Few random windows > mac questions..

[kettlecorn]

Hey all, i just got my first mac and had some questions. Ive actually used hackintosh on my netbook for over 7 months so im fairly familiar with OSX but there are still some things I havent been able to figure out. Random stuff..


1) How the hell do you only delete CERTAIN things from the trash can? In windows, the recycle bin lets you click and delete anthing like you woud in a normal folder. In OSX, I hit the delete/backspace key and it does nothing. The only option is to empty the entire thing...


2) Are there any gadgets for the desktop (not dashboard) such as a cpu or gpu temperature and usage widget?

3) Mine came preloaded with tons of applications in the dock and i have no idea what half of them are. Which ones are removeable?
Ones i see that may be "bloatware" is "App store", "Dashboard (I can get this by Fn+f12)", Photobooth, iphoto, Time machine. No idea what those do.......


4) When I uninstall an app, does dragging the icon on the dock to the trash can uninstall everything? or is there something you need to do in order to remove the residual files somewhere in the c: drive?

5) When installing an application, I know you drag the icon of the program into the "applications" folder. But everytime I drag that same icon to the dock, it launches the installer and not the actual program. How do I stop this?


6) Why does every installer load up and mount instead of just running like an .exe in windows? Do you need to manually unmount the installer? What is the purpose of this?

7) I read that running windows under bootcamp significantly reduces battery life and i read for one person it was permanent even i OSX. Why is this? Is this an exception or does windows for the majority of mac users under bootcamp drain battery faster?

8) Do you have of you guys have a "routine" of something you do when you first get a mac or do a clean reformat? what do you install and uninstall, change settings, etc? I want some tips on what are some good first things to do when first getting a mac. In windows i'll tell you right off the bat i run windows update, get Chrome from Google, change power saving settings, change the desktop wallpaper, load up cpu/gpu temp and usage gadgets and install Microsoft Office and uninstall bloatware and get codec for media files. Anything analgous to this for the OSX? "FIR" - fresh install rituals as I like to call em.

Any help appreciated.

Btw, i got a brand new macbook pro 13 and love it. A 128gb ssd is on the way! Love the workspace and expose...

 

[simsaladimbamba]

Look at this too: http://www.apple.com/support/switch101/

1) How the hell do you only delete CERTAIN things from the trash can? In windows, the recycle bin lets you click and delete anthing like you woud in a normal folder. In OSX, I hit the delete/backspace key and it does nothing. The only option is to empty the entire thing...

You don't. Or post #11: https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/586186/​

2) Are there any gadgets for the desktop (not dashboard) such as a cpu or gpu temperature and usage widget?

MenuMeters and iStat Pro and atMonitor​

3) Mine came preloaded with tons of applications in the dock and i have no idea what half of them are. Which ones are removeable?
Ones i see that may be "bloatware" is "App store", "Dashboard (I can get this by Fn+f12)", Photobooth, iphoto, Time machine. No idea what those do.......

Really? App Store is ... Go to Apple and look for yourself: http://www.apple.com/macosx/what-is-macosx/apps-and-utilities.html
And they are not bloatware, they are part of Mac OS X, but you can delete them from the Dock, as it will not delete them from the Applications folder.
To uninstall applications:

To manually remove an application and all associated files:

1. Launch Finder and search for the app name (hopefully unique, such as Skype)
2. You can narrow the search to specific folders or search your whole Mac
3. Searching "File Name" vs "Contents" usually provides better results.
4. Click the + button below the search term to add criteria
5. Click the "Album" drop-down and select "System files"
6. Click the "Don't include" and change to "include"
7. Sort by name, kind, date, etc. to identify components of the app, such as folders, .plist files, cache files. etc.
8. Delete all files and folders related to the app.
9. Don't empty your Trash until you've determined that everything is working OK, in case you need to restore something you deleted by accident.
10. A reboot might be necessary to completely remove some apps.

from Best way to FULLY DELETE a program?​

4) When I uninstall an app, does dragging the icon on the dock to the trash can uninstall everything? or is there something you need to do in order to remove the residual files somewhere in the c: drive?

Please see above, and there is no C:\ "drive" on Mac OS X, those letters are reserved for Windows. Didn't you say you had a Hackintosh the last seven months?
Btw, the Dock is just a placeholder for shortcuts, or aliases as Mac OS X calls them. Like the Windows task bar, from which you can drag something and it is still actually there as you haven't removed the actual application, just an alias to it.​

5) When installing an application, I know you drag the icon of the program into the "applications" folder. But everytime I drag that same icon to the dock, it launches the installer and not the actual program. How do I stop this?

Drag the application first into the Applications folder, then either start the application from inside the Applications folder (not from the mounted volume you dragged the application from) and right click on the Dock icon and select "Keep in Dock". Or if you don't want to start the application to do this, go to the Applications folder, where you dragged the application to and drag the application to the Dock.
Dragging it from the mounted disk image will only cause problems, as the Dock "looks" for the disk image to start the application from.​

6) Why does every installer load up and mount instead of just running like an .exe in windows? Do you need to manually unmount the installer? What is the purpose of this?

