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Just bought my First Mac!!, Some questions:

I

iTsKemez

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Oct 20, 2010
11
0
Hi fellow forumers:

I just got my macbook pro 13inch yesterday
So far i am loving it a lot!, but i am confused on some things

1. how do i tell whats the operating system i am running? like how much GB i have remanning
whats my system specs?
should i purchase Microsoft word or can i download it somewhere?

What are some important/useful programs to have for mac?

What is Lion OX? or OS?

Thanks in advance!
 
iTsKemez said:
1. how do i tell whats the operating system i am running?
Click to expand...
:apple: > About This Mac
23l11u.png

like how much GB i have remanning
Click to expand...
ffs1.jpg

whats my system specs?
Click to expand...
Should be noted on your receipt or on the side of the box it came with or in the email confirming the order or :apple: > About This Mac > More Info or ....​

should i purchase Microsoft word or can i download it somewhere?
Click to expand...
Do you need it? Can iWork suffice? As far as downloading goes, I don't know, but talking about WAREZ is not really welcome here.​

What are some important/useful programs to have for mac?
Click to expand...

What is Lion OX? or OS?
Click to expand...
Mac OS X is the name for Apple's Operating System family for Macintosh computers. Currently we are at Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard, Mac OS X 10.7 is called Lion and will be released in summer 2011.
​

Also have a look at the following links to learn more about Mac OS X:



And MRoogle is a good tool to search these fora for already existing threads about questions you have. It might be able to answer you quicker than creating a thread.
 
1. how do i tell whats the operating system i am running? like how much GB i have remanning
whats my system specs?

***Under the Apple logo in the upper left corner is a menu, select the menu item called "About This Mac..." This alone will tell you your OS and total RAM installed. For more details, there's a button labeled "More info..."

should i purchase Microsoft word or can i download it somewhere?
***You have to buy it

What are some important/useful programs to have for mac?
***You should already have iLife installed, so explore that. Safari is your web browser. Mail can be your e-mail program, but a lot of people buy another type (I use Mail). Look into getting a MobileMe subscription - it's not essential, but it has some nice features and costs $80/yr. If you're into gaming, Steam is available.

What is Lion OX? or OS?
***OS stands for Operating System. The version number for Mac OS has been "10", or X, for some time now. Mac OS versions are named after the big cats. Lion is the not-yet-released next version of the OS, which will come out next year sometime. You're currently running Snow Leopard (v. 10.6.x) I'm not sure what Apple will do when they run out of cats (12.5 - Domestic shorthair?)
 
http://www.simplehelp.net/images/findersize/ffs1.jpg

spinnerlys said:
:apple: > About This Mac
​


ffs1.jpg


Should be noted on your receipt or on the side of the box it came with or in the email confirming the order or :apple: > About This Mac > More Info or ....​


Do you need it? Can iWork suffice? As far as downloading goes, I don't know, but talking about WAREZ is not really welcome here.​




Mac OS X is the name for Apple's Operating System family for Macintosh computers. Currently we are at Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard, Mac OS X 10.7 is called Lion and will be released in summer 2011.
​

Also have a look at the following links to learn more about Mac OS X:



And MRoogle is a good tool to search these fora for already existing threads about questions you have. It might be able to answer you quicker than creating a thread.
Click to expand...


You can't post a screenshot showing the filename "coolest picture ever.jpg" and NOT SHOW US THE COOLEST PICTURE EVER! :p
 
I was just about to say that if it's brand new then it would be running Snow Lepeord, that is the latest OS. Lion won't come out untill mid next year and by what we have seen today it's only afew things added on which should in reality be able to just be put onto Snow Lepeord wihtout updating, though an update shouldn't be too much if needs must.

Why have Microsoft Office when you can get iWork for less? It does everything Office does and can even save in Office formats. You should have been able to get some discount off it when you bought your Mac aswell.
 
yetanotherdave said:
You can't post a screenshot showing the filename "coolest picture ever.jpg" and NOT SHOW US THE COOLEST PICTURE EVER! :p
Click to expand...

Oh yes I can, especially if I don't have such a picture. It is a screenshot I found via "mac os x finder free space".

Maybe it was this?
cool_dog.jpg
Or that?
the-coolest-horse-ever.jpg



bigchrisfgb said:
I was just about to say that if it's brand new then it would be running Snow Lepeord, that is the latest OS. Lion won't come out untill mid next year and by what we have seen today it's only afew things added on which should in reality be able to just be put onto Snow Lepeord wihtout updating, though an update shouldn't be too much if needs must....
Click to expand...

According to today's keynote, we did get only a preview of some new elements of Mac OS X 10.7, NOT ALL new features were shown. And the fullscreen and Mission Control feature will be built into the core of the OS and might not be that easy to implement in the current Mac OS X 10.6 version, thus an update to 10.6.x will probably not suffice.
 
Regarding Microsoft Office (contains Word) I hear that Office: Mac 2011 is fantastic for once. Of course you may not need Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint (Keynote is much better anyway), etc. If that's the case check out the iWork trial. It contains Pages and is pretty much what any regular user would need for a word processor/publisher. iWork is a lot cheaper than MS Office.

bigchrisfgb said:
Why have Microsoft Office when you can get iWork for less? It does everything Office does and can even save in Office formats. You should have been able to get some discount off it when you bought your Mac aswell.
Click to expand...
Some people rely on Outlook. There really isn't a good substitute.
 
At least you got some help but here are the future tips.

Try to talk to friends who know more about technology and computer before making purchases. Lucky enough there isn't anything to rip you off when you buy it from Apple Store.

If it happened to choose Windows computer like in Futureshop or BestBuy. You may get ripped off in term of dollar per performance and tech ages.

This is just helpful tip not to get screwed for buying high price for something that isn't worth it at all.

Talk to friends or ask people around. Do not ask people at the 3rd parties dealer store (Apple staffs are fine). If those 3rd parties dealer know that you knew nothing about computer. They can set you up and charge you high price.

They are that evil. Same with car dealer etc etc.
 
Some of my favorite apps are...

Handbrake- is a great app for converting video files
Rip it- can rip full DVD movies onto your system
Skype- duh
Fastest Free Youtube Downloader- Copy videos from youtube onto your mac
Screen Flow- Screen recording software
VLC- plays tons of different file types
Hulu desktop- watch tv
Evernote- note syncing
Geektool-embedding scripts to your desktop

Welcome to the club :apple:


One more thing. If you just bought your mac, run a software update. Hit the apple in the top left, the software update.
 
I'm not sure if Office for mac 2011 has been released yet, but I would definitely wait and get that (I thought it was being released this month or something), because it'll be a big improvement. Don't get iWork, nobody uses it and is imo hard to use after using all the office applications for years.
 
akasch said:
I'm not sure if Office for mac 2011 has been released yet, but I would definitely wait and get that (I thought it was being released this month or something), because it'll be a big improvement. Don't get iWork, nobody uses it and is imo hard to use after using all the office applications for years.
Click to expand...

Not out but it is... really really fast. It is suppose to release this month October.
 
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