[robertgp124]

Take a look at TUAW.com. Lots of Mac stories (and a lot of iPhone ones too). It may give you some ideas on things you'd like to try. You may want to take a peak at MacBreak videos on iTunes for tips on how to do stuff.

I don't have any Mac specific stuff that I have to use. I just love that my Mac works and that I don't have to fight it the way I fight with Windows on a regular basis.

Congratulations - hope you enjoy your Mac!

[CelticBelle]

i just switched to mac last year. Im now in love.:lovestruc My favorite things about it are that everything works together seamlessly. It is a must to set up your email accounts in mail. I love that i dont have to check all 4 of my emails constantly and that saves me alot of time.:thumbsup2 I love ical too. I could never get my calanders and outlook to work on PC, but this is a breeze!

i also use handbrake. Love my iphone too, but thats another thread;)

[mesyjesse]

Thanks guys

I am using handbreak right now and love it. I used it on pc and it was slow and buggy. I must it has been very painless so far

Thanks again

[dpuck1998]

First thing I did is download firefox to replace the horrible safari browser.

[DisneyCrazyX5]

I switched to Firefox too.

[MinnieDiva]

Huh, I love Safari.

I love iMovie/iDvd. You can do some amazing stuff with them.

Be careful with Handbrake....I'm still using 0.9.2 as the newer update was VERY buggy and either didn't do the job or crashed the machine. I haven't looked to see if there was a fix to that.

[cslittle999]

Firefox over Safari on a Mac? No way. Firefox is so slow. Even 3.5. Safari on Snow Leopard is even faster.

My first recommendation for a new Mac user would be to buy a large external hard drive and start using Time Machine. Very comforting to know you can restore the entire machine.

[OKW Lover]

Funny. I use both Safari and Firefox (just upgraded to 3.5) and like them both. I'm using Safari most of the time, but there are still a couple of sites that seem to be easier to use with Firefox.

A big plus of Firefox is the extensive list of add-on's you can use. I'm particularly fond of adblock plus and flashblock. Adblock plus blocks those advertisements so you never see them (unless you want to on a particular site). Flashblock stops that annoying flash animation that seems to get in the way of actually providing useful information on many sites - like Disney's.

[Nicole786]

I use Tweetie if you use twitter, and iPhoto is my favorite of the ilife programs

[mesyjesse]

its a great system i am using firefox right now. Also i hope to buy a time capsule for back ups.

thanks
jesse

[jlmarr]

We use iPhoto and iWeb - it's easy to transfer a set of pix from iPhoto to iWeb and then presto you have a web page. We use both Safari and Firefox for web browsing, Thunderbird for email (it's a descendant of Netscape mail), Graphic Converter for special graphics work that iPhoto isn't up to, Time Machine for backups (saved our bacon once), Preview for viewing PDF's instead of Adobe Reader, and dare-I-say-it Microsoft Excel and Word when the occasion requires it.

[G66]

I have a 500GB Time Capsule. Highly recommend it. I use it a little unconventionally with a TB usb hard drive plugged in. The Time Capsule holds and streams my iTunes library and the TB drive is partitioned. Part Time Machine to automatically back up my laptop data and part as a manual back up of my music files from the Time Capsule. It all works quite well. A testament to Apple design.

I also use Firefox. Foxmarks is a plug in that allows you to sync bookmarks between multiple computers.

[sarahsar]

I switched to Mac a couple of months ago after being a longtime Windows person, and I couldn't be happier. I absolutely love it. I got a refurbished MacBook Pro in perfect condition for a good price from the Apple web site.

As for what programs I use - I use iTunes, iCal, Address Book, Microsoft Entourage for e-mail, MS Word, Tweetie, Safari _and_ Firefox (I can't get on to my work VPN with Safari, unfortunately, but it works with Firefox). iPhoto, iMovie, and iDVD are great. I love the Keychain program for keeping track of passwords. It took forever to transfer all of my info from my Windows password program, but now it works great and is very useful. I use Time Machine backing up to an external hard drive, and I have another external hard drive for manual backups.

I also use VMware Fusion to run Windows XP Professional. You can do this with Boot Camp for free, but if you do need any Windows programs, it is nice to have something like VMware (there is also a program called Parallels Desktop), because you can run Windows just in a separate window right on the Mac desktop without rebooting, copy things back and forth, and so on. But since I made the switch there are very few things I still use Windows for. Just a couple of quirky programs that I haven't found an easy Mac equivalent for.

