Twenty seven inches of MacINTOSH glory!

I won't be of any help I just wanted you to know I'm jealous

Welcome to the wonderful world of Mac. Yeah, I'm a convert. It took some time to figure it out. Once I did, all I could think of was that's it!? Simple and sweet.

You may want to take some time to wander around and find your way first. But if your backup drive is just a plug-in (I've never had one of those, only CD/DVDs and thumb drives), then all you have to do is plug it in, open a "Finder" window (similar to the folder windows in Windows) and drop and drag.

Have fun!

When I first got mine, I hated it. Took about ten minutes to not hate it. I have two sitting on the desk at this moment. I loves them.

Fenika said:

Also, somewhere on here is a program that will presumably help me pull files off my backup drive. Help?

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My husband says it's called Time Machine. It does automatic backup.

I have no clue about these things; he is the Mac expert.

The big thing is that in general, when you'd expect to right-click on Windows, you use the Control key.

Having said that, you can configure the Mac Mouse to work like a Windows mouse.

This is an Apple site for Switchers:

http://www.apple.com/support/switch101/

It's pretty good. I'd start looking at it right now.

rhymegirl said:

My husband says it's called Time Machine. It does automatic backup.

I have no clue about these things; he is the Mac expert.

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No; that's not what she means.

She is referring to using the Migration Assistant.

Well, you could download and install Firefox.

I'd suggest checking the Tab settings in Safari.

All apps have their Preferences (or settings) in the same place under the menu that bears the app's name.

Start checking those out as a matter of course.

Also: the Dock can be moved and re-sized and the Finder has settings under View.

So look at the System Prefs under the Apple menu, too. They're huge.

One thing you should do right now is go to System Prefs/Users and create a new account called Test. Use a password you won't forget, ever, and give that account Admin privs.

Then never ever use it. Don't change it, don't customize. Leave it as is.

That gives you a quick and easy way to determine something odd is local, to your account, or system wide. And it gives you an emergency alternative account.

I'm playing with my new Macbook at work (no internet access, though, dammit). I've found their inbuilt Help section so far has given me every answer I've needed. Much more helpful than the Windows version.

I do have one question I'm not sure of, though. Would an ITunes music file from their "ITunes for windows" application play if I copied it into the straight Mac ITunes on the laptop? I don't know if the coding used to allow Windows to play ITunes affects just the program or the files within it.

BardSkye said:

Would an ITunes music file from their "ITunes for windows" application play if I copied it into the straight Mac ITunes on the laptop? I don't know if the coding used to allow Windows to play ITunes affects just the program or the files within it.

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Yep. Don't move them by hand to the folder, just put the files on the desktop, launch iTunes, and drag-and-drop them or use the Add to Library option in the File menu of iTunes; iTunes will import/copy the files for you.

You can then delete the ones on the Desktop.

And when you're ready for it, I highly recommend setting things up with Spaces. I have one for Microsquash Orifice, one for Mac's iWork, one for Mac's iLife, one for intarwebz use, and one for miscellaneous writing apps that aren't part of a larger package. It makes switching back and for sooooooooooo much easier!

Medievalist said:

Yep. Don't move them by hand to the folder, just put the files on the desktop, launch iTunes, and drag-and-drop them or use the Add to Library option in the File menu of iTunes; iTunes will import/copy the files for you.

You can then delete the ones on the Desktop.

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That'll be my project for tonight, then, thank you.

Enjoy it! I love mine! I don't know anything about the issues you're having though. Sorry!

Fenika said:

Okay, now I need tech help. I got the external HD plugged in, and it flashed up time machine and said the drive needs formatting. The HD isn't coming up on the desktop...


Damn it. It wants to erase all data. Make it play nice plz. I spent all afternoon backing up my Toshiba/Windows XP system.

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How did you back it up?

Do you have the computer there? It's easier to just connect the two computers.

Look at this:

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2518

Fenika said:

I backed it up with Retrospect. I do need it to work with both computers at some point in the future. Will look into connecting them for now.

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You would need Retrospect on the Mac to read the files.

Retrospect automatically compresses and encrypts backup files.

If you simply dragged over files to the drive, even entire folders of them, you could move them between the two computers.

You can even connect the drive to one and Share it over your local network.

But for now, Retrospect is your problem.

Don't reformat the drive on your Mac; Macs read Windows drives easily; it's trickier going the other way 'round.