Dos and Donts - brand new 17" MBP (expected!!)...

[ayeying]

Don't:

Don't turn it on without charging, you'll do damage to the battery and it won't be able to hold it's charge as well, this isn't just mac related, all laptops are the same. Charge before use, or during use.

I just turned it on without plugging it in and started using it. 90 Cycles in 2 months later, no real problems. Even calibrated it once but didn't do crap.

 

[darngooddesign]

Do use it

Don't obsess over how you shouldn't use it.

 

[RKpro]

Don't start "Are my temps OK?" threads.

 

[darngooddesign]

Don't start another "What kind of bag/hard case should I buy" thread.

 

[jjahshik32]

Dont start another, "Dont start a .... thread." :

 

[Topher15]

Install Perian

Edit... and Flip4Mac.

 

[AppleNewton]

alot of good suggestions.

get a case or some sort of enclosure protection - im waiting to find a decent one to try on my 17" MBP

Apps-
Firefox
VLC
Flip4Mac
SuperDuper
WinClone (if you use Windows via BootCamp)
iStat Pro or the menu bar version is another good alternative.

For office apps id recommend iWork 09 or Office 08 (while ive used NeoOffice/OpenOffice i just didnt like it very much theyre useful and good but for overall a decent office app iwork or office are good for me)

I keep a pretty minimal app install..i dont use Onyx or any other system cleaner it seems to run smooth regardless, just flush out cookies and temp files form browsers, run a permissions repair and im usually good.


otherwise dont look for too many issues, there seems to be a variety of things that are good/bad with them but overall the computer is a slick machine. have fun with it.

 

[erratikmind]

Congrats on your new purchase. As everyone else has mentioned, simply enjoy your new laptop. Here are a couple of useful and informative articles.

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1490

http://www.apple.com/batteries/notebooks.html

 

[darngooddesign]

Dont start another, "Dont start a .... thread." :

Don't confuse starting a thread with posting in an existing thread.

 

[rknrolls]

Its Here !

gggguuyyyysssss... its HERE !!!!

Its still in the box though as I am AT WORK !! sitting quietly under my desk, like a beast about to be unleased !! lol....

Anyway, just wanted to thank all the people with app links and battery info links etc.

Here is what I am going to do - calibrate the battery tonight!! (following apple's instructions etc.)

The only thing is...... If I dont use it much, its going to take *ages* to drain the battery no?..

Is there a quick / not to harsh way of draining the battery so I can calibrate it quicker... ie. use it and leave it overnight to do the 5hr thing!??!

Cant wait... !!! (to use it without worrying about the battery.... )!!

 

[o2xygen]

gggguuyyyysssss... its HERE !!!!

Its still in the box though as I am AT WORK !! sitting quietly under my desk, like a beast about to be unleased !! lol....

Anyway, just wanted to thank all the people with app links and battery info links etc.

Here is what I am going to do - calibrate the battery tonight!! (following apple's instructions etc.)

The only thing is...... If I dont use it much, its going to take *ages* to drain the battery no?..

Is there a quick / not to harsh way of draining the battery so I can calibrate it quicker... ie. use it and leave it overnight to do the 5hr thing!??!

Cant wait... !!! (to use it without worrying about the battery.... )!!

I just left it to play a lot of movies, when the battery died it goes into sleep mode, and when u wake up it should work out good timing.

Dont forget, we love seeing pictures of new machines, it makes us feel a little like weve gotten a new one too

 

[TakeManhattan]

I suggest that you listen to piano music at your earliest convenience. My previous MBP's speakers rattled only when I played piano music - even at volumes lower than 50%. Apple replaced the MBP.

 

[gathart]

i dont use Onyx or any other system cleaner it seems to run smooth regardless, just flush out cookies and temp files form browsers, run a permissions repair and im usually good.

Why is it a problem to run onyx??

 

[Draeconis]

Here's two don'ts for you;

Don't mess with drive permissions, ever! I locked myself out my my own laptop doing it, so unless you know what you're doing, never touch them!

Don't copy one folder with the same name of another folder over it thinking they'll consolidate like Windows; OS X will replace the folder that was there with the one you're copying, and you'll lose whatever you had there before.

Apart from those, congratulations!

 

[rknrolls]

Here's two don'ts for you;

Don't mess with drive permissions, ever! I locked myself out my my own laptop doing it, so unless you know what you're doing, never touch them!

Don't copy one folder with the same name of another folder over it thinking they'll consolidate like Windows; OS X will replace the folder that was there with the one you're copying, and you'll lose whatever you had there before.

Apart from those, congratulations!

Thanks, will bear that in mind !! didnt know that about folders on OSx interesting!!! ...

I suggest that you listen to piano music at your earliest convenience. My previous MBP's speakers rattled only when I played piano music - even at volumes lower than 50%. Apple replaced the MBP.

Good tip !! now I just have to find some piano music I will deffo check this out..... anything you recommend? what did you use to test?

 

[darngooddesign]

Thanks, will bear that in mind !! didnt know that about folders on OSx interesting!!! ...

If you move a folder/file to a new location and you see an arrow at the bottom of the icon you are just creating an alias (shortcut) to the item. You you see a green dot with a + you are copying the item. To force it from alias to copy just hold the option key down, before or during your dragging the item.