[dpuck1998]

I switched to Mac a couple of months ago after being a longtime Windows person, and I couldn't be happier. I absolutely love it. I got a refurbished MacBook Pro in perfect condition for a good price from the Apple web site.

As for what programs I use - I use iTunes, iCal, Address Book, Microsoft Entourage for e-mail, MS Word, Tweetie, Safari _and_ Firefox (I can't get on to my work VPN with Safari, unfortunately, but it works with Firefox). iPhoto, iMovie, and iDVD are great. I love the Keychain program for keeping track of passwords. It took forever to transfer all of my info from my Windows password program, but now it works great and is very useful. I use Time Machine backing up to an external hard drive, and I have another external hard drive for manual backups.

I also use VMware Fusion to run Windows XP Professional. You can do this with Boot Camp for free, but if you do need any Windows programs, it is nice to have something like VMware (there is also a program called Parallels Desktop), because you can run Windows just in a separate window right on the Mac desktop without rebooting, copy things back and forth, and so on. But since I made the switch there are very few things I still use Windows for. Just a couple of quirky programs that I haven't found an easy Mac equivalent for.

Fusion is awesome! I use it for the DVC Planning software ;)

[Plumeria9]

First thing I did is download firefox to replace the horrible safari browser.

Ditto this. Some websites might give you trouble w/ the Firefox, but then you can hope to use the Safari. I bought a refurb black MacBook, LOVE it! Enjoy!

[sshaw10060]

I use parallels instead of fusion. I just upgraded to 4.0 which is a huge improvement.

[dpuck1998]

Ditto this. Some websites might give you trouble w/ the Firefox, but then you can hope to use the Safari. I bought a refurb black MacBook, LOVE it! Enjoy!

If a website doesn't work with Firefox then I don't use that website!!

[WayfastWill]

Definately get you a Time Capsule - will make you life much easier!

Great MAC recource - http://www.danrodney.com/mac/index.html


I switched about a year or so ago - SO glad I did - never go back! Good luck and enjoy! :thumbsup2

[HappyGrumpy]

Welcome to the dark side:thumbsup2

Please listen to the advise of so many others and get a time capsule/any external HD formatted for the Mac and do regular back ups! Even look into Mobile Me for extra storage! It is heart breaking when people come in wih failed HD or logic board and they have no backup:sad2:

I have had people weep in front of me after a thunderstorms rolled through the night before or the kiddo spills their juice all over it. Accidents or AOG are not covered under the manufacturers warranty:confused3

My favorite thing right now is iphoto! We just made our second Disney Album and ordered it from Kodak! I love how iphoto organizes and lets me make simple edits! Love it!

[mesyjesse]

wow this is great info and am loving my mac and its just so easy

[WayfastWill]

My favorite thing right now is iphoto! We just made our second Disney Album and ordered it from Kodak! I love how iphoto organizes and lets me make simple edits! Love it!

Me to - I've ordered prints a couple times and its just great! You can even order up 30"x20" prints - I printed one of my illustrations up that size for $15 - awesome! :thumbsup2

[guynwdm]

First thing I did is download firefox to replace the horrible safari browser.

I tend to use firefox more because there are sites with work that don't jive with safari. I am fortunate to be both mac at home and work. It makes life much easier. I am able to make my mac mail, calendar, addresses, all sync through .mac and appreciate being able to access work at home and not have to take the lap top with me. I also use the office suite for mac and find it helpful. I am lucky in education to be able to get some discounts on the software so it is not costing an arm and a leg to get as well.

Iphoto and itunes are so awesome with the ipod touch to keep everything handy too. I just like how things work with each other rather than having to run 10 programs to do one thing.

I am appreciating all the sites advice too. I am learning a lot on here and I have been using macs since they started. I think that makes me old now....

[Disneybridein2k3]

I do believe I am getting sucked in. But I need one more thing before I pull the trigger. When I build the Mac Book Pro one of the software options it gives me is Final Cut Express 4 pre-installed for $179. One of the reasons I want to buy the computer is to take the video off of my 60 GB HD camcorder and make dvds but it is AVCHD video which is a pain. It looks like Final Cut will do everything I want but I was wondering if it is necessary. Is there are software already pre-installed that will turn videos into dvds (and even burn blu-ray)? Or is the software a good deal? I checked elsewhere and the software is $199 for the full version so $179 pre-installed isn't bad but I didn't want to buy it if it wasn't necessary.