Yes, if they come in a Disk Image (DMG). But it is not an installer, it is a package, like a zip file for example, just looking differently.
It mounts and behaves like an external HDD or USB Flash Memory Stick and you copy from it or run an installer from there.
A Windows .exe is an application in itself and normally runs an installer if it is an installation .exe. The advantage of Mac OS X and drag and drop of applications is that there is no REGISTRY to bloat up.​

7) I read that running windows under bootcamp significantly reduces battery life and i read for one person it was permanent even i OSX. Why is this? Is this an exception or does windows for the majority of mac users under bootcamp drain battery faster?

This should answer most, if not all, of your battery questions: Apple Notebook Battery FAQ

And yes, running Windows on a MBP will discharge the battery faster due to less efficient hardware and OS communication.​

8) Do you have of you guys have a "routine" of something you do when you first get a mac or do a clean reformat? what do you install and uninstall, change settings, etc? I want some tips on what are some good first things to do when first getting a mac. In windows i'll tell you right off the bat i run windows update, get Chrome from Google, change power saving settings, change the desktop wallpaper, load up cpu/gpu temp and usage gadgets and install Microsoft Office and uninstall bloatware and get codec for media files. Anything analgous to this for the OSX? "FIR" - fresh install rituals as I like to call em.

Do what you want to do. A Software Update might be a good idea, but it seems you are up to date, when you have the App Store already installed, which was released with the 10.6.6 update at the beginning of January.​

9) OMG. I just dragged and accidentally deleted "macintosh HD" from the sidebar when under "Documents" and now its gone. How do I get it back. Also i never used this new snow leopard osx and it appears that macintosh HD is not on the upper right corner on the desktop like it used to be so basically i cannot get into it. I'm a newb. help

Go to Finder > Preferences (CMD+,) >> Sidebar >>> Hard disks.
​

And please take a look here: Helpful Information for Any Mac User

 

[kettlecorn]

this helps tremendously. thanks.

Yes i had a hackintosh but its been a while since its sold and it had some bugs due to the driver issues and not being fully compatible with osx so i missed out on a few things. and it was the older osx version than the one im using now.

 

[simsaladimbamba]

this helps tremendously. thanks.


Yes i had a hackintosh but its been a while since its sold and it had some bugs due to the driver issues and not being fully compatible with osx so i missed out on a few things. and it was the older osx version than the one im using now.

Good journey anyway and welcome. Btw, older versions of Mac OS X (10.4 Tiger and 10.5 Leopard) behave quite the same.

 

[grahamnp]

Mounting a DMG is kinda like inserting an install disk. Most apps don't require installers and you just drag and drop from the mounted DMG so when installers come packaged in the DMG anyway, it seems to me like things are kept consistent even if some apps break the rules. That's how I see it anyway.

 

[ajdb9]

2) Are there any gadgets for the desktop (not dashboard) such as a cpu or gpu temperature and usage widget?

Download OnyX: http://www.macupdate.com/app/mac/11582/onyx
Once opened OnyX: go to Parameters tab, look under Dashboard section and tick 'Enable the Developer Mode of Dashboard'.
Close OnyX

Now you can open Dashboard (with keyboard button), click and hold on the widget you want on your desktop, then press the Dashboard keyboard button again (whilst still holding down the mouse on the widget). This will drag it to the desktop!

It will - however - sit on top of all apps.....

 

[magimat]

Hey,

I too am an OSX neebie coming from windows and I've been wondering for a while if there is some way of knowing what is currently running and easily switching?

In windows, theri is alt-tab and task manager. I'm sure there is something similar in OSX but so far I didnt find it.

Thanks

 

[simsaladimbamba]

Hey,

I too am an OSX neebie coming from windows and I've been wondering for a while if there is some way of knowing what is currently running and easily switching?

In windows, theri is alt-tab and task manager. I'm sure there is something similar in OSX but so far I didnt find it.

Thanks

Either look at the Dock or use CMD+TAB.

Also have a look here: Helpful Information for Any Mac User

 

[snaky69]

Hey,

I too am an OSX neebie coming from windows and I've been wondering for a while if there is some way of knowing what is currently running and easily switching?

In windows, theri is alt-tab and task manager. I'm sure there is something similar in OSX but so far I didnt find it.

Thanks

exposé will show you all open windows and help you switch around, activity monitor will show you all that is running in "task manager" style.

 

[magimat]

CMD-TAB and activity monitor.. that's exactly what I was looking for..

thanks!

 

[kettlecorn]

Hey,

I too am an OSX neebie coming from windows and I've been wondering for a while if there is some way of knowing what is currently running and easily switching?

In windows, theri is alt-tab and task manager. I'm sure there is something similar in OSX but so far I didnt find it.

Thanks

If you have the newer mac (i think?), the touchpad allows you to easily do that by using 4 fingers and sliding to the right or left. If you do it and slide up, you will reveal desktop and if you go down, it will do the Expose thing. Very useful.