[sarahsar]

I do believe I am getting sucked in. But I need one more thing before I pull the trigger. When I build the Mac Book Pro one of the software options it gives me is Final Cut Express 4 pre-installed for $179. One of the reasons I want to buy the computer is to take the video off of my 60 GB HD camcorder and make dvds but it is AVCHD video which is a pain. It looks like Final Cut will do everything I want but I was wondering if it is necessary. Is there are software already pre-installed that will turn videos into dvds (and even burn blu-ray)? Or is the software a good deal? I checked elsewhere and the software is $199 for the full version so $179 pre-installed isn't bad but I didn't want to buy it if it wasn't necessary.

I don't know much about AVCHD video, but I have imported digital tape and burned it to DVD using the built-in iMovie and iDVD that come with iLife (didn't need Final Cut). I don't think there's anything that will let you do Blu-Ray on a Mac, though.

[dpuck1998]

I do believe I am getting sucked in. But I need one more thing before I pull the trigger. When I build the Mac Book Pro one of the software options it gives me is Final Cut Express 4 pre-installed for $179. One of the reasons I want to buy the computer is to take the video off of my 60 GB HD camcorder and make dvds but it is AVCHD video which is a pain. It looks like Final Cut will do everything I want but I was wondering if it is necessary. Is there are software already pre-installed that will turn videos into dvds (and even burn blu-ray)? Or is the software a good deal? I checked elsewhere and the software is $199 for the full version so $179 pre-installed isn't bad but I didn't want to buy it if it wasn't necessary.

I'd work with iMovie and see how you like it before getting Final Cut

[Jonereno]

I'll second what dpuck1998 said... try using iMovie an iDVD first and see how that combination works for you. iMovie handles AVCHD just fine.

As for Blu-Ray... don't hold your breath. Apple doesn't support it natively. :mad:

[Dismom+two]

My step-daughter was over for dinner last night and mentioned she bought a Mac and was having trouble...not knowing how to "use" it. My hubby asked her what kind it was and she replied.....

"a white one." :lmao::sad2:

[DSNY4ever]

I married a mac man, so I had to figure it all out and it's been pretty easy. I also like Imovie. I am usually pretty terrible at programs like that, but it is so easy to use and we have made plenty of nice vacation video that look professional...other than our shaky filming ;)

[princessbride6205]

A really simple feature I love is the Dashboard. If you don't have one in your dock, just push F12 and it should pop up. You can customize it with all kinds of widgets, like your weather, post-it notes, calc, Disney trip countdown, stopwatch - tons of things really. Any info you would want to access with one-click.
I've had a Mac laptop for over 5 years now - I couldn't go back to a PC.
As for video editing, I much prefer the previous incarnation of iMovie as the latest one is really geared towards posting clips online.

[Disneybridein2k3]

Thanks so much for the advice everyone! I think I will hold off on the Final Cut Express for now until I can play around with the software the book comes with. I'm so excited to get my Book ordered and to get some videos edited :thumbsup2

[sshaw10060]

The mac is my best computer purchase ever. Kicks my old PC's butt. On my computer the dashboard in F4.

[Michele]

I married a mac man, so I had to figure it all out and it's been pretty easy. I also like Imovie. I am usually pretty terrible at programs like that, but it is so easy to use and we have made plenty of nice vacation video that look professional...other than our shaky filming ;)

You know, if you have the latest version, iMovie '09, they have added a feature to stabilize shaky video. Just choose the video, click file, then analyze for stabilization.

[Michele]

My step-daughter was over for dinner last night and mentioned she bought a Mac and was having trouble...not knowing how to "use" it. My hubby asked her what kind it was and she replied.....

"a white one." :lmao::sad2:


One great thing about Mac is the video tutorials. Tell her to go to apple.com, click on Mac at the top. In the middle of the page it says "Learn your way around a Mac in minutes". This section has tons of video tutorials, they are quick, easy to understand, very helpful.

[Disneybridein2k3]

One great thing about Mac is the video tutorials. Tell her to go to apple.com, click on Mac at the top. In the middle of the page it says "Learn your way around a Mac in minutes". This section has tons of video tutorials, they are quick, easy to understand, very helpful.
Those little video tutorials is what sold me! I'm like a crack addict - I keep going back to that site and watching the videos over and over till my book arrives. I just can't get enough. They had me at "recongizes multi-touch gestures" on the trackpad. I'm in love. :